A novel flame retardant and fire extinguishing product for preventing and fighting fires in solid materials is disclosed herein. The product is thixotropic and non-toxic, and comprises water, one or more flame retardants, one or more stabilizers, and one or more preservatives. In some embodiments, the product further comprises one or more thickeners, one or more binders, one or more fining agents, one or more firming agents, one or more water retention agents, one or more water-soluble fluoropolymers or other water-soluble polymers with similar properties, one or more detergents, and/or one or more surfactants. The product may be used as a flame retardant to prevent fires and in active firefighting. The product may be biodegradable in a natural environment, may be readily cleaned off equipment and materials using water, and may also provide other features which render it safe for the environment as compared to other commonly used products in fire prevention and firefighting.

Field of the Invention
The present disclosure describes a novel flame retardant and fire extinguishing product for preventing and fighting fires in solid materials.
Description of the Related Art
There are two general methods of reducing the potential damage from the burning of combustible materials—preventive treatment and active firefighting. Preventive treatment with a flame retardant may reduce the flammability of a material. Once a material begins to burn, the fire may be extinguished with an appropriate mix of flame retardants and fire extinguishing agents in liquid, solid, or gaseous form.
The use of flame retardants not only reduces the risk of a fire starting but also hinders its propagation. This increases the available time to escape from the damage and thus protects humans, property, and the environment.
An ideal flame retardant or fire extinguishing agent will have the following properties: (1) it will significantly reduce the flammability of the materials to which it is applied; (2) it will significantly reduce the risk of re-ignition after a material to which it is applied is exposed to fire conditions; (3) it will be non-toxic to humans, animals, and plants; (4) it will be biodegradable or at least not harmful to the environment; (5) it will not cause the release of toxic or corrosive substances under extreme fire conditions; (6) it will not migrate from the materials to which it is applied via evaporation or other forms of release; (7) it will not negatively affect the recyclability of materials to which it is applied; and (8) its production, processing, application, and disposal or recycling will not cause significant environmental harms.
Numerous flame retarding and fire extinguishing agents are available for reducing the risk of fire and active firefighting. However, each of the available agents for retarding and fighting fires has shortcomings.
Currently available flame retardants present several shortcomings: (1) most currently available flame retardants are designed for indoor use only; (2) many currently available flame retardants have a limited effective lifetime and require repetition of the impregnation process at regular intervals to successfully protect materials from fire; and (3) many currently available flame retardants are toxic or create significant risks of short-term or long-term environmental harm.
Numerous efforts have been made to overcome one or more of these shortcomings. These efforts have resulted in flame retardant products such as Dricon, Non-Com, HolzProf, Apyrum, Timonox, Magma Firestop, Firestop, and Firetard 120. Other efforts include the development of a water-based flame retardant for clothing derived from non-toxic ingredients such as clays and chitosan. However, these products are all limited by the types of materials to which they can be applied and/or the conditions under which materials must be treated. Further, all of the foregoing products are flame retardants and are not useful as fire extinguishing agents.
Currently available fire extinguishing agents present several shortcomings: (1) secondary damage caused by use of the fire extinguishing agent; (2) re-ignition risks; (3) short-term or long-term toxicity and environmental damage; and (4) lack of general utility based on limitation to use for specific types of fires.
Water is the most common fire extinguishing agent. It is safe for the environment but does have limitations and shortcomings in its use as a fire extinguishing agent. Water is usually required in large amounts to effectively fight large fires. It rapidly evaporates, and thus only a small portion of the total amount of water sprayed on a fire is utilized to actually extinguish the fire. In addition, when using water to extinguish fire, areas where fire has been extinguished are easily re-ignited. Moreover, the amount of water used to fight a fire often causes secondary water damage, leading to significant restoration costs related to this damage. When fighting fires in enclosed spaces, the risk of vapor explosion due to the presence of high temperature steam is significant. Use of water in firefighting may result in contamination of large amounts of water with pollutants, which will then be spread into the environment. Water also cannot be used to fight fires in many chemical products such as oil, gasoline, ethanol, and many other common flammable chemicals, mixtures, and solutions.
Carbon dioxide is an effective fire extinguishing agent for certain types of fires. It does not leave any residue and is relatively inert. However, toxic concentrations of carbon dioxide are generally required to fight large fires. In addition, carbon dioxide dissipates rapidly and thus it is not an effective agent for smoldering fires or preventing re-ignition. It can also damage certain electronics.
Various foams and powders also are used to fight fires. However, these foams and powders are often toxic, generate toxic byproducts, or are otherwise harmful to the environment. Non-toxic alternatives generally are restricted in their uses, have a limited lifespan, or present other shortcomings. The use of foams and powders often requires expensive clean-up operations after completing the firefighting. The foam or powder often must be applied so as to achieve full coverage of the ignited materials to effectively extinguish the fire. Many foams and powders are limited to use for fighting only specific types of fires. Moreover, because fire extinguishing foams and powders are generally non-adhesive to many materials, the foam or powder may be blown off the previously covered material by wind, leading to re-ignition.
Preventing re-ignition of extinguished surfaces will reduce the response times when a fire occurs, reduce risks to firefighters, increase opportunities to save lives endangered by fire, and increase opportunities to protect property at risk for damage or destruction by fire. Thus there remains a need for flame retarding and fire extinguishing agents that bind to a wide variety of surfaces so that extinguished surfaces cannot re-ignite during firefighting. Moreover, to reduce the environmental impact of firefighting, there also remains a need for environmentally safe, effective flame retarding and fire extinguishing products which can be used to prevent and fight a variety of types of fires in solid materials.

Flame retardant and fire extinguishing product for fires in solid materials


A method of printing a part in an additive manufacturing system includes printing a support structure for the part, printing a boundary surrounding the support structure, and printing the part on the support structure. An additive manufacturing system for printing a three-dimensional part includes a transfer medium configured to receive and transfer imaged layers of a thermoplastic-based powder for a boundary, a thermoplastic-based powder for a support, and a thermoplastic-based powder for the part from at least two imaging engines, a heater configured to heat the imaged layers on the transfer medium to at least a fusion temperature of the thermoplastic-based powder, and a layer transfusion assembly including a build platform, the layer transfusion assembly being configured to transfuse the heated layers in a layer-by-layer manner onto the build platform to print the three-dimensional part.

The present disclosure relates to additive manufacturing systems for printing three-dimensional (3D) parts and support structures. In particular, the present disclosure relates to printing 3D parts and sacrificial support structures using an imaging process, such as electrophotography.
Additive manufacturing systems are used to build 3D parts from digital representations of the 3D parts (e.g., AMF and STL format files) using one or more additive manufacturing techniques. Examples of commercially available additive manufacturing techniques include extrusion-based techniques, ink jetting, selective laser sintering, powder/binder jetting, electron-beam melting, and stereolithographic processes. For each of these techniques, the digital representation of the 3D part is initially sliced into multiple horizontal layers. For each sliced layer, a tool path is then generated, which provides instructions for the particular additive manufacturing system to form the given layer.
For example, in an extrusion-based additive manufacturing system, a 3D part or model may be printed from a digital representation of the 3D part in a layer-by-layer manner by extruding a flowable part material. The part material is extruded through an extrusion tip carried by a print head of the system, and is deposited as a sequence of roads on a substrate in an x-y plane. The extruded part material fuses to previously deposited part material, and solidifies upon a drop in temperature. The position of the print head relative to the substrate is then incremented along a z-axis (perpendicular to the x-y plane), and the process is then repeated to form a 3D part resembling the digital representation.
In fabricating 3D parts by depositing layers of a part material, supporting layers or structures are typically built underneath overhanging portions or in cavities of objects under construction, which are not supported by the part material itself. A support structure may be built utilizing the same deposition techniques by which the part material is deposited. The host computer generates additional geometry acting as a support structure for the overhanging or free-space segments of the 3D part being formed, and in some cases, for the sidewalls of the 3D part being formed. The support material adheres to the part material during fabrication, and is removable from the completed 3D part when the printing process is complete.
In an electrophotographic 3D printing process, each slice of the digital representation of the 3D part and its support structure is printed or developed using an electrophotographic engine. The electrophotographic engine generally operates in accordance with 2D electrophotographic printing processes, using charged powder materials that are formulated for use in building a 3D part (e.g., a polymeric toner material). The electrophotographic engine typically uses a support drum that is coated with a photoconductive material layer, where latent electrostatic images are formed by electrostatic charging following image-wise exposure of the photoconductive layer by an optical source. The latent electrostatic images are then moved to a developing station where the polymeric toner is applied to charged areas, or alternatively to discharged areas of the photoconductive insulator to form the layer of the charged powder material representing a slice of the 3D part. The developed layer is transferred to a transfer medium, from which the layer is transfused to previously printed layers with heat and/or pressure to build the 3D part.
In two-dimensional (2D) printing, electrophotography (i.e., xerography) is a technology for creating 2D images on planar substrates, such as printing paper and transparent substrates. Electrophotography systems typically include a conductive support drum coated with a photoconductive material layer, where latent electrostatic images are formed by electrostatic charging, followed by image-wise exposure of the photoconductive layer by an optical source. The latent electrostatic images are then moved to a developing station where toner is applied to charged areas, or alternatively to discharged areas of the photoconductive insulator to form visible images. The formed toner images are then transferred to substrates (e.g., printing paper) and affixed to the substrates with heat and/or pressure.

