The air-cleaner includes a housing. The air-cleaner includes a filter element located in the housing to filter air taken into the housing. The air-cleaner includes an adsorption element for adsorbing vaporized fuel flowing into the housing. The housing includes first and second housing components having open ends put on each other. The filter element is held between the first and second housing components, separating the housing into a clean side and a dust side. The adsorption element includes a frame at the periphery; and an adsorption portion located inside the frame. One of the first and second housing components as the clean side has an inner side back in the open end, the inner side having a mounting portion having the adsorption element mounted thereto. The mounting portion includes the adsorption element; and a support member placed thereon.

The invention relates to an air-cleaner installed in the intake system of an internal combustion engine, filtering an intake air, and feeding the filtered air to the engine.
Recent internal combustion engines are further required to prevent leakage of a vaporized fuel from the intake system. Consequently, a technique is spread, which provides an adsorbent adsorbing the vaporized fuel in an air-cleaner installed in the intake system. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-266713 (referred to as Patent Publication 1) discloses the following air-cleaner. The air-cleaner includes therein an adsorption sheet opposed to a filter element for adsorbing a vaporized fuel, being positioned on a clean side within the housing of the air-cleaner.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-276486 discloses an invention related to adsorption means (referred to as Patent Publication 2). The adsorption means disclosed therein is formed by holding granular activated carbon between unwoven fabrics, and integrally putting heat resistant nets on the respective unwoven fabrics. The adsorption means is also arranged to be opposed to a filter element on the clean side in the air-cleaner.
As disclosed in the above patent publications, for preventing the vaporized fuel from leaking from the intake system to the atmosphere, the techniques for adsorbing the vaporized fuel using the air-cleaners have been recently performed.
However, the air-cleaner is a unit mainly intended to filter the intake air and feed the filtered air to the engine. Therefore, while the engine is operated, an intake action produces an air-flow directed from the dust side to the clean side within the air-cleaner.
According to the invention disclosed in the Patent publication 1, the adsorption sheet receives the intake air to be flexible downstream due to the air pressure. If the adsorption sheet is thickened to prevent such a flexing phenomenon, the air-flow resistance is increased.
Furthermore, according to the invention disclosed in the Patent Publication 2, it is disadvantageously difficult to form such different types of materials as the granular activated carbon, the nonwoven fabrics, and the heat resistant nets into an integrated member. Holding of the granular activated carbon between the paired heat resistant nets eventually increases air-low resistance.


A hybrid docking station determines whether native video data exists and can be passed through to a video port or whether a virtual video processor should be activated to provide virtual video data to a video port. For example, a laptop is connected to a hybrid docking station using a USB™ 3.0 connection. The hybrid docking station recognizes that the USB™ 3.0 connection includes a native video data and passes the native video data to a DisplayPort™. By avoiding activating a virtualized video processor and using native video data, the laptop avoids installing software to communicate with the virtualized video processor and communicates with one or more displays using a native video channel. By avoiding installing software, it simplifies IT's and user's usage and experience with universal docking station.

The proliferation of portable electronic devices including notebook computers (e.g., laptops, netbooks, ultrabooks, etc.), tablet computers (e.g., the Apple® iPad™, Amazon® Kindle™, etc.), portable digital assistants (PDAs), and smartphones, has placed more computing power into the hands of users than the computing power of early computers that occupied an entire room. Due to their portability, however, portable electronic devices may not be ideally suited for sustained use over long periods of time. In some instances, portable electronic device interfaces may be designed primarily for portability rather than for functionality and ergonomic efficiency. For example, keyboard inputs and displays integrated in a portable electronic device (e.g., a laptop computer) may be sized significantly smaller than keyboard inputs and displays associated with a less portable system (e.g., a desktop computer). Further, a portable electronic device designer may sacrifice integrating accessory devices in a portable electronic device such as, for example, multimedia drives, printers, joysticks, pointing inputs, and the like, for increased portability of the portable electronic device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems, methods and devices for native and virtualized video in a hybrid docking station


A dual fuel injection valve separately and independently injects two different fuels and comprises a dual needle assembly with a hollow open-ended outer needle and an inner needle disposed within the hollow interior. A cap cooperates with the outer needle to cover the open end, and the outer needle and the cap together comprise the inner valve body. The outer and inner needles are each movable independently from each other between respective open and closed positions. A spring disposed between the cap and the inner needle contributes to biasing the inner needle in the closed position. The cap can be joined to the outer needle, whereby the cap can provide a limit to the movement of the inner needle. In another embodiment the cap can be detached from the outer body, allowing the spring to space the cap away from the outer needle, assisting with biasing the outer needle closed.

Because of its ready availability, low cost and potential for reducing particulate emissions, natural gas is a promising substitute for diesel fuel for fuelling compression ignition engines, commonly known as "diesel-cycle" engines. Persons skilled in the technology involved here will understand that natural gas is just one example of a preferred fuel, and that other fuels are also suitable, such as hydrogen, propane and other fuels that are cleaner burning substitutes for diesel fuel. A cleaner burning substitute fuel for diesel is defined as a fuel that can be used in an engine to substantially match the performance of a diesel-fuelled engine with lower particulate matter and/or nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.
Conventional methods of introducing a gaseous fuel into an engine premix all of the gaseous fuel with the intake air, which is a method known as "fumigation". Engines using such an approach have been unable to match the power, performance, and efficiency of diesel-fuelled engines. The applicant has found that the inherent favorable operating characteristics and high efficiency of conventional diesel-fuelled engines can be preserved when at least some of the gaseous fuel is introduced directly into the engine's combustion chamber, late in the compression stroke.
A problem with gaseous fuels such as natural gas is that, compared to diesel fuel, much higher temperatures and pressures are typically needed to auto-ignite the fuel. A solution to this problem, which allows the preservation of the major components of diesel-cycle engines is to inject a small amount of more auto-ignitable fuel such as diesel fuel, to initiate the ignition and combustion of the cleaner burning gaseous fuel.
Using a pilot fuel in addition to a main charge of gaseous fuel preferably requires the installation of at least two independently operable injection valves, one for the pilot fuel and one for the gaseous main fuel. To avoid having to redesign and replace the cylinder head, it is preferable to employ a gaseous and liquid fuel injection valve that fits into the same opening as a conventional diesel fuel injection valve. Accordingly, there is a need for a gaseous and liquid fuel injection valve arrangement that allows independent introduction of liquid pilot fuel and gaseous main fuel directly into the combustion chamber, and that has the same exterior dimensions as a conventional diesel injection valve.

Dual fuel injection valve and method of operating a dual fuel injection valve


Containers are to be mounted with cap having structure usable without removing the cap. Cap with an openable lid of the present invention is that lid is rotated when reactive force against force added on pushing portion 3 reaches from hinge 4 to the lid 2 since radius of rotation of the hinge 4 provided at a predetermined position is smaller than radius of rotation of the pushing portion 3. Further, push button 5 is pushed in connection with opening of the lid since the pushing portion 3 is provided at the position where the pushing portion is adjacent to top edge of the push button 5 at the lid 2 being opened by the hinge 4. Thus, the force reaches the push button 5 through the pushing portion 3, and backward of the push button inclines. This makes it possible to realize a structure of discharging contents of container without removing cap.

1. Field of the Invention
Subject invention relates to a cap with an openable lid mounted on a container for discharging contents thereof by pushing a push button, and more particularly relates to a cap with an openable lid for discharging contents of a container by opening a lid constructing a part of the cap and the push button being pushed thereby.
2. Description of Related Art
Caps covering opening of container containing contents are well known, and cap by structure of mounting a lid to cap body through a hinge and exposing an opening by opening the lid is a type of such caps. This type of caps are not lost or forgotten to be on containers because the cap body is mounted to the container. However, it takes time and may be troublesome to disengage a lid from a hook of the cap body due to some required actions therefor, for example, flipping lid by fingers, pushing up lid by a hand while holding the container by the another hand, etc., and therefore, showing opening of the container may be troublesome.
A cap to be opened by pushing a pushing portion by fingers of a hand while holding the container by the same hand has been introduced (for example, JP Patent Application Publication No. 1998-338256). This cap consists of a cap body, a pushing portion freely connected to the cap body, and a lid portion connected to the pushing portion trough doubled hinge. A hook is mounted between the cap body and the lid portion, and a spigot is formed as projecting inside of the lid portion. Opening of container is covered and the lid portion is fixed on the cap body with the hook by setting the spigot in the opening of the container. The spigot is gotten off from opening of the container while the hook is released by holding the container, pushing the pushing portion, and rotating the lid portion connected to the pushing portion at the time of opening the cap.


In addition to the effect of harmonized illumination and increased heat radiation, a LED illumination lamp provides an improved effect of hermetic seal, anti-vibration and waterproofing between components and assures prolonged life span. The illumination lamp comprises a body adapted to be placed on or around a target illumination object, a LED module lying inside the body and a cover mounted on a seat part of the body. The LED module has a printed circuit board affixed to the body and a group of red, green and blue LEDs attached to the printed circuit. The cover is provided with a semitransparent color-producing part capable of harmonizing colors of the light emitted from the LEDs and an air passageway for permitting the heat generated from the LED module to dissipate to the outside.

