A rate of change comparator uses an RC charging circuit and a separate RC discharging circuit to follow a transducer output. The resistor component of each RC circuit is shunted by a diode, each biased in a different orientation so that the charging circuit charges quickly through its diode but discharges slowly through its resistor and the discharging circuit discharges quickly through its diode and slowly through its resistor. The difference in output between the charging and discharging circuits is detected with a comparator, biased off by a threshold bias voltage developed from one of the circuits. The comparator is unaffected by slow changes in transducer signals due to drift, ambient condition and similar changes because the differential voltage between the circuits is minimized for transducer signal changes below the level set by a threshold bias level. When the transducer signal is positive and the rate of change of the transducer signal exceeds the minimum rate of change set by the RC time constant of the discharging circuit, the diode allows the charging circuit to charge faster than the discharging circuit and the differential voltage therebetween triggers the comparator to indicate that an event was detected if the differential voltage exceeds the threshold bias voltage. Similarly, when the transducer signal is negative and the rate of change of the transducer signal exceeds the minimum rate of change set by the RC time constant of the charging circuit, the diode allows the discharging circuit to discharge faster than the charging circuit and the differential voltage therebetween triggers the comparator to indicate that an event was detected if the differential voltage exceeds the threshold bias voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to comparators used to determine when a signal exceeds a predetermine setpoint. This invention relates specifically to comparators used to determine when a signal of unknown polarity exceeds a predetermined change in value. In particular, the present invention relates to comparators used to determine when transducers, such as pyroelectric sensors or ultrasonic/acoustic transducers, used for example as motion sensors, have detected the occurrence of an event they have been designed to detect. Such transducers may be used as occupancy sensors to control lighting, heating, cooling and/or other systems in response to the occupancy of a room.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional transducers used as motion and/or occupancy sensors may operate passively, by detecting changes in ambient conditions such as changes in temperature, occasioned by the entry of a warm bodied being into a room. Alternatively, conventional transducers may operate actively by flooding the environment to be monitored with transmitted and reflected energy and then detecting changes in the resultant steady state energy reception pattern observed by the transducer from the monitored environment in order to detect the event to be monitored.
Conventional occupancy sensors tend to be sensitive to changes in ambient conditions not intended to be detected, such as changes in temperature and even air densities, that interfere with their ability to accurately detect events to be monitored. When used as occupancy detectors, for example, the transducers must be sufficiently sensitive to detect minor motions, such as the movement of a human arm through a specified arc, without falsely being triggered by other events such as changes in the ambient conditions occasioned by thermal or other drift.
The polarity of the change of the output signal of a transducer used in an occupancy sensor will typically not be known before it occurs because the motions or other events to be detected may occur in any direction. The event to be detected cannot therefore be conveniently determined by comparison against a single set point because the direction of change of the signal, that is, the polarity of the transducer signal, cannot be predicted before the event. The transducer output signal must therefore be compared against set points for each polarity, typically both an upper and a lower setpoint value. If the transducer output is above the upper setpoint or below the lower setpoint, the event to be monitored is indicated to be detected. Conventionally, the outputs of transducers used in occupancy sensors are applied to a window comparator to determine if the transducer signal exceeds the upper or lower threshold or setpoint.
Systems using conventional circuits, such as window comparators, are especially susceptible to errors including false detections, from thermal drift and other long term ambient changes. Such ambient changes may mask the signal to be detected and may be caused by temperature changes during the day, changes in the operation of heating and air conditioning equipment as well as even changes in humidity.
What are needed are convenient techniques suitable for detecting events of unknown signal polarities from the outputs of transducers used, for example, in occupancy sensors.


A number of novel anticoagulant peptides are claimed. These include V-V-I-K-H-N-R-F-T-K-E-T-Y-D-F-D-I, A-V-L-R-L-K-T-P-I-T-F-R-M-N-V-A-P-A-C-L, A-F-L-K-W-I-D-R-S-M-K-T-R-G-L, T-E-Q-E-E-G-G-E-A-V-H-E-V-E-V-V-I-K, L-L-I-N-E-E-N-E-G-F-G-G, C-L-Y-Q-A-K-R-F-K-V-R-V-G-D-R-N-T-E-Q-E-E-G-G-E-A-V, E-Q-E-E-G-G-E-A-V-H-E-V-E-V-V-I, and F-C-A-G-Y-T-D-K-Q-E-D-A-C and their analogues are claimed. The peptides are useful for inhibiting activation of Factor X and/or function of Factor Xa.

Anticoagulants are used in the treatment of a wide variety of thrombotic disorders and in the laboratory to prevent the clotting of conserved blood. Heparin, for example, is widely used against thrombosis, but it carries a high risk of hemorrhage or thrombocytopenia, is ineffective in many conditions, and may produce unpredictable results including recurrent thromboembolism. Derivatives of 4-hydroxycoumarin or of 1,4 idanedione also have a number of disadvantages. It is very difficult to maintain a therapeutic dose due to wide variability in patient's diet, effective drug dosage, and drug metabolism. Hemorrhage is a common complication and treatment of this side effect requires the use of potentially hazardous (virus containing) plasma.
Other anticoagulants include those endogenous to the plasma, for example, antithrombin III, and proteins obtained from certain plants and organisms, including the leech-derived polypeptides prvded by U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,100 and the Kunitz inhibitor obtained from soybean. The latter blocks the blood coagulation cascade by inhibition of activated Factor X, but the specificity of the inhibitor is so low that many side effects develop, including for example, inhibition of plasma kallikrein, plasmin and trypsin. Other active compounds, such as the Ascaris or Kazals inhibitor have also been criticized for their lack of specificity.
The complexity of the blood-clotting system exacerbates the need for an acceptable pharmaceutical agent capable of inhibiting coagulation at a specifically defined point in the pathway. Clotting results from a complex series of interactions, which culminate in the thrombin-mediated cleavage of fibrinogen to fibrin and its subsequent crosslinking. Thrombin production may result from either of two systems, an "intrinsic" system based on circulating blood components and an "extrinsic" system requiring a tissue component. In each system, there is a cascade of reactions during which each of a series of inactive factors is converted by a proteolytic reaction into the corresponding active or "a" Factor that is itself a proteolytically active enzyme or a nonproteolytic active cofactor effecting the next step.
In the intrinsic system, circulating Factor XII (Hageman Factor) is postulated to bind to damaged surfaces or aggregated platelets. Kallikrein cleaves it to form Factor XIIa. Factor XIIa, in the presence of high molecular weight kininogen, 1) cleaves circulating Factor XI (plasma thromboplastin antecedent) to Factor XIa (plasma thromboplastin) and 2) cleaves circulating prekallikrein to active kallikrein, effecting amplification of the pathway. Factor XIa, in the presence of calcium ions, cleaves circulating Factor IX (Christmas Factor) to Factor IXa. Factor IXa, with circulating Factor VIII (antihemophilic globulin or AHG) in the presence of calcium ions and cell-derived phospholipid, forms a lipoprotein complex with circulating Factor X and cleaves it to form Factor Xa. Thus, in the intrinsic system, activation of Factor X requires the interaction of Factor IXa (enzyme) and Factor VIIIa (non-proteolytic cofactor) on a phospholipid surface in the presence of calcium ion.
In the extrinsic system, Factor VII associates with a tissue lipoprotein called tissue thromboplastin or tissue factor (Factor III) and in the presence of calcium ions, forms a complex with circulating Factor X and cleaves it to form a second source of Factor Xa. Factor Xa cleaves tissue factor-bound Factor VII to Factor VIIa, a much more active enzyme, thus amplifying the effects of this pathway. Factor IX may also be converted to Factor IXa by Factor VIIa and tissue factor further amplifying factor Xa formation through the "intrinsic" pathway. Thus, the extrinsic Factor X activation complex is composed of Factor VII/VIIa (enzyme) assembled with the integral membrane-bound non-proteolytic cofactor, tissue factor, in the presence of calcium. The extrinsic pathway of activation is probably the physiologically relevant system, as patients deficient in Factor XII, prekallikrein or high molecular weight kininogen do not have a bleeding disorder. Deficiencies in the other blood coagulation components all may lead to hemophilia.
Factor X may also be converted to an active serine protease upon cleavage by a specific enzyme from Russell's viper venom (RVV-X) in the presence of calcium ions.
Factor X plays a pivotal role in the coagulation scheme; its activation occurs at the point of convergence of the extrinsic and intrinsic activation pathways (1). Factor Xa, with activated Factor V and in the presence of calcium ions and cellular phospholipid, forms a lipoprotein complex with Factor II (prothrombin) and cleaves it to form thrombin (Factor IIa). In other words, activated Factor Xa (enzyme) associates with Factor Va (non-proteolytic cofactor) in a macromolecular membrane complex responsible for the activation of prothrombin.
Thrombin converts circulating fibrinogen to the insoluble form fibrin, which spontaneously polymerize into filaments and is then cross-linked under the action of Factor XIIIa, an enzyme formed from Factor XIII by thrombin activation.
As indicated above, because of the complexity of the system, the preferred anticoagulant is one that can be specifically targeted to selected steps in the coagulation cascade. However, as stated above, in the past, such agents were not available or suffered from serious drawbacks, such as their toxicity or their antigenicity in humans.

