An electrical multi-layer component includes a body having a stack of ceramic layers, with a top and a bottom. First and second connection surfaces are on the bottom of the body. Electrode surfaces are in metallization layers among the ceramic layers. Via contacts are between metallization layers. At least one of the via contacts is connected electrically to an electrode surface or to a connection surface. An electrode surface connected to one of the connection surfaces, through a corresponding via contact, is a first electrode structure or a second electrode structure. At least one of the first or second electrode structures includes a via contact that has a blind end. A shortest distance between the first and second electrode structures is a vertical distance from the blind end to: (i) a metallization layer above or below the blind end, or (ii) a blind end of another electrode structure.

Such multi-layer components can be used as capacitors, varistors, or temperature-dependent resistors (thermistors) according to the configuration of the ceramic layers and the electrode surfaces. The body of varistors is often produced from a mixture of different metal oxides, for example, based on zinc oxide. Varistors have a non-linear voltage-dependent change in resistance, which is used for protecting electrical circuits from overvoltages. The resistance value of varistors falls as the applied voltage increases.
From the publication DE 199 31 056 A1, a multi-layer varistor is known, in which non-overlapping internal electrodes are arranged in the interior of the body for reducing the resistance. The internal electrodes are here contacted on the two end faces of the component by large surface-area contact layers, which allow SMD mounting of the component. A disadvantage of this conventional component is that due to the large surface-area contact layers, parasitic capacitances and inductances are built up, which make the precise setting of the electrical characteristics of the component difficult. Furthermore, such a component requires, accordingly, an inordinate amount of space for mounting, for example, on circuit boards, due to the large contact layers. Furthermore, above all, modules in this construction, in which several of these components are integrated, are also especially large and thus feature an especially low integration density.
From the publication DE 100 19 840 A1, a ceramic multi-layer capacitor with a first electrode structure is known, which has freely ending via contacts (blind ends). The shortest distance between the two electrode structures of the capacitor is determined by the distance of overlapping electrode layers.
From the publication WO2004/086432, a multi-layer varistor is known, in which for reducing the parasitic capacitances, the internal electrodes are connected by means of via contacts both to each other and to solder bumps on the bottom side of the body.
The use of such varistors as, e.g., ESD protection components in high-frequency data lines, however, presents problems. Parasitic capacitances in known multi-layer varistors still reach regular values of more than 60 pF, which makes them unsuitable for this application. Capacitances of this order of magnitude lead to the result that all of the signals are diverted to ground from a certain limit frequency and thus the data signal carrying the information is also lost. Instead, for signals at clock rates up to 1 GHz, varistors with parasitic capacitances up to a max. ca. 1 pF are desirable.
The problem of the present invention is to specify an electrical multi-layer component with low parasitic capacitance.
This problem is solved with a multi-layer component with the features of claim 1. Advantageous constructions of the invention are to be taken from the additional claims.
The multi-layer component is constructed from a stack of ceramic layers, which form a solid body. On the bottom side of the body there are first and second connection surfaces for contacting the component. Between the ceramic layers of the body there are metallization layers in which structured electrode surfaces can be arranged.
All of the electrode surfaces of an electrode structure are electrically connected to each other or to one of the connection surfaces by means of via contacts through the ceramic layers. All of the electrode surfaces connected to each other together form a first electrode structure. The corresponding electrode surfaces connected to one of the second connection surfaces and via contacts form a second electrode structure. The first and second electrode structures are separated and electrically insulated from each other. At least one of the two electrode structures has a via contact with one blind end that does not end in an electrode surface. This end points in the direction of the other electrode structure and forms in this region the shortest distance between the first and second electrode structure. The shortest distance is here measured vertical to the layer planes of the ceramic layers toward the closest metallization layer, in which an element of the other electrode structure is located.
A via contact is understood to be a cylindrical hole, e.g., filled with electrically conductive material, through at least one ceramic layer, which connects a metallization layer to another metallization layer or to a connection surface in a straight line vertical to the layer planes of the ceramic layers. A blind end of a via contact ends in a metallization plane, in which it has absolutely no contact with an electrode surface or a connection surface. The other end of the via contact, however, is always connected to an electrode surface or to a connection surface.
With the exception of the shortest distance in the region of the blind end of the via contact, first and second electrode structures of the multi-layer component run at a large distance, which includes several ceramic layers, from each other. The blind end can also form only a small capacitance to the closest metallic structure of the other electrode structure due to its small surface area. In this way, the parasitic capacitance between the first and second electrode structure is kept low.
In addition, it is advantageous to structure the first and second electrode structures and, in particular, the electrode surfaces belonging to these electrode structures, such that there is no overlap between the electrode surfaces of different electrode structures in the region of the blind via contact. Also, the distance of the electrode surfaces to each other increases and the parasitic capacitance between both electrode structures is further reduced.
The multi-layer component can also be implemented as an HTCC (High Temperature Cofired Ceramic). This material guarantees exact structurability with respect to the position of via contacts and electrode surfaces, so that a multi-layer component with an exactly defined structure and an exactly defined parasitic capacitance can be obtained.
The first and second electrode structure can each have a via contact with one blind end. The two blind ends can then be arranged one above the other in the stack of the body and point towards each other. If the thickness of a single ceramic layer is the shortest distance in the region of these two blind ends, and if the blind via contacts are each connected to an electrode surface, then the minimum distance of said two electrode surfaces corresponds to the layer thickness of the three ceramic layers lying in-between. Preferably, the via contacts are extended by the blind ends, and thus lead in a straight line through several ceramic layers. In this way, the associated electrode surfaces are distanced even farther from each other by the first and second electrode structures.
However, it is not necessary for both electrode structures to have electrode surfaces. It is also possible, for example, that one of the two electrode structures is made from only one via contact, which reaches through possibly several ceramic layers and which is connected to one of the connection surfaces.
In a multi-layer component, several first connection surfaces and a corresponding number of first electrode structures connected to these surfaces can be provided. The several first electrode structures can be separated from each other galvanically and can each have a via contact with one blind end. An overlap with the second electrode structure can then take place exclusively in the region of this blind end, wherein the second electrode structure can also have a via contact with a blind end, for example, in the region of overlap. Several of these first electrode structures can then overlap a single second electrode structure. It is also possible, however, to provide in the multi-layer component both several first electrode structures and also several second electrode structures, where the number of first and second electrode structures need not be equal.
For further minimization of the parasitic capacitance of the multi-layer component, the connection surfaces are distributed on the bottom side of the body so that they are at a maximum distance from each other. This can be achieved in that the connection surfaces are provided at the edges, in the corners, and/or in the middle of the lowermost ceramic layer. Two connection surfaces, which are arranged on the bottom side at two diagonally opposite corners, have the greatest distance from each other. An easily accessible connection surface on the bottom side has a strip-like construction along one edge of the base surface or the body. These connection surfaces can be connected, for example, in the middle by means of via contacts to one or more electrode surfaces.
The electrode surfaces of different electrode structures are preferably arranged in metallization layers far removed from each other. It is also possible to provide only one electrode surface for each electrode structure. Here it is useful for the electrode surfaces to have a strip-like construction and to let them run towards each other starting, e.g., from different corners of the body. For a symmetrical arrangement, an overlap in the middle (relative to the base surface) of the body can be maintained. The one or more via contacts with a blind end are then constructed there, which point from an electrode structure to the corresponding electrode surface of the other electrode structure. Advantageously, the second electrode structure is also provided with a via contact with a blind end. For reasons of symmetry, it is advantageous to construct the blind ends of the via contacts for both electrode structures at the same distance to the associated, closest electrode surface.
If there are several first connection surfaces, then it is advantageous to arrange the second connection surface in the middle. In contrast, it is advantageous to arrange the first connection surface in the corners on the bottom side. Here, the electrode surfaces can also have a strip-like construction and can run from the via contacts arranged above the first connection surfaces in the direction of the body middle, where they overlap corresponding via contacts belonging to the second electrode structure.
If first and second electrode structures are present each in an even number, then an overlap with two electrode structures of different type between each can be realized. This can then take place in a region of the body removed from the connection surfaces. That is, no connection surfaces are provided in the stack underneath the via contacts with the blind ends.
The multi-layer component can be constructed from a varistor ceramic, for example, on the basis of doped zinc oxide. The multi-layer component then represents a varistor with low but defined capacitance. Such a varistor can be used advantageously as an ESD protection component in data lines, which are operated at high clock rates, for example, up to one gigahertz. The low capacitance of the varistor, which does represent a shunt line, prevents the data signal from being diverted to ground via the parasitic capacitance of the varistor forming a high-pass filter and thus from being lost.
The multi-layer component can also be constructed from a ceramic material with negative or positive temperature coefficients of resistance. In this way, it can be used as a PTC or NTC type thermistor.
In addition to the function layers, the ceramic body can include additional layers, which guarantee, for example, the stability of the body. Such layers are then preferably constructed as dielectric layers, in order to generate no new current paths. Additional dielectric layers are then also arranged outside the current path that appears between the first and second electrode structures when the component responds. Such a response of the component is achieved, in the case of a varistor, when the varistor voltage is exceeded between the first and second electrode structures or, in the case of a PTC, when a certain temperature is exceeded.
Below, the multi-layer component is explained in more detail with reference to embodiments and the associated figures. The figures are used for illustrating the invention and are laid out only schematically and not true to scale. Parts that are identical or that have identical functions are designated with identical reference symbols.

