Examples of cases and other accessories for mobile electronic devices are provided. Some cases are provided to protect mobile electronic devices from unintended forceful contact that could otherwise cause damage to the mobile electronic devices and/or to protect the mobile electronic devices against unwanted and potentially damaging ingress of harmful materials, such as water, dust, dirt, and/other potentially damaging materials. Some cases can include an attachment region that is configured to receive an auxiliary component to be used and/or attached with the mobile electronic device, such as an auxiliary lens or other optical device that can be used and/or attached with an onboard camera of the mobile electronic device.

Field
This invention relates generally to cases and other accessories, and specifically to cases and other accessories for mobile electronic devices (e.g., mobile telephones, mobile texting devices, electronic pad devices, laptop computers, desktop computers, gaming devices, and/or devices capable of linking electronically to another device or to a network such as the Internet, etc.)
Description of the Related Art
In recent years, many advances in computer networking and processing technology have made it possible for mobile devices to include cameras that permit users to capture images. In many cases, these images can be stored, processed, and transmitted. However, there are many design constraints on onboard cameras in mobile devices that can limit the weight, size, expense, shape, adjustability, and overall quality of the lensing systems of such cameras. Consequently, many cameras in communications devices are inadequate for a wide variety of photographic needs and may produce poor quality photographic images.
The deficiencies of onboard camera lenses can be addressed by modular or detachable lensing systems. Such lensing systems may be mounted or attached to mobile devices such that one or more auxiliary lenses are positioned substantially over the onboard camera lenses of the mobile devices. The auxiliary lenses can enhance or alter the light that may be captured by the onboard cameras to generate an image.
Other accessories may be used with mobile devices, such as protective cases. A case is intended to provide protection for the mobile device, and inhibit wear and/or damage to the mobile device. Conventionally, protective cases cover the exterior of the mobile device, or some portion thereof, to cushion impacts, protect against scratches, etc.

Cases for mobile electronic devices configured to receive auxiliary optical devices


A self-piercing die riveter having an indexable die table on the nose of its frame. The die table has a number of dies disposed thereon. The frame defines a first passage and a second passage in communication with and diverging from the first passage. An actuator for indexing the die table is located on the riveter outside of the nose of the frame and is connected to the die table through either shafts or belts disposed within the first and second passages. The die table has a number of detents that cooperate with a locating arm to hinder indexing of the die table and position the dies in-line with the path of a reciprocating punch.

Self-piercing die riveters have been used to join two or more materials to each other using self-piercing rivets. The materials to be joined are placed between a punch and die of the riveter. The punch contacts the self-piercing rivet at the head and drives the tail towards the die piercing the materials. The self-piercing rivet fully pierces the top sheet material(s) but typically only partially pierces the bottom sheet providing a tight joint. With the influence of the die, the tail end of the rivet flares and interlocks into the bottom sheet forming a low profile button.
Self-piercing rivets are typically fed into position on the riveter from a tape, cassette or spool for continuous production. Self-piercing rivets may be used to join a range of dissimilar materials such as steel, aluminum, plastics, composites and pre-coated or pre-painted materials. Benefits of self-piercing die riveting include low energy demands, no heat, no fumes, no sparks, no waste and very repeatable quality.
Single die riveters have replaceable dies that are slid in and out of a die receiving hole. The die receiving hole is located directly beneath the die and subsequently directly in-line with the punch motion. Having a hole in-line with the punch increases the amount of stress risers and generally requires a need to reinforce the frame of the riveter in that area. Reinforcing the frame near the die requires a larger nose of the frame which limits accessibility of the tool. As well, single die riveters do not have the flexibility to easily change out varying die shapes to allow for a single die riveter to be used with multiple die configurations.
Examples of indexing die riveters having an indexing motor located on the nose of the frame may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,094 B2 to Kondo and U.S. Pat. No. 7,810,231 B2 to Naitoh. Having indexing motors located on the nose of the frame limits the access of the tool.
The above problem(s) and other problems are addressed by this disclosure as summarized below.


A flat panel display apparatus and an organic light-emitting display apparatus. The flat panel display apparatus includes: a substrate; a display unit which is disposed on the substrate to realize an image; a metal sheet which is disposed opposite to the substrate, covers at least a part of the display unit, and includes a central part at which uneven wrinkles are formed and an edge part which is formed in a flat shape in which wrinkles are not formed; and a sealing material which fills a whole space formed between the substrate and the metal sheet and seals the substrate and the metal sheet.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a flat panel display apparatus and an organic light-emitting display apparatus, and more particularly, to a flat panel display apparatus, which is manufactured at low material cost and in a simplified process, and an organic light-emitting display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Technology
An organic light-emitting display apparatus is a display apparatus which includes pixel electrodes, counter electrodes, and organic light emission layers formed between the pixel electrodes and the counter electrodes. When a voltage is applied to the pixel electrodes and the counter electrodes, holes injected from the pixel electrodes are combined with electrons injected from the counter electrodes in the organic light emission layers and then become extinct, thereby forming excitations. Therefore, the organic light emission layers emit light due to energy transmitted from the excitations to the organic light emission layers so as to realize an image.
A flat panel display apparatus including such an organic light-emitting display apparatus generally encapsulates a display unit including an organic light-emitting device using a glass encapsulation substrate.
However, since the glass encapsulation substrate is to maintain a thickness to some degree to endure external stress in a manufacturing process of a display apparatus, the glass encapsulation substrate is not used to manufacture a flat panel display apparatus.
The organic light-emitting display apparatus is deteriorated by penetration of external oxygen and moisture. In order to solve this problem, the organic light-emitting device is encapsulated using an inorganic sealant such as frit. However, since such a frit encapsulation structure requires a high temperature bonding process to harden frit, the frit encapsulation structure damages the organic light-emitting device and requires a large amount of time to radiate a laser. Therefore, the frit encapsulation structure is not appropriate for a large area and its strength deteriorates.

Flat panel display apparatus and organic light-emitting display apparatus


This invention relates to aromatic block copolyimide polymers comprising both hydroxyl functional groups and carboxylic acid functional groups, their membranes and methods for making and using these polymers and membranes. The aromatic block copolyimide polymer described in the present invention comprises both hydroxyl functional groups and carboxylic acid functional groups. The gas transport properties particularly the selectivities of the aromatic block copolyimide comprising both hydroxyl functional groups and carboxylic acid functional groups were significantly improved compared to those of the aromatic random copolyimide comprising both hydroxyl functional groups and carboxylic acid functional groups.

