A method of producing a patterned array of features, in particular, gate apertures, in the size range 0.4-0.05 .mu.m using projection lithography and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation. A high energy laser beam is used to vaporize a target material in order to produce a plasma which in turn, produces extreme ultraviolet radiation of a characteristic wavelength of about 13 nm for lithographic applications. The radiation is transmitted by a series of reflective mirrors to a mask which bears the pattern to be printed. The demagnified focused mask pattern is, in turn, transmitted by means of appropriate optics and in a single exposure, to a substrate coated with photoresists designed to be transparent to EUV radiation and also satisfy conventional processing methods.

This invention pertains generally to microelectronic processing and more particularly to the use of projection lithography employing extreme ultraviolet light for patterning features.
At the present time semiconductor electronics are produced by projection lithographic methods whereby a circuit pattern or blueprint is transferred from a mask onto a silicon wafer. The process is similar to exposing a film negative onto photographic paper except that the transferred image is reduced rather than enlarged thereby making the electronic component smaller. The demand for smaller critical dimensions in advanced computer chips is continuing to spur improvements in projection lithography. Presently, deep ultraviolet lithography systems, operating at 248 nm and producing 0.25 .mu.m features, are now commercially available and 193 nm lithography systems, capable of producing features in the 0.18 .mu.m range, are under development. In order to produce smaller features it is necessary to operate at even shorter wavelengths. By utilizing extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation in the range of 4.5-15 nm it is possible to produce features smaller than 0.18 .mu.m. The resolution and therefore, the minimum feature size that can be obtained with EUV is a factor of 2-6 times better than with the present deep-UV or 193 nm lithography. However, as will be discussed below, other features of the projection lithography process have impeded the use of shorter wavelengths.
Photoresists are photosensitive films used in projection lithography for transfer of images to a substrate. They form negative or positive images. After coating a substrate with a photoresist the coated substrate is exposed to a source of activating radiation. This radiation exposure causes a chemical transformation in the exposed areas of the coated surface. After the radiation exposure step, the photoresist-coated substrate is treated with a developer solution to dissolve or otherwise remove either the radiation-exposed or unexposed areas of the coated substrate, depending upon the type of photoresist used. Unfortunately, most photoresist materials absorb extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation strongly in the range of 4.5-15 nm. While this is advantageous from the standpoint of resist speed (i.e. the exposure dose required to form a pattern) and the associated printing rate, it poses a serious problem for projection lithographic methods that employ EUV radiation because of highly nonuniform absorption of this radiation through the photoresist thickness. In present photoresist materials, EUV radiation will not penetrate much beyond a film thickness of 0.15 or 0.20 .mu.m. Yet, to fabricate holes and other structures in semiconductor materials such as silicon, as well as metals, or dielectrics, the photoresist layer must be thick enough, preferably 0.5-1.0 .mu.m, to withstand etching and other processing steps. Accordingly, in order to make use of the increased resolution afforded by the use of EUV radiation in the processing and fabrication of small structures, photoresist schemes need to be employed that can be used in conjunction with high resolution EUV radiation and yet are compatible with conventional lithographic processing methods.
As set forth above, the ability to produce smaller dimensions in electronic devices offers significant advantages. Of particular interest is the ability to fabricate gates useful for field emitter applications. The basic technology, projection lithography, useful for fabricating field-imaging and electron-emitting structures has been described by Spindt in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,812,559; 3,665,241; 3,755,704; 3,789,471 and 5,064,396. Smaller gates allow these devices to operate efficiently at significantly lower voltages. By operating at lower voltages inexpensive drive electronics can be used. With a gate size of 0.4 .mu.m, it is possible to employ CMOS circuitry rather than the more expensive bipolar circuits required for 1 .mu.m gates fabricated conventionally. Lower voltages also permit lower power operation and, therefore greater efficiency. Smaller gates permit higher tip packing density and a corresponding reduction in the current required from an average tip, thereby improving the lifetime of the tips. These desirable smaller features cannot be produced by present semiconductor fabrication technology. Consequently, having the ability to fabricate a patterned array of gates with an aperture size of 0.4 .mu.m or smaller is desirable. These same advantages pertain to semiconductor and other electronic devices.

Method for extreme ultraviolet lithography


Apparatus for supporting cooling pipes for an ice rink comprises an elongate base on which is mounted a plurality of upstanding vertical legs and cross wires for supporting the pipes and reinforcing bars necessary for burying in a cast layer of concrete. Each cross wire defines a generally U shaped cradle for properly supporting the cooling pipes. The apparatus can also provide supports for a lower layer of horizontal reinforcing bars and an upper layer of horizontal reinforcing bars which are properly spaced from the cooling pipes.

This invention relates to an apparatus for supporting cooling pipes and reinforcing bars for the cast concrete layer of an ice rink.
Ice rinks are formed by casting a layer of concrete on top of a prepared horizontal surface and by embedding in the concrete horizontal cooling pipes which provide cooling of a layer of water flooded onto the top surface of the concrete layer.
During manufacture of the concrete layer, it is necessary to support the cooling pipes so that they are carried in the concrete layer close to but spaced from the top surface of the concrete layer. In addition it is preferable that the same support for the cooling pipes also support reinforcing bars necessary to structurally reinforce the concrete layer. In some cases a layer of reinforcing bars is located adjacent the bottom surface of the concrete layer and also a layer is arranged adjacent the top surface of the concrete layer.
An example of an apparatus of this general type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,948 (Gillespie). This arrangement shows a horizontal base with a plurality of vertically upstanding legs. Horizontally across the legs at a position spaced from the base is provided a cross wire which is arranged to support first reinforcing bars extending at right angles to the cross bars. On top of the first reinforcing bars is applied a layer of secondary enforcing bars at right angles to the first reinforcing bars and therefore parallel to the cross bars. On top of the secondary reinforcing bars is laid the cooling pipes so that the cooling pipes are supported wholly by the reinforcing bars. The top of the legs is pinched inwardly to restrict upward movement of the cooling pipes and hold them at a maximum height from the base. This arrangement has some advantages over the conventional arrangements on the market place but has some disadvantages in that the cooling pipes are supported on the reinforcing bar.

Apparatus for supporting cooling pipes and reinforcing bars for an ice rink


To provide a food product molding device and a food product manufacturing method capable of molding foodstuffs into a food product having stacked plural layers with a simple structure. A mold unit in which a first mold plate and a second mold plate are stacked slidingly moves by a drive unit. Through holes respectively provided in the first mold plate and the second mold plate are linked to form molding hole portions. The molding hole portions move to a first filling position in which upper ends of the molding hole portions are connected to first filling openings, a second filling position in which upper ends of the molding hole portions are connected to second filling openings, and a discharge position in which upper ends of the molding hole portions are connected to pusher ports by the slide movement of the mold unit.

There is known a food product molding device in which prepared foodstuffs of a food product such as hamburger patty are filled in a molding hole having a predetermined mold and the foodstuffs are removed from the molding hole to thereby obtain a molded product with the foodstuffs molded into a predetermined shape. There is also known a food product molding device for obtaining a molded product having plural stacked foodstuffs (refer to Patent Literatures 1, 2).
The food product molding device described in Patent Literature 1 molds foodstuffs into a molded product having two or more stacked layers, including a rotary disk provided with plural through holes and intermittently rotating, cylindrical molding instruments provided inside the through holes to be substantial molding holes, movable members provided in the molding instruments so as to vertically move, stoppers for regulating movement of the movable members in an upper direction, a support member supporting respective stoppers, suppliers provided at respective predetermined stop positions of the through holes and filling foodstuffs into the molding instruments from a lower side, and so on. In the food product molding device, the movable member moves upward to a position where the movable member is regulated by the stopper when the foodstuff from the supplier is filled in the molding instrument at a predetermined stop position. Accordingly, the foodstuff is filled with a predetermined thickness. While regulating upward movement of the movable members as described above, different kinds of foodstuffs are filled at respective predetermined stop positions, thereby molding the foodstuffs into a molded product having two or more stacked layers. Lastly, the molded product is pushed out by the movable member to be taken out from the molding instrument.
The food product molding device described in Patent Literature 2 molds foodstuffs into a sandwich shape, including first to third molding drums on which molding holes are formed on outer circumferential surfaces, movable members disposed inside molding holes of respective molding drums, cam mechanisms arranged inside the molding drums and moving the movable members so as to change a depth of the molding hole in accordance with a rotation position of the molding drum, a molding belt laid so as to press the outer circumferential surface of the first molding drum, and so on. In the food product molding device, foodstuffs are filled in the molding holes of the first to third molding drums, the foodstuff filled in the molding hole of the second molding drum is pushed out by the movable members toward the molding hole of the first drum in which the foodstuff is filled, then, the foodstuff filled in the molding hole of the third molding drum is pushed out by the movable member. Accordingly, the foodstuffs are stacked in three layers at a position of the molding hole of the first molding drum, and the foodstuffs stacked in layers are pressed by the molding belt to perform molding.