Electrical multilayer component with reduced parasitic capacitance


Systems and methods for providing estimations for a product for purchase at a plurality of stores. Groups of stores are generated based upon similarity of store demand data. For each group, a distribution is determined with respect to the attribute of the product. The distribution is used to provide estimations with respect to the product to be provided at the stores.

Retailers confront many issues when deciding what products to carry. The issues can become even more daunting when the decision process additionally has to consider which types of a specific product a retailer should carry. For example, shoe products come in many different sizes. Determining what sizes in addition to what specific shoes to carry becomes problematic especially given the vast array of shoe options available to a retailer.
Retailers typically solve the problem of how much and what sizes of a product to carry among their various stores by looking at the product allocation decisions of the previous year, and then, they will make slight adjustments based on relatively simple analytics and/or intuition given the previous year's sales and performance. Retailers may also try to address this problem by analyzing revenue goals that have been set at a company level. They then decide how to best reach these goals—that is, they typically determine, among other things, how much of each product they should order (and sell) to meet these goals. Such approaches can lead to product assortments that are not aligned with consumer demands for the retailers.

Computer-implemented systems and methods for product attribute estimations


A system of authenticating an item with a security mark includes a substrate (100); wherein the security mark is printed on the substrate with invisible ultraviolet (UV) absorbing ink (102); a coating comprised of UV fluorescent varnish (104) applied over the security mark and substrate; wherein an area comprising the security mark and coating with is illuminated with UV light; wherein a reduced fluorescence image of the security mark is identified; wherein the reduced fluorescence image is compared with the security mark; and wherein the item is authenticated if the reduced fluorescence image matches the security mark.

Applying invisible covert marks to product packaging is a well establish method for authenticating products and thus combating counterfeiting. In addition, when variable invisible information is printed, batch-level and item-level tracking of products can be accomplished in a covert manner. Common covert marking materials are ultraviolet (UV) fluorescent inks The security mark is invisible under normal lighting, but is revealed when a UV light source is used.
One limitation of this approach is that printed cartons and packaging materials can have a UV curable overprint varnish applied to help improve the durability of the surface, for example add scuff resistance; change the gloss finish of the surface; or protect the inks from unintentionally washing off or intentionally being removed, in the case of covert tracking information. These overprint varnishes (also referred to as overcoat varnishes) typically contain optical brighteners that can interfere with the UV fluorescence of the security marks. One example of such a varnish is InX International Procure (TM) UV 10090 LP overprint varnish.
U.S. Publication No. 2009/0104373 (Vanbesien) describes applying a radiation curable varnish to a document and authenticating the document via the radiation curable fluorescent varnish. However, in their case the hidden information is applied to the document by image-wise printing of the radiation curable varnish using a digital press. This can pose problems when there is an imperfect match of the gloss of the varnish with the gloss of the substrate which would make the invisible mark visible to the unaided eye as a gloss differential. This is undesirable because it exposes the hidden mark. Digitally printing a radiation curable ink can also pose hardware problems such as jetting of a high viscosity liquid and clogging of inkjet nozzles because of cross-linking of the varnish.
Another way of adding a security mark is to use a UV absorbing ink on a print surface that contains an optical brightener, thereby creating a negative (dark) image. This can work well on label stock, which often has optical brighteners. Typical carton stock used in packaging, however, often does not contain such optical brighteners; therefore this simple approach is not feasible.
It is therefore highly desirable to have a solution that allows covert embedding of information via a robust printing method on substrates that are not optically brightened, and that can also subsequently be treated with an overprint varnish to protect the package.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A disposable shipping cart for live plants includes a rigid frame mounted on casters for rolling transport, which frame is formed from an inexpensive non-metallic material and includes a plurality of vertically spaced shelf supports upon which are fastened cardboard shelves that are fastened to the frame. Preferably, each shelf is folded from a cardboard blank having side and end walls that are foldable to vertical positions in which the end portions thereof are arranged for fastening to the corner posts of the frame, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
A disposable shipping cart for live plants includes a frame supported by casters for rolling transport, which frame is formed from an inexpensive non-metallic material, such as wood, and includes shelve support means that support a plurality of vertically spaced open-topped cardboard shelves that receive the live plants.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wheeled carts for transporting flowers or plants are well known in the patented prior art, as shown by the patents to Nootenboom U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,066, Kern et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,441, Vorstenbosch U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,904, and Burgess U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,299, together with the published Hansen et al. application No. U.S. 2003/0160409 A1.
The use of cardboard and other inexpensive disposable material in shipping containers for plants and flowers is known in the art. In the patent to Mertz U.S. Pat. No. 3,379,304, for example, the use of cardboard is proposed, which cardboard is stapled to the wooden sidewalls of the flaps. Note also the patents to Mertz U.S. Pat. No. 3,656,611 and Fulton U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,149.
In the plant nursery industry, there is a constant desire to reduce labor costs related to shipping, merchandising, and receiving live plants. Previously, the industry standard for shipping live plants has been the simple cardboard box. The problems associated with this style of packaging are as follows.
Over the years, the pack quantities per box have been reduced. For instance, a 6″ pot, previously a standard pack 12, is now pack 6 per box. This was done to conform to Produce Marketing Association pack quantities, and also so an individual could easily handle the weight of the package. This change doubled the cost of packaging. It also increased the waste associated with shipping.
Boxes reduce airflow around the plants. This is not a problem if the shipping and receiving locations are climate-controlled. Most are not, which creates an ever present potential for heat damage to the plants.
Applicant has determined through its store delivery program that the volume of its products sold at retail dramatically increases when it has an opportunity to be involved in the merchandising of its products When its products are shipping in a box, quite often it is dependent on store personnel to unpack in a timely manner, handle and display its products. Customers have proven to be very conscious of increased labor costs. When shipping a box, staff is required to be on hand to unpack and display the plants, thereby resulting in a decrease of profitability.
Accordingly, Applicant has determined that there was a need in the art for an inexpensive disposable portable cart for packaging, transporting, and displaying live plants.

Disposable shipping cart for live plants


The invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence comprising a promoter, which is a native sequence of Pichia pastoris comprising the nucleic acid sequence of pCS1 of SEQ ID NO:1, or a functionally active variant thereof which is a size variant, a mutant or hybrid of SEQ ID NO:1, or a combination thereof, expression constructs and recombinant host cells comprising the promoter, and a method of producing a protein of interest under the control of the promoter. It further relates to a method to identify a constitutive promoter from eukaryotic cells, and an isolated nucleic acid sequence comprising a promoter which when operatively linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding a protein of interest directs the expression thereof in a host cell at an expression level that is higher than under control of the native pGAP promoter at high and low growth rates.

Successful production of recombinant proteins has been accomplished with eukaryotic hosts. The most prominent examples are yeasts like Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia pastoris or Hansenula polymorpha, filamentous fungi like Aspergillus awamori or Trichoderma reesei, or mammalian cells like e.g. CHO cells. While the production of some proteins is readily achieved at high rates, many other proteins are only obtained at comparatively low levels.
The heterologous expression of a gene in a host organism usually requires a vector allowing stable transformation of the host organism. A vector would provide the gene with a functional promoter adjacent to the 5′ end of the coding sequence. The transcription is thereby regulated and initiated by this promoter sequence. Most promoters used up to date have been derived from genes that code for proteins that are usually present at high concentrations in the cell.
EP0103409A2 discloses the use of yeast promoters associated with expression of specific enzymes in the glycolytic pathway, i.e. promoters involved in expression of pyruvate kinase, triosephosphate isomerase, phosphoglucose isomerase, phosphor-glycerate mutase, hexokinase 1 and 2, glucokinase, phosphofructose kinase, aldolase and glycolytic regulation gene.
WO 97/44470 describes yeast promoters from Yarrowia lipolytica for the translation elongation factor 1 (TEF1) protein and for the ribosomal protein S7 that are suitable for heterologous expression of proteins in yeast, and EP1951877A1 describes the use of the P. pastoris TEF1 promoter for the production of heterologous proteins.
WO2005003310 provides methods for the expression of a coding sequence of interest in yeast using a promoter of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase or phosphoglycerate mutase from oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica.
Promoter sequences derived from genes involved in the methanol metabolic pathway of Pichia pastoris are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,537 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,231 (alcohol oxidase AOX1, AOX2) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,730,499B1 (formaldehyde dehydrogenase FLD1). US20080153126A1 includes mutant promoter sequences based on the AOX1 promoter.
The AOX1 promoter is induced only in response to methanol and repressed by other carbon sources, such as glucose or ethanol. Methanol has the disadvantage that it is unsuitable for use in the production of certain products, since it is potentially hazardous for its toxicity and flammability. Therefore, alternatives to the AOX1 promoter are sought.
Vassileva et al. (J. Biotechnol. (2001) 88: 21-35) describe the use of the GAP promoter to express HBsAg in P. pastoris, using multicopy expression cassettes as an alternative to the AOX1 promoter. The constitutive system was proposed for continuous culture to permit maintenance of the cells in mid-exponential phase.
Promoters used in Pichia pastoris are either tightly regulated (like pAOX or pFLD) being active on specific substrates such as methanol, or they are constitutively active in many different conditions, media and substrates. Among the constitutive ones, especially the GAP and the TEF promoters have been described to be strong, and useful for recombinant protein production.
However, it was shown that the activity of both constitutive promoters is not constantly strong during a fed-batch production process. Especially in the later phases of the process, when cell growth rates are slow, also the activity of the promoters in getting low, thus limiting expression levels of the gene of interest (GOI) and production yields (Stadlmayr et al. 2010. J Biotechnol. 150: 519-529).
Selection of suitable promoters is not intuitive or rational, as even highly abundant glycolytic enzymes such as enolase (ENO), triose phosphate isomerase (TPI) or glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (PGI) do not have promoters that are as strong as pGAP and pTEF (Stadlmayr et al. 2010. J Biotechnol. 150: 519-529; Gasser et al. 2010. Metabolic Engineering 12:573-580).
Qin et al. (Applied and Environmental Microbiology (2011) 3600-3608) describe a GAP promoter library and various mutants with varying activities.
It is desirable to provide improved recombinant eukaryotic cell lines to produce fermentation products that can be isolated with high yields. Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide for alternative regulatory elements suitable for recombinant production methods, which are simple and efficient.


