Systems, methods and compositions useful for treatment of traumatic bone injuries are provided. In one embodiment, a bone reconstruction system comprising a space maintaining composition comprising porous polymethylmethacrylate; and an osseous generating construct comprising a polymethylmethacrylate chamber that comprises one or more osseous generating materials is provided. Associated compositions and methods are also provided.

Traumatic bone injury is often accompanied by injury or loss of surrounding soft tissues. One of the major difficulties reconstructive surgeons face when treating injuries involving significant bone loss is contracture and scarring of the overlying soft tissue envelope, which may compromise facial projection and/or make staged repair of bony structures difficult. Definitive bone reconstruction is often delayed until soft tissue coverage and a sterile wound environment are achieved. Despite reports of local complications and wound infection rates as high as 100% for patients suffering gunshot wounds to the face, early definitive repair of facial gunshot wounds via free tissue transfer has become more common, as the well vascularized tissues that are transferred survive well in hostile wound environments.
The field of regenerative medicine and the technologies borne from tissue engineering offer great hope towards providing an alternative and possibly better approach to regenerating injured or destroyed tissues. Most proposed tissue engineering strategies, however, currently require planning in the form of material fabrication, autologous cell harvest and expansion, and/or ex vivo tissue generation. Additionally, little to no evaluation of tissue engineering approaches is currently performed in wound environments involving infection, significant vascular injury, and large-scale tissue devitalization such as that encountered in traumatic wounds.
In the absence of immediate reconstruction, clinical management of facial bone loss can involve the placement of an alloplastic space maintainer to provide a template for future definitive reconstruction and prevent wound contracture into the space normally occupied by bone. Solid polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), is commonly used in such space maintenance applications. Although solid PMMA has many desirable characteristics for such applications (moldable, FDA-regulated, familiar to surgeons), a number of problems exist with respect to wound healing around solid PMMA implants and other alloplastic implants.

Combined space maintenance and bone regeneration system for the reconstruction of large osseous defects


A method and apparatus for controlling the movement of an end point of an articulated arm in the x, y and z directions using a manually operated resolved motion control by controlling the component of velocity of the end point in each of the x, y and z directions to change by the same amount for a given change in the component of displacement of the manual controller in the respective x, y and z directions provided the total displacement in the selected x, y or z direction is less than a preselected displacement in the respective x, y or z direction and the end point is within a preselected work space. The velocity of the end point in any one of the x, y and z directions when the total displacement of the manual controller in the respective x, y or z direction is greater than the preselected displacement changes at a ratio of end point speed to change in the component of controller displacement that is independent of the ratio of controller displacement to end point speed in at least one of the other of the x, y or z directions.

The concept of resolved motion for controlling an articulated arm is known and has been practiced for some time.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,755 issued Nov. 5, 1991 to Lawrence et al discloses a preferred system of resolved motion control wherein the velocity in any given direction (regardless of the position of the end point, i.e., radius of the end point) is dependent on the amount of displacement of the manual controller in that direction so that the movement of the manual controller in the direction of intended movement of the end point results in movement of the end point in that direction. The disclosure of this patent is incorporated herein by reference.
It will be apparent that controlling the movement of the end point in this manner is extremely helpful and facilitates accurate movement of the end point under the control of the operator. It will also be apparent that at the very extremities of arm movement, i.e. near a singularity, it may be impossible for the end point to move along a desired path at the desired speed, however for practical purposes throughout substantially the whole workspace of the arm, i.e. positions of the end point within a predefined workspace (that normally will include substantially the whole workspace), controls may be implemented so that movement of the controller (joystick) in a given direction results in movement of the end point in that given direction at a velocity corresponding to the amount of displacement of the controller or joystick.
It will be apparent that to ensure movement of the end point in the direction of movement of the joystick requires that the same displacement of the joystick or hand controller in any one of the x, y or z directions generates the same speed of the end point in the corresponding x, y or z direction. Thus the maximum speed of the end point is then set by the maximum speed achievable in the work space by the slowest component of movement of the end point in the work space in which the control is to so operate. Reducing the size of the work space in which the above relationship applies so that the end point does not approach singularities or other areas where velocity is severely restricted (e.g. when the endpoint approaches the z axis the velocity of the end point in the y direction approaches zero) results in the maximum cartesian velocity in slowest direction being increased.
In some cases it may be also desirable to operate in one or more directions at a speed such that it would be impossible to maintain the direction and speed relationship between joystick or hand controller movement and end point movement. For example, it may be desirable to swing the arm at a relatively fast rate without movement of the joystick precisely corresponding to the direction (and speed) of movement of end point, i.e. permitting maximum speed of the end point to be based on the physical capability of the arm and its actuators for the particular location and desired direction of movement where movements of the end point need not be precisely controlled, but prior to the present invention no such means has been available.


A backlight unit of a liquid crystal display includes a lamp, a balancing pattern capacitor electrically connected to the lamp for current balance, a transformer electrically connected to the lamp via the balancing pattern capacitor, a sensing pattern capacitor electrically connected to a terminal of the balancing pattern capacitor connected to the lamp to detect an abnormal driving state of the lamp, and a feedback circuit unit electrically connected to the sensing pattern capacitor to control the abnormal driving state of the lamp. A liquid crystal display device including the backlight unit is also disclosed.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a liquid crystal display ("LCD") device and more particularly to a backlight unit included in an LCD device.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
An LCD device is light weight display device that consumes less power than a display device that is based on a cathode ray tube ("CRT"). The LCD display device may be designed to have a large screen for effective viewing of high-definition video content. Such large screen display devices may have a display that is 30″ or larger. Other recent technologies for producing large screen displays include plasma display panels ("PDP").
A cold cathode fluorescent lamp ("CCFL") has conventionally been utilized as a light source for an LCD device. Multiple CCFL circuits are used in a direct type backlight unit for large screen LCD display devices.
In LCD displays, a single AC transformer may not be able to effectively power multiple CCFL circuits owing to the fact that the first-driven CCFL circuit may have a lower impedance than subsequently driven CCFL circuits and this impedance imbalance may make it difficult to balance current between the various CCFL circuits. Accordingly, one or more of the CCFL circuits may not be effectively driven.
Various techniques have been studies to effectively power multiple CCFL circuits using a single AC transformer. For example, a capacitor balancing approach has been developed.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a backlight unit using the capacitor balancing method according to the related art. Referring to FIG. 1, a lamp 111 is driven by a transformer 115 via a capacitor 113. The capacitor 113 is electrically connected to the lamp 111 and has an impedance equal to or more than the lamp 111. Even though the plurality of the lamps 111 is driven by a transformer 115, the impedance of the capacitor 113 remains constant, thereby maintaining the current balance.
However, the capacitor used in the capacitor balancing method needs to have a high impedance and thus has difficulty stopping the driving of the lamps in an abnormal driving state.

Backlight unit and liquid crystal display device including the same


A light emitting device includes a wavelength converting member for absorbing light emitted by an exciting light source and emitting light of a different wavelength. With a wavelength at which the light from the exciting light source has a maximum energy intensity denoted as a first wavelength, a wavelength at which the light from the wavelength converting member has a maximum energy intensity denoted as a second wavelength, a wavelength lying between the first and second wavelengths at which the light from the light emitting device has a minimum energy intensity denoted as a third wavelength, and 650 nm denoted as a fourth wavelength, then the light emitting device has an emission spectrum such that the proportion of the energy intensity at the first wavelength to the energy intensity at the third wavelength is in a range from 100:15 to 100:150, and the proportion of the energy intensity at the first wavelength to the energy intensity at the fourth wavelength is in a range from 100:45 to 100:200.

