Disclosed is a large-scale submersible sewage pump assembly that includes a pump and a pump seat installation structure, wherein the pump seat installation structure has a concrete installation base layer, and a pump seat for installing the pump. The pump seat is fixed to the pump installation layer, and the bottom of the pump is directly connected onto the pump seat. The pump has a motor cooling apparatus, wherein the cooling apparatus has an internal cooling apparatus installed inside the case of the motor, and an external cooling apparatus installed outside the motor. The pump seat installation structure can stably mount and support the large-scale submersible sewage pump, preventing potential safety hazard during running of the pump.

Presently, both the power of motor and the outflow aperture of the submersible sewage pump is poor, that is to say, the power is generally less than 400 kw and the outflow aperture is generally below 800 mm. Such submersible sewage pump is assembled in a conventional suspension way, that is to say, the side of the submersible sewage pump is fixed on one side of the elbow base at the bottom of the pool by means of a suspension unit, and thus the bottom of the pump is suspended with the bottom of the pool. However, the whole weight of a large-scale submersible sewage pump, is which generally means the submersible sewage pump with the powder more than 400 kw and the outflow aperture more than 800 mm, is larger, which is generally more than 10 t. When such large-scale submersible sewage pump is fixed on a side of the seat in a suspension way in the prior art, there are several disadvantages as follow:    1) The installation in a lateral suspension way certainly brings about increasing lateral torque to the seat, and the suspension unit is usually cast by the cast iron. The increasing volume and weight of the submersible sewage pump certainly will cause the inadequate strength of the suspension unit, and it leads the suspension unit to break, so that the whole submersible sewage pump can not work.    2) Because the bottom of the submersible sewage pump is suspending, shock caused by such a pump when working is increased, and thus it certainly will affect the normal running of the pump and there will be huge potential safe hazard.


A male terminal fitting 20 is formed by bending, for example, copper alloy metal plate, and comprises, in a unified manner, a barrel member 30, a contact protrusion 40 for insertion into a female terminal fitting, and a tubular member 50 located between these. The terminal fitting comprises an overlapping plate 53 that overlaps with a roof wall 52 of the tubular member 50, a strengthening plate 54 extending in a unified manner from the anterior end of the overlapping plate 53 entering into the root portion of the contact protrusion 40. As a result, the strength of the contact protrusion 40 is increased and change of shape thereof due to an external force is prevented.

A male terminal fitting of a prior type is shown in FIG. 9. Such a male terminal fitting is formed by bending metal sheet of copper alloy or the like, and comprises, in a unified manner, a barrel member 1 for attachment of an electric wire (not shown), a contact protrusion 2 for insertion into a female terminal fitting (not shown), and an angular tubular member 3 located between the barrel member 1 and the contact protrusion 2. The angular tubular member 3 is formed by bending the sheet metal into a box shape and making both ends meet, and the contact protrusion 2 is formed by bending it into a cross-sectionally U-shaped groove. Since such a male terminal fitting is formed of sheet metal, it has the advantage of low production cost.
However, in a male terminal fitting with the above configuration, since the interior of the contact protrusion 2 is an empty groove, a strong external force may bend it about its root. In order to strengthen the contact protrusion, it has been proposed to include metal pins extending into the groove. However, in order to fix these pins a crimping or soldering step is required, resulting in an increase in cost.
The present invention has been developed after taking the above problem into consideration, and aims to present a male terminal fitting which permits low-cost production by allowing the male terminal fitting to be produced by bending sheet-metal, at the same time providing strengthening of the male terminal fitting.


Method and apparatus for providing shorted pin information for constructing a device under test (DUT) board for integrated circuit testing is described. In one example, an interface to an application module that implements pin-shorting rules associated generally with a plurality of integrated circuits and stores package files associated with specific ones of the integrated circuits is provided. A device and a package defining one of the plurality of integrated circuits are selected via the interface. At least one query is executed against the pin-shorting rules and the package files stored in the database via the interface. A shorted pin plan for the device and the package as selected is generated based on information obtained in response to the at least one query.

Testing integrated circuit (IC) functionality is critical throughout the entire lifetime of the product from development through high volume manufacturing. A device under test (DUT) board is an important element of the test hardware requirement to test ICs. As used herein, the term "integrated circuit" is meant to encompass both the IC device (i.e., semiconductor die) and its package (e.g., a packaged IC). The DUT board serves as the interconnection between a test socket for receiving the IC and automatic test equipment (ATE) for applying test vectors during testing the IC. Since the DUT board is at the center of the test system, designing and producing a DUT board requires knowledge of the IC to be tested and the ATE used in the test system, in particular, the number of tester channels of the ATE. A "tester channel" is a signal path between the DUT and the ATE.
One example of an IC is a programmable logic device (PLD), such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or a complex programmable logic device (CPLD). Present state of the art FPGAs, for example, include more than 1000 input/output (I/O) pins. Use of ATE that supplies a corresponding number of tester channels is costly and generally not economically feasible. To overcome this problem, DUT boards may be designed where several groups of I/O pins are shorted together such that there is one group of shorted I/O pins per tester channel of the ATE. Without the shorted pin approach, each I/O would require its own tester channel.
The developer of the test methodology for a given IC determines the best manner in which to short the I/O pins together. The developer must accurately communicate shorted-pin information for the IC to the manufacturer of the DUT board. Typically, the DUT manufacturer receives shorted-pin information via informal guidelines or non-documented word-of-mouth instructions. If incorrect information is passed to the DUT board manufacturer, the DUT board will not be constructed properly, leading to costly re-working of the DUT board or complete re-building of the DUT board. Such re-working or re-building of the DUT board further leads to delays in introducing new products to the market and extra expense. Moreover, some IC devices have many specialized I/Os, such as Joint Action Test Group (JTAG) I/Os. These specialized I/Os often exhibit limitations in that some special I/Os cannot be shorted with other special I/Os, which further complicates the information needed to manufacture a DUT board.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for systematically storing and providing shorted pin information for constructing a DUT board for a packaged integrated circuit.

Method and apparatus for providing shorted pin information for integrated circuit testing


A clock with an insertion part is provided to facilitate presenting various illustrations such as photographs, advertising copy, logos, etc., upon the front surface thereof after purchase by a customer. The insertion part is separately provided apart from the clock and then inserted into and coupled to the main clock frame from the rear after assembly of the clock. In a preferred embodiment, the clock includes the main body frame, an hour plate, a transparent case and a backside case, with the part being inserted into the insertion opening provided in the backside case.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a clock, and more particularly to a clock having a part with names or logos which can be inserted into a main body frame of the clock after molding and assembly and be securely coupled thereto.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, visual features such as logos or characters have been printed upon faces or hour plates of conventional clocks before assembly, at the clock factory itself. This has undesirably increased cost per unit manufacture because of expenditures for providing printing blocks and the actual steps of printing upon the clock faces. Costs especially increase when only a small shipment of specialty clocks with unique clock faces are ordered. Additionally, the entire clock had to be assembled right at the clock factory, adding to increased expense in manufacturing and shipping where delicate protruding parts, such as a base frame, could break unless especially packed during shipping.
It is desirable to allow a purchaser of a clock to place their own visual display, e.g., a decal, upon the face of a clock. This has not been possible once components of a clock had been assembled together, necessitating cumbersome disassembly.
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/021,122 filed Dec. 23, 2004, discloses, among other features, providing a display surface for an image such as an advertising logo and by sliding a base from a lower direction into mating with a main body of the clock. This allows the main body and base to be separately packaged and shipped prior to assembly.
However, there is also a need to manufacture and ship a completely assembled clock to a purchaser such as a wholesaler or retailer, and who then wants to affix a personal or advertising logo to a front the clock face. However, this is not readily feasible if the clock has already been assembled at the factory prior to shipping.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to enhance display of time.
It is also an object of the present invention, to improve assembly and shipping of a timepiece such as a clock with appropriate indicia thereon.
It is an additional object of the present invention to improve visual display upon a time piece such as a clock.
It is a further object of the present invention to improve coupling of components forming a timepiece such as a clock together to improve visual display of time and accompanying indicia.
It is another object of the present invention to improve versatility in display of time by improving ease with which a unique visual display can be provided upon the face of a timepiece.
It is yet another object of the present invention to reduce expenditures of manufacturing a clock, especially where the clock is required for different, special uses.


The invention uses microwaves in the spinning industry in order to determine the band mass of an elongated, substantially non-twisted fiber structure. In addition, a method for measuring the sliver mass from the frequency detuning and the damping of resonance signals of a microwave sensor while taking into consideration the moisture of the fiber structure with a computer is suggested. Likewise, a corresponding spinning preparation machine and a laboratory device for measuring the sliver mass are part of the invention. Lastly, a method and a spinning preparation machine for recognizing foreign matter in a moved fiber structure with the aid of microwaves is suggested.