As is generally known in the art, use has been made of varying kinds of illumination lamps for lightening or illuminating objects at night or indoors. Such illumination lamps are supplied with electric energy from a power source and convert the electric energy to light energy, thereby producing a beam of light for illumination. Typical examples of the illumination lamps include a glow lamp and a fluorescent lamp.
Widely used in recent years is a Light Emitting Diode (LED) illumination lamp that has a benefit of providing illumination of different colors, although higher in price than the typical lamps referred to above. However, the LED illumination lamp poses a drawback in that it tends to be heated up and shows decreased efficiency when used for more than a predetermined time period. Use of the LED lamp for a prolonged period of time may result in excessive heat generation, thus shortening the life span of the lamp.
A number of solutions have been proposed to the problem of excessive heat generation and life span reduction, one example of which is disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0336197.
A front lightening LED lamp taught in the '197 registration includes, as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, a heat radiation fin 1 having a cylindrical partition wall 1b integrally formed with a center part 1a, a cooling fan 2 received in the cylindrical partition wall 1b of the heat radiation fin 1 for forcibly circulating the air, a circuit board 3 for rectifying alternating current to direct current, a socket 5 attached to the end of the radiation fin 1 and electrically connected to a receptacle for a glow lamp, and a printed circuit board 4 having a plurality of LEDs 4a and mounted on the top of the center part 1a of the heat radiation fin
1. Each of the LEDs 4a is coated with a transparent cover 4b. Also provided is a transparent lens 6 that allows light to pass therethrough.
With the construction set forth above, the front lightening LED lamp of the '197 registration can exhibit increased illuminance with reduced energy consumption, provide proper intensity of illumination in compliance with the needs of a user by way of employing a structure that permits the user to directly affix LEDs to the front side of the lamp and thus confining the direction of light irradiation to a frontward direction, and attain cooling efficiency great enough to assure that the cooling fan can fully demonstrate its performance even when in continuous use, thereby extending the life span of the lamp.
The front lightening LED lamp of the '197 registration, however, poses a problem in that it is difficult to illuminate an object with decorative light of different colors because a transparent lens or cover allows the light emitted from LEDs to transmit therethrough without any color variation. Another drawback is that the external appearance of the lamp is marred by the LEDs remaining completely exposed to the outside through the lens. A further shortcoming resides in that the lamp is complicated in structure and costly to manufacture because a separate cooling fan has to be employed to forcibly dissipate the heat generated by the LEDs. Moreover, use of the cooling fan may lead to increased consumption of electric energy and generate additional heat by itself, thus adversely affecting the surrounding components inclusive of LEDs.
In addition to the disadvantages mentioned above, the front lightening LED lamp of the '197 registration has a further problem in that the connection or coupling between lamp components is too weak to provide an acceptable degree of hermetic seal, anti-vibration and waterproofing, which may result in reduced reliability and shortened life span of the lamp.


Techniques and mechanisms for determining an operation mode of an audio-video (AV) device. In an embodiment, communication logic of the AV device may be configured at different times for different ones of a plurality of operation modes including an AV source operation mode for providing AV information to another device and an AV sink operation mode for receiving AV information from another device. In response to a detected event, control logic initializes the communication logic of the AV device into a default mode which prevents operation of the communication logic as an AV source.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments relate generally to techniques for exchanging audio/video information. More particularly, certain embodiments provide techniques for controlling an audio/video device to selectively receive or send audio/video information.
2. Background Art
The size of computers and other audio/video (AV) capable electronic devices continue to scale with successive improvements in integrated circuit (IC) fabrication techniques. Consequently, there is a general trend toward a wider variety of AV devices, notably smaller AV devices, implementing functionality to support higher throughput and/or higher quality of AV information.
Certain conventional AV devices include a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connector or other such hardware for coupling to some other device, where the AV device operates as a source to provide AV information to the other device via the connector. Typical examples of conventional AV sources include a camcorder, digital camera, personal computer (e.g. tablet, notebook, laptop, desktop and/or the like), smart phone, video game console, DVD player, digital video recorder (DVR), set-top box, plug-in storage peripheral or other such device which is capable of sending AV information to some other device.
Other conventional AV devices operate as a sink to receive AV information from another device via such coupling hardware. Typical examples of conventional AV sinks include a television, monitor, display, home theater receiver, personal computer, projector or other such device which is capable of receiving AV information from some AV source.
One consequence of the current trends in AV technology is smaller and/or higher-capacity AV devices placing an increasing premium on the area which is taken up by multiple AV connectors. Another consequence of current trends is the increasing variety of combinations of AV devices which may be coupled to one another to exchange AV information. Due to such consequences, systems which exchange AV information between electronic devices are increasingly prone to inefficiencies in how such devices are to couple to and communicate with one another.

Method, apparatus and system for transitioning an audio/video device between a source mode and a sink mode


A process for manufacturing a substrate (12) used in a device (10) for containing a liquid crystal fluid (30) between two spaced electrodes. A plurality of spacers (35) is distributed on a first surface of a substrate by coating the first surface with an admixture of spacers dispersed in a liquid (36). The admixture is agitated during the applications step in order to maintain a uniform dispersion of the spacers in the liquid. The liquid is then evaporated from the substrate surface, leaving a plurality of spacers distributed on the substrate. Preferably, an ester alcohol dispersant is employed in the admixture in order to facilitate dispersion of the spacers in the liquid. Ultrasonics are preferred as the means of agitating the admixture during application. Ultrasonic energy can also be applied to the substrate during application of the admixture to the substrate. Ultrasonic energy can also be applied to the admixture at the point of application (44) of the admixture onto the substrate.

Liquid crystal devices employing electro-optical materials that vary their transmissivity in response to an applied electrical potential are commonly used in visual displays of information in applications such as computers, televisions, calculators, radios, automobile controls, and many other products. While display devices embodying these principles are well known, problems with the manufacture of such devices are also well known. One problem that occurs when liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are made thin (in order to achieve low voltage operation) is short circuits appearing across the fluid layer. Another problem is the difficulty in providing consistency of the gap between the two electrodes in the LCD. Since the performance of the device is a function of the consistency of the gap, it is important to accurately control this spacing for maximum uniformity. Unevenness in the spacing produces poor optical properties and promotes rapid deterioration of the liquid crystal fluid. Because of these and other problems, the manufacture of reliable, long-life liquid crystal displays has been difficult.
During the manufacture of LCDs, small spheres are typically applied to a glass substrate to serve as spacers. These spheres perform the function of precisely setting the gap between the upper and lower substrates, the gap being subsequently filled with the liquid crystal fluid. The spheres must be applied in a uniform manner to prevent the substrates from bowing and in order to maintain a uniform gap. Uniform dispersion of the spheres is also required in order to achieve the proper display contrast and performance. Typically, spacer spheres are applied to the substrate by spraying on a suspension of the spheres in a chlorofluorocarbon solvent (CFC). The recent global banning of all CFC usage will soon impact the processes used to manufacture LCDs and an alternative technique is required. Some of these alternative techniques being evaluated by the industry are spraying the spheres using water-based suspensions. Spraying from these types of suspensions does not yield uniform spacer placement on the substrates. Electrostatic spraying has been used with good results reported in the literature. However, electrostatic systems remain unproved in production use and are very expensive.
In addition, existing methods of applying the spacers are not adequate where a high number of spacers per unit area (for example, greater than 20 spacers per square millimeter) of the display is required, such as in large area displays. Current methods result in spacer clumping or aggregation when the spacers are applied in high densities. Clearly, an alternative, low-cost method of applying the spacers onto the substrate would be desirable. Such a method should avoid the use of CFCs and also result in a high-quality LCD.

Process for manufacturing liquid crystal device substrates


The present invention relates to improved well fluids that include hollow particles, and to methods of using such improved well fluids in subterranean cementing operations. The present invention provides methods of cementing, methods of reducing annular pressure, and well fluid compositions. While the compositions and methods of the present invention are useful in a variety of subterranean applications, they may be particularly useful in deepwater offshore cementing operations.

