A communication cable which takes the form of an elongated flexible conductor which has mounted at one end thereof a transmitting connector and at the opposite end thereof a receiving connector. The conductor has integratingly mounted therein a plurality of optical fibers and a plurality of electrical wires. The transmitting connector includes a light emitting device for each optical fiber and a flexible printed circuit board holding electronic circuitry for converting electrical signals into optical signals. Further, the transmitting connector has an electrical interface accessible by the user. The receiving connector includes a photodetector for each optical fiber and also a flexible printed circuit board holding electronic circuitry for converting optical signals back to electrical signals. The receiving connector also has an electrical interface accessible by the user.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a communication cable and more specifically to a communication cable which is constructed to include both electrical wires and optical fibers.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the operation of machines that are computer controlled, there is required a communication cable. The communication cable would extend between the machine and the computer. Typical machines or pieces of equipment would be metal forming machines or any machine whose operation is controlled by computer.
It is common that the computer is spaced some distance from the machine. To connect the machine to the computer a cable is required. Normally, in a place of business, there will be several machines. Each of these machines produce electromagnetic interference (EMI) or radio frequency interference (RFI). There also can be produced ground loops and ground currents. The typical cable that interconnects the machine to the computer basically contains just electrical wires. The transmission of the electrical signals over these electrical wires can be interfered with by the EMI, RFI, ground loops and or ground currents. This interference can result in incorrect control signals being supplied from the machine to the computer or vice versa. In the past, this problem, though relatively common, has been just lived with as there has not been any known structure that has been available to correct the problem. Extensive shielding, extra heavy ground wires and in general keeping cables short allowed the systems to work. In some cases marginally.
One way in which to avoid this kind of interference with electrical wires is to eliminate the electrical wires so that the control signals are not transmitted along electrical wires. One way this could be done is by using of fiberoptics. However, in the past, fiberoptic cables were relatively mechanically sensitive and frequently installations could be somewhat abusive. The result was the fiberoptic cable broke or deteriorated to where it was inoperative. The fiberoptics only needs to be used in conjunction with the control signals. The power that is transmitted between the computer and the machine can be transmitted by electrically conducting metallic wires as the power transmitting wires are sensitive to the EMI and RFI.
There is a need to construct a cable which includes not only electrical wires for transmitting of power but also fiberoptics for transmitting of control signals. The cable must be constructed to withstand abuse, and because it looks and functions just like a regular electrical cable, the user can be completely unknowledgable of the fact that it is a fiberoptic cable. The use of such a cable would be extremely critical and desirable in sensitive applications thereby completely avoiding any kind of electronic or electrical interference to the control signal.


A method of making a coating for deterring woodpeckers from damaging wood using Isophorone and the composition made therefrom. The Isophorone is combined with heated wax and combined with a thickener, such as a clay thickener and a silica thickener, and mixed with an acrylic resin. The composition is cooled and blending with ceramic pellets under a vacuum and dried. The dried pellets are then added to a polymer resin, such as an epoxy resin to form a coating material that will deter woodpeckers.

The present invention relates to a process for deterring woodpeckers from wood poles, including those sections of the pole repaired as a result of previous woodpecker damage.
Woodpeckers destroy tens of thousands of wood power and telephone poles annually and are the primary cause of above-ground wood pole damage. While hundreds of different chemicals have been tried in an effort to deter woodpeckers from wood poles, none have proven effective in deterring one of the largest of these birds, the Pileated woodpecker. Of the wood pole structures damaged by woodpeckers, the larger and more expensive wood high tension electric transmission line structures are particularly vulnerable to Pileated woodpecker attack.
In the Tomlinson, Sr. et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,227, a chemical compound Isophorone (3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-one-1) was painted or applied to a surface of a utility pole and was effective in repelling woodpeckers. The tests were performed on the smaller golden fronted adult woodpeckers. Tomlinson, Sr. et al. also reported that the amount of ketonic compound sufficient to repel woodpeckers is within the range of 0.5 to 3 ounces per square foot of surface. If the compound is encapsulated, the amount of compound can be reduced, for example, to 0.1 ounce per square foot of surface.
A paint was developed, under an exclusive license to the above referenced Tomlinson technology, that incorporates micro-capsules of Isophorone in an acrylic emulsion. This paint, described in my prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/480,352, xe2x80x9cProcess for In-situ Treatment of Wood Polesxe2x80x9d, containing 70-80% Isophorone; 8-20% acrylic resin solution; 5-10% paraffin wax; 4-8% clay thickener and 1-2% of a floculated silica thickener, is used to reactivate existing preservatives in the wood.
A four year field evaluation program involving numerous electric utilities throughout the United States was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of the Tomlinson, Sr. paint in deterring woodpeckers from transmission line structures. As part of this evaluation, previously woodpecker damaged sections of poles were painted. The total concentration of Isophorone chemical compound was approximately 2 ounces per square foot of surface. Because the micro-capsules of Isophorone were adhered to the wood surface by the acrylic resin, the greatest concentration of the chemical compound resided at or near the surface. After approximately 3-4 years, each pole that had been treated with the paint was evaluated to determine its effectiveness in deterring further woodpecker activity. Results of this field evaluation showed the paint to be effective in reducing further activity by the smaller woodpeckers, however, it did not deter the larger Pileated woodpeckers.
One possible explanation presented for these results is the differing pecking mechanisms employed by different size woodpeckers. Observations indicate that the smaller, less-powerful woodpeckers require a higher number of pecks to penetrate the wood, while the larger, more powerful Pileated woodpeckers are able to rip the wood with a minimal number of pecks, removing sections as large as xc2xdxe2x80x3 thick and 4-6xe2x80x3 in length. In summary, it appears that the high repetitionxe2x80x94low power pecking technique employed by smaller woodpeckers ruptures a sufficient number of micro-capsules on the wood""s surface to be deterred. In contrast, by being able to remove relatively large portions of the pole""s surface with a minimal number of powerful pecks, an insufficient number of micro-capsules are ruptured to deter the Pileated woodpecker from the pole.
A method of making a coating for deterring woodpeckers from damaging wood using Isophorone and the composition made therefrom. The Isophorone is combined with heated wax and combined with a thickener, such as a clay thickener and a silica thickener, and mixed with an acrylic resin. The composition is cooled and blending with ceramic pellets under a vacuum and dried. The dried pellets are then added to a polymer resin, such as an epoxy resin to form a coating material that will deter woodpeckers.
The present invention describes a method of deterring woodpeckers, including Pileated woodpeckers, from wood structures. Capsules containing the chemical compound Isophorone are blended into a high-strength, closed-cell structural foam, either syntactic or expanding, epoxy or other polymer, and the structural matrix applied into or onto the pole. The high strength matrix can be used to strengthen and repair wood poles damaged by woodpeckers, as seen in my prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,905,441 and 5,245,812, or applied to the surface of wood poles to deter woodpeckers from the pole.
The present invention includes the encapsulation of the proven woodpecker deterring Isophorone chemical compound capsules in a high strength matrix versus simply applying the capsules to the pole""s surface with an adhesive or coating material. The high strength matrix prevents the easy removal of the capsules by the woodpecker thus requiring more xe2x80x9cpecksxe2x80x9d; resulting in a larger number of capsules ruptured; and a higher volume of deterring Isophorone chemical compound being released.
Isophorone encapsulation in this high-strength matrix is applicable to both surface and in-hole repair applications.
The use of a high-strength matrix is accomplished by mixing the Isophorone within a structural polymer matrix, either unfoaming or foaming, syntactic or expanding, epoxy or other polymer which can be used to repair woodpecker holes which in turn prevents woodpeckers, such as Pileated woodpeckers, from damaging an already repaired pole. A matrix of the Isophorone chemical compound in the structural polymer forms a high-strength matrix which can be applied to the surface to not only prevent the smaller woodpeckers from attacking the pole but also protects the poles from the Pileated woodpecker.


A pressure gauge includes a housing, a Bourdon tube with a closed end, an adjustment rod mounted rotatably in the housing, a microswitch installed on the adjustment rod, a gear, a sector wheel meshing with the gear, and a crank member interconnecting the sector wheel and the closed end of the Bourdon. Increase of the air pressure inside the Bourdon tube activates a portion of the assembly of the Bourdon tube and the sector wheel to contact the microswitch, so as to stop supply of compressed air from a pressure source to an article which is measured by the gauge. The adjustment rod can be rotated relative to the housing so as to change the distance between the microswitch and the portion of the assembly, thereby adjusting the preset upper limit value of the air pressure inside the Bourdon tube.