The invention is relative to the use of microwaves in the spinning industry. The invention is also relative to a method for determining the band (fiber band, sliver, slubbing) mass (bulk) of a moved fiber structure in a spinning preparation machine. The invention is furthermore relative to a corresponding machine preparation machine and to a corresponding measuring device. The invention is also relative to the recognition of foreign matter in a textile fiber structure by means of microwaves.
In the spinning industry, an evened-out fiber structure is first produced, e.g., from cotton, in several process steps and finally a twisted yarn is produced as the final product. The spinning preparation machines such as cards [carding machines] and draw [drawing] frames, that are arranged in front of the yarn production, have the particular task of stabilizing (leveling out) the fluctuations in sliver mass of one or several slivers or fiber bands, designated in the following in a summarizing manner as fiber structure. To this end, e.g., sliver sensors are arranged on draw frames, which sensors measure the sliver mass or fluctuations in sliver mass and transmit this information to a regulating unit that appropriately regulates at least one of the drawing members of the drafting device. A draw frame that operates in accordance with such a regulating principle is, e.g., the RSB-D30 model of the RIETER company. Information about the fluctuations of sliver mass is desired in many instances even in unregulated draw frames. An appropriate sensor at the outlet of such a draw frame emits, e.g., an appropriate cutoff signal for the machine and/or a warning signal if a threshold value of the sliver mass is exceeded or dropped below.
In order to measure the sliver mass and fluctuations of sliver mass (band), mechanical scanning devices in particular are known that are used today in almost all appropriate machines. However, the dynamics of these mechanical sensors is no longer sufficient at delivery speeds of more than 1000 m/min. In addition, the necessary, strong mechanical compression in front of the mechanical sensor has a noticeably negative effect on the drawing capacity.
In addition to the mechanical scanning of the fluctuations of sliver mass, other scanning principles have been suggested. Thus, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 2,942,303 and DE 44 45 720 A1 teach measuring the sliver thickness in a contactless manner with penetrating optical radiation. However, the precision of measuring in this instance is heavily influenced by the ambient influences, e.g., temperature, moisture and dirt. Moreover, the method is susceptible to dye and reflection properties of the fiber structure.
Other known contactless measuring methods are those that use ultrasound waves. Measuring methods that operate capacitively or pneumatically are also known. The use of X-rays or γ-rays has also been suggested. However, all these methods are sensitive to moisture. It is therefore not very useful that climatic influences such as the temperature and the relative atmospheric moisture can be compensated as a rule in order to minimize climatic influences. The problem of inherent yarn moisture can not be readily eliminated in this manner. It is only mentioned here that viscose has a moisture of approximately 13%, e.g., at 40% relative atmospheric moisture. At a relative atmospheric moisture of 90% this value rises to 25%. In addition, the yarn moisture can vary by up to 5% under steady ambient conditions in one and the same batch of cotton. Also, the upper cotton layers in a can delivered to a spinning preparation machine absorb more moisture than the layers under them. Moreover, the textile fibers absorb differing moisture due to the change of climatic conditions in a spinning mill—e.g., mornings vs. afternoons vs. evenings. The cited influences, for their part, greatly influence the measured result of the sliver mass and therewith the quality of regulation.
The invention has the problem of improving the substantially contactless determination of the band mass of a fiber structure and, in general, measurements on a fiber structure.

Use of microwaves for sensors in the spinning industry

Rieter Ingolstadt Spinnereimaschinenbau AG


The present invention is directed to precise, accurate mixing two or more chemicals in a metered vessel to achieve a precise, accurate concentration of the chemicals. More particularly, the chemicals are mixed in a vessel having constricted vent tubes with level sensors to precisely and accurately determine the volume of chemical introduced into the vessel. Most specifically, the vessel is closed so that the introduction of the chemicals increases the vessel pressure to enhance the mixing of the chemicals, decrease turbulence and enhance the accuracy of the level sensors.

Precise mixing of chemicals, particularly gases in liquids, has been a desire of the chemical industry. The semiconductor industry has sought precise dilutions or concentrations of chemical mixtures due to its demanding requirements for purity and concentration in the fabrication of semiconductor materials of construction.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,002,268; 5,332,125; 5,383,574 and 5,429,276 are directed to mixing of chemicals in general in the chemical industry.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,148,945; 5,330,072 and 5,417,346 are directed to mixing of chemicals in the chemical industry and more particularly precise mixing for the semiconductor industry.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,370,269 and 5,490,611 are relevant to precise mixing of chemicals for the chemical and semiconductor industry using metered vessels and constricted vent tubes with level sensors to achieve the precise mixing and dilution requirements of the semiconductor industry. Unfortunately, they suffer from slow mixing rates and false readings from the level sensors under desired mixing rates.
The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art to provide precise and accurate mixing, dilution and concentrations of chemicals at rapid rates and without false or premature signals from level sensors in a metered vessel using constricted vent tubes, as will be more fully set forth below.


To provide a technique capable of adjusting a tilt angle of a ship propulsion machine body with respect to a hull to a tilt angle suitable for a travelling state easily and with high accuracy. A motor adjusting a tilt angle of a ship propulsion machine body with respect to a hull and a control device controlling drive of the motor so as to change the tilt angle in accordance with an output from a hull angle sensor detecting a hull angle as an angle of the hull with respect to the water surface are included.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tilt-angle adjusting apparatus and a ship propulsion machine.
2. Description of Background Art
In background art, an apparatus of changing the angle of a ship propulsion machine body with respect to a hull by extending and retracting a cylinder apparatus connected between the hull and the ship propulsion machine body is proposed.
For example, a tilt-trim apparatus described in JP-UM-B-7-32385 (Patent Document 1) is configured as follows. That is, a hydraulic cylinder is installed between a bracket attaching a propulsion unit (ship propulsion machine body) to the ship and the propulsion unit, current-carrying actuation circuits on an "up" side and a "down" side of an electric drive motor are on/off operated to drive a hydraulic pump, and working fluid fed by pressure by the hydraulic pump is supplied to a piston-side oil chamber or a piston-rod side oil chamber of the hydraulic cylinder, thereby extending and retracting the hydraulic cylinder, as a result, the propulsion unit is tilt-trim operated to the "up" side or the "down" side. Then, an operation switch for on/off operating the current-carrying actuation circuits on the "up" side and the "down" side of the drive motor is included, in which an on-state is maintained only while the operation switch is pressed by adding manual operation force to the operation switch and the circuit is turned off when the switch is released.

Tilt-angle adjusting apparatus and ship propulsion machine


A printer including a cutting portion including a plate-shaped fixed blade, a plate-shaped movable blade and a driving unit, which drives the movable blade back and forth with respect to the fixed blade; and a paper stacking portion for stacking a cut-off paper thereon, which is provided on a downstream side of a paper transfer direction with respect to the cutting portion on the fixed blade side, wherein the movable blade is disposed on the downstream side with respect to the fixed blade and configured to move toward the fixed blade to cut a paper, and a tip end portion of the movable blade is configured to have a surface almost perpendicular with respect to a direction of pushing the paper toward the paper stacking portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printer having a paper cutting portion and a paper stacking portion.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, various considerations have been made as to a stacking of papers called a printing media, a recording paper, and so on.
There has been an apparatus in which a supporting plate is provided at a medium pressing member, which is provided on a base of a medium stacker, and a pressing plate having a thin belt-shape made of an elastic material is provided so as to be held by the supporting plate, thereby receiving printing media on the base orderly (refer to JP-A-56-93579, for example). Further, there has been an image forming apparatus having a paper cutting mechanism called a pizza cutter, in which an operation portion of a paper pressing portion and a push-down portion is provided at a moving body of the pizza cutter thereby to drop recording papers on a tray (refer to JP-A-2000-103566, for example).


