An evaporated fuel treatment device in which performance of a canister can be improved, with the result that efficiency in treatment of evaporated fuel can be enhanced. In the evaporated fuel treatment device, a purge control valve, conventionally disposed on a purge passage, is removed, such that the canister is directly subject to a negative pressure generated on the side of an inlet pipe at the time of starting of an engine. Consequently, a great attraction force acts on the evaporated fuel adsorbed within the canister. Also, by restricting a flow of air introduced into the canister by means of a flow control valve, the negative pressure applied to the canister can further be increased. As a result, in the evaporated fuel treatment device of the invention, the amount of the evaporated fuel which can be desorbed from the canister is larger than that of a conventional device.

The present invention relates to an evaporated fuel treatment device in which a canister can be improved in its capability of interiorly adsorbing evaporated fuel generated in a fuel tank.
Conventionally, a vehicle mounted with an engine, for which a highly volatile fuel (for example, gasoline or the like) is utilized, is equipped with an evaporated fuel treatment device to prevent emission into the atmosphere of evaporated fuel generated in a fuel tank.
Such an evaporated fuel treatment device, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, comprises a canister 110 within which evaporated fuel generated in a fuel tank 120 is temporarily adsorbed and a purge control valve 150 which is provided in the middle of a purge passage 145 connecting the canister 110 and an inlet pipe 102 and which is opened and closed according to the operational status of an engine 101. When the purge control valve 150 is opened, the evaporated fuel adsorbed within the canister 110 is purged (introduced) into the inlet pipe 102, together with air introduced by a negative pressure generated on the side of the inlet pipe 102, to be led into cylinders. At this time, a flow of an air-fuel mixture composed of the evaporated fuel and the air to be delivered to the inlet pipe 102 is adjusted by controlling opening and closing of the purge control valve 150. In this way, combustion is realized at a desired air-fuel ratio in the engine.
In the aforementioned manner, transpiration into the atmosphere of the evaporated fuel generated in the fuel tank 120 is prevented, and fuel in the fuel tank 120 is thus consumed without being wasted.
The evaporated fuel adsorbed within the canister 110 is desorbed in such a manner that it is attracted by the negative pressure generated on the side of the inlet pipe 102 when the engine 101 is started. And then, the evaporated fuel desorbed from the canister 110 is delivered to the inlet pipe 102, together with the air introduced into the canister 110, through the purge passage 145.
However, in the aforementioned conventional structure, the negative pressure generated on the side of the inlet pipe 102 is suppressed by the purge control valve 150 provided on the purge passage 145. Also, the purge control valve 150 can be a ventilation resistance for the air-fuel mixture containing the evaporated fuel desorbed from the canister 110. Accordingly, there is a certain limitation in desorption efficiency for the evaporated fuel adsorbed within the canister 110. On the other hand, since the amount of the evaporated fuel subsequently adsorbed within the canister 110 corresponds to the amount of the evaporated fuel desorbed from the canister 110 at this time, the desorption efficiency in the canister 110 also influences adsorption efficiency therein. Consequently, the canister 110 in the aforementioned conventional structure has a certain limitation in its capability of treating the evaporated fuel. And then, a canister of which capacity is large to some degree should have been employed so far, in order to treat a fixed amount of evaporated fuel.
The present invention was made to solve the aforementioned problems. The object of the invention is to provide an evaporated fuel treatment device in which a canister can be improved in its capability, such that efficiency in treatment of evaporated fuel can be enhanced while the canister itself can be downsized.
In order to attain this object, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an evaporated fuel treatment device comprising:
a canister within which evaporated fuel generated in a fuel tank is adsorbed, the canister being connected to the fuel tank via an evaporation passage;
a purge passage for connecting the canister and an inlet pipe of an internal combustion engine;
an inlet air passage for introducing air to deliver to the purge passage the evaporated fuel desorbed from the canister, the inlet air passage being connected to the canister; and
flow control means for controlling a flow of the air flowing through the inlet air passages the flow control means being disposed on the inlet air passage.
In the evaporated fuel treatment device according to the first aspect of the invention, a purge control valve conventionally provided on the purge passage is removed, and instead, the flow control means is provided on the inlet air passage. This means that the canister and the inlet pipe are connected to each other without any intervening member provided therebetween that causes, particularly, flow resistance. As a result, the canister is directly subject to a negative pressure generated on the side of the inlet pipe at the time of starting of the engine, and a great attraction force thus acts on the evaporated fuel adsorbed within the canister. Also, by restricting, by means of the flow control means, the flow of the air introduced into the canister in such a manner that easing of pressure applied to the canister is prevented, action of the negative pressure applied to the canister can be further increased. And consequently, the evaporated fuel adsorbed within the canister can be attracted more strongly to the side of the inlet pipe because of the negative pressure increased. In this manner, the amount of the evaporated fuel desorbed from the canister can be increased (in other words, the amount of the evaporated fuel remaining adsorbed within the canister can be reduced) compared to cases where an evaporated fuel treatment device having a conventional structure is employed. As a result, evaporated fuel in the amount corresponding to the amount of the evaporated fuel desorbed from the canister at this time can be subsequently introduced from the fuel tank to be re-adsorbed within the canister. That is to say, with the evaporated fuel treatment device according to the first aspect of the invention, the amount of evaporated fuel which can be adsorbed within the canister at a time (what is called an effective adsorption rate) can be increased compared to that with a conventional device, and performance of the canister can thus be enhanced. As a result, the evaporated fuel treatment device in its entirety can be improved in its capability of treating evaporated fuel. Furthermore, if the performance of the canister is enhanced, another advantage can be obtained in return; that is, the canister itself can be reduced in capacity, which is advantageous in view of space-saving.
The flow control means may be an orifice by which the inlet air passage is locally narrowed. Otherwise, it may be a valve having a simple structure and able to be opened and closed on the inlet air passage. However, once an air-fuel mixture composed of the evaporated fuel desorbed from the canister and the air introduced from the inlet air passage is delivered, via the purge passage, to the inlet pipe, an air-fuel ratio of the engine is influenced by the air-fuel mixture. Accordingly, it may be necessary that the amount of the air introduced, via the inlet air passage, into the canister be properly controlled according to the condition of an engine load.
For this purpose, according to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided the evaporated fuel treatment device wherein the flow control means is constituted by a variable throttle mechanism capable of adjusting the flow of the air flowing through the inlet air passage.
In this structure, by adjusting, by means of the variable throttle mechanism, the amount of the air introduced into the canister as well as the action of the negative pressure applied to the canister, the amount of the evaporated fuel delivered to the inlet pipe can be properly adjusted.
Furthermore, according to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided the evaporated fuel treatment device wherein the variable throttle mechanism is constituted by a proportional control valve. This proportional control valve is an electromagnetic valve which can be opened and closed with timing electrically adjusted according to the condition of the engine load or the like, and it is the same one conventionally used as the purge control valve disposed on the purge passage. In other words, it can be said that, in the structure of the evaporated fuel treatment device of the intention, position of the proportional control valve conventionally used for flow control of the intake air to be delivered together with the evaporated fuel is changed from a conventional position, that is, on the purge passage, to on the inlet air passage. As a result of changing the position of the proportional control valve in this manner, desorption efficiency in the canister can be enhanced, and at the same time, flow control of the air-fuel mixture can be achieved as well for proper engine control.
In the aforementioned structure, however, a problem may arise when the negative pressure generated on the side of the inlet pipe is increased too much, for example, in cases where the operational status of the vehicle is unusual. More specifically, if a differential between an internal pressure of the canister and the atmospheric pressure becomes too large by the action of the negative pressure, the canister itself may be deformed or damaged because of such a large pressure differential. To prevent such deformation or damage, a certain restriction needs to be placed on the largeness of the negative pressure applied to the canister.
Then, according to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided the evaporated fuel treatment device further comprising a mechanism for blocking up the purge passage when the negative pressure applied to the canister becomes equal to or exceeds a predetermined value.
This mechanism may be constituted in such a manner that it is mechanically closed up when the pressure differential between the internal pressure of the canister and the atmospheric pressure becomes equal to or over a fixed value, this point in time being regarded as the time when the negative pressure becomes equal to or over the predetermined value. Otherwise, a pressure sensor for detecting the internal pressure of the canister may be provided separately, and in this case, the mechanism may be constituted such that it is controlled to be closed up when the internal pressure of the canister detected by the pressure sensor becomes equal to or below a fixed value, this point in time being regarded as the time when the negative pressure becomes equal to or over the predetermined value.
By constituting the evaporated fuel treatment device in the aforementioned manner, even if the negative pressure generated on the side of the inlet pipe becomes excessive, for example, in cases where any unusual situation arises during operation of the engine, the internal pressure of the canister can be kept equal to or below a fixed value, thereby protecting the canister from being deformed or damaged.


