The present invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring transaction response times. The method and apparatus can identify service request sequences corresponding to a transaction and the start and stop times for the transaction. The invention can be applied non-intrusively/non-invasively to the service packets communicated between a source and destination node.

The present invention is directed generally to the measurement of response time in computer applications and specifically to the use of non-intrusive devices to measure response time in multi-tiered computer networks.
Multi-tiered computer networks are widely used to provide one or more users with a wide variety of information and computer resources. In multi-tiered computer networks, client computers (e.g., users) interact with server computers to perform an application which is partitioned into one or more transactions. An application is a group of meaningful transactions, and a transaction is a unit of meaningful work as perceived by the user. A transaction is typically a collection of service requests, with the service request typically being a collection of service packets. A service packet is simply an item of information, or a message, communicated between computers. In the course of performing a transaction, the client computer may request one or more of the server computers to transfer service packets containing data to the client computer or provide service packets containing data to the server computer(s) to permit the server computer(s) to process the request. The server computers can in turn request the services of other server computers in connection with the data transfer request from the client computer.
Performance monitoring of the network is important to ascertain periods of significant transaction user delays and user productivity. Performance monitoring generally seeks to measure the response time for a transaction or application. The response time is the time required for the servers and network to perform the transaction or application. Statistical analysis can be performed on the response times to facilitate analysis of servers and network performance.
Two methods are commonly used to monitor network performance and provide response times. Intrusive/invasive monitoring techniques alter the software code on the client computer to include a marker command. The marker commands inform a listening device of transmission of the initial service request packet to initiate timing measurement and receipt of the final results or acknowledgement packet to cease timing measurement. Non-intrusive/non-invasive monitoring techniques, in contrast, typically do not alter the software code. Rather, a probe is inserted into a communication line between the client and server computers to monitor the delays between transmission of individual packets between the client and server computers to provide a rough estimate of response time.
Intrusive/invasive and non-intrusive/non-invasive techniques each have a number of drawbacks. In the case of intrusive/invasive techniques, though the transaction response time is provided, few multi-tiered applications are written with embedded marker commands in the code. Even if the applications were to have embedded marker commands, technical problems, can arise due to and consolidation of application-embedded response time statistics to a central location, especially for mobile user computers. In the case of non-intrusive/non-invasive techniques, it is only possible to determine the rate of information transmission between the computers for individual packets. Such techniques are typically unable to determine the response time for a transaction or application. Neither intrusive/invasive nor non-intrusive/non-invasive monitoring techniques are able to match, especially in multi-tiered networks, individual packets with the corresponding transaction to compute a response time for the transaction or related application. As noted above, each of the server computers performing an application can process a series of individual service requests pertaining to a variety of different user transactions. Existing monitoring techniques are unable to match the service packets in the various service requests to a specific transaction.
There is a need for an apparatus and method for measuring the response time for a transaction or an application, especially in multi-tiered computer networks. There is related need for an apparatus and method for measuring the response time for a transaction or an application using non-intrusive/non-invasive techniques.
There is a need for an apparatus and method for measuring the response time for a transaction or an application that is able to match individual service packets with the corresponding transaction or application.
The present invention addresses these and other needs by providing in one aspect a method for identifying a transaction corresponding to a plurality of service packets communicated between a source node and a destination node. The method includes the steps: (i) providing a communications data set including a plurality of service packets and information relating to the order in which the service packets are communicated on a communications line between the source and destination nodes and (ii) comparing the communications data set against a pattern characterization data set to determine whether at leas a portion of the plurality of service packets are part of the transaction. The pattern characterization data set includes information relating to a predetermined ordering of service packets that comprise the transaction. The method is amenable to non-intrusive/non-invasive measuring techniques and can provide near real-time response time information, even for multi-tiered computer networks.
The invention is based in part upon the recognition that the service packets communicated along the communications line constitute patterns of service requests that occur repeatedly in an operational environment. These service request patterns correspond to different transaction types. It has been discovered that these service request patterns can be determined using signal processing techniques. Once identified, the start and stop times for the pattern can be determined to provide a response time for the transaction.
A probe can be used to read, the packets on a real-time basis from the communications line with the packets being recorded along with a received time (e.g., the time at which the packet was read by the probe) in the communications data set.
The packets can be filtered based on a node address and/or port number. In a preferred embodiment, the service packets correspond to a plurality of threads and the packets are sorted by thread.
The service request packets can be identified by their contents and destination. The service result packets can then be correlated with the corresponding service request packets. The start and stop times for the service request can then be determined.
After identification of the service requests corresponding to the transaction, the response time for the transaction can be determined using the various start and stop times for the service requests.
In another aspect of the present invention, a non-intrusive system is provided for identifying a transaction comprising a plurality of service packets communicated between source and destination nodes. The system includes: (i) a device for recording a plurality of service packets communicated on the communications line and (ii) a device, in communication with the recording device, for identifying a transaction that includes at least a portion of the plurality of packets.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method for identifying a transaction comprising a plurality of service packets communicated between source and destination nodes that includes the steps: (i) providing a communications data set including (a) a plurality of service packets corresponding to a plurality of service requests and (b) the start and stop times for each service request and (ii) comparing the time interval between the stop of a first service request and the start of a second service request against a predetermined value for the time interval to identify a sequence of service requests that comprise a transaction.
The comparing step can be performed in several iterations where the time interval is varied to select an optimal predetermined value for the time interval between service requests to yield a substantially optimal listing of service request sequences as a possible transaction. The resultant number of transaction service request patterns are then used to determine an optimal value for the predetermined time interval. For a range of time intervals the number of transaction service request patterns remains constant. The optimal value for the predetermined time interval is the midpoint of this range of values. By way of example, after identifying a service request sequence(s) using the predetermined values, the method can further include selecting a second predetermined value, comparing the time intervals, between service requests, against the second predetermined value to identify a second sequence(s) of service requests corresponding to a second transaction(s), and recording the second sequence(s) of service requests and the number of occurrences of each of the second sequence(s) in a second data set. The method next selecting a third predetermined value (which is the optimal predetermined value) based on the relationship between (i) the number of the sequence(s) of service requests and the predetermined value and (ii) the number of the second sequence(s) of service requests and the second predetermined value. The method then comprises as before the time interval between service requests against the third predetermined value for the time interval to identify a third sequence(s) of service requests corresponding to a third transaction(s). The service request sequence for the third transaction is deemed to be the optimal sequence. The third sequence is then compared against the communications data set to determine whether at least a portion of the plurality of service requests correspond to one or more transaction(s).
The method produces the pattern characterization data set referred to above. The pattern characterization data set lists a plurality of service request sequences for comparison against the service requests from the comparing step. This additional comparison step is to determine if the service requests as ordered by time are contained in the pattern characterization data set.
In a final aspect, the present invention includes a non-intrusive system for determining transaction level activity between a source and destination node. The system includes: (i) a device for recording a plurality of service packets communicated on a communications line between source and destination nodes and (ii) a device for determining the number The service packets relate to a number of transactions and the recording device provides the communications data set.
In one embodiment, the determining device is a device for comparing the time interval between the stop time of a first service request and the start time of a second service request against a predetermined value for the time interval to identify a sequence of service requests in the communications data set that together comprise a transaction.

Method and apparatus for analyzing communications on different threads


An angle adjustor includes a fixed member, a movable member, a plurality of friction plates arranged between the fixed and movable members, and a bolt connecting the fixed and movable members. The fixed member and the movable member each have a notch for receiving a pressing member that presses the friction plates against the surface of the notch. Each pressing member is fixed to the fixed member or movable member in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the bolt. The friction plates are fixed between the notch and the pressing member.