A method of producing an elastomer composite. The method includes A) combining a first fluid comprising elastomer latex with a second fluid comprising particulate filler; B) causing the elastomer latex to coagulate, thereby forming masterbatch crumb; C) bringing the masterbatch crumb to a water content of about 1 weight percent to about 20 weight percent, thereby forming a de-watered coagulum; D) removing water from the de-watered coagulum by subjecting the dewatered coagulum to mechanical energy, thereby causing the dewatered coagulum to heat as a result of friction, while allowing the dewatered coagulum to achieve a temperature of about 130° C. to about 190° C., wherein water content is reduced to about 0.5% to about 3% and wherein substantially all of the decrease in water content is accomplished by evaporation, thereby producing a masticated masterbatch; and E) subjecting the masticated masterbatch to at least an additional 0.3 MJ/kg of mechanical energy while further reducing the water content.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods for producing elastomer composites and composites produced by such methods.
2. Description of the Related Art
Numerous products of commercial significance are formed of elastomeric compositions wherein particulate filler is dispersed in any of various synthetic elastomers, natural rubber or elastomer blends. Carbon black, for example, is widely used as a reinforcing agent in natural rubber and other elastomers. It is common to produce a masterbatch, that is, a premixture of filler, elastomer and various optional additives, such as extender oil. Carbon black masterbatch is prepared with different grades of commercially available carbon black which vary both in surface area per unit weight and in structure, which describes the size and complexity of aggregates of carbon black formed by the fusion of primary carbon black particles to one another. Numerous products of commercial significance are formed of such elastomeric compositions of carbon black particulate filler dispersed in natural rubber. Such products include, for example, vehicle tires wherein different elastomeric compositions may be used for the tread portion, sidewalls, wire skim and carcass. Other products include, for example, engine mount bushings, conveyor belts, windshield wipers and the like.
Good dispersion of carbon black in natural rubber compounds has been recognized for some time as one of the most important objectives for achieving good quality and consistent product performance, and considerable effort has been devoted to the development of procedures for assessing dispersion quality in rubber. The mixing operations have a direct impact on mixing efficiency and on macro-dispersion. In general, better carbon black macro-dispersion is achieved in a dry-mixed masterbatch by longer mixing and by more intensive mixing. Unfortunately, however, achieving better macro-dispersion by longer, more intensive mixing degrades the elastomer into which the carbon black is being dispersed. This is especially problematic in the case of natural rubber, which is highly susceptible to mechanical/thermal degradation. Longer and more intensive mixing, using known mixing techniques and apparatus, such as an internal mixer, reduces the molecular weight of the natural rubber masterbatch-composition. Thus, improved macro-dispersion of carbon black in natural rubber is known to be achieved with a corresponding, generally undesirable reduction in the molecular weight of the rubber.
In addition to dry mixing techniques, it is known to continuously feed latex and a carbon black slurry to an agitated coagulation tank. Such "wet" techniques are often used with synthetic elastomer, such as styrene butadiene rubber (SBR). The coagulation tank contains a coagulant such as salt or an aqueous acid solution typically having a pH of about 2.5 to 4. The latex and carbon black slurry are mixed and coagulated in the coagulation tank into small beads (typically a few millimeters in diameter) referred to as wet crumb. The crumb and acid effluent are separated, typically by means of a vibrating shaker screen or the like. The crumb is then dumped into a second agitated tank where it is washed to achieve a neutral or near neutral pH. Thereafter the crumb is subjected to additional vibrating screen and drying steps and the like. Variations on this method have been suggested for the coagulation of natural and synthetic elastomers. In commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,029,633 to Hagopian et al., a continuous process for the preparation of elastomer masterbatch is described. An aqueous slurry of carbon black is prepared and mixed with a natural or synthetic elastomer latex. This mixture undergoes a so-called creaming operation, optionally using any of various known creaming agents. Following the creaming of the carbon black/latex mixture, it is subjected to a coagulation step. Specifically, the creamed carbon black/latex mixture is introduced as a single coherent stream into the core of a stream of coagulating liquor. The solid stream of creamed carbon black/latex mixture is said to undergo shearing and atomizing by the stream of coagulating liquor prior to coagulation, being then passed to a suitable reaction zone for completion of the coagulation. Following the coagulation step, the crumb is separated from the waste product "serum," washed, and dried. A somewhat similar process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,048,559 to Heller, et al. An aqueous slurry of carbon black is continuously blended with a stream of natural or synthetic elastomer or latex. The two streams are mixed under conditions described as involving violent hydraulic turbulence and impact. As in the case of the Hagopian patent mentioned above, the combined stream of carbon black slurry and elastomer latex is subsequently coagulated by the addition of an acid or salt coagulant solution.
It is well known that mastication of dry masterbatch (e.g., produced by a dry mix process or by a wet masterbatch process, followed by drying) may be employed to reduce Mooney viscosity and improve processability while incorporating additives such as oils, antioxidants, and zinc oxide. Vulcanizing agents may be added as well or may be added in a second mastication step. However, the mixing may need to be done at lower temperatures (e.g., below 125° C.) to prevent precure or scorch. In addition, overmixing may be detrimental to viscoelastic properties and may increase flocculation during storage, which can increase storage hardening and further degrade rubber performance (Wang, et al., KGK Kauschuk Gummi Kunststoffe, Vol. 7-8, 2002, pp. 388-396).
An alternative mixing method is disclosed by commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,048,923 and 6,929,783, which disclose a wet masterbatch process in which separate streams of a carbon black slurry and an elastomer latex are combined under conditions where the elastomer latex coagulates without the use of added coagulants. The masterbatch is dewatered to about 15% to 25% water content and then passed through a continuous compounder and, optionally, an open mill. The final product has a moisture content of less than about 1% and may have a temperature of about 100° C. after emerging from the open mill. The operating parameters of the continuous compounder, e.g., throughput rate, rotor speed, discharge orifice size and temperature, and processing chamber temperature, may be optimized to control Mooney viscosity, moisture content, molecular weight, and bound rubber. The desired values of these properties depend on the intended use of the product masterbatch. For example, the Mooney viscosity may be reduced to facilitate further processing of the masterbatch into vulcanized rubber.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,841,606 ("the '606 patent") describes a wet masterbatch process and suggests drying the coagulum by applying a mechanical shearing force to improve the dispersion of the filler. The resulting rubber is disclosed to have good processability and reinforcement and reduce fuel consumption. In the examples, a latex masterbatch having about 50 phr of carbon black or silica was brought to about 40% moisture content and dried thermally at 120° C. or through use of a 1 meter long twin-screw kneading extruder maintained at the same temperature. Use of the drier and the extruder resulted in products having approximately equivalent tensile strength and abrasion resistance.
PCT Publication WO 2006/068078 discloses a method of making wet natural rubber masterbatch having particular grades of carbon black defined by nitrogen surface area, 24M4 DBP, and particle size distribution. As in the '606 patent, the examples describe the production of masterbatch having 50 phr of carbon black, dehydrated to about 40% moisture content, and passed through a 1 meter long twin-screw kneading extruder maintained at 120° C.
PCT Publication WO 2006/080852 discloses a wet natural rubber masterbatch including a carbon black having specific surface area, structure, and tint. As in the '606 patent, the examples describe the production of masterbatch having 50 phr of carbon black, dehydrated to about 40% moisture content, and passed through a 1 meter long twin-screw kneading extruder maintained at 120° C.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-265311 discloses a wire skim composition produced using a wet rubber masterbatch having a carbon black with specific surface area or structure. As in the '606 patent, the examples describe the production of masterbatch having 50 phr of carbon black, dehydrated to about 40% moisture content, and passed through a 1 meter long twin-screw kneading extruder maintained at 120° C.
However, as carbon black loading increases, it is difficult to achieve good dispersion of the carbon black at either macroscopic (e.g., 10 micron or greater) or microscopic levels and the quality of the masterbatch at a macroscopic level, with the consequence that the resulting rubber does not exhibit desired properties. Furthermore, masterbatches produced with carbon blacks having higher structure and surface area values are more viscous, making them more difficult to compound.

Elastomer composite and method for producing it


A method for manufacturing a mask includes performing a lyophobic treatment on at least one surface of a translucent substrate; disposing a light-shielding material on the surface subjected to the lyophobic treatment of the translucent substrate in a desired shape by using a droplet discharge method; and firing the light-shielding material so as to form a light-shielding pattern on the translucent substrate.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a mask, a method for manufacturing a wiring pattern, and a method for manufacturing a plasma display.
2. Related Art
As methods for forming a pattern (wiring pattern) on a substrate, such methods as screen printing, sputtering, vapor deposition, and the like are commonly used. Each of such methods uses a mask for applying or depositing wiring forming materials in a desired shape so as to form a pattern.
Another example of the method using a mask, disclosed by JP-A-2004-71473 for example, is known. The method provides a wettability variable layer on a substrate and applies energy such as ultraviolet rays through a mask so as to form a region having high wettability and a region having low wettability. Then the method applies a coating liquid to the regions so as to form a pattern.
Here, the mask used in the above example is composed of a translucent mask substrate and a mask pattern. The mask pattern is formed by the above-mentioned method for forming a pattern, for example sputtering, on the mask substrate. However, the method for forming a pattern by sputtering requires a mask for an original plate when patterning. In general, the mask for an original plate is very expensive, so that the cost for manufacturing a mask could not have been sufficiently cut down.

Method for manufacturing mask, method for manufacturing wiring pattern, and method for manufacturing plasma display


A method for manufacturing BiCMOS semiconductor devices in which an oxide layer formed on the surface of a semiconductor substrate for the purpose of facilitating formation of spacers adjacent to sidewalls of the gates of the MOS transistors thereof is only partially removed, by using a dry etching process, to thereby leave a residual oxide layer, which is then removed, by using a wet etching process, to thereby form the spacers. Alternatively, all portions of the oxide layer except a portion thereof overlying the base-emitter region of the bipolar transistor of the BiCMOS device is removed, thereby precluding the necessity of etching the oxide layer away at the base-emitter junction. In either case, the DC forward current gain Hfe and linearity of the bipolar transistor of the BiCMOS device are enhanced.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device and, more particularly, to a method of integrating both bipolar and CMOS transistors on the same substrate.
The present trend towards miniaturization and increased operating speeds of electronic products, has necessitated the development of multi-functional semiconductor devices having both bipolar and CMOS transistors fabricated on a single semiconductor chip. This technology is commonly referred to as BiCMOS.
BiCMOS devices generally have a lightly doped drain (LDD) structure in order to prevent an undesirable drop in the breakdown voltage thereof due to injection of hot electrons generated by the NMOS transistors thereof. The LDD structure is generally obtained by the below-described process.
More particularly, after the gate electrodes of the PMOS and NMOS transistors are formed, an oxide layer of 2000-3000.ANG. is formed by means of a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique, and then removed by means of a dry etching technique, such as reactive ion etching (RIE), until the surface of the semiconductor substrate is exposed, to thereby form spacers adjacent to the sidewalls of the gate electrodes. The regions beneath the spacers are protected from subsequent ion implantation which is carried out to form the drain regions. The regions beneath the spacers are lightly doped by diffusion, thereby increasing the breakdown voltages at the edge of the drain junctions.
The above-described process for forming LDD structures in BiCMOS devices suffers from the following drawbacks and shortcomings. More particularly, the step of dry etching to remove the oxide layer for forming the spacers produces damages such as dislocation on the surface of the substrate. Further, the degree of oxide removal is variable and non-uniform across the surface of the wafer in which the BiCMOS devices are formed, due to the inherent uniformity limitations of the dry etching equipment. These problems with dry etching render the base-emitter junctions in BiCMOS devices unstable, thereby degrading the reliability thereof, and further, causing non-linearity of the DC forward current gain Hfe of the bipolar transistors thereof.
As is evident from the foregoing, there presently exists a need for a method of manufacturing a BiCMOS device which overcomes the above-described drawbacks and shortcomings of the presently available BiCMOS manufacturing technology. The present invention fulfills this need.

Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device


A new and improved blanket apparatus for fitting over a baby seat or carrier which has a top and sides includes a flexible cloth member having dimensions sufficient to fit over the top and sides of the baby seat or carrier. The flexible cloth member has an outer edge; and an elastic strip or a draw string is installed near the outer edge of the flexible cloth member, for gathering the outer edge to form an opening having a plurality of adjustable sizes. A first adjustable size of the opening is sufficiently large to fit over the top and sides of the baby seat or carrier for installing the blanket apparatus on the baby seat or carrier. A second adjustable size of the opening is sufficiently small to resin the blanket apparatus on the baby seat or carrier, by preventing the blanket apparatus from slipping over the sides once the blanket apparatus has been installed. The blanket apparatus of the invention can also include side openings near the outer edge of the flexible member to permit passage of handles of a car seat or carrier through the side openings. Also, a sound generating assembly can be installed on the flexible cloth member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to baby blankets, and more particularly, to baby blankets especially adapted to be used with baby car seats and baby carriers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Blankets especially designed for babies and infants are well known in the art. One type of baby blanket has special features that adapt it to be used with a car seat. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,090 of Ranalli discloses a baby blanket especially designed to be used with a baby car seat, wherein the blanket includes a plurality of apertures through which restraining members of the automobile seat harness can be passed, thus enabling the harness to be fastened tightly around the child. Then the blanket can be wrapped around the child and the harness.
Another type of baby blanket has features designed to assure that the blanket stays with the baby and does not fall off the baby as the baby tosses and turns. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,477,065 of Hoover discloses a blanket especially designed for being wrapped around a baby. U.S. Pat. No. 3,962,738 of Mendito discloses a blanket which employs a draw string to draw in the blanket more snugly around an infant. U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,300 of Miller discloses a baby blanket which has a zippered pouch in which the baby is placed and zippered in. U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,226 of Crosby discloses a car seat blanket for an infant, wherein a front panel and a back panel together form a two-legged pouch for a baby's legs and body.
A serious problem associated with baby blankets used with car seats is not addressed by the prior art disclosed above. There are no disclosed baby blanket features which are designed to attach the baby blanket to the car seat itself. Thus, if the car seat is removed from the car, and the baby is not present on the seat, the baby blanket is not prevented from separating from the car seat by the wind on a windy day. Another problem associated with baby blankets used with car seats is the bunching up and lumpiness that can be formed by a baby blanket which is used on the car seat. Nothing keeps the baby blanket taut and smooth on the car seat.
Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to provide special blankets designed to fit snugly around a baby, and it is well known to have a baby blanket that is especially designed to be used with a car seat, none of the prior art described above teaches or suggests features for connecting the baby blanket to a baby car seat or baby carrier so that the baby blanket is prevented from being separated from the seat or carrier when the baby is not present in the seat or carrier. Moreover, the prior art does not disclose a baby blanket that is kept taut and smooth on a car seat or carrier.
The foregoing disadvantages are overcome by the unique blanket apparatus for a baby seat or carrier of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.


Techniques for searching large data sets. A semantically restricted relation graph is generated for an ontology. Queries to the ontology are resolved using the semantically restricted relation graph.

The World Wide Web ("Web") provides a wealth of information and services to people around the world. The ability to discover information from around the globe often requires no more than a click of a mouse. At the same time, the Web is best suited for use by people. For example, tasks such as finding a specific translation of a word, searching for the lowest price for an item, or making reservations at a restaurant or with an airline are often difficult for a machine to accomplish without human assistance.
As a result, work is being done to make the Web more understandable. The Semantic Web, for example, tries to provide a framework to make the Web more understandable to both humans and machines by defining the meaning of information and services available on the Web. The goal is to enable the understanding and satisfaction of requests from various sources. The Semantic Web aims to enable machines, for example, to perform some of the tasks that are performed by humans today.
Making the Web more understandable has many applications that include data integration, data classification, searching, content rating, data description, or the like. In order for these applications to come to fruition, however, it is necessary to identify the meaning or semantics of data and/or services on the Web.
In the Semantic Web, a semantic search enables users to represent their search more accurately than in traditional keyword search techniques. The results of the semantic search should be more accurate and relevant. The ability to conduct more meaningful searches is very attractive. Unfortunately, semantic searches (and other applications of the Semantic Web) are hindered by the size of the data sets being searched. As a result, the ability to scale a semantic search or other semantic applications to large data sets is a significant problem.
For example, the process of performing a semantic search is often achieved by reducing the semantic search to a set of consistency checking problems. Unfortunately, performing a consistency check on millions, if not billions of individuals, effectively makes the scalability issue intractable. In other words, performing the set of consistency checking problems on each individual is time consuming and unsatisfactory, particularly as the size of the data set being used becomes large.

Performing queries using semantically restricted relations


A semiconductor device in which by fixing a well at a predetermined potential via a contact within a memory cell, latch-up immunity is improved without accompanying increase in the area of the memory cell, and of which manufacture is facilitated, and a manufacturing method thereof. In a semiconductor device including MOS transistors each having an N-type impurity region 110 formed in a P-well 101 provided in a silicon substrate 100 thereof and including a GND contact 130 for supplying a GND potential to the P-well 101, a portion of an impurity region 110 is etched and removed. Then, a P-type diffusion layer 131 for power supply is formed in the etched and removed region in the silicon substrate. Power supply to the P-well 101 is then performed via the GND contact 130 connected to the power supply diffusion layer 131.

In recent years, with reduction of a chip size, a PN element isolation width within an SRAM cell is reduced. As a result, the capability of a parasitic bipolar transistor is improved, so that it becomes easy to enter into a latch up state in a memory cell. In order to enter into a latch up, trigger current is necessary. However, with miniaturization of the memory cell, electrical charges caused by deterioration in SER (Soft Error Rate) immunity tend to be generated. As a measure against this, it has become a general practice to form and dispose a subcontact or a well contact for every several to several tens of memory cells, and to fix P wells at a VSS potential and fix N wells at a VDD potential. However, it is necessary to secure a region for disposing subcontacts or well contacts in addition to the region of the memory cells, thereby leading to an increase in the chip size.
In order to cope with the problem as described above, implantation of P+ impurity ions or N+ impurity ions that have the same conductive type as that of a well into a portion of an N+ diffusion layer that constitutes the source/drain of an N-type MOS transistor in an SRAM memory cell or a portion of a P+ diffusion layer that constitutes the source/drain of a P-type MOS transistor in the SRAM memory cell is performed, thereby forming a so-called Butted diffusion layer. Then, via the Butted diffusion layer, the well is fixed at a predetermined potential. Assume an N-type MOS transistor in which a P well 201 and an element isolation film (STI) 203 are formed in a silicon substrate 200, a gate insulating film 204 and a gate electrode 205 are formed over the element isolation film 203, and an N-type source/drain region 210 constituted from an N− diffusion layer 211 and an N+ diffusion layer 212 is formed in the P-well 201, as illustrated in FIG. 16, for example. When a GND contact (contact hall) 230 for supplying the VSS potential or a GND potential herein to the P-well 201 is configured, a P-type impurity is implanted into a portion of the N+ diffusion layer 212 in a high concentration, thereby forming a P+ diffusion layer 231 as a Butted diffusion layer. Then, via this P+ diffusion layer 231, power supply to the P-well 201 is performed. Incidentally, reference numeral 206 denotes sidewalls, reference numeral 207 denotes a silicide layer, and reference numeral 208 denotes an inter-layer film. In this structure, via the contact 230 and the Butted diffusion layer 231, the P-well can be fixed at the GND potential from metal wiring for supplying the GND potential fundamentally necessary for the memory cell. Further, via the contact hole and the Butted diffusion layer, an N-well region can be fixed at the VDD potential output from metal wiring for supplying the VDD potential fundamentally necessary for the memory cell. Thus, without increasing the well contact regions between the memory cells by design, deterioration of latch-up immunity can be prevented without increase in the area of the memory cell due to addition of wiring and connection hole(s) in the memory cell.
In order to form this Butted diffusion layer, however, it is necessary to form in a high-concentration N+ diffusion layer or high-concentration P+ diffusion layer the P+ diffusion layer or the N+ diffusion layer of an opposite conductivity type, respectively, by implantation of high-concentration ions, as described before. Thus, the process for this becomes difficult. When the Butted diffusion layer is formed by implanting into a portion of the N+ diffusion layer the P-type impurity ions of the same conductivity type as that of the well as described above, it is difficult to change the conductivity of the N+ diffusion layer having a concentration of 1E18/cm2 or higher, for example, which is present in the vicinity of the surface of the substrate as indicated by a result of a process simulation in FIG. 17, by implantation of a high dose of the P-type impurity ions.
On contrast therewith, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, a portion of the N−type source/drain region 210 is formed to be shallow using the N− diffusion layer 211 alone, as shown in FIG. 18. Then, at least a portion of the silicide layer 207 formed on the N− diffusion layer 211 that constitutes the N-type source/drain region 210 or the N+ diffusion layer 212 is formed to be deep to reach the P-well 201. Then, the P-well is fixed at the GND potential through the silicide layer 207. In the technique in this Patent Document 1, it is not necessary to change the conductivity of a high-concentration diffusion layer into the opposite conductivity type by ion implantation. Thus, it is advantageous in that manufacture of contacts becomes facilitated.
[Patent Document 1]
JP Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2004-47933A

