A method for storing and retrieving image data across multiple storage media. The method of the present invention allows a large image file to be stored to one or more diskettes, magnetic tapes, fixed disk drives, CD-ROM's, a combination of the foregoing, or any other suitable storage media, without regard to the size of the image data file. When an image file has been stored in accordance with the storage method of the present invention, the file may be easily retrieved from the various storage locations. The image data may be stored such that upon the retrieval thereof, the various storage media utilized may be presented in any order without corruption of the image data. The image data are preferably compressed using any of a wide variety of compression algorithms, and the image may be represented in color, grey tones, or black and white. Also, various error checking algorithms may be utilized in conjunction with the present invention to ensure that all of the data are properly stored and/or retrieved.

One reason for the ever increasing popularity of computers has been the advances in the quality of the images that may be displayed thereon. The ability to display high quality images has resulted from many different developments in the field of computer science and electronics. More specifically, the availability of low-cost computers having large amounts of dynamic memory, large mass storage devices, high quality/resolution display monitors, and fast central processing units (CPUs) has allowed for the widespread use of computer images having sufficient resolution to be clear and enjoyable to view without requiring an undue amount of computer processing to effect the display thereof. Furthermore, the increased clarity of computer images has allowed doctors, dentists, architects, engineers, and others to utilize computer images in the performance of their respective duties. For example, x-ray data may now be displayed on a computer monitor with sufficient resolution and with all the required colors or shades of grey to allow a doctor or dentist to safely and effectively evaluate medical/dental conditions.
Unfortunately, with the above-noted increased quality of computer images comes a corresponding increase in file size. In most instances, the image data is compressed so that it does not occupy an excessive amount of storage space. However, the more compressed an image file is, the more time and processing power it takes to decompress the file for viewing the image. Also, while "lossy" compression techniques (compression techniques wherein some aspect of the original image data is discarded) allow for faster and increased compression of the data, in certain applications, such as when x-ray images are being used for medical diagnosis, lossy compression techniques and the computer images resulting therefrom, are generally unacceptable. Therefore, an x-ray image, for example, when of a certain high resolution and when represented with a sufficiently "deep" greyscale, may occupy more space than is available on a single piece of storage media such as a single computer diskette.
The increasing size of computer image data files has created a need to provide a method for storing and retrieving image data from a single image to and from multiple storage locations in a simple and effective manner. For example, a first storage medium (diskette, magnetic tape, fixed disk drive) may contain a limited amount of available space which is less than the space needed to store an image. There has been found a need to provide a method for storing a portion of the computer image to the available space on the first storage medium, and to thereafter store the remaining image data to additional storage media (which may be several, and may be the same type or different from the first storage medium). There has likewise been found a need to provide a method for later retrieving data that has been stored "across" multiple storage media in this manner. Furthermore, it would be most desirable to allow the computer image data to be retrieved from the various storage locations without regard to the order in which the retrieval occurs.
Known methods and image file formats do not allow the image data of a single image to be stored on separate pieces of storage media, whether diskettes, floppy diskettes, magnetic tapes, fixed disk drives, or any combination thereof. This results from the fact that the image data is preceded by image "header" information relating to the characteristics of the image that is necessary to properly retrieve the image from its storage location. It can be seen, for example, simply continuing image data from a first diskette to a second diskette causes the image data on the second diskette to become disassociated from necessary header information located on the first diskette, thereby rendering the information on the second diskette irretrievable using conventional techniques.
As is noted above, available fixed disk drives (also referred to as hard disk drives) are capable of storing massive amounts of data, often one to two gigabytes (GB), or more. Therefore, it is a less common occurrence that an image data file will not fit onto the available space of a fixed disk drive. However, when an image data file must be stored to another medium (the previously mentioned diskettes for example) for archival and/or transport of the image data, difficulty arises when the size of the image file exceeds the available amount of space on the medium. For example, it is currently impracticable to transfer large image data files across telephone lines using modem technology due to the relatively low data transfer rates currently available. Therefore, when the transportation of image data is required, the image data is commonly stored on a diskette and the entire diskette is delivered to the image recipient. The recipient may then load the diskette into his or her computer for viewing. Most 3.5 " computer diskettes are currently capable of storing in the range of 1.4 megabytes (MB) of data. Therefore, it can be seen that as the image file size (whether compressed or not) is greater than 1.4 MB, more than one diskette must be utilized to store the image data. For example, a 4 MB image file will require the use of three 1.4 MB diskettes. As noted, known image file formats are incapable of allowing an image file to be stored to or "across" multiple pieces of storage media.

Method for storing and retrieving a digital image across multiple storage media


A phase locked loop of the present disclosure includes a phase comparator circuit, a loop filter, an oscillator circuit, an AD converter circuit, and a current generator circuit. The phase comparator circuit compares a phase of a first signal and a phase of a second signal based on a clock signal. The loop filter includes a resistor element and a capacitor element, and generates a control voltage on the basis of a phase comparison result of the phase comparator circuit. The resistor element has one end coupled to a first node and another end coupled to a second node. The capacitor element has one end coupled to the second node. The oscillator circuit generates the clock signal on the basis of the control voltage. The AD converter circuit converts a voltage difference between the two ends of the resistor element into a digital code. The current generator circuit generates a first current on the basis of the digital code and supplies the first current to the second node.

A phase locked loop (PLL; Phase Locked Loop) includes, for example, a phase comparator circuit, a loop filter, an oscillator circuit, and the like. For example, PTL 1 discloses a technique attempting to compensate for a leakage current generated in a MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) capacitor in a phase locked loop including a loop filter having this MOS capacitor.

SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION


A system and method are provided for use in maintaining secure communications between a home network and a mobile client when the client roams outside of the home network to a new location. One method of the present invention includes the steps of: establishing a new IP address for the new client location; sending a registration message identifying the new IP address location; authenticating the registration message; encapsulating and transmitting the registration message to the home server; registering the new IP address as a care-of-address for the client at the home server; confirming the registration of the new IP address with the client; establishing a security association between the home server and the relay server on behalf of the client; performing network address translation between the client's permanent IP address client and the client's new IP address; tunneling packets addressed for the client between the home server based and the relay server based on the established security association and the address translation for the client; and decapsulating the packets at the relay server and forwarding the packets to the client.

The current standard for Mobile IP allows a mobile user to maintain connections as the user roams through the Internet, and allows mobile users to be reached under the same IP address. Accordingly, the current system for Mobile IP facilitates bi-directional communication, and supports mobile servers (or routers or other network resources).
Mobile IP is an open Internet standard and is specified mainly in ITEF-RFC 2002 which is hereby incorporated by reference. The fundamental premise of Mobile IP is that a mobile user can maintain the same network address regardless of where he roams. This ability is fundamentally important and desirable for two reasons: (1) connections can be maintained while roaming from one network to another and (2) bi-directional communications become possible. Connections can be maintained for IP-based communications protocols such as User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). For these protocols, connections are identified by four parameters, namely source and destination IP addresses and source and destination port numbers. Without Mobile IP, roaming requires a change in the mobile user's IP address which in turn leads to a loss of all connections established under the previous IP address. Hence, Mobile IP's ability to maintain the same IP address allows for "seamless" roaming in the sense that connections can be maintained while roaming. Another benefit from maintaining a single IP address is true bi-directional communications. That means, connections can be established with roaming mobile devices (hereafter referred to as a "clients") as the destination. This ability is crucial for interactive applications (like MS NetMeeting, CUSeeMe, PowWow, and others). It also paves the way for mobile information servers. It is important to realize that these benefits apply to all IP based applications. From the application, and thus the user, the perspective is that of only a single, permanent IP address that identifies each client (i.e. laptop, handheld, smart-phone) regardless of its location.
Mobile IP works by employing two IP addresses: a permanent IP address is visible to applications and the user, while a second temporary or care-of address is used to ensure proper routing. Accordingly, when a party is traveling away from their home network, their client establishes a new IP address and this new IP address is forwarded back to their home network as a forwarding address for all message traffic addressed to the original, permanent IP address. Accordingly, the mobile user has their packets routed to them as if they were still connected to their home network terminal. In operation, Mobile IP software arbitrates between the two addresses and hides mobility from applications and the user.
In most applications, Mobile IP operates through software resident on the mobile user's home network. This software (sometimes referred to as an "agent") intercepts packets arriving for departed clients and forwards them to the clients at their care-of addresses. In some cases, Mobile IP includes the use of Mobile IP software resident on various subnets visited by the roaming clients (termed "Foreign Agents"). In many cases, the use of Foreign Agents are not strictly required since its functionality may be subsumed into the clients themselves. A client operating without a Foreign Agent is said to be in co-located mode.
The strength of the Mobile IP protocol clearly is that it enables seamless roaming and bi-directional communications. From a practical perspective, however, Mobile IP by itself is inadequate. Most importantly, Mobile IP has been designed for an open Internet. Security has scarcely been considered in its specification. In practice, a mobile user's communications must be protected against eavesdropping and tampering.
In addition to providing no security for its own networks, as presently configured and practiced, Mobile IP networks do not provide any practical means for securely accessing protected corporate networks with which it communicates. In particular, the Mobile IP protocol will not work through such devices as firewalls or VPN gateways which are increasingly common.

