Disclosed is an edgewise wound coil manufacturing device for manufacturing an edgewise wound coil. The edgewise wound coil manufacturing device is provided with: a plurality of corners; a core having a recess formed between each pair of adjacent corners, and around which a flat wire is wrapped; a rotating part that forces the core to rotate around the central axis of the core; guide parts that hold the flat wire therebetween in the thickness direction, while guiding the flat wire in such a manner that the flat wire wraps around the core; a first moving part that forces at least one of the guide parts and the core to move in the approaching/receding direction of the other; and a controller that adjusts the amount that the first moving part moves such that the edgewise wound coil achieves the desired shape.

An edgewise wound coil formed by winding a flat wire is manufactured, for example, using a magnetic field coil manufacturing device disclosed in Patent Document 1. The manufacturing device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a core around which a flat wire is wound, a first driving part for rotating the core, a guide for guiding the flat wire when it is wound, a second driving part for pressing the guide against the core, a third driving part for moving the core or the guide in an axial direction of the core, and a base for movably supporting the first, second and third driving parts. According to this manufacturing device, the first driving part rotates the core, and the second driving part brings the guide into contact with the core. The flat wire is pressed against a surface of the core by the guide and the flat wire is wound around the core. Simultaneously, the third driving part moves the core or the guide in the axial direction of the core. Therefore, the flat wire is pressed against the surface of the core and in this state, the flat wire is helically wound. As a result, the edgewise wound coil formed by winding the flat wire in a cylindrical shape is manufactured.
An edgewise wound coil formed by winding the flat wire in a polygonal shape is also manufactured. To manufacture such an edgewise wound coil, a manufacturing method of a polygonal coil described in Patent Document 2 is employed, for example. The manufacturing method of Patent Document 2 uses a polygonal core, which has two opposed surfaces with recesses, and a pressure roller arranged to face the recesses of the core. The pressure roller is pressed against the core by a spring or a hydraulic system.
When the coil is formed, a thin conductor (flat wire) is wound around the core while being pressed by the pressure roller against the core. At this time, portions of the thin conductor that corresponds to the recesses are depressed toward the core, and depressed parts of the coil are formed. When the core is pulled out of the coil, an edgewise wound coil formed by winding the thin conductor in a polygonal shape is manufactured. In the manufacturing method of Patent Document 2, since the depressed parts of the coil cancel or compensate for swells of the coil, which are generated after the core is pulled out, a coil is manufactured in which its straight part between angle portions of the coil extends in a straight manner.

Edgewise wound coil manufacturing device


An object tracking system includes a plurality of tags. Each tag includes a mechanism for transmitting a triangulation signal and a position signal that is indicative of a change of position of the respective tag in a time period since a respective reset event. A plurality of triangulation stations receive the triangulation signals from the tags. At least one antenna receives the position signals from the tags. A computer is coupled to the triangulation stations and to the antenna. The computer is programmed to switch between (a) a first tag location algorithm to determine a current location of one of the tags using a differential time of arrival procedure based on the triangulation signal, and (b) a second tag location algorithm to determine a current location of the tag based on the position signal transmitted by the tag and a previous known location of the tag.

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and tags used for tracking the locations of objects, and is more particularly concerned with an object tracking system in which more than one type of object tracking procedure is employed.
It can be highly advantageous in the environment of a factory to be able to keep track of the current locations of certain objects. For example, it may be desirable to keep track of the locations of tools, production equipment, inventory and/or the items being produced in the factory. Object location tracking is also potentially applicable to other environments, such as warehouses, vehicle parking lots, railroad yards, container terminals, and the like.
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view representation of a conventional object tracking system 100. The object tracking system 100 is installed in a factory facility 102. The object tracking system 100 utilizes tags 104 (represented in the drawing by octagonal symbols that also serve to represent objects, not separately shown, to which the tags are affixed to permit tracking of the objects).
The object tracking system 100 utilizes two different procedures—proximity detection and triangulation—to track the tags 104. Interrogation gates 106 are used for proximity detection, and triangulation stations 108 allow tag locations to be determined by triangulation. Another significant element of the system 100, but not shown in the drawing, is a central computer that is coupled by signal paths (also not shown) to the interrogation gates 106 and triangulation stations 108.
In accordance with conventional practices, a tag 104 that is in proximity to an interrogation gate 106 receives an interrogation signal from the interrogation gate and responds to the interrogation signal by transmitting a response signal that includes a tag identification code that uniquely identifies the tag. The interrogation gate then effectively reports to the central computer that the particular tag is at the interrogation gate. The interaction between the tag and the interrogation gate may be in accordance with conventional RFID (radio frequency identification) practices. In other variations, the interrogation gate may read a barcode or the like from the tag.
The tags 104 send out signals at brief regular intervals which are received by triangulation station 108. By using the triangulation stations 108, the central computer utilizes a triangulation procedure to determine the location of tags that are not in proximity to one of the interrogation gates 106. More specifically, the central computer may use a differential time of arrival (DTOA) procedure in which a tag ID signal transmitted by a tag 104 is received by three or more of the triangulation stations 108. Differences in the timing at which the tag ID signal is received at each triangulation station are used by the central computer to calculate the location of the tag, based on the locations of the stations 108 which received the tag ID signal. For example, in FIG. 1, a tag ID signal transmitted by tag 104-1 is received by line-of-sight at triangulation stations 108-1, 108-2, 108-3, thereby allowing the location of tag 104-1 to be determined by triangulation. Similarly, a tag ID signal transmitted by tag 104-2 is received by triangulation stations 108-4, 108-5, 108-6 so that the location of tag 104-2 can be determined by triangulation.
The "MOBY R" object locating system available from Siemens A G, an assignee hereof, is an example of a system that employs DTOA to locate objects.
In some examples of a conventional object tracking system, the number of tags may be in the thousands, and the number of interrogation gates and/or triangulation stations may be in the dozens.
An object tracking system as illustrated in FIG. 1 often operates effectively to achieve its intended purposes. However, in some cases such systems may exhibit drawbacks that it would be desirable to address. For example, triangulation by DTOA requires line-of-sight transmission from a tag to three or more triangulation stations and thus works best in open, unobstructed areas. Disadvantageously, some factory environments may have a significant number of obstructions to tag ID signal transmission, such as the obstructions 110 shown in FIG. 1. When obstructions are present, it is usually necessary to provide an increased number of triangulation stations to avoid "dead spots" in which tags cannot be detected by triangulation. This increases the cost of the tracking system. Furthermore, the presence of obstructions increases the amount of time required for planning the system and determining the locations at which triangulation stations are to be installed. This too increases the cost of the system, and also increases the time required to deploy the system.
Moreover, "temporary" obstructions, such as loaded pallets, trucks, forklifts, etc., may interfere with triangulation capabilities of the system. Consider for example the case of tag 104-3 shown in FIG. 1. It is assumed that a temporary obstruction is placed as indicated in phantom at 112, blocking the line-of-sight transmission path from tag 104-3 to triangulation station 108-4. As a result, line-of-sight transmission is possible from tag 104-3 only to two triangulation stations, namely stations 108-7 and 108-8. Consequently, the location of tag 104-3 cannot currently be determined by DTOA.
Even in the absence of such problems, reflections of tag ID signal transmissions may adversely affect performance of the DTOA procedure.
In simpler object tracking systems, only interrogation gates are employed. However, in such systems, the location of an object is known only when it is in proximity to an interrogation gate. If, for example, a gate is provided at the entrance to a large enclosed area (e.g., a warehouse or parking lot), it may be possible to determine that an object is in the enclosed area, but finding the object within that area may be difficult, and is not aided by the object tracking system.

System for tracking object locations using self-tracking tags

Siemens Technology-To-Business Center, LLC


A display device includes a timing control circuit, a driving circuit, a display panel, and a DC voltage converter. The timing control circuit generates a data signal based on an image signal. The driving circuit generates a first conversion control signal and a second conversion control signal representing a status of the first conversion control signal. The driving circuit generates a driven signal based on the data signal and is powered by a first DC voltage. The display panel is powered by a second DC voltage. The DC voltage converter includes first and second DC voltage conversion circuits. The first DC voltage conversion circuit generates the first DC voltage based on an external voltage. The second DC voltage conversion circuit generates the second DC voltage based on the external voltage. The DC voltage converter executes time-shared control of the first and second DC voltage conversion circuits based on the first and second conversion control signals.

1. Field
One or more embodiments described herein relate a display device including a DC voltage conversion circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
A display device generally includes a display panel, a driving circuit, and a DC voltage conversion circuit. The display panel includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix. Each pixel is powered by driving voltages (e.g., ELVDD, ELVSS) from the DC voltage conversion circuit. The driving circuits may also be powered by DC voltages from the DC voltage conversion circuit.
In an organic light emitting display, each pixel includes an organic light emitting diode (OLED). The OLED emits light based on a combination of holes (from an anode to which a positive driving voltage (ELVDD) is applied) and electrons (from a cathode to which a negative driving voltage (ELVSS) is applied) in an organic material layer.