This invention relates to a pressure gauge with a Bourdon tube, more particularly to a pressure gauge which can automatically stop supply of compressed air from a pressure source into an article when the air pressure of the article exceeds a preset value.
The improvement of this invention is directed to the conventional pressure gauge shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As illustrated, the conventional pressure gauge 10 includes an air chamber 11, a pressure-value indicating panel 12, an adjustment knob 13, a driving lever 14 secured to the adjustment knob 13 so as to rotate synchronously therewith, a driven lever 15 with a fixed upper post 151, a pressure-value indicating pointer 16 for displaying the pressure of the chamber 11, a stop post 17 fastened to and located under the driven lever 15, and a power controlling switch 18 fixed on the panel 12. By rotating the adjustment knob 13 relative to the panel 12, the driving lever 14 impels the driven lever 15 to rotate clockwise to a predetermined position in the gauge 10 which corresponds to a preset upper limit value of air pressure. In a situation where compressed air is supplied from a pressure source into an article whose pressure value is being measured by the gauge 10, when the air pressure of the air chamber 11 exceeds the preset upper limit value, the pointer 16 rotates in the gauge 10 to a position where the pointer 16 contacts the stop post 17 so as to activate the switch 18 to stop the supply of the compressed air from the pressure source into the article. The conventional pressure gauge 10 suffers from the following disadvantages:
(1) The pressure gauge 10 needs a bulky housing to accommodate a large number of parts therein, thereby limiting the applicability of the gauge 10 in industry. PA0 (2) To reduce the preset upper limit pressure value, it is necessary to first pull the adjustment knob 13 upward so as to ascend the driving lever 14 to a level above the upper end of the upper post 151. Then, the adjustment knob 13 is rotated clockwise until the driving lever 14 passes beyond the upper post 151 so that the driving lever 14 can be descended. At this time, the adjustment knob 14 can be rotated counterclockwise to impel the driven lever 15. This adjustment process is time-consuming and troublesome for the user. PA0 (3) Because the adjustment to the preset pressure value is achieved by the operations of the parts 13, 15, 16, 18, when any one of the parts 13, 15, 16, 18 is broken or curved, the gauge 10 may malfunction or cannot display accurately the pressure value of the air chamber 11.

Pressure gauge capable of automatically stopping supply of pressure from a pressure source


A medical instrument includes a distal frame portion that accepts a needle cam. The needle cam has helical slots for accepting a collar, whereby the collar rides up and down the needle cam, to thereby cause the needle cam to rotate. Spin movement of the needle is caused by movement of the collar, to thereby achieve a proper seed implantation during a medical procedure by having the needle spin between seed implant locations.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a medical instrument used to implant seeds, such as radioactive seeds, into a patient""s body. In particular, the present invention relates to a needle spin capability for a medical instrument.
2. Description of the Related Art
For treating prostate cancer, radioactive seeds are provided to various locations within a patient""s prostate gland, by way of a medical instrument, also called a seed implantation device. Typically, a base unit which includes an ultrasound unit is used to determine the exact location of the patient""s prostate gland with respect to the base unit. The base unit is capable of being moved either towards the patient or away from the patient.
The ultrasound unit includes a probe, which is inserted into the patient""s rectum while the patient is lying on his back. A grid template is mounted onto the base unit, whereby the grid template includes a plurality of rows and columns of needle holes in which a needle can be inserted. Typically, the grid template includes a 13 by 13 matrix of needle holes, whereby adjacent holes on a row or a column are spaced 5 mm apart. Every other row is labeled with a number (e.g., 1, 2, etc.) on the grid template, and every other column is labeled with an alphabetic character (e.g., A, B, etc.). There is a direct relation between the centerline axis of the ultrasound probe and the position of the holes of the grid template.
Based on information obtained from the ultrasound unit, a needle is positioned through a particular hole (e.g., B5 hole) on the grid template, and then the needle is inserted into a region within the patient""s body in which the prostate gland is located. By using the ultrasound unit, a precise position of the proximal and distal positions (relative to the ultrasound unit) of the prostate gland can be determined and recorded. The distal position (relative to the ultrasound unit) of the prostate gland is also called the xe2x80x9czero retraction pointxe2x80x9d. Once the prostate gland position information is obtained, a seed implantation plan can be determined by a doctor, where the plan corresponds to a sequential process for injecting seeds into particular locations within the patient""s prostate gland. Such treatment is generally started by placing the end of the needle (e.g., bevel end of a bevel needle or the end of a trocar needle) at the zero retraction point, and then start applying seeds with respect to that reference point.
For a conventional seed implantation device, a needle is first placed into a particular needle hole of a grid template, and then the seed implantation device is held in place by a doctor and attached to the needle. The seed implantation device is then used to inject one or more seeds into the patient""s body through the needle. When finished with that hole, the seed implantation device is detached from the needle, and placed aside. Then, the needle is removed from the grid template, and a new needle is positioned at another needle hole of the grid template, according to the specific plan for treating the patient""s prostate gland. Alternatively, some physicians prefer to insert an entire row of needles onto the grid template, and thereby move from needle to needle. Other physicians implant all needles required at the deepest depth position, and then continue with all needles required at the next-deepest depth position, and so forth. One conventional seed implantation device is called a MICK applicator, and requires the operator to physically reposition the MICK applicator back onto a new needle positioned onto the grid template. Such an applicator is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,909, entitled Seed Applicator for Use in Radiation Therapy.
The inventors have recognized a problem in that implanted seeds tend to move away from their initially implanted location towards the operator, due to actions caused by the needle moving to a next seed implant location within the patient""s body or along the needle path as it is removed once the last seed has been implanted. This moving of the seeds is undesirable.
An object of the present invention is to provide a needle spin assembly that provides for the needle to spin between seed implantation locations, so that seeds are properly positioned with a patient""s body, and do not move to undesired positions during the seed implantation procedure.
This object may be achieved by an apparatus for rotating a needle that is coupled to a medical instrument. The apparatus includes rotating means for providing rotational movement of the needle while the needle is attached to the medical instrument.
The above-mentioned object may also be achieved by an apparatus for depositing, using a medical instrument having a needle coupled thereto, at least one seed at predetermined locations with a patient""s body. The apparatus includes a cam that is configured to be coupled at a distal end to the needle, and to be coupled at a proximal end to the medical instrument, the cam including at least one helical slot provided at the distal end thereof. The apparatus also includes a collar that is configured to ride along the at least one helical slot so that the collar moves in a linear direction on the cam. The apparatus further includes a control link that is coupled to the collar and that is configured to move the collar in the linear direction upon operation of a trigger on the medical instrument. When the control link is actuated under operator control, the collar is moved in the linear direction, thereby causing the cam and the needle to rotate to thereby cause the needle to spin between seed implant positions.
The above-mentioned object may also be achieved by a method for depositing seeds into a patient for treatment of the patient, by way of a needle that is coupled to a medical instrument. The method includes a step of inserting at least one seed into a first position within the patient""s body, by way of the needle. The method also includes a step of moving the medical instrument away from the patient to thereby move the needle to a second position within the patient""s body. The method further includes a step of, simultaneously with the moving step, spinning the needle between the first position and the second position. The spinning step helps maintain the at least one seed at the first position within the patient""s body.
Needle spin allows trapped air to be vented, preventing vacuum or pressurization of the air. In addition, friction between the seeds and the needle are reduced by relative dynamic motion.


An architectural truss having a connector utilizing first, second, third, and fourth plate structures which lie adjacent three chords. The first plate structure engages an outer first chord while the second plate structure engages the outer first chord and a central second chord. A third plate structure engages the central second chord and a third outer chord. A fourth plate structure engages the third outer chord. Each plate structure resists movement relative to an adjacent chord under shear stress. An interconnecting member engages and holds each of the plate structures. The central second chord may extend outwardly from the first and third chords at an angle to form a corner of a triangular structure constituting a portion of a truss.

The present invention relates to a novel and useful architectural truss connector.
Trusses have often been used in structures in place of beams of uniform section. For spans above 50 to 70 feet, trusses, using metallic members, are usually more economical. However, below these limits the economy of a truss is not definitely marked and depends greatly on the strength gain obtained using a truss compared to the cost of obtaining the same.
In the past, greater strength in a building frame has been achieved by the use of brackets or braces. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,333,875; 3,849,961; and 4,275,537 describe brackets, clips, and tension members which are used in structural assemblies that may include trusses.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,985,459; 3,946,532; and 4,077,176 show truss joint connector assemblies in which toothed plates are used in combination with metallic tubular members serving as structural web portions of trusses and the like.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,902,951; 3,537,224; 3,867,803; and 4,414,787 describe flat and roof truss structures which employ braces, case connected web members, and plates for providing load transfer surfaces.
None of the prior art systems for architectural trusses show connectors to permit the use of wooden chord and web members, resulting in a truss of greatly increased strength and which may be used in relatively small structures.


A method forms an electrical connection between a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The second metal layer is above the first metal layer. A first via is formed between the first metal layer and the second metal layer. A first measure of a number of vacancies expected to reach the first via is obtained. A second via in at least one of the first metal layer and the second metal layer is formed if the measure of vacancies exceeds a first predetermined number.

1. Field
This disclosure relates generally to semiconductor processing, and more specifically, to a method for forming an electrical connection between metal layers.
2. Related Art
Conductive vias provide electrical connections between metal layers of an integrated circuit. However, stress migration over time may result in via failures within the integrated circuit. For example, during operation of the integrated circuit, stress migration can cause the accumulation of vacancies within or at a conductive via, thus increasing the resistance of the conductive via over time. Eventually, the increasing resistance due to the vacancies may cause via failure. Stress migration may therefore affect long term operation and reliability of the integrated circuit.

Method for forming an electrical connection between metal layers


A hunting decoy that simulates a life-sized herd of deer includes a decoy image element that is supported during use by a support system having a central suspension support and peripheral stabilizing supports. Both the support system and the decoy image element can be collapsed for transport and storage.