System and method for secure network mobility


A panel-post connector plate 16 for connecting a fence post 12 to an adjacent fence panel 14. The panel-post connector plate 16 comprises a plate body 84 having a post-receiving aperture 86 for receiving at least part of the fence post 12 therethrough, and a fastener receiving aperture 92 for receiving a fastener to attach the plate body 84 to a panel-body of the adjacent fence panel 14. A header-rail engagement member 94 is at or adjacent to the plate body 84, the header-rail engagement member 94 receivable in the header rail 26 of the adjacent fence panel 14. A temporary rail support device, a gravel-board retaining element, a fence post and a fence are also described.

The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to fencing, and in particular to fence posts. The invention further relates to a panel-post connector plate, a rail support device, a gravel-board retaining device, a fence post, a method of manufacturing a fence post and a fence system, and generally to fence post assemblies.
Fence posts are typically formed from timber, plastic, concrete or metal. However, timber fence posts are vulnerable to decay over time, particularly rotting which is in part caused by moisture and air exposure to the timber. This is particularly the case for timber fence posts embedded into the ground. Plastic fence posts, whilst typically moisture resistant, can become discoloured or embrittled by exposure to sunlight. Concrete fence posts which are made to be strong enough to be used as fence posts are required to be bulky so that they are too heavy to be manoeuvred. Present metal fence post designs are uneconomical to manufacture and/or are too heavy to be manoeuvred.
Fence posts which are not connected to adjacent fence panels, which may include prefabricated fence panels or a plurality of rails with slats attached thereto, can result in movement and/or wind rattle of fence panels. This may particularly be true for header rails of fence panels.
Gravel boards are typically formed from a material resistant to moisture related damage and are attached between fence posts so as to space a body of the fence panel from the ground. This protects the body of the fence panel from moisture related damage. However, gravel boards can be difficult to hold in place relative to the fence posts when being fastened thereto, especially if one person attempts to construct the fence.
If constructing the fence panel in-situ, rails or cross-members are required to be fixed relative to the fence post. If one person attempts to attach the rail to the fence post, it can be difficult to hold the rail in position by hand and fasten the rail to the fence post.
The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems.


An assembly for connecting a first printed circuit board with a second printed circuit board includes an electrical connector connected to one of a first and second printed circuit board. The electrical connector has a retaining mechanism for maintaining the electrical connector in a connected position. The assembly also includes an actuation aid having a first end oriented toward the electrical connector for actuating the retaining mechanism. The actuation aid also has a second end remote from the electrical connector accessible in a region outside the first and second printed circuit board. The first end actuates the retaining mechanism of the electrical connector when the second end is actuated.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an assembly with an actuation aid for connecting and releasing an electrical connector, in which the electrical connector electrically connects a first printed circuit board to a second printed circuit board.
Electrical connectors for connecting printed circuit boards are known in great variety.
As a representative example, reference is made to the 2.5 mm family of plug connectors known as SIPAC, made and sold by Siemens Aktiengesellschaft. Descriptions of the basic model and of further developments in that electrical connector have been published in "Components", 30 (1992), No. 5, pp. 189-192 and in "Markt und Technik-Wochenzeitung fur Elektronik" (Market and Technology- Electronics Weekly) No. 26, Jun. 24, 1994, pp. 36-37.
Since efforts to make electrical connectors HF-compatible generally lead to the provision of a great number of additional ground contacts, and since with technological progress the number of signals to be transmitted and, thus, both the number of transmission lines and the speed of transmission are certainly on an upward rather than a downward trend, it is becoming more and more difficult and expensive to manipulate conventional electrical connectors.
The higher the polarity of the conventional electrical connectors, the more force that must be exerted to connect them to and disconnect them from contact strips such as male or female multipoint connectors used for contacting purposes.
A further factor is that the requisite exertion of force unavoidably leads to deformation of the printed circuit boards to be connected or disconnected, and, thus, threatens damage to the components mounted on the printed circuit boards, especially surface mounted devices.
Known assemblies for connecting and disconnecting an electrical plug connection cannot as a rule be used, especially with printed circuit board connectors, because the actuation aids are normally very poorly accessible.
Moreover, while the known actuation aids can help reduce the expenditure of force on the part of the user, nevertheless the forces acting on the printed circuit boards, with the attendant risks and disadvantages, remain unchanged.

Connector assembly with an actuation aid for connecting and releasing an electrical connector


The present invention provides a method of coating the surface of an inorganic powder comprising; (a) providing an alcohol solution of an alcohol-soluble metal salt and an alcohol solution of an amine compound; and (b) mixing and stirring the two alcohol solutions with an inorganic powder and water, thereby coating the surface of the inorganic powder with a metal hydroxide produced from the alcohol-soluble metal salt. The inorganic powders coated with metal oxide manufactured according to the present invention exist independently without substantial agglomeration, and the metal oxide coating is deposited substantially only on the surface of the inorganic powder with uniform thickness without substantial clustering among the inorganic powders. Consequently, when a Ni electrode layer is prepared using the titanium oxide coated Ni powders manufactured according to the present invention, not only quality but also yield of MLCC can be improved.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method of coating the surface of an inorganic powder and a coated inorganic powder manufactured by this method, more particularly, it is related to a method of depositing a uniform metal oxide coating on the surface of an inorganic powder which can be used in the manufacture of Multi Layer Ceramic Capacitor or as an active material in lithium batteries.
2. Description of the Related Art
Multi Layer Ceramic Capacitor (hereinafter 'MLCC') consists of multi-layers of capacitors in which a dielectric ceramic layer of BaTiO3 is inserted between thin-layer metal electrodes like Nickel or Copper. MLCC is widely used in computers, mobile communication equipments, and other small electronic equipments due to its small volume but large capacity.
Ag—Pd alloys that have been used as the metal electrode have the advantage of being able to be sintered in air, but it has the drawback of high manufacturing cost. Therefore, in the late 1990s in order to reduce the manufacturing cost, Ag—Pd alloys were replaced by Ni, and a Ni-MLCC technology of firing Ni was introduced in a reducing atmosphere to prevent oxidation of Ni.
FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating schematically BaTiO3 powder dielectric layer 100 and Ni powder electrode layer pattern 200 formed during the manufacturing process of the Ni-MLCC.
The conventional manufacturing process of Ni-MLCC is described while referring to FIG. 1. First, BaTiO3 powder dielectric layer 100 is formed by coating a surface, such as a PET film, with BaTiO3 powder dispersion. Afterwards, the Ni powder dispersion is screen-printed on the BaTiO3 powder dielectric layer to form a plurality of Ni powder electrode layer pattern 200. By repeating the processes of forming BaTiO3 powder dielectric layer 100 and Ni powder electrode layer pattern 200, multi-layers of BaTiO3 powder layer 100 and Ni powder electrode layer pattern 200 are formed. This multilayer is then cut along the cutting line 300 and sintered to transform BaTiO3 powder dielectric layer 100 and Ni powder electrode layer pattern 200 into BaTiO3 mono-layer dielectric layer and Ni mono-layer electrode layer pattern, respectively. This completes the manufacturing of Ni-MLCC.
The Ni powder electrode layer pattern 200 contains a large amount of organic vehicle prior to the sintering process, which causes the Ni powder to have a relatively low packing density. Therefore, when sintering, the Ni powder electrode layer pattern 200 shows greater shrinkage than the BaTiO3 powder dielectric layer 100.
In addition, the sintering temperature of Ni powder is about 600° C. and that of BaTiO3 is about 1250˜1300° C. Ni powder starts to shrink significantly around 400˜500° C., while, BaTiO3 powder starts to shrink beyond about 1100° C. Therefore, in the sintering process, the Ni powder electrode layer pattern 200 starts to shrink at a temperature range of 400˜500° C. but the BaTiO3 powder dielectric layer 100 shows no actual shrinkage in this temperature range.
Due to the difference in the shrinkage rate and in the temperature range of shrinkage between the BaTiO3 powder dielectric layer 100 and the Ni powder electrode layer pattern 200, there is a strong contraction stress between the above two layers. From time to time, this contraction stress causes severe problems like poor contact ability between electrodes or the delamination of layers between the Ni electrode layer and the BaTiO3 dielectric layer.
Accordingly, several solutions have been proposed to solve the poor contact between electrodes or the above delamination of layers between the Ni electrode and the BaTiO3 dielectric layer. One solution to these problems, was to fill the pores among the Ni powders with BaTiO3 powder to reduce shrinkage of the Ni powder electrode layer pattern 200. However, this solution was not successful because the difference in shrinkage rate during sintering could not be decreased significantly since the entire surface of the Ni powders were not covered with the dielectric powders on purpose in order to secure contact between the Ni powders.
Another solution used to reduce heat-shrinkage rate of the Ni powder electrode layer is to form the Ni powder electrode layer pattern 200 by using Ni powder coated with a metal oxide, whose shrinkage starting temperature is close to that of BaTiO3. Metal oxides that can be used for coating the Ni powder are MgO, SiO2, TiO2, BaTiO3 and rare-earth metal oxides. These metal oxides can coat the surface of Ni powders using spray thermal decomposition or sol-gel coating process disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,054, for example.
Spray thermal decomposition is a method of forming Ni powder in which a solution containing both thermally decomposable compounds and Ni powders are sprayed to a heating tube, and the thermally decomposable compounds are thermally decomposed, thereby producing Ni powders coated with metal oxide. However, using this method metal oxide is formed not only on the surface of the Ni powders but also within the Ni powders. This results in waste of the raw materials and also high processing costs.
In the sol-gel coating method, after dissolving coating materials in water, Ni powders are added in the solution and through the sol-gel reaction, the surface of the Ni powders are coated with the coating materials physically/chemically. The coated Ni powders are filtered, dried, and heat-treated, to thereby crystallize the coated layer. This method provides the Ni powders with a strong metal oxide coating layer, and allows mass production of coated Ni powders economically.
FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the manufacture of Ni powders coated with titanium oxide by the sol-gel process. Referring to FIG. 2, an aqueous Ni slurry (1), i.e., Ni powder dispersed in water, is mixed with a TiCl4 aqueous solution and an NH4OH aqueous solution under stirring. TiCl4 precipitates as titanium hydroxides, Ti(OH)x, after undergoing reaction with hydroxide ions produced by the acid-base reaction formula illustrated below:NH4OH→NH4++OH−.
The resulting titanium hydroxide is deposited and coated on the surface of the Ni powders (3). The Ni powders coated with titanium hydroxide are then washed with alcohol (5). Washing with alcohol removes impurities and transforms the hydroxide ions of Ti(OH)x on the surface of the coated layer to an alkoxy group in order to reduce agglomeration of the Ni powders which may occur by condensation reaction among the hydroxide ions during the drying process. Afterwards, the coated Ni powders are dried (7). When drying is completed, the Ni powders are heat treated (9) at a temperature of 400˜500° C. in an oxidative atmosphere. In this heat treatment process, titanium hydroxide is transformed into titanium oxide TiO2. Thus, the manufacture of Ni powders coated with TiO2 is completed.
However, the conventional sol-gel coating method has a few drawbacks as summarized below because the method uses water as the coating medium. That is,
(1) Some of the coated Ni powders tend to become agglomerated. This is because of the formation of Ti—O—Ti bonding after condensation reaction between hydroxide ions of titanium hydroxide coated on the surface of a Ni powder and other hydroxide ions of titanium hydroxide coated on the surface of other Ni powders.
(2) A portion of titanium oxide may exist not on the surface of the Ni powders but as clusters between the spaces of the Ni powders and remain there, not coating the surface of the Ni powders. Further, a portion of the surface of Ni powders may remain uncoated and exposed. This is due to the usage of a large amount of water as the coating medium in which a large number of hydroxide ions are produced according to the acid-base reaction in a short period of time, and the hydroxide ions react with TiCl4 at a short period of time and produce large amount of titanium hydroxide precipitations. In this case, some of the titanium hydroxide precipitates are stabilized in the water medium and remain as a cluster before contacting the Ni powders to coat the surface of the Ni powders. Accordingly, some portions of the Ni powders remain uncoated with titanium oxide.
FIG. 3 is a SEM photograph of Ni powders that have been obtained by the conventional sol-gel coating method as illustrated by the flow chart in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 3, agglomerates of titanium hydroxide are seen between the coated spherical Ni powders, and a portion of the Ni powders is exposed without being coated with titanium hydroxide. These titanium hydroxide agglomerates are maintained during the heat treatment for crystallizing the coated layer and the agglomeration strength increases as the crystallization proceeds.
In the manufacturing of MLCC, forming a Ni electrode layer employing the Ni powders produced by the conventional sol-gel coating method causes following problems;
(1) When sintering, disconnection of Ni electrode increases. This is because Ni electrode layer, prepared by using the agglomerated Ni powders has a surface with increased roughness, increasing non-uniformity in the thickness of the Ni electrode layer.
(2) Delamination increases between the dielectric layer and the Ni electrode layer due to the large difference in the shrinkage temperature between the coated Ni powders and BaTiO3. The difference arises from the fact that the Ni powders are not coated uniformly and a portion of the surface remains uncoated and exposed.
For the above stated reason, the electrode layer produced using the Ni powders produced by the conventional sol-gel coating method degrades quality of MLCC and increases failure rate. Therefore, there is a need to develop a method of coating the surface of Ni powders with metal oxide without substantially forming agglomerates and with uniform thickness to improve of the quality of MLCC. A development of a method of coating inorganic powders without substantially forming agglomerates is also important in producing high capacity lithium batteries.