Food product molding device and food product manufacturing method


A wood or other bio mass fueled appliance is disclosed for maximum efficiency and low cost construction for home, garage, workshop, and barn. Comprised of a vertical cylindrical outside shell (12) outside bottom (16) and outside top (14) enclosing an inside shell (24) inside bottom (28) and inside top (26). Inside shell (24) forming a vertical cylindrical chamber (36) accessed by load door (38) and ash door (40), through which disassembled baffles (32) may pass. A suitable means for igniting fuel in chamber (36) and controlling burn rate by draft regulators (42) and fan limit switches (52). Whereby circular baffles (32) elevated by 90° angle shaped supports (30) suppress the flow of flame and exhaust gases from entering flue (22). Exhaust gases and flame pass by gap (50), directing energy toward the inside surface of inside shell (24) inside bottom (28) and inside top (26). Thus maximizing the efficiency of heat transferred from chamber (36) to the air or fluid in space (18) circulated through ducts (20) by blowers/pumps (48) and directed by air deflectors (46) producing economizing results.

This application relates generally to an appliance for burning solid fuels, such as wood, corn, pellets, etc., and more specifically for better combustion, more efficient heat distribution, and more economical construction.
With the increased price of energy, especially the fossil fuels, interest in alternative energy sources, mainly wood derived, to heat the interior space of any structure needing a rise in temperature has grown significantly over the past years, largely by moderate income families trying to reduce the bite of inflation, but also by a sizable segment of low income families who simply cannot afford fossil derived fuels.
Wood-burning devices have been well known for a long time, however, their popularity fluctuates. When petroleum fuel is readily available and reasonably priced, wood burning devices use declines. Recently we have seen a resurgence of interest in the use of wood and other bio-mass fuels as a heating fuel. Many of the reasons for the increase include rising petroleum fuel costs, the availability of wood and alternative fuels, and the staggering effects mining, drilling, processing, transporting and the burning of fossil fuels have on the environment. A problem with existing wood-based and other solid fuel burning appliances, however, is their lack of efficiency. That is, they are inefficient in many ways. First, known wood burning appliances must generate more heat than comparable petroleum fired furnaces, in order to adequately warm remote parts of the space in which it is situated. Moreover, existing wood-based and other solid fuel devices generally tend not to burn their fuel as completely as petroleum fueled furnaces and a significant amount of heat escapes directly out the flue. The, e.g., rectangular or square, shape of known appliances also have many design flaws. As a result, the cost advantages of burning wood or solid fuel over petroleum based fuels are diminished.
The resurgence of the interest in burning wood over fossil fuels may also be attributed to the many benefits of burning of wood over fossil fuels. One of the largest benefits of burning wood over fossil fuels is that a person can harvest, process and store wood with minimal harmful affects to the environment. For example, if a pile of wood is spilled, there is no harm to the environment. In contrast, if petroleum fuel is spilled, there is a very large pollution control cost associated therewith. The storing of fossil fuels also requires special containers, whereas wood fuel can simply be piled on the ground or placed inside a structure where it is going to be used. In addition, wood supply is easily accessed by most individuals who are independent and interested in not being dependent on large petroleum corporations who often fluctuate price for the benefit of the corporation and not the individual consumer.
There are many ways in which wood fired and petroleum fired furnaces are not directly comparable. For instance, a pound of wood is not directly comparable to a pound of oil. Oil will flow into a furnace while wood has to be physically loaded after the fire cools down. In this example labor required to deliver the fuel for combustion is not directly comparable from one type of furnace to the other.
There are many ways in which wood fired and petroleum fired furnaces are comparable. Since wood is a simple compound, made up of less elements, less waste is generated. Unburned oil puts hydrocarbons into the air and wood does not. Hydrocarbons from fossil fuels are suggested to be the cause of global warming and not the burning of wood. Trees grow by taking all that is needed out of the air and soil to grow. Thus, when burned, other growing trees will absorb what was put into the air. Oil is nonrenewable.
In comparing wood furnaces with one another. The current obstacle with wood is efficiently burning the wood and distributing the wood's heat in a structure. A problem with existing wood furnaces is their lack of efficiency. Rectangular wood stoves need more fuel to overcome the flaw of their shape. Because square or rectangle wood furnaces have cold spots and hot spots they tend to be operated very hot when re-fueled and a comfortable temperature is trying to be reached. They are inefficient in two other ways. A wood furnace must generate more heat, than petroleum fired furnaces, in order to adequately warm remote parts of the space in which it is situated. Existing wood burning devices generally do not burn their fuel as completely as petroleum fueled furnaces. A significant amount of heat escapes directly out the flue. Rectangular in nature wood burning furnaces have hot spots in the back primarily due to the existence of their corners. As a result, the cost advantages of burning wood or solid fuel over petroleum based fuels are diminished.
From the above, it can be seen what is a need for a device that is easy-to-use, more economical to produce, and efficient to use.


A system and method for monitoring motion and orientation patterns associated to physical activities of a user is disclosed. Data associated to a physical activity executed by a user is captured from one or more sensors. The data is compared with a plurality of pre-defined motion patterns in order to identify a matched motion pattern. Each pre-defined motion pattern further comprises a first reference threshold value and a second reference threshold value indicating the successful execution of the physical activity. A first threshold value and a second threshold value pertaining to the physical activity executed by the user is determined. The first threshold value and the second threshold value is compared with a first reference threshold value and a second reference threshold value, respectively, corresponding to the matched motion pattern. Finally, an output indicative of the performance of the user in executing the physical activity is notified to the user.

In the recent times, with the use of inertial measuring unit (IMU), digital coaching wearable products are becoming popular in the market. By combining the data captured from accelerometer(s), gyroscope(s), and magnetometer, the IMU may detect motion and orientation in three-dimensional space. The motion and orientation information may enable in determining the performance of the users in execution of various physical activities related to sports and/or exercises thereby recommending an appropriate training and/or coaching devices to the users.
However, since the users are of varying body shapes/sizes and having varied skill levels in differential physical activities, the existing systems face a technical problem of accurately/effectively discerning the posture of the users thereby failing to appropriately determine accurate performance of the users in executing the physical activities.

System and method for monitoring motion and orientation patterns associated to physical activities of users


A system is disclosed. The system includes a first optical transceiver having a first set of transmitters and a first set of receivers and a second optical transceiver having a second set of transmitters coupled anti-symmetrically to the first set of receivers of the first optical transceiver and a second set of receivers coupled anti-symmetrically to the first set of transmitters of the first optical transceiver.

In the future, optical input/output (I/O) will be used in computer systems to transmit data between system components. Optical I/O is able to attain higher system bandwidth with lower electromagnetic interference than conventional I/O methods. In order to implement optical I/O, radiant energy is coupled to a fiber optic waveguide from an optoelectronic integrated circuit (IC).
Typically, a fiber optic communication link includes a fiber optic transmitting device such as a laser, an optical interconnect link, and a light receiving element such as a photo detector. Currently, there is an increasing objective to increase the bandwidth of optical interconnect links.


