In a system and method for monitoring application installations, a reference to download an application is transmitted to a client device. Communication between the client device and an application server providing the application downloadable by the client device is facilitated. Execution of the application by the client device is detected, and a determination of the installation history of the application on the client device is performed. Reward data is associated with the client device for a first installation of the application on the client device.

Online advertising models generally involve the delivery of advertisements or offers to users over one or more advertising channels. The effectiveness of advertisements, however, varies, depending on the type of advertisement and the channel used to deliver the advertisement. In particular, one reason a user may ignore an advertisement is that there is no incentive for the user to follow the advertisement.

System and method for rewarding application installs


A circuit board standoff including a body adapted for disposition between first and second boards so as to maintain a predetermined minimum spacing between facing sides thereof; a stem fixed to the body and adapted to engage an opposite side of the first board; a fastener fixed to the body and adapted to engage an opposite side of the second board; and a ground mechanism retained by the standoff and including a first electrical contact adapted to engage the first board, a second electrical contact adapted to engage the second board, and an electrical connector connecting the first and second contacts.

This invention relates generally to electrical circuit board apparatus and, more particularly, to electrical circuit board apparatus utilizing improved standoff elements for separating and supporting printed circuit boards.
Printed circuit boards are used extensively in various types of electrical equipment. Typically, standoff elements are used to support and provide spacing for circuit boards. Standoffs are used, for example, to separate, support and electrically insulate a printed circuit board from either a metal chassis or other printed circuit boards. In many applications, separated circuit boards include ground circuits that must be interconnected. Typically, such grounding connections are accomplished with cumbersome leads extending between the separated boards. U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,158 discloses a conductive standoff for providing equal ground potentials on separated boards. However, the effectiveness and utility of this prior standoff is limited.
The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved standoff device that can both separate and electrically interconnect printed circuit boards.


A variable valve timing mechanism comprises a drive shaft including a rocker arm, a control shaft, a stopper, a first spring member and a second spring member. The rocker arm opens and closes at least one of an intake/exhaust valve in response to rotation of the drive shaft. The control shaft changes a position of the rocker arm to continuously change valve lift characteristics of the intake/exhaust valve in response to rotation of the control shaft by driving a control shaft actuator. The stopper regulates an operating range of rotation of the control shaft between upper and lower limits. The first and second spring members urge the control shaft towards the upper and lower limits, respectively. The first and second spring members return the control shaft to a balance position between the upper limit position and the lower limit position when the internal combustion engine stops.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a variable valve timing mechanism for an internal combustion engine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a variable valve timing mechanism in which appropriate lift characteristics are attained for engine start-up.
2. Background Information
Variable valve timing mechanisms are used in internal combustion engines for opening and closing an intake valve or an exhaust valve that is linked to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and for varying the lift characteristics of the intake valve or the exhaust valve according to the rotation of a control shaft.
One example of such a variable valve timing mechanism is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-226543. In this publication, the variable valve timing mechanism is provided with a stopper mechanism for mechanically regulating the upper and lower limit positions of the allowed range of rotation of the control shaft. A target control value of the control shaft is set within a range that is smaller than the range of rotation allowed by the stopper mechanism. Basically, the stopper mechanism of Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-226543 has a minimum operational-angle stopper, a maximum operational-angle stopper and a stopper pin. The minimum and maximum operational-angle stoppers extend along the axial direction of the control shaft from an actuator plate towards the control shaft. The minimum and maximum operational-angle stoppers are affixed to a cylinder head. The stopper pin that is fixed to the control shaft and extends along the radial direction of control shaft.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved variable valve timing mechanism. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

Variable valve timing mechanism for internal combustion engine


The present invention relates to the use of Ornidazole and related compounds as herbicides active on a wide range of photoautotrophic organisms. The compounds of the present invention show effective herbicidal activity while being non-hazardous to the environment and to human health.

The massive use of synthetic chemical herbicides in modern agriculture has raised public concern over the associated risks to human health and contamination of the environment. In addition, a growing number of herbicide resistant weeds have been observed. There is an ongoing effort to identify and develop herbicides that are active on a wide range of photoautotrophic organisms and that are less hazardous to human health and to the environment.
The photosynthetic apparatus in photoautotrophic organisms including plants, algae and cyanobacteria is a common target for herbicides. This apparatus comprises the light reactions that transform light into chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH, and the carbon fixation pathway (Calvin cycle).
Light absorbed by the photosynthetic apparatus is utilized to oxidize and split water into molecular O2 and protons, while the electrons liberated are transferred via an electron transport chain and reduce NADP+ to NADPH. The proton gradient formed across the thylakoid membrane serves as a driving force for ATP formation from ADP and phosphate by the membrane enzyme ATP synthase. Several known herbicides are targeted to various sites in the electron transport chain; for example DCMU (Diuron) or Atrazine inhibit electron transfer between two quinones associated with photosystem II, and Methyl viologen (Paraquat) that accepts electrons from photosystem I, thereby producing reactive oxygen species that destroy the photosynthetic apparatus (Trebst A. 2007. Photosynth Res 92:217-224).
The Calvin cycle may be roughly divided to three stages: (1) Carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP), a reaction catalyzed by RuBP carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), resulting in the generation of 3-phosphoglycerate (PGA); (2) PGA reduction to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (GA3P). The PGA reduction occurs in two consecutive reactions catalyzed by phosphoglycerate kinase and GA3P dehydrogenase (GAPDH) using ATP and NADPH produced in the light reactions. GA3P is isomerized by triose phosphate isomerase to dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP). These two triose phosphates, GA3P and DHAP, are substrates for the production of all carbohydrates and organic matter thereof; and (3) Recycling of RuBP from triose phosphates in a series of reactions. To the best ability of the inventors to ascertain, no herbicide capable of penetrating the cell membrane and targeting the Calvin cycle has thus far been reported.
Several enzymes including Rubisco and phosphoribulose kinase act exclusively in the Calvin cycle; yet, isozymes similar to most of the Calvin cycle enzymes function also in the glycolytic and gluconeogenic pathways. Although inhibitors of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis that are used as anti metabolic drugs in cancer and infectious diseases have been reported (Pelicano et al., 2006. Oncogene 25:4633-4646), no selective inhibitor of the Calvin cycle that is able to penetrate into cells of photosynthetic organisms has been documented.
Nitroimidazole derivatives, particularly 4 (or 5)-nitroimidazole derivatives have been long reported as useful in the treatment of infections caused by pathogenic protozoa including, for example certain species of amoebae (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,435,049 and 3,493,582).
Additional nitroimidazole derivatives were reported as effective fungicides and anti-bacterial agents that may be used as pharmaceuticals as well as pesticides. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,773 discloses carbamoyl-imidazole derivative having pesticide activity, which may be also used as an herbicide.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,206,257 and 5,380,865 discloses 2-phenylimidazole derivatives that can be used for the control of arthropod, plant nematode, helminth or protozoan.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,235,995 discloses the production of 1,4-disubstituted-3-nitropyrazoles having antimicrobial, parasiticidal, and herbicidal activity. Preferred compounds are 1-alkyl or -alkenyl-4-pyrazolecarboxamides are carbonitriles. The new compounds are particularly useful for the control of bacterial animal diseases.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 61109701 discloses herbicide containing 2-methyl-4(5)-trifluoromethyl-5(4)-nitroimidazole as an active ingredient. The herbicide is effective on a wide range of weeds and may be used by soil treatment, foliar treatment or treatment under flooding condition as pre- or post-emergence treatment.
Edwards et al. (Edwards D I et al. 1974, Z. Pflanzenphysiol. Bd. 71:S424-427) showed that Metronidazole (1-β-hydroxyethyl-2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole), known as an antimicrobial drug, is effective in inhibiting the photosynthetic electron transport. Metronidazole was shown to act as a potent inhibitor of ferredoxin-linked NADP+ reduction in a system in which photosystem II is non-operative and ascorbate acts as an electron source. The system included NADP+, broken spinach chloroplasts, intermediate electron carrier (DCPIP) and ferredoxin.
Ornidazole (1-chloro-3-(2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)propan-2-ol) is known as an anti bacterial and anti protozoan drug. Recently, it has been elucidated that Ornidazole inhibits the activity of the glycolytic enzymes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and triose phosphate isomerase (Pelicano et al., 2006, ibid). Ornidazole is widely used in treating bacterial and protozoa infection in poultry and in mammals, including humans.
There is a recognized ongoing need for effective herbicides with wide range activity that are not hazardous to the environment and are not harmful to mammals.

