An apparatus for inspecting the surface of a sheet-like object has a movable stage with an object mounted thereon; a source for lighting the object on the stage, particularly by making a plurality of illumination lights respectively having different wavelengths incident on the surface of the object from respective predetermined directions; image pickup device for fetching the image of the object under illumination of the light as image data or the images of parts of the object as image data obtained on the respective different wavelengths; image data processing device for inspecting the image data for defects; and a device for synchronizing control either for flashing the light at a predetermined time interval just after the stage commences its movement, synchronously with fetching the image data or for flashing the light and simultaneously fetching the image data obtained on the respective different wavelengths, synchronously with the object on the stage reaching respective predetermined positions while moving the stage.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for inspecting the surface of materials, which enables to rapidly and surely measure and estimate materials such as crystalline materials for their surface defects.
2. Prior Art
There have heretofore been known apparatus for measuring and observing materials, such as crystalline materials e.g. semiconductor wafers, to know the surface defects and the like of said materials. For example, Japanese Pat. Appln. Laid-Open Gazette No. Sho 60-101942 (No. 101942/1985) discloses an apparatus for measuring and observing defects such as etch pits (recesses or grooves caused by the defects of crystals) produced by subjecting a wafer-like sample (an object to be inspected) to etching or other treatments.
The structure of a conventional apparatus for measuring and observing such defects of crystalline materials as the above is roughly shown in FIG. 19 of the accompanying drawings.
In FIG. 19, numeral 1 indicates a wafer sample which has been subjected to etching, as an object to be examined for measurement and estimation, and numeral 2 a stage on which the wafer sample 1 is mounted. This stage 2 is constructed so that it can be moved in the longitudinal direction (X direction which is vertical to the surface of paper having said FIG. drawn thereon), in the lateral direction (Y direction which is the left- and right-side direction in said FIG.) and in the height direction which is the upper-and-lower direction in said FIG. To allow the stage 2 to be movable in these directions, the stage 2 is provided with drive mechanisms 2b, 2c and 2d each having a pulse motor (stepping motor) and the like. Numeral 3 indicates a pulse motor controller which sends a drive signal to each of the pulse motors of the mechanisms 2b, 2c and 2d in the directions X, Y and Z; and numeral 13, a pulse motor driver which outputs pulse signals to the pulse motors according to drive signals outputted from the pulse motor controller 3.
Numeral 4 indicates a microscope for observing and measuring the wafer sample 1 mounted on the stage 2. This microscope 4 is fitted with an illumination lamp (halogen lamp) 5 which is a light source for lighting up the sample 1, and with a TV camera 6 for photographing a stationary image of the sample 1. Numeral 14 indicates a microscope control unit for controlling an autofocus mechanism of the microscope 4.
Numeral 7 indicates an image processing unit for estimating defects of the sample 1, such as etch pits, on the basis of image data inputted by the TV camera 6; numeral 8, a computer for controlling communication between the pulse motor controller 3 and the image processing unit 7, and for manipulation of data obtained from the image processing unit; and numeral 9, a monitor for displaying image data obtained from the image processing unit 7.
With the conventional apparatus having such a structure as above, the surfaces of samples are inspected as follows.
First of all, the sample 1 is set on the stage 2. The computer 8 gives instructions to the pulse motor controller 3 to move and stop the stage 2 at a predetermined position. Then, there is procured an enlarged image of the sample 1 obtained through the microscope 4 under the lighting lamp 5. The enlarged image so procured is inputted, as image data, through the TV camera 6 to the image processing unit 7. Thereafter, the image data is subjected to image processing at the image processing unit 7 and the computer 8 to measure (calculate) and estimate the distribution, number, shape, density and the like of defects or imperfections contained in or on crystals.
After the end of the above processes or treatments, the stage 2 with the sample 1 mounted thereon is moved to the next position for measurement whereupon the sample 1 in the stationary state is subjected to the same processes as above thereby to measure and evaluate the defects of the wafer sample.
FIG. 20A shows how the entire surface of the wafer sample 1 is inspected. In this Fig., each of rectangles 41 indicates a unit area for observation, this observation unit area enabling a magnified image thereof to be obtained through the microscope, in other words, an observation unit area enabling image data thereof to be fetched at one time (for example, an observation unit area such as 0.5 mm.times.0.5 or 1 mm.times.1 mm). The stage 2 is so moved as to make a measurement of each rectangle 41 one by one in the order indicated by an arrow mark 42 so as to measure the entire surface of the wafer sample 1 for defects.
FIG. 20B shows how the predetermined unit areas of the wafer sample 1 are measured. Each of rectangles 43 indicates an observation unit area which enables a magnified image thereof to be obtained through the same microscope 4 as used for the rectangles 41 in FIG. 20A. The stage 2 is so moved as to measure the rectangular areas 43, which are observation unit areas, one by one so as to measure these unit areas of the wafer sample 1 for their defects.
In the aforementioned conventional apparatuses for inspecting the surface of materials, the stage 2 is once stopped when image data is obtained and the thus obtained image data is processed during the stoppage of the stage 2 so that it is impossible to increase the average moving speed of the stage. In addition, movement of the stage and processing of the image data are not carried out simultaneously, but they are done respectively at different times. Accordingly, it takes a long time for one sample to be measured and, therefore, this decreases the capability of measurement of the apparatuses and processing particularly when measurement is made on the entire surface of a wafer sample as shown in FIG. 20A. For example, in the case where the entire surface of a semiconductor having a 6-inch diameter was measured using a conventional commercially available apparatus, the time needed for the measurement was about 10 hours.
Further, in cases where a wafer sample to be inspected has foreign matters, such as dust, attached thereto and the wafer sample has flows on the surface, it is difficult to distinguish these dust and flaws from the etch pits to be inspected. Even if the image processing unit 7 and computer 8 were used to try to distinguish etch pits from other things, sufficient distinction therebetween would be impossible.

Apparatus for inspecting the surface of materials


In exemplary implementations of this invention, a 3D range camera “looks around a corner” to image a hidden object, using light that has bounced (reflected) off of a diffuse reflector. The camera can recover the 3D structure of the hidden object.

The light detected on a camera sensor comprises light from objects that are in the line of sight, reflected light from objects that are not within the line of sight, and background light. Light from objects outside the line of sight reaches the sensor via one or more reflections (or bounces). In conventional imaging, it is difficult to exploit this light if the reflections or bounces are diffuse.