Electrophotography-based additive manufacturing with support structure and boundary


A silicon light emitting diode capable of effectively utilizing light radiated toward the lateral side of a substrate by including a side reflecting mirror is provided. The silicon-based light emitting diode includes a p-type silicon substrate having a plurality of grooves, a light emitting diode layer formed on each of the grooves of the silicon substrate, the light emitting diode layer including an active layer, an n-type doped layer, and a transparent electrode layer, and a metal electrode including a lower metal electrode formed on the bottom surface of the p-type silicon substrate and an upper metal electrode formed on the top surface of the transparent electrode layer. The lateral surface of each of the grooves is separated from the light emitting diode layer and used as a reflecting mirror. The lateral surface is referred to as the side reflecting mirror.

Silicon-based light emitting diodes, for example, near infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light emitting diodes using silicon nano-size dots, have new structures to overcome the limits of a conventional silicon semiconductor that provides low luminous efficiency due to indirect transition. Silicon-based light emitting diodes are compatible with other silicon-based photoelectronic devices and manufactured with low costs. Hence, many researches into silicon-based light emitting diodes have been made. However, because silicon-based light emitting diodes still provide low luminous efficiency, it is difficult to apply the silicon-based light emitting diodes to electronic apparatuses, etc., and many improvements are needed.
The formation and characteristics of a crystalline silicon nano-size dot usually used in silicon-based light emitting diodes are disclosed in Appl. Phys. Lett. 85, 5355 2004. The structure and radiation characteristics of silicon-based light emitting diodes are disclosed in Appl. Phys. Lett. 86, 071909 2005.
One of the essential causes of a degradation of the luminous efficiency of silicon-based light emitting diodes is that all emitted light cannot be utilized overall. In other words, silicon-based light emitting diodes using silicon nano-size dots use a silicon substrate and accordingly utilize only light heading for the upper surface of the silicon substrate among lights emitted in all directions. In other words, light heading for the lateral surfaces of the silicon substrate are not used and lost. Therefore, silicon-based light emitting diodes provide relatively lower luminous efficiency than compound semiconductor light emitting diodes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Silicon-based light emitting diode using side reflecting mirror

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A electromagnetic wave preventing cover of an mobile phone handset is covered to a casing of a handset and is connected to the antenna seat hole of the handset, so that the transmitting antenna of the mobile phone handset for emitting electromagnetic radiation is far away from the brain, and thus, the harm of the electromagnetic wave to the brain is reduced. A cover has a space for enclosing the mobile phone handset, and has a slot at the front surface of the cover for extending the communicating covering plate of the handset, and the cover has an opening for receiving the handset into the cover. A terminal serves to insert into the antenna seat hole of the mobile phone handset. An antenna is adhered to the outer surface of the communicating covering plate of the handset. A micro-wave shield coaxial cable is fixed within the cover and has an end connected to the terminal and another end connected to the planar antenna. Thus, the electromagnetic wave preventing cover of an mobile phone handset is covered to a casing of a handset and is connected to the antenna seat hole of the handset so that in communication. The receiving and transmitting source (i.e. antenna) is placed at the position far away from the user's brain and is below the outer side of the protecting cover. Therefore, the transmitting antenna of the mobile phone handset for emitting electromagnetic radiation is far away from the brain, and thus, the harms of the electromagnetic wave to the brain and hand are reduced.

Nowadays, mobile phones become more and more popular, almost everyone has one handset. Mobile phones provide many convenience in the daily life. However, with the increase of mobile phone handset, interruption of the electromagnetic radiation to the human body become a serious problem. Especially, as a mobile phone is used, the handset is near the head of the user so that the brain is completely within the coverage of high frequency electromagnetic radiation.
The current used handsets have an average power range with 0.6.about.2 watts with a frequency band of 880.about.915 MHz, in a high frequency short band. The electromagnetic wave is emitted through a modulation of Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK). In using, the mobile phone handset has an electromagnetic wave strength of 2.about.20 mG. Some disputations still exist about the harmful effect of the electromagnetic radiation from a handset to the human body. However, more and more research reports disclosed that some diseases about the brain are possibly related to the human brain. Since the action of electromagnetic wave will cause the pineal body in the brain to be concentrated and thus calcium will flow out to suppress the action of hormones so that the ability of immunity lose to induce cancer or other disease. Moreover, the weak vision, headache, and others will occur. Although the effect of the electromagnetic wave from a handset to the human body has not a determined conclusion, the mobile phone handsets are popular in the human world, and thus the interruption becomes more and more serious. Base in the consideration of safety, the experts suggest the user to use some protecting actions. For example, using a mobile phone handset with a lower electromagnetic radiation, leaving the head and hand far away from the radiating source (i.e. antenna), or preventing the brain to be exposed in the electromagnetic wave for a long time period.
However, in practical, many suggestions can not be achieved. For example, the current used handsets have an average power range with 0.6.about.2 watts. Therefore, the consumers can not select a handset with lower radiation. Moreover, if the emitting power of a handset is reduced, the quality of communication will be greatly effected. This is not suitable for the requirement of a communication device. Although the prior art protecting device is to add an radiating isolation material within the casing of a telephone for preventing the harmful effect of electromagnetic wave, since the most of the electromagnetic wave is radiated from the antenna of a handset, the isolation material within the case of a handset has no effect and is not practical.
In the aforesaid expert's suggestion, it is to leave from electromagnetic wave, since the power of electromagnetic wave is inversely proportional to the square of the distance, and so does the effect of the electromagnetic wave to the human body. For example, the accepted electromagnetic wave energy at a distance of one centimeter is 100 times of the electromagnetic wave energy at a distance of ten centimeters. Therefore, causing the electromagnetic radiating source (i.e. antenna) to be far away from the brain of the user is an effective way of preventing electromagnetic wave interruption to human body.

Electromagnetic wave preventing cover of a mobile phone handset


The present invention relates to a method of playing a set of multimedia applications (A), each multimedia application including a list of tasks (TTD). The method includes the steps of creating a common scheduler (SCH) at a start time, in order to provide a target time, registering the tasks into the scheduler, and controlling the execution of the tasks as a function of the target time. The method also includes a step of giving a priority level to the task and the scheduler is adapted to control the execution of the tasks as a function of the target time and the priority level. The method further includes a step of computing a local time for a task from the target time provided by the scheduler and timing information associated with said task. With such a mechanism, each task has its own time reference, thus ensuring a correct operation of the overall application, while a global notion of schedule is maintained.

The present invention relates to a method of playing a set of multimedia applications.
Such a method may be used in, for example, a computer via a browser providing access to MPEG audio and video data over an internet-type distribution system.
An audio-video player is a program running on a computer that decodes audio and video streams in order to produce an audio-visual presentation. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a method of playing audio and video frames in accordance with the prior art. Said method plays MPEG-4 data and comprises a demultiplexing step (DEMUX) for splitting an MPEG-4 encoded data stream (IS) into an audio stream (AS) and several video streams (VS1 to VSn). Such a method comprises three main tasks.
It firstly comprises an audio decoding and rendering task (DR). This task decodes an audio stream (AS) and drives the sound rendering system by providing decoded audio samples to sound system hardware. The sound system hardware converts these digital audio samples into an analog sound signal (SO), which is sent to loudspeakers (LS).
It also comprises a video decoding task (DEC). This task decodes at least one video stream (VS) and stores the decoded video frames in a video frame buffer (BUF).
Finally, it comprises a video rendering task (REN). This task takes the decoded video frames (VF) from the video frame buffer and supplies pixels corresponding to the decoded video frames to video system hardware in order to compose a video scene (SC). The video rendering step also performs all the video frame conversions which are necessary to drive a monitor (MON).
The European patent application no0 817 103 describes a method and system for providing access to multimedia content data on an internet-type distribution system. Such a method allows to play multimedia data according to the above description, using a web browser, the audio and video playback being performed on separate threads of control.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method of playing a set of multimedia applications, which allows a better synchronization and real-time playing of audio and video frames. The present invention takes the following aspect into consideration.
In the method according to the prior art, each multimedia application contains its own scheduler, and runs it in its own thread. So, even if all application-intrinsic tasks are synchronized, the overall application is not necessarily synchronized. In the example of the integration of a multimedia player in a web browser, each application has its own scheduler and the multimedia player can decode and give to the browser a ready-to-show frame faster than the browser can possibly display. But there is no need to decode 25 frames of a video sequence per second if the browser can display only 10 frames per second. In the same manner, the multimedia player does not need to render at 25 frames per second if the central processing unit, hereinafter referred to as CPU, cannot handle the decoding of more than 10 frames per second.
To overcome the limitations of the prior art, the method of playing a set of multimedia applications in accordance with the invention is characterized in that it comprises the steps of:
creating a common scheduler at a start time in order to provide a target time,
registering the tasks into the common scheduler, and
controlling the execution of the tasks as a function of the target time.
The use of a common scheduler, contrary to generic scheduling strategies such as the ones implemented in operating system kernels, allows the overall application to remain synchronized while having real time playing.
Moreover, the method of playing a set of multimedia applications in accordance with the invention is characterized in that it further comprises a step of computing a local time for a task from the target time provided by the scheduler and timing information associated with said task.
Such a method ensures a correct operation of the overall application. For that purpose, three specific embodiments are proposed.
In the first one, the method of playing a set of multimedia applications is characterized in that the computing step comprises the sub-steps of determining a start time offset associated with a task from a difference between a start time of the task and the scheduler start time, and calculating the local time from a difference between the target time and the start time offset. For example, when a video sequence is being played, a video decoding task should need to know the target time in order to decode the correct frame. However, the decoding task will first try to decode the frame corresponding to the target time, and will not succeed in this, because the target time is not zero seconds. That is why the method in accordance with the invention computes a local time for this task, thus ensuring a proper video decoding in the context of a common scheduler.
In the second embodiment, the method of playing a set of multimedia applications is characterized in that the task is comprised in a multimedia application coming from an external source, and the computing step comprises the sub-steps of determining an external time offset of the external multimedia application from a difference between the scheduler start time and a start time of the external multimedia application, and calculating the local time from a sum of the target time and the external time offset. As a consequence, the method allows digital encoded data streams to be read from local storage or to be received from a broadcast or network.
In the third embodiment, the method of playing a set of multimedia applications is characterized in that the task is applied to a time limited data stream and the computing step comprises the sub-steps of determining a duration of the data stream, incrementing a counter each time the data stream is finished, and calculating the local time from a difference between the target time and a product of the duration and the counter. As a consequence, the local time varies from zero to the duration of the data stream and the method allows to loop on said data stream.
These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

