The disclosure relates to mobile device retail self-checkout with incorporated theft detection system and methods thereof. Aspects of the invention employ asset tracking, mobile phone scanning and self-checkout in a retail environment. Specifically, a mobile device application in communication with a transaction system has to capacity to complete unassisted self-checkouts. Other aspects include providing a transaction system using a mobile device application interfacing therewith. Additionally, the present invention has the capacity to interface with existing anti-theft technologies, such as, RFID or similar RF tagging and reading which can determine thefts and process exceptions of unique items.

Retail stores are a staple of modern-day living. Physical brick-and-mortar stores employ a familiar, well-known layout with shelves and displays of merchandise occupying the bulk of the store and cashier areas near the front or exit. Consumer transactions require customers to produce selected items at a checkout location to initiate a purchase transaction. Item information gets entered into a point-of-sale (POS) terminal device, or the information is automatically entered by scanning barcodes on product packages with a barcode scanner. Customers are then offered various payment options—at least, historically—such as paying by cash, check, credit or debit card.
Strides have been made to expedite transactions, track inventory, and reduce theft. Mechanical cash registers have given way to POS terminals and electronic registers integrated with stores' electronic inventory databases. Universal Product Code (UPC), bar codes, Quick Response (QR) codes and similar markings designed for scanning by electronic (optical) scanners have become ubiquitous on packaging to allow for scanning by inexpensive scanners. Attempting to mitigate long lines and need for retail staff, self-checkout POS systems have been deployed in many retail stores.
Some have proposed more efficient systems for use in stores having self-checkout lanes such as grocery stores, home improvement stores and other retail box stores. A self-checkout-equipped POS typically includes a countertop and computer terminal, optical scanner or reader, a computer communication connection, and POS software running on the computer at the POS. The customer scans products upon checkout using the optical (e.g., bar code) reader. The computer communicates with the customer via the POS software and a user interface. The Universal Product Code (UPC) of the merchandise being purchased are scanned from each item individually and the corresponding information is processed for pricing and inventory control by sending the scanned UPC information to a host server, which processes the UPC information by comparing it to a database. The database typically includes information such as a description of the product, number of units in stock, price per unit, and any other information which may facilitate the transaction.
This approach has largely replaced older methods where a human cashier manually enters the price SKU code of each item into a cash register at the POS. However, one disadvantage of item tracking using the UPC scheme is that the code doesn't typically uniquely identify an item such as a serial number would.
One problem with self-checkout POS installations is the reduced monitoring of merchandise being checked out by customers, including the problem arising from customers who accidentally or intentionally carry out merchandise through a self-checkout POS without properly or fully scanning the merchandise (in other words without paying for it). For the present purposes, accidental and intentional omission of such a checkout procedure by a customer is considered an unwanted loss of the merchandise equivalent to theft or shoplifting. To address this, some installations have affixed tags to merchandise and inventory items for tracking and security controls. Magnetic and digitally encoded tags can be read by an active or passive transponder device operated by a retail associate for reducing shoplifting of expensive items from stores such as clothing stores.
Existing systems have limitations including, by way of example, the lack of security measures working in concert with the systems. All sales must be monitored by an attendant to insure that the patron has presented each merchandise item to the bar code scanner. The requirement for an attendant to monitor the sales limits the number of sales terminals that may be operated, as it is not cost effective to have an attendant monitoring such a terminal during periods of low sales volumes.
Alternatively, goods must be tagged with magnetic security tags which set off an alarm if they are not removed or disabled using a special machine prior to carrying the goods out of the store through a security gate. Security tags are commonly used on expensive goods such as clothing. The security tags are typically affixed to the clothing with a mechanical fastener that may damage or deform the goods being tagged. The presence of such security tags on merchandise also detracts from the customer's shopping experience as the tags are an awkward reminder that the retailer is concerned about shoplifting by its customers. Also, the tags can be bulky and awkwardly attached to items such as clothing, making it difficult to comfortably try on the clothing in the store. The security tags, tag removal or neutralization devices and associated security gates at store exits detract from the shopping experience and add cost of installation and maintenance to the store owner. In addition, existing anti-theft measures are imperfect and cause numerous false positive alarms which lead to customers and store associates alike ignoring the alarms or having awkward interactions if the customer's person needs to be searched because of the setting off of an alarm.
Self-checkout technologies have gained acceptance in some types of stores such as supermarkets, high volume retailers, and home improvement stores. Yet, many stores have found that employing self-checkout technologies does not avoid customers waiting impatiently in lines. As mentioned, most self checkout systems employ machines that are expensive, they occupy valuable space at the front of the stores, and there can only be so many of them available at one time. They are also prone to errors or security lapses if the retailer is unable to properly monitor the customers' operation of the self checkout stations.
A schema for marking and tracking commercial inventory is the electronic product code (EPC) schema. FIG. 1 is an exemplary partition table 100 and corresponding binary string 110 showing the contents of an electronic product code (EPC), according to the prior art, which is shown and further described for example at www.epc-rfid.info/sgtin as publicly available circa Aug. 10, 2015. An EPC code is therefore a standardized multi-bit number to identify certain information relating to an item of merchandise or inventory. EPC schema include 64, 96 and 198 bit schema. The EPC can encode a GTIN/UPC number and may also include a serial number for an item. A SGTIN (serial GTIN), the GTIN/UPC number identifies the type and manufacturer of an item (e.g., a merchandise product). Retailers and grocers and box stores commonly stock merchandise bearing labels or tags to permit more accurate and rapid "scanning" of the merchandise, whether for inventory or checkout purposes. One kind of retailer that has not benefited from self checkout technology includes high end boutique retail stores such as clothing, electronics or other boutique merchandisers. Such retailers do not wish to have common rows of checkout registers in the store or lining its exit ways as are found in box stores and grocery chains. One reason is that these checkout stands have a common and unwanted appearance. Another reason is that these checkout stands take up valuable floor space in the boutique retail store.
Other retailers (e.g., Apple Inc.) have introduced limited self help systems for their customers. Customers in Apple stores can select and pay for certain products using their mobile devices, which operate using an installed App and while connected to the store's wireless communication network or to another wireless communication network (e.g., 802.11, cellular network, etc.). However, these systems lack theft control means and therefore are limited to use with low-value products.
Other systems for tracking and processing inventory include Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems. Unlike bar code systems, in which the bar code must be directly displayed to the bar code reader or a camera, RFID systems use radio waves to read a tag anywhere within the field generated by the reader, regardless of the orientation of a particular tag.
RFID is a data collection technology that uses radio-sensitive tags for storing data. RFID tags, which are also sometimes referred to as transponders, typically comprise two parts. The first part is an integrated circuit for storing and processing data, modulating and demodulating RF signals, and performing other specialized functions. The second part is an antenna that provides the means for the integrated circuit to transmit its stored data to an RFID reading device. An RFID reading device is also called an interrogator. In most applications, RFID tags are affixed to moveable inventory and act in a passive way, being interrogated by a stationary RFID reader.
Various merchandise-tracking solutions using RFID tags have been proposed as a substitute for using bar codes in supply chain management and, in particular, retail or supermarket type checkout systems. RFID tags can be read from up to several meters away, and RFID scanners are capable of multi-directional reading, allowing RFID tracking systems to scan for multiple items in the vicinity of the scanner.
Efforts to implement conventional RFID-based scanning systems include implementations for scanning an entire shopping cart full of items at once, in an effort to save time over the traditional checkout process where item bar codes are manually scanned in one at a time. However, difficulties have arisen in obtaining an accurate accounting of shopping cart contents, due primarily to the size and volume of a typical shopping cart. Items near the center of a cart are not reliably detectable with an RFID scanner using existing technology. Also, in a busy practical retail environment, if multiple nearby checkout stations are installed, the reader at one checkout station may accidentally pick up signals from RFID tags belonging to a customer at another checkout station, thereby charging the wrong customer for the goods and/or double-charging more than one customer for the same goods. Therefore, current applications of RFID technology (and similar RF tagging technologies) are not yet secure, economical or reliable enough to be confidently used in daily commerce.
Another limitation of RFID is it is not widely integrated onto mobile devices. Although there have been a few attempts to bring RFID reading technology into mobile devices like smartphones, this technology has not become a widespread industry norm, for example similar to a camera. This also limits advanced scenarios where the customer can read an RFID code with her mobile device, for example to purchase a good in a retail store.
Despite the shortcomings of prior RFID-based product scanning systems, however, RFID technology remains a powerful tool with a great deal of potential for use in supply chain management, inventory management, and, in particular, for risk management and theft prevention. Anti-theft devices, such as disposable anti-theft tags and anti-theft towers or pillars near store exits that sense them, have become more widespread. All of these technologies contribute to the smooth, efficient operation of retail stores for store owners and a more streamlined experience for consumers.
With respect to payment, credit and debit cards have been in use for years. The manner in which these payment cards are used is substantially unchanged since their introduction: a cardholder presents their payment card to a merchant, who uses a magnetic stripe reader to read the cardholder's payment account information and then the merchant transmits the payment account information along with transaction details to a payment network for authorization, clearing and settlement. While this approach has worked well, there are a number of disadvantages associated with it.
For example, not all merchants are able to properly secure the user information that is read from a payment card. There have been a number of highly publicized incidents where cardholder data was stolen from merchant systems. In other incidents, employees directly skimmed or copied cardholder data and used it for fraudulent transactions. If merchants are required to continue to read, store and transmit payment card information, such thefts will persist. Further, the systems and procedures required to properly save, store and transmit cardholder information is a significant cost to merchants. It would be desirable to provide systems and methods in which payment card information is not stored, captured, or transmitted by merchants.
Recently, payment card associations and issuers have offered payment solutions using mobile phone technology by proposing the use of near field communication (NFC) chips or tags installed on/in mobile phones as a way to allow payment card information to be presented at a point of sale location, the operable range of NFC systems being on the order of several centimeters. However, such solutions require that point of sale devices have NFC readers installed, and would still have the security (e.g., theft protection) problems described above.