Method of coating the surface of an inorganic powder and a coated inorganic powder manufactured using the same


The stabilized earth or reinforced soil structure comprises a fill, a facing placed along a front face of the structure, main reinforcements disconnected from the facing and extending in a reinforced zone of the fill situated behind the front face, and secondary elements connected to the facing and extending in a zone of the fill which exhibits, with the reinforced zone, a common part where loads are transmitted between the main reinforcements and the secondary elements by the material of the fill.

The present invention relates to the construction of stabilized earth, or reinforced soil, structures. This building technique is commonly used to produce structures such as retaining walls, bridge abutments, etc.
A stabilized earth structure combines a compacted fill, a facing and reinforcements usually connected to the facing.
Various types of reinforcement can be used: metal (for example galvanized steel), synthetic (for example based on polyester fibers), etc. They are placed in the earth with a density that is dependent on the stresses that might be exerted on the structure, the thrust of the soil being reacted by the friction between the earth and the reinforcements.
The facing is usually made from prefabricated concrete elements, in the form of slabs or blocks, juxtaposed to cover the front face of the structure. There may be horizontal steps on this front face between various levels of the facing, when the structure incorporates one or more terraces. In certain structures, the facing may be built in situ by pouring concrete or a special cement.
The reinforcements placed in the fill are secured to the facing by mechanical connecting members that may take various forms. Once the structure is completed, the reinforcements distributed through the fill transmit high loads, that may range up to several tons. Their connection to the facing needs therefore to be robust in order to maintain the cohesion of the whole.
These connections between the reinforcements and the facing are often weak points of the structure. There is a risk that the maximum load they can withstand may be exceeded if the soil undergoes differential settlement or in the event of an earthquake.
Furthermore, the connecting members exhibit risks of degradation. They are often sensitive to corrosion due to moisture or chemical agents present in or which have infiltrated into the fill. This disadvantage often prevents the use of metal connecting members. The connecting members are sometimes based on resins or composite materials so that they corrode less readily. However, their cost is then higher, and it is difficult to give them good mechanical properties without resorting to metal parts. For example, if the reinforcements are in the form of bands and attach by forming a loop behind a bar secured to the facing (U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,571, EP-A-1 114 896), such bar is stressed in bending, which is not ideal in the case of synthetic materials.
By construction, the prefabricated facing elements have a determined number of locations for connection to the reinforcements of the fill. This results in constraints on the overall design of the structure, particularly in terms of the density with which the reinforcements can be placed. For example, if the prefabricated elements each offer four attachment points, the designer will need to envisage connecting the reinforcements there that many times, or possibly a lower number of times, the number always being a whole number. If the structural engineering requires, for example, 2.5 pairs of main reinforcements per prefabricated element, it is necessary to provide a significant surplus of reinforcements, which has an significant impact on the cost. These considerations complicate the design of the structure, since the optimization generally requires reinforcement densities that can vary from one point in the fill to another.
An object of the present invention is to propose a novel method of connection between the facing and the reinforcements placed in the fill which, in certain embodiments at least, makes it possible to reduce the impact of the above-mentioned problems.

Stabilized earth structure and method for constructing it


A waste ink removal system cleans ink residue from an ink drop sensor in a printing mechanism when a scraper, supported by a base, is actuated between a retracted position and an engaged position. The system also includes a reservoir defining a plurality of capillary drains onto which the scraper deposits ink residue while moving to the engaged position. A method of cleaning ink residue from an electrostatic sensing element of an ink drop detector, and a printing mechanism having such a waste ink removal system are also provided.