The fluorescent lamp is used as a popular lighting apparatus. However, growing concern for environmental pollution increases the demand for light sources which are free of mercury, and light emitting devices based on light emitting elements such as light emitting diodes (hereinafter referred to as LEDs) or laser diodes (hereinafter referred to as LDs) are attracting much attention.
Light emitting devices based on the light emitting elements are small in size, high in power efficiency and are capable of emitting light of vivid colors. Furthermore, such light emitting elements are semiconductor devices free of failure such as burnout. These light emitting elements also have such advantages as excellent startup characteristics and high tolerance to vibration and to repetitive turning ON/OFF. Because of such excellent characteristics, light emitting devices based on light emitting elements such as LEDs and LDs are used widely in various light sources.
Regarding white light emitting devices based on LEDs, known methods consist of combinations of the following two types.
The first type is a light emitting device that combines a blue LED and a YAG fluorescent material which emits yellow light. The light emitting device emits white light by blending blue light and yellow light, whereas the YAG fluorescent material is excited by the blue light emitted by the blue LED. The light emitting device has the advantages of reduction in power consumption, easy control of the LED operation and good color blending performance, and therefore has been widely used.
The second type is a light emitting device that combines a blue LED, a green LED and a red LED. This light emitting device is the so-called three-wavelength light emitting device that generates white light by blending the light from the three LEDs. The light emitting device is capable of reducing the power consumption, and has a wide range of display colors for light that passes through the liquid crystal. There is also a light emitting device that combines a blue LED, a blue-green LED, an orange LED and a red LED in order to improve the efficiency and color rendering performance (for example, Patent Document 1).    Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2003-45206


A pivotal tubular pet scoop having a handle connecting to an arm block, a trigger attached to the extension rod, a trigger rod attached to the trigger and moving when the trigger is actuated, the trigger rod passing through the arm block and connecting to a lower arm block, a set of outer springs connected to the arm block and a set of outer springs connected to the lower arm block, both springs connecting to a tubular scoop, the tubular scoop pivotably attached at a connection point to the outer and inner springs and being made of a left jaw and a right jaw, the jaws connected by at least one hinge, such that when the trigger is actuated and the lower arm block is raised relative to the lower arm block, the inner springs are tightened relative to the outer springs thereby causing the left and right jaws to close.

Fast and trouble-free removal of pet waste from various surfaces lawns is a traditional and confounding problem for owners of dogs, horses, and many other large pets. For many years, since pets have been confined to fenced yards or large outside penned areas, pet owners have had the need for a tool to aid in keeping these areas clean and sanitary, by removing pet waste from moderate to deep grass and other outside surfaces on a regular basis. Often times pet owners will resort to picking up the waste by hand, or hiring expensive outside services to do so. Numerous devices have been conceived with the goal of removing pet waste from yards, large pens and other surfaces, however most of those have either not been effective, were poorly constructed, difficult to use or never proved to be successful in reaching the marketplace.
Despite the various attempts to provide pet owners with solutions, the tools and devices marketed today fall short in solving most of the problems that pet owners are looking to remedy. Problems like; constant bending over to collect the feces, having a tool with two parts requiring both hands to remove the deposits, having to empty the tool with each pickup, or the device can't get through long or thick grass to remove the feces. Other tools are constructed with very poor or weak materials, or have spring loaded or other moving parts, which tend to break and render the tool useless. Such devices include those listed below.
US PGPUB No. 2012/0080894 by Williamson discloses The Doggie Scoop, included with a disposable plastic bag, is a device for the efficient and sanitary collection and disposal of canine fecal matter (dog poop). Before using the Doggie Scoop, insert a disposable plastic bag into Scoop, then, when a dog gets ready to poop, slide the lock on the handle of the Scoop forward with your thumb to open the Scoop (which will be opened horizontally), then slide the extension of the Scoop under the dog to catch the poop. The extension of the Scoop should lie flat against the ground since dogs usually squat close to the ground when they poop. The wheels on the Doggie Scoop help in sliding the Scoop under the dog, and since the wheels can rotate 360 degrees, the Scoop can be moved in any direction to accommodate any movement of the dog. When the dog is finished, slide the Scoop out from under the dog, squeeze the handle on the Scoop to close the Scoop, and with your thumb, slide the lock on the handle of the Scoop backward to lock the Scoop and keep it closed. The poop that collects on the extension will now drop into the storage box. Grasp the pull cords on the enclosed plastic bag to remove the bag with its contents, then dispose of the plastic bag in a garbage can. The Doggie Scoop enables a person to collect the dog poop before it touches the ground and to dispose of the poop in a sanitary manner without having to bend down to pick up the poop or to touch the stuff.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,332,732 by Stoccardo discloses a hands-free method for handling animal waste entails securing a support structure to an animal, preferably a dog. The support structure includes a first latching mechanism which is used to secure a disposable waste receptacle. The disposable waste receptacle is handled via a manipulating tool and corresponding second latching mechanism, with the manipulating tool being operated by means of a user interface. The manipulating tool is used to couple the disposable waste receptacle to the first latching mechanism. After the disposable waste receptacle accumulates excrement, the manipulating tool is used to decouple the disposable waste receptacle from the support structure and discard the disposable waste receptacle in a separate trash receptacle.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,693,533 by Taylor et al, discloses a scooping pan having a rear dumping feature that can be configured to scoop up general refuse, pet refuse, urine clumps, etc. from the ground, a litter box, etc. The scooping pan can optionally include one or more openings or slots that enable litter to pass through the openings or slots when the pet refuse, urine clumps, etc. are removed from the litter box. The rear of the scooping pan includes an openable flap that enables the general refuse, pet refuse, urine clumps, etc. in the scooping pan to be dumped out of the rear of the scooping pan.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,850,632, by Hays discloses, a tool for removing and holding dog excrement from both grass, and other non-grass surfaces, comprised of a pole handle at the upper portion and a set of beveled tines and collection pan on the lower end. The handle is connected at the rear of the collection pan at a an angle which aids in placement of the fork in the best possible position for leverage and moving smoothly beneath the feces. The separated beveled tines allow easy penetration of grass or debris beneath the feces, which is moved over the beveled tines and into the collection pan with a slight tip of the fork. The collection pan is formed with raised front, back and sidewalls, which recess the collection pan to hold the gathered feces. The collection pan is capable of containing considerable feces prior to being emptied into an appropriate trash receptacle.
In addition, many other devices merely make feces pickup more sanitary, rather than increasing the convenience of such tasks. Therefore, there is a significant need for a device that solves the problems of both speed and sanitation.
These problems, and others, have been addressed by the Pivotable Tubular Pet Scoop disclosed herein and discussed in greater detail below.


An electronic apparatus, a charge controlling method, and a computer-readable recording medium are provided. The electronic apparatus includes a battery unit including a battery and configured to supply power to components of the electronic apparatus using power of the battery, a charging circuit configured to, in response to the power being received from an external adapter, charge the battery using the received power, and a controller configured to detect a charging state of the battery, divide a charging process into a plurality of charging periods according to the detected charging state, and control the charging circuit to provide different target voltages to the divided charging periods and target currents determined according to the different target voltages and preset power consumption to the battery.

Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to an electronic apparatus, a charge controlling method, and a computer-readable recording medium, and more particularly, to an electronic apparatus capable of reducing a charging time of a battery, a charge controlling method thereof, and a computer-readable recording medium.
In recent years, many portable electronic apparatuses with batteries have become very popular. However, the batteries are limited in capacity and need to be charged. When the portable electronic devices implement higher capacity batteries, it may take a long time to fully charge the higher capacity batteries.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electronic apparatus, charge controlling method, and computer-readable recording medium


An optical receiver is provided with inputs for receiving two fiber optic lines. The two fiber optic lines carry redundant data. An optical interface passes the respective signals therein to a comparison unit. The comparison unit compares the signals and determines which has the better quality and passes the better quality signal on to a processing interface. Clock data for operating the comparison unit is extracted from the optical signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for providing data protection in ring type networks and other networks. The present invention also relates to a redundant receiver architecture for use in a fiber optic transmission system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A basic point-to-point fiber optic transmission system consists of three basic elements: the optical transmitter, the fiber optic cable and the optical receiver. The optical transmitter converts an electrical analog or digital signal into a corresponding optical signal. The optical receiver converts the optical signal back into a replica of the original electrical signal.
Optical signals generally undergo a 0.2 dB loss per kilometer when transmitted over a fiber optic channel. This translates to a 4% loss of the light regardless of modulation. Since the receiver signal can be quite small, receivers often employ high gain internal amplifiers. FIG. 1 is a functional diagram of a known simple analog optical receiver. The first stage 1 is an operational amplifier connected as a current-to-voltage converter. This stage takes the tiny current from the photodiode 2 and converts it into a voltage, usually in the millivolt range. The next stage 3 is a simple operational voltage amplifier in which the signal is raised to the desired output level 4.
FIG. 2 is a functional diagram of a simple digital optical receiver. As in the case of the analog receiver, the first stage 1 is a current-to-voltage converter. The output of this stage, however, is fed to a voltage comparator 10, which produces a clean, fast rise-time digital output signal. The trigger level adjustment 11, when it is present, is used to touch up the point on the received signal where the comparator 10 switches. This allows the symmetry of the recovered digital signal to be trimmed as accurately as desired. Additional stages may be added to receivers to provide drivers for coaxial cables, protocol converters or a host of other functions in efforts to reproduce the original signal as accurately as possible.
When a signal is compared to a reference voltage, however, the system does not guarantee that information is in fact received. That is, the receiving device must ultimately detect the presence of missing information and determine how to obtain it. Accordingly, to handle missing information, redundant transmission of data over the same fiber optic channel is typically employed. This causes delays in data transmission and adds to the complexity of the transmission and reception equipment.


A lighting system for tunnels or similar works. The lighting system with LED diodes, including at least one lighting strip with LED diodes, with at least one set of LED diode modules, the modules of a set being divided up into subsets of one or more modules supplied with power by respective power supply buses, an electronic system supplying power to the strip, making it possible to power up, according to a first mode of operation, all the power supply buses and, in a second mode of operation, only a part of the power supply buses, so as to reduce the electrical consumption of the strip.

The present invention relates to a lighting system with LED diodes.
The use of lighting strips with LED diodes is expanding because of their light efficiency and ease of installation.
An LED diode strip typically comprises a flexible printed circuit bearing LED diodes, disposed inside a flexible jacket made of plastic material, transparent at least in the zone covering the LED diodes to allow the light to exit.
The LED diodes are arranged in identical modules which are repeated along the strip, all the modules being supplied with power by a common power supply bus with two electrical conductors, under the same power supply voltage. The power supply bus extends over the entire length of the strip, so as to allow the strips to be connected together one after the other.
Conventionally, the strip is supplied with power by a non-filtered double-alternating rectified voltage, from the mains, or, for the shorter strips, by a DC voltage such as 24 V DC.
The strips are generally installed in subways such as tunnels, but can also light parking lots, staircases, etc.
Backup battery operation is generally provided for mains outage cases.
The need to maintain emergency lighting for sufficient time generally imposes the use of high-capacity batteries, that are bulky and heavy.
Furthermore, in some situations, the lit zone is deserted, and would not need to be lit so intensely, which would make it possible to save energy.

Lighting system for tunnel or similar structures


A pivotable table has a lower housing and a table top which can be moved from a storage position, in which the table top is arranged substantially perpendicularly in the lower housing, into a use position, in which the table top is arranged substantially horizontally above the lower housing and is carried by the lower housing. The table includes at least one carrying arm that has an end region which is connected pivotably to the table top and a remote end region which is connected to the lower housing via a carrying arm guide. The table also includes at least one supporting arm, the two end regions of which are connected in each case to the table top and to the carrying arm, at least one of these two connections being of displaceable configuration via at least one supporting arm guide.

In means of transportation, in particular airplanes, storable tables are frequently provided for the passengers. In VIP airplanes and in the first class section of conventional commercial passenger airplanes, a table of this type is usually pulled out of what is known as a credenza, which is arranged next to the seats, and is folded into a use position, in which the table top is arranged partially over the seat surface of the seats.
It is problematical in tables of this type that a plurality of requirements have to be united which are difficult to combine with one another. The credenza is usually lower than the armrests of the seats. This means that the table top has to be arranged considerably above the upper edge of the credenza in the use position. A mechanism therefore has to be provided which holds said table top in this higher position. The table top has to be self-supporting, and all loads which act on the table top therefore have to be conducted into the credenza. This can be problematical, in particular, in a long lever arm for the active forces (for example, a passenger who stumbles along the aisle).
It is known to secure the table top of a table of this type pivotably on a carrying arm which protrudes out of the upper edge of the credenza in the use position and therefore produces the necessary spacing between the upper edge of the credenza and the table top. The lid of the credenza is configured as a type of catching hook, and that edge of the table top which points away from the passenger seat can be hooked into the lid in its open position, with the result that the tilting moment which acts on the table top is conducted into the credenza via this lid. This solution is disadvantageous, as a lid which is fastened to the credenza by means of a hinge is not particularly well suited for absorbing loads.


A method is provided for improving silicide formation, and the electrical ntact provided thereby, on non-planar silicon structures. In this method, a semiconductor device structure is initially formed having non-planar surface regions. A metal layer is deposited on the non-planar surfaces. The metal deposition process step is followed by an off-axis implantation of non-dopant ions, causing a mixing of the metal and silicon atoms at the metal and non-planar silicon structure interface. The off-axes implantation also serves to disrupt the native silicon dioxide layer between the silicon and metal layers regions. Thermal processing is then used to form silicide on the non-planar surfaces of the semiconductor silicon structure.

This invention relates generally to circuits utilizing silicon technology and more particularly to the nature of electrical contacts as used with this technology.
Metal silicides have found widespread use in the microelectronics industry. When formed on the surface of a transistor, for example, the silicide allows better electrical contact between the underlying silicon structure of the transistor and the metal signal and power lines used with the transistor. Metal silicide also lowers the resistivity of the silicon regions on which it is formed. These properties of silicide allow transistor devices and other silicon structures to operate at higher speeds.
The self-aligned silicide process, commonly referred to as the salicide process, is an attractive method of forming silicide on a transistor. The steps of this prior art process are illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1D.
Referring to FIG. 1A, a transistor's structure 10 is first formed using techniques well-known in the art of semiconductor device processing. As can be seen, transistor device 10 has a non-planar structure with different regions of the device being located at different levels. Typically, not all surfaces of the device are parallel to the surface of a substrate 12, upon which the device is formed. Typically, such devices include oxide spacers 14 on either side of a polysilicon surface 16 lying over a gate region 17 of the device. Under certain conditions, silicon dioxide spacers 14 will not react in the salicide process to form silicide.
Referring now to FIG. 1B, the salicide process includes the deposition of a metal layer 18. In FIG. 1C, a rapid thermal processing step (heat 19 being shown) is then completed, in which a metal silicide 20 is formed on the planar surfaces of transistor structure 10. In FIG. 1D, a selective etch is performed to remove unreacted metal from the planar and non-planar surfaces, leaving metal silicide 20 over the source/drain regions and over the gate interconnect regions of the transistor structure.
It is known that silicon dioxide does not react well in silicide formation. In general, a native silicon dioxide layer will exist upon the silicon surfaces of a silicon structure, such as that depicted in FIG. 1, and will lie between the silicon and the metal deposited to form silicide. The native silicon dioxide layer inhibits the formation of silicide and since the silicon dioxide layer is generally of an uneven thickness, the degree of inhibition of silicide formation will vary across the silicon substrate being processed. This leads to silicide that is rough and non-uniform, resulting in a device resistivity that will vary from point to point, creating non-uniformities within the device itself as well as within batches of devices that are fabricated. Excessively thin silicide may in some regions cause device failure while in other instances thinness or thickness of the silicide can cause problems during photolithographic steps as light may not be specularly reflected as appropriate.
It is known to reduce this non-uniformity by using ion implantation normal to the silicon. The implantation disrupts the silicon dioxide layer and allows more uniform silicide formation. Such a method, however, has not proven suitable in cases where non-planar surfaces exist on a silicon structure. The need thus exists for a method of forming improved contact layers on silicon structures that have not only have a native silicon dioxide layer on contact surfaces but also have non-planar surfaces.