System and method for mobile device self-checkout for retail transactions with loss protection


An improved, large capacity, self-propelled, walk-behind power tool, such as a lawn mower, employs a parking brake apparatus which is operative to effectively brake the drive wheels of the tool. The described apparatus is activated by a foot pedal and employs locking fingers having a cooperating lost motion coupling which relieves having to maintain close tolerances for the apparatus during manufacture.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to self-propelled, walk-behind power tools, such as lawn mowers, snow blowers or power sweepers, or like equipment. More particularly, the invention relates to a parking brake organization, especially of the foot operated type, utilizable in equipment in which each drive wheel of a power tool is individually braked.
2. Description of the Related Art
Although the present invention has utility in walk-behind snow blowers, power sweepers, or the like, the most common utilization of the invention is anticipated for lawn mowing equipment of the concerned type, and particularly, in large capacity, commercial walk-behind mowers. Consequently, except where otherwise expressly stated, the description herein is directed to walk-behind lawn mowing equipment, particularly commercial-type lawn mowers.
Commercial-type, self-propelled, walk-behind lawn mowers commonly have a power deck containing two driven wheels and handle bars mounting the operating handles for the various mower control elements. The mower-or tool-deck, which connects with the power deck, carries idler or caster wheels to support and balance it. Each drive wheel is independently operated and includes independent brake means dedicated to each drive wheel. Desirably, parking brake means are also provided to simultaneously lock the operating members for the brakes for both drive wheels when the mower is to be maintained in a prolonged stationary position.
Parking brakes for power tools of the concerned type are well known. Such apparatus is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,558 to H. F. Homer, Jr. et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,366 to T. D. Hardesty. The parking brake apparatus disclosed in these patents both suffer from the disadvantage that the elements operative to simultaneously hold both wheel brakes in a locked condition are located on the handle bars, or on one or more of the control elements carried by the handle bars. The disposition of parking brake operating apparatus on the handle bars of the mower adds further congestion to an already congested region of the mower and renders the parking brake operating apparatus, as well as other mower operation control elements disposed on or about the handle bars, difficult or inconvenient to access.
It is to the amelioration of this problem, therefore, to which the present invention is directed.

Foot-operated parking brake for walk-behind power tool


A method for predicting change in an operating state, e.g. state of life, for an electrical energy storage device includes establishing a plurality of values for an operating parameter, e.g. current, of the electrical energy storage device and, for each respective value, determining a corresponding change in the operating state for the energy storage device based upon the respective value. Preferably, change in the state of life is determined based upon an integration of electrical current, a depth of discharge of the energy storage device, and an operating temperature factor of the electrical energy storage device.

Various hybrid propulsion systems for vehicles use electrical energy storage devices to supply electrical energy to electrical machines, which are operable to provide motive torque to the vehicle, often in conjunction with an internal combustion engine. An exemplary hybrid powertrain architecture comprises a two-mode, compound-split, electromechanical transmission which utilizes an input member for receiving power from a prime mover power source and an output member for delivering power from the transmission to a vehicle driveline. First and second electric machines, i.e. motor/generators, are operatively connected to an energy storage device for interchanging electrical power therebetween. A control unit is provided for regulating the electrical power interchange between the energy storage device and the electric machines. The control unit also regulates electrical power interchange between the first and second electric machines.
One of the design considerations in vehicle powertrain systems is an ability to provide consistent vehicle performance and component/system service life. Hybrid vehicles, and more specifically the battery pack systems utilized therewith, provide vehicle system designers with new challenges and tradeoffs. It has been observed that service life of an electrical energy storage device, e.g. a battery pack system, increases as resting temperature of the battery pack decreases. However, cold operating temperature introduces limits in battery charge/discharge performance until temperature of the pack is increased. A warm battery pack is more able to supply required power to the vehicle propulsion system, but continued warm temperature operation may result in diminished service life.
Modern hybrid vehicle systems manage various aspects of operation of the hybrid system to effect improved service life of the battery. For example, depth of battery discharge is managed, amp-hour (A-h) throughput is limited, and convection fans are used to cool the battery pack. Ambient environmental conditions in which the vehicle is operated has largely been ignored. However, the ambient environmental conditions may have significant effect upon battery service life. Specifically, same models of hybrid vehicles released into various geographic areas throughout North America would likely not result in the same battery pack life, even if all the vehicles were driven on the same cycle. The vehicle's environment must be considered if a useful estimation of battery life is to be derived. Additionally, customer expectations, competition and government regulations impose standards of performance, including for service life of battery packs, which must be met.
It would be useful to include in a hybrid control system an ability to estimate or otherwise determine a potential effect that an operating parameter, e.g. electrical current level, has on life of a battery pack, in order to use such information to proactively control operation of the hybrid powertrain system to optimize battery life.