Techniques for determination of packet retransmission using a time threshold are described. In at least some embodiments, information for a packet that is received is compared to information for previously received packets. If the information for the packet matches a previously received packet, a receive time for the packet is compared to a timestamp for the previously received packet to determine if the packet is a retransmission of the previously received packet. In at least some embodiments, packet information associated with different senders can be stored, e.g., to enable packet information comparison for purpose of retransmission detection. An amount of packet information that is stored can be limited to a certain number of senders to control the impact of packet information storage on memory resources.

Many devices today utilize some form of wireless data communication. While a variety of different types of wireless data communication exist, radio frequency (RF) communication is pervasive. Examples of RF communication include cellular networks (e.g., for cell phones), Wi-Fi®, broadcast television, global positioning system (GPS) navigation, and so forth.
RF data communication can be particularly useful to facilitate inter-device communication. For instance, a wireless input/output (I/O) device (e.g., a mouse, a touchpad, a keyboard, and so on) can communicate with a computer utilizing various forms of RF communication. This can enable a user to provide input to a computer independent of a wired connection between an input device and the computer.
Utilizing RF communication for data transmission typically involves transmitting data in packets. However, interruptions in packet transmission can occur. For instance, a device can experience power state interruption while sending and/or receiving a stream of data packets. Further, high signal noise environments can cause data packets to be dropped.
Many devices are configured to retransmit data packets when problems in packet transmission are detected. In some scenarios, however, packet retransmission can cause problems with a receiving device. For instance, if a transmitting device erroneously detects that a packet was not received, it can retransmit the packet. A receiving device can thus end up receiving the same packet twice and attempting to process the duplicate packets as different packets. This can impair the ability of the receiving device to properly process an associated stream of data packets.

Determination of packet retransmission using time threshold


A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawThirtyNine’ particularly characterized by a fully everbearing plant having conic shaped fruit and resistance to Verticillium wilt is disclosed.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety designated 'DrisStrawThirtyNine' and botanically known as Fragaria×ananassa. This new strawberry variety was discovered in Kent, United Kingdom in August 2007 and originated from a cross between the proprietary female parent 'Ophelia' (unpatented) and the proprietary male parent 'KGEM 93' (unpatented). A single plant was selected and asexually propagated via tissue culture and vegetative cuttings in Kent, United Kingdom in 2007.
'DrisStrawThirtyNine' underwent further testing in Kent, United Kingdom for six years (2007-2012). The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations via stolons and tissue culture.
Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for. 'DrisStrawThirtyNine' has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

Strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawThirtyNine’


A personal computer protection device for disconnecting a computer system from a communications channel during power down periods. The personal computer protection device includes a power sensor for sensing power drawn by the computer system, an input port for connecting to a communications channel, an output for connecting the input port to a communications channel input of the computer system and a relay connected between the input port and output port. The relay selectively disconnects the input port and output port when the sensor senses the power drawn is below a threshold value thereby indicating the computer system is in a powered down or sleep state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to computers and, more specifically, to a device able to block access to communications lines connected to a personal computer at times of inactivity thus preventing others from accessing the computer without authorization.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous types of protection devices for computers have been provided in the prior art. Most of these devices are software related and act to prevent others from accessing your computer through connection with an outside line such as a cable line, DSL line, modem line or phone/fax line. Protecting information contained on computers from unrestricted access through connections to outside communications channels is a high priority for most users as the amount of business performed on computers is increasing at an enormous rate.
In today's high speed, internet environment consumers are able to perform most any task over the internet such as investing, banking, shopping, etc. and most people store personal private information on their computers. Hacker's are constantly devising new methods for accessing information on anyone's computer without the alerting the affected party to the intrusion. Software and firewalls available today are able to protect personal computers to a certain extent when the computer is turned on. However, when the computer is off, the software is ineffective on intruders. Personal firewalls are also helpful in preventing intrusions however they are very expensive. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.
Cable, DSL and regular modem/phone lines are always powered on. This presents a problem for PC owners connected to the internet through these communications channels. Thus, even with the most advanced software and firewall protection, an experienced hacker can still break through the security of any known protection on the market today.
It is thus desirable to provide a personal computer protection device which is able to disconnect a personal computer from cable, DSL and regular modem/phone lines when the computer has been inactive for a period of time or has been turned off. It is further desirable to provide a personal computer protection device which is able to sense the power provided to a monitor and disconnect the computer from the cable, DSL and/or regular modem/phone lines when the monitor in a sleep mode or turned off. It is even further desirable to provide a personal computer protection device which is able to connect between a personal computer and any one or combination of cable, DSL and regular modem/phone lines and disconnect the personal computer therefrom upon sensing a predetermined condition.


The invention is a method and system for printing a mail list in presort order, on a plurality of printers. The method begins with the preparation of a mail list within an addressing system. The mail list is presorted in accordance with postal service requirements. The presorted mail list is then divided into batches by container type. Container type is determined by selecting from among container types generally available to a mailer and which are in conformance with postal service regulations for containing presorted mail. The maximum mailpiece capacity of the container defines the point at where the presorted mail list is divided. After division into batches, the mail list is then directed to the printers for printing to envelopes. Each of the printers is selected based upon the batches that are to be printed and are configured to print based upon a container type corresponding to the batch. The batch size equals the corresponding container's capacity. The printer pauses after completion of the batch printing and notifies a system user that the batch has been printed. The printer does not print a next batch until allowed to do so by the system user. The system user can monitor the status of the process by referring to a monitor. Once printed, the batch of mailpieces is placed into its corresponding container, and the container is delivered to the postal service. In an alternative embodiment, direction of the print stream to the printers is accomplished by an external print director.

