Methods and apparatus, including computer systems and program products, for creating and using documents with machine-readable codes. A computer program displays a list of fields in an electronic document, receives user input selecting one or more of the fields, automatically generates generation instructions for a machine-readable code to be displayed in a final appearance of the electronic document, and stores the generation instructions in the electronic document. The generation instructions specify that the machine-readable code is to be produced using data to be provided for the selected fields. In some embodiments, the program can also evaluate the user input, as well as user modifications made to the electronic document, to determine whether the machine-readable code is validly configured. By guiding users through the process of setting up machine-readable codes, the program can help users create forms with machine-readable codes that have a high probability of being scanned and decoded successfully.

The present application relates to digital data processing.
Machine-readable codes are physical codes that encode data in a manner that enables the data to be read quickly and accurately by a machine. Examples of machine-readable codes include bar codes and radio frequency identification (RFID) tags.
A machine-readable code is produced by encoding input data according to a symbology or encoding scheme, and then generating a physical code (i.e., a physical representation of the encoded data). The generation of a physical code can be accomplished through many different types of processes (e.g., printing the code on a substrate such as a piece of paper), and generally represents a transition of the input data from an electronic environment to a tangible environment (e.g., a paper environment). As a further example of the different processes that can be used to generate a machine-readable code, the printing process itself can involve many different types of sub-processes. For example, printing a machine-readable code can involve printing in the traditional sense of depositing ink on paper (e.g., to create a pattern of light and dark elements in a bar code). As another example, printing a machine-readable code can involve depositing conductive, semi-conductive, or non-conductive chemicals or other materials on paper or on other substrates (e.g., to create a circuit pattern in an RFID tag).
A bar code is a common example of a machine-readable code. A bar code is typically made up of a pattern of dark elements (e.g., bars) and light elements (e.g., spaces between the bars). In traditional or "linear" bar codes, the dark elements are usually vertical bars of varying width or height (hence the "bar code" terminology). In newer, two-dimensional bar codes, the dark elements can be squares, rectangles, hexagons, or other two-dimensional shapes arranged in two-dimensional patterns.
A bar code can include a clear margin or "quiet zone" around the bar code, a finder pattern to help identify the location and/or the ends of the bar code, a pattern of light and dark elements that represents the data encoded in the bar code, and a pattern of light and dark elements that represents one or more encoded values used for purposes of error detection and correction (e.g., checksum values). A finder pattern can be, for example, a start or stop pattern placed at the leading or trailing edge of a bar code, a bulls-eye pattern placed in the middle of a two-dimensional bar code, or some other predefined pattern placed around the perimeter of a two-dimensional bar code.
A bar code reader such as a pen reader or a laser scanner typically decodes a bar code by scanning a light source across the bar code and measuring the intensity of light reflected back from the bar code. Light is reflected from the bar code in a pattern that mirrors the arrangement of the dark and light elements. A photodiode can be used to convert the pattern of reflected light into an electrical signal, and the electrical signal can be decoded back to the original data by comparing the electrical signal to patterns of light and dark elements defined in a bar code symbology.
A symbology is an encoding scheme for a machine-readable code. Most symbologies were created to meet the needs of specific industries, and as such, they are designed to encode different types and amounts of data. Examples of traditional, linear bar code symbologies include the UPC-A and Code 39 symbologies. UPC-A (Universal Product Code-A) is a symbology that is used to identify retail products. A UPC-A bar code can encode up to 12 numeric digits—a leading digit that usually represents a product type, a 10-digit UPC (Universal Product Code) assigned to the product by the Uniform Code Council, Inc., and a one digit checksum value. Code 39 is a variable length symbology that can encode 44 different characters—that is, a Code 39 bar code can encode messages of different lengths (typically up to 40 characters) that are made up of the 44 allowed characters, which include numeric digits and capital letters. As an encoding example in the Code 39 symbology, the pattern "wide bar, narrow space, narrow bar, narrow space, narrow bar, wide space, narrow bar, narrow space, wide bar" is used to encode the character "A".
Examples of two-dimensional bar code symbologies include MaxiCode, Data Matrix, Aztec Code, and PDF417 (Portable Data File 417). MaxiCode is a symbology that was developed by United Parcel Service, Inc., for purposes of package identification and tracking. MaxiCode bar codes are fixed size matrixes that can represent up to 138 numeric digits or up to 93 alphanumeric characters. Data Matrix, Aztec Code, and PDF417 are high density symbologies that can generally encode several thousand bytes of any type of data (including alphanumeric characters and binary data) in a single bar code.
Although two-dimensional bar codes can encode large amounts of data, two-dimensional symbologies can be complex and difficult to use. For example, the PDF417 symbology specifies that a complete PDF417 bar code symbol is to be produced by stacking codewords on top of each other. Specifically, each PDF417 bar code is to include at least three rows, where each row is made up of a start pattern, up to 30 codewords, and a stop pattern. Each codeword must consist of a pattern of 4 bars and 4 spaces, and must be 17 modules wide. (A "module" is the narrowest allowed width of a bar or space, and each bar or space can be up to six modules wide.)
Moreover, the complete PDF417 specification, developed by Symbol Technologies, Inc., provides many user encoding options: A user can specify the module width, the height of the rows, the aspect (height to width) ratio of a complete PDF417 symbol, the level of data compaction (which allows more than one character to be encoded in a single codeword), and the level of error detection and correction (which allows undecodable or corrupted portions of a symbol to be reconstructed) that are to be used in the creation of a PDF417 symbol.
As a further example of the complexity of the PDF417 symbology, the current PDF417 specification allows the user to select one of nine different levels of error detection and correction. Higher levels allow more codewords to be recovered if the codewords are either un-scannable or mis-scanned, but they require more overhead per bar code symbol. The appropriate level of error detection and correction to use depends on various factors that can affect the legibility of a bar code, including the print contrast between the light and dark elements, the sharpness of the edges of the dark elements, the frequency and size of spots in light elements and voids in dark elements, the ability to produce elements whose dimensions are within allowed tolerances, the clarity of the quiet zones around a bar code, and the smoothness of the surface on which a bar code is located.

Creating and using documents with machine-readable codes


Emergency call-routing apparatus, and an associated method, for use in a packet-based, telephonic network. An emergency call router is positioned selectably to provide local call handling functionality to a local network that is normally connected by way of an access gateway to the telephonic network whose operation is normally controlled by a softswitch. The apparatus is used when, e.g., a total communication link failure condition occurs between the access gateway and the softswitch. The emergency call router selectably routes calls within the local network to permit continued, local calling functionality in spite of the failure of the communication link. High-priority calls, such as calls placed to an emergency dispatch center, are routed within the local network to a designated, local-network station. And local calls are also selectably routed by the emergency call router. A call priority scheme is also used in the event that call capacity is exceeded. Calls of higher priority are permitted while calls of lower priority are blocked.