This invention relates to high selectivity aromatic block copolyimide membranes comprising both hydroxyl functional groups and carboxylic acid functional groups and methods for making and using these membranes.
In the past 30-35 years, the state of the art of polymer membrane-based gas separation processes has evolved rapidly. Membrane-based technologies have advantages of both low capital cost and high-energy efficiency compared to conventional separation methods. Membrane gas separation is of special interest to petroleum producers and refiners, chemical companies, and industrial gas suppliers. Several applications of membrane gas separation have achieved commercial success, including N2 enrichment from air, carbon dioxide removal from natural gas and from enhanced oil recovery, and also in hydrogen removal from nitrogen, methane, and argon in ammonia purge gas streams. For example, UOP's Separex™ cellulose acetate spiral wound polymeric membrane is currently an international market leader for carbon dioxide removal from natural gas.
Polymers provide a range of properties including low cost, permeability, mechanical stability, and ease of processability that are important for gas separation. Glassy polymers (i.e., polymers at temperatures below their Tg) have stiffer polymer backbones and therefore let smaller molecules such as hydrogen and helium pass through more quickly, while larger molecules such as hydrocarbons pass through more slowly as compared to polymers with less stiff backbones. Cellulose acetate (CA) glassy polymer membranes are used extensively in gas separation. Currently, such CA membranes are used for natural gas upgrading, including the removal of carbon dioxide. Although CA membranes have many advantages, they are limited in a number of properties including selectivity, permeability, and in chemical, thermal, and mechanical stability.
The membranes most commonly used in commercial gas and liquid separation applications are asymmetric polymeric membranes that have a thin nonporous selective skin layer that performs the separation. Separation is based on a solution-diffusion mechanism. This mechanism involves molecular-scale interactions of the permeating gas with the membrane polymer. The mechanism assumes that in a membrane having two opposing surfaces, each component is sorbed by the membrane at one surface, transported by a gas concentration gradient, and desorbed at the opposing surface. According to this solution-diffusion model, the membrane performance in separating a given pair of gases (e.g., CO2/CH4, O2/N2, H2/CH4) is determined by two parameters: the permeability coefficient (abbreviated hereinafter as permeability or PA) and the selectivity (αA/B). The PA is the product of the gas flux and the selective skin layer thickness of the membrane, divided by the pressure difference across the membrane. The αA/B is the ratio of the permeability coefficients of the two gases (αA/B=PA/PB) where PA is the permeability of the more permeable gas and PB is the permeability of the less permeable gas. Gases can have high permeability coefficients because of a high solubility coefficient, a high diffusion coefficient, or because both coefficients are high. In general, the diffusion coefficient decreases while the solubility coefficient increases with an increase in the molecular size of the gas. In high performance polymer membranes, both high permeability and selectivity are desirable because higher permeability decreases the size of the membrane area required to treat a given volume of gas, thereby decreasing capital cost of membrane units, and because higher selectivity results in a higher purity product gas.
One of the components to be separated by a membrane must have a sufficiently high permeance at the preferred conditions or extraordinarily large membrane surface areas are required to allow separation of large amounts of material. Permeance, measured in Gas Permeation Units (GPU, 1 GPU=10−6 cm3 (STP)/cm2 s (cm Hg)), is the pressure normalized flux and equals to permeability divided by the skin layer thickness of the membrane. Commercially available gas separation polymer membranes, such as CA, polyimide, and polysulfone membranes formed by phase inversion and solvent exchange methods have an asymmetric integrally skinned membrane structure. Such membranes are characterized by a thin, dense, selectively semipermeable surface "skin" and a less dense void-containing (or porous), non-selective support region, with pore sizes ranging from large in the support region to very small proximate to the "skin". However, fabrication of defect-free high selectivity asymmetric integrally skinned polyimide membranes is difficult. The presence of nanopores or defects in the skin layer reduces the membrane selectivity. The high shrinkage of the polyimide membrane on cloth substrate during membrane casting and drying process results in unsuccessful fabrication of asymmetric integrally skinned polyimide membranes using phase inversion technique.
US 2005/0268783 A1, US 2009/0182097 A1, and US 2009/0178561 A1 disclosed chemically cross-linked polyimide hollow fiber membranes prepared from two separate steps. Step one is the synthesis of a monoesterified polyimide polymer in a solution by treating a polyimide polymer containing carboxylic acid functional group with a small diol molecule at esterification conditions in the presence of dehydrating conditions. However, a significant extra amount of diol was used to prevent the formation of biesterified polyimide polymer. Step two is the solid state transesterification of the monoesterified polyimide membrane at elevated temperature to form a cross-linked polyimide membrane.
Chemical cross-linking of polyimides using diamine small molecules has also been disclosed. (J. MEMBR. SCI., 2001, 189, 231-239). However, CO2 permeability decreased significantly after this type of cross-linking. In addition, the thermal stability and hydrolytic stability of the diamine cross-linked polyimide were not improved.
Koros et al. disclosed decarboxylation-induced thermally cross-linked polyimide membrane. (J. MEMBR. SCI., 2011, 382, 212-221 and MACROMOLECULES, 2011, 44, 6046) However, decarboxylation reaction among the carboxylic acid groups on the carboxylic acid group-containing polyimide membrane occurred at temperatures higher than the glass transition temperature of the polyimide polymer. Such a high temperature resulted in densification of the substructure of the membrane and decreased membrane permeance. In addition, the 6FDA-DAM:DABA polyimide reported by Koros is a random copolyimide that was synthesized by reacting all the monomers together.
Liu et al. (U.S. application Ser. No. 14/039,477) disclosed a new type of self-cross-linkable aromatic polyimide membrane prepared from a self-cross-linkable aromatic polyimide polymer that comprises both hydroxyl functional groups and carboxylic acid functional groups. The aromatic polyimide comprising both hydroxyl functional groups and carboxylic acid functional groups is a random copolyimide synthesized by reacting two different diamine monomers simultaneously with a dianhydride monomer.
The present invention discloses high selectivity aromatic block copolyimide membranes comprising both hydroxyl functional groups and carboxylic acid functional groups and methods for making and using these membranes.

Super high selectivity aromatic block copolyimide membranes for separations


A system and method for managing change in software systems and applications manages change for both transient and persistent objects in a domain independent, non-intrusive, object-oriented fashion. The system and method are designed and implemented as a combination of two abstract machines consisting of a set of inter-face functions visible to the application, and an internal or private state which is hidden from such application. Applications use the interface functions to obtain the services of this change management system and method. Since the internal state of such system and method is outside the application, change management is provided as a service without the need for altering or adding onto application data structures and interfaces.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to change management for software systems and applications, and more particularly, a system and method which supports evolution and configuration of objects in a generic, domain-nonspecific, medium-independent fashion.
2. Description of Related Art
Many software and design applications need support for the evolution of objects as well as for constructing and configuring the objects into layered, hierarchical descriptions. Change management may be defined as a consistent set of techniques that aid in evolving the design and implementation of an abstraction. These techniques can be applied at many levels to record history, explore alternatives, and manage layered designs.
The idea of employing abstract machines as a technique for defining systems and designing software is fairly well known in software engineering. Normally, abstract machines are used to specify the design of such systems as hypertext systems or modeling systems. It would, however, be very useful to not only specify and design a system, but also to implement a system, using abstract machines.
In today's software systems, change management is treated as a function which interacts closely with the application. Change management information and domain knowledge are mixed together so that the change management component, if any, is not identifiable as a separate entity. Change management components which are identifiable often interact closely with file systems and only support files as manageable objects. Although several change management systems exist, they only address the needs of the one particular domain to which they are targeted (e.g., Computer Aided Electronic Design, Computer Aided Software Engineering, Authoring Systems etc.)
Current systems implement change management in a domain and application specific manner. This means that the systems are not re-usable and every new application needs to re-implement the same set of techniques in an ad hoc manner. For example, the Berkeley Version Server manages change for Computer Aided Design and Sun Microsystems NSE manages change for software development. Though these systems both run on Sun Microsystems workstations under the Unix operating systems, there cannot be any code sharing because both systems embed knowledge of their domains into the change management software.
Current systems, being tightly bound to the single application environment in which they are embedded, are not robust enough to withstand changes to the environment without major redesign or re-implementation. An example of such change might be a management decision to change the way in which audit trails are kept. The main drawback of such tightly coupled or embedded support systems is that the application semantics now has mixed abstractions. Mixed abstractions lead to software that is difficult to design, implement, validate, and maintain.
Additionally, current systems only support change management of persistent data. Transient data also undergoes change. Therefore, change needs to be managed for both transient and persistent data in a uniform manner.
Presently, systems take the approach that the unit of information which undergoes change is a file. A file is just an artifact of the storage system and often has nothing to do with the objects that an application is concerned with. An object is usually composed of a number of logical units such as design blocks, function definitions, or lines of text. A change management system needs to support all logical units which are meaningful to the application.

Apparatus and method for providing a facility for managing versions and configurations of persistent and transient objects


Gold is useful for infrared polarization-insensitive mirrors on silica. However, gold does not adhere to bare silica. The adherence is enhanced by depositing an optically thin glue layer of Ni--P on a silica surface after sensitization of the surface and activation. The Ni--P layer has a thickness sufficient to enhance adherence of gold to the surface of silica, but insufficient to act as a barrier to the passage of infrared radiation to or from the gold layer. One measure of the Ni--P thickness is the absorbance of the glue layer of >0.008 at 550 nm (>0.003 at 850 nm) as measured by a spectrophotometer. A 100-150 nm thick gold layer, deposited on this adhesion layer, adheres well enough to pass the commonly used "Scotch tape adhesion test". The ability to make gold adhere to silica with very low optical loss is useful in fabrication of lightwave devices which require the use of reflecting surfaces, such as an optical fibers or waveguides.

Optical transmission properties of silica make it the material of choice for infrared fiber-optic communication systems. Reflective properties of gold in the infrared make it the metal of choice for making a mirror with low polarization sensitivity. Unfortunately, gold does not adhere well to silica, so if a gold mirror is needed on a silica surface, such as an end of a silica fiber or a waveguide, then an adhesion-promoting layer must be applied before the gold is deposited. One commonly employed approach utilizes consecutive depositions of layers of titanium and platinum on the silica surface before applying the gold. These layers are, however, optically opaque due to their thicknesses needed to produce sufficient gold adhesion promotion, which are typically on the order of 100-200 nanometers (nm).