The present invention relates to improved well fluids that comprise hollow particles, and to methods of using such improved well fluids in subterranean cementing operations.
Subterranean cementing operations are commonly performed in connection with, e.g., subterranean well completion and remedial operations. For example, primary cementing operations often involve the cementing of pipe strings, such as casings and liners, in subterranean well bores. In performing primary cementing, hydraulic cement compositions are pumped into the annular space between the walls of a well bore and the exterior surface of the pipe string disposed therein. The cement composition is permitted to set in the annular space, thereby forming an annular sheath of hardened substantially impermeable cement therein that substantially supports and positions the pipe string in the well bore and bonds the exterior surface of the pipe string to the walls of the well bore. Remedial cementing operations may include activities such as plugging highly permeable zones or fractures in well bores, plugging cracks and holes in pipe strings, and the like.
Hydrocarbon production from a well is often initiated at some time after primary cementing has been completed. Hydrocarbon fluids are often at elevated temperatures as they flow through the well bore to be produced at the surface. Thus, production of hydrocarbons through the well bore towards the surface may transfer heat through the casing into the annular space. This tends to cause any fluids present in the annular space to expand. In wells where annular volume is fixed (e.g., wells having closed and/or trapped annuli), this expansion of annular fluid within the fixed annular volume may increase the pressure within the annulus, sometimes dramatically. This phenomenon, commonly referred to as "annular pressure buildup" (APB), may cause severe well bore damage, including damage to the cement sheath, the casing, tubulars, and other well bore equipment.
An annular space may become trapped (e.g., hydraulically sealed) in a number of ways. For example, an operator may close or trap an annulus by shutting a valve, or by energizing a seal, in such a manner that prevents or inhibits communication between fluids within the annulus and the environment outside the annulus. This may occur, inter alia, towards the end of a cementing operation, when all fluids (e.g., spacer fluids and cement compositions) have been circulated into place to the operator's satisfaction.
Operators have attempted to solve the problem of annular pressure buildup in a variety of ways. For example, operators have wrapped the casing (before its installation into the well bore) with syntactic foam, e.g., foam that comprises small, hollow glass particles that are filled with air at atmospheric pressure. The glass particles may collapse at a certain annular pressure, thereby providing extra volume that prevents or mitigates further pressure buildup within the annulus. However, this possible solution to the problem of annular pressure buildup has been problematic because the presence of the foam wrapping often causes a flow restriction during primary cementing of the casing within the well bore. The foam wrapping has also demonstrated a tendency in some cases to detach from the casing, or to otherwise become damaged, as the casing is installed.
Another method by which operators have attempted to solve the problem of annular pressure buildup has involved the placement of nitrified spacer fluids above the top of the cement in an annulus, to absorb the expansion of annular fluids. However, this can be problematic, because of logistical difficulties such as limited room for the required surface equipment, pressure limitations on pumping equipment and the well bore, and associated costs. Another difficulty associated with this method relates to problems that may be involved in circulating the nitrified spacer into place without losing returns while cementing. This method also may be problematic when cementing operations are conducted in remote geographic areas or other areas that lack sufficient access to certain specialized equipment that may be required for pumping energized fluids (e.g., a nitrified spacer fluid).
Operators have also attempted to address annular pressure buildup by installing one or more rupture disks in an outer casing string. Upon the onset of annular pressure buildup, the rupture disk may be permitted to fail, and thus permit relief of the excess pressure into the formation, rather than into the well bore. This may allow the operator to direct the failure of the casing outward, instead of inward, where it could collapse the casing and tubulars. However, this method is problematic for a variety of reasons, including the difficulty that may arise in placing the rupture disks in a location where communication with a subterranean formation may occur, and the possibility that the casing string may become so compromised after the failure of the rupture disk that future well bore operations or events may be precluded.
Operations also have sought to deal with the problem of annular pressure buildup by intentionally designing the primary cementing operation to provide a "shortfall" of cement, e.g., the top of the cement column installed in an annulus is designed to fall slightly short of the shoe belonging to a preceding casing string. However, this method may create an undesirable structural weakness in the well bore. Furthermore, this method may create the possibility that the designed shortfall undesirably may cause the formation to fracture; the difficulty in precisely determining the magnitude of the formation's fracture gradient may exacerbate this possible difficulty. Additionally, the annulus may become trapped by cement due to channeling that may be caused by poor displacement, or by annular bridging of, inter alia, drill cuttings that may remain in the drilling fluid, and other solids normally associated with drilling fluids (e.g., barite, hematite, and the like).

Well fluids and methods of use in subterranean formations


Photographic images recorded with mobile mapping vehicles (20) in real life situations usually contain cars or other moving objects (34) that cover visual information on the road surface (24). According to the techniques of this invention, moving objects (34) are detected by grayscale differencing in overlapping pixels or sections of two or more orthorectified image tiles. Based on moving object identification, masks are generated for each orthorectified tile. The masks are then compared and priorities established based on grayscale values associated with the masks. Mosaics of a large surface of interest such as the Earth can be assembled from a plurality of overlapping photographic images with moving objects (34) largely removed from the resulting mosaic.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for creating a mosaic made up of a plurality of small overlapping photographic images wherein obstructions due to moving foreground objects are minimized.
2. Related Art
Digital maps and digital map databases are used in navigation systems. Digital maps are obtained by various methods, including high resolution imagery from space, as well as orthorectified images taken from land-based mobile vehicles. In the latter case, the images obtained from land-based mapping systems must be converted to an orthorectified image which is scale-corrected and depicts ground features as seen from above in their exact ground positions. An orthorectified image is a kind of aerial photograph that has been geometrically corrected such that the scale of the photograph is uniform, meaning that the photograph can be considered equivalent to a map. An orthorectified image can be used to measure true distances, because it is an accurate representation of the surface of interest, e.g., the Earth's surface. Orthorectified images are adjusted for topographic relief, lens distortion and camera tilt.
Orthorectified images can be obtained very efficiently from aerial images. However, errors are often introduced, which can result in inaccurate mapping of the geo-positioned data. One problem is that normally aerial images are not taken exactly perpendicular to the surface of the Earth. Even when a picture is taken close to perpendicular, only its exact center line will be perpendicular. In order to orthorectify such an image, height of terrain information must be additionally obtained. The lack of accurate height information of objects in an aerial image, in combination with the triangulation process used to determine the orthorectified image, can result in an inaccuracy of such images up to a dozen meters or more. The accuracy can be improved by taking overlapping images and comparing the same surface obtained from subsequent images. However, there is a limit to the accuracy obtained from this method as compared to its cost.
Herein, the term "horizontal" data or information corresponds to objects that have a surface parallel or substantially parallel to the Earth's surface. The term "vertical" data or information corresponds to objects that can be seen with a looking axis generally parallel to the Earth's surface. Vertical information cannot be obtained from a typical look-down aerial or satellite image.
Mobile mapping vehicles, typically terrestrial based vehicles such as a van or car, but possibly also aerial vehicles, are used to collect mobile data for enhancement of digital map databases. The mobile mapping vehicles are typically fitted with a number of cameras, possibly some of them stereographic and all of them accurately geo-positioned as a result of having precision GPS and other position and orientation determination equipment (e.g., inertial navigation system—INS) on board. While driving the road network or an established course, the geo-coded image sequences are captured in successive frames or images. Geo-coded means that a position, computed by the GPS receiver and possibly INS, and possibly additional heading and/or orientation data associated with the image, is attached to the metadata of each image captured by the camera. The mobile mapping vehicles record more than one image sequence of the surface of interest, e.g., a road surface, and for each image of an image sequence, the geo-position in a geographic coordinate reference system is accurately determined together with the position and orientation data of the image sequence with respect to the geo-position. Image sequences with corresponding geo-position information are referred to as geo-coded image sequences. Other data may also be collected by other sensors, simultaneously and similarly geo-coded.
Prior techniques for obtaining orthorectified tiles for use in assembling a bird's eye mosaic (BEM) of a large surface of interest, such as the Earth, are known. An excellent example of this technique is described in the Applicant's International Publication No. WO/2008/044927, published Jul. 17, 2008. In jurisdictions where incorporation by reference is recognized, the entire disclosure of the said International Publication is hereby incorporated by reference and relied upon.
According to known techniques, orthorectified images are assembled together to create a mosaic without considering the quality of the image content contained therein. Rather, such images are typically tiled in sequence, one after the other, much like shingles are overlapped one upon another in courses on a roof. While generally effective, it is often the case that moving objects captured in the photograph images, e.g., motor vehicles that are passing or being passed by the mobile mapping vehicle, appear in an overlaying tile but not an underlaying tile, such that a less desirable tile is overlaid upon a more desirable tile. As a result, a moving foreground object that partially obscures the map of the road surface may appear on the completed BEM.
The Applicant's copending application P6015247 PCT, titled Method Of An Apparatus For Producing A Multi-Viewpoint Panorama, describes a method to generate vertical panoramas using a sequence of vertical images taken from multiple viewpoints from a mobile mapping vehicle. While creating a panorama, objects close to the camera are detected using laser scanner data. Objectionable objects captured in the image are removed by marking the parts in the vertical images that should not be used. The parts that should be used are then projected onto the panorama surface.
The use of laser data, particularly in connection with vertical images, is an expensive, cumbersome and less desirable technique for creating orthorectified horizontal images for use in creating a bird's eye mosaic (BEM). According, there is a need for identifying moving foreground objects in an orthorectified photographic image of a surface of interest which does not rely upon the use of laser scanners or other cumbersome techniques, particularly when existing image data may be available without contemporaneous laser scanning data.