Method for playing multimedia applications


A magnetic tool-holder, comprising a flexible outer web defining an enclosed area and enclosing an array of solid, rigid magnets. The magnets are regularly interspersed in direction of polarization, so that the nearest neighbors of a magnet having a north pole facing in a first direction all have a north pole facing in a second direction, opposite to the first direction.

The present invention is in the field of magnetic tool holders. In the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,059, issued to Bosch et al. shows a tool belt having an array of rectangular magnets for holding tools and parts in an easily accessible manner on the front of the belt. This patent mentions attaching the tool-holder to a "magnetically responsive objects or surfaces." Because of the longitudinal extent of the magnets, however, the belt would not conform along that extent unless the magnets were flexible. Flexible magnets tend to be less powerful than rigid magnets.
Also, published application no. 2004/0173484 discloses a magnetic tool-holder in which a loose array of magnets is sewn into individual pockets. Such a loose array will not tend to provide a powerful enough magnetic force to hold larger tools and to stay on a metal car surface when loaded down with an array of heavy tools and parts. Also, although this application discloses arranging the magnets with random polarization, such random polarization would tend not to produce the maximum magnetic force.

Magnetic tool and part holder and method of making the same


The present invention provides a diaphragm valve including a housing having a chamber and an outlet opening within the chamber. A projecting valve seat, formed by a projection extending into the chamber, has a sloping, annular sealing surface surrounding the outlet opening. A valve body, preferably forming an armature of an electromagnetic coil, is also located within the chamber. The valve body has, at one end, a recess and a metal diaphragm covering the recess and chemically non-reactive with a flowing fluid passing through the chamber and out of the outlet opening. The valve body is adapted for movement towards and away from the valve seat between closed and open positions. In the closed position the diaphragm is flexed into the recess by the projection, conformingly and sealingly contacting the sealing surface and covering the outlet opening, to prevent the passage of flowing fluid. In the open position, the diaphragm is spaced from the valve seat and the outlet opening is uncovered to allow passage of the flowing fluid. The diaphragm is prestretched before attachment to the valve body so that the diaphragm conforms to the sloping sealing surface of the valve seat rather than creasing above the valve seat.

The prior art has provided diaphragm valves to selectively allow and prevent passage of a flowing fluid. In one type of diaphragm valve a housing is provided with a chamber having an outlet opening, an inlet passageway communicating between the chamber and the outside of the housing for receiving the flowing fluid within the chamber and an outlet passageway communicating between the outlet opening and the outside of the housing for discharging the flowing fluid from the chamber and out of the housing. The housing is also provided with a projection extending into the chamber and having an annular sealing surface surrounding and sloping away from the outlet opening to form a valve seat. Additionally, a valve body is located within the chamber that has a recess and elastomeric diaphragm covering the recess. The valve body is adapted for movement towards and away from the valve seat between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the diaphragm is flexed into the recess by the projection, conformingly and sealably contacting the sealing surface and covering the outlet opening, to prevent the passage of the flowing fluid through the housing. In the open position, the diaphragm is spaced from the valve seat and the outlet opening is uncovered to allow the passage of the flowing fluid through the housing.
The problem with a diaphragm valve incorporating an elastomeric diaphragm is that the elastomeric material forming the diaphragm may chemically react with certain fluids. Such a chemical reaction may introduce impurities, i.e. chemical products from the reaction and fine particles of elastomer, into the flow of the fluid. As a result, diaphragm valves incorporating elastomeric diaphragms are not suitable in applications where the purity of the fluid is to be maintained.
In another type of prior art diaphragm valve design, the diaphragm is fabricated from a metal that is not chemically reactive with the flowing fluid so that the diaphragm valve may be used in high purity applications. An example of such a valve design may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,219. In the valve design of this patent, a chamber defined in a housing is subdivided by a metal diaphragm into a pair of valve and drive chambers. The fluid flows into the valve chamber through an inlet passageway and out of the valve chamber through an outlet opening of an outlet passageway. A valve seat, provided within the valve chamber surrounds the outlet opening. A valve stem, located within the drive chamber, is forceably driven against the diaphragm to in turn drive the diaphragm against the valve seat in order to seal the outlet opening and thereby to prevent passage of the flowing fluid through the valve housing.
In order to effectuate a seal in a metal diaphragm valve, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,828,219, relatively high valve closing forces are required. For instance, in one embodiment of the '219 patent, a handle is provided to urge the stem against the diaphragm. The high closure force of the '219 patent makes the valve design, disclosed therein, particularly unsuitable for applications requiring rapid valve actuation and/or light valve closure forces. In the prior art, rapid valve actuation is produced by electromagnetic actuation and such electromagnetic actuation does not produce enough force to close the valve of the '219 patent. In a diaphragm valve design having an elastomeric diaphragm, such as discussed above, relatively low valve closure forces are required because only light forces are required to deform the elastomer into its deformed state sealing the outlet opening. In order to produce a metal diaphragm valve having a rapid actuation time and a light valve closing force, it is not possible to simply replace the elastomeric diaphragm in the elastomeric diaphragm valve with a metal diaphragm. If this were done, when the metal diaphragm contacted the valve seat, it would flex or crease over the valve seat and therefore, no seal would be produced between the valve seat and the diaphragm. If one attempted to increase the valve closure force to prevent creasing, a permanent deformation would be produced in the diaphragm to prevent valve resealing.


A chemical protective fabric for use in garments worn by persons in a cheally hostile environment comprises a layer of felted foam impregnated with superactivated carbon, a polyurethane emulsion binder for bonding the superactivated carbon to the foam, a first stretchable material layer bonded to the layer of foam on a first of the major surfaces thereof, and a second stretchable material layer bonded to the layer of foam on a second of the major surfaces thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to fabric providing protection to persons against chemical agents, and is directed more particularly to such a fabric having a sufficiently small thickness and light weight and sufficient stretch characteristics to find utility in protective undergarments, socks, gloves, and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to provide chemical protective garments for persons in a chemically-threatening environment, such as a battle field. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,424, issued May 21, 1991, to Brian Farnsworth, et al, there is disclosed a chemical/biological protective garment for persons. The Farnsworth garment provides a stretch characteristic which enhances the wearability of the garment.
However, there exists a need for such protective garments of a material which is lighter in weight, smaller in thickness, more air permeable, launderable without loss of chemical protection, and still retaining the desirable stretchability.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


A brake caliper with an integral parking brake. The brake caliper includes a housing having a bore with tapered walls, a piston having a rod mounted within the bore, a wedge element positioned between the rod and the tapered walls and displaceable to a locking position and a release position, a resilient element positioned to displace the wedge element to the release position, and a locking element for selectively displacing the wedge element to the locking position. When the locking element is momentarily actuated while a hydraulic pressure is present, the wedge element is urged to the locking position, thereby holding the brake caliper in a braking position when the hydraulic pressure is removed and then the locking element is de-actuated. A hydraulic pressure sufficient to cause the resilient element to urge the wedge element to the release position is effective to release the caliper.