The present invention is directed to a hunting decoy that simulates a life-sized herd of animals, such as deer. The decoy can be quickly set up for use and readily disassembled for storage. When disassembled, the decoy can be stored in a carrying pouch such as a bag for easy transport.
When hunting game, it is advantageous to have a decoy that simulates the particular game animal sought. A decoy can attract game animals to the area where the decoy is located. Consequently, hunters or wildlife observers can increase the possibility of encountering the sought after game animal by having a decoy positioned nearby.
Most decoys are full sized models of the simulated animal, generally made from plastic or foam. The larger the animal, the more cumbersome it is to transport a life-sized decoy to the desired location. In addition to transporting, the decoys are often difficult to secure in place without falling over. The life-sized decoys molded from plastic tend to be rigid and immovable, thus lacking any life-like movement. Such lack of movement can be a danger alert to the sought after animal and actually drive the animal farther from the desired location.
In addition, the details of the animal's appearance are usually painted on the decoys shown in the prior art. This can diminish the decoy's life-like look and instead create a cartoon-like effect on the decoy. Animals, such as deer and elk, having high visual acuity can more easily discern the image as being a decoy rather than a live animal and consequently avoid coming close to the decoy.
The present invention is a hunting decoy for attracting game animals that is lightweight and easily transported, so that it can be carried into remote locations and set up quickly. The decoy simulates a herd of animals, not just a single animal, which provides an enhanced attraction for the game animal. The decoy includes life-sized photographic animal images on the exposed surfaces which can shimmer and move in the breeze to simulate live animals grazing.


Use of fluid to solid oligomeric esters of lactic acid and/or glycolic acid and dermatologically compatible derivatives thereof as resorbable carriers and/or film formers in preparations for covering undamaged and/or damaged areas of human or animal skin.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to new fluid to solid preparations for covering undamaged and/or damaged skin based on a carrier material compatible with the body.
2. Statement of Related Art
High molecular weight polymers having fiber properties and their use in the field of medicine are known. Well known, for example, are synthetic filament materials, resorbable within the body, based on polyglycolic acid and polylactic acid; see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,297,033; 3,626,948; 2,668,162; 2,676,945; and 2,703,316.

Preparations for covering undamaged and/or damaged areas of human or animal skin


A normal position detecting mechanism for detecting a position of a functional component in a heating apparatus includes a drive member mounted on the functional component, a drive unit assembly mounted on the heating apparatus, and a switch for generating a detection signal. The driven unit assembly includes a switch actuating member, a bracket for supporting the switch actuating member, and a biasing member arranged between the mounting bracket and the switch. The biasing member applies a bias force for driving the switch actuating member against the direction for generating the detection signal. The drive member is positioned facing the switch actuating member when the functional component is in its normal position so that the drive member provides a force to move the switch against the biasing force to generate a detection signal.

The present invention relates to a normal position detecting and latching mechanism of a functional component in a heating apparatus, such as a microwave oven, a microwave heating oven or the like.
As for most of microwave ovens, microwave heating ovens or the like, they have been configured such that functional members, for example, a turntable, a fan guard or the like are detachable for easy cleaning of the interior of a heating chamber. Accordingly, after having been washed, these functional members have to be placed back in their predetermined locations within the heating chamber. Consequently, there has been requested to install a certain mechanism for preventing such replacing from being failed forgetfully.
An example of such kinds of mechanisms according to the prior art is shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B of the accompanying drawings. This installed component detecting mechanism of the prior art, as shown in FIG. 6A, comprises a detective switch shaft 2 penetrating through an outer peripheral wall 1 of a heating chamber of a heating apparatus, and a limit switch 3 arranged outside the heating chamber so as to be located in a position facing to said detective switch shaft 2. When a specific functional member is not disposed inside the heating chamber 1, as shown in FIG. 6A, the detective switch shaft 2 is in a retracted position and thereby the limit switch 3 is in its inactivated condition, and, for example, such a caution may be given to indicate that the specified functional member is not installed in the predetermined location. As shown in FIG. 6B, when the functional member 4 is correctly installed in the heating chamber, said functional member 4 presses the detective switch shaft 2, which in turn brings the limit switch 3 to be actuated. Thereby, it can indicate that the specific functional member 4 is installed in the normal position.
Another example of such kinds of mechanisms according to the prior art is illustratively shown in FIG. 7. This conventional mechanism employs a proximity switch 5. The proximity switch generally has a detectable distance in a range of a few millimeters to some ten millimeters and is supposed to be used in an environment with a critical temperature of about 80xc2x0 C. to 120xc2x0 C. Based on above fact, in order to reduce the environmental temperature for the proximity switch and to make shorter a distance for detection, a recess 1A is formed in a portion of an outer peripheral wall 1 in a heating chamber, while a convex portion 6A is provided on a specified functional member 6, so that said convex portion 6A of the functional component 6 is allowed to fit into the recess 1A to bring the proximity switch to be actuated when the specific functional member is correctly installed in the heating chamber. That is, although the proximity switch 5 is located apart from the hole heating chamber in an operating environment with a temperature lower than the critical temperature, it still can detect whether there is the functional member or not within the detectable distance.
However, there have been the following problems with the conventional detecting mechanism described above with reference to FIG. 6. That is, since the detective switch shaft penetrates into the heating chamber, it is troublesome to clean the interior of the heating chamber. Further, because of a through hole, care must be taken upon washing with water. Dirt accumulation over the switch shaft 2 is likely to interfere with its driving and detective operation, resulting in a breakdown. Such an apparatus, for example, a microwave oven or a micro wave heating oven which performs a microwave heating needs preventive measures to be provided to the through hole to prevent the microwave leakage therethrough. Since the detective switch shaft 2 is in contact with the limit switch 3 during the heating apparatus is in use, the affection of heat transfer to the limit switch 3 via the functional member 4 within the heating chamber and the detective switch shaft 2 must be taken into account.
Further, there have also been the following problems with the conventional detecting mechanism described above with reference to FIG. 7. That is, forming the recess 1A in the outer peripheral wall of the heating chamber increase a man hour for manufacturing it, inevitably leading to the cost increase. If a concave or convex portion, such as the recess 1A is formed within the heating chamber wall, dirt is likely to accumulate therein or thereon and it is troublesome to clean it.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a normal position detecting and latching mechanism of a functional component in a heating apparatus, which can solve the problems associated with the prior art as described above.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a normal position detecting mechanism of a functional component in a heating apparatus, comprising: a drive member mounted on said functional component side of said heating apparatus; a driven unit assembly mounted on a main body side of said heating apparatus; and a switch for generating a detection signal; said driven unit assembly comprising: a switch actuating member disposed in a back side of a flat wall surface of the main body side of said heating apparatus; a mounting bracket for operatively supporting said switch actuating member so as to be movable between said back side of the flat wall surface and said switch for generating the detection signal; and a bias member disposed between said mounting bracket and said switch actuating member, which applies a bias force for normally driving said switch actuating member against said switch for generating the detection signal; wherein said drive member is located in a position facing to said switch actuating member with said flat wall surface of said main body side of said heating apparatus sandwiched therebetween when said functional component is in its normal position in said heating apparatus, so that said drive member can provide a drive force to cause said switch actuating member to move in a direction away from said switch for generating the detection signal against the bias force of said bias member.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, said drive member is a magnet, and said switch actuating member is provided with another magnet having a different polarity from said magnet.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, said drive member is a magnet, and said switch actuating member is provided with an actuating iron core.
According to still another embodiment of the present invention, said switch for generating the detection signal is mounted on said mounting bracket.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a normal position detecting and latching mechanism of a functional component in a heating apparatus, comprising: a drive member mounted on said functional component side of said heating apparatus; a driven unit assembly mounted on a main body side of said heating apparatus; and a switch for generating a detection signal; said driven unit assembly comprising: a switch actuating member disposed in a back side of a flat wall surface of the main body side of said heating apparatus; a mounting bracket for operatively supporting said switch actuating member so as to be movable between said back side of the flat wall surface and said switch for generating the detection signal; and a bias member disposed between said mounting bracket and said switch actuating member, which applies a bias force for normally driving said switch actuating member against said switch for generating the detection signal; wherein said drive member is located in a position facing to said switch actuating member with said flat wall surface of said main body side of said heating apparatus sandwiched therebetween when said functional component is in its normal position in said heating apparatus, so that said drive member can provide a drive force to cause said switch actuating member to move in a direction away from said switch for generating the detection signal against the bias force of said bias member, as well as a latching force for bringing said functional component to be latched in said normal position.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, said drive member is a magnet, and said switch actuating member is provided with another magnet having a different polarity from said magnet, wherein a magnitude of magnetic force generated by both of said magnets is sufficient enough to provide a latching force so as to bring said functional component to be latched in the normal position by an attracting force generated between both magnets.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, said drive member is a magnet, and said switch actuating member is provided with an actuating iron core, wherein a magnitude of magnetic force generated by said magnet is sufficient enough to provide a latching force so as to bring said functional component to be latched in the normal position by an attracting force applied to said actuating iron core.
According to still another embodiment of the present invention, said switch for generating the detection signal is mounted on said mounting bracket.
According to still another embodiment of the present invention, said functional component is a door, and said switch for generating the detection signal serves as a door switch.