The present invention relates to an angle adjustor, and more particularly, to an angle adjustor for a musical instrument.
It is desirable that the angular position of a musical instrument, such as a cymbal and a snare drum supported by a floor stand, a cymbal supported on a bass drum, or a tom-tom, be adjusted in accordance with the performer's preferences, physical features, etc. Once the angular position of a musical instrument is adjusted, it is desired that the musical instrument be stably supported during performance at the adjusted angle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,808 describes an angle adjustor 61, as shown in FIG. 9. The angle adjustor 61 includes a movable member 63, a fixed member 62, and a plurality of friction plates 64a and 64b. The movable member 63 is connected to a musical instrument, such as a cymbal. The fixed member 62 is connected to a main body of a stand. The plurality of friction plates 64 are arranged between the movable member 63 and the fixed member 62. In detail, two friction plates 64a are attached to the fixed member 62, and three friction plates 64b are attached to the movable member 63. The friction plates 64a and the friction plates 64b are alternately arranged. Each of the friction plates 64a and 64b has three teeth 65 on its outer circumference. The fixed member 62 and the movable member 63 have four teeth. The three teeth 65 of each of the friction plates 64a and 64b are engaged in grooves formed between the four teeth 66 of the corresponding one of the fixed member 62 and the movable member 63. The fixed member 62 and the movable member 63 are fixed to each other by a bolt 67 and a nut 68.
In the above angle adjustor 61, the nut 68 is loosened to enable the movable member 63 to rotate relative to the fixed member 62, and the movable member 63 is arranged at a desired angle relative to the fixed member 62. Then, the nut 68 is tightened so that the movable member 63 comes into contact with the fixed member 62 via the plurality of friction plates 64a and 64b. As a result, the musical instrument, which is connected to the movable member 63, is supported at the desired angular position.
However, in the adjustor 61, the positioning of the friction plates 64a and 64b relative to the movable member 63 and the fixed member 62 is performed by the engagement between the teeth 65 and the teeth 66. Thus, there may be a slight backlash produced at the position of engagement between the friction plates 64a and the movable member 63 and the position of engagement between the friction plates 64a and the fixed member 62. At such backlash positions, friction force produced by the friction plates 64a and 64b is not applied to the movable member 63 and the fixed member 62 no matter how tight the friction plates 64a and 64b are fastened to each another. This may slightly move the movable member 63, which is fixed to the fixed member 62. As a result, the musical instrument is not stably supported even after its angle has been adjusted.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,382 describes an angle adjustor 81 shown in FIG. 10 that solves this problem. The angle adjustor 81 includes a fixed member 82, a movable member 83, and a plurality of friction plates 84a and 84b, which are arranged between the fixed member 82 and the movable member 83. The plurality of friction plates 84a and 84b are tightened to one another and are fixed to the fixed member 82 by a bolt 87 and a nut 88. Additionally, tabs 85 extending from the friction plates 84a and 84b are received in slots 86 of the fixed member 82 and the movable member 83. The tabs 85 are pressed against side walls of the slots 86 by screws 89 to fix the friction plates 84a and 84b in the slots 86. The friction plates 84a and 84b are securely fixed to the corresponding one of the movable member 83 and the fixed member 82. This stably supports the musical instrument.
However, in the above angle adjustor 81, the screws 89 are oriented in the direction in which the movable member 83 rotates. When playing the musical instrument, a force that causes the movable member 83 to rotate may be applied to the screws 89 via the tabs 85 of the friction plates 84. This may loosen the screws 89. In such a case, the screws 89 cannot hold the tabs 85 in a fixed state. Thus, the movable member 83, which is fixed to the fixed member 82, may slightly move. As a result, the musical instrument, which has been adjusted to a desired angular position, may not be stably supported.
Further, in the adjustor 81, the movable member 83 is sandwiched by the fixed member 82. Thus, the fixed member 82 and the movable member 83 have different shapes. This complicates the manufacturing processes for the adjustor 81 and causes assembly of the adjustor 81 to be difficult.


Systems and methods for computer security are provided. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided. The method includes applying a hook to a kernel of an operating system, monitoring system calls made to the kernel using the hook, and injecting a new entry into a list of files assembled by a loader to create a new process when the hook identifies a create process system call. In another implementation, the method can further include initializing the injected new entry where the injected new entry is operable to examine process files prior to loading, examining the process files, and acting on the process according to a result of the examination.

The present invention relates to computer security.
Conventional computer systems include an operating system. The operating system is loaded at startup during a boot process. At startup, a first program run is typically a set of instructions stored in the computer's read-only memory ("ROM"). The first program can examine system hardware as part of a power-on self test ("POST") to make sure that all hardware components are functioning properly. The POST typically checks one or more of a processor, a memory, and basic input-output systems ("BIOS") for errors. After completing the POST, other software programs loaded into ROM (sometimes called the BIOS or firmware) can be run to activate one or more of the computer's disk drives. In a conventional computer system, when the computer activates a hard disk drive, a first piece of the operating system is accessed (conventionally referred to as a bootstrap loader).
Typically, the bootstrap loader is a program that can be run to load the operating system. In general, the bootstrap loader loads one or more driver programs that interface with and control one or more of the computer hardware subsystems. The bootstrap loader can also set up divisions of memory for holding the operating system, user information, and applications. Additionally, the bootstrap loader can establish data structures for holding one or more signals, flags, and semaphores that can be used by the operating system to communicate within and between subsystems and applications. Finally, the bootstrap loader can turn over control of the computer to the operating system.
A typical operating system can function to provide an interface for one or more hardware devices (e.g., disks and other I/O devices) to provide an application programmer with an abstract model for programming without knowledge of technical details for each of the hardware devices. The operating system can load and run multiple programs simultaneously and independently of each other. The core component of a conventional operating system is a kernel. The kernel is a piece of software that allows various computer programs access to computer system hardware. The kernel typically provides hardware access through a set of hardware abstractions. The hardware abstractions can be used to hide the complexity of the particular hardware components, and therefore provide a clean and uniform interface for accessing the underlying hardware. Since there can be many programs, and access to the hardware (e.g., a processor) is limited, the kernel can schedule when and how long a program can be able to make use of a piece of hardware. Typically, the operating system runs a program by creating one or more processes. Each process can be controlled and managed by the kernel. The operating system loader creates a new process, for example, in response to a user action (e.g., user selection of an executable file). The loader can then generate a list of files associated with the program. The files on the list can be retrieved from a memory store (e.g., a hard disk drive) and copied to an address space in a main memory (e.g., random access memory ("RAM")). Once gathered, each file of the list of files can be compiled in order to execute the process and therefore run the program.
In some instances, a program can be used to monitor or alter the behavior of other programs or processes. For example, programs such as security software, spyware, and viruses and worms can each act to monitor or affect one or more programs or processes. Viruses and worms, for example, can take over other processes in order to obtain unauthorized privileges. Some programs (e.g., a virus) can be injected into another program without a user's knowledge such that the virus is executed when the process including the virus is run. For example, a target process of a program can make calls to one or more files or libraries (e.g., dynamic link libraries ("DLLs")) in order to obtain unauthorized access to other processes. Therefore, some processes, when executed, can be damaging to a computer system.


A device (112, 130) is configured to communicate data (108) on a radio channel (101, 105, 106) employing first resource elements. The device (112, 130) is further configured to participate in a radar probing (109) employing second resource elements which are orthogonal to the first resource elements.

For achieving higher data bandwidth, spectra used for communication on radio channels are expected to move to higher frequencies, e.g., to frequencies beyond 6 or 10 GHz.
At such frequencies, radar probing is feasible. This is due to the well-defined spatial transmission characteristics of electromagnetic waves in the respective spectrum.
However, with data communication and radar probing coexisting in the same spectrum, interference can reduce a transmission reliability of the data communication and/or an accuracy of the radar probing.

Coexistence of radio communication and radar probing


A test fixture, test apparatus, and test method utilize a radially cut tire section that is mounted and sealed to a test jig in a airtight manner such that an air chamber is formed between an innerliner surface of the radial tire section and a recessed portion of the jig body such that the tire section may be pressurized on the test jig. A test surface is provided and either the test surface or the test jig is moveable relative to the other to the other to provide a dynamic load to the radial tire sections.

In a "belt-leaves-belt" failure, particularly involving a steel-belted radial tire, the adjacent belts in the tire separate from each other. These tire failures may occur from a variety of problems, but regardless of the problem, it is essential that a tire manufacturer be able to effectively test tires to predict such failures.
The BLB failure appears to be exemplified by a premature aging or oxidation, so it may be predicted by accelerating the aging process, by exposing the tire to increased temperature or oxygen partial pressure while exposing the tire to a dynamic vibratory input that dynamically activates the process of thermal and oxidative aging simulating dynamic road conditions.
In some of the known prior art methods, a series of complete tires are tested at differing time, temperature and oxygen pressure schemes. An inherent difficulty with this methodology is that variations in the individual tires used confounds the testing methodology, resulting in unacceptable data scatter. This data scatter can be eliminated only by exposing the same tire to the differing test conditions, but this is also confounded by the destructive nature of the testing.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and device wherein each single complete tire can be used to provide a series of data points, such that individual tire-to-tire variation may be demonstrated by comparing the sets of data points generated by the given individual tires.

Apparatus and method for predicting tire life relative to belt-leaves-belt failures

Akron Rubber Development Laboratory, Inc.


A coupling arrangement for the transfer of a microwave signal includes a motherboard having a first substrate with a first microstrip conductor, and a module having a second substrate with a second microstrip conductor. The module is attached to the motherboard such that the motherboard conductor by means of a connection is in electrical contact with the module conductor, whereby the microwave signal may be transferred between the motherboard conductor and the module conductor. The connection includes the motherboard conductor connected to a substrate integrated waveguide on the motherboard, which substrate integrated waveguide is connected to the module conductor via a slot coupling.