Method for forming improved electrical contacts on non-planar structures

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


There is disclosed a method of operating a radio node in a Radio Access Network, the method including communicating utilizing frequency resources based on allocation information received in a message, the message having an allocation information structure containing the allocation information.

Modern wireless telecommunication systems, e.g. according to NR, are capable of using wide frequency ranges for communication. A device communicating utilizing such a system will use a part of the frequency range/s for transmitting and receiving according to a resource allocation (or scheduled resources). Such allocation is usually signaled with control signaling. It is challenging to define consistent control signaling that is able to flexibly cover wide frequency ranges while having an acceptable level of signaling overhead.


A catheter stripping apparatus (10) for removing a fibrin sheath (80) from the outlet end (101) of an indwelling access catheter (100) disposed in a patient""s vascular system wherein the apparatus (10) includes: a stripping catheter unit (11) comprising an elongated hollow tubular housing member (20) having a rearwardly curved distal end (23) dimensioned to be received within the access catheter and further provided with an elongated soft pliably guide tip element (25); a wire noose unit (12) including an elongated strand of wire (30) dimensioned to be slidably received within the hollow tubular housing member (20) and having a distal end (31) provided with a wire noose element (32); and a retractor unit (13) for extending and retracting the wire noose element (32) relative to both the distal end of the hollow tubular housing member (20) and the outlet end (101) of the access catheter (100).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of surgical implements in general and in particular to a catheter stripping device for removing fibrin sheath.
2. Description of Related Art
As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,643,281; 5,800,444; 5,261,887; 5,779,716 and 5,322,513; the prior art is replete with myriad and diverse catheter stripping arrangements for removing fibrin sheaths from the exterior of the catheter.
While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are more than adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and practical catheter stripping apparatus that employs an extension guide element that will allow a surgeon to direct the stripping catheter safely into position while protecting the vascular system from injury during the medical procedure.
Unfortunately, while the prior art constructions recognize the problem of fibrin sheath build-up on indwelling access catheters, they have failed to address the trauma that is inflicted on the patient""s vascular system through use of wire snare arrangements employed on their individual stripping catheters.
As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a longstanding need for a new and improved catheter stripping apparatus that not only quickly and easily strips a fibrin sheath from an indwelling access catheter, but also takes pains to protect the patient""s vascular system during the stripping process; and, the provision of such an arrangement is the stated objective of the present invention.
Briefly stated, the catheter stripping apparatus that forms the basis of the present invention comprises in general a stripping catheter housing unit, a wire noose unit at least partially contained within the stripping catheter housing unit and a retractor unit for controlling the position and deployment of the wire noose unit both with respect to the stripping catheter housing unit as well as the exterior surface of the indwelling access catheter.
As will be explained in greater detail further on in the specification, the stripping catheter housing unit including an elongated hollow tubular housing member having a rearwardly curved distal end that is dimensioned to be slidably received within an indwelling access catheter residing in a patient""s vascular system wherein the rearwardly curved distal end of the housing member defines an elongated narrow slot that is adapted to captively engage the outlet end of the access catheter.
In addition, the distal end of the housing member is further provided with a downwardly depending soft pliable guide tip element that will facilitate the manipulation of the distal end of the housing member within the patient""s vascular system in that the guide tip element will be the first portion of the housing member that encounters any resistance from contact with the walls of the patent""s vascular system as the guide tip element exits from the outlet end of the access catheter.
Furthermore, the wire noose element includes an elongated strand of wire slidably disposed within the hollow tubular housing member and having a distal end provided with a wire noose element that surrounds the rearwardly curved distal end of the housing member and proximal end operatively associated with the retractor unit for extending and expanding as well as retracting and contracting the wire noose element and associated noose opening to accomplish the stripping of a fibrin sheath from the exterior surface of the access catheter.


An identification system is provided for identifying a plurality of object-based transponders (14, 16, 18, 20) using an interrogator (10). The interrogator (10) includes a transmitter for transmitting an interrogation signal to the transponders, a receiver for receiving identification signals from the transponders, and processor means (21) for determining the individual and correct receipt of an identification signal. The transponders operate on the basis of backscatter modulation, and include a detector for detecting the presence of an interrupt signal from the interrogator. Control logic responsive to the detector is arranged to cease signal transmission from the transponder if the transponder completes transmission of the identification signal without receiving an interrupt signal during such transmission. The interrogator (10) is arranged to receive the identification signals from the transponders (14, 16, 18, 20) and substantially contemporaneously to determine if any identification signal has been individually and correctly received. In the event of any identification signal is being individually and correctly received, the interrogator (10), at substantially the same time, transmits a common interrupt signal for temporarily suspending signal transmission from a transponder (14) if the transponder is transmitting its identification signal at the time it receives the interrupt signal. The transponder (14) independently ceases signal transmission if it completes transmission of an identification signal without receiving an interrupt signal.