Disc brake calipers are well known in the art of vehicle braking systems. In such systems, a master cylinder generates a hydraulic brake signal that is communicated to several brake actuators via brake lines. The signal drives a piston disposed within the caliper, which in turn forces an inboard brake pad into frictional engagement with a rotatable brake disc or "rotor." A reaction force is also generated, which causes the caliper to move inboard, drawing an outboard brake pad into frictional engagement with the rotor. Upon removal of the brake signal, the brake pads retract from the rotor to prevent frictional driving losses and undue wear on the braking components.
It is also known to utilize the brakes of a vehicle for both service and parking braking. Such brakes are typically actuated hydraulically when used for service braking. A separate mechanical actuation means is used to actuate the brakes for use as a parking brake. For example, a shaft or lever may be used to rotatably transmit a parking brake force to a clutch or cable that moves a piston to an extended, brake-engaging direction. Rotation of the lever in the opposite direction releases the clutch or cable and permits retraction of the piston.
Electrical actuation of a parking brake is also available in the art. In these systems an electric motor applies a force to a mechanical parking brake system by acting on either a drum or disc brake. Advantages of electrically-actuated parking brakes include ease of operation and consistent application of a predetermined amount of braking force. However, electrically-actuated parking brakes typically require large electric motor actuators that in turn require a relatively large amount of electrical power to actuate.
A particular problem with mechanical or electrical actuation of a hydraulic service brake for use as a parking brake occurs when a separate hydraulic pressure source is unable to supply adequate hydraulic pressure for applying and releasing the parking brake. Under such conditions, insufficient parking brake clamp force may be present to keep the vehicle from moving, particularly if the vehicle is parked on an incline.
There is a need for a hydraulic service brake that can provide sufficient clamp force for use as a parking brake under all vehicle operating conditions. There is a further need for a parking brake system that does not require a relatively large amount of electrical power to actuate.

Brake caliper with integral parking brake


A semiconductor-device design method considering change in capacitance between wiring patterns due to an inserted dummy pattern. An information reception part receives dummy rule information about rules for dummy patterns and process information about wiring structure of wiring patterns. A capacitance calculation part calculates a capacitance value for each of wiring distances between the wiring patterns defined by the process information, under the condition that a dummy pattern defined by the dummy rule information is inserted between the wiring patterns. A wiring-pattern capacitance calculation part calculates capacitance values between wiring patterns of an intended semiconductor device defined by layout data stored in a layout database, referring to the capacitance values calculated by the capacitance calculation part. Thus, a semiconductor device considering change in capacitance between wiring patterns due to an inserted dummy pattern is designed.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a semiconductor-device design method, a semiconductor-device design program, and a semiconductor-device design apparatus, particularly those wherein change in capacitance due to a dummy pattern is taken into consideration.
(2) Description of the Related Art
At present, in the field of semiconductor devices, inserting a dummy pattern between wiring patterns is an essential technique for reducing difference in flatness of a chip surface and difference in thickness of wiring patterns, which differences are due to uneven wiring pattern density. Hence, there is a design tool for designing a semiconductor device with dummy patterns inserted.
For example, in aluminum wiring, when etching for forming wiring is carried out, side-wall protective films are formed on side-walls of wiring patterns. Uneven wiring pattern density would cause an undesired variance in the side-wall protective film thickness. The existing design tools avoid this problem by placing dummy patterns in sparse portions to populate the patterns as uniformly as possible.
In copper wiring, uneven wiring pattern density would cause dishing, that is, a phenomenon that the center of a wiring pattern is dented, in CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing). The existing design tools avoid this problem by placing dummy patterns in sparse portions to populate the patterns as uniformly as possible.
However, when a dummy pattern having no potential difference (being in a floating state) is inserted between wiring patterns, the physical distance between the wiring patterns becomes smaller by the width of the dummy pattern. Hence, the capacitance value between the wiring patterns changes.
FIG. 10 shows a flow of a process performed by a conventional design tool. The design tool is installed in a computer to perform the following process:
[Step S21] Process information about wiring structure such as wiring width, wiring distance, wiring height and dielectric constant of a wiring pattern in each wiring layer is received.
[Step S22] A capacitance value for each of wiring distances between the wiring patterns defined by the process information is calculated, and an RC rule file containing the calculated capacitance values is created. The RC rule file is stored in an RC rule database.
[Step S23] Referring to the RC rule file, capacitance values produced between wiring patterns of an intended semiconductor device defined by layout data stored in a layout database are calculated.
[Step S24] Using the calculated capacitance values, analysis of operation of a signal in the wiring patterns defined by the layout data is performed.
[Step S25] Whether the signal performs intended operation or not is determined. If the signal does not perform the intended operation, step S26 is taken. If it does, step S28 is taken.
[Step S26] The layout data is corrected in respect of the wiring patterns so that the signal will perform the intended operation. The layout data corrected in respect of the wiring patterns is stored in the layout database.
[Step S27] Whether the corrected layout data meets design rules such as a rule about processing dimension or not is checked.
[Step S28] Dummy patterns defined by data stored in a dummy rule database are inserted between the wiring patterns defined by the layout data.
[Step S29] Mask data is generated from the layout data, which covers dummy patterns inserted between wiring patterns.
In the case of the conventional design tool, the RC rule file does not reflect change in capacitance due to the inserted dummy patterns. The operation analysis is carried out using the capacitance values calculated referring to this RC rule file, and mask data about the wiring patterns with the dummy patterns inserted between is created. Thus, with the conventional design tool, there is a problem that a semiconductor device is designed without considering change in capacitance between wiring patterns due to an inserted dummy pattern.

Semiconductor-device design method, semiconductor-device design program and semiconductor-device design apparatus


The present invention is directed to a cap for a biochip storage well. The cap comprises a resilient sealant layer capable, under the application of pressure, of forming a vapour-proof seal with a line contact interface formation extending around the perimeter of a biochip storage well.

Assay devices in the form of biochips are well known in the field of immunoassays. Such biochips are often placed in storage wells and are deposited with an array of localised reactive sites containing potentially many different reactive species, for example, different proteins. These reactive species react with a respective different analyte in a sample supplied to the chip. Following removal of the unbonded sample, the biochip can then be examined to determine the presence or absence of the respective analytes.
An example of an assay assembly comprising a storage well and biochip is described in more detail in EP 0988893 A1. This application is incorporated herein by reference. The use of a storage well protects the assay device (in this case, the biochip) while it is being handled during an immunoassay process, and helps to prevent reactions sites from being damaged.
A problem with the assay assemblies described in the prior art is that the storage well should be sealed in order to reduce vapour loss during the heating stage of the immunoassay. When the well is heated during the run of an assay, depending on the temperature, there is the risk of fluid loss via vapour through the opening of the well cavity and the subsequent contamination of the environment, lab equipment or a biochip analyser. The assay could also be affected as the fluid loss through vapour would change the volumes of fluid in the biochip well. If the vapour loss were to be corrected for by adding additional fluid, this would incur an additional cost, and there would still be risk of contamination of the environment. Traditionally, the reduction of vapour loss is achieved by one of three means.
Firstly, oil is often used to form a seal on top of the fluid during heating. However, the scientist would be constrained to use only fluids of certain densities in assays, and would have to follow material disposal guidelines for oils. The oil would also coat the surface of the biochip if the fluid were removed from the well as part of the assay, or reduce sensitivity of detection by forming a layer between the camera and the biochip.
Alternatively, an adhesion film or foil is used to seal the assay during heating. This is suitable for manual assays, but the foil needs to be completely removed for imaging. Further, applying the foil as part of an automated process is a complicated, costly and space consuming task for a biochip analyser to perform and so is undesirable.
Finally, it is known in the art to use caps which are screw or plug based to seal the storage well during the run of an assay. However, such caps require complicated robotics to form a seal. Further, the thread in a screw cap is not vapour proof, resulting in some evaporation and loss of fluid through the thread at high temperatures or during prolonged time periods. Additionally, plug caps have an inherent risk of aggressive depression at high liquid temperatures, causing a sudden jerking motion which can result in droplets of fluid escaping. Therefore, both screw caps and plug caps harbour risks of contamination where hazardous fluids are present.

Abstract: An assay assembly comprising the cap of the invention and a biochip storage is disclosed. Methods of sealing a biochip storage well using a cap of the invention are also disclosed.


The present disclosure provides a method of diagnosing a failure of a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system, the method including: injecting urea into the interior of an exhaust pipe using an injector; after the injection step, detecting an amount of NOx and an amount of ammonia through an NOx sensor provided at a rear end of the exhaust pipe; and diagnosing a failure of the injector based on at least one of the amount of NOx and the amount of ammonia.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Interests in a urea-selective catalytic reduction (urea-SCR) system that can effectively reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) generated by a diesel engine have increased.
Such an SCR system relates to a technology using reactions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and ammonia (NH3), and if urea is injected into an exhaust pipe, urea is converted into ammonia (NH3) through hydrolysis. The converted ammonia (NH3) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) chemically react with each other on a catalyst and are converted into water and nitrogen which are not harmful to environments and humans.
Here, an injector functions to inject ammonia water into an exhaust pipe and nitrogen composites in exhaust gases are converted into nitrogen and water (H2O) on an SCR catalyst through an oxidation/reduction reaction.
Then, an amount of injected urea is determined according to how long a current is applied to the injector. The hardware injection amount reference value of the injector may be determined when the injector is developed. However, we have discovered that the injector may inject an amount of urea that is smaller or excessively larger than a urea injection amount reference value through deterioration and repeated operations thereof as the injector is used, which may dissatisfy a reference intended in an SCR catalyst chemical reaction when the injector is developed. If an amount of urea smaller than a reference value is injected, the exhaust gas rules cannot be satisfied, and when urea is excessively injected, the urea that has not chemically reacted is discharged to a rear end of a muffler so that the muffler generates ammonia smells and contaminations.