To produce fully industrial high frequency microwave radio systems, it is a must to make them in a Surface Mount (SMT) process. This is due to several reasons:                To have as low "built-up-value" components in the final manufacturing as possible, in order to reduce cost,        To lift out chip-attach technologies and wire-bonding from "in-house-manufacturing" at radio-manufacturers, since such technologies tend to be hard to automate, which also drives cost.
There are many different types of modules for microwave radio system that may be desired to be connected to a motherboard. One example is a package which may contain some kind of microwave electronics such as a filter or a microwave integrated circuit. Another type of module may be a smaller sub-board carrying several electrical components. All such modules, however, have in common that they must be connected to the main motherboard in such a way that microwave signals can be exchanged between them in an efficient way.
In the prior art surface mounted (SMT) microwave signal systems, the transferring of signals between a motherboard and a module, for instance a surface mounted package, is mostly based on connections from a microstrip to a Coplanar Waveguide to a microstrip. They work well up to around 40-50 GHz and with some limitations up to 60 GHz.
For microwave radios and automotive radar around 75-85 GHz and above another approach, Chip On Board (COB) solutions are mostly is used, i.e. the chip is directly mounted on and electrically interconnected to its final circuit board, instead of first being incorporated in a package that then can be mounted on a desired board. However, the chip on board model means higher technology in the end manufacturing and such solutions are also harder and more expensive to repair.
Such COB concepts allow SMT manufacturing of products that can transfer microwave signals with a frequency of up to around 120 GHz.
The prior art surface mounted module systems, mentioned above, will now be described a bit more with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. They are based on a microstrip at the motherboard and also inside the package and an inter-connection by a Coplanar Waveguide system. In this way, the lower microstrip is lifted up to a higher microstrip. This concept gives losses and limitations when signal frequencies are passing somewhere around 40 GHz.
Such a prior art coupling arrangement 1a is shown in FIG. 1. It discloses a motherboard 2a comprising a substrate 3a and a microstrip 4a. The motherboard 2a is connected to a surface mount module 5a, said module comprising a substrate 6a and a microstrip conductor 7a. The connection 17a between the motherboard 2a and the module 5a is shown encircled with an oval in the figure. A via-hole 18a is shown interconnecting an underside with an upper side of the substrate 6a of the module 5a. In FIG. 1, X-X denotes a cross section through the connection 17a; this cross section is detailed in FIG. 2.
The cross section X-X of the connection between the motherboard and the module can be studied further in FIG. 2. The motherboard 2a is connected to the module 5a via a coplanar waveguide 20a. The coplanar waveguide 20a comprises two ground conductors 21a each comprising a solder pad on each of the motherboard and the module with solder in between. The ground can be seen transported from the motherboard ground plane 19a through the motherboard, by way of vias 22a, to the upper side of the motherboard. The coplanar waveguide 20a further comprises, in the same plane as the ground conductors 21a, a signal conductor 23a comprising the microstrip on the motherboard connected with solder to a via-hole 18a leading up to the microstrip 7a on the upper side of the module 5a.
This prior art arrangement is straightforward, however the transmission of signals from microstrip to Coplanar Waveguide to microstrip is hard to maintain with a "smooth" flow at higher frequencies, which results in losses.


A DC/DC converter is supplied such that the desired output setting voltage can be obtained as the load-side output, even when the difference between the power supply voltage and the output setting voltage of the load-side output is large. This DC/DC converter comprises a switching device, a voltage divider, an error amplifier, an oscillator which outputs a oscillation clock, a slope circuit which receives the oscillation clock and outputs a sawtooth waveform voltage having a slope which begins at the leading edge of the oscillation clock, a comparator which compares the sawtooth waveform voltage and the output voltage of the error amplifier, and a logic circuit which is set by the trailing edge of the oscillation clock, and is reset by the output of the comparator.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a DC/DC converter which converts an input power supply voltage into a prescribed DC voltage by the turning on and off of a switching device.
2. Description of the Related Art
As one design for a DC/DC converter, a switching device is provided between a terminal to which a power supply voltage is input and a terminal to which a prescribed DC voltage is to be output, and by turning on and off (closing and opening) this switching device, the prescribed DC voltage is maintained. This design affords compactness and high efficiency, and so has come into widespread use (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 7-336999 and Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 11-332222).
A conventional DC/DC converter of this design is shown in FIG. 4. In the DC/DC converter 101, the switching device 114, which is a PMOS transistor, supplies power to the load side from a power supply (VCC), and under prescribed control, that is, by closing and opening the switching device according to the output from a comparator 110 described below, maintains the load-side output (VOUT) at an output setting voltage. A smoothing circuit 115 comprising a coil, capacitor and diode is connected to the switching device 114, to smooth the voltage from the switching device 114. The load-side output (VOUT) is voltage-divided by a voltage divider 116 comprising series resistances, and is input to the inversion input terminal of an error amplifier 111. The error amplifier 111 amplifies and outputs the error between the voltage of an error comparison reference power supply 118 and the voltage input to the inversion input terminal. The output voltage (VFB) of the error amplifier 111 is input to the comparator 110. In the comparator 110, the output voltage (VFB) of the error amplifier 111 and a triangular waveform voltage (VS) are compared, and the output voltage (VC) passes through a buffer 119 and is input to the gate of the above-mentioned switching device 114. In this way, the switching device 114 is controlled by a feedback circuit from the load-side output (VOUT).
In the comparator 110, the triangular waveform voltage (VS) compared with the output voltage (VFB) of the error amplifier 111 is generated and output by a triangular waveform generator circuit (TRI).
If the output voltage (VFB) of the error amplifier 111 is higher than the triangular waveform voltage (VS), then a low level voltage is output from the comparator 110 and passes through the buffer 119, and a low level voltage is input to the gate of the switching device 114. As a result, the switching device 114 is closed (turned on).
Conversely, if the output voltage (VFB) of the error amplifier 111 is lower than the triangular waveform voltage (VS), then a high level voltage is output from the comparator 110 and passes through the buffer 119, and a high level voltage is input to the gate of the switching device 114. As a result, the switching device 114 is opened (turned off).


A braking mechanism for empty nail cartridge of a nail gun includes a guiding plate, a cover plate, a punch rod, a securing slide rod and a nail cartridge. A nail hole and an end hole are defined in the guiding plate having a connecting groove. A nail pusher and a pushing arm are arranged in the nail cartridge to provide resilient force along a nail firing direction. The pushing arm is pivotably placed on the nail pusher adjacent the brake portion for affording the resilient force. The pushing arm allows the brake portion of the nail pusher to go through the end hole and move into the end hole to block the stopper of the securing sliding rod when the nails are used up. The pushing arm moves into the connecting groove to improve the yield rate of the brake of the empty nail cartridge of the nail gun.

The present invention relates to braking mechanisms for empty nail cartridge of nail guns and also relates to nail pushers which are slidablely placed in the nail cartridge, and particularly to a pushing arm pivotablely disposed on the nail pusher to punch a nail and brake a securing slide rod.
Braking mechanisms for empty nail cartridge of nail guns, also called punching-stop mechanisms for empty nail cartridge, are used for automatically detecting an empty state of the nail cartridge and the punch hole when the nail cartridge and punch hole runs out of nails. At the same time, the trigger can not be pulled and can not be driven to hit nail, so as to remind the user to reload the nails.
A conventional braking mechanism for empty nail cartridge, as disclosed in TW patent No.321044, utilizes a fixed braking unit extending from a lateral of a nail pusher of a nail cartridge. The nail pusher has a pushing claw for pushing aligned nails in sequence. After the last nail in the nail cartridge is hit, the nail pusher may travel a distance about a thickness of the nail towards the punch hole to stop the movement of the securing slide rod, so that the nail gun can be braked to hit nail and therefore remind the user to reload the nail cartridge. The conventional nail gun employs the nail having thickness about 0.6-1.2 mm. After the last nail in the nail cartridge is hit, the nail pusher may only travel 0.6-1.2 mm towards the punch hole to restrict the securing slide rod. So the securing slide rod may lack blocking area from the nail pusher. If the user unaware that the nails are used up, and pushes the securing slide rod in force, the securing slide hole may break away from the braking unit and affect the yield rate of the brake of the empty nail cartridge.
Further, a braking unit for empty nail cartridge to stop a securing slide rod is disclosed in TW patent No.I283625. The braking unit is slideably disposed on a nail pusher towards a punch hole by resilient thrust force. The braking unit has an ear at a lateral side thereof to push the nail. The nail pusher and the ear can push the nails into the punch hole by sequence. When the last nail in the nail cartridge is hit, the ear can move into the punch hole to restrict movement of the securing slide rod, so that the nail gun can be braked to hit nail. However, the blocking area of the braking unit is also inadequate. When the ear is resiliently moved into the punch hole, and if the nail gun is abnormally operated, the punch rod may move into the punch hole, therefore the punch rod may interfere the ear to move out of the punch hole.
Nowadays, some modified braking methods for empty nail cartridge of the nail guns are disclosed, such as in TW patent No. M269156. A poke member is disposed on a nail pusher of a nail gun. The nail pusher also has a pushing claw for pushing aligned nails in sequence. A slot is defined at a lateral side of the nail pusher. A braking member is rotatably placed in the slot. The braking member can be poked by the poke member. After the last nail in punch hole is hit, the nail pusher and the poke member may together move towards the punch hole travel about the thickness of one nail. The braking member is obliquely rotated out of the nail cartridge pushed by the poke member and placed on movement path of the securing slide rod of the nail gun. The securing slide rod is therefore blocked by the braking member and nail gun is braked to hit nail, so as to remind the user to reload the nails. However, when the braking member is rotated out of the nail cartridge, the securing slide rod can only abut on the cross-sectional area of the braking member out of the nail cartridge. The braking member may be forced by the securing slide rod along oblique direction. The braking member may be easily pushed by the oblique force to move to positions out of the braking position to weaken the stability of the securing slide rod and affect the yield rate of the brake of the empty nail cartridge. Therefore, above drawbacks need to be improved.