Ornidazole and related compounds for use as herbicides


An aftercooler device with ribs for aligning cooling tubes in a twelve-pass configuration provides a heat exchanger that transfers optimal amount of heat from combustion air through use of a tortuous, back-and-forth arrangement of twelve rows of tubes carrying a coolant fluid, and creating agitation therein for efficient cooling. The cooling tubes are organized into separate rows through heat exchanger body. A top cover fastens to the top end of heat exchanger body. The top cover includes six top ribs that segregate cooling tubes into six rows at top end of the heat exchanger. Four of the top ribs are linear, and two of the top ribs have angled configurations. A bottom cover fastens to the bottom end of the heat exchanger. The top cover includes five bottom ribs that segregate the cooling tubes into six rows at bottom end of heat exchanger. The bottom ribs have a linear configuration.

The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
It is known in the art that a turbocharger integral in an internal combustion engine results in air being compressed prior to entering an engine intake or combustion chamber. Thus, supplying the engine intake with compressed air may allow for more complete combustion. This can result in lower emissions, improved performance, and better engine efficiency. However, compressing the air may also cause an increase in the intake air temperature. Various heat exchangers and aftercoolers can be used to reduce this temperature.
Typically, a heat exchanger, such as an aftercooler provides a mechanical means to remove the heat-of-compression from a compressed air stream, and to condition the air so it can be used in air-operated equipment. Such an aftercooler is necessary because the compressed air discharged from that air compressor is going to be hot. Often, a four-pass heat exchanger is used for this purpose. The four-pass heat exchanger enables combustion air to pass the coolest water at the exit of the heat exchanger, resulting in the most efficient cooling of combustion air.
Other proposals have involved heat exchangers and aftercoolers with multiple cooling tubes. The problem with these heat exchangers and aftercoolers is that they do not utilize twelve bypass tubes to increase the contact with external gases. Also, the prior art does not carry the tubes in a tortuous path to create agitation in the coolant fluid. Even though the above cited heat exchangers and aftercoolers meet some of the needs of the market, a twelve-pass aftercooler device that provides a unique heat exchanger body configured to transfer optimal amount of heat energy from the combustion air through use of a tortuous, back-and-forth arrangement of twelve rows of tubes carrying a coolant fluid, is still desired.

Aftercooler device with ribs for aligning cooling tubes in a twelve-pass configuration


A dispensing valve includes a body with an axis defining an internal chamber communicating with a pressurized liquid. The body has an intake duct and an outlet duct. The valve also includes an actuating stem traversed by a dispensing duct open at its two ends, the stem being mounted in a leakproof manner in the outlet duct, one of its ends having at least one feeder passage and the other end opening outside the body. The feeder passage is selectively communicated with the internal chamber by lateral pivoting of the stem so as to allow the liquid to be dispensed via the dispensing duct. The valve body is made of an elastomeric material, and the stem has, inside the outlet duct, a profile capable of cooperating with a complementary profile of the outlet duct to define an articulation substantially around a point so that, irrespective of the angular position of the stem relative to the axis, the stem is in a leakproof annular contact with the outlet duct.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a valve for dispensing a product, intended to equip a dispenser comprising a container capable of containing a liquid stored under pressure under the action of a propellant gas. The invention also relates to a dispenser equipped with such a valve. This dispenser is more particularly intended for the packaging and dispensing of a fluid product, such as a cosmetic, dermatological, household, food or industrial product, such as, for example, a hair lacquer, a disinfectant spray, a paint or a cleaning product.
2. Description of the Related Art
The valve of the invention equipping this dispenser is of the type which comprises a manipulating stem disposed axially in a valve body. The manipulating stem has a passage for the product to be dispensed. The valve comprises sealing means capable of closing the passage, the manipulating stem being capable of being elastically displaced by the lateral pivoting of this stem in the valve body between a first position of obturating the passage where the stem is in the axial position, in which first position the passage is separated from the pressurized product by the sealing means, and a second open position where the stem is inclined relative to the axis of the valve body, in which second position the said passage communicates with the pressurized product, to allow the dispensing of the product. The valve comprises, moreover, nonmetallic biasing means urging the stem into first position. Moreover, the opening of the valve can also be produced axially by an axial depression, which is advantageous for the filling of the container on a packaging assembly line.
A valve is known, for example from French Patent No. 2 161 350, which comprises a manipulating stem disposed in a valve body formed of an elastomeric material. The actuation of this valve is effected by the axial depression of the manipulating stem against elastic biasing means. These means are constituted by a part of the valve body bearing against the stem. According to the French Patent No. 2 161 350, the valve is designed to be actuated by the axial depression of the stem.
A valve is, moreover, known which can be actuated by a lateral pivoting of the manipulating stem. Thus U.S. Pat. No 3,627,179 describes a pivoting valve comprising a stem provided with a sealing crown and acted on by elastic biasing means. The crown is in leakproof contact with an attached annular gasket made of an elastomer. A metal cup is provided to join the gasket to a valve body. The elastic biasing means are obtained by a bottom of the valve body of a small thickness so that, during the lateral pivoting of the stem, the crown elastically deforms the bottom.
This valve has the following drawbacks: during repeated actuations of the valve, there is the risk that the bottom will break, which will produce the uncontrolled dispersion of the whole contents into the atmosphere. Moreover, the actuating force necessary for the dispensing of the product is not constant. Rather, due to the variation of the internal pressure of the dispenser, this actuating force is also variable.

Valve for a device for packaging and dispensing a pressurized liquid, and a device thus equipped


A line conductor is configured so as to be arranged between a lower surface conductor and an upper surface conductor in parallel with the lower surface conductor in such a way as to extend around the periphery of a hollow cylindrical conductor in a state in which an end is connected to a side surface of the hollow cylindrical conductor and another end is open. As a result, efficient supply of power to a conductive liquid can be performed without disposing a conducting tube having a length of approximately λ/4 at an operating frequency.

The sizes of antenna devices are generally determined by wavelengths corresponding to their operating frequencies. Therefore, the heights of antenna devices having low operating frequencies may reach several meters to several tens of meters.
As for antenna devices having low operating frequencies, it is generally necessary to erect a metallic pole having a length of several meters to several tens of meters on a ground surface, and to construct a foundation for supporting the long metallic pole, and thus in some cases, it is difficult to install antenna devices.
Because antenna devices using a conductive liquid as a radiating element need not erect a metallic pole on a ground surface, such antenna devices can be installed easily even when the antenna devices have low operating frequencies.
As a conductive liquid, for example, sea water abundant in nature can be used. However, a conductive liquid, such as the sea water, has lower conductivity and a larger loss than metal.
Therefore, in antenna devices using a conductive liquid as a radiating element, it is important to eliminate a loss in a power supply structure as much as possible, and to make it possible to perform efficient supply of power to the conductive liquid.
In following Patent Literature 1, as an antenna device using a conductive liquid as a radiating element, an antenna device in which a feeding point is disposed close to a jet orifice of a conducting tube, and an end of the conducting tube that is apart, by approximately one-quarter wavelength at an operating frequency, from the feeding point toward a conductive liquid supply side is electrically short-circuited to a ground conductor is disclosed.
As a result, because an unnecessary current flowing toward the liquid supply side can be suppressed in this antenna device, it is possible to perform efficient supply of power to the conductive liquid.


An electronic gaming machine includes a cabinet, a monitor configured to display an electronic game, a mount configured to secure the monitor to the cabinet, the mount including a carriage and a linkage assembly pivotably coupled to the carriage and the cabinet, and a lift assembly for moving the mount relative to the cabinet. The lift assembly includes a harness coupled to the carriage and a drive mechanism coupled to the harness and operable to selectively release and retract the harness for moving the monitor relative to the cabinet.

Electronic gaming machines ("EGMs") or gaming devices provide a variety of wagering games such as slot games, video poker games, video blackjack games, roulette games, video bingo games, keno games and other types of games that are frequently offered at casinos and other locations. Play on EGMs typically involves a player establishing a credit balance by inputting money, or another form of monetary credit, and placing a monetary wager (from the credit balance) on one or more outcomes of an instance (or single play) of a primary or base game. In some cases, a player may qualify for a special mode of the base game, a secondary game, or a bonus round of the base game by attaining a certain winning combination or triggering event in, or related to, the base game, or after the player is randomly awarded the special mode, secondary game, or bonus round. In the special mode, secondary game, or bonus round, the player is given an opportunity to win extra game credits, game tokens or other forms of payout. In the case of "game credits" that are awarded during play, the game credits are typically added to a credit meter total on the EGM and can be provided to the player upon completion of a gaming session or when the player wants to "cash out."
"Slot" type games are often displayed to the player in the form of various symbols arrayed in a row-by-column grid or matrix. Specific matching combinations of symbols along predetermined paths (or paylines) through the matrix indicate the outcome of the game. The display typically highlights winning combinations/outcomes for identification by the player. Matching combinations and their corresponding awards are usually shown in a "pay-table" which is available to the player for reference. Often, the player may vary his/her wager to include differing numbers of paylines and/or the amount bet on each line. By varying the wager, the player may sometimes alter the frequency or number of winning combinations, frequency or number of secondary games, and/or the amount awarded.
Typical games use a random number generator (RNG) to randomly determine the outcome of each game. The game is designed to return a certain percentage of the amount wagered back to the player over the course of many plays or instances of the game, which is generally referred to as return to player (RTP). The RTP and randomness of the RNG ensure the fairness of the games and are highly regulated. Upon initiation of play, the RNG randomly determines a game outcome and symbols are then selected which correspond to that outcome. Notably, some games may include an element of skill on the part of the player and are therefore not entirely random.
For game play itself, EGMs may include a visual display such as a monitor that is coupled to the cabinet. Over the lifespan of an EGM, the monitor may be removed from the EGM by an operator to allow for servicing or replacement of the monitor on the EGM. However, some conventional EGMs include large monitors having a weight which may make it difficult or prohibitive for an operator to manually lift the monitors off of the EGMs. Moreover, at least some known EGMs include monitors that rest high above a ground surface, thereby compounding the difficulty in manually removing the monitors. Accordingly, an EGM that includes a lifting assembly allowing for a monitor to be moved/and or lowered relative to a cabinet of an EGM is desirable.