Display device including DC voltage conversion circuit


A system, apparatus and method for alerting an emergency responder to an emergency, which includes a processor obtaining data from at least one sensor, determining, that the data indicates an emergency condition, based on the determining, obtaining location information and a unique identifier, and communicating the location information and the unique identifier to a node via a network connection.

Many pastimes can require individuals to explore isolated terrain, thus leaving these individuals stranded in the event of an unforeseen emergency, such as a medical emergency and/or weather-related hazard. For example, in the winter, many outdoor sports come with the risk of the participant being injured and possibly stranded in calamitous events (e.g., avalanches).
In fact, millions of people throughout the world enjoy outdoor activities that expose them to the perils of snow-related accidents. Every year many avid outdoor sportsmen and women are victimized by snow-related disasters associated with unanticipated avalanches. Although great efforts are dedicated toward pre-emptive control of potential avalanches, backcountry and on-piste skiers, off-piste skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, mountaineers, hikers and snowmobilers fall victim to the perils of being buried by avalanches.
In most cases, there are precious minutes available to the timely location and rescue of avalanche victims, particularly when they are incapacitated physically by being buried and unable to move or breathe or rendered unconscious. Timely search and rescue of avalanche victims is essential if lives are to be saved.
A disadvantage of present systems and methods is that they are only operational if the person with the emergency device, for example, the position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), is conscious and is physically able to activate the device.
In addition to well-trained and equipped and experienced search-and-rescue teams, present methods of avalanche rescue utilize a multi-faceted approach, and sometimes combine known methods, which include avalanche cords, beacons, probes, shovels, and the RECCO rescue system. The RECCO system is a two-part system, which includes a rescue team with hand-held devices, which detect "reflectors," which are small passive transponders, which can be affixed to outerwear, boots, helmets and other types of body-protection components of individuals.
Another search tool that is utilized often in conjunction with RECCO, is avalanche beacons. In use since 2000, avalanche beacons are devices worn by individuals who activate a radio signal indicating an emergency. The radio-emitting beacon is picked up by rescue transceivers, using a digital display, thus helping to locate the victim within a reasonably tight range of location. However, this system requires that the victim be conscious and physically capable of activating the beacon-emitting signal apparatus.
A challenge of present methods is that they are not integrated into a single solution. Thus, many adventurers utilize a variety of different tools at once, in the hopes that one works in the event of an emergency. In fact, in 2010, the French National Association for the Study of Snow and Avalanches (ANENA) recommended that all off-piste skiers should carry beacons, probes, shovels and RECCO reflectors. In addition to this recommendation, many backcountry adventurers also carry: SPOT satellite GPS messengers, Mountain Locator Units (MLU), Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) and Globalstars.

Emergency notification apparatus and method


A warm air furnace capable of reliably carrying out a fuel consumption conserving operation regardless of a heating load is equipped with an ecology operation setting unit for setting a saving operation function and a moderate operation function. The saving operation function makes a target temperature setting unit decrease a target temperature by a first predetermined temperature after a lapse of a predetermined time after a room temperature reaches the target temperature. The moderate operation function limits a target combustion amount when the room temperature is higher than the target temperature by a second predetermined temperature or more. An eco-operation switch is capable of turning the ecology operation setting unit on and off.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a warm air furnace, and to be more specific, relates to a warm air furnace enabling fuel consumption conserving operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, in a gas fan heater which is a warm air furnace, a gas burner and an air blow fan are equipped inside a body case, in which the heater operation is carried out by elevating the room temperature by drawing in the indoor air by the rotational operation of the air blow fan, and blowing the air heated by the gas burner into the room. Generally, the warm air furnace includes a temperature adjustment function, and a combustion amount at the gas burner and an air blow amount of the air blow fan are adjusted so that a target temperature set by the user using a temperature setting switch approximately coincide with the actual room temperature detected by a room temperature sensor provided in the vicinity of an air inlet of the indoor air.
With the rise in the environmental consciousness of the user and from the purpose of reduction in heating cost, the warm air furnace is required to conduct heater operation while conserving fuel consumption. As one type of such warm air furnace, there is known a warm air furnace equipped with a saving operation function (also known as a fuel consumption conserving operation function) (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H8-189708). In this type of warm air furnace, the target temperature is decreased slightly, accompanying a lapse of time after the room temperature reaches the target temperature. To be more specific, there is a type in which the target temperature is decreased by 1° C. after a lapse of 30 minutes from the time when the room temperature reaches the target temperature, and the target temperature is further decreased by 1° C. after a lapse of further 30 minutes. The sensory temperature of the user does not change greatly, even when the target temperature is decreased slightly as is described above. Therefore, by conducting the saving operation, it is possible to reduce the combustion amount of the gas burner, and obtain fuel consumption conserving effect without making the user feel uncomfortable.
Apart from the warm air furnace in which the target temperature is decreased each time by a predetermined temperature, there is a warm air furnace in which a decreasing amount of the target temperature is varied in accordance to the magnitude of the heating load, for example the decreasing amount of the target temperature during the saving operation is varied in accordance with the room temperature at the commencement of the heating operation and the increasing amount of the room temperature after commencement of heating operation.
On the other hand, there is known a warm air furnace equipped with a moderate operation function (also known as on/off operation function). This is a function for assisting the temperature adjustment function, by interrupting the combustion operation of the gas burner in the case where the temperature detected by the room temperature sensor continues to increase even when the combustion amount of the gas burner is decreased to its minimum, so as to prevent excessive heating and to make the room temperature approximately coincide with the target temperature. To be more specific, when the room temperature becomes higher than the target temperature by a predetermined temperature or more, the combustion operation of the gas burner is stopped, and thereafter combustion operation of the gas burner is resumed when the room temperature decreases to a heating resume temperature set near the target temperature.
Further, there is known a warm air furnace enabling simultaneous use of the saving operation and the moderate operation (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-23064). This type of warm air furnace is equipped with two switches enabling setting of the on/off of the saving operation function and the moderate operation function independently from each other, and the user is free to select and set the on/off of each function.
However, there are cases where the fuel consumption conserving effect cannot be obtained even when the saving operation or the moderate operation is carried out, depending on the situation such as a heating load. That is, even though the saving operation is carried out, in the case where the heating load is smaller than the heating capacity of the gas burner in the minimum combustion amount, the fuel consumption conserving effect is not sufficient because it is not possible to decrease the heating capacity any more. On the other hand, even though the moderate operation is carried out, when the room temperature becomes higher than the set temperature, the combustion operation of the gas burner is not interrupted in the case where the heating load is larger than the heating capacity of the gas burner in the minimum combustion amount, the fuel consumption conserving effect is not sufficient. Further, it is difficult for the general user to set appropriate operating function in accordance with the situation such as the heating load.


A method and apparatus determines whether a new node can be added to a wireless network at a specified position. Information concerning existing network nodes that are in the neighborhood of an inputted position of the new node is extracted from a dynamic network management database. The information extracted from the dynamic network management database may include dynamic position data and/or dynamic transmitting/receiving characteristics data of the existing network nodes. The information regarding the existing network nodes neighboring the inputted position of the new network node as extracted from the dynamic network management database is used to calculate a network coverage at the inputted position. Finally, the result of the calculated network coverage at the inputted position is outputted.