Method of diagnosing failure of SCR system


Techniques and systems are disclosed for detecting biomolecular interactions based on the motion of nanomotors. In one aspect, a method of detecting biomolecular interactions based on a motion of a nanomachine includes functionalizing a nanomachine with a capture probe adapted to interact with biological targets; and detecting a presence of the biological targets in an environment based on a motion of the nanomachine.

This application relates to devices and techniques that use nanomotors.
DNA hybridization biosensors used in wide-scale genetic testing commonly rely on different types of optical, electrochemical and mechanical transducers to convert duplex formation recognition events into useful analytical signals. Nanomaterial tags can be beneficial for such bioassays through amplified or multiplexed measurements. Synthetic nanomotors, converting chemical energy into autonomous motion can have various applications. Characteristics of synthetic nanomotors can include force, speed, efficiency, versatility, and motion control.

Nanomotors and motion-based detection of biomolecular interactions

The Regents of the University of California


Processing of preferred roaming lists is disclosed. Usage data about wireless communication networks as utilized by a plurality of mobile apparatuses each associated with a set of subscriber identity modules performing subscriber identification and authentication in the wireless communication networks is gathered. Subscriber identity module-specific preferred roaming lists are updated on the basis of the usage data. The updated preferred roaming lists are distributed for use by the sets of the subscriber identity modules in the plurality of the mobile apparatuses.

Five previous US patent applications by the Applicant, Ser. Nos. 13/739,479, 13/739,449, 13/742,911, 13/851,405, and 13/855,255, disclose various apparatuses utilizing a set of subscriber identity modules (SIM) for one user of a mobile apparatus. A preferred roaming list on each subscriber identity module instructs the mobile apparatus of wireless communication networks and their utilization. However, as the subscriber identity modules are not designed for such sophisticated use as sets, the management of multiple subscriber identity modules and their preferred roaming lists requires further ideas.


An inflatable airbag for installation in front of a passenger compartment of a vehicle for protecting an occupant during an emergency includes a rearwardly directed surface positioned to be contacted by the occupant when expanded, an end located at a side opposite to the rearwardly directed surface and having a hole for receiving an inflation gas, and laterally spaced side surfaces extending between the rearwardly directed surface and the end and being oriented substantially vertically in the passenger compartment. Inwardly extending depressions are formed in a middle portion of each side surface of the airbag as viewed in a vertical direction. The depressions are located away from the rearwardly directed surface to restrict movement of the inflation gas inside the airbag when the occupant hits the inflated airbag.

The present invention relates to an airbag for protecting an occupant as a result of expanding during an emergency in a vehicle.
In order to protect an occupant during a collision in a vehicle, a driver airbag device, a passenger airbag device, a back-seat airbag device, and a side airbag device are used. Of these various types of airbag devices, the passenger airbag device is accommodated inside an instrument panel disposed at the front side of the vehicle. Of the different types of passenger airbag devices, the type of passenger airbag device which is disposed at a windshield-opposing location of the top portion of the instrument panel is called a top-dash-mount-type passenger airbag device.
Hereunder, a description of an airbag device will be given taking a top-dash-mount-type passenger airbag device as an example.
FIG. 14(A) is a schematic side view used to illustrate the form of a conventional passenger airbag device when it has finished spreading. FIG. 14(B) is a front view thereof.
FIG. 15(A) is a schematic side view used to illustrate the form of the conventional passenger airbag device when a load acts thereupon (that is, when an occupant moves forward). FIG. 15(B) is a front view thereof.
FIG. 16(A) is a perspective view showing the conventional airbag in an expanded state. FIG. 16(B) is a perspective view showing the airbag in a squashed state when a load acts thereupon. FIGS. 16(C) and 16(D) are schematic views used to illustrate the characteristics of the squashed state of the airbag when a load acts thereupon.
The passenger airbag device shown in FIGS. 14(A) and 15(A) comprises a retainer R disposed at a windshield-F-opposing location of the top portion of an instrument panel P of a vehicle. Inside the retainer R are disposed an airbag 103 and an inflator I for supplying spread gas into the interior of the airbag 103. As simply shown in FIG. 16(A), the airbag 103 is a three-piece bag in which two pieces of side cloths 103b are sewed, one at each side of one piece of strip-like central cloth 103a interposed therebetween. The airbag 103 has an open end (that is, a gas-circulation hole) 103c which is narrowed down thinly at the base of the airbag 103. The open end 103c merges with a space in the inflator I. The airbag 103 is accommodated in a folded state inside the retainer R.
A description of the operation of the passenger airbag device will now be given.
At the time of a collision of a vehicle, spread gas is supplied into the airbag 103 from the inflator I. This causes the airbag 103 to expand in front of an occupant H, as shown in FIGS. 14(A) and 14(B). When the spreading of the airbag 103 is completed, the side cloths 103b extend in smooth curved forms or substantially straight lines from top to bottom portions thereof, as shown in FIG. 14(B). Here, the internal pressure or resistance inside the airbag 103 is substantially uniform at the top and bottom portions thereof.
After the airbag 103 has spread, as shown in FIG. 15(A), the occupant H that moves forward due to inertial force hits the airbag 103. This causes the airbag 103 to be pushed and squashed as a result of being sandwiched between the instrument panel P and the windshield F and the occupant H. At this time, as shown in FIG. 15(B), the upper portion of the airbag 103 spreads horizontally by a greater amount than the lower portion thereof. The following factors (1) to (3) cause the airbag 103 to be in a squashed state.
(1) As simply shown in FIG. 15(B), regarding the areas of the portions of the upper part of the body (from the waist upward) of the occupant H that hits the airbag 103, the area of the upper portion of the upper body (from the neck upwards) is smaller than the area of the lower portion of the upper body (from the shoulders downward).
(2) Regarding the masses of the portions of the upper body of the occupant H, the mass of the upper portion of the upper body is smaller than that of the lower portion of the upper body.
(3) While the lower portion of the airbag 103 is pushed upward by the knees of the occupant H, the upper portion of the airbag 103 is relatively not pushed.
When an attempt is made to correct the characteristics of the squashed state of the airbag 103, the output of the inflator I must be set relatively high.
A description of the resistance on the airbag 103 when a load is exerted thereupon will now be given with reference to FIG. 16.
When the occupant hits the airbag 103 shown in FIG. 16(A) from the front surface of the airbag 103, an external force a shown in FIG. 16(B) acts upon the airbag 103. As shown in the same figure, this causes the airbag 103 to become squashed while spreading flatly. Here, as shown schematically in FIGS. 16(C) and 16(D), the airbag 103 escapes towards a region of lower resistance (that is, in the directions of empty arrows inside the bag 103), so that the resistance against a load body f becomes smaller, thereby making it easier to squash the bag.
In view of the above-described problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an airbag which has a more preferable spread form without increasing the output of an inflator.
To overcome the above-described problems, according to the present invention, there is provided an airbag for protecting an occupant as a result of expanding during an emergency in a vehicle, wherein, in a front form of the airbag at the time of expansion thereof as viewed from the occupant, an inwardly extending depression is formed in a middle portion of a side surface of the airbag as viewed in a vertical direction.
When the occupant collides against the airbag, the depression at the middle portion of the airbag makes it difficult for the gas in the bottom portion of the bag to move upward. Consequently, the resistance at the bottom portion of the bag effectively acts upon the occupant. Therefore, it is possible to provide an airbag which has a more preferable spread form without increasing the output of the inflator.