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System


A fragility earth retainment wall includes a plurality of prefabricated panels. Each panel is bound by at least one complementary resistent member of the wall and has at least one hollowed out portion with an opening on the front seen face of the panel, formed by a groove or a series of holes; each hollowed out portion extends between two edges of the panel and defines therein a preferred fracture line. Thus there are formed modules between at least one hollowed out portion and at least one edge and each module is provided with association members for independent attachment to the complementary resistent member. The panels provide a flexible wall with a good flat arrangement, ease of assembly and good tightness.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a prefabricated panel for the construction of directed fragility walls, attached to at least one resistent member complementary to the wall, each panel comprising a front seen face, a rear face, end edges separated lengthwise and side edges separated crosswise.
2. Description of Related Art
The presently known prefabricated walls may be considered to be included in one or the other of the two large groups referred to hereinbelow.
A first of these groups relates to constructions with whole piece members which attain the complete height of the wall. They are normally very rigid elements, having a flat surface corresponding to the face of the wall and one or several ribs or buttresses on the rear surface or exterior providing the element with inertia and strength.
This first type of wall requires to be well adjusted to the type of ground where it is constructed, by the design of strict and, frequently expensive, foundations. Manufacture is also costly and requires elements of a very wide range of dimensions for adaptation to the project in each case. Consequently, the stocks are expensive, since they are normally large sized elements.
A second type of wall is formed by elements of small dimensions relative to the height of the wall. These elements are installed in situ using processes which are usually costly in time and money. The purpose of the final result in some cases is a rigid wall like in the first type mentioned above, whereby the assembly operations are complicated and compromising.
The purpose in other cases is to have a flexible wall capable of adapting itself to the movement of the earth; it should be explained that the word earth is used in a very general sense, i.e. the mass of soil, irrespective of whether the orientation of the outer surface thereof is horizontal, vertical or sloping. In these last named cases, against the advantage of an easier foundation solution, there is a lower quality in the outside finish of the wall faces, due to the inevitable errors, frequently compounded, which occur in the drawn out assembly work. It should be pointed out, furthermore, that the treatment of the joints is an important aspect, in view of the large number thereof.

Prefabricated panel for the construction of directed fragility walls


A golf ball holder device has a concave body made of a yieldably bendable material. The concave body is arcuate in shape both length-wise and width-wise so as to define an interior surface forming an interior cavity and an opening to the interior cavity through which a golf ball can be inserted into or removed from a snug gripping hold by the interior surface on the golf ball within the interior cavity of the concave body.

The present invention relates to a golf ball holder device.
When playing a round of golf, the need may arise to replace or exchange one golf ball for another for various reasons. One reason might be to replace a ball that landed in a water hazard. Another reason might be to exchange a more heavily used or scarred golf ball for a relatively new one on holes where the chance of losing the golf ball is greater due to hazards or locations where the golf ball may go out of bounds. Still another reason might be to substitute a golf ball that the player only uses on greens.
Many golfers carry extra golf balls in their pants, jacket pockets or golf bags for these reasons. Bulges in clothing caused by the presence of one or more golf balls in pockets are not only uncomfortable to the wearer, likely to interfere with use of pockets for other items, and potentially damaging to the clothing, but more importantly may also interfere with players' swings.
Many different designs of golf ball holders have been proposed that may be mounted on or attached to belts or waist bands of players so as to maintain one or more golf balls in a convenient, accessible position that does not interfere with players' swings and also eliminates the need to repeatedly use clothing pockets. However, the sheer number of different designs proposed in the prior art lends credence to the belief that none have come close to an optimum design.


A power semiconductor device which comprises either a bipolar transistor or a MOSFET, incorporates an integral Schottky diode in antiparallel connection with the transistor for conducting reverse current through the power semiconductor device. By fabricating the diode to exhibit a lower turn-on voltage, than the P-N junction at the base and collector interface in the bipolar transistor, or at the base and drift layer interface in the MOSFET, the power semiconductor device, when in the reverse conduction mode, exhibits excellent reverse recovery characteristics and without forward voltage overshoot transients.

Power MOSFET devices are used in a variety of applications including audio/radio frequency circuits and high frequency inverters.
A typical power MOSFET is a vertical semiconductor device comprising an N.sup.+ substrate having a drain electrode on its lower surface. An N-drift layer is formed on the upper surface of the substrate. Diffused into the N-drift layer are one or more P-base regions. The P-base regions extend beneath a gate electrode situated atop an insulating layer which illustratively comprises silicon oxide on the upper surface of the substrate. One or more heavily doped N.sup.+ source regions are diffused into each base region. The N.sup.+ source regions are in contact with source electrodes.
The power MOSFET can operate in a forward conducting mode and a forward blocking mode. In the forward blocking mode, the gate and source electrodes are short-circuited. If a positive voltage is then applied to the drain electrode, the P-base/N-drift layer junctions are reverse biased and current flow is blocked. To carry current from drain to source in the power MOSFET (i.e., the forward conducting mode), it is necessary to form a conductive path extending between the N.sup.+ source regions and the N-drift region. This can be accomplished by applying a positive gate bias to the gate electrode. The resulting electric field attracts electrons to the surface of the P-base regions underneath the gate. The electric field is sufficient to create a surface electron concentration that overcomes the P-base doping in one or more narrow channels underneath the gate to provide a conductive path between the N.sup.+ source regions and the N-drift region. Now, the application of a positive drain voltage induces current flow between the drain and source electrodes through the N-drift region and the conducting channels formed in the P-base region. This current flow occurs solely by the transport of majority carriers. To switch the power MOSFET from the forward conducting to the forward blocking mode the gate bias is removed. When the gate bias is removed, electrons are no longer attracted to the region underneath the gate and the conductive path between drain and source is broken.
Some power switching circuits require provision for reverse current in active power switching devices. Some examples of these types of circuits are DC to AC inverters for adjustable speed motor drives, switching power supplies, and AC to DC choppers for motor speed control with regenerative braking. When using bipolar transistors, a diode connected in anti-parallel with the transistor has been used to conduct the reverse current. Illustratively, this diode is formed across the P-base/N-drift layer junction which forms an integral part of the power MOSFET discussed above. The anode current of the diode flows through the source electrodes which are in contact with the P-base regions. If the P-base/N-drift layer junction is forward biased, conduction takes place from source to drain through the injection of minority carriers into the drift layer.
The primary difficulty with using the integral diode of the power MOSFET is poor reverse recovery characteristics. Reverse recovery is the process whereby the diode is switched from its on state to its blocking state. To undergo this transition, the minority carrier charge stored in the drift layer during conduction must be removed. The stored charge removal occurs by means of two phenomena--the flow of a large reverse current, followed by recombination. The diodes integral with power MOSFET devices often exhibit very slow reverse recovery and very large reverse recovery currents. The reverse recovery current imposes power dissipation and thermal stress on various circuit components external to the power MOSFET.
Improvement of the reverse recovery characteristics of the integral diode in a power MOSFET was first accomplished by using election irradiation to introduce recombination centers into the drift layer. During reverse recovery, the lifetime reduction resulting from the irradiation can greatly reduce both the reverse recovery current and the recovery time. The reverse recovery characteristics can also be improved by gold or platinum doping of the drift layer to introduce recombination centers.
While the introduction of recombination centers into the drift region can improve the reverse recovery characteristics of the integral diode, the minority carriers stored in the drift region exhibit a sufficiently high lifetime that the resulting reverse recovery characteristics are not entirely satisfactory.
A further drawback to using an integral diode in the power MOSFET device is the forward voltage overshoot that occurs during the turn-on transient. This overshoot results from presence of the resistive drift layer. Under steady state reverse current conduction, the drift layer resistance is reduced by injected minority carriers. During high speed turn-on, however, the current rises at a faster rate than the diffusion of minority carriers injected from the junction. A high voltage drop develops across the drift region until the minority carriers can diffuse in and reduce the resistance.
A detailed discussion of conventional power MOSFET devices including use of an integral P-N junction to conduct reverse current and the drawbacks associated therewith may be found in B. J. Baliga, "Modern Power Devices", John Wiley & Sons, 1987, pp. 263-342.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a power MOSFET device with an integral diode for conducting reverse current, which diode exhibits very good reverse recovery and forward voltage overshoot characteristics.
As indicated above, it is sometimes necessary to accommodate reverse current in connection with use of a bipolar power transistor. This need may typically arise in motor control applications. Therefore, it is a further object of the invention to provide a bipolar transistor with an integral diode for conducting reverse current, which diode exhibits very good reverse recovery and forward voltage overshoot characteristics.

