A cultivation vessel for fungi has a wide-mouthed upper opening and a lower opening, each of which is detachably covered by a respective top and bottom end cap. One or more such vessels are prepared, sawdust and rice barn are packed as the culture medium therein, and a mushroom spawn is inoculated thereon to spread and culture the hypha. After culturing for about 20 days, the culture mediums are taken out and further successively cultured for about 3 to 30 days in contact with each other to develop the fruit bodies.

The present invention relates to improvements in cultivation vessels for edible fungi, and more particularly, to improvements in vessels for culturing a mushroom spawn prior to germination after inoculation of the spawn. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of cultivating an edible fungus using artificial culture mediums prepared by such vessels.
The conventional artificial cultivation of edible fungi such as Lyophyllum aggregatum, Flammulina velutiges, and Cortinellus shiitake has been conducted according to three roughly divided steps. The 1st step comprises a preliminary step of mixing rice bran and sawdust which are the culture medium, packing them in a bottle, and sterilizing it. The 2nd step comprises a first culture step of inoculating a mushroom spawn on the sterilized culture medium to propagate the hypha, and the 3rd step comprises a second culture step of germinating the above cultured hypha to grow fruit bodies. All these steps have been conducted in a culture vessel having a wide-mouthed bottle shape.
When these steps are conducted in the wide-mouthed bottle, the developed Lyophyllum aggregatum and Flammulina velutiges come to grow out from the open part of the bottle, and in this case, there is a fixed limit in widening the said open part, resulting in a limitation on the number and size of the developed fruit bodies. This point, particularly, is not suitable to cultivation of fungi whose root parts are grown separately one by one as Cortinellus shiitake.
It has also been know heretofore to develop fruit bodies from the whole culture medium in the 2nd culture step described above by conducting steps to the said 1st culture step, or by inoculating the mushroom spawn on the culture medium to propagate the hypha, for example, in a vinyl bag having vents, and tearing this bag before germination to take out the culture medium. However, large-scale mechanical equipment is required to pack the culture medium in a vinyl bag, and the culture medium packed in this vinyl bag is inconvenient to handle and difficult to set. This is because during the 1st culture step, the manual work of packing the culture medium in the vinyl bag, sterilizing the same, and then opening the bag for inoculation tends to allow various germs to enter, furthermore there is no other means of tearing the vinyl bag but to do so by hand, which takes considerable time. In addition the torn vinyl bag can not be reused, so that this method had a disadvantage of increasing the cost of the resulting products.
As artificial cultivation generally comprises packing a culture medium in which sawdust and rice bran are mainly mixed in a bag or bottle, culturing it, and then developing fruit bodies, this method can be easily mechanized. The fungus bed is smaller than the material wood and the work required is not substantial. It is thus possible to achieve a good harvest from a small area. In addition, year-round cultivation is possible by utilizing air conditioning equipment.
The artificial cultivation has a short culture period compared with the material wood and also has a high yield. On the other hand, the equipment investment attendant upon mechanization the investment including air conditioning equipment becomes high.
Moreover, as artificial cultivation is essentially collective and uses a lot of energy, it is known to be unprofitable. This is particularly true during the period of increasing natural fungi and during periods of high energy consumption for cooling or heating.
Also, there have been problems of low yield and poor quality in the cultivation bottles, and of poor work efficiency in the bag cultivation.

Cultivation vessel and cultivation method of edible fungi


A system structured from a management device, a content key distribution device and a plurality of terminals suppresses the data volume of a terminal revocation list (TRL). The management device generates and transmits a TRL formed from data that expresses terminal IDs of all terminals to be invalidated, by only a value and a position of a common bit string in the IDs, to the content key distribution device. Each terminal holds a terminal ID that includes a manufacturer, ID and a serial number, and requests the distribution of a content key by sending the terminal ID to the content key distribution device. The content key distribution device refers to the TRL, judges whether the terminal ID transmitted from the terminal is that of an invalidated terminal, and if negative, encrypts and transmits the content key to the terminal.

In recent years there has been extensive development of systems for conducting electronic business transactions and the like using the Internet.
Encryption technology is used in data communications conducted as part of electronic business transactions and the like. For example, public key encryption related encryption communications systems are often used for authenticating another communications party, and secret key encryption related encryption communications systems are often used for distributing data safely. Encryption technology relating to public key and secret key encryption systems is described in detail in Contemporary Encryption Theory (Nobuichi Ikeno, Kenji Koyama, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, 1986)
In relation to public key encryption related encryption communications systems, generally a public key certificate, issued by an organ known as the authentication bureau and for verifying the correspondence between a public key and the whoever or whatever has possession of the public key, is sent attached to the public key. The public key certificate is basically public information that does not need to be handled secretly. A secret key paired with a public key, however, needs to be managed secretly.
Normally, a public key certificate has a valid period, although if as the result of an accident or incident a secret key paired with a public key either has been or has possibly been disclosed, the public key certificate needs to be invalidated, even if still within the valid period.
As a method of invalidating a public key certificate, a method involving the public release of a certificate revocation list (CRL) is shown in Secure Electronic Commerce: Building the Infrastructure for Digital Signatures and Encryption (Warwick Ford, Michael S. Baum, Prentice Hall, 1997). A CRL includes the serial numbers of all public key certificates to be invalidated, and a mechanism can be constructed that, using a CRL, invalidates and makes unusable public key certificates having serial numbers included in the CRL.
Also, in the case of a distribution service in which a distribution device distributes keys for decrypting digital content (hereafter "content keys") in response to requests from a large number of terminals that receive/playback digital content and which are required to appropriately use video and other digital content encrypted for reasons of copyright protection and the like, the distribution of content keys should, in view of copyright protection and the like, be carried out only with respect to appropriate terminals.
In this distribution service, it is imagined that a distribution system or the like be used in which terminals each have a unique secret key, and a distribution device for distributing keys receives, from a terminal, notification of a terminal identifier (terminal ID) unique to the terminal, together with a content key distribution request, performs on a content key an encryption that is only possible using the secret key unique to the terminal, and transmits the encrypted content key to the terminal.
In this case, if ascertained that a problem exists with a secret key packaging method in a terminal manufactured by a certain manufacturer, it will be necessary to stop distribution of content keys to all terminals produced by this manufacturer.
Furthermore, in relation to a mechanism that, for example, prevents the copying of digital content in a terminal, it will be necessary to stop distribution of content keys to all terminals produced by a certain manufacturer if a method for neutralizing this mechanism in terminals manufactured by the manufacturer is disclosed.
In other words, it will sometimes be necessary to stop the distribution of content keys to terminals that have been corrupted.
As a method of responding to this requirement, a distribution device in a distribution service can be structured to receive a terminal ID together with a content key distribution request from a terminal, to use a "terminal revocation list" (TRL), being a variant of the above CRL in which, instead of the serial numbers of public key certificates, the terminal IDs relating to all terminals to be invalidated are included, to distribute keys in response to a distribution request only when the received terminal ID is not included in the TRL, and to not respond to a distribution request if the terminal ID is included in the TRL.
According to the above method, however, a data size of the TRL when a large number of terminals require invalidating is enormous, since the terminal IDs of all of these terminals are included.
As an example, if 40 terminals are targeted by the distribution service, each terminal ID is a piece of fixed length data of 4 bytes or more, and 1% of these terminals require invalidating, the data size of the TRL will be at least 160 megabytes.
For this reason, in is feared that a distribution service in which, in order to handle a large number of terminals, (i) a large number of distribution devices for distributing content keys are provided and dispersed throughout various regions or the like, (ii) a TRL is generated in a single management device and sent, after having a digital signature included therein, to the distribution devices via a public communications network or the like, and (iii) each distribution device judges, based on the TRL, whether distribution of a content key to a terminal is permissible, will not prove practical because of either the voluminous communication data or the voluminous data that the distribution devices are required to hold.
For example, if a TRL is sent out every time there is an increase in the number of terminals to be invalidated, communication bottlenecks are likely to occur due to the large volume of communication data. Moreover, if a distribution device is structured to request a new TRL from a management device when a distribution request is received from a terminal together with a terminal ID, and, after receiving the TRL, to collate the received terminal ID based on the TRL, the response by the distribution device to the request from the terminal will be delayed as a result of the length of time required in the reception of the TRL.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An apparatus, program product and method for rotating image data using a block-based approach, wherein for each of a plurality of blocks of image data that define an image, a translation vector is applied to the block to translate the block a desired angle of rotation about a rotation point, e.g., to translate an anchor position for the block from a source point to a destination point. In addition, the image data within the block is rotated according to the desired angle of rotation, such that when the rotated image data is stored at the destination point of the block, the image data within the block is effectively rotated to the desired position.