Braking mechanism for empty nail cartridge of nail gun


The present invention provides a video recording apparatus comprising a video inputting device for inputting a video, a video storing device for storing a video inputted by the video inputting device, a keyword inputting device for inputting a keyword, a key image generating device for generating a key image for a keyword inputted by the keyword inputting device, a key image detecting device for detecting a frame containing a key image generated by the key image generating device in a video inputted by the video inputting device, and a video deleting device for deleting a video stored in the video storing device when no frame containing a key image is detected by the key image detecting device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a video recording apparatus and a video printing apparatus, and more specifically to a video recording apparatus and a video printing apparatus to automatically record and print a video displaying a particular image.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a user wants to record a television program by a VCR, the user usually checks TV listings on a newspaper or a magazine, selects a program to record and sets the recorder to record the program. This method has a problem in that a user cannot watch a program when the user fails to set the recorder to record the program.
In order to eliminate such a problem, a method of recording all the television programs on a large capacity of recording medium has been proposed. This method, however, has a problem in that a user has a trouble in finding a desired program from all the recorded programs.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-285528 proposes a method of recording a desired program by using transmitted character information, which is superimposed on television signals.

Video recording apparatus and video printing apparatus


A protective pad apparatus that prevents water damage and water pooling upon indoor surfaces. When placed between a receptacle of ice and its underlying surface, said surface is shielded from dripping condensate. The invention utilizes several fabric features of different densities that cooperate to absorb and then to disperse water. There is an absorptive upper portion, a wicking-barrier core, and an insulative bottom portion, all of which are permanently attached to create a pad. The pad apparatus is of a capacity and size to function as an adjunct to vessels containing many servings of a beverage or food.

Referring to USPTO Classification Definitions, the present invention is relevant to Class 215 Bottles and Jars, but specifically to subclass 392 Drip-catching Attachment. Subclass 392 "[. . . ] is indented under subclass 386 [Attachment or Adjunct]", which classifies "Subject matter including a structure to absorb or collect moisture of condensation or drip accumulation on the exterior of a bottle, jug, or jar". Bottles, jugs, and jars have in common that they are vessels of a capacity to hold multiple servings of their intended contents. This distinction is relevant to the present invention, which is a pad apparatus that operates as an adjunct to jug-type vessels used in beverage and food service. There are many kinds, but each has in common that they are vessels that maintain multiple servings of chilled items at temperature with ice. Such vessels are positioned over or upon this pad apparatus.
The present invention is a new pad apparatus designed to first absorb and then disperse condensate runoff generated by ice-filled containers. Such containers, as wine coolers and chafing dishes, are widely used for serving beverages and food during social occasions. It is usual in a party setting for the aforementioned containers of ice to sweat for many hours, resulting in an untidy pool of water, or water damage to an underlying surface. The present invention addresses these issues of untidiness and damage.
Prior art relating to the present invention falls into two groups: traditional methods and the published prior art of the USPTO. The traditional methods include under liners, furniture toppers, and glass sheeting. Published prior art relates to the present invention less specifically, but in the interests of diligence and thoroughness, two comparable technologies will be discussed: coasters and exudate pads.
The first traditional method under consideration is the use of an under liner. Wine coolers containing one or more bottles, as well as the necessary amount of ice to maintain temperature, are often placed upon a folded towel lying on a platter. In the restaurant trade this combination of a plate and cloth is referred to as an under liner. Under liners have limited efficacy to absorb and isolate condensate runoff because, as the cloth saturates and the platter becomes very cold, secondary condensate invariably forms beneath the platter resulting in damage to a vulnerable surface. It is also disadvantageous that under liners must be emptied to prevent them from spilling over. Hence there is a need for a protective device that is able to insulate an underlying surface from cold, and, that can absorb and disperse moisture over many hours of use without being attended.
The second traditional method for protecting surfaces is to use a custom furniture topper. Toppers cover an entire tabletop and are generally made from thick, rigid materials such as particleboard or laminated cardboard that have been covered with vinyl or fabric. While toppers are effective barriers against water and temperature extremes, they have many disadvantages. The primary disadvantage is that toppers are custom made in the shape of their intended tabletops, typically for a dining room table, and so are not practical for use throughout a home. Toppers are also expensive, are bulky to store, and they obscure the beauty of fine furniture. Because toppers are not esthetically appealing, they are customarily covered with tablecloths. Tablecloths exacerbate the problem by covering beautifully carved table legs, marquetry, wood grain and other decorative details. Therefore, it would be advantageous for a protective device to be transferable to any household surface, to be inexpensive, space saving, and that does not detract from the beauty of household furnishings.
Another traditional method of protecting tabletops is to cover them with a sheet of glass, similarly as a topper. All of the disadvantages of toppers also apply to glass sheeting except that glass does not obscure the beauty of fine furnishings. The primary disadvantage of glass is that it allows water to untidily pool and flow across its surface, dampening cocktail napkins and elbows alike. Glass sheeting adequately isolates water from a furniture surface, but it does not prevent the untidiness of pooled water.
It is an overall disadvantage of traditional methods such as under liners, toppers and glass that they do not meet the needs of contemporary home entertaining. Sit-down dinners attended to by domestic employees and staged in a formal dining room are no longer as common as they once were. Architects and builders have acknowledged this lifestyle change with new floor plans featuring kitchens that open out to seating areas, called hearth rooms. This change has been brought about because dining rooms are no longer the focal point for family meals or for entertaining guests. The current style of entertaining is more relaxed and informal for the majority of people. The main meal is likely to be served buffet style, but consumed by guests scattered around the den, kitchen and living room. It is prohibitively expensive to have a topper or glass sheet made for every surface in a home. And, it is not convenient for a host to replace under liner towels that have become saturated during a party. Hence, traditional methods are not practical in contemporary party settings.
Although USPTO patent documents do not reference a pad apparatus equivalent to the present invention, an analysis of this type of prior art is nonetheless important and will be approached in broad terms by considering two areas of technology that generally relate to absorbent barriers. Coasters and exudates pad technologies have been selected because they are both concerned with controlling liquid by-products. The argument developed hereinafter is that materials and methods employed by these two technologies cannot feasibly address the particular purposes of the present invention. Aside from the issue of precedence, the argument itself is worthwhile because it lays the path to a body of descriptive language and definitions that have already been established in prior art, notwithstanding that coasters and exudate pads have objectives vastly different from that of the present invention.
Coaster technology compares to the present invention in that it is concerned with condensate barriers that cooperate with beverage vessels to protect an underlying surface. More precisely, coasters are aimed at isolating a relatively small volume of water, contained within a glass, from a supportive surface for the relatively short time period required to consume a single portion of a beverage. In contrast, the present invention cooperates with vessels, containing multiple servings, that are in use for several hours. Another contrast is that many types of coasters are made of materials that lose cohesion when they are saturated with water, and for this reason are considered disposable. Disposability is thought of as an advantage in coaster technology, but this characteristic renders a coaster useless in absorbing and containing the amount of condensate produced by a vessel of ice such as a wine cooler. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,162 to Honjo (1999) discloses a coaster comprised of sodium polyacrulate reinforced with wax paper or materials with similar properties. Honjo's coaster is only effective until it becomes saturated with water; this is essentially a problem of limited capacity that is common to all coasters with absorptive features. U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,873 to Wilmouth and Wilmouth (1989) discloses a rigidly constructed coaster that features a reservoir to contain water. Any coaster design utilizing a reservoir to isolate water is vulnerable to the same problem as that of the under liner previously discussed—at some unpredictable point in time both an under liner and a coaster using a reservoir in its design must be emptied to prevent overflow, which is an inconvenience not found with the present invention. Another deficiency of coasters featuring a reservoir, such as that disclosed by Woodruff (1978) in U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,498 is that they cannot function with a variety of vessel shapes and sizes. Also, if Woodruff's invention could be adapted to the size necessary to cooperate with a multiserving vessel, it would be as unwieldy and heavy to use as a furniture topper. Indeed, all of the disadvantages of a furniture topper would also apply to an enlarged embodiment of Woodruff's invention. The present invention has the advantages of greater volume capacity and reusability, without the disadvantage of needing to be emptied during use. Also, the present invention is visually appealing, and functions well, with a variety of vessel shapes and sizes.
Although no one could reasonably suggest that a diaper or other pad used to capture body exudates is likely to be put to use in the same manner as the present invention, exudate pad technology must be considered because no other field of invention has so comprehensively examined the transmission of liquid through fabric pads. The exudate pad industry is interested in how the behavior of liquid molecules, absorbed into fabric components, changes or remains the same when these fabrics are organized into a pad, which is also a central issue of the present invention. And as importantly, this comprehensive examination by the exudate pad industry has yielded a body of descriptive language and terms well suited to the discussion of the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,982 to Chen, et al. (2004) discloses an exudate pad with a barrier to prevent radial wicking in the plane of the pad. The object of the Chen, et al. pad is to provide "[. . . ] high permeability in the thickness direction but low permeability in the plane [. . . ]" to prevent leakage by preferentially holding fluids in the central region of an exudate pad (p. 1). Chen, et al. cite a general failure in the prior art of their field to prevent wicking from the center target region of the pad to its edges. Furthermore, these authors generalize all product failures in the exudate pad industry as quintessentially being failures to contain exudates in an absorbent core that is both isolated from the body at the target area of fluid intake and isolated from the edges of the pad. It is the overall aim of exudate pad technology to absorb and concentrate fluids within a centrally located core to prevent leakage or topsheet flow. This assertion finds further support in U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,123 to Salerno, et al. (2001), U.S. Pat. No. 6,448,466 to Ribeiro de Carvalho (2002), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,984 to Roe, et al. (2004). U.S. Pat. No. 6,610,903 to Latimer, et al. (2003) allows for some lengthwise transmission of fluid from the target area, but this is even so just an extension of the same industry objective, which is to entrap exudates in a circumscribed area within a pad, to bury exudates until the exudate pad is replaced. The present invention, however, purposes to accomplish the opposite by encouraging as much as possible the radial wicking of liquid away from the target area so that a maximum peripheral surface area for desorption is achieved. In summary, this type of prior art is usefully comparable to the present invention, but does not supersede the present invention because exudate pad technology endeavors to control liquids in an opposite manner.
To summarize the state of prior art, traditional methods of under liners, toppers, and glass sheeting have many disadvantages and none of the advantages of the present invention. Furthermore, published prior art fields of invention such as coasters and exudate pads do not address the need for an apparatus that isolates surfaces from condensate runoff, particularly runoff generated by multiserving vessels customarily in use for many hours.