Normal position detecting and latching mechanism of a functional component in a heating apparatus


A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus which converts a video signal to an FM signal and records the FM signal on a magnetic recording medium has a filter which eliminates an upper sideband component of the FM signal before recording so as to thereby enhance an increase of the levels of the lower sideband components of the reproduced and thereby improve its S/N ratio FM signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus such as a video tape recorder.
2. Description of Prior Art
As described in "Video Tape Recorder Design"; Journal of the SMPTE, Vol.66, No.4, Apr. 1957, FM (frequency modulation) is used for recording a video signal in a video tape recorder. Also, it is well known that a FM signal, having passed through a tape-head system, has an increased lower sideband level. Furthermore, it is well known that when the noise level is constant, an FM signal having a larger sideband component level is more useful for improving the S/N ratio (signal/noise ratio). The amount of increase in the level of the lower sideband depends on the characteristics of the tape head system, but is at most 7 dB. In order to further improve the S/N ratio of the reproduced video signal, further enlargement of the level of the lower sideband of the reproduced FM signal has been desired.

Magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus for recording upper-sidebond-eliminated FM signal

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention provides methods for identifying cognitive enhancers able to enhance CREB pathway function. Cognitive enhancers identified in accordance with the invention can be used in rehabilitating an animal with cognitive dysfunction and for enhancing memory or normal cognitive performance (ability or function) in the animal.

An estimated 4 to 5 million Americans (about 2% of all ages and 15% of those older than age 65) have some form and degree of cognitive failure. Cognitive failure (dysfunction or loss of cognitive functions, the process by which knowledge is acquired, retained and used) commonly occurs in association with central nervous system (CNS) disorders or conditions, including age-associated memory impairment, delirium (sometimes called acute confusional state), dementia (sometimes classified as Alzheimer's or non-Alzheimer's type), Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease (chorea), cerebrovascular disease (e.g., stroke, ischemia), affective disorders (e.g., depression), psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, autism (Kanner's Syndrome)), neurotic disorders (e.g., anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder), attention deficit disorder (ADD), subdural hematoma, normal-pressure hydrocephalus, brain tumor, head or brain trauma.
Cognitive dysfunction is typically manifested by one or more cognitive deficits, which include memory impairment (impaired ability to learn new information or to recall previously learned information), aphasia (language/speech disturbance), apraxia (impaired ability to carry out motor activities despite intact motor function), agnosia (failure to recognize or identify objects despite intact sensory function), disturbance in executive functioning (i.e., planning, organizing, sequencing, abstracting).
Cognitive dysfunction causes significant impairment of social and/or occupational functioning, which can interfere with the ability of an individual to perform activities of daily living and greatly impact the autonomy and quality of life of the individual. Thus, there is considerable interest in identifying clinical candidates for use in rehabilitating an animal with any form of cognitive dysfunction.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Screening methods for cognitive enhancers


A novel brake shoe assembly is provided with a brake shoe table having a generally arcuate friction material support surface, a friction material preform supported by the brake shoe table friction material support surface and having a peripheral side groove, fixed retainer clips mounted on the brake shoe table and engaging the friction material form groove, and relatively rotatable retainer clips removably and threadably mounted on the brake shoe table, engaging the friction material form groove, and imparting additional clamping forces to said friction material preform when being tightened and rotated counterclockwise relative to the brake shoe table.

Automotive vehicle brake shoe assemblies in which the assembly friction material or shoe lining element is secured to the shoe lining support element by readily removable, non-rivet fasteners are well-known in the automotive vehicle braking system arts. See for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 1,934,448 issued to Roth for a teaching of a brake shoe lining having dovetail pockets and separately fastened lining retention plates that co-operate with the lining dovetail pockets.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,361,307 granted to Merritt also discloses a removable brake shoe lining but with metallic retention clips situated in the lining face and having integral legs which project through co-operating slot openings in the assembly lining and lining support elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,650,360 issued to King et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,285 issued to Gatlin each discloses a brake shoe construction in which both the brake shoe lining support and the friction material lining element are made removable.
Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,909 granted to Shim teaches a roadside-repairable brake construction in which both the brake friction material and the shoe support for the friction material are made readily removable.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,942 issued in the name of Krumm, St. discloses a roadside-repairable brake construction in which the preformed brake friction material is secured to the brake shoe table element by both fixed wedge clips and removable wedge clips, the removable wedge clips being limited to non-rotational movement.
France Patent No. 757,380 issued in the name of Bordoni discloses a brake shoe construction that is essentially cumulative with respect to the showing of the above-discussed U.S. Patent issued to Krumm, Sr.
France Patent No. 760,231 issued to Treherne also discloses the use of fixed wedge-like surfaces to accomplish a friction material hold-down function but does not develop friction material wedge hold-down as a consequence of forces applied laterally with respect to the brake shoe table element.
France Patent No. 2,003,074 granted to Girling Limited discloses the use of removable clips for retaining the friction material of a brake shoe assembly on the brake shoe table element but makes no suggestion of a wedging action to create downward clamping forces.
Although the known brake assembly constructions make use of both fixed and movable wedge surfaces to both retain and clamp the friction material element both on and against the included brake shoe table element, none of the prior art constructions disclose and arrangement wherein a retainer clip is rotated relative to the brake table during installation and in a manner whereby the friction material is additionally urged downward against the table surface by the side retainer clips during tightening of the removable side retention clips.
Other objectives and advantages associated with the present invention will become apparent during a careful consideration of the details which follow.


A device for use with integrated circuits is provided. The device includes a substrate having a through-substrate via formed therethrough. Dielectric layers are formed over at least one side of the substrate and metallization layers are formed within the dielectric layers. A first metallization layer closest to the through-substrate via is larger than one or more overlying metallization layers. In an embodiment, a top metallization layer is larger than one or more underlying metallization layers. Integrated circuit dies may be attached to the substrate on either or both sides of the substrate, and either side of the substrate may be attached to another substrate, such as a printed circuit board, a high-density interconnect, a packaging substrate, an organic substrate, a laminate substrate, or the like.

Since the invention of the integrated circuit (IC), the semiconductor industry has experienced continued rapid growth due to continuous improvements in the integration density of various electronic components (i.e., transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors, etc.). For the most part, this improvement in integration density has come from repeated reductions in minimum feature size, which allows more components to be integrated into a given area.
These integration improvements are essentially two-dimensional (2D) in nature, in that the volume occupied by the integrated components is essentially on the surface of the semiconductor wafer. Although dramatic improvement in lithography has resulted in considerable improvement in 2D IC formation, there are physical limits to the density that can be achieved in two dimensions. One of these limits is the minimum size needed to make these components. Also, when more devices are put into one chip, more complex designs are required.
In an attempt to further increase circuit density, three-dimensional (3D) ICs have been investigated. In a typical formation process of a 3D IC, two dies are bonded together and electrical connections are formed between each die and contact pads on a substrate. For example, one attempt involved bonding two dies on top of each other. The stacked dies were then bonded to a carrier substrate and wire bonds electrically coupled contact pads on each die to contact pads on the carrier substrate.
A substrate has been investigated for providing 3D IC packages. In this attempt, a silicon die is attached to a substrate, such as an interposer. The interposer may have through-substrate vias that are used to provide an electrical connection between the integrated circuit die on one side to electrical connections on the other side. Dielectric layers may be formed over the through-substrate vias and metallization layers are formed in the dielectric layers, such as vias formed to provide electrical connections between adjacent metallization layers. In this embodiment, the metallization layers and via sizes increase as the metallization layers extend away from the through-substrate vias.
This configuration, however, may experience open/shorting conditions in the interconnect structure and/or de-lamination/cracking issues. The relative volume of the through-substrate vias and the relative coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) as compared to the interconnect structure may cause the through-substrate via to "pop" during thermal cycles. The popping of the through-substrate vias may then cause the layers to delaminate or crack, as well as possibly causing a shorting or open condition in the interconnect structure.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


Placement head and placement system for a placement apparatus for placing components in a placement plane, at least one placement head being provided with at least one gripper for picking up and/or putting down the components. The gripper is fitted in an edge region of the placement head, with the result that, in the case of a projection of the placement head onto the placement plane, the image of the gripper situated in the placement position essentially does not project from the image of the placement head. According to the invention, simultaneous independent placement using a plurality of placement heads is possible without the risk of a collision of the placement heads.