The processing of graphical or image data in a computer or other data processing system is often extremely computationally expensive, requiring significant memory and processor resources. In many data processing systems, images are represented by arrays of pixel elements, or "pixels," with each pixel having a "color depth" that defines the total number of color variations that may be represented in each pixel. As the resolution and/or color depth of an image is increased, the perceived quality of an image, which may be reflected in terms of realism, accuracy, sharpness, vibrancy, etc., also increases. Thus, a continuing need has existed for data processing system support of images with increased resolution and/or color depth.
As a general rule, the greater the resolution and/or color depth of an image, the greater amount of image data that is required to represent the image. Moreover, as the amount of image data used to represent an image increases, the amount of computer resources required to store, transmit and manipulate the image also increases.
One specific type of graphic manipulation that typically requires substantial computational resources is that of image rotation. Image rotation has a number of useful benefits such as in converting images between landscape and portrait orientations for display, faxing, copying, and printing purposes. Also, computer aided design, graphics design, image processing and other video and graphical development environments often utilize image rotation to manipulate image data in a user-created document. Moreover, it is envisioned that as hand-held electronic devices become more prevalent, a need will exist for more flexible displays that are capable of displaying an image at different viewing angles to accommodate multiple form factors for a device.
Traditional image rotation algorithms typically are implemented in software, and involve a number of computationally expensive matrix transform operations. Such algorithms are typically limited to operating with rectangular images, such as an entire image stored in a frame buffer. Moreover, due to the substantial computing resources required to perform such matrix transformations, most software-based algorithms are not well suited for use in low power applications such as hand-held devices, wireless telecommunication devices, digital cameras, etc.
To address the excessive resource requirements of most software-based algorithms, attempts have been made to utilize specialized hardware to perform some image rotation functions. For example, specialized memory access circuitry has been utilized to permit non-sequential accesses to a frame buffer to occur such that a frame buffer is read out column by column, rather than row by row, to effectively generate a 90 degree rotated image on a display. Non-sequential accesses to a memory buffer, however, are often inefficient, and may bypass other performance enhancing circuitry such as memory caches and prefetch circuitry, and thus may have a negative impact on performance. Furthermore, such hardware acceleration often is limited to very specialized applications, and as is often limited to servicing only specifically-sized rectangular images.
While the focus by conventional image rotation algorithms on rectangular images is often sufficient in many applications, in some applications, such a focus tends to introduce inefficiencies during image rotation processing. As an example, using conventional image rotation algorithms, an image must be bound by a rectangular area for processing by such algorithms. Where the shape of the germane (non-background) image data in an image is non-rectangular in nature, however, bounding such an area by a rectangle may introduce a substantial amount of whitespace or background data. Most conventional image rotation algorithms, however, are not capable of determining when image data is germane to an image or when such image data constitutes a background color, so all image data in a rectangular area is processed in roughly the same manner. Thus, significant processing resources may be expended rotating image data that is not particularly germane to the actual image being rotated.
Therefore, a significant need continues to exist for a flexible image rotation algorithm that has wide applicability over different applications. In particular, a need exists for an image rotation algorithm that may be utilized in connection with various types of images, including various sizes and shapes of images, and which is adaptable to data processing systems having various hardware and/or software capabilities.

Block-based rotation of arbitrary-shaped images


There is provided an ink-jet printer for forming an image in a main scanning direction for each line. The ink-jet printer comprises a recording head to form an image, wherein a plurality of nozzles are arranged in an aligned direction in the recording head; a mounting section on which the recording head is mounted; a fixing member to apply an elastic force so as to fix the recording head on the mounting section; and an inclination adjusting member to push a side of the recoding head located along the aligned direction of the nozzles against the elastic force of the fixing member so as to displace the side of the recording head so that the inclination adjusting member adjusts an inclination of the aligned direction of the nozzles for the main scanning direction.

The present invention relates to an adjusting apparatus for adjusting the inclination of a recording head of an inkjet printer.
An inkjet printer that records an image by jetting an ink particle at a predetermined timing from a nozzle of a recording head onto a recording medium requires to accurately adjust the relative position between the recording head and the recording medium so that an image of high accuracy and quality is recorded. Especially, it is important that a number of nozzles formed on the nozzle surface of the recording head are arranged in alignment in a direction orthogonal to the scan direction of the recording head. If the alignment direction of the nozzles has an inclination with respect to a normal direction even a little, impact positions by ink particles get deviated, resulting in extreme degradation in image quality.
Therefore, conventionally, as disclosed in the Patent Document 1 described below, a recording head is urged by a press member against the reference face of a carriage having the recording head mounted thereon, thereby defining the position of the recording head on the carriage.
[Patent Document 1] TOKKOHEI No. 5-48194
However, the above method that defines the position of a recording head by urging it against a reference face requires high accuracy in all parts related to manufacturing a recording head, manufacturing a carriage, and driving a carriage, which is a problem of exceedingly high cost.
Further, although a carriage is desired to be lightweight in order to achieve miniaturization of the carriage itself and a driving motor for driving the carriage, the requirement for high accuracy in positioning has resulted in causing a problem of increase in size and weight of the carriage.

Adjusting apparatus for adjusting inclination of recording head of inkjet printer


A product acceptance/rejection judgment method which always ensures accurate judgment whether a product is acceptable or not even when an injection molding machine is operated in different operating environments is implemented by a processor (22) of a numerically controlled device (20). When the processor determines that it should perform, in addition to a normal product acceptance/rejection judgment based on molding process parameters, an auxiliary product acceptance/rejection judgment based on at least one operating parameter which directly indicates an injection molding machine operating environment characteristic involved in the acceptance/rejection judgment of the product, the processor reads output data from an A-D converter (11, 12 or 13) which data corresponds to the actual value of at least one operating parameter detected by an appropriate die temperature sensor (8), open air temperature sensor (9) or a wind velocity sensor (10). If an actual value of any one of the operating parameters deviates from the tolerance limit, and the processor determines that a molding failure may have occurred, the processor issues a failure signal. If all actual values of at least one operating parameter are within the tolerance limits, then the normal product acceptance/rejection judgment process is further implemented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a product acceptance/rejection judgment method for an injection molding machine, and more particularly, to a product acceptance/rejection judgment method which makes it possible to accurately determine whether a product is acceptable or not at all times even when an injection molding machine is operated in various operating environments.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known that a product sample taken out from a group of products that have been mass-produced by repeating a molding cycle is visually compared with a non-defective sample to determine whether it is acceptable or not. However, such visual inspection cannot ensure accurate judgment criteria, and also the non-defective sample changes on standing. For this reason, the product acceptance/rejection judgment based on visual inspection presents such problems as low reliability. Conventionally, therefore, it is judged whether or not the actual values of molding process parameters (cushion amount, injection time, metering time, metering completion point, injection pressure peak value, screw position where the injection speed control mode is switched to the injection pressure control mode, etc.) which are all related to the acceptance/rejection of a product are within tolerance limits during a molding cycle, and the product is determined to be defective if any of its molding process parameters is found to deviate from the tolerance limits.
However, when the injection molding machine is operated in different operating environments, there are some cases where defective units result even when molding cycles are implemented under molding conditions that should produce non-defective units, with all molding process parameters being within tolerance limits. This means that accurate product acceptance/rejection judgment may not be performed according to the aforementioned conventional method wherein the product acceptance/rejection judgment is made based on molding process parameters.
The major reason for this is considered that the conventional method does not adequately take into account operating environment changes involved in determining whether a product is acceptable or not. If the operating environments of an injection molding machine change, corresponding molding process parameter values change accordingly, therefore, the operating environment changes are indirectly considered in the conventional acceptance/rejection judgment. For instance, if a window of a factory which is usually closed is opened to let wind blow onto a die installed on an injection molding machine, causing the die to be cooled, then the injection time increases. And if the injection time exceeds its tolerance limit, then the product molded at that time is determined to be defective. However, it takes time for a molding process parameter value to deviate from its tolerance limit after a defective unit results from an operating environment change. During that time, therefore, accurate product acceptance/rejection judgment cannot be implemented, causing the occurrence of defective units.