The use of communication systems through which to communicate data is an endemic part of modem society. Telephonic communication systems are, perhaps, best exemplary of communication systems that have been widely employed and are regularly utilized by large numbers of users.
In a telephonic communication system, telephonic communication of voice, as well as non-voice, data is generally provided. Telephonic communication networks have been installed throughout significant portions of the world, and users communicate telephonically therethrough by way of telephonic, or other communication, stations connected to the telephonic networks.
Conventionally, telephonic networks provide for circuit-switched communications between telephonic stations that are to be connected to effectuate a communication session therebetween. When a circuit-switched connection is formed, a dedicated channel is provided to permit the telephonic communications between the telephonic stations, a calling party and at least one called party, is provided. For so long as the connection is maintained, telephonic communications between the telephonic stations is permitted. As data forming the telephonic communication might only be intermittently communicated between the telephonic stations during the communication session effectuated by way of the circuit-switched connection, the communication capacity of communication channels defined upon the circuit-switched connection might well not be fully utilized. Use of circuit-switched connections, formed in a telephonic network, as a result, inefficiently utilizes the communication capacity of a telephonic network.
Communication schemes which provide for shared-channel communications, in contrast, more efficiently utilize the communication capacity of a communication system, such as a telephonic communication system. Packet-based communication systems, for instance, utilize shared channels upon which to communicate packet-formatted data. When a shared channel is utilized, more than one communication session is effectuable upon a single shared channel. Because packet-formatted data can be communicated during discrete intervals, the same channel can be utilized to communicate packet-formatted data, during separate time periods to effectuate communication services pursuant to separate communication sessions. More efficient utilization of the communication capacity of a communication system is thereby possible, in contrast, to conventional circuit-switched communication schemes.
Various packet formatting protocols are used when forming, and sending, data packets formed of digital data bits. One protocol scheme, the Internet protocol (IP), or IP protocol, is regularly utilized in many different communication systems and communication applications. Communication devices and apparatus constructed to send, receive, transport, and operate upon IP-formatted data can be configured together in a communication system to provide for the communication of IP-formatted data.
Next-generation telephonic communication systems now being developed include telephonic networks that are predicated upon packet-based communications. In such next-generation systems, voice, non-voice, and multimedia communication services shall be effectuable through the use of packet-based communications, using IP-formatted data.
Such a new-generation telephonic network generally includes a packet data network, or fabric, through which packet-switched channels are formed. Devices referred to as gateways are coupled to the packet data network. Devices referred to as gateways form gateways to the packet data network. Gateways are operable, amongst other things, to form gateways to the packet data network from local networks. When communications in a local network are effectuated using a different type of communication protocol than the protocol used in the packet data network, the gateway connecting the local network to the packet data network performs protocol translation, as well as, perhaps, also voice encoding operations.
For instance, a local network might form a legacy, TDM (time division multiplexed) network. The call handling procedures of the local network would therefore be different than that of a packet-based network.
Operational control of the telephonic communication system is effectuated by a softswitch that functionally forms a part of, or is connected to, the packet data network. The softswitch operates to control connection services of the gateways, operates to control call routing based upon signaling information and database information related to the calling party and called party.
Public safety answering points are amongst the communication devices that can be connected to a packet data network by way of a gateway. An emergency dispatch center is, for instance, the location to which an emergency call, such as a "911 call" in the United States is routed. Such a call is originated at a calling station located at a local network, through a gateway connecting the local network to the packet data network, through the packet data network, to the gateway to which the public service access point is located.
While the new-generation, telephonic networks include various redundancies, such as redundant softswitches, in the event of total failure of a communication link between the gateway to which the local network is coupled and a softswitch associated with the packet data network, the call originated at the telephonic station of the local network cannot be routed to the public safety answering point. Other calls analogously originated at the telephonic station of the local network also cannot be completed. Included amongst the additional calls that cannot be completed are calls to a called party, i.e., the terminating station, at the local network. That is to say, even if a local call is to be originated and terminated entirely within a local network, the new-generation telephonic communication system would not be able to complete such a call.
Calls within the local network could still be completed in spite of the total failure of the communication link, but for the external control provided only by the softswitch in the next-generation system. That is to say, the call handling functionality provided by the softswitch, but unavailable due to the failure of the communication link, prevents continued operation of calls within the local network.
If a manner could be provided by which to provide local call control in the event of failure of a communication link, at least limited communications within the local network could still be effectuable. And, if the local calls could still be effectuable, a call originated at the local network for termination at the public safety answering point could be routed, instead, to a local-network, telephonic station thereby to complete the call another party.
It is in light of this background information related to packet-based, telephonic communication systems that the significant improvements of the present invention have evolved.

Call-routing apparatus, and associated method, for providing local call handling functions in a communication network


A speaker support bracket for a monitor that includes an adjustable mounting bracket that can be positioned about the top of a monitor, with speaker platforms that allow the speakers to be seated adjacent the side of the monitor. The adjustable mounting bracket has a pair of interconnected vertical legs that are spaced apart. Each of the legs is parallel at least on side of the monitor. Each of the vertical legs has a speaker support platform with an adjustment arm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a speaker support bracket for a monitor and more particularly pertains to an adjustable bracket system for supporting the audio speakers of a computer about the computer monitor.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of audio speaker supports for computers is known in the prior art. More specifically, speaker supports heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of supporting speakers above the desk top and near the monitor are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
It is known that most audio speakers are placed adjacent the computer monitor on a table or other flat surface of the computer work station. This placement tends to clutter the work area, reduce the amount of useful work space and may impair the computer operator's efficiency. Moreover, access to the speakers may be hindered by other equipment. In many instances the speakers are normally placed on the same table that supports the monitor, they are usually located well below the level of the operator's ears and tend to produce a poor audio output. Sound quality may be further reduced because the speakers are often scattered about the work station and are not necessarily pointed toward the operator. Basically, even though speakers are needed and desired, the average individual places the speakers where ever it is convenient and out of the way of their work space.
By way of example, the prior art includes U.S. Design Pat. No. 366,478 to Daniels, et al. claims an ornamental design for a combined multimedia attachment and speakers for a computer monitor. The design of Daniels et al. shows a support structure that is positioned along the bottom of the monitor, with the support structure having built in speakers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,612, to David R. McNeal is to a bracket that includes a pair of rings suspended from a bracket boom extending from the side of a computer monitor and worksheets are suspended from the rings to allow the computer operator to flip the worksheets over the bracket boom. U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,258, to Chung C. Yu, discloses an "Articulated Support Assembly" for a computer audio amplifier housing. The assembly includes a first arm which can be pivoted from a retracted position in the housing to an angularly-extended position from the housing and a second arm which can be pivoted from a retracted position in the first arm to an angularly-extended position therefrom. An adjustable speaker mount at the extending end of the second arm pivotally receives a computer speaker and allows the speaker to be rotated and tilted at various selected positions on the speaker mount. U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,060, to Sean K. Spoonts, et al, describes a "Mounting Bracket For Computer Speakers" for mounting an audio speaker to a computer, characterized by a mounting bracket having an upper section for engaging the upwardly-facing surface of a monitor. A generally vertical side section depends from the horizontal upper section for engaging a side surface of the monitor. A generally horizontal platform section extends outwardly from the side section for supporting an audio speaker thereon. The mounting bracket is secured typically by adhesive tape to the computer monitor. U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,263, to Kevin W. Mundt, et al, discloses "Attaching A Speaker To A Computer Component", in which a coupling of selected design is configured to detachably secure a speaker to a computer component, by gravity. The coupling is characterized by a pocket provided on the computer which removably receives a flange provided on the speaker, or vertically-aligned projecting elements on the computer which are removably inserted in respective receptacles on the speaker. The speaker is attached to the computer by inserting the flange or projecting elements into the pocket or receptacles, respectively, and lowering the speaker to a position at which the speaker is secured to the computer. A "Means For Attaching Accessories To Video Display Terminal" is detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,070, to Paul Seed. A channel is provided in the front and real edges ol the side and top segments of a rectangular frame which is fitted on the front face of the video display terminal. The computer accessory is fastened to a bracket provided with a pair of flanges which are inserted in the channels.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,434 to Kosmoski et al. comprises an adjustable and universally fitting bracket for mounting loudspeakers outboard of virtually any sized or shaped video monitor, in combination with a loudspeaker housing adapted for adjustable angular engagement with the bracket. U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,314 to Raziano for a support bracket supportable on the upper surface of a television monitor or computer monitor which includes a pair of parallel support arms, the first ends of the arms supported on the forward edge of the monitor surface, and extending rearward to a second end. The arms would be held in spaced apart relation with a transverse support arm, secured to each principal support arms; further is included a pair of rear leg members, extending between the second end of the arms and having lower ends resting on the rear of the upper surface of the monitor; the rear leg members having the ability to be height adjustable so that when the lower ends of the leg members are resting on the rear of the monitor the principal support arms are in a horizontal position in order to support the VCR or other item in a horizontal position on the monitor.
Additional, example of devices that support audio speakers for the computer is U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,320, to Matos et al. is a shelf that attaches to the monitor of a personal computer and supports speakers, as well as other office related items, above a horizontal work surface. Specifically, the invention of Matos et al. relates to a support shelf which positively locks in a selected angularly adjusted position to horizontally support the speakers or other items from a tilted monitor.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,132, to Belle shows an adjustable, reusable device, and a method for its use, for securing computer accessories, such as audio speakers, in a suspended, out-of-the-way position against the upper side surfaces of computer monitors and computer central processing unit tower housings so as to free the work space around the base of monitors and tower housings for other uses.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,942, to Hollenbaugh et al. is a storage devices for materials associated with, and used with a desk-top computer system, and more particularly to a storage device and speaker holder which is adjustably mountable on a computer monitor. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,946, to Hoffman is a saddlebag support for supporting a pair of computer speakers on opposite sides of a computer monitor, above the monitor-supporting surface, wherein the saddlebag support is characterized by a flexible, generally Y-shaped, right speaker support having a pair of parallel monitor top engaging strips for resting on the top of the computer monitor and a similar, flexible, left speaker support having a pair of attachment strips for removable attachment to the respective monitor top engaging strips of the right speaker support.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved speaker support bracket for computer monitor which can be used to keep speakers from resting on the desk with a bracket system for supporting the audio speakers of a computer about the computer monitor. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A system remotely monitors at least one image forming apparatus. The system receives first operation information and second operation information concerning the image forming apparatus. The system is capable of detecting a frequent occurrence of failures in the image forming apparatus based on the first operation information. The system is further capable of detecting a resolution of the frequent occurrence of failures based on the second operation information. In response to the detection of the resolution of the frequent occurrence of failures, the system outputs information that explicitly indicates the resolution of the frequent occurrence of failures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system configured to perform remote management of an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, there has been a system configured to remotely monitor the operating condition of image forming apparatuses, such as a copying machine and a printer, connected to a LAN (Local Area Network).
In such a system, each of a plurality of image forming apparatuses communicates with a monitoring host, which monitors the plurality of image forming apparatuses, through a LAN, a WAN (Wide Area Network), and the Internet. Each of the image forming apparatuses may periodically notify the monitoring host of information about, for example, the number of sheets to print. Also, each of the image forming apparatuses may notify the monitoring host of information about jams/alarms/errors with timing information when such an event occurs.
When the monitoring host receives a notification from an image forming apparatus, the monitoring host stores and manages the notified information. Thus, the monitoring host detects the operating condition of the image forming apparatus and also deals with a trouble occurring in the image forming apparatus.
Also, a system has been proposed, which is adapted such that after a lapse of a predetermined time since an image forming apparatus notifies a monitoring host of an occurrence of an error, the image forming apparatus notifies the monitoring host of a status thereof again to make the monitoring host recognize the termination of the error (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-316668).
For example, one of such systems is configured such that a monitoring host detects a frequent jam occurrence condition by measuring an increase in frequency of occurrences of jams while collecting information about jams occurring in the image forming apparatus (see, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 03-293369). Also, when detecting that an occurrence of an error is left unchecked, techniques of notifying a service center that the error continues to occur in the image forming apparatus have been proposed (see, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-321038).
A result of the detection is notified to an administrator of the image forming apparatus and is utilized for prompting a maintenance operation, such as component replacement. Causes of occurrences of jams include not only those requiring component-replacement maintenance, for example, resulting from the wear of a component of the image forming apparatus, but also many accidental ones due to the state of print media to be fed, which may be effected by temperature and humidity at a given time and due to an improper use of the image forming apparatus.
Hitherto, several methods of measuring an increase in frequency of occurrences of jams in the image forming apparatus have been proposed. However, generally, in a case where a maintenance operation is performed to recover from a jam condition after the monitoring host has detected a frequent jam occurrence condition, the frequent occurrence of the jam is often subsequently reduced, so that no jam occurrence notification is outputted.
Therefore, it may be difficult for a serviceman to determine the termination of a frequent jam occurrence condition only by measurement of a high frequency of jams, which is triggered off by the occurrence of a jam. For instance, especially, when the frequent occurrence of jams due to accidental causes is detected, a serviceman may be sent from a sales company in charge of maintenance of the image forming apparatus to perform an unnecessary maintenance operation. Similar problems occur in failures other than jams.
Additionally, the related system configured to recognize the frequency of occurrences of failures, such as jams, determines only the degree of harm caused by the occurrence of the failure. That is, when no jam occurs, the related system performs no particular processing and cannot notify a serviceman of a frequent jam occurrence condition.