Methods and apparatus for imaging of occluded objects from scattered light


The device for controlling a cooking area on a glass-ceramic cooking surface includes an inductive cooking utensil detection device for detecting a cooking utensil on the cooking area and a temperature measurement device for measuring a temperature of the cooking surface. The cooking utensil detection device includes an outer conductor track (1) and an inner conductor track (3) nested within said outer conductor track. The temperature measurement device also includes the same outer conductor track (1) and the inner conductor track (3), so that the total number of device components is minimized. The outer conductor track (1) includes, or is supplemented by, a conductor track section (2) extending from it into a center part of the cooking area (4). The cooking utensil detection device and the temperature measurement device can operate utilizing the same outer and inner conductor tracks by time-lagged interrogation or with detection signals at different frequencies.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device and to a method for controlling cooking areas of a cooking unit with glass-ceramic cooking surfaces.
2. Related Art
The temperatures of the cooking areas of cooking units with glass-ceramic cooking surfaces are limited using mechanical temperature-protecting controllers. DE-A 40 22 846 and EP-A 0 823 620 disclose sensors which are mounted directly on the glass-ceramic cooking surface. They measure the temperature by via the change of the electrical resistance of a conductor track or of the glass-ceramic base material of the cooking surface in question. Monitoring the temperature directly on the glass-ceramic cooking surface is advantageous since it avoids any overheating or overloading of the glass-ceramic cooking surface and the cooking utensil, which may be standing thereon. Direct glass-ceramic temperature sensing hence provides additional safety. AT-A 238 331 discloses a cooking unit provided with a cooking area with a switching device for the power supply of its heater. The switching device enables the power supply to the heating device when the cooking utensil is put on it, and disables the energy supply when the cooking utensil is removed.
DE-A 35 33 997 and DE-A 33 27 622 disclose cooking utensil detection systems with optical detectors. Cooking utensil detection systems with inductive detectors are described in DE-A 37 11 589 and DE-A 37 33 108. Inductive proximity switches are based on the principle of damping a tuned circuit due to eddy-current losses in metals which are located in the magnetic leakage field of a multiturn sensor coil. Cooking utensil detection systems with an inductive sensor in the form of a coil are described in EP-A 0 442 275 and EP-A 0 469 189. Capacitive sensors for cooking utensil detection are disclosed by WO-A 90/107851 and EP-A 0 429 120.
DE-A 197 00 735 describes a device for inductive detection of cooking pans. The sensors consist of one single-turn coil for the transmitter and one for the receiver, which are arranged concentrically as circles in the cooking area. In this case, the coils may be formed by conductor tracks fitted on a. support plate, for example a glass-ceramic cooking plate.
The following disadvantages are encountered with the existing systems:
Two different systems, such as coils for inductive cooking utensil detection and mechanical temperature-protecting controllers, with different components are currently used for the combination of cooking utensil detection and temperature monitoring.
DE-A 196 46 826 discloses a device and method for temperature measurement and cooking utensil detection on cooking tops. This patent describes a device for measuring the temperature of a glass-ceramic cooking top and/or for detecting a cooking utensil, which is being heated on the cooking top. In this case, at least one sensor is fitted to the cooking top, in particular immediately below the cooker top. The sensor is designed as a conductor track, wherein a temperature-dependent electrical resistance is measurable between its two outer terminal ends. Two measurement terminals are branched off from the conductor-track, the two branch points delimiting a central lead section (which is remote from the outer terminal ends) of the conductor track for temperature measurement.
In a combination of cooking utensil detection according to DE-A 197 00 753 and temperature limitation according to DE-A 40 22 846 as well as EP-A 0 823 620), at least six terminals are required for each cooking area. Furthermore, the conductor tracks for the supply leads of the temperature detector need to be laid between the conductor tracks of the supply leads for the cooking utensil detection. Therefore, the supply leads for cooking utensil detection in the cold region enclose such a large area that cooking utensils placed in the cold region can cause the cooking area to be switched on, which produces a considerable safety risk.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel device for controlling cooking areas with glass-ceramic cooking surfaces, which involves a smaller number of components, simpler connection and safer operation, as well as an economical and safe method for controlling cooking areas with glass-ceramic cooking surfaces.
The object of the invention is achieved by a device for a controlling cooking area with a glass-ceramic cooking surface and at least one conductor track structure. The at least one conductor track structure comprises a combined device consisting of at least one inductive cooking utensil detection device and at least one temperature measurement device. The at least one temperature measurement device includes means for measuring a temperature of the glass-ceramic material or glass-ceramic surface located between at least two conductor tracks of the combined device. The at least two conductor tracks include a conductor track for temperature measurement arranged in or extending through the edge region and another conductor track arranged in or extending through the central region of the cooking area.
By virtue of this combination, the same detectors are used for cooking utensil detection and for temperature measurement, so that a simplified system involving a smaller number of components, simpler connection and safer operation is obtained according to the invention. Furthermore, it is therefore possible to arrange the terminals of the inner conductor structure for the cooking utensil detection directly next to each other, so that the enclosed area is minimized and safe operation is made possible by avoiding malfunction due to switching on the cooking area when cooking pans are put in the cold region.
The result achieved according to the invention is that the structures relevant to the cooking utensil detection are kept in the edge region of the cooking area. The maximum signal amplitude, which occurs when the inner circuit is covered by a cooking utensil that has been put on the cooking unit, can thus be tuned with the cooking utensil size matched to the cooking area size. In addition, it is possible to sense the inner region of the cooking area, which is important for temperature limitation, especially in the event of the wrong pan. Another advantage of the arrangement is that the temperature detector senses the edge region. Stressful situations, such as offset cooking utensils, which produce high temperatures in the edge region, are detected (see the draft standard DIN VDE 0700 Part 6, Annex 8). The relative sensitivity of the temperature measurement between the edge and the inner region can be adjusted by the respective conductor lengths in the individual regions and by the conductor track spacing in these regions.
The cooking surface according to the invention preferably contains a conductor track coating for measuring, monitoring and displaying the temperature which is used for automatically distributing the power, for switching off in the event of a boil dry condition and for limiting the temperature. The cooking surface also-contains a conductor track coating for automatically detecting a cooking utensil, the shape of cooking utensils and the size of cooking utensils. Surprisingly, and unexpectedly, the arrangement according to the invention is more economic for the user, increases safety during use and saves considerable energy.
In a preferred embodiment according to the invention the conductor track for the temperature measurement extending through the central region is designed as an open-ended electrode.
In another preferred embodiment according to the invention the conductor track for the temperature measurement in the central region is designed as a looped electrode.
In another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the leads for the inner conductor track circuit are arranged immediately next to each other. This arrangement according to the invention advantageously overcomes problems and prevents a reduction in safety from occurring when a cooking utensil is not positioned centrally on the cooking area.
A multi-circuit-heating element is provided according to the invention, wherein the innermost heating circuit is designed according to the invention. The device according to the invention is suitable for use in multi-circuit-heating elements.
An economical method for controlling cooking areas with glass-ceramic cooking surfaces having a conductor track structure according to the invention comprises providing a combined device or conductor track structure for both cooking utensil detection and temperature measurement and then performing the cooking utensil detection and temperature measurement with it.
In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention the temperature is measured by evaluating the temperature-dependent conductor track resistance. Good results are achieved by evaluating the temperature-dependent conductor track resistance.
In other preferred embodiments the temperature is measured by evaluating the temperature-dependent resistance of the glass-ceramic material between at least two conductor tracks. Very good results are achieved by this latter evaluation.
In further preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention the temperature is measured in the edge region and in the central region of the cooking area. The entire heating area is very advantageously sensed with this arrangement.
The temperature is measured in the central region by means of an open-ended electrode or by means of a looped electrode in preferred embodiments of the invention.
In various other preferred embodiments the signals of the cooking utensil detection device and of the temperature measurement device are separated by different frequencies for the cooking utensil detection and for the temperature measurement. In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention the respective signals of the cooking utensil detection device and of the temperature measurement device are separated by time-lagged interrogation.
The relative sensitivities for the temperature measurement in the outer region and the inner region are set by selecting the lengths and spacing of the conductors in preferred embodiments of the method.
The signals of the cooking utensil detection device and of the temperature measurement device, which are picked up using the same sensors, are separated by using and outputting AC voltages with different frequencies. For instance, the cooking utensil detection device is operated at from 10 MHz to 17 MHz, preferably from 11 MHz to 15 MHz, and particularly preferably from 12.5 MHz to 13.5 MHz. The temperature measurement device is operated at 150 Hz to 600 Hz, preferably from 200 Hz to 400 Hz, and particularly preferably from 250 Hz to 350 Hz.
Sequential interrogation of the two measured variables is also possible.
In the embodiment indicated, the conductor track region for the temperature measurement at the cooking area center does not contribute to the signal from the cooking utensil detection device, since the electrode extending from the outer circuit is not designed as a loop, and therefore no current flows through it. It is hence not inductively active.
In the case of two-circuit cooking areas, the additional conductor track structure at the cooking area center is derived only from the cooking utensil detection of the inner heating circuit. Using this structure, the critical inner region of a cooking pan is sensed in the case of both small and large diameters. The outer region of the large heating circuit may in this case be sensed by a separate temperature measurement by the outer cooking utensil detection structure, as is described for carrying out power redistribution in DE-A 40 22 846.35. The temperature measurement may be used for applications which are sufficiently described in the literature, such as temperature control, power redistribution, residual heat display or automated cooking. The applications are described in DE-A 21 39 828, DE-A 40 22 846 and DE-A 37 44 372, to which reference is explicitly made here.
The arrangement according to the invention has the following advantages. The same detectors are used for the cooking utensil detection and temperature measurement. The number of sensors used is halved in comparison with conventional systems. Mechanical temperature-protecting controllers are hence unnecessary. The number of terminals for inductive cooking utensil detection using conductor tracks is not increased by the additional function of temperature measurement. The supply leads to the conductor tracks for the cooking utensil detection can be laid close together and malfunctions due to putting pans in the cold region are prevented.

Device and method for controlling cooking areas with glass-ceramic cooking surfaces


A system and method for dynamically generating Web content using a parse tree is described. A template describing a dynamically generated Web page is built. The template includes a script written in a tag-delimited page description language. One or more markers included within the template each indicate a relative location within the Web page for dynamic content insertion. The hierarchical nature of the page description language is used to infer a set of display regions, which are referenced by a parse tree. The parse tree includes a plurality of nodes structured into levels. Each node corresponds to structural tags specified within the script. Each successive level represents a further nesting of the structural tags within the script. A controller program invokes a document engine and specifies a particular template. Each marker may be substituted with dynamic content zero, one or several times each. The document engine accepts substitution requests from the controlling program and implements specific inclusion rules that ensure well-formed output documents. The dynamic content is inserted into the display region for the substituted marker. Each node located in a level of the parse tree previous to the node corresponding to the substituted marker is processed. The output structure is scanned and the document is rendered with the dynamic content included therein.