Method and apparatus for predicting change in an operating state of an electric energy storage device


A high voltage durability III-nitride semiconductor device comprises a support substrate including a first silicon body, an insulator body over the first silicon body, and a second silicon body over the insulator body. The high voltage durability III-nitride semiconductor device further comprises a III-nitride semiconductor body characterized by a majority charge carrier conductivity type, formed over the second silicon body. The second silicon body has a conductivity type opposite the majority charge carrier conductivity type. In one embodiment, the high voltage durability III-nitride semiconductor device is a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) comprising a support substrate including a <100> silicon layer, an insulator layer over the <100> silicon layer, and a P type conductivity <111> silicon layer over the insulator layer. The high voltage durability HEMT also comprises a III-nitride semiconductor body formed over the P type conductivity <111> silicon layer, the III-nitride semiconductor body forming a heterojunction of the HEMT.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally in the field of semiconductors. More specifically, the present invention is in the field of fabrication of compound semiconductors.
2. Background Art
Semiconductor based devices, circuits, and switches employed in various modern applications are often required to display greater power handling capabilities and tolerate higher applied voltages than ever before. One response to these increased device performance demands has been the development and implementation of III-nitride semiconductor devices, such as high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). In a typical HEMT, for example, a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) is generated at a semiconductor heterojunction. The 2DEG represents a very thin conduction layer of highly mobile and highly concentrated charge carriers free to move readily in the two dimensions of that conduction layer, but constrained from movement in a third dimension perpendicular to the conduction layer.
In practice, the ability of a HEMT, or any III-nitride semiconductor device, to perform reliably in the face of a high applied voltage (e.g. voltage greater than 600 volts), depends in part on the charge retention characteristics of the 2DEG or other type of conduction channel. In particular, where charge carriers are insufficiently constrained from dispersing out of a desired conduction zone, for example by movement into a silicon substrate of the device, device performance may be less than optimal. More seriously, under applied voltages of even a few hundred volts, a HEMT may short through its silicon substrate, resulting in device failure. Unfortunately, conventional approaches to III-nitride semiconductor device fabrication have failed to provide optimal charge carrier constraint within the conduction zone when high voltage is applied.
Thus, there is a need to overcome the drawbacks and deficiencies in the art by providing a III-nitride semiconductor device, such as a HEMT, exhibiting high voltage durability. It would be of additional advantage if the proposed solution were to provide an implementation capable of supporting monolithic vertical integration of III-nitride power semiconductor devices and silicon devices.

High voltage durability III-nitride semiconductor device


A medical electrode device, implantable in a subject for electrically stimulating tissue, includes an electrode cable containing an elongated, flexible conductor having an interior channel and covered with electrical insulation, and terminating in an electrode head for engaging tissue of the subject. A stylet is insertable in the channel. The electrode device incorporates structure for assisting in explanting the device formed by an adhesive substance releasably storable within the cable and releasable by manipulation of the stylet or a stylet-like element. When the adhesive is released, the stylet is adhered to the electrode head and can be manipulated from the proximal end of the electrode device to twist the distal end of the electrode device away from ingrown tissue upon explantation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a medical electrode device implantable in a subject for stimulating tissue, and in particular to such a device which incorporates means for explanting the device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Medical electrode devices are well-known in the art for the intracorporeal stimulation of tissue. Such electrode devices include an electrode cable containing an elongated, flexible conductor with an exterior covered by an insulation layer, and an interior forming a channel. The distal end (i.e., the end of the electrode device disposed at the stimulation site) is provided with an electrode head, electrically connected to the conductor. A stylet is insertable into the channel from the distal end (i.e., the end to be connected to a pulse generator) of the electrode device, the stylet normally being used to assist in the implantation of the electrode device, but also being usable, if necessary, to assist in the explantation of the electrode device, should such explantation become necessary.
Such an electrode device which is permanently implanted in a patient, such as a pacemaker electrode, becomes coated over time with connective tissue which anchors the electrode cable in such a way that pulling only on the exposed proximal end of the electrode cable, in order to explant the cable, can be very difficult and even hazardous, because healthy tissue in the area at and around the anchoring site may be torn or otherwise damaged. The physician therefore often elects to leave the electrode cable in place, and to replace it with another cable. Under certain instances, however, removal of the electrode cable is warranted, either by surgery or with aid of an explantation device. Such instances include, for example, the presence of multiple abandoned, disconnected electrode cables in the heart, which can result in the development of infection, or the electrode cables may threaten to puncture a vein or the heart wall.
An explantation device for such an electrode cable is described in the article entitled "Removal of Chronic Implanted Leads Using a New Technology in 25 Cases" Hocherl et al., European Journal of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, Volume 2, No. 2, June 1992, page A77. In this explantation device, the distal end of a stylet-like member has rearwardly facing projections which substantially flatten against the stylet-like member when the member is introduced into the channel of the electrode cable. The projections subsequently snap outwardly and press against the inner wall of the channel. During explantation, the physician pulls on the member, and the projections then grip the flights of the helically-wound conductor which form the inner wall of the channel. A disadvantage of this known explantation device is that only the small, free end surfaces of the projections engage the interior wall of the channel, and may deform and stretch the helical shape of the conductor to such an extent that the projections lose their grip, at least in part. Another disadvantage of this known device is that the explantation device cannot be repositioned or withdrawn from the channel, because of the projections.