Image forming apparatus monitoring system and method, program and storage medium


A respiration phantom that may be used to perform quality assurance on a radiation delivery system. The respiration phantom includes a human-like skeletal structure, at least one deformable component, and a respiration actuator. The deformable component is positionable at least partially internal to the human-like skeletal structure, has a shape resembling an organ of a human anatomy, and attenuates radiation substantially similarly to the organ of the human anatomy. The respiration actuator is positioned to deform the deformable component with a respiration-like motion.

In radiosurgery or radiotherapy (collectively referred to as radiation treatment) very intense and precisely collimated doses of radiation are delivered to a target region in the body of a patient in order to treat or destroy lesions. Typically, the target region is composed of a volume of tumorous tissue. Radiation treatment requires an extremely accurate spatial localization of the targeted lesions. As a first step in performing radiation treatment, it is necessary to determine with great precision the location of a lesion and any surrounding critical structures, relative to the reference frame of the treatment device. Computed tomography ("CT"), magnetic resonance imaging ("MRI") scans, and other imaging modalities enable practitioners to precisely locate a lesion relative to skeletal landmarks or implanted fiducial markers. However, it is also necessary to control the position of the radiation source so that its beam can be precisely directed to the target tissue while avoiding adjacent critical body structures.
Thus radiation treatment necessitates high precision diagnosis and high precision radiation source control. The consequences of deviating outside the prescribed tolerances for the diagnosis and the radiation source control can be potentially devastating to a patient. Accordingly, quality assurance mechanisms should be implemented to ensure proper alignment and configuration of the radiation delivery system prior to delivering a prescribed radiation dose to a patient.
Conventional quality assurance mechanisms include pointing the radiation source at an alignment marker, delivering a radiation dose to the alignment marker, and then analyzing the alignment marker itself to determine if the prescribed dose was actually delivered to the correct location. If the prescribed dose was delivered as expected, then the radiation treatment delivery system is deemed properly aligned. If the prescribed dose was not delivered as expected, then the radiation treatment delivery system is deemed misaligned.
Conventional alignment markers include silver loaded gels capsules or photographic film canisters that can store readable information about the distribution of the radiation dose delivered to the alignment marker. However, these alignment markers are static objects that neither resemble an actual patient nor move as a patient would due to breathing. As such, prior art alignment markers do not adequately recreate the actual conditions that exist during delivery of a prescribed dose of radiation to a living patient.

Respiration phantom for quality assurance


An antenna system operable to receive radio frequency signals and operable to couple radio frequency energy through a dielectric panel. The system includes an exterior radio frequency coupling module having a plate and a shield electrically coupled to the plate. The exterior coupling module also has a conductive member electrically isolated from the plate and the shield. The system also includes an interior radio frequency coupling module having a plate and a shield electrically coupled to the plate. The interior coupling module includes a conductive member electrically isolated from the outer conductor and a shield. The exterior coupling module is affixed to one side of the dielectric panel and the interior coupling module is affixed to another side of the dielectric panel in juxtaposition to the exterior module. Both conductive members of the exterior and interior module contact the dielectric panel.