Information technology continues to evolve as new forms of mass communications reach out to a broader and increasingly diverse audience. Recently, the Web, shorthand for "Worldwide Web," has introduced yet another form of mass communications based on the concept of a multimedia Web "site." A Web site is actually a collection of individually downloadable Web pages, generally with a common theme and structure, with embedded hyperlinks connecting the Web pages to other related Web pages and content.
Web sites are authored by individual users and organizations, known as content providers, and are published for retrieval on host computer systems. Web site publishing is primarily computer network-based and requires a three-part support infrastructure. First, individual users execute browser applications for viewing Web pages on client computer systems. Second, content providers execute server applications on host computer systems. Finally, the host computer systems must be interconnected to each client computer system via a data network or similar form of interconnectivity. The data network can include intranetworks, also known as local area networks, and wide area networks, including public information internetworks, such as the Internet, and various combinations thereof.
Web pages can consist of plain or formatted text, images, sound or video clips, and other types of content. Each Web page is actually transmitted as an Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) script. HTML is a tag-delimited, page description programming language. Tags specify page layout and formatting instructions. The Web pages are downloaded and interpreted by a Web browser application.
Most Web pages written in HTML are static with relatively unchanging content. HTML Web pages are self-contained scripts. Changing the content requires recoding the Web page prior to download. Recoding, though, imposes a maintenance burden on content providers who want to make periodic content changes to their Web sites.
Nonetheless, many Web pages need to be regularly updated to reflect changing conditions, such as stock prices, news, database updates, and countless other types of information. Moreover, Web pages personalized for individual users encourage repeat visits to the Web site. Consequently, dynamic Web pages have become increasingly popular.
In the prior art, there are four categories of commonly used approaches for providing dynamic Web page content.
A first approach generates Web pages by embedding HTML directly into the source code. A compiled or interpreted program is written in a high order programming or scripting language, such as Java, PL/SQL, Perl, or C, to generate Web pages at runtime. These programs are invoked by a variety of methods and frameworks such as Servlets (Java), CGI (Perl and C), and COM Objects (C). The logic controlling the creation of dynamic content is embodied within the program. However, as with static Web pages, restructuring the generated Web pages in terms of appearance and changes in content type requires recoding the underlying program. The look and feel of the resultant Web pages are potentially spread across several procedures. Moreover, thusly encoded Web pages cannot be easily visualized, as the HTML scripts are only generated at runtime and cannot be edited using conventional Web publishing tools.
A second approach employs the reverse technique. Source code written in a higher order programming or scripting language is placed into Web page HTML code and is interpreted at runtime. Examples of this approach include ColdFusion, ASP (Active Server Pages) and JSP (Java Server Pages). Source code segments are placed directly into the HTML code. Tags or similar delimiters separate the source code segments from the page script. At runtime, a server executes the source code to generate a complete Web page. However, the source code is intrusive and can make using conventional Web editing tools difficult. The look and feel of a Web site can also be spread across several pages, imposing a maintenance burden. Finally, the application logic and user interface are not cleanly separated. Consequently, programmers and Web page artists find simultaneously working on the same page difficult.
A third approach requires the use of design-by-specification tools. These types of tools generate code or perform runtime interpretation of the specifications. Nevertheless, these types of tools are ill suited for creating commercial Web sites as the page layouts are generally inflexible and the HTML code most often cannot be directly manipulated by a page artist. Moreover, this approach is generally optimized for database transactions and therefore inappropriate for many types of Web sites.
Finally, a fourth category of approaches involves complex, proprietary or unproven technologies that are generally beyond the capabilities of most page artists and programmers working in corporate information technology departments. These technologies typically do not allow page artists to design Web page look and feel using conventional HTML editing tools, nor do these technologies provide adequate facilities to enable concurrent development. Moreover, the programming models are typically complex such that simple tasks, such as iteration and defining optional display regions, are difficult to accomplish.
Consequently, there is a need for an integrated solution to providing dynamic Web pages that cleanly separates the tasks of user interface design from application logic programming. Such a solution would allow for the complete separation of HTML code from program logic code while simultaneously providing for the generation of complex Web page designs. Such a solution would also allow page designers to work concurrently with application programmers on the same Web page.
There is a further need for a dynamic Web page generation approach that allows page artists to design and visualize Web pages using conventional HTML code editing tools. Such a solution would take advantage of the structure inherent in HTML documents to describe the various displayable regions in a simple and unobtrusive manner.

Generating a Web page by replacing identifiers in a preconstructed Web page


A fluid handling device, such as a needlefree access device, includes a housing having an inlet and an inlet channel; and a flow control member comprising a combination outlet, biasing and piston member. The flow control member includes a piston section moveable between a closed position in which the piston section is in the inlet channel and an open position in which the piston section is inside the housing below the inlet channel but allows fluid to flow through the inlet channel; a biasing section connected to the piston section that normally biases the piston section into the inlet channel; and an outlet section connected to the biasing section having an outlet fitting in fluid communication with the inside of the housing. The piston section, biasing section and outlet section are connected together such that they can be handled as one piece when assembled with the housing to make the needlefree access device. The access device can be configured as a Y-site access device, or used on other devices such as an IV bag. A check valve made by a two shot molding process is also disclosed.

This invention relates to fluid handling devices, particularly for medical purposes, and methods of making fluid handling devices. The invention is particularly suitable for needlefree access devices and check valves.
The use of hypodermic needles to inject or withdraw fluids in medical application had been standard practice up until a few years ago. Even where a patient already had an IV tubing set connected to a vein, hypodermic needles were frequently used to inject fluids into the IV tubing. Often a "Y" access device with a septum was provided in the tubing set for this very purpose. The needle was used to puncture the septum to administer the drug or other fluid, and the septum then sufficiently sealed the opening to prevent leakage, and prevent airborne bacteria from entering the system. Septums are also common on drug vials, where the needle is inserted to withdraw a quantity of the drug.
The widespread use of hypodermic needles leads to numerous needle-stick accidents. These were not only painful, but if the needle is contaminated, could cause serious disease or complications in the needle-stick victim. There has been a desire for needlefree medical systems, where a fluid can be injected or aspirated without the use of a needle, but while maintaining an aseptic leak-free system.
Numerous devices have been developed to achieve this goal. Many of those devices have been disclosed in the patent literature. One early such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,413. The different embodiments of the needleless access device disclosed in the '413 patent have proven to be influential in the design of subsequent needlefree access devices. Many of the concepts have been used in other devices. The wiper seal to seal the inlet channel against airborne bacteria and the piston head that can be easily swabbed prior to actuation are two of the more significant features.
Even with all the work and development that has transpired over the years in this area, there is still need for improvement, particularly with respect to better performance, such as greater flow rate and reduced trapped drug and fluid after flushing, and lower cost. The preferred embodiments disclosed in the '413 patent are assembled from four or five components, depending on the design. Even though the parts can be mass produced, the product cost is dependent on the number of individual components that have to be made, and then assembled. Most needlefree access devices commonly available contain at least three parts. Many prior needlefree access devices also have internal configurations that allow fluid to be trapped in the device even after flushing. Also, many prior devices are fairly large and therefore have a higher material cost and internal volume.
Check valves are also often assembled from three or more parts. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,771,935 and 4,749,003 both disclose check valves that are assembled from three separate components. The cost of such products could be reduced if they were assembled from only two parts.
The desire to reduce the number of parts that must be assembled, however, cannot override the more important fact that the fluid handling products must meet several critical design features. Thus, there is a real need for fluid handling products that can be made at a lower cost, but still meet the end user's specifications. Also, there is a need for fluid handling products that have reduced hold up-volumes, are easier to prime and flush, and that have a flow path through the device that is visible to the user so that any bubbles can be spotted and the flow of solutions can be visualized.

Fluid handling device and method of making same


A tamper indicating closure includes a one-piece cap having a dispensing outlet which is aligned with a dispensing outlet in the neck of a bottle upon rotation of the cap. A removable tamper resistant detent extends downwardly from the top end of the cap and nests with a recess in the upper edge of the neck of the bottle to prevent rotation of the cap. The removable tamper resistant detent is torn free of the cap such that the cap can be rotated to an open position. The closure may also contain a flexible spout which can be folded outwardly by rotation of the cap to an open position.