THIS invention relates to a method and apparatus for the identification of objects, and in particular for the identification of a plurality of remote electronic identification tags by a reader using electromagnetic communication means.
Numerous different types of electronic tags, which are typically in the form of transponders, are attached to physical objects such as goods, equipment, people, animals and the like. These tags are programmed to contain identity data, which is used to electronically identify the tagged objects via interrogation by a reader. The read data is typically arranged to be transferred to a computer system for tallying and reading the identity of those objects which are in the interrogation area of the reader.
A large number of patents already cover the situation of a reader and a plurality of transponders with the communication between the reader and the transponders being based on acoustic or electromagnetic radiation principles. In most cases, the prior art protocol requires the transponders to have a unique identification number and the ability to receive and decode a transmission containing a data stream from the reader and match it to all or components of its unique identification number.
Another class of prior art is an identification system that needs neither a unique identity nor a multi-bit receiver and decoder for the transponder, but which relies on the reader communicating with the transponder at the correct time after it has finished its transmission, if the transponder was successfully identified. The communication can be single bit in format, and the message is communicated by the timing of the communication after the completion of transmission, the communication being as simple as disturbing the energising field from the reader at the correct instant. Such a system is described in South African patent 92/0039, which requires the reader and the transponder whose identity is being determined to be synchronised and to remain synchronised after communication has been completed so that the reader may respond at the correct time after the transmission has been completed.
A further category of prior art covers an identification system that uses a selection process to isolate a single transponder so that the transponder""s data can be received without being corrupted by transmissions from other transponders. U.S. Pat. No. 5,751,570 describes such a system. A collision signal is initially sent by the reader to place all transponders in to a dead state. Each transponder calculates a random dead state after receiving the collision signal, during which they do not transmit their data. At the end of the dead state each transponder will transmit its data again. If the reader receives data from only one transponder it sends an occupied or busy signal which place, all the transponders except the one busy transmitting into an idle state. The transponders in the idle state no longer transmit data. After the reader has received the complete data from the individual transponders the reader transmits an acknowledge signal which places the identified transponder into a passive or idle state in which it ceases transmission of its data. The rest of the transponders in idle state are reactivated and they recalculate a random dead time. The steps above are repeated until all the transponders have been identified. The drawback of this system is that if the electromagnetic field is changed to send the busy signal, the changes in the electromagnetic field may cause the receiver to misread the data from the transponder because the transponder signal is very much smaller than the changes in the electromagnetic field
A similar system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,699, where changes in frequency are used to send signals to the transponders, Initially a frequency shift is sent to the transponders to start a selection procedure that will isolate an individual transponder. The transponders calculate a random delay after which they transmit a starting block. Due to the random delay, only a few transponders might transmit a starting block at the same time. When the reader receives a starting block it changes the transmitter frequency which causes the transponders not transmitting a starting block to go into a passive state. The remaining transponders transmit their unique code. If the reader detects that more than one transponder is transmitting its code then the reader signals an error by changing the transmitter frequency which causes these transponders to recalculate a random delay again and to follow the steps above. The transponders in the passive state remain so. This selection process will eventually yield an individual transponder. Once the reader has identified the individual transponder it is placed into a passive state by another frequency change which also causes the remaining unidentified transponders to restart the selection process again. This system requires complex tuned circuitry in the transponder so that the different frequencies can be detected
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of identifying objects by an interrogator, comprising the steps of:
transmitting an interrogation signal from the interrogator to the objects;
transmitting from each object to the interrogator an identification signal having predetermined indicator characteristics in response to the interrogation signal;
receiving the identification signals from the objects at the interrogator and substantially contemporaneously determining at the reader if any identification signal has been individually and correctly received on the basis of the indicator characteristics;
substantially contemporaneously transmitting from the interrogator a common re-transmit or interrupt signal in the event of any identification signal not being individually and correctly received; and
ceasing signal transmission from an object if that object completes its signal transmission without receiving an interrupt signal front the interrogator during such transmission.
Preferably, the method includes the step of temporarily suspending signal transmission from an object if that object is transmitting its identification signal at the time it receives the interrupt signal from the interrogator.
In a preferred form of the invention, the method comprises the further steps of continuing so to receive all identification signals at the interrogator, and to transmit the interrupt signals, until no further identification signal is individually and correctly received for a time period sufficient to ensure that all identification signals from objects have been individually and correctly received by the interrogator.
In one form of the invention, the method may comprise the steps of continuously transmitting the interrogation signal and transmitting the interrupt signals at a time interval which defaults to less than the average transmission time of a valid identification signal in the absence of the receipt of an identification signal at the interrogator.
Conveniently, the method includes the step of transmitting at random time intervals an identification signal from each object which has not ceased its signal transmission and allowing each object which has ceased its transmission to recommence transmission in response to a reset event.
The reset event may include the absence of or variation in the interrogation signal for a predetermined minimum time period.
Advantageously, the method further includes the steps of transmitting a disable signal from the interrogator, receiving the disable signal at at least one of the objects, and setting a memory element in the object preventing it, only after the object has ceased signal transmission, from responding to any subsequent interrogation signal for a minimum predetermined stand-off time period.
The method may include the still further steps of transmitting an enable signal from the interrogator, receiving the enable signal at at least one of the objects, and resetting the memory element in the object to enable the object and allow it to respond to the same or subsequent interrogation signal in the manner described above.
Advantageously, the enable and disable signals are at least initially transmitted prior to the possible transmission from any object of an identification signal, and the enable and disable signals also serve as interrupt signals
Typically, the predetermined indicator characteristics of the identification signals are identical in form and have a predetermined duty cycle, and include a fixed length data stream preceded by an initial header and including a data component and a checksum component, with the transmission of a signal from an object commencing with the same header, and the interrogator being arranged to accept the start of an identification signal only if there has been no received transmission immediately prior to the receipt of such header.
The indicator characteristics may further include the transmission of the identification signal in a Manchester form modified to combine transmission clock rate and the data stream to produce a 50% duty cycle at a minimum operational bandwidth.
The invention extends to an identification system comprising an interrogator and a plurality of object-based responders, the interrogator including transmitter means for transmitting an interrogation signal to the responders, receiver means for receiving identification signals from the responders, and processor means for determining the individual and correct receipt of an identification signal, each responder comprising a receiver for receiving the interrogation signal, generator means for generating the identification signal, a transmitter for transmitting the identification signal back to the interrogator, a detector for detecting the presence of an interrupt signal from the interrogator, and control means responsive to the detector and being arranged to cease signal transmission from the responder if the responder completes transmission of the identification signal without receiving an interrupt signal during such. transmission.
Preferably, the control means is arranged temporarily to suspend transmission of an identification signal from the responder if the responder is transmitting its identification signal at the time it receives the interrupt signal.
Advantageously, the generator means comprises a first memory means for storing identification data, an oscillator, a Manchester encoder for deriving encoded identification data from the identification data and the oscillator, and a modulator driven by the Manchester encoder to derive an identification signal, and the transmitter and receiver comprise an antenna coupled to an RF module for performing backscatter modulation of the identification signal.
Typically, the interrogator is arranged to continue receiving identification signals, and transmitting the interrupt signal, until no further identification signal is individually and correctly received for a time period sufficient to ensure that all identification signals have individually and correctly been received by the interrogator.
The identification system may include processor means for generating the interrupt signals and for generating enable and disable signals for respectively enabling and disabling the responders, and each of the responders include second memory means arranged to be set by a disable signal for preventing the responder from responding to any subsequent interrogation signal from the interrogator for a minimum predetermined time period, only after it has ceased signal transmission, and to be reset by all enable signal for allowing the responder to respond immediately to an interrogation signal.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a responder for an identification system of the type comprising an interrogator and a plurality of responders, each responder comprising a receiver for receiving an interrogation signal, first memory means for storing identification data, an oscillator a modulator for deriving a modulated identification signal from the identification data and the oscillator, and a transmitter for transmitting the identification signal back to the interrogator, the responder further comprising a detector for detecting the presence of an interrupt signal from the interrogator, and signal ceasing means arranged to cease signal transmission from the responder if the responder completes transmission of the identification signal without receiving an interrupt signal from the interrogator during such transmission.
The responder advantageously includes signal suspending means responsive to the detector and being arranged temporarily to suspend transmission of an identification signal from the responder if the responder is transmitting its identification signal at the time it receives the interrupt signal.
Typically, the signal suspending means and the signal ceasing means are incorporated in control logic circuitry, the responder further including a random timer connected to the control logic circuitry for enabling identification signals to be repeatedly re-transmitted at varying random time intervals from the responder until such time as it has completed the transmission of an identification signal without being interrupted by an interrupt signal.
Conveniently, the responder includes second memory means arranged to be set by a disable signal for preventing the responder, only after the responder has ceased signal transmission, from responding to any subsequent interrogation signal for a minimum predetermined time period.
The second memory means may be arranged to be reset by an enable signal for allowing the responder to respond to a subsequent interrogation signal after the responder has ceased signal transmission.
Typically, the second memory means comprises a register responsive to disable signals and a memory module responsive both to the register and to the signal ceasing means for allowing the responder to complete the transmission of an identification signal prior to being disabled.
Advantageously, the responder further includes a Manchester encoder for deriving encoded identification data from the identification data and the oscillator, for receipt at the modulator, and the transmitter and receiver comprise an antenna coupled to an RF module for performing backscatter modulation in response to an interrogation signal, the Manchester encoder being responsive to an output enable signal signifying completion of the transmission of the identification signal.
According to a still further aspect of the invention there is provided an interrogator for an identification system of the type comprising an interrogator and a plurality of responders, the interrogator including transmitter means for transmitting an interrogation signal to the responders, receiver means for receiving identification signals from the responders in response to the interrogation signal, first processor means for substantially contemporaneously determining the individual and correct receipt of an identification signal, signal generator means responsive to the processor means for generating substantially contemporaneously an interrupt signal in the event of any identification signal not being individually and correctly received from any one or more objects, and for causing the interrupt signal to be transmitted sufficiently quickly to suspend signal transmission from any such object whilst it was not individually and correctly transmitting its identification signal.
Preferably, the first processor means is arranged to continue receiving and processing all identification signals, and the signal generator means is arranged to continue generating interrupt signals, until no further identification signal is individually and correctly received, for a time period sufficient to ensure that all identification signals from objects have been individually and correctly received.
Typically, the transmitter is arranged to transmit the interrogation signal continuously, and the signal generator means is arranged to transmit the interrupt signal at a time period which defaults to less than the average receipt time of a valid identification signal in the absence of the receipt of an identification signal at the interrogator.
Conveniently, the signal generator means is arranged to generate enable and disable signals for transmission via the transmitter, the disable signal being arranged to set memory elements in the objects preventing them, only once they have ceased signal transmission, from responding to any subsequent interrogation signal for a minimum predetermined stand-off time period, and the enable signal being arranged to reset the memory elements to allow the objects to respond to a subsequent interrogation signal.
The receiver may include a receiving antenna and a quadrature receiver, and the first processor means may include a signal processor for processing baseband components of the identification signal derived from the quadrature receiver into a reconstructed Manchester data signal, and an error checking microprocessor for decoding and error checking the Manchester signal at least on the basis of duty cycle, clock rate, data stream length and checksum calculations.