The present invention can be described as a ball pitching machine having an integral pitching barrel and motor mount and three spaced drive wheels partially projecting into the barrel to grip and propel a ball placed in one end of the pitching barrel. The barrel has three longitudinally aligned slots or windows in the surface of the barrel to provide clearance for secant portions of each of the three wheels. The planes formed by each drive wheel extend radially from the longitudinal axis of the barrel. Each radial plane is equally spaced from each other at 120 degrees relative to each other. Each domed drive wheel is rotatably mounted on the end of a rotatable drive shaft of an electric motor. The three electric motors are mounted on the integral pitching barrel and mount by C-shaped clamps. The barrel is supported by a wheel mounted frame, a pair of U-shaped brackets secured to the frame in an opposed facing relationship, a front support ring for rotatably securing the ejectment end of said ball pitching device, and a rear support ring for rotatably securing the feed end of the ball pitching device. The front support ring and the rear support ring are mounted in a spaced apart relationship between the opposed facing U-shaped brackets to form a generally open rectangular-shaped support member for rotatably mounting and adjusting vertical angle of the ball pitching machine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the following areas of technology: mechanical guns and projectors; projectile impelled by coacting wheels.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,774,584 issued in 1973 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,193,591 issued in 1980 both to John Paulson disclose a coacting wheel type ball projecting device having a base member in the form of a metal casting. A pair of opposed rotatable ball ejecting wheels are mounted to the metal casting. The ball is gripped between the two wheels and ejected.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,088 issued on Dec. 30, 1986 to Norman R. Bruce discloses a ball throwing apparatus with a barrel and two opposed drive wheels positioned one on each side of the barrel. Both drive wheels are slightly offset and their peripheries positioned in the barrel so that the drive wheels impart a spin to the baseball as it is ejected from the barrel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,790 issued in 1991 to Michael Bates discloses a ball pitching device having a variable speed control for the rotation of the baseball propelling tire.
The present invention is a simplification of known devices made for throwing many different types and sizes of balls. The present invention can also be used to throw various types and sizes of ball, but is preferably used for throwing baseball pitches to the batter that vary greatly in speed, spin, and spin plane. The need for such devices has long been established. Mechanical baseball pitching devices are used all the way from pre-little league teams through individual major league players and teams. The time available for practice is of necessity limited, and the limited time must be used in an efficient and productive manner. To this end, the present invention is a significant improvement over the known pitching devices. The present invention can be quickly adjusted for various pitches. After the present invention is aligned for the target, changes of ball pitches are quickly accomplished electrically and not manually. The electrical adjustment to change the curve and trajectory of the pitched ball is done instantly. Set-up is also minimized, because the present invention can be easily wheeled to the proper position in the field ready to use. It is then oriented to the target with no adjustment or assembly of the legs.
The present invention eliminates set-up time, and it is easily and comfortably wheeled to the point of use and ready for use.


Tri-phenyl-phosphonium (TPP) is a non-toxic chemical moiety that functionally behaves as a mitochondrial targeting signaling in living cells. TPP-related compounds may be utilized to target mitochondria in cancer stem cells (CSCs), and may be used for treating and/or preventing tumor recurrence, metastasis, drug resistance, and/or radiotherapy resistance, as well as for anti-cancer therapies. Various TPP-related compounds validated for oxygen consumption inhibition (OCR), were non-toxic, and had little or no effect on ATP production in normal human fibroblasts. Yet these compounds selectively target adherent “bulk” cancer cells. These compounds also inhibit the propagation of CSCs in suspension. TPP-related compounds provide a novel chemical strategy for effectively targeting both i) “bulk” cancer cells and ii) CSCs, while specifically minimizing or avoiding off-target side-effects in normal cells, among other useful therapies.

Conventional cancer therapies, such as irradiation, alkylating agents, and anti-metabolites, work by selectively eradicating fast-growing cancer cells through interfering with cell growth and DNA replication mechanisms. Tumors often recur after such therapies, indicating that not all cancer cells were eradicated. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are tumor-initiating cells (TICs) that appear to be the biological basis of treatment failure, tumor recurrence and distant metastasis, ultimately leading to poor clinical outcome in cancer patients. As a consequence, new therapies are urgently needed, to specifically target and eradicate CSCs.
Interestingly, recent studies indicate that one unique feature of CSCs is a characteristic increase in mitochondrial mass, which may reflect a more strict dependence on mitochondrial function or OXPHOS. Several independent lines of evidence support the idea that increased mitochondrial biogenesis or higher levels of mitochondrial protein translation may occur in CSCs. For example, unbiased proteomics analysis directly shows that mitochondrial mass is elevated in CSCs.
Moreover, MitoTracker (a mitochondrial fluorescent dye) can be used successfully as a marker to identify and purify CSCs. More specifically, the "Mito-high" cell population shows the greatest capacity for i) anchorage-independent growth and ii) tumor-initiating ability in vivo.
High telomerase activity also directly correlates with high mitochondrial mass and the ability of CSCs to undergo proliferative expansion. Similarly, high mitochondrial mass in CSCs was also specifically associated with mitochondrial reactive oxidative species (ROS) production (hydrogen peroxide) and could be targeted with either: i) mitochondrial anti-oxidants, ii) inhibitors of mitochondrial biogenesis (doxycycline) or OXPHOS, and even iii) inhibitors of cell proliferation (palbociclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor).
There exists a need in the art for novel and effective anti-cancer therapies, including the development of not only new anti-cancer compounds, but also methods for identifying new classes of compounds having anti-cancer efficacy. Ideal compounds are selective towards cancer cells, including TICs, yet non-toxic to normal cells. This also includes compounds and moieties that specifically target bulk cancer cells, cancer stem cells, and normal senescent cells, for targeted delivery of therapeutic agents.

Triphenylphosphonium-derivative compounds for eradicating cancer stem cells


A method of providing an article to meet an actual or anticipated demand including the steps of: providing an article having an exposed surface defined by at least one substrate layer; tack stitching a first adornment layer fixedly to the at least one substrate layer with thread at first and second discrete locations so that the article has a first appearance; stocking the article with the first appearance to meet an actual or anticipated demand; changing the article to have a second appearance; and making the article with the second appearance available to meet demand for the article. The step of changing the appearance of the article involves: releasing the tack stitching to allow the first adornment layer to be separated from the article; separating the first adornment layer from the article; providing a second adornment layer; and attaching the second adornment layer to the article.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to portable articles and, more particularly, to a method of fixedly placing an adornment on an article in a manner that facilitates its removal. The invention is also directed to an adorned article made using the method.
2. Background Art
Many articles, in many different fields, are enhanced by attaching adornment thereto. It is common to use a basic article configuration and to selectively attach different adornment thereon to change the appearance thereof. This concept is particularly prevalent in the apparel industry.
One example of apparel, to which a wide range of adornment is attached, is headwear, such as baseball-style caps. The conventional baseball-style cap has a crown with a projecting brim/bill. Adornment, such as in the form of a team name or logo, is commonly attached to the front wall of the crown. This adornment may have many different forms. The adornment may be embroidered directly on a layer or layers defining the crown front wall. Alternatively, the adornment may be formed by a silk screening process or through the use of an impressionable label. Most commonly, the adornment is in the form of a discrete patch with the desired information thereon that may take virtually any form, i.e. words, logos, ornamentation, depictions of animate or inanimate objects, etc.
These patches are capable of being fixedly attached to the crown of the headwear piece in a number of different manners. In one form, an adhesive layer is provided on the back of the patch. By elevating the temperature of the adhesive layer, with the patch urged against the crown surface under pressure, the patch can be permanently bonded to the crown surface.
In another form, the patch is maintained in place by stitching. Typically, the stitching will extend continuously around the perimeter of the patch. In a lockstitch sewing operation, the stitching can be formed so that severance of the thread at any one location does not release adjacent stitches.
This type of adorned headwear is commonly offered as a souvenir at competitions, such as sporting events. One common practice in this industry has been to customize headwear by recognizing the victorious individual or team in a competition with an appropriate designation on the headwear. Fans and observers of such events have become accustomed to having such customized headwear available, either immediately after the conclusion of the event, or soon thereafter. Purveyors of headwear try to make such customized headwear available while the event is fresh in people's minds and there is enthusiasm that may lead to the purchase of one or more souvenir pieces of headwear, and other related paraphernalia.
At times, the volume demand for such headwear is extremely high. In large cities, hundreds of thousands of potentially rabid fans, caught up in the frenzy of a local championship, may be anxious to purchase a commemorative souvenir. To capitalize on the partisan energy that exists within a relatively short frame after such an event, purveyors of such souvenirs generally seek to have high volumes of the customized headwear available at the earliest possible moment after a victor is determined. Early exposure may translate into substantially greater sales than those of competitors.
This rush to market has lead to a number of different manufacturing and marketing practices. One practice is to produce large volumes of headwear identifying each of the participants as the victor. From a marketing standpoint, this is the most effective approach in that the customized headwear can be made available to fans exiting a stadium or arena immediately after the event which crowns the victor.
The obvious drawback with this marketing technique is that the headwear recognizing the losing participant as victor is unuseable. The owner of this stock is left with the options of either disposing of the same, or trying to alter it so that the basic headwear piece and/or the attached adornments can be re-used.
Generally, it is not practical to remove patches that have been attached using a heat activated adhesive. The patch and/or the headwear piece may be destroyed in an attempt to effect removal.
Patches that are applied using a continuous lock stitch sewing method are likewise relatively permanently attached. If removal is desired, each of potentially numerous stitches must be individually severed as by a tool with a sharpened cutting edge. This may be sufficiently time consuming that it is not cost effective to salvage either the headwear piece or the adornment.
As a result, historically purveyors of headwear have routinely disposed of headwear with adornment that is inaccurate or inappropriate. Losses can be very significant, so as to seriously adversely affect profits in a particular market.
This problem has lead some to produce lower end headwear with adornment that is defined by other than separately applied patches. However, those in the industry with reputations for high quality headwear do not generally wish to participate in this alternative manufacturing process. Additionally, those seeking a souvenir commemorating a rare event may wish to purchase a high quality headwear piece that will serve as a lifelong remembrance of the particular event.
The industry continues to seek out ways to provide high quality, commemorative headwear on an expedited basis without the inconvenience and potentially severe economic consequences, discussed above.