Lift assembly and mount for a monitor of an electronic gaming machine


To provide a semiconductor device in which a channel formation region can be thinned without adversely affecting a source region and a drain region through a simple process and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device. In the method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a semiconductor film, having a thickness smaller than a height of a projection of a substrate, is formed over a surface of the substrate having the projections; the semiconductor film is etched to have an island shape with a resist used as a mask; the resist is etched to expose a portion of the semiconductor film which covers a top surface of the projection; and the exposed portion of the semiconductor film is etched to be thin, while the adjacent portions of the semiconductor film on both sides of the projection remain covered with the resist.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device. In particular, the present invention relates to a semiconductor device in which a channel formation region has a smaller thickness than each of a source region and a drain region, and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a semiconductor device in which a channel formation region has a smaller thickness than each of a source region and a drain region and a lightly doped drain (hereinafter referred to as LDD) region is provided between the channel formation region and the drain region, and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device. The present invention also relates to an electronic appliance using the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known that in a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as a TFT), a subthreshold swing showing switching characteristics (subthreshold characteristics) of the transistor can be reduced by reducing the thickness of a channel formation region. Here, a subthreshold swing is a gate voltage necessary for increasing a current (subthreshold current) between a source electrode and a drain electrode by one digit, and the smaller a subthreshold swing is, the steeper the slope of the subthreshold current with respect to the gate voltage is and the more excellent the switching characteristics are. By using such a TFT of which a subthreshold swing is small, advantages such as reduction in an off leakage current and suppression of power consumption due to reduction in an operating voltage can be obtained. However, if a whole semiconductor film in which a channel formation region is formed is thinned in order to thin the channel formation region, a source region and a drain region are also thinned; thus, there occur problems such as an increase of sheet resistance in a source region and a drain region and an increase of contact resistance at interfaces between the source region and the source electrode and between the drain region and the drain electrode. Therefore, it is preferable that the thickness of the channel formation region be reduced while the thicknesses of the source region and the drain region are maintained.
Patent Document 1 (Japanese Published Patent Application No. H5-110099) discloses an example of such a technique of thinning only a channel formation region. According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, a channel formation region is thinned as follows. First, a projection is formed at a portion corresponding to a channel formation region over an insulating substrate. A surface of the insulating substrate is partially etched to be removed so that such a projection can be formed. A semiconductor layer formed of silicon or the like is deposited on the insulating substrate including the projection to a given thickness so that a portion corresponding to the projection of the semiconductor layer is raised, and then, an insulating film having a plane surface is formed over the semiconductor layer Next, a photoresist film is formed over the insulating film in a position corresponding to the projection and ions are injected into the semiconductor layer with the photoresist film used as a mask so that a source region and a drain region are formed in semiconductor layers of both sides of the projection and after that, the photoresist film is removed. Thus, an upper layer portion of the raised portion (that is, the channel formation region) of the semiconductor layer is etched to be removed together with the insulating film to planarize the surface of the semiconductor layer, so that the channel formation region is thinned. The insulating film and the semiconductor layer are etched by plasma etching in a mixed gas atmosphere of SF6 and CHF3. With the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the raised portion of the semiconductor layer, which corresponds to the projection of a surface of an insulator, is thinned, etching is performed until an entire surface of the semiconductor layer is exposed and planarized. Therefore, the source region and the drain region might also be etched together with the raised portion (channel formation region). Further, because plasma etching is used, deterioration of characteristics might occur; for example, an upper portion of the semiconductor layer might be damaged or made to be amorphous and thus, resistance might be increased.
Patent Document 2 (Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2004-281687) discloses another technique of thinning a channel formation region. According to Patent Document 2, a photosensitive resist provided over a semiconductor layer (operation layer) is exposed to light with the use of a halftone mask so that part of the photosensitive resist, which is over the channel formation region in a TFT formation region, is thinner than part of the photosensitive resist, which is over a region other than the channel formation region. Then, the photosensitive resist is further processed so that part of the photosensitive resist, which is over the channel formation region, is removed, and wet etching or dry etching is performed using the remaining part of the photosensitive resist as a mask to thin the channel formation region. However, such selective light exposure of the photosensitive resist with the use of a halftone mask complicates a process and can lead to an increase in manufacturing cost.
On the other hand, a TFT having an LDD structure is known, in which a low concentration impurity region (or an LDD region) is formed between a channel formation region and a drain region and/or between a channel formation region and a source region in order to reduce an off current of the TFT and prevent deterioration of the TFT due to hot carriers. A source region and a drain region are doped with impurities in two steps so that such an LDD region can be formed. More specifically, light doping is performed using a gate electrode as a mask first. Then, a sidewall (for example, silicon oxide) is formed on a side surface of the gate electrode and heavy doping is performed using the gate electrode and the sidewall as masks, so that part of a semiconductor layer, which is located under the sidewall, can be an LDD region. However, in the case where the sidewall is formed in order to the LDD region, steps of manufacturing the TFT are increased. Further, since the sidewall and a gate insulating film are normally formed of the same material as a main component, such a problem might occur that the gate insulating film is also etched at the same time by etching for formation of the sidewall, which undesirably thin the gate insulating film and generate a leakage current. Further, because the LDD region is provided, there occurs a problem that the size (area) of the TFT is increased and thus integration is reduced.
Patent Document 3 (Japanese Published Patent Application No. H5-198594) discloses an example of a technique by which an LDD region can be formed without providing a sidewall and the size of an element can be prevented from being increased. According to Patent Document 3, a light-shielding layer is formed over a quartz substrate with a given space between the light-shielding layer and the quartz substrate and a polycrystalline silicon layer is formed over the quartz substrate and the light-shielding layer, so that a semiconductor layer having an uneven shape is formed. Then, a gate insulating film and a gate electrode are sequentially formed over the semiconductor layer. Then, a resist is applied onto the gate electrode and a rear surface of the quartz substrate is exposed to light by using the light-shielding layer as a mask so that only a region of the resist, in which the light-shielding layer does not exist, remains. Next, the gate electrode and the gate insulating film are etched using the remaining part of the resist as a mask to remove unnecessary parts of the gate electrode and the gate insulating film, and the gate electrode is formed over the semiconductor layer of a depression in an upper portion of the quartz substrate with the gate insulating film interposed therebetween. Then, the gate electrode is used as a mask to introduce impurities into the semiconductor layer by an ion shower method. In that case, two kinds of ion introduction, that is to say, ion introduction at high concentration and a shallow depth and ion introduction at low concentration and a deep depth are performed. Accordingly, impurities are injected at high concentration into the semiconductor layer (the source region and the drain region) of a projected portion over the light-shielding layer. Further, concentration gradient is formed such that the concentration of injected impurities gradually decreases in a depth direction from a surface, in a step portion which connects the semiconductor layer (the channel formation region) of the depressed portion and the semiconductor layer (the source region and the drain region) of the projected portion below the gate electrode; and consequently, the step portion becomes an LDD region.
However, in the case of the semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device, which are disclosed in Patent Document 3, the channel formation region is formed in the depressed portion of the semiconductor layer, and the source region and the drain region are formed in the projected portions of the semiconductor layer, so that the source region and the drain region are located higher than the channel formation region. Therefore, it is difficult to thin only the channel formation region without adversely affecting the source region and the drain region.
Patent Document 4 (Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2001-230420) discloses that an island-shaped insulating film excellent in thermal conductivity is formed in a predetermined region of a substrate for the purpose of controlling the position and the size of a crystal grain in a semiconductor film by suitably controlling temperature rise in irradiating the semiconductor film with a laser beam for formation of a TFT, so that a step region (projected region) of the semiconductor film, which is located over the island-shaped insulating film, is a channel formation region. Further, Patent Document 5 (Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2002-359376) discloses a dual-gate TFT provided with gate electrodes over and under a channel formation region. Patent Document 6 (Japanese Published Patent Application No. H7-288227) discloses that a number of projections and depressions are formed on a surface of a substrate and a polycrystalline semiconductor film is formed thereover.