Power transistor structure with high speed integral antiparallel Schottky diode


A quick release mechanism is provided for securing a member to a structure, such as a support leg to a sign stand, wherein the member includes a slot having a bottom surface and the structure has a slot having an open top end. A latch member releasably attaches the member to the structure, and is adapted to extend axially through both the member and structure slots, so that a proximal portion of the latch member extends forwardly of the member slot and a distal portion of the latch member extends rearwardly into the structure slot. With this arrangement, when the latch member proximal portion is actuated downwardly, the latch member distal portion swings upwardly through the open top end of the structure slot, thereby disengaging from the structure slot and releasing the member so that it may pivot relative to the structure.

This invention relates to a quick release mechanism for pivotally joined tube members and more particularly for use on foldable legs attached to supporting structures for signs, barriers, and the like.
There are many occasions when it is desirable to releasably attach a tube or the like to a structure. For example, a number of tubular legs are required to support a stand upon which an outdoor sign for conveying a message to passing motorists may be mounted. Frequently, the need is temporary, and it is therefore advantageous to have support stands for such signs which may be readily assembled and disassembled with very little effort on the part of the worker.
Often, such support stands comprise a base from which the mast to which the sign is attached extends upwardly. A plurality of legs, usually four, are pivotally attached to the base by means of bolts or similar fasteners, which extend through fastener holes in the legs and the stand base. The legs are each designed to pivot about the shank of their corresponding fastener from a folded, upright position for compact storage and easy transportability to an extended deployed position for supporting the sign. In both the folded and the extended positions each leg is fixedly attached to the base to prevent undesired pivoting. These attachments are removed when it is desired to pivot the legs from one position to the other, after which they are replaced.
Heretofore, such attachments have been accomplished using removable pins, bolts, clips, or by being manually tied upright. Most typically used presently are removable pin assemblies. In one such assembly, one pin is associated with each leg, usually by means of a chain or the like, so that it does not become lost. To fix the leg with respect to the stand in either the stowed or deployed position, the pin is manually inserted through a hole in the leg and engaged with a corresponding hole in the base plate of the stand. When it is desired to pivot the leg between the two positions, the pin is removed from the holes so that the leg is free to pivot about the pivotable connection between the leg and the stand base plate. Another pin assembly employs a spring biased pull pin for each leg, wherein the pin is attached to a coil spring within the tube leg. To lock the leg to the base plate of the stand, an opening in the leg is selectably aligned with one of the openings in the base plate of the stand, and the spring loaded pull pin is forced inwardly through the openings into the engaged position. The pull pin is unlocked by pulling it out of the opening.
Such attachment schemes, while effective, are relatively time consuming to operate, and involve a great deal of effort on the part of the Worker. In many cases a worker will have to bend over to release each of the four legs individually. This is potentially hazardous, since it diverts his concentration from the passing vehicular traffic. He also may have to remove his gloves to manipulate the pull pins.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,008 to Dicke et al discloses an alternative attachment arrangement which also utilizes a locking pin, as in the previously discussed arrangements, but further includes a leaf spring biased lever arm attached to the proximal end of the pin (that end which is closest to the worker). This handle permits the worker to depress the handle end of the lever arm to actuate the pin out of the hole in the stand base plate, thereby pivotally releasing the leg from the base plate. The bias of the leaf spring on the lever arm will return the pin to the engaged position as soon as the lever arm is released by the worker and the pin is aligned with a hole in the stand. This arrangement is an improvement over the previous methods, but still requires considerable effort on the part of the worker to engage the lever arm and depress it to release the leg. The worker must either bend over to squeeze it with his hand, or, with a fairly coordinated effort, push and depress the lever arm with his foot sufficiently to disengage the pin from the hole. Furthermore, it is necessary to repeat this effort four times in order to individually release all of the legs.
Another problem common to sign stands of the type described is the effect of repeated pivoting of the legs on the thin metal leg outer walls about the circumference of the fastener holes. Typically, the sign stands are roughly handled by the personnel responsible for setting them up and taking them down, with the legs being pivoted forcefully between the stowed and deployed positions. The applied force, combined with constant loading and unloading forces caused by wind and passing vehicles, causes the fastener shanks to contact the inner circumference of the fastener hole through the thin leg wall, causing rapid wear and elongation of the metal, until the fit of the shank within the elongated hole is so loose that the sign stand becomes wobbly. As this wear continues, the stand will eventually become unusable unless the leg with the elongated fastener hole is replaced. Replacing the legs is relatively expensive and inconvenient compared to the cost of replacing the entire sign stand, meaning that the wear of the leg fastener holes is usually the critical factor in determining the useful life of the stand.
What is needed, therefore, is a simple quick release mechanism which eliminates much of the repetitive effort on the part of the worker, and also requires simpler (and thus, safer), less complex motions than are required to actuate current leg release mechanisms. Additionally, some means for reducing wear of each leg fastener hole is necessary to increase the life span of the stand and thereby reduce expense.

Quick release mechanism for a display stand


A method for transmitting digital data to a recipient via a communications network includes providing digital data and digitally signing the digital data using N cryptographic keys. Each of the N cryptographic keys is associated with a same sender of the digital data, and N>1. The recipient receives the digital data and verifies the digital signature using N cryptographic keys associated with the N cryptographic keys used to sign the digital data. In dependence upon verifying the digital signature, the recipient accepts the digital data as being authentic.

It is increasingly common to exchange digital data, such as for instance digital documents and forms, via a communications network. More specifically, digital data is exchanged for purposes relating to commerce, (i.e. on-line shopping and on-line banking, etc.), upgrading or updating firmware or software of computers or other electronic devices, and communicating (i.e. e-mail). Typically, the communications network is not secure and so it is necessary to use some form of encryption or a digital signature, or a combination of these, in order to reduce the risk of private and/or confidential information being intercepted by a party other than the intended recipient. Most often, the communications network is the Internet.
Encryption and digital signing processes both involve encoding digital data in some way using a secure electronic key, otherwise known as a cryptographic key or a cryptokey. Prior to transmitting the digital data via the communications network, a sender uses a secure electronic key to digitally sign and/or encrypt the digital data. The encoded digital data is then transmitted via the communications network, and is received by a recipient. The recipient subsequently uses a cryptographic key to verify the digital signature of the sender and/or decrypt the encrypted digital data. Different types of cryptography schemes are known, including symmetric and asymmetric schemes. In a symmetric cryptography scheme the sender and the recipient are both in possession of identical secure electronic keys, whereas asymmetric cryptography schemes make use of private/public key pairs.
A digital signature or digital signature scheme is typically a type of asymmetric cryptography, which is used to simulate the security properties of a handwritten signature on paper. Digital signatures mainly provide authentication of a "message". In practice, however, this type of signature is not used directly, but rather the message to be signed is first hashed to produce a short digest that is then signed. Accordingly, when it is desired to digitally sign a message for transmission via a communications network a one-way mathematical process is performed on the digital data that comprises the message, in order to generate the digest. The generated digest can be verified to be from the digital data that comprises the message, and typically it is a small amount of data relative to the original data to which it relates. The sender then digitally signs the digest using a secure electronic key, and the digitally signed digest is transmitted along with the message to a recipient. Upon receiving the digitally signed message, the recipient uses a signature verifying process, which given a message, a public key and a signature, either accepts the signature as being authentic or rejects the signature. In general, a digital signature scheme must satisfy two main criteria. First, a digital signature that is generated from a fixed message and fixed private key must verify on that message and the corresponding public key. Secondly, it must be computationally infeasible for a party who does not possess the private key to generate a valid signature reliably within a short time frame.
When using symmetric cryptokeys—a same key for encrypting and decrypting of data, digital signatures function similarly though the verification of the signature is only performable by systems having or having access to the symmetric cryptokey. For example, when a same organization wants to verify communications between different offices, each office is provided with a copy of a same cryptokey and symmetric encryption processes are then usable therebetween for ciphering or for digitally signing of data.
A problem arises when the private key is compromised. For instance, the private key is compromised when an unauthorized party obtains access to or knowledge of the private key. In this scenario, the unauthorized party may decrypt a message that is intended for the recipient and/or may use the compromised private key to digitally sign electronic documents. Accordingly, when the private key is compromised it becomes necessary to generate a new private/public key pair and to remove the compromised key from use such that documents digitally signed with the compromised key are no longer accepted. A simple way to do this is to expire the compromised key and then to require physical attendance at a secured location to receive a new key. In another example, this is done using a master key, which is used only to communicate new keys and is not used for encoding other data for transmission via the communications network. Unfortunately, in the unlikely event that the master key is compromised then all security devices that are associated with that master key become worthless. In particular, the compromised master key can continue to be used by an unauthorized entity to generate valid keys that are not authorized for exchanging data between such devices. For this reason, master keys are protected typically using tamper resistant modules and/or secure physical storage. The high level of security that is necessary to prevent the master key from being compromised also limits the ability of an authorized user to utilize the master key at different geographic locations, since security must be provided to transfer the key from place to place and the destination system must be secure and adapted to interface with the master key module.
A number of variations of the basic digital signature scheme are known. For instance, two or more different sending entities may each digitally sign the same digital data in the fashion that is outlined above. However, in this case each entity merely uses their own private key to sign a digest of the same digital data. This is analogous to each sending entity applying their own handwritten signature to a paper document, as evidence that each sending entity assents to the contents of the message that is being transmitted. If the secure electronic key of one of the sending entities is compromised, then it may continue to be used by an unauthorized party in order to fraudulently sign messages as originating from that sending entity. If both sending entities are required to sign every message prior to the message being transmitted then the effects of one of the keys being compromised may be quite limited. However, in the event that one of the sending entities obtains the secure electronic key of the other sending entity, then that sending entity becomes able to apply both of the required digital signatures to any message they wish. Furthermore, an unauthorized party that is in possession of a compromised key associated with one of the sending entities may digitally sign any message requiring only that sending entity's digital signature or cosign messages that the other entity has already signed. This is particularly problematic when the cryptokey is compromised by the other cosigner. Of course, it is still necessary to use physical security to replace the compromised key.
There is a need for a method and system that overcomes at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art.