The present invention relates to antenna systems for satellite radio communications, and more particularly, to a passive coupling device for a satellite radio antenna system.
Until relatively recently, satellite-based communication systems were used mainly for the transmission of telephone conversations and television broadcasts. Now satellite-based communication systems are being used to transmit radio broadcasts. In particular, the radio industry has recognized that satellite transmission of radio broadcasts allows listeners in cars, trucks, boats, and other vehicles to receive desired radio programming beyond the relatively limited geographic range associated with standard AM and FM radio broadcasting. Thus, for example, using satellite systems a listener can listen to the same radio station across an area of thousands of miles. An example of one currently available satellite radio broadcast service is the Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service ("SDARS").
In order to receive satellite broadcasts, vehicles must be equipped with proper antennas and receivers. Since most vehicles are not yet built with such antennas and receivers as standard equipment, satellite-capable antennas and receivers must be retrofitted on and in the vehicles. Mounting appropriate antennas on existing vehicles presents a particular challenge since it is preferred that the antenna be mounted on the exterior of the vehicle and the receiver be mounted in the interior of the vehicle. Of course, it is also preferred that a wired connection be made between the antenna and receiver.
In many retrofitting applications, glass-mounted antennas are used because of their easy installation. Installing a glass-mounted antenna does not require drilling holes in an exterior vehicle surface in order to mount the antenna and to connect a wire or cable between the antenna and receiver. Thus, a glass-mounted antenna avoids air and water leakage problems, and allows the antenna to be removed from the vehicle without sealing or repairing holes. Although temporarily installed magnet-mounted antennas are available, they are visually obtrusive and require the cable to be passed through an existing door or window opening. As a result, the cables are often damaged.
While glass-mounted radio frequency ("RF") coupling devices avoid the problems of conventional antennas, they introduce different concerns. Current glass-mounted RF coupling devices used in terrestrial cellular communication (which operate in the 800 and 1900 MHz frequency range) exhibit insertion loss characteristics of about 1½ to 2 dB. When these devices are used in a satellite radio transmission system (particularly those that operate above 1 GHz), the loss characteristics increase to an unacceptable level. Loss characteristics are not acceptable due to an increase in the system noise figure ("NF") from the coupler.
Some glass-mounted RF coupling devices compensate for their loss characteristics by using an externally-mounted, low-noise amplifier ("LNA") or other electronics to boost the received signal. While this arrangement may produce more acceptable characteristics, the externally mounted electronics are subjected to environmental hazards and possible tampering. An externally mounted LNA also requires an externally mounted power source or some sort of additional circuitry capable of powering the LNA. An additional DC coupler device can be employed, but this device still requires additional active electronic circuitry and a secondary connection to the power source.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Glass-mounted coupler and passive glass-mounted antenna for satellite radio applications


An engine part that contacts oil during engine operation has a coating layer that provides one or more oil additives into the oil during a desired period of engine use. The coating layer includes one or more oil additives that are incorporated into the oil over the period of engine use as well as a coating matrix that releases the additive(s), e.g. by dissolution or diffusion of the additive(s), into the oil over the desired period of engine use. The additives replenish the oil to maintain or improve oil performance over the period of engine use.

Oils for lubricating engines, such as internal combustion engines, are formulated with a combination of additives for improving and prolonging oil performance. The additives counter oil degradation that occurs during use. For example, thermoplastic polymers with antioxidant additives have been incorporated into engine oil to extend the useful life of the oil, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,066,559 and 4,144,166, the disclosures of which are each incorporated herein by reference. Over time, however, the additives are depleted during use of the oil. Oil degradation and sludge formation occurs due to the oxidative deterioration of engine oil at high temperatures and reaction between the engine oil and fuel, water, blow-by gas (constituents comprising O2, N2, NOx, SOx), or by other means. The trend in recent years has been toward the higher output of a gasoline engine and smaller capacity of an oil pan for the engine oil to save energy, reducing the amount of oil and, at the same time, the amount of additives in the oil.
One proposed solution to depletion of oil additives has been to provide a source for replenishing the additives. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,591,330 (Lefebvre), 5,552,040 (Baehler et al.), 4,075,097 (Paul), and 4,075,098 (Paul et al.) describe oil filters modified to release additives into the engine oil over time. U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,258 to Lefebvre et al. describes a separate canister for releasing oil additives into oil that is mounted between the oil filter and the engine block. The methods described in these patents, however, can provide only limited amounts of oil additives. Further, the methods do not contemplate non-linear rates of additive release. Non-linear rates of additive release would be desirable, for example, to adjust additive release to engine performance or to a desired replenishment plan for a particular vehicle. For these reasons, there remains a need for efficient and effective replenishment of oil additives into engine oil.

Additive-containing, dissolvable coating on engine part that contacts oil


A method of manufacturing a build-to-order PC system unit having at least one hardware component, e.g. motherboard, bearing a unique identifier (“component ID”) in software readable form. The method comprises generating a digital identifier (“system trackcode”) which defines the hardware and software configuration of the item, storing the system trackcode in association with the component ID in a manufacturing database such that the component ID can be used as a key to retrieve the associated system trackcode. During manufacture the component ID is read from the motherboard and used to retrieve the associated system trackcode from the database.

This disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing an item of build-to-order equipment, especially, but not limited to, a personal computer (PC) system unit.
In a build-to-order (BTO) manufacturing process an individual PC system unit is built to a customer's hardware and software specification from a range of available options. For instance, the target system unit might include a certain brand of hard drive, a particular type of monitor, a certain brand of processor and a particular version of an operating system. Before the system unit is shipped to the customer, the selected hardware and software components are installed and tested in a series of manufacturing stages.
In a typical manufacturing process, a respective digital identifier, known as a system trackcode, provides a unique definition of the hardware and software configuration of the system unit ordered by the customer. Conventionally, the system trackcode is stored in a file located on a floppy diskette that travels with the system unit during the entire manufacturing process. However, the current trend within PC manufacturing is to eliminate the reliance on removable storage media and, in the future, many systems built by PC manufacturers will not have a floppy drive installed.
Therefore, what is needed is to provide a method of manufacturing a BTO item which does not rely on removable storage media travelling with the system unit to contain the system trackcode and, in particular, a method which allows automatic retrieval of the system trackcode at various stages of manufacture. In the present context manufacture means not simply the assembly of the hardware components but also software installation and unit testing.

Method of manufacturing an item of build-to-order equipment


A light emitting device having a straight-line shape is provided with: a pair of first and second electrodes each having a straight-line shape which face each other; and a phosphor layer having a straight-line shape provided so as to be sandwiched between the pair of electrodes, wherein at least one of the pair of first and second electrodes is a transparent electrode, at least one buffer layer is provided so as to be sandwiched between the first or second electrode and the phosphor layer, and the buffer layer makes the height of a potential barrier between the electrode and the phosphor layer which sandwich the buffer layer lower than the height of a Schottky barrier when the electrode and the phosphor layer are brought into direct contact.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a light emitting device having a straight-line shape using an electroluminescent element.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional semiconductor light emitting element operates at a low voltage and has high brightness. However, since the element is a light source having a spot shape, it is difficult to use the element as a light source having a straight-line shape or a light source having a plane shape. Furthermore, an expensive substrate is necessary for the fabrication of a light emitting element, which is one factor that increases the cost. In addition, in the case of a thin film type light emitting element, a Schottky barrier is generated at the interface at which a phosphor layer and an electrode are joined, and there is a problem where the injection of carriers is prevented.
FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration of a conventional light emitting element 50. A phosphor layer 53 has a configuration of a recombination type phosphor layer and the phosphor layer 53 having a two-layer structure of an n type semiconductor layer 53a and a p type semiconductor layer 53b is provided. A transparent electrode 52 which is functioned as an electron injecting electrode and a rear surface electrode 54 which is functioned as a hole injecting electrode are electrically connected via a direct current source 55. When power is supplied from the direct current source 55, a potential difference is generated between the transparent electrode 52 and the rear surface electrode 54 and a voltage is applied across the phosphor layers 53a and 53b. Thus, the phosphor layers 53a and 53b placed between the transparent electrode 52 and the rear surface electrode 54 emit light, and the light transmits through the transparent electrode 52 to be emitted to the outside of the light emitting element 50.
Here, depending on the combination of a semiconductor and an electrode, a Schottky barrier is generated at the interface through which the two are joined, the efficiency of injection of electrons and holes into the phosphor layer 53a and 53b, respectively, is decreased. Thus, the system is prevented from becoming more efficient. The problems concerning the Schottky barrier at this joint interface are described in reference to energy band diagrams in FIGS. 15A, 15B, 16A and 16B.
FIGS. 15A and 15B are energy band diagrams before and after contact in the case where an n type semiconductor layer 53a and a transparent electrode 52 are brought into contact with each other. Before contact, as shown in FIG. 15A, the semiconductor and the electrode exhibit different Fermi levels relative to the vacuum level. When the semiconductor and the electrode are brought into contact with each other, as shown in FIG. 15B, the band of the n type semiconductor layer 53a is curved on the contact surface so that the respective Fermi levels coincide with each other, and a large Schottky barrier is generated between the n type semiconductor layer 53a and the transparent electrode 52 after contact. Therefore, the efficiency of injection of electrons from the transparent electrode 52 to the n type semiconductor layer 53a is decreased. In addition, a metal oxide, such as ITO, for example, is used as the transparent electrode 52. Since the work function of such a material is generally relatively large, for example, 4 eV to 5 eV, a large Schottky barrier is generated between the n type semiconductor layer 53a and the transparent electrode 52.
In addition, FIGS. 16A and 16B are energy band diagrams before and after contact in the case where a p type semiconductor layer 53b and a rear surface electrode 54 are brought into contact with each other. In the case of the p type semiconductor layer 53b, when the semiconductor and the electrode are brought into contact with each other in the same manner as in the case of the n type semiconductor layer 53a, the band of the p type semiconductor layer 53b is curved on the contact surface so that the respective Fermi levels coincide with each other. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16B, a large Schottky barrier is generated between the p type semiconductor layer 53b and the rear surface electrode 54 and the efficiency of injection of holes from the rear surface electrode 54 to the p type semiconductor layer 53b is decreased.
In order to solve the above-described problems, the following methods are generally used.
(1) A material having a large work function is used as a hole injecting electrode.
In addition, a material having a small work function is used as an electron injecting electrode.
(2) A layer which is doped with a high concentration is formed in an interface between an electrode and a semiconductor (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2005-294415, and J. Crystal Growth 214/215, p. 1064 (2000)).
(3) A Schottky barrier is made smaller through a reaction in which an electrode material and a semiconductor form an alloy (see, for example, Solid-State Electronics, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp 139-144, 1998).