Implantable medical electrode device including structure for explanting same


Wide panels of UHMWPE having exceptional flatness and surface quality are ram extruded through a slit die equipped with a plurality of individually adjustable cooling zones proximate the panel exit slit and transverse to the machine direction, which cool the panel while the panel is restrained by a back pressure device and preferably a vertical movement restraint. The process is robust and can be run for long product campaigns.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to the production of sheets of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene in widths greater than about 40 cm, by ram extrusion, and to sheets produced thereby.
2. Background Art
Conventional polyethylene polymers with which many are familiar, i.e. low and high density polyethylene, are waxy solids not known for exceptional strength properties. Also, due to their relative softness, while generally lubricious, they are easily abraded. Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, "UHMWPE", on the other hand, is an exceptionally strong and durable polymer totally unlike its poorer relatives.
UHMWPE is prepared by special polymerization processes in which the polyethylene chains acquire an exceptionally high molecular weight, typically having number average molecular weights of from 1.5×106 to 1×107 daltons, supplied as a resin powder. UHMWPE also includes those polymers defined in ASTM D4020-05; D6712-01; and ISO 11542-2. While generally homopolymeric in nature, UHMWPE also includes copolymers having limited amounts of other copolymerizable comonomers. In the case of copolymer UHMWPE, the aforementioned ASTM and ISO requirements should be met. It is their very long polymer chains which make these polymers unique. However, this same feature is also the cause of major processing problems. While ordinary polyethylene can be melt extruded, even polyethylene of very high molecular weight, attempts to melt extrude UHMWPE have been largely unsuccessful, despite much research in this area, and virtually all UHMWPE products are produced by compression molding or ram extrusion, as indicated by U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,576, which indicates that processing methods applicable to conventional thermoplastics, such as continuous extrusion, calendaring, and injection molding, are generally inapplicable to UHMWPE.
Thus, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,061 discloses the manufacture of sliding members by screw extrusion of UHMWPE from the melt. However, for the process to work, mixtures of UHMWPE, lower molecular weight polyethylene ("PE"), and lubricants must be employed. Considerable loss in mechanical properties thus results due to the dilution of the UHMWPE with lower molecular weight species. Further losses in properties are caused by shear degradation in the extruder.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,308 discloses melt extrusion through a die whose final cross-section is considerably reduced as compared with the diameter of the extruder, and wherein a very low elongational velocity gradient is maintained. However, despite these requirements, only very high molecular weight PE and UHMWPE in the lowest molecular weight range, about 1.5×106, are useful. U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,484 discloses a screw geometry for a single screw extruder said to be useable with PE resins having molecular weights greater than 1×106. However, large profiles cannot be made using such a melt extrusion process.
The problems associated with processing of UHMWPE are due in part to the gel-like nature of the polymer above its crystalline melt temperature, roughly 135° C.-150° C. While ordinary polyethylene is a viscous, molasses-consistency liquid at such temperatures, UHMWPE is a swollen gel which has an extremely high viscosity, and which exerts exceptional frictional stress against the walls of extruders and the like. The problems associated with UHMWPE are described quite clearly by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,883,631 and 3,887,319. For the reasons discussed therein, ram extrusion and compression molding have thus far been the only processes of producing UHMWPE products which are used extensively.
In compression molding, UHMWPE powder is introduced into a coffin-like mold of very thick section. A thick cover which fits within the mold cavity is then placed on top of the powder, and the whole assembly is heated to above the crystalline melt temperature while being compressed to very high pressure. The molds are then slowly and uniformly cooled, and the product, generally in the form of a thick slab, is demolded. For thin stock, for example of 1 cm to 3 cm thickness, the thick slabs are skived or "planed" to produce thin stock. The skiving process requires an extra process step, and can result in a product with end curl. As can be seen, compression molding is a cost-intensive and labor intensive method of producing UHMWPE products. However, it is essentially the only process which can be used to make panels or sheets of large width, and is thus still a much used process.
A continuous process for the production of thin gauge UHMWPE sheet has been used by Crown Plastics, Harrison, Ohio, U.S.A. In this process a roller belt press previously manufactured by Hoover Ball and Bearing Co. as the Lam-N-Hard laminator, and as described for use in wood lamination by Tarkow, et al., "Surface Densification of Wood," FOREST PRODUCTS JOURNAL, 18(a): 104-107, is used to consolidate UHMWPE powder. However, the process thus far has been limited to thin sheets with a maximum thickness of 3-4 mm and relatively narrow widths. Only recently has a 24 inch wide (0.6 m) sheet been produced by this method, and it is not believed to be possible to produce wider sheets due to the high pressures involved.
Ram extrusion is a unique process which is considerably different from melt extrusion. Ram extrusion may be illustrated with reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,883,631; 3,887,319; and 4,145,175. Despite the fact that the ram extrusion technology disclosed in these references is more than 25 years old, there has been only incremental change in ram extrusion processes since that time.
The overall process may be described in relation to FIG. 1 which shows schematically, in cross-section, a simple ram extrusion machine for production of a UHMWPE rod. The ram extrusion machine consists of very thick section steel member 2 having a through channel 3 into one end of which is received ram 4. UHMWPE powder 5 flows gravitationally into channel 3 from hopper 6. The ram then travels to the left, compressing the powder in the channel, which is now die channel 7. This sequence is repeated every few minutes. Die channel 7 is heated by heaters 8 which surround the die, and heats the resin particles to a relatively high temperature, for example between 350° F. and 500° F. (177° C. and 260° C.). Temperatures in excess of 500° F. (260° C.) are generally avoided, since the polymer rapidly oxidizes above this temperature. Oxidized polymer exerts yet more friction with the die, and due to the oxidation, products have reduced physical characteristics. The ram exerts a pressure up to several thousand lb/in2, and consolidates the heated, gel-like particles of UHMWPE. The UHMWPE rod 9 exits the die at discrete intervals and at this stage the rod is hot, higher than the crystalline melt temperature, and relatively translucent. However, at some distance from the die face, the polymer has crystallized to an opaque solid.
Ram extrusion has been used to produce round profiles of relatively large diameter, e.g. 300 mm, and also tubing, small profiles of complex shape, and "boards" having a width of up to about 660 mm, and thicknesses of, e.g. 100 mm. However, such boards are far from flat as produced. If flat boards or thin stock are needed, the boards are skived. Because of the high friction within the die, and consequently the very high pressures involved, the ram, even though made of very high strength steel, may buckle. This is particularly so in parts whose cross-section is quite asymmetric, and even more so in parts having a substantially rectangular cross-section of high aspect ratio. For example, a ram for producing a board of 1 cm×30 cm rectangular cross-section may exhibit buckling, whereas a ram for a thicker board, for example 10 cm×30 cm, will have virtually no problem in this respect at all. Not only can buckling be destructive of the ram, but the distorted ram may scrape the die walls, introducing metal particles into the product and altering die geometry.
It would be highly desirable to employ ram extrusion to produce sheets and panels of large width, for example 1 to 3 meters in width, and of a range of thicknesses, in particular, in standard thicknesses which can be sold as is, without skiving. However, attempts to use the ram extrusion process to prepare such sheets and panels meeting the necessary product standards have been largely futile. The failure of others in the past can be attributed to a number of factors. First, the nature of UHMWPE is such that there is considerable volume contraction upon both cooling and crystallization. Differential cooling or crystallization generates internal stress, as does also differing degrees of polymer orientation. In small profiles or even larger products which are relatively symmetrical, these problems are minimal, or are to a degree self-cancelling. However, in large widths, these problems manifest themselves as undesirable "product characteristics" such as thickness variations, bowing, warping, surface fracture, surface irregularities, "walking", edge waviness, etc. The larger the width of the product, the more difficult is the control of these properties. Such defects would then require minimally, shaving of the surface and machining to size. However, some defects, for example warp and bow, may be impossible to remove.
Moreover, the ram extrusion apparatus itself also has severe shortcomings. The large top and bottom surface areas associated with a slit die, coupled with the large internal pressure, create forces which are very difficult to control. A slit die of 1 cm height and 1 m width, and of 0.5 m length may experience a force of 2.1·106 N or more on each half of the die depending upon the internal pressure, which is always high. The restraining bolts in this case will have to bear almost 4.4·106 N of force. Even when such a die is constructed of high strength stainless steel of, for example, a 10 cm thickness on each side, the die will deflect so much due to the internal pressure that a board with pronounced greater thickness in the middle as opposed to the edges results. Dies of this size and construction will also rupture, unless supported by massive restraining structures located exterior to the die.
For all the above reasons, it has been considered impossible to produce wide sheets and panels of a quality which is commercially acceptable, by ram extrusion.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Disclosed is a flight management computer modification that provides a pilot of an aircraft with a list of alternate landing destinations at which he can land the aircraft in case of an emergency on board or due to some reason why he cannot land at an intended destination. Each of the alternate landing destinations is displayed with data regarding the distance between the aircraft's present position and each of the alternate destinations, the estimated time of arrival to fly the aircraft to each of the alternate destinations and an estimate of the fuel remaining on board the aircraft if the aircraft were to land at the alternate destinations. The data allows the pilot to compare the benefits of landing at one of the alternate destinations versus landing at another. The dam is calculated assuming a direct flight from the aircraft's present position to the alternate as well as assuming a missed approach at the intended destination and a flight from the intended destination to the alternate landing destination. The computational time required to produce the data for the pilot is minimized by increasing the size of the integration steps used by the flight management computer to calculate estimated time of arrival and fuel remaining and by using the flight management computer's precalculated values for optimum climb and descent angles.