The invention disclosed herein is generally concerned with a method and system for printing addresses to mailpieces within an addressing system. More specifically, the invention supports more than one printer connected to a host microprocessor where each printer is configured to print an address batch based upon a defined postal service container type.
Mailpiece production systems are an example of systems whose purpose is to utilize address lists, perform addressing hygiene through the use of address correction techniques, perform presort or manifesting to qualify for postal service discounts and, download data to printers, collators, sealers, and the like for the purpose of producing a mailpiece. Mailpiece production systems are known in the art and have developed with changes in postal service regulations (such as those of the United States Postal Service, or USPS) and with the proliferation of appropriate software applications. In turn, this production has served the need to automate and accelerate to accommodate growth.
As the USPS, together with the postal services of other countries around the world, moves toward more fully automated mail handling in an effort to contain costs while processing ever increasing volumes of mail, automated equipment which sorts and processes mail on the basis of machine readable postal codes, such as the "zip code" or other forms of postal coding, play an ever more significant role. In the United States, postal service regulations provide for a "Postnet" bar code which represents the five, nine, or eleven digit zip code of the destination address in a machine readable form.
Systems have been used or proposed to meet the need to produce mail pieces imprinted with the Postnet bar code, and to enable mailers to obtain the benefit of the discounts offered for such mail. One such system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,907, for a SYSTEM FOR FEEDING ENVELOPES FOR SIMULTANEOUS PRINTING OF ADDRESSES AND BAR CODES, issued to Eisner et al. (hereinafter referred to as Eisner-1) on Aug. 22, 1989. This patent discloses a system for printing envelopes with addresses, zip codes, and corresponding bar codes. The system is controlled by a computer which includes software for converting a zip code included in the address into bar code form and then adding the bar code representation to the material to be printed on the envelope.
Another example of the art is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,181 for an ENVELOPE ADDRESSING SYSTEM ADAPTED TO SIMULTANEOUSLY PRINT ADDRESSES AND BAR CODES; issued on Jul. 5, 1994 to Eisner et al. (hereinafter referred to as Eisner-2). This patent teaches a method of addressing substrates with a human readable address containing a zip code and a bar code corresponding to the zip code. The method utilizes a computer and comprises several steps. These steps include: receiving in the computer a plurality of addresses, with pre-existing zip code information contained in each as complete address data, and requiring no manual inputting or identification; automatically scanning the address data in the computer to find the pre-existing zip code; automatically converting, in the computer, the pre-existing zip code into a line of corresponding bar code; and, essentially simultaneously printing the complete address, including zip code information and corresponding bar code, on a substrate, under control of the computer so that the substrate produced has human readable zip code and machine readable bar code information thereon.
Additionally, a system for printing envelopes with addresses including bar code is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,691 for a SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN APPARATUS TO PRODUCE ITEMS IN SELECTED CONFIGURATIONS; issued on Dec. 29, 1992 to Baker et al. (hereinafter referred to as Baker), which describes a system for printing mail pieces which includes a printer for printing sheets and envelope forms and a folder-sealer mechanism for folding the envelope form around the sheets to form a mail piece, and a computer based control system for controlling the printer and folder. In the system of this application, when an operator is creating a file of letters to be printed, the operator may designate a selected field within each letter as containing the destination address. The system will then extract the information in this designated field and with it create a new page of material to be printed on the envelope form; and, if the address within the designated field includes a zip code, the system will add a corresponding barcode to the new page. The system then adds this new page to the file before the file is output.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,278,947 for a SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC PRINTING OF MAIL PIECES; issued Jan. 11, 1994 to Balga, Jr. et al. (hereinafter referred to as Balga), and assigned to the assignee of the present claimed invention, is for a system which includes a printer for printing text in response to the input of signals. The printer has a capability to selectively print either sheets or envelopes. The system further includes a controller for output of s a sequence of signals representative of materials to be printed on a sheet which forms part of the mail piece, where the sequence includes a subset of signals representative of an address.
In accordance with another aspect of the Balga invention, the system includes a scanning mechanism for identifying a character string which conforms to a valid postal coding standard. The system further includes a mechanism for identifying the character string as a valid postal code. Additionally, the system forms the destination address to include a line including the postal code and a selected number of proceeding lines of text.
The ability to structure software coding is extremely important when linking data to be downloaded to a printer being utilized in the addressing environment. U.S. Pat. No. 5,583,970 for a PRINTER COMMAND SET FOR CONTROLLING ADDRESS AND POSTAL CODE PRINTING FUNCTIONS, issued Dec. 10, 1996 to Strobel (hereinafter referred to as Strobel), and assigned to the assignee of the present claimed invention, is instructive in this respect.
Strobel is a method and system for printing images to a substrate wherein the commands normally input by an operator, or resident within the printer, can be determined at a host data processor. The system can control address and postal code printing functions beginning at the host computer together. The system will derive printing data, including address data, from a selected application resident in the host computer. The host computer creates and then transmits printer command sets and printing data, via transmitting means to a microprocessor within the printer. The microprocessor drives a language interpreter which directs the printer commands to a parsing step for determining the address location from within the data to be printed. The language interpreter then assigns delivery point digits to a zip code that was isolated from the transmitted address data. The newly created zip code is then matched with the bar code data stored within the microprocessor's corresponding memory. A bar code corresponding to the new zip code is selected. The language interpreter then directs the printer's controller to prepare to print the address with its corresponding zip code, any graphics images that may have been included within the print data, and text, if any. The printer controller positions the bar code for printing, and then prints the bar code and address data, zip code, and any graphics images and text to an envelope or other substrate.
Thus, Strobel overcame the limitations of the prior art by providing flexibility in determining what data, and how much, may be downloaded for printing to a substrate. Flexibility is accomplished by controlling address and postal coding functions in the printer from a host computer. The invention thus simplifies the firmware required in a selected printer, or can allow the performance of additional tasks or provide for greater database functionality under the direction of the printer microprocessor. Thus, printer ROM memory can be reduced or freed up for other tasks, and RAM memory can be increased to handle more detailed data.
With the optimization of the component parts of addressing systems, comes the ability to utilize those parts in new and increasingly efficient ways to qualify for the discounts available from the postal service.
One of the discount areas available to mailers utilizing postal services is for placing mail in Presort order. Presort order optimizes postal service time management and handling capabilities. The mailer who prepares mailpieces in Presort order can further optimize their own performance by utilizing an addressing system that not only prepares address lists in Presort order for printing as is possible with the SmartMailer product from Pitney Bowes Inc. of Stamford, Conn., but directs the addressing system to send the address data print stream to more than one printer based upon container requirements. This data stream direction causes the printers to be more effectively utilized and the speed capability of the overall system to be optimized based upon both the Presort and container requirements of the postal service.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide for a method and system of conforming to postal service Presort and container requirements while optimizing the ability of an addressing system and its constituent printers.

Method and system for printing a mail list in presort order on multiple printers


A new and improved lighting display comprising a base having an upwardly facing top surface. The top surface is reflective and has a plurality of spaced apart apertures therein. A light is positioned in each of the apertures such that a light beam from each light shines upwardly away from the reflective top surface. A frame is supported on the base and extends over the apertures. Ornaments are hung from the frame over each of the apertures whereby the light beams may be dispersed by the ornaments during use. In specific embodiments of the invention, light displays for use in motor vehicles as supplemental stop lights and turn signal lights is provided. In other specific embodiments, an ornamental light display is provided for decorative purposes.

The present invention relates to an ornamental light display and more particularly to such a display that can be utilized in the rear window of a motor vehicle or on the mantle of a fireplace or other prominent locations in a home or other building for both aesthetic and functional uses.
Ornamental light displays have fascinated some ever since Edison invented the light bulb. Since Edison invented the light bulb a number of different lights have been provided, different light circuitries have been provided in motor vehicles have become common place, and electricity has been used throughout our society. It is therefore highly desirable to provide a new and improved ornamental light display incorporating up-to-date technology.
Additionally, both houses and commercial building have been fully wired such that electrical aesthetic light displays may be utilized for decorative purposes in most all buildings. Decorative light displays add a feature over all other decorative articles inasmuch as their appearance may change dramatically from daylight to night time use and through the use of flashers, lenses, filters, and ornaments and the like may provide a myriad of appearances aesthetically pleasing to nearly all persons. It is therefore highly desirable to provide a new and improved light display which is aesthetically pleasing in both day time use and night time use. It is also highly desirable to provide such an ornament display which can be useful to house clocks, worship centers, or other appliances or to provide occasional lighting for other functions, as desired.
Motor vehicles have also increased in use to the extent that many families have more than one motor vehicle. All motor vehicles are now mandated by Federal and state law to have an electrical system which includes head lights, turn lights, parking lights, brake lights, interior lights, and the like. This lighting system is run by a battery charged by a generator run by the motor vehicle engine. Thus the lighting system can function when the motor vehicle is both functioning and not functioning. Federal and state now mandate that all motor vehicles have stop lights, brake lights, turn signals and they must be suitably positioned at the rear of the vehicle and sized as prescribed. Many persons wish to provide supplement turn signal and brake light indicia through ornamental design to customize their motor vehicle. It is therefore highly desirable to provide a new and improved display that can be operatively connected to the lighting system of a motor vehicle to customize the vehicle. It is also highly desirable to provide a new and improved light display having at least three (3) ornamental lights, one connected operatively to the left hand turn signal, one connected operatively to the right hand turn signal, and one operatively connected to the brake light. It is also highly desirable to provide a new and improved light display for motor vehicles which is aesthetically pleasing to the eye and can be used to customize a motor vehicle both in the day time and in the night time. It is also highly desirable to provide a new and improved light display of the type described for a motor vehicle which can be operated with or without other lights of the vehicle lighting system.
Most recently, lights have evolved in many ways. Various persons have been highly interested in the variable intensity of lights, the various combination of monochromatic lighting, the development of lasers, and various combinations of these technologies. It is therefore highly desirable to provide a new and improved light display which may encompass monochromatic, various combinations of monochromatic and laser lighting systems.
Still others have been highly interested in the way light is dispersed by reflective and refractive devices. Both artists and physicists have been long utilizing prismatic and reflective devices to disperse, bend and transform light sources into a variety of end uses. Particularly significant is the dispersion of lights by crystals. Almost everyone has been enthralled by the dispersion of sunlight on a diamond ring, for example. It is therefore highly desirable to provide a new and improved light display which utilizes reflective and refractive means for enhancing the display. It is also highly desirable to provide a new and improved light display using multifaceted crystalline ornaments for dispersing light.
Finally, it is highly desirable to provide a new and improved lighting display which encompasses all of the above features.