A substrate holder for supporting a substrate in a processing system and controlling the temperature thereof is described. The substrate holder comprises a first heating element positioned in a first region for elevating the temperature of the first region. A second heating element positioned in a second region is configured to elevate the temperature in the second region. Furthermore, a first controllably insulating element is positioned below the first heating element, and is configured to control the transfer of heat between the substrate and at least one cooling element positioned therebelow in the first region. A second controllably insulating element is positioned below the second heating element and is configured to control the transfer of heat between the substrate and at least one cooling element positioned therebelow in the second region.

Throughout the various stages of substrate processing, such as semiconductor or display manufacturing, etc., critical process parameters may vary significantly. Processing conditions and their spatial distributions change over time with the slightest changes in critical process parameters creating undesirable results. Small changes can easily occur in the composition or pressure of a process gas, or substrate temperature, and the spatial distributions thereof. As such, substrate processing components require constant monitoring, and the ability to tightly control these processing conditions and their spatial distributions.

Method and system for temperature control of a substrate


A discharge unit (1) contains two separate delivery units (15) to be actuated in common through which the medium flows along a module (35) separate from two base bodies (4,5) to two atomizer nozzles (48) so that due to their spray cones overlapping each other the two separately emerging media are intermingled in utmost fine dispersion and, e.g. with the formation of a gelling blended medium, react with each other. As a result of this two media reacting with each other chemically or physically can be intermingled not before being outside of the discharge nozzles (48) and thereby simultaneously applied to the region of application, e.g. a mucuous membrane.

The invention relates to a discharge unit for two media which may be flowable, for example, gaseous, liquid, pasty or gel-like and/or powdery, i.e. in each case before and after discharge from the unit.
The discharge unit may in each case comprise either individually, or in combination a housing body, a medium delivery unit, a discharge actuator, an outlet passage, a discharge orifice and, configured separately or integrally in the housing body, a module which may be an actuating plunger, an outlet valve or some other internal body or region capable of limiting the cross section of a discharge or outlet passage.
The discharge unit may comprise only one of two base bodies or actuator units, which are to be manually moved singlehandedly, rotatingly and/or axially with respect to each other to actuate the discharge so that this actuator unit is then to be connected to the further actuator unit, for example, by snap-mounting for use of the discharge unit. Preferably, however, both actuator units are preassembled and disposed with respect to each other so that their movement with respect to each other is still required for activating the discharge. One of the actuator units contains the discharge orifice and the other actuator unit the media reservoir, however, both actuator units or housing bodies could also be configured integrally.
Preferably, one housing body features at least one, and possibly two or more discharge orifices, of which at least one for releasing the medium from the discharge unit ports to the atmosphere, while one or more further discharge orifices may be located within the corresponding housing body in the direction of flow upstream of the aforementioned discharge orifice and may be aligned either along the same axis or may deviate from each other. If two media are required to be discharged separately, then two discharge orifices leading to the atmosphere are juxtaposed in at least one of the last-mentioned arrangements, so that the two media mix directly subsequent to emergence from the two discharge orifices and thus form a chemical and/or a physically reacting, blended media. If, for instance, the blended media, due to the reaction, are flowable to a lesser degree than one of the two starting media, due to these translating into a gel-like consistency as a result of molecular crosslinking during blending, then it is expedient to maintain these two media completely isolated until shortly before discharge into the atmosphere and not to bring them together until spaced away from the discharge surface of the discharge unit. In this arrangement a good mixing is achieved, especially when at least one of the media is introduced to the other as finely dispersed as possible.

Dispenser having nozzle insert with passages for discharge of two media


Disclosed is a method of providing performance indicators of a robot hand and a method of optimizing a structure of the robot hand, and more particularly to a method of providing performance indicators of a robot hand, in which the performance indicators are to objectively compare a plurality of robot hands with respect to performance, and a method of optimizing a structure of the robot hand, in which engineering design criteria are provided to determine essential factors in developing the structure of the robot hand.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of providing performance indicators of a robot hand and a method of optimizing a structure of the robot hand, and more particularly to a method of providing performance indicators of a robot hand, in which the performance indicators are to objectively compare a plurality of robot hands with respect to performance, and a method of optimizing a structure of the robot hand, in which engineering design criteria are provided to determine essential factors in developing the structure of the robot hand.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A conventional structure for a robot hand has been designed and developed depending on a developer's experience and inspiration so as to mimic a human's hand. Therefore, it was impossible to explain why positions and lengths of joints in the robot hand were determined and designed like that. For example, when a developer designs the structure of the robot hand and determines a position of a saddle joint for a thumb, he couldn't objectively explain why the saddle joint was designed to be positioned like that.
Accordingly, technologies have been required to develop a method of proposing design criteria calculated by an objective method with regard to essential factors needed for designing the robot hand, and optimizing the structure of the robot hand where the essential factors needed for designing the robot hand are explainable with objectively calculated numerical values.
Further, a conventional robot hand has been developed on the assumption that the robot hand being developed by developers has better performance than the existing robot hand.
In general, comparison in performance between different robot hands has been achieved by an object grasp experiment that the robot hands grasp the same object, thereby testing the performance of each robot. However, the method of evaluating the performance of the robot hand through the object grasp experiment cannot determine a structural problem of a robot hand model to be produced until it is actually manufactured as a robot hand. If the actually produced robot hand model has a structural problem, an additional development procedure is needed to modify the robot hand model and complement or solve the problem, thereby unnecessarily wasting costs and manpower.
By the way, 'opposability of thumb' has been used as a technique for objectively comparing the performance of the robot hand model, which has already been manufactured or is being developed, with that of a conventionally developed different robot hand. The 'opposability of thumb' provides a performance indicator calculated using only three factors including a workspace of fingertips, a length of a thumb and a weighting coefficient as major factors of the performance indicators in order to evaluate the performance of the robot hand. Therefore, it is not suitable to evaluate the performance of the robot hands developed to have various structures such as a robot hand model or the like for imitating a human's hand.
Accordingly, there is a need of developing a technology that can provide an objective numeral value corresponding to the performance of each robot hand when the robot hands modeled to have various structures are compared in performance.

Method of providing performance indicators of robot hand and method of optimizing structure of robot hand

Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University


A holding sealing material has a mat shape and includes an adsorption portion, a holding portion, and a coupling portion. The adsorption portion is configured to adsorb urea and has a width and a longer side face extending along a longitudinal direction of the holding sealing material. The holding portion is configured to hold an exhaust gas treating body and has another width and another longer side face extending along the longitudinal direction. The width of the adsorption portion is smaller than the width of the holding portion. The longer side face of the adsorption portion faces the longer side face of the holding portion via a space. The coupling portion connects the adsorption portion and the holding portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a holding sealing material, an exhaust gas purifying apparatus, and a method for manufacturing an exhaust gas purifying apparatus.
2. Discussion of the Background
Particulate matters (hereinafter, also referred to as PMs) are contained in exhaust gases discharged from internal combustion engines such as diesel engines, and in recent years, there has arisen a serious problem as these PMs are harmful to the environment and the human bodies. Moreover, since exhaust gases also contain toxic gas components such as CO, HC, and NOx, there have been growing concerns about influences of these toxic gas components on the environment and the human bodies.
In view of these, as an exhaust gas purifying apparatus for collecting PMs in exhaust gases and for purifying the toxic gas components, various exhaust gas purifying apparatuses have been proposed. Each of the exhaust gas purifying apparatuses is configured by: an exhaust gas treating body made of porous ceramics, such as silicon carbide and cordierite; a casing configured to house the exhaust gas treating body; and a holding sealing material made of an inorganic fiber aggregated body that is disposed between the exhaust gas treating body and the casing. This holding sealing material is installed mainly for purposes of preventing the exhaust gas treating body from being damaged upon contact with the casing that covers its periphery due to vibrations and impacts caused by traveling or the like of an automobile and for preventing exhaust gases from leaking between the exhaust gas treating body and the casing (for example, see WO 02/38922).
In recent years, a technique referred to as a urea SCR (Selective Catalyst Reaction) has been examined as a method for converting NOx in exhaust gases.
The urea SCR system sprays urea water in an exhaust gas purifying apparatus, and ammonia is generated by thermal decomposition of urea so that NOx undergoes a reduction reaction by ammonia.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view that schematically shows a state where urea water is sprayed in an exhaust gas purifying apparatus having a conventional holding sealing material.
An exhaust gas purifying apparatus 1020, shown in FIG. 1, has a structure in which a holding sealing material 1010 is wound around an exhaust gas treating body 30 made of a honeycomb structure (a catalyst supporting carrier), and this is disposed inside a casing 40, and a urea spray opening 100 configured to spray urea water 110 is formed on a portion near the exhaust gas treating body 30 (on the upstream side of exhaust gases) through which exhaust gases are allowed to flow into the exhaust gas treating body 30.
In the urea SCR system, the urea water is sprayed toward the exhaust gas treating body. Then, urea contained in the urea water is thermally decomposed by heat of the exhaust gases to generate ammonia so that ammonia and NOx in the exhaust gases undergo a reduction reaction to form N2 by a function of a catalyst supported on the exhaust gas treating body; thus, NOx is converted. Moreover, the exhaust gases in which NOx has been converted are discharged from the downstream side of the exhaust gas treating body.
The contents of WO 02/38922 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Holding sealing material, exhaust gas purifying apparatus and method for manufacturing exhaust gas purifying apparatus


Apparatus and methods for regulating gate delays of synchronous and asynchronous digital circuits. Thermally-sensitive circuits include, generally, temperature sensitive voltage sources outputting a voltage signal indicative of the temperature of the digital circuit, where the voltage signal reflects non-linear temperature sensitivity above a predetermined threshold temperature, and delay mechanisms receiving said temperature sensitive voltage signal(s) as input and being configured to automatically continuously modulate the speed of signal propagation through the circuit in response to said voltage signal, thereby causing circuit elements within the circuits to switch less frequently and consequently causing the circuit elements to generate less heat with increasing circuit temperature.

As the power density of modern integrated circuits continues to increase with shrinking feature size, power and temperature management become increasingly important. Thermal profiling, along side analog simulation, is crucial to designing large and power-hungry circuits (see IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems, 19(8):1211-1220, October 2000, "A temperature aware simulation environment for reliable ULSI chip design", Y. K. Cheng and S. M. Kang; and IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems, 17(8):668-681, August 1998, "ILLIADS-T: An electro-thermal timing simulator for temperature-sensitive reliability diagnosis of CMOS VLSI chips", Y. K. Cheng, et al.) Static thermal profile information can be used to place circuits on a die to maximize temperature uniformity, thereby reducing the peak temperature (see IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems, 19(2):253-266, February 2000, "Cell-level placement for improving substrate thermal distribution" C. H. Tsai and S. M. Kang.) Likewise, dynamic temperature profiling can be used to direct operation, e.g. halting the system when the circuit is too hot, or switching to a lower power mode.
Circuits that overheat beyond specified operating conditions may suffer timing failures, or become damaged for various reasons, including thermal runaway. Traditional power management in synchronous systems often involves transitions to different system states or modes, typically involving changes in clock frequencies or voltage levels. However, as computational operations are performed more rapidly and involve increasingly larger amounts of computational circuitry, it is becoming progressively harder to synchronize computational operations with reference to a single global clock signal. In many cases, enforcing such synchronization greatly constrains the performance of the computational circuitry. To remedy this problem, some designers have begun to investigate the possibility of using "asynchronous" circuits that do not operate with reference to a global clock signal, and are hence not constrained by the need to continually synchronize computational operations with the global clock signal. In many cases, such asynchronous circuits can increase computational speed by an order of magnitude or more.
Asynchronous circuits operate without any global clock, and use handshakes to move and communicate data. The data-driven nature of asynchronous circuits allows a circuit to idle with no switching activity when there is no work to be done. Increasing the computational speed of an asynchronous circuit causes the circuit to switch more frequently, resulting in increased power consumption and consequently a significant amount of heat. Computing systems typically employ various components to dissipate this heat, such as heat sinks and cooling fans. However, as the computational speed of semiconductor chips continues to increase, and as these chips are packed more closely together to minimize propagation delay between the chips, it is becoming progressively harder to effectively dissipate this heat. This leads to excessive heat buildup, which can cause a computer system to fail, and in some cases can permanently damage circuitry within the computer system.
Asynchronous circuits are capable of operating correctly in the presence of continuous and dynamic changes in delays. Sources of delay variation may include temperature, supply voltage, manufacturing, noise, radiation and other transient phenomena. The frequency of an asynchronous pipeline is determined by the gate delays on the critical path rather than an external frequency source. As the circuit heats up, the gate delays increase and the frequency naturally drops, thereby reducing the circuit's dynamic power consumption and self-heat generation. However, the natural negative feedback retardation of this self-heating rate is too weak to halt the increase in temperature (see "An Energy-Complexity model for VLSI computations", J. A. Tierno. PhD thesis, California Institute of Technology, 1995.)
It would, thus, be useful to provide a method and apparatus that automatically regulates the performance, power consumption and resultant generated heat of asynchronous circuits.
Some conventional voltage reference circuits requiring PVT (process, supply voltage, temperature) independence have used diode or bipolar junction transistor (BJT) bandgap reference circuits to generate temperature dependent signals used in voltage and/or current compensation. Circuits such as these typically require a supply voltage of at least 1.3 volts. As technology improves, and components become smaller, the supply voltages continues to drop. Some current processors operate with supply voltages of 1.4 volts, close to the limit at which diode or BJT bandgap circuits will become ineffective for use as supply voltages due to the silicon bandgap of 1.23 volts.
In light of the increasing use of non-power supply voltages in integrated circuit devices, there is an additional need for thermal management circuits and methods to impose negligible implementation overhead.

Self-timed thermally-aware circuits and methods of use thereof


An apparatus comprises a frame, a counterweight connected to the frame, a load attachment member connected to the frame, a movable pick point mounted on the frame, and a pick point position adjuster for moving the pick point to balance a load supported by the load attachment member.

When a component of a device is to be inserted into or mounted on the device, it is important to position the component in a desired orientation for easy assembly. For example, a Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance System (RAMICS) is a helicopter-borne weapon system that will fire projectiles from a modified Gatling gun controlled by a blue-green Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensor. The LIDAR locates and targets the mine and provides aiming coordinates to the gun's fire-control system. Rounds are fired at the mine in bursts, resulting in neutralization.
The RAMICS includes a closed vessel in the form of a cylindrical pod that contains the LIDAR sensor. In order to ensure personnel safety and prevent damage to the sensor when assembling the LIDAR sensor assembly into a RAMICS pod, the sensor assembly must be properly oriented to slide into the pod.
Various conditions might cause a departure from the static center of gravity (c.g.) of the sensor assembly. These conditions include, but are not limited to: 1) components not installed in the LIDAR assembly due to availability; 2) an uneven distribution of coolant in the mated units; and 3) coolant and/or interconnect cables added to the mated assembly prior to installation in order to ease integration. Because of the potential variability in the load balance of the sensor assembly, a fixed pick point apparatus is impractical.
There is a need for an adjustable balancing apparatus that can be used to orient a load (such as a sensor assembly) for assembly into a device.