Method for creating a mosaic image using masks


There is provided a method for manufacturing semiconductor chips in which the chips as many as possible are arranged on one substrate and these chips can be cut with high accuracy in a relatively simple process. For such occasion on a wafer, short sides of the semiconductor chips are laid out to be inclined at an angle of 5° or less to a crystal orientation of the wafer. Thereafter, a laser stealth dicing method is used to form a plurality of first dicing lines along long sides of the individual semiconductor chips and a plurality of second dicing lines along short sides thereof.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing semiconductor chips.
Description of the Related Art
In wafer dicing for cutting a semiconductor substrate to manufacture a plurality of semiconductor chips, there are proposed various method for avoiding harmful effects following the dicing (cutting). For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-243730 discloses the structure where for using a C-surface of a sapphire single-crystal substrate as a surface of the substrate, the respective chips are arranged in such a manner that the cutting faces of the substrate at the wafer dicing time intersect with any of surfaces equivalent to an M-surface of the sapphire single-crystal substrate. According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-243730, even in a case of using the sapphire single-crystal substrate, it is possible to suppress the cutting face of each of the chips from being inclined to the substrate surface to avoid the reverse direction current. In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-243730 also discloses the structure where each of the chips is formed in a parallelogram shape to enhance a degree of freedom in the intersection angles of the two cutting faces to the M-surface.

Method for manufacturing semiconductor chip


An organic electroluminescent element has a first electrode, a second electrode and an organic electroluminescent layer. The first electrode has a first luminescent region and a first terminal extending from the first luminescent region. The second electrode has a second luminescent region and a second terminal extending from the second luminescent region. The first electrode is made of a material having a higher volume resistivity than the second electrode. The organic electroluminescent layer is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first luminescent region and the second luminescent region respectively contact the organic electroluminescent layer. A length of a boundary between the first luminescent region and the first terminal is greater than a length of a boundary between the second luminescent region and the second terminal.

The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescent element.
An organic electroluminescent element (or an organic EL element) includes an anode, an organic electroluminescent layer (or an organic EL layer) and a cathode, and these are layered and generally formed on a substrate. A component on a light output side relative to the organic EL layer has a transparency (to be transparent) against light outputting outside the organic EL element. The organic EL element emits light due to electric current flowing through the organic EL layer as electric voltage is applied between the anode and the cathode.
Such an organic EL element should reduce its volume and area occupied by the element and the wiring connected to the element, since the size of a device (for example, a portable terminal and the like) to which the element is assembled is limited. The organic EL element also should increase its efficient display region (light-emitting area) for the same volume and area. Furthermore, the organic EL element should simplify connections between the organic EL element and an external drive circuit for driving the element so as to simplify manufacturing.
For the above requirements, an anode terminal and a cathode terminal were conventionally arranged on one side of the organic EL element, as disclosed in columns [0005], [0006], [0009], and FIGS. 1 and 3 of Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-211459. Such organic EL element will now be described with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B.
The above conventional organic EL element 21 partially includes a transparent electrode (anode) 23 made of indium tin oxide ("ITO") formed on a substrate (transparent substrate) 22 having an extended portion 221. A collector 24 is formed on the transparent electrode 23 so as to double as an externally leading terminal (anode terminal) 25 in a state where it extends toward the extended portion 221 of the substrate 22. A luminescent layer (organic EL layer) 26 and a reflective insulating layer (not shown) are sequentially formed on the transparent electrode 23 and the collector 24 (except for the externally leading terminal 25). A backside electrode (cathode) 27 is formed on the luminescent layer 26 and the reflective insulating layer. The backside electrode 27 is formed to extend toward the extended portion 221 of the substrate 22 so as to partially double as an externally leading terminal (cathode terminal) 25′.
Such an organic EL element 21 is reduced in size by the width of A in FIG. 8, that is, the width of one terminal, in comparison to a structure in which terminals of respective electrodes are provided on opposite sides of the rectangular organic EL element 21 as shown in FIG. 8.
In comparison to the organic EL element 21 shown in FIG. 8, the substrate having the same size allows a larger-size (area) organic EL layer to be arranged thereon. Specifically, even a region where the terminal 25′ is arranged may be used as an efficient display region, that is, may be provided with an organic EL layer.
Furthermore, since the externally leading terminals are provided at one side of the organic EL element 21 in FIG. 7B, which is different from that of the organic EL element 21 of FIG. 8, wiring work is performed only on one side of the organic EL element 21. Accordingly, it is possible that a connector and the like is provided for connecting the anode terminal 25 with the cathode terminal 25′ shown in FIG. 7B and only plugged to these terminals to finish the wiring work. Additionally, area and volume occupied by wiring in a portable terminal between an external drive circuit and the organic EL element 21 may be smaller than the element 21 of FIG. 8.
However, as the terminals are arranged at one side of the luminescent region, there occurs a problem that the intensity of electric current flowing at each spot of the organic EL layer is relatively large on a side near the terminals and relatively small on a side far from the terminals. This problem occurs because at least one of the anode and cathode increases its volume resistivity to a measurable extent.
As described above, the organic EL element needs to output light from at least one side relative to the organic EL layer. Accordingly, the electrode on the light output side should have a transparency against the above output light and should also have a characteristic of not degrading the organic EL layer, which thereby limits materials to be employed. Therefore, generally, the electrode on the light output side should be made of a material having a high volume resistivity in comparison to the electrode on the other side.
For the above reasons, a path leading to a cathode luminescent region through the organic EL layer adjacent to the anode terminal has a smaller resistance value, while a path leading to a cathode luminescent region remote from the anode terminal has a larger resistance value. In other words, electric current flowing at each spot of the organic EL layer decreases as it distances from the anode terminal. Therefore, there have been the following problems.
Generation of Unevenness in Brightness
Since the organic EL element has a portion of relatively large electric current flow and a portion of relatively small electric current flow, unevenness in brightness is generated in the element as a whole. As the electric current flow increases, the brightness of the organic EL element rises. Therefore, as the organic EL element has a portion of relatively large electric current flow and a portion of relatively small electric current flow, brightness differential arises in the element between the above portions, which generates unevenness in brightness.
Generation of Life differential in the Element
The life of the element varies between the portion of relatively large electric current flow and the portion of relatively small electric current flow. Generally, the life shortens at the portion of relatively large electric current flow. In comparison to an organic EL element having uniform electric current flow, this organic EL element has a portion having a relatively short life, which shortens the life thereof. Additionally, when the element is used for a long period, there arises a portion not emitting light or a lower brightness portion than the other portions.
Problems such as Degradation
Since the organic EL element has a portion of relatively large electric current flow and a portion of small electric current flow, there may occur degradation by location.
Generation of Unevenness in Chromaticity
Since the organic EL element has a portion of relatively large electric current flow and a portion of small electric current flow, it causes S-S annihilation phenomenon in the organic EL element including a fluorescent material and also causes T-T annihilation phenomenon in the organic EL element including a phosphorescent material. Accordingly, in an organic EL element containing a plurality of luminescent materials in the luminescent layer for emitting colors of different wavelengths from at least one other luminescent material, brightness of each layer may differ between a portion of relatively smooth electric current flow and a portion of relatively unsmooth electric current flow, with a consequence of possible generation of unevenness in chromaticity.
Accordingly, when the terminals are merely provided on one side of the display area, the above mentioned problems occur, so that it has been difficult to actually use the above structure as an organic EL element. Therefore, there is a need for providing an organic EL element having terminals on one side of respective luminescent regions and small differential in intensity of electric current flowing at each spot of the organic EL layer. Also, when the above organic EL element is provided, the inventors of the present application found appropriate correlation between the terminals and the luminescent regions for reducing differential in intensity of electric current flowing at each spot of the organic EL layer.

Organic electroluminescent element with particular electrode terminal structure


A printing apparatus includes a holding section connected to a downstream end of a main transfer path for consecutively transferring paper sheets and formed of a curved transfer path, which consecutively transfers the paper sheets led out from the main transfer path in a curved state and holds them in an overlaid state.

A printing apparatus of this type transfers a paper sheet along a transfer path and prints financial transaction information on the paper sheet by a printing section. It ejects the printed paper sheet to an ejecting section to have the customer receive it.
The printing apparatus in the automatic teller machine may successively print a plurality of paper sheets. In this case, the printed paper sheets are temporarily held in an overlaid state in a holding section and then ejected, so that the customer can easily receive them. The held paper sheets are taken from the holding section and discharged to the discharge section (for example, see Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2007-156406).
Conventionally, however, the printed paper sheets are fallen under their own weight and held in the holding section in a vertical state. Therefore, the holding section requires a space in the vertical direction of at least the length of the paper sheets. Accordingly, there is a problem that that the size of the printing apparatus is inevitably large in height.


A machine head, especially for precision tuning of a guitar string or strings, avoids the slackness between the cog and worm gear drive of the existing design which can give rise to tuning slip and imprecise tuning. The proposed machine head has a spindle to which a string is secured at one end and carries an arm (2a). Adjusting screw (3) cooperates threadingly with an abutment (7) and the end of the adjusting screw bears on the arm whereby rotation of the adjusting screw determines the position of the arm and hence tension in the string.

This invention relates to a machine head for tuning a stringed instrument especially a guitar or the like. Traditionally the guitar string is tensioned and tuned using a `machine head` which consists of a vertical spindle which can be rotated by means of a worm gear-cog assembly. The `machine head` is fixed to the head of the guitar and the string is fed through a hole in the spindle and is wound onto it using the worm gear-cog system. The string is thus tensioned as the other end is fixed immovably at the body end of the guitar. Tensioning continues until the right musical note is sounded.
The drawback of the traditional system is that slackness between the cog and the worm can cause tuning slip and unprecise tuning. It has been accepted without question that a worm drive is required to provide sufficient adjustment and consequently the above system has become universally accepted for guitars or the like despite the short comings.