Low polarization sensitivity gold mirrors on silica


A charged voltage between the ground and a positive pole of backup capacitor 5 and a ground-casing voltage developed between the ground and a casing of capacitor 5 are determined. When the ground-casing voltage is smaller than a first value, it is judged that capacitor 5 has an opened circuit on its positive pole side; when the ground-casing voltage is larger than a second value, it is judged that capacitor 5 has an opened circuit on its negative pole side. A difference between the ground-casing voltage and the charged voltage is divided by the ground casing voltage so that a coefficient is obtained. When the coefficient is outside a predetermined range of values, it is judged that capacitor 5 is poor in capacitance, which makes it possible to determine, even in operation, whether capacitor 5 functions properly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for making diagnosis of an electrolytic capacitor in operation, and more particularly to such method and apparatus for determining whether or not the electrolytic capacitor functions properly in operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, in a so-called air bag system which is known as one of vehicle occupant protection systems, there is used an electrolytic capacitor called the large-capacity backup capacitor which serves as a backup power source in the air bag system.
This type of electrolytic capacitor is provided in a vehicle to prevent the air bag system from failing in vehicle occupant protection operation due to cut wires occurring in a circuit between a battery and a power supply circuit in the air bag system due to an accident involving the vehicle carrying the air bag system. The cut wires preventing the battery from supplying its power to each of the element circuits of the air bag system. More specifically, the electrolytic capacitor in the air bag system is used in place of the battery when such, cut wires occur due the accident involving the vehicle, and supplies its power to the air bag system to enable the system to normally function.
In consideration of the importance of its purpose of the backup capacitor in use, in most cases, such an electrolytic capacitor is provided in the air bag system together with its diagnosis circuits for determining deterioration in properties of the electrolytic capacitor, and for checking on circuit connections in the air bag system.
For example, deterioration in capacitance of the electrolytic capacitor causes its predetermined supply voltage to decrease, which makes it impossible for the electrolytic capacitor to function as a backup power source in the air bag system. Consequently, checking of such deterioration in capacitance of the electrolytic capacitor is considerably important. In order to perform such checking or diagnosis operation, various types of capacitance checking or diagnosis devices have been proposed, each of which comprise: a booster circuit for producing a charging voltage of the capacitor by boosting a voltage supplied from the battery to a predetermined voltage; a discharging circuit through which the capacitor is forcibly discharged; and, a counter circuit for measuring a predetermined elapsed time.
However, each of the above-mentioned conventional checking or diagnosis devices requires its own circuit in addition to the element circuits of the air bag system, and, therefore raises the manufacturing cost of the air bag system in total. Further, for example, in most cases, the conventional checking or diagnosis device performs its checking or diagnosis operation only when an engine of the vehicle is turned on by its engine key. In other words, any checking or diagnosis operation is not conducted after the engine is started. Consequently, as for the time interval of its checking or diagnosis operation, the conventional equipment is insufficient to properly perform its function.
Furthermore, When a user drives the vehicle, it is impossible for the conventional equipment to determine whether cut wires occur in the circuit between the positive (or the negative) pole of the backup capacitor and the element circuits of the air bag system.

Method and apparatus for making diagnosis of electrolytic capacitor in operation


Disclosed is a novel use of a composition comprising as an active ingredient an Artemisia umbelliformis extract. A composition according to the present description shows hair follicle cell proliferation or hair growth effect by means of comprising an Artemisia umbelliformis extract. Therefore, due to said effect, the Artemisia umbelliformis extract has hair loss prevention or hair growth stimulation effect.

Whereas most animals shed and regrow hair seasonally, humans shed about 100 strands of hair out of about 100,000 strands and about 100 strands regrow every day, thus always maintaining a similar number.
The hair growth cycle consists of anagen, catagen and telogen phases. During the anagen phase, hair growth is promoted as cell division occurs actively in the hair dermal papilla, and hair grows only in this stage. Considering that the anagen is about 3-5 years for men and about 4-6 years for women, about 80-85% of hair is in the anagen phase. In the catagen phase, which lasts about 3-4 weeks, the cell division declines gradually. Lastly, in the telogen phase, the hair dermal papilla is withdrawn and the hair separated from the capillary vessel and simply stuck in the scalp. This lasts about 3 months and the hair in the telogen phase is easily lost upon physical stimulation.
Although hair is not an organ critical in sustaining life, it is an indicator of health state and an important part of the body in terms of appearance. Whereas hair loss is considered a normal physiological event for those with a lot of hair, those who suffer from severe hair loss can be badly affected in terms of mental well-being and quality of life due to depression, sense of shame, social isolation, etc.
Although promotion of hair growth and prevention of hair loss have been studied from ancient times, the mechanisms of hair growth and hair loss have not been elucidated clearly yet. Recently, cytological, biochemical or molecular biological studies are actively carried out globally on hair growth and hair loss in many research institutes of universities and companies. Also, a lot of efforts are being made on the development of a drug that can treat hair loss and promote hair growth.
(Patent document 1) KR10-2010-0116882 A.

Composition for hair loss prevention or hair growth stimulation comprising


An importance level determination unit receives: input from a camera of frames of moving images taken; input from a switch connected to a server which is operated manually by hand; and voice input from a microphone. Based on these it determines the importance level of each image frame. An encoder compresses and encodes the image frames obtained by the camera and generates moving picture streams. A packetizer packetizes the moving picture streams and gives them to a tag attachment unit. The tag attachment unit attaches the importance level set for the respective image frames to packet headers of the moving picture streams as a priority tag. A transmission unit transmits packets with a priority tag to a network which includes a router with a packet priority control function.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image coding apparatus for encoding moving picture data, an image decoding apparatus for decoding moving picture data, and an image processing system for transmitting and receiving moving picture streams and regenerating the moving pictures.
2. Description of the Related Art
Transfer of data such as images and voice data through various communication media such as the Internet is becoming increasingly common. Recently, in addition to the download type transmission system that has conventionally been used for data transfer on the Internet, stream type transmission system services are becoming increasingly available.
When transmitting multimedia data, such as video files and voice files by a download type transmission system, a data file is first downloaded from a delivery server to a storage media in a receiving terminal and then played back from the storage media. A file cannot be played back until the transmission of the file is completely finished, so this system is poorly suited for extended-time playback, real-time playback, and the such.
In a stream type transmission system, while data is being transferred from the transmitting side to a receiving terminal, playback processing of the received data is executed in parallel. This system is being used for Internet services such as Internet telephone, remote TV conferencing, and video-on-demand-services.
In a stream type transmission system, for example, an MPEG stream, which has been generated through MPEG compression processing of image data, is stored in IP (Internet Protocol) packets and then they are transmitted through the Internet. The packets are received by communication terminals such as PCs, PDAs, or cellular phones, and in this relation, various applications are being developed and promoted. A technology like this is useful for video on demand, live streaming, and real-time communications like TV conferencing and TV telephoning.
The Internet transfers packets by best-effort delivery. As a result, when the amount of data to be transferred reaches the point where it becomes a burden to the network, the network may fall into an overload status, and this can result in the loss of data due to the discarding of packets. Therefore, in order to ensure network quality over the Internet, a network with a priority function capable of setting priority by packet is proposed which utilizes the router technology DiffServ (Differentiated Services) as a major element.
As an example, DiffServ is realized by the adding of a packet priority control function to a router. In the router, two queues with different priority levels are set up. Packets placed in the high-priority queue are always processed and no packet loss occurs. Packets in the low-priority queue are processed only when the high-priority queue is empty. For example, the bandwidth of a stream to be transferred by the router can be measured and this measurement is used to determine priority. For a packet exceeding 5 Mbps a mark indicating Low is attached to the ToS field or such of the IP packet header, and a mark indicating High is attached to the header of a packet of 5 Mbps or less. In the router, the packets marked with High are placed in the high-priority queue and the packets marked with Low are placed in the low-priority queue. Thus, through packet priority control, a minimum bandwidth of 5 Mbps is ensured for this stream.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-37837, an apparatus is disclosed, which enables simultaneous viewing of a number of images by using a low-bit-rate compatible codec method, and when a specific image is selected, displays the specific image by using a high-bit-rate compatible codec method.
The Internet treats all packets equally. Because of this, network applications, such as multi-participant-type online conversations using moving pictures experience some problems. If a network becomes congested, since all the moving picture stream packets of participants are treated equally, they are thus lost equally, and the moving picture data of the person who is speaking is also lost. For the above-mentioned DiffServ, while it is possible to set a priority for each packet, no appropriate determination standards have been set in terms of how the priority should be set for moving picture stream packets in a multi-participant-type network application like an online conversation. In addition, even when having a network with a priority control function in which the router does priority control of packets which have been given a priority, some sort of system is necessary at the terminal receiving packets so that the image of the moving picture stream having a priority status is given display priority.

Image coding apparatus, image decoding apparatus and image processing system


A speech recognition system includes a facility for toggling the state of the speech recognition system solely in response to a user using a pointing input device, such as a mouse. In one embodiment of the present invention, a user designates a predetermined area of a display surface on a video display to be a hot region. When a mouse cursor points to a location within the hot region, the speech recognition system is put in a listening state wherein the speech recognition system is listening for and processing audio input. When the mouse cursor is moved so as to no longer lie within the designated hot region, the state of the speech recognition system is changed back to the state that immediately preceded the listening state. The previous state may be a not listening state where an audio input is not processed by the speech recognition system or a standing-by state wherein only selected audio input is processed by the speech recognition system.

Speech recognizers receive and process audio input in order to recognize speech components within the audio input. Certain conventional speech recognizers enable a user to input audio data by speaking into a microphone or other audio input device. The resulting audio input is received and processed by a speech recognizer to identify speech components in the audio input. One difficulty encountered with such conventional systems is that the speech recognizer is either always listening and processing input or not listening. When the speech recognizer is active and listening, all audio input is processed, even audio input in the form of background noise and inadvertent comments by a speaker. As a result, the speech recognizer performs a great deal of unnecessary processing and often produces erroneous results. One proposed solution to this problem has been to have the speech recognizer only be responsive to phrases that are prefaced with a trigger term, such as "computer". Another proposed solution has been to designate a key on the keyboard that acts like an intercom button such that when the designated key is depressed the speech recognizer is active and listening. When the designated key is not depressed, the speech recognizer is not listening.