Light emitting device having a straight-line shape


A method enables a gas turbine engine to be operated. The method comprises supplying cooling fluid into a manifold ring that includes a plurality of distribution ports defined by a sidewall connected by a radially inner wall, channeling the cooling fluid circumferentially through the manifold ring and through at least one distribution port that is defined by a wall that extends arcuately across at least one turbine nozzle, and discharging cooling fluid from the distribution ports radially inwardly towards the at least one turbine nozzle positioned radially inward from the manifold ring.

This invention relates generally to gas turbine engine nozzles and more particularly, to methods and apparatus for supplying cooling fluid to turbine nozzles.
Gas turbine engines include combustors which ignite fuel-air mixtures which are then channeled through a turbine nozzle assembly towards a turbine. At least some known turbine nozzle assemblies include a plurality of nozzles arranged circumferentially. At least some known turbine nozzles include a plurality of circumferentially-spaced hollow airfoil vanes coupled by integrally-formed inner and outer band platforms. More specifically, the inner band forms a portion of the radially inner flowpath boundary and the outer band forms a portion of the radially outer flowpath boundary
At least some known turbine nozzle airfoil vanes are hollow and include a cavity defined therein. At least some known airfoil vane cavities are partitioned into a leading edge cooling passage, a center passage, and a trailing edge passage. Cooling air is supplied to a manifold that extends circumferentially within the engine and around the turbine nozzle outer bands. The airflow is directed radially inwardly through a plurality of distribution ports that are formed integrally with the manifold. Specifically, the distribution ports are circumferentially-spaced about the manifold such to facilitate supplying cooling air to a respective turbine nozzle vane. More specifically, known distribution ports are defined by a substantially planar radially inner surface that extends across the port to an annular sidewall. To facilitate distributing the cooling airflow across the turbine nozzle airfoil vane cooling passages, known distribution ports include a plurality of openings that extend through the distribution port sidewall. Accordingly, the openings are oriented approximately ninety degrees from the distribution port radially inner surface.
During operation, airflow channeled to the distribution ports is forced radially inward towards the nozzle cavities through the distribution port openings. The airflow entering the distribution ports impinges against the radially inner surface of the ports and is changed in flow direction through the port openings. However, as the airflow changes flow direction, turbulence and pressure losses are generated. Moreover, the turbulence and pressure losses may adversely effect cooling airflow supplied to the airfoil vane cavity center cooling passage. Over time continued operation with decreased cooling of the center cooling passage, may limit a useful life of the turbine nozzle.

Methods and apparatus for supplying cooling fluid to turbine nozzles


A mechanical packer (10) for injecting repair compound into a damaged concrete structure (13) comprises a rigid insertion portion (20) having distal (24) and proximal ends (26). A feed stem (22) that can be broken off is attached to the proximal end (26) of the insertion portion (20). A passageway (40) allows the repair compound to pass through the packer and into the damaged structure. The packer (10) further includes a check valve (42) positioned in the passageway (40) that allows the repair compound to remain under pressure in the damaged structure, until it cures, even after the feed stem has been broken off.

Mechanical packers, or packers, are commonly used to inject liquids under pressure into cracked and damaged concrete to fill voids thereby stopping leaks and further degradation of the concrete. The repair compounds injected usually are an epoxy or a polyurethane that set or harden over time in the voids in the damaged concrete. Metallic packers are typically used in medium to high pressure applications where the concrete may be severely damaged while plastic packers are typically used in low pressure applications where the damage to the concrete is less severe.
In many instances, the packer has a feed tube that extends a distance from the concrete structure after the packer is inserted. The packer either remains in the structure, or is removed only after the repair compound has set. One such packer, shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,344 to Nordvall issued on Dec. 19, 1995, discloses a concrete injection mechanism with an expandable end portion. The expandable end portion, which is located in a pre-drilled bore in the concrete, works in conjunction with a non-return valve. As a liquid repair material is forced under pressure into the injection mechanism, the diameter of the expandable end increases before the non-return valve opens to release the pressurized material into the concrete, thus securing the injection mechanism in the bore. However, the feed pipe cannot be disconnected and the outer end removed until the material is allowed to harden, as the repair material would no longer be held under pressure.