A method of forming titanium boronitride coatings using ion beam assisted deposition. The method involves exposing the substrate to a vacuum, depositing titanium onto the substrate, substantially simultaneously exposing the substrate to a source comprising boron and nitrogen, and substantially simultaneously bombarding the substrate with an energetic beam of ions under conditions effective to form a quantity of titanium-boron bonds and a quantity of titanium-nitrogen bonds effective to produce a titanium boronitride coating having a hardness of at least about 5000 kg/mm.sup.2.

Titanium nitride (TiN) has been widely used for wear-resistant coatings, e.g. on cutting tools, for many years. More recently, a mixed titanium aluminum nitride has provided improved performance on drills, and at least one group has reported superior hardnesses and wear life using deposited coatings of titanium boronitride (Ti--B--N).
The methods described to date for depositing titanium boronitride coatings are dual target magnetron sputtering processes, in which two targets are sputtered with an argon-nitrogen plasma. The two sputter targets are (1) titanium, and (2) titanium diboride. The properties of the resulting titanium boronitride coatings depend strongly upon the chemical composition of the coating formed. The best coating properties are obtained when the coating comprises particles having a small grain size, because this imparts hardness, and when the coating has a boron content of about 20 atomic % or less in relation to the titanium content, and a nitrogen content of about 40 atomic % or less in relation to the titanium content. The Vickers hardness number reported for the titanium boronitride coatings formed using dual target magnetron sputtering was 6800 HVN. The abrasive wear resistance reported for the same coatings was nine times better than that of TiN.
Unfortunately, magnetron sputtering involves so many process variables that it is difficult to exercise a great degree of control over the chemical composition of the resulting titanium boronitride coating. The process variables which may affect the chemical composition of a coating produced by dual target magnetron sputtering include: (1) the position of the workpiece relative to the two sputter targets; (2) the argon flow rate; (3) the nitrogen flow rate; (4) the power deposited in the plasma discharge; and, (5) the bias voltage used. In addition to the large number of process variables that can affect the chemical composition of the resulting coating, dual target magnetron sputtering suffers from the disadvantage that it cannot readily be used to coat large components because the distance between the sputter targets and the workpiece cannot be greater than about twelve inches.
A process is needed which can be used to coat large scale components, and which provides more control over the chemical composition of the resulting titanium boronitride coating.

Method of making titanium boronitride coatings using ion beam assisted deposition


A children's vehicle includes a body and a cross member attached to the body. A tongue assembly features a leading portion, a central portion and a trailing portion, with the central portion pivotably connected to the cross member. A handle is pivotally attached to the leading portion of the tongue assembly. A tie rod is pivotally attached to the trailing portion of the tongue assembly. A pair of axle spindles are pivotally attached one each to opposite ends of the cross member. A pair of wheels are rotatably mounted one each on the pair of axle spindles. A pair of generally S-shaped torque arms are connected one each to the axle spindles and pivotally connected one each to opposite ends of the tie rod.

The present invention relates generally to children's vehicles and, more particularly, to a steering mechanism for children's vehicles such as wagons.
Children's wagons have long been popular play items. They often feature a body constructed of steel, plastic or wood that includes a floor surrounded by sidewalls so that cargo may be hauled. Alternatively, a child may sit or kneel on the floor of the wagon. A pair of rear wheels are typically mounted to the underside of the rear portion of the wagon floor while a bolster is pivotally mounted in the fashion of a turntable to the underside of the front portion of the wagon floor. A pair of front wheels are mounted to the bolster as is a pivoting handle. The wagon may be pulled by the handle which may also be used to steer the front wheels by pivoting the bolster. The handle may also be rotated back towards the rear of the wagon so that the handle may be accessed by a wagon passenger when the wagon is used "coaster" style.
The bolsters of such wagons, however, may only be pivoted a limited amount to protect against tipping the wagon during turning. As a result, such wagons are typically constructed with a "limited turning" feature, such as the one illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,575 to Tonelli. A disadvantage of including this feature is that the wagon has a larger turning radius. This makes the wagon more difficult to maneuver. In addition, such wagons may be difficult to turn, especially on rough surfaces, as each of the front wheels must traverse an arc as the bolster pivots during turning.
Automotive-style steering mechanisms have been employed on children's wagons and address the issues of the wagons of the above paragraph. An example of such a steering mechanism is illustrated in FIGS. 1A through 1C, where the wagon handle is pivotally attached to tongue 20. While such a mechanism functions well when the wagon is traveling generally straight forward, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, a pinching hazard exists when the wagon is turned, as illustrated in FIGS. 1B and 1C. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, as the wagon is turned, one of the mechanism torque arms 22 pivots towards cross member 24. In addition, the tie rod 26 moves toward the cross member 24. As illustrated in FIG. 1C, when the wagon makes sharp turns, the torque arm 22 and tie rod 26 actually nearly contact the cross member 24. As a result, a child's fingers, hands or other body parts may become pinched between the torque arm 22 and/or tie rod and the cross member 24 when the mechanism is actuated in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1B and 1C. A need exists for a steering mechanism for children's wagons that avoids such a "scissor" action and resulting pinching hazard.


The invention includes a lighted serving tray comprised of a discus shaped platter with an interior hollow in which a tubular light array is positioned. The tray includes a serving surface upon which drink glasses are to be placed, and which includes a clear, lens portion through which light is transmitted to illuminate an etched sponsor logo. The base portion of the tray is, in one embodiment, a translucent and is colored to transmit colored light during use. A change/power case is affixed to the tray to house a power supply and to provide a change compartment for use by wait staff.

1. Field of The Invention
Applicant's invention relates to serving implements used in the restaurant, bar and night club market, particularly to serving trays used primarily to serve beverages.
2. Background Information
Particularly in this "high tech" entertainment age, it is a constant struggle for bars and night clubs to capture and maintain the interest of their patrons. With the advent of state-of-the-art home theater, video games, music videos, and other relatively new avenues for entertainment, potential patrons for bars and night clubs must encounter a "dazzling" environment if they are to be lured back for repeat business.
In many market niches, the preferred environment for night clubs is one of a futuristic or high tech feel. Thus, many such establishments invest heavily in lighting and decorations to achieve such a "feel".
An attractive adjunct to the permanent fixtures of a futuristic night club is that of lighted serving trays for use by wait persons who serve mixed drinks. Serving trays with integral lighting were once known, but they were of little practical use. Earlier trays included an array of pin point lights over each one of which a single drink glass is to be placed. The light from each light bulb is supposed to be reflected throughout any drink glass placed over the bulb to give a dramatic visual effect, particularly in a darkened night club atmosphere.
The earlier tray systems worked reasonably well in theory, but in practice there are serious drawbacks. Because the light is emitted from the prior art serving tray at very localized points, positioning of the drinks on the tray is critical to achieve the desired visual effect. Busy wait persons simply do not, in the real world, take time to meticulously position and thereafter maintain drink glasses on specific locations on a drink tray.
What is needed to fully benefit from the concept of lighted serving trays for use in night clubs and bars is a serving tray which: (1) emits light in a generalized fashion whereby any drink glass on the tray surface will "pick up" the light; (2) is fabricated from materials which are light enough to avoid unnecessary fatigue or proclivity for dropping trays on the wait persons' behalf; (3) is durable for withstanding the rigors of night club and bar use; and (4) are constructed in such a manner that they can be purchased by club owners at cost effective prices. In addition, it is believed that the ability to highlight beverage vendors' logos with emissions from the tray's light source would promote cost share or out right donation of trays by vendors to clubs.