Semiconductor device with power supply impurity region


The electric field steering assembly is used to control the size and/or location of, and/or steer the position of, an electric field in a living creature. The assembly comprises a pulse generator or stimulator, at least one implanted lead coupled to the stimulator and having, at a distal end thereof, at least three spaced apart electrodes, and electrical circuitry for adjusting the current and/or voltage at each electrode. The electrical circuitry is programmed to: 1) electronically change the size and/or location of an electric field established between the electrodes by independently programming the current flowing through of one or more anode (+) electrode(s) from one or more cathode (-) electrode(s), thereby steering the size and location of the electric field to recruit only target certain tissue and exclude unwanted tissue; and, 2) automatically change the voltage amplitude at each anode in response to changes in electrode impedance in order to maintain a constant anodic current, thereby preserving, for the duration of the therapy, the original electric field found to be effective at implant time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for electrically and selectively stimulating specific nerve tissue in a living creature, namely a human being, by controlling and steering an electric field. More specifically, the present invention is directed to:
1) a spinal cord stimulator capable of electronically changing the size and/or location of the electric field by independently adjusting the current flowing through two or more anode (+) electrodes from one or more constant voltage cathode (-) electrode(s); PA1 2) circuitry for automatically changing the voltage amplitude at each anode in response to changes in the electrode impedance in order to maintain a constant anodic current, thereby preserving for the duration of the therapy the original electric field found to be most effective at implant time; PA1 3) a percutaneous stimulating lead incorporating a mechanical steering system capable of steering the lead's distal end around anatomical obstacles within the epidural space.
2. Description of the related art including information disclosed under 37 CFR .sctn..sctn. 1.97-1.99
The concept of using electrical stimulation for treating specific diseases or physical disorders is well known. Examples of electrical stimulators are: Cardiac pacemakers which restore a sick human heart to a normal rhythm, and neurological stimulators which control nerve or brain response (such as pain or epileptic seizures).
The use of a surgically implantable, electrical neurological stimulator has been well established for a number of years, especially for the control of nerve or brain response to treat intractable pain, epileptic seizures and tremors as a result of Parkinson disease. An example of a prior art device is an implantable neural stimulator powered by radio frequency (RF) or a non-rechargeable battery. Either neural stimulator incorporates the capability to designate: 1) which electrode(s) are to be used to deliver a negative stimulus pulse and which electrode(s) are to serve as the ground (return) path; 2) the pulse width of the negative stimulus pulses; 3) the voltage amplitude of the negative stimulus pulses; and, 4) the repetition rate of said stimulation pulses modulation.
A deficiency with this prior art device is that the resulting electric field (nerve recruiting area) is relatively broad and unfocused, sometimes resulting in undesirable motor responses. For the purpose of stimulating the dorsal column the stimulating electrodes are typically placed in the posterior epidural space, and the stimulus current must pass through the dura. If the electrodes have to be placed sufficiently lateral to the midline so that it is near the intercostal nerve root in order to cover the pain area, the patient will experience unwanted motor responses such as painful chest wall or abdominal wall stimulation.
Another deficiency with this prior art device is that the spinal cord movement with body position changes affect the distance between the stimulating electrodes and the spinal cord, resulting in undesirable variations in the size and/or location of the electric field, altering the paresthesia pattern. Movement of the electrodes from the optimal position can be a major problem when the patient becomes active.
With the prior art devices, where only changes of electrodes are possible and the same stimulus pulses are applied to all selected electrodes, it is often difficult to direct the stimulation field to recruit only the target nerve tissue and exclude unwanted nerve tissue.
Yet another deficiency with this prior art device is its inability to compensate for changes in electrode impedance due to; 1) growth of connective tissue around the electrodes, 2) histological changes, and, 3) changes in lead position which alters the distance between the electrodes and the dura. When a constant voltage is applied across two electrodes, the resulting electron current produces a flow of ions through the adjacent nerve tissue. A precise rate of ion flow is required for the pain relief. However, the magnitude of this electron current (and rate of ion flow) is controlled by the impedance between the electrodes. When this impedance changes, the size and/or location of the electric field also changes.
Still another deficiency with this prior art device is related to the design of the stimulation lead which makes t difficult to maneuver the lead's distal end (containing the stimulating electrodes) around anatomical obstacles normally found within the epidural space, and to force the electrodes against the dura to reduce the energy required for stimulation. During lead placement, it is not uncommon for the physician to attempt multiple passes to overcome anatomical obstacles, such as fatty tissue. Then, after the lead's distal end finally reaches the desired vertebral bodies, the physician needs to again manipulate the lead to force the electrodes against the dura to achieve paresthesia with the lowest possible stimulus energy in order to prevent unwanted motor responses.

Method and apparatus for controlling and steering an electric field


The invention relates to a memory circuit comprising regular memory areas and redundant memory areas, redundancy circuits in each case being assigned to the redundant memory areas, each redundancy circuit having permanently settable storage elements in order, in a first setting state, to address the assigned redundant memory area in the event of addressing of the regular memory area with a memory address determined by the first setting state, each redundancy circuit, in a second setting state, addressing the assigned redundant memory area in a manner dependent on an activation signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a memory circuit comprising a regular memory area and a redundant memory area, and to a method for repairing a memory circuit comprising redundant memory areas.
2. Description of the Related Art
High-capacity memory circuits are difficult to produce without any errors. After the production of the memory circuits, single cell errors or errors in memory areas typically occur, which are corrected by a subsequent repair step. The repair step provides for the defective memory areas or the memory areas with a defective single cell to be replaced by a corresponding redundant memory area, so that when the address of the defective memory area is present, the redundant memory area is addressed instead of the regular addressed memory area.
Memory circuits that have been produced and repaired in this way are then usually combined to form modules and tested again. When the memory circuits are combined to form modules, one or more errors may occur in one or more of the memory circuits of the modules on account of cell degradation effects. Since such a memory module is constructed from a relatively large number of memory circuits, e.g. 36, the probability of such a single cell error occurring in a memory module is rather high, thereby greatly reducing the yield in the production of memory modules.
Some manufacturers of memory modules provide electrical fuses in order to repair single cell errors after the construction of the memory module. This is carried out for example by providing individual registers in the logics sections situated in the memory circuit. These registers may be provided so as to replace individually defective memory cells. This is carried out by the programming of electrical fuses with the aid of electric currents after the module has been constructed. The error address is set in the electrical fuses in this case. This has the disadvantage that additional chip area is required in order to accommodate additional logic circuits and register circuits. Moreover, the registers themselves may be defective and then furthermore have to be repaired.
Furthermore, single cell errors appearing after the construction of the memory module can be repaired by further redundant memory areas in the memory cell array. This can be performed by selection of the further redundant memory areas by means of electrical fuses. In other words, when an address set by the electrical fuses is present, a further redundant memory area is addressed instead of the memory area with the defective single cell. This has the disadvantage that additional redundant memory areas have to be provided which are used only in the case when a single cell error occurs after the assembly of the memory module. These require additional chip area and thus increase the costs of producing the memory circuits.

Memory circuit comprising redundant memory areas


A two-in-one handbag has different color patterns in two different closed positions. The handbag's two connected halves have inner rectangular facades and have outer arcuate façades having multiple horizontal segment, the first and second halves each having a substantially D-shaped cross-section. Flaps alternately cover the contiguous horizontal segments have outer sides of a first color and undersides of a second color so that a different color pattern emerges in the first closed position as compared to the second closed position. After the handbag is opened normally into two halves, it can continue to be opened when the halves continue to be rotated away from each to reach the second closed position by rotating the first outer arcuate façade along an entire surface of the second outer arcuate façade or vice versa. Each half's compartment is covered by a zippered cover to store objects. Reinforcing closure devices include magnets, snaps, Velcro.

Women like to carry handbags that are stylish for going out and carrying items. The color of the handbag is chosen to match their attire. These handbags are expensive. Each time the woman wants a handbag that matches a different-colored dress she must employ a different-colored handbag. It would be useful to have a single handbag that can be rearranged or re-configured to display a different color pattern in different positions.
A known product is a small pen/calculator case with flaps covering one-third segments of the length of the case. After opening the spine continues to fold back on itself and the flaps flip over to reveal their other side. The flaps have the same color on each side. But the structure allows the case to assume two different closed positions.