Printing mechanisms, such as inkjet printers or plotters, often include an inkjet printhead which is capable of forming an image on many different types of media. The inkjet printhead ejects droplets of colored ink through a plurality of orifices and onto a given media as the media is advanced through a printzone. The printzone is defined by the plane created by the printhead orifices and any scanning or reciprocating movement the printhead may have back-and-forth and perpendicular to the movement of the media. Conventional methods for expelling ink from the printhead orifices, or nozzles, include piezo-electric and thermal techniques which are well-known to those skilled in the art. For instance, two earlier thermal ink ejection mechanisms are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,278,584 and 4,683,481, both assigned to the present assignee, the Hewlett-Packard Company.
In a thermal inkjet system, a barrier layer containing ink channels and vaporization chambers is located between a nozzle orifice plate and a substrate layer. This substrate layer typically contains columnar arrays of heater elements, such as resistors, which are individually addressable and energized to heat ink within the vaporization chambers. Upon heating, an ink droplet is ejected from a nozzle associated with the energized resistor. The inkjet printhead nozzles are typically aligned in one or more columnar arrays substantially parallel to the motion of the print media as the media travels through the printzone. The length of the columnar nozzle arrays defines the maximum height, or xe2x80x9cswathxe2x80x9d height of an imaged bar that would be printed in a single pass of the printhead across the media if all of the nozzles were fired simultaneously and continuously as the printhead was moved through the printzone above the media.
Typically, the print media is advanced under the inkjet printhead and held stationary while the printhead passes along the width of the media, firing its nozzles as determined by a controller to form a desired image on an individual swath, or pass. The print media is usually advanced between passes of the reciprocating inkjet printhead in order to avoid uncertainty in the placement of the fired ink droplets. If the entire printable data for a given swath is printed in one pass of the printhead, and the media is advanced a distance equal to the maximum swath height in-between printhead passes, then the printing mechanism will achieve its maximum throughput.
Often, however, it is desirable to print only a portion of the data for a given swath, utilizing a fraction of the available nozzles and advancing the media a distance smaller than the maximum swath height so that the same or a different fraction of nozzles may fill in the gaps in the desired printed image which were intentionally left on the first pass. This process of separating the printable data into multiple passes utilizing subsets of the available nozzles is referred to by those skilled in the art as xe2x80x9cshingling,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cmasking,xe2x80x9d or using xe2x80x9cprint masks.xe2x80x9d While the use of print masks does lower the throughput of a printing system, it can provide offsetting benefits when image quality needs to be balanced against speed. For example, the use of print masks allows large solid color areas to be filled in gradually, on multiple passes, allowing the ink to dry in parts and avoiding the large-area soaking and resulting ripples, or xe2x80x9ccockle,xe2x80x9d in the print media that a single pass swath would cause.
A printing mechanism may have one or more inkjet printheads, corresponding to one or more colors, or xe2x80x9cprocess colorsxe2x80x9d as they are referred to in the art. For example, a typical inkjet printing system may have a single printhead with only black ink; or the system may have four printheads, one each with black, cyan, magenta, and yellow inks; or the system may have three printheads, one each with cyan, magenta, and yellow inks. Of course, there are many more combinations and quantities of possible printheads in inkjet printing systems, including seven and eight ink/printhead systems.
Each process color ink is ejected onto the print media in such a way that the drop size, relative position of the ink drops, and color of a small, discreet number of process inks are integrated by the naturally occurring visual response of the human eye to produce the effect of a large colorspace with millions of discernable colors and the effect of a nearly continuous tone. In fact, when these imaging techniques are performed properly by those skilled in the art, near-photographic quality images can be obtained on a variety of print media using only three to eight colors of ink.
This high level of image quality depends on many factors, several of which include: consistent and small ink drop size, consistent ink drop trajectory from the printhead nozzle to the print media, and extremely reliable inkjet printhead nozzles which do not clog.
To this end, many inkjet printing mechanisms contain a service station for the maintenance of the inkjet printheads. These service stations may include scrapers, ink-solvent applicators, primers, and caps to help keep the nozzles from drying out during periods of inactivity. Additionally, inkjet printing mechanisms often contain service routines which are designed to fire ink out of each of the nozzles and into a waste spittoon in order to prevent nozzle clogging.
Despite these preventative measures, however, there are many factors at work within the typical inkjet printing mechanism which may clog the inkjet nozzles, and inkjet nozzle failures may occur. For example, paper dust may collect on the nozzles and eventually clog them. Ink residue from ink aerosol or partially clogged nozzles may be spread by service station printhead scrapers into open nozzles, causing them to be clogged. Accumulated precipitates from the ink inside of the printhead may also occlude the ink channels and the nozzles. Additionally, the heater elements in a thermal inkjet printhead may fail to energize, despite the lack of an associated clogged nozzle, thereby causing the nozzle to fail.
Clogged or failed printhead nozzles result in objectionable and easily noticeable print quality defects such as banding (visible bands of different hues or colors in what would otherwise be a uniformly colored area) or voids in the image. In fact, inkjet printing systems are so sensitive to clogged nozzles, that a single clogged nozzle out of hundreds of nozzles is often noticeable and objectionable in the printed output.
It is possible, however, for an inkjet printing system to compensate for a missing nozzle by removing it from the printing mask and replacing it with an unused nozzle or a used nozzle on a later, overlapping pass, provided the inkjet system has a way to tell when a particular nozzle is not functioning. In order to detect whether an inkjet printhead nozzle is firing, a printing mechanism may be equipped with a number of different ink drop detector systems.
One type of ink drop detector system utilizes a piezoelectric target surface that produces a measurable signal when ink droplets contact the target surface. Unfortunately, however, this type of technology is expensive and often is unable to detect the extremely small drops of ink used in inkjet printing systems with photographic image quality.
Another type of ink drop detector utilizes an optical sensor which forms a measurable signal when an ink droplet passes through a light beam from a sensory circuit. Unfortunately, this method is subject to extremely tight alignment tolerances which are difficult and expensive to setup and maintain. Additionally, an optical ink drop detection system is susceptible to the ink aerosol which results from the firing of the inkjet printhead inside of the printing mechanism. The aerosol coats the optical sensor over time, degrading the optical sensor signal and eventually preventing the optical sensor from functioning.
A more effective solution for ink drop detection is to use a low cost ink drop detection system, such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,190 assigned to the present assignee, Hewlett-Packard Company. This drop detection system utilizes an electrostatic sensing element which is imparted with an electrical stimulus when struck by a series of ink drop bursts ejected from an inkjet printhead. The electrostatic sensing element may be made sufficiently large so that printhead alignment is not critical, and the sensing element may function with amounts of ink or aerosol on the sensing element surface which would incapacitate other types of drop detection sensors.
In practical implementation, however, this electrostatic sensing element has some limitations. First, successive drops of ink, drying on top of one another quickly form stalagmites of dried ink which may grow toward the printhead. Since it is preferable to have the electrostatic sensing element very close to the printhead for more accurate readings, these stalagmites may eventually interfere with or permanently damage the printhead, adversely affecting print quality. Second, as the ink residue dries, it remains conductive and may short out the drop detector electronics as the ink residue grows and spreads. Thus, this dried residue may impair the ability of the sensor to measure the presence of drops properly.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a method and mechanism for effectively removing the waste ink residue from an electrostatic ink drop detector in an inkjet printing mechanism.

Ink drop detector waste ink removal system


Provided is a method and a remote diagnostic system that can be used for signage applications that includes a plurality of LED-based signs, each having one or more corresponding LED signage drivers, one or more controllers for real-time monitoring and controlling the LEDs in the LED-based signs, a commissioning application (“app”) for commissioning, the one or more controllers, an information system or cloud network for storing information received from and sending commands to, the one or more controllers related to the LED-based signs, and at least one sensor.

In many current signage systems, a user may learn of a failure in a sign only after it has occurred. Additionally, the user would only learn of this when they are on-site, for example, to view the sign. Furthermore, in many current signage systems, the user may only be able to repair a failed sign after dismantling it to diagnose the failure and identify any failed components. This process often necessitates a second trip to the sign to make any repairs or replacements.

Cloud-based remote diagnostics for smart signage


A pair of hairdressing scissors and a positioning device thereof, the pair of hairdressing scissors having a connecting structure formed with a recess, a protrusion and a through hole. A positioning device is disposed in the through hole and includes a retaining member, an elastic member and a fixing member. When coupling a plurality of pairs of hairdressing scissors together, the protrusion of a pair of hairdressing scissors is engaged in the recess of another pair of hairdressing scissors. The protrusion moves toward and presses the retaining member, so that the retaining member will overcome the elastic force of the elastic member and retract into the through hole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pair of hairdressing scissors and the positioning device thereof, and more particularly to a technique with which plural pairs of such hairdressing scissors can be positioned well after being detachably secured to one another.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The present invention relates to an improvement to the patents for the technique of connecting hairdressing scissors, that were previously obtained by the applicant, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,192,590 B1 and 6,634,106 B2. These patents allow a plurality of pairs of hairdressing scissors to be connected one another either in a parallel fashion or in a cascade fashion, so that the hairstylist can hold the plural pairs of hairdressing scissors in the same hand easily for proceeding with trimming, thinning or layering of the hair to obtain the desired special hairstyle. However, as shown in FIG. 1, each of the first blade 10 and the second blade 20 of the two pairs of hairdressing scissors 1 is provided a connecting structure 80, in the front surface and on the rear surface of the connecting structure 80 are formed a recess 81 and a protrusion 82, so that a plurality of pairs of hairdressing scissors can be secured to one another in such a manner that the protrusion 82 of a pair of hairdressing scissors is engaged in the recess 81 of another pair of hairdressing scissors. Due to the protrusion 82 is engaged in the recess 81 in a sliding manner, the protrusion 82 is very likely to slide or move relative to the recess 81, and the plural pairs of hairdressing scissors 1 cannot be positioned firmly relative to one another. Therefore, when the hairstylist holds the plural pairs of hairdressing scissors in the same hand to do hair cutting, the plural pairs of hairdressing scissors 1 will slide relative to each other, and this will make it inconvenient for the hairstylist to hold the plural pairs of scissors firmly with one hand.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

Hairdressing scissors and positioning device thereof


An exemplary liquid crystal display (LCD) (20) includes: a gate driving integrated circuit (IC) (22) for scanning an LCD panel (24) of the LCD; a data driving IC (23) for providing a plurality of gradation voltages to the LCD panel; a primary control circuit board (21) configured for providing the operation voltage to the data driving IC; and a flexible printed circuit board (25) connected between the LCD panel and the primary control circuit board. The data driving IC includes a voltage detecting circuit (230), which detects an operation voltage applied to the gate driving IC and is configured to provide an all-scanning signal to the gate driving IC.