A method for fabricating semiconductor devices is disclosed, the method including forming a landing plug on a lower interlayer insulating film, successively depositing an upper interlayer insulating film and a nitride film, forming a bit line contact hole, depositing a conductive layer for a contact plug, and forming a contact plug through a CMP process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method for fabricating semiconductor devices, and more specifically, to a method for fabricating semiconductor devices, wherein a defect generated in a subsequent process are inhibited by minimizing the loss of a barrier metal layer of a bit line contact plug, and increases in contact resistance and bit line capacitance are a prevented to improve a process yield and reliability of the device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent trend in high integration of semiconductor devices is largely affected by development of a microscopic pattern formation technology. The miniaturization of a photoresist pattern, which is widely used as an etching mask or an ion-implant mask during the fabrication of a semiconductor device, is required.
A method wherein a phase shift mask ("PSM") is used as a photo mask, a contrast enhancement layer ("CEL") method, wherein a separate thin film is formed over a semiconductor substrate, a Tri-layer photoresist ("TLR") method, wherein an interlayer film such as a spin on glass ("SOG") is disposed between two photoresist films, and a Silylation method, wherein a silicon is selectively implanted onto the upper surface of a photoresist film are methods for pattern miniaturization for improving the resolution.
In addition, a contact hole connecting the lower and upper conductive wirings has a design rule larger than that of the line/space patterns. As the integration density of semiconductor devices is increased, the dimension of wirings and a space therebetween are decreased. The aspect ratio of the contact hole, which is the ratio of a diameter to a depth thereof, is increased. Therefore, a highly integrated semiconductor device including multi-layer conductive wirings requires the accurate alignment of masks during a formation process of a contact hole, thereby performing the process with a reduced process margin or without a process margin.
The masks are manufactured considering factors such as a misalignment tolerance in a mask alignment between holes, a lens distortion in a lithography process, a critical dimension variation and in a photolithography process, and a registration between masks to maintain space between contact holes.
Methods for formation of the contact hole as described above, include a direct etching method, a method using sidewall spacers and a SAC method.
The direct etching method and the method using sidewall spacers cannot be applied to fabrication of a semiconductor device having a design rule below 0.3 μm, which the limits highly integration of devices.
In addition, the SAC method designed for overcoming a limit of a lithography process during forming a contact hole can be classified according to the material used as an etch barrier layer such as a polysilicon film, a nitride film, or an oxynitride film. Among these materials, using a nitride film as the etch barrier film is widely used.
Although not shown, a method for fabricating a semiconductor device including a bit line contact having a landing plug according to a prior art will now be described.
First, a lower structure such as a device isolation oxide film, and MOSFET comprising a gate oxide film pattern, a gate electrode layer pattern and a hard mask layer pattern overlapping the gate electrode pattern are formed. An insulating film spacer consisting of a nitride film is then formed on a sidewall of the hard mask layer pattern and the gate electrode.
Next, a planarized lower interlayer insulting film is deposited over the entire surface of the resulting structure. The lower interlayer insulating film is patterned via a photolithography process using a landing plug mask to form a landing plug contact hole. Subsequently, a conductive layer for landing plug filling the contact hole is formed over the entire surface of the structure and then etched to form an electrically isolated landing plug.
Thereafter, an upper interlayer insulating layer is deposited over the entire surface of the structure. A predetermined portion of the upper interlayer insulating layer where a bit line contact is to be formed is removed to form a bit line contact.
Next, a Ti/TiN layer, which is a barrier metal film, and a W layer for a plug material are sequentially deposited over the entire surface of the structure to fill up the bit line contact hole, and then etched back to form a bit line contact plug.
In accordance with the conventional method for fabricating a semiconductor device, the barrier metal layer in the bit line contact hole is severely damaged during an etch-back process of the barrier metal film after the etch process of the W film for forming a bit line contact plug as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. An electric short circuit may occur due to the damage to a seam at the center of the W layer. Moreover, a bit line capacitance is increased, thereby degrading the process yield and reliability of the device.
Furthermore, defect generation is accelerated in a device having design rule below 0.1 μm because the thickness of the barrier metal layer is at least greater than 30% of a contact plug.
According to the above-described prior art, a polymer on a sidewall of the W layer is ruined during an etching process due to oxygen within the interlayer insulating film since the W layer is formed on an interlayer insulating film including an oxide film. As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom of a bit line is formed with a negative slope, whereby there is another problem of increasing resistance of a bit line or causing a pattern having defects.

Method for fabricating semiconductor devices


A UE 100 performs, in a connected mode, measurement and measurement reporting on a downlink reference signal, based on “Measurement Config” received from a eNB 200. When the UE 100 has not received the “Measurement Config” from the eNB 200, the UE 100 transmits a measurement configuration request for requesting transmission of the “Measurement Config” to the eNB 200. The UE 100 receives the “Measurement Config” transmitted from the eNB 200 in response to the measurement configuration request.

In 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), which is a project aiming to standardize a mobile communication system, a discontinuous reception (DRX) is prescribed as an intermittent reception technique to reduce power consumption of a radio terminal. A radio terminal in a DRX state in a connected mode intermittently monitors a downlink control channel, based on DRX configuration information received from a base station. A cycle in which the downlink control channel is monitored is referred to as "DRX cycle". Furthermore, monitoring duration arising in each DRX cycle is referred to as "On duration".
In recent years, machine-type communication (MTC) in which a radio terminal performs communication without human intervention in a mobile communication system has attracted attention. From such a background, an ongoing discussion is a new introduction of an extended DRX cycle longer than a conventional DRX cycle to further reduce power consumption (for example, see Non Patent Document 1). The DRX using the extended DRX cycle is referred to as "extended DRX".

Radio terminal, base station, and processor


A push board device and method of use is disclosed for supporting an individual's lower body while the patient is in a prone position and exerting force on the device to slide along a bed surface. The device comprises a lower leg press member attached to an elongated board member, where the board connects to the side rails of a patient bed and the leg press member provides a location for which the patient to support themselves during sliding movement. Embodiments of the leg press member include a solid, rounded member or a tubular member having an open interior to provide storage for a low friction sliding sheet therein. The board member is positioned between two side rails of a hospital bed or similar structure to allow the user to securely push against the device. The low friction sheet assists in movement of an individual and reduces resistance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to exercise supports and push board devices. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a portable push board support that is adapted for use in conjunction with bed side rails to aid in movement along a surface.
It is common for hospital patients to experience difficulty moving within a bed or mobilizing to exit a bed because of illness, injury, or weakness. This can cause the patient to have issues moving around the bed's surface or trouble transferring out of the bed. An effective solution is generally to have an able-bodied individual assist the patient moving from a prone position to another desired position within the bed, or further to assist the patient when sitting up or exiting the bed. However, relying on third parties for assistance can be problematic if the patient is not in a healthcare facility or otherwise not diligently looked after. Relying on others also is not conducive to building physical strength in the patient, and further physically assisting another can introduce a safety risk for frail patients. The assistant is limited by his or her own physical ability and the attempt to safely move the patient can have unforeseen risks that may injure the patient. The chance of injury may increase when an assistant, for example a family member, is not properly trained to properly move or handle the patient during the transfer.
Modern hospital beds have inadequacies in their design as it relates to transferring or moving patients. Most hospital beds do not have sufficient features to aid a patient when repositioning within the bed, transferring therefrom, or exercising while in a prone position to build strength. In general, the patient can only attempt to adjust himself on the bed with the use of the side rail, which relies upon the patient's upper body strength to assist movement within the bed. A more able bodied patient would be able to use an overhead trapeze support element, if available; however this element is not always provided and further relies solely on the patient's upper body as a means to move within the bed. The limitations of hospital beds imposed on the movement of patients require a solution that incorporates the lower body of the user, whereby the user's lower body can be supported during a movement within the bed, whether for comfort, patient transfer, or general exercise and strength building movement.
The present invention is a new and improved hospital bed support device that offers a patient the ability to push against the device when engaging in bed movement while in a prone position. In this way, the device functions as a push board support device, supporting the lower body of a patient as they press their feet thereagainst while attempting to slide within the bed. The device allows for unassisted lateral movement along the bed surface, while the device further provides storage for a low friction sheet that can be placed under the patient if desired to further facilitate movement. The device comprises a leg press member attached to an elongated board that is placed across the bed between opposing bed side rails. In one embodiment, the leg press member comprises a hollow, elongated tube with a first end and second end. The first end of the elongated tube is open to allow for storage of the low friction sheet. The leg press member attaches to a parallel board, whereby the board extends outwardly in equal length beyond the extents of the member to engage upstanding bed rails and receive stable support therefrom. When in use, the push board support is firmly secured between side guard rails of the bed and the user engages the foot press member with both feet to support sliding movement along the bed surface. To prevent bunching of the patient with the bed fitted sheet, the low friction surface can be positioned under the patient during installation of the present board device.
2. Description of Prior Art
Devices have been disclosed in prior art that relate push board supports. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications, and generally relate to caretaker-assisted movement devices having conveyance means or other diverging elements as it relates to the present invention. The devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.
Specifically, to U.S. Pat. No. 7,540,043 to Stackley describes a conveyor assembly to transfer a person from a first surface to a second surface. The assembly comprises a frame attached to rollers surrounded by a conveyor belt that moves by way of a power source. The power source is coupled to a roller and allows the Stackley device to rotate the surrounding belt along the first surface towards a second surface. The Stackley device is operated while a person lies upon the top surface of the device. Once the person is on the device, the power source is activated and causes the rollers to rotate. The rotation causes the Stackley device to move in the direction of the second surface thereby transferring the person to the second surface. The Stackley device is a motorized means of assisting in transport of a patient from one surface to another. The present invention contemplates a static support device that affixes to the side rails of a bed to allow a patient to assist themselves without the use of any motorized input.
Another assembly is U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,144 to Hodgetts. This assembly transports a person from a bed to a stretcher, or vice versa. The assembly comprises a bed sheet, conveyor, and a connection means to the bed. The conveyor comprises a roller with bearings, and a connection means to the bed sheet. Hodgetts device is connected to the bed where the patient the patient will be moved. The connected sheet is placed onto stretcher where the patient lies. To operate the device, a person rotates the conveyor. This allows the patient to move from the first surface to the second surface. The use of the Hodgetts device presents practical limitations. First, the Hodgetts device requires multiple points for the connection means to attach to the sheet. This is an issue because fewer connections with the sheet to the conveyor can result in a rip or tear of the sheet. Further, the design of the Hodgetts device requires the bed and stretcher transfer surfaces to be near parallel in order to be effectively used. The present invention provides a simplified me of movement within a single bed, as opposed to a conveyance means between beds. While both the Hodgetts device and the present invention are related to patient movement, the present invention relies on patient input to move within the bed. The present invention also helps develop strength in the patient as the patient uses the push board device to shift within the bed, improving strength and overall health.
Another example of a patient transfer device is U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,172 to Gonzalez, which discloses a transfer sheet to move a person from first surface to a second surface. The device comprises a sheet of a flexible material. The sheet is placed midway between two surfaces. The person is placed on top of the sheet on while he or she lies upon the first surface. The person is then moved by another across the sheet onto the second surface. The Gonzalez device is very simple and has limitations. First, the Gonzalez device is a sheet used to create a level bridge-like connection between two surfaces. This can only be created between two parallel surfaces. This is an issue if, for example, two hospital beds are used for the transfer. The beds may have a large gap between them. This can cause the patient to fall between the surfaces if the sheet is not rigid enough to support the patient's weight. Also if the two surfaces are not parallel then any incline or decline between a transfer can be a problem. The individual may not be able to be pushed safely up the incline or down the decline. The present invention is not presented with these issues because the sheet of the present invention is used to move only on one surface.
A similar device is U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,432 to Scordato. This device is used to transfer a person lying on a first surface to a second surface. The device comprises two semi rigid low friction surfaces stacked upon each other. The upper surface has connection means to at least two straps. The Scordato device is placed onto the first surface. Then the person to be moved is placed onto the Scordato device. The person assisting pulls the straps on the upper surface. This moves the individual towards the second surface. The design of the Scordato device limits its use. First, the device requires a person be placed atop stacked surfaces. This can be difficult based on the mobility or health of the person to be moved. Second, the Scordato device prefers a decline between the first and second surface. This preference can be problematic to the patient if they are unable to bear the force of the quick drop. Another issue during the transfer can be made with two surfaces of equal height. Surfaces with equal heights may result in improper use of the Scordato. Since the present invention only requires one surface, it will not encounter any of these issues. Furthermore, the present invention needs only one low friction sheet surface between the individual and the bed for movement. This can be important for a patient who cannot be moved easily onto an elevated surface such as the Scordato device.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 7,305,726 to Augustine is an accessory transfer device for a wheelchair. The Augustine device is a modification to a wheelchair. It is a substitute for the arm rest section of the wheelchair. The Augustine device comprises a platform with multi-directional connection means to the wheelchair. When the device is not in use it functions as an arm rest for the wheelchair. However, if person in the wheelchair needs to be transferred to another seat, or vice versa, the device may be used to move the patient. The device moves downward to form a bridge to the second seat area. The patient is assisted as he or she moves to the second seat. This differs substantially from the present invention. The Augustine device is an attachment built into a wheelchair. Contrastingly, the present invention is a portable and removable device adapted for use with bed rails of a patient bed for supporting the lower body of a patient while moving within the bed or moving from the bed.
The present invention is a new and improved push board support that provides the user the ability to independently move along a bed surface, assist in transferring from a bed, and slowing help build patient strength by relying on patient lower body input for such movements. The present invention has been shown to both assist movement without third party input, while also improve patient health by building strength and providing an means of exercise for a bedridden and prone patient. The design of the device is a hollow, elongated tube attached to a board that spans the width of a patient bed and is supported by opposing bed side rails. A removable sheet from within the tube allows a low friction interface to be positioned below the patient to assist movement and reduce sheet bunching. In light of the devices in the prior art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in elements from the prior art, and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