Machine head for tuning a stringed instrument, especially a guitar or the like


A surface acoustic wave device includes a base portion that surrounds a surface acoustic wave element and is made of a resin, and a cap portion that is adhered onto the base portion so that a cavity sealing the surface acoustic wave element is formed, and is made of a resin. At least one of an adhering face of the base portion and an adhering face of the cap portion adhering the base portion and the cap portion is subjected to a grain finish or a dull finish. A convex portion is provided inside of the adhering face that is of one of the base portion and the cap portion adhered to the other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a surface acoustic wave device, in particular, relates to a surface acoustic wave device having a base portion and a cap portion made of a resin.
2. Description of the Related Art
A surface acoustic wave device is widely used as a signal filter of an electrical and electronic device using an electromagnetic wave. The surface acoustic wave device is used as a transmitting and receiving filter of a radio communication device such as a mobile phone or a frequency filter for visual such as a television or a videotape recorder. In the surface acoustic wave device, a surface acoustic wave element is mounted on a package or the like. The surface acoustic wave element has a structure in which an electrode exciting a surface acoustic wave such as a comb electrode is provided on a piezoelectric substrate made of LiNbO3, LiTaO3 or the like. It is necessary to form a space on the piezoelectric substrate and on the electrode, because the surface acoustic wave propagates on a surface of the piezoelectric substrate. It is necessary to seal the surface acoustic wave element in order to gain trust, because there is not provided a protective membrane on the piezoelectric substrate and on the electrode.
There is a case where the surface acoustic wave element is mounted on a package made of a resin having a cavity, in order to reduce a cost of the surface acoustic wave device. In this case, the surface acoustic wave element is mounted on a base portion made of a resin, and the cap portion is adhered to the base portion so as to seal the surface acoustic wave element. The surface acoustic wave element is thus sealed in the cavity formed with the base portion and the cap portion.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-171154 (hereinafter referred to as Document 1) discloses a surface acoustic wave device in which at least one of adhering faces of a base portion and a cap portion has a dull finish and adherence strength between the base portion and the cap portion is improved.
It is demanded that the base portion and the cap portion are not separated from each other, and an adherence between the base portion and the cap portion is resistant to a solder reflow, thermal shock of a soldering or a humidity. It is therefore demanded that the base portion is adhered to the cap portion at an adhering face. For example, adherence is obtained between components having a high affinity if the cap portion and the base portion are made of a thermosetting epoxy resin and the adhesive agent is made of an epoxy-based resin. It is however not possible to obtain a sufficient adherence strength.
With the art disclosed in Document 1, it is possible to improve the adherence strength between the base portion and the cap portion. However, an adhering area between the base portion and the cap portion is reduced, as the surface acoustic wave device is downsized. In this case, the adherence strength between the base portion and the cap portion is not sufficient even if the art disclosed in Document 1 is used.


Substituted 3-pyrrolidine-indole derivatives and methods for their production. Also pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and the use of these substances in methods of treatment, in particular treatment of pain and/or depression.

Depression is an affectivity disorder, in which a depressive syndrome predominates, depressive being associated with a low feeling or denoting a sad disposition. The anti-depressants used for therapy are also important adjuvants for pain therapy (in Analgesics—from Chemistry and Pharmacology to Clinical Application, 265-284, Wiley VCH, 2002), in particular for chronic pain, as the prolonged stress of pain may lead to a depressive mood in the patient. This is often the case with patients suffering from pain with cancer (Berard, Int. Med. J. 1996, 3/4 257-259). As there have previously been no painkillers with a clinically relevant anti-depressive active component, the anti-depressants have to be added as a medication supplementary to the analgesic dose. As patients with chronic pain frequently require a large number of different medicines, the additional dose of the anti-depressant leads to further stressing of the organism. For this reason and to increase acceptance, an analgesically effective substance with an anti-depressive active component would be particularly advantageous.
The basis of the anti-depressive efficacy is the reuptake inhibition of serotonin.
Various derivatives from the structural class of 3-pyrrolidine-indoles are already known from the literature.
WO9311106 describes 5-substituted 3-pyrrolidine-indole derivatives, wherein the radical on the pyrrolidine nitrogen represents an alkyl chain or aryl.
WO02051837 describes 3-pyrrolidine-indole derivatives as 5-HT6 ligands, wherein the radical on the pyrrolidine nitrogen represents an alkyl chain, in which one carbon may also be replaced by oxygen or nitrogen, cycloalkyl, cycloheteroaryl, aryl or heteroaryl.
WO9410171 discloses 3-pyrrolidine-indole derivatives with alkyl, aryl and alkyl aryl as nitrogen substituents of the pyrrolidine as analgesically effective compounds which, however, are substituted in the 5 position.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,109,844 discloses 3-pyrrolidine-indole derivatives which carry a substituted alkyl radical on the pyrrolidine nitrogen.
WO02079190 describes 3-pyrrolidine-indole derivatives which carry a specifically substituted alkyl radical (a saturated nitrogen heterocycle) on the pyrrolidine nitrogen. These 3-pyrrolidine-indole derivatives are chemokine antagonists.
WO02079151 describes 3-pyrrolidine-indole derivatives which have an alkyl chain on the pyrrolidine nitrogen, which may be interrupted by a cyclic radical, these derivatives being chemokine antagonists.
WO0214317 discloses 3-pyrrolidine-indole derivatives, wherein a pyrazole radical is linked via an alkyl chain, which chain may also contain heteroatoms, to the pyrrolidine nitrogen.
WO0143740 discloses 3-pyrrolidine-indole derivatives, wherein an aryl radical is linked via an alkyl chain, which is interrupted by a heteroatom, to the pyrrolidine nitrogen.
WO9958525 and WO9910346 disclose 3-pyrrolidine-indole derivatives, wherein a dihydroindole radical or 3,4-dihydro-1H-benzo[1,2,6]thiadiazine-2,2-dioxide is linked via an alkyl chain to the pyrrolidine nitrogen.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,875 describes 3-pyrrolidine-indole derivatives, wherein a substituted morpholine radical is linked via a methylcarbonyl group to the pyrrolidine nitrogen.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,760 discloses 3-pyrrolidine-indole derivatives, wherein a N-benzyl-N-(3-1H-indol-3-yl-propionyl)-acetamide radical is linked via an ethylamine group to the pyrrolidine nitrogen.
WO9740038 discloses compounds, wherein the pyrrolidine nitrogen is linked to an alkyl chain or a cycloalkyl ring, a phenyl radical or a nitrogen substituent via an alkylamine chain, an alkylamide chain or an amide function.
The majority of compounds listed are described as serotonin receptor ligands or serotonin reuptake inhibitors.


Methods for making a preform for a graded-index multimode fiber by using an inside deposition process are disclosed. The methods are characterized by an iterative refractive index profile correction with the following steps: determining a target refractive index profile for the preform to be produced, carrying out an inside deposition process with fixed volume flows for the reacting gases inside a tube and a given burner speed for all deposited layers, collapsing the tube and measuring the actual refractive index profile, comparing the target profile with the actual profile and calculating a correction value of index differences, converting this correction value in corrected burner speeds as varying process parameter, carrying out a inside deposition process with fixed gas flows and corrected burner speeds for all layers to be deposited.