Data authentication using plural electronic keys


This invention relates to fitment systems designed to connect filters, collection pouches and drains to surgical drapes used in high-fluid procedures. The preferred embodiment provides a ring-and-groove fluid-tight seal and a large fitment bore that can accommodate passage of kidney stones, bone and tissue fragments and the like along with blood, urine or irrigation fluid. Sealing is accomplished by the interaction of a slightly oversize ring with a slightly undersize groove around the bore of the fitment.

1. Field of the Invention
A variety of surgical procedures such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for removal of kidney stones and transurethral prostatectomies require collection and/or filtration of body fluids such as blood, urine and irrigation fluids (both during and after the surgical procedure itself), and in some instances collection of entrained solid materials (for example, broken stones or body tissue) for subsequent laboratory analysis. It is sometimes desired to collect the solid materials quantitatively, to allow a determination of their total mass to be made. In virtually all cases it is desirable to reduce or eliminate handling of body fluids and collected samples by hospital personnel, in order to minimize the risk of sample loss and exposure of hospital personnel to contaminants such as the AIDS virus.
My invention relates to fitment systems designed to connect filters, collection pouches and drains to surgical drapes used in high-fluid procedures. My preferred embodiment provides a ring-and-groove fluid-tight seal and a large fitment bore that can accommodate passage of kidney stones, bone and tissue fragments and the like along with blood, urine or irrigation fluid.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,102 (Quinn, et al) discloses an enteric feeding bag having a permanently attached valve to which a plug is attached by means of a flexible strap. The plug fits inside the throat of the valve by friction. Quinn cites U.S. Pat. No. 2,777,480 (Munk) as an example of a suitable closure device. Munk discloses a closure element suitable for flexible plastic devises such as toy wading pools. The closure element uses a flexible strap to attach a cup-shaped plug. Sealing is effected by friction, and the internal pressure of water helps tighten the seal.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,895 (Lardner, et al), a screw-type closure uses a partially circular protrusion to engage a lumen. The device is said to be usable for drain closures on plastic bag-type containers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,978 (Martensson) discloses a flexible bag having a separate inlet member and a closing member designed for closing the inlet member from the inside of the bag. The inlet and closing members are stiffer than the bag and are substantially resistant to deformation. The closing member fits inside the throat of the inlet member. The exterior cylindrical surface of the closing member is fitted with annular protuberances or ridges which fit the inside surface of the sleeve, forming a series of seals.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,994 (Bishop) shows a closure device for a urostomy bag. FIG. 1 illustrates the device in its opened condition. Closure is accomplished by depressing a male member into the top of a drainage tube, where the bulging sides of the male member effect a seal. An additional cap, which also works by friction, can be inserted into the bottom end of the sleeve to provide an additional seal.
FIG. 10 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,604 (Morris) illustrates an arrangement used to attach an outlet fitting 153 to a fluid collection system for a surgical drape. Two hollow fittings and a compressible foam washer are involved. Closure is by means of frictional or force fit.
Thus, prior art devices emphasize screw and friction closures. None provides the advantages of a large-bore, snap closure suitable for use on surgical drapes and filters and based upon an oversize ring/undersize groove arrangement that provides a dual fluid seal.

Fitment system for attaching fluid collection devices to surgical drapes


The present invention is directed to system and method capture and process body measurement data including one or more body scanners, each body scanner configured to capture a plurality depth images of a user. A backend system, coupled to each body scanner, is configured to receive the plurality of depth images, generate a three dimensional avatar of the user based on the plurality of depth images, and generate a set of body measurements of the user based on the avatar. A repository is in communication with the backend system and configured to associate the body scanner data with the user and store the body scanner data.

Current systems lack the ability to capture to-scale human body avatars, extract precise body measurements, and securely store and aggregate and process that data for the purpose of data dissemination over on the Internet. In the past, if a person wanted to capture body measurements, he or she would have to either wrap a tape measure around his or her body parts, write down those measurements, and then find a way to store and track those measurements. A person would do this to get fitted for clothing, assess his or her health based on their body measurements, track his or her body measurement changes over time, or some other application that used his or her measurements. This process is very error prone, is not precisely repeatable, and these measurements are not stored on connected servers where the information is accessible and the user cannot track his or her changes. In addition, there is no system that can capture these body measurements and then generate a to-scale human body avatar.
There are a number of existing body scanning systems. For example, TC-2 (NX-16 and KX-16), Vitus (Smart XXL), Styku (MeasureMe), BodyMetrics and Me-Ality are examples of these existing body scanning systems. Each of these systems is a body scanner where the user stands still in a spread pose and the system then create body contour maps based on depth sensors, white light projectors and cameras, or lasers. These systems then use those body contour maps (avatars) to extract measurements about the user. In each case, the body scanners is used to extract measurements for the purposes of clothing fitting or to create an avatar that the user can play with. Each of these known systems is extremely complicated expensive and therefore cannot be distributed widely to the mainstream markets. Furthermore, none of the aforementioned systems offer an online storage facility for the data captured and users can simply use the measurements at the store that houses the scanner. Another missing component in these systems is data aggregation from each of these scanning systems.
There are also a number of existing companies that allow users to enter body measurement data online These companies include healthehuman, weightbydate, trackmybody, Visual Fitness Planner, Fitbit, and Withings and all of these companies allow users to manually enter their body measurements using their online platforms. These companies are mainly focused on the following girth measurements because they are easily accessible: neck, shoulders, chest, waist, hips, left and right biceps, elbows, forearms, wrists, thighs, knees, calves, and ankles. These systems allow the user to track these measurements over time. These companies do not solve the problem because user measurements are extremely subjective, therefore accuracy cannot be determined, user measurements are not repeatable, and therefore cannot be used to form trends. Furthermore, users that have hundreds of additional measurements cannot be manually captured and therefore are not included in the aforementioned company's trend analysis. Also, average users that have extremely short attention spans generally do not want to capture measurement with a tape measure and then input those measurements into an application. This process is time consuming and error prone. Therefore time is a large problem for the current sets of solutions.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method to capture and process body measurements


An interlayer cross-linked smectite is produced by a method which includes the steps of preparing a smectite suspension containing a dissolved water-soluble macromolecular compound, adding a cationic hydroxide oligomer to the suspension thereby subjecting the exchangeable cation in the smectite to ion exchange, allowing the resultant smectite suspension to stand at a fixed temperature for a fixed time thereby allowing the cationic hydroxide oligomer of the smectite to age, separating a solid smectite from the resultant suspension, and heating the separated solid smectite. The interlayer interval of the produced smectite can be controlled by adjusting the amount of the cationic hydroxide oligomer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for the production of a silicate interlayer cross-linked smectite having a desired interlayer interval. The interlayer cross-linked smectite is expected to find utility as a catalyst, a catalyst carrier, an adsorbent, a separating material, etc. Needs are felt for the use in practical applications of various species of cross-linked smectite having various silicate interlayer intervals.
2. Prior Art Statement
The structure of interlayer cross-linked clay will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawing.
In the drawing, pillars 2 of alumina or zirconia intervene between two silicate layers 1 and micropores 3 are present between the two silicate layers which are kept apart by the pillars 2. The distance between the silicate layers is called an interlayer interval 4. No technique has been established to date for the control of this interlayer interval 4.
The interlayer interval of the interlayer crosslinked clay equals the height of pillars supporting the upper silicate layer as observed in the drawing. The interlayer interval is varied proportionately to a change in the height of the pillars. For the production of the interlayer cross-linked clay, a method which comprises introducing a cationic hydroxide oligomer such as of aluminum or zirconium into the space intervening between clay layers of hectorite or montmorillonite by means of ion exchange has been known to the art, for example, R. Setton(ed.), Chemical Reactions in Organic and Inorganic Constrained Systems, pp. 151-164, 1986; S. Yamanaka and G. W. Brindley, Clays and Clay Minerals, vol 27, No. 2, pp. 119-124, 1979. The interlayer interval of the interlayer cross-linked clay which is produced by this method is about 0.8 nm because it is based on the size of the cationic hydroxide oligomer.
The inventors have continued a study for the purpose of developing an interlayer cross-linked clay having a larger interlayer interval and have consequently succeeded in producing an interlayer cross-linked clay having an interlayer interval of at least 20 .ANG. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,713, and Japanese patent publications No. 62-12172, No. 62-41167, No. 62-46489, No. 62-46490, etc.). The clay is characterized by having a water-soluble macromolecular compound coexisting in the clay.
In the practical field, a desire has been expressed for the development of a method capable of producing an interlayer cross-linked clay having an interlayer interval desired to meet the purpose of use.
This invention aims at meeting the aforementioned desire and is directed to a method for the production of an interlayer cross-linked clay having a desired interlayer interval. The interlayer interval, particularly that in the range of 0.1 nm to 2.5 nm, can be controlled with ease.