An optical waveguide sensor for the detection of acid vapors comprises a chemically sensitive reagent coating of bromothymol blue or thymol blue indicator suspended in a Nafion polymer film. The sensor uses a 562-nm light-emitting diode source and a phototransistor detector. The response to HCl and H.sub.2 S vapors is both rapid and reversible, with an estimated detection limit for H.sub.2 S of less than 15 ppmv (parts per million by volume). The sensor exhibits generalized response to protonic acid vapors, but does not produce an indicator response to CO.sub.2, even at large concentrations (60 volume-%) in the presence of water vapor. The sensor exhibits a systematic interference from water vapor which may be corrected by a differential approach, either using a reference sensor (Nafion without an indicator) or by monitoring the sensor responses at two wavelengths.

This invention relates to an optical sensor for the detection of gaseous air contaminants, especially acid vapors.
Chemical sensor technologies have been used increasingly for the detection or monitoring of hazardous vapors in the workplace environment. Applications include portable sensors or dosimeters to monitor individual personal exposure, or fixed-site sensors to monitor ambient concentrations of chemical species. The great attraction of these technologies is their capability for rapid, sensitive response at low cost.
It is an object of this invention to provide improved, portable, inexpensive, and selective chemical sensors for use in: protective equipment, such as gas masks, as an end-of-service alarm; dosimeters for monitoring individual exposure; or ambient air monitors.
It is a particular object of this invention to provide reliable sensors for the detection of acid vapors, such as vapors of HCl or H.sub.2 S.
It is another object of this invention to provide chemical sensors that use an optical waveguide which renders them substantially unsusceptible to electromagnetic interference.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide reliable sensors for the detection of basic vapors, such as vapors of ammonia, amines or hydrazines.


A laser treatment method is provided which removes pigment containing lesions, both normal and abnormal medically, from the skin of a living human. The methodology comprises a carefully controlled irradiation of the chosen treatment site on the skin of a living human; avoids the creation of cosmetically disfiguring scars; and eliminates the typical hypopigmentation as well as the pitting and other changes in skin texture normally accompanying conventionally known laser treatment techniques.

Among the more common conditions shared by humans generally is the presence of lesions on the skin, many of which contain pigments in one or more colors and some of which are considered abnormal although not always dangerous to the individual. Typical examples of naturally occurring pigmentations include freckles; age or liver spots; birthmarks; malignant melanomas; nevi (melanocytic, epidermal, vascular, and connective tissue); and lentigines (brown spots on the skin or mucous membrane). In addition, a person's skin may have discoloring abnormalities due to vascular lesions which are caused by an abundance of enlarged blood vessels. Common examples of discolorful vascular lesions are "port wine" stain birth marks; telangiectasis, a colored spot formed most commonly on the skin by a dilated capillary or other small blood vessel; and hemangioma, a highly visible benign tumor composed of well-formed blood vessels and classified as capillary or cavernous.
In comparison, intervention created pigment containing lesions are commonly called "tattoos" and are commonly divided into two different categories: human-caused tattoos and traumatic-inflicted tattoos. Traumatic-inflicted tattoos are created typically as a result of accidents or other mishaps which cause scrapes, abrasions, explosion, or lacerations in a manner such that foreign material inadvertently becomes embedded into the skin. During the healing process, the skin becomes pigmented and often scarred as a result. In comparison, human-created tattoos are a popular form of skin decoration and self-expression in many cultures and societies. A common example here in the U.S. is the tattooed sailor; and it has been estimated that as many as 10% of the U.S. general population have tattoos somewhere on the skin of their bodies.
It will be recognized and appreciated that many persons at some point in their lives wish to remove pigment containing lesions, whether normal or abnormal, from their skin for health and/or cosmetic reasons. Even those individuals who voluntarily choose to create pigmented patterns on their skin may subsequently in their lives choose to undergo treatment designed to remove the pigmented lesion--often because of advancing age, or via a change in lifestyle, or as a consequence of a new personal relationship. Presently existing modes of removal treatment may achieve some clearing or lightening of pigment containing skin areas but only at substantial risk to the individual because of severe changes to the natural pigmentation and coloring of the skin or by incurring actual scarring of the treated skin area. The risks and severity of the multiple problems and consequences associated with removing pigmentations and other lesions generally of the skin is represented and illustrated by the difficulties of removing tattoos. However, it is explicitly understood that tattoos are merely one prototypic example of the different pigment containing lesions known which require removal.
As is the circumstance with many kinds of pigment containing lesions, the pigment lies inside the skin (i.e., the dermis or epidermis) and destructive modes of treatment have been employed conventionally to remove this pigment. Thus, a major problem of known treatments has been access to the epidermal or dermal pigment; and the only way it has been possible to remove the pigment(s) without using laser apparatus has been to remove all the skin around the pigmented lesion from the most exterior surface downwards into the deep tissues.
The conventional modes of treatment used for removal of pigmented lesions generally thus presently include: surgical excision and skin graft; dermabrasion; saliabrasion; cryosurgery; and laser light generated by CO.sub.2, argon, Nd:YAG, and ruby lasers [Hirshowitz, D. E., Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 373-378 (1980); Scutt, R. W. B., Br. J. Hosp. Med. J. 8:195 (1972); Manchester, G. H., Curtis 7:295 (1971); Clabaugh, F. M., Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 55:401 (1975); McDowell, F., Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 53:580 (1974); and Groot et al., J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 15:518-522 (1986)]. While each of these modes of treatment has its own committed group of adherents, practitioners, and supporters, all of them unfortunately create as many problems as they cure concomitant with using the conventionally known procedures.
For example, a well recognized problem and drawback with some presently known laser treatment methods is that these routinely cause damage to both pigmented and non-pigment cells in the skin without discriminating between them. Laser treatment of pigment containing skin lesions has varied markedly from merely the superficial to extreme depth in the skin with little attempt to control the kind or the amount of tissue and cells destroyed. Moreover, some laser treatment processes known to date almost always cause a major change in skin texture; the skin is thus substantially altered from being smooth, elastic, and mobile to being hard and immobile and to becoming bumpy, cratered, or even pitted. In addition, conventional laser treatments cause a loss of the normal skin markings (normal ridges and valleys) as well as changes in normal skin pigmentation (losses as well as increases in normal skin color). Therefore, the resulting change in skin texture is almost always accompanied by a consequential change in skin color in which the skin at the treated site is no longer normal in pigmentation. Instead, the treated skin site appears either porcelain-white or mottled with dark pigment, both of these conditions resulting from either loss of all pigment or the implanting of pigment in the dermis instead of the epidermis. All of these radical and undesirable consequences and changes result from extensive, severe damage induced by the presently known laser treatment modalities and treatment methods.
Even the ruby laser (the best of the conventionally used laser systems) and the known procedures using the ruby laser have been demonstrated to be flawed, deficient, and inefficient for removing pigmentations, lesions, and abnormalities from the skin of a living human. As has well been described in the art, there are many problems and deficiencies concomitant with or caused by the ruby laser system and its various modes of use. In one mode, the ruby laser emits its laser light pulses called a normal pulse Another known way to operate and use the ruby laser is in the Q-switched mode; short bursts of pulses are emitted called a pulse train. A pulse train becomes problematic when the pulses are of low power. When this occurs, provided the pulses are discharged frequently enough and in spite of the short pulses being in the nanosecond range, the effect on the living tissue is similar to that of a continuous wave (CW) laser, which produces a highly indiscriminate effect. Moreover, instead of destroying the targeted structure with each pulse and, because the ruby energy output is low, there is only sufficient energy to partially alter the pigment containing lesion. Also, due to the characteristics of the ruby laser itself, the intensity of each pulse burst can meaningfully vary and it is very difficult for the practitioner to control the light energy dose delivered to each laser exposed site.
In addition, there presently is no convenient or easy way of precisely delivering the laser light beam to the patient. A common way of performing this manipulation at present is by the use of an articulating arm which is not only cumbersome but also easily goes out of alignment. This difficulty results in a further decrease of laser energy available to destroy the targeted tissue, thus making the ruby laser system even less efficient for removing abnormal pigmentations. Also, when used in the non-Q switched mode the ruby laser often produces severe scarring of the skin.
Another way to operate and use the ruby laser system conventionally is in the Q-switched mode. In this alternative mode of use, a single energy pulse of short duration (nanoseconds) is delivered to the skin by the ruby laser. However, despite the usage of Q-switched ruby lasers in clinical studies since the 1960's, the only currently available means of delivering treatment energy pulses in this manner is again by means of an articulated arm which is not only difficult to align and is bulky, but also creates "hot spots" within the delivered light beam area. One reported study revealed that multiple treatments using the ruby laser in the Q-switched mode removed at least 90% of the normal coloration in the skin. Adverse effects of hyper- and hypo-pigmentation were noted in some patients; and pigmented lesion sites composed of colors other than blue-black were not affected directly but instead showed a severe whitening of the skin as a result of this treatment [Read et al., Br. J. Plast. Surg. 36:455-459 (1983)]. Another study [Taylor et al., Arch. Dermatol. 126:893-899 ( 1990)] reported substantial lightening or total clearing of skin in 78% of amateur tattoos and 23% of 13 professional tattoos. However, this report demonstrated that multiple retreatments were required; transient hypopigmentation was seen in 50% of treated skin sites; and notable scarring appeared in approximately 6% of treated patients.
It is not surprising, therefore, that there is major interest in developing new and improved laser delivery systems which may be used in a carefully controlled method and treatment procedure for removing pigmentations from the skin of a living human. It will be recognized and appreciated also that while the development of new laser equipment and new laser delivery systems constitutes one discrete area of technical research, such efforts are meaningfully different and distinct from other investigations directed to developing a clinical process and methodology under carefully controlled operational parameters which would be effective and usable by a dermatologist or other medical practitioner. Equally important, the development of a clinically effective therapeutic treatment using a carefully controlled laser apparatus and laser delivery system which would prevent hypo-and/or hyperpigmentation as well as avoiding cratering/pitting and elevation or destruction of dermal and/or epidermal layers of the skin would be generally recognized as a major improvement and advance by practicing dermatologist and clinicians treating patients on a regular basis.