A halftone-level reference voltage is generated by a resistance-type potential divider circuit from a potential between a high-potential grayscale voltage and a low-potential grayscale voltage on the side of positive polarity, and a halftone-level grayscale voltage, which is capable of being varied, is generated from the halftone reference voltage by an amplifier, which uses a variable resistor as a feedback resistor. All grayscale voltages on the side of positive polarity are inverted with respect to the ground potential of a liquid crystal panel and amplified by the same ratio by amplifiers. As a result, grayscale voltages on the side of negative polarity are produced as outputs. Potentials to which feed-through correction values have been added are set individually as liquid crystal ground potentials on low- and high-potential sides. With regard to halftone levels, feed-through correction values are adjusted automatically in conformity with amount of change in grayscale voltage.

A grayscale voltage generating circuit for a liquid crystal display device of this type has been disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent Kokai Publication JP-A-6-348235, by way of example. Specifically, the specification proposes a grayscale voltage generating circuit comprising a plurality of fixed resistors serially connected between a high-potential reference voltage and a low-potential reference voltage, and voltage varying means capable of varying the voltages at the nodes between the fixed resistors between the high-potential reference voltage and the low-potential reference voltage, with the voltages at the nodes between the fixed resistors being used as grayscale signals.
FIG. 5 illustrates part of this prior-art grayscale voltage generating circuit. Though there are eight outputs of positive polarity and eight outputs of negative polarity according to the description given in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Kokai Publication JP-A-6-348235 (see FIG. 1 of the specification), here the grayscale voltage generating circuit will be described as a circuit having three outputs of each of the positive and negative polarities.
As shown in FIG. 5, the prior-art grayscale voltage generating circuit includes fixed resistors R1 to R4 and a variable resistor VR3 serially connected between a reference voltage VH and a reference voltage VL, variable resistors VR1, VR2 serially connected between the reference voltage VH and reference voltage VL, an amplifier circuit (a voltage-follower operational amplifier) A1 connected between the node of the fixed resistors R1, R2 and the variable resistor VR1, and an amplifier circuit A2 connected between the node of the fixed resistors R3, R4 and the variable resistor VR2.
The reference voltages VH and VL in this grayscale voltage generating circuit are output as is as a high-potential grayscale voltage V0H on the side of positive polarity and a high-potential grayscale voltage V0L on the side of negative polarity, respectively. A halftone grayscale voltage V1H and a low-potential grayscale voltage V2H on the side of positive polarity as well as a low-potential grayscale voltage V2L and a halftone grayscale voltage V1L on the side of negative polarity can be adjusted by adjusting the resistance values of the variable resistors VR1, VR2 connected to the input side of the amplifier circuits A1, A2, respectively, and the resistance value of the variable resistor VR3 located between the grayscale voltage V2H and grayscale voltage V2L.
The above-described grayscale voltage generating circuit makes it possible to improve upon a change in grayscale characteristic brought about by a change in viewing angle, namely the angle from which a liquid crystal display monitor is viewed. This change in grayscale characteristic due to a change in viewing angle is one characteristic of a liquid crystal display monitor primarily of the twisted nematic type.
Owing to the characteristics of the liquid crystal in a liquid crystal monitor, it is required that identical positive and negative voltages be applied in AC drive. Furthermore, it is necessary to correct for a shift (referred to as a "feed-through characteristic") in ground potential of the liquid crystal caused by a difference in the voltages applied to the liquid crystal (e.g., as when 1 V is applied and when 5 V is applied). This correction is referred to as a "feed-through correction."
In the above-described grayscale voltage generating circuit, feed-through correction values are decided by the potential dividing ratio of the serially connected fixed resistors R2, R3 and variable resistor VR3 and the adjustment of the resistance values of the variable resistors VR1, VR2. Consequently, even if the variable resistors VR1, VR2 are varied to obtain the optimum grayscale characteristic and optimize the feed-through correction values of the grayscale voltages V1H, V1L in order to improve upon the grayscale characteristic based upon the viewing angle, the feed-through correction values of the low-potential grayscale voltages V2H, V2L are decided solely by the potential dividing ratio determined by the fixed resistors R2, R3 and variable resistor VR3 between the halftone-level grayscale voltages V1H, V1L. In other words, adjusting the variable resistor VR3 merely changes the potential difference between the low-potential grayscale voltages V2H and V2L. This means that these feed-through correction values cannot be adjusted individually for each of the positive and negative polarities.
As a consequence of the foregoing, the feed-through correction values of the grayscale voltages V2H, V2L differ from the appropriate values.


A method of making jewelry comprising formulating a platinum alloy of at least 95 weight percent platinum, 1 to 5 weight gallium and palladium in an amount of less than about 3 weight percent, heat treating this alloy to increase the Vickers hardness by at least 20% but to not greater than a Vickers hardness of 350.