An LCD has the advantages of portability, low power consumption, and low radiation, and has been widely used in various portable information products such as notebooks, personal digital assistants (PDAs), video cameras and the like. Furthermore, the LCD is considered by many to have the potential to completely replace CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors and televisions.
Usually, an LCD needs an external power supply for providing operating power. When the LCD operates, much electric charge is stored therein. When the LCD is powered off, electric charge stored therein is not discharged quickly. This makes the voltage at the external power supply connection drop slowly. As a result, a gate driving circuit and a data driving circuit that drive the LCD operate incorrectly, thereby producing a residual image on the LCD.
FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram of a typical LCD. The LCD 10 includes an LCD panel 14 and a driving circuit (not labeled). The driving circuit includes a gate driving integrated circuit (IC) 12, a data driving IC 13, a primary control circuit board 11, and a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) 15. The gate driving IC 12 and the data driving IC 13 are respectively formed on two adjacent sides of the LCD panel 14 by chip on glass (COG) technology. The FPCB 15 is connected between the LCD panel 14 and the primary control circuit board 11. The gate driving IC 12 scans the LCD panel 14. The data driving IC 13 provides a plurality of gradation voltages to the LCD panel 14 when the LCD panel 14 is scanned.
The primary control circuit board 11 includes a driving control circuit 111, a power supply circuit 112 and a voltage detecting circuit 113. The power supply circuit 112 directly provides an operation voltage (not labeled) to the driving control circuit 111, and respectively provides two operation voltages V2, V1 to the gate driving IC 12 and the data driving IC 13 via the FPCB 15.
The voltage detecting circuit 113 generates an all-scanning signal "Xon" when the operation voltage V2 falls below a predetermined threshold voltage. Then, the voltage detecting circuit 113 transmits the all-scanning signal "Xon" to the gate driving IC 12 through a conducting lead (not labelled) configured on the FPCB 15. As the gate driving IC 12 receives the all-scanning signal "Xon", the gate driving IC turns on all of TFTs (thin film transistors) of the LCD panel 14. Thus the electric charge stored in the TFTs can be discharged quickly. As a result, the residual image on the LCD 10 does not appear when the LCD 10 is power off.
However, because the primary control circuit board 11 includes the voltage detecting circuit 113, the volume occupied by the primary control circuit board 11 is large. Furthermore, because the voltage detecting circuit 113 is configured on the primary control circuit board 11, the FPCB 15 needs a special conducting lead formed thereon for transmitting the all-scanning signal "Xon" from the voltage detecting circuit 113 to the gate driving IC 12.
What is needed, therefore, is a driving circuit of an LCD that can overcome the above-described deficiencies.

Driving circuit having voltage detecting circuit and liquid crystal display using same


A method of preparing spherical pellets from a slurry comprising a ceramic powder, a solvent, and any desired additives, by means of a drop-generating orifice to which said slurry is fed is described, wherein the drops are released from said orifice by means of a relative flow of a liquid medium which is a poor solvent for the solvent of the slurry, formed into spherical bodies in said liquid medium by means of the action of surface tension, and thereafter treated for consolidation. More specifically, the present invention relates to the preparation of pellets of a catalyst or catalyst support material, suitable for use in high temperature conditions.

Pellets of ceramic materials are desired in many applications. Depending on the ceramic constituents, the pellets can exhibit different properties. For example, a suitable ceramic material having catalytic properties could be selected and formed into pellets having catalytic properties, or a ceramic carrier material could be selected for the preparation of pellets of catalyst carrier material. There are a number of conventional methods that can be used for preparing ceramic pellets, such as different moulding methods, optionally in combination with conventional powder processing methods used for manufacture of ceramic or metallic components.
The forming of spherical pellets requires sophisticated moulds in order for the pellets to be spherical and exhibit a smooth surface. The mould will for example generally have a exhibit a certain draft angle, which will cause imperfection in the surface of the pellet. Demoulding of the pellet will rarely be perfect and fractions of the moulded material are prone to stick to the mould, which will then be separated from the pellet during demoulding. These problems generally become more pronounced as the desired diameter of the pellet to be moulded decreases. JP8059352 describes a method for granulating a ceramic material with no need for a large-scale equipment and without causing contamination, which also improves the degree of freedom in the production process. According to the method a slurry containing ceramic raw material is dropped on a smooth surface having a high water repellent property, and the dropped material can thereafter be rolled on the surface into a spherical shape. The drops are formed by the action of surface tension.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simplified method of forming smaller sized, spherical pellets of a controllable, uniform size from a ceramic slurry.
For the general method according to which spherical pellets are prepared from a slurry comprising a ceramic powder, a solvent, and any desired additives by means of a drop-generating orifice to which said slurry is fed, this object has been achieved by which drops are released from the drop-generating orifice by means of a relative flow of a liquid medium in relation to the orifice, formed into spherical bodies in said liquid medium by the action of surface tension, and thereafter treated for consolidation.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A frequency mixing apparatus is provided. In the frequency mixing apparatus, a PMOS transistor is coupled to an NMOS transistor in a cascode configuration and an LO signal is applied to the bulks of the PMOS and NMOS transistors so that an input signal applied to their gates is mixed with the LO signal. High isolation between the bulks and gates of the transistors resulting from application of the LO signal to the bulks prevents leakage of the LO signal, thereby decreasing a DC offset voltage. This renders the frequency mixing applicable to a DCR. Also, due to the cascade configuration similar to an inverter configuration, the frequency mixing apparatus can be incorporated in an FPGA of a MODEM in SDR applications. Frequency mixing based on switching of a threshold voltage decreases a noise factor and enables frequency mixing in a low supply voltage range, thereby decreasing power consumption.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a frequency mixing apparatus, and in particular, to a frequency mixing apparatus in which a P-channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor is coupled to an N-channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor in a cascode configuration and a local oscillator (LO) signal is applied to the bulks of the PMOS and NMOS transistors so that an input signal applied to their gates is mixed with the LO signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, a mixer is used for frequency conversion when designing a radio frequency (RF) transceiver in a mobile communication system. Since this mixer relies on the non-linearity of diodes or metal-semiconductor field effect transistors (MESFETs), a large number of harmonic waves and intermodulation distortion (IMD) signals are produced when an RF or intermediate frequency (IF) signal and a LO signal are applied.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional frequency mixer. Referring to FIG. 1, the frequency mixer is a kind of multiplier. An output signal Vout is the product of an input signal Vin and a LO signal VLO. That is, the output signal Vout is a signal having the voltage level of the input signal Vin at the frequency of the LO signal VLO.
The frequency mixer includes three differential amplifiers. A differential amplifier with two transistors Q1 and Q2 generates an output proportional to the difference between inputs Vin, that is, the difference between the collector currents of the transistors Q1 and Q2, IC1–IC2. Specifically, as the input signal Vin swings between positive (+) and negative (−) values, the collector currents IC1 and IC2 flowing through the transistors Q1 and Q2 also swing.
The collector current IC1 of the transistor Q1 is the output current of another differential amplifier with transistors Q3 and Q4. The collector current CC2 of the transistor Q2 is the output current of a third differential amplifier with transistors Q5 and Q6. These two differential amplifiers generate outputs proportional to the difference between LO signals VLO. More specifically, along with the swing of the LO signal VLO, the outputs (IC3–IC5) and (IC4–IC6) of the differential amplifiers also swing in opposite directions. Consequently, each of the transistor pairs Q3 & Q4 and Q5 & Q6 can be replaced with complementary switches. When viewed as switches, the two transistors Q3 and Q6 are turned on/off simultaneously and the two transistors Q4 and Q5 are also turned on/off simultaneously.
Current IL1 flowing through a resistor RL1 is the sum of the collector current IC3 of the transistor Q3 and the collector current IC5 of the transistor Q5. Current IL2 flowing through a resistor RL2 is the sum of the collector current IC4 of the transistor Q4 and the collector current IC6 of the transistor Q6.
Therefore, the differential amplifier with the transistors Q1 and Q2 operates depending on the operations of the differential amplifier with the transistors Q3 and Q4 and the differential amplifier with the transistors Q5 and Q6. This means that the output signal Vout is equivalent to the waves of the input signal Vin at the voltage level of the LO signal VLO. This type of frequency mixer is typical and its output signal Vout is expressed as Vout=RL/RE·Vin·VLO.
The above conventional frequency mixer mixes frequencies by controlling the switching of the input signal by means of the LO signal. It exhibits the drawbacks of very poor linearity, unavailability in a low supply voltage range, great power consumption in the case of increasing the supply voltage range, and the increase of high direct current (DC) offset voltage level caused by leakage current of transistors.


Carbon-doped semiconductor material portions are formed on a subset of surfaces of underlying semiconductor surfaces contiguously connected to a channel of a field effect transistor. Carbon-doped semiconductor material portions can be formed by selective epitaxy of a carbon-containing semiconductor material layer or by shallow implantation of carbon atoms into surface portions of the underlying semiconductor surfaces. The carbon-doped semiconductor material portions can be deposited as layers and subsequently patterned by etching, or can be formed after formation of disposable masking spacers. Raised source and drain regions are formed on the carbon-doped semiconductor material portions and on physically exposed surfaces of the underlying semiconductor surfaces. The carbon-doped semiconductor material portions locally retard dopant diffusion from the raised source and drain regions into the underlying semiconductor material regions, thereby enabling local tailoring of the dopant profile, and alteration of device parameters for the field effect transistor.