Method for production of silicate interlayer cross-linked smectite

Agency of Industrial Science & Technology

Ministry of International Trade & Industry


A hydraulic connection via which a fuel injector is connectable to a fuel-conducting component and which includes a retaining bridge having a support surface. A connecting piece of a fuel injector is supportable on the support surface of the retaining bridge. A hydraulic connection being formed between the connecting piece of the fuel injector and a connection. A convexly curved bearing surface is provided on the connection, and a support surface is formed on the connecting piece of the fuel injector. A contact between the connecting piece of the fuel injector and the connection is implemented on the convexly curved bearing surface and the support surface for forming the hydraulic connection. The support surface is designed axially symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axis. The support surface is designed in a widened manner in a direction from the connecting piece toward the connection along the longitudinal axis.

A fuel injection system including a fuel rail and a fuel injector is described in European Patent No. EP 2 375 052 A1. A coupling device is provided, which includes a cup designed in such a way that it is hydraulically coupled to the fuel rail and forms a connection to a fuel inlet portion of the fuel injector. The cup has two boreholes through which screws extend. The ends of the screws are screwed into a plate, which engages at the fuel injector via a ring. The fuel injector is moreover held via a further ring so that a movement of the fuel injector in the two directions along a longitudinal axis is blocked. This known embodiment has the disadvantage that no pretensioning force is transmitted to the fuel injector.
Furthermore, an embodiment in which the fuel injector is sealed via a metallic ball/cone seal with respect to the fuel injector is conceivable. When the fuel injector is pulled against the rail via two screws with such a seal, this results in the problem that flexural stresses, which arise when the screws are unevenly tightened, are introduced into the fuel injector. To avoid this problem, pivoting motions between the fuel inlet portion of the fuel injector and the cup are possible via the ball/cone seal. This, however, then results in the problem that the size increases considerably, in particular along the longitudinal axis. With respect to the space constraints generally found, in particular inside an engine compartment of a motor vehicle or the like, this considerably limits the use of such possible approaches.

Fuel injection system and hydraulic connection to a fuel injection system


An exercise apparatus includes a base and an elongated upright pillar connected to the base. The pillar has a plurality of stop positions therealong. A surrounding member is slidably mounted on the pillar and is sufficiently oversized to permit relative lengthwise slidable movement therealong. An elongated horizontal support bar is fixedly connected to the surrounding member. The horizontal support bar and the surrounding member is moveable between an upper and lower limit positions on the pillar. The surrounding member is selectively fixed to the pillar at the stop positions. The surrounding member slides relative to the pillar between stop positions. A lifting force is applied to the surrounding member by a mechanical lifting aid to assist the surrounding member when sliding relative to the pillar.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to exercise apparatus, and more particularly to an adjustable apparatus facilitating methods to perform a wide variety of exercises, exercise intensities and optional workout style options generally in the manner of the common exercises known as pull ups, push ups, triceps dips, knee raises and knee bends.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
As disclosed in United States Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/013,959, filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Mar. 15, 1996, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, and in PCT Application No. PCT/US97/04618, entitled "Exercise Apparatus and Method of Use", which claims priority from the above-identified U.S. Provisional application and was filed on Mar. 14, 1997, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, the popularity of exercising and the use of exercise apparatus is increasing. Regular and proper exercise with such apparatus can provide increased muscle tone, strength, conditioning, improved posture and overall conditioning. However, most exercise products do not provide the user with a safe, effective, versatile and affordable means of exercising, and this usually results in short term use of the exercise apparatus and a failure to stick to or maintain a regular exercise program. When an exercise device is insubstantial in its design and awkward to use that is how the exerciser generally feels when using it. In addition, because of the limited exercises possible on many of those apparati, the exerciser is forced to utilize a number of different apparati or impracticably large and expensive multi-station gyms in order to facilitate a full body workout.


An apparatus for analyzing, identifying or imaging an target including first and second laser beams coupled to a pair of photoconductive switches to produce CW signals in one or more bands in a range of frequencies greater than 100 GHz focused on, and transmitted through or reflected from the target; and a detector for acquiring spectral information from signals received from the target and using a multi-spectral heterodyne process to generate an electrical signal representative of some characteristics of the target. The lasers are tuned to different frequencies and a phase modulator in the path of one laser beam allows the constructive or destructive interference of the signals on the detector as the laser beams are swept in frequency to be adjusted to achieve greater resolution in one or more selected frequency bands.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to microwave, millimeter wave and submillimeter wave spectroscopy systems and components and in particular to an apparatus and method for modulating or adjusting the phase of the optical beam directed to the source photomixer used in a transceiver for terahertz spectroscopy.
2. Description of the Related Art
Terahertz devices and systems generally employ electromagnetic energy between 300 GHz and 3 terahertz (3 THz), or wavelengths from 100 to 1000 microns (0.1 to 1.0 millimeters), which is also referred to as the submillimeter or far-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
One important application of terahertz systems is THz spectroscopy. Terahertz spectroscopy presents many new instrumentation and measurement applications since certain compounds and objects can be identified and characterized by a frequency-dependent absorption, dispersion, and/or reflection of terahertz signals which pass through or are reflected from the compound or object.
The generation of terahertz radiation by photomixing is a method of generating quasi-optical signals using an optical-heterodyne converter or photomixer. Typical photomixer devices include low-temperature-grown (LTG) GaAs semiconductor devices, which have been used to generate coherent radiation at frequencies tip to 5 THz. The spectroscopy system typically uses two single frequency tunable lasers, such as diode lasers, to generate two optical laser beams which are directed at the surface of the photomixer. By photoconductive mixing of the two beams in the semiconductor material, a terahertz difference frequency between the two optical laser frequencies is generated. In particular, a first laser generates radiation at a first frequency and a second laser generates radiation at a second frequency. The difference frequency, equal to the difference between the first and the second laser frequencies, is swept by the user from microwave through terahertz frequencies by changing the temperature of the lasers, which coarsely changes the frequency of one or both lasers. Other types of tuning mechanisms exist, such as distributed-Bragg-reflector diode lasers with multiple electrodes, grating-loaded external cavities, etc. A terahertz transmitter includes a first photomixer that is optically coupled to the first and the second light source. A first radiative element or antenna is electrically coupled to the first photomixer. In operation, the first antenna radiates a terahertz signal generated by the first photomixer at the difference frequency. A receiver includes a second antenna positioned to receive the signal from the target radiated by the first antenna. The second antenna generates a time varying voltage proportional to the terahertz return signal. A second photomixer is electrically coupled to the second antenna and is optically coupled to the first and the second light source. The second photomixer generates a homodyne downconverted current signal in response to the time varying voltage generated by the second antenna. The downconverted signal is a measurement of the absorption or reflection of the sample material at each terahertz frequency. This is useful, for example, when used in conjunction with computer processing to identify unknown samples by comparing measured results to a library of reference spectra. This apparatus may also be used to characterize the frequency response characteristics of passive or active components and devices such as waveguides, filters, amplifiers, mixers, diodes, and the like designed to work at terahertz frequencies.

Terahertz frequency domain spectrometer with phase modulation of source laser beam


Disclosed are novel bridged bi-aromatic phenol ligands and transition metal catalyst compounds derived therefrom. Also disclosed are methods of making the ligands and transition metal compounds, and polymerization processes utilizing the transition metal compounds for the production of olefin polymers.

A major focus of the polyolefin industry in recent years has been on the development of new catalysts that deliver new and improved products. Bulky ligand transition metal compounds, for example, are now widely utilized in catalyst compositions to produce polyolefin polymers, such as polyethylene polymers.
It is recognized in the art that small differences in the molecular structure of a catalyst compound can greatly impact catalyst performance and that this is often governed by ligand structure. Therefore considerable effort has been expended in designing new ligand structures that may lead to catalysts of enhanced performance. WO 03/09162 discloses bridged bi-aromatic ligands, methods for their preparation and transition metal compounds derived therefrom.
It would be desirable to provide new bridged bi-aromatic ligands and methods for their synthesis. It would also be desirable to provide new transition metal compounds that can polymerize olefins with useful activity.