Product acceptance/rejection judgement method for an injection molding machine


In a semiconductor processing apparatus, an external transfer mechanism transfers substrates between a cassette for storing a plurality of target substrates by vertically arranging the substrates at first intervals, and a processing section for performing semiconductor processing for the substrates. The external transfer mechanism has first and second arms defining first and second support surfaces each of which can support one of the substrates and capable of vertically moving relative to each other. An interval adjuster is disposed to adjust an interval in a vertical direction between the first and second support surfaces by moving the first and second arms relative to each other. An arm driving base is disposed to move the first and second arms between a position at which the first and second arms oppose the cassette and a position at which the first and second arms oppose the processing section. The thickness of each of the first and second arms in the vertical direction is smaller than the first interval. The first and second arms can be set in an overlapping state, in which the first and second arms overlap each other in a horizontal direction, by the interval adjuster. By simultaneously operating the first and second arms, processed and unprocessed substrates can be exchanged at once in the cassette.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor processing apparatus for performing semiconductor processing on an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) substrate or a semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor processing means various processing steps performed to fabricate semiconductor devices on target substrates such as LCD substrates and semiconductor wafers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an LCD substrate manufacturing process, for example, is done by using a so-called multi-chamber vacuum processing apparatus which includes a plurality of vacuum processing vessels for performing predetermined processing steps such as etching and ashing on LCD substrates.
This multi-chamber vacuum processing apparatus has a transfer chamber adjacent to the individual processing chambers via gate valves and a load-lock chamber adjacent to the transfer chamber via a gate valve. The apparatus further has an external transfer mechanism such as a transfer arm and an internal transfer mechanism. The external transfer mechanism unloads LCD substrates one by one from a cassette, which stores a large number of LCD substrates and is placed in an outer atmosphere, and transfers these LCD substrates to the load-lock chamber. The internal transfer mechanism transfers the LCD substrates between the load-lock chamber and the processing chambers.
This LCD substrate vacuum processing apparatus is required to process as large a number of substrates as possible within a predetermined time period, i.e., required to increase the throughput as high as possible. The apparatus is a multi-chamber apparatus in order to improve the throughput by processing a plurality of substrates at the same time.
The transfer system is also naturally required to improve the throughput. To this end, a mechanism having two arms, i.e., upper and lower arms for directly supporting LCD substrates is used as the external transfer mechanism. That is, the upper arm supports an unprocessed substrate and the lower arm supports a processed substrate.
To load a processed substrate into the cassette and unload the next unprocessed substrate from the cassette, the lower arm first enters a predetermined slot in the cassette, the entire transfer arm moves down a predetermined distance to load the processed substrate onto a supporting portion in the slot, and then the lower arm once leaves the cassette. Subsequently, the entire transfer arm moves up and the upper arm enters a predetermined slot. The entire transfer arm further moves up to allow the upper arm to support the unprocessed substrate placed on a supporting portion of the slot. The upper arm is then retreated from the cassette.
Unfortunately, the reduction of the time is limited even with the use of the above substrate loading/unloading operation, and so it is required to further improve the throughput.
Also, the following procedure is used to access a susceptor in a vacuum processing chamber by using two arms, i.e., upper and lower arms as the internal transfer mechanism. First, an unprocessed substrate is placed on the upper arm and the transfer arms are advanced into the vacuum processing chamber. The lower arm is moved forward to receive a processed substrate from the susceptor and then moved backward, and the upper arm is moved forward to transfer the unprocessed substrate onto the susceptor.
Even when this substrate exchange operation is performed, however, there is a certain limit on the shortening of the time. Therefore, a further improvement of the throughput is demanded.


A system and method for in situ trimming of oscillators in a pair of implantable medical devices is provided. Each frequency over a range of oscillator trim frequencies for an initiating implantable medical device is selected and a plurality of commands are sent via an acoustic transducer in situ over the frequency selected. Each frequency over a range of oscillator trim frequencies for a responding implantable medical device is selected and a response to each of the commands received is sent via an acoustic transducer in situ over the frequency selected. The responses received by the initiating implantable medical device are evaluated and a combination of the oscillator trim frequencies for both implantable medical devices that together exhibit a strongest acoustic wave is identified. Oscillators in both implantable medical devices are trimmed to the oscillator trim frequencies in the combination identified.

Implantable medical devices (IMDs) can provide in situ physiological data monitoring and therapy delivery, including cardiac defibrillation, pacing and resynchronization, and intracorporeal drug delivery. IMDs function through pre-programmed control over monitoring and therapeutic functions. As required, IMDs can be interfaced to external devices, such as programmers, repeaters, and similar devices, which can program, troubleshoot, and exchange parametric and physiological data through induction or other forms of wireless telemetry.
Implantable sensors monitor and relay physiological data to other devices. Advanced conventional IMDs can be interfaced with implantable sensors directly through wired interconnections, or indirectly via an external intermediary device. Wired interconnections are invasive and require an intrabody tunnel that exposes a patient to adverse side effects, including internal injury, infection, and discomfort. Relay through an external intermediary device requires the periodic upload of stored data, which is only then available to an IMD indirectly by separate download. Thus, the physiological data can go stale before receipt by the IMD.
Alternatively, IMDs can be directly interconnected for data exchange through a wireless intrabody network, such as described in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0031378, published Feb. 9, 2006, pending, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. Multiple IMDs exchange data wirelessly through acoustic or radio frequency (RF) connections. Wireless intrabody interconnection alleviates the need for large onboard storage for holding monitored data, which can instead be immediately exchanged between the multiple IMDs.
Effective wireless intra-IMD communications, though, require maintaining interconnected IMDs in synchrony. Digital components within each device are susceptible to factors affecting performance, such as temperature, age, mechanical and electrical tolerances, and operational environment. Oscillators, for instance, control the timing of IMD operations, but frequency drift, which occurs naturally over time, can skew an oscillator's timing, which in turn skews IMD operation. Similarly, transducers convert electrical signals into and from acoustic energy. Channel characteristics can degrade transducer efficiency. Oscillator frequency drift can further degrade transducer efficiency by skewing transducer operation away from a trim frequency. Conventional IMD synchronization fails to compensate for oscillator-precipitated transducer skew.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,031, issued Nov. 23, 2004, to Tatem, Jr., discloses automated frequency compensation for remote synchronization. An oscillator is stepped through offset frequencies that are associated with a lock range of a phase lock loop (PLL). Oscillator frequencies are incremented until a desired result is achieved, after which control reverts back to the PLL. However, the oscillator for a device is trimmed without transducer adjustment.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,187,979, issued Mar. 6, 2007, to Haubrich et al., discloses medical device synchronization with reduced reliance on periodic polling. The internal clocks of two devices, such as an IMD and an external device, can be synchronized by computing time drift as a function of measured skew. In a further embodiment, an IMD is synchronized to a time signal generated by an external time reference with polling performed only when a device is likely to be receptive. However, oscillator synchronization is reliant on an external reference signal and is trimmed without transducer adjustment.
Therefore, an approach is needed to provide intracorporeal trim of transducers of wirelessly interconnected IMDs. Preferably, such an approach would avoid significant depletion of resources.

System and method for in situ trimming of oscillators in a pair of implantable medical devices


In a ducted fan gas turbine engine the fan module is connected rigidly to aircraft structure and flexibly to the core gas generator via flanged annular diaphragms (62,66) thus obviating the exertion of bending loads on the core gas generator casing when the fan intake experiences asymmetric aerodynamic loads.

Since the advent of the ducted fan gas turbine engine for the powering of aircraft, the ratio of the thrust produced by the fan relative to that produced by the associated core gas generator, has increased several fold. In order to achieve this the fan dimensions have increased, with a consequent increase in the dimensions of its associated cowling which provides the ducting therefor.
The increase in the dimensional proportions of the fan cowl has resulted in an increase in the aerodynamic loads experienced thereby during operation on an associated aircraft. This is especially the case during take off of the associated aircraft when the plane of the cowl air inlet is at an angle to the direction of movement of the aircraft which results in the ambient air flowing into the intake in asymmetric manner.
The asymmetrical aerodynamic load applied to the fan cowl is transferred via the fan outlet guide vanes to the core gas generator which in prior art arrangements is rigidly connected to the inner ends thereof. Severe bending of the core gas generator results, which in turn causes, inter alia, compressor blade tip rub on the inner walls of the compressor casing which forms a part of the core gas generator. The operational efficiency of the engine is thus impaired.

Method of combining ducted fan gas turbine engine modules and aircraft structure


A small livestock head restraint device is provided which can be temporarily secured to a fence for field use in securely capturing the head of a small animal. The small livestock head restraint device includes a vertical support member typically positioned adjacent to fence railings or a cylindrical pole, and a pair of clamps which can be tightened about the railings or pole to securely fix the support member to the fencing. A slider bracket is attached to the support member, and a mounting shaft, having fixed thereto a headrest arm and the animal headrest, is movable vertically within the slider bracket to adjust the height of the animal headrest after the device has been secured to the fencing. In one preferred form, a pair of rail clamps are adjustably fixed to the support member for engaging generally horizontal fence rails. In another preferred form, a pair of pole clamps are attached to the mounting shaft and pivot to grasp a generally vertical pole therebetween.

This invention relates generally to small livestock headcatches which are principally utilized when showing, grooming, shearing or inoculating an animal such as a sheep or a calf. More specifically, the present invention relates to a portable and adjustable head restraint device which may be attached to portions of standard livestock fencing.
Many prior devices have been devised for holding an animal in a desired position while showing, grooming, shearing or inoculating the animal. For example, as shown and explained in U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,690, in the grooming of animals such as show dogs, the animal is normally placed on a table having a top located several feet above the floor, to position the animal at a height convenient for performing the grooming operation. The animal is usually restrained on the table during the grooming by a tether connected to an arm rigidly supported by the table and extending to a point a short distance above the animal, and the tether is of such a length that it retains the animal in a sitting or at least in a partially upright position on the table. The tether is normally firmly attached to the arm at one end and has a noose at the other end which is placed over the animal's head and is tightened around the neck.
Another apparatus is known as a holddown device which is utilized primarily for holding an animal, such as a calf, on the ground during branding operations. Such a device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,199. Still other devices such as the sheep-holding device of U.S. Pat. No. 266,016, provide rigid shackles for holding the sheep's neck and/or legs during shearing.
There are many different types of blocking stands which include a headcatch. The purpose of a traditional blocking stand is to securely hold the livestock in place on a platform above ground level, where it can be conveniently "worked". However, as recognized in U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,846, it is often necessary or convenient to perform a desired activity or treatment on an animal while it is in a field or pasture. Thus, portable headcatches have been designed which are capable of being mounted on a vehicle.
None of the prior shackles, tethers, blocking stands or portable headcatches, however, are truly portable to permit them to be hand-carried from one location to another and then set up adjacent to fencing typically found in the vicinity of the livestock. It is often not possible, particularly in a show environment, to rely on a portable headcatch mountable only to or in connection with a motor vehicle.
Accordingly, there has been a need for a novel small livestock head restraint device which may be hand-carried from one location to another, and secured adjacent to typical rail and chain link livestock fencing systems. Such a head restraint device should be of simplified construction in order to minimize the cost thereof, be rugged enough to withstand the abuse and wear expected in connection with routine use with livestock, and perform its intended function well. Additionally, a small livestock head restraint device is needed which can adjustably position the height of the headrest once the device is securely fixed to the fencing. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.