A method of forming a self-aligned halo-isolated well with a single mask is disclosed. First, a layer of resist is disposed over at least a portion of a substrate's surface. Then, an impurity of a first polarity type is implanted at an angle into the substrate through a gap in the layer of resist, thus forming a well having the impurity of the first polarity, which extends beneath the layer of resist. An impurity of a second polarity type is also implanted, using the same mask as previously used. The second implantation forms a well of the impurity of the second polarity disposed within the well of to impurity of the first polarity.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to semiconductor devices, and more specifically, to methods for isolating field effect transistors semiconductor devices.
2. Background Art
In the formation of large scale integrated circuits using field effect transistors (FET), isolation between devices is of critical importance. For example, in complementary semiconductor device (CMOS) technology all the transistors on the same die traditionally share a common substrate (body) voltage when not isolated. Thus, when the threshold voltage of one FET (e.g., used for logic or memory integrated circuits) is increased, the threshold voltages of all the FETs on the die will also increase. This increase of threshold voltages not only impedes the performance of the logic and memory integrated circuits, but also decreases the switching margin of the overall circuit.
Hence, several methods have been developed to isolate individual devices. One method consists of using independent wells in forming each FET. Although this method successfully isolates each device, extra space is required in constructing a circuit, which makes it difficult to increase the packing density of CMOS and could result in a rather expensive circuit design. Another solution for isolating devices consists of the process of creating a trench at the boundary between two wells of different polarities (i.e., between a p-well region and an n-well region) so that the depth of the trench is greater than the depth of the wells. Unfortunately, it is difficult and may be costly to form a deep trench in a semiconductor substrate, and if formed, may cause defects such as crystal defects in the substrate and/or wells.
One solution that addresses the aforementioned problems is the formation of a well-within-a-well, or double well structure. Examples of these types of wells are found in the following U.S. Patents, which are herein incorporated by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,058, "Complementary Semiconductor Device Having a Double Well", issued March 1990 to Sakai; U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,345, "Complimentary Bipolar/CMOS Fabrication Method", issued November 1993 to Nasser et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,183, "Semiconductor Device of a First Conductivity Type which has a First Well of a Second Conductivity Type Formed Therein and a Second Well of the First Conductivity Type Formed in the First Well and a Pair of MOSFET Formed in the First and Second Wells", issued December 1995 to Yonemoto. As discussed in these patents, the outer well of the double well structure provides the isolation to the inner well, allowing for compactibility and reliability of the circuit.
Unfortunately, although the aforementioned patents discuss a double well structure, the process of making these structures as described requires extra masks and extra masking steps. Not only does an extra mask take extra time and expense, but an extra mask makes it difficult, if impossible to align the two wells without any excess space between the wells, ultimately decreasing the performance of the circuit.

Method or forming self-aligned halo-isolated wells

International Business Machines Corporation


Provided are an optical scanner including a micro-mirror having an improved a driving angle by using a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) technique and a laser image projector using the same are provided. The optical scanner includes: a substrate; a mirror unit suspended over the substrate and spaced apart from the substrate by a predetermined distance; a supporter situated on the substrate and supporting both ends of the mirror unit so that the mirror unit is suspended over the substrate; a supporting axis connected between both ends of the mirror unit and the supporter so that the mirror unit can be rotatably supported by the supporter; a plurality of movable comb electrodes vertically formed on both sides of the mirror unit; and a plurality of static comb electrodes vertically formed on the substrate in such a way that the static comb electrodes alternate with the movable comb electrodes, wherein the static comb electrode is a two-layer structured electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
An embodiment of the present invention relates to an optical scanner having an improved driving angle and a laser image projector using the same, and more particularly, to an optical scanner including a micro-mirror having an increased improved angle by using a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) technique and a laser image projector using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A MEMS micro-actuator structure using an electrostatic effect of a comb-typed electrode is used as an optical scanner for deflecting a laser beam in a projection TV. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a conventional optical scanner. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional optical scanner includes a substrate 5, a mirror unit 1 suspended over the substrate 5, a supporter 6 supporting both ends of the mirror unit 1, a torsion spring 2 connected between the mirror unit 1 and the supporter 6 and supporting a seesaw movement of the mirror unit 1, a plurality of movable comb electrodes 3 vertically formed on both sides of the mirror unit 1, and a plurality of static comb electrodes 4 vertically formed on the substrate 5 in such a way that the static comb electrodes alternate with the movable comb electrodes.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating an operation of the conventional optical scanner shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, a predetermined voltage is applied to movable comb electrodes 3a and 3b formed on both sides of the mirror unit 1, and a positive voltage and a negative voltage are respectively applied to static comb electrodes 4a and 4b corresponding to the movable comb electrodes 3a and 3b. For example, a voltage V1 is applied to both the left movable comb electrode 3a and the right movable comb electrode 3b, a voltage V is applied to the left static comb electrode 4a and a voltage −V is applied to a right static comb electrode 4b. Then, a voltage difference between the left movable comb electrode 3a and the left static comb electrode 4a becomes different from a voltage difference between the right movable comb electrode 3b and the right static comb electrode 4b, and thereby the mirror unit 1 is inclined to one side by static electrical force, as shown in FIG. 2. In the meantime, the mirror unit 1 returns to its original place by restoration force of the torsion spring 2. Therefore, the mirror unit 1 can be periodically moved by a predetermined driving angle and a predetermined driving speed (i.e., driving frequency) by properly adjusting the voltage applied to the movable comb electrodes 3.
In the meantime, an optical scanner should scan a laser beam at very rapid speed in order to embody an image on a screen of a laser image projector. In general, a mirror unit should have small mass in order to increase its driving frequency. However, if the size of mirror unit 1 is reduced in order to decrease its mass, then a diameter of a laser beam reflected by the mirror unit 1 is also decreased. However, if the diameter of the laser beam reflected by the mirror unit 1 is decreased, then the laser beam is spread on the screen. This phenomenon deteriorates resolution of an image displayed on the screen.
Therefore, in order to increase resolution of an image, the size of the mirror unit 1 should be increased so that a laser beam having a large diameter can be reflected by the mirror unit 1, or a driving angle of the mirror unit 1 should be increased. However, if the size of the mirror unit 1 is increased, then a driving speed of the optical scanner is decreased due to the mass increase of the mirror unit 1. Also, there is a limitation in increasing a driving angle of the mirror unit 1. This is because if the movable comb electrodes 3 completely enter between the static comb electrodes 4, then the driving force is not generated anymore and thereby the mirror unit 1 does not rotate anymore. In this case, in order to increase the driving angle of the mirror unit 1, the height of the movable comb electrodes 3 and the static comb electrodes 4 should be increased so that an angle at which the movable comb electrode 3 and the static comb electrode 4 completely overlap each other is increased. However, this increase in thickness of the mirror unit 1 for increased the driving angle also causes an increase in the mass of the mirror unit 1.

Optical scanner and laser image projector using the same


Transport of a workpiece into and out of high vacuum conditions is achieved using a vacuum handler having an ante-chamber which buffers a vacuum lock and other mechanically vulnerable components from high pressure differences. During loading of the workpiece, the ante-chamber is vented to atmospheric pressure while the vacuum lock door is sealed closed. The antechamber is then opened and receives the incoming workpiece from the exterior of the vacuum handler. The ante-chamber is then closed and evacuated to the pressure level of the vacuum lock, which is only opened once this pressure level is achieved. The vacuum lock receives the workpiece and is evacuated to the pressure of the main vacuum chamber of the vacuum handler and then opened thereto. An elevator assembly transports the workpiece into the vacuum chamber for processing. The process is reversed during unloading of the workpiece from the vacuum handler following processing completion.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to flat panel display handling devices and, more particularly, to a system for transferring a flat panel display between normal atmospheric conditions and vacuum conditions.
2. Description of Related Art
The manufacturing of flat panel displays (FPDs) involves numerous complicated and specialized steps. Many of these steps must be performed in vacuum conditions. An example is the requirement of vacuum conditions for voltage contrast, or E-beam inspection methods which determine the integrity of a manufactured FPD pixel array and locate and identify defects therein. E-beam testing requires directing a beam of electrons in a vacuum at the substrate under inspection, and measuring secondary electron emission from the substrate. The voltage characteristics of the secondary electron emission signal is indicative of the electrical integrity of the substrate and can be used to locate and identify defects in the switching thin-film transistor (TFT) array of the FPD. Other applications of vacuum conditions during FPD manufacture are etching or deposition of materials.
Some of the FPD manufacturing steps are similar to those followed during, for example, semiconductor wafer manufacturing. In some situations, similar handling equipment can be used during manufacture and inspection of either the flat panel displays or the semiconductor wafers. However, new technology has enabled greater physical size of FPDs, and new constraints peculiar to FPD handling equipment have emerged. As a result, equipment which would have been adequate otherwise for use in both the FPD and the semiconductor manufacturing contexts with little modification has thus lost this versatility.
An example is vacuum handlers, which serve to transfer the workpiece between normal atmospheric conditions and vacuum conditions. FIG. 1 shows a vacuum handler of the prior art. During operation, vacuum chamber 20 is kept under high vacuum with a vacuum pumping system 24. A workpiece 12 is introduced first into a vacuum lock 14 without disruption of the vacuum integrity of the chamber 20. Then, using the same vacuum system 24 or a dedicated system (not shown), the vacuum lock 14 is evacuated until its pressure is about the same as that of vacuum chamber 20. Vacuum lock 14 is then opened into the chamber 20 and the workpiece 12 is transferred from the vacuum lock 14 onto a stage 16 or a similar work mechanism disposed within vacuum chamber 20. In this manner, a relatively high speed transfer of the workpiece 12 is effected since the volume of the vacuum lock 14 is typically much smaller than that of the vacuum chamber, requiring less time to evacuate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,245 to Toro-Lira et al. and assigned to U.S. Phillips Corporation, is directed to a system for the handling of semi-conductor wafers and their transport into and out of a vacuum chamber. As is shown in FIG. 2 schematically illustrating the operation of the Toro-Lira system, a vacuum handler 15 is provided with a main vacuum chamber 22 and a vacuum lock 18. Vacuum lock 18 is sealed from the atmosphere by a circular outer door 21 shown in the closed position (21) and in an open position (21a). A circular elevator assembly 17 seals the vacuum lock 18 from the main vacuum chamber 22 using an inflatable seal 19 when the elevator assembly 17 is in the up position (solid lines). The seal 19 is shown in the inflated, or pressurized position. The sealing occurs in the cross-section opening of the main vacuum chamber 22. When the seal 19 is deflated, the elevator assembly 17 can be moved to the down position (17a) illustrated in phantom.
Operation of vacuum handler 15 is as follows: When the elevator assembly 17 is in the up position and the inflatable seal 19 pressurized, the vacuum lock 18 is vented to atmospheric conditions and outer door 21 lifted to the open position (21a). An external mechanism (not shown) transfers (arrow T.sub.1) the semiconductor wafer 23 to the top of the elevator assembly 17 in the vacuum lock 18 region. Once the wafer is inserted in vacuum lock 18, the outer door 21 is moved to the closed position and the vacuum lock 18 evacuated.
When a sufficiently low pressure is achieved in vacuum lock 18, inflatable seal 19 is deflated and the elevator assembly 17 is moved to the down position (17a), carrying with it wafer 23 into the main vacuum chamber 22. At this point, an internal mechanism (not shown) transfers (arrow T.sub.2) the wafer 23 into a vacuum chamber stage (not shown) and processing in the vacuum conditions commences. The reverse of the above procedure is subsequently followed when the processing is completed to thereby return the wafer 23 to the exterior 8 the vacuum handler 15.
The above system provides the advantage of a very fast wafer insertion process due to the relatively low volume of the vacuum lock 18 as compared with that of the main vacuum chamber 22, and dimensionally, the system is well suited for semi-conductor wafer handling. However, the advent of ever-larger flat panel displays has made applications of the conventional vacuum handlers an increasingly difficult task in FPD manufacture. Accommodation of large area FPDs by the vacuum handlers of the prior art is complicated because of the great forces developed by the high pressure differences involved, which present physical barriers taxing the limits of available materials and technology.
The limitations become evident when actual numbers are calculated and examined for the systems of the prior art. For example, in the configuration of FIG. 2, atmospheric pressure subjects the elevator assembly 17 to a very high vertical force when the outer door is in the open position (21a). For relatively small workpieces such as a 300 mm semiconductor wafer having an area of 0.0707 m.sup.2, a mechanical implementation of the elevator assembly 17 which properly counteracts the atmospheric pressure is possible. However, for larger samples such as a 1100.times.1100 mm FPD substrate, the atmospheric pressure force that needs to be compensated for is approximately 27,560 lbs., or 12 tons. A practical prior art implementation of an elevator assembly mechanism which can sustain such a high vertical force in the requisite fast and reliable manner is not possible without introducing prohibitively high costs to the system. A need therefore exists to develop a vacuum handler that can withstand the high pressures attendant to the transport of workpieces between atmospheric and vacuum conditions in a fast, reliable and economical fashion.