Method of providing an adorned article and an adorned article made using the method


A mask substrate comprises a transparent substrate including a reference mark and a light shielding film formed on the transparent substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mask substrate such as a mask blank or a photo mask and its manufacturing method.
2. Description of the Related Art
As semiconductor devices have become finer, it has been desirable to allow a photolithography step to deal with these finer semiconductor devices. The device design rule has already specified a design rule of 0.13 μm. In this case, pattern size accuracy to be controlled is about 10 nm and is thus very demanding.
Since such a very tight accuracy is required, problems with the photolithography step used in a semiconductor manufacturing process are becoming noticeable. One of these problems is a defect in a photo mask substrate (photo mask) on which a pattern is formed and which is used for the photolithography step. This problem will further be described below.
The photo mask is required to have substantially no defects. Thus, a defect inspecting apparatus is used to inspect the photo mask so that a defect found through the inspection can be repaired.
However, such defect inspection and repair require much expense and time. This is one of the major factor that sharply increases the price of the photo mask. Furthermore, only fine defects can be repaired. If there is any defect that significantly disturbs a pattern, a photo mask must be reproduced. This is another factor that sharply increases the price of the photo mask.
Many of such defects found during a process of manufacturing a photo mask are caused by a contaminant already present on the photo mask substrate (mask blank) before a pattern is formed.

Mask substrate and its manufacturing method


An example inspection probe device includes a sensor assembly configured to induce an eddy current in a component. A probe body houses at least a portion of the sensor assembly such that the portion of the sensor assembly is spaced from a target surface of the component when the probe body is in contact with the component. A controller is used to calculate the location of the target surface relative to the probe body using an eddy current parameter sensed by the sensor assembly.

This invention relates generally to an inspection device. More particularly, this invention relates to an inspection probe that utilizes eddy currents.
Turbo machinery, such as gas turbine engines are known and include multiple sections, such as a fan section, a compression section, a combustor section, and a turbine section. During stable operation, the fan section moves air into the machinery. The air is compressed as the air flows through the compression section. The compressed air is then mixed with fuel and combusted in the combustor section. Products of the combustion are expanded in the turbine section to rotatably drive the machinery.
The performance of the machinery depends, in part, on relationships and interfaces between components of the machinery. Accordingly, components of the machinery are periodically inspected to determine their dimensions, clearances, spacing, and other information. The information obtained during the inspection can highlight potential relationship and interface issues.
For example, the size of components can change as the components wear during machinery operation, machinery cleaning, machinery maintenance, etc. Worn components can result in inefficiencies. In one specific example, disks in the turbine section of an engine include slots for holding turbine blades. The slots have a relatively complex geometry and are sometimes difficult to measure due to their axial depth. The dimensions of the slots change when the disk erodes during cleaning. The slots in the eroded disk may fail to securely hold the turbine blades.

Inspection device utilizing eddy currents


Embodiments disclosed herein include an electronics package comprising stacked dies. In an embodiment, the electronics package comprises a first die that includes a plurality of first conductive interconnects extending out from a first surface of the first die. In an embodiment, the first die further comprises a keep out zone. In an embodiment, the electronic package may also comprise a second die. In an embodiment, the second die is positioned entirely within a perimeter of the keep out zone of the first die. In an embodiment, a first surface of the second die faces the first surface of the first die.

In order to provide increased computing power and/or functionality, electronics packages often include a plurality of dies that are communicatively coupled to each other. For example, memory dies may be communicatively coupled to a processor die. In order to provide improved form-factors, the plurality of dies are often stacked.
One example of stacked dies includes a main die that is flip chip mounted to a package substrate and a stacked die formed over the backside surface of the main die. The stacked die may be wire bonded to the package substrate. In such a configuration, the main die and the stacked die are oriented in a back-to-back configuration (i.e., the surfaces with active devices of each die face away from each other). The wire bonds increase the Z-height of the package and increase the X-Y form factor.
An additional example of stacked dies includes a package-on-package (PoP) configuration. In such configurations the main die may be flip chip mounted to a first package substrate, and the stacked die may be wire bonded to a second package substrate. The second package substrate may be electrically coupled to the first package substrate by conductive pillars formed around the perimeter of the main die. In such a configuration, the main die and the stacked die are oriented in a back-to-back configuration. The wire bonds and the extra package substrate increase the Z-height of the package and the need for pillars surrounding the first package increases the X-Y form factor.
An additional example of stacked dies includes a main die that is flip chip mounted to the package substrate with a stacked die coupled to a backside surface of the main die. In such configurations, the main die may have through silicon vias (TSVs) to provide electrical connections from the active surface of the main die to the active surface of the stacked die. In such a configuration, the main die and the stacked die are oriented in a back-to-front configuration (i.e., the backside surface of the main die faces the active surface of the stacked die). Such configurations provide improved Z-height and X-Y form factors compared to the wire bonded stacked dies and PoP configurations. However, the inclusion of TSVs significantly increases the cost and complexity of the main die.
Yet another configuration of stacked dies includes a main die that is flip chip mounted to a first surface of the package substrate, and a stacked die that is flip chip mounted to a second surface of the package substrate. Such an embodiment improves Z-height and X-Y form factor compared to wire bonded stacked dies and PoP configurations. However, mounting the stacked die to the second surface of the package substrate necessitates that the second level interconnects be depopulated where the second die is located.


A heave compensating system for a marine vessel includes a hydraulic machine configured to be coupled to a load suspended from the vessel and to vary the distance between the load and the vessel in response to heaving motion of the vessel. The system further includes a second hydraulic machine in fluid communication with a hydraulic accumulator, both the first and second hydraulic machines are mechanically connected to one another and a shared electric motor, and a controller configured to control hydraulic movement of the first and second hydraulic machines and to control the supply of power to the electric motor.

1. Field of Technology
The present disclosure relates to a heave compensating system, and more particularly relates to a heave compensating system for a marine vessel.
2. Background Information
As is well known, the search for hydrocarbons through the seabed often involves the use of floating marine vessels such as drill-ships or floating marine platforms. The use of floating vessels of this type is generally considered advantageous over the alternative of using fixed platforms resting on the seabed during exploratory operations as they are more readily moveable from site to site.
However, vessels are subjected to upward and downward heave motions due to wave action. A coring or drilling tool is typically carried at the lower end of a string or drill pipe suspended from the vessel. During coring operations, if no compensation is made for the heaving motion of the vessel above, very substantial variations can result in the force applied to the coring tool in the seabed, and this can result in unpredictable compactions or weakenings in the core retrieved the tool, thereby destroying the core or at least reducing its effectiveness for analysis. During drilling operations, heave-induced load variations on a drill bit are known to accelerate the wear of the bit. As will be appreciated, if a vessel is caused to move in heave to an excessive degree, for example in rough sea, very significant damage can be caused to such tools. It can also be important to compensate for the heave motion of a floating vessel when performing other types of hoisting operation from the vessel.
Heave compensating systems have therefore been proposed and are generally used on such vessels to maintain a substantially constant force on the tools, and optionally to maintain the tools in a substantially constant position, as the vessel rises and falls in heave. Previously proposed heave compensator systems generally comprise a motion-compensating hydraulic cylinder associated with the crown block or the travelling block of a derrick arrangement mounted on the vessel and from which the drill string or other tool or load is suspended. The hydraulic cylinder is fluidly connected to a hydraulic accumulator that is driven by the flow of the hydraulic fluid between the cylinder and the accumulator. Such a system is purely passive in nature.
In a purely passive arrangement of the type described above, the nominal pressure charge of the accumulator determines the nominal hydraulic pressure of the compensating cylinder, which in turn determines the magnitude of the load suspended from the vessel which can be held substantially constant despite heaving motion of the vessel. The accumulator's pre-charge pressure must therefore be adjusted to balance the static load whose motion is to be compensated. However, prior art systems of this general type are known to exhibit substantial force variations due to the pressure-dependency of the accumulator on its charge. These variations may sometimes be tolerated for systems such as a so-called dead-line compensator, but may require further compensation in other systems, such so-called crown mounted compensators. In such systems, this further compensation is generally achieved via the use of mechanical, position-dependent transmissions. Nevertheless, while such arrangements can reduce the accumulator charge-dependent force variations, they cannot readily compensate for friction damping and inertia effects. It is therefore common practice to add an active heave compensator arrangement to compensate for these force variations in the passive arrangement. However, conventional combined passive/active heave compensator arrangements can be very complicated, expensive, bulky and can be limited in various operational modes.