The present invention relates to platinum-gallium-palladium alloys which are heat-treatable to high strength and hardness for use in jewelry, art objects and related articles.
It is known in the jewelry-making art that the hardness and strength of alloys can be increased by cold deformation. That is, it is known how to work gold and platinum alloys by various forging processes to harden and increase yield strength to create stronger components, and for the use of exerting spring pressure. Increased strength is necessary for many types of durable structural parts such as lighter chains, pin stems, and thinner stampings. Spring pressure can be applied to form spring components for clasps, closures, wires, and springs. Even rings, pendants, bracelets, can mount center gemstones by compression spring power. The necessary pressure, in the latter examples, is supplied by the springiness inherent in the structure of the worked precious metal mounting itself.
It is also known to those interested in the metallurgy of precious metals that many gold alloys and certain platinum alloys can be hardened by heat-treatments to increase their hardness and yield strengths, sometimes even more than is possible through cold working. In this regard, U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,108 discloses a heat-treatment process for increasing the strength of certain alloys specifically for use as compression-spring gemstone mountings.
Platinum is a precious metal and is relatively expensive. Platinum for fine jewelry is sold in high concentrations of over 90% and, by law, must be hallmarked accordingly. Platinum alloys are desirable for their neutral color when combined with gems, they are hypo-allergenic, they have high tensile strength, and a pleasurable heft due to its high-density. In America, platinum alloys for jewelry manufacturing traditionally have concentrations of over 90 percent platinum and contain small amounts of iridium or ruthenium. There has been a recent introduction of platinum-cobalt alloys for casting alloys that are somewhat harder than the traditional iridium or ruthenium platinum alloys. Although work-hardenable, they are permanently softened by heat when soldering or using other metalworking techniques in jewelry manufacturing. Platinum-cobalt alloys do not respond to heat-treatments.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,108 discloses certain heat treatable alloys of platinum containing 5 to 25% copper, 5 to 50% gold, 10 to 40% indium, 10 to 70% iron or 7 to 35% silver. None of these alloys contain gallium or palladium, nor is there any specific disclosure of hardness for these platinum alloys. Instead, that patent is primarily concerned with the strengthening of certain alloys to provide compression spring mountings for gemstones.
Various gallium containing platinum alloys are known in the field of metallurgy. These alloys include 89-98.9% Pt, 1.1-11% Ga; 85-95% Pt, 2-4% Ga, 3-12% Cu; 95% Pt, 2-2.5% Ga, 2.5-3% Au; and 95% Pt, 2-3% Ga, 1-3% Au, 0-2.5 In. To the present inventor""s knowledge, however, none of these alloys have been heat-treated to increase strength and hardness for use as jewelry components.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,983 discloses a number of different alloying elements including palladium that can be used with platinum-gallium alloys, but is silent as to whether any heat treatments should be conducted on these alloys, despite a recognition that for many platinum jewelry applications, much harder metals (i.e., harder than 200 Vickers) are needed for use in the manufacture of springs and clasps. The solution to the problem of low hardness taught in this patent relates to a modification of the type and amount of alloying elements. Again, heat treatments are not used to increase hardness.
There are known heat-treatable platinum alloys such as 90% platinum-10% gold, but these alloys have undesirable characteristics for jewelry work. A 90% Pt, 10% Au alloy tends to crack, is extremely difficult to draw into wire or roll, and does not cast well by known jewelry-making techniques. Platinum (90%+)/copper, used in Europe, does not significantly respond to heat-treatments, and only can be strengthened by a few percent.
Due to the potential improvements in properties and performance of such heat-treated alloys, there is a need for additional alloys that are heat-treatable for use in jewelry and art applications. The present invention provides one alloy family for this purpose.
The present invention relates to a method for making jewelry, which comprises formulating a platinum alloy of at least about 95 weight percent platinum, about 1 to 5 weight percent gallium and an additional alloying element of palladium in an amount effective as a property enhancing agent but in a total amount of less than about 3 weight percent. This alloy is heat-treated to increase its initial Vickers hardness by at least about 20% but to not greater than a Vickers hardness of 350. Preferably, the alloy has an initial hardness of about 150 to 200 and this is increased to about 250 to 325 after heat treatment. More preferably, the initial hardness is at least about 160 and is increased to at least about 275. The heat-treated alloy has particular properties that render it useful as in general purpose jewelry applications.
In this method, the two stage heat-treating operation may include solution-treating the alloy at a temperature of at least about 1700 F., quenching the solution-treated alloy to a temperature of below about 200 F., and then, hardening the quenched alloy at at least 900 F. for a sufficient time to achieve the desired hardness. Preferably, the solution-treating temperature is at least 1800 F., the alloy is held at that temperature for at least 10 minutes, and the solution-treating step is conducted in an inert, non-oxidizing or anti-oxidizing environment. The solution-treated alloy is then quenched in water that is at room temperature or colder. Also, the hardening treatment is preferably conducted by heating the alloy in an inert, non-oxidizing or anti-oxidizing gas atmosphere for at least 30 minutes at 1100 to 1200 F. The hardened alloy is then cooled to room temperature.
The alloy may be formed into a desired shape prior to the two-stage heat-treating operation. Such operations are many and include casting or fabricating. Some examples of fabrication can be by rolling of the alloy into a sheet, drawing a wire, molding, casting, forging, stamping or constructing the object or shape useful as a jewelry component. It is also useful to process the hardened alloy to remove or prevent surface oxidation. One method to remove surface oxidation is by abrasion, although as previously mentioned, the alloy may be shielded during the heat-treating operations to prevent surface oxidation.
The invention of this particular high-concentration platinum alloy hardened significantly by heat-treatment is extremely appropriate for the manufacturing of jewelry, allowing for many advantages to the jewelry manufacturer over presently utilized alloys, such as:
1) Thinner, lighter constructions and castings, possessing significantly lowered weight and costs.
2) Springier clasps and mechanisms, not previously possible to construct.
3) Strengthening of delicate fabrications such as prong setting after construction.
4) Higher polish, much easier to achieve, due to increased hardness.
5) Lower casting temperatures than previously known.
6) Lower costs with alloy additions other than traditional iridium or ruthenium.
7) Expanded jewelry design possibilities.
The invention is preferably directed to platinum-gallium-palladium alloys that can be cast to a desired form or worked by traditional fabrication methods in an annealed state, then heat-treated and age-hardened to significantly increase their yield strengths so that they become hardened and spring-like. The alloys can be used for a wide variety of jewelry components, such as rings, clasps, spring parts, even compression-spring settings for gemstones, and the like. These alloys can be repeatedly annealed and heat-treated/age-hardened, and will actually increase in strength at room temperature over time.
As used herein, the term xe2x80x9cage-hardeningxe2x80x9d is essentially synonymous with the term xe2x80x9cprecipitation hardeningxe2x80x9d which results from the formation of tiny particles of a new constituent (phase) within a solid solution. The presence of these particles create stress within the alloy and increase its yield strength and hardness. See, B. A. Rogers, xe2x80x9cThe Nature of Metalsxe2x80x9d, p.320 (Iowa State University Press, 1964); H. W. Polock, xe2x80x9cMaterials Science and Metallurgy, p. 266 (Reston Pub. Inc. 1981) and xe2x80x9cThe Metals Handbookxe2x80x9d, pp.1-2 (Am. Soc""y Metals, 1986).
A multitude of shapes or forms for the platinum-gallium-palladium alloys of the invention can be hardened by heat-treatments before being utilized as jewelry. Mountings can hold stones by significant compression-spring power.
In their annealed/softened state the alloys can be worked by standard jewelry-making techniques: they can be rolled, drawn, soldered to, shaped, bent, stamped, etc. These alloys can be applied to a variety of designs for springs, gemstone mountings in rings, pendants, bracelets, chains, precious metal art objects, and the like.
It should be noted that in designing for structure of the jewelry or art object, the smallest cross-sectional area and shape of a component is taken into account. It is possible to adapt the design of the alloy to almost any configuration. The basic forms of these designs can vary, from simple sheet, to ring-shapes and more complex helixes, v-shapes, and the like. Objects can be wire, sheet, springs of all types, pendants, chain-links, brooches, and a multitude of others. Standard jewelry soldering techniques can be applied and repairs requiring heat can be carried out. The alloys can be shaped, bent, built onto, annealed, and when the piece is done, the spring power and hardness can be regained by heat-treatment. The alloy can be used to add durability to any jewelry component. Due to its superior hardness, its finish will also last longer.
The hardness and strength of the alloys are increased by a simple heat-treatment. The piece need not be forged to shape, like a coin is struck, or a ring pounded on a mandrel with a hammer, etc. Rather, the piece can be cast to any desired shape, or worked to its finished form before spring power or hardness is increased in it.
Not only does the technique of the present invention allow for more possibilities than prior art work-hardening techniques for obtaining hardness or spring power, but the equipment involved is more economical. Instead of presses, dies, and drop-hammers to create spring power for a production of pieces, a simple electric furnace, hot oil bath, or the like, is all that is required.
There are three basic steps when using construction methods to make components of heat-treatable precious metal hardenable alloys according to the present invention. First, after the ingot is poured, the alloy should be cold-work reduced in cross sectional dimension before construction is begun, that is, it must be rolled or drawn down (broken down). Second, after the piece is constructed by standard jewelry fabrication techniques and is in its final form, the piece must be completely solution-treated. Third, it must be hardened by heat-treatment in an oven for a certain amount of time (controlled precipitation). It can then be cooled to ambient temperature.
In the case of as-cast shapes made of heat-treatable alloys, there are two basic steps to increase their spring power according to the present invention. After it is in its final form, the piece must first be completely solution-treated. Second, it must be hardened by heat-treatment in an oven for a certain amount of time (controlled precipitation). It can then be cooled to ambient temperature.
The invention is created by the addition of 1 to 5 weight percent of the element gallium to platinum. Even additions of less then 3 percent gallium allow significant, beneficial hardening effects by heat-treatment. The addition of gallium in small quantities to platinum costs significantly less than iridium or ruthenium and creates an unexpectedly unique and advanced product for jewelry manufacturing.
As too much gallium can cause excessive hardness, the present invention recognizes that palladium can be added as a diluent to ameliorate the hardness increases that occur during heat treatment without affecting the desirable properties of platinum-gallium alloys. Furthermore, the palladium addition imparts beneficial properties to the resulting alloy.
The examples demonstrate that the heat treatment of an alloy of platinum, 1-5% gallium, and 3% or less of palladium provides a material that is extremely useful for jewelry applications because of its combination of desirable properties, including malleability, melting range, fluidity, hardness, resistance to oxidation, heat treating ability and cost. Also, tests were conducted to demonstrate that platinum alloys containing 1, 1.5 or 2.25% palladium and 4, 3.5 or 2.75% gallium, respectively, also possess the necessary balance of properties to be useful as a general purpose jewelry alloy. The most preferred alloy contains 95% platinum, 2.5% gallium and 2.5% palladium. It was found that this preferred alloy has the best overall blend of properties for use in a variety of jewelry applications.
It is possible to add small or trace amounts of additional elements to the platinum-gallium-palladium alloys of the invention. When adding copper, cobalt, gold, iridium, silver, and/or indium, care has to be taken when selecting the maximum amount of the element or elements to include. Too much of those elements can result in increased oxidation when heated, reduced fluidity or adverse heat treating capabilities (i.e., too much or an insufficient response).
Testing has shown that such alloying elements, when used alone or in combination, have other beneficial effects on platinum-gallium-palladium alloys, such as grain refining or adjusting the resulting alloy. The additional of less than one percent of iridium, for example, can act as a grain-refiner, reducing grain-growth. Small amounts (i.e., less than 1%) of gold or cobalt are useful for increasing the fluidity of the resulting alloy, while similar amounts of gold or silver help fine tune the heat treatability and iridium is beneficial as a grain reducer. Copper, cobalt, gold, iridium, silver and/or indium can be added to increase the work hardenability of the final alloy. Additions of trace quantities of these elements vary the metallurgical structure and therefore the characteristics of the alloy. Each of these elements can be added in trace amounts provided that the total is less than about 2% by weight of the alloy.
The platinum-gallium-palladium alloy is preferably melted and blended together by induction heating in appropriate crucibles for platinum alloys, and poured through water to create grain-shot than can be dried, weighed and used for casting.
Any forms made in wax can be easily cast by well-known traditional lost-wax casting techniques for platinum. Significantly, these platinum-gallium-palladium alloys cast easier than any other previously known platinum alloy and are more energy efficient, due to their relatively low melting temperature. This lower temperature alloy also allows a lower mold temperature, decreasing defect rate due to shrinkage porosity, investment cracking, inclusions, and contaminations that occur more readily at highly-elevated temperatures.
Ingots for sheet or wire fabrication can easily be cast by either investment lost-wax casting methods or into ingot molds for platinum. The alloy can be rolled to approximately a 30 to 40 percent reduction before needing an annealing procedure.
These platinum-gallium-palladium alloys are annealed at a temperature around 1800 F. by either furnace or torch to an orange-yellow, followed by an immediate quench in water.
There is slight surface oxidation that appears as a darkening or haze that forms on the surface of this alloy during high-temperature operations and can be prevented by dipping the alloy in boric-acid/alcohol solution before bringing it to high temperature. Many known method for prevention of surface oxidation work well such as utilizing a shielding-gas or stainless-steel foil-wrap in combination with the boric-acid dip. Otherwise, the oxidation can simply be removed by abrasion with emery paper or polishes.
The hardening of this alloy is a two-step procedure. Solution-treating is necessary previous to the hardening heat-treatment, to maximize hardening and its uniformity.
The alloy in cast form, in the form of sheet or wire stock, or in the form as a finished piece can be solution-treated at temperature near 1800 F. in a furnace, preferably atmosphere-controlled with shielding-gas. Times vary for differing thicknesses. For an example, thirty minutes is an adequate amount of time for wire of over two millimeters in diameter. The alloy must be immediately quenched in water from the furnace.
The second heat-treatment, the hardening step of the platinum-gallium-palladium alloy involves heating the piece at approximately 1200 F. for a period of one hour in a furnace, preferably atmosphere-controlled with shielding-gas. It can be allowed to air cool outside the furnace.
The shielding gas can be any of the non-oxidizing inert gasses, such as argon, nitrogen, or mixtures thereof; anti-oxidizing gasses such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, or xe2x80x9cformingxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ccracked ammoniaxe2x80x9d gas (nitrogen with a few percent of hydrogen). The piece can also be protected from oxidation by enveloping them with commercially available heat-treating wraps.