Bridged bi-aromatic ligands and olefin polymerization catalysts prepared therefrom


A semiconductor device capable of stably operating even at a low voltage, includes: a semiconductor substrate having a surface region of a first conductivity type; a conductive film directly formed on a surface of the surface region at an area thereof, the conductive film containing impurities of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type; an oozed diffusion region of the second conductivity type formed by diffusion of the impurities in the conductive film into the substrate, the oozed diffusion region being formed at an area contiguous to the conductive film in the surface region; a low resistivity region of the second conductivity type extending from an area adjacent to the conductive film in the surface region and overlapping the conductive film; and a DDD structure transistor formed on another region of the surface region, wherein a length of a portion of the low resistivity region overlapping the conductive film is substantially the same as a length of a portion of the deep source and drain regions of the DDD structure overlapping the gate electrode.

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, and more particularly to a technique allowing a semiconductor integrated circuit to reliably operate at a low voltage.
b) Description of the Related Art
In connecting a region in a semiconductor substrate to a wiring formed on the substrate, a highly doped region is generally formed in the surface of the substrate, and thereafter a wiring is connected to the surface of the highly doped region. As the material of wiring, metal, silicide, doped silicon, and other materials are used.
If a wiring is made of polycrystalline silicon or amorphous silicon, a simplified connection structure may be adopted. Specifically, a silicon electrode is first formed on the surface of a semiconductor substrate, and thereafter ions are implanted in the silicon electrode and semiconductor substrate adjacent thereto. The doped silicon electrode and doped region of the substrate contact slightly at the interface therebetween. Heat treatment at the later process diffuses impurities in the doped silicon electrode and substrate region toward the non-doped region under the silicon electrode, and electrical interconnect therebetween is established.
The above processes are advantageous in that they can be performed at the same time when a gate of a MOS transistor is formed and then ions are implanted to the source and drain regions.
Recent semiconductor integrated circuits with very fine patterns have a demand for a low voltage operation of the circuits. As the operating voltage lowers, a voltage difference between high and low levels (logic swing) becomes small and the circuit operation becomes likely to become unstable.
A circuit may become unstable at a low voltage such as 3 V or 3.3 V even if it operates stably at an operating voltage of 5 V.

Semiconductor device having low contact resistance


A system and method for investigating trust scores. A trust score is calculated based on peer transfers, a graphical user interface displays actuatable elements associated with a first peer transfer from the peer transfers, in response to receiving an indication the first actuatable element has been actuated, recalculating the trust score without the first peer transfer.

Knowing the trustworthiness of an individual can be very important when making decisions. Every day people internally judge and gauge whether to trust someone for one thing or another. For example, people may make judgments on whom to trust with completing a task, keeping a secret, babysitting a child, overseeing valuable property, paying back a loan, etc. However, sometimes these judgments are incorrect. The judgments may be clouded by emotions, external unrelated factors that cause a bias, and/or the like. Thus, a system that provides investigative tools to help make better trust judgments based on objective information would be beneficial.
It would be beneficial if a system could log and track peer-to-peer interactions to provide objective information. However, as the internet has become more and more popular, the amount of data associated with peer-to-peer interactions may be enormous and difficult to analyze. Furthermore, the data associated with peer-to-peer interactions may not provide much information about each interaction. The information about each interaction may be limited. The data may not include information, such as the relationship between the peers, if the interaction is associated with another interaction, and/or the like. Thus, a system and method for predicting related peer-to-peer interactions for the purposes of identifying relevant information for aiding users to make trust based judgments would be beneficial.
Additionally, a system that is capable of analyzing the related information for providing easily understandable and objective metrics of trust and/or confidence between individuals would also be very beneficial. It would also be beneficial if a user were able to adjust the data points and/or provide input as to the value of the information being analyzed by the system to determine the objective metrics such that the user may focus the system on the most relevant data and aid the system in providing more accurate confidence measurements.
Furthermore, it would be beneficial to have a system and method that would be able to transfer trust determinations from one individual to another individual based on the interconnected individuals in between, even though the two individuals may not be directly connected.
Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures, wherein showings therein are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure and not for purposes of limiting the same.


A midsole for footwear comprises an U-shaped shock absorbing device including a transparent housing, a plurality of tubes, letters or designs supported on a basic body, and a connecting member. The connecting member fixes the basic body to the transparent housing. The shock absorbing device will not twist and move during walking, will provide an excellent cushioning function and will have a fashion effect.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shock absorbing device for use in a midsole of a footwear such as shoes, sport shoes, military shoes, mountain-climbing shoes, etc., and more particularly, an U-shaped shock absorbing device fixed to an U-shaped groove disposed on the back side of a heel portion of a midsole of a footwear, an U-shaped shock absorbing member slidably fixed to the U-shaped transparent housing whereby the interior of the shoe can continuously absorbed the shocks to the backside of the foot during walking so that the device provides a cushion function and further a fashion effect.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of insoles for shoes, which have a ventilating and shock absorbing system are well known in the art. Such prior art insoles are shown in the following publications. U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,672 discloses a midsole providing ventilation and shock absorption. The midsole is joined to the outsole by means of projections.
Korean Utility Patent No. 90-2,356 discloses a footwear sole providing ventilation and shock absorption and having a ventilation cap having a fixable connection joint cap. The heel side part of the complementary sole has a cork layer on its surface formed as a circular curve part and projections for a cushion are prepared on the reverse side thereof while on the front, a round projected part is formed as well as cushioning projections with ventilation punched holes. The front part of the midsole has a space part with a round projected part prepared at the inner side of the outskirts.
Korean Utility Patent Publication No. 90-2,537 discloses a footwear sole providing ventilation and shock absorption which has an airing cap fitted to its receptacle. The front part of a soft cushion midsole has punched holes while the reverse side of it has shock absorbing projections. The back part of the reverse side of the cushioned midsole has circular projections while the back part of the outsole has an air inhalation and exhalation opening. The projected part on the front of the heel was prepared for fitting to the airing cap which has ventilation holes and receptacles.
Korean Utility Patent Publication No. 90-2,538 discloses a footwear sole providing ventilation and shock absorption and which has a heel cushioned pad on the surface of the outsole. A soft cushioned pad with a surface of a cork layer is fitted to the inside of the cut part which was prepared at the front part of a hard Texon board midsole. The surface of the cushioned pad was attached to the texon board midsole by a textile net. The reverse side of the cushioned pad has cushioned projections through which ventilation holes extend. The reverse side of the heel cushioned pad has a curve part on its surface containing an air ventilation chamber and an air supply passage. The inner part of the air inhalation chamber has shock absorbing projections.
The above-described technology allows good ventilation within footwear as the airing cap has ventilation holes but cannot effectively prevent water from getting into the footwear in bad weather.
However, the shock absorbing material at the heel is not fitted in the inside of the heel of the sole, and the effective shock absorption at the heel of the shoe cannot be expected. Further, the fact that the cushioned shock absorbing material for the heel is not fitted at a Texon board prevents good shock absorbing effect to the backside of the foot and will not remove the negative factors for the shock absorption when the sole of footwear has a heel, such as shoes, military shoes and mountain climbing shoes, due to the twisted hard iron fitted at the Texon board.
In order to avoid such problems, one approach is a footwear sole having a waterproof and ventilation part secured in the midsole or the outsole, and a horseshoe-shaped shock absorbing heel member secured in the heel portion of the sole part in which the waterproof and ventilation part is secured. The waterproof and ventilation part includes a buoyancy plate that blocks penetration of water into the sole during bad weather. The shock absorbing heel member has opposite flanges with an empty space therebetween that insure very good shock absorbing properties of the shock absorbing heel member. However, the horseshoe-shaped shock absorbing heel member can be twisted or moved, and dust gathers thereon during walking.

Shock absorbing device for use in a midsole of a footwear


The present invention includes a matrix display panel assembly (10) having at least two face-to-face matrix display panels (20) that each define an array of pixel components (28) through which light is directed to form a display image. A microlens panel (32, 34) is positioned between the pair of matrix display panels. The microlens panel includes an array of microlenses that receive light propagating through the pixel components of one of the matrix display panels and directs the light through the pixel components of the other matrix display panel. As a result, the panel assembly has improved light transmission capabilities with reduced parallax and depth of field requirements.

Matrix-addressed display systems such as, for example, liquid crystal displays, electroluminescent displays, and plasma displays, include a matrix display screen on which an array of pixels is defined by overlapping electrodes or other electrical or electronic components. A display image is typically formed by activating selected pixels, thereby generating light at the selected pixels or allowing light to pass through them.
Many display panel assemblies include two or three matrix display panels that are stacked together so that display images with multiple colors can be formed. Each matrix display panel defines pixel components that control or generate light of a selected color or group of colors. Pixel components from the different matrix display panels multiply by series transmission to form each of the colored pixels in the array.
In a liquid crystal display, for example, the pixel components are formed by a liquid crystal layer positioned between a pair of glass plates. The liquid crystal layer is typically much thinner than the glass plates. The glass plates of the separate display panels establish distances between the pixel components. These distances are typically greater than the lateral dimensions of the pixel components.
Such stacked matrix display panels can suffer relatively low light transmission capabilities. In particular, it can be difficult to maintain collimation of the light as it passes through successive pixel components. As a result, light rays passing through one pixel component tend to be misaligned with subsequent pixel components and, therefore, blocked by opaque regions of the subsequent display panels.
Another undesirable characteristic of many stacked matrix display panel assemblies is parallax. Parallax can occur because the thickness of the glass plates is so comparatively large that the alignment of the pixel components of a pixel can appear to change when the display screen is viewed from different angles. In a multicolor stacked arrangement, changes in the alignment of the pixel components can cause the color of a pixel to have an undesirable dependence on viewing angle. Moreover, the comparatively long optical paths between the stacked pixel components require a relatively large depth of field in, for example, projection display systems. Such a depth of field can be difficult to accommodate because it requires a light source with a small solid angular extent, as viewed from the liquid crystal display.