Embodiments of the present invention relates to hydraulically actuated tools, which may be used to actuate a liner hanger assembly. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a hydraulic setting tool for use in wellbore operations. The setting tool includes a first tubular member and a second tubular member disposed around the outer diameter of the first tubular member. A piston is mechanically attached to an upper portion of the second tubular member and adapted to move axially in relation to the first tubular member. The piston acts to transmit a force to the second tubular member. A slip assembly is operatively connected to the second tubular member and the second tubular member transmits the force to the slip assembly thereby actuating the slip assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to methods and apparatus for completing a well. Particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to hydraulically actuated tools, which may be used to set a liner hanger assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the drilling of oil and gas wells, a wellbore is formed using a drill bit that is urged downwardly at a lower end of a drill string. After drilling to a predetermined depth, the drill string and the bit are removed and the wellbore is lined with a string of casing. An annular area is thus formed between the string of casing and the formation. A cementing operation is then conducted in order to fill the annular area with cement. The combination of cement and casing strengthens the wellbore and facilitates the isolation of certain areas of the formation behind the casing for the production of hydrocarbons.
It is common to employ more than one string of casing in a wellbore. In this respect, a first string of casing is set in the wellbore when the well is drilled to a first designated depth. The first string of casing is hung from the surface, and then cement is circulated into the annulus behind the casing. The well is then drilled to a second designated depth, and a second string of casing, or liner, is run into the well. The second string is set at a depth such that the upper portion of the second string of casing overlaps with the lower portion of the upper string of casing. The second "liner" string is then fixed or "hung" off of the inner surface of the upper string of casing. Afterwards, the liner string is also cemented. This process is typically repeated with additional liner strings until the well has been drilled to total depth. In this manner, wells are typically formed with two or more strings of casing of an ever-decreasing diameter.
The process of hanging a liner off of a string of surface casing or other upper casing string involves the use of a liner hanger. The liner hanger is typically run into the wellbore above the liner string itself. The liner hanger is actuated once the liner is positioned at the appropriate depth within the wellbore. The liner hanger is typically set through actuation of slips which ride outwardly on cones in order to frictionally engage the surrounding string of casing. The liner hanger operates to suspend the liner from the casing string. However, it does not provide a fluid seal between the liner and the casing. Accordingly, it is desirable in many wellbore completions to also provide a packer.
During the wellbore completion process, the packer is typically run into the wellbore above the liner hanger. A threaded connection typically connects the bottom of the packer to the top of the liner hanger. Known packers employ a mechanical or hydraulic force in order to expand a packing element outwardly from the body of the packer into the annular region defined between the packer and the surrounding casing string. In addition, a cone may be driven behind a tapered slip to force the slip into the surrounding casing wall and to prevent upward packer movement. Numerous arrangements have been derived in order to accomplish these results.
Liner top packers are commonly run with liner hangers to provide a fluid barrier for the annular area between the casing and the liner. Liner top packers run with liner hangers typically include a tubular member with a seal bore in it that is run on the top end of the packer. This tubular member is commonly referred to as a polished bore receptacle (PBR) or tieback receptacle. This PBR provides a means for a tieback with a "seal stem" or tubular at a later date for remediation or production purposes. The liner top packers are typically set by compressive force transmitted to the packer from the landing string through the PBR. There is typically a seal or seals between the PBR and the body of the packer that allow axial motion of the PBR relative to the liner top packer body. These seals become an integral part of the wellbore when the PBR is tied back. These seals are typically constructed from elastomers, which must be carefully selected to ensure fluid and temperature compatibility with the anticipated downhole conditions. If these seals were to leak, costly remediation would be required.
Hydraulic liner hangers typically have ports disposed through the wall of the liner hanger body that allow fluid to pass into a hydraulic cylinder or piston located external to or in the wall of the liner hanger body. As pressure is applied to the cylinder or piston, a mechanical force is generated to urge the slips up the taper of the cones until they frictionally engage the slips with the inside of the casing wall. This mechanical force is typically imparted along the axis of the liner hanger body or parallel to the axial movement of the slips. Once the slips are actuated and the liner hanger is set, the cylinder or piston and the respective seals become an integral part of the wellbore and are required to function for the life span of the well. The ports and seals disposed between the cylinder or piston and the liner hanger body create potential leak paths. Failure of the cylinder or piston or the respective seals will typically result in costly remedial work to repair the leak. In addition, high downhole temperatures place great demands on the elastomer seals typically used in conjunction with the cylinders or pistons in hydraulic liner hangers. High downhole pressures induce high burst and collapse loads on the hydraulic cylinder or piston along with imparting additional stresses on the seals. The required thickness of the cylinder or piston can create compromises in liner hanger body thickness, which would reduce the pressure and load capacity of the liner hanger body.
Hydraulic liner hangers typically have an actuating control mechanism consisting of shear screws or rupture discs that prevent movement of the hydraulic cylinder or piston to prevent actuation of the slips until a specific internal pressure has been reached. If this pressure is exceeded or the actuating control mechanism is prematurely actuated, the slips will be activated and any subsequent hydraulic pressure will directly act on the cylinder or piston to set the slips. If the actuation control mechanism is actuated late, other hydraulic equipment may be actuated out of the desired sequence. The relatively small piston area of a typical hydraulic cylinder combined with the relatively large seals required to place the cylinder around the liner hanger body can lead to unfavorable ratios of activation force to seal friction, which in turn can lead to inaccuracies in the activation pressures.
Typically, the hydraulic cylinders or pistons for hydraulic liner hangers come into contact with wellbore production fluids and are thus considered flow-wetted parts. The hydraulic cylinders or pistons are typically constructed from the same material as the liner body being used to ensure compatibility with the production fluids. This can significantly increase the cost of construction of the liner hanger assembly.
In challenging well conditions, such as horizontal wells or wells with debris or contaminants, the force required to activate the slips on the liner hanger is critical for successful hanger operation. In deviated or horizontal wells, solids may fall out of suspension from the drilling fluids and accumulate on the lower side of the wellbore. In horizontal or deviated wellbore operations, the liner hanger typically rides on the lower side of the wellbore during run in. The liner hanger slips that are located on the low side of the wellbore are required to move up the cone during actuation in order to engage the casing. Furthermore, all of the slips on the slip assembly are axially fixed together to ensure centralization of the liner and to provide for an even loading of the slips onto the inner surface of the casing. If the slips disposed on the lower side are allowed to contact the casing before the remaining slips, then the remaining slips will not engage the casing until the cones become centralized in the wellbore. Since the plurality of cones is disposed on the liner hanger body, the liner will have to be lifted by the lower slips to centralize the cones, which can require a considerable force. If insufficient hydraulic force is available to centralize the liner alone, then a combination of hydraulic force on the slips and downward movement of the cone and liner will be required to hold the slips stationary while the cones ride up the slips. If the friction of the slips on the lower side of casing combined with the hydraulic force on the slips is less than the force required to "ramp" the cones up the slip, then the cones will not ride up the slips sufficiently to radially extend the slips to a point where the remaining slips become engaged with the casing.
If the liner being run into the wellbore is short in length or very light in weight, it can be challenging to determine whether the running tools have been released from the liner by simply raising the landing string. Difficulty in determining whether the running tools have been released can also be incurred if the well is deviated or horizontal. Release of the running tools from the liner can be determined by a loss of weight from the landing string. To overcome this challenge, liners may also be run with hold down devices, such as a hydraulic actuated hold down sub that provides a means of anchoring the liner so that it will resist upward movement. Also bi-directional gripping slip devices are known to maintain the compressive force in the slips that is applied to the liner hanger after it is set. However, if the liner is in a deviated well, then applying adequate compressive force can prove difficult due to the frictional drag created between the wellbore and the landing string. Currently, hold-down devices and known bi-directional slip devices add considerable complexity to the liner hanger assembly, in particular when utilized with rotating liner applications.
As a liner is run into a wellbore, fluid along with cuttings and other solids are displaced from the well bore and urged past the outside of the liner. When the fluid traverses past the top of the PBR and the running tools, the velocity of the fluid decreases due to entering a larger annulus. This decrease in fluid velocity negatively affects the ability of the fluid to carry solids and therefore, causes the heavier solids in the fluid to accumulate at the top of the liner. Consequently, the solids may enter the area around the running tools located within the PBR causing difficulties in releasing or retrieving the running tools.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved device and method for setting a liner within a wellbore.


A surgical device is provided for forming a channel through or into tissue utilizing both mechanical energy and laser energy. The device includes a needle for forming the first part of the channel. The needle has an open bore. Mounted within the bore is an optical fiber for emitting laser energy to form the balance of the channel.

A human heart receives its blood supply from the coronary arteries which branch out and around the heart muscle. Conversely, in a reptile, little or no arterial supply of blood is provided to the heart muscle. Instead, the blood supply is mainly delivered through the inside wall of the heart chamber.
Modifying a human heart to imitate the blood delivery method of a reptile heart is currently being used as an alternative or adjunct to coronary artery bypass graft surgery and coronary balloon angioplasty. Normally, a person can only undergo coronary bypass surgery twice, since the risks will begin to outweigh the benefits after that point. Thus, in the past, a patient who has already had two coronary bypass surgeries was left with no recourse. Others have failed repeated coronary balloon angioplasties, and many persons are not suitable candidates for coronary bypass surgery or coronary balloon angioplasty. These persons likewise are left with no recourse.
Early attempts to imitate the reptilian condition in mammals, known as transmyocardial revascularization (TMR), consisted of producing tiny channels in mammalian and human hearts with needles or hot wires. This method met with limited success since, although the channels closed by clotting at the outside surface of the heart, due to exposure to air, and did allow for some internal blood delivery, the channels soon healed over entirely and failed to continue the blood supply. Early attempts were also made to graft a blood vessel from the aorta directly into the heart muscle to provide an internal source of blood. While some benefits were seen, the surgery was technically demanding and the procedure was eclipsed by the introduction of coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
To overcome these problems, Mahmood Mirhoseini and Mary M. Cayton suggest transmyocardial revascularization by using a high-powered CO.sub.2 laser to make the channels. Mirhoseini M., Cayton M. M., Revascularization of the Heart by Laser, J Microsurg 2:253, June, 1981. The laser forms each channel by vaporizing a passageway completely through the wall of the heart. The relatively clean channel formed by the laser energy prevents the channel from healing over, and the channel either closes by clotting at the heart's outer surface, due to exposure to air, or manual pressure can be applied until bleeding from the channel ceases. However, if bleeding cannot be stopped, or if bleeding resumes at a later time, the patient may require surgery or may die.
Generally, it is desired that the channels be made primarily within the heart's inner surface (endocardium) since the endocardium has a greater need of an alternative supply of blood than the heart's outer surface (epicardium). It would be desirable not to create too large a channel through the epicardium because the channel must clot and/or heal at the heart's surface to prevent copious blood loss due to the forceful pumping action of the heart. It would be desirable to produce a channel which is widest at the point the channel exits the inner surface of the heart chamber, admitting a larger volume of blood and being less susceptible to clotting or healing.
The current laser devices used to perform transmyocardial revascularization are inefficient at creating desirably shaped channels within the endocardium. For instance, a high power (i.e., 1,000 watt) carbon dioxide laser, whose beam is focused at the heart's surface, can make a channel completely through the heart wall in one shot in approximately 50 milliseconds, during diastole, when the heart is momentarily at rest. The channel, however, is usually wider in the epicardium than in the endocardium, making clotting or healing at the heart's outer surface less secure and making closure at the heart's inner surface more likely.
The prior art also uses several mirrors to reflect carbon dioxide laser energy toward the tissue to be vaporized. Maintaining the proper alignment of these mirrors at all times, however, is difficult and inconvenient for the operator.
Further, the use of less powerful lasers whose energy can be transmitted through optical fibers, such as argon-ion have also been proposed. Lee G. et al., Effects of Laser Irradiation Delivered by Flexible Fiberoptic System on the Left Ventricular internal Myocardium, Am Heart J., September, 1983. However, if the laser energy is applied to make the channel completely through the heart wall, the laser must be operated for a longer period of time than if it were used only to form a channel through the endocardium. If the procedure cannot be completed during diastole, within approximately 0.6 seconds, between heartbeats when the heart's electrical activity is minimal, a life threatening arrhythmia may result, and damage to the heart muscle during its compression may occur.
The present invention provides an improved device and procedure which overcomes the above-discussed problems by combining mechanical energy with laser energy and enabling the laser energy to be emitted directly onto the tissue to be vaporized.