In the last years the Internet has seen a rapid growth so that the Internet has become one of the single most important tools for communication. Along with the growth of the Internet the need for quick and ready access to the Internet from any location has increased. As a result access bandwidth demand has been growing at such a pace that the wired infrastructure can not keep up with. The upgrading of the wired infrastructure to provide high-speed and remote Internet access is costly complicated and time consuming, resulting in a bottleneck at the Internet access point the so-called last mile of Internet infrastructure.
Wireless broadband networks make high performance Internet access possible where wired broadband infrastructure is impractical. However, such a wireless broadband network will only be a success especially for residential and small business markets if the infrastructure is provided at a low-cost, is robust to changing environments and easy to deploy and scalable with market demand.
High-performance wireless connections require clear line-of-sight between links. In many environments or surroundings buildings, trees, hills and the topography make line-of-sight difficult.
New wireless networks with wireless routers as network nodes on a mesh network basis emulate the topology and protocols of the Internet but are optimised for wireless high-speed data transmission. As an example of such a wireless broadband solution a wireless routing network has been developed. The key components of such a wireless routing network are a routed mesh network architecture, wireless routers, a wireless operating system and the deployment and management of the network.
Routed mesh networks mirror the structure of the wired Internet. Each radio transceiver at a node in the wireless network becomes part of the infrastructure and can route data through the wireless mesh network to its destination just as in the wired Internet. The advantage of such a routed mesh networks is that line-of-sight problems can be reduced in comparison to a client/base station architecture because each node only needs line-of-sight to one other node in the network and not all the way to the ultimate destination of the data traffic, e.g. the point-of-presence (POP). With such an infrastructure the reach and coverage of the wireless network is extended with a minimal amount of wireless network infrastructure and interconnection costs. The data traffic can be routed around obstructions rather than needing to deploy additional base stations for line-of-sight in densely populated diverse geographical locations. The more wireless routers are added to the network, the more robust and far-reaching the network becomes. In the above mentioned wireless routing network, wireless router with omni-directional antennas are used as a network node. Each wireless router can communicate with other nodes, i.e. other wireless routers in any direction. The omni-directional antennas offer a 360-degree range and do not require precise pointing or steering. Therefore additional wireless routers can be added in an ad hoc and incremental fashion.
The wireless routers substantially comprise three components, namely a full TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) protocol suite support, a wireless operating system that optimises the wireless network performance and robustness, and a high-performance digital RF modem. A specialized wireless networking software in combination with the high-performance RF modem optimise the network performance while insuring full IP support and robust and steamless IP routing.
Routed wireless mesh networks deploy specialized protocols, that operate efficiently in a multihop wireless network environment. From the media access control (MAC) layer through to the routing layer new protocols must be used that are specifically designed to deal with their unique attributes. The protocol suite extends the traditional TCP/IP stack to provide efficient and robust IP-based networking in multihop wireless mesh networks. These protocols consist of four parts, namely channel access protocols, reliable link and neighbour management protocols wireless multihop routing and multicast protocols and standard Internet protocols.
In the channel access, protocols are used to efficiently schedule transmissions to avoid collisions and efficiently reuse the available spectrum. Reliable link and neighbour management protocols ensure reliable transmissions on a hop-by-hop basis, and manage the automatic adaptation to changes in the network topology by monitoring the status of neighbour links. The role of the reliable link and neighbour management protocols is to perform network synchronisation and to manage the links to each neighbour node. Wireless multihop routing and multicast protocols maintain performance-optimised routing tables and enable an efficient multicast capability. The standard Internet protocols and tools for seamless integration with the wired Internet. The protocols and tools are for example TCP/IP, UDP (User Datagram Protocol), SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), RIP, ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol), TFTP, ARP, IGMP, Proxy-ARP, DHCP relay (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), DHCP server, NAT (Network Address Translation).
Wireless mesh networks based on a multipoint-to-multipoint architecture make an ad hoc integration of new nodes, i.e. wireless routers, easier, since the actual demand and traffic flow in such a wireless network environment makes it much easier to adjust the coverage and bandwidth needs than design a network ahead of time. Adaptive routed mesh network make obstructions to the line-of-sight acquirements by growing trees of temporary obstructions less problematic, since the data traffic is automatically re-routed through as a link becomes unavailable. The nodes, i.e. wireless routers, in such an wireless routing network environment can adapt to changes in the link availability and the quality in real-time without requiring intervention by a network administrator.
A network operating system continuously monitors the status and quality of the links and makes real-time routing decisions based on the current network status. New nodes can be authenticated and assimilated into the network topology without manual reconfigurations.
Before a new node, i.e. a wireless router, can be added to the wireless network it is an essential question, whether, such a new node at a specific position lies within the coverage of the wireless network.
So far, a static map with predefined coverage areas has been used for the above determination of a network coverage, or alternatively a side survey was carried out.

Method and apparatus for node adding decision support in a wireless network


A solid state imaging device comprises: a photoelectric converting portion provided on a semiconductor substrate; a charge transfer path, formed in an adjacent position to the photoelectric converting portion, that receives a signal charge generated in the photoelectric converting portion and transfers the signal charge in a predetermined direction; and a gate electrode that transfers the signal charge from the photoelectric converting portion to the charge transfer path, wherein the gate electrode comprises polysilicon having a different conductive type from that of a semiconductor region forming a charge storing portion of the charge transfer path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid state imaging device and a method of manufacturing the solid state imaging device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to a solid state imaging device to be used in a digital camera, particularly, a solid state imaging device using a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices), it is necessary to suppress the generation of a smear to be a peculiar noise. In the case in which an object includes a light or sun having a high luminance, the smear easily appears. Actually, the noise seems to be whitish like a stripe or a band in upper and lower parts of a portion having a high luminance in an image which is picked up.
It is supposed that the smear appears by a mixture of a charge generated in a pixel portion having a high luminance in an imaging portion provided on the solid state imaging device into charges of other pixels which have been subjected to a photoelectric conversion and are being transferred. For a specific mechanism to generate the smear, four causes shown in (1) to (4) of FIG. 14 can be supposed. In other words, the smear is generated by at least one of the four causes in the following (1) to (4).
(1) A photoelectric conversion in a peripheral portion of a photodiode (PD): A light which is incident from an opening of a photodiode is not restricted to a component having a perpendicular incident angle to a surface. Moreover, the light has a property of a wave. For this reason, a light transmitted through the opening spreads and a photoelectric conversion is also carried out in a gate region provided on the periphery of the photodiode so that a charge corresponding to a noise is generated and mixed into a vertical charge transfer portion (VCCD).
(2) A diffusion current in a P-type region of an embedded photodiode: an electron generated in a P+ region is diffused over a surface of the embedded photodiode and is mixed into the vertical charge transfer portion (VCCD) in an adjacent column.
(3) A reflection and diffraction of a light incident from an opening portion of a shielding film (W or Al): an incident light is reflected or scattered at a boundary having a different refractive index, for example, a surface of a silicon substrate in an edge of the opening of the photodiode, and a charge is generated by the influence of the light and is mixed into the vertical charge transfer portion (VCCD).
(4) A transmission of the light through the shielding film (Al): If the shielding film (W or Al) which shields the vertical charge transfer portion (VCCD) has a defect, a light leaking out of the defect is incident on the vertical charge transfer portion to generate a charge so that a smear is generated.
In a recent solid state imaging device, however, the shielding is sufficiently carried out in many cases. For the actual cause of the smear, a diffusing component of a carrier subjected to the photoelectric conversion in (2) is dominant.
A current solid state imaging device of a CCD type is constituted by using an NMOS process as disclosed in JP-A-2005-209714, for example. More specifically, an electron having a high mobility is used as a carrier in the NMOS process. Therefore, a high speed operation can be carried out and the NMOS process is suitable for a device performance in the case in which a solid state imaging device is manufactured.
In the NMOS process, each circuit element is basically constituted by using an NMOS transistor having a structure shown in FIG. 15A. In FIG. 15A, an insulating layer 302 is formed on a surface of a substrate (a base material) 301 constituted by a P-type semiconductor (silicon), and a gate electrode 303 is formed on the insulating layer 302. Moreover, a source region 304 and a drain region 305 are constituted by an N-type semiconductor (silicon), respectively. Furthermore, in the example, N-type polysilicon (N-Poly) to be a general material is used as the gate electrode 303.
In other words, when a positive voltage is applied to the gate electrode 303 by a capacitor formed between the substrate 301 and the gate electrode 303, an electron is pulled toward a boundary surface between the substrate 301 and the insulating layer 302 so that an inverting layer (N type) is formed between the source region 304 and the drain region 305. A region (channel) having a high conductivity is formed between the source region 304 and the drain region 305 by the inverting layer, and the electron to be the carrier is moved therebetween. The movement of the electron can be controlled by the voltage to be applied to the gate electrode 303.
Referring to the NMOS transistor, it is necessary to employ a surface channel structure in order to reduce an interference (a short channel effect) generated when a distance between the source and the drain is short (2 μm or less). In the case in which it is necessary to reduce a threshold voltage, moreover, an electric potential distribution shown in FIG. 15B is generally formed by using N-type polysilicon as the gate electrode 303 in such a manner that a slight depletion state is generated even if the voltage to be applied to the gate electrode 303 is 0V, for example.
The related-art solid state imaging device of a CCD type using the NMOS process is constituted as shown in FIG. 16. FIG. 16 shows a sectional structure of an imaging cell corresponding to one pixel and a peripheral portion thereof. More specifically, in the imaging cell for generating signal charges corresponding to respective pixels, an N-type semiconductor region 402 provided in a P-type semiconductor region 401 constitutes a photodiode (PD). A P+ region 403 is formed on the N-type semiconductor region 402. Moreover, an N-type semiconductor region 404 for forming a vertical charge transfer portion (VCCD) to transfer the signal charge in a vertical direction is disposed on a side of the N-type semiconductor region 402. In order to transfer, to the vertical charge transfer portion, the signal charge generated and stored by the N-type semiconductor region 402 to be the photodiode, a gate electrode 406 is provided above the N-type semiconductor region 404. The gate electrode 406 and the N-type semiconductor region 404 are isolated from each other through an insulating layer 405. The gate electrode 406 is constituted by using N-type polysilicon (N-Poly) in the same manner as in a general NMOS transistor.
A two-dimensional solid state imaging device includes a large number of imaging cells which are arranged at a regular interval in directions of a row and a column. Therefore, another imaging cell is disposed in an adjacent position to one imaging cell. In the example shown in FIG. 16, an N-type semiconductor region 404(1) on a right side constitutes a vertical charge transfer portion in a column to which the imaging cell belongs, and an N-type semiconductor region 404(2) on a left side constitutes a vertical charge transfer portion belonging to another column which is adjacent to the imaging cell. Moreover, a gate electrode 406(1) is provided to transfer the signal charge from a photodiode of the imaging cell to the N-type semiconductor region 404(1) to be the vertical charge transfer portion in the column to which the imaging cell belongs, and a gate electrode 406(2) is provided to transfer the signal charge from a photodiode of the imaging cell belonging to the adjacent column to the N-type semiconductor region 404(2) of the column to which the imaging cell belongs. Moreover, the imaging cell and the imaging cell in the adjacent column are isolated from each other thorough the P+ region 403.
By the influence of a diffusion current in the P-type region (403) of the embedded photodiode, however, a part of the signal charges generated in the photodiode of the imaging cell are mixed into the vertical charge transfer portion (404(2)) belonging to the imaging cells in other adjacent columns in some cases. Consequently, the smear is caused. In other words, the signal charge leaks into the other adjacent columns through a path of (2) shown in FIG. 14.
In order to reduce the cause of the smear, in the related art, a surface shielding layer (corresponding to the P+ region 403 in FIG. 16) of the embedded photodiode is mainly shallowed as a countermeasure. When the surface shielding layer is excessively shallowed, however, it is impossible to obtain a structure of an embedded photodiode which is an original object. For this reason, there is a problem in that an interface generating current to cause a dark current or a white flaw is increased. Accordingly, the actual shallowness of the surface shielding layer is to be determined by a trade-off of the smear and the interface generating current.
In the related-art solid imaging device, a surface shielding layer is shallowed as a countermeasure for decreasing diffusing components of a carrier generated by a photoelectric conversion of a photodiode. Therefore, restrictions are imposed due to an increase in the interface generating current. Therefore, it is hard to effectively suppress a smear.
When the photodiode is exposed, moreover, the smear is generated. At this time, either a medium potential (VM) or a low potential (VL) is applied to a gate electrode for controlling an electric potential between the photodiode and the vertical charge transfer portion. When the medium potential (VM) is applied to the gate electrode so that the electric potential of the vertical charge transfer portion is reduced, the smear is generated.
By applying a negative bias as the medium potential (VM), accordingly, it is possible to form a potential barrier on an entrance of the vertical charge transfer portion. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the diffusing component of the carrier from flowing into the other adjacent columns, thereby suppressing the generation of the smear.
In the case of the solid state imaging device to be particularly used in a household product, however, it is necessary to reduce a consumed power and to decrease the number of power supplies. Under the actual circumstances, therefore, a ground potential (GND) is to be applied as the medium potential (VM) to the gate electrode. For this reason, the negative bias cannot be applied as the medium potential (VM) in the related-art solid state imaging device so that the potential barrier cannot be formed on the entrance of the vertical charge transfer portion.