Activation control of a speech recognizer through use of a pointing device


A system is provided for monitoring changes in the operation of a valve system of an engine. An accelerometer provides vibration-related signals that are obtained by a microprocessor or similarly configured device and compared to a reference or baseline magnitude. The obtaining step can comprise the steps of measuring, filtering, rectifying, and integrating individual data points obtained during specific windows of time determined as a function of the rotational position of the crankshaft of the engine. These windows in time are preferably selected as a function of the position of exhaust or intake valves as they move in response to rotation of cams of the valve system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a valve system for an internal combustion engine and, more particularly, to a monitoring system that determines the operating condition of the valve system as a function of vibrations created during the operation of the engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Four cycle internal combustion engines use a valve system that opens and closes the intake and exhaust valve for each cylinder at the appropriate time. Typically, cam shafts with a plurality of cam lobes are used to actuate the movement of the intake and exhaust valves in coordination with the rotation of the crankshaft of the engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,772, which issued to Burandt on Jan. 27, 1987, describes a valve actuating apparatus for minimizing the need for lash adjustment. A cam unit and a follower at the upper end of the valve stem are configured so that the surfaces between which lash is measured are for all intents and purposes removed or segregated from the surfaces used for effecting valve movement. The modified interaction between the cam and the surface the cam bears against compensates for reduction in valve lash. The segregation is achieved by employing a button having a reduced area engaged by the ramp portions of the cam unit, the ramp portions having a width at least as great as that of the button. In one embodiment, the button is softer than the ramps. Provision is also made for dimensionally correlating the working surface of the cam and follower with the amount of load needed at any given movement to open or close the valve.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,275,765, which issued to Divljakovic et al. on Aug. 14, 2001, discloses a system for providing a prognosis of future engine faults. A method for monitoring an apparatus, such as a marine propulsion system, and determining how various measurements of indicator parameters should be compared to reference magnitudes of those indicator parameters is described. In addition, the method monitors the usage time of the apparatus at various operating conditions to determine whether or not calculated reference magnitudes should be used to determine appropriate and inappropriate power spectral density profiles for various indicator parameters.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,285,947, which issued to Divljakovic et al. on Sep. 4, 2001, discloses a prognostication of future failure of an engine indicator parameter. Power spectral densities are taken at period intervals for preselected indicator parameters and these power spectral density profiles are compared to a reference magnitude of a power spectral density profile for purposes of prognosticated future failures. The power spectral density profile can be for any one of a plurality of indicator profiles, such as an accelerometer output, the output of a pressure sensor, or a voltage output from an ignition system. U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,734, which issued to Pierik on Jun. 8, 2004, describes a variable valve actuating mechanism having torsional lash control spring. A variable valve actuating mechanism includes an output cam pivotally disposed upon an input shaft of an engine. First and second frame members are disposed upon the input shaft on respective sides of the input cam lobe. A first link arm is pivotally coupled at a first end thereof to the first and second frame members. A rocker arm assembly is pivotally coupled at a first end thereof to a second end of the link arm. The rocker arm assembly carries a cam follower that engages an input cam lobe of the input shaft. A biasing means is grounded to the first and second frame members, and biases the cam follower into engagement with the input cam lobe.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,312, which issued to Cross et al. on Jan. 18, 2005, discloses a method for detecting engine knock. The method for processing knock related data reduces the memory locations required for the method and also simplifies the processing steps needed to determine a sum, average, and threshold value relating to magnitudes of knock ratios. Inputs from either pressure sensor or accelerometers are filtered and then used to form a ratio between a knock portion of a curve and a reference portion. Sequential magnitudes of the knock ratio are received and analyzed in a manner that reduces required memory locations and improved processing speed.
The patents described above are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in the description of the present invention.

Method for monitoring the operating condition of an engine valve system


A medicament for the prevention or treatment containing a chymase inhibitor, as an effective component, which is a side effect-free, safe medicament for prevention or treatment of fibrosis of the skin or various viscera which suppresses the progression of the condition, prevents the progression of complications, and improves the quality of life of the patient, wherein a quinazoline derivative having the formula (I):

The present invention relates to a medicament for the prevention or treatment of fibrosis involving extracellular matrix dysbolism, a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention or treatment of fibrosis involving extracellular matrix dysbolism, and a medicament for alleviation of extracellular matrix dysbolism.
Fibrosis is a disease characterized by excessive deposition of connective tissue-protein involving extracellular matrix dysbolism in the skin and other organs such as the lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys. For example, hepatic fibrosis is a disease characterized by the excessive deposition of collagen and other connective tissue proteins in the liver. Diseases leading to hepatic fibrosis include vairal hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, schistosomiasis etc. In these diseases, the connective tissue protein gradually accumulates in the hepatic tissue. As a result, disorders in the hepatic functions occur and finally lead to cirrhosis (J. Hepatol. 8, 115, 1989). On the other hand, scleroderma and other skin fibrosis are conditions characterized by the excessive deposition of collagen and other connective tissue protein in the epidermis of the skin. The cause of skin fibrosis includes various skin diseases such as chronic inflammation and chronic autoimmune reactions, and various skin injury such as mechanical wounds and burns (J. Rheumatol. 15, 202, 1988). Further, pulmonary fibrosis is a condition characterized by the excessive deposition of collagen or other connective tissue proteins in the lungs and is induced by pneumonia medicamentosa caused by chemotherapeutic agents such as anti-tumor drugs and antibiotics (Am. J. Pathol. 259, L159, 1990).
The mechanism of pathogenesis of fibrosis have not yet been sufficiently elucidated at the present. In general, the proliferation and function of fibroblasts are closely controlled in normal conditions. However, in pathological state in which inflammation or tissue injury is serious or sustained, the tissue repair mechanism goes into overdrive and the control mechanism is abrogated (Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 29, 79, 1997). Excessive tissue repair is caused by over-production of connective tissue protein probably due to abnormal proliferation of fibroblasts and extracellular matrix dysbolism. The cytokines causing such a phenomenon include, fibroblast growth factor (FGF family), transforming growth factor (TGF-xcex2), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), etc. (FASEB J. 8, 854, 1994). In recent years, numerous studies have been performed to obtain the substances inhibiting the production or the activity of such cytokines, but no inhibitors have yet been applied to human. Further, anti-inflammatory agents such as steroid have been used to treat fibrosis with the aim of suppressing chronic inflammation, but they cannot be said to be sufficiently satisfactory in terms of efficacy and side effects. A superior medicament for the treatment of fibrogenesis is therefore needed.
On the other hand, chymase is a serine protease stored in mast cell granules, and widely present in tissue such as the skin, heart, vascular walls, intestines, etc. (Mast Cell Proteases in Immunology and Biology; Caughey, G. H., Ed; Marcel Dekker, Inc.; New York, 1995). Numerous findings that suggest chymase is involved in various types of fibrosis have already been reported. For example, it has been reported that administration of cromoglycate, an inhibitor for mast cell degranulation, suppresses skin fibrosis in Tsk (tight skin) mice, an animal model for scleroderma (Am. J. Pathol. 82, 493, 1976) (J. Rheumatol. 14, 299, 1987). Furthermore, it-has been reported that chymase activity is increased in Tsk mice (Jp. J. Pharmacol. 97 (sup. I) 60P, 1998), and that there is a correlation between the severity of the skin fibrosis and the number of skin mast cells in a bleomycin-induced scleroderma model in mice (Clin. Immunol. 92, 6, 1999). Regarding pulmonary fibrosis, in addition, it is known that pulmonary. fibrosis is not induced by administration of bleomycin in mast cell deficient mice, suggesting involvement of mast cells that produce chymase (Agents Actions 39, 20, 1993). Further, regarding hepatic fibrosis, the number of mast cells in human livers increases along with the fibrogenesis of livers (J. Hepatol. 26, 1042, 1997). A similar increase of mast cells is observed even in various hepatic fibrosis models (Hepatology 23, 888, 1996, J. Hepatol. 29, 112, 1998). In biliary cirrhosis model in rat, mast cell degranulation are observed in the liver, showing the involvement of mast cell granular components such as chymase in pathogenesis of fibrosis (Hepatology 23, 888, 1996). Regarding the involvement of chymase in fibrogenesis of the heart, on the other hand, it has been reported that chymase activity is 5-fold in the pressure-overloaded hamster heart in which fibrosis and apoptosis are observed (FEBS lett. 406, 301, 1997). Recently, it has been shown that rat mast cell chymase (RMCP-1) causes apoptosis of cardiomyocytes derived from neonatal rats, suggesting that chymase may play a role in cell death of cardiomyocytes and fibrogenesis during progression of heart failure (Circulation 100, 1443, 1999). Further, it has also been reported that the expression of mRNA of chymase is augmented in the end stage where fibrogenesis becomes prominent in a canine with heart failure induced by rapid right Ventricular pacing (Matsumoto et al., 73rd Scientific Sessions of American Heart Association, November 2000, New Orleans, Abs. 2191). Restenosis following PTCA is a vascular disease associated with fibrosis. It has been reported that an increase in mast cells augmentation of expression of chymase is observed in balloon-injured artery in dog, and that tranilast that inhibits mast cell degranulation suppresses neointima formation in this model (Circulation 99, 1084, 1999). However, there is also a report that bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis is, induced even in mast cell-deficient mice in the same way as normal mice (Lab. Invest. 78, 1431, 1998). There are still many unclear points in the role of mast cells or chymase in various types of fibrosis.
There are findings suggesting the mechanism of action of chymase in fibrosis. For example, it has been reported that chymase promotes in culture the production of TGF-xcex2, the major cytokine for fibrogenesis (J. Biol. Chem. 270, 4689, 1995). Further, there is a report that chymase acts in vitro on procollagen, a precursor of collagen, to promote collagen fibril formation (J. Biol. Chem. 272, 7127, 1997) and a report that chymase activates procollagenase (Biochem. J. 305, 301, 1995).
At the present time, a broad search is under way for substances which can inhibit chymase activity in animal models with the aim of elucidating the role of chymase in the body.
There are chymase inhibitors such as low molecular weight chymase inhibitors such as shown in print (Protease Inhibitors; Barrett et al., Eds; Elssevier Science B. V.; Amsterdam, 1996), xcex1-keto acid derivatives reported as peptide type inhibitors (WO93-25574, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1995, 92, 6738), xcex1,xcex1-difluoro-xcex2-keto acid derivatives (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 9-124691), tripeptide inhibitors (WO93-03625), phosphoric acid derivatives (Oleksyszyn et al., Biochemistry 30, 485, 1991), peptide like inhibitors such as trifluoromethylketone derivatives (WO96-33974, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 10-53579) and acetoamide derivatives (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 10-7661, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 10-53579, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 11-246437, WO99-41277, WO98-18794, WO96-39373), non-peptide type inhibitors such as triazine derivatives (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 8-208654 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 10-245384), phenol ester derivatives (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 10-87567), cephem derivatives (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 10-87493), isoxazole derivatives (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 11-1479), imidazolidine derivatives (WO96-04248), hydantoin derivatives (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 9-31061), quinazoline derivatives (WO97-11941), etc. have been reported, but no satisfactory medicament or treatment method using inhibition of the activity of chymase as a strategy for treatment has yet been established.
The object of the present invention is to provide a side effect-free, safe medicament for prevention or treatment of fibrosis of the skin or various organs, which suppresses the progression of the disease, prevents the progression of complications, and improves the quality of life of the patient.
The present inventors engaged in intensive studies to achieve this object focusing on subcutaneous fibrous layer hypertrophy involving the dysbolism of connective tissue protein and, as a result, found that a chymase inhibitor alleviates the dysbolism of collagen and suppresses the increase in the subcutaneous fibrous layer and thereby completed the present invention.
That is, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a medicament for the prevention or treatment of fibrosis involving extracellular matrix dysbolism having a chymase inhibitor as an effective ingredient.
In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention or treatment of fibrosis involving extracellular matrix dysbolism including an amount of a chymase inhibitor for alleviating extracellular matrix dysbolism and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.
In accordance with the present invention, the present invention further provides a medicament for alleviating extracellular matrix dysbolism having a chymase inhibitor as an effective ingredient.