A strain tolerant ceramic coating, preferably for use as an abrasive coating on a substrate is provided. The coating is prepared from a yttria and zirconia powder having an average particle size less than 40 microns. The coating is formed by depositing the powder on the substrate by a plasma spray process. The as-applied coating contains essentially no macrocracks, but a post-stressed coating contains a random distribution, population, and orientation of microcracks and macrocracks.

Turbine blades rotate about a central axis of a gas turbine engine. Blades may rotate within the compressor portion of the turbine or the "hot" combustion portion of the turbine. An engine case (the "seal") shrouds the turbine blades. The tips of the turbine blades and seal are maintained in very close relation because the efficiency of the turbine engine is inversely related to the leakage of gases between the turbine blades and the seal.
While rotating at high speeds, the tips of the turbine blades often contact the seal. Such contact can result in wear damage to the blades from abrasion caused by shear forces on the blades. Wear damage to the tips of the blades results in decreased engine efficiency and expensive replacement costs. To minimize damage to the turbine blade tips from contact with the seal, the blade tips may be either made from materials harder than the seal or coated with a material harder than the seal. An effectively "harder" blade tip avoids wear damage to itself by instead abrading the seal.
It is known in the art of turbine blade coatings that the desirable properties of a coating are dependent on a variety of factors, including chemical composition, method of application, coating density, existence of cracks (microcracks and macrocracks) in the coating, and the thickness of the deposited coating layer(s). All of these variables have a direct impact on coating costs and coating performance, thus presenting the designer with a variety of trade-off considerations.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,433 to Taylor discloses a thermal barrier coating. A thermal barrier coating is designed to protect turbine blades from thermal strain attributable to temperature cycles in the engine. The Taylor '433 thermal barrier coating is prepared from yttria (6-10 wt %) and zirconia powder having a mean particle diameter of about 40 microns. The coating is applied using a plasma spray process so as to intentionally generate between 20 and 200 vertical macrocracks per linear inch of the coating.
The coating of the Taylor '433 patent is applied by a complex process requiring repeated deposition (and cooling) of monolayers. This application process intentionally produces homogeneously distributed macrocracks throughout the coating. Construction of such a coating is time-consuming and dependent upon close control of process parameters. Abrasion resistance is not disclosed as a function of the Taylor '433 coating.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,516, also to Taylor, discloses a yttria-stabilized zirconia coating for turbine blade tips that provides abrasion resistance to the blade tips. This coating is applied to a turbine blade tip in a manner identical to that disclosed in the Taylor '433 patent, that is, by a complex process of monolayer deposition (and cooling) with the intent of creating at least 5 vertical macrocracks per linear centimeter of the coating. A post-deposition vacuum heat treatment is also recommended. The Taylor '516 patent further teaches that the applied coating be configured with a prescribed coating thicknesses at the edge of the blade tip to prevent shear adhesion failure of the coating on the blade tip.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,948 to Ruckle, et al. discloses a thermal barrier coating by plasma spraying. After deposition of a bond coat and a ytrria-stabilized zirconium ceramic coating, the resulting coating is heated to a temperature in the range of 820 centigrade to 1150 centigrade, then rapidly quenched (in, for example, liquid tin at 220 centigrade). The quenching operation produces an irregular pattern of cracks throughout the coating creating a columnar, segmented structure and a segmented, cracked coating surface.
Because of the inherent tendency of ceramic coatings to crack and the failure to withstand mechanical stresses, yttria-stabilized coatings have found wider application as thermal barrier coatings. Indeed, such careful preparation and prescribed edge thicknesses are necessary in the prior art use of yttria-stabilized zirconia for abrasive blade tip coating applications.
The present invention overcomes deficiencies in ceramic coatings, and in particular, abrasive blade tip coatings known to date. These deficiencies include the substantial expense required to apply these coatings in order to achieve the desired physical and mechanical properties. The coating of the present invention provides improved abrasion resistance with the attendant advantage of being applied in a simple application scheme. The present invention achieves a strong coating--substrate bond resistant to abrasive shear forces. The coating of the present invention exhibits a high tensile bond strength and very high lap shear strength, characteristics essential to a rub tolerant protective coating.


Various embodiments include methods and apparatus structured to pump material, where such material is difficult to pump. In an embodiment, an apparatus can include an injector device capable of self-injecting material into a high pressure line. The apparatus may include multiple valves to control recharge of material into the injector device and to control reinjection of the material into the high pressure line. In an embodiment at a well site, a portion of fluid being injected into a wellbore can be diverted from one or more high pressure pumps to an injector device, where the diverted portion of the fluid can be used to power the injector device to inject material from a mixing tank to add material to the wellbore in addition to the non-diverted portion of the fluid injected into the wellbore. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods can be implemented in a variety of applications.

In oil and gas production, the oil or gas is pumped to the surface from regions below the surface. In some processes, one or more substances are injected into a wellbore as part of a treatment operation. Since injected fluids typically follow a path that provides least resistance, material, commonly referred to as diverters, can be pumped into the wellbore to focus on areas needing treatment. Current pump systems generally can pump most of the common diverters implemented. However, new type diverters, such as large plastic proppants or long fibers, often get stuck between a valve and a seat of the valve, causing it to stay slightly open. Then, under high pressures, the valve can leak and cause seat wear due to cavitation and other mechanisms. Enhancements to improve pump efficiency are desirable.

Systems and methods to pump difficult-to-pump substances


The present invention relates to a method for preparing an injectable composition of microparticles for the sustained release of a biologically active agent. The microparticles include a biocompatible polymer and a biologically active agent. The invention provides an improved process for the preparation of microparticles, wherein the physical characteristics of the microparticles, for example, the morphology, density and size, are independent of the process used to prepare the initially formed polymer/drug matrix. The method includes the steps of (a) providing a polymer/biologically active agent matrix; (b) compressing the polymer/biologically active agent matrix, thereby forming a compressed matrix; and (c) fragmenting the compressed matrix, thereby forming an injectable microparticle composition. The polymer/drug matrix can be provided by any suitable method.