Solid state imaging device and method of manufacturing the same


Wrinkles are cosmetically removed from a superficial area of mammalian skin tissue having an epidermal layer, a basal layer, and a dermal layer, by irradiating the dermal layer through the basal layer, the irradiation being selected to be absorbed by a chromophore in the dermal layer such that collagen present in the dermal layer is heated, while the basal layer remains intact so as to substantially inhibit contact of the dermal layer with ambient air.

The present invention relates to a method of removing wrinkles from a superficial area of mammalian skin tissue.
The application of laser technology in healthcare is well known, and the use of lasers in medical applications has been studied extensively since the early 1960's. In recent years an increasing interest has been shown in cosmetic applications. One such cosmetic application is skin resurfacing and wrinkle removal; in this field lasers can be used as an alternative to surgical facelifts. A CO.sub.2 laser, which operates in the infra-red region of the spectrum, is used, the radiation being totally absorbed in a thin layer of surface tissue, primarily because of the wavelength's high rate of absorption in water.
The current approach used to achieve CO.sub.2 laser based skin resurfacing and wrinkle removal involves a two stage process, as follows:
Stage 1--Skin Resurfacing: The purpose of the first stage is to remove a thin layer of tissue from a superficial area of mammalian skin tissue. To achieve this, the skin is irradiated by the laser which, as mentioned above, deposits its energy in a thin layer at the surface (approx 30 .mu.m in thickness). The application of the laser radiation to the tissue is by computer controlled scanner designed to ensure that one pass of the radiation removes one "layer" of tissue only. In this way, damage is limited to the epidermis only. This process quickly ablates the surface layer removing the surface skin and with it any skin blemishes. The process is straightforward and does not demand a great deal of operator skill. The surface skin immediately starts to replace itself and this allows the skin to return to normal in about 3 to 5 days.
Stage 2--Wrinkle Removal: After the skin surface has been resurfaced, the operator will, typically, apply further "passes" of the laser, thereby removing further layers of mammalian skin tissue, each layer being of the order of 30 .mu.m thick. Typically, around three or four further passes will complete the wrinkle removal procedure. This treatment therefore produces a controlled second degree burn. The skin barrier to the outside world is removed and therefore, there is a danger of infection.
The required effect is two fold:
(a) the laser induces denaturing of the collagen in the dermis, and the formation of cross links, which results in a tightening effect stretching the skin, reducing or removing the wrinkles (it is thought that the thermal threshold for this effect is a temperature of 70.degree. C.); and PA1 (b) the changes to the dermis induce the generation of new collagen which develops using the matrix created by the denatured collagen as a foundation.
The skin-resurfacing and wrinkle removal procedure outlined above is considered by many experts in the field as a significant improvement over previously used surgical methods. The procedure uses the laser's ability to deliver high energy density at the surface of tissue and hence ablate the surface tissue in a well controlled manner. Continuing to remove the tissue, layer by layer is designed to damage the collagen and hence induce wrinkle removal. This second stage of the procedure is primitive; the skin weeps, scabs form and redness of the skin appears for many weeks.


A method for selectively forming thin films by CVD in which at least two substrates are exposed to a decomposable gas, and one of the subsrates is independently heated to selectively form a film on the heated substrate. The invention further comprises a step of measuring an electrical property of the film during deposition.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of forming thin films.
2. Discussion of the Background
Chemical Vapor Deposition (hereinafter CVD) is a process by which a solid film is deposited on a substrate by a chemical reaction of gaseous reactants on or near the surface. CVD is a preferred method for depositing thin films due to its ability to deposit uniformly on relatively complex shapes, and its applicability to a wide range of materials. The types of CVD processes can be categorized according to the nature of the chemical reaction, the type of reaction activation energy, system pressure and temperature and type of reagents. The chemical reactions which may be employed for CVD include decomposition (pyrolysis), reduction, oxidation, hydrolysis, disproportionation, nitride formation, carbide formation, synthesis, and combined reactions. In these processes, the substrate may undergo chemical changes. It can act as a reducing agent, dissolve the deposition component, react exothermally with the deposition compound, or exert a catalytic effect. Selection of a reaction is dependent upon desired thin film composition. The energy required to initiate the reactions listed above can come in different forms. Reactions may be thermally activated, plasma-promoted, photon induced, laser induced, or electron induced.
Besides CVD, sputtering is also widely used for the formation of thin films for chemical microsensors. According to the sputtering process, material is removed from a target, carried by plasma and deposited onto a substrate. This method is considered inefficient since as much as 90% of the energies supplied is transferred into heat.
According to the CVD process, a compound is reduced or dissociated resulting in an adherent coating onto a substrate.
Both these methods suffer drawbacks in that it is difficult to restrict the film deposition to a well-defined, small area of a substrate. The very nature of these deposition methods has required the use of complex masks and etching techniques to restrict the film deposition to a well- o defined small area of a substrate.
In addition to the problems of controlling the area of deposition, neither of these methods allow for the monitoring of the film as it is being deposited. Typically the film formation is controlled by the amount of time that deposition occurs forming a film of a desired thickness. However, no methods presently exist for monitoring the formation of a thin film while it is being formed. Therefore, there is currently no method for selectively depositing a thin film by CVD while directly monitoring the progress of film deposition.