The present invention relates to a method for measuring radioactivity of radioactive waste, the method comprising an adsorption step (A) of selectively adsorbing a radioactive substance comprising at least one from among radioactive iodine and radioactive cesium from radioactive waste containing radioactive substances on an adsorption member for adsorbing a radioactive substance, and a measurement step (B) of measuring radioactivity of the radioactive substance.

Radioactive iodine and/or radioactive cesium are included in radioactive waste containing nuclear fuel after use, and also, are/is a radionuclide which is prone to leakage in case of an accident at a nuclear power plant. When nuclear fuel at a nuclear power plant is damaged, soluble radioactive elements present inside the damaged nuclear fuel are dissolved into a primary system coolant. Among the soluble elements, radioactive iodine is present in various types, such as an isotope which has a short half-life of several hours to two months, as well as I-129 which has a long half-life of more than 10 million years. Radioactive cesium also has a long half-life of 30 years.
Therefore, a technique for removing radioactive iodine and radioactive cesium is very important. In addition, chemical analysis of radioactive iodine and radioactive cesium in waste is very important to dispose of waste containing radioactive iodine and radioactive cesium.
In general, a low energy gamma ray (X-ray emission) measurement method is used for chemical analysis of iodine. In addition, chemical analysis of I-129 may be performed through Liquid Scintillation Counter (LSC) beta measurement analysis. However, since iodine is volatile and there are various oxidation states and chemical species (organic iodine), there are difficulties in that it is not easy to separate iodine in radioactive waste or to perform pretreatment for chemical analysis.

Method for measuring radioactivity of radioactive waste


Disclosed herein is a washing machine including an inner tub assembly for accommodating laundry, a pulsator rotatably provided to an inner lower portion of the inner tub assembly, a blade installed at a lower portion of the pulsator to be rotatable independently from the pulsator, the blade being configured to pump wash water to raise the wash water to an upper end of the inner tub assembly, a drive motor for providing rotational power to the pulsator and the blade, and a power transmission unit for transmitting power of the drive motor to the pulsator and the blade, respectively. The power transmission unit transmits power such that a direction of rotation of the pulsator is opposite to a direction of rotation of the blade.

Typically, a top loading washing machine refers to a washing machine that allows laundry to be inserted and retrieved through the top of the washing machine. The most typical type of top loading washing machine is a pulsator type washing machine. The pulsator type washing machine washes laundry washed in a washtub containing a detergent, wash water and the objects introduced thereinto, using wash water streams, and friction and an emulsification process, which are caused by the wash water streams. The wash water streams are generated when wash water is forcibly moved by the mechanical force of a rotating pulsator, installed inside the lower portion of the washtub.
The pulsator, which is rotated by a drive motor, may create various water streams in the washtub through forward and reverse rotations.
Conventionally, a washing machine provided with a circulation pump for pumping circulation water at the outside of a washtub separately from a drive motor has been developed. This washing machine may cause even a small amount of wash water to easily soak laundry (also referred to as "fabric") which are introduced into the washtub, by pumping up wash water positioned at the lower portion of the washtub such that wash water is sprayed from the upper portion of the washtub onto the fabric.
However, if the pump is provided separately from the drive motor, additional costs are taken for purchase of the pump. Thereby, production costs of the washing machine increase, and control operation becomes complex as the operation of the pump needs to be additionally controlled.
As shown in FIG. 24, Prior Art 1 discloses a washing plate 3 installed inside a washtub 1 to move up and down to pump wash water in a space between the washtub 1 and an outer tub 2, an impeller 4 rotatably installed in a lower portion of the washtub 1, and a power transmission means 6 for decreasing and transmitting the rotational speed of a drive motor 5 to an impeller 4. Wash water pumped by the washing plate 3 and the impeller 4 is raised through a flow guide channel 3 and is then supplied back to the washtub through a pumped water stream discharge hole 7.
As shown in FIG. 25, Prior Art 2 discloses a washing machine including a pulsator 60 rotatably provided in a drum 30, a drive motor 50 mounted to the exterior of the tub 20 to generate rotational power of the drum 30 and the pulsator 60, a water stream creation means 70 provided to a lower portion of the pulsator 60 to create a stream projected into the drum 30 as a direct stream. The water stream creation means 70 includes a centrifugal blade portion 71 to create a spouting pressure using centrifugal force produced by rotation. The centrifugal blade portion 71 and the pulsator 60 integrally rotate at the rotational speed of the drive motor 50.


When a face of a paper sheet to be discharged on which an image is formed faces downward, a paper discharge device divides an image region of image data on the paper sheet to be discharged into areas along a discharge direction, detects an area in which maximum image density for each divided area is higher than or equal to a specified threshold, and controls a discharge angle so that the detected area does not come into contact with a stacked paper sheet until the paper sheet to be discharged has been discharged from a discharge roller.

Field of the Invention
The embodiments discussed herein are related to a technique for preventing deterioration in image quality due to rubbing between paper sheets with respect to a paper discharge device.
Description of the Related Art
With respect to a paper discharge device, various techniques have been developed for preventing misalignment of discharged paper sheets when paper sheets are stacked. When contact between a paper sheet and a discharge roller is released and the paper sheet is discharged in a not-in-contact state with stacked paper sheets, since the paper sheets fall freely and reach the stacked paper sheets, alignment of discharged paper sheets deteriorates. Therefore, a paper discharge device is proposed in which a discharge angle is made small so that the front end of a paper sheet to be discharged comes into contact with stacked paper sheets and then the paper sheet is placed on the paper sheet. FIGS. 18A-18C, and FIGS. 19A and 19B illustrate examples of such a discharge device.
FIG. 18A is a diagram illustrating how a paper sheet is discharged in a state in which there are no stacked paper sheets. Note that in regard to direction, in line with movement of the paper sheet 200 to be discharged, the rightward direction in the figure and the leftward direction in the figure are referred to as the upstream direction and the downstream direction, respectively.
By means of a discharge roller pair 104, the paper sheet 200 is discharged on a paper discharge tray 102 at a discharge angle such that the paper sheet 200 is directed downward to a downstream side in the S direction. The discharge angle is determined by an inclination of the discharge roller pair 104, etc. The front end of the paper sheet 200 to be discharged begins to come into contact with the paper discharge tray 102 while the paper sheet 200 is conveyed by means of the discharge roller pair 104.
As illustrated in FIG. 18B, when there are a few stacked paper sheets 210, the front end of the paper sheet 200 to be discharged begins to come into contact with the uppermost face of the stacked paper sheets 210 at almost the same position as that in FIG. 18A. The length between a contact start position and the front end position of the stacked paper sheets 210 is referred to as R, and R is the contact length over which the paper sheet 200 to be discharged contacts the uppermost face of the stacked paper sheets 210 until the paper sheet 200 to be discharged has been completely discharged.
As illustrated in FIG. 18C, as the stacked amount (the number of stacked sheets) of stacked paper sheets 210 increases, the contact start position of the front end of the paper sheet 200 to be discharged moves to an upstream side. Therefore, the contact length R becomes greater as compared with that when there are fewer stacked paper sheets 210, and the portion of the uppermost paper sheet of the stacked paper sheets 210 that is pushed out in the T direction increases by the paper sheet 200 to be discharged. The portion that is pushed out is not constant, which might deteriorate alignment of discharged paper sheets.
FIGS. 19A and 19B are diagrams illustrating how alignment of discharged paper sheets deteriorates when the size of the paper sheet 200 is larger. For example, FIG. 19A illustrates a case in which the paper sheet 200 is A4 size (210 mm×297 mm, as defined by ISO216), and FIG. 19B illustrates a case in which the paper sheet 200 is A3 size (297 mm×420 mm, defined by ISO216). When the paper sheet 200 is A3 size, the contact length R becomes greater and the contact time between the paper sheet 200 to be discharged and the uppermost face of the stacked paper sheets 210 becomes longer as compared with those when the paper sheet 200 is A4 size. Therefore, when the size of the paper sheet 200 becomes larger even though the stacked amount is the same, alignment of discharged paper sheets might further deteriorate.
In order to solve the problem that has been described in FIGS. 18A-18C, wherein the contact start position moves to the upstream side when the stacked amount increases, a paper discharge device is proposed which is configured to lower the paper discharge tray according to the stacked amount (For example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. H10-246998).
FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrate examples of such a paper discharge device. FIG. 20A illustrates a state in which the stacked amount of stacked sheets 210 is small, and FIG. 20B illustrates a state in which the stacked amount of stacked paper sheets 210 is large. As illustrated in FIG. 20B, a paper discharge device 150 detects an increase in the stacked height of stacked paper sheets 210 and lowers the paper discharge tray 102 by using a motor etc. by the increased amount. Thus, the contact length R may be made approximately constant regardless of the stacked amount of stacked paper sheets 210, and deterioration in alignment of discharged paper sheets due to the influence of the stacked amount may be prevented.