Many illnesses or conditions require administration of a constant or sustained level of a medicament or biologically active agent to provide the desired prophylactic or therapeutic effect. This may be accomplished through a multiple dosing regimen or by employing a system that releases the medicament in a sustained fashion.
Attempts to sustain medication levels include the use of biodegradable materials, such as polymeric matrices, containing the medicament. The use of these matrices, for example, in the form of microparticles or microcarriers, can provide sustained release of medicaments by utilizing the inherent biodegradability of the polymer. The ability to provide a sustained level of medicament can result in improved patient compliance. For example, patient compliance can be particularly difficult in the treatment of affective disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and in view of the large outpatient population and altered psychological state of the patient.
Certain methods of fabricating polymer-based sustained release devices comprise the steps of dissolving a polymer in a solvent, adding to the polymer solution the active agent to be incorporated and removing the solvent from the mixture, thereby forming a matrix of the polymer with the active agent distributed throughout the matrix. However, the physical characteristics of the microparticles, for example, the morphology, density and size, are significantly dependent upon all steps used in the method of preparation making control and tailoring of the physical characteristics of the resulting microparticles a difficult (sometimes impossible) and expensive undertaking.
For example, many sustained release compositions can exhibit an increased release of biologically active agent over the first twenty-four hours after administration, commonly referred to as a burst. In some instances, this burst can result in an undesirable increase in the levels of biologically active agent and/or minimal release of agent thereafter. Tailoring of the physical characteristics of the microparticles to provide an improved release can require modification of the entire process of preparation. Therefore, a need exists for methods of preparing sustained release microparticles where additional control over release kinetics by, for example, reducing the burst of agent and/or providing an improved release profile can be exerted.

Method of preparing sustained release microparticles


The illustrative embodiments described herein provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for increasing efficiency associated with data access. In one illustrative embodiment a memory chip is presented comprising of a plurality of memory units for storing data; a plurality of processing units for processing the data; and a word line and a bit line external to the plurality of memory units, wherein the plurality of processing units directly access the word line and the bit line in accessing the data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the data processing field. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for fast processing memory array.
2. Description of the Related Art
A data processing system is a machine which manipulates data according to a list of instructions. The data processing system may comprise of numerous components, such as, but not limited to, central processing unit(s), memory, networking devices, storage devices, and input and output devices.
Currently, all the components within the data processing system, including memory, are interconnected with the central processing unit via a bus. A bus is a subsystem, often made of groups of wires, that transfers data between computer components. A bus can logically connect several peripherals over the same set of wires. Each bus defines the protocol needed for connecting devices, memory, cards, or cables together.
However, because many of the components within the same data processing system are produced by different manufacturers having different communication standards, the central processing unit is required to recognize all the different protocols needed to communicate with all the components. This level of complexity results in increased costs and slower data processing time.

International Business Machines Corporation


A system for monitoring a driver""s attention to driving a vehicle includes a camera having a field of view wherein a driver""s face is positioned in the field of view of the camera. The system also includes a gaze and facial pose determiner coupled to the camera which receives signals corresponding to images of the driver""s face for analysis. The gaze and facial pose determiner determines whether the gaze and facial pose of the driver are oriented in a forward direction of travel of the vehicle. The system also includes an alarm responsive to the gaze and facial pose determiner for advising the driver that his gaze and facial pose are not oriented in the forward direction of travel of the vehicle.

This invention relates to vision systems for vehicles, and more particularly relates to a system which monitors a driver""s attention to driving.
A major cause of driving accidents is a driver""s lack of attention to the task of driving. This includes the driver not monitoring the current road conditions (e.g., weather conditions) and not monitoring other vehicles on the roadway proximate the driver""s car. Drivers typically encounter many distractions while driving. Examples of distractions encountered by drivers include viewing scenery, pedestrians, other drivers and vehicles, driver fatigue and sleepiness, adjusting the controls on the stereo, utilizing a cellular phone, looking in the mirror and engaging in conversation with passengers. All of the above distractions divert the driver""s attention from driving, and as such cause the driver to lose perspective of the relationship between the driver""s vehicle and other vehicles on the roadway.
It would be beneficial to have a system which monitors a driver""s attention to driving and advises a driver if the driver has not viewed the driving conditions in front of the driver""s vehicle for a period of time.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system which monitors a driver""s attention to driving.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system which monitors a driver""s attention to driving and provides an audible, visual or tactile alarm to advise the driver to redirect his attention to the forward direction of travel.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system for monitoring a driver""s attention to driving which overcomes inherent disadvantages of known driver monitoring systems.
In accordance with one form of the present invention, a system for monitoring a driver""s attention to driving a vehicle includes a driver monitoring camera having a field of view wherein the driver""s face is positioned in a field of view of the camera so that the camera can capture images of the driver""s gaze and facial pose. The system also includes a gaze and facial pose determiner coupled to the driver monitoring camera which receives image signals from the driver monitoring camera indicative of the driver""s face for analysis. The gaze and facial pose determiner provides an indication of whether the driver""s gaze and facial pose are oriented in a forward direction of travel of the vehicle. The system also includes an alarm responsive to the gaze and facial pose determiner for advising the driver that his gaze and facial pose are not oriented in the forward direction of travel of the vehicle.
In accordance with another form of the present invention, the system for monitoring a driver""s attention to driving a vehicle includes a driver monitoring camera having a field of view wherein the driver""s face is positioned in the field of view of the driver monitoring camera so that the camera can capture images of the driver""s gaze and facial pose. The system also includes a gaze and facial pose determiner coupled to the driver monitoring camera which receives image signals from the camera indicative of the driver""s face for analysis. The gaze and facial pose determiner provides an indication as to whether the gaze and facial pose of the driver are oriented in a forward direction of travel of the vehicle. The system also includes an object monitoring camera having a field of view and being oriented on the vehicle so as to monitor regions external to and proximate the vehicle, and an object distance determiner operatively coupled to the object monitoring camera. The object distance determiner identifies an object which is in the field of view of the object monitoring camera and determines the identified object""s distance from the driver""s vehicle. The system also includes a speedometer for determining a speed of the vehicle and an alarm. If at least one of the gaze and facial pose of the driver are not oriented in the forward direction of travel of the vehicle, and the object distance determiner identifies an object in the field of view of the camera that is within a predetermined distance from the vehicle, the alarm is actuated to warn the driver of a potential danger, and if at least one of the gaze and facial pose of the driver are not oriented in the forward direction of travel of the vehicle for a predetermined period of time wherein the predetermined period of time is related to the speed of the vehicle, the alarm is actuated to advise the driver to set his gaze and facial pose on the forward direction of travel.
A preferred form of the system for monitoring a driver""s attention while driving his vehicle, as well as other embodiments, objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

System for monitoring a driver""s attention to driving


A molecular sieve moisture absorption device for electrical apparatus containing a dielectric gas includes a box in which the molecular sieve is placed. The box is closed by a plate provided with a valve through which the inside of the box is evacuated. The plate is held in place on a shoulder of the box by the action of pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the box after the inside of the box has been evacuated. A gasket is placed between the plate and the shoulder to ensure that the inside volume of the box is leakproof. The device can be stored independently of the apparatus. When the device is mounted on the apparatus, evacuating the case of the apparatus causes the plate to separate from the box, thereby putting the molecular sieve into contact with the inside volume to be treated of the case.

In electrical apparatus shielded by metal cladding, such as a circuit breaker for example, the molecular sieve used to absorb moisture and decomposition products formed when interrupting, is an aluminosilicate in the form of small crystals or small sticks. The water-hungry molecular sieve is placed in a tubular metal box which is flange-mounted on the neck of an orifice provided through the metal cladding of the apparatus. Prior to commissioning such apparatus, during shipping and storage, a closure plate is placed between the tube containing the molecular sieve and the cladding to avoid contact between the molecular sieve placed in the tube and the air contained inside the cladding. When the electrical apparatus is commissioned, the closure plate is removed to put the inside volume of the tube containing the molecular sieve into communication with the inside volume to be treated of the cladding, and then the apparatus is evacuated prior to being filled with dielectric gas. Removing the closure plate during commissioning of the apparatus thus requires the flange-mounting to be taken apart and then reassembled to hold the tube to the cladding.