Self-drying condensate pad for beverage and food service


A protrusion-free cigarette lighter with built-in clip for attachment of a chain or cord, to aid in avoiding loss, theft or misplacement of the lighter. The present invention lighter uniquely may stand on its own even though it has a chain clip, due to the fact that the clip is built into the main body of the lighter. The cigarette lighter includes: a.) a main housing having a top, a bottom and sidewalls, the bottom being predominantly flat so as to be standable upright on a horizontal surface, the main housing including lighter fuel storage means, conventional movement means for movement of lighter fuel to a flame area on the top, a flint striker located on the top for directing flint to the flame area and a control lever to permit and prevent fuel from flowing from the storage means to the flame area; and, b.) a clip mechanism located within a portion of the main housing and including a cut-out area to receive a chain or cord, a clip bar having a first position, being a closed position and having a second position, being an open position, the clip bar being moveably connected to the main body, a clip bar stop located on the main body, and a spring mechanism biasing the clips bar to its first position.

a. Field of Invention
The invention relates generally to cigarette and cigar lighters that may be anchored by a cord, chain or other connector, so as to control use of the lights and to reduce or eliminate loss thereof. In addition, unlike other lighters with chain clips and hooks, the present invention lighters are constructed with the clip area inside the lighter housing so as to avoid protrusions in the pocket, reduce any injuries therefrom, and allow the lighters to be stood up, if desired.
b. Description of Related Art
The following patents are representative of lighters and attachments therefor, including direct and indirect connections:
U.S. Pat. No. D441,494 S to Chen describes a transparent cigarette lighter case.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,430,782 B1 to Torres et al. describes a lighter clip for use with a cigarette pack that is inexpensively manufactured from a material such as injection-molded plastic. A generally three-sided clip is sized and shaped to fit across the width and depth of the pack, and contains an arcuate portion, suitable for holding a lighter, on one end. The clip is manufactured from a resilient material, and shaped in a manner that causes it to be lightly biased against the pack, thereby holding the clip in position. The two longer clip arms are sized to have a large enough surface area to be suitable for promotional use, and the clip arms and ends are shaped to securely grip the cigarette pack.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,382 B1 to Lenderman describes a cigarette lighter holder made from a shell having a side wall and a bottom wall defining an upwardly opening chamber sized to slidably receive a cigarette lighter. A flexible rib within the chamber frictionally grasps the lighter to securely hold the lighter in the lighter holder. The rib can be formed on a sleeve in the chamber. A cord is mounted to the bottom of the shell, for example, by an eyelet secured to the shell bottom. The eyelet can be mounted to the shell bottom so that it can rotate relative to the shell. The cord is adapted to be secured to an article of clothing or a purse to help prevent loss of the holder and lighter if the user should accidentally drop the holder, with the lighter in it.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,905 to Kilfoy describes a key ring attachable lighter holding shell with flexible holding flaps which is a shell-shaped holder into which a reusable lighter or a disposable lighter may be inserted and held securely, yet can also be taken out and replaced again, and it may be attached to a key ring or key chain in order to help prevent a person from losing a lighter as long as the keys are not lost.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,730 to Acácio da Silva describes an improved lighter-key-holder arrangement, wherein the key-holder is independent from the lighter and comprises a detachable fitting having a cross-section similar to that of the lighter. The cross-section can be circular or rectangular. The fitting is coupled to the lighter by a threaded pin centrally formed thereon and received in a threaded bore hole centrally formed on the bottom surface of the lighter. The fitting is provided with a transverse opening that is closed by a latch actuated by a spring and manually operated by an external button. In another embodiment, the fitting has a cross-section different from that of the lighter. In yet another embodiment, the lighter body is spherical. In still another embodiment, a connecting ring may be provided on the body of the lighter, on the fitting or on the trigger lever of the lighter.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,847 to Da Silva describes an improved lighter-key-holder arrangement, wherein the key-holder is independent from the lighter and comprises a detachable fitting having a cross-section similar to that of the lighter. The cross-section can be circular or rectangular. The fitting is coupled to the lighter by a threaded pin centrally formed thereon and received in a threaded bore hole centrally formed on the bottom surface of the lighter. The fitting is provided with a transverse opening that is closed by a latch actuated by a spring and manually operated by an external button. In another embodiment, the fitting has a cross-section different from that of the lighter. In yet another embodiment, the lighter body is spherical.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,532 to Bercik describes a retractable lighter apparatus which discloses a retractable housing member including a spring-biased retractable first length of chain positionable within a housing secured to a second length of chain with an intermediate abutment sphere to maintain the second length of chain exteriorly of the housing. The second length of chain is integrally secured to a "C" shaped spring clip at its remote end securable about a cigarette lighter. The cigarette lighter and clip are positionable within a pouch of an internal diameter complementary to that of the external diameter of the "C" shaped clip, wherein the "C" shaped clip and associated second length of chain are directed within the pouch and along a slot axially positioned through a wall of the pouch. The retraction member and the pouch are each provided with clips for securement to various garment portions of an individual.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,661 to Wainscott describes a device which herein comprises a cord or chain, preferably an elastic cord, with means for fastening one end to a cigarette lighter and means such as a clip, at the other end for attaching the cord to a portion of a lady's purse or to an article of a man's clothing. This device facilitates the finding and retrieval of the cigarette lighter.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,496 to Johnson describes an attachment for cigarette lighters for ensuring against accidental loss or theft while at the same time providing convenient wearing and attractive display. Most cigarette lighters have been carried in independent fashion and are frequently lost or borrowed because of the absence of an attachment to a wearing garment. The present invention provides an attractive chain linkage for securing a cigarette lighter to wearing apparel, and particularly to a vest, which prevents loss of the lighter yet enables the wearer of the vest to have free use of the lighter. The chain is joined at one end to the non-flammable end of the lighter and especially the cap, which seals the inlet into the lighter casing for filling the lighter with ignitable fluid. Normally, the lighter with the attached end of the chain would be carried in a vest pocket. The balance of the chain is passed through a button hole of the vest and carries on its other end a weighted object, such as a watch, receivable in a pocket of the vest remote from the lighter. The chain is long enough to enable the wearer of the vest to take out the lighter without detaching the chain, light a cigarette held in his mouth.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,737,036 to C. Simpson describes an invention that relates to a combined wind guard and a detachable connecting means whereby a conventional cigarette lighter may be suspended from a flexible support, such as a chain or the like.