User actuated laser energy device and procedure for forming a channel within tissue


A pixel, according to the invention, comprises a pixel electrode, a data line, and a switch element. The switch element comprises a gate electrode, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a semiconductor layer. The first electrode is electrically connected to the pixel electrode and comprises a first portion and a second portion. The second portion has a curved structure and comprises a first terminal connected to the first portion and a second terminal. The first terminal of the second portion is substantially aligned with the second terminal thereof. The second electrode is electrically connected to the data line. The second electrode forms or the second electrode and the data line together form a concave area where the first electrode is disposed in. The semiconductor layer is disposed between the first electrode, the second electrode, and the gate electrode.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a pixel and a switch element thereof, and more particularly to a pixel and a switch element thereof in a liquid crystal display panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Given requirements for moving image quality, display devices driven by high frequency signals have been developed, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) devices with a driving frequency of 120 Hz. For high frequency LCD devices, two issues for LCD design must be considered, one is RC delay time of gate lines, and the other is charging capability of thin film transistors (TFTs) within pixels. Problems relating to RC delay time of gate lines are solved by forming gate lines from low impedance metal materials. As for charging capability of TFTs within pixels, the channel width of the TFTs within the pixels is increased to enhance the charging capability of TFTs.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional thin film transistor of a pixel in a driving frequency of 60 Hz. A source electrode SE is electrically connected to a pixel electrode PE. A drain electrode DE is electrically connected to a data line DL. A gate electrode GE is electrically connected to a scan line SL. An amorphous semiconductor layer AS is disposed between the source and drain electrodes SE and DE and the gate electrode GE. The scan line SL comprises the gate electrode GE, in other words, the gate electrode GE is provided by a part of the scan line SL. FIG. 2 shows voltage VPE of the pixel electrode PE, voltage VDL of the data line DL, and voltage VSL of the scan line SL of the pixel of FIG. 1 in a driving frequency of 60 Hz. According to FIG. 2, during a predetermined charging time TCH2, the voltage VPE of the pixel electrode PE rises and is almost equal to the voltage VDL. The charging capability of the TFT is approximately equal to 99%. FIG. 3 shows voltage VPE of the pixel electrode PE, voltage VDL of the data line DL, and voltage VSL of the scan line SL of the pixel of FIG. 1 in a driving frequency of 120 Hz. Referring to FIG. 3, since the charging time TCH3 is shorter than the charging time TCH2, the charging capability of the TFT is greatly degraded.
FIG. 4 shows one conventional TFT with an increased channel width. Referring to FIG. 4, area of the gate electrode GE, the drain electrode DE, and the amorphous semiconductor layer AS are increased to increase the channel width of the TFT. Thus, the charging capability of the TFT is enhanced to 90% in driving frequency of 120 Hz. However, a gate-source capacitor (Cgs) and a gate-drain capacitor (Cgd) are also increased, resulting in increase of RC delay time.
FIG. 5 shows another conventional TFT with an increased channel width. Referring to FIG. 5, a drain electrode is formed by "UU" form to increase channel width. The channel width is increased, and a gate-source capacitor (Cgs) is decreased. However, a gate-drain capacitor (Cgd) is greatly increased, resulting in increase of RC delay time. Moreover, the TFT with the "UU" form occupies a large area, and aperture ratio of pixels is decreased.


A method of controlling the flow of glass through multiple orifices in which a plurality of closely spaced vertical plungers have cylindrical lower portions and oval upper portions. The upper portions of the plungers are engaged and supported in closely spaced side-by-side relationship in a clamping mechanism, in which each plunger is individually adjusted independently of the other plungers. The plungers are reciprocated simultaneously for controlling the flow of glass through the orifices.

In the manufacture of glass articles, it is common to provide a glass forehearth and multiple orifices which are controlled by reciprocable needles or plungers in order to provide the necessary uniform weight of gobs. Plural needles and orifices are utilized in order to maximize glass production.
Typical systems are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,529,948, 1,792,932, 1,926,764, 3,711,266, 4,478,631, 4,554,000, 4,581,054 and 4,793,849.
In such systems, the plungers are conventionally round in cross section. When the plungers are long, on the order of 30" to 48" long, with diameters about 2 to 21/2" the strength of the plungers may not be adequate.
Among the objectives of the present invention are to provide a multiple orifice feed system wherein the plungers are configured such that they have greater strength and durability; wherein the increased strength is achieved without affecting the placement of the plungers; and wherein the plungers can be positioned in closely spaced relationship as desired.
In accordance with the invention, a multiple glass feed system is provided for use with a glass forehearth including a plurality of closely spaced plungers, each of which is individually adjustable relative to the other. The upper end of each plunger is oval in cross section and the lower end is round. The oval portions of the plungers are provided in side by side relation with the long axis of each oval portion being parallel to the long axis of the adjacent plungers.

Method of controlling glass flow through multiple orifices utilizing reciprocating plungers


A column set server adapts to data use patterns by data consumers by modifying how a table produced by a data producer is partitioned into separate column sets to reduce the waste incurred in accessing the data by multiple consumers of the data. For example, the column set server adjusts a column set distribution when a new consumer process is added, when one is retired, or when relative data set size ratios change.

1. Technical Field
This invention pertains in general to data processing, and in particular to the separation of large amounts of data into smaller partitions to improve throughput and/or speed in subsequent analysis.
2. Description of Related Art
For processing purposes, data is often organized into tables having rows and columns. An individual entry in a table at the intersection of a row and column is referred to as a field. Once a table is produced, a consumer process may access selected rows of the table, but may not need to access all fields in the selected rows. However, the consumer process reads all data in the selected rows at least once, including fields that are not needed. These unneeded fields are then discarded. Reading unneeded fields and then discarding them is wasteful in terms of processing time and resources.
Some developers have attempted to reduce the waste involved in reading and discarding unneeded fields by altering the design of the data tables to more closely follow how the data tables will be used. This requires the developer to decide how to split up columns of the data into sets so that consumer processes read less unneeded fields. Conventionally, these are decisions made by developers when they establish the design of the data tables. However, if a new consumer is added to the mix, or if one is retired, or if the access pattern to the data changes in other ways, the system suffers from the inefficiency. In some cases, the developer may be able to manually redesign the layout of the data tables which requires reshuffling the data and potentially requires changes to the software infrastructure.