Preventive or therapeutic drugs for fibrosis containing chymase inhibitors as the active ingredient

Abstract: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is included therein.


Wafer-level package semiconductor devices for high-current applications are described that have pillars for providing electrical interconnectivity. In an implementation, the wafer-level package devices include an integrated circuit chip having at least one pillar formed over the integrated circuit chip. The pillar is configured to provide electrical interconnectivity with the integrated circuit chip. The wafer-level package device also includes an encapsulation structure configured to support the pillar. The wafer-level package device also includes an integrated circuit chip device (e.g., small die) configured upon the integrated circuit chip (e.g., large die). In the wafer-level package device, the height of the integrated circuit chip device is less than the height of the pillar and/or less than the combined height of the pillar and the one or more solder contacts.

Flat no-lead packaging technologies, such as quad-flat no-leads (QFN) packaging technologies, physically and electrically connect integrated circuit chips to printed circuit boards. Flat no-lead packaging technologies typically employ a lead-frame that includes an integrated circuit chip (die) mounted thereon. The die may be electrically interconnected with the lead-frame through wire-bonding technology or flip-chip technology. An encapsulation structure is then formed over the lead-frame to encapsulate the integrated circuit chip.

Multi-die, high current wafer level package


A new and distinct Gaura lindheimerii plant with a compact growth habit, large deep rose colored flowers, and a long blooming season.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Gaura lindheimerii known by the varietal name 'Gausudre'. The new variety originated in a planned breeding program in The Netherlands as a result of cross breeding Gaura 'Siskyou Pink' (female parent, unpatented) and an unnamed short form Gaura (male parent, unpatented). The new variety is more compact and exhibits more free branching and a deeper flower color than both parents, which met the goals of the breeding program. The large and uniformly colored flowers of 'Gausudre' differ from other Gaura lindheimerii varieties known to the breeder. The new variety was first asexually reproduced by rooted terminal tip cuttings in The Netherlands. The new variety has been trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations.

Gaura lindheimerii plant named ‘Gausudre’


No ice cooler containers for keeping cool the contents of 1 quart through 1 gallon disposable bottles. The containers are formed form molded plastic and can have solid side walls or double co-axial side walls filled with blue ice.RTM., frozen water and the like. Gripping handles can be molded to the side walls of the containers. The upper portions of the containers can include a removable dome top which screws onto a lower base portion. Some containers have the top caps of the disposable bottles protruding therefrom or have an external cup lid that screws onto the dome portion of the container. Another embodiment has an insulated slip cover that screwably attaches directly to the existing threads on disposable bottles. A still another version allows for various diameter neck bottles to be screwed within an insulated slip cover.

Various sized bottles over 8 ounces or more including one liter, two liter and three liter plastic type bottles are standard and popular containers for holding all types of liquids such as soda pop, seltzer and juices. Because of the extended time it would take to finish off the contents of one of these bottles, the bottles need to be refrigerated for the next use. For example, the normal time needed for a single person to finish off a 2 liter bottle on a hot day would take at least several hours. By the time these 2 liter bottles are half empty, their contents are no longer cold and have become luke warm. The problem is exasperated in warm climate locations in the summer or in climates such as Florida where people work and/or have active lives outdoors. Large block shaped Styrofoam coolers are inadequate for cooling a single 2 liter bottle. Traditional cylindrical type thermoses are also inadequate since the contents of the 2 liter bottle itself would have to be drained into the cylindrical thermos container. Furthermore, using typical plastic type pitchers and filling the contents with ice is also inadequate, because the contents then become watered down. Furthermore, pouring out the contents of the 2 liter bottle can cause the contents to become flat U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,808 to Babb et al. describes an elaborate, difficult to manufacture two-liter bottle cooler/insulator that does not efficiently and effectively hold the contents of two-liter bottles. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,580,412 to Wells; 4,798,063 to Rimmer; 4,921,141 to Branum; 4,931,333 to Henry; 4,986,089 to Raab; 5,067,328 to Medina et al.; 5,212,963 to McGinnis; 5,207,076 to Sciarrillo; and 5,275,015 to Brossia et al. describe various types of prior art devices that do not solve the above mentioned problems.
Other sizes of bottles such as sport bottles, half liter, one liter, and other large bottles such as those for GATORADE.RTM., POWERADE.RTM., and large mouth PEPSI.RTM. 1 liter bottles also have a similar problem where the bottles are both difficult to hold during the day and keep cool during the day. Thus, the need exists for a container for cooling and insulating the contents of various sized bottles.


An apparatus for provisioning a data communications client on a host communications device, the host communications device adapted to operate on a communications network, the apparatus comprising: a first data store adapted to store variant configuration information; a second data store adapted to store provisioning information; a provisioning module adapted to select the provisioning information stored in said second data store as a function of the variant configuration information stored in said first data store and apply the selected provisioning information to provision the data communications client; and a user interface interacting with said provisioning module to enable a user of the host communications device to provision the data communications client.