Currently, there is no standard practice among airline companies regarding how to provide the pilot of an aircraft with information about alternate landing destinations, if some reason, such as bad weather or an emergency on board, prevents a landing at the intended destination. An approach taken by some airlines is to provide the pilot with a list of alternate destinations before takeoff or during the flight, via data uplink capabilities, if available. Typically the list includes several "en route" destinations that lie between the point of departure and the intended destination, and several "missed approach" destinations that are located near the intended destination. En route destinations are for use when an emergency, such as a severe illness on board the aircraft, requires a deviation from the intended route prior to arriving at the intended destination. Missed approach destinations are for use when the airplane arrives at the intended destination but is prevented from landing for some reason, such as a stalled aircraft on the runway.
For various reasons, the list of alternate landing destinations provided by an airline is often inadequate to present the pilot with a meaningful choice of where to land the aircraft during an emergency situation, especially if no data uplink is available. First, the alternate landing destinations included on the list are often selected because the airline has support staff located there and not because the destinations are nearby the intended destination. Second, the list, once written, remains unchanged despite conditions that may vary during flight and, therefore, change the desirability of landing at a particular alternate destination. For example, if the aircraft were to encounter a strong head wind that caused an increase in the amount of fuel used, some of the alternate destinations included on the list may be too far to reach safely. Further, because it is impossible to predict where on the route to the intended destination an emergency will occur, the en route list might provide a pilot with an alternate destination that is not the most desirable based on all available alternate destinations because the most desirable alternate destination is not on the list. Finally, the list of alternate destinations does not provide a pilot with dam sufficient for him to make a decision why one alternate landing destination is a better choice than another.
Another approach used by some airlines is to not give the pilot any alternate destination information. If a pilot experiences an emergency en route, he is directed to contact air traffic control to determine the nearest alternate destination. The problem with this approach is that the safety of several hundred passengers is placed in the hands of an air traffic controller being able to think clearly where to direct the aircraft in an emergency situation. Also, this approach does not provide the pilot with any data regarding how long it will take to fly to the alternate destination and how much fuel will be used.
Thus, there exists a need for an alternate destination predictor for aircraft that provides a greatly increased data base of available alternate landing destinations and provides a pilot with sufficient information regarding a deviation from his present route to each of several available alternates so that the pilot can make a better informed decision regarding a route change. The present invention is directed to providing such an alternate destination predictor and, thus, greater autonomy to aircraft containing the predictor.

Alternate destination predictor for aircraft


A frost-resistant hydrant includes a conduit or body tube connected with a fluid source, a valve, an actuator stem connected with the valve, and a flow-through stem defined by a fluid passage through the valve and the actuator stem. The valve preferably includes a ceramic disk stack rotatable between an open position and a closed position. A combination back-flow preventer and vacuum breaker is positioned in the flow-through stem. The actuator stem has a rotation limit enabling the valve to move between fully open and closed positions within 90 degrees. A cartridge body incorporating the valve includes an anti-rotation key engaging the conduit and fixing the rotational position of the valve cartridge relative to the conduit.

This invention generally relates to fluid valves and, more particularly, to frost-resistant water supply hydrants.
A frost-resistant sill cock or hydrant typically includes an elongated tubular body with a valve mechanism at a first end and with a spout and a valve operator at a second, opposing end. The elongated body allows the valve mechanism to be positioned in an environment where frost or freezing is not likely to Occur, such as inside a building or underground, while the spout and valve operator are positioned in a frost- or freezing-prone environment, commonly outside a building or otherwise out-of-doors. Typically, the operator is a handle, and an elongated actuator rod or stem extends within the tubular body between the handle and the valve, whereby manipulation of the handle moves the valve between open and closed positions. A predominant valve mechanism is what may be termed a "plunger valve," wherein a valve plunger or stopper is screw-actuated into and out of sealing engagement with a valve seat.
While the plunger valve provides a simple means for controlling flow from a water supply, it does not provide a truly positive control and is prone to damage during closing by over-tightening. That is, rather than screwing the valve plunger into a position of sealing engagement with the valve seat, a user will commonly forcibly close the valve, beyond the point of sealing, mashing and damaging valve seat and plunger sealing surfaces.
Further, plunger valves do not readily lend themselves to adaptation for accommodating contemporary health concerns, specifically back-flow prevention, sometimes known as anti-siphoning. Back-flow preventers or anti-siphon devices are desirable to prevent contamination of the water supply caused by siphoning a contaminant back through the hydrant and into the water supply. Plunger-type valves which incorporate an anti-siphon or back-flow prevention feature are commonly complicated with attendant reduced durability and added expense which often accompany complicated mechanisms. The durability of back-flow prevention and anti-siphon mechanisms may also be compromised by users who over-tighten valves upon closing.
Another feature found in contemporary valves is a vacuum breaker. The vacuum breaker will break the "vacuum" in a hydrant which enables siphoning fluid back through the hydrant to the water supply, thereby offering additional anti-siphon protection. The vacuum breaker also offers structural protection to the hydrant in the case of a careless user who leaves a hose connected to the spout or spigot so that the hydrant does not properly drain, but may freeze and rupture. In this instance, the vacuum breaker releases the "vacuum" which holds water in the hydrant in some circumstances, allowing such residual water to drain from the hydrant. The plunger valve does not readily lend itself to the vacuum breaker function which is commonly accomplished with a separate mechanism.
Thus, one will appreciate the need for a contemporary frost-resistant hydrant providing effective frost-resistance, back-flow prevention or anti-siphon protection, and integrated vacuum breaker protection without the use of conventional plunger valves.