Display panel assembly with microlens structure


A pulse width modulation DC to DC converter operates in an open loop mode to convert the DC output of the AC to DC converter to a desired, predetermined DC level using pulse width modulation techniques and a switching configuration substantially similar to that of the AC to DC converter.

Direct current (DC) voltage distribution systems have become more common in the past few years. Automobiles operate on 12 volts, sometimes 6 volts DC. Some large scale power distribution in the former Soviet Union is through transmission of DC voltages. While there are certain inefficiencies associated with distributing DC voltages, one of the more significant difficulties is converting the distribution voltage into a usable application voltage. A distribution or system operating voltage of 12 volts, as in an automobile, may be unusable to power a particular appliance which may require a larger or smaller voltage, or both, to power it. Similarly, a system voltage distribution of several hundred or thousand volts may be practical for the distribution system, but may be inappropriate to power the particular appliances desired.
Attempts to solve power transmission problems and achieve greater efficiency include U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,398 issued to Ertz. Ertz describes a lighting system which converts 2 or 3 phase alternating current input to a direct current output. The direct current output is then distributed to several fluorescent lamp ballasts, which in turn drive fluorescent lamps. In addition, a battery backup system provides a DC power source to the fluorescent lamp ballasts in the event of AC power failure. While the AC power is operating, a battery charger maintains the power level of the battery.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,550 issued to Powell discloses a power conversion system dedicated to providing an uninterruptable power supply.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,590,546 issued to Maile discloses a circuit for providing a regulated DC voltage output from a wide range of AC inputs. The circuit relies on a voltage doubler to boost a low AC input level, and a full wave rectifier when the AC voltage is higher.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,073 issued to Freige discloses a power distribution system for use in desk top computers. The system provides a DC voltage to a number of remote modules which then regulate the voltage down to the required voltage level. Each of the remote modules are preselected for either 5 volt or 12 volt operation. All of the remote modules are driven by a common 33 kHz signal generator to force all of the remote modules to operate in unison and prevent feedback.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,130 issued to Kirchberg describes a pulse width modulation invertor which is intended to accommodate harmonic distortion through the use of "quick" or fast fourier transforms.

DC to DC/DC to AC power conversion system


A snow removal tool having a brush and a handle. The tool can be assembled in a T-shaped mode by locking an end of the handle to the center of the brush. When the brush is not used in the T-shaped mode, the handle is pushed into the hollow tube of the brush and twist locked in a short longitudinal mode. The handle can also be locked in one end of the tube of the brush thereby permitting the handle to act as an extension of the brush when a longer reach is desired.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a snow removal tool having a brush and handle parts which may be assembled in a T-shaped mode, a short longitudinal mode and a long longitudinal mode.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, it has been common to mount a scraper on the end of the handle of a brush to form a tool which may be used for brushing snow or for scraping snow and ice. It is generally known that a handle may selectively engage a brush as taught by Wilkinson in U.S. Pat. No. 607,105. However, the prior art is generally deficient in that it has failed to provide a snow removal tool which can efficiently operate in a brushing mode or a plurality of brushing modes and can also be conveniently operated in a scraping mode.


A descriptive-profile mercantile method, for use at a juncture in a data-communications topology having associated therewith a maintained databank of partial profiles, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: from a user, receiving a transaction having therein a first partial profile; using the first partial profile, searching a databank having a plurality of second partial profiles, wherein is included in said databank at least one null profile so that said searching will always yield at least one proximate second partial profile to the first partial profile; and between the user and the databank, contracting: (I) for the databank to own or represent a right to a first mutually agreed portion of the first partial profile, and substantially thereafter said databank incorporating the agreed portion of the first profile into at least one second partial profile; or (II) for the user to own or represent a right to a second mutually agreed portion of at least one said proximate second partial profile, and substantially thereafter the databank transmitting to the user the second mutually agreed portion of the second profile. The present invention operates best on a brokerage representation model; and thereby provides a means for making viable the economic commerce in information attributes.

Advances in database technology have given rise to commerce in records, files and databases, per se. For example, paying for a database credit check for an individual or buying a mailing list have become common practice. These well-known systems do not address the problems of how the database is to collect all of the attributes of information that are contained therein. Often, the contents of a database are the result of massive clerical efforts, which usually represent the product of many calendar years of transactional accumulations.
Sometimes, whole databases are merged to form higher precision data clusters. For example, voting turnout lists may be integrated with census data to produce a register from which a statistical profile of voters may be derived. Another example relates to merging the records of a credit card company with the records of a mortgage company. For those persons having an entry in each of the constituent record sets, the result is a credit profile of more precise resolution. In this example, the actual economic value of merged records exceeds the combined values of constituent records. This would likewise be true for the inclusion of any additional attribute of information to any record.
Unfortunately, the current state of information commerce is focused on the sales of whole databases, whole records, or evaluations based on single or clusters of records. In commercial applications where specific attributes of information strongly affect the value of evaluations, there is a need in the art for commerce in such attributes. For example, in targeted advertising, every attribute, which substantially affects the probability of that advertisement's success, innately has a discrete economic value. Likewise, in actuarial calculations, how precisely a client can be profiled determines what the probability of profiting from such a client.
More specifically, there remains a need in the art for assigning values to information attributes or for managing value assignments to information attributes. In the absence of such assignments or management, the commerce in information attributes, per se, is substantially precluded; especially in client-specific advertisement profiling, client-specific actuarial targeting, and the like.
The present invention will forthwith be described with a certain degree of particularity, however those versed in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and alterations may be carried out without departing from either the spirit or scope, as hereinafter claimed.
In describing the present invention, explanations are presented in light of currently accepted theories and models; be they scientific, economic, sociological, etc. Such theories and models are subject to changes, both adiabatic and radical. Often these changes occur because representations for fundamental component elements are innovated, because new transformations between these elements are conceived, or because new interpretations arise for these elements or for their transformations. Therefore, it is important to note that the present invention relates to specific technological actualization in embodiments. Accordingly, theory or model dependent explanations herein, related to these embodiments, are presented for the purpose of teaching, the current man of the art or the current team of the art, how these embodiments may be substantially realized in practice. Alternative or equivalent explanations for these embodiments may neither deny nor alter their realization.

Method and stored program for accumulating descriptive profile data along with source information for use in targeting third-party advertisements