In a host wireless device, it is sometimes desirable to add a client onto the host to perform functionality that the host normally would not include. The host is typically certified with its software and hardware to communicate over a wireless network, whereas a client typically would not be. Further, certification could occur prior to the client being added, especially in the case that the client is integrated after-market onto the wireless device.
It is further desirable that the client is able to communicate with the native applications on the host and that the host applications are able to communicate with client applications. This communication preferably includes controlling a user interface on the host device from a client application, including registering inputs to the host device for the client application and displaying or outputting from the client application.
In some cases it is also desirable to be able to use device settings from the host environment in a client setting. Examples of this could include locale information, time zones, display themes or backgrounds. The automatic propagation of a change in host device setting would be preferable in some situations.
In one embodiment it is also desirable to have symbol inputs to a client correspond with symbol inputs to a host. It is further desirable that the input of symbols be simplified.
It is further desirable to be able to change the provisioning of a client directly from a host device without having to load new software onto the host device. In particular, it is desirable to be able to select a service type from a list of service types to suit a user without having to change the device the user has, or without having to perform software changes on the user's device

Method and apparatus for provisioning a communications client on a host device


A method for fabricating a TFT is provided. First, a poly-silicon layer is formed over a substrate. A photoresist layer is formed on the poly-silicon layer, wherein the photoresist layer has a pattern for exposing parts of the poly-silicon layer, and the pattern has a varied thickness. The poly-silicon layer is patterned by using the photoresist layer as an etching mask to define a poly-silicon island. Thereafter, a part of the thickness of the photoresist layer is removed for exposing a part of the poly-silicon island. Then, a first ion implanting is performed on the exposed part of the poly-silicon island to form a source and a drain thereby. After removing the residue photoresist layer; a gate insulating layer, a gate, a patterned dielectric layer and a conductive layer are formed on the substrate sequentially.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating thin film transistors (TFTs) and pixel structures, and particularly to a method for fabricating low temperature polysilicon (LTPS) TFTs and LTPS pixel structures.
2. Description of Related Art
Nowadays, benefiting from fast development of optoelectronic technology and semiconductor technology, the video and image devices are now becoming lighter and slimmer. Notwithstanding a few advantages they still has, cathode ray tube (CRT) displays are limited by their large bulk and radiations that to some degree hurt human eyes. Flat panel displays, including liquid crystal displays (LCDs), have advantages such as thinner configuration, lighter weight, lower operation voltage, less power consumption, all colorization and lower radiation, thus becoming a mainstream of the display market in the 21 century.
LCDs are generally categorized into an active matrix type and a passive matrix type, according to driving methods thereof. An active matrix type LCD usually uses thin film transistors (TFTs) as driving switches. TFTs are generally categorized into amorphous silicon TFTs and poly-silicon TFTs, according to materials adopted for making channel layers thereof.
Previous poly-silicon TFTs were generally fabricated under a relative high temperature up to 1000° C., due to which only limited quantity of materials can be selected for making substrates. However, the development of laser technology makes it possible to fabricate poly-silicon TFTs under a lower temperature up to 600° C., which is called low temperature poly-silicon TFTs (LTPS-TFTs).
LTPS-TFTs have many advantages that amorphous silicon TFTs do not have, such as high aperture ratio, high resolution, and excellent display quality, as well as capability of integrating a driving integrated circuit onto a glass substrate. Unfortunately, a process for fabricating LTPS-TFTs is much more complicated and need more steps of mask processing than a process for fabricating amorphous silicon TFTs which usually requires five steps of mask processing. Fabricating typical complementary LTPS-TFTs require eight steps or nine steps of mask processing, which cost much. Therefore, what is needed is to simplify current mask processing for the LTPS-TFTs.

Method for fabricating thin film transistor and pixel structure


A fibrous structure comprising a fibrous matrix with surrogate particles fixed to the fibrous matrix, is provided. Functionally active, fine particles are immobilized on the fixed surrogate particles.

Carrier particles for sorptive impregnants are known. Exemplary are conventional sorptive impregnants such as copper and silver salts, on activated carbon particles.
Fibrous structures containing functionally active particles are commercially available. Filter media or filters made from these structures include sorptive particles for selectively removing certain components of a liquid or gas passing through the filter. Acceptable performance with low pressure drop beneficially results from the active particles being distributed in a three dimensionally spaced apart arrangement. Advantageously, the supporting fibrous structure is stabilized by fiber-fiber bonding, and the active particles are bonded to, or entrapped in interstitial spaces of, the fibrous structure.
Fine active particles will beneficially provide more surface area for a desired end use than a comparable volume of larger particles, but there must be accessibility to the fine particles by a gas or liquid being passed through the fibrous structure. Difficulties exist when active particles are fine, in particular submicron in size. For example, control of the movement of fine particles when introducing fine particles into or onto a fibrous structure, is challenging because of the mobility or irregular motion of fine particles. Fine, mobile particles also tend to cover available fibrous surface area, and thus may interfere with subsequent fiber-fiber bonding.
Immobilization of fine, mobile particles to prevent loss during use is highly desirable. The immobilization requires adequate surface area for deposition of the fine particles. However, an equivalent volume of fine particles requires more surface area for deposition than would be required by an equivalent volume of conventionally-sized particles, for instance, having an average diameter in the range of approximately 300 to 500 microns. Enough fiber surface will typically not be available in a fibrous structure of macrofibers, for surface bonding of a useful loading of fine active particles. Additionally, the need for the fibrous structure to have an acceptably low pressure drop will typically conflict with enough fiber surface. Moreover, even if excess fiber surface were available, the immobilization must be efficient so that loss during use will be minimized.
Accordingly, an improved fibrous structure having a three dimensional arrangement of immobilized active material, is needed. Such a fibrous structure would benefit the use, and provide increased surface for the immobilization, of fine, mobile particles as the active material, but nevertheless have acceptably low pressure drop. Such a fibrous structure would advantageously provide accessibility of fine active particles to a gas or liquid being passed through the fibrous structure, yet minimize the loss of fine active particles during use.


This invention preferably includes a platform (100) having a support surface (110), a pair of legs (150, 150) connected to the support surface (110), and footings (152) and securing mechanism (160 or 180) on the legs (150, 150) for attaching the invention to a litter that preferably satisfies NATO requirements. Preferably, the invention attaches to the poles used to carry a patient on a litter such that the invention provides space for the patient""s legs to pass under if necessary. A further embodiment of the invention adds at least one accessory clip, which preferably includes at least one attachment for a piece of medical equipment such as medical monitors, ventilators, and infusion pumps.

This invention relates to a structure for attaching to litters, preferably litters that meet NATO standards, and for holding medical equipment useful in the care and/or transport of patients between locations.
The standard litter in use is the NATO litter or a modified version of the NATO litter. A common feature between the NATO litter and most modified versions is a two pole structure running in parallel to each other the length of an area to carry and support a patient such as nylon as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Usually, these litters are used in evacuating injured and/or wounded patients from their location of injury (or far forward facility) to a care facility for treatment.
During transport, it is vital to monitor a patient""s current medical status to allow medical personnel to attempt to maintain the status quo, which preferable is sufficiently stable to allow for transport. Unfortunately, litters do not allow for the attachment of medical monitoring equipment given their structure of two poles and a place for the patient, which usually is canvas or a similar material. Instead of two individuals moving a patient, it may take at least one additional person to move along side the litter to move the equipment connected to the patient. Or the extra person may not be needed, because the equipment is put on top of the patient, which is not advisable in most medical situations given the weight of the equipment and notwithstanding the weight, the equipment may shift around on the patient and/or fall off of the patient and the litter. None of these possibilities associated with using the patient as the carrying platform are beneficial to treating the patient.
In the past few years, new devices and ways have been developed to transport the recently injured/wounded. Two examples are LSTAT, which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,151, and MIRF, which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,331. A drawback to both of these is that they have additional equipment and monitors that may not be necessary in each and every situation. The extra equipment adds weight and takes up space, in particular vertical space. In evacuation situations of multiple patients, the extra space will likely limit the number of patients that may be evacuated in any given transport vehicle due to the fact that the litter attachments will take up additional space unnecessarily.
Notwithstanding the usefulness of the above-described approaches, a need still exists for a lightweight attachment for litters that will allow particular equipment to be transported with the patient without requiring another individual to carry the equipment beyond the two individuals carrying the litter.
This invention preferably is a platform for use with a litter (or stretcher); more particularly, the invention is a critical care platform for use with a standard NATO litter, chemical warfare litter, or a collapsible litter.
The invention offers the maximum flexibility in securing medical equipment and/or device(s) needed for patient care directly on the patient""s litter. Human performance is enhanced by strategic placement of medical equipment and/or device(s) allowing continuous patient monitoring, improved patient care access and patient comfort. The invention is an important advancement in aeromedical equipment securing technology.
According to one form of the present invention, an apparatus for attaching to a patient carrying device and for providing an apparatus to have medical equipment in close proximity including during movement of the patient, said apparatus comprising a platform having a support surface, said support surface having a plurality of openings passing therethrough, and at least two legs, each of said legs is connected to said support surface; at least one accessory clip in communication with said support surface, said at least one accessory clip having an interface for connection with said support surface; and at least one pin for engaging said interface of said at least one accessory clip.
According to one form of the present invention, a system for attaching to a litter and carrying medical equipment needed for the care of a patient, said system comprising a platform including a support surface having a plurality of openings passing therethrough and at least two walls depending from opposing ends to each other, a hinge attached to each wall, and a leg attached to each hinge, said leg including two footings spaced from each other; at least one accessory table including an interface sized to communicate with at least one opening through said support surface, said interface having an opening passing therethrough, and means for attaching to at least one piece of medical equipment; and at least one pin, said pin sized to communicate with the opening of said interface and said support surface; and wherein said interface is held in communication with said support surface by said at least one pin.
According to one form of the present invention, a system for carrying medical equipment on a patient carrying device without interfering with the space for the patient, said system comprising at least one means for attaching to at least one piece of medical equipment, means for supporting and positioning said attaching means to the side and/or above the patient on the patient carrying device, said supporting and positioning means including means for adjusting the height of the supporting and positioning means relative to the litter.
An objective of the invention is to provide a platform mountable upon a NATO litter that allows attachment of a variety of medical equipment.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a place to mount life packs, infusion pumps, a ventilator, and/or a suction unit onto a litter.
Another objective of the invention is to provide an attachment to a litter for the placement of medical monitoring equipment and life support equipment.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a litter attachment that is reducible for storage.
Another objective of the invention is to allow for the rotation of monitoring equipment positioned upon the invention.
Another objective of the invention is to provide flexibility in the type of equipment that may be attached to the invention and where on the invention the equipment is placed. A further objective is that a change in the standard medical equipment and/or device(s) will not require that the entire invention be redesigned but instead that a new accessory clip be designed to accommodate the new piece of medical equipment and/or device(s).
Another objective of the invention is to provide a removable accessory table.
A further objective of the invention is to provide multiple positions for a pump while it is attached to the invention.
A further objective of the invention is that it is modularized for various equipment such as monitors, ventilators, intravenous pumps, oxygen bottles, or large life pack monitors.
A further objective of the invention is the ability to withstand vehicular (including aircraft) vibrations while remaining attached to a litter and maintaining the attachment of medical equipment and/or device(s). At least one embodiment of the invention preferably is designed to withstand at least 8 Gs.
A yet further objective of the invention is to provide a low profile when equipment is attached as compared to a patient laying on a litter without the invention being attached.
A yet further objective of the invention is that when mounted on a litter, the litter may still be stacked within a vehicle.
A yet further objective of the invention is to have a lightweight platform.
A still further objective of the invention is the quickness at which it may be attached to or removed from a litter.
A still further objective of the invention is that it be non-corrosive and not susceptible to rust.
An advantage of the invention is the firmness of the attachment between it and a litter.
Another advantage of the invention is the stability achieved for the medical equipment and/or device(s) present on it.
Another advantage of the invention is the flexibility offered in the medical equipment and/or device(s) that may be attached to it.
Another advantage of the invention is that when tilted the attached medical equipment and/or device(s) will not fall off.
Another advantage of the invention is that there are at least two different mounting positions for an infusion pump each of which offer different visual angles.
Another advantage of the invention is that a medical monitor may be rotated between multiple positions to improve viewing by the medical personnel providing care for and/or transporting the patient.
A further advantage of the invention is that when mounted on a litter it will not interfere with the placement of the litter on litter stands or carts.
A further advantage of the invention is that it accomplishes the above-identified objectives.
A yet further advantage of the invention is that it provides for flexibility in the medical equipment and/or device(s) that may be attached offering modularity in the types of attachment.
A yet further advantage of the invention is that at least one embodiment is approved for use during all phases of flight on all U.S. Air Force aircraft (including fixed and rotary wing).
A still further advantage of the invention is that in at least one embodiment allows for height adjustment relative to the litter.
Given the following enabling description of the drawings, the invention should become evident to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