The present invention provides a patient lift for transferring a person from a hospital bed to another patient support structure. The patient lift includes a mast, a boom, a stabilizer leg, and a coupler leg adapted to couple to the hospital bed. The boom is mounted to the top of the mast, and extends outwardly from a central vertical axis of said mast. In one aspect, the boom may rotate independently of the stabilizer leg about the central vertical axis while above the hospital bed and while within an angular distance of a side of the hospital bed. Once the boom moves past the angular distance, the boom and stabilizer leg may begin to rotate together about the central vertical axis. In another aspect, the boom is capable of being positioned in a stowed position above a footboard of the hospital bed.

The present invention generally relates to patient lifts for transferring a person, such as a patient, from one location to another location, for example from a bed to a wheelchair.
Patient lifts are used to transfer persons having medical conditions that may make it demanding or exhausting for them to move without assistive help. When a caregiver assists such a person to move from one location to another, the caregiver is exposed to strain and stress. In an effort to reduce this stain and stress, patient lifts and numerous other devices have been developed to reduce the force for moving the person.
The conventional patient lift is one such device used to transfer a person from one location to another. The conventional patient lift is a stand-alone device that the caregiver rolls or moves into position near, for example, the bed or wheelchair supporting the patient. Once the conventional lift is in position, the caregiver couples the patient to the conventional patient lift, lifts the patient, and then rolls or moves the conventional lift along with the person to another location for transfer. This stand-alone conventional device is generally large and conspicuous, and does not store well within the existing environment. As a result, patients often express apprehension at the prospect of being transferred by a conventional patient lift. Bystanders also sometimes express concern over the patient being transferred by such a device.


A data communication method for forwarding a session control message designating a destination server with an IP address to the destination server via a session management server, wherein, when an application program or encrypted communication software on a client issues a connection request designating a destination server with an IP address, the client or the session management server automatically converts the IP address into a desired resource identifier identifiable a domain, thereby to determine the domain to which the received connection request message should be forwarded.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data communication method and system for enabling encrypted data communication between a client and a server and, more particular, to a data communication method and system making it easy to perform a client-to-server authentication procedure, using a session management server.
(2) Description of Related Art
In a method of encrypted communication in a network, a client and a server carry out a peer device authentication procedure to prevent communication with an unintended peer for each other and, upon a successful peer device authentication, exchange encryption parameters for communication. Public key certificates are applied in Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) described in RFC 2401 "Security Architecture for the Internet Protocol" (non-patent document 1) of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) described in RFC 2246 "The TLS Protocol Version 1.0" (non-patent document 2).
In the case of authentication using public key certificates, it is necessary for each node which may be a client or a server to verify that a public key certificate provided by its peer is the one issued from a reliable certificate authority by any method. For example, one method of verifying a public key certificate is to obtain in advance a reliable certificate authority's root certificate for authenticating the certificate authority that issued the public key certificate offered by the peer by any method and verify the certificate authority's signature attached to the public key certificate offered by the peer by the public key of the certificate authority's root certificate. According to this verification method, a server and a client have to prepare in advance the root certificates of certificate authorities in association with public key certificates of all peer devices with which the server/client may communicate.
As FIG. 1 shows, for example, assume a system where a plurality of clients (terminal devices) CL1, CL2, and CL3 have secret keys SK1, SK2, and SK3 and public key certificates PK1, PK2, and PK3 issued by different certificate authorities (CA1, CA2, and CA3), respectively, and servers SV1, SV2, and SV3 also have secret keys SK11, SK12, and SK13 and public key certificates PK11, PK12, and PK13 issued by different certificate authorities (CA1, CA2, and CA3), respectively. To enable each client to communicate with one of the servers SV1, SV2, and SV3 at any time, each server must have in advance a plurality of root certificates RT1, RT2, and RT3 for the certificate authorities (CA1, CA2, and CA3) that issued the public key certificates (PK1, PK2, PK3), respectively, each being held by each of the clients CL1, CL2, and CL3 that can be a peer to the server, as shown. Likewise, each client also must prepare in advance the plurality of root certificates RT1, RT2, and RT3 for the certificate authorities (CA1, CA2, and CA3) that issued the public key certificates (PK11, PK12, PK13), respectively, each being held by each of the servers SV1, SV2, and SV3 that can be a peer to the client. In this system architecture, each client and each server must repeat an authentication process each time when initiating communication with its peer.
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a basic configuration of software that a client arms to carry out IPsec-encrypted communication described in the above-mentioned RFC 2401.
Here, reference numeral 20 denotes a network interface card (NIC) module, 30 denotes a TCP/IP layer software module, 40 denotes an application layer software module, and 50 denotes a software module for Internet Key Exchange (IKE) process as a key management process described in RFC 2409 "The Internet Key Exchange (IKE)" (non-patent document 3). An IPsec engine 31 is provided as a part of the TCP/IP layer software, equipped with a Security Policy Data Base (SPDB) 32 storing information (SP information) for determining whether encryption should be applied to transmission packets and a Security Association Data Base (SADB) 33 storing information (SA information) such as encryption schemes and encryption keys which are used for encrypted communication.
A server that can be a peer to the client also arms the same software as shown in FIG. 2, so that the client's application layer will communicate with the server's application layer and the client's key management process will communicate with the server's key management process.
When the IPsec engine 31 detects an IP packet transmission request issued by a program in the application layer 40, it checks the header information of the IP packet against the SPDB32 and determines whether IPsec should be applied to this IP packet. Having determined that IPsec should be applied to the IP packet, the IPsec engine 31 retrieves Security Association (SA) information to be used for the IP packet from the SADB 33. At this time, if the SA information for the IP packet has not been registered in the SADB 33, the IPsec engine 31 requests the IKE (key management) process 50 to exchange SA information including an encryption key with the peer (destination server).
The IKE process 50 exchanges SA information with the peer in accordance with an Internet Security Association and Key Management Protocol (ISAKMP) described in RFC 2406 "Internet Security Association and Key Management Protocol (ISAKMP)" (non-patent document 4). In the ISAKMP, after establishing an encrypted communication path between itself and its peer, each communication node carries out an authentication procedure to verify whether the peer is a true device permitted for communication. Upon verifying that the peer is a true device permitted for encrypted communication by the above authentication procedure, the IKE process 50 starts to exchange SA information with the peer device through the communication path set up by ISAKMP. Upon completing the exchange of SA information with the peer, the IKE process 50 notifies the IPsec engine 31 of the SA information and related Security Policy (SP) information.
After storing the SP information and SA information notified from the IKE process 5 into the SPDB 32 and SADB 33, respectively, the IPsec engine 31 encrypts the IP packet in accordance with the SA information and transmits it to the peer. Upon receiving the encrypted IP packet, a server as the peer decrypts the received IP packet in accordance with the SA information agreed upon by the IKE process and notifies the server's application layer of the IP packet reception.
Meanwhile, RFC 3261 "SIP: Session Initiation Protocol" (non-patent document 5) describes a method in which mutual authentication between a client (user agent client) and a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy which is a session management server and mutual authentication between the SIP proxy and a server (user agent server) are performed by Transport Layer Security (TLS) and encrypted communication is performed between the client and the SIP proxy and between the SIP proxy and the server. According to the SIP model of RFC 3261, the client and the server are initially verified to be true peers by the SIP proxy and encrypted SIP messages are communicated between the client and the server. Thus, it is difficult for a device other than the client, server, and SIP proxy to intercept messages communicated between the client and the server.
The SIP is a text-based protocol and a SIP message is comprised of a header and a message body indicating the contents of session. Details on the SIP are described in RFC 3263 "Session Initiation Protocol (SIP): Locating SIP Servers" (non-patent document 6). Moreover, RFC 2327 "SDP: Session Description Protocol" (non-patent document 7) discloses a Session Description Protocol (SDP) that is used for session descriptions and a method of describing encryption parameters to be exchanged between a client and a server. The client and server in the SIP model exchange session descriptions and encryption parameters by SIP messages through encrypted communication paths established between the client and the SIP proxy and between the SIP proxy and the server. Then, communication of encrypted packets using the encryption parameters can be performed between the client and server.
FIG. 3 shows an example of an authentication system using the above described SIP proxy. Here, "PR" denotes a ship proxy connected to a plurality of clients CL1, CL2, and CL3 and a plurality of servers SV1, SV2, and SV3. The SIP proxy PR uses a secret key SK 30 and a public key certificate PK30 issued by a certificate authority CA4 and has in advance a plurality of root certificates RT1, RT2, and RT3 corresponding to certificate authorities (CA1, CA2, and CA3) that issued public key certificates to be used by the servers SV1, SV2, and SV3, respectively, in order to authenticate these servers.
In the authentication system using the SIP proxy, each of servers and clients is solely required to have only a root certificate RT4 for the certificate authority that issued the public key certificate PK30 to be used by the SIP proxy, as the root certificate for authenticating its peer, as shown in FIG. 3. When each client wishes to connect to another server after terminating a communication with one server via the SIP proxy, the client can communicate with the SIP proxy through the already established encrypted communication path between itself and the SIP proxy. Thus, the client is solely required to exchange encryption parameters with a new peer before initiating encrypted communication with the new peer. In other words, in the authentication system using the SIP proxy, it is advantageous that each client does not have to perform a new authentication process each time connecting to another server.
Nevertheless, in the SIP framework, the session management server (SIP proxy) determines the forwarding destination of a received SIP message by an identifier (SIP-URI) in a form of "user-name@domin-name" which is termed Address-of-Record (AOR). Thus, in a network system requiring session set up via a session management server like the above SIP proxy, an application to be executed on a client has to use, as the identifier for designating a destination server, SIP-URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) capable of identifying a domain to which the server belongs.
More specifically, in the SIP framework, a client creates a connection request SIP message, in which SIP-URI in the form of AOR to specify a destination server is described as a Request-URI included in a start line, and transmits an IP packet including the SIP message in the payload to a home SIP proxy located in the domain to which the client belongs. Having received the IP packet, the SIP proxy executes, for example, NATPR Record search and SRV Record search in a Domain Name System (DNS), based on the domain name given from the AOR described as the Request-URI, thereby determining the IP address or Full Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) of a SIP proxy (forwarding destination SIP proxy) located in a domain to which the server to be the forwarding destination of the received message belongs. If the result of the SRV Record search gives FQDN, the IP address of the forwarding destination SIP proxy can be obtained by executing A Record search in the DNS. A procedure for obtaining the IP address of the forwarding destination SIP proxy from a domain name is described in RFC 3263 (non-patent document 6).
If the destination server belongs to the home domain to which the SIP proxy having received the SIP message belongs, the SIP proxy obtains the IP address (or FQDN) of the destination server from a location service DB (database), using the SIP-URI described in the Request-URI of the received message as a search key, assigns this IP address to the destination address of the IP packet, and forwards the SIP message to the destination server. If the destination serve belongs to a domain different from the home domain to which the SIP proxy (or the source client) belongs, the SIP message is forwarded to a SIP proxy located in a domain to which the destination server belongs. This forwarding destination SIP proxy obtains an IP address or FQDN of the destination server from the location service DB and forwards the SIP message to the destination server.
As described above, in the network system requiring session set up via a session management server (SIP proxy), the session management server having received a SIP message determines the domain to which the destination server belongs from the requested resource identifier (SIP-URL: Uniform Resource Locator) included in the received SIP message and forwards the received message to the destination server or destination session management server. However, each of general application programs that are executed on a client terminal connected to an IP network uses an identifier like an IP address that identifies only a destination server, rather than an identifier including a domain name like the above SIP-URI in the AOR form, to specify the destination server.
If an application program or software for encrypted communication issues a connection request designating the destination server with an IP address and a client transmits a connection request SIP message including the IP address for designating the destination server, a session management server (SIP proxy) having received this connection request message cannot identify a domain to which the received message must be forwarded. In this case, clients cannot take profit from the advantage of the authentication system shown in FIG. 3.