This application is based on and hereby claims priority to German Application No. 10064108.3 filed on Dec. 21, 2000 in Germany, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The invention relates to a placement head and also a placement system for a placement apparatus for placing components in a placement plane, which has at least one gripper for picking up and/or putting down the components.
In conventional automatic placement machines having a plurality of placement heads which each populate a placement plane with components from different sides of the placement plane, there is a problem in that the placement heads cannot simultaneously populate the placement plane. This results in a risk of collision of placement heads simultaneously effecting placement, which exists whenever the placement heads have mutually overlapping movement regions. An attempt has previously been made to solve this problem by the placement heads only being used one after the other to populate the placement plane. In this case, by way of example, the placement plane is populated by one placement head, while components are picked up from a feed device by another placement head. In this case, however, the placement performance of the automatic placement machine essentially depends on the placement performance of a single placement head and is thus greatly limited.
One potential application of the invention is based on the object of specifying a placement head and also a placement system by which faster, more flexible and more reliable placement is possible.
One aspect of the invention provides a placement head for a placement apparatus for placing components in a placement plane, which has at least one gripper for picking up and/or for puffing down the components in a placement position of the placement head. In this case, the placement position is that position of the placement head in which the gripper is able to pick up or put down a component. The gripper is fitted in an edge region of the placement head in such a way that, in the case of a projection of the placement head onto the placement plane, the image of the gripper situated in the placement position essentially does not project from the image of the placement head. This ensures that the gripper situated in the placement position is arranged near the edge region of the placement head and the gripper, in the direction in which the placement head can move toward a lateral boundary of the placement plane, does not substantially project beyond the placement head. As a result, the placement plane can be populated essentially over the whole area with the placement head.
In the case of a placement head having a plurality of grippers, the latter are fitted on the placement head, for example in a rotationally symmetrical manner, and their axis of rotation is inclined with respect to the placement plane of the automatic placement machine. The effect achieved by the inclination of the axis of rotation is that the structural space required for mounting a corresponding rotationally symmetrical holder for the grippers above the placement plane does not have to extend in the direction perpendicular to the placement plane beyond the limits of the rotationally symmetrical holder. The grippers can then be arranged, with respect to the rotationally symmetrical holder, with the same angle of inclination which the axis of rotation forms with the placement plane of the automatic placement machine, with the result that a gripper situated in the placement position is arranged perpendicular to the placement plane. This makes it possible to minimize the structural space of the placement head that is required in the vertical direction above the placement plane.
The placement head can also be designed like a turret head. In this case, the rotationally symmetrical holder for the grippers has a turret form. The axis of rotation of this turret may in this case be inclined or perpendicular with respect to the placement plane of the automatic placement machine.
One aspect of the invention also provides a placement system having at least two elongate supports, by which a respective placement head is guided movably in a respective first movement region. In this case, the supports are arranged facing one another above the placement plane. The configuration of the placement heads makes it possible for the latter to be moved simultaneously within the respective first movement region, with the result that the placement plane can be simultaneously populated in the first movement regions by the placement heads. Since the placement heads are designed in such a way that the grippers, in the placement position of the respective placement head, are arranged directly in the edge region of the placement head and essentially such that they do not project from said placement head, a plurality of placement heads can be moved toward one another in such a way that they cannot touch one another within their first movement region, but the remaining movement region above the placement plane, which region is not covered by the respective first movement regions, is very small. In particular, except for a second movement region whose width essentially corresponds to the diameter of a gripper, the placement heads can populate the placement plane simultaneously and independently of one another. The second movement region whose width essentially corresponds to the diameter of a gripper must be sequentially populated by the placement heads in order to rule out possible collisions between the placement heads.
A placement head and also a placement system which is provided, with the placement head in which a gripper is fitted in an edge region of the placement head, so that it terminates for example flush with the edge region of the placement head or projects only slightly from this edge region beyond the placement head.
Using such a placement head or placement system, in a placement plane of an automatic placement machine on which there are boundary areas that are vertical with respect to the placement plane, the entire placement plane can be populated except for a residual region whose width corresponds to half the diameter of a gripper of the placement head. In this case, the residual region is the region yielded on the placement plane between the vertical boundary area directly adjoining the placement plane and the region which can be populated by the placement head.
If a plurality of placement heads are used in a placement system, then a vertical boundary area is defined for example in the limits of the movement region of one of the two placement heads. The respective other placement head must not exceed the limits of this movement region since otherwise there is a risk of collision with the other placement head. Since the grippers are arranged on the placement heads in a respective edge region of the placement head in a manner terminating with the latter or projecting slightly from said edge region, that movement region which, in the case of simultaneous and independent operation of the two placement heads, cannot be used, in order to avoid collisions, corresponds to a movement region whose width essentially corresponds to the diameter of a gripper. This second movement region can only be sequentially populated by the placement heads.
By virtue of the simultaneous placement using, for example, two or more placement heads, the oscillations in the placement system are minimized since it is possible to carry out simultaneously mutually corresponding movements in opposite directions. If a plurality of printed circuit boards are arranged next to one another on the placement plane, it is possible to effect placement simultaneously and independently without limitations, since the second movement region, in which the placement heads should operate sequentially, for example in the case of two printed circuit boards arranged next to one another, is covered by the transport mechanism between the printed circuit boards, which is not populated.


An end connector for attachment to a tubing end including a housing having a first aperture therethrough with a predetermined internal periphery and a plug member having a predetermined external periphery for cooperative engagement with the end of the tubing and the internal periphery of the first aperture of the housing, the plug member releasably retaining a portion of the end of the tubing between the external periphery of the plug member and the internal periphery of the first aperture of the housing to prevent removal of the tubing from the housing when the tubing is subjected to tension in a desired direction.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an end connector, and more particularly to an end connector for attachment to an end of flexible tubing which releasably retains the end of the tubing and readily can be secured to another member.
2. Description of the Related Art
A tubing end typically is connected to another object by inserting a male connecting member within the interior of the tubing and tightening an adjustable clamp or similar article about the periphery of the tubing portion surrounding the male connector member. This type of connection, however, does not provide adequate retention of the free end of the tubing when the tubing is in tension with respect to the male connecting member. Additionally, if the clamp has sharp edges or is over-tightened, the clamp can cut into the tubing causing the tubing to break free.
One application where tubing members are subjected to tension is with exercise cords or "sport cords." These cords typically utilize a piece of flexible rubber tubing having a desired length which is repeatedly stretched by a user to provide progressive resistance exercise for various parts of the body. To change the level of tension provided by such cords, the tubing size, shape and material can be adjusted as desired.
To assist in gripping the ends of such cords, a handle typically is attached to each end as described above where each handle is provided with a male connector member which is inserted within the interior of the end of the tubing and a clamp is tightened about the end of the tubing surrounding the male oonnector member. This type of connection, however, does not effectively retain the tubing end during tension and is subject to failure as described above which can be harmful since the flexible rubber tubing tends to recoil upon failure.
It therefore is desirable to provide an end connector for a tubing end which releasably retains the end of the tubing against significant tensile forces without damaging the tubing and where the end connector with the tubing attached can be secured to another member, such as a handle or a stationary object, to facilitate use of the tubing member for any desired purpose.


The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of blue-fluorescence emitting carbon dots (CDTs) from sub-bituminous tertiary high sulfur Indian coals. More particularly, the present invention relates to the production of characteristics carbon dots from low-quality Indian coals by an ultrasonic-assisted wet-chemical method. Also, the present invention provides a simple and environmentally benign method for fabrication of characteristics and size-controlled carbon dots.