High speed in-vacuum flat panel display handler


The present disclosure describes active optical cable assemblies. A cable assembly includes a fixed active optical connector having a transceiver, a ruggedized optical fiber cable integrated with the fixed active optical connector, a main cable assembly comprising one or more optical fiber cables, wherein the ruggedized cable is spliced to the main cable assembly; and a removable shroud configured to surround at least a portion of the fixed active optical connector plugged into a remote radio unit and to be secured to a remote radio unit. Active optical cable and remote radio unit systems are also described.

Traditional optical assemblies have optical connectors on both ends of the assembly. These assemblies may be connected to a remote radio unit (RRU), remote radio head (RRH) or active antenna at one end and a base band unit (BBU), another RRU, or other telecommunication equipment via a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) optical connector (i.e., the optical assembly is connected to one end of the SFP via an optical connector/adapter and the other end of the SFP (i.e., the copper connection end) may be inserted into the RRU, RRH, etc.) to create an active optical cable assembly. Active optical cables (AOC) represent a cabling technology that accepts the same electrical inputs as a traditional copper cable, but uses optical fiber between connectors. Thus, the SFP converts an optical signal to an electrical signal. Active optical cables use optical-to-electrical conversion on the cable ends to improve speed and distance performance of the cable without sacrificing compatibility with standard electrical interfaces.
Generally speaking, mating optical connectors mechanically couple and align the cores of optical fibers so light can pass. The better the connector, the better the optical cleanliness of the connection (i.e., less light is lost due to reflection or misalignment of the optical fibers). The optical connector interface (e.g., on the optical connector of the optical assembly and/or on the optical connector/adapter of the SFP) is very small and delicate (e.g., glass), and is susceptible to dust, scratches, etc. which can affect the optical cleanliness of the connection. Therefore, during installation, a technician must have a proper tool to inspect the ends for a clean and scratch-less optical interface. If the ends are dirty, the technician also must have a cleaning tool and requires that the technician have special skills to perform these tasks. In addition, the technician must also test the optical assembly for damage. Even after inspecting and cleaning the optical interface, in many instances, it is discovered during activation of the RRU that the SFP is defective. Currently, there is not a way for the technician to test the SFP in the field without installing it into the RRU. Thus, there may be a need for an active optical cable assembly that would allow for better optical cleanliness when used with, for example, a remote radio unit.


Computer-implemented systems and methods for analyzing costs associated with a cost flow model having components of relationships and entities. A system and method can be configured to receive data associated with the cost flow model that identifies the costs associated with the relationships among the entities. One or more matrices are created that are representative of the costs and the entity relationships. One or more sparse matrix operations are performed upon the created one or more matrices in order to determine cost contribution amounts from an entity to another entity.

A cost flow model, such as an activity-based cost and management (ABC/M) model, is a multi-dimensional directed graph. It depicts how money flows in an enterprise. The nodes in the graph represent the resource, activity, or cost object accounts. The edges in the graph have a percentage on them, which defines how much money flows from a source account to a destination account.
For example in a company, money may flow through many paths, and the linkage between origin and destination can therefore become murky. Activity-based costing and management (ABC/M) systems show the flow, and can compute multi-stage partial contributions from any resource to any cost object. Graphs modeling such systems can easily have hundreds of thousands of accounts and millions of edges. Existent ABC/M systems are based on path enumeration algorithms, however, as the number of paths grows, the feasibility of "walking all paths" is significantly reduced. Following all paths is also problematic when there are cycles within the flow (reciprocal allocation models).

Computer-implemented systems and methods for cost flow analysis


The room includes: a ceiling; a floor; and a wall having a pair of wall surfaces opposite to each other, and another pair of wall surfaces opposite to each other in a direction intersecting the pair of wall surfaces. One of the pair of wall surfaces and the other pair of wall surfaces has a window. The wall surface opposite to the wall surface having the window has arranged thereon a first screen. An inner side of the window, and a projection-side surface of the first each has arranged thereon a polarizing plate. An absorption axis direction of a polarizer of the polarizing plate of the window, and an absorption axis direction of a polarizer of the polarizing plate of the first screen and/or an absorption axis direction of a polarizer of the polarizing plate of the second screen are substantially perpendicular or parallel to each other.

An image projected by a projector is generally dark as compared to an image displayed by an image display apparatus, and hence is liable to be affected by ambient light. Therefore, an adjustment to a projection environment, such as darkening of a room, is required. As a matter of course, there is a demand for a projector capable of clearly displaying a projected image even under a bright environment. From such viewpoint, various investigations have been made on the projector, but the projector still has need for consideration.