Patient movement support device and method


An on-site fabrication method has been devised for compound bending of laminated wooden beam members into a handrail for curved or spiral stairways in which upstanding supports are positioned at intervals along the path of intended curvature on the stairway, the strips are assembled together in juxtaposed relation to one another and retained by leveling brackets on the support members whereby to prevent twisting of the beam members when a lateral force is applied, clamping the beam members together against each support member and permitting the beam members to be cured into a unitary rail section. In the preferred apparatus, right angle brackets are anchored to the tread portions with upstanding support members or legs disposed along the path of intended curvature, channel-shaped brackets are associated with the right angle brackets to apply pressure to the top and bottom surfaces of the beam members, and C-clamps apply a laterally directed pressure to clamp the beam members firmly against a closed end of each channel-shaped bracket and vertical leg of each right angle bracket.

It has been the practice to prefabricate handrails for use on curved or spiral stairways out of laminated wood sections. These rail sections must then be assembled at the site to conform to a particular desired curvature or pitch in accordance with the requirements and specifications at the intended site. It has also been proposed to custom fabricate handrails at the site in order to more readily conform to the particular specifications and to avoid the time and expense of packaging and shipping a wide variety of curved rail sections needed to meet different specifications. Whether the handrail is prefabricated or custom fabricated at the site, a particular problem confronting the fabricator is in forming the necessary compound curvature or bend in the rail which will avoid twisting of the rail when it is bent to conform to the slope and curvature of the stairway. In other words, when the handrail is bent to follow or conform to a particular curvature along a spiral or curved stairway, the slope of the stairway will tend to introduce an unwanted twist into the rail section about its own axis. This is especially true of handrails formed out of elongated, laminated strips of wood which are adhered together into a desired profile and allowed to cure or set into a particular configuration which will follow the curvature of the staircase.
Representative of the approaches taken in the past are U.S. Letters Pat. No. 3,107,708 to R. H. Savage which employs a steel form having an L-shaped cross-section and which must be curved or otherwise shaped into the configuration of the particular curvature of member to be formed and which is employed in combination with C-shaped clamps disposed at right angles to one another. U.S. Letters Pat. No. 3,879,062 to J. B. Lappin, Jr. exemplifies a somewhat different method of forming curved laminated rails using what is described as helical work holders or supporting units which can be adjusted into different positions above a common shaft. Other patents of general interest in this field are U.S. Letters Pat. Nos. 2,902,948 to J. Morros; 4,602,766 to H. Naka et al; 3,733,055 to W. J. Hughes, Jr.; 3,922,453 to R. F. Seery; 4,132,391 to S. Takenaga; 4,646,490 to H. Naka et al; 3,835,904 to J. S. Sumner and 4,256,287 to R. A. Birmingham. Nevertheless, there is lacking any suggestion or disclosure of an on-site forming method which avoids the use of specially contoured forms but enables compound bending in place of laminated wood sections into the desired curvature and pitch while overcoming problems of undesirable twisting and distortion of the section.

Method and apparatus for forming curved handrails


A loudspeaker includes a frame; a magnetic circuit supported by the frame; a voice coil disposed in a magnetic gap of the magnetic circuit so as to be able to vibrate freely in the gap; a diaphragm connected to the frame at the outer rim thereof via a first edge and connected to the voice coil at the inner rim thereof; a damper connected to the voice coil at the inner rim thereof, the damper being closer to the magnetic circuit than the diaphragm is close to the magnetic circuit; and a second edge connecting the outer rim of the damper to the frame. The second edge has a protrusion protruding either toward the diaphragm or in the opposite direction. The second edge is coupled to a third edge having a protrusion protruding at least in the opposite direction in which the protrusion of the second edge protrudes. This structure enables the loudspeaker to have little distortion and high driving efficiency.

As shown in FIG. 8, a conventional loudspeaker includes magnetic circuit 1A, voice coil 2A, diaphragm 3A, edge 4A, frame 5A, suspension holder 6A, and edge 7A. Voice coil 2A is disposed in a gap in magnetic circuit 1A so as to be able to vibrate freely in the gap and is connected to the inner rim of diaphragm 3A. Frame 5A is connected to the outer rim of diaphragm 3A via edge 4A. Suspension holder 6A is disposed on the rear surface of diaphragm 3A. Edge 7A connects frame 5A and suspension holder 6A. Edges 4A and 7A protrude in opposite directions to each other so as to make the vertical excursion of diaphragm 3A symmetrical to each other, thereby reducing the distortion of the loudspeaker. A well-known conventional example of the present invention is described in Patent Document 1 shown below.
The loudspeaker shown in FIG. 8 is weighty due to the weight of suspension holder 6A, which is used to securely support diaphragm 3A. The large weight does not matter very much for a bass loudspeaker which requires a large output, but causes a reduction of driving efficiency for a mid/high-range loudspeaker.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2004-7332


A thermoplastic elastomer compound is disclosed having copolyester elastomer, epoxidized soybean oil, and vulcanized vegetable oil. The compound has a biorenewable content of at least about 50 weight percent of the compound. The compound can be used to make a plastic article needing a Shore A hardness of from about 40 to about 70. The compound is a sustainable solution for extruded or molded articles.