An oscillator runaway detection circuit is provided with a synchronous delay line such that energy saving or sleep modes of operation are not mischaracterized as oscillator runaway. A Schmitt trigger monitors oscillator control voltage at a filter capacitor. If the control voltage is below a predetermined limit, indicating a possible runaway condition, a signal is output to a synchronous delay line. The output of the Schmitt trigger is propagated through the synchronous delay line comprising a plurality of flip-flops clocked by the system reference clock. The output of the synchronous delay line drives a transistor which in turn may charge the filter capacitor to reduce the control voltage and thus lower the frequency of the oscillator. A one-shot coupled to the clock tree monitors for clock activity in the clock tree. If clock activity is present, it is presumed that a runaway condition does not exist, and the output of the one-shot resets the flip-flops in the delay line, preventing the output of the Schmitt trigger to charge/reset the oscillator.

When using a PLL as an on-chip clock generator, the PLL may be required to lock to a system reference clock at power-on and also acquire lock after clock stop. Due to limitations in the feedback path of the PLL (i.e., the clock distribution tree), it might be possible that the PLL will not lock under certain initial conditions of the filter capacitor (i.e., VCO controlling voltage). This initial condition corresponds to the maximum operating frequency of the VCO. For example, in some prior art PLL circuits, the initial value of the filter capacitor may be the supply voltage Vdd or in others, the system ground. Under such circumstances, the PLL is said to have "runaway" to a maximum operating frequency
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a prior art PLL circuit 100. PLL circuit 100 may use as a local oscillator a voltage or current controlled oscillator where the frequency of the oscillator varies in proportion to a controlling voltage or current. For the purposes of illustrations the local oscillator of FIG. 1 is illustrated as a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) 105 whose frequency is controlled by control voltage 106 at filter capacitor 107. However, a current controlled oscillator may be substituted for VCO 105 of FIG. 1.
The output of VCO 105 may be divided in divider 115 and may be further buffered and used to drive clock tree 102. Clock tree 102 may represent the distribution of the clock signal throughout a semiconductor circuit. Due to inherent capacitances, resistances and inductances of semiconductor circuits, propagation delays may be introduced into the clock signal as it passes through clock tree 102.
PLL 100 may be controlled by feeding back the output of divider 115. However, in order to compensate for propagation delays, it may be preferable to feed back the clock signal after it has passed through clock tree 102. An output of clock tree 102 may be tapped off (and divided if necessary by divider 1401) and fed to one of the inputs 1402 of Phase Frequency Detector (PFD) 103. PFD 103 may in turn drive charge pump 114 to charge filter capacitor 107.
The other input 1403 to PFD 103 may comprise system reference clock 104 (or a divided version thereof). PLL 100 thus forms a closed loop negative feedback system. PFD 103 produces corrective signals such that the signals at the inputs 1403 & 1402 to PLL 100 are matched in frequency and phase. In other words, PLL 100 produces signals to adjust the controlling voltage 106 of VCO 105 on filter capacitor 107 such that phase and frequency of clock output (node 1402) is matched in phase and frequency with system reference clock (node 1403).
VCO 105 may have a dynamic range over which it may operate. For example, the range of VCO 105 of FIG. 1 may range from 50 MHz to 1.35 GHz. Such frequencies may correspond to upper and lower bounds of the controlling voltage, as specified in Table I.
TABLE I ______________________________________ Controlling Voltage Frequency of VCO ______________________________________ 0 1.35 GHz Vdd-860 mV 750 MHz Vdd-700 mV 500 MHz Vdd-450 mV 100 MHz Vdd-Vtp to Vdd 0 ______________________________________
Where Vdd is supply voltage and Vtp is transistor threshold voltage. The control voltages and frequencies of Table I are used by way of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Control voltage 106, for example, may be set in a reverse fashion to that of Table I (e.g., generate a high frequency at high voltage Vdd and a low frequency at low voltage or ground).
The required operating frequency of VCO 105 may be set at a nominal frequency and the useful range of operation may be approximately 500-750 MHz, in which range VCO 105 provides specified performance (i.e., the desired frequency gain, desired power supply rejection, and the like.)
PLL 100 may generally be in a locked state (e.g., at nominal frequency) where the system reference clock is at a lower frequency to accommodate the lower I/O bandwidths. For example, it may be desired to operate the system reference clock 104 at 100 MHz, clock tree 102 be at 300 MHz and VCO 105 at 600 MHz. These frequencies are provided just as an illustration and by no means limit the scope of the invention. Thus divider 1400 may be set to divide by a ratio of 1:1, divider 115 by a ratio of 1:2 and divider 1401 by a ratio of 1:3. Such ratios may enable PLL 100 to lock with inputs 1402 & 1403 to PFD 103 at 100 MHz each. VCO 105 may be bypassed by MUX 116 for dubugging purposes and a slower clock frequency supplied by system reference 104 applied to clock tree 102.
Node 1403 of PFD 103 may be fed system reference clock 104 at 100 MHz and Node 1402 a lower frequency (divided bypass clock 120 at 33.3 MHz) As a result PFD 103 may indicate, from the fed back signal from clock tree 102 that the input clock signal is too slow. PFD 103 may then drive control voltage 106 to ground which may have the effect of driving VCO 105 faster. When lower frequency bypass clock 120 is removed and VCO 105 is reconnected to clock tree 102, PLL 100 will attempt to again achieve a locked state.
However, since control voltage 106 at filter capacitor 107 is at or near ground, the output of VCO 105 may be at its maximum frequency (e.g., 1.35 GHz). If clock tree 102 cannot transmit such a high frequency signal (e.g., due to low bandwidth caused by internal capacitance, resistance and the like), the output of clock tree 102 may be undeterministic, most probably stuck at one rail or another (i.e., Vdd or ground).
PFD 103 may construe such a state as if VCO 105 were running too slow, and will feedback a signal to make VCO 105 run faster, thus further pushing control voltage 106 at filter capacitor 107 further to ground. Thus, PLL 100 may never lock properly but rather stay in a runaway condition.
Prior art systems have attempted to solve the aforementioned problems using a PLL 200 with a hyperactivity detection circuit (HDC) 290 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Such an analog HDC 290 is described, for example, in Rogers, U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,293, issued Jun. 15, 1993 entitled "High reliability phase-locked loop", assigned to the same assignee as the present application and incorporated herein by reference. In this system, the VCO happens to have a positive slope, meaning that higher control voltages correspond to higher frequencies and vice versa.
The HDC 290 comprises of a delay line 222 formed of a plurality of skewed inverters. These inverters are skewed in such a way as to propagate one edge faster than the other. For example, in the prior art circuit, the delay to propagate the rising edge from the input of the delay line to the output (termed D1) is adjusted to be much more than the delay to propagate the falling edge (termed D2).
When control voltage 206 crosses a predetermined threshold, indicating that the VCO is operating at near its maximum frequency, Schmitt trigger 265 changes state, from a 0 to a 1, generating a rising edge which is propagated along delay line 222. After a delay D1, during which time, if there occurs no activity in the clock tree which triggers resetting pulses in one shot 260, the output 252 of delay line 222 goes to a 1.
The output of delay line 222 turns on transistor 266 and after an additional small delay of inverter 250, turns off latching transistor 254. By these actions, transistor 266 turns on, discharging node 206. During the time capacitor 207 is being discharged, if latching transistor 254 is off, it does not allow any resetting pulses (should they occur) to reset delay line 222.
When capacitor 207 is discharged, and the voltage on node 206 goes below another predetermined value, Schmitt trigger 265 changes state to a 0, corresponding to a minimum operating frequency of VCO 205. The 0 at the output of Schmitt trigger 265 may be propagated along delay line 222 with a delay D2 to the gate of transistor 266, switching it off, and turning on latching transistor 254. Now VCO 205 is allowed to lock again from its lowest operating frequency.
However, if control voltage 206 is above the predetermined threshold of Schmitt trigger 265 and clock tree 202 is operating properly, then it is not desirable to reset VCO 205. Thus, one-shot 260 receives input from clock tree 202 through PFD 203. If one-shot 260 detects activity from clock tree 202 in the form of a clock transition (i.e., low to high, high to low) one-shot 260 produces pulses which drive transistor 267 which pulls the output of Schmitt trigger 265 low and clears the signal from delay line 222.
Clearing thus occurs if the rate of activity is greater than 1/(D1-D2) Hz. Here in lies a potential limitation of the prior art circuit of FIG. 2. When using the prior art HDC 290, PLL 200 cannot be made to lock if the frequency of operation clock tree 202 is less than 1/(D1-D2) Hz.
The system of FIG. 2 may operate satisfactorily in most modes of operation. However, recently, the U.S. Government has promulgated guidelines known as the EnergyStar standard for reducing computer power consumption. In the EnergyStar standard, a computer or system may switch to various levels of rest or "sleep" modes to reduce power consumption by dividing (in effect slowing) the overall system clock by a factor of 64 or some other predetermined number.
If HDC 290 is used in an EnergyStar system, activity from clock tree 202 may be slowed by a factor 64, and the delay (D1-D2) may correspondingly have to be made more than 64 cycles. Such large delay differences between propagating the rising and falling edges may be quite impossible to achieve using the prior art circuit of FIG. 2. As a result, if the delay of delay line 222 (D1-D2) is not greater than the factor of 64, HDC 290 may erroneously reset control voltage 206 of filter capacitor 207 when the system is in an energy conservation mode.