A method and apparatus produces an ionic change in fluid by causing the fluid to flow in specified sequence over electrodes having different electrochemical potentials. The last electrode which the fluid contacts is so selected as to provide the desired ionic change. The electrodes are provided in a tube of electrically insulative material such as plastic. At least some of the electrically conductive material of one of the electrodes is disposed downstream of all of the electrically conductive material of the other of the electrodes, so that fluid flowing axially through the tube sequentially contacts the electrodes and is only acted on by the downstream electrode before flowing from the tube. By appropriately selecting the material of the downstream electrode, decoloration of fluid having metal oxides or a REDOX reaction can be carried out.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for effecting an ionic change in fluid to decolor the fluid or to carry out a REDOX reaction, for example.
One of the major problems with fluid containment systems is the deposition of metal oxides and other metal compounds on the inner surfaces of the containment system. These deposits of various metal oxides, in particular, iron oxides, and other metal compounds build up over a period of 5 to 10 years. After approximately 5 years, when a tap is first opened after a certain down time, for example, in the morning after the system has been shut down during the night, the first water flowing from the system exhibits the red/brown color of the iron oxides. After perhaps 10 years, this initial water can become quite strongly colored and a considerable amount of time is necessary to flush the system before suitably clear water can be obtained.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,391 discloses a method and apparatus developed by the present inventor for ionizing, with great efficiency, fluid having a high dissolved solid content for the purpose of eliminating the problems caused by the deposition of substances, such as ferric particles, on the inner surface of fluid piping. According to the method and apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,391, two electrodes of electrically conductive material having different electrochemical potentials, e.g. aluminum and carbon electrodes, are used to provide a voltaic cell structure which employs fluid to be treated as the electrolyte of the cell, whereby the fluid is ionized owing to the electric potential of the electrodes. U.S. Pat. No. 3,342,712 and U.K. Patent No. 1,288,552 also disclose similar apparatus using two electrodes for the treatment of fluids.
Such apparatus are effective for removing an iron compound scale. However, the action of removing such a scale is relatively slow.
To overcome this disadvantage, the present inventor has developed a dual system using three electrodes which has been made the subject of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/657,813. In this system, a third electrode of a metal, for example iron, is used to produce a concentration of metal ions in the fluid to thereby inhibit large amounts of the same ions of other iron compounds from being released into the fluid. Such a three electrode device still employs two of the electrodes to keep the system clean by slowly removing the deposited metal compounds, but the coloration of the fluid is greatly reduced owing to the third electrode to allow normal use of the fluid.
In the research conducted with the dual system having the three electrode design, a satisfactory performance was achieved when the third electrode was made of iron and was incorporated within the original device having only two electrodes. However, when tests were made with an electrode directly in contact with a carbon electrode, but not contained within the body of the original device, the performance was not satisfactory and resulted in even worse coloration of the fluid. This lead to the thinking that the fluid flow and sequence in which the fluid contacted the electrodes could be a vital factor.
A prototype device was made in which two electrodes, carbon and iron, were disposed within a plastic tube such that fluid flowing through the tube would contact the electrodes in sequence. With such a model, a very obvious and strong effect was observed of inhibiting a piece of rusted iron immersed in the fluid from coloring the fluid.
For comparison testing, two pieces of similarly sized iron with similar rust conditions were provided, one piece being immersed in fluid together with the device having the two electrodes described above, and the other piece being immersed in a similar amount of fluid. After about five hours, the fluid with only the rusted iron piece was showing evidence of coloration which then became stronger over time. However, with the device comprising the two electrodes, the fluid showed only slight coloration after three days.
In order to confirm the effect attributed to the positioning of the electrodes, test devices were made as follows:
(1) A tubular iron section positioned coaxially between two tubular carbon sections and inserted into a length of plastic (insulating) tubing, so that the fluid could only contact the internal walls of the tubular sections. All tubular sections had similar inner and outer dimensions and the iron section was in direct contact with the carbon sections. PA1 (2) A tubular carbon section positioned coaxially between two tubular iron sections and inserted into a length of plastic tubing as in item 1. PA1 (3) An iron rod with carbon rods attached at each end of the iron rod. PA1 (a) the electroconductive materials (iron and carbon) of the electrodes were placed in direct physical contact, PA1 (b) a resistor was connected between the electroconductive materials (iron and carbon) of the electrodes, and PA1 (c) the electroconductive materials (iron and carbon) of the electrodes were isolated both physically and electrically so that the fluid provided the only electroconductive connection between the electrodes.
Three small test containers were set up with equal volumes of fluid (water). Test devices (1), (2), and (3) were immersed in each of the test containers, respectively. The axial dimension of the pieces of plastic tubing of test devices (1) and (2) was oriented vertically with the upper end of the pieces of plastic tubing being located below the surface of the fluid in each of the respective containers. This caused the fluid to flow downward through the tubing as was observable by changes in coloration of the fluid described below. In addition, pieces of rusted iron having similar sizes and similar rust conditions were immersed in each of the test containers together with the test devices. The test units so constructed were allowed to stand and were examined from time to time to observe changes in color in the fluid.
Observations of the three test units described above show that the test unit with device (3), i.e. with the exposed carbon and iron rod structure, provided no inhibiting effect on the coloration of the fluid.
Test device (1) showed a strong control in inhibiting the coloration which would otherwise be caused by the iron oxide, whereas test device (2) showed an apparent increase in the rate and degree of coloration.
In order to fully confirm the results provided by these test devices, the fluid was drained from each container and the containers were carefully washed and cleaned to remove any residual stains of the iron oxide. The rusted test pieces of iron were each washed and the same test device with the same piece of rusted iron were then placed back into the container in which they had been previously placed. New fluid (water) was then added in equal volumes to the containers.
This cleaning of the test devices, the rusted iron and the containers and the replenishment of the containers with fresh fluid was repeated several times in order to confirm the reliability of the test results.
The above test results verified that a combination of carbon/iron/carbon electrodes in a tube, which ensured that the fluid contacted the carbon/iron/carbon material in that order, inhibited the colorization of the fluid. The other combination of iron/carbon/iron electrodes in a tube did not inhibit coloration, but could be useful in other applications. Finally, a combination of merely carbon/iron electrodes simply immersed in the fluid with no tube to ensure sequential contact of the fluid with the carbon/iron materials could be disregarded.
It is to be noted that the test device having the carbon/iron/carbon electrodes had been selected in order to investigate a device in which the fluid could flow in either direction through the tube. However, tests were also made with only iron and carbon electrodes provided within a tube of plastic which would be useful in a system in which the fluid could only flow in one specified direction. Tests with the combination of iron/carbon electrodes provided a satisfactory effect of reducing the coloration of the fluid when the fluid first contacted the iron electrode and then exited through the tube after contacting the carbon electrode.
Having confirmed that a necessary condition for decoloration is that the fluid exits the tube after contacting only the carbon electrode, the next point investigated by the present inventor was the conductive relationship between the carbon and iron electrodes. For this purpose, further tests were carried out with devices employing only a carbon electrode and an iron electrode provided within an insulating tube, with the fluid flowing in a specified direction through the tube so as to first contact the iron electrode and then contact the carbon electrode before flowing from the tube.
The following conductive relationships were established in the above-mentioned test devices:
The series of tests run with the devices above all showed satisfactory results in particular applications. For example, device (a) was suitable when the iron oxide coloration was severe and device (c) was suitable in the early stages of coloration.
From the above-described tests carried out by the present inventor, the present inventor has posited that an ionic change in the fluid can be attributed directly to the sequence in which the fluid flows over the electroconductive materials of the electrodes, irrespective of the manner in which the electrodes are electroconductively connected, although such an electroconductive connection seems to have a control on the rate of ionic change. Specifically, it appears that the material of the exit electrode can be selected to effect a desired ionic change in the fluid based on known properties (composition) of the fluid.

Method for providing an ionic change in fluid


A novel frit glass composition is disclosed which is particularly useful to color the soda-lime glass envelopes of incandescent lamps. Specifically, the present glass frit can be combined with various colored oxides to produce the colored coating when fired on the surface of the lamp glass envelope. The glass frit has a composition expressed in terms of weight percent, based on the starting batch formulation, as follows:. ______________________________________ SiO.sub.2 18-25 TiO.sub.2 0-5 ZrO.sub.2 7-12 ZnO 18-21 BaO 4-6 CaO 4-6 Na.sub.2 O 2-4 K.sub.2 O 6-8 B.sub.2 O.sub.3 15-22 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 3-7 F 0-3 ______________________________________

This invention relates to particular zinc borosilicate glass compositions suitable for enamel coatings on soda-lime glass envelopes. More particularly, it relates to said glass compositions which are devoid of both lead and arsenic content in order to reduce any ecological hazards associated with these substances.
Lead and arsenic-free zinc borosilicate glass compositions are known and have been used as colored frits for bonding to both metal and ceramic substrates. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,005,722 discloses such a glass composition for use in ceramic type electroluminescent lamp devices wherein the uncolored frit serves as a binder of phosphor particles when fused to a porcelainized iron plate. Colored enamels using said type glass compositions are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,527,649 which can employ various inorganic pigments such as cadmium, selenium, iron, copper, cobalt and other metal compounds to produce high colored glazes when fired on ceramic ware.
Other zinc borosilicate frit compositions generally containing lead and/or arsenic oxides have also been used as colored enamels for incandescent lamp envelopes. A typical known fit glass for adherence to the soda-lime glass bulb surface and which exhibits a high degree of weathering resistance has the following analysis in weight percent: ZnO--2.2, SiO.sub.2 --20.6, B.sub.2 O.sub.3 --14.8, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --2.2, Na.sub.2 O--1.8, K.sub.2 O--1.2, CaO--1.3, TiO.sub.2 --2.8, ZrO.sub.2 --6.2, F--0.3, PbO--44.4, CdO--2.2. Another known frit class exhibiting less weathering resistance but which has been found satisfactory for indoor use type lamps has a typical analysis in weight percent as follows: ZnO--28.3, SiO.sub.2 --19.5, B.sub.2 O.sub.3 --21.7, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --2.7, Na.sub.2 O--4.9, K.sub.2 O--6.1, CaO--4.3, BaO--3.7, TiO.sub.2 --4.5, F--2.7, Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3 --1.6. Both of said glass frit compositions exhibit a linear thermal coefficient of expansion in the 0.degree.-300.degree. C. temperature range of approximately 70-80.times.10.sup.-7 /.degree. C. in order to match the thermal expansion characteristics of the soda-lime glass envelope when bonded thereto at the elevated firing temperatures. The lead oxide content in the first of said frit glass compositions provides greater water insolubility, hence is responsible for the higher degree of durability or weathering resistance found.
Because of the recognized objections to having either lead oxide or arsenic oxide as a constituent in surface coatings, however, it would be desirable to provide a frit glass devoid of said substances but which can exhibit equivalent weathering durability. On the other hand, any removal of lead oxide from this type zinc borosilicate glass composition results in a zinc borate containing glass which has significant water-solubility that can lead to dulling of the enamel surface when exposed to outside weather conditions. Accordingly, some further adjustment of this type frit glass composition is required in order to produce a satisfactory weather-proof enamel that can be applied in the customary manner to a soda-lime glass envelope.