Semiconductor device, method for manufacturing semiconductor device, and electronic appliance

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for multimetallic assemblies, methods of making a multimetallic assembly, methods of oxidizing water, methods of O-atom transfer catalysis, and the like.

The design of synthetic catalysts to replicate the reactivity of metalloproteins is a long standing research goal with substantial focus on the synthesis and properties of metal complexes that are structural mimics of enzymatic metal clusters. However, these structural analogues have yet to operate as effective catalysts for multielectron redox reactions. Thus, there is a need to develop metal complexes that can mimic enzymatic metal clusters.

Multimetallic assembly, methods of making multimetallic assembly, methods of oxidizing water, methods of O-atom transfer catalysts, and methods of carbon dioxide reduction

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.


Systems and methods for fluid level detection are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sensor assembly includes at least one optical fiber adapted to at least one of transmit and receive an optical signal, and a moveable float member. The float member is adapted to move in a first direction as the fluid level increases and in a second direction as the fluid level decreases. The float member blocks the optical signal at a first value of the fluid level, and allows the optical signal to pass at a second value of the fluid level. The presence or absence of the optical signal is detected to determine the level of fluid.

Many types of vehicles and machines consume fuel during operation, including aircraft, ships, construction vehicles, and a wide variety of other machinery. As vehicles and machines operate, the level of fuel within a fuel tank decreases. As fuel is added, the fuel level increases. A variety of systems and methods are known to provide an indication of the amount of fuel within the fuel tank, including, for example, those systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,626 B1 issued to Herford, U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,692 B1 issued to Glahn, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,283 issued to Nishida et al. Although desirable results have been achieved using such prior art systems, there is room for improvement.

Fluid level optical detector with float having opaque and transmissive portions


A liquid crystal display device includes transparent electrodes mutually extending in parallel, and lead patterns used as terminals leading from ends of the transparent electrodes, both formed on a cell substrate produced by separating a large glass substrate. In the device, extension patterns leading from other ends of the transparent electrodes are formed on the cell substrate, and minute gaps for discharging static electricity accumulated in the transparent electrodes during a production process are formed at portions of the extension patterns outside an effective display region. The liquid crystal display device is produced such that transparent electrodes, lead patterns used as terminals leading from ends of the transparent electrodes, extension patterns leading from the other ends of the transparent electrodes, and an identical potential pattern outside the cell substrate-formed patterns being conductive with the transparent electrodes are formed with a plurality of cell substrate-formed regions being adjacently positioned, minute gaps narrower than the gap between the adjacent transparent electrodes are formed within each cell substrate-formed region outside an effective display region, and the large glass substrate is cut so that a plurality of cell substrates are separately formed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device formed so that electrostatic destruction of each transparent electrode can be prevented and quality inspection of the device can be performed with a pattern checker, and a method for producing the liquid crystal display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a plurality of cell substrates for a liquid crystal display device are simultaneously, separately formed by cutting a large glass substrate provided with transparent electrodes, an orientation film, and so forth. If a large amount of static electricity accumulates when the cell substrates are rubbed during an orientation process, discharge occurs between adjacent transparent electrodes, which may result in inferior display due to damage to both the transparent electrodes and the orientation films by arc heat. Accordingly, when the cell electrodes are produced, prevention of electrostatic destruction is widely employed, in which the static electricity accumulated in the transparent electrodes can be removed to an identical potential pattern conductive to the transparent electrodes via lead patterns, which is previously formed outside a cell substrate-formed region on the large glass substrate.
However, when such an identical potential pattern is completely conductive to the transparent electrodes, each transparent electrode on the large glass substrate cannot be electrically independent. Thus, before a cutting process, it is not possible to perform quality inspection to verify whether or not short-circuiting or disconnection occurs by bringing a pattern checker in contact with each transparent electrode.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3, there is a known conventional technique to provide minute gaps 3a of several microns for discharging static electricity at extensions from lead patterns 3 which are extended from a cell substrate-formed region S so as to be connected to an identical potential pattern 4 and are used as terminals leading from transparent electrodes 2 corresponding to each cell substrate. In other words, by providing the minute gaps 3a, which are also called "arresters", static electricity accumulated in the transparent electrodes 2 during the production process can be discharged through the minute gaps 3a. Thus, discharge between adjacent transparent electrodes 2 hardly occurs. In addition, each transparent electrode 2 is electrically, mutually independent by the provision of the minute gaps 3a. Therefore, convenience of quality inspection is improved because quality inspection with the pattern checker can be performed before the cutting process of the large glass substrate 1.
As described above, in order to provide the minute gap 3a in the lead pattern 3, inevitably, the lead patterns 3 must be extended outward from each cell substrate-formed region so as to be connected to the identical potential pattern 4, and the minute gap 3a must be formed at the extended portions. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, a predetermined space needs to be reserved between adjacent different cell substrate-formed regions S. Consequently, according to the related art, a high density layout in which a large number of cell substrate-formed regions S are formed is not realized. This reduces the number of cell substrates which are separately obtained from one large glass substrate 1, which hinders productivity improvement and cost reduction.

Substrate for liquid crystal display element and method for manufacturing liquid crystal display element using the substrate


The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for treating drug addiction comprising herb Gelsemium elegans Benth. and the flower of herb Datura metel L., and optionally any pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, wherein the weight/weight ratio of the raw material of Gelsemium elegans Benth. to the raw material of the flower of Datura metel is from 2:1 to 6:1.

In recent years, drugs spread increasingly in the world, and threaten the health of human and peace of international society. The statistic data of World Health Organization (WHO) show that 10 million of people lose normal ability of life and work every year, and more than 100 thousands of people die due to drug abuse every year. WHO divided the substances used as drugs into 8 groups: morphines, barbiturates, alcohols, cocaines, Cannabis indica, amphetamines, Catha edulis (KHATS) and hallucinogens. Others include nicotine and volatile solutions. The morphines, i.e., opioid, include heroin, morphine, which have potent addiction and resistance, and easily develop dependence after abuse. Heroin widely spreads in the world with huge harm. Traditional detoxification methods include substitution decrement therapy, natural withdrawal therapy, sub-hibernation detoxification therapy, antagonist therapy, and non-drug withdrawal therapies such as electric stimulation, acupuncture, physical treatment, etc. The known drugs for detoxification in the world currently are following kinds: methadone, opioid, buprenorphine, clonidine, britlofex, chlorpromazine, for detoxification treatment of heroin dependence. Most of these drugs belong to opiate receptor agonists and sedative-hypnotic drugs. In practices, opiate receptor agonists such as methadone, buprenorphine are commonly used for substitution decrement treatment, mainly alleviating withdrawal symptoms by replacing drugs to inhibit nervous excitation, being slow in detoxification, easy to change into another dependence, easy in poisoning, and easy in addiction. Non-substitution treatments usually use clonidine, for treatment of light or middle opiate-dependence in drug abusers, having better detoxification effects, and many adverse reactions, being not suitable for long-term use. Hibernation therapy usually uses sedative-hypnotic drugs, but these drugs are of great dose, may injure brain nerves, may imperil life when improper use, and are not good to relieve psychological dependence. Naltrexone used for antagonist therapy is a kind of opiate receptor antagonist, the use of naltrexone after detoxification can greatly reduce euphoria caused by drug abuse, block invigorating effects, prevent relapse, but has no obvious effect in improve protracted symptoms, requires long-term administration, so that many subjects cannot insist.
Long-term of drug abuse may cause physical dependence and psychological dependence in drug abusers. The long-term use of opioid may induce the change of body function state. Nerve cells adapt to the presence of drug and generate tolerance. The drug in vivo has to be kept at a certain level to maintain the stability of physical functions. When drug taking stops or is reduced suddenly, nerve cells may occur derepression, exhibiting a series of withdrawal symptoms such as rhinorrhea, lacrimation, yawn, mydriasis, arrector muscle contraction, perspiration, diarrhea, muscular stiffness, spontaneous ejaculation, elevation of blood pressure, pulsation acceleration, fever, insomnia and anxiety and dysphoria, and accompanying with intensive craving for opioid. The occurrence of withdrawal symptoms indicates the establishment of physical dependence. These withdrawal symptoms make subjects suffer may pains, while chemical drugs usually can well control acute withdrawal symptoms, alleviate or reduce pains. However, after detoxification treatment in subjects with opioid dependence, with the gradual reduction of exogenous opioid, the synthesis of endogenous opioid peptide and the increase of opiate receptor cannot reach normal levels within a short term, physical and psychological discomforts would be sustained for a long term, which are called protracted withdrawal symptoms, mainly manifesting as refractory insomnia, anxiety and dysphoria, ache all over, fatigued and weak, dysthymia. Most of chemical drugs show poor effects in alleviating protracted withdrawal symptoms. Generally, psychological dependence accompanies with physical dependence, and psychological dependence refers to psychological drug craving and inner experience of euphoria reached by repeated drug use in subjects with drug dependence, or called "thinking addiction" or "mind addiction". Being driven by emotion, addicts continuously use drug, thereby change their life style, behavior and personality models. The euphoria and relaxation and tranquility feelings belong to positive reinforcement; while the painful withdrawal symptoms belong to negative reinforcement, inducing reuse of drug to avoid such pains. The two kinds of reinforcement result in addiction in subjects. After acute withdrawal treatment, physical dependence can be eliminated, while psychological dependence can hardly be eliminated, so that relapse rate is relatively high, for example 90% or more as reported, and the reduction of relapse rate is the biggest challenge for detoxification treatment! So far, there is still not a drug for effective treatment of psychological dependence.
Drug abuse is one of public hazards in the world, which is harmful for the abusers and society, and can hardly be withdrawn, has a relatively high relapse rate, and brings tremendous pain and psychological and physical burdens to subjects. Protracted withdrawal symptoms such as malaise and insomnia are main physiological factors for relapse, unappeasable psychological craving for drug is main psychological factor for relapse, drug taking environment and induction from other abusers are main social factors for relapse, so that these psychological, physiological and social factors render easy relapse after detoxification in subjects with heroin dependence. At present, there are near 10 kinds of traditional Chinese drugs for detoxification are approved by State Food and Drug Administration, which are suitable for drug abusers with light, middle drug dependence, wherein the commonly used include "Kangling Tablets" ( ), "Fukang Tablets" (), "Jitai Tablets" (), "Yianhuishang Oral Solution" (), "Lingyi Capsules" (), "Xinsheng Jieduling Soluble Granules" (), "Xiangteng Capsule" () and so on. However, these drugs cannot achieve desired effects in treatment of drug abusers with serious drug dependence, and still have to be used in combination with other medicaments.