Dispensing closures have been available for a number of years for dispensing liquids and granular materials from containers. A common feature of these closures is the inclusion of a re-closable dispensing outlet. These closures typically include a hinged top, a top which is opened by pulling upward on the top or dispensing apertures which are aligned by a twisting motion to open the container. A common problem to many of these fluid dispensing closures is a weakness in the sealing arrangement which often result in leakage during shipping. In addition, these closures often are two-piece assemblies resulting in a closure having a number of movable components. These two-piece closures typically result in increased manufacturing and assembling costs.
The rotatable type caps are sometimes designed to serve as valves for dispensing the contents of the containers and are therefore permanently assembled onto the containers. These caps usually provide for the alignment of dispensing apertures in the container and the closure by rotational movement of the closure. These caps must be operable to provide definite and distinct open and closed positions in order to produce free flow of the container contents and to avoid leakage in the closed position. The closures should also be capable of easy insertion upon the containers and provide permanent connection to resist removal or dislodging of the closure.
Rotatable dispensing closures are also known which include an air vent to allow the contents of the container to be easily dispensed. One example of a rotatable closure having an air vent is U.S. Pat. No. 3,118,578 to Collins. The closure includes an outer wall and an inner wall to define an annular space to receive the neck of the bottle. A dispensing outlet extends through the top portion of the cap to the inner wall. The inner surface of the neck of the bottle includes a channel which can be aligned with the dispensing channel in the cap by rotation of the cap with respect to the bottle.
A further example of a rotatable closure having a dispensing channel which aligns with a dispensing outlet in the neck of the bottle is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,515. The closure includes a top portion and inner and outer walls depending from the top. An annular space between the inner and outer walls receives the neck portion of the bottle. The upper edge of the neck of the bottle includes a U-shaped opening which aligns with dispensing apertures in the inner and outer walls of the cap upon rotation of the cap with respect to the bottle. Other examples of similar dispensing containers including a cap having a dispensing outlet which can be aligned with a dispensing outlet in the neck of a bottle by rotating the cap with respect to the bottle are disclosed in U.K. Pat. application 2041739A, U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,328, U.S. Pat. No. 3,357,605, U.S. Pat. No. 3,342,385, U.S. Pat. No. 3,248,025, U.S. Pat. No. 1,476,700, U.S. Pat. No. 1,273,919, U.S. Pat. No. 868,691, U.S. Pat. No. 782,104 and U.S. Pat. No. 507,055.
Other examples of rotatable dispensing closures having Gilbert, U.S. Pat. No. 2,545,350 to Fuld and U.S. Pat. No. 3,317,093 to Moran.
Numerous closures have also been produced which include a collapsible pouring spout which can be opened to dispense the contents of the container. These devices typically include a number of moving parts and are subject to leaking. Other closures which include a pouring spout have a flexible dispensing outlet connected to the bottle. A rotatable cap is mounted on the bottle such that the dispensing outlet extends through an aperture in the wall of the cap. Rotation of the cap typically causes the flexible dispensing outlet to fold over thereby pinching the outlet in the closed position. Examples of this type of flexible spout and closure are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,278,095 to Johns and U.S. Pat. No. 4,207,996 to Moen.
For many food and drug items, it is necessary to provide packaging which is tamper-resistant so that the consumer can immediately discern whether the item is in the original unopened package. It is usually preferred to provide a tamper-resistant arrangement whereby a purchaser can visually determine the unopened condition of the package.
Tamper-resistant closures are known which include a rotatable cap which can be rotated from a closed to an opened position. It is particularly desirable in this type of closure to enable the package to be re-closed without defeating the tamper-resistant feature.
The above-noted closures have the disadvantage of being unduly complicated to manufacture, assemble and use and require numerous parts. Furthermore, these devices do not ensure an effective seal to prevent leakage of the contents of the container.


Internal porosity is created in dense SiO.sub.2 particles by heating a mixture of the particles with B.sub.2 O.sub.3 at a temperature above about 450.degree. C. Resulting SiO.sub.2 particles have altered morphology, internal porosity, and small to negative volume changes when heated.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a process for preparing low density silica particles by heating a mixture of boric acid or B.sub.2 O.sub.3 with high density silica particles at a temperature above about 450.degree. C. Silica particles so prepared individually may have internal porosity and exhibit unique properties, such as a small to negative thermal expansion coefficient when first heated after preparation. The particles are useful for a variety of applications, such as a catalyst support or in resin blends used in electronic packaging.
2. Background Information
Silica particles are well known in the art and have found a broad range of applications due to the chemical inertness of silica and its favorable dielectric properties. Common applications include use as a catalyst support, as media in liquid chromatography, and as filler in resins employed in electronic packaging.
Silica generally is prepared using a mechanical, fumed, or chemical process. Conventional mechanical processes produce solid particles having little or no internal porosity. Variations in bulk densities are attributed to particle size and how tightly the particles are packed. Conventional fumed silicas are produced by high temperature (1800.degree. C.) hydrolysis of silicon tetrachloride. This process is expensive, produces corrosive hydrogen chloride as a by-product, and the product silica has an undesirable low bulk density. Conventional chemical processes for producing xerogels and aerogels do create particles having internal porosity, but these processes are even more expensive than those for fumed silicas, and there is limited commercial capacity. The lower cost mechanical processes tend to produce particles having an angular morphology that are undesirable for applications such as resin/filler systems used in electronic packaging.
Thus, there continues to be a need for economical methods of producing silica particles having internal porosity. Also, there continues to be a need for silica particles having unique properties.

Low density silica particles and method for their preparation


A flywheel clutch assembly disposed between an engine and transmission includes an external damper positioned between a flywheel and a clutch housing. The external damper allows relative motion between the flywheel and the clutch housing, while elastically resisting relative motion in both the driving and coast modes. The clutch housing is relatively heavy and functions as an additional flywheel as it is being rotated by the main flywheel of the assembly. The clutch mechanism disposed within the housing includes a rigid driven disk which assures minimum inertia in the drive line. In one specific aspect of the invention, the damper is comprised of a plurality of arcuate, nested beam springs pivoted at one end to the flywheel and at the other end to the heavy cover enclosing the clutch assembly. The resulting flywheel clutch assembly with the external damper disposed between the flywheel and clutch provides improved shiftability while minimizing rattle in both the idle and drive modes of the drive line.

In vehicles which utilize a clutch to couple an engine-driven flywheel to the input shaft of a transmission, there is a continuous need to enhance shiftability and to minimize rattle during both idle and drive operations. This can be accomplished by minimizing excessive proportional vibrations in the drive line while in the operating range and by increasing the travel and torque capacity of the clutch.
In order to maintain smooth shiftability conditions, it is desirable to maintain inertia in the system during gear shifts. In order to accommodate a variety of operational parameters, it is desirable to have a damper design with increased flexibility. Current damper designs are generally not configured for a wide range of operating conditions because design envelopes are restricted, as is flexibility in the number of stages and in the types of damping springs utilized. In order to eliminate both idle gear rattle and drive rattle, it is desirable to provide very soft and partially negative spring characteristics with long spring travel at idle as well as large hysteresis characteristics in the nominal driving range. Drive lines have resonances in their operating ranges which should be minimized, if at all possible. These resonances tend to become more pronounced with time and tend to degrade the vehicle in which the drive line is used.


A dual earth starter motor for a vehicle. The starter motor includes a housing, an armature within the housing, a brush plate within the housing arranged to deliver electric current, by means of conductive brushes, to the armature, and two separate earth terminals electrically connected to the brush plate with each terminal extending through a wall of the housing. In a preferred form, the two earth terminals are electrically isolated from the housing, and at least one of the terminals is mechanically and electrically coupled to the brush plate my means of an interference fit between a portion of the terminal and a hole formed in the brush plate. A method of retrofitting a second earth terminal to an existing starter motor is also disclosed.

Starter motors for heavy vehicles such as large trucks face a particularly onerous task in generating sufficient torque to turn over a large engine. For example, a truck engine of, say, 11 to 13 liter capacity, requires a starter motor producing at least 7 kilowatts of output power. Such a starter motor may draw an in-rush current of somewhere in the region of 1,300 to 2,200 Amps for a short period. This large starting current, occurring within typical vehicle wiring configurations, presents a number of problems which lead to poor starter performance and reliability, and consequential vehicle downtime. Some of the problems include:
A. Poor Starter reliability—Low starter output power and less than expected crank speed, contributing to longer than intended crank durations. This results in progressive damage to the starter motor commutator and associated components due to low voltage/high resistance within the earth connection which is not capable of efficiently conducting in-rush current in applications where more than 4 kW of output power is required.
B. Inadequate/Multiple points of termination for earth/ground connections. The terminal length of the single connection earth termination on existing starter motors cannot facilitate the total number of cables connections, including to the chassis, battery, engine and cabin earthing/ground cables. If the length of the single existing terminal were extended, the excessive leverage would exceed the load carrying capability of the commutator cover and thru bolts of the motor assembly being at a single connection/exit point.
C. Engine component and radiator damage as a result of high stray currents existing exceeding 500 mv peak to peak in the engine block (such that electrolysis erodes material away) causing leakage and/or ingress of fluid/chemical/water to sensors, especially in applications where engine coolant systems are not maintained properly.
D. Also, as noted in item C above, stray currents result in electrolysis, leading to erosion or accelerated corrosion of soft metals in the cabin and chassis, especially where dissimilar metals mate surface to surface.
E. Noise—Radio interference caused by ground loops in communication equipment fitted to a vehicle, as a result of poor earthing at multiple ground points, leading to illusive faults being logged by engine, gear box/transmission and body control modules.
There have been a number of attempts in the past to address one or more of these problems but, to date, none of them have really been successful. Each individual equipment manufacturer has worked to achieve compliance to industry standards and best engineering practices using different methodologies. Many utilise the chassis for earthing/grounding, such that the main chassis rail of the vehicle is utilised for earth, then multiple connections are made to it at various connecting points.
The above problems impact upon the starter motor manufacturer, the engine supplier and the truck builder. Each of these participants has significant commercial and reputational interests at stake. Each party, consciously or otherwise, attempts to shift responsibility for the problem and the cost burden of rectification and re-engineering onto other parties. Consequently, attempts at solving the problems have failed, due to lack of true collaboration and knowledge sharing. The present applicant, through its unique position in the supply chain, has been able to navigate between the parties and bring a holistic solution to the problem based on an understanding of starter motor technology, electrical engineering and application demands.
With the foregoing in mind, the present invention seeks to address one or more of the above problems.
Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material formed part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art in Australia or any other country on or before the priority date of the claims herein.