Oscillator runaway detect and reset circuit for PLL clock generator


Color digital image signals generated by scanning an original or by a computer color graphics application are converted to signals representing normalized cone response values based on a color adaptation model of the human visual system. The cone response values are normalized to the white point of the input color digital image. The normalized cone response values are denormalized to the viewer adaptation point of the output viewing conditions of the output medium. The denormalized cone response values are transformed to signals for reproducing the digital color image.

In the art of desk top publishing it is known to produce charts, graphics and illustrations by the selection and manipulation of graphics and text objects using a color monitor as a visulation tool and reference. Manipulation of objects includes the selection and/or adjustment of color. In this circumstance the visual appearance of the screen becomes the reference or original for reproduction. In other words, the colors that you see on the monitor are the colors that you want to see in the hard copy reproduction that is made by the system.
In the graphic arts it is known to reproduce a color image by scanning an original to produce a digital color image signal, processing the digital color image signal in a digital computer to produce a processed digital color image signal, and reproducing the color image from the processed digital image signal. This type of reproduction attempts to match the colors to the colors of the original color image. Although the present system can process original images by scanning negatives and other forms of hard prints it is directed more towards those applications where the image is first brought into existence by the operator interfacing with the computer and causing the image to be created by known color digital image processing techniques while using the color monitor to view the creation.
Attempts have been made to base the color digital image processing on a three color vision model of the human eye. In this so called tristimulus method, three color signals are determined from three linearly independent color mixture functions that are theoretically some linear function of the three color sensitivities of the human eye. In such systems, colors with the same tristimulus values, under the same viewing conditions, are perceived by persons with normal color vision as being identical. The goal has been to achieve a so called colorimetric or tristimulus match between an original and a reproduction, where the original is an original scene, a color CRT image, or an original photograph, and the reproduction is a CRT image or hard copy image produced by a color printer or color film scanner.
In one approach, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,614; issued Oct. 11, 1983 to Eichler et al., signals (E.sub.R E.sub.G E.sub.B) from a scanner, such as a color film scanner, are converted into three visual sensitivity based primary color signals (X,Y,Z). These signals may be subjected to a white balance for a D.sub.65 illuminant, and are then converted into coloring signals adapted to the basic coloring materials of the reproduction system. In one embodiment, the primary color signals are stored on a video tape recorder. Means are provided for modifying the adapted signals. The primary color signals from the recorder are subjected to the adaptation for the reproduction system and displayed on a color TV to show the effects of modifying the signals. When a desired modification has been achieved, the modified, adapted signals are supplied to a printer.
In another approach, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,919 issued Feb. 19, 1985 to Schreiber, tristimulus signals produced by a film scanner are displayed on a CRT without regard to any adaptation to any output medium. The tristimulus signals are subjected to aesthetic corrections by an operator, and the result viewed on the CRT. When the desired result is achieved on the CRT, the aesthetically corrected tristimulus signals are employed to produce corresponding reproduction signals to produce a colorimetric match in an output medium.
In both of the prior art approaches described above, there is an implicit assumption that the viewing conditions of the original and the reproduction will be identical. This is important since only then will a "colorimetric" match be equivalent to a visual appearance match. This result is due to the phenomenon known as "adaptation" whereby a human observer adapts to the color temperature of the ambient lighting conditions such that the visual appearance of different colors remains constant, even though the measured colorimetric values of the colors under the different illuminants change markedly. If a "colorimetric" match is made between an original image and its reproduction under different lighting conditions, the colors in the images will not appear the same to a viewer that is adapted to the different lighting conditions. Because of this, a considerable effort has been directed in the prior art to providing identical viewing conditions for an original and its reproduction. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,919 cited above.
The provision of identical viewing conditions however requires expensive hardware comprising light boxes and viewing booths and is not considered to be practical for the desk top publishing market. Furthermore, the prior art systems would at best. optimize the reproduced image for one set of viewing conditions but not for others.

Method for the reproduction of color images based on viewer adaption


An ink-jet recording sheet, comprising a support having thereon a porous ink receiving layer, the porous ink receiving layer including inorganic particles, a hydrophilic binder and a polymer, wherein the polymer has a plurality of carbon-carbon unsaturated bonds, provided that the unsaturated bonds are non-aromatic; the polymer has a recurring unit derived from butadiene or isoprene.

In recent years, rapid improvement of ink-jet recording materials has been realized, resulting in almost similar quality to that of conventional silver halide photography. Specifically, in order to achieve image quality comparable with silver halide photography by ink-jet recording, improvement has been enhanced in regard to ink-jet recording sheets. Porous type recording sheets comprise a very flat and smooth support having a porous layer of minute voids thereon, which comprises a pigment and a hydrophilic polymer, exhibits high glossiness and brilliant coloration, and further exhibits superiority in ink absorbability and drying, resulting in a material showing almost identical quality of silver halide photography. Specifically, when a non-absorbing support is employed, a much higher quality print can be obtained, since cockling after printing, so-called wrinkling, is not generated, which is often observed on an absorbing support, resulting in maintaining excellent smoothness of the surface.
Ink-jet recording is generally divided into two categories, one of which is using a water based ink employing water and a water soluble solvent as ink solvents, and the other is using a non-water based ink employing an oil soluble solvent. Each of these consists of two types, using either a dye or a pigment as a colorant, and thus, it is necessary to use specially prepared sheet adaptive to each type to obtain the desired high quality recorded images. As to ink, water based ink is the more common type due to a lesser burden on the environment, and handling safety.
Pigment ink results in high durability of images, but tends to change glossiness of the image as imagewise, resulting in lowered image quality. On the other hand, when water soluble dye ink is used, color prints with sharp image details and also uniform surface glossiness can be obtained, the quality of prints is comparable with silver halide photographic quality.
However, even though this water soluble dye can form high quality images, its image stability is inferior to that of pigment ink images. Therefore, relatively severe discoloration by sunlight or indoor light, or by an oxidizing gas such as ozone in ambient air has been a major issue. Specifically, in a porous type recording sheet provided a porous layer of minute voids thereon, the contact area of a dye and ambient air is large, the result is that the dye images tend to be easily affected by oxidizing gases in ambient air. Thus, it has remained a desire to overcome these problems.
To prevent these problems of deterioration with storage, numerous addition of various anti-oxidizing agents as anti-discoloration agents (or light-fastness improving agents) have been proposed.
Examples of these proposals include, for example, ink-jet recording sheets containing various compounds as anti-oxidizing agents as described in JP-A Nos. 57-87989, 57-74192 and 60-72785 (hereinafter, the term JP-A refers to as Japanese Patent Application Publication); ink-jet recording sheets containing ultraviolet absorption agents as described in JP-A 57-74193; addition of hydrazides as described in JP-A 61-154989; addition of hindered amine type anti-oxidizing agents as described in JP-A 61-146591; addition of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic mercapto compounds as described in JP-A 61-177279; addition of thioether type anti-oxidizing agents as described in JP-A Nos. 1-115677 and 1-35479; addition of specific structured hindered phenol type anti-oxidizing agents as described in JP-A 1-36480; addition of hindered phenol type anti-oxidizing agents in combination with hindered amine type anti-oxidizing agents as described in JP-A 3-13376; addition of ascorbic acides as described in JP-A Nos. 7-195824 and 8-150773; addition of zinc sulfate as described in JP-A 7-149037; thiocyanates to be incorporated as described in JP-A 7-314882; addition of thiourea derivatives as described in JP-A 7-314883; saccharides to be incorporated as described in JP-A Nos. 7-276790 and 8-108617; addition of phosphoric acid type anti-oxidizing agents as described in JP-A 8-118791; addition of nitrites, sulfites or thiosulfates as described in JP-A 8-300807; and addition of hydroxylamine derivatives as described in JP-A 9-267544.
However, in an ink-jet recording sheet having minute pores, the desired effects of the addition of an anti-oxidizing agent is not always adequate. In cases when these various anti-discoloration agents are added in a large amount, the problem of lowered ink absorbability of a porous layer exists.
On the other hand, it is well known that resins having unsaturated bonds in a molecule, such as butadiene rubber, can be employed in ink-jet recording sheets. For example, using methods for the resins to mainly absorb solvents of oil based ink are disclosed in JP-A Nos. 2000-177234, 2000-238407, 2001-205929, 11-165460, 11-99742 and WO 00/41890. Further, a method to improve absorbability of water based ink is disclosed, in which a diene type polymer or its hydrate is sulfonated to become hydrophilic. Still further, it is also disclosed that storage stability is improved by combination with a specific dye using styrene-butadiene latex containing 20–45% of a butadiene component as a binding agent, in which the latex is used as a binding agent, resulting in a low butadiene ratio, and therefore, resulting in a limited effect. Furthermore, the technology to prevent bleeding over time under high temperature and high humidity and to prevent discoloration of formed images over time, by adding a compound having an aliphatic carbon-carbon double bond in the molecule (for example, patent documents 1 and 2), but its anti-gas discoloration effect is insufficient.
Patent document 1: JP-A 2002-264478
Patent document 2: JP-A 2000-263928

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A trowel handle having a blade, one or more upright supports mounted on that blade and a handle adapted for detachably engaging that support is disclosed. The handle includes a channel having tapered sidewalls configured to form a wedge-like engagement with a respective support, thereby precluding the handle's displacement relative to the blade absent the imposition of a force of considerable magnitude directed in a preselected direction.