Pharmaceutical composition for treating drug addiction

YUNNAN MINGJINGHENGLI PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.


Belts used in agricultural applications and particularly in round, hay balers have inherent problems created by their predominant process of manufacture. This process often involves cutting a large processed sheet of material into the narrow strips which form the core of the belt. The method disclosed herein produces a belt with a folded edge, a fabric wrapped edge, or an edge that is reinforced with a hard elastomer. These belts have strengthened longitudinal edges and an increased cross-sectional modulus at the edges which alleviates many problems associated with current hay-baler belts.

The present invention relates to a method of making belting and, more particularly, to a method of making belting useful in round, hay balers.
In agricultural applications, belts are used for a wide variety of purposes, from transmitting power to conveying produce. For example, hay balers use belts to form hay into a bale. In a typical round, hay baler, eight to fifteen rollers support four to eight individual belts, each of which is typically about 40 feet long.
Rigorous demands are placed on belts used in round, hay balers. The belts serve not only as conveying media, but also as size restrictors and compaction devices. This rigorous service is in sharp contrast to the service performed by the more prevalent conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is generally limited to service as a carrying and actuating medium.
The most common type of belt used in hay balers today is a three-ply belt, such as the belt disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,580 (Morrison et al.). The belt typically is comprised of three fabric plies coupled by two inner rubber skims that form the belt core and two outer rubber skims that protect the core surfaces. A brief description of the three-ply belt's conventional manufacturing technique is in order. First, large sheets of fabric for the center ply and the outer plies are primed with a bonding chemical such as resorcinol formaldehyde latex (RFL). Uncured inner rubber skims and outer rubber covers are then alternated with the fabric sheets. The plied sheets are then vulcanized to form the appropriate bonds, and the belts are cut to the appropriate lengths and widths from the large three-ply sheet.
The most common method of belt production from large processed sheets such as the three-ply sheet mentioned above is the `cut-edge` belt method. The belts are produced by slitting the large sheets of processed material into individual belts of the proper width. This exposes the edges of the fabric plies that form the core of the belt. The belt ends of the individual belts are then fastened together to produce continuous, cut-edge, loop belts. While these loop belts have been well received, they are not without problems.
A first such problem lies in the fact that the longitudinal edges of the belts produced by the cut-edge method tend to delaminate when the belts are subjected to the loads and stresses of a hay-baling operation. This delamination along the longitudinal edges contributes to deterioration of the means used to fasten the ends of the belt together, especially along the longitudinal edges.
A second problem with cut-edge belting is caused by uneven infeeding of the crop into the baler. The crop pushes material into the side of the belt which tends to force the belt off a straight path of travel. This causes the edges of the belt to wear excessively, and the wear becomes progressively worse with use.
Moreover, the edges of cut-edge belts and other types of belts tend to curl up against the mechanical guides on the rollers. This curling induces an even greater amount of stress and flexion at the edges of the belt and, thus, contributes to accelerated fatigue at the edges of the belt.
A common problem with all current hay baler belts results from the heavy loads they are subjected to as they travel around the rollers when baling. The belt edges tend to stretch more than the center of the belt. This is due, at least partially, to an unbalance of load or force dissipation as the load shifts off the belt's center. This unbalanced load results from the gaps between the belts in the hay baler. When the belts are acting as compressors on the hay bale, the hay tends to bulge out between the gaps resulting in greater stress on the edges of the belt and thus greater elongation.
Another common problem with available belting is belt rollover. Current belts deform along the leading edge of a sideward moving belt. This deformation tends to brake the belt along the leading edge which causes the leading edge to roll under and the rest of the belt to roll over this leading edge. This rollover results in detrimental elongation of the belt edge which interferes with proper baler operation and contributes to deterioration of the belt.
The current methods of attaching belt ends to form continuous loop belts also create problems within the belts. The ends of cut-edge and other belts are typically joined by one of two methods. In a first method, mechanical fasteners are used to join the ends of each belt to form an endless belt. A commonly used mechanical fastener known as a "clipper lace" splice is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,580 (Morrison et al.), incorporated herein by reference. A clipper lace splice includes a plurality of metal eyelets that are connected to each end of the belt. When the eyelets on each end of the belt are aligned with one another, a rod or other suitable retaining material is passed through the eyelets. The ends of the rod are suitably formed to prevent removal of the rod so that the splice remains intact.
The mechanical fasteners tend to deteriorate belts in several ways. First, the mechanical fasteners tend to wear and fail at a faster rate along the longitudinal edges of the belts because of the force exerted on the belt edge by the hay bales. If a mechanical fastener on a hay baler fails, the belt must be replaced before the hay baler can continue operating.
Second, because of the excessive wear on the outer-edge fasteners, they are damaged and effectively lost. This damage puts the central fasteners under greater tension which, in turn, can cause damage to these fasteners.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,676 (Morrison et al.), incorporated herein by reference, discloses a second method for joining the ends of cut-edge and other belts. This method solves some of the retention problems associated with mechanical fasteners by splicing the ends of the belt to form an endless loop. While the endless splice has proven successful in improving the reliability of the fastened belt, the increased cost of the endless splice has slowed its acceptance in the industry.
While belts have been improved over the years to minimize or overcome various problems, no known belt satisfactorily minimizes or overcomes the problems mentioned above. Two-ply belts, where the plies are made of a polyamide fabric, such as Nylon (a trademark of DuPont), exhibit excellent flexing characteristics, but also possess a relatively high modulus. In an effort to solve the elongation problem, a two-ply belt was developed where the plies were made of a rayon material. Rayon has a lower modulus than a polyamide fabric and, hence, does not stretch as much as a polyamide belt under the same load. However, the rayon belt proved to be unacceptable, since rayon is particularly susceptible to environmental deterioration caused by moisture. In another attempt to solve the elongation problem, a two-ply belt was developed where the plies were made of a polyester material. This belt proved ineffective since the polyester plies tended to crack when flexed, and the cracking was most pronounced in the area of the mechanical fastener.
A subsequently developed three-ply belt exhibited improved flexing and stretching characteristics as compared with the above-mentioned two-ply belts. The center ply was a polyester fabric, and each outer ply was a polyamide fabric. Interposed between the center ply and each outer ply was a rubber skim. These materials were bonded together, and a rubber cover was bonded to each outer ply to provide abrasion protection for the belt and to give the machinery on which the belt was used a surface to engage when the belt was in operation.
One suggested solution for several of the problems associated with cut-edge belts and mechanical fasteners has been to put a rubber cap on the exposed edges of the belts. This solution was described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,900,609 (Arnold) and 4,371,580 (Morrison et al.). This rubber cap has consisted of the same material used on the outer surfaces of the belt. The cap has helped slow down wear on the inner, fabric plies that were exposed in cut-edge belts. It has also provided shock resistance for the mechanical fasteners such as when the belt comes into contact with the mechanical guides.