A method of delivering a embolic protection unit to the aorta arch of a patient. The method comprising, introducing a catheter from brachiocephalic artery or through an incision in a wall of the ascending aorta, the catheter comprising an embolic protection unit having an off-center connection point. Advancing the embolic protection unit in a downstream direction from the catheter. Expanding the embolic protection unit in the aorta arch to cover said ostia. Delivering a medical device into the ascending aorta while the embolic protection unit is hold by the catheter covering the ostia.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Endovascular procedures are being used more and more frequently to treat various cardiac and vascular surgical problems. Blocked arteries can be treated with angioplasty, endarterectomy, and/or stenting, using minimally invasive endovascular approaches. Aneurysms can be repaired by endovascular techniques. Another use for endovascular surgery is the treatment of cardiac valvular disease. Valvuloplasties are done endovascularly and percutaneous valve replacement is becoming an established procedure. Transcatheter Aortic Heart Valve (TAVI) is a procedure involving a collapsible aortic heart valve that can be manipulated into place with minimally-invasive techniques.
Cerebral embolism is a known complication of such endovascular procedures, and other cardiac surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass and catheter-based interventional cardiology, electrophysiology procedures etc. Embolic particles may include thrombus, atheroma and lipids, plaque found in the diseased vessels and valves that is dislodged and results in embolization. Embolic particles may become dislodged by surgical or catheter manipulations and enter the bloodstream. Dislodged embolic particles can thus embolize into the brain downstream. Cerebral embolism can lead to neuropsychological deficits, stroke and even death.
Prevention of cerebral embolism benefits patients and improves the outcome of these procedures. Embolic protection devices should be compatible with the endovascular procedures, and for instance not hinder passage through the aortic arch to the heart.
Various embolic protection devices are known in the art.
Some embolic protection devices are disclosed in WO 2012/009558 A2, or WO 2012/085916 A2, which are incorporated herein in their entirety for all purposes. However, these devices may provide iatrogenic damage to the vessels in which they are positioned. The devices also have a rather high profile in the aortic arch, limiting the endovascular procedures.
More advantageous low profile planar devices for embolic protection of side branch vessels of the aortic arch have for instance been disclosed in WO 2010/026240 A1 or are described in international patent application number PCT/EP2012/058384, which are incorporated herein in their entirety for all purposes.
The devices may however be further improved. One issue is that blood, that may include embolic particles, may impair efficiency of the devices by bypassing across the device at the periphery thereof to the carotid arteries due to insufficient sealing at the periphery.
"Sailing" of the devices in the high pressure bloodstream ejected out of the heart is another issue.
Hence, notwithstanding the efforts in the prior art, there remains a need for a further improved embolic protection devices of the type that can permit endovascular procedures, in particular of the heart, while protecting the cerebral vasculature during the procedures.
Further, in some instances a direct aorta approach TAVI procedure may still be a preferred option, for example patients with any aortic root angle be treated. Direct aortic access may be indicated for patients with vessel diameters <6 mm, heavy peripheral calcification, excessive tortuosity or subclavian stenosis. The most appropriate access route should be selected by the cardiovascular team based on patient anatomical and clinical characteristics. Hence a protection device and a delivery device that can be used for more than one access may be advantageous.

Method for delivery of an embolic protection unit


A receptacle for a beverage includes a cylindrical main body (10)having an open upper end (11) that is closed by a plastic lid (20). The plastic lid (20) is provided with an opening (23) for use in drinking or otherwise discharging the contents of the container. The opening (23) can be covered with a pull tab (30) or can be left uncovered. The lid (20) is provided with a flange (21) at a portion surrounding the outer periphery of the lid (20), and a cover film (50) is sealed to the flange (21) to cover the lid (20). The upper surface of the lid (20) is shielded from outside air by the cover film (50) and therefore can be maintained in a clean condition until the opening (23) is exposed for discharging the contents in the receptacle. Thus, dust, moisture and other contaminants are prevented from becoming deposited on the lid (20).

There is a known receptacle or container for a drink having a cylindrical structure in which an opening for use in discharging the drink is formed in an upper lid and is closed by a pull tab. A consumer, after removing the pull tab, can drink the contents in the receptacle directly from the opening. In this type of a drink receptacle, however, dust tends to deposit on the lid during transportation and storage. When the lid is formed of a plastic material, dust is particularly apt to deposit on the lid due to static electricity and the deposits once formed are hard to remove. In the presence of this dust, it is unsanitary to directly touch the opening with the mouth.
While a large pull tab can cover the vicinity of the opening, it is impossible to entirely cover the lid with the pull tab. Thus, a large pull tab cannot effectively prevent the deposition of dust on the lid.
There is also a method by which the deposition of dust is prevented and this involves fitting a molded plastic cover over the upper lid. With this method, however, a tight seal cannot be provided between the plastic cover and the lid and so it is possible for water, etc. to enter the space between the lid and the cover.
In receptacles for drinks formed of plastic or a laminate and used for purposes of relatively long term storage, a film having oxygen barrier properties is used to prevent the deterioration of the contents. If such a film is used for each of the parts of the container or receptacle such as the upper lid and the pull tab attached to the upper lid, the receptacle production steps are inevitably complicated and so the production costs are increased.


A thermal printer is disclosed which is adapted to form an image on a thermal print medium of a type in which a donor element transfers dye to a receiver element upon receipt of a sufficient amount of thermal energy. The printer includes a plurality of diode lasers which can be individually modulated to supply energy to selected dots on the medium in accordance with an information signal. In order to increase the efficiency and versatility of the printer, the print head of the printer includes a fiber optic array having a plurality of optical fibers coupled to the diode lasers. The thermal Print medium is supported on a rotatable drum, and the fiber optic array is movable relative to the drum.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a thermal printer, and more particularly, to such a printer which uses lasers to provide thermal energy to the print medium.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In one type of thermal printer, a dye donor element is placed over a dye receiving element, and the superposed elements are supported for cooperation with a print head having a plurality of individual heating resistors. When a particular heating resistor is energized, it causes dye from the donor to transfer to the receiver. The density or darkness of the printed color dye is a function of the energy delivered from the heating element to the donor. One of the problems in printers of this type is that the thermal time constant of the resistors is quite long. As a result, the printing speed is relatively slow, and the image contrast is limited.
It is known to use lasers instead of the resistors to provide the thermal energy in thermal dye transfer printing. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,975, for example, there is shown thermal dye transfer apparatus which comprises an array of diode lasers which can be selectively actuated to direct radiation onto a dye carrying donor. Radiation from the diode lasers is modulated in accordance with an information signal to form an image on a thermal print medium. The diode laser array extends the full width of the print medium. One problem with this apparatus is that it is too expensive for many applications. The initial cost of such a large array is relatively high, and failure of only one diode laser in the array will result in discarding the entire array. A further problem with the patented apparatus is that it is difficult to vary the resolution of the reproduced image.


The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a gate structure (100). The gate structure comprises a gate dielectric (105) and a gate (110). The gate dielectric includes a refractory metal and is located over a semiconductor substrate (115). The semiconductor substrate has a conduction band and a valence band. The gate is located over the gate dielectric and includes the refractory metal. The gate has a work function aligned toward the conduction band or the valence band. Other embodiments include an alternative gate structure (200), a method of forming a gate structure (300) for a semiconductor device (301) and a dual gate integrated circuit (400).

The ability to dope polysilicon gates to different degrees allows one to adjust the work function of gate electrode materials to particular types of metal oxide silicon (MOS) transistors. It is desirable to adjust the work function of a gate electrode (hereinafter, the gate), to be close to either the conduction band or the valence band of silicon, because this reduces the threshold voltage (Vt) of the transistor, thereby facilitating a high drive current. For instance, dual work function gates are advantageously used in semiconductor devices, such as complementary metal oxide silicon (CMOS) transistor device, having both pMOS and nMOS transistors. The use of doped polysilicon gates becomes problematic, however, as the dimensions of gates and gate insulators are reduced.
Polysilicon gates can accommodate only a finite amount of dopants. This limitation can result in a depletion of gate charge carriers at the interface between the gate and gate dielectric, when the gate is biased to invert the channel. Consequently, the electrical thickness of the gate stack is substantially increased, thereby deteriorating the performance characteristics of the transistor, such as reducing the drive current and slowing switching speeds. For instance, the effective electrical thickness of a gate dielectric in some pMOS transistors can increase from about 1.0 nanometer during accumulation mode, to about 1.8 nanometers during inversion mode. Depletion of the polysilicon gate is a fundamental issue that limits further scaling of MOS devices.
In addition, when high-k gate dielectrics are used with polysilicon a Vt offset of up to 700 mV is observed for pMOS devices. This offset is associated with dopant, boron, diffusion and interaction with the gate dielectric. At present, there is no effective way to control for this Vt offset problem.
Metal gates are an attractive alternative to polysilicon because they have a larger supply of charge carriers than doped polysilicon gates. When a metal gate is biased to invert the channel, there is no substantial depletion of carriers at the interface between the metal gate and gate dielectric. Accordingly, the transistor's performance is not deteriorated because the electrical thickness of the gate stack is not increased. The manufacture of semiconductor transistors having adjustable dual work function metal gates has been troublesome, however.
Ideally, dual work function metal gates should be compatible with conventional gate dielectric materials and have suitably adjustable and stable work functions. It is challenging, however, to find such metals. For instance, there have been attempts to use fully nickel silicided polysilicon as the gate for MOS transistors, with implanted dopants used to adjust the work function. During the annealing process to fully silicide the gate, however, the implanted dopants can interact with the gate dielectric. This can result in the same type of Vt offset problem encountered for doped polysilicon. There is also the potential for nickel atoms to migrate into the gate dielectric and channel, thereby introducing defects that can degrade the performance, reliability, and stability of the device over time.
Others have attempted to use a hafnium nitride gate on a hafnium oxide gate dielectric. Such a gate has a mid-gap work function, meaning that the work function is about mid-way between the valence band and the conduction band of the substrate. Such mid-gap materials are unsatisfactory in a CMOS device, or other settings, where it is desirable to adjust the work function, in order to achieve a low Vt.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a method of manufacturing semiconductor devices having adjustable and stable metal electrodes.