In-situ monitoring, and growth of thin films by means of selected area CVD

The Regents of the University of Michigan


An exemplary sliding mechanism (100) used for a sliding-type portable electronic device, includes a sliding member (10), a sliding member (20), and a sliding module (30). The main housing defines a curved sliding groove (203) therein. The sliding module includes two movable arms (301, 302), an elastic member (50) positioned between the two movable arms, and two sliding pegs (402, 404). The sliding pegs are partially received in the sliding groove of the main housing. A first end of each movable arm is rotatably attached to the sliding member, and a second end opposite to the first end of each movable arm is fixed to one of the sliding pegs. Two ends of the elastic member are correspondingly fixed to the two movable arms for driving the movable arms to move towards each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to sliding mechanisms, and more particularly, to a sliding mechanism used for a sliding-type portable electronic device.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Sliding mechanisms are widely used in sliding-type portable electronic devices, such as sliding-type mobile phones and sliding-type personal digital assistants (PDAs).
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a typical sliding mechanism generally includes a main housing 70, a sliding cover 80, and a sliding module 90 positioned in the main housing 70. The main housing 70 defines two sliding grooves 77 in an inner surface of the main housing 70 and the sliding cover 80 also defines two guiding grooves 86 in an inner surface of the sliding cover 80. Each of the sliding grooves 77 includes a straight portion (not labeled) and a slanting portion (not labeled) connecting to an end of the straight portion. The sliding module 90 includes a mounting frame 92, a tension spring 94, and a pair of guiding protrusions 98. The tension spring 94 and the guiding protrusions 98 are received in the mounting frame 92. The tension spring 94 is positioned between the pair of guiding protrusions 98, with an end fixed to one guiding protrusion 98 and an opposite end fixed to the other guiding protrusion 98. Each guiding protrusion 98 includes an end inserted into one of the guiding grooves 86 of the sliding cover 80 and an opposite end inserted into one of the sliding grooves 77 of the main housing 70. Each guiding protrusion 98 is slidable in the corresponding guiding groove 86 of the sliding cover 80.
If the sliding cover 80 slides relative to the main housing 70, the guiding protrusions 98 moves towards or away from each other, thereby elongating or shortening the tension spring 94. When the sliding module 90 with the sliding cover 80 slides in a slide range less than a length L1, the sliding module 90 creates an elastic force for closing the sliding cover 80 relative to the main housing 70. When the sliding module 90 with the sliding cover 80 slides in a slide range larger than the length L1 and less than a length L2, the sliding module 90 creates an elastic force for opening the sliding cover 80 relative to the main housing 70.
However, when each guiding protrusion 98 slides across a corner between the straight portion and the slanting portion of each sliding groove 77, the sliding cover 80 is slightly displaced with the guiding protrusion 98. Therefore, the sliding cover 80 does not slide smoothly relative to the main housing 70. In addition, the tension spring 94 is easily damaged when being frequently expanded by the guiding protrusions 98, thereby shortening the life span of the sliding mechanism.
What is needed, therefore, is a new slide mechanism which overcomes the above-described shortcomings.

Sliding mechanism for portable electronic device

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


A method for joining a first component made of a plastic material, in particular a thermoplastic and/or thermosetting plastic material, to a second component by applying a joining element on the first component, wherein the joining element has a supporting plate formed of a thermoplastic and/or thermosetting plastic material and comprising a connecting means and a supporting plate bore. A joining element for creating a junction in accordance with the method, is also disclosed. Furthermore, a device, in particular for performing the method, is disclosed.

Joining plate-shaped components, which only have low material thickness with respect to superficial extent, to other components or components also realized in plate-shape proves to be costly, because on many occasions, due to the low material thickness, joining screws, rivets, or the like, may not be inserted directly into the components.
To provide such junctions, e.g., so called plate nuts, are implemented in the aircraft or automotive industry. Known embodiments of plate nuts have a base plate with a substantially rectangular basis, which tapers at both end regions. The base plate has a center bore, arranged approximately in the middle. In both end regions of the base plate, respectively, one fastening bore is incorporated. The longitudinal edges of the base plate are flanged in the region of the center bore for receiving a fastening nut. Herein, the fastening nut is received in the base plate so that an equalization of tolerances is possible in two spatial directions, in parallel to the base plate.
Alternatively, a fastening spring for connecting the fastening nut to the base plate, may be used. The fastening spring is then-held by retaining cams with recesses, arranged on both sides in parallel to the longitudinal sides of the base plate. For replacing the fastening nut, the fastening spring may be taken out of the recesses. In this variant as well, an equalization of tolerances is possible due to the fastening nut received by means of the fastening spring to be movable in two spatial directions in parallel to the base plate.
For producing a junction between a first and second component, the plate nut is initially fastened on the first component. For this purpose, initially two holes are incorporated into the first component, substantially coincidentally with the fastening bores in the base plate. Afterwards, the base plate with the first component is joined to the second component by two rivets inserted into the fastening bore. Afterwards, in the region of the center bore of the plate nut, another bore is incorporated into the first component, which bore is e.g. for passing a stud. This bore may be incorporated before fastening the plate nut on the first component. Finally,-a stud or the like, is guided through a bore in the second component, the stud being screwed down with the fastening nut for the effective junction of the first component with the second component.
Other methods or joining means for producing such junctions may get by with one center bore in the first component. Fastening of the plate nut is herein performed by expanding a sleeve surrounding the center bore of the plate nut inside the bore of the first component, similarly to fastening a so called "pop rivet". Expanding the sleeve may then be performed by a disposable drift pin, which is drawn through the sleeve using a tool. During the production process of the joining element, this drift pin may be inserted into the sleeve. Alternatively, expanding may also be performed by a separate pin, which is inserted into the sleeve only when the joining element is mounted, and which is removed at the end of the expanding operation and may be reused. As a result of the central fastening of the plate nut in the first component, it is not necessary in either variant to join the plate nut to the first component by two separate rivets.
Due to a plurality of steps, the above mentioned methods or joining means require relatively intensive installation work. Furthermore, in particular in components with fiber reinforced plastic materials, there is the risk of delaminations in the region of the junctions. Such delaminations may occur, in regions wherein a mechanical load of the material is produced in parallel to the preferred fiber orientation, as is the case in particular in rivet joints, screw joints, or when expanding sleeves in bores in fiber reinforced plastic materials. Both the rivets for fastening the plate nut and the expansible sleeve for central fastening of the plate nut moreover imply the risk of corrosion processes because components made of different materials are adjacent.

Method for joining a first component formed of a plastic material to a second component, and joining element and device


An apparatus having a memory and a controller is disclosed. The memory is configured to store a codeword. The controller is configured to (i) determine one or more least-reliable bit positions in a soft-decision version of the codeword in response to failing to decode a hard-decision version of the codeword, (ii) generate a trial codeword by selecting at random a respective value in one or more trial positions among the least-reliable bit positions in the hard-decision codeword and (iii) perform a hard-decision decoding of the trial codeword.

In modern read channels for flash memories, hard-decision information and soft-decision information can be provided for each stored bit. Some conventional error correcting codes utilize the soft-decision information to aid in recovering the bits. However, the soft-decision codes usually have error floors (i.e., a less-steep bit-error-rate curve in a high signal-to-noise region) due to relatively small minimum distances and trapping sets. The error floors create problems in storage applications where specified output bit-error rates are commonly small. Conventional algebraic codes use only the hard-decision information and do not suffer from the error floors. However, the algebraic codes have a bit-error-rate performance loss in a waterfall region (i.e., a low signal-to-noise region) compared with the soft-decision information-based codes.

Decoding based on randomized hard decisions


A record carrier has a servo track (4) indicating an information track (9) intended for recording information blocks. The servo track (4) has a periodic variation of a physical parameter at a predetermined frequency and modulated parts for encoding position information at regular intervals. The modulated parts start with a bit sync element and are of a data type having a data bit element, or of a word sync type having a word sync element. The word sync element and the data bit element are modulated according to a same predetermined type of modulation of the periodic variation. The effective strength of a modulated element is the number of periodic variations that are substantially different and available for detection of that element. The effective strength of the word sync element and of the data bit element are equal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a record carrier comprising a servo track indicating an information track intended for recording information blocks represented by marks, said servo track having a periodic variation of a physical parameter at a predetermined frequency and modulated parts for encoding position information at regular intervals, a first type of modulated parts starting with a bit sync element and being of a data type having a data bit element, and a second type of modulated parts starting with a bit sync element and being of a word sync type having a word sync element, the word sync element and the data bit element being modulated according to a same predetermined type of modulation of the periodic variation.
The invention further relates to a recording and/or playback device comprising means for writing and/or reading information blocks in an information track on a record carrier having a servo track indicating the information track, said device comprising means for scanning the servo track and demodulation means for retrieving position information from a signal generated by a variation of a physical parameter of the servo track at a predetermined frequency, said servo track having modulated parts for encoding position information at regular intervals, a first type of modulated parts starting with a bit sync element and being of a data type having a data bit element, and a second type of modulated parts starting with a bit sync element and being of a word sync type having a word sync element, the word sync element and the data bit element being modulated according to a same predetermined type of modulation of the periodic variation.
The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing the record carrier.
2. Description of the Related Art
A record carrier and device for reading and/or writing information are known from International Patent Application No. WO 00/43996, corresponding to U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,538,982 and 6,765,861 (PHN 17323). The information to be recorded is encoded into an information signal which includes address codes and is subdivided in accordance with the address codes into information blocks. The record carrier is of a recordable type and has a servo track, usually called pre-groove, for causing servo signals to be generated when scanning the track. A physical parameter, e.g., the radial position, of the pre-groove periodically varies at a predetermined frequency constituting a so-called wobble. During the scanning of the track, this wobble leads to a variation of the radial tracking servo signals and a wobble signal can be generated. The wobble is modulated according to a type of modulation using phase modulation for encoding position information. The phase modulation or frequency modulation used for encoding digital position information is selected to minimally disturb the component of the predetermined frequency in the wobble signal, because that component is used to control the recording speed. Hence, a majority of the periodic variations needs to be non-modulated, i.e., having the zero crossings not shifted from the nominal positions. During recording, the position information is retrieved from the wobble signal and is used for positioning the information blocks by keeping a predefined relation between the address codes in the information blocks and the position information. The addresses are encoded in modulated parts of the wobble starting with a bit sync element followed by either a word sync element or a data bit element.
A problem of the known system is that detection of the word sync element is not reliable.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Record carrier including a servo track having first and second modulated parts representing a data type and a word sync type, respectively, and an apparatus for scanning the record carrier