Coal is considered as a feedstock for carbon-based materials. Carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) have been gaining tremendous attention due to their wide range of applications in various fields. CNMs include carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, carbon dots, nanofibers, nanodiamonds, graphene nanosheets, graphene onions, etc. Among them, carbon dots (CDTs) are the newly emerging carbon nanomaterials, mainly including carbon quantum dots (CQDTs), less than 10 nm in size, graphene quantum dots (GQDTs) and graphene nanosheets with a plane size less than 100 nm. Carbon dots show many outstanding advantages such as low cost, low toxicity, robust, optical/chemical inertness, and a case of fabrication. Carbon dots have great potential application in various fields, including bio-imaging, cell-imaging, sensing, photovoltaic devices and catalysis.
Carbon-based dots have been fabricated from various carbon sources including fullerenes, glucose, graphite, graphene oxide, carbon nanosheets, biomass, and carbon fibers. Physical approaches such as lithography have also been used to fabricate graphene quantum dots from various carbon sources. However, current methods for the production of carbon dots suffer from numerous limitations. For instance, lithography techniques are expensive and impractical for the production of bulk quantities of carbon dots. Likewise, current carbon-based materials that are utilized for the production of carbon dots can be expensive in bulk quantities. Moreover, current methods of production carbon dots may not be able to control the size of the formed carbon dots. Therefore, new methods are required for the bulk production of carbon dots in a controlled manner.
Mineral acid solutions (Conc. H2SO4 and HNO3) are tested as an oxidizing agent by the facile one-step wet-chemical method to fabricate carbon dots. However, it is found that the process is explosive, time-consuming and formation of sodium salts (NaNO3) take place during the neutralization step by sodium hydroxide or ammonia solution, which is difficult to separate from the reaction media. Moreover, large quantities of water are needed instead of sodium hydroxide and ammonia solution during the neutralization step.
The related prior art references so far available in the literature for the production of carbon dots from coal are provided herein below.
Reference may be made to Nature Communication, 2013, 4:2943 (doi: 10.1038/ncomms3943) entitled "Coal as an abundant source of graphene quantum dots" which reports a facile one-step chemical method to synthesize tunable graphene quantum dots from various types of coal and coke samples. They have used mineral acids such as HNO3 and H2SO4 for producing quantum dots from bituminous coals. Detailed characterization of the produced graphene quantum dots were examined by using analytical techniques. In this work, the graphene quantum dots were synthesized from bituminous coal, coke, and anthracite coal. However, in the present invention, the method as well as the characteristics of product differs from this report with respect to the use of reagents, techniques (ultrasonication, filtration, dialysis etc.) and other product characteristics.
Reference may be made to the article in Nanoscale, 2014, 6, 7410-7415 entitled "Graphene quantum dots, graphene oxide, carbon quantum dots and graphite nanocrystals in coals". This paper reports the preparation of single-layer graphene quantum dots (S-GODS) from six coal samples of different ranks by chemical oxidation and centrifugation methods using mineral acids (HNO3 and H2SO4). The products were characterized by TEM, AFM, XRD, Raman and FTIR. However, the process reported therein is not similar to the present method in that the cited art had used strong mineral acids in the synthesis and the product characteristics were not described in detail.
Reference may be made to ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2015, 7, 7041-7048 entitled "Bandgap Engineering of Coal-Derived Graphene Quantum Dots" in which bandgaps of photo luminescent graphene quantum dots (GQDs) synthesized from anthracite coal was engineered by the one-step chemical oxidative treatment (using HNO3 and H2SO4) at higher temperature or separation by cross-flow ultrafiltration. The products were characterized by TEM, DLS, XPS, Mass Spectroscopy, FTIR, C13 NMR, UV-visible, XRD, Photoluminescence, and Raman analysis. The average sizes of the GQDTs were found to be 4.5±1.2, 16±3.3, 41±6.4, and 70±15 nm. However, the present invention differs in the process from the stated art with respect to the use of H2O2 and ultra-sonication. They had also used inorganic acids, which is not eco-friendly. Also, the report mainly emphasizes on the band-gap engineering of the quantum dots.
Reference may be made to ACS Nano, 2014, 8 (10), 10837-10843 entitled "Boron- and Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots/Graphene Hybrid Nanoplatelets as Efficient Electrocatalytic for Oxygen Reduction" in which Boron- and Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots/Graphene Hybrid Nanoplatelets were synthesized from anthracite coal by one-step chemical oxidation method (using HNO3 and H2SO4) followed by codoping with nitrogen and boron at high-temperature annealing. The products were characterized by SEM, TEM, AFM, XPS, Raman analysis. This prior art mentioned about Boron- and Nitrogen-doped carbon dots. However, the method in the present invention is concerned with the carbon quantum dots.
Reference may be made to RSC Advances, 2014, 4 (81), 43160-43165 entitled "Chaos to order: an eco-friendly way to synthesize graphene quantum dots" in which highly ordered graphene quantum dots (GQDs) were synthesized by a rapid, simple and pollution-free method, which adopts cheap and readily available activated carbon but not coal and environmentally friendly hydrogen peroxide as raw materials through simple microwave and hydrothermal treatment. However, the present invention involves the usage of coal.
Reference may be made to Carbon, 2015, 93, 999-1007 entitled "Ethanol in aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution: Hydrothermal synthesis of highly photoluminescent carbon dots as multifunctional nanosensors" in which a novel synthetic strategy was developed for a facile, green and low-cost fabrication of highly photoluminescent carbon dots (C-dots) by hydrothermal treatment of ethanol in aqueous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) solution. The products were characterized by TEM, XRD, Raman, XPS, FTIR, NMR, UV-visible, PL, and Time-resolved fluorescence analysis. However, the present invention adopts sono-chemical technique unlike the one reported in the art (hydrothermal treatment).
Reference may be made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/888,301 which provides a method of making graphene quantum dots from a carbon source (e.g., coal and coke). The method includes exposure of the carbon source to an oxidant such as sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3), sonicating the carbon source in the presence of the oxidant, heating the carbon source in the presence of oxidant at a temperature of 100-150° C. for 24-48 hrs. Thus, this patent reported the use of strong inorganic acids. However, ultrasonic assisted oxidation of coal was carried out in presence of H2O2 in the present invention, which makes it simple, facile, and faster. Moreover, there isn't any detailed product characterization reported in this patent with respect to their anti-bacterial, anti-algae and cytotoxic properties.
Reference may be made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/836,826 which provides a method for preparing graphene quantum dot by sonication of a carbon material consisting of graphite, charcoal by using a fenton oxidant including, hydrogen peroxide. The method includes dispersing of the carbon material in an organic solvent, such as dimethylformamide followed by oxidizing the carbon material by adding the potassium peroxymonosulfate to the carbon material, and reducing the oxidized carbon material by performing a hydrothermal reaction. The inventors included the step of sono fenton and sono photo fenton reaction of carbon material to which potassium peroxymonosulfate has been added. However, the feed materials used in the reported art were graphite and charcoal unlike the present invention which uses coal. Also, different organic solvents were used in this patent application.
Reference may be made to CN104946252 which discloses a green, pollution-free method for extracting fluorescent carbon dots from coal. The method includes ball-milling of coal and water slurry to obtain a suspension of pulverized coal black followed by its oxidation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and removing the hydrogen peroxide by heating. Further the supernatant liquor was cooled down and freeze-dried to get the fluorescent carbon dots. It was found that the carbon dots fluorescence yield was 40-60%. They formed point carbon size distribution 1-3 cnm and crystalline with defects. Although, this patent is quite similar with respect to the reagent (H2O2) used, yet the characteristics of the claimed CDTs produced are significantly different with the above. Also, the extraction method of CDTs adopted in the present invention is different. The art reports that the point carbon has the photocatalytic properties of degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange. However, they had not reported on the significant characteristics of CTDs such as higher florescence (FL) life time (τ), higher molar absorption coefficient, higher quantum yield, anti-bacterial, anti-algae and cytotoxicity etc. Further, in the present invention the carbon source used is from low-quality high sulfur coal which is typically/chemically different and cheap from other coals. The method is advantageous over the prior art such as, less time consuming, minimum amount of water and ammonia solution is needed for the neutralization step and additional experimental steps is not required to enhance the yield of the product.
Reference may be made to Chinese Patent CN103803540 which provides a method for the preparation of graphene quantum dot from natural coal by ultrasonic treatment of mixture of pulverized coal and strong acid followed by adding hydrogen peroxide. The method includes mechanical crushing of the natural coal into different sizes powder followed by oxidation of pulverized coal with strong acid in an ultrasonic tank using Hummers method. Further, the reaction mixture was stirred overnight, centrifuged, neutralized and dialyzed to get the water soluble graphene quantum dots. However, in the present invention the carbon source used is from low-quality high sulfur coal which is typically/chemically different and cheap from other coals. The method is advantageous over the prior art such as, less time consuming, minimum amount of water and ammonia solution is needed for the neutralization step and additional experimental steps is not required to enhance the yield of the product.
Reference may be made to WO2016053411 which discloses scalable methods of producing carbon quantum dots from carbon sources with desired bandgaps by using oxidants like H2O2. However, the patent doesn't disclose anything about nature of the product characteristics such as antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxicity.
Reference may be made to "Multi-functional fluorescent carbon dots with antibacterial and gene delivery properties"; RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 46817-46822, DOI: 10.1039/C5RA07968C which evaluates the antibacterial activity of carbon dots on both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. However, the anticytotoxicity and antifungal characteristics of the carbon dots is nowhere reported in the prior art.
Reference may be made to patent WO 2014179708 A1 which recites a method of making graphene quantum dots from a carbon source, wherein the method comprises of exposing the carbon source to an oxidant, and the carbon source is selected from the group consisting of coal, coke and combinations thereof. Nevertheless, this reference only theoretically mentioned the usage of sub-bituminous coal and hydrogen peroxide as a carbon source and as an oxidant respectively, for the production of graphene quantum dots. But practically it was not verified. Also, it was found that the process is explosive, time-consuming and formation of sodium salts (NaNO3) take place during the neutralization step by sodium hydroxide or ammonia solution, which is difficult to separate from the reaction media. Moreover, large quantities of water are needed instead of sodium hydroxide and ammonia solution during the neutralization step. However, the present invention consumes less time, minimum amount of water and ammonia solution is needed for the neutralization step and additional experimental steps is not required to enhance the yield of the product. Further, in the present invention the carbon source used is from low-quality high sulfur coal which is typically/chemically different and cheap from other coals. The method is advantageous over the prior art such as, less time consuming, minimum amount of water and ammonia solution is needed for the neutralization step and additional experimental steps is not required to enhance the yield of the product.
Reference may be made to "Glowing Graphene Quantum Dots and Carbon Dots: Properties, Syntheses, and Biological Applications"; First published: 17 Dec. 2014; DOI: 10.1002/sm11.201402648 which accounts for the enormous potential of carbon dots in the biomedical applications (lower cytotoxicity of the carbon dots against human cells due to their excellent biocompatibility), but the carbon dots was synthesized from carbon soots, graphite, 13C and Graphite, pitch-based carbon fibres, high purity graphite rod, and polystyrene by nitric acid oxidation, electroxidation, laser-ablated, acid treatment and chemical exfoliation, electrolysis, and electrochemical method respectively, not directly from low-quality high sulfur coal, which is typically/chemically different and cheap from other coals. Further, the present invention is simple and involves wet-chemical techniques with lesser steps. The product characteristics are also very much different.
In light of the existing prior arts, it may be summarized that the use of hydrogen peroxide and ultra-sonication method are known for the production of carbon dots and carbon quantum dots from carbon source other than low-quality Indian coal which is high in sulfur content. However, all these methods used expensive and high-quality raw materials (e.g. anthracite coal, graphite, activated carbon, coke etc.); highly demanding equipment and various steps are required to get the final desired product. Compared to the prior art, the present invention is easy to control, environmental friendly, simple preparation process, uses cheap raw material (i.e. low-quality high sulfur coal), and also suitable for large scale commercial production. Furthermore, the developed fabricated product of the present invention possesses higher quantum yield, is highly water soluble, emits blue-fluorescence with higher life time, and exhibits antimicrobial and cytotoxicity activity.
Thus, keeping in view the drawbacks of the hitherto reported prior arts, the inventors of the present invention realized that there exists a dire need to provide a process for the preparation of carbon dots which uses novel ultrasonic-assisted wet-chemical method, where only hydrogen peroxides (H2O2) is used as an oxidizing agent. The method also overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks such as it is less time consuming, minimum amount of water and ammonia solution is needed for the neutralization step and additional experimental steps are not required to enhance the yield of the product. The prepared carbon dots were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), High Resolution-Transmittance Electron Microscope, X-ray powder Diffractometer, Thermal analysis, Laser micro-Raman system, FT-IR spectrophotometer, UV-Visible spectrophotometer, F-2700 FL Spectrophotometer, and Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy.