The present disclosure relates to semiconductor devices, and particularly to transistors having a doping profile controlled by carbon-doped semiconductor material portions, and methods of manufacturing the same.
A raised source region is a semiconductor region that is deposited on a semiconductor region of a field effect transistor and functions as a part of a source region of the field effect transistor. A raised drain region is a semiconductor region that is deposited on a semiconductor region of a field effect transistor and functions as a part of a drain region of the field effect transistor. A raised source/drain region can be formed on a pre-existing source/drain region by a selective deposition process, which deposits a semiconductor material only on semiconductor surfaces and does not deposit any semiconductor material on a dielectric surface.
In some field effect transistors, the doping profile near the channel region can be controlled by diffusion of dopants from raised source and drain regions. A doping profile refers to the three-dimensional distribution of p-type dopants and n-type dopants in the channel and in the vicinity of the channel that includes at least the two p-n junctions between the body of the field effect transistor and each of the source region (including the raised source region) and the drain region (including the raised drain region) of the field effect transistor.
The doping profile affects various parameters of the field effect transistors, including, but not limited to, the on-current, the off-current, the threshold voltage, and the sub-threshold voltage slope. Modification of the doping profile can improve performance of field effect transistors by improving some performance parameters with, or without, a trade-off (degradation of some other performance parameters). However, in integration schemes that employ thermal dopant diffusion from raised source and drain regions as the mechanism for introducing dopants into source and drain regions, the dopant profile is a function of the geometry and diffusion parameters.

Source and drain doping profile control employing carbon-doped semiconductor material

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A dual gas sensor is described, having first and second working electrodes separated by a gas impermeable portion. The electrodes are preferably located on a gas permeable polymer support, with the gas impermeable portion being formed by compression of the permeable support. The sensor may also include one or more filters for location adjacent the electrodes to filter certain gases from the air. The preferred sensor is able to detect carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide. The sensor housing is formed with four connection pins, allowing a standard sensor housing to be used for dual sensors as well as single sensors having a dummy pin.

Electrochemical sensors for the measurement of gas concentrations are well known. Working, counter, and reference electrodes are connected through a potentiostat circuit, the main purpose of which is to set the bias potential of the working electrode through the reference electrode potential.
The working electrode (also called the sensing electrode) is designed to optimise the oxidation or reduction of the gas to be measured. This electrode allows the gas to come in contact with both electrocatalyst and electrolyte to create a three-phase interface of gas, liquid and solid. The other two electrodes in the cell, the counter electrode and the reference electrode usually have a similar chemical composition to the working electrode. Oxidation or reduction at the working electrode generates a current that is generally linearly proportional to the amount of gas oxidised or reduced; this current is therefore also proportional to the concentration of the gas at the electrode.
The cell electrolyte provides ionic electrical contact between the electrodes, usually with the aid of hydrophilic separators to allow capillary transport of the electrolyte.
The counter electrode balances the reaction of the working electrode—if the working electrode oxidises the gas, then the counter electrode must reduce some other molecule to generate an equivalent current, in the opposite sense. For example, where carbon monoxide will be oxidised on the working electrode, oxygen will usually be reduced on the counter electrode. Unlike the working electrode, the counter electrode potential is allowed to vary. The counter electrode potential in clean air is close to the working electrode, but as current is demanded from the counter electrode, the potential increases, so the secondary responsibility of the potentiostat circuit is to ensure that adequate current is fed to the counter electrode and that the counter electrode can operate at its preferred potential.
An important feature of conventional sensors is that certain gases may interfere with the desired working of the sensor. For example, in a sensor intended to measure carbon monoxide concentration, hydrogen sulfide may also react at the working electrode and generate a current indistinguishable from that generated by carbon monoxide. Particular interferents will depend on the particular form of sensor and the intended gas to be measured; the skilled person will be aware of these. To reduce such interference, it is generally necessary to isolate the sensor from the interferent gas; for example, carbon monoxide sensors are typically fitted with 'scrubbers', or chemical filters which allow carbon monoxide to pass but which prevent hydrogen sulfide from reaching the working electrode. While this arrangement is generally effective, this does mean that separate sensors are necessary to detect separate gases which may otherwise interfere with one another. This will increase the size and cost of any apparatus which requires sensors to detect multiple gases.


A sun screen device includes a pair of slide rails, a screen body, and a pair of rods. Each of the slide rails has an end portion. The screen body has lateral ends, and an operating end that interconnects the lateral ends of the screen body and that is movable along the slide rails. The rods are respectively disposed in the slide rails. Each of the rods has an end portion that is coupled to the end portion of the respective one of the slide rails. Each of the lateral ends of the screen body is formed with a loop that is sleeved on a respective one of the rods.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a sun screen device that is operable so as to cover and uncover a sunroof of an automobile.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional sun screen device that includes a pair of elongate first and second slide rails 12, a shaft unit 11, a screen unit, and a guide unit.
The sun screen device is adapted to be mounted beneath a sunroof (not shown) of an automobile (not shown), and is operable so as to cover and uncover the latter.
Each of the first and second slide rails 12 extends in a first direction, has first and second end portions 121, 122 that are opposite to each other in the first direction, and defines a rail groove 120 therein (see FIG. 2). The first and second slide rails 12 are spaced apart from each other in a second direction transverse to the first direction.
The shaft unit 11 is disposed proximate to the second end portions 122 of the first and second slide rails 12, and includes a pair of seat members 112, a shaft member 111, and a shaft cover 113. The seat members 112 are spaced apart from each other in the second direction. The shaft member 111 extends in the second direction, and has opposite end portions, each of which is coupled rotatably to a respective one of the seat members 112. The shaft cover 113 partially covers the shaft member 111.
The screen unit includes a flexible screen body 13 and an operating member 15. The screen body 13 has a securing end 131 that is secured to the shaft member 111 of the shaft unit 11, an operating end 132 that is opposite to the securing end 131 in the first direction and that is movable in the first direction, and first and second lateral ends 133 that are opposite to each other in the second direction. The operating member 15 is coupled to the operating end 132 of the screen body 13, and is operable so as to move the operating end 132 of the screen body 13 in the first direction.
The guide unit includes a plurality of ball-shaped sliding members 14. Some of the sliding members 14 are provided along the first lateral end 133 of the screen body 13 and are disposed in the rail groove 120 in the first slide rail 12. The remainder of the sliding members 14 are provided along the second lateral end 133 of the screen body 13 and are disposed in the rail groove 120 in the second slide rail 12.
In operation, when an external force is applied to the operating member 15 such that the operating end 132 of the screen body 13 moves away from the shaft unit 11, the shaft member 111 rotates in a first angular direction. This results in unwinding of the screen body 13 from the shaft member 111 and sliding movement of the sliding members 14 along the first and second slide rails 12, thereby covering the sunroof. On the other hand, when an external force is applied to the operating member 15 such that the operating end 132 of the screen body 13 moves toward the shaft unit 11, the shaft member 111 rotates in a second angular direction opposite to the first angular direction. This results in winding of the screen body 13 on the shaft member 111 and sliding movement of the sliding members 14 along the first and second slide rails 12, thereby uncovering the sunroof.
Although the conventional sun screen device achieves its intended purpose, when the screen body 13 is wound on the shaft member 111, the sliding members 14 overlap each other, resulting in bulging at both end portions of the shaft member 111. As such, a relatively large shaft cover 113 is required in order to conceal the shaft member 111.