User equipment control is restored in the presence of communication link failure between a network node that provides control of packet switched connections and a network node that provides control of circuit switched connections. A communication service is provided to a UE by a Serving MME and a Serving MSC in a communication system. Upon detecting that one or more links that enable communication between the Serving MME and the Serving MSC have failed, another MME and/or MSC are/is identified within the network that have/has fully operational links with the Serving MSC and/or Serving MME. The identified MME and/or MSC are/is established as a Relaying MME and/or Relaying MSC. Control of the UE continues with MME/MSC messaging being directed to the Relaying node(s), and the Relaying node(s) relaying the messages to their serving counterparts (Relaying MME relays to Serving MME, Relaying MSC relays to Serving MSC).

The invention relates to cellular communication systems, and more particularly to restoration of user equipment control in the presence of communication link failure between a network node that provides control of packet switched connections and a network node that provides control of circuit switched connections.
Various aspects of embodiments are described with reference to one or more standards issued by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), and the terminology used in those standards is often used herein. This is done for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the described embodiments because the standardized terminology and concepts are well known to those skilled in the art. However, the reference to particular standards as well as the use of such terminology and examples is not intended to mean or suggest that the various described aspects are applicable only in environments that conform to the mentioned standards. To the contrary, the issues described herein as well as the disclosed solutions and features can arise in technological environments that do not conform to the mentioned standards, and it is fully intended that the described embodiments are intended only as examples and are not limited to the particular embodiments or standards disclosed herein.
As illustrated by FIG. 1, a User Equipment (UE) 101 may interact in the digital realm (i.e., via the communication of data packets) with the Evolved Packet Switching system (EPS) 100 using the radio access mechanisms provided by the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) 103. The interface between the UE and E-UTRAN is denoted "LTE-Uu". This latest equipment provides communication services to a UE 101 (both voice and other information) by means of Packet Switched (PS) technology. UE-related control signaling is handled by a Mobility Management Entity (MME) 105 with support of subscription information provided by the Home Subscriber Server (HSS) 107. The MME 105 communicates with E-UTRAN 103 via an S1-MME interface. The MME 105 interacts with the HSS 107 via an S6A interface. The MME can also interact with one or more other MMEs by mean of an S10 interface.
User payload is handled by the Serving Gateway (S-GW) 109 and the Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway (P-GW) 111. The S-GW 109 is coupled to E-UTRAN via an S1-U interface, and the S-GW 109 is coupled to the P-GW 111 via an S5 interface. The P-GW 111 may interact, via a Gx interface, with a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) 113.
An operator's Internet Protocol (IP) Services 115 (e.g., (Internet Protocol) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), etc.) can be reached by the P-GW 111 via an SGi interface, and the PCRF 113 can interact with the operator's IP Services 115 via an Rx interface.
The system also provides for interaction with legacy system technology. For example, the MME 105 can interact with a Serving GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Support Node (SGSN) 117 via an S3 interface. To support Circuit Switched (CS) communication links, a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 119 is provided, and this is able to communicate with the MME 105 by means of two different interfaces: an SGs interface and an Sv interface.
Because deploying a new type of system is a gradual process, mechanisms are put in place that allow the new (e.g., PS-based) system to coexist with legacy (e.g., CS-based) systems that have already been put into place, and it is useful (and sometimes necessary) to allow a UE's service to switch from one type of service support to another, based upon its movement and the type of service support that is available in any particular area. Present embodiments, therefore, permit a UE to obtain service not only from the latest packet switched equipment, but also from legacy systems that employ CS technology. Registration for the CS domain is performed by the MME 105 and a (legacy system) Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 119 by means of interaction at the illustrated SGs interface. As is known in the art, Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC) is a process/technology by which an ongoing voice call that is presently being handled by a network's Voice over IP (VoIP)/IP (Internet Protocol) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) in the data packet switched domain can be transitioned to a legacy system's circuit switched domain. The SRVCC feature is transacted over the illustrated Sv interface.
As shown in FIG. 2a, the 3GPP network may be organized using multiple MMEs serving the same tracking areas of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio network. The organization of multiple MMEs is referred to as an "MME Pool".
In the example of FIG. 2a, a first MME Pool 201 comprises MMEs 1 and 2 and serves the Evolved Node B (eNB) service areas 1 and 2 identified as PS pool-area 1. A second MME Pool 203 comprises MMEs 3, 4, and 5, and serves the eNB service areas 3, 4, 5, and 6 identified as PS pool-area 2. Although not shown in this example, it will be noted that one or more of the eNBs could be in more than one PS pool-area (e.g., Area 3 could be in both PS pool-area 1 and PS pool-area 2).
As shown in FIG. 2b, the 3GPP network may also be organized using multiple SGSNs serving the same routing areas of a GERAN (GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) EDGE (Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution) Radio Access Network)/UTRAN radio network. The organization of multiple SGSNs is referred to as an "SGSN Pool" Likewise, it is possible for the 3GPP network to include an organization of multiple MSCs serving the same location areas of a GERAN/UTRAN radio network, with that organization being referred to as an "MSC pool".
In the example of FIG. 2b, a first MSC Pool 205 comprises MSCs 1, 2, and 3, and serves the RAN node service areas 1, 2, 5, and 6 identified as CS pool-area 1. A second MSC Pool 207 comprises MSCs 4, 5, and 6, and serves the RAN node service areas 2, 3, 6, and 7 identified as CS pool-area 2. It will be observed that two of the RAN node service areas, namely areas 2 and 6, are in both CS pool-area 1 and CS pool-area 2.
FIG. 2b further illustrates a first SGSN Pool 209 that comprises SGSNs 1 and 2, and serves the RAN node service areas 1 and 5 identified as PS pool-area 1. A second SGSN Pool 211 comprises SGSNs 3, 4, and 5, and serves the RAN node service areas 2, 3, 6, and 7 identified as PS pool-area 2.
FIG. 2b also shows a single MSC 213 serving RAN service areas 4 and 8; and also shows a single SGSN 215 serving RAN service areas 4 and 8.
MME Triggered Service Restoration Procedure
There are two different failure scenarios applicable to SGs interface that may trigger the MME to perform a re-registration of a UE in the CS domain, either in the previously serving MSC or in a new MSC. The case involving a new MSC requires that the MSC pool be deployed. The two cases are                Path failure: a break in the signaling control path between the MME and the MSC. This is detected by broken communication. There may be any of a number of reasons for the break, such as one of the node peers being no longer operational, the transport network being no longer operation, and the like.        The MSC or MME being restarted: This is detected by a restart indication in communication between the nodes once both nodes are operational again.
When the MME receives an indication from the serving MSC/VLR that a VLR restart has occurred, or if the VLR is no longer in service if there are no more Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) associations in service with that VLR for a given period of time, then the MME initiates an SGs restoration procedure as follows:                1) Upon receipt of a combined Tracking Area (TA) update request or periodic Tracking Area Update request from a UE that is attached to both EPS and non-EPS services, the MME may request the UE to re-attach to non-EPS services or the UE may alternatively immediately perform the Location Update (LU) for non-EPS services procedure towards the Visitor Location Register (VLR).        2) Upon reception of a Combined TA/LA (update or periodic Tracking Area Update from a UE that is attached for non-EPS service), the MME may either:                    a. request the UE to re-attach to non-EPS services and then select an alternative available VLR to serve the UE for CS services during the subsequent combined TA/LA update procedure;            b. or immediately perform the Location Update for non-EPS services procedure towards an alternative available VLR.                        3) Upon reception of an Uplink Non-Access Stratum (NAS) Transport message from a UE that is attached for non-EPS service, if the Visitor Location Register (VLR) serving the UE is no longer in service, the MME may request the UE to re-attach to non-EPS services and then select an alternative available VLR to serve the UE for MO Short Message Service (SMS) and other CS services during the subsequent combined TA/LA update procedure. See 3GPP TS 29.118 for the details. Although it is not specified in the current standard, this procedure is also a functionally viable approach for handling instances in which the UE is already in the ECM-CONNECTED state.
For the Sv interface, since there is no registration procedure towards the MSC for a given UE, which is unlike for SGs interface, where the SGs association must be established before CS fallback procedures can be continued, the MME will contact an MSC only when an SRVCC PS to CS handover is required; that is, when a UE is moving toward a 2G/3G coverage area and leaving an LTE coverage area, where the ongoing voice call should be transferred from the PS domain to the CS domain. So, when SRVCC functionality has been invoked and a path failure on the Sv interface has been detected when trying to make an SRVCC PS to CS Request towards the selected MSC, then the MME tries to perform the SRVCC PS to CS procedure to any other available MSC using the Sv interface. This requires of course that there be more than one MSC serving Sv and the UEs location (i.e., the MSC pool must be deployed). But, when no MSC is available to the MME, the restoration procedure initiated by the MME must be triggered; otherwise the voice call will be terminated due to the UE having left the LTE coverage area.
MSC Initiated SGs Restoration (See 3GPP TS 23.007, Chapter 26 for Further Details)
When the VLR has to page the UE for a Mobile Terminated (MT) CS service (e.g., upon receipt of an incoming CS call), if the VLR detects that the MME serving the UE is no longer in service, the VLR should send an SGs paging request with a CS restoration indicator to an alternative MME in the same MME pool. The VLR should load-balance the paging requests among the available MMEs in the pool during the restoration procedure in order to avoid unduly burdening one or only a few of the MMEs in the pool.
The VLR may know the set of MMEs pertaining to the same MME pool by local configuration or by checking the MME Group ID within the MME name that MMEs signal to the VLR in the SGsAP-LOCATION-UDATE-REQUEST, SGsAP-RESET-INDICATION or SGsAP-RESET-ACK messages. The MME should send an SGsAP-RESET-INDICATION message to the VLR after restart.
The VLR may detect that an MME is no longer in service if there are no more SCTP associations in service with that MME.
The MME shall accept the SGs paging request and proceed as follows upon receipt of an SGs paging request that includes the CS restoration indicator:                If the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) is unknown by the MME, or if the IMSI is known and the UE is marked as EPS Mobility Management (EMM)-DEREGISTERED, the MME shall send the paging request with the location information provided by the VLR, regardless of the value of the "MME-Reset" indicator. If no such location information is provided, the MME may either page the UE in all the tracking areas corresponding to that MME or in the tracking areas served by the MME and by the VLR, or reject the paging request per operator policy. The paging request shall include the IMSI and the CN domain indicator set to "PS" to request the UE to re-attach;        If the IMSI is known by the MME and the UE is considered to be attached to both EPS and non-EPS services or for SMS only (for an SGs paging request with an "SMS indicator"), the MME shall page the UE based on the location information stored in the MME.
Upon receipt of a paging request including the IMSI and the CN domain indicator set to "PS", the UE re-attaches to one MME of the pool (the particular one may not necessarily be the MME that initiated the paging procedure towards the UE) and a new SGs association is established with the VLR. This VLR may not be the same VLR that initiated the SGs paging procedure (e.g., if Intra Domain Connection of RAN Nodes to Multiple CN Nodes is deployed for GERAN or UTRAN (see 3GPP TS 23.236)).
If the new SGs association is established towards the same VLR, the VLR should repeat the SGs paging request after the UE has re-attached to non-EPS services. The MT CS service or SMS is then delivered according to normal procedures.
If the new SGs association is established towards a different VLR, the MT CS service may be delivered via the new VLR using Mobile Terminating Roaming Retry or Mobile Terminating Roaming Forwarding (see 3GPP TS 23.018); the on-going MT SMS is retransmitted by the SMS-SC using the existing SMS procedures (SMS alert).
It is evident that, in each of the above-described restoration procedures, the MME must be able to reach an available MSC. However, this may not be possible in all circumstances.
In a scenario in which the MME is unable to reach an MSC, the UE is not served by combined procedures but is instead limited only to Evolved Packet Core (EPC) services only. Further, in such instances SRVCC PS to CS handover will not be possible.
The existing behaviors specified in the current 3GPP specifications are not optimal if the communication error is local to an MME in an MME pool and there are other MMEs in the same pool which do have a connection to suitable MSC(s). In this case, it is not optimal that the UE is denied CS services despite that MSC(s) is/are available to the MME pool when using a different MME.
When an MME suffers from a connectivity outage to all MSCs, i.e. when there no longer is any connectivity at interface SGs, the MME will no longer receive any MT call or serve a Mobile Originated (MO) call for served UEs that are combined attached. Nor will SRVCC be possible.
In case the issue is local to a single MME it may be resolved by having the serving MME force the UE to be moved to a different MME within the MME Pool, for example by executing load rebalancing Tracking Area Update (TAU).
However, it is herein observed that there are some issues with that approach.
If the SGs/Sv connectivity error is common to all MMEs in the MME Pool, the new MME will also fail to perform SGs/Sv signaling. The result would be that the new MME would also deny the UE's combined attachment. Nor will SRVCC be possible. Further, extra signaling will be induced by moving the UE from one MME to another.
The UE would then either attempt to perform an access change to get CS attached in 2G/3G (voice centric), or would alternatively remain in the LTE access and no longer be able to use CS services (data centric). An ongoing Voice over LTE (VoLTE) call may also be dropped when going out of LTE coverage.
If the UE remains in the LTE access, the behavior is at risk of going cyclic with a never ending sequence of inter-MME TAU procedure executions impacting all UEs that make requests to get interface (I/F) SGs-related services.
In case the issue is local to only some MMEs in the MME Pool, the approach would succeed and the UEs would eventually be registered by an MME that is able to signal at the I/F SGs.
However, it would at the same time create a load balancing problem since the data centric UEs that chose to remain being served in the LTE access are moved from an MME that has lost SGs connectivity to an MME that does not have that problem. The result is that all UEs that request Circuit Switched FallBack (CSFB—so-called because this feature enables voice services to be delivered to packet-capable equipment by means of legacy circuit-switched network elements) are concentrated to some MMEs in the pool, thereby making the UE distribution and the resulting node load no longer randomized over the nodes in the pool.
When the situation normalizes it would be necessary to redistribute UE registrations over the pool to get an even load distribution. But since the load distribution is no longer randomized, this cannot be easily performed by existing load distribution mechanisms.
In view of the above-described issues, it is desired to provide technology (e.g., methods, apparatuses, processor-readable storage medium, etc.) that are capable of providing a backup mechanism for establishing a reconnection between, on the one hand, an entity such as an MME and, on the other hand, an entity such as an MSC when an attempted primary reconnection mechanism experiences a problem.