Process for the preparation of blue-flourescence emitting carbon dots (CDTS) from sub-bituminous tertiary high sulfur Indian coals

COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC & INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH


When defective pixels of a solid state image pickup device of a video camera are corrected by signal processes, a white spot noise is detected by closing an iris and by comparing the signal level and a level of only a dark current. Further, in this case, a gain of an AGC circuit for controlling a gain of a video signal is raised and a precise detection is executed. By executing such a detecting operation at the time of turn-on or turn-off of a power source, the user is not annoying. In the ordinary photographing, a reference level in detection of a white spot noise is set to an optimum value in accordance with a temperature of the solid state image pickup device or its peripheral temperature or the gain of the AGC circuit so that the white spot noise detection is not influenced by the temperature of the solid state image pickup device or the operating state of the AGC circuit.

The invention relates to a video camera using a solid state image pickup device and, more particularly, to a function to correct defective pixels of a solid state image pickup device by signal processes.
As a conventional video camera having a function to correct defective pixels of a solid state image pickup device, for example, a video camera disclosed in JP-A-3-236689 can be mentioned. According to such a video camera, after an image signal obtained by the solid state image pickup device was converted into a digital signal, in order to correct an abnormal signal of an image, what is called a white spot noise, due to defective pixels, whether the level of the absolute value of an outline correction signal is equal to or larger than a predetermined value or not is discriminated by using an outline correction circuit, thereby automatically judging whether the pixels are defective pixels or not.
Although the solid state image pickup device converts an energy of light into an electric signal, it has a nature to also convert a thermal energy into an electric signal. The signal component which was converted into the electric signal by such a thermal energy is caused by a dark current. Since the dark current occurs by the thermal energy, a temperature dependency is strong and its value is almost doubled when the temperature rises by 10.degree. C.
A white spot noise occurs when the dark current is abnormally increased as compared with the other pixels due to defective pixels. Therefore, the signal level of the white spot noise has a temperature dependency. Since the video camera executes an automatic gain control (AGC), when an object is dark, a gain of circuit system is raised, thereby keeping a brightness of a video image constant. Thus, the level of white spot noise is also changed by the gain of the AGC. Further, since a change similarly occurs with regard to the normal signal component, it is very difficult to detect the white spot noise in the ordinary photographing state. In the above literature, however, a judgment reference of the white spot noise is merely set to a predetermined value, so that no consideration is made in the conventional video camera with respect to a point that the white spot noise due to defective pixels is detected at a high precision.
Reference may further be made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,714 which relates to correction of white spot noise.

Video camera with a function to correct defective pixels of solid state image pickup device and method of correcting defective pixels of solid state image


A process for removal of bacteria such as Salmonella from fresh poultry and other meats involves contact of the carcass or carcass pieces with an aqueous solution preferably containing about 0.001% to about 0.2% by weight of a metal chlorite and sufficient acid to adjust the pH of the solution from about 2.2 to about 4.5, to maintain the chlorite ion concentration in the form of chlorous acid to not more than about 35% by weight of the total amount of chlorite ion concentration in the solution, and to minimize chlorine dioxide generation and associated discoloration of the meat. Preferred acids are selected such that, when mixed into a 0.1% by weight sodium chlorite solution to adjust the pH to about 2.95 and held for 30 minutes at about 25.degree. C., no more than about 2 ppm chlorine dioxide are generated. In some embodiments, preferred acids are strong inorganic acids such as phosphoric, hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. Preferred metal chlorites are alkali metal chlorites such as sodium or potassium chlorite. The meats are dipped in and/or sprayed with the solution, which may optionally contain food-grade wetting or thickening agents.

Fresh meat products, including poultry, are susceptible to contamination by microorganisms that contact meat surfaces immediately after slaughter and evisceration, where organisms in the intestinal tracts can be transferred to other organs during processing. Contaminating microorganisms include bacteria such as Salmonella and Campylobacter species, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and other coliforms, and other enteric organisms. Once bacteria such as Salmonella contact tissue surfaces, they rapidly attach and are difficult to remove even with chlorine disinfectant permitted for use in poultry sprays and chill tanks. In beef processing, a particularly virulent strain of E. coli denoted 0157:E7 was reported to contaminate hamburger meat sold by a fast-food chain and to cause several deaths in the U.S. in 1993. Food poisoning from other organisms such as Listeria and Campylobacter or from spoiled meats in general are intermittently reported in the public press.
The problems created by Salmonella bacteria in poultry products are particularly noteworthy. Currently, Americans spend approximately $20 billion annually on poultry products, consuming about 80 pounds per capita. Approximately 35% to 45% of poultry reaching U.S. consumers is contaminated with Salmonella species. Improper cooking and physical transfer of the bacteria to food handling surfaces and thence to other foods result in the spread of the microorganisms, causing gastrointestinal disorders and, in some cases, death.
Breeders, hatcheries, feed ingredient suppliers, farms, processors, and distributors have all been implicated as contributors to Salmonellae contamination in chickens and turkeys (Villarreal, M. E., et al., J. of Food Protection 53: 465-467 (1990)). Contamination of but a few birds can lead to broader range contamination of other birds and cross-contamination to carcasses. Bacterial proliferation and other signs of spoilage can be delayed by refrigeration, but there is a limit to the degree of refrigeration that can be imposed on meat products, short of freezing the meat, and some bacteria such as psychrophiles can survive and even flourish at temperatures approaching the freezing point. It is thus preferable to control and destroy Salmonella and other microbial contaminants during processing to reduce the initial number of organisms on the meat.
Poultry processing is similar to the processing of other meat animals. Briefly summarized, caged birds arrive by truck at the processing plant. The birds are hung by their feet on shackles in a dressing line, stunned and bled via throat cuts. After bleeding and while still hung, the birds are scalded, plucked and transferred to an evisceration line, where they are manually or mechanically eviscerated, inspected and spray-washed. The spray may contain chlorine as a disinfecting agent. The last step of the process is chilling in a chill tank, by movement through a counterflow of cold water. The carcasses must reach an internal temperature of 5.degree. C. or below, which usually takes about 45 minutes to one hour in a typical many-thousand gallon tank. After reaching this temperature, the carcasses are packaged or further cut into parts, and refrigerated or frozen.
Salmonella and other organisms can survive the scalding process, which involve temperatures of about 50.degree. to 58.degree. C. Though cross-contamination can occur during any stage of processing, the major problems arise during and after evisceration when microorganisms are freed from the intestinal tract and transferred to other tissue surfaces. When carcasses are placed in the chill tank, organisms and unremoved viscera and visceral contents enter the water and can come in contact with other carcasses.
The U.S.D.A. and F.D.A. allow the use of chlorine in the water, up to 50 parts per million (ppm), to destroy some of these organisms. Upper range chlorine levels transfer to the air and can irritate factory workers, so lower levels, e.g., 20 ppm, are typically employed. This compromises antimicrobial effectiveness, as does organic matter and debris that accumulate in water and consume available chlorine. Indeed, even the upper allowable chlorine levels cannot eliminate or significantly reduce pathogenic organisms. In addition, chlorine in process waters has a tendency to react with a variety of organic materials, both from water and from poultry, to form a series of chloro-organic molecules, including species, e.g., trihalomethanes and chloramines, that have been implicated as mutagens and carcinogens.
Chlorine dioxide, which is less reactive with water components such as ammonia and nitrogen compounds, has been considered as an alternative disinfectant to chlorine in poultry processing. Chlorine dioxide can significantly reduce Salmonella and other unwanted microbial contaminants of meat surfaces, and at levels in water which are approximately one-seventh of that required for chlorine to achieve comparable effects.
Though chlorine dioxide has also been found to react with fewer amino acids than does chlorine (3 rather than 18), there is increasing evidence that the reactions cause undesirable effects on poultry surfaces. For example, it has been observed that chlorine dioxide, at the 1.4 ppm level in chiller water, was effective in reducing many bacteria and caused no detectable off-flavors on treated broilers, but the skin of the chickens was lighter in color than control carcasses, and the normal pinkish-white appearance had changed to grayish-white. Use of chlorine dioxide was curtailed in poultry processing as a result of sporadic retail complaints about "bleached" or old-looking carcasses. Moreover, subsequent chlorine dioxide experiments resulted in periodic episodes of severely discolored (blue-black) birds and random poor bacteriocidal efficacy.
Color changes occur from a combination of the oxidation of blood hemoglobin to methemoglobin, the oxidation of caretenoid colorants in poultry fat, and the reaction of chlorine dioxide with the amino acids tyrosine and tryptophan to form colored species. As a small molecule, chlorine dioxide can diffuse into tissues such as capillary walls and fat to effect oxidative changes. Similar color changes were noted by Villarreal, cited above, who studied the effect of slow-release chlorine dioxide levels on Salmonella levels in turkeys. While a major reduction in Salmonella organisms was observed, a bleaching of the skin was noted, especially on the wings and breasts of the carcasses. Skin areas like the neck exhibited a pale brownish color.
Irradiation has been approved by the U.S. government as an alternative antimicrobial treatment. However, irradiation appears to be not viable for most poultry processors due to the high capital plant cost, high operating costs, and the additional cost of transporting carcasses to such facilities. Irradiation may also pose occupational risks to poultry factory workers.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have an effective process for removing Salmonella and other unwanted microorganisms from meat carcasses such as poultry.