The core refractive index profile of a graded-index multimode preform and the fiber made thereof is characterized mainly by three parameters. These parameters are core diameter, maximum refractive index difference between the core and the cladding, and the profile of the refractive index of the core. A graded-index profile is generated by depositing a certain number of core layers. In order to optimise the graded-index profile, it is helpful to enhance the number of single layers to minimize the refractive index structures in the radial direction. By enhancing the number of core layers, the productivity of the deposition process is decreased. Conventionally the core layers are produced by a vapour deposition process, e.g. modified chemical vapour deposition (MCVD), plasma inside/outside vapour deposition (PIVD/POVD) or outside vapour deposition (OVD).
The MCVD process uses a layer specific precursor composition to achieve a desired refractive index profile. The gases in the composition react within a hot zone to dope glass and deposit it on the inner surface of a tube. At the start of the process, a burner is located at the inlet part of the tube. There are different chemical reaction and deposition conditions at the tube opening than in the middle or at the end of the tube. The opening region has changing core diameter and refractive index profile and is called the preform taper. The preform taper is a section of the tube where the gas composition enters the tube and this section is characterized by non-uniform and non-constant optical and geometrical properties. Depending on the process parameters used, the taper can typically have a length of 20 to 40 cm including the geometric and the profile taper. Within the profile taper, the refractive index profile can be described in first approximation by the profile exponent (also referred to as the alpha value). In general, the preform and fiber parameters of the taper region are so different and uncontrolled, that it is often not possible to use the fibers obtained from this preform region.
Glass soot is generated inside of the tube by an outer heat source in the MCVD process. This soot is deposited along the inner tube wall. Due to certain reaction, transport and deposition mechanisms using a homogenous gas phase reaction, a particular deposition course is generated along the tube. This soot deposition course is called a deposition function after the soot has been consolidated to transparent glass layers. The local changing single layer thickness and single layer refractive index at the inlet part of the deposition tube results in a need to reduce the preform taper.
Information relevant to attempts to address the problems described above can be found in the references described below.
German patent DE 60000283 T2 discloses a method for making a preform having a defined refractive index profile using a controlled reactive gas composition in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. In addition to the composition (concentration of dopands), the velocity of the gas is aligned to reduce deviations in the refractive index profile. The criteria for optimisation is the deviation of the measured refractive index profile from the predetermined refractive index profile. The correction of the measured refractive index profile is carried out by adjusting the composition of the reactive gases as a function of time during the deposition process. To increase the accuracy of the profile measurements and the quality of corrections, the preform measurement is carried out at certain axial tube positions and angles. Additional preforms can be used to calculate a mean deviation.
The method described in DE 60000283 T2 yields unsatisfying results because the correlation of local and temporal profile deviations and the composition of the reactive gases is not acceptably precise. The mass flow controller typically used in dosing units bears only discrete adjusting possibilities and often has a time delay of some seconds. This is typically considered to be quite slow. In addition, there are effects on concentration mixing starting in the origin of the precursors, typically an evaporator, over the pipework up to the deposition area. By these mixing effects, mostly dopand diffusion, turbulent gas flow in the pipework, the modification of the gas composition is not sharp and the resulting profile correction is locally imprecise.
Another method for a correction of the refractive index profile based on preform as well as fiber profile measurements is described in U.S. published application U.S. 2011/0044596 A1. The given index profile is defined on the preform or based on the profile of the fiber. In this method, deviations of the refractive index profile are converted into changes of gas compositions and used in the CVD-process. The reaction time in the hot zone can be influenced by the velocity of the gases. Since the conversion of refractive index deviations to changes in the volume of the reacting gases can only be approximated, it is necessary to run several iteration cycles to obtain the desired refractive index profile.
In United Kingdom patent GB 2118165 A, a method to reduce the geometrical taper of preforms is described. A smaller geometrical taper is essential for good fiber quality but is not sufficient. A non-linear course of the support speed along the tube length is disclosed, which is optimised in an iterative manner.
Another known method for the profile correction of preforms built up by single layers in an inside/outside deposition process includes the variation of the gas flows of the precursor halides to reduce systematic deviations of single layer thickness and/or concentration. It has been shown that by controlling the gas flows, only locally indistinct layer thickness and refractive index changes can be employed. This is based on the time delay of the mass flow controllers, the mixing effects in the pipework from the evaporator to the reaction zone and turbulent gas flows through the reaction tube system. It is generally difficult to achieve locally precise changes in refractive index or layer thickness.
There remains a need for improved methods for the manufacture of graded-index multimode preforms particularly to reduce the front preform taper range

Methods for making a graded-index multimode preform and fiber


A portable power tool for operating a wheel type working element comprises an output spindle (12) which is drivingly connected to a rotation motor (11) and which is provided with an automatic ball type balancing device (21) and a working implement mounting device (22), wherein the balancing device (21) comprises a peripheral wall (38) provided with a ball race (43), a transverse end wall (39) and a number of balls (41) freely movable along the ball race (43), and the peripheral wall (38) and the end wall (39) are formed in one piece with each other as well as with the output spindle (12).

One problem inherent in this type of tools is the difficulty to obtain a rigid connection and a perfect centering of the balancing device in relation to the output spindle. Another problem is to accomplish a compact power tool design where the overall axial dimension of the output spindle and the balancing device is small and where the axial distance between the working implement and the forward bearing of the output spindle is small.


A handle grip and handle grip assembly for shopping baskets. A pair of identical handle grips are fabricated of molded plastic, each comprising a unitary body component and cover component connected by a hinge component. A handle element is seated in each body component and the corresponding cover component closes over the handle element and is locked to the body component. The cover components of the grips engage each other when the basket is carried and the weight of the basket increases the engagement force.

Hand carried shopping baskets are popular with customers in grocery stores, for example, where smaller quantities of goods are involved, i.e., where wheeled shopping carts are unnecessary. Conventional baskets have two wire handles, each in an inverted U-shaped configuration, pivotally connected to a basket rim in spaced relationship. The basket might be fabricated of wire, itself, although molded plastic baskets are now widely used.
To carry the basket, the two basket handles are brought together and gripped by the shopper in a well-known manner. The basket can be carried easily and little, if any, discomfort is caused by the wire in the shopper's hand when the basket is empty or only lightly loaded. When the basket is loaded, however, its weight causes the wire handles to painfully press into the shopper's hands because forces are concentrated.
Of course, there have been numerous force dispersion handle grips designed for wire handles in the same or similar environments. An example is illustrated in the Sweeny U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,702. None affords a high degree of shopper comfort while still being simple, inexpensive and highly reliable, however. The present invention is directed toward overcoming the shortcomings of the prior art.


According to various method embodiments for pacing a heart and avoiding unwanted stimulation of a phrenic nerve during cardiac pacing, a desired pacing time for delivering a cardiac pace is determined, and a desired nerve traffic inhibition time to inhibit nerve traffic in the phrenic nerve is determined using the desired pace time. The cardiac pace is delivered at the desired pacing time and nerve traffic in the phrenic nerve is inhibited at the desired nerve traffic inhibition time.

When the heart is paced in the left ventricle (LV), there may be unwanted stimulation of the phrenic nerve that causes contraction of the diaphragm. The left phrenic nerve descends on the pericardium to penetrate the left part of the diaphragm, and in most people, the left phrenic nerve runs close to the lateral vein. In the clinic, the pacing configuration or the stimulation parameters may be modified in an effort to avoid phrenic nerve stimulation. Examples of pacing configurations include LV bipolar, LV to can, LV to RV (right ventricle) also referred to as "extended bipolar"; and examples of stimulation parameters include the amplitude (e.g. voltage) and pulse width. The anatomic location of the phrenic nerve varies within patients. Additionally, the veins are not always in the same location with respect to the ventricle and the nearby passing nerve. Also, the selected vein in which to place the lead may vary.
Unintended phrenic nerve activation (an unintended action potential propagated in the phrenic nerve) is a well-known consequence of left ventricular pacing. The unintended phrenic nerve activation may cause the diaphragm to undesirably contract. Unintended phrenic nerve activation may feel like hiccups to the patient. Unintended phrenic nerve activation can occur when the electric field of the LV pacing lead is proximate to the left phrenic nerve and is at a stimulation output that is strong enough to capture the nerve. As a consequence, unintended capture of the phrenic nerve may require modification of the strategy for implanting the pacing lead. For example, the LV pacing electrodes may not be positioned in a preferred position to capture the LV for a pacing therapy such as CRT, or the clinician may decide not to implant an LV pacing electrode but rather rely on other pacing algorithms that do not pace the LV. A special office visit after implant may be necessary or desirable to reprogram the device to avoid phrenic nerve stimulation. Further, although phrenic nerve stimulation is commonly assessed at implant, unintended phrenic nerve activation caused by phrenic nerve capture during pacing can appear post-implant for a variety of reasons such as reverse remodeling of the heart, lead micro-dislodgement, changes in posture, and the like.

Electrical inhibition of the phrenic nerve during cardiac pacing


Systems and arrangements for determining whether a scheduled modification of a system, or the like, is a likely cause of an incident are provided. Historical data related to previous incidents may be received and analyzed to identify incidents having a significant business impact and the system, or the like, associated with those incidents. Scheduled modification data may be received and may include a system, or the like, for which a modification has occurred, and a time and date at which the modification is occurred. An incident may be received and the system, or the like associated with the incident may be identified and compared to systems, or the like, identified in the scheduled modification data. If there is a match, a determination may be made as to whether the incident occurred at a time and date of the scheduled modification. If so, the scheduled modification may be identified as a likely cause of the incident.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to computer hardware and software. In particular, one or more aspects of the disclosure generally relate to computer hardware and software for detecting system, application, network, or the like, incidents and, using machine learning to evaluate incidents to determine whether the incident is likely to have an impact above a predetermined threshold.
Large entities today implement hundreds or possibly thousands of different applications, systems, networks, devices, and the like, in various locations, to conduct business. As incidents occur, such as failures of the applications, systems, networks, devices, or the like, interruptions in one or more services can be costly to the entity. For instance, lost customer interaction and lost person hours can be detrimental to an entity's business.
Further, resources to address incidents that occur may be limited. Accordingly, it is advantageous to prioritize available resources (e.g., funding, personnel, or the like) to incidents that are likely to have a significant business impact. Thus, systems and arrangements for proactively identifying, in real-time or near real-time, incidents that may have a significant business impact would be advantageous.

Near real-time system or network incident detection


A method of accumulating a web includes pivoting subsets of rolls to a generally vertical alignment; moving one set of rolls past the other; passing the web between the sets of rolls; moving one set of rolls past the other to engage the web; pivoting the subsets to a generally horizontal alignment; moving the web alternatively between the subsets; and moving the sets apart to accumulate the web and together to discharge the web.