Restoration of user equipment control in the presence of communication link failure between packet switched and circuit switched controlling nodes


A fluid vaporizing device useful for vaporizing fluid into an aerosol includes a capillary tube made from an electrically conductive material, an upstream electrode connected to the capillary tube, and a downstream electrode connected to the tube and provided with an electrical resistivity sufficient to cause heating of the downstream electrode during operation. According to various manufacturing techniques (a) the downstream electrode can be made of a material having a resistivity that is approximately constant over a desired temperature range, (b) the ratio of the resistance of the downstream electrode to the resistance of the capillary tube can be selected as a function of a preset liquid flow rate through the capillary tube, (c) the tuning range over which a desired quality aerosol can be produced can be selected to compensate for dimensional tolerances during mass production, and (d) the total hot resistance of the downstream electrode and capillary tube can be adjusted to control the location of a meniscus of a liquid vaporized in the capillary tube to produce a desired quality aerosol.

Aerosols are useful in a wide variety of applications. For example, it is often desirable to treat respiratory ailments with, or deliver drugs by means of, aerosol sprays of finely divided particles of liquid and/or solid, e.g., powder, medicaments, etc., which are inhaled into a patient's lungs. Aerosols are also used for purposes such as providing desired scents to rooms, distributing insecticides and delivering paint and lubricant.
Commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,743,251 and 6,234,167, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties, disclose aerosol generators, along with certain principles of operation and materials used in an aerosol generator, as well as methods of producing an aerosol, and an aerosol.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Fluid vaporizing device having controlled temperature profile heater/capillary tube


An apparatus (10) includes a seat frame (20), an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (18), and a reinforcing assembly (80). The frame (20) has a bottom portion (24) and a back portion (22) which is pivotal relative to the bottom portion (24). The protection device (18) is mounted on the back portion (22) of the frame (20) for rearward deployment from the back portion (22). The reinforcing assembly (80) includes a rigid brace (82) with an upper end portion (86) adjacent to the back portion (22) of the frame (20), a lower end portion (88) adjacent to the bottom portion (24) of the frame (20), and an intermediate portion (90) joining the upper and lower end portions (86) and (88). A fastener structure (92) fixes one portion (22 or 24) of the frame (20) permanently to one end portion (86 or 88) of the brace (82). A locking device (84) interlocks the other portion (24 or 22) of the frame (20) releasably with the other end portion (88 or 86) of the brace (82).