Process for removing bacteria from poultry and other meats


A seating support device for use in conjunction with a seat to support a user during travel. The support comprises a main body of flexible material that is capable of being manipulated to alter a three dimensional form of the body into one of multiple usable forms. At least one of the multiple forms is a support form having a recess for a user to rest their leg and/or foot therein. Other forms include a second support form and/or a pouch or carry bag form. An attachment mechanism associated with the body is provided for attaching the body to a support structure separate from a seating surface of the seat in the at least one support form. The body is also configured to couple the seat in use.

It should be noted that reference to the prior art herein is not to be taken as an acknowledgement that such prior art constitutes common general knowledge in the art.
Travelling has become a very common part of life, whether it is for work, visiting friends or family or for a vacation. People often travel for long periods during which time they are seated in a chair and are generally sedentary. In particular, travelling in airplanes requires a passenger to be seated in a cramped position for many hours. Travelling in trains, buses and the like can also see a passenger seated for long periods of time in awkward and uncomfortable positions.
Sitting for long periods can become very uncomfortable and can lead to tired and aching muscles, swollen legs, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and even the life threatening condition of pulmonary emboli. Furthermore, it can be difficult to sleep in an upright seated position and travelers can often become sleep deprived. All of these factors make travelling for long periods uncomfortable. Also passengers often require significant recovery time which is detrimental to work commitments or enjoyment of vacation time.
Several devices have been developed in order to make travelling more comfortable and/or to help prevent DVTs. Some such devices include padded or inflatable neck supports, which facilitate sleeping in a chair, and back supports that prevent an aching back. These neck and back supports are useful to provide an alternative position however for many people they do not provide enough comfort to significantly ameliorate the effects mentioned above.
Some passenger chairs in airplanes, trains and buses have the ability to recline partially and/or have an extendible foot rest built into the chair. More commonly, a passenger chair can have a fold down foot rest at the back such that the person sitting in the chair behind can rest their feet on the foot rest however in saying that most airlines have removed their footrests. Personal inflatable foot rests have also been developed which allow a person to take the foot rest with them in different vehicles. It is desirable to be able to raise one's feet and legs to reduce fatigue and pain, to increase blood flow in the venous system and therefore to help prevent DVTs. It is also advantageous to be able to sleep comfortably on your side with legs supported. However, these foot rests only raise the legs by a small distance and for many people do not provide the support required for comfort, improved blood flow or sleeping.
Other devices often used to prevent DVTs include pressure stockings or socks which apply pressure to the ankles and calves to discourage pooling of blood in the veins of the legs. Inflatable leg compression devices have also been used to apply pressure to the legs to prevent pooling of blood in the legs. These compression devices can be uncomfortable and can be cumbersome or inconvenient if a passenger needs to get up and move around.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous of the present invention to provide a contrivance which ameliorates one or more of the disadvantages set forth above or at least provide the public with a useful choice.


Accuracy of producing stained glass photomasks is improved by means of a preliminary heat treatment to adjust the fictive temperature of the glass, thereby improving dimensional stability during subsequent production of a stained pattern in the glass.

Photomasks are used in the art of photolithography for producing printed circuits and other precision photo-fabricated parts. In a photolithographic process a substrate is covered with a layer of photoresist in which a pattern is photographically developed by superimposing over the photoresist a photomask having patterned transparent and opaque areas and then passing actinic radiation, usually ultraviolet light, through the transparent areas of the photomasks. A pattern is then developed in the photoresist as a relief image by means of differential solubilities of the exposed and unexposed portions. Etching or other treatments may then be carried out on the underlying exposed portions of the substrate. A general discussion of the state of the art of photo-fabrication and the role played by photomasks may be found in Scientific American, September 1977, pages 111-128.
Photomasks have typically consisted of films of photographic emulsion, iron oxide, or chromium on glass plates. However, since a photomask is essentially a production tool which must be used repetitively it has been desired to increase the durability of photomasks by creating the desired opaque and transparent areas as stained images within the glass plates rather than coatings on the surfaces of glass plates. Several techniques for producing stained images within glass plates are known, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,573,948 (Tarnopol); 3,732,792 (Tarnopol et al.); 3,561,963 (Kiba); 2,927,042 (Hall et al.); 3,620,795 (Kiba); 4,144,066 (Ernsberger); and 4,155,735 (Ernsberger) and in pending U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 60,422 filed July 25, 1979 and Ser. No. 80,875 filed on Oct. 1, 1979, both by Fred M. Ernsberger.
The present invention relates to an improvement in any of these techniques or any other technique for producing stained patterns within glass plates or sheets wherein one of the essential steps entails heating the glass to a relatively high temperature. Developing a stain within the glass generally requires subjecting the glass to a temperature above 300.degree. C. and sometimes as high as 500.degree. C. or above. It has been found that at these elevated temperatures the glass substrate undergoes permanent dimensional changes which cause the dimensions of the stained pattern to deviate from those intended. Because the patterns carried by photomasks must be precisely predetermined even a small degree of such dimensional inaccuracy may be unacceptable. With standard soda-lime-silica flat glass employing a heat treatment which may range as high as about 525.degree. C., shrinkage of the glass is encountered. The rate of shrinkage is slower at lower temperatures and may be insignificant at temperatures around 300.degree. C. for reasonably short heat treatment times. However, it is generally preferred to maximize the temperature so as to shorten the length of a heat treatment step. Also, the production of more durable, deeply penetrated stains is sometimes associated with heat treatment at higher temperatures. Thus, avoiding dimensional instabilities appeared to be at odds with other desirable factors in the production of stained glass photomasks.
It has been possible to photographically compensate for the dimensional instabilities of the glass when photographically transferring the image to the glass, but such a procedure is not very satisfactory in most cases due to loss of resolution in the resulting image. Compensation for dimensional changes could also be made in the original design layout, but it would be difficult to predict the precise amount of change which would be encountered and such a procedure would be cumbersome to carry out.

Method for making stained glass photomasks using stabilized glass


In a tent assembly that includes a tent frame and a canopy, an anchoring device is used to secure the canopy on the tent frame, and includes a retaining unit, an anchor seat and an anchor block. The retaining unit includes an adjustable retaining sleeve to be sleeved on a tent pole of the tent frame, and a retention adjusting member for loosening and tightening the retaining sleeve on the tent pole for height adjustment. The anchor seat is connected to the retaining sleeve and is formed with a rope hole that permits a pull rope on the canopy to extend therethrough. The anchor block is connected to the pull rope, and is disposed below and is limited from moving upward by the anchor seat.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an anchoring device for a tent assembly, more particularly to an anchoring device for securing a canopy on a tent frame of a tent assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional tent assembly comprises a tent frame and a canopy disposed on top of the tent fame. To anchor the canopy on the tent frame, pull ropes are secured to the periphery of the canopy and are anchored on tent poles of the tent frame. The tent poles may have hooks provided thereon so that the pull ropes can be extended therethrough, wound thereon, and then tied to form knots on the tent frame.
The following are some of the drawbacks of the conventional tent assembly:
1. The quality of anchoring depends on strength control and experience of the people installing the tent assembly. In other words, lack of strength control and inexperience can result in weak anchoring.
2. The anchoring process, which involves winding and knotting of the pull ropes, is slow, inconvenient and cannot be easily controlled.
Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide an anchoring device for securing a canopy on a tent frame of a tent assembly that can overcome the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.
Accordingly, the anchoring device of the present invention is adapted for use in a tent assembly that includes a tent frame and a canopy disposed on top of the tent frame. The tent frame includes at least one tent pole, and the canopy has at least one pull rope secured thereto. The anchoring device is adapted to secure the canopy on the tent frame, and comprises a retaining unit, an anchor seat and an anchor block.
The retaining unit includes an adjustable retaining sleeve adapted to be sleeved on the tent pole, and a retention adjusting member for loosening and tightening the retaining sleeve on the tent pole such that the retaining sleeve can be moved a long the tent pole when loosened and can be retained at a desired position on the tent pole when tightened.
The anchor seat is connected to the retaining sleeve and is formed with a rope hole that is adapted to permit the pull rope to extend therethrough.
The anchor block is adapted to be connected to the pull rope such that, when the pull rope is extended through the rope hole, the anchor block will be disposed below and limited from moving upward by the anchor seat.

Anchoring device for securing a canopy on a tent frame