The invention relates to web accumulators and methods for accumulating and discharging a reserve portion of a continuous web passing through the accumulator. The invention enables continuous operation of processing stations on either or both sides of the accumulator when the speed of the web moving through the processing stations temporarily varies between the two stations. The invention is particularly useful for handling webs that tend to wrinkle or fold over during processing.
In many processing operations involving continuous lengths of web material, there are temporary differences in operating speeds between two adjacent operating stations. For example, in the manufacture of absorbent articles, it is common to unwind raw materials from large supply rolls and conduct them into a converting operation. In such operations, it is desirable to unwind subsequent supply rolls without shutting down the converting operation. The operation is desirably maintained by splicing a new supply web to the end of the expiring supply web. This would require stopping the converting operation unless a reserve portion of the expiring web had been accumulated for continued operation while a new supply roll is prepared. This problem is quite old and is generally solved through the use of web accumulators.
The typical accumulator for such use is the festooning type. Festooning type accumulators typically consist of a set of fixed web rolls and a set of movable web rolls which are moved away from the fixed rolls for accumulating a reserve portion of the web and moved toward the fixed rolls for discharging the accumulated reserve portion of the web.
The web is typically looped alternately from a roll of the first set to a roll of the second set in consecutive order. In these configurations, there is typically about 180 degrees of wrap contact between the rolls and the web to maximize the capacity of the accumulator relative to the length. This configuration generally results in significant tractional forces between the web and the rolls and may not be suitable for webs having extensibility in the cross-machine direction (CD extensible webs) because of wrinkling.
It is also known through prior joint development to accumulate webs having machine direction extensibility (MD extensible webs) by running at tensions below 0.05 pounds per lineal inch of web. The MD extensible web is susceptible to clinging and wrapping as the web passes from one set of rolls to the other set, at least in part, because of the low tension. To address this issue, the spacing between web passes is increased relative to conventional accumulators. To increase the spacing between web passes, the web is alternately looped from two rolls in the first set to two rolls in the second set in consecutive order and the two rolls are spaced apart in the machine direction by 1 to 2.5 times the diameter of the roll. This configuration results in less than 180 degrees of wrap contact between the rolls and the webs. While designed for accumulating MD extensible webs at very low tensions, this apparatus and method have been used to accumulate other webs at tensions up to 0.15 pounds per lineal inch.
However, there still exists a need for a web accumulator and a method of web accumulation adapted for CD extensible webs.

Method and apparatus for accumulating a web

Abstract: A web accumulator includes at least two sets of rolls. Each set of rolls has subsets of rolls. The subsets have two consecutive staggered rolls. The accumulator has a web path defined by alternating between subsets of the first set and subsets of the second set.


Techniques are described for sharing content among peers. Locality domains are treated as first order network units. Content is located at the level of a locality domain using a hierarchical DHT in which nodes correspond to locality domains. A peer searches for a given piece of content in a proximity guided manner and terminates at the earliest locality domain (in the hierarchy) which has the content. Locality domains are organized into hierarchical clusters based on their proximity.

Computers often need to obtain, via a network, resources such as web pages, software packages, binary media, documents, etc. Client computers, for example, may obtain such resources directly from servers. In a complex network such as a global enterprise with disperse subnets or campuses communicating via relatively slow WAN links, transmitting resources from distant servers to clients separated by a WAN link can tax the bandwidth of a WAN link. Peer-to-peer resource sharing has been used to reduce inter-subnet traffic by allowing peers to exchange resources directly. In a peer-to-peer resource sharing network, peer computers that acquire a resource may share the resource with other peer computers; a computer needing a resource may determine that a copy of the resource is available at a computer (peer) other than the server where the resource is generally available. In such a case, the computer may obtain the resource from the peer computer.
While many peer-to-peer resource sharing schemes have been used, there is a need for a peer-to-peer resource sharing scheme that may be maintained with little overhead and may allow peers to search for resources first from nearby or proximate peers before searching more distant or less proximate peers. Techniques related to proximity-guided peer resource discovery are described below.


Implantable medical devices may include at least one structural element having an abluminal side, luminal side, and sidewalls between the abluminal and luminal sides. The coating may include at least two continuous coating layers. In some embodiments, the luminal side, and all or a majority of the sidewalls are free of at least two of the coating layers.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to drug delivery implantable medical devices, one example of which is a stent. More particularly, the invention relates to abluminal, multilayer coating constructs for drug-delivery stents.
2. Description of the Background
This invention relates to radially expandable endoprostheses, which are adapted to be implanted in a bodily lumen. An "endoprosthesis" corresponds to an artificial implantable medical device that is placed inside the body. A "lumen" refers to a cavity of a tubular organ such as a blood vessel. A stent is an example of these endoprostheses. Stents are generally cylindrically shaped devices, which function to hold open and sometimes expand a segment of a blood vessel or other anatomical lumen such as urinary tracts and bile ducts. Stents are often used in the treatment of atherosclerotic stenosis in blood vessels. "Stenosis" refers to a narrowing or constriction of the diameter of a bodily passage or orifice. In such treatments, stents reinforce body vessels and prevent restenosis following angioplasty in the vascular system. "Restenosis" refers to the reoccurrence of stenosis in a blood vessel or heart valve after it has been treated (as by balloon angioplasty, stenting, or valvuloplasty) with apparent success.
The treatment of a diseased site or lesion with a stent involves both delivery and deployment of the stent. "Delivery" refers to introducing and transporting the stent through a bodily lumen to a region, such as a lesion, in a vessel that requires treatment. "Deployment" corresponds to the expansion of the stent within the lumen at the treatment region. Delivery and deployment of a stent are accomplished by positioning the stent about one end of a catheter, inserting the end of the catheter through the skin into a bodily lumen, advancing the catheter in the bodily lumen to a desired treatment location, expanding the stent at the treatment location, and removing the catheter from the lumen. In the case of a balloon expandable stent, the stent is mounted about a balloon disposed on the catheter. Mounting the stent typically involves compressing or crimping the stent onto the balloon. The stent is then expanded by inflating the balloon. The balloon may then be deflated and the catheter withdrawn. In the case of a self-expanding stent, the stent may be secured to the catheter via a retractable sheath or a sock. When the stent is in a desired bodily location, the sheath may be withdrawn which allows the stent to self-expand.
Stents have been made of many materials including metals and polymers. Polymeric materials include both nonbioerodable and bioerodable plastic materials. The cylindrical structure of stents is typically composed of a scaffolding that includes a pattern or network of interconnecting structural elements or struts. The scaffolding can be formed from wires, bars, tubes, or planar films of material rolled into a cylindrical shape. Furthermore, the pattern that makes up the stent allows the stent to be radially expandable and longitudinally flexible. Longitudinal flexibility facilitates delivery of the stent, and rigidity is needed to hold open a body lumen. The pattern should be designed to maintain the longitudinal flexibility and rigidity required of the stent.
Stents are used not only for mechanical intervention but also as vehicles for providing biological therapy. Biological therapy can be achieved by medicating the stents. Medicated stents provide for the local administration of a therapeutic substance at the diseased site. In order to provide an efficacious concentration to the treated site, systemic administration of such medication often produces adverse or even toxic side effects for the patient. Local delivery is a preferred method of treatment in that smaller total levels of medication are administered in comparison to systemic dosages, but are concentrated at a specific site. Local delivery thus produces fewer side effects and achieves more favorable results.
A medicated stent may be fabricated by coating the surface of either a metallic or polymeric scaffolding to produce a drug reservoir layer on the surface. The drug reservoir layer typically includes a polymeric carrier that includes an active agent or drug. To fabricate a coating, a polymer, or a blend of polymers, can be applied on the stent using commonly used techniques known to those having ordinary skill in the art. A composition for application to a stent may include a solvent, a polymer dissolved in the solvent, and an active agent dispersed in the blend. The composition may be applied to the stent by immersing the stent in the composition, by direct application, by roll coating, or by spraying the composition onto the stent. The solvent is allowed to evaporate, leaving on the stent strut surfaces a coating of the polymer and the active agent impregnated in the polymer.
A drug delivery stent coating should meet several well-known criteria including mechanical integrity, controlled release of the drug, and biocompatibility. Active agents within polymer-based coating layers can interfere with the mechanical integrity of a coating since active agents negatively impact the coating mechanical properties, and the ability of a polymer matrix to adhere effectively to the surface of the stent. Increasing the quantity of the active agent reduces the effectiveness of the adhesion. A primer layer can serve as a functionally useful intermediary layer between the surface of the device and an active agent-containing or reservoir coating, or between multiple layers of reservoir coatings. The primer layer provides an adhesive tie between the reservoir coating and the device. In addition, successful treatment of a diseased site with a medicated stent often requires that the rate of release of the active agent or drug be within a prescribed range. A barrier or polymeric topcoat layer above a reservoir layer serves the purpose of controlling the rate of release of an active agent or drug.
Furthermore, since the presence of foreign polymers can adversely affect the body, it is generally desirable to limit exposure of the polymer on a coating to the body. Therefore, a stent may also include a biobeneficial coating over a reservoir layer and/or topcoat layer to improve the biocompatibility of the coating. However, in general, it is appropriate to use no more polymer than is necessary to hold the drug on the stent and to control its release. This is particularly the case for coatings that include bioabsorbable polymers since the polymer is absorbed in vivo. Therefore, it would be advantageous to reduce the amount of coating material on a stent without adversely impacting the stent's treatment capabilities.
Additionally, the presence of a topcoat layer, such as a poly(ester amide) (PEA) layer, on a luminal stent surface can have a detrimental impact on a stent's deliverability and coating mechanical integrity. The PEA coatings change the coefficient of friction between the stent and the delivery balloon. In addition, some PEA polymers have structures that cause them to be sticky or tacky. If the PEA either increases the coefficient of friction or adheres to the catheter balloon, the smooth release of the stent from the balloon after deflation is compromised. PEA stent coatings often exhibit extensive balloon shear damage post-deployment as well, which could result in a thrombogenic luminal stent surface. Therefore, it would be desirable to limit exposure of the balloon to the PEA topcoat layer.