Method for making belting with increased edge modulus


In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a retractable roof system for a hard top vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a rigid roof portion that resides above a vehicle body forward a rear storage space when closed. Additionally, the storage space includes a lid adjacent the roof portion. Lastly, a motor is operatively configured to assist in the simultaneous movement of the roof portion and lid to a recessed, open position. Further provided is a method of retracting a rigid vehicle roof.

In general, open-roof designs for individualized transportation has been utilized for many years as established by carriages and the first engine-driven vehicles. Open driving was and is part of the culture of automobile driving with continued interest for contemporary designs. In the case of convertibles, it is primarily folding roofs, which are constructed in such a manner as to be able to be retracted and stretched out again, with a structure of bars and an external skin which is correspondingly foldable. Such types of folding roofs have disadvantages, particularly for reason of restricted suitability during bad weather and winter and are, due to construction, adversely affected by unpleasant wind noises at high speeds.
For increased suitability during bad weather and winter, rigid convertible folding tops, so-called hard tops were designed to provide a detachable roof, with the same paintwork and finish as the body. However, early designs were extremely expensive and complex, lending to limited production offerings.
Because of tendencies within the culture of motor vehicles at the present time, convertibles are no longer purely used as leisure-time vehicles, such as a second or third household car. Instead, such vehicles serve as a primary vehicle, leading to significant design options for hard tops which can be retracted into the vehicle space behind the passenger compartment. The most common areas for storage include a space between the passenger compartment and the trunk or within the trunk itself, thereby restricting use of the trunk space while retracted. This design is commonly referred to as an internal storage design. Alternative designs have also included storage of the hard top above the vehicle trunk for purposes of simplifying the design and maintaining a pleasing appearance. Such designs are commonly referred to as an external storage design. However, such designs impede or prevent use of the vehicle trunk while the hard top is retracted and noticeably change the appearance of the vehicle profile. Therefore, a need exists for providing a retracting system that will allow external storage of the vehicle hard top that will not significantly effect the side profile of the vehicle and permit full use of the vehicle trunk space.
The present invention provides a solution to this and other problems known in the art, and offers other advantages over the prior art.

Motor assisted movement of vehicle top with storage area lid


A method for determining touch point coordinates on capacitive type touch panel includes following steps. A touch panel having a conductive layer, a plurality of first electrodes, and a plurality of second electrodes is provided. A first signal curve As1 is obtained by driving and sensing each first electrode. A second signal curve As2 is obtained by driving and sensing each second electrode. A third signal curve Bs1 is obtained by driving and sensing each first electrode, wherein the second electrode opposite to the sensed first electrode is grounded. A fourth signal curve Bs2 is gotten by driving and sensing each second electrodes, wherein the first electrode opposite to the sensed second electrode is grounded. The coordinates of the touch points are obtained by comparing the first signal curve As1, the second signal curve As2, the third signal curve Bs1, and the fourth signal curve Bs2.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a method for determining touch point coordinates, particularly to a method for determining touch point coordinates on capacitive type touch panel with single conductive layer.
2. Description of Related Art
Touch panels or touch screens are widely applied in electronic apparatuses, particularly in portable or hand-held electronic apparatuses, such as personal digital assistants (PDA) or mobile phones. Touch panels involve integration of resistive-type, capacitive-type or optical touch technologies and display panels.
A conventional capacitive-type touch panel includes two pattern layers made of transparent conductive materials formed on two surfaces of a glass substrate respectively to detect two-dimensional coordinates on the pattern layers. The transparent conductive material of conventional touch panel is indium tin oxide (ITO). Recently, the research is focus on the capacitive-type touch panel with single layer of transparent conductive material. The single layer of transparent conductive material comprises a plurality of triangular electrodes extending along the same direction (X direction) and aligned side to side. Each two adjacent electrodes are coupled together to detect the touch point. However, the touch panel cannot distinguish the two points on the extending direction. Therefore, the touch panel is not suitable for multi-touching.
What is needed, therefore, is to provide a method for solving the problem discussed above.

Method for detecting touch points on a touch panel

TIANJIN FUNAYUANCHUANG TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A frame member for the handle of a folding knife or multipurpose tool includes an integral flange with an integral leaf spring. An internal frame member has an upper flange and an oppositely facing lower flange. Each flange includes an integral leaf spring. The leaf springs bear upon the base portions of folding tool blades that are pivotably pinned to the frame. Attaching side scales to the frame creates upwardly and downwardly facing tool pockets. Other frames are shown in the form of a channel with an integral external flange extending outwardly from the top of a channel wall in a direction away from the channel. Pivot pins extending through the channel and out the channel wall carry pivoting tool blades. An integral leaf spring on the external flange bears against the base of a blade pivotably connected to the frame outside of the channel. Other tool blades are carried inside the channel and pivot about the pivot pin.

The present invention relates to implements such as knives and tools having folding blades or tool bits, and particularly to a frame member having a flange including an integral leaf spring.
Most folding knives or tools have a spring of some fashion which interacts with a folding blade or bit to hold the blade or bit in folded or extended position relative to the handle. Such springs are typically biased to bear against the cam-shaped base of the folding blade or bit. The cam on the base is shaped such that increased force is required to move the blade or bit into or out of extended or folded position. The spring also applies a frictional force to the base as the blade or bit is being moved between folded and extended positions. For example, traditional folding pocket knives include an independent back spring, separate from and fastened to the frame or scales of the knife, that bears against the base of the blade. Folding multipurpose tools such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,238,862, 5,697,114, 5,745,997 and 6,293,018 employ leaf springs, integral with a portion of the tool frame, to bear against the base of a blade or bit. These leaf springs are typically cut from a portion of a frame member and are located within a channel formed by one or more frame members. The folding multipurpose tool shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,745,997 includes both an integral leaf spring and two independent beam springs arranged within a channel-shaped frame member. U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,787 discloses integral leaf springs located in the floor and sidewall of a channel-shaped frame member.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A needle tip protecting device is provided for hypodermic needles, catheters, and the like. The device is small enough to be stored at the base of the needle prior to and during use. After use it may be slid to cover the needle tip where it automatically self-attaches and becomes non-removable. Various embodiments of mechanisms to achieve this effect are described.