An archery sight for a bow comprises an integral pin plate, pin guard and windage adjustment structure. In a preferred embodiment, the pin plate is configured to maintain the sight pins in substantially parallel arrangement relative to one another. In another preferred embodiment, the pin plate defines a plurality of elongate apertures, each for securing a sight pin to the pin plate. Accordingly, the sight pins can pivot relative to the pin plate allowing for closer arrangement of the tips of the sight pins than would otherwise be allowable if the pins were maintained in a parallel relationship. In yet another preferred embodiment, the archery sight is comprised of an integrated pin plate, pin guard, and adjustable windage mechanism. In still another preferred embodiment, the archery sight comprises at least one two-headed sight pin preferably having sight heads of different widths. In yet another preferred embodiment, a support post on tab extends from the sight pin for supporting a portion of a fiber optic segment attached thereto.

This invention relates generally to archery bow sights and, more specifically, to an archery bow sight which includes one or more sight pins securable thereto, the archery bow sight being mountable to an archery bow in a manner that allows gang movement of one or more sight pins relative to the bow.
Archery bow sights utilizing a plurality of sight pins have been known in the art for many years. Typically, these sights utilize a bracket or other mounting structure for mounting the sight to a bow. The sight is commonly comprised of a pin plate, a pin guard, and a plurality of sight pins securable to the pin plate. The sight is mounted to a bow in a manner so that when the bow is drawn, the archer can look through a peep sight provided in the bow cable and align the tip of a pin attached to the sight with a target. For sights utilizing a plurality of sight pins having their tips vertically aligned, each individual sight pin is typically provided for aiming the bow at a target at a particular distance from the archer. For example, one pin may be positioned in the sight for aiming the bow at a target 50 yards from the archer while another pin may be positioned for a target that is at 100 yards.
In addition to providing individual pin adjustment relative to the sight, many prior art archery sights are mounted to the bow in a manner that allows group or what is commonly termed "gang" adjustment of the pins. Such adjustment is useful when the individual pins are properly positioned for a particular type or weight of arrow and shooting of a another type or weight of arrow effects the flight path. For example, for an arrow having a different quill arrangement or configuration, the pin sights may be properly positioned to account for targets at the various distances, but the flight path may be affected to the left or to the right (commonly referred to as "windage"). In such a situation, it may be desirable to move the entire sight to the left or the right without repositioning the individual sight pins. There are two common types of sight windage adjustment mechanisms for archery bow sights, two point and single point. For two point adjustment, the sight is typically secured to its mounting bracket at two points and may be adjusted to the left or right by loosening fasteners at these two points. With a single point adjustment sight, the sight is typically secured to a mounting bracket by a single fastener arrangement and thus can be adjusted relative to the mounting bracket by loosening of the single fastener arrangement. Similar adjustment mechanisms have been provided in the art for providing gang adjustability of the entire sight in a vertical direction.
While the basic concept of securing a plurality of pins to a pin plate is known in the art, various techniques to accomplish this have been employed. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,874 to Busch the sight pins are provided with external threads and are inserted through a longitudinally extending slot in the pin plate. An internally threaded fastener is threaded onto the sight pin in order to secure it to the pin plate. The tips of the sight pins thus extend into the sight window defined by the pin plate and the guard. By properly aligning the sight pins relative to the pin plate and the sight relative to the bow, the archer may utilize each sight pin for a target at a particular distance.
Such an arrangement of sight pins, however, necessarily limits the distance between adjacent tips of sight pins by the smallest transverse dimension of the structure securing the sight pin to the pin plate. For example, in the Busch patent previously discussed, the tips of the sight pins can be positioned no closer than that allowed when adjacent internally threaded fasteners are abutted against one another. For some higher power bows, it may be necessary, in order to properly sight the bow, to position the tips of adjacent sight pins closer than is physically possible if the sight pins are maintained in a parallel relationship. One approach known in the art to allow closer arrangement of the sight pins is to provide two slots in the pin plate and two different lengths of sight pins. Longer pins are secured to a back slot and shorter pins are secured to a front slot so that the tips of the longer and shorter pins extend from the front edge of the pin plate an equal distance. Accordingly, a narrow portion of the longer, back sight pins can be fitted between the wider portion of the shorter, front sight pins utilized for attaching the front sight pins to the pin plate. With such an arrangement, the distance between tips of adjacent sight pins is thus significantly decreased.
It is also common in the art, as shown by the sight disclosed in Busch, that a sight be comprised of several individual components including a guard, a pin plate, and various adjustment mechanisms. While each of these features provide vital features to the sight, employing separate components necessarily increases the overall weight of the sight and thus the bow to which the sight is attached. In addition, an increased number of components also increases the potential for vibration of components relative to one another which can affect the accuracy of the bow and can startle game being hunted.
Sight pins are commonly comprised of an externally threaded brass pin having a small ball formed on the tip thereof. The ball is often painted to provide for better visibility of the ball. Typically, when several sight pins are employed, each ball tip is painted with a different color indicating a different yardage for the archer. Sight pins are also known in the art which include fiber optic elements for illuminating the tip of the sight pin to make the tip more visible to the archer. The fiber optic type sight pins are commonly comprised of an elongated pin providing two transversely extending bores substantially parallel to one another, with one of the bores positioned proximate the tip of the pin. A fiber optic member having ends of a greater diameter than the bores extends from the tip of the pin, through the bore at the tip, to the second bore, and through the second bore effectively forming a partial loop on one side of the pin. The ends of the fiber optic member appear illuminated when exposed to light. With both brass and fiber optic sight pins, it is often advantageous to provide pins of different widths depending on the accuracy desired or needed.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide an archery bow sight formed from a single piece of material, integrally forming a pin guard, pin plate, and a windage or vertical adjustment mechanism. It would also be advantageous to provide a pin plate that maintains the sight pins in a substantially parallel arrangement. In addition, it would be advantageous to provide an archery bow sight that allows the sight pins to be pivoted relative to the pin plate in order to allow the tips of adjacent sight pins to be positioned relatively closely to one another. It would also be advantageous to provide a two headed sight pin that provides two sight pins of different widths.


A dental abutment having a metallic core, a shield surrounding an outer surface of the core, and a polymeric cuff surrounding the core and shield, wherein the cuff bonds to a polymeric prosthesis.