An apparatus for protecting a vehicle windshield which is light-weight and virtually undetectable when secured to a windshield and a method for removably securing the apparatus to an existing windshield. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a main body formed of a substantially thin, clear material, such as plexiglass, of a one-piece construction. The main body includes a top face and a bottom face and is structured and sized to lie in an overlying relation upon a vehicle windshield. The main body may be of generally flat rectangular configuration for use with flat windshields or curved rectangular configuration for use with curved windshields. The apparatus is removably secured to an existing windshield by applying an adhesive material to the main body and positioning the main body onto the windshield in overlying relation thereto, so that the bottom face of the main body is in substantially direct contact with the outer surface of the windshield.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for protecting a window and a method for removably securing the apparatus to a window.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known that the chipping or cracking of automobile windshields is a common occurrence. Almost every automobile windshield, at some point or another, is pelted by rocks, pebbles or other objects propelled by other vehicles from the road or falling off the back of trucks or other vehicles. Frequently, such pelting results in windshields chipping or cracking. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for automobiles to have their windshields chipped and/or cracked on more than one occasion.
This problem is especially common in areas which encounter winter weather. Typically, salt, gravel or other coarse substances are applied to a road surface after a snowfall to improve automobile traction to the road surface. However, such substances are easily propelled in a rearward direction by the tires of a vehicle towards other oncoming vehicles, often resulting in the oncoming vehicle being struck by the propelled substance. In fact, statistics have shown that, in certain winter weather areas in the U.S., one of two automobiles have their windshields chipped and/or cracked each winter.
Likewise, this problem is also common in areas undergoing construction where dirt, rocks and other objects are strewn across roads. As with the salt and gravel used after snowfalls, such objects are easily propelled towards other oncoming vehicles.
Additionally, this problem may occur any time there is a truck or other vehicle carrying objects not enclosed within the truck or vehicle. Such objects often fly out of the truck or vehicle and strike other oncoming vehicles.
In addition to automobiles, this problem frequently occurs with other types of vehicles including aircraft and boats. For instance, it is not uncommon for construction vehicles to be struck by falling objects, for aircraft to be struck by birds, or boats to be struck by objects in the water or objects falling off other boats.
Furthermore, this problem is not limited to vehicles. It is not uncommon for other types of windows, such as windows on homes or commercial property, to chip, crack or break due to accidents, vandalism or severe weather.
Efforts to address these hazards have focused solely on repairing the chipped or cracked window after such chipping or cracking has occurred. For instance, the vehicle owner may replace the chipped or cracked window. However, this option usually costs several hundred dollars and results in a loss of the use of the vehicle for several hours. Alternatively, if the chip or crack is not substantial, the window may be repaired. However, once again, window repairs are costly and result in a loss of the use of the vehicle while the repair is ongoing. Furthermore, neither of these options, replacing the window or repairing the chip or crack in the window, will prevent the recurrence of the chipping or cracking upon being further struck by another object. Thus, the vehicle owner will be subjected to the repair or replacement costs and the loss of use each time the window is struck and chipped or cracked.
As for windows in homes or commercial property, protection methods are limited. Typically, wood boards or storm shutters are placed over the windows. Although such methods are useful in protecting windows, they create other problems. For instance, the boards are typically nailed into adjacent walls, a process which is tedious and time consuming and which leaves holes in the walls. Furthermore, the boards and storm shutters completely obstruct the windows. Thus, a store owner will be unable to see out of his store and, more importantly, his customers will be unable to see in the store.
The related art is silent in terms of addressing the need to prevent the chipping and cracking of vehicle windows. This is not surprising in light of the fact that prior efforts to address these hazards have been made by the glass industry, which will suffer a reduction in the need for replacement windshields and, consequently, would be harmed, by any apparatus which prevents the chipping and cracking of windshields. Thus, prior efforts teach away from the prevention of chipping and cracking of windshields and focus solely on repairing and replacing the chips and cracks, efforts which maintain the glass industry's production of replacement windshields.
Several devices have been developed to cover automobile windshields. However, most of these devices are merely designed to protect an automobile windshield from snow, ice or freezing rain and, as mentioned above, are typically not suited for preventing the chipping or cracking of windshields. Furthermore, these devices were not intended for vehicles other than automobiles. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,437 discloses a windshield cover constructed of a flexible piece of plastic with loop forming hems in the bottom and end edges for securement to the automobile and U.S. Pat. No. 3,140,115 discloses a detachable windshield protector constructed of a flexible transparent sheet with hooks, buttons and snaps for securement to the automobile. Both devices are designed to protect a windshield from snow and ice, but, due to their flexible construction, will not prevent the windshield from chipping or cracking when struck by flying objects. Furthermore, both devices are secured to the automobile with loops, hooks, buttons or snaps, which are unattractive and cumbersome to install.
Another device, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,754, is a temporary window designed to cover a hole in a window. This device is constructed of a flexible, transparent film with adhesive on one side for securement to a window. However, as with the devices discussed above, this device, due to its flexible construction, will not prevent the windshield from chipping or cracking when struck by flying objects. It is merely a temporary means to cover a hole in a window until it can be repaired or replaced.
Another device, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,923,339, is a bullet proof transparent panel which is specifically designed for attachment to the inside of an automobile window by inserting clips or straps around the edges of the window molding. This device will not prevent the chipping or cracking of windshields because it may only be installed on the inside of the windshield. Furthermore, it is difficult to install because it requires removal and replacement of several automobile components.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an apparatus which will prevent the chipping and cracking of a vehicle window, thereby eliminating the costs to repair or replace the window and the loss of use of the automobile each time the window is struck by an object. Any such apparatus should be inexpensive, virtually undetectable, adaptable and easily applied to existing vehicle windows and should not obstruct the driver's visibility when operating the vehicle. Ideally, any such apparatus will be capable of being temporarily secured to an existing window and, further, should not damage the window when it is removed therefrom. The present invention is particularly suited to overcome those problems which remain in the art in a manner not previously known.

Apparatus and method for protecting a window or vehicle windshield


A rope-guide device suitable for marine use as a crab-pot puller, an anchor puller, a shrimp-pot hauler, and the like includes an arcuate, side-entry slot running the entire vertical length of its cylindrical body. A unique lock-mechanism prevents rope slippage by crimping the rope between the interior wall of the body and a tongue-like locking mechanism with a positive-tension device. An optional handle, which protrudes exterior of the body and extends interior the body, resting against the locking mechanism, assists release by a user-activated motion on the handle.

The present invention relates to a device for guiding a rope or line in a marine environment, and more particularly to an anchor or pot puller.
The commercial fishing industry employs crab pots of various designs and material to capture live crabs from the floor of the ocean, bay, or inlet, for example. Typically, a rope (or line or cord) extends from the crab pot to a marker buoy. The marker buoy may bob on the surface of the water, or may be submersed and include a release mechanism that will release the buoy to the surface under particular conditions, such as a timed release or a radio-frequency release operated by a fisherman.
Crab pots rest on the ocean floor, enticing live crabs inside using bait. Once one or several crabs enter the pot, they are unable to escape. Fishermen leave unattended several crab pots on the ocean floor. Periodically, the fishing vessel returns to the buoy attached to the corresponding crab pot and a fisherman connects the line extending from the pot to a pulling device, such as a hand winch or motorized winch, via a pulley block mounted on the vessel; thus affecting retrieval of the pot from the ocean floor. Because one end of the rope affixes to the crab pot, and the second end attaches to a ring for such purposes on the buoy, the fisherman typically untied the knot at the second end, removing the buoy, and attached the second end to the pulling device.
To expedite and otherwise increase efficiency of this operation an assist device, called a pot-puller or pot-hauler, attaches to a buoy and the rope feeds through the pot-puller. The pot-puller includes a mounting means for attaching to the buoy. Typically, the mounting means consists of an eyelet wherethrough a short line, quick-link, or bolt-and-nut assembly passes and links the pot-puller to the ring on the buoy. The pot-puller includes a locking mechanism to retain the rope in a fixed position, preventing unintentional slippage and loss of the crab pot. Thus, the rope extending to the crab pot firmly affixes to the buoy and frees the second end to be quickly attached to the pulling device on the fishing vessel as needed.
The typical, prior-art pot-puller consists of a material suitable for the corrosive marine environment. Common materials include cast or machined aluminum, brass, or stainless steel. The prior-art pot-pullers typically consist of a unitary body and a locking mechanism. The unitary body includes a mounting means, such as an eyelet, for attaching the pot-puller to a buoy. Generally, pot-pullers of the prior-art are formed from a unitary piece in a cylindrical configuration with a vertically aligned, central through-hole sized to pass the crab-pot rope. The locking-mechanism typically consist of an inclined slot wherethrough a float-pin rests. A properly inserted crab-pot rope will easily slide in one direction as the float-pin moves in a corresponding direction within the confines of the inclined slot. But, an attempt to pull the rope in the opposite direction the float-pin will resist against the rope, pinching the rope between the pin and the interior wall of the unitary body. This design enables a crab-pot to be retrieved quickly from the ocean floor and prevents the rope from accidentally releasing from the buoy when unattended.
The prior-art crab pot-puller presents two significant obstacles to the fishing industry. First, the through-hole design requires feeding the crab-pot rope through the two open ends, which are the only openings suitably sized to pass a rope. This necessitates either hauling up the crab-pot, detaching the line from the pot and then running the first rope end through the pot-puller or running the rope all the way out to get to the second end of the rope. This makes repair or retrofitting awkward and costly. Second, the locking mechanism requires two-handed manipulation to play-out the crab rope. This technique is awkward and cumbersome, as it is not always possible to employ both hands as the vessel rolls and pitches with the ocean's swell.


An apparatus including a hollow body, an inlet fluidly coupled to the hollow body, a piston slidably engaged within the hollow body, and a filter arranged within the hollow body between the inlet and piston. The piston and hollow body cooperatively generate a negative pressure, relative to ambient, within the hollow body during piston translation from a first position, proximal the inlet, to a second position, distal the inlet, to draw a fluid, such as blood, through the filter into the hollow body. The piston and hollow body cooperatively generate a positive pressure, relative to ambient, within the hollow body during piston translation from the second position to the first position to egress the filtered fluid from the hollow body.

Autologous blood transfusion is a process that removes a patient's own blood to later be re-transfused into their body. In developing countries, a manual blood transfusion technique is commonly used due to the small quantities and high cost of donated blood available. Currently, manual blood transfusion includes collecting blood from an open wound or off a collection surface, manually removing large blood clots, filtering the blood though gauze pads to remove smaller blood clots, and introducing the filtered blood into a storage bag, where the blood is mixed with an anticoagulant solution and stored until the blood can be transferred back into the patient. This process is very labor, material and time intensive, often involving the coordination of 3-4 trained personnel. Furthermore, this process can suffer from sterility issues. Thus, there is a need in the medical device field to create a new and useful blood transfusion device.