1. Field
This invention relates to implements adapted for spreading and otherwise distributing fluid or semi-fluid material. More particularly, the invention is directed to implements for use in spreading paste-like materials such as plaster, cement, adhesives, or other paste-like material.
2. State of the Art
For centuries, building techniques have involved the use of adhesives, plaster, cement and other paste-like materials. Many construction techniques require means of removing a paste-like material from a supply thereof and transferring a given quantity to an application site. Thereafter, the means is often used to spread the material over the application site to achieve a selected thickness preparatory to the application of another building material, such as flooring, tile or other material.
Trowels of various configurations have been used for many years to effect the aforesaid function. In appearance, a trowel conventionally includes a flat planar blade which is oftentimes quadrilateral in shape. A handle is fixedly mounted to the blade to extend uprightly therefrom, thereby providing a means of manipulating the blade. The handle may include a cylindrically shaped member configured to be grasped by the user. The longitudinal axis of the handle is generally oriented horizontally and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade.
Specialized trowels have been developed for use in smoothing out irregularities created during the application of paste-like compounds, wet cement, and adhesive emulsions such as latex, acrylic, asphalt, vinyl, epoxies, and thin set gypsum compounds. Such trowels typically include a blade configured for handling a specific material. For example, a trowel blade adapted for a smoothing plaster-like leveling compounds on walls and floors is generally flat or may have a slight concave curl to the smooth edge of the blade. The longitudinal edges of such trowels are the primary working surfaces. The trowel is used by holding the blade at an acute angle (e.g. 10-35.degree.) to the surface to be worked. Pressure is applied to the trowel as it is drawn across the surface, driving a puddle of leveling compound before it. Due to the abrasive nature of the leveling compounds and the substrate over which these compounds are applied, over time, the edges of the blade are abraded and worn, eventually narrowing the blade. Trowels directed for use in smoothing wet cement include blades configured to be slightly convex across their width and curled in the same direction on the front and back ends. In use, the entire bottom smooth surface of such blades are utilized. Owing to the abrasive nature of the cement being spread and the substrate over which the cement is applied, the blade edges are abraded and actually become razor sharp as the blade narrows. Understandably, over time the blade becomes less effective while also becoming a safety hazard to the user. The moderate or severe wear and abrasion on the blade edges of a trowel appreciably depreciate the functionality of a trowel, specifically when smoothing operations are involved.
Due to the fixed mounting of the trowel blade on the handle, the deterioration of a blade has in the past forced the user to purchase an entire new trowel. Recently, attempts have been made to provide trowels wherein the blade is made removable from the handle. Since handles typically are subjected to minimal wear, one handle may be used with a succession of replacement blades, thereby providing an economical means of meeting the need for efficient trowels.
An example of a detachable handle trowel involves a planar blade defining a pair of keyhole slots positioned spacedly apart therein. The handle includes a pair of outwardly extending nut-fitted bolts. Each bolt is first threaded onto the handle from the bottom by means of its slotted head. A thumb screw is then tightened down against the handle from the top like a jam nut to keep the bolt from rotating loose. If the blade is to be replaced, the thumb screws are first loosened then the screws are loosened from the bottom. In this particular design, the head of the bolt, which passes through the slot, extends below the bottom surface of the blade. This construction destroys the smooth planarity of that bottom blade surface, and hinders the use of the trowel as a means of producing a smooth paste surface since the bolt head is constantly digging into the paste as the blade is driven over the paste.
While the aforesaid trowel has provided a means of some benefit in addressing the above concerns, there continues to be a need for a trowel which at once addresses the problem of providing a replaceable blade capability while simultaneously providing a means of maintaining the smooth planar bottom working surface of the trowel.


The present invention 10 discloses a disposable container 12 for holding suitable fluid 24 to be used for consuming a medicinal pill 28. In one embodiment, a disposable plastic package 60 is disclosed having a fluid chamber 62 and a pill chamber 64 having a divide therebetween. A tear-away strip 68 is disclosed for access into the fluid chamber 62 along with a thin wire frame 72 for adding support to the fluid container. In other embodiments, the container 12 also contains variously designed means 20, 36, 48 for housing the pills 28. The container 12 may have multiple compartments 42, 44, 46 for holding liquids 24. Also, the pills 28 may be housed in a handle cavity 20 or base cavity 36 enclosed by a seal 22, 38. Alternatively, a pill cup 48 is provided having a tear strip 54 thereon for being releasably attached to the base 30 of container 12. Also, an alternative design discloses a top 56 attached to the container 12 by a tear strip 54 wherein the container 12 has a thin wire frame 58 around its upper rim for strength and ease of use.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to containers and, more specifically, to a container having means for holding a predetermined amount of pills in a segregated manner from a portion of the container having a predetermined amount of liquid which is used to swallow the pills.
The liquid portion of the container conforms substantially to a cup having removable sealing means to ensure the freshness of the contents and to provide a tamperproof compartment.
Further the liquid portion having a base and sidewalls can be divided into a plurality of compartments each having individually removable sealed covers.
The pills can be contained in a variety of ways such as individual blister packs formed within the handle member whereby pressing on one side of the blister compartment will provide access through the other side.
Further the pills can be contained in blister packs which are formed in a container base periphery flange member whereby pressing on one side of the blister pack will provide access through the other side.
In addition the pills can be contained in a second cup which is releasably sealed to the base of the liquid cup portion. Thereby providing a second sanitary useable cup such as may be necessary when dealing with children.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other pill-containing device designed for providing a tamperproof package, as well as insuring the freshness of the pill. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,120 issued to Shveda on Nov. 18, 1975.
Another patent was issued to Hilderbrand on Dec. 16, 1975 as U.S. Pat. No. 3,926,361.
Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,804 was issued to Austin on Jun. 14, 1983 and still yet another was issued on Nov. 22, 1983 to Beall as U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,370.
Another patent was issued to Howes on Dec. 31, 1991 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,433.
A combination package for a primary product and a secondary product complementary to the primary product. The combination package is of the type having a tubular sidewall member and a bottom closure member attached to the sidewall member. The bottom closure member is spaced apart from the lower most portion of the sidewall member to define a secondary product containment volume. A secondary product is placed in this volume and held in place with a retaining means such as a glue spot or a film of material over the end of the sidewall member. The secondary product may be placed in position at the time of manufacture of the package.
A handle member fixed to the outside of a container to a position extending radially from the container and utilizable as a handle. A napkin holder affixed to the outside of the container spaced from the handle member releasably supports a napkin.
A package for containing a preselected amount of a product in the form of a pill or the like is adapted to be converted for use as a cup for containing liquid and includes a pair of sidewalls made of paperboard which are joint together along three mutual edges thereof, the fourth mutual edges defining the top of the cup. A support flap is connected by a perforated score line along an edge of the sidewalls at the top of the cup and has a plastic blister bonded to one face thereof within which a pill or other product may be contained. The support flap is provide with an aperture therein registering with the interior of the blister and a flangible closure, preferably a metal foil, is secured in overlaping relationship to the aperture to prevent loss of the product prior to the time of use. Spaced folded lines in the sidewalls allow folding of the package to a compact condition for storage, and the support flap may be torn away from the top of the cup during use to allow ready access to the product.
A compartmented container suited for use in conjunction with administering the sacramental elements during a communion service and for taking medication and like substances comprising a body member having first and second ends and a side wall portion extending therebetween, a central opening extending through the body member, a floor disposed at an intermediate location along the side wall portion and extending across the central opening separating the body member into first and second compartments, the first compartment being substantially cup-like in form to hold a liquid therein, a closed wall member extending from the floor member into the second compartment forming a cavity therewithin for receiving and storing a communion wafer, a pill or tablet, or other non liquid substance therein, the closed wall member being spaced inwardly from the side wall portion of the body member forming a space therebetween, and a separate closure member slidably receivable within the second compartment including a closed wall member shaped to be movable in the space formed between the side wall portion of the body member and the closed wall member forming the cavity, the closure member having a rupturable membrane extending there across adjacent one end thereof and being positionable within the second compartment such that the membrane extends across and closes the cavity, the closure member being movable in the second compartment against the cavity forming wall member ruptures the membrane and provides access to the no liquid substance stored within the cavity.
In the present invention, food product containers, holders, wrappers or instruments are constructed in a manner which enables these products to secretly retain a prize award, while being indistinguishable from non-prize bearing products. In this way, the prize-bearing product may be randomly distributed with conventional, non-prize bearing products, without having the existence of a prize award being discovered before opening by the consumer. By creating a prize retaining zone which is secretly and undiscoverably embedded in conventional food delivery products such as cups, straws, holders, containers, etc., prize awards such as cash, are secretly hidden and randomly distributed to lucky customers who instantly win the prize award.
While these pill containing device designed for providing tamperproof packaging, as well as insuring the freshness of the pill may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described.
The present invention discloses a disposable container for holding suitable fluid to be used for consuming a medicinal pill. In one embodiment, a disposable plastic package is disclosed having a fluid chamber and a pill chamber having a divide therebetween. A tear-away strip is disclosed for access into the fluid chamber along with a thin wire frame for adding support to the fluid container. In other embodiments, the container also contains variously designed means for housing the pills. The container may have multiple compartments for holding liquids. Also, the pills may be housed in a handle cavity or base cavity enclosed by a seal. Alternatively, a pill cup is provided having a tear strip thereon for being releasably attached to the base of container. Also, an alternative design discloses a top attached to the container by a tear strip wherein the container has a thin wire frame around its upper rim for strength and ease of use.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a pill container having a predetermined amount of liquid to help swallow the pills.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a pill container having a predetermined amount of fluid having a tamperproof releasable seal forming the cover of the pill container.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pill container having a segregated portion comprised of a base member and sidewalls for containing an amount of liquid therein and having a releasable tamperproof seal.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pill container having a segregated container portion comprised of a base member and sidewalls having a number of partitions therein providing a plurality of segregated liquid containers, each having a releasable tamperproof seal.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a pill container having a predetermined amount of fluid having a tamperproof releasable seal forming the cover of the pill container and having a plurality of pills contained in blister packs which form an integral part of a handle.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pill container having a predetermined amount of fluid having a tamperproof releasable seal forming the cover of the pill container and having a plurality of pills contained within a second detachable container having a base member and sidewalls attached to the first container in columnar fashion having a second tamperproof releasable seal.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pill container comprised of two cup-like containers being removably sealed together wherein one container having one or more partitions therein having one or more releasable seals providing access to a predetermined amount of liquid held within said container or said partitioned portions of said container which will be used to swallow the pills contained in the second container which can also serve as a second cup once the pills are removed.
Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.
The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a container having means for holding a predetermined amount of pills in a segregated manner from a portion of the container having a predetermined amount of liquid which is used to swallow the pills.
The liquid portion of the container conforms substantially to a cup having removable sealing means to ensure the freshness of the contents and to provide a tamperproof compartment.
Further the liquid portion having a base and sidewalls can be divided into a plurality of compartments each having individually removable sealed covers.
The pills can be contained in a variety of ways such as individual blister packs formed within the handle member whereby pressing on one side of the blister compartment will provide access through the other side.
Further the pills can be contained in blister packs which are formed in a container base periphery flange member whereby pressing on one side of the blister pack will provide access through the other side.
In addition the pills can be contained in a second cup which is releasably sealed to the base of the liquid cup portion. Thereby providing a second sanitary useable cup such as may be necessary when dealing with children.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.
The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Multi-dose disposable medicant and fluid container