A method of manufacturing a foldable bag for use in a bag-in-box assembly is described. The foldable bag being manufactured according to this method has a folded condition in which it includes at least an inwardly creased bag portion in a longitudinal direction thereof. Furthermore, the bag includes a bottom edge and a top edge opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction of the bag. The inwardly creased bag portion has a first closed end and a second closed end opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction of it. The first and/or second closed end of the inwardly creased bag portion is a free end. The bag according to the invention has an improved unfolding process during filling it, and has such a configuration that it does not cause material stress in certain welded seams such as in known bags.

The discussion below is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a foldable bag for use in a bag-in-box assembly, the foldable bag having a folded condition in which it includes at least an inwardly creased bag portion in a longitudinal direction thereof.
Such a method is known from the international application WO 2004/022440. According to the known method a foldable bag is manufactured, which has, in a folded condition, a rectangular shape and two inwardly creased bag portions in its longitudinal direction at opposite sides of the bag. The bag is composed of four sheets. The four sheets are positioned with respect to each other according to a predetermined pattern and welded at a bottom side and a top side which are opposite to each other in longitudinal direction of the bag such that the inwardly creased bag portions are created along two side edges opposite to each other in lateral direction of the bag.
The bag thus manufactured is fixed to a box. In mounted condition a lower part of the bag in the box lies on the bottom of the box. Each inwardly creased bag portion forms one compartment in the bag below and one above the inwardly creased bag portion. During filling of the bag with a liquid it should be unfolded and obtain the shape of the container. During filling of the bag the liquid may flow into the compartments of the bag which are located above as well as below the inwardly creased bag portions. If the compartment of the bag above the inwardly creased bag portion is filled more quickly than that below it, the liquid contained in the compartment above the inwardly creased bag portion will press thereon such that filling of the lower compartment becomes more difficult. It is observed that this effect may result in incomplete unfolding of the bag.

Method of manufacturing a foldable bag and a foldable bag


A method of securely resetting a first device comprising a UICC, the method comprising providing a secure reset control application to a secure element of the UICC of the first device wherein the secure reset control application is capable of commanding the UICC to provide notification indicative of a secure reset of the first device being requested if a corresponding signal is received from a remote management server; and/or communication between the secure reset control application and a remote management server cannot be established for a predetermined period of time and upon the next first device reset, determine whether a secure reset has been requested.

Security is a critical aspect of devices such as Internet of things (IoT) devices, where the hacking of a remote IoT device may have privacy, safety and financial consequences. Security concerns with IoT devices are one barrier to their more widespread adoption.
IoT devices are, owing to their relative simplicity, cost sensitive, and improved security typically has an impact on device cost. There is therefore, a strong need to provide good security at the lowest implementation cost possible.
For low cost devices such as IoT devices, guaranteeing that a large body of software (for example device firmware or operating system) is free of any security weakness for example a bug, hack or exploitable element is not practical, and so an important part of security is to be able to recover from a security breach after the security breach has been discovered. This usually involves being able to upgrade the device software, for example firmware or operating system, with a new version where the security weakness has been fixed. In the context of a large scale IoT deployment, and to be cost effective, this upgrade is preferably carried out fully remotely, without human intervention.
Many security schemes rely at some point on an embedded Secure Element (SE) running on the device, the SE being able to provide security services from a hardened enclave inside the system. Even if part of the device software is hacked, the SE software will not be compromised and can be relied upon to perform a secure software upgrade.
Software Attacks and Mitigation
Security attacks against a device can be classified as:
1. Physical attacks
2. Remote attacks
Physical attacks where access to low-level components of the device system is gained have their own specific mitigation techniques. This disclosure addresses a limited subset of physical attacks where the attacker takes control of a local interface allowing interactions with the device system, for example a local console over a serial port. This disclosure also addresses remote attacks. The addressed attacks are referred to as "software attacks" herein as they rely on the attacker subverting normal protocol exchanges with the device to trigger and abuse software bugs, either over a network connection (remote) or a local interface (physical).
A software attack may leverage one of several weaknesses in a protocol supported by the device to either crash the device, or lead it to execute attack code. A common example is a buffer overflow in a protocol implementation, where some input data can become executed as code. This opens the door to arbitrary code execution on the device. The compromised device can then be exploited by subverting its normal functions, or by using it for unrelated functions. Owing to the fact that a software attack can be fully automated, such an attack can be scaled to a large number of devices. When a software weakness is found, all the devices running the affected software version are capable of being remotely compromised. Once "owned", even a very limited device can be used for harmful purposes like participating into a distributed denial of service (DDoS).
In a DDoS, a large number of compromised devices are typically used to flood internet servers, overloading them and making the associated service unavailable to regular users for the duration of the attack. The threat of a DDoS attack can be used, for example, to extort money from service providers. The large number of IoT devices deployed in the field makes them an interesting vector for DDoS attacks.
The enabler for a software attack is software vulnerability. Any scheme that makes the software more robust will help to prevent an attack, but in the end the last line of defence if a weakness is found and exploited will be to perform a remote software upgrade to install a fixed software version, for example fixed firmware or device operating system. As would be understood, this is a reactive mechanism and as such cannot prevent exploits, but it can limit the span of time during which a weakness can be abused. With millions or even billions of devices deployed, some in hard to reach locations, such a remote software upgrade is an important function.
For a software weakness to be exploitable, the device must be interacting with an untasted and possibly hostile external entity. As long as the device only interacts with trusted external entities, there is no risk of being subverted.
WO2006038082 discloses "System and method for safe booting electronic devices" where a system to remotely boot a cellular device is shown. However it is assumed that the cellular stack is trusted and cannot be tampered with. US20060047944 discloses "Secure booting of a computing device" and US20120084545 discloses "Methods and systems for implementing a secure boot device using cryptographically secure communications across unsecured networks". But like WO2006038082, these systems require the presence of a secure element driving the process and having a secure connection to the network.
There is therefore a need to provide greater surety over which entities a device communicates with, especially immediately after a reset (at boot time) to provide enhanced security of software against attacks.

Secure boot and software upgrade of a device


A system, method, and computer program product are provided for generating a three-dimensional navigable interactive model of a home. In use, a plurality of images associated with an area to access in association with a connected home project are received. Further, a three-dimensional model of the area is generated utilizing the plurality of images. Additionally, an indication of a connected home device to associate with a position in the three-dimensional model is received. Furthermore, the connected home device is associated with the position in the three-dimensional model such that a selection of the connected home device utilizing the three-dimensional model will provide access to an application of the connected home device.

A solution that manages connected home devices, for home automation, security, energy management, etc., should expect a growing number of devices connected at any one time. The most straightforward way to display the devices in a graphical user interface is to order them in a list. However, such a list is no longer the smartest choice because, when the list becomes too long, accessing specific devices becomes cumbersome. There should be a more user friendly way to display such devices, given the graphical capabilities of personal devices (e.g. tablets, smartphones, etc.) to generate images, etc.
There is thus a need for addressing these and/or other issues associated with the prior art.