FIG. 1 shows a prior art dental restorative system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,714 entitled xe2x80x9cSupport Post for Use in Dental Implant System.xe2x80x9d The system generally includes a dental implant 10 and a support post or abutment 12. The implant is embedded into the jawbone leaving a gingival end 14 exposed through the bone. This gingival end includes a threaded recess 15 and a multi-sided male projection 16 for abutting with the abutment 12.
The abutment has a cylindrical configuration with an elongated upper portion 18 and a lower transgingival portion 20. The abutment serves several functions but generally provides a structure for extending the implant above the gum-line. In this regard, one end of the abutment connects to implant while the other end connects to a prosthesis 22.
A passageway 24 extends through the abutment and provides a recess 26 at the transgingival portion 20 for engaging the projection 16 of the implant. A screw 28 abuts against a shoulder 30 and engages the threaded recess 15 to hold the abutment to the implant. The prosthesis 22 is fabricated around the upper portion and typically connects to the abutment with either a separate screw (not shown) or cement.
Typically, the abutment is made of metal, such as titanium. An entirely metallic abutment, however, can be visible through the prosthesis and can result in a dark, unattractive shadow within the prosthetic structure. In order to alleviate this particular problem, the abutment shown in FIG. 1 is made from two different materials. An outer portion 34 is made from ceramic and an inner portion, shown as an insert 36, is made from titanium or its alloys. The ceramic shields the shadow of the metallic abutment through the prosthesis.
The restorative system shown in FIG. 1 and other prior abutments present numerous disadvantages. The outer portion 34 of the abutment is made of ceramic, typically aluminum oxide. Ceramic, however, is not always a desirable material for use in an abutment. Ceramics, for example, are very brittle and not easily repaired when damaged. If a ceramic component is damaged, for instance chipped, broken, or scratched, it is replaced with a new component. Furthermore, splinted, multiple-tooth ceramic prostheses are very difficult to fabricate because of the hard, brittle nature of the ceramic material. Ceramic components are also difficult to fabricate with precision because of the shrinkage of the ceramic that occurs as the ceramic material is sintered. Further yet, ceramics have a hardness even greater than that of titanium. Once these materials permanently harden, they cannot thereafter be softened and can be re-shaped only by grinding.
The prosthesis 22 is preferably made of porcelain. A porcelain prosthesis bonds well with a ceramic abutment but also is not always a desirable material. Like ceramic, porcelain cannot be easily repaired. If a porcelain prosthesis becomes chipped, for instance, it is replaced and typically not repaired. Additionally, porcelain also permanently hardens once cured. It cannot thereafter be softened and re-shaped. As a further disadvantage, porcelain has a hardness greater than natural teeth. As a result, a porcelain prosthesis will tend to wear an opposing natural tooth during chewing.
The present invention solves the problems discussed above with prior dental restorative systems and provides further advantages.
The present invention is directed toward a dental restorative system having an abutment formed from two different materials. The abutment includes a metallic core and a polymeric cuff. The core has a cylindrical configuration with an end abutting against a gingival end of a dental implant. The cuff surrounds the outer surface of the core and connects to a prosthesis. The prosthesis is also formed from a polymer and bonds to or abuts the cuff.
The present invention has numerous advantages. For example, both the cuff of the abutment and the prosthesis are made from polymer. These components can be readily repaired if they become chipped, broken, or scratched. Such a repair may occur even after the polymer is hardened and the abutment and prosthesis are placed in the mouth of a patient. Further, the polymeric prosthesis generally will not have a hardness greater than any opposing natural teeth in the patient. As such, the prosthesis will not wear or damage natural teeth as a porcelain prosthesis will. Furthermore, the polymeric cuff can be made to more closely resemble the color of natural teeth than can the traditional metal abutments. As a result, the final restoration will have greatly improved esthetics.


A method for the direct, mathematical reconstruction of the image of an object from measurements of the transmitted intensity of the scattered radiation effected by irradiating the object. The transmitted coefficient is related to the image by an integral operator. The image is directly, mathematical reconstructed by executing a prescribed mathematical algorithm, as determined with reference to the integral operator, on the transmitted coefficient, the algorithm further relating the absorption coefficient, the diffusion coefficient, or both to the transmitted coefficient by a different integral operator.

The inventive subject matter addresses the physical principles and the associated mathematical formulations underlying the direct reconstruction method for optical imaging in the multiple scattering regime. The result is a methodology for the direct solution to the image reconstruction problem. Moreover, the method is generally applicable to imaging with any scalar wave in the diffusive multiple scattering regime and is not limited to optical imaging. However, for the sake of elucidating the significant ramifications of the present invention, it is most instructive to select one area of application of the method so as to insure a measure of definiteness and concreteness to the description. Accordingly, since many biological systems meet the physical requirements for the application of the principles of the present invention, especially photon diffusion imaging principles, the fundamental aspects of the present inventive subject matter will be conveyed using medical imaging as an illustrative application of the method.
There have been three major developments in medical imaging over the past 20 years that have aided in the diagnosis and treatment of numerous medical conditions, particularly as applied to the human anatomy; these developments are: (1) the Computer-Assisted Tomography (CAT) scan; (2) the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); and (3) the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan.
With a CAT scanner, X-rays are transmitted through, for example, a human brain, and a computer uses X-rays detected external to the human head to create and display a series of images--basically cross-sections of the human brain. What is being imaged is the X-ray absorption function for unscattered, hard X-rays within the brain. CAT scans can detect, for instance, strokes, tumors, and cancers. With an MRI device, a computer processes data from radio signals impinging on the brain to assemble life-like, three-dimensional images. As with a CAT scan, such malformations as tumors, blood clots, and atrophied regions can be detected. With a PET scanner, the positions of an injected radioactive substance are detected and imaged as the brain uses the substance. What is being imaged is the gamma ray source position. Each of these medical imaging techniques has proved invaluable to the detection and diagnosing of many abnormal medical conditions. However, in many respects, none of the techniques is completely satisfactory for the reasons indicated in the following discussion.
In establishing optimal design parameters for a medical imaging technique, the following four specifications are most important. The specifications are briefly presented in overview fashion before a more detailed discussion is provided; moreover, the shortcomings of each of the conventional techniques are also outlined. First, it would be preferable to use a non-ionizing source of radiation. Second, it would be advantageous to achieve spatial resolution on the order of a millimeter to facilitate diagnosis. Third, it would be desirable to obtain metabolic information. And, fourth, it would be beneficial to produce imaging information in essentially real-time (on the order of one millisecond) so that moving picture-like images could be viewed. None of the three conventional imaging techniques is capable of achieving all four specifications at once. For instance, a CAT scanner is capable of high resolution, but it uses ionizing radiation, it is not capable of metabolic imaging, and its spatial resolution is borderline acceptable. Also, while MRI does use non-ionizing radiation and has acceptable resolution, MRI does not provide metabolic information and is not particularly fast. Finally, a PET scanner does provide metabolic information, but PET uses ionizing radiation, is slow, and spatial resolution is also borderline acceptable. Moreover, the PET technique is invasive due to the injected substance.
The four specifications are now considered in more detail. With respect to ionizing radiation, a good deal of controversy as to its effects on the human body presently exists in the medical community. To ensure that the radiation levels are within what are now believed to be acceptable limits, PET scans cannot be performed at close time intervals (oftentimes, it is necessary to wait at least 6 months between scans), and the dosage must be regulated. Moreover, PET is still a research tool because a cyclotron is needed to make the positron-emitting isotopes. Regarding spatial resolution, it is somewhat self-evident that diagnosis will be difficult without the necessary granularity to differentiate different structures as well as undesired conditions such as blood clots or tumors. With regard to metabolic information, it would be desirable, for example, to make a spatial map of oxygen concentration in the human head, or a spatial map of glucose concentration in the brain. The ability to generate such maps can teach medical personnel about disease as well as normal functions. Unfortunately, CAT and MRI report density measurements--electrons in an X-ray scanner or protons in MRI--and there is not a great deal of contrast to ascertain metabolic information, that is, it is virtually impossible to distinguish one chemical (such as glucose) from another. PET scanners have the ability to obtain metabolic information, which suggests the reason for the recent popularity of this technique. Finally, imaging is accomplished only after a substantial processing time, so real-time imaging is virtually impossible with the conventional techniques.
Because of the aforementioned difficulties and limitations, there has been much current interest in the development of a technique for generating images of the distribution of absorption and scattering coefficients of living tissue that satisfy the foregoing four desiderata. Accordingly, a technique using low intensity photons would be safe. The technique should be fast in that optical events occur within the range of 100 nanoseconds--with this speed, numerous measurements could be completed and averaged to reduce measurement noise while still achieving the one millisecond speed for real-time imaging. In addition, source and detector equipment for the technique may be arranged to produce necessary measurement data for a reconstruction procedure utilizing appropriately-selected spatial parameters to thereby yield the desired one millimeter spatial resolution. Finally, metabolic imaging with the technique should be realizable if imaging as localized spectroscopy is envisioned in the sense that each point in the image is assigned an absorption spectrum. Such an assignment may be used, for example, to make a map of oxygenation by measuring the absorption spectra for hemoglobin at two different wavelengths, namely, a first wavelength at which hemoglobin is saturated, and a second wavelength at which hemoglobin is de-saturated. The difference of the measurements can yield a hemoglobin saturation map which can, in turn, give rise to tissue oxygenation information.
The first proposals for optical imaging suggested a mathematical approach (e.g., backprojection algorithm) that is similar to that used to generate X-ray computerized tomography images. Light from a pulsed laser is incident on the specimen at a source position and is detected at a detector strategically placed at a point to receive transmitted photons. It is assumed that the earliest arriving photons (the so-called "ballistic photons") travel in a straight line between the source and detector, and the transmitted intensity is used in a mathematical reconstruction algorithm. In effect, only unscattered incident waves are considered as being useful for forming an image of any objects embedded in the specimen and, accordingly, techniques are employed to eliminate scattered light from the detection process, such as arranging a detector with "fast gating time" to only process the earliest arriving photons. However, since it is known that the ballistic photons are attenuated exponentially, if the specimen has a thickness exceeding a predetermined value, imaging is virtually impossible in many practical situations.
The latest proposals for optical imaging are now directed toward imaging systems which use diffusively scattered radiation to reconstruct a representation of the interior of a specimen. Representative of prior art in this field is U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,455 issued to Singer et al (Singer) on Dec. 3, 1991. The system disclosed by Singer uses radiation, such as photons or other particles, which will be scattered to a significant degree by the internal structure of a specimen. In the system, a specimen is irradiated and measurements of the attenuated and scattered radiation are effected at a number of points along the exterior of the specimen. It has been determined by Singer that such measurements are sufficient to determine the scattering and attenuation properties of the various regions inside the specimen. In accordance with the disclosure of Singer, the interior of the specimen is modeled as an array of volume elements ("voxels"). Each voxel in the model of the specimen has scattering and attenuation properties which are represented by numerical parameters that can be mapped so as to generate several images of the interior of the specimen.
The particular technique used by Singer to reconstruct the interior of the specimen can best be characterized as an "iterative" procedure. This procedure is now described in some detail so as to pinpoint its shortcomings and deficiencies. After collecting the imaging data, the scattering and attenuation coefficients for the voxels are assigned initial values, which helps to shorten the computation process--but which is also the characteristic of iterative or non-direct solution to a mathematical minimization problem. Next, the system computes the intensity of light that would emerge from the specimen if the interior of the object were characterized by the currently assigned values for the scattering and attenuation coefficients. Then, the difference between the measured light intensities and the computed light intensities are used to compute an "error function" related to the magnitude of the errors of reconstruction. This error function (also called "cost function" in minimization procedures) is then minimized using a multi-dimensional gradient descent methodology (such as Fletcher-Powell minimization), i.e., the coefficients are modified so as to reduce the value of the error function.
The process of computing exiting light intensities based on the currently assigned values for the scattering and attenuation coefficients, and then comparing the differences between the computed values and measured values to generate a new approximation of the scattering and attenuation properties of the interior of the specimen, continues until the error function falls below a specified threshold. The final values of the scattering and attenuation coefficients from this process are then mapped so as to generate a series of images of the interior of the specimen, thereby depicting the attenuation and scattering characteristics of the specimen's interior--which presumably will disclose both normal and abnormal conditions.
Singer thus discloses a technique to reconstruct an image by inversion using an iterative minimization procedure. Such an approach is more formally characterized as a "heuristic", in contrast to an "algorithm", since no verification or proof of even the existence of a solution using the approach has been offered. There are essentially an infinite number of scattering and attenuation coefficients under such a regime, and there is absolutely no assurance that the particular coefficients determined using the iterative technique are the actual coefficients for the specimen's interior. Moreover, such a heuristic method has a high computational complexity which is exponential in relation to the number of voxels and which is, in turn, a characteristic of difficult optimization problems with many local minima. The computational complexity of such a approach renders the reconstruction method virtually useless for imaging.
The other approaches presented in the prior art are closely related to that presented by Singer. These approaches also effect an indirect inversion of the forward scattering problem by an iterative technique which provide little, if any, physical insight.
The art is devoid, however, of any analytical or mathematical techniques, such as inversion formulas, which obtain the reconstructed image of an object with a variable absorption coefficient, or with a variable diffusion coefficient, or with variations in both the absorption and diffusion coefficients.