Heat-treatable platinum-gallium-palladium alloy for jewelry


A dispensing apparatus has: a freezing cylinder; a water flowpath; a first controllable valve along the water flowpath; a syrup flowpath; and a second controllable valve along the syrup flowpath. The flowpaths merge as a water/syrup flowpath to the freezing cylinder. The first controllable valve and the second controllable valve each have: a valve body having a cartridge compartment, an inlet to the cartridge compartment, and an outlet from the cartridge compartment; and a valve cartridge. The valve cartridge has: a cartridge body mounted in the cartridge compartment; a valve element carried by the cartridge body; and a solenoid carried by the cartridge body and coupled to the valve element to drive movement of the valve element. The valve element is shiftable between a first condition permitting communication between the inlet and the outlet and a second condition blocking communication between the inlet and the outlet.

The disclosure relates to frozen beverage machines. More particularly, the disclosure relates to fluid valving for frozen beverage machines.
Frozen beverage machines (including frozen carbonated beverage (FCB)) machines introduce a mixture of water and syrup to a freezing cylinder. The freezing cylinder forms a heat absorption heat exchanger of a refrigeration system. The freezing cylinder includes a beater or the like which is driven for rotation about an axis of the cylinder to maintain desired consistency of the frozen beverage within the cylinder. In FCB machines, carbon dioxide gas may be mixed with the water, syrup, and or their mixture at one or more locations. An exemplary water source is building potable water connected to the machine. An exemplary syrup source is a syrup bag (e.g., bag-in-box) or pouch (collectively "bag") externally connected to the machine (alternatives including internal mounting for small bags). A carbon dioxide gas source for an FCB machine may be a tank externally connected to the machine.
In frozen beverage equipment it is critical to control the ratio of the flows of water and syrup. Exemplary flow control devices used in frozen beverage machines have assemblies that rely on an adjustable spring force acting on a sliding ceramic piston to create a variable orifice. An example is discussed as background in U.S. Pat. No. 8,424,725 of Boyer, Apr. 11, 2013. A technician may manually adjust the flow control assemblies with a screwdriver. The sticky syrup can solidify and jam the flow control device's piston requiring significant technician time to fix.


A knee orthosis provides varying levels of support to a patient during a stance phase and a swing phase of a gait cycle. The orthosis comprises an upper auxiliary support, a lower auxiliary support, an actuator, a sensor configured to detect a plurality of leg movements during the gait cycle and to output a plurality of detection signals corresponding to the detected leg movements, and a processor configured to determine whether the knee is in the stance phase or the swing phase of the gait cycle, to control the actuator to apply pressure on the lower auxiliary support when the knee is in the stance phase, and to release pressure when the knee is in the swing phase.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative disease of the human articular cartilage. OA causes pain and deformity of the articular joint, leading to significant functional deficiencies in daily life. OA occurs in the weight-bearing joints of the hips, spine, and most commonly, the knees. Many adults with OA have arthritis-attributable activity limitations, and they have a significantly worse quality of life than those without arthritis. Medical cost is another OA-related issue. The number of adults with arthritis continues to rise, resulting in growing numbers of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures. Due to the increasing burden of treatment for OA, there is a need for low cost, high impact treatment alternatives.
In western countries, OA symptoms are more prevalent in the medial compartment of the knee than in the lateral compartment. The external knee adduction moment (KAM) has been developed for understanding the mechanical etiology of medial compartment knee OA. In the stance phase, the first peak of the KAM occurs during early stance, while the second peak occurs during late stance. The KAM is considered a surrogate measure for the medial tibiofemoral contact force and is widely used to quantify the load reducing effect of therapeutic intervention from devices such as wedged insoles and knee braces. In vivo analyses with instrumented knee prostheses have revealed a strong correlation between medial compartment loading and the KAM. The first peak of the KAM during walking has been linked with the presence of pain and severity of medial compartment knee OA. Reducing this peak can alleviate the pain while preventing further development of OA. Therefore, there is a need for devices that can reduce the first peak of the KAM as a therapeutic target.
The standard treatments for symptomatic knee OA are pharmacological treatments including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or Tramadol, rehabilitation for cases of mild OA, orthoses, and partial or total knee replacement for severe OA. Other options include injection-based biomaterials, disease-modifying OA drugs, and regenerative therapy, but these options can be challenging. Despite the fact that OA patients are mostly over sixty years old, the healing potential linked to regenerative therapy decreases for patients older than sixty. The most effective method for treating OA in elderly people is TKA, which corrects the bone alignment in order to modify the mechanical loading and kinematics in the knee. Although most patients are relieved of pain, some feel dissatisfied with TKA. There is no strong evidence for the effectiveness of treatment between NSAIDs/rehabilitation and TKA in the mild OA population. Rehabilitation can be an effective therapeutic approach, but regarding the mechanism, the benefits of physical therapy may not be correlated with the reduction of the KAM, which indicates that rehabilitation may be inadequate to slow OA development.
On the other hand, orthotic knee braces have been developed and designed for reducing the load on the knee, and can be effective in reducing pain. However, braces can be inadequate for reducing the load while standing, or reducing biomechanical alterations while walking. Further, after continual use, muscle weakness can begin to occur. Therefore, there is a need for an orthosis that can reduce the loading of the knee without damaging the muscle surrounding the knee, not only during passive use (i.e. sitting), but also during active use (i.e. standing and walking).