An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag, is part of an apparatus which further includes a crash sensor and an inflator. The crash sensor senses vehicle conditions that indicate the occurrence of a crash. When the crash sensor senses a crash-indicating condition of at least a predetermined threshold level, the inflator is actuated. The inflator then emits inflation fluid which inflates the air bag into the vehicle occupant compartment to help protect an occupant of the vehicle.
An air bag and an inflator are typically assembled together as parts of an air bag module which is separate from the crash sensor. The module is installed in a vehicle part adjacent to the vehicle occupant compartment. The module may thus be installed in a vehicle instrument panel, a vehicle steering column, or, as in the present invention, in a vehicle seat.


An information handling system may include a processor, a network interface, and non-transitory computer-readable media having stored thereon an agent comprising a program of instructions, the agent configured to, when read and executed by the processor: perform background scanning of traffic associated with a plurality of network access points, in order to collect traffic information associated with the information handling system and traffic information and capabilities associated with the plurality of network access points; score each network access point of the plurality of network access points based on the traffic information associated with the information handling system and traffic information and capabilities associated with the plurality of network access points; compare scores for each of the plurality of network access points to determine a selected network access point; and cause the network interface to connect to the selected network access point.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
With recent advances in network technology and improved affordability of networking devices, information handling system users are increasingly implementing networks (e.g., local areas networks or LANs) that utilize wireless transmissions (e.g., wireless fidelity or "Wi-Fi") and wire-line transmissions in their homes and/or businesses. For example, users may implement a home or business network including an information handling system, one or more wireless-capable network devices, and a wireless access point communicatively coupled to the information handling system and network devices. Such a network may allow an information handling system (or a user thereof) to communicate with the one or more network devices via the wireless access point or vice versa.
Traditionally, an information handling system selects a wireless access point from a plurality of wireless access points based on the relative signal strengths of the wireless access points, which may effectively be a proxy for the relative physical proximity of the wireless access points to the information handling system. More recently, newer approaches have used an access point scoring mechanism based on access point environment information communicated from the wireless access points. However, such approach may be less than optimal for a number of reasons. For example, not all access points may provide environmental information due to a wireless access point not supporting the broadcast of such information or such feature being disabled on a wireless access point. Scoring an access point without the unknown loading information may lead to erroneous scoring, and scoring access points that report and access points that do not report environmental information may lead to inaccurate ranking of access points.
Further, access points have the capability to prioritize applications and send high priority traffic. Access points may broadcast loading information in terms of number of users and channel busy time if such feature is supported and enabled on a wireless access point, but not the type of traffic. However, for accurate scoring, a wireless access point should be scored based on the prioritized traffic of the access point and the traffic of the information handling system itself.

Systems and methods for comparison and scoring of network access points


An inflator (14) includes a structure (50, 70, 90) that helps define a chamber (42) from which inflation fluid flows. The structure (50, 70, 90) includes an end cap (90) having a side wall (92). A closure member (104) is rupturable to release inflation fluid from the chamber (42). An initiator (230) is actuatable to rupture the closure member (104). A filter retainer (170) includes a side wall (172) that defines a cavity (176). The side wall (172) of the filter retainer (170) includes a rim portion (196) that forms a terminal end of the side wall. A filter assembly (120) is positioned in the cavity (176) of the filter retainer (170). First segments (260) of the rim portion (196) are deformed to clamp the filter assembly (120) to the filter retainer (170). Non-deformed second segments (262) of the rim portion (196) engage an inner surface (264) of the side wall (92) of the end cap (90). The second segments (262) help position the end cap (90) and the filter retainer (170) coaxially with each other.

It is known to inflate an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device to help protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a vehicle collision. One particular type of inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is a inflatable curtain that inflates from the roof of the vehicle downward inside the passenger compartment between a vehicle occupant and the side structure of the vehicle in the event of a side impact or rollover. A known inflatable curtain is inflated from a deflated condition by inflation fluid directed from an inflator to the inflatable curtain through a fill tube.
Another type of inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is a front air bag inflatable by inflation fluid directed into the air bag from an inflator. A driver side front air bag is inflated from a stored position in a vehicle steering wheel to a deployed position between an occupant of a front driver side seat and the steering wheel/instrument panel of the vehicle. A passenger side front air bag is inflated from a stored position in the instrument panel to a deployed position between an occupant of a front passenger side seat and the instrument panel.
Another type of inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is a side impact air bag inflatable between the side structure of the vehicle and a vehicle occupant. Side impact air bags may be stored in a variety of locations in the vehicle, such as the side structure, seat, door, or floor of the vehicle. A side impact air bag may be inflated by inflation fluid directed into the air bag from an inflator. Other types of inflatable vehicle occupant protection devices include inflatable seat belts and inflatable knee bolsters.


The present invention seeks to provide a simple, but novel regime, for re-labelling swappable pins that permits swappability information to be maintained without significantly increasing computational complexity and is conducive to inexact pattern matching for the purposes of developing more complex logical processing blocks from elementary components in design analysis. The method comprises a recursive application of a simple labelling procedure. This method is repeated recursively until all gate instances in the circuit fragment have been assigned a swappability number.

In the intensely competitive field of microelectronics, detailed analysis of a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) product may provide valuable information as to how a particular technical problem was solved, overall strengths and weaknesses of a design approach and the like. Such information may be used to make decisions relating to market positioning, future designs and new product development. Moreover, the information may constitute evidence of copying that may give rise to patent infringement and/or licensing issues.
Typically, such information is obtained from analysis of the product by means of circuit extraction or reverse engineering, as well as functional analysis and other technical means. At the core of such activity lies the process of design analysis, which, in this context, refers to techniques and methodologies for deriving complete or partial schematics of the product. Nian Zhang et al.'s paper entitled, "The subcircuit extraction problem" IEEE Potentials, August/September 2003, p. 22, provides background information regarding the challenges facing subcircuit extraction, i.e., converting transistor net-lists into gates.
Unlike testing and verification of a known design, design analysis typically does not have the benefit of a known detailed reference.
Heretofore, design analysis typically involved manual extraction of circuit information from a set of large photomosaics of an IC or portion thereof. Photomosaics are high magnification photographs of portions of an IC that are "mosaicked" or stitched together.
With modern advances in image processing and electron microscopy, traditional photomosaic images have largely been replaced by topographical images of the IC die's interconnected metal and semiconductor layers. These topographical images are viewable on computer monitors using dedicated software. For example, one such software is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,907,583 by Abt et al., entitled "Computer aided method of circuit extraction" and issued on Jun. 14, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein.
Such software depicts the IC layout as a series of polygons representing the arrangement of the various metal layers, in different colours to differentiate between layers. One or more layers may be selected for viewing apart from non-selected layers when conducting the design analysis, which involves extracting or identifying the circuitry represented on a portion of the IC, a process known as circuit readback.
As most ICs are designed using libraries of components, each of which may comprise a circuit combination of less complex sub-circuits, a significant part of the design analysis process is the extraction and identification of standard cells, that is, known repetitive blocks of electrical components.
Co-pending and commonly assigned U.S. published patent application no. 20060045325, filed Aug. 31, 2004, disclosed by Zavadsky et al., and entitled "Method of Design Analysis of Existing Integrated Circuits" and incorporated by reference herein, describes an automated process of identifying repetitive circuitry from a layout image. However, such method assumes that each sub-circuit has an identical layout, which may not always be the case.
Advances in IC design, as well as a push for ever-smaller ICs, have meant that circuit blocks may now be spread across the entire surface area of the die, in an effort to more efficiently make use of the available space. Moreover, much of the modern IC design is done automatically by auto-routing, with the electrical components being positioned in a space-efficient manner, which may not necessarily constitute a logical or even a visually appealing manner. Furthermore, it is entirely likely that two electrically identical circuits corresponding to a single standard cell will be laid out in different areas of the die and may have entirely different physical layouts.
Nevertheless, even though two circuit blocks on an IC may not be visually similar, they may nevertheless be electrically identical in that they have correspondingly similar electrical connections.
Typically, the circuitry extracted during the design analysis process is represented electronically using a representational format such as a net-list. A net-list is a list of electrical components of a circuit and their interconnections. Each interconnection or "net" is assigned a unique label. A net-list lists each component in the circuit, as well as every net to which each of the terminals of such components is connected. As such, it completely defines the interconnections of the circuit and the schematic diagram thereof could be recreated therefrom.
Thus, even though each instance of repetitive circuitry in an IC layout may be visually or physically different, that portion of the net-list describing an instance of such circuitry, or sub-net-list, should be similar to other instances of the same repetitive circuitry.
Co-pending and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/411,593, filed Apr. 26, 2006, by Zavadsky et al. and entitled "Net-List Organization Tools," incorporated by reference herein, discloses a method of organizing circuitry from a net-list of an IC for design analysis purposes, by identifying potential electrically identical elements in the net-list by inexact pattern matching and organizing the net-list into a hierarchy by replacing identified instances with a higher-level representation.
Inexact pattern matching is a mechanism of modelling sub-graph isomorphism, a pattern-matching technique. Isomorphism is defined as something having the "same form" or the "same shape." Two groups of elements are said to be isomorphic if there is a one-to-one relationship between the elements of the first group and the elements of the second group.
Graph isomorphism signifies that two entire graphs, such as a net-list fragment, are identical. Sub-graph isomorphism signifies that there is a one-to-one relationship between each element of a sub-graph of a larger graph and a corresponding sub-graph of another larger graph.
In inexact pattern-matching, a first pattern instance in a circuit design will be recognized as a match for a second pattern instance, even if the instances are not physically or visually identical, as a result of common modifications made by circuit designers and auto-routers, such as by attaching inputs to Vdd or GND or shorting together of inputs.
However, other differences between electrically identical circuit fragments may not be detected by inexact pattern-matching in isolation. These include interchangeable or swappable nodes or pins. A component may be said to have swappable nodes if the component operates identically whether or not a particular circuit fragment is connected to one or another of the swappable nodes.
Typically, such swappability occurs at a terminal point or node (whether an input or an output) of a component, and more typically at input nodes. For example, an n-input NOR gate generates a logical 1 at its output only if there is a logical 0 at each input. As such, the output will not change irrespective of whether a given circuit fragment feeds into one or another of the inputs to the NOR gate. Thus, the n inputs to the NOR gate are said to be interchangeable or swappable, as referred to hereinafter.
As a result of the foregoing, in performing inexact pattern matching, a circuit fragment feeding into a first input in one instance and feeding into a second input in a second instance would be electrically identical. Presumably, inexact pattern matching would pick up the equivalency of such a simple level of swappability.
Some components, however, have much more complex swappability. That is, a component may contain one or more nodes that are swappable with some nodes but not swappable with other nodes. Indeed, groups of nodes, whether swappable or otherwise may be swappable or not swappable with still other nodes or groups of nodes.
Those having ordinary skill in this art will appreciate that as simpler components, such as gates, are built up into more complex components, such as flip-flops, adders and processors, as routinely occurs in ICs, the level of complexity of the swappability of nodes may similarly increase.
While the process of circuit extraction is aimed at simplifying structures and identifying points of similarity, care should be taken to ensure that information that might assist in these objectives at a later point in time is not lost in the process. Complex swappability of nodes may constitute such information.
What is therefore needed is a mechanism to identify and resolve complex swappability relationships in a manner that allows such relationships to be subjected to inexact pattern matching without risk of loss of any of the swappability information.