Abluminal, multilayer coating constructs for drug-delivery stents


A mill roll for pelletizing material having first and second counter-rotating, cylindrical rollers, the second roller having a solid exterior at its central portion, a hollow core and a series of perforations at each end. The first roller has a solid exterior. The rollers can be heated. Material to be pelletized is placed in the central portion of the nip formed between the rollers and as the rollers rotate, the material is spread outward toward the perforations where the material passes through such perforations to be cut off by a knife disposed within the second roller's hollow core. Also disclosed is a method of pelletizing material utilizing such mill roll.

1. Field of the Invention
The device and method of this invention reside in the area of roll mills and more particularly relate to a roll mill for the melting, shearing and pelletizing of material.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Roll mills and pelletizing rollers are known in the prior art. The inventor herein has a previous U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,907 entitled Pelletizing Roll and Method wherein conical-shaped rollers cause the material to be mixed and pass from the wider end of the rollers to the narrower end where the material is then forced through apertures for pelletization of such material.


An embodiment is an apparatus that includes an energy-storage circuit and a rectifying circuit. The energy-storage circuit is configured to generate a current that flows in a direction, and the rectifying circuit is configured to substantially block the current from flowing in a reverse direction in response to the current. Such an apparatus may be configured to block a reverse current before it begins to flow. For example, such an apparatus may include a transistor disposed in the path of the current, and may be configured to deactivate the transistor while a forward current is still flowing. Furthermore, by being configured to block the current from flowing in a reverse direction in response to the current itself, such an apparatus may better block a reverse current than an apparatus that blocks a reverse current in another manner, such as in response to a voltage across a rectifying transistor.

A discontinuous-mode (DCM) switching power supply generates a regulated output voltage in response to a current that goes to zero for a period of time during each switching cycle.
If the current reverses its direction, i.e., becomes negative or falls below zero, then the efficiency of the power supply may be significantly reduced.
Therefore, a DCM power supply may include circuitry to rectify the current; that is, such circuitry allows the current to flow in a forward direction (i.e., allows a forward current), but inhibits the current from flowing in a reverse direction (i.e., inhibits a reverse current). For example, a DCM power supply may include a transistor in the current path, and may activate the transistor while the current is flowing in the forward direction and deactivate the transistor to block the current from flowing in the reverse direction; that is, the power supply may actively rectify the current by using an active component (here a transistor) to rectify the current instead of using an inactive component such as a diode.
But unfortunately, such rectification circuitry may cause a reduction in the efficiency of a power supply that includes such rectification circuitry. For example, such rectification circuitry may not provide optimum rectification timing, and, therefore, may allow a reverse current to flow for a significant period of time before blocking the reverse current, or may block a forward current for a significant period of time when it should be conducting the forward current.

Current-responsive active rectification for a power supply operable in a discontinuous mode


A polymer battery module packaging sheet includes, as essential components, a base layer (61), an aluminum layer (62), chemical conversion coatings (64a, 64b) coating the opposite surfaces of the aluminum layer (62), and an innermost layer (63). The chemical conversion coatings (64a, 64b) are formed by processing the opposite surfaces of the aluminum layer (62) by a phosphate treatment method. The base layer (61) and the innermost layer (63) are bonded to the chemical conversion coatings (64a, 64b) of the aluminum layer (62) with adhesive layers (65a, 65b), respectively.

A polymer battery, which is also called a lithium secondary battery, uses a polyelectrolyte, generates current by the migration of lithium ions and has positive and negative electrodes formed of active polymers.
The lithium secondary battery comprises a lithium battery module having a positive electrode collector (aluminum or nickel), a positive electrode active substance layer (metal oxide, carbon black, a metal sulfide, an electrolytic solution or a polymer for forming a positive electrode, such as polyacrylonitrile), an electrolytic layer (a carbonate electrolytic solution of propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate or ethylene methyl carbonate, an inorganic solid electrolyte of a lithium salt or a gelled electrolyte), a negative electrode active layer (lithium, an alloy, carbon, an electrolytic solution or a polymer, such as polyacrylonitrile) and a negative electrode collector (copper, nickel, a stainless steel), and a package containing the lithium battery module therein.
The polymer battery is used as a power supply for personal computers, portable terminal devices (portable telephone sets and PDSs), video cameras, electric vehicles, energy storage batteries, robots, artificial satellites and the like.
The package of the polymer battery is a cylindrical or parallelepiped metal can formed by pressing a metal sheet or a pouch formed by processing a laminated sheet consisting of a base layer, an aluminum layer and a sealant layer.
Such known packages for polymer batteries have the following problems. The meal can has rigid walls and hence the shape of the lithium battery module is dependent on that of the metal can. Since the hardware is designed so as to conform to the shape of the battery, the dimensions of the hardware are dependent on the shape of the battery, which reduces the degree of freedom of designing the shape of the hardware.
A pouch formed by heat-sealing two laminated sheets to contain a polymer battery module therein and an embossed package formed in the shape of a vessel by subjecting the laminated sheet to an embossing process to contain a polymer battery therein have been developed. The embossed package, as compared with the pouch, is a compact package. Satisfactory moistureproof property, strength including piecing resistance and insulating property are essential to polymer battery packages. Satisfactory formability is an additional important property of a laminated sheet for forming the embossed package.
More specifically, a packaging laminated sheet having a nylon layer, an adhesive layer, an aluminum layer, an adhesive layer and a cast polypropylene (PP) resin layer is an example of a polymer battery module packaging sheet for forming embossed packages. Even if the packaging laminated sheet is fabricated by a dry lamination process that makes the adhesive layers bond the adjacent layers with stable, high adhesive strength, sometimes, the packaging laminated sheet is delaminated and the nylon layer and the aluminum layer are separated when the packaging laminated sheet is subjected to an embossing process or when a package formed from the packaging laminated sheet is subjected to a heat-sealing process to heat-seal a peripheral part thereof after putting a polymer battery module in the package. Sometimes, the packaging laminated sheet is delaminated by hydrogen fluoride produced by the interaction of the electrolyte of the polymer battery module and moisture and the aluminum layer and the cast PP layer are separated.

Polymer battery module packaging sheet and a method of manufacturing the same


A substrate processing apparatus includes a transfer device, having a first pick configured to hold the substrate, configured to transfer a substrate; a detecting device configured to detect a position of the substrate; a susceptor configured to place the substrate thereon; an elevating device configured to move the substrate up and down; and a control device. The control device comprises an adjuster configured to perform a teaching processing; a detector configured to deliver the substrate from the first pick to the susceptor and from the susceptor to the first pick, and configured to detect a first position of the substrate, which is delivered from the susceptor to the first pick, by the detecting device; and a corrector configured to correct the position of the first pick based on a deviation amount between the first position of the substrate and a reference position.

In a manufacturing process for a semiconductor device, there is used, as an example, a so-called multi-chamber vacuum processing apparatus. In this multi-chamber vacuum processing apparatus, a plurality of vacuum processing chambers is disposed around a vacuum transfer chamber in which a transfer device is accommodated. A substrate is transferred into the vacuum processing chamber via the vacuum transfer chamber, and a vacuum processing is performed on the substrate. The transfer device is equipped with a substrate support (pick) at a leading end thereof, and this substrate support (pick) supports the substrate. The transfer device transfers the substrate to a susceptor provided within the processing chamber, and places the substrate on the susceptor. To transfer the substrate onto the susceptor with high accuracy, it is important to carry out position adjustment between the pick of the transfer device and the susceptor. For the purpose, a teaching processing of adjusting a position of the pick of the transfer device is performed.
In this regard, there is known a technique of adjusting the position of the pick as follows. In this technique, when performing the teaching processing, the substrate placed at a set position on the susceptor is transferred to a position detecting device within the vacuum transfer chamber by a pick of a transfer arm, and a position of the substrate is detected by the position detecting device. Then, by using the detection result, the position of the pick is adjusted.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2007-251090
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2013-045817

Substrate processing apparatus and transfer position correcting method