System, method, and computer program for generating a three-dimensional navigable interactive model of a home


Communication networks and methods are disclosed for synchronizing call traffic in the forward direction over backhaul links. Within a communication network, a traffic processing unit is connected to base stations over a plurality of backhaul links. When the traffic processing unit receives reverse call traffic over the backhaul links, the traffic processing unit processes the reverse call traffic to determine a differential delay in receiving the reverse call traffic over the backhaul links. The traffic processing unit then receives forward call traffic. In response to receiving the forward call traffic, the traffic processing unit transmits the forward call traffic over the backhaul links to the base stations based on the differential delay determined for the reverse call traffic. The transmission of the forward call traffic in this manner substantially synchronizes receipt of the forward call traffic at the base stations.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to the field of communication networks and, in particular, to systems and methods for synchronizing call traffic in the forward direction transmitted over backhaul links from a TPU (traffic processing unit) to base stations that are serving a mobile device in the downlink (i.e., forward direction).
2. Statement of the Problem
A typical wireless or mobile network includes a plurality of base stations that communicate via radio frequencies to mobile devices, such as cell phones. Each base station also connects to a traffic processing unit (TPU), which may be implemented in Mobile Switching Center (MSC), a Base Station Controller (BSC), or a similar switching office over a backhaul network. The mobile device transmits frames for a call (i.e., in the uplink direction) to the base station, and the base station transmits the frames, which is referred to herein as reverse call traffic, to the traffic processing unit over a backhaul link. The traffic processing unit thus receives this call traffic in the reverse direction (base station to TPU). The base station also receives call traffic for the call, which is referred to herein as forward call traffic, from the traffic processing unit over the backhaul link. The traffic processing unit thus transmits this call traffic in the forward direction (TPU to base station).
In a call involving a mobile device, the mobile device typically communicates with multiple base stations that are in range of the mobile device. If the user of the mobile device is speaking, the mobile device digitizes the voice and inserts the digitized voice into a sequence of frames. The mobile device then transmits the frames (in sequence) associated with the call to the multiple base stations in the reverse direction. Responsive to receiving the frames, each base station transmits the frames to the traffic processing unit according to a preset time interval (e.g., 20 ms) over its associated backhaul link. The traffic processing unit then processes the frames from the call to perform frame selection. For instance, for the first frame in the sequence, the traffic processing unit selects which of the frames received from the base stations is best, and the selected frame is used as the first frame in the sequence. For the second frame in the sequence, the traffic processing unit selects which of the frames received from the base stations is best, and the selected frame is used as the second frame in the sequence. This frame selection process is repeated for each frame of the call. The traffic processing unit then forwards the selected frames to the core network.
In the forward direction, the traffic processing unit receives frames for the call from the core network. These frames represent the voice of the other party to the call in full-duplex communications. The traffic processing unit then broadcasts each frame of the call to the base stations over their associated backhaul links as forward call traffic. The traffic processing unit broadcasts the frames to the base stations according to a preset time interval (e.g., 20 ms). Responsive to receiving the frames for the call from the traffic processing unit, each base station transmits the frames to the mobile device. The base stations are synchronized so that they transmit the same frame of the sequence at the same time. The mobile device then receives the frames and converts the digitized voice in the frames to analog voice signals, and provides the voice signals to the user so that the user may hear the spoken voice of the other party to the call.
The base stations serving the call may be communicating with the traffic processing unit over different types of backhaul links. A common type of backhaul link is a point-to-point T1/E1 link. However, other types of switched backhaul facilities may be used, such as an IP network. Also, different transport protocols may be used for transmission of frames, such as ATM, Frame relay, etc. Because different base stations serving the same call may use different backhaul links and/or transport protocols, there may be a differential delay between call traffic as transported over the backhaul links.
For reverse call traffic, the traffic processing unit handles the differential delay between the different backhaul links. In one example, the traffic processing unit performs frame selection at preset time intervals. If a frame for the call is late from one of the backhaul links, then that frame is not considered in the frame selection process. Other methods have been proposed to buffer the frames so that frame selection is performed on frames received over each of the backhaul links.
For forward call traffic, the base stations presently handle the differential delay between the different backhaul links. The traffic processing unit broadcasts frames for the call over each of the backhaul links to the base stations. The base stations then transmit the same frames in the sequence to the mobile according to a preset time interval. If one of the base stations receives frames in the sequence late (i.e., each frame is received after the preset time interval), then those frames are discarded. This is unfortunate as this base station may have the strongest signal with the mobile device over which to transmit the frames to the mobile device. Thus, it is presently a problem that there is differential delay in the backhaul links for forward call traffic.

Synchronization of call traffic in the forward direction over backhaul links


A weather resistant permit display apparatus includes a base, a cover hingedly connected to the base and a permit display panel connected to the base inside of the cover when the cover is in a closed position. A transparent portion of the cover allows a permit mounted on the display panel to be viewed through the closed cover. The display panel may be hingedly connected to the base to provide access to a document bin positioned behind the display panel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to storage and display devices for weather resistant display of a building permit and storage of other documents at a construction site.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many cities require building permits to be displayed and accessible to inspectors at construction sites. In addition to providing information concerning the basis for the permit, the document may have checkoff spaces for completion by various inspectors during the construction process. The permits thus need to be prominently displayed and made accessible to the proper officials while also being protected from the elements. The permits also need to be protected from theft or tampering by unauthorized persons.
A wide range of display systems have been developed to permit the weather resistant display of building permits on a construction site while permitting access by inspectors. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,334,373 discloses a combination building permit display device and rolled blueprint holder. The device includes a flat panel base member with a pocket formed from transparent plastic sheet material for receiving and displaying a building permit while protecting it from the elements. Rolled documents are stored in a cylindrical tube with a closed end and an open end.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,851 also provides a weather resistant display case for displaying construction permits and for storing documents. The display case includes hingedly connected front and rear halves. A tack board is provided inside the rear half for receiving a permit. The front half includes a window through which the permit can be viewed. Rolled documents may be fitted into mating semi-cylindrical recesses in the front and rear halves.
A problem encountered with existing plan and permit boxes is where to mount the boxes. Existing boxes, including those discussed above, are generally adapted to be either nailed to a wall of the building under construction or nailed to a wooden stake to be driven into the ground. The ability to mount the box to a stake generally addresses the situation where the walls of the building have not yet been erected and there is no structure available yet to nail the box to. Wooden stakes however are not particularly convenient to use. Typically the installer has to bring a sledge hammer or the like to the site to drive the stake into the ground far enough so that it does not work its way out of the ground and fall over. The stakes are prone to break when driving them into the ground and the height of generally available wooden stakes positions the box mounted thereon to low for convenient access. It is also known to mount such boxes on larger wooden posts, such as 4 inch by 4 inch posts. However, installing such posts requires digging a hole and either setting the post in concrete or tamping the dirt around the post to secure it in place, requiring additional time and equipment.
There remains a need for an effective and easy to use apparatus for displaying of construction permits. There also remains a need for an improved system for mounting permit boxes at a construction site.

Weather resistant container for displaying building permits and storing construction documents


A wireless communication device includes first wireless communication unit 2 for performing wireless communication with information terminal 21 through wireless LAN, and for obtaining frequency channel of interference wave by detecting interference wave due to wireless communication through wireless LAN between information terminal 24 and portable information terminal 25; second wireless communication unit 3, third wireless communication unit 4, . . . , nth wireless communication unit 5 for performing wireless communication with mobile terminal 22 or wireless headphone 23 by Bluetooth or wireless audio; channel aggregation unit 10 for setting the frequency channel of first wireless communication unit 2 at the same frequency channel as the frequency channel of interference wave the first wireless communication unit 2 obtains; and assignment control unit 9 for allocating frequency channels of the second, third, . . . , nth wireless communication units 3, 4, 5 at frequency channels other than frequency channel the channel aggregation unit 10 sets.