The present invention relates to a resin mixture for melt processing, comprising a first resin; and a second resin comprising an acrylate-based copolymer including silica particles and having a polydispersity index (PDI) of 1 to 2.5, a method for preparing a resin-molded article using the same, and a resin-molded article. Surface characteristics of the molded article can be improved and excellent scratch resistance can be obtained by using the resin composition. In addition, processing time can be reduced, productivity is increased, and manufacturing costs are lowered by omitting the additional surface coating step.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to a resin mixture for melt processing, a pellet, a method of preparing a resin-molded article using the same, and a resin-molded article prepared thereby, and, more particularly, to a resin mixture for melt processing capable of improving surface characteristics, such as scratch resistance, of a molded article and also exhibiting effects of reducing a processing time, enhancing productivity and cutting the production cost by omitting an additional surface coating step, a pellet, a method of preparing a resin-molded article using the same, and a resin-molded article prepared thereby.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Plastic resins are easily processed, and have excellent physical properties such as tensile strength, elastic modulus, heat resistance and impact resistance. Therefore, the plastic resins have been used in the field of various applications such as parts of an automobile, helmets, parts of electronic equipment, parts of a spinning machine, toys, or pipes.
In particular, since electric home appliances are used in living spaces, the plastic resins require functions of the electric home appliances themselves, and functions as in interior decorations as well. Also, since parts of an automobile and toys come in direct contact with human bodies, the plastic resins should be environmentally friendly and have excellent scratch-resistant characteristics. However, when plastic resins are exposed to external environments for a certain period of time, the plastic resins are generally decomposed and discolored easily by oxygen in the air, ozone, light and the like. Therefore, the plastic resins have a problem in that they are easily fragile due to low weather resistance and very low impact strength, and a surface of a molded article may also be easily scratched due to low surface hardness. As a result, a method of applying an additional painting or plating process to make up for the weak points of the plastic resins and improve surface characteristics has been generally used. However, such a painting or plating process has problems in that it may degrade efficiency and economic feasibility of a process of preparing a plastic resin, and use of the painting or plating process results in generation of a large amount of toxic substances during the process itself or disposal of products.
To solve the problems, various methods have been proposed to improve surface characteristics, such as scratch resistance, of plastic resins without using the painting or plating process. A method of adding inorganic particles into a plastic resin has been proposed to improve physical properties such as wear resistance and hardness. However, such a method has problems in that processability of the plastic resin may be degraded and a decrease in impact strength and gloss may be caused by addition of the inorganic particles. Also, a method of further adding a resin having excellent scratch resistance or heat resistance has been proposed to improve surface characteristics of a plastic resin. However, such a method has problems in that it requires an additional process such as curing a product after an injection process, and physical properties such as weather resistance, heat resistance or scratch resistance are not improved to a sufficient extent required for the product.
Accordingly, there is an increasing demand for development of methods capable of enhancing efficiency and economic feasibility of the process without performing a process of painting or plating a plastic resin, and improving surface characteristics, such as scratch resistance, of a molded article as well.