A system for providing a customized list of links to content, the customized list of links provided to a user. The system receives a collection of unfiltered links to content, the collection of unfiltered links received from a server. The system hides the collection of unfiltered links from the user. The system receives parameters for customizing the collection of unfiltered links. The parameters are received from the user. The system selectively presents a customized list of links to content to the user, wherein selectively presenting the customized list of links to content comprises presenting a subset of the collection of unfiltered links in accordance with the received parameters.

Documents are generally understood as anything that may be preserved or represented in order to serve as a record for some objective. Different fields of use for documents include academic use, government use, commercial use, personal use, and public use, for example. A document used within a specific field of use may have a specific formatting standard and purpose depending upon the specific field.
To facilitate use of documents, those who prepare documents may prepare and present the information to an intended viewer in a customized manner so that the intended viewer may efficiently and effectively review the information. An intended viewer may more readily understand complex and unstructured information if the information is customized according to the needs of the intended viewer.
Although documents have traditionally been paper-based, modern electronic means allow for the storage and transfer of electronic documents. These modern electronic means include personal digital assistants ("PDA"), personal computers, audio players, and video players, for example. Although the medium for documents has changed, those who prepare documents still seek to effectively and efficiently communicate the information contained within the documents to intended viewers.

Displaying customized list of links to content using client-side processing


A decorative lighting apparatus for connection to a roller skate wheel and axle supporting the wheel includes a unitary housing which is positioned about the axle and brought into frictional engagement with the wheel. A battery operated light bulb is connected to the housing, and the housing and bulb rotate with the skate wheel about the axle.

It is known in the art to attach lights to roller skates. Such lights may function as miniature head lamps to illuminate the ground or other support surface in front of the skater. It is also known, however, to apply lights to roller skates primarily for decorative purposes.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,208, issued Jan. 29, 1974, illustrates an arrangement of the latter type. More particularly, the device shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,208 is for attachment to a conventional skate wheel of a roller skate. The suggested form of attachment is a magnet connected to the skate wheel axle. The light apparatus is of multi-component construction including a socket attached to the axle, a rotary disk engaging the skate wheel and rotatable therewith, and a housing which is non-rotatable.
A battery powered light bulb is disposed within the non-rotatable housing, the light bulb being observable through a transparent cover attached to the non-rotatable housing. The rotatable disk functions as a switch turning the light bulb on and off during rotation of the roller skate wheel, although, as stated above, the housing and the light bulb do not rotate.
The arrangement of U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,208 is relatively complex and readily dislodged from the roller skate to which it has been attached, creating potential for injury. Furthermore, the decorative affect produced thereby is less than satisfactory in that the light bulb remains stationary relative to the skate and does not rotate with the wheel.


The present invention provides door handle bases for use in mounting door handles to doors. The door handle base has a base plate having a door handle side and an opposite door side, and a pair of tabs attached to the base plate. The pair of tabs are spaced apart from each other and each tab defines a fastener hole through the tab. A boss protrudes from each tab away from the door side of the base plate and contacts the door when the door handle is mounted to the door by the door handle base. The tabs are removably attached to the base plate by a frangible connection and are useable with multiple door handles and doors.

Door handles are commonly used on doors to assist in opening and closing the doors, among performing other functions. For example, a door handle may include a latch or a lock mechanism. Numerous door handles have been made for various types of doors. Door handles may have structural differences from each other and may include various shapes, sizes and visual appearances. Fasteners, such as screws, are commonly used to mount door handles to doors. Door handles may also be "built-in" with the door.
Door handles which are mounted to doors may include a door handle base position between the handle and the door. The door base assist in mounting the door handle to the door and may assist in containing a door latch or lock mechanism. One type of door handle which can utilize a base for mounting the handle to a door is a sliding door handle. For example, FIG. 7 shows an existing door handle base connected to a door handle which is described further below. Door handles for sliding doors have including fastener openings which receive fasteners to mount the door handle to the sliding door. Other sliding door handles have also included extended mounting bosses which extend from the door handle to the door and engage the door. The mounting bosses define fastener openings such that the fasteners extend through the bosses.
The variety of door handles may require various door handle bases to properly mount the door handles to the doors. Accordingly, an advantage would be to have door handle bases in which an individual door handle base can be used with multiple door handles and doors. One specific advantage would be to have a door handle base which can be used with sliding door handles and sliding doors whether or not the door handle has an extended boss for mounting the handle to the sliding door.

Door handle bases for mounting door handles to doors


A system and method for the creation of an atomic internet platform and system is herein presented. Within the atomic internet users, content providers, and event managers may create content or user atoms each of which has a trust history and trust history tail. The atomic internet facilitates direct interaction between atoms of any type and provides curation of information, content, and other data in a trustless environment. Browsing and searching as well as payment and value exchange are facilitated in the atomic internet in a secure fashion based upon an examination of the trust history tail and trust history. The trust history is built over time based upon interactions between atoms and a trust history tail and accumulated trust history transactions are indicative of level of trust based upon the length of the trust history tail and accumulated trust history of transactions.