Recently, with the development of wireless communication technology, onboard information equipment typified by a car navigation system has offered user applications that adopt various wireless technology. As an instance, there are a lot of examples such as payment of a fee using an ETC (Electronic Toll Collection System: a registered trademark, the mention of which will be omitted from now on), an in-vehicle wireless communication system for connecting between user equipment like a Bluetooth/wireless LAN and onboard information equipment or between two or more pieces of onboard information equipment, an outside-vehicle wireless communication system employing mobile phone/wireless LAN (Local Area Network), and a dedicated onboard wireless audio transmission system. In addition, a rate of installation of user applications adopting the wireless technology into onboard information equipment is increasing.
When different schemes with nearby frequencies are mixed in a wireless communication system, communication deterioration can occur because of radio interference, that is, because radio waves used in different wireless systems each appear as noise. In particular, a wireless LAN or Bluetooth (registered trademark: it is also applied to the drawings, the mention of which will be omitted from now on) which is incorporated into a lot of products such as a mobile phone, notebook computer and game machine employs a frequency channel of 2.4 GHz band.
FIG. 11 shows a frequency channel arrangement of a wireless LAN and Bluetooth. These frequency channel arrangements are defined in reference 1 and reference 2 shown below, and frequency channels used are determined in accordance with operations in each country. The 2.4 GHz band, which is called ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band, is under lenient operation regulations compared with the other frequency band and does not require a radio station license. Accordingly, it is widely used by a small power wireless data communication system, and is used for a household microwave oven or medical equipment in addition to communication.
Reference 1: IEEE-Std. 802.11™-2007 IEEE Standard for Information technology—Telecommunications and information exchange between systems—Local and metropolitan area networks—Specific requirements Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications.
Reference 2: BLUETOOTH SPECIFICATION Version 3.0+HS.
A wireless LAN, Bluetooth and other wireless communication schemes used in the 2.4 GHz band have their own unique interference avoidance functions. For example, the wireless LAN, which has a CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance) function, decides on whether the frequency band it uses is occupied by any other wireless device by actually measuring a used state of the radio wave, and avoids an interference or collision with the other wireless LAN device or other wireless device with other wireless communication scheme by carrying out communication when it decides that no other wireless device uses the frequency band. In a domain where the frequency band it uses is occupied by the other wireless LAN device or wireless device with other wireless communication scheme, since the ratio of being able to occupy it for its own communication reduces, the transmission efficiency of the communication reduces.
As for the Bluetooth, although it carries out spread spectrum communication by executing frequency hopping, it avoids the interference by measuring the communication state of each hopping frequency using the AFH (Adaptive Frequency Hopping) function, and by removing a frequency with a bad communication state due to radio interference or the like from the hopping frequencies to prevent using it. However, since the number of the hopping frequencies has a lowest limit, when a large percentage of the frequency band used undergoes interference, the communication deterioration increases.
In addition, there are many devices recently that incorporate a wireless LAN, Bluetooth and other scheme, which employ the 2.4 GHz band, into a single wireless device. When the plurality of wireless communication schemes installed in the single wireless device are used simultaneously, since the frequency band is the same, unless the configuration is made in such a manner that the frequency channel assignment is made appropriately or time-division multiplexing control is carried out when the frequency channels are used in common, deterioration due to radio interference can occur.
As an interference avoidance method of a wireless device that incorporates a plurality of wireless communication schemes, Patent Document 1, for example, discloses, in a composite wireless device that incorporates both the Bluetooth and wireless LAN, a configuration that prevents the hopping frequencies of the Bluetooth from encountering the carrier sense of the wireless LAN by controlling in such a manner that the hopping frequencies of the Bluetooth are not allocated to the frequency channel used by the wireless LAN and to its neighboring frequencies. Thus, it avoids the interference between the wireless devices within the composite wireless device which includes multiple wireless communication schemes.
In addition, Patent Document 2 discloses, in an onboard communication device that incorporates both the Bluetooth and wireless LAN, an onboard communication device which comprises an in-vehicle communication means for connecting an in-vehicle mobile terminal and the Bluetooth, and an outside-vehicle communication means for connecting a wireless LAN base station outside the vehicle with the wireless LAN, and which optimizes, when an occurrence of wireless communication by the outside-vehicle communication means is expected, the frequency the in-vehicle communication means will use in the wireless communication so as not to include the particular frequency the outside-vehicle communication means uses.

Wireless communication device and wireless communication system


The present invention involves a corrective optical lens construction and process for its manufacture. The lens construction consists of a glass lens having a corrective layer consisting of a blazed grating of annuli whose angles are formed to correct aberrations in the glass lens. In a first embodiment, the corrective layer is formed on one convex surface of the lens. In a second embodiment, the corrective layer is formed on a second convex surface of the lens. Embodiments also describe alternative lens shapes and corrective layer construction. A method of manufacturing the lens is also disclosed in which the resin corrective layer is molded to the glass lens.

An ordinary glass lens is either composed of a pair of spherical surfaces or one spherical surface and one flat surface. It is well established that most spherical lenses are typically subject to aberrations. In these types of lenses, as shown in FIG. 7, parallel light rays 52 strike the spherical lens 51 and pass through it. The transmitted light rays 53, however, do not typically converge on a single point along the axis of the light beam, but are instead scattered in various directions depending on their respective angles of incidence. FIG. 8 shows a curve expressing the usual wavefront aberrations of the spherical lens of FIG. 7. The vertical axis h shows the position of incidence, and the horizontal axis shows the phase shift.
To avoid the above problems, non-spherical lenses are sometimes employed which are free of aberrations. However, the processes used to produce a non-spherical glass lens exhibiting such qualities such as non-spherical polishing, are complex which makes such lenses difficult to mass-produce and extremely costly.
It has been found that non-spherical plastic lenses can be mass-produced through a simple process of pouring an optical resin into a mold. This process makes it possible to mass-produce non-spherical lenses at a comparatively low cost. However, the plastic lenses have other drawbacks. When exposed to heat, the plastic lenses will expand more than comparable glass lenses. This results in large variations in quality due to temperature variations. Furthermore, plastic lenses suffer a great deal of shrinkage during molding, with the resulting effect that mass-produced lenses often do not accurately reflect the shapes of their respective molds. Such lenses usually exhibit a profound degree of distortion.


A curable silicone composition which can cure using hydrosilylation, comprising an aluminum oxide powder and/or silica powder, the powders each consisting of substantially spherical particles with an average particle diameter of 50 .mu.m or below and an elongation of from 1.0 to 1.4 and being such that the respective amounts of alkali metal ions and halogen ions are extracted with 50 ml of water from 5 g of the powder at 121.degree. C. for 20 hours are not more than 10 ppm, wherein the amount of the component (D) is from 25 to 90% by weight based on the composition, and the ratio of the amount of hydrosilyl groups contained in the components (A) and (B) to the amount of alkenyl groups contained in the components (A) and (B) is in the range from 0.5/1 to 1.5/1. When the composition is used as a protective material or encapsulating material for devices such as ICs, generated heat can be dissipated efficiently and the devices are not be broken by abrasion. There are no fears of causing corrosion of the devices.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a curable silicone composition, and a cured product thereof, for use as a protective material, encapsulating material or the like for electrical and electronic parts, such as ICs.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Curable silicone compositions and cured products thereof are in use as, for example, a protective material or encapsulating material for electrical and electronic parts such as ICs. Silicones, however, generally have a low coefficient of thermal conductivity and, especially when used as an encapsulating material for high-capacity devices, cannot dissipate effectively heat generated from the devices. Therefore, the silicone encapsulating materials cannot prevent the influence of heat on solder or devices, and are unsatisfactory in reliability.
In order to improve the thermal conductivity of silicone encapsulating materials, a filler of good thermal conductivity has been incorporated in the encapsulating materials. The filler of high thermal conductivity for such use include, for example, silica powder, alumina powder, silicon carbide powder, silicon nitride powder, magnesium oxide powder, diamond powder, powders of metal such as iron, stainless steel, copper, etc., carbon powder and so on.
Of these fillers, the metal powders, carbon powder and the like are electrically conductive and, hence, cannot be used for IC-encapsulating silicone compositions or the like intended to provide electrical insulation. On the other hand, crystalline powders such as silica powder, alumina powder, silicon carbide powder, silicon nitride powder, magnesium oxide powder, diamond powder, etc. are electrically insulating and have good thermal conductivity. On that point, the crystalline powders are suitable for use as a filler in the silicone compositions. Where the crystalline powder used as a filler contains ionic impurities, however, the ionic impurities may dissolve in water vapor penetrating through the silicone, and the resulting solution may exude to the surface of the device or the like. Consequently, corrosion of the device or the like is accelerated in the long run. On this account, crystalline powders with ionic impurity contents rendered as low as possible have been compounded as a filler in silicone gels, silicone potting materials, etc. used heretofore as an encapsulating material for electrical and electronic parts.
However, silicones used in the conventional encapsulating materials have a high coefficient of thermal expansion and the above crystalline powders have a high hardness. Where a silicone comprising such a highly hard filler is used as an encapsulating material, therefore, the device or wiring encapsulated in the silicone might be broken by abrasion.
Namely, heat generated from devices or the like in electrical or electronic parts in use causes thermal expansion of the silicone encapsulating material. The thermal expansion, and shrinkage upon cooling, will be accompanied by movement of the crystalline powder contained in the silicone encapsulating material. During the movement, edge portions of the crystalline particles may abrade the device or wiring, possibly resulting in failure of the device or breakage of the wiring.

Curable silicone composition and cured product thereof