Refractory metal-based electrodes for work function setting in semiconductor devices


A test head structure for a semiconductor test system which makes the replacement of pin cards in the test head easy. The test head is formed of a performance board for mounting a semiconductor device to be tested on; a mother board for functioning as an interface for achieving electric connection between the performance board and pin cards; and a back board for supporting and positioning the pin cards in combination with a housing of the test head. The back board is provided in parallel with an upper surface of the housing of the test head by being fixed inside of the housing, wherein the upper surface of the back board is directly attached to the lower surface of the mother board. Pin cards can be accessed to the test head through the bottom of the test head to be connected to or disconnected from the back board through connectors provided on the lower surface of the back board.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show structural examples of a test head used for a semiconductor test system in a conventional technology. In the conventional test head technology for a semiconductor test system, a plurality of printed circuit boards (pin electronics card or pin card) are mounted on a back board for securing a mechanical strength with respect to the test head 6. As shown in the front view of FIG. 3 and in the side view of FIG. 4, a plurality of pin cards 4 are mounted on the back board 1 at the bottom of the test head 6. At the top of the pin cards 4, a mother board 2 is connected to the pin cards 4 through connectors 3. As is known in the art, each of the pin cards 4 includes an electronic component such as a driver, a comparator and switches to provide a test signal to a terminal pin of a device under test. The number of the pin cards 4 corresponds to the maximum number of the terminal pins of a device to be tested.
In general, a semiconductor device to be tested is mounted on a performance board 7. The mother board 2 functions as an interface for electric connection between the performance board 7 and the pin cards 4. Namely, the mother board 2 establishes electronic paths to provide the test signals from the pin cards 4 to the device under test through the performance board 7 as well as the resultant response signals from the device under test to the pin cards 4. The back board 1, in contrast, functions to mechanically support the pin cards 4 in the test head 6 in the accurate positions when the connectors of the pin cards are inserted in the sockets on the back board 1.
In the conventional technology, in order to replace the pin card 4 in the test head 6, the mother board 2 has to be removed from the test head by disconnecting from the connectors 3 which are connected to the pin cards 4.
Recently, the size of the mother board 2 is significantly increased with the increase of functionality of the semiconductor test system. Hence, the mother board 2 can be as large as one square meter and as heavy as 20 kg. When trouble occurs in the pin card 4 or when the pin card is to be replaced because of a model change, for example, the mother board 2 and the pin card 4 must be disconnected to exchange the pin card 4. Because of the size and weight of the mother board as noted above, an operator had to bear a significant burden for such replacement, and thus the efficiency of the replacement is significantly low. Further, the number of pins in each connector 3 to connect between the pin card 4 and the back board 1 or the pin card 4 and the mother board 2 tends to increase with the increase of the scale of the semiconductor test system. Therefore, there is a drawback in the conventional technology that it is necessary to include an additional mechanism for maintaining contact reliability of the electric connection or a mechanism for promoting connection and disconnection of the mother board with less power.
As in the foregoing, in the test head structure of the conventional technology for mounting the pin cards on the boards in the test head, (1) the mother board has to be taken out every time when the pin card must be changed, (2) the work for taking out the mother board is a significant burden for a user due to the size and weight of the mother board, and (3) the additional mechanism for maintaining the contact reliability at the connection area or the mechanism for assisting the connection and disconnection of the mother board with less power is necessary.


A structure holds a medium itself to be scanned flat on an installation base in a stand type image input device. The installation base of the image recognition apparatus is provided with a mechanism which clips a medium and straightens creases and curls in the medium. the installation base may be provided with adhesion. Alternatively a mechanism for holding down a medium with filaments finer than the resolution of the image input device maybe provided.

This invention relates to a stand type image input device wherein an imaging portion is in non-contact with subjects.
In a stand type image input device, a medium to be scanned in is placed on an installation base and the image of the medium is captured. The optical lens thereof is not in contact with the medium and the space between the medium and the image portion is open; in other words, the medium is not fixed. Distortion or defocusing may occur during image input with this structure because of creasing or curling in the medium. The distortion or defocusing causes the recognition rate to be degraded when the characters in the inputted image are recognized.
One method for preventing erroneous recognition is that an image is scanned in under two different conditions, and the scanned-in images are synthesized and developed on a plane. Such a technique is disclosed, for example, under Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2000-115510.
However, the above technique requires two or more times of image scanning for one time of recognition, and poses a problem of increase in scanning-in time. Further, the capacity of memory is increased for synthesizing, and this leads to another problem, increase in cost.

Form fixing structure and image recognition apparatus having the structure


An implantable sterilization device may include a ring having an inner diameter, a core slidable through the inner diameter of the ring, and a tissue securing element, at least part of which is positioned between the ring and the core. A method of closing a fallopian tube may include providing a closure system including a handle, a flexible shaft connected to the handle, and a sterilization device detachably connected to the flexible shaft, inserting the flexible shaft into the lumen of the fallopian tube and advancing the flexible shaft into the lumen; compressing a portion of the wall of the fallopian tube with the sterilization device to secure the sterilization device relative to the fallopian tube, blocking the lumen of the fallopian tube with the sterilization device; and separating the sterilization device from the tube.

At the present time, satisfactory options for female birth control are limited. Nonsurgical methods such as birth control pills and other pharmaceutical solutions rely on the user to remember to take the medication. Further, pharmaceuticals are simply unaffordable or inaccessible to many women around the world. The most common surgical method for female birth control is tubal ligation. While effective, this surgery is highly invasive, painful, and cosmetically undesirable. Although less invasive surgical techniques and devices have been proposed for female sterilization, they have generally proven either disastrous (for example, the intrauterine device (IUD)) or less than optimally effective. The more successful systems attempt to close the fallopian tube, but require tissue ingrowth into a coil or other device, or growth of scar tissue as a result of treatment with heat, cold, RF or chemicals, such that sterilization follows the procedure several months later at a time that is not known to the patient. That is, sterilization is not immediate, but instead relies on the healing response of the body. Further, an invasive diagnostic procedure to confirm closure may be required.
The use of the same reference symbols in different figures indicates similar or identical items.


A microelectronic package comprising a ceramic substrate (22) having a first surface bonded to a metal heat sink (25) and a second surface (30) opposite said first surface and having at least one metallized island (32) bonded to a lead frame (26), wherein the island has a uniform pullback (35) of metallization from the edge (36) of the substrate.