Methods and systems are disclosed for updating camera geometric calibration utilizing scene analysis. Geometric calibration parameters can be derived with respect to one or more cameras and selected reference points of interest identified from a scene acquired by one or more of such cameras. The camera geometric calibration parameters can be applied to image coordinates of the selected reference points of interest to provide real-world coordinates at a time of initial calibration of the camera(s). A subset of a video stream from the camera(s) can then be analyzed to identify features of a current scene captured by the camera(s) that match the selected reference points of interest and provide a current update of the camera geometric calibration parameters with respect to the current scene.

Camera geometric calibration, namely the conversion of image pixel coordinates to real-world coordinates, is a critical step for various image-based and video-based transportation applications such as speed enforcement, on-street parking, etc. The most straightforward approach is to temporarily lay out visible markers with known real-world dimensional measurements, manually take an image/video of the scene, manually identify the pixel coordinates of those markers, and then use standard camera calibration techniques to derive appropriate transformations. Such a method may be labor intensive and/or disruptive to traffic flow. Another option is to drive a test vehicle carrying targets with known dimensions through the field of view of the camera.
Regardless of how the initial camera calibration is done, over time the accuracy of the calibration will deteriorate, and eventually it will no longer be able to adequately perform the required function. Systems and methods for correcting and maintaining camera calibration are needed.

Traffic camera calibration update utilizing scene analysis


A process for depositing a diamond-like carbon (DOC) inclusive layer having surface roughness on a substrate is provided. The surface roughness of the DOC inclusive layer improves hydrophobicity, and is thus advantageous in certain instances. In certain embodiments, the layer has an initial contact angle of at least 100 degrees, a surface energy of no more than about 20.2 mN/m, and/or an average hardness of at least about 10 GPa.

Conventional soda inclusive glasses are susceptible to environmental corrosion which occurs when sodium (Na) diffuses from or leaves the glass interior, as well as to retaining water on their surfaces in many different environments, including when used as automotive windows (e.g. backlites, side windows, and/or windshields). When water is retained or collects on automotive windows, the water may freeze (i.e. forming ice) in certain environments. The more water retained on a windshield, the higher power wiper motor(s) and/or wiper blade(s) required.
In view of the above, it is apparent that there exists a need in the art for (i) a coated article (e.g. coated glass or plastic substrate) that can repel water and/or dirt, and a method of making the same, (ii) a coated soda inclusive glass where the coating(s) reduces the likelihood of visible stains/corrosion forming; and/or (iii) a protective hydrophobic coating for window substrates that is somewhat resistant to scratching, damage, or the like.
It is known to provide diamond like carbon (DOC) coatings on glass. U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,353, for example, states that DOC may be applied on glass. Unfortunately, the DOC of the ""353 patent would not be an efficient hydrophobic coating and/or would not be an efficient corrosion minimizer on glass in many instances.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,900,342 to Visser et al. discloses a fluorinated DOC layer on an electrophotographic element. From about 25-65% fluorine content by atomic percentage is provided at an outermost surface, to provide for low surface energy in an attempt to make removal of xerographic toner easier. Unfortunately, this DOC inclusive layer of the ""342 patent would be too soft for use on a glass substrate in automotive applications and the like. Its apparent lack of sp3 Cxe2x80x94C bonds contribute to its softness. It is believed that continuous exposure to sun, rain, humidity, dust, windshield wipers, and/or the environment in general would cause the ""342 DOC layer to break down or degrade rather quickly and/or substantially over time.
Thus, there also exists a need in the art for a DOC inclusive layer that has sufficient hardness and durability to withstand the environment while still exhibiting satisfactory hydrophobic qualities.
It is a purpose of different embodiments of this invention to fulfill any or all of the above described needs in the art, and/or other needs which will become apparent to the skilled artisan once given the following disclosure.
An object of this invention is to provide a durable coated article that can shed or repel water (e.g. automotive windshield, automotive backlite, automotive side window, architectural window, etc.).
Another object of this invention is to improve the hydrophobic nature of a coated article by utilizing a surface (exterior and/or interior surface) having roughness such as defined by peaks and/or valleys. The formation or provision of nanostructures or other roughness on the surface results in an exterior surface of the coated article having both segments of solid material and segments of voids or air. Because liquids have high contact angles xcex8 in air (e.g., water""s contact angle xcex8 in air approaches 180 degrees), the provision of the voids at the surface of the coated article due to the nanostructures allows the coated article to exhibit increased and/or high contact angles xcex8, and thus be hydrophobic in nature. The nanostructures may be randomly or uniformly positioned in different embodiments.
Another object of this invention is to provide a coated article including a surface including roughness such that the average height or elevation xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d (i.e., xe2x80x9cdxe2x80x9d is measured from the bottom of a valley to the top of an adjacent peak) is from about 5 to 60 nm, more preferably from about 10-30 nm.
Another object of this invention is to provide a coated article with a surface including nanostructures dimensioned such that the average lateral spacing or gap xe2x80x9cgxe2x80x9d between adjacent nanostructures (i.e., xe2x80x9cgxe2x80x9d is measured from the peak of one nanostructure to the peak of an adjacent nanostructure) is from about 10-100 nm, more preferably from about 10-50 nm.
The aforesaid surface(s) may be: (i) an exterior surface of the coated article, (ii) a surface of an underlying substrate, such as a glass substrate, on which a coating(s) is to be provided, and/or (iii) a surface of an intermediate layer provided between the underlying substrate and an exterior diamond-like carbon (DOC) inclusive layer.
Another object of this invention is to provide a coated article, wherein a layer of the coating includes sp3 carbon-carbon bonds and has a wettability W with regard to water of less than or equal to about 23 mN/m, more preferably less than or equal to about 21 mN/m, and most preferably less than or equal to about 20 mN/m, and in most preferred embodiments less than or equal to about 19 mN/meter. This can also be explained or measured in Joules per unit area (mJ/m2).
Another object of this invention is to provide a coated article, wherein a layer of the coating includes sp3 carbon-carbon bonds and has a surface energy xcex3c of less than or equal to about 20.2 mN/m, more preferably less than or equal to about 19.5 mN/m, and most preferably less than or equal to about 18 mN/m.
Another object of this invention is to provide a coated article, wherein a DOC inclusive layer of the coating has an initial (i.e. prior to being exposed to environmental tests, rubbing tests, acid tests, UV tests, or the like) water contact angle xcex8 of at least about 100 degrees, more preferably of at least about 120 degrees, even more preferably of at least about 130 degrees, and most preferably of at least about 145 degrees. The article""s initial contact angle xcex8 may be as high as 175 degrees in certain embodiments. In certain embodiments the article""s contact angle may increase over time upon exposure to environmental elements (as graphitic sp2 Cxe2x80x94C bonds wear off) while in other embodiments the article""s contact angle may decrease over time upon such exposure.
Another object of this invention is to provide a DOC inclusive layer for coating on a substrate, wherein at least about 15% (more preferably at least about 25%, and most preferably at least about 30%) of the bonds in a DOC inclusive layer are sp3 carbon-carbon (Cxe2x80x94C) bonds; and wherein the DOC inclusive layer includes by atomic percentage at least about 5% hydrogen (H) atoms (more preferably at least about 10% and most preferably at least about 15%) taking into consideration either the DOC inclusive layer""s entire thickness or only a thin layer portion thereof (i.e., the layer is hydrogenated). In certain embodiments, an increased percentage of H atoms may be provided near the DOC inclusive layer""s outermost or exterior surface (e.g., outermost 10 angstroms of the layer) to be contacted by water or the like.
Another object of this invention is to provide a coating for a glass substrate, wherein a DOC inclusive layer of the coating includes a greater number of sp3 carbon-carbon (Cxe2x80x94C) bonds than sp2 carbon-carbon (Cxe2x80x94C) bonds.
Another object of this invention is to provide a coated glass article that is abrasion resistant.
Yet another object of this invention is to fulfill any or all of the above listed objects and/or needs.
Generally speaking, this invention fulfills any or all of the above described needs or objects by providing a coated article comprising:
a substrate;
a hydrophobic layer including diamond-like carbon (DOC) and sp3 carbon-carbon bonds provided on said substrate; and
wherein an exterior surface of said hydrophobic layer has a roughness sufficient such that the hydrophobic layer has an initial contact angle xcex8 with a sessile drop of water thereon of at least about 100 degrees.
This invention further fulfills any or all of the above described needs and/or objects by providing a method of making a coated article comprising the steps of:
providing a substrate; and
depositing a hydrophobic layer including sp3 carbon-carbon bonds on the substrate over top of a surface having a roughness so that the resulting layer including sp3 carbon-carbon bonds has a roughness at an exterior surface thereof sufficient such that the hydrophobic layer has an initial contact angle xcex8 with a sessile drop of water thereon of at least about 100 degrees.
This invention will now be described with respect to certain embodiments thereof, along with reference to the accompanying illustrations.