Laser treatment method for removing pigement containing lesions from the skin of a living human


An article support bracket that will securely mount to an upwardly extending portion of a handlebar of an all terrain vehicle and that will extend upwardly from the mounting connection between and around vehicle components also attached to the vehicle handlebars, to provide a support extending above outwardly and rearwardly extending portions of the handlebar that will acommodate an article holder for an elongate article such as a long gun, tool or another piece of equipment in position extending across the vehicle handlebars.

Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to support brackets to be mounted on all terrain vehicles so that the vehicle can carry objects such as long guns supported above and by the handle bars of the vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Operators of all terrain vehicles (ATV)s often desire to have long guns conveniently available for use. Various systems for supporting such guns in position extending across the outwardly extending portions of handle bars of ATVs have been proposed. Generally the systems proposed in the past have required use of mounting brackets secured to outward extensions of the handle bars and supporting upwardly extending gun holders that will hold a gun placed therein transversely across the handle bars.
It has now become common for manufacturers of ATVs to mount vehicle components such as brake levers, vehicle turn signals, brake fluid reservoirs, radio controls, signal horns, navigation and locator housings, and others, on the outward extensions of the handle bars. Consequently, there is little room on such extensions to mount supports for other accessories and particularly for mounting brackets that will properly support long guns, such as rifles and shotguns,
3. Brief Summary of the Invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide a bracket assembly that will securely mount on an upwardly extending portion of an ATV handle bar. The bracket assembly must extend upwardly from the upwardly extending portion of the handlebars, angularly and upwardly away from the handlebars and outwardly to receive an adjustably positioned article holder. The bracket must also provide for repositioning of the components thereof to allow for clearance past supported structures on the handlebars and adjustment necessary to supporting of guns and the like on a pair of article holders.
4. Features of the Invention
Principal features of the invention include a bar clamp having an interiorly threaded elongate bore, a splined cap having a central hole therethrough, a cantilevered plate having a splined sleeve at one end that will mate with the splined cap and a cantilevered end with a plurality of spaced apart holes therethrough. An angled plate has one arm bolted to the cantilevered plate and an article holder receptacle bolted to another arm of the angled plate. The bar clamp will attach to upwardly extending portions of handlebars and the adjustment features of the splined cap, cantilevered plate, angled plate and the article holder receptacle allow for clearance past supported structures found on virtually any ATV so that the bracket of the invention will support rifles and the like above the handlebars of the ATV,
Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from the following detailed description and drawings, disclosing what is presently contemplated as being the best mode of the invention.

Bracket assembly for all terrain vehicle handle bars


According to one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method and a system for implementing a card product or access mechanism with multiple relationships with an issuing entity (e.g., bank, etc.) where each relationship may be defined by one or more sets of rules that are customized for a particular customer. A computer implemented method and system for implementing a mechanism with multiple customized relationships may involve identifying one or more customized rules for an access mechanism associated with a customer; establishing a plurality of accounts for the customer wherein the plurality of accounts comprise different accounts with different account characteristics; and invoking one of the plurality of accounts for a transaction through the access mechanism, based at least in part on the one or more customized rules; wherein the plurality of accounts share at least one funding account.

The growth and wide acceptance of credit cards have led to greater acceptance at the point of sale, increased availability of affinity and loyalty programs as well as greater convenience and security in making large payments. A credit card transaction typically involves a financial institution issuing a credit card to a consumer where the financial institution lends an amount of funds to the consumer and reduces the consumer's pre-set credit limit by the amount.
Cardholders generally refer to consumers and businesses that have accounts with issuers. Issuers solicit credit card accounts, extend credit, stimulate activity and usage, perform customer service, collect payments, and manage cardholder risk. Merchants may be any business, not-for-profit or government organization engaged in exchanging value via credit cards. Credit sales are settled to a merchant's demand deposit account (DDA) that the merchant has with a commercial bank, also referred to as a merchant bank.
A basic credit card transaction starts with the purchase of a good or service from a merchant with a credit card, which is swiped at a point of sale terminal or otherwise accepted and a transaction value is entered. The transaction is processed through a card association or a private label to the bank that issued the card. Assuming there are funds available under the consumer's credit limit, an authorization is routed back to the merchant through the same network. The approval is routed back to the merchant and the consumer signs the receipt or otherwise accepts the transaction.
Another type of credit card is a retail store credit card, which are credit cards generally issued by retail stores. These cards carry the name or logo of the issuing retail store and typically can only be used at the store that issued the card, including affiliated stores or other providers. Private label programs offer store cards by a third-party entity on behalf of the retailer. Typically, private label cardholders spend 2-2½ times the average amount spent by a customer. Much of the cost of the program comes from the merchant discount (2-3% of the sales), while other fees are derived from the processing of statements and cardholder accounts.
Most customers have multiple credit cards, which are separate and independent from each other. For example, a customer may have a co-branded credit card, several private label cards, debit cards as well as stored value cards for specific purchases. Traditional cards have static benefits and programs that generally cannot be modified. Therefore, as customers needs and goals change, additional card products may be required.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide a method and system for a card product with multiple customized accounts which overcomes the above-described inadequacies and shortcomings.

Method and system for implementing a card product with multiple customized relationships


Energy absorbing webbing is provided for use in child safety seat and child restraint devices. A harness system includes energy-absorbing regions into the construction of the harness to allow some release or extension of the harness during use. The energy-absorbing regions of the harness are formed using energy-absorbing webbing in a given region or regions to permit the webbing to extend or elongate so that strong forces are not fully and directly imparted to the child. The energy-absorbing region may be installed at various positions within the child safety seat and harness system and may be incorporated into the child safety harness as original equipment or as a retrofit feature.

The present invention relates generally to child safety and restraint devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to child safety seats and the harness systems that are employed therewith.
In the prior art, child safety seats are very well known and documented. Generally, as depicted in FIGS. 1-4, child safety seats 2 are constructed to include a rigid shell 4 that is secured to an existing vehicle seat 6 using an arrangement of straps and/or belts that firmly retain the child safety seat 2 in the installed position. When installing older child style safety seats into a vehicle, the rigid shell 4 of child safety seat 2 included a passageway through which the vehicle seat belt was passed and then buckled. In this arrangement the vehicle seatbelt served as the means by which the child safety seat was retained in its installed position in the vehicle. Newer child safety seats for installation into late model cars, which include the federally mandated LATCH system, employ a lower strap 8 that attaches the rigid shell 4 of the child safety seat 2 to rigid attachment points provided within the vehicle seat 6 itself. In addition, most newer child safety seats 2 include a tether 10 that extends from the upper portion of the back of the safety seat 2 to another rigid attachment point 12 in the vehicle either on the rear of the vehicle seat back or on the rear deck behind the vehicle seat. By attaching the child safety seat 2 to the vehicle in this manner, a rigid platform is established within the vehicle to safely restrain the child for transport.
The rigid shell 4 of the child safety seat 2, in addition to having padding 14 to make the seat comfortable for the child seated therein, also includes a harness that is used to secure the child within the child seat in order to restrain the child during travel and protect them in the event of an accident. It is this child restraint harness that creates a particular concern when trying to safely retain the child within the safety seat itself during use. Typically, these harness systems use belt-like webbing material in order to secure the child in similar fashion to a seat belt. The harness typically employs two webbing belts 16 that pass on either side of the child's neck and over their shoulders. The opposite ends of the webbing belts 16 are then removably secured to a lap belt 18 via a buckle 19 in front of the child. At the shoulders, the two belts 16 are routed through the seatback and secured to a single belt 20 that is located behind the seat and in turn extends beneath the seat to a location that allows the tension of the harness system to be adjusted by the parent. As the webbing straps pass the buckle 19 the turn along the lap of the child and form a lap restraint 17 in front of the child's hips and terminate in attachment points at the sides of the child safety seat 2.
There is a well-known problem associated with these existing child restraint harness systems in that the belts are substantially inelastic, in other words they do not stretch or give in any way. Since they are similar to seat belt webbing in their manufacture, they tend to be quite rigid and inflexible. The concern is that while for safety purposes this belt webbing does not stretch much at all, even during an accident where substantial impact forces may be imparted to the seat, the rigidity of the child restraint harness itself causes those impact forces to be transferred to the child restrained therein. It has been found that when these forces are applied to a child safety seat that employs a prior art rigid webbing restraint the harness, the child restrained therein can suffer injury. For example, the child's shoulders may receive a significant impact during an accident that may result in severe bruising and even bone injury.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a child safety seat that employs a harness system that safely and effectively restrains the child seated therein, yet includes sufficient energy-absorbing characteristics to prevent the transfer of shock loads to the child's body. There is a further need for a harness system for use in a child safety seat that has webbing that permits some elongation while still providing sufficient restraint to insure the safety of the child restrained therein during an accident. There is a further need for an improved harness system for use in connection with a child safety seat that does not affect the operation of the normal of the child seat or compromise the overall safety thereof. Finally, there is a need for a device that can be installed into an existing child safety seat harness system thereby creating some elasticity while still providing sufficient restraint to insure the safety of the child restrained therein during an accident.