The world of polymers has progressed rapidly to transform material science from wood and metals of the 19th Century to the use of thermoset polymers of the mid-20th Century to the use of thermoplastic polymers of the later 20th Century.
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) combine the benefits of elastomeric properties of thermoset polymers, such as vulcanized rubber, with the processing properties of thermoplastic polymers.
Thermoplastic elastomers presently are prepared from fossil-fuel derived polymer resins, such as styrene block copolymers (SBCs), thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV), thermoplastic olefins (TPO), copolyesters (COPE), thermoplastic urethanes (TPU), copolyamide (COPA), and most recently olefin block copolymers (OBCs).

Biorenewable copolyester thermoplastic elastomers


A valve assembly is provided for use in conjunction with a fuel tank having a fill neck and a vent conduit. The fill neck defines a passageway having one end open to the fuel tank and the second end adapted to receive fuel. Similarly, the vent conduit also has one end open to the fuel tank while the other end forms a second vent opening for allowing vapors to escape from the fuel tank during a filling operation. A fuel valve is fluidly positioned in series with the fill neck passageway and, similarly, a vent valve is fluidly positioned in series with the vent conduit. Both the fuel valve and vent valve are movable in unison between an open and a closed position so that, in the open position, fuel flow can occur through the fill neck and, simultaneously, fuel fumes are exhausted through the vent conduit. The vent valve includes an actuator which is coupled to a vent valve member by a spring to compensate for manufacturing tolerances of the valve assembly components in order to ensure complete closure of both the fill neck passageway and vent conduit when the fuel valve and vent valves are in their respective closed positions.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to valve assemblies and, more particularly, to a valve assembly for use with a fuel tank.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Governmental regulations are becoming increasingly strict regarding the amount of hydrocarbons that can be emitted into the atmosphere from automotive vehicles. Such governmental regulations regulate not only the amount of hydrocarbons that can be exhausted from the automotive vehicle in the exhaust stream, but also hydrocarbons that enter into the atmosphere through leaks or other openings in the fuel system.
One major source of hydrocarbon pollutants that enter into the atmosphere from automotive vehicles results from fumes that escape from the fuel tank. Previously, many fuel tanks have been simply freely vented to the atmosphere which allows the automotive fuel fumes to freely and continuously enter the atmosphere.
In order to prevent the continuous venting of fuel fumes from the fuel tank, there have been previously known valve assemblies associated with the gas tank. These previously known valve assemblies operate to close the fill neck passageway except when the tank is filled with fuel. Consequently, the fuel vapors are vented to the atmosphere only when the fuel tank is filled with fuel.
With these previously known valve assemblies, however, it is also necessary to vent the fumes from the gas tank during the filling operation. In order to accomplish this, these previously known gas tank valve assemblies typically include two valves, a fuel valve which opens to permit fuel to enter into the tank during the filling operation, and a vent valve which opens to permit fumes to exhaust from the gas tank simultaneously with the entry of fuel.
One problem with these previously known gas tank valve assemblies is that the fuel and vent valves must not only operate in unison with each other, but must also firmly and sealingly close in all cases except during a filling operation. However, due to manufacturing tolerances, thermal expansion and the like, in many cases the vent valve and fill valve do not sealingly close in unison and with each other. When this occurs, leaks past either the fuel valve or the vent valve allow hydrocarbon vapors from the fuel tank to escape into the atmosphere.


A storage structure for a cylindrical tank and its attached dispensing hose is formed by two concentric cylinders, the inner holding the tank, the outer holding the hose coiled between it and the tank.

The invention relates to apparatus for supporting a fluid-containing tank and its attached dispensing hose in a manner which makes it exceptionally easy and convenient to store both tank and hose, as well as to remove one or both from such stored condition, and even to transport them while stored.
A commonly used item in various pursuits consists of an elongated, cylindrical tank which contains (or is adapted to contain) a fluid such as acetylene, for example, and a hose through which this fluid is to be dispensed. Such a tank is typically a foot and a half or so high, and six to eight inches in diameter. The hose connection is typically made at one end of the cylinder. While the hose can be detached when not in use, this is rarely done unless the tank is to be out of use for an extended period of time. Far more commonly, the hose is left attached to the tank between uses and even while it is being moved from place to place between uses.
The problem which this creates is how to store the hose while not in use but still attached to the tank. What makes this problem even more acute is the fact that such a hose is often quite long, lengths of two or three feet, or even more being not uncommon. It is also usually quite flexible. Together, this gives rise to a kind of "tail", which dangles from the tank connection and which is extremely awkward to deal with. A further complication arises from the fact that the fluids which are stored in such tanks and dispensed through the hose are often quite noxious (acetylene being a good example). Therefore, it becomes important that the dispensing hose be treated with care to prevent it from becoming damaged during storage and transportation and subsequently releasing unwanted fluid during use.
Perhaps the simplest way to deal with this situation has been to just coil up the hose and drape the resulting coil loosely over the projection which commonly exists at the connection between hose and tank. At that connection, there is often also a tank shut-off valve and/or gauge and this has provided additional or alternative support for the coiled hose. This primitive approach clearly left much to be desired. It provided no protection for the hose, it left the hose only poorly secured during transportation, it interfered with the operation of whatever valving or gauging was to take place at the tank-to-hose connection, etc.
More sophisticated approaches have also been proposed. These involved essentially providing special support structures for the hose adjacent to the tank. Several varieties of these are shown in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: Bova 2,725,208; Bussey 2,757,958; Jones 2,384,174; Cathey 4,506,853; Strohl 4,573,665; Walker 4,625,949. No doubt there are still others as well. However, it is believed to be apparent that none of these solved all the various problems. In particular, none solved the problem of providing substantial protection for the hose. Several also remained subject to severe tangling, as shown most clearly in Strohl U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,665. All except perhaps Jones U.S. Pat. No. 2,384,174 did nothing to promote convenient transportation, and that one did so only at the sacrifice of accessibility to the tank-to-hose connection and control valve.


A method and system for cooperative transmission power control in a communication system is provided. The method, operating within a system having a base station and at least on mobile station, includes the step of providing a power control data structure having memory fields indexed according to a predetermined parameter set. The next step retrieves from one of the memory fields a transmission power control value and adjusts a transmission power level of the mobile station according to the retrieved value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to spread spectrum communication systems using PN coding techniques and, more particularly, to provide dynamic calibration for power balancing imperative to high performance CDMA systems.
2. Prior Art
Spread spectrum (SS) systems, which may be CDMA systems, are well known in the art. SS systems can employ a transmission technique in which a pseudo-noise (PN) PN-code is used as a modulating waveform to spread the signal energy over a bandwidth much greater than the signal information bandwidth. At the receiver the signal is de-spread using a synchronized replica of the PN-code.
There are, in general, two basic types of SS systems: direct sequence spread spectrum systems (DSSS) and frequency hop spread spectrum systems (FHSS).
The DSSS systems spread the signal over a bandwidth fRF±Rc, where fRF represents the center bandpass carrier frequency and Rc represents the PN-code maximum chip rate, which in turn is an integer multiple of the symbol rate Rs. Multiple access systems employ DSSS techniques when transmitting multiple channels over the same frequency bandwidth to multiple receivers, each receiver having its own designated PN-code. Although each receiver receives the entire frequency bandwidth only the signal with the receiver's matching PN-code will appear intelligible, the rest appears as noise that is easily filtered. These systems are well known in the art and will not be discussed further.
As noted, the DHSS system PN-code sequence spreads the data signal over the available bandwidth such that the carrier appears to be noise-like and random to a receiver not using the same PN-code.
In communication systems having a central base station or hub and multiple subscriber units or consumer premise equipment (CPE), e.g., mobile units, the base station receives and decodes signals transmitted by each of the mobile units. It will be appreciated that in a CDMA type system, the signals transmitted by the mobile units preferably arrive at the base station with similar power levels; otherwise, interference may result and/or the gain control circuitry of the base station may suppress signals with comparatively lower power levels.
In order to regulate the received signal power levels many communication systems employ an open loop power control scheme. In this scheme the forward (base station to subscriber) channel loss is estimated by the subscriber unit measuring the total received power and combining this measurement with certain nominal base station parameters to calculate the estimated channel loss. The subscriber unit then adjusts its transmission power to compensate for the estimated channel loss. In this manner, and with all the subscriber units within the system using the same process, the power level from each subscriber unit received at the base station can be made to be substantially alike. However, open loop power control schemes generally require that the CPE needs to be calibrated for the open loop power control algorithm to generate accurate power control. However, it is often undesirable to pre-calibrate the subscriber unit because of expense.
Other communication systems may use a closed loop power control algorithm whereby the base station directly measures the received power from the subscriber unit and issues power level control signals, generally in the form of power step commands, to the subscriber unit to bring the received power level in line with operating conditions. However, under many conditions the closed loop approach may not respond quickly enough to compensate for operational conditions such as fading, thereby resulting in corrupted data communications.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method and system whereby the power level of signals transmitted by subscriber units may be controlled in an efficient and effective manner to compensate for power loss due to transmission channel conditions.

Cooperative transmission power control method and system for CDMA communication systems