Process for depositing DLC inclusive coating with surface roughness on substrate


System and method for integrity assurance in a virtual environment are provided. The system includes a memory. The memory is configured to receive and store one or more artifacts. The system also includes a processing subsystem operatively coupled to the memory. The processing subsystem is configured to create one or more binary files for a stored one or more artifacts. The processing subsystem is also configured to incorporate the one or more artifacts into a blockchain platform. The processing subsystem is further configured to request the blockchain platform to trigger a crypto sealing process for the one or more artifacts. The processing subsystem is further configured to copy one or more crypto sealed artifacts to a repository. The processing subsystem is further configured to request the blockchain to trigger a verification process to one or more copied artifacts for integrity assurance.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to integrity assurance of files, and more particularly to system and method for integrity assurance in a virtual environment.
Files are a set of records kept together which have to be recorded and maintained. In certain situations, a chain of files have to be maintained. Further, in such a condition, the main purpose is to ensure that the chain of files are not invaded or tampered. Hence maintaining the integrity of the files and assuring a safety of the files is a preliminary criterion.
In one approach, one or more files are stored in a storage medium, which has to be transmitted to a target environment. In such systems an access control security system is implemented to restrict an access to the one or more files or any other related resources. Hence the system is protected from being invaded or tampered. However, in such systems, the one or more files must be transmitted in the form of packets. Hence the control access security system is not efficient to protect the packets of files from being contaminated from a third party.
In another approach, the system uses a processor and an authenticator, wherein the processor is used to convert a received data or received files into program files. Further, the authenticator is configured to selectively sign the program files using a key which is associated with one or more devices for which the program file is assigned or designed. However, in such systems, verification of the encrypted file is not being done. Hence, the system does not ensure if the received data or the received files are same as original data or original files.
Hence, there is a need for an improved system and method for integrity assurance in a virtual environment to address the aforementioned issues.


A plurality of PR measurements are simultaneously made at N different spots on a wafer by forming N modulated pump beams and N tunable probe beams, and directing one pump beam and one probe beam so as to form overlapping images at each of the N spots. Each of a like plurality of N photodetectors receives a portion of the corresponding probe beam which is reflected from the surface of the wafer to provide information about the wafer characteristics at each spot. In one embodiment, automatic alignment of the probe and pump beams along a row of N spots is achieved by means of a semi-cylindrical scan head which has an axial cavity overlapping the row of N spots and a plurality of radial cavities organized into separate, but interleaved input and output groups. The cavities of two separate input groups receive optical fibers carrying the probe and pump beams to the row of N spots. The cavities of two separate output groups receive photodetectors for detecting the reflected beam and for monitoring the pump beam. The scan head and/or the wafer are moved relative to one another in order to make measurements at various row locations on the wafer (e.g., to map the wafer).

In PR techniques a pump beam and a probe beam are simultaneously directed at a small spot on a semiconductor wafer. The pump beam, which is absorbed in the semiconductor and is chopped at a relatively slow frequency, generates electron-hole pairs which modulate the built-in electric field of the semiconductor material. The probe beam is reflected from the wafer surface, and the reflected signal is detected to provide information about the material's characteristics. According to F. H. Pollack et al., PR has been known for more than 20 years, but interest in it has been diminished by experimental difficulties including scattered light from the pump beam and photoluminescence from the wafer. Pollack et al. describe computerized procedures to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and gain additional information on the materials examined. In this regard, see the family of F. H. Pollack et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. including 5,260,772 (issued on Nov. 9, 1993), 5,270,797 (issued on Dec. 14, 1993), 5,255,070 (issued on Oct. 19, 1993), 5,255,071 (issued on Oct. 19, 1997) and 5,287,169 (issued on Feb. 15, 1994), all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The prior art procedures implementing such PR techniques have been slow and cumbersome, entailing measurements made at only one small spot at a time on a wafer. Each such measurement typically consumes 15-30 minutes. Thus, it could take 50-100 hours to make several hundred PR measurements on even a relatively small 2-inch diameter wafer (as would done to map the entire wafer). Of course, mapping of even larger wafers would take commensurately longer.
Thus, a need remains in the art for a PR technique which improves throughput by enabling multiple measurements, and hence wafer mapping, to be performed more rapidly.

High throughput photoreflectance technique and apparatus


This specification disclosed a method of determining the disc type for a disc burner to determine the type of an unfinalized disc. By checking the special bit data in the first and second tracks, the discs can be classified into different types. This avoids the trouble of manually keeping track of the type of each disc.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a method of determining the type of a disc for a disc burner to determine the type of an unfinalized disc. In particular, it is a method that automatically determines the disc type in a disc burner.
2. Related Art
As more disc burners are available at affordable prices, recorable compact disc (CD-R) and rewritable compact disc (CD-RW) have become the primary storage media in the industry. According to different types of data recorded on the discs, the optical discs can be roughly classified into "Compact Disc_Digital Audio"(CD-DA), "Video Compact Discs" (VCD), "Super Video Compact Discs" (SVCD) and "MP3 Compact Disc" (MP3_CD).
As an optical disc has a large storage capacity, not all of it will be used at once. However, it cannot be re-used once it is burned. This is a waste, which greatly restricts the applications of the discs. Therefore, both the burner and burning program have the design of unfinalization processing. In other words, after an optical disc is burned, one can use the unfinalization processing to temporarily terminate the burning process. The rest space can be saved for the next burning.
However, this method faces a problem. That is, the burner has to know what type of data have been recorded on the unfinalized disc before the new burning process. The burner itself cannot automatically determine the original data type. Therefore, it relies on the user's manual input. This is a trouble for the user because the user has to keep track of the type of each unfinalized disc; otherwise, incorrect information may result in errors in the disc.

Method of determining disc type for disc burners

Industrial Technology Research Institute