Method of labelling swappable pins for integrated circuit pattern matching


A syringe assembly consists of two basic types of assembly units: a dispensing unit, and a separate, independent plunger unit. The dispensing unit and the plunger unit are assembled together coaxially to form a two-unit syringe assembly for storage or prior to use. At least the dispensing unit is a container for a material to be dispensed and, by inserting one or more extension units between the dispensing unit and the plunger unit, additional compartments may be added. Each extension unit may contain a different component of a formulation in any predetermined quantity. The syringe assembly allows the user to store one or more components of a formulation in separate individual units that can be assembled easily into a single multi-compartment syringe assembly, which can store the multiple components separately until they are ready for use, at which time the components may be mixed to form the formulation.

A multi-compartment syringe, allowing the user to store multiple components of a medicament in separate, individually sealed compartments until ready for use is known in the art. A multi-compartment syringe comprising a single multi-compartment barrel, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,743,194, herein "the '194 patent", which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and whose contents are incorporated by reference. In the '194 patent, the syringe is a single barreled syringe that may be configured to store two or more components of a medicament or other formulation separately in hermetically sealed compartments until just prior to use. When ready to mix the contents of the pre-filled syringe, the seal(s) partitioning the compartments can be easily unsealed, establishing a two-way flow communication between the compartments so that the contents of each compartment can be mixed to form the medicament.
Thus, the '194 patent describes and claims a syringe including a syringe body having an opening at each of its top and bottom ends; a shoulder provided between the top and the bottom ends defining a top-compartment sidewall portion between the top end and the shoulder; the shoulder further defining a bottom-compartment sidewall portion between the shoulder and the bottom end; the bottom-compartment sidewall portion having a larger cross-section than the top-compartment sidewall portion; a plunger having a shaft, a distal end, a proximal end, and a plunger head having a smaller cross-section than the bottom-compartment sidewall portion provided at the distal end; the plunger inserted into the syringe body plunger head first through the bottom-end opening; the plunger head configured and adapted to form a seal when the plunger head engages the top-compartment sidewall, wherein the plunger is axially translatable between a first position where the plunger head is sealingly engaged with the top-compartment sidewall dividing the syringe body into a top compartment and a bottom compartment, and a second position where the plunger head disengages from the top-compartment sidewall establishing a two-way flow communication between the top and bottom compartments; and a bottom closure member having a central aperture in which the plunger shaft is slidably disposed, wherein the bottom closure member is slidable along the plunger shaft between an unsealed position where the bottom-end opening is not sealed and a sealed position sealing the bottom-end opening of the syringe body.
The syringe according to the '194 patent may be used to form a multi-compartment container for storing a variety of medicaments as, for example, medicaments for human use in the form of a dry powder which are mixed with a liquid to form a liquid formulation shortly, before use. Such medicament, for example, may include a variety of drugs, e.g. antibiotics. The shelf life of such mixed dry powder and liquid formulations is limited, and this dictates the need to prepare the formulation only shortly before use. The limited shelf life of the powder and liquid formulation is a result of a loss of activity of an active ingredient in the formula, accelerated oxidation once in solution, etc.
While this syringe has various advantages over conventional syringes, it is a single barreled syringe, requiring either that the compartments be filled in a single location or by the user at the time of use. Additionally, filling the separate compartments of this syringe with different components is cumbersome and limited. Furthermore, it has little flexibility, as in cases where one component may be mixed on one occasion with a second component, while on another occasion, it is preferred to mix the first component with a different component altogether. In addition, if an additional component is required to be added it is not possible to add another compartment to a prepared syringe of defined size and volume.
Another disadvantage of the single body syringe of the '194 patent is the method of filling the syringe. The syringe is assembled and filled, according to one method, by first orienting the body with the two-compartment embodiment of the syringe in an upright position with its top-end opening pointing upwardly. The plunger is then inserted into the syringe body, plunger-head portion first, until the plunger head engages the top-compartment sidewall. This forms a hermetic seal at the bottom of the top compartment near the shoulder portion. The top compartment is then filled with a first component of a medicament, preferably a liquid, through the top-end opening and sealed with a suitable top sealing member or assembly.
Alternatively, the top compartment may be filled by inserting the plunger completely to the end of the top compartment, immersing the open top end in the liquid, then drawing the liquid into the top compartment by pulling the plunger back to its sealed position between the compartments. This method is only practical when the first component of the medicament is a liquid.
Next, the syringe device may be turned 180 degrees, with the sealed top end oriented downwardly, so that the bottom-end opening is facing up. The bottom compartment is filled with a second component of the medicament through the bottom-end opening and sealed with the bung. Filling the bottom compartment while the plunger shaft is disposed through the bottom-end opening is cumbersome and poses various constraints on the filling process. The second component may be a liquid or a powdered solid substance. In this embodiment where a bung seals the bottom opening, the second component may be placed in the bottom compartment in a hydrated form and dried using a lyophilization process.
There is a design concern with the prior art multi-compartment syringes that, prior to use, the compartments be hermetically sealed, so as to prevent, over an extended period of time, accidental pre-mature mixing of liquid or liquid vapor of a component in one compartment with a component in a second compartment. Another design concern with such multi-compartment syringes is that the user should be able to readily inspect the component in any of the compartments just prior to use, in order to verify its useful condition. Yet another concern with many of the multi-compartment syringes is the relatively high cost of manufacture.
Accordingly, it would be very desirable to have a multi-compartment syringe which is formed of two or more separate containers capable of separately storing one or more different components, and which can be joined together as desired, depending upon the components required, and which can farther be extended in situ, if additional components are required. Advantages of such a multi-compartment syringe include the possibility of filling the compartments in different locations and assembling the syringe where and when needed. Additionally, the filling of the separate containers, each having top and bottom sealable openings, is a much easier and more flexible task. Because each component of a multi-component medicament may be stored in separately sealed containers, the components of a medicament may be stored for longer periods without concerns of accidental mixing. The use of such a syringe may also shorten the time required for administering a medicament which is a solution of two components. Each of the assembly units may be provided in various sizes to accommodate different quantities of each component of a medicament, where appropriate. In particular, the dispensing unit may have a pre-selected volume permitting multiple injections of a pre-selected dose of a medicament. In this case, the medicament may be stored in the plunger unit whereas the dispensing unit may have a pre-selected volume permitting multiple injections of a pre-selected dose of a medicament, which is transferred from the plunger unit into the dispensing unit just prior to injecting of the pre-selected dose.