The present invention relates to the use of advanced ceramic materials in the electronic packaging of high power discrete semiconductor devices. Particularly, the invention relates to the use in electronic packaging of aluminum nitride (AlN) substrates which have been processed with a specific pattern of metallization in order to minimize residual stresses present in the substrate due to the manufacturing process for the package, i.e. brazing procedures.
A semiconductor device is incorporated into a microelectronic package to provide functions to the package. Electrical interconnection is provided for the transfer of power and information-bearing signals between the device and the external environment. Mechanical support is provided for durability in further manufacturing, handling and the operating environment. The device is protected from outside contaminants such as moisture, dust, and chemical agents.
High power discrete semiconductor devices such as power transistors, radio frequency and microwave frequency amplifiers, power control switches and the like generate a significant amount of heat in operation, on the order of 10 to 100 watts, and thus require heat dissipation through their carriers, e.g. ceramic substrates, in order to prevent overheating and damage to the device, such as diminished performance or operational failure.
Heat conduction is required as part of the thermal management of the semiconductor device and also for heat experienced in assembly procedures such as die attachment, wire bonding, encapsulation, testing and the like. Heat dissipation is required to cool the devices during use.
To accomplish heat conduction and dissipation, package materials having a high thermal conductivity are employed. These package materials must be carefully selected and incorporated or designed, however, so that thermal cycling does not induce deleterious stresses due to incompatibility of the coefficients of thermal expansion of the various package materials and/or the semiconductor device. Further, the package materials must minimize any adverse effects upon the transmission of power and electrical signals between the semiconductor device and other electronic elements in the system. Characteristics that must be addressed include dielectric constant of the substrate, resistance of the interconnects, and the like.
In applications where high heat dissipation is required, greater than about 5 to 10 watts as is encountered with power discretes, beryllia (BeO) has been used as a substrate material in conjunction with a metal heat sink. The hazardous nature of beryllia makes it undesirable, however. Additionally, the coefficient of thermal expansion of beryllia is about twice that of silicon, making the semiconductor substrate interface subject to mechanical stresses due to thermal or power cycling.
It is therefore desirable to replace the beryllia substrate with an advanced ceramic, such as aluminum nitride, which does not have the hazardous characteristics of Beo and which has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) closer to that of the silicon semiconductor device while meeting other required characteristics.
The replacement of BeO with AlN is complicated, however, due to two factors. While the CTE match between AlN and silicon is closer than that between BeO and silicon, the CTE mismatch between AlN and the metal heat sink is greater than that between BeO and the metal. Also, BeO has a higher thermal conductivity than AlN, making it desirable to decrease the thermal path length between the semiconductor device and the metal heat sink. By reducing the thickness of the AlN ceramic substrate relative to the thickness of the BeO, equivalent thermal performance can be achieved.
The stress between the AlN substrate and the metal heat sink is therefore increased. One way to reduce the stress between the AlN substrate and the metal heat sink is to reduce the area of contact between those package elements. This has limited applicability, however, as too drastic a reduction in area will result in the loss of sufficient heat conduction from the device through the substrate to the heat sink on the substrate's opposite surface.
It is therefore necessary, in order to maintain the structural and operational integrity of the discrete package, to accomodate the stress between the AlN substrate and the metal heat sink by reducing stresses throughout the remainder of the package.
An area in which it is critical to reduce stresses is the area in which the lead frame is bonded to the substrate, as this structure is often the first to fail in a stressed package.
Because of the potential failure of the lead frame to substrate bond, it has been proposed to anchor the lead frame 11 to the substrate 12 by extending the metallization and the solder or braze 13 over the edge of the substrate as depicted in FIG. 1. This results however in the formation of stress region 14 where failure of the bond or the ceramic can occur catastrophically.

High power ceramic microelectronic package


A method and apparatus for blocking fluid and fluid vapors having a connecting member to connect a set of wires passing through bores formed in a plug body. Each wire having been cut, stripped of insulation and attached to the connecting member within the bores to create a consistent, solid barrier while maintaining the electrical integrity of the connection. The connection assembly and a portion of the insulation is then overmolded with an appropriate fluid resistant material or plastic resin which further interrupts and eliminates fluid leakage and fluid vapor migration.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for blocking fluid and fluid vapors. More particularly, the present invention relates to a unique method and construction of an apparatus for preventing fluid leakage and vapor migration through the use of connecting devices.
2. Discussion
Conventional automotive fuel delivery systems utilize an electric fuel pump mounted in a fuel tank to deliver fuel from the fuel tank to the engine. Power is supplied to the fuel pump through electric wires connected between the fuel pump and a voltage source such as an alternator or a vehicle battery. In order to reach the fuel pump, the electrical wires must pass through an opening in the fuel tank. Such an opening, unless properly sealed, potentially provides a pathway for fluid leakage and fluid vapor migration commonly referred to as vapor permeation. Minimizing such fluid leakage and vapor permeation is desirable due to increasing regulations regarding automotive fuel vapor emissions and overall product efficiency.
Several attempts to seal this opening in the fuel tank have been developed. Many of these contributions to the art include a fitting adapted for placement in the opening. The electrical wires then continuously pass through this fitting. Although the wires are fitted together as tightly as possible through the fitting, spaces or pores inevitably exist through which fluid leakage and vapor permeation is released.
In other contributions to the art, fluid leakage and vapor permeation is attempted to be prevented through the use of numerous continuous wires, the center portions of which are stripped of insulation. A plug is then placed over the exposed center insulation stripped wire portion. The entire composite is then blocked through a chemical bath treatment. Such contributions typically include production processes which are laborious and expensive, further possibly requiring separate internal and external harnesses. Moreover, the use of insulated continuous wire is rather costly and wasteful since this high end type of wire is only required in the area inside the fuel tank and not throughout the entire vehicle. Wires in the fuel tank are typically specially cured such as through chemical baths or through exposure to radiation to strengthen their various necessary attributes. This greatly increases the cost of the wires.
As set forth above, in order to maintain the electrical integrity of the connection, the electrical wires are typically wrapped with expensive insulation. Some such wire insulation swells when exposed to fluid or vapor permeation which may cause cracking and/or breakage. Other types of insulation shrink when exposed to fluid or vapor permeation, thus increasing the size of the pathway through which fluid leakage or vapor permeation may escape. When the insulation on the wires passing through a fitting deteriorates due to shrinking or swelling, or when the wires are not sufficiently bound to the fitting, the area between the wire and the fitting are widened providing a greater pathway through which fluid leakage or vapor permeation may be released.
In other processes, the center of the conductors is stripped and through a vacuum process, a fuel resistant sealant is introduced to fill the pores between the wires and the fitting. Such a contribution is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,445 (Herster). A welded or bonded section of wire has also been developed to prevent fluid leakage and vapor permeation. New wire is also being developed which includes a blocking agent added during the extrusion process.
The current contributions to the art do not effectively and consistently compensate for the problems set forth above, in part by failing to adequately seal and close the space between the wires and the fitting, by failing to sufficiently bond the wires to the fitting, and by failing to adequately and consistently seal the wires while maintaining the electrical integrity of the connection. In order to overcome the problems associated with the current contributions to the art, various designs and methods for blocking fluid and fluid vapors have been developed. The continued development has been directed to designs which simplify the manufacturing process and assembly while keeping costs at a minimum and performance at a maximum.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for blocking fluid and fluid vapors which consistently eliminates the minute pathways from which fluid leakage and vapor permeation may escape. The term xe2x80x9cfluidxe2x80x9d will be used throughout, however, it will be appreciated that this term includes both fluid and fluid vapors.
A related object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for blocking fluid and fluid vapors which allows for the use of a solid wire inside the fuel tank and a more cost effective wire outside the fuel tank.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for blocking fluid and fluid vapors which includes connecting two separate wires together through the use of a connecting member, wherein a consistent, solid barrier is created while maintaining the electrical integrity of the connection. This entire connection is then overmolded with an appropriate fluid resistant material such as a plastic resin material from the acetyl family for fuel applications.
It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for blocking fluid and fluid vapors which is inexpensive to manufacture, compatible with automation and easy to install.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for blocking fluid and fluid vapors which does not require the laborious and costly process of dipping the wires into a chemical bath and/or the use of the vacuum process.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for blocking fluid and fluid vapors that utilizes a more costly, fluid resistant automotive grade wire inside the fuel tank and a more cost effective automotive grade wire outside the fuel tank.
In one form, the present invention provides a method for blocking fluid and fluid vapors including a connecting member. The method of the present invention includes the general steps of cutting an electrical wire and stripping the wire of its insulation at the cut ends. The wires are then attached onto the connecting member so as to maintain the electrical integrity of the connection. Finally, this connection, plus a portion of the wire insulation is overmolded with an appropriate fluid resistant material.
In another form, the present invention provides an apparatus for blocking fluid and fluid vapors including a connecting member and electrical wires which are cut and stripped of their insulation at the cut ends. The wires are then attached onto the connecting member so as to maintain the electrical integrity of the connection. The connection, plus a portion of the wire insulation, is then overmolded with an appropriate fluid resistant material.

Method and apparatus for blocking fluid and fluid vapors


An exercise system includes a portable case that has a base with a selectively openable top and at least one peripheral edge. The top when engaged with the base defines an internal storage volume therein. At least one resistance band is adapted for storing in the internal storage volume of the case and has a plurality of apertures therethrough. At least one anchor is fixed with the at least one peripheral edge of the case and is adapted for fixing with the at least one resistance band through one of the apertures thereof. Preferably each anchor is selectively detachable from an anchor aperture traversing the case. As such, with the at least one resistance band fixed with the case, and with the case pressed against the item within the environment by the person, the person may perform exercises by stretching the at least one resistance band.

This invention relates to exercise devices, and more particularly to a resistance-band type exercise device used with a portable case.
Exercise devices are well known in the prior art, most requiring significant floor space. Further, many exercise machines are design for facilitating only a few different exercises, and thus multiple exercise machines must be provided if a person is going to exercise a wide variety of muscle groups. The typical gym is outfitted with dozens of different machines.
For those not able or desiring to exercise at a gym, and particularly for those who travel frequently or enjoy exercising outdoors or in different locations, there are insufficient and inadequate options for facilitating a variety of exercises with a portable, easily carried, expandable exercise device.
Therefore, there is a need for a portable exercise system that allows a user to perform a variety of exercises in a variety of ways just by using a support surface, chair or the like. Such a needed system would be self-contained, portable, and easily transported. Such a needed invention would further be durable, relatively easy to manufacture and use, and relatively inexpensive when compared with traditional exercise machines. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

Exercise case with an adjustable resistance band system