Messaging on the Internet continually evolves to accommodate new services and new systems for connecting users via messaging applications. Communication is a constant need among individual users for sharing information of all types. The messaging services utilizing the Internet, however, are inherently non-secure and require a third party to form a trusted connection from a message content standpoint unless additional actions have been taken to provide some measure of message and data security when communicating over the public Internet.
The entire ad-supported Internet is built around showing ads to people, so that each person can get content at no cost to them. In the early days of the Internet, this "three-legged stool" was balanced, and it worked. The three legs were: the human user, the publisher, and the advertiser. Many humans visited publishers' sites to get content, and advertisers paid the publisher to put their ads on their sites, so the ads could be seen by the human visitors. Fast forward to the popularization of the theory that more targeting would yield better outcomes. This led to what is now known as "surveillance marketing" where virtually every interaction that a human user has on a website, on a mobile app, or any other devices are tracked by many companies. These adtech companies collect and sell the data just like the mailing list brokers of old. Adtech is the "fourth leg" that was forcibly inserted into the three-legged stool, which was previously balanced, but is no longer. This is because the 4th leg is extracting as much value for itself as possible, at the expense of all 3 others.
Adtech companies currently rely upon digital certificates to establish trust and verify legitimate users and interactions. However, certificates can be compromised, even SSL certificates can be compromised when a group of bad actors go through the process to become a certificate authority. Then the bad actors may sit in the middle as a trusted third-party issuing certificate over which they have complete control. In this fashion the bad actors can become the "man-in-the-middle". To attack a Domain Name System (DNS) system lookup, bad actors are using denial of service attacks against the largest DNS providers. Because of this danger of compromised certificates, the certifications don't really protect against denial-of-service type attacks or against intrusion.
However, the one basis that neither a messaging application nor the bad actors can change is the fact that they each take advantage of the public Internet. Current security measures for messaging also use commonly available solutions for encryption, message construction, and message transmission. Thus, vulnerabilities may be discovered by bad actors doing their homework and experimenting with the same protocols and methods used by the messaging application platforms when exercising the protocols and methods over time.

System and method for secure, trustful internet interactions


A bag actuated tilting device where the area of cross section of the bag is sized such that available pressure multiplied by the bag cross sectional area multiplied by the distance from the pivot perpendicular to a line drawn from the center of the bag base to the center of the cross section equals the load that is being lifted multiplied by the distance from the pivot perpendicular to the line of action of the load. The bag is designed so that the cross sectional area of the bag increases from the top of the bag, mounted to the load, to its base, whereby as the bag collapses, the top of the bag moves downwardly toward its base, folding inwardly onto itself without buckling. In addition, the present invention provides for securely mounting the bag at both ends to the thrust plates nearest to the hinge that causes the bag to effectively become a fixed end-fixed end column resulting in reduced potential for buckling. In addition, the present invention provides a separate electrically run centrifugal pump for efficiently operating the inflatable bag assembly, whereby a check valve maintains gas pressure when the pump is turned off, and allows the bag to be inflated and maintained at an intermediate position.

Lifting devices have been used for many years to conveniently dump a load from a vehicle. The lifting devices are generally mounted between the truck bed and chassis to convert a pickup truck into a small dump truck. Activation of the lifting device tilts the truck bed about a pivot point thereby dumping the contents of the truck bed at a desired location. There are many instances where a small dump truck or dump trailer is desirable. For example, when performing routine maintenance and other projects, municipalities frequently require relatively small amounts of sand, gravel or asphalt to be delivered to a site. Also, landscapers, gardeners, and home owners have use for a dumping vehicle for lawn care and other home repair projects. A dual pickup/dump truck reduces costs and increases efficiency by allowing multiple uses of trucks already being used for other purposes.
All lifting assemblies require the application of force to lift a load. Such force may be applied by supplying an incompressible fluid (air, hydraulic fluid, etc.) under pressure to an expandable device positioned between the load an vehicle chassis. For an efficient system, it would be desirable to utilize all the pressure available to lift the load throughout the entire lift cycle.
To dump a load, the tilting mechanism must rotate and lift the bed about an axis approximately 45-50.degree. from horizontal to allow the material contained therein to flow by gravity from the bed. The weight of the load (W.sub.load), acting downwardly at its centroid, multiplied by the perpendicular distance between the force and the bed pivot (D.sub.load) gives the load moment (M.sub.load) necessary to raise the bed. Written as an equation: M.sub.load =W.sub.load .times.D.sub.load. The lifting moment (M.sub.lift) is the force of the lifting component attached to the bed (F.sub.lift) multiplied by the perpendicular distance from the pivot to the line of force of the lifting component (D.sub.lift). Written as an equation: M.sub.lift =F.sub.lift .times.D.sub.lift. It is desirable to have the maximum available lifting moment (M.sub.lift) equal the load moment (M.sub.load).
Generally, there are two types of lifting assembles: inflatable lifting bags and hydraulic operated dumping mechanisms. Hydraulically driven lifting assemblies provide a significant amount of force to dump pickup beds. In general, however, installation of this equipment is cumbersome, difficult, and expensive. Furthermore, installation of hydraulic cylinder dumping assemblies requires tools not generally available to the homeowner, resulting in decreased sales due to increased costs and shipping difficulties. These types of tilting mechanisms, generally, require raising the truck bed vertically several inches to provide room for mounting the tilting apparatus. Raising the truck bed, however, causes misalignment of the lines and pin-striping between the cab and bed thereby reducing the aesthetic qualities of the vehicle. As the overall appearance of the truck is very important to the consumer, many owners of pickup trucks are unlikely to buy and install hydraulic lift equipment.
There are several mechanical disadvantages associated with the aesthetic and cost concerns of hydraulically driven lift assemblies described above. Hydraulic cylinder actuated devices are inherently inefficient as it is difficult to match the load moment to the lifting moment because the hydraulic cylinder must maintain the same cross section. The load moment is set by the weight and geometry. The only variables in the lift moment are the lift force, which is constant for a specified cylinder pressure, and the distance (D.sub.lift) from the line of action of the force to the pivot. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,901, some advancements have been made in the prior art with various types of cams and linkages to vary the distance such that the lifting moment will more closely match the load moment. However, this arrangement requires complex and expensive mechanisms that will not mount in the limited space available under the truck bed necessary to maintain the vehicle's aesthetic integrity. Furthermore, hydraulic lifting devices require the use of a hydraulic fluid, that can cause harm to the environment if leaked or spilled.
In addition to hydraulic lift assemblies, various inflatable bag assemblies have been employed to more effectively and efficiently lift and tilt truck beds. Some of these prior art devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,899 to Phillips et. al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,711,157 to Smock, U.S. Pat. No. 3,784,255 to Smock, U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,774 to Trowland, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,684 to Gilmore.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,774 to Trowland discloses a truncated cone shaped bag that allows the bag to deflate in a more controlled manner. The Trowland bag, however, is not optimized to use constant pressure during the lifting cycle, or to fold along the path of travel of the upper thrust plate, thereby resulting in a less effective and less efficient lifting assembly. Another prior art bag lifting assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,684 to Gilmore. The patent to Gilmore discloses a two-stage lifting assembly. The first stage includes walls that extend substantially at right angles to the chassis for tilt angles of 0.degree. to 20.degree., while the second stage bag is a truncated right cone, similar to the entire bag design in the patent to Trowland. As stated in Gilmore, the purpose of the two stage bag arrangement is to provide thrust at generally right angles to the tipping tray irrespective of the tipping angle. However, several disadvantages are apparent in the patent to Gilmore that limit its effectiveness. First, although it might be considered an advancement, in some ways, over the lifting assembly in Trowland, the lifting bag in Gilmore is not optimized for the available pressure. In addition, like the patent to Trowland, the bag disclosed in the patent to Gilmore is not optimized to fold along the path of travel of the upper thrust plate. Also, the bag disclosed in the Gilmore patent will tend to buckle from an eccentric loading on the knee portion between the two bag stages.
Furthermore, many of the prior art lifting bag assemblies utilize exhaust gases from the engine to activate the bag. One of the many disadvantages of this arrangement includes the voiding of most manufacturers' engine warranties due to back pressure from the exhaust. In addition, heat from the exhaust gas is detrimental to the elastomer in the bag, and thereby requires a complex and expensive cooling system to cool the gas before entering the bag. In addition, the use of exhaust powered bags requires the addition of a diverter valve to divert the exhaust into the bag along with a separate bypass valve to bypass the exhaust gas from the bag to avoid engine stalling. Generally, this arrangement results in an inefficient and leaky system that requires the engine not only to be running to initially raise the load, but to also maintain the load in its raised position. The exhaust powered system also makes it virtually impossible to stop the lift at a mid-cycle position. Furthermore, the usable pressure of the exhaust powered system is limited by the back pressure that the engine will allow without stalling.
In addition to that described above, the inflatable bag lifting assemblies of the prior art all have the disadvantage of providing an inflatable bag that allows for rotation with respect to both the top and bottom thrust plates, thereby increasing the tendency of the bag to buckle during inflation and deflation. Furthermore, because the prior art bag is allowed to rotate during inflation and deflation, the air inlet to the bag necessarily moves with the bag as the bag rotates on the thrust plate. Accordingly, it is difficult to firmly secure or tie down all of the inlet equipment and connecting attachments, including the hose, while also providing flexibility in the connections to accommodate the movement of the bag during activation and deactivation.
Although some advancement has been made in the prior art to more effectively lift a load, the prior art lifting assemblies still have a number of drawbacks, such as effectively collapsing or folding into an acceptable length, width, or height so that the aesthetic appearance of the truck is preserved. Accordingly, even small advancements made in the prior art to more efficiently lift a load or reduce the mounting height of the truck bed have been considered significant in the production of lifting assemblies. As a result, to manufacture a lifting assembly desirable to the consumer, it is essential to fully utilize lifting pressure to lift the greatest load, minimize the bulk of the bag, and stabilize the bag upon inflation and deflation.

Inflatable bag assembly for lifting a load