An isometric wrist exercise device which is useful for strengthening the wrist and for treating or alleviating symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome device includes a wrist brace which adjustably encircles a user's wrist. The brace is attached to a swivel plate via a plurality of straps which extend forward from the wrist brace. The swivel plate is attached to an elongate strap with a wedge plate on its opposite end. The wedge plate can secure the elongate strap in a stationary position such that the user can place his wrist in therapeutic traction by pulling his arm against the stationary strap while selectively swiveling his wrist to find the optimum position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to a wrist and hand exercise device, and, more particularly, to such a device which can be used to freely exercise a user's wrist and help to align the carpal bones within the wrist to prevent or help alleviate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome effects.
2. Description of the Related Art
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a widespread health problem, both in the United States and abroad. With the ever increasing use of computers and computer keyboards in virtually all fields of endeavor, the problem is getting worse all of the time. CTS is one of the leading causes of work related injuries and costs employers billions of dollars annually in lost production time and worker's compensation claims. CTS, and other musculoskeletal disorders were estimated by the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics (BLS) to account for over 60 percent of all work related injuries in the U.S. in 1995, not including back injuries. Furthermore, the number of cases of work related repeated trauma injuries has risen from 23,800 cases in 1972 to 332,000 cases in 1994, a fourteenfold increase. For cases involving days away from work, the BLS estimates that 32%, or 705,800 cases in 1994 were due to overexertion or repeated trauma injuries.
CTS is a repetitive motion injury which can be caused or aggravated by any repetitive flexing and extension action involving a person's wrists, such as, for example, typing or keyboard data entry. The underlying physical cause is the misalignment or fixation of one or more of the eight wrist "carpal" bones which surround the "carpal tunnel". Within this carpal tunnel nine flexor tendons, which control finger movement, and the median nerve, which is a pathway for sensory cells in the hand, pass through the wrist to the hand. When one or more of the carpal bones does not work harmoniously with the others, inflammation and swelling occur which can cause the carpal tunnel ligament to tighten down on the carpal tunnel and put pressure on the median nerve and/or the flexor tendons. A number of physical symptoms can accompany CTS, including pain, numbness, aching, burning and tingling sensations, stiffness, swelling, sensation of swelling where none exists, loss of strength and grip, and clumsiness. Symptoms may start in the hands and wrists and radiate upward to the forearm and shoulder joint. Severe CTS can result in atrophy of the thenar muscle at the base of the thumb and even in total hand and wrist disability.
Medical treatment of relatively mild CTS can include immobilization and rest, the use of ice packs to the affected area and drugs such as anti-inflammatories and diuretics to reduce swelling. Severe CTS is often treated with surgery, with approximately 100,000 operations per year occurring in the U.S. alone. Surgery is an expensive and risky procedure which is often unsuccessful. Full recovery from CTS surgery can take from months to a full year. Surgery can also lead to scarring of the transverse ligament within the wrist, which can further irritate the median nerve, thus causing CTS symptoms to reoccur.
Various therapeutic treatments have been developed for treatment of CTS without resort to surgery and drugs. One such treatment series, used most often by chiropractors, involves a product called the "CTD-Mark1 Pneumatic Traction Device" by ParaTech Industries, Inc. This machine, which costs several thousand dollars, includes a large console which is positioned near a sitting patient. The patient rests her elbow in an L shaped pad and a restraining strap is placed around her bicep while a second restraining strap is placed around her forearm. A third strap is placed around her wrist which third strap is attached to one end of a pair of nylon traction straps. The opposite ends of the nylon traction straps are attached to a rod extending upward out of the console. When operated, a pneumatic piston within the console urges the rod away from the L shaped pad, thus exerting force on the wrist brace in a linear direction, thus placing the patient's wrist into traction. According to the manufacturer's literature, "The resulting controlled extension of the arm and wrist causes a reduction in the compression of the carpal tunnel ligament upon the median nerve. The carpal bones now open to allow more room in the carpal tunnel as a result of the carpal ligament relaxation." Typically, 8-10 treatments are recommended for mild CTS while many more can be required for severe CTS. This can be a very expensive and time consuming experience, with each traction treatment involving a trip to the doctor's office (and accompanying payment).
In addition to the cost and attendant inconvenience of this complicated machine, the machine has some other problems. Since the patient's wrist is entirely immobilized when it is placed under traction, pressure is exerted in a given region of the wrist. However, CTS can be caused by misalignment or calcification of any one or more of the eight wrist bones surrounding the carpal tunnel. Pressure on the wrist in one orientation may be effective for one patient but ineffective for another. It is useful, therefore, for the wrist to be oriented in differing positions while undergoing pressure so that a variety of pressure points can be tried until the patient experiences alleviation of their particular CTS symptoms. With the CTD-MARK1, once the wrist is placed under pneumatic traction, the wrist cannot be turned, thus experimentation "on the fly" to find the best position for pain alleviation is difficult or impossible. Furthermore, the immobilization of the patient's elbow and forearm, and the rigid attachment of the wrist encircling strap to the nylon traction straps also does not permit much variation in traction pressure.
It is clear, then, that a better, and much less expensive wrist exercise and CTS treatment device and method is needed. Such an exercise and treatment device should preferably be inexpensive, yet safe and simple enough to use such that anyone exhibiting the symptoms of CTS can purchase and use the device in their own home without medical supervision. Such a device should allow a user to easily and effectively vary traction pressure on the affected wrist and wrist position in order to find the most effective wrist orientation for symptomatic relief from CTS.


A method of manufacturing component carriers is disclosed. The method includes providing a stack with at least one electrically conductive layer structure and/or at least one electrically insulating layer structure, forming a first hole in a core of the stack and subsequently embedding a first component in the first hole, thereafter forming a second hole in the same core of the stack and subsequently embedding a second component in the second hole. A component carrier has a stack with at least one electrically conductive layer structure and/or at least one electrically insulating layer structure. A first hole is formed in a core of the stack. A first component is embedded in the first hole. A second hole is formed in the same core of the stack and subsequently a second component is embedded in the second hole.

In the context of growing product functionalities of component carriers equipped with one or more electronic components and increasing miniaturization of such components as well as a rising number of components to be mounted on or embedded in the component carriers such as printed circuit boards, increasingly more powerful array-like components or packages having several components are being employed, which have a plurality of contacts or connections, with ever smaller spacing between these contacts. At the same time, component carriers shall be mechanically robust and electrically reliable so as to be operable even under harsh conditions.
In particular, embedding components in a component carrier with rea-sonable manufacturing effort and with a proper electric connection is an issue. In particular, it is challenging to embed components in a component carrier without pronounced warpage.

Method of manufacturing component carrier and component carrier


A method of fabricating an LED array includes forming a first insulating film composed of aluminum oxide on a semiconductor substrate of a first conductive type; patterning the first insulating film by photolithography to form a plurality of first windows; diffusing an impurity of a second conductive type through the plurality of first windows into the first insulating film, thereby forming a plurality of diffusion regions of the second conductive type below the plurality of first windows; forming a second insulating film on the first insulating film and the plurality of first windows; patterning the second insulating film by photolithography to-remove the second insulating film from the plurality of first windows, using an etchant that does not etch the first insulating film; forming a metal film on the second insulating film and the plurality of first windows; and patterning the metal film by photolithography to form a plurality of electrodes which make electrical contact with respective diffusion regions.

This invention relates to an array of light-emitting diodes (hereinafter referred to as an LED array), and to a process for fabricating such an array with improved uniformity.
LED arrays are used, for example, to illuminate photosensitive drums in electrophotographic printers. The high density of diodes in the array and the need to obtain uniform optical output from each of the diodes makes the fabrication of LED arrays more difficult than the fabrication of individual light-emitting diodes.
One conventional fabrication method deposits an insulating film of aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) on a wafer comprising an n-type semiconductor substrate; patterns the insulating film by photolithography to form an array of rectangular openings; diffuses a p-type impurity such as zinc through the openings to form an array of p-type diffusion regions in the n-type substrate, thereby creating pn junctions; then deposits an aluminum film on the entire wafer and patterns the aluminum to form a set of electrodes, one electrode making contact with each of the p-type diffusion regions. Each pn junction functions as a light-emitting diode (LED).
One problem encountered in this method is the occurrence of pinholes in the insulating film. A pinhole disposed below an electrode can short-circuit the electrode to the n-type substrate, so that current bypasses the corresponding light-emitting diode and no light is emitted from that diode. A pinhole occurring at the periphery of one of the openings in the insulating film can enlarge its light-emitting area; the underlying diode then differs from other diodes in the shape and power of its emitted light pattern. In a printer, pinholes result in missing or uneven dots.
A second problem concerns the patterning of the insulating film. The patterning process includes a wet etching step employing a liquid etchant, which is attracted by surface tension toward the corners of the rectangular pattern openings. Pooling of the etchant in the corners can lead to uneven etching, hence to uneven diffusion of the p-type impurity. If pooling causes over-etching of the insulating film between adjacent rectangular openings, for example, p-type diffusion bridges may form between adjacent diodes. Similar pooling can occur at corners of the patterns used to form the aluminum electrodes, leading to variability in the area occupied by different electrodes within the p-type diffusion regions. In a printer, these problems again result in uneven dots, or in fused dots.
A second conventional fabrication method seeks to solve these problems by employing a bi-layer insulating film, the lower layer comprising silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4) and the upper layer silicon oxynitride (SiO.sub.x N.sub.y). Both layers are etched by a dry etching step employing a gaseous etchant, thereby avoiding the problem of pooling of a liquid etchant. As for pinholes, although pinholes may form at random locations in each layer, the probability that pinholes will occur at the same location in both layers is in theory very small.
In practice, however, this second conventional method does not eliminate the problem of pinholes, because when the insulating film is etched, there may be pinholes in the photoresist etching mask. Etchant gas will gain access through these pinholes to the upper layer, etch through the upper layer to the lower layer, then etch through the lower layer to the substrate. After the photoresist is removed, pinholes extending through both the upper and lower layers of the insulating film will be left.
Another problem with the second conventional method is that silicon nitride and silicon oxynitride give rise to greater internal stress than does aluminum oxide. Such internal stress can lead to cracking or flaking of the insulating film, resulting in a defective array.


A stamp includes at least one protrusion on a protrusion pattern, and an end portion of the at least one protrusion may have a non-planarized surface. The end portion of the protrusion may have a concave structure, that is, the end portion includes a center region and an edge region, and the edge region is higher than the center region.

1. Field
Some example embodiments relate to stamps, methods of manufacturing the stamps, and/or imprinting methods using the stamps.
2. Description of the Related Art
A nanoimprinting process is a method of transferring fine patterns by pressing a resin layer on a substrate with a stamp having a fine pattern. The stamp may be repeatedly used and an imprinting process may be relatively easily performed. Accordingly, the nanoimprinting operation has drawn attention as a next-generation lithography technology by which fine patterns may be economically and efficiently embodied.
However, as patterns, e.g., protrusion patterns, of the stamp become several tens of nanometer (nm) or less, there may be some problems in transferring the patterns of the stamp on a resin layer. Therefore, it is difficult to realize well-defined fine patterns by using a conventional stamp and imprinting method.

Stamp, method of manufacturing the same, and imprinting method using the stamp


A method including introducing a well cementing composition into a wellbore, the cementing composition including a pumpable slurry of cement comprising a liquid anti-shrinkage additive including: an aqueous base fluid; a calcined magnesium oxide; and an anti-hydration agent; and allowing at least a portion of the cementing composition to harden. A liquid anti-shrinkage additive for cement including an aqueous base fluid, a calcined magnesium oxide, and an anti-hydration agent.