Imaging system and method using direct reconstruction of scattered radiation


A cable drive for a motor-vehicle sliding door has a pair of cable sections of predetermined diameter and each having one end attached to the vehicle and an opposite end, a pin fixed on the vehicle, defining an axis, and having a screwthread of a pitch at least equal to the cable diameter, and a gear having a core threaded onto the pin. A pair of coaxial drums having smooth outer surfaces are axially coupled to but rotatable on the core and are each connected to a respective one of the opposite ends of the cable sections. A spring is engaged between and urges the drums rotationally oppositely to tension the cable sections. Interengaging formations on the gear and on the drums rotationally couple the drums to the gear and a reversible drive motor coupled to the gear simultaneously rotates the gear about the axis, axially displaces the gear on the pin, winds up one of the cable sections on the surface of the respective drum, and unwinds the other of the cable sections from the surface of the respective drum.

A standard motor-vehicle sliding door moves on tracks between a closed position and an open position. It is now standard to provide a drive for power-assisted and even remote operation of this door, which under the best of circumstances can be difficult to manipulate.
In a standard arrangement a pair of cable sections, which may be separate or parts of a common cable, each have one end anchored on the door and an opposite end anchored on a respective drum. The drums are coaxially mounted on a common drive pin and are biased in angularly opposite directions by a spring connected between them to keep the cable sections taut. A drive gear rotated by a reversible electrical motor can engage one or the other of the coaxial drums, depending on whether the door is to be opened or closed, to rotate the two drums, paying the cable off one of them and winding it up on the other.
To preserve the cable each of the drums is formed with a helical groove intended to receive the respective cable section when it is wound thereon. It is important that the cable wind up smoothly, without turns one atop the other, so that the cable itself does not chafe and in order to maintain the assembly as compact as possible.
The problem with this arrangement is that the drums are fairly expensive to manufacture, mainly due to formation of the helical cable-seat groove. In addition the cable is pulled at an angle at least toward the end of a windup operation, so it is fairly common for the cable to jump out of its groove and ride up on previously laid turns, causing a chafing problem and possibly leading to binding of the drum due to its increased diameter.

Cable drive for motor-vehicle sliding door


Provided are methods, systems, computer program products for scheduling jobs. The method may include receiving a request for allocating resources for a first job, a job comprising information regarding maximum amount of resources required by the job; determining a type of the first job; obtaining at least one backfill of the first job based on the determined type; allocating the maximum amount of resources from system resources to the first job; searching a second job in waiting jobs to be allocated resources, the second job being suitable to be allocated used resources by the first job from the maximum amount of resources allocated to the first job during the at least one backfill; allocating the resources unused by the first job from the maximum amount of resources allocated to the first job to the second job in response to the first job running to the at least one backfill.

The present disclosure relates to computer techniques, and more specifically, to methods, systems and computer program products for scheduling jobs.
A computing system comprises a plurality of resources. The resources can be a single one or a composition from a group of: CPU, GPU, memory, software licenses, network bandwidth, disk and the like, which need to be allocated to jobs received by the system. A job is a software program which runs on the system by utilizing allocated resources. When the system receives a plurality of jobs, a job scheduler may allocate resources reasonably for each job, so that limited resources can be fully used by the system.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A system and a method are disclosed for tracking user activity with products in an environment. In an embodiment, a processor detects that a user has entered an environment, and responsively uniquely identifies the user. The processor determines that the user interacts with a product of a plurality of products within the environment, and responsively updates a profile of the user with indicia of the product. The processor determines whether the user is attempting to exit the environment, and, in response to determining that the user is attempting to exit the environment, prompts the user to confirm that the user intends to remove the product from the environment based on the updated profile. The processor receives input from the user confirming that the user intends to remove the product from the environment, and responsively further updates the profile based on the input.

Related art systems monitor users and tangible items (e.g., in a retail store environment) through a complex system of Quick Response (QR) codes, computer vision, and custom hardware (including deployment of both emitters and receivers). Beyond being expensive and labor-intensive to implement, such related art systems do not provide full imaging of a three-dimensional environment, at least because these systems are limited to a line-of-sight of computer vision sensors.

Item level 3D localization and imaging using radio frequency waves


The present invention relates to a method of destroying hazardous vapor phase or aqueous phase organic compound(s) by providing a polymeric siloxane based solvent in a vessel and adding the hazardous organic compound(s) and ozone to the solvent. The solvent may also comprise a mixture of polymeric siloxane based solvent and fluorinated hydrocarbon solvent.

Ozone is an allotropic form of the element oxygen that functions as a powerful oxidant, bleach and water purifier. Upon contact with water ozone decomposes rapidly to produce free radicals that may be effectively utilized to treat industrial waste. In fact, in the presence of water, ozone acts more rapidly than hydrogen peroxide, chlorine and sulfur dioxide. Bacterial and viral disinfection utilizing ozone is up to 5000 times more rapid than comparable treatments utilizing chlorine.
Despite its effectiveness the efficiency of ozone in treating hazardous aqueous and vapor phase organic compounds in water is extremely low for a number of reasons. These include relatively low ozone solubility in water, rapid ozone decomposition, high gas/liquid mass transfer resistance and non-selective oxidation. Further, ozone gas transfer promotes the loss of volatile organics. Additionally, for vapor phase organic compound destruction from air or gas streams, conventional aqueous phase ozonation is often not possible because of low solubility of those organics in water.
Recognizing these shortcomings, other ozonation methods have been proposed as set forth in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,793,931 to Stevens et al. and 4,940,808 to Schultz et al. In the Stevens et al. patent, the photodegradation of solid or liquid phase waste organics by extraction of the organics in a perfluorinated solvent including a photo-oxidant such as ozone is disclosed. In Schultz et al., a process for ozonation of saturated organic compounds by utilizing an ozone-containing gas in halogenated hydrocarbon coolants such as fluorinated methane or ethane is disclosed.
Other prior art references of interest also relating to ozonation include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,430,228 to Ciambrone et al.; 5,457,269 to Schonberg and 5,580,458 to Yamasaki et al. While effective for their intended purpose, such approaches may be improved upon to provide more efficient degradation or destruction of the vapor phase organic compounds at lower overall cost.

Method of destroying hazardous organic compounds

University of Kentucky Research Foundation