Child restraint device with energy absorbing regions


A process of forming dichroic color filters on substrates, particularly image sensors, includes using a spin-on-glass process to form low and high refractive index layers. A mixture of titania and silica partially hydrolyzed and condensed sol-gel polymer suspension in the high refractive index layer and in the low refractive index layer has a partially hydrolyzed and condensed silica sol-gel polymer suspension are processed and to cause titania to phase change.

Color filters have a number of applications in which control of the spectral characteristics of a light source is desirable. For example, color filter arrays are employed in combination with image sensors to define color images or in combination with display devices to permit color images to be viewed. Whenever the term "image sensor", is used in the specification or claims, it will be understood to include display devices. A common approach to producing color filters has been to use organic dyes embedded in a layer. This approach has two significant disadvantages. The spectral characteristics of the filter are controlled by the absorbance curves of the dye and layer materials. Altering the spectral characteristics, therefore, requires altering the dye or layer material, which can be a difficult and time-consuming process. Furthermore, the dyes may be subject to fading with time, especially under harsh environmental operating conditions such as high light levels, etc.
An alternative, which overcomes the disadvantages of the organic-dye approach, has been to produce color filters from interference filters made up of alternate layers of two dielectric materials with different refractive indices, For purposes of this disclosure, the term "dichroic" will be understood to refer to a filter which has alternate layers of dielectric materials with different refractive indices. Various combinations of pairs of dielectric materials and deposition techniques have been used. One particular interference filter uses refractory oxides (i.e., silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide). These materials are deposited by evaporation or sputtering techniques. This is not only an expensive process, but to control the filter spectral characteristics, only the thickness of the layer can be changed. Another problem associated with image sensors, is that the materials are usually deposited at significantly greater temperatures than desirable for final manufacturing step normally associated with sensors. Excessive heating may damage the metallization used for electrical conduction in the image sensor. Therefore, the general approach has been to fabricate filters from these materials onto glass substrates and then attach the filters to devices using adhesives. Pattern transfer techniques may also be required, making the process complicated and cumbersome. Lower temperature deposition techniques for these materials are not known.
It is, of course, highly desirable to integrally make dichroic filters on an image sensor. Also, the number of processing steps in critical process controls should be minimized. Wherever possible, etch chemistries should be eliminated. It should be noted that both wet and dry etching techniques require many process controls and have to be monitored and maintained to provide an effective and safe manufacturing environment.
Another method of making multilayer optical filters using multilayer structures formed by heat treating sol-gel solutions. The filter is annealed each time a layer is applied. See Partlow et al, Thirty-seven Layer Optical Filter From Polymerized Sol-gel Solutions, Vol. 29, No. 10, Applied Optics (April 1990) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,156 to Brinker et al. This method is effective for making filters, but here again it is difficult to control filter spectral characteristics.


A can sucker mechanism includes a can body, a connecting hose and a sucking pump. The can body is fitted with a connecting tube, and in the connecting tube is a check valve. The connecting hose is connected to the connecting tube on the can body, and the sucking pump is connected to the other end of the connecting hose. The sucking pump is used to withdraw air from inside the can body, to produce a negative-pressure status. The can body also is fitted with a vibrator to produce a vibrating and massaging function on the can body, to enhance the curative effects of traditional Chinese can sucking therapy.

The subject invention relates to a type of "Can Sucker Mechanism", particularly to a can sucker mechanism that will be applied to the traditional Chinese therapy with a can sucker.
Of some traditional Chinese therapies that have gradually been accepted and affirmed in recent years, the can-sucking therapy has a history of 2000 years in China. Said therapy relates to the burning of moxa punk in a can which is fastened onto the part of a person's body where it needs therapy; first the temperature of the can rises when it is heated, then after a while the temperature of the can drops to form a negative pressure status (semi-vacuum status); since the body part is covered by the can, said part will be filled with blood to improve its blood circulation in said specific part; when it stimulates the "acupuncture point", so called in Chinese traditional therapy, it achieves curative effects. Such a can sucking therapy also is referred to as "vacuum blood purification cure" in Japan, "blood cure" in Russia, or "cup art" in France; therefore, it is widely employed in the whole world.
The regional suction force applied in a can sucking therapy results in passive hyperemia which helps to improve the nutritional conditions and blood circulation of a tissue to stimulate metabolism. Meanwhile, the can sucking process will stimulate nerve systems which reflect their reactions to the cerebral cortex, augment excitement, and contribute to the cure of disorders.
Furthermore, the reason of sore muscles is said to be poor blood circulation due to obstructed capillaries in a muscle tissue, resulting in failure of oxygen supply in the blood. For that reason, the regional congestion in the can sucking therapy will alleviate the soreness.
In older times, the Chinese traditional can sucking therapy employs animal horns to serve as the can bodies, such as cow horns, etc. They were replaced later by bamboo cylinders in the "Shui and Tang" dynasties, then by "ceramic cans or metal cans" in the Ching dynasty. Nowadays, they use acrylic plastic cans for that purpose.
With the changing time, the conventional burning of moxa punk to produce the semi-vacuum status inside the can is now replaced by a manual or electric sucking pump to withdraw air from inside the can, to produce the status of negative pressure. In the modern version, the can is fitted with a hose, the upper part of the hose is fitted with a cone-shaped tube, while inside the hose is fitted with an anti-leak ring, the lower part of said cone-shaped tube pushing against the upper part of the anti-leak ring, the connecting hose is connected to the tube on the can body, said sucking pump is connected to the other end of the connecting hose; To use, the can body is reversed to cover the body part under therapy, so that by pumping the cylinder to suck out air from inside the can body, a negative pressure status will result in the can body, which will cause regional congestion on the part under therapy to achieve curative effects.
However, such therapeutic mechanism is processed under a static circumstance which has a poorer regional congestion effect, so its curative effect will not be satisfactory.
As described above, the Chinese traditional can sucking therapy with manual or electric pumping to withdraw air from the cans to produce a negative pressure status is processed under a static circumstance, so its curative effect by achieving regional congestion is less satisfactory; For that reason, the subject inventor has devoted much time and concentration in the successful design of a can sucking mechanism comprising a can body, a connecting hose and a sucking pump; on the can body is fitted with a connecting hose, inside the connecting hose is fitted with a check valve; said connecting hose is connected to the hose on the can body, the other end of the connecting hose is connected to the pump which withdraws air from inside the can body to cause a negative-pressure status; characterized in that: on the outside of said can body is fitted with a vibrator to create vibrating and massage functions to the can body, thus regional congestion efficiency is enhanced and the curative effect is upgraded.


An information processing apparatus (2000) includes a determination unit (2020) and a notification unit (2040). The determination unit (2020) determines whether a field of view of a second camera is correct, on the basis of a first captured image (40), a second captured image (50), and relationship information (information indicating the relationship to be satisfied between a field of view of a first camera and the field of view of the second camera). In a case in which the field of view of the second camera is not correct, the notification unit (2040) notifies that the field of view of the second camera is not correct. The first camera is provided in a head-mounted display worn by a person. The second camera is provided in a part other than the head-mounted display.

A body-worn camera that is mounted on, for example, the shoulder of a person has been used. For example, a security guard stands guard while wearing the body-worn camera. Therefore, the guard can remotely monitor a video captured by the body-worn camera or can analyze the video while standing guard in a spot.
A technique for making it easy to use a body-worn camera has been developed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique that easily adjusts the position of a glasses-type head-mounted display. The head-mounted display disclosed in Patent Document 1 is fixed to the head of the user by a fixing portion that presses both regions of the head of the user with appropriate force and an arm that extends from the frontal region of the head to the top of the head. A display corresponding to a lens portion of the glasses is connected to the arm by a rotating mechanism unit. The user can use the rotation mechanism unit to move up or down the display in a state in which the fixing portion and the arm are fixed to the head of the user.
The head-mounted display disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided with three cameras. First, two cameras are provided at the sides of the display. In addition, one camera is provided at the top of the head of the arm.
As described above, since the display is movable, the display is moved to change the fields of view of the cameras provided in the display. In contrast, since the position of the camera provided at the top of the head is fixed, the field of view of the camera is fixed. Therefore, the head-mounted display disclosed in Patent Document 1 compares an image that is generated by the camera fixed to the top of the head with an image that is generated by the camera provided in the display to determine whether the display is located at a predetermined position.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Information processing apparatus, control method, and program