Cement is used in the construction of oil and gas wells to structurally support the steel pipe casing that serves as a conduit between the reservoir and surface, to protect the steel pipe casing from corrosive elements, and to isolate and seal off subterranean zones to prevent undesirable fluid communication. It is essential to have good bonding between the cement and formation and cement and casing in order for the well to function safely and efficiently. Without proper bonding, channels, e.g. "microannuli", may form at the cement interfaces, compromising zonal isolation and ultimately limiting the effectiveness of the subsequent production processes.
To mitigate debonding phenomena, expansive cement systems are employed, which are formulated with chemical additives that promote volumetric expansion. Typical additives are based on calcium aluminates/calcium sulfates, fine metal powders (e.g. aluminum), or calcined magnesium oxide. All of the aforementioned additives are available in the solid form.
Aqueous (water-based) liquid versions, e.g. suspensions, of these additives are difficult to obtain due to the challenge of suppressing the expansive chemical reactions undergone by the active agent(s) when contacted with water. This is particularly troubling for offshore well operations, where liquid materials are preferred for storage and regulatory purposes. With respect to regulations, some off-shore areas, e.g. Gulf of Mexico, are requiring cement designs that exhibit "zero" shrinkage as an added engineering control to mitigate catastrophe. Furthermore, some regions of off-shore work are governed by strict environmental regulations that prohibit the use of certain formulation chemicals. In particular, surfactants commonly formulated in oil-based suspensions may not be allowed in such regions. Accordingly, there is a need for aqueous liquid additives that provide expansion and prevent shrinkage in well cements.

Well cementing with water-based liquid anti-shrinkage additives


A system and method operates to analyze a data stream, for example, a stream of download times for accessing information through a computer network. The system and method are capable of identifying abnormalities in the data stream compared to previous data in the data stream. More particularly, the system and method is capable of dynamically analyzing a data stream to detect abrupt, severe abnormalities as well subtle changes that occur over time.

In recent years, advances in computer and network technology have led to the growth of networks providing fast and inexpensive access to information resources throughout the world. Networked computers are used at work, at home, and at school to share information and other content. Businesses use computer networks to deliver software, content, and services as well as to advertise and offer goods and services for sale. Consumers and businesses may select and purchase a variety of goods and services on-line. For example, books, clothing, electronics, and automobiles can be purchased on-line through vendor web sites. Likewise, financial services (such as stock trading, banking, and portfolio management), travel services, and news and information services, among others, are available on-line. Equally important, but perhaps not as evident to consumers, are a variety of on-line network services that support on-line businesses, such as transaction processors, security services, and e-mail service providers. Regardless of the type of goods and services provided, all on-line business must be concerned with the performance of their network operations. E-businesses unable to provide consistent, high performance are not likely to survive.
Individual businesses or entities that provide network applications have different network performance concerns. For example, a company may hire a Web service provider to provide its on-line services. The company may wish to conduct periodic audits to ensure that the Web service provider is fulfilling its obligation to provide satisfactory service. Similarly, the Web service provider may wish to validate the level of service quality it is providing and identify any problems that may exist or that may arise. Network management tools may be used to collect data from various locations and at various times. For example, the tools may collect connect times, download times for individual pages, domain name server (DNS) look-up times, and error messages, among other things. In fact, thorough network management tools may monitor tens or hundreds of parameters for a given website.
The data streams generated by the network management tools may be analyzed to evaluate network performance and detect and diagnose problems. However, analysis becomes difficult in practice because of the volume of information collected, variations in network usage, changes in the network, changes in equipment connected to the network (e.g., an increase in the number of servers used to meet network demand and/or installation of more efficient or faster servers), and changes in web sites, to name just a few.
In addition, Internet traffic (data transfer) is a poorly understood process. The current consensus is that the statistical nature of the data traces is fundamentally different from classical settings (e.g., Poisson-type processes), but the true nature of these processes remains elusive. The literature is flooded with contradictory empirical and theoretical studies, further contributing to the confusion. Given this environment, simply setting thresholds for tens or hundreds of parameters is arbitrary, inaccurate, and difficult in practice given the volume of information collected. For example, an arbitrarily set threshold may result in the detection of too many errors or too few errors. While the description above is primarily directed to network application, it should be appreciated that data streams can be generated by a variety of detectors, sensors, or other sources and that analysis of those data streams may also be desired. There remains a need for a system for analyzing data streams to detect abnormalities that is accurate and efficient and that can be run automatically without significant human intervention.

System and method for analyzing data streams


The invention provides an apparatus for cutting an endocardial lead within a patient. The apparatus includes a tubular member and a tension member disposed therein. The tension member includes a distal end and a proximal end. A blade is affixed to the distal end of the tension member and an adjustment mechanism is adapted to adjust the tension member and blade between an extended position and a retracted position. The adjustment mechanism includes a female member, a male member and an anchor. The anchor is affixed to the proximal end of the tension member and the male member. Insertion and withdrawal of the male member within the female member moves the tension member and the blade between the extended position and the retracted position. An alternate embodiment includes a capture mechanism or guide wire for drawing the apparatus and lead closer together before extending the blade and cutting the lead.

In the past, various types of endocardial leads and electrodes have been introduced into different chambers of a patient's heart, including the right ventricle, right atrial appendage, and atrium as well as the coronary sinus. These flexible leads usually are composed of an insulator sleeve that contains an implanted helical coil conductor that is attached to an electrode tip. This electrode is placed in contact with myocardial tissue by passage through a venous access, often the subclavian vein or one of its tributaries, which leads to the endocardial surface of the heart chambers. The tip with the electrode contact is held in place by trabeculations of myocardial tissue.
The tips of many available leads include flexible tines, wedges, or finger-like projections which extend radially outward and usually are molded from and integral with the insulating sheath of the lead. These tines or protrusions allow surrounding growth of tissue in chronically implanted leads to fix the electrode tip in position in the heart and prevent dislodgement of the tip during the life of the lead. In "acute placement" of the electrode or lead tip, a blood clot forms about the flanges or tines (due to enzymes released as a result of irritation of the trabeculations of myocardial tissue by the presence of the electrode tip) until scar tissue eventually forms, usually in three to six months. The tines or wedges or finger-like projections allow better containment by the myocardial trabeculations of muscle tissue and prevent early dislodgement of the lead tip.
Although the state of the art in implemented pulse generator or pacemaker technology and endocardial lead technology has advanced considerably, endocardial leads nevertheless occasionally fail, due to a variety of reasons, including breakage of a lead, insulation breaks, breakage of the inner helical coil conductor and an increase in electrode resistance. Furthermore, in some instances, it may be desirable to electronically stimulate different portions of the heart than are presently being stimulated with the leads already implanted. There are a considerable number of patients who have one or more, and sometimes as many as four or five unused leads in their veins and heart.
Although it obviously would be desirable to easily remove such unused leads, in the past surgeons usually have avoided attempts to remove inoperative leads because the risk of removing them exceeded the risk of leaving them in. The risks of leaving unused myocardial leads in the heart and venous path include increased likelihood that an old lead may facilitate infection, which in turn may necessitate removal of the lead to prevent continued bacteremia and abcess formation. Furthermore, there is an increased likelihood of the formation of blood clots in the atrial chamber about entangled leads. Such clots may embolize to the lung and produce severe complications and even fatality. Furthermore, the presence of unused leads in the venous pathway and inside the heart can cause considerable difficulty in the positioning and attachment of new endocardial leads in the heart.
Removal of an inoperative lead sometimes can be accomplished by applying traction and rotation to the outer free end of the lead, but only if done prior to fixation of the lead tip in the trabeculations of myocardial tissue by scar tissue formation or large clot development. Even then, it is possible that a clot has formed so the removal of the leads causes various sized emboli to pass to the lungs, producing severe complications.
In cases where the lead tip has become attached by scar tissue to the myocardial wall, removal of the lead always has presented major problems and risks. Porous lead tips that are sometimes used may have an ingrowth of scar tissue attaching them to the myocardial wall. Sufficient traction on such leads in a removal attempt could cause disruption of the myocardial wall prior to release of the embedded lead tip. The tines or flanges of other types of leads that are not tightly scarred to the myocardial wall present similar risks. Even if screw-in tip electrodes are used, wherein the tips theoretically can be unscrewed from the myocardial wall, unscrewing of such tips may be prevented by a channel of scar tissue and endothelium that surrounds the outer surface of the lead along the venous pathway. Such "channel scar" tissue prevents withdrawal because of tight encasement of the lead. Continual strong pulling or twisting of the outer free end of the lead could cause rupture of the atrial wall or the ventricular wall if there is such tight circumferential encasement of adherent channel scar tissue in the venous path. Such tight encasement by scar tissue in the venous pathway and in the trabeculations of the myocardial wall typically occurs within six months to a year of the initial placement of the lead.
The risks of removing the lead by such traction and rotation of the lead are so high that, if it becomes imperative that the lead be removed (as in the case of infection), most surgeons have elected to open the patient's chest and surgically remove the lead rather than attempt removal by applying traction and rotation thereto.
Clearly, there is a need for an apparatus for extracting endocardial leads from a patient's heart with minimal risk to the patient.