2.1 The dangers of infection from accidental contact with the pointed end of used hypodermic needles has long been recognized and is well documented. For example, refer to Jagger, Hunt, Brand-Elnaggar and Pearson, the New England Journal of Medicine, August, 1988. In most procedures, the greatest avoidable risk of accidental needle puncture, or "needle-stick", occurs during handling of the used needle, when it is generally inserted into a protective sheath for disposal. This action usually requires moving the hand which holds the sheath towards the pointed tip of the needle, and any inaccuracy in this operation raises the possibility of a puncture. The risk of this is greatly increased if the operator is working under stress, such as time-pressure or fatigue, or is handicapped by marginal eyesight or unsteady hands.
2.2 A number of devices have been developed to deal with the general problem of needle-sticks, and reference may be made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,747,835 (Sandhaus); 4,735,618 (Hagen); 4,735,617 (Nelson, Fieme); 4,731,059 (Wanderer, Sagsfretter); 4,725,267 (Vaillancourt); 4,720,285 (Pickhard); 4,623,336 (Pedicano, Kane); 4,430,082 (Schwabacher, et el), and 4,755,170 (Golden).
2.3 Some of these, for example Sandhaas, Neison/Flome, and Pedicano/Kane, provide an enlarged conical entry to the protective sheath, so that the resulting larger target reduces the chance of the operator missing the entry. This may be combined with some non-manual means of holding the sheath assembly, further reducing the risk. All of these devices require the operator to divert his attention from his immediate task and to exercise some measure of care in placing the needle into the sheathing device.
2.4 Others of these, for example Hagen and Vaillancourt, aspire to attain the desirable goal of keeping the hands wholly behind the sharpened tip of the needle during the manipulation of the protective device. The Hagen design stores the tip protector around the base of the needle, but in this mode the lateral retaining members are folded in an "arms akimbo" configuration, mending to either side of the needle in a manner which could interfere with the proper manipulation of the syringe and needle during insertion and removal. The Vaillancourt design mounts the tip protector at the distal end of a cylindrical bellows coaxial with the needle, which may be collapsed longitudinally to allow storage of the tip protector at the needle base. This is more compact, but requires care and attention during the needle sheathing action to ensure that the needle is properly located within the protector. Failure to do this could result in the needle becoming exposed again. Both designs appear to offer uncertainty of protection in the event of an impact against the tip of the needle, such as might occur if the latter were dropped. As both designs appear to employ flexed plastic or elastomeric joints or folds for their articulation, operation of the device might encounter significant stiffness, depending upon the desired mechanical strength of this articulation and the length of time over which the device was kept in the stored position prior to use.
2.5 Golden provides for a sealing cover to be placed over a needle tip after being slid down the needle from the base. This tip, made of absorbent material that is not normally stored on the needle prior to use, is not of a dimension that would fit conveniently within a storage cover. The positioning of this cover is either by means of eye judgment, relying on a marker on the needle; or by means of a thickened portion formed near the tip of a specially configured needle. This cover does not, however, fasten, clamp or lock onto the needle tip in any way. A needle-stick injury could simply occur by the accidental withdrawal of the cover from the tip.
2.6 Against this background, it is the object of this invention to provide a protective guard for hypodermic needles with the following useful functions:
2.6.1 It provides a protective guard which forms an integral part of the needle assembly and which is dimensionally shorter in length than the needle.
2.6.2 The protective guard may be stored prior to use at the base of the needle shaft in a manner which requires a minimum of space and is substantially unobtrusive.
2.6.3 The protective guard may be retained in its storage position by a retention means which allows the ready release of the protective device when it is to be moved into its protecting position.
2.6.4 The protective guard may be moved into its protecting position on the needle; tip following needle use in a way which requires no significant training, no manual skills, no visual acuity, or particular level of lighting.
2.6.5 The protective guard may be moved into its protecting position with the hands always behind the needle tip and with the motion of the hands always directed safely away from the needle tip.
2.6.6 The protective guard automatically detects the needle tip to establish its correct protecting position on the needle shaft with no judgement required of the operator.
2.6.7 The protective guard automatically locks itself to the needle shaft with no additional action required of the operator when it has reached the correct axial protecting position.
2.6.8 According to one further arrangement when the protective guard is locked in its protecting position the sharp tip of the needle is automatically covered by a substantial thickness of material to provide a high degree of protection against re-emergence of the needle tip from the protective cover.
2.6.9 When the protective guard is in its protecting position it presents a smooth, substantially unobtrusive surface with no protrusions.
2.6.10 When the protecting guard is in its protecting position the used needle may be handled and disposed of with no more than normal handling precautions than are customary for potentially contaminated medical materials.
2.6.11 When the protecting guard is used in association with an insertion needle within a catheter, the guard is automatically transferred from its storage position to the needle tip by the action of withdrawing the insertion needle from the catheter.
2.7 An important area of concern in the disposal of possibly contaminated needles relates to the use of intravenous catheters. In these devices, the needle is usually supplied in a pre-packaged assembly, already inserted inside a flexible, close-fitting catheter tube, the latter having a base with coupling means to allow the subsequent connection of tubing for intravenous infusion or similar procedures. The needle length is such that its point extends slightly beyond the distal end of the catheter, thus acting as a piercing means to allow insertion of the catheter and needle into a blood vessel in the patient. Thus such needles are known as "insertion needles".
2.8.degree. Following insertion of the needle and catheter, the needle is withdrawn from inside the catheter and must be disposed of. At this point the operator's attention is taken up with other matters, mainly relating to the attachment of tubing to the catheter and controlling loss of blood, and this makes him significantly more vulnerable to needle stick accidents if he must divert his attention to safe disposal of the needle by conventional means.
2.9 By a simple adaptation, the subject protective guard may be attached to the catheter as part of the pre-packaged assembly, with the needle installed first through the guard and then inside the catheter. When the operator withdraws the needle from the catheter after insertion into the patient, the guard remains frictionally attached to the catheter, allowing the needle to slide freely through it in either direction, until the point of the needle is withdrawn inside the body of the guard. At this point the guard locks securely over the tip of the needle, allowing the operator to detach the guard from the catheter by a slight additional withdrawal force. The needle, with the guard in place, may be then disposed of without further attention from the operator.
2.10.degree. In this way, no separate action or thought is required of the operator during the needle withdrawal process, since the guard is automatically applied as the needle point exits the catheter during the normal withdrawal sequence, and therefore no training is required in the use of the guard element.
2.11.degree. These desirable qualities, as well as other features and characteristics are provided by the subject invention, using the arrangements, construction, components, and steps as described and illustrated hereafter in this disclosure, and which exemplify this invention.

Disposable automatic hypodermic needle guard


A hammock cover including a flexible elongated major portion having a first transverse edge and a second transverse edge and configured to releasably attach to a conventional hammock for covering a body portion of the hammock, a first flexible minor portion configured to releasably attach to a first line portion of the hammock and to substantially overlap the first transverse edge of the major portion for covering the first line portion of the hammock, and a second flexible minor portion configured to releasably attach to a second line portion of the hammock and to substantially overlap the second transverse edge of the major portion for covering the second line portion of the hammock.

Hammocks have been in wide use for many years. More recently, the hammock has become strongly associated with leisure time. Indeed, many advertisers attempt to associate their products with the pleasant thoughts of leisure time by featuring an individual or individuals relaxing on a hammock slung between two trees in the back yard of a home during a comfortable sunny weekend afternoon.
Although there are a wide variety of sizes and types of hammocks, many commonalities exist among hammocks available to the individual. From these commonalities, a hypothetical conventional hammock may be described. Typically, the conventional hammock includes an elongated body portion, which is made of a series of ropes which are knotted together at predetermined points and/or woven to form a net-like structure in which an individual(s) places his or herself in a typically supine position for relaxing while on the hammock. However, the conventional hammock may include a body portion which is constructed of a piece of fabric or other suitable material.
In any case, the elongated body portion of the conventional hammock is typically rectangular in shape and has a first end and a second end. In the case of a hammock having a body portion constructed of ropes, the ropes are either integral or otherwise connected to first and second line portions which extend from the first and second ends of the body portion, respectively. The first and second line portions are each constructed of a series of equidistant spaced apart ropes which converge to first and second rings, typically made of steel. The rings, in turn, are connected to first and second leaders, which are typically lengths of chain. Also included on the conventional hammock are first and second spreader bars which are interposed between the hammock body first end and first line portion and the hammock body second end and second line portion, respectively. The spreader bars prevent the first and second line portions and first and second ends of the hammock body portion from becoming twisted or overly deformed, and thus contribute greatly to the comfort which may be experienced by lying on the hammock.
The conventional hammock is typically slung by the first and second leaders between first and second hooks on first and second supports, respectively. Typically, the first and second supports are fixed. Perhaps the most classic first and second fixed supports are two trees. However, if adequate trees are unavailable then it is common to anchor suitable first and second fixed supports under a shade tree. Regardless of what type of supports are used, it is the distance between the supports and specifically the first and second hooks which determines how taut the hammock will be slung between the supports, i.e. if the supports are sufficiently far apart then the hammock will be almost horizontal upon being slung therebetween. An important aspect of this distance is that it determines how much the center of the hammock will deflect under the load of an individual lying on the hammock so that if the hammock is tautly drawn between the hooks, the center of the hammock will deflect only slightly downwardly and the individual will be lying substantially flat. Whereas, if the hammock is slung loosely between the hooks, then the center of the hammock will deflect greatly and the individual lying thereupon will likely be in a substantially arcuate position, and consequently, will likely be uncomfortable. It is important then to find supports or to space apart supports so that an adequate amount of tension may be produced between the first and second ends, i.e. rings, of the hammock for comfortable hammock use.
While finding or fabricating suitable supports may be initially problematic, once solved, the solution is relatively permanent. There exists another problem, however, which is unfortunately somewhat recurring which impedes the achievement of hammock enjoyment. This problem involves generating the necessary force to sling a hammock between two adequately spaced apart hooks on suitable supports, especially for conventional hammocks which have a larger capacity, e.g., "two-person" hammocks. It is somewhat troublesome, and for some individuals impossible, to secure a first ring at the end of a first leader of the hammock to a first hook and then to generate the necessary force to secure a second ring at the end of a second leader of the hammock to a second hook to adequately sling the hammock.
Unfortunately, even if this task must be performed by or with the help of another individual, it must be repeated every time the hammock is used since it is desirable to remove the hammock from the supports and to take it indoors for storage between uses. For if the hammock is not taken down and brought indoors for storage it is exposed to the elements of the environment between uses. As an example of the problems which may be caused by such exposure consider that, insects, birds, or other wildlife may damage the hammock, thereby rendering the hammock unsafe or at least devalued. As another example, if the hammock is slung between two trees, then the hammock may accumulate drippings of sap, or other substances which might not only corrode the materials of the hammock but might also dirty or possibly stain the clothing of an individual lying upon the hammock.
This problem would be solved if it were not necessary to remove the hammock from between the supports and store it between uses. Other problems would also be solved by being able to leave a hammock slung outdoors between uses. For example, precious indoor storage space would be preserved.