A computed tomography system, capable of tomosynthesis, includes an inner circular gantry and an outer gantry within a housing assembly. A plurality of spaced apart radiology imaging plates are located along the inner gantry and adapted as x-ray detectors. An x-ray source is secured to the outer gantry and adapted to shoot x-rays between the spaced apart detectors and onto the patient or object while being rotated along the gantry and relative to the patient. A radiography device is moveably coupled to the inner gantry and adapted to scan and read the radiology plates and provide the data to an image processing computer. The x-ray source coupled to the outer gantry moves relative to the imaging plates such that a large number of projections can be exposed and thereafter scanned by the integral radiology device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computed tomography imaging systems and techniques, and more particularly to novel computed tomography and tomosynthesis systems and methods.
2. Background
Projection x-ray imaging is a widely performed diagnostic imaging procedure for producing two dimensional images. Such images are commonly acquired using computed radiography ("CR") or direct digital radiography ("DR") systems. Projection x-ray imaging, however, suffers from the fundamental limitation that three-dimensional anatomic structures are superimposed in the two-dimensional projection image such that overlying structures often obscure the visibility of an underlying structure of interest.
X-ray computed tomography ("CT") was developed, at least in part, to enable the visualization of adjacent anatomic structures in cross-sectional slices through a patient. In conventional geometric CT, the x-ray tube and imaging detector are spaced apart on opposite sides of the patient. The x-ray tube and detector are synchronously moved completely (or near completely) around the patient during the x-ray exposure so the detectors (film, plates, or other detectors) follow and capture the exposures. Conventional CT produces a plane of images in focus at the focal plane of motion and all other locations within the image both above and below the focal plane are generally out of focus and thus blurred and less visible in the resulting image. X-ray CT techniques are known for high patient dose, long exposure and image acquisition times and high procedure cost.
Tomosynthesis is a more recent improvement over conventional projection x-ray imaging, particularly for certain applications. Similar to conventional CT, tomosynthesis combines x-ray exposure and capture and processing with the x-ray/detector techniques generally used in more recent conventional CT. Thus, the x-ray source and x-ray detector arc similarly located on opposite sides of the patient and the x-ray the and detector also move synchronously and continuously about a fulcrum residing in the plane of interest. In contrast to conventional CT, however, the movement around the patient using tomosynthesis is generally much more limited. Tomosynthesis typically uses a small rotation angle of the x-ray head and a smaller number of x-ray exposures to obtain a limited set of data. This limited data is then digitally processed to yield the desired images. Advantages of tomosynthesis over CT include reduced imaging and acquisition time and reduced radiation exposure.
Tomosynthesis allows the digital reconstruction of a generally arbitrary number of cross-sectional tomographic slices through an object from a limited number of acquired projection x-ray images to produce a three-dimensional perspective. The position and thickness of the tomographic slices can be varied in order to achieve better visualization overlapping anatomic structures or to control other aspects of the diagnosis.
Current CT and tomosynthesis systems, however, remain limited in application. For example, conventional tomosynthesis equipment and techniques require the patient to remain still during the exposure process. Remaining still during the exposure and detection period can be challenging for many patients. In mammography techniques a positioning mechanism is used to secure the breast stationary during the exposure process. While the technique allows for detailed imaging, patients often complain of pain and discomfort resulting from the positioning mechanism. What is needed is a tomography and tomosynthesis device capable of making the necessary x-ray exposure quickly so as to shorten the time necessary for the patient to remain still or be secured by a positioning mechanism.
Another disadvantage of currently available CT and computed tomosynthesis systems is their limited availability due to, among other reasons, high initial and operating costs as well as the need for highly trained operators. CT and tomosynthesis systems may not be as readily available in areas lacking the resources to fund such systems. Thus, what is also needed is CT and tomosynthesis systems that are simpler, less complex and less expensive to manufacture and operate. In this way, advanced imaging can provided at more reasonably pricing so as to be made available to less affluent medical centers as well as reducing operating and maintenance costs.

Computed tomography and tomosynthesis system


A system for laser ashing of polyimide for a semiconductor manufacturing process is provided. The system includes: a semiconductor chip, a top chip attached to the semiconductor chip by a connection layer, a supporting material, a polyimide glue layer disposed between the supporting material and semiconductor chip, a plasma asher, and an ashing laser configured to ash the polyimide glue on the semiconductor chip.

This disclosure relates generally to the field of semiconductor chip manufacturing, and more particularly to removal of polyimide glue from a semiconductor chip during manufacturing.
During semiconductor manufacturing, multiple semiconductor chips may be formed in a single piece of a substrate (for example, a silicon substrate). The semiconductor chips may include various structures, made from various materials such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or metal. The semiconductor chips need to be separated in the later stages of the semiconductor manufacturing process. For example, this separation may be achieved by dicing the substrate containing the semiconductor chips. The substrate containing the semiconductor chips may require attachment to a rigid supporting material during dicing, so as to avoid damage to the semiconductor chips during dicing. A glue, which may be a polyimide glue, may be used to attach the supporting material to the substrate. After dicing, the supporting material and the glue need to be removed from the diced semiconductor chips.
Some polyimide removal methods, which may be applied to polyimide glue on a semiconductor chip, include wet etching and plasma ashing. These methods may be isotropic, which may cause damage to structures located on the semiconductor chip underneath the polyimide, and relatively slow, limiting throughput for the semiconductor manufacturing process. Wet etching may be performed using N-methyl pyrrolidinone (NMP); however, the etch rate of wet etching with NMP is relatively slow. Plasma ashing may be performed using oxygen (O2) plasma or hydrofluoric plasma. For plasma ashing in O2, the etch rate is also relatively slow; it may take more than 5 hours to remove the polyimide. The required temperature for O2 plasma etching is also relatively high (up to 250° C.), which may damage the semiconductor chip. For hydrofluoric plasma ashing, the etch rate may be higher, but other materials in the semiconductor chip, such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, or metal may also be etched along with the polyimide, damaging the semiconductor chip.

Laser ashing of polyimide for semiconductor manufacturing