The trigger operated dispensing device for mounting to a container comprises: a body made of plastic material and having a pumping chamber therein. The pumping chamber has an open outer end and an inner back wall, a pumping mechanism associated with the body and includes a plastic piston situated in the pumping chamber and a plastic trigger coupled to the body. Non-metal biasing structure is situated between the trigger and the body for biasing the piston out of the pumping chamber. Non-metal fluid inlet structure and non-metal fluid outlet structure are associated with the pumping chamber and comprise first and second plastic flap valves in or adjacent the back wall. Also provided is non-metal structure for coupling the body to the container. The trigger operated dispensing device has only parts made of non-metal or synthetic material therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a trigger operated dispensing device for mounting to the top neck of a storage container. Although such devices, known as trigger sprayers, can be reused, often times they are disposed of. To facilitate disposal and/or recycling of the sprayer, the present invention relates to a non metallic all synthetic or all plastic trigger sprayer.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR .sctn. 1.97-1.99.
Heretofore, various trigger sprayers have been proposed.
A common construction for a trigger sprayer includes a body, a chamber or cylinder in the body, a piston and a metal spring in the cylinder and inlet and outlet valves, one of which is typically a metal ball valve . The spring biases the piston out of the cylinder, and a trigger is pivotally connected to the body and to the piston for urging the piston into the cylinder during a pumping stroke.
Other types of trigger operated sprayers also have been proposed and three examples of same are disclosed in the following three patents:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. Patentee ______________________________________ 4,915,263 Corba 4,352,443 Libit 4,241,853 Pauls et al. 3,986,644 Grogan et al ______________________________________
In the Corba U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,263 a trigger sprayer having a plastic frame, including a trigger, an upper leg, a flexure, a lower leg, and a cap, together with a pumping device, a nozzle assembly and a delivery arm is disclosed. The pumping device is mounted in the cap of the frame and a tubular extension of the pumping device is inserted through an opening of the cap to be press-fitted to the delivery arm to create a connection between the container and the nozzle assembly mounted at the delivery arm.
The pumping device of the sprayer is made mainly out of plastic, but includes a coiled spring made of metal to provide a return force to the frame and the trigger handle. The frame, the nozzle and the delivery arm of the trigger sprayer are molded out of plastic material. As a part of the frame of the trigger sprayer the flexure is located between the upper leg and the lower leg of the frame and is also made of plastic.
The frame, including the trigger handle, the upper leg and lower leg, the flexure and the cap, is made of one piece of plastic. It is essential to have rotational freedom for the trigger handle, while being pressed down. Insufficient rotational freedom would cause significant damage, since the frame would be stretched above the Hook limit. The flexure provides this rotational freedom for the trigger handle. Thus, while pressing down the trigger handle, the plastic material of the frame, especially the flexure, is stressed and because of its plastic memory, it urges the frame, including the trigger handle, back to its home position. The returning force of the flexure is negligible and therefore the patentee suggests that the plastic flexure be replaced by a metal flexure, if necessary.
The major returning force of this trigger sprayer is provided by the metal spring of the pumping mechanism, and the main feature of the flexure is to provide rotational freedom to the trigger handle.
Additionally, a metal ferrule is used to seal the pumping device against the cap of the frame.
The Libit U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,443 discloses a pump dispenser including a sprayhead and a trigger-bulb pump wherein a trigger acts on a bulb to pump liquid into the bulb and then out of the bulb to a nozzle end. The trigger has a flexible flange member with contours that cooperate with the bulb and the sprayhead to form intake and outlet valves and an air breather valve. This patent does not describe the composition or material from which all the parts of the pump dispenser are made but the cross hatching in the drawings indicate that many of the components are made of plastic.
The Pauls et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,311 discloses a multi-function dispenser adjustable to obtain a spray or stream of the material dispensed, either as a long duration discharge of the material or as intermittent discharges corresponding to actuation of a trigger actuator, or as a continuous discharge during actuation of the trigger, depending upon functional design variables. Structure is provided for storing an accumulated amount of material upon repeated operations of the trigger, for subsequent prolonged discharge of the material. The accumulating structure may be bypassed for intermittent discharge of the material as the trigger is operated, or the accumulating structure may function as a holding chamber whereby a continuous discharge of the material may be obtained while the trigger is being operated.
The multi-function dispenser is made mainly out of synthetic material, but incorporates also other materials, e.g. a rubber bladder or a metal valve actuator rod.
The Grogan et al U.S. patent discloses a dispensing pump wherein a trigger is pivotally mounted to a body by, what appears from the cross hatching in FIG'S. 4 and 5 of the drawings, a metal pin. The trigger acts against a resiliently deformable diaphragm which has an encircling flange that forms inlet and outlet valves. This patent does not describe the composition or material from which all the parts of the dispensing pump are made but the cross hatching in the drawings indicate that many of the components are made of plastic.
As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the trigger sprayer of the present invention differs from the previously proposed trigger actuated sprayers by including in a piston and cylinder type trigger sprayer only synthetic or plastic parts, which enables the trigger sprayer to be recycled easily.


The invention is directed at a device that reduces the size of an engine in the direction along the axis of a crankshaft. More specifically, it relates to an engine starting system in which a part of a starting power transmission gear train is provided between one end portion of a crankshaft rotatably borne on a crankcase and a starter motor mounted to the crankcase is covered from the outside by an accessory coupled to and operated in conjunction with the crankshaft.

Starting systems are known. See, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2002-54540.
In prior art starting systems, a part of the starting power transmission gear train is typically covered from the outside by a shift gear switching clutch that is coupled to and operated in conjunction with the crankshaft. In the prior art starting systems, the gears constituting a part of the starting power transmission gear train and covered with the clutch are borne in a center gear manner. Accordingly, the amount of outward projection of the clutch along the axis of the crankshaft is comparatively large, leading to an increase in the size of the engine, which is generally not desired.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned drawback as well as other known drawbacks of starting systems. For example, it is an object of the present invention to provide an engine starting system which makes it possible to reduce the size of the engine in the direction of the axis of the crankshaft.


Shims comprising a mixture of plastic and natural fibers originating from wet processed cellulose fiber based waste source material include an elongate body that tapers down from a thick end to a thin end. A series of ridges and grooves or valleys are formed in at least one face of the body traversing the width of the body from a point adjacent the thick end to a point beyond the longitudinal mid-point of the body. The base of the valleys each form individual break lines preferably spaced apart at predetermined intervals. A raised rim or ridge preferably extends about the outer boundaries of the face in which the ridges and grooves are formed.

Shims or wedges, tapered work-pieces, and the like, are well known and widely used in the construction of homes, buildings, furniture and the like, to raise, align, square up and fill gaps of windows, doors and other building components. Traditionally, shims have been formed out of wood and often simply crafted out of scrap pieces of wood. To provide a ready supply of shims, wooden shims have been manufactured by the bundle.
Other attempts at providing a ready supply of shims include the manufacture of synthetic shims. Such shims however tend to be formed primarily from plastic, which tend to be more pliable and, thus, more difficult to break or snap off at a desired length.
In an effort to improve the mechanical properties of other synthetic household and industrial products, building materials and the like, these products have been manufactured using polymers or plastics reinforced with a variety of fillers. By compounding in mineral fillers such as calcium carbonate, talc, mica and wollastonite and synthetic fillers such as glass, graphite, carbon and Kevlar fibers, as well as natural fibers, such as cellulose fiber, some mechanical properties of polymers or plastics are vastly improved. The cellulose fiber used to reinforce polymers or plastics has typically included wood flour or ground wood fiber having an effective mesh size of about 10 to 60 mesh. Use of such cellulose fiber fillers tends to have many drawbacks as a result.
For instance, because of low bulk density and the need for pre-drying before or during compounding, processing with wood flour or ground wood fiber tends to results in low production rates and high costs. The powdery consistency of such fillers not only results in a messy operation, but tends to pose potential health risks to those manning the processing. Wood flour and ground wood fiber also tend to cause blocking or agglomeration due to the material packing together and tend to be extremely difficult to convey and feed into an extruder, the inlet of which is typically small relative to the low bulk density of these materials.
Further, the use of ground wood fiber or wood flour as the raw material for forming cellulose fiber-polymer pellets or directly forming cellulose fiber enhanced polymer materials or products, tends to be quite costly. Other sources of more cost-effective cellulose fiber based raw materials have tended to be over looked due to the industry's focus on ground wood fiber or wood flour as the preferred raw material. For example, materials found in the waste streams of most paper mills could provide an abundant supply of processed cellulose fiber. Today, paper mills discard millions of tons per year of processed cellulose fiber along with other materials such as plastics and/or inorganics that are not suitable for use in the paper making process. To date, this source of substantially wet waste cellulose material has not been tapped as a manufacturing fiber source and, particularly, as a fiber source for the manufacture of non-wood shims.
Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved non-wood shim and, particularly, a non-wood shim comprising natural fibers, and a process by which such non-wood shims can be manufactured using a wet waste processed cellulose fiber based source material.