Mechanical assisted active orthosis using a robotic application


A method of exposing a pattern on a substrate by a charged particle beam includes the steps of energizing first and second mask deflectors provided at an upstream side of a stencil mask simultaneously to obtain a first relativistic relationship of energization between the first and second mask deflectors, energizing the first mask deflector and simultaneously the second mask deflector according to the first relativistic relationship so as to hit a selected aperture on the stencil mask, to obtain an absolute deflection of the charged particle beam as a function of the energization of the first mask deflector, energizing third and fourth mask deflectors provided at a downstream side of the stencil mask simultaneously to obtain a second relativistic relationship of energization between the third and fourth mask deflectors, and energizing the first through fourth mask deflectors according to the first and second relativistic relationship and further to the absolute relationship, such that the charged particle beam is deflected away from an optical axis and hit a selected aperture on the stencil mask while traveling parallel to the optical axis, and such that the charged particle beam passed through the stencil mask is deflected toward the optical axis and deflected again such that the charged particle beam travels toward the substrate in alignment with the optical axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to fabrication of semiconductor devices and more particularly to a charged particle beam exposure system for exposing patterns such as a pattern of an integrated circuit, on an object such as a semiconductor substrate. More particularly, the present invention relates to a charged particle beam exposure system wherein a charged particle beam is deflected to pass through a selected shaping aperture provided on a stencil mask to form a shaped beam, and wherein such a shaped beam is used for exposing a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the selected aperture, on a substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
An exposure system using a charged-particle beam, particularly the system using an electron beam, has been used for fabricating a high precision mask or a reticle, or for patterning an electron beam provided on a semiconductor substrate. Generally, a conventional electron beam exposure system utilizes a shaped electron beam having a rectangular cross section for the exposure, wherein such a shaped electron beam is produced by causing the electron beam to pass through a pair of rectangular shaping apertures successively. Such a pair of rectangular shaping apertures are disposed to overlap with each other partially when viewed in the traveling direction of the electron beam, and the size of the rectangular beam is adjusted by changing the overlapping relationship of the apertures. The rectangular-shaped electron beam thus produced is deflected over the substrate by a deflector under a control of a pattern generation unit. As a result, a desired pattern is drawn on the substrate as a succession of the rectangular patterns. Thus, the electron beam exposure system has established an important position in the fabrication technology of semiconductor devices due to its extremely high precision of exposure. By using the electron beam exposure process, one can fabricate submicron semiconductor devices without difficulty.
When the pattern to be exposed on the substrate becomes more intricate and minute, on the other hand, the number of the exposure shots increases sharply, and such an increase in the number of the exposure shots inevitably causes a problem in that the throughput of the exposure process is reduced. It will be easily understood that an exposure process for exposing a complicated semiconductor pattern on a substrate by moving a single focused electron beam, requires a substantial time. In order to improve the throughput of exposure, particularly the exposure of semiconductor devices that have superfine, submicron patterns, a block exposure process has been proposed. For example, the U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,051,556 and 5,173,582 describe such a block exposure process. Thus, the foregoing references are incorporated herein as reference. Generally, a typical LSI pattern includes a repetition of basic, or fundamental patterns. Thus, by shaping the electron beam according to one of such basic patterns of which number is limited and by repeating the exposure or shot of such a shaped electron beam a number of times, one can improve the throughput of the exposure significantly.
In order to achieve such a block exposure process, the electron beam exposure system mentioned above uses a stencil mask that carries thereon a plurality of apertures in correspondence to the basic patterns of the integrated circuit, and the stencil mask is disposed to interrupt the charged particle beam that travels form a beam source to the substrate along an optical axis. When an electron beam hits a selected aperture while traveling toward the substrate, the electron beam is shaped according to the shape of the selected aperture, and such a shape of the aperture is projected upon the substrate with a demagnification. Thereby, an exposure of the fundamental device pattern is achieved by a single shot of the electron beam thus shaped. By repeating the exposure shots a number of times while moving the electron beam over the substrate, the necessary pattern of the integrated circuit is exposed with a substantially reduced time.
In such a construction of the electron beam exposure system, the stencil mask carries thereon a large number of apertures, and the electron beam is deflected by a deflector to hit the selected aperture. A typical aperture may have a size of 500 .mu.m square on the stencil mask, and about one hundred such apertures are formed on the stencil mask. Thereby, it is necessary to deflect the electron beam over an area of as much as 6 mm square on the stencil mask by means of the deflector.
When implementing such a block exposure process, it is preferred that the electron beam exposure system satisfies the following conditions. First, the electron beam, deflected to hit the specific aperture on the stencil mask as described above, should impinge substantially perpendicularly upon the stencil mask. Second, the electron beam thus impinged upon the stencil mask has to create a sharp focused image thereon. Third, the electron beam deflected away from a central optical axis as a result of the deflection, should be deflected back to the optical axis after passage through the stencil mask. Fourth, a sharp focused image of the shaping aperture should be formed on the substrate.
In order to satisfy the foregoing requirements, particularly with respect to the first and third requirements, the foregoing U.S. Patents propose an electron beam exposure system wherein four deflectors are disposed along the optical axis of the electron beam for causing the foregoing addressing of the aperture of the stencil mask by the electron beam. More specifically, the first two deflectors are located at the upstream side of the stencil mask and the remaining two deflectors are located at the downstream side of the stencil mask, wherein the deflectors may either be an electrostatic deflector or an electromagnetic deflector. The first deflector deflects the electron beam away from the optical axis and the second deflector deflects the electron beam again such that the electron beam travels parallel to the optical axis. Thereby, the electron beam thus deflected by the second deflector impinges upon the stencil mask perpendicularly and is shaped according to the shape of the selected aperture on the stencil mask. The electron beam thus passed through the stencil mask is then deflected by the third deflector toward the optical axis, and the fourth deflector deflects the electron beam further such that the electron beam travels substantially coincident to the optical axis.
In such a block exposure system, however, due to the large beam displacement from the optical axis, there is a tendency that the electron beam exhibits aberration such as astigmatism or field curvature effect. When astigmatism occurs, the cross section of the shaped electron beam is modified and the image of the selected aperture is distorted on the substrate accordingly. When field curvature effect occurs, on the other hand, the focusing of the electron beam is modified and the exposed image tends to be blurred. Therefore, there has been a demand for a compensation mechanism that compensates for such a modification of the electron beam caused as a result of the electron beam traveling offset from the optical axis.
In the electron beam exposure system that uses the stencil mask, it should also be noted that the deflectors disposed at the upstream side and the downstream side of the stencil mask are driven simultaneously such that the electron beam hits the selected aperture on the stencil mask and returns to the optical axis again after passing through the mask. Thereby, it will be noted that the driving of the individual deflectors that causes such a deflection cannot be independent from each other. When the energization of one of the deflector is determined such that the electron beam hits a selected aperture, the energization of the rest of the deflectors is determined uniquely. This means that, in order to achieve the desired operation of the electron beam exposure system mentioned above, one has to obtain a function describing the relative driving energy of the four deflectors that are disposed above and below the stencil mask. However, the process for determining such a function includes an extremely complicated calibration process of the deflectors that includes a step of driving the four deflectors simultaneously while changing the combination of the driving energy variously for seeking an arrival of the electron beam on the substrate with a maximum intensity. Because of the fact that such a calibration has to be conducted periodically or whenever a stencil mask is changed, there has been a problem in the conventional electron beam exposure system in that the block exposure process requires a long calibration time and hence provides a low throughput, in spite of the increased efficiency of exposure associated with the efficient beam shaping. Further, the foregoing mechanism for compensating for the astigmatism or the field curvature effect has to be calibrated as a function of the energization of the deflectors, as such a modification of the electron beam occurs as a result of the offset of the electron beam from the optical axis and hence as a result of the energization of the deflectors.

Charged particle beam exposure system and method of exposing a pattern on an object by such a charged particle beam exposure system