Both application of centrifugal force to a biosensor and electrical connection with an electrode of the biosensor can be achieved with a simple structure. The electrode of the biosensor and a measuring part are connected without aligning a rotational position of the rotary table. The centrifugal measuring apparatus 1 is provided with a rotary table 2 that is driven by a motor, a retainer 3 to hold a biosensor accommodating a sample inside on the rotary table, an urged contact part 4 that establishes electrical connection with the electrode of the biosensor in such a manner as being elastically biased to abut against the electrode, a measuring part 8 that measures a signal from the electrode of the biosensor, and a connector part 7 that selectively establishes electrical connection between the urged contact part 4 and the measuring part 8. A contact having a circular shape is utilized to establish electrical connection between the rotary table 2 on which the biosensor 20 is mounted and the fixture side, thereby enabling an electrical connection therebetween irrespective of a position of the biosensor on the rotary table, when the rotary table is stopped.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a measuring apparatus that applies centrifugal force to a sample for carrying out a measurement. More particularly, it relates to a measuring apparatus that is applicable to a measuring instrument used in a blood test and the like, for example, which centrifugally separates a blood sample and analyzes blood components being obtained.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a blood test in the field of clinical diagnosis, a disease state of a subject, a recovery condition after treatment, and the like are grasped, by means of analyzing a specific component of the blood being collected. Generally, in the blood test as described above, the blood being collected is separated by component, and analysis is conducted only on the component containing a substance to be analyzed. In many cases, a serum component is considered as a target item for checking in a biochemical examination of blood.
In measuring and analyzing a sample such as blood, there is known a measuring apparatus that centrifugally separates components contained in the sample by using centrifugal force, so as to measure a component being separated. For instance, the blood being collected is subjected to a centrifugal separation, to obtain blood serum and the like by separating erythrocyte, leucocyte, lymphocyte, platelet, and blood coagulation factors, and the blood serum and the like are each taken into test tubes. Then, with respect to each, concentration of pH, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and the like, are measured by a chemical sensor. In addition, a test reagent such as enzyme is injected and an emission reaction with a substrate in the blood serum is subjected to spectroscopy or absorption spectroscopy (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-107080, paragraphs 0002 and 0020, hereinafter, referred to as "patent document 1").
In addition to the above method where the component centrifugally separated is injected in each test tube and the analysis is conducted therein, there is also known a technique for the blood analysis, which uses an apparatus called a biosensor. This biosensor has a structure to collect a sample and also transport the sample being collected to an analysis part. Centrifugal force is applied to the biosensor while keeping the sample inside, thereby transporting the sample being collected to the analysis part within the biosensor, and further the sample is subjected to the centrifugal separation within the analysis part. Furthermore, as a way of example, a reagent may be provided within the analysis part, enabling an analysis by reaction of a component with the reagent.
As a representative example of testing equipment used for examination at home, a device for SMBG (Self Monitoring of Blood Glucose) has been developed, which measures glucose concentration in blood (blood glucose level). In the examination employing the SMBG device broadly used these days, the subject oneself stabs a fingertip or an arm with paracentesis needle, and a small amount of blood sample having bled is utilized.
To be exact, the blood glucose level indicates glucose concentrations in the serum. The most common method for measuring the glucose concentrations is the one which utilizes an enzyme electrode. In this measuring method, a whole blood sample being collected is fed into a biosensor, and it is subjected to a measurement. The biosensor has an enzyme reaction layer inside. According to an amperometric measuring method, the enzyme reaction layer measures a current in accordance with the glucose concentration in the serum without hemolyzing the blood cell. In this measuring method, the concentration of a particular component in the serum is measured without separating the blood cell component.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-310973, pages 6 to 8, hereinafter, referred to as "patent document 2", discloses an electrochemical biosensor as a simple instrument for measuring blood glucose level, which measures the glucose concentration in the whole blood sample collected from human. This biosensor is provided with a suction port for sucking a sample, and when the whole blood sample as a sample is provided to this suction port, the whole blood sample is sucked into a suction cavity called as a capillary fill chamber, by means of capillary phenomenon. This sucking into the suction cavity is performed by letting the air in the suction cavity out of a vent hole which is formed in the recesses of the suction cavity.
A working electrode and a counter electrode are arranged in this suction cavity. These electrodes obtain a measured current value being correlated with the glucose concentration, in a condition that the whole blood sample includes a blood cell component. Based on this measured current value, the blood glucose level can be measured easily.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-109082, pages 6 to 9, hereinafter, referred to as "patent document 3", discloses a biosensor for blood analysis which performs a plasma separation by centrifugal operation. A flow channel of the biosensor for blood analysis is provided with a portion where a blood cell component is accumulated in the centrifugal direction upon centrifugal separation. With the centrifugal separation, the blood cell component is accumulated on the bottom, and a plasma component is separated as supernatant. In order to introduce the whole blood sample obtained from the subject as a sample, this biosensor is provided with an external pump at an outlet port, and the whole blood sample is suctioned by the suction negative pressure from the blood suction port. Similarly, it is also configured such that the plasma component after the centrifugal separation is transferred to an analytical position by the suction negative pressure from the external pump. In addition, the blood analyzer disclosed in the patent document 1 includes a configuration to apply centrifugal force by rotating the biosensor having an electrode, and the electrode of the biosensor is brought into electrical contact with a point of contact.
In the blood analyzer disclosed in the patent document 1 as described above, the biosensor is mounted on a rotary table, and centrifugal force is applied to the biosensor by turning this rotary table. There is also a configuration that an opening is provided on the rotary table to establish electrical connection with the electrode of the biosensor, and a contact for measurement is made to move up and down through this opening part.
In this configuration, when the rotary table is to be rotated, the contact for measurement is moved down, and centrifugal force can be applied to the biosensor by turning the rotary table without an interference with the contact. When the measurement is performed, the rotary table is brought to a halt, then, the contact for measurement is raised by passing through the aforementioned opening, and electrical connection is established with the electrode of the biosensor.
According to this configuration, both application of centrifugal force and measurement via the electrode, targeting a sample taken into the biosensor, can be performed within one biosensor. Therefore, an operation to move the sample is unnecessary, thereby achieving a configuration suitable for an automatic analysis.
In the measuring device using centrifugal force, electrical connection between the contact for measurement and the electrode of biosensor is necessary, when the measurement is carried out. Generally, when the rotary table is stopped having been rotating at a high speed, without any control, a position where the rotary table being stopped is random in the circumferential direction. Therefore, in the above configuration for measurement, generally, the stop position of the contact for measurement is not always opposed to the electrode of the biosensor. It is thus required to align the contact for measurement with the position being opposed to the electrode of the biosensor.
FIG. 20A to FIG. 20D are illustrations to explain a positional relationship between the contact for measurement and the electrode of the biosensor in the conventional measuring device utilizing centrifugal force. FIG. 20A illustrates that the biosensor 111 is being mounted on the rotary table 102. The biosensor 110 is fixed on and held by a retainer 103 that is provided on the board face of the rotary table 102. The biosensor 110 receives centrifugal force generated by turning the rotary table 102 rotatably supported by the rotary shaft 101, and the sample stored inside is centrifugally separated (FIG. 20B). After the centrifugal separation is finished, the turning of the rotary table 102 is brought to a halt. Then, the rotational position of the rotary table is adjusted for alignment, whereby the electrode 111 of the biosensor 110 is electrically connected to the contact for measurement 104 (FIG. 20C). In the state where the electrode 111 of the biosensor 110 and the contact for measurement 104 are electrically connected, the electrode 111 is energized and simultaneously a measured current is checked (FIG. 20D). In order to establish the electrical connection between the electrode 111 of the biosensor 110 and the contact for measurement 114, alignment is necessary at the time of halt as shown in FIG. 20C.
As a way of example to align the contact for measurement with a position opposed to the electrode of the biosensor, there is a configuration to install a controller to control the rotation of the rotary table, or a configuration to employ a stepping motor.
However, installation of such controller to control the rotation may be a factor that increases the cost of the device. This rise in cost by installing the controller may become more pronounced, as a rotating speed of the rotary table is set to be higher. If the stepping motor is employed, it is possible to control the stop position, but the rotating speed is hardly set to be high. Therefore, it is not applicable when large centrifugal force is to be applied.
In order to address the problems as described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a simple configuration which both applies centrifugal force to the biosensor and establishes electrical connection with the electrode of the biosensor. The present invention further aims at establishing connection between the electrode of the biosensor and the measuring part, without an alignment of the rotational position of the rotary table.

Measuring instrument using centrifugal force