When the magnet holding spring is in the deployed state of the plate-like shape, the auxiliary pole is beforehand fixed to one of the side-plates, then the magnet holding spring is bent into a “]”-like sectional shape. As a result, the magnet holding spring and the auxiliary pole that are assembled integrally constitute the sub-assy. Convex parts are formed on the auxiliary pole. The auxiliary pole is fixed to one of the side-plates by press fitting the convex parts to the fitting holes formed on one of the side-plates. The auxiliary pole is laid on one of the side-plates in the direction of a plate thickness for positioning before forming the convex parts on the auxiliary pole. In the positioned state here, by embossing the auxiliary pole, the convex parts are formed on the auxiliary pole, and at the same time, the convex parts are press fit into the fitting holes thus the auxiliary pole is fixed to one of the side-plates.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magneto field type motor and a method of manufacturing it. The motor has an auxiliary pole made of a magnetic material that is arranged to an increasing magnetic flux side of a main magnetic pole, which is made of a permanent magnet, while the main magnetic pole and the auxiliary pole are fixed to a yoke via a magnet holding spring.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a magneto field type motor fixed to an inner circumference of a yoke by using a permanent magnet as a main magnetic pole is known. According to this magneto field type motor, referring to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 9-168245, for example, the revolving speed in a low current region can be raised without reducing the torque in a high current region by arranging an auxiliary pole that is made of a magnetic material (iron, for example) adjoining to a increasing magnetic flux side of the main magnetic pole. Consequently, the starting ability at normal temperatures can be raised.
In addition, with the above-mentioned conventional technology, a magnet holding spring having a "]"-like sectional shape (i.e. like three sides of a rectangle, or nearly U-shape in cross section) opened to the center of the yoke is used as a means for fixing the main magnetic pole and the auxiliary pole to the inner circumference of the yoke.
The method of fixing the main magnetic pole and the auxiliary pole to the inner circumference of the yoke using the magnet holding spring is explained below.
First, after fixing the magnet holding spring in the predetermined position of the circumference in the yoke, a magneto insertion space is secured with a jig among the magnet holding springs that adjoin each other around the circumference of the inner peripheral wall of the yoke.
Then, attachment of the main magnetic pole and the auxiliary pole is completed by inserting the main magnetic pole and the auxiliary pole in the magneto insertion space in an axial direction simultaneously, and pushing out the jig from the inside of the yoke synchronizing with an insertion operation of the main magnetic pole and the auxiliary pole.
By the way, since the main magnetic pole is magnetized when all the main magnetic poles and auxiliary poles are attached to the yoke, the auxiliary pole cannot be magnetically attached to the main magnetic pole when the main magnetic pole and the auxiliary pole are inserted in the magneto insertion space in the axial direction.
For this reason, a certain device is needed so that the main magnetic pole and the auxiliary pole do not come apart at the time of assembling.

Magnetic holding spring for magneto field type motor and manufacturing thereof


A tooth brush device having bristle touch-points composed of a polymer material (e.g., silicone) provides improved biofilm removal from teeth. The tooth brush device comprises a head with an apex, a base opposite the apex, a front surface, and a back surface opposite the front surface. The front surface of the head includes bristle touch-points arranged along rows. The rows are arranged orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the head extending from the apex of the head to the base of the head. Each of a plurality of the bristle touch-points is a single solid elongate structure extending from the head and is composed of a polymer material. The device further includes a neck coupled to the base of the head and a handle coupled to the head via the neck.

The disclosure relates generally to a toothbrush, and more particularly to tooth cleaning, and gum muscle and tissue massage, stimulation, or treatment that combines specific geometry, material properties and stimulation generated by one or more motors of the toothbrush apparatus.
General mouth hygiene and oral health is dependent on the presence of microbial cultures and bacteria on the teeth, and in the mouth cavity, and the related microbial excretions that damage the protective layers of teeth causing greater probability of cavity creation and development. These microbial cultures are present in the biofilm on the surfaces of the teeth and in the food that remains present in the oral cavity and on the surfaces of the teeth. Effective removal of biofilm and food diminishes the presence of microbial cultures and excretions, and aids to improve the natural protection of teeth, leading to better oral hygiene.
The gum tissue and muscles are vital for the protection of the teeth as far as exposure of the lower layers of the teeth and sensitivity to touch and temperature changes are concerned. Today's dental care products and toothbrush apparatus rely on the use of nylon bristles that can, in the case of application of too much pressure, damage the gum tissue and muscles. In addition, today's dental care apparatuses and toothbrushes that are based on nylon or equivalent bristles do not stimulate the tissue nor enhance circulation important for the regenerative and continuous healing process of the gum tissue and muscles.
To date, the devices to address oral hygiene are based on nylon bristles that are designed to reduce the presence of biofilm, remove food remains, and treat gum tissue and muscles, however these devices are not very effective due to the geometry and properties of the bristles, which limits their ability to remove the very thin biofilm across large surface areas of the teeth. These bristles also fail to effectively stimulate gum tissue and muscles. In fact, most devices currently available are designed with special mechanisms to minimize damage to the gum tissue rather than to stimulate gum tissue. What is needed, therefore, is a device that would overcome the above limitations and both remove the biofilm with greater efficacy while stimulating gum tissue and muscles effectively and safely.

Toothbrush with biofilm-removing touch points


A banknote accommodating device includes a box body, a box door and a banknote inlet. A movable guide plate in the box body is arranged below the banknote inlet through a rotating shaft, and has a guide surface facing the banknote inlet, and an included angle between the guide surface and a vertical direction ranges from 0 degree to 20 degrees, an elastic element is provided on a back surface of the guide surface, and provides a thrust to rotate the movable guide plate counterclockwise. The box door is provided with a guide rib which forms an included angle with the vertical direction, and a stacking surface is provided at the bottom of the box body and forms an included angle with a horizontal direction, and a space for stacking banknotes vertically is formed between the guide surface, the guide rib and the stacking surface.

A financial self-service apparatus, such as an automatic teller machine, relates to a processing device for recovering, accommodating and stacking banknotes. A conventional banknote recovering device stacks banknotes horizontally when accommodating the banknotes, thus having a large capacity and also a large volume, and a power device is generally required to be provided in the banknote recovering device to assist in stacking banknotes. However, with the minimization of the automatic teller machine, the space for accommodating banknotes is relatively limited, therefore, it is difficult to stack the banknotes horizontally in recovering and accommodating the banknotes. Hence, it is necessary to provide a banknote accommodating device which has a small volume, does not require a power device for assisting in stacking, and is suitable for stacking banknotes vertically.


In order to secure the performance of a SiC-based JFET having an impurity diffusion rate lower than silicon-based one, a gate depth is secured while precisely controlling a distance between gate regions, instead of forming gate regions by ion implantation into the side wall of a trench. This means that a channel region defined by a gate distance and a gate depth should have a high aspect ratio. Further, due to limitations of process, a gate region is formed within a source region. Formation of a highly doped PN junction between source and gate regions causes various problems such as inevitable increase in junction current. In addition, a markedly high energy ion implantation becomes necessary for the formation of a termination structure. In the invention, provided is a vertical channel type SiC power JFET having a floating gate region below and separated from a source region and between gate regions.

The present application relates to a junction type power FET (or semiconductor device) and a method of manufacturing the same, for example, those applicable to a junction type SiC power FET.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (Translation of PCT application) No. 2002-520816 (Patent Document 1) or U.S. Pat. No. 6,847,091 (Patent Document 2) corresponding thereto mainly relates to a planar type vertical power MOSFET. They show, with regard to a planar type vertical power MOSFET, a device structure having, in a drift region, floating regions of a conductivity type opposite to that of the drift region in a dispersed form. According to these documents, this power MOSFET is applicable to a junction FET or the like.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-31591 (Patent Document 3) or U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002-167011 (Patent Document 4) corresponding thereto relates to a vertical non-planar type junction FET. These documents disclose a vertical type junction FET having a lateral channel and having, in a drift region, a source potential region having a conductivity type opposite to that of the drift region.
WO 2000/014809 (Patent Document 5) or U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005-6649 (Patent Document 6) corresponding thereto relates to a vertical planar type junction FET. These documents disclose a vertical planar type junction FET having a floating P type region below a lateral channel thereof.    [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (Translation of PCT application) No. 2002-520816    [Patent Document 2] U.S. Pat. No. 6,847,091    [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-31591    [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002-167011    [Patent Document 5] WO 2000/014809    [Patent Document 6] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005-6649

Vertical-channel type junction SiC power FET and method of manufacturing same