Moisture absorption device for electrical apparatus containing dielectric gas


A gear shift arrangement for a motor vehicle gear mechanism comprises at least one clutch arrangement by means of which a gear of the gear mechanism can be engaged and disengaged. An actuator arrangement is coupled with the clutch arrangement via a first force transmission device. A parking block arrangement is coupled with the actuator arrangement via a second force transmission device. The actuator arrangement can be moved into a parking block position in which the parking block arrangement is activated. The actuator arrangement is configured to engage the gear on its travel to the parking block position and/or in the parking block position via the first force transmission device. The first force transmission device has a decoupling device which is configured to move or to let move the actuator arrangement into the parking block position even when the clutch arrangement is blocked.

The present invention concerns a gear shift arrangement for a motor vehicle gear mechanism with at least one clutch arrangement, by means of which a gear of the clutch gear mechanism can be engaged and disengaged, with an actuator arrangement which is coupled with the clutch arrangement via a first force transmission device, and with a parking block arrangement which is coupled with the actuator arrangement via a second force transmission device, wherein the actuator arrangement can be moved into a parking block position in which the parking block arrangement is activated, wherein the actuator arrangement is configured to engage the gear on its travel to the parking block position and/or in the parking block position via the first force transmission device.
Furthermore the present invention concerns a method for activating a parking block arrangement by means of an actuator arrangement, in particular by means of a gear shift arrangement of the type described above.
In the field of motor vehicle gear mechanisms, it is known to use parking block arrangements to immobilise a motor vehicle. Such parking block arrangements are used in particular in automatic transmissions in which it is not always possible to engage a gear for immobilising the motor vehicle (such as for example automated gear mechanisms or double clutch gear mechanisms), or in which the gear mechanism is coupled with a drive motor via a hydrodynamic converter. In such automated gear mechanisms, a parking block arrangement is generally activated in that a gear selector lever is moved into position P. Previously it was conventional to couple the selector lever with a parking block arrangement mechanically. However, so-called "park-by-wire" systems are known in which the parking block arrangement is activated by means of an actuator arrangement.
Parking block arrangements of this type typically have a parking block cog which is firmly connected to a shaft associated with the output from the motor vehicle gear mechanism. Furthermore such parking block arrangements typically contain a parking block pawl which in the release position releases the parking block cog, and in a parking block position engages in a toothing of the parking block cog in order to immobilise the motor vehicle in this way. An example of such a parking block arrangement is disclosed in document DE 20 2008 001 760 U1.
Alternative parking block arrangements have draw key arrangements for moving a parking block pawl from a release position into a parking block position.
In the field of gear shift arrangements for motor vehicles, it is furthermore known to activate a clutch arrangement, such as for example a synchronous clutch, by means of an actuator arrangement. Such actuator arrangements can contain hydraulic actuators or electromechanical actuators. For the second case it is known for example to use so-called drum controllers which are driven by means of an electric motor. Drum controllers of this type contain a drum controller contour which engages in a carrier coupled to the clutch arrangement, in order for example to move a selector sleeve of a clutch between a neutral position and a gear position.
The earlier German application DE 10 2012 007 061, which constitutes a prior art according to §3 (2) German Patent Act, discloses a gear shift arrangement in which a drum controller is used to activate a clutch arrangement in the known manner, but furthermore it is also coupled with a parking block arrangement of the type described above via a constrained motion gear mechanism.
In this context it is an object of the invention to specify an improved gear shift arrangement and an improved method for activating a parking block arrangement, wherein the actuator arrangement can be constructed simply, and wherein activation of the parking block arrangement is possible with high security.
This object is achieved by the gear shift arrangement of the type cited initially in that a first force transmission device has a decoupling device which is configured to move or to let move the actuator arrangement into the parking block position even when the clutch arrangement is blocked.

Gear shift arrangement with parking block and method for its activation

GETRAG Getriebe- und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer GmbH & Cie KG


On a back face of a silicon wafer before dicing, tapered grooves having sloped side walls are formed by anisotropic etching along with thin portions. Strain gauges are formed on each thin portion, thereby forming a sensor chip on the silicon wafer. The back face of the silicon wafer is attached to a self-adhesive seat. Thereafter, the silicon wafer is cut along the grooves by a dicing blade to divide it into each sensor chip. In dicing, the side faces of the dicing blade cut the sloped side walls of the tapered grooves. As a result, the silicon wafer is diced into individual sensor chip having no cracks and chippings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of producing a semiconductor device such as a semiconductor dynamic sensor for detecting an amount of acceleration, pressure or the like.
2. Related Arts
A semiconductor acceleration sensor is, as shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, conventionally composed of a rectangular plate-like silicon substrate 61, through grooves 62 formed on the silicon substrate 61 (a silicon chip), a rectangular frame (a thick portion) 63 formed at an outer side of the through grooves 62, and a rectangular weight (a thick portion) 64 formed at an inner side of the through grooves 62. The frame 63 and the weight 64 are connected by thin beams 65 to 68, and strain gauges 69 to 72 for detecting an amount of acceleration are formed on the beams 65 to 68, respectively. The silicon substrate 61 is bonded to a ceramic substrate 73 by utilizing adhesives 74 after dicing. That is, the lower face of the frame 63 and the upper face of the ceramic substrate 73 are bonded to each other through the adhesives 74.
In processes of manufacturing the acceleration sensor, as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, firstly, thin portions 75 on which strain gauges are formed are formed on a silicon wafer 76. Each thin portion 75 corresponds an area where beams and through grooves are to be formed to form one sensor chip. The silicon wafer 76 is attached to a self-adhesive sheet 77 for dicing, and then, it is cut to be divided into sensor chips along dicing lines Ld by a dicing blade 80.
On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 35 and 36, a semiconductor pressure sensor is conventionally composed of a square plate-like silicon substrate 90, a recess 91 formed on the silicon substrate 90, and a diaphragm 92 formed at the bottom of the recess 91. On the diaphragm 92 are formed strain gauges 93 to 96 for detecting an amount of pressure applied to the diaphragm 92. Further, the silicon substrate 90 is joined to a glass base 97. On the back face of the glass base 97, a vapor deposition layer 98 made of metal is formed, and is joined to a metallic stem 99 through a solder layer 100.
In processes of manufacturing the pressure sensor, diaphragms 92, each of which forms one pressure sensor, are formed on a silicon wafer 101. As shown in FIG. 37, the silicon wafer 101 is bonded to a glass plate 102 for forming the glass base 97. The back face of the glass plate 102 is attached to a self adhesive sheet 104 through a vapor deposition layer 103 made of metal. Thereafter, the silicon wafer 101 and the glass plate 102 are cut into sensor chips along dicing lines by a dicing blade 105.
In the dicing process of the semiconductor acceleration sensor, however, cracks 78 and chippings 79 of the silicon wafer 76 occur at edge portions cut by the dicing blade 80 as shown in FIG. 33. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 38, thus obtained sensor chip 81 has the cracks 78 and the chippings 79 on outer circumferential faces (dicing portions) thereof. Especially in the semiconductor acceleration sensor, as shown in FIG. 32, a width W.sub.F of the frame 63 has been becoming narrow to miniaturize the sensor chip in recent years. Accordingly, the frame 63 becomes liable to be broken due to the cracks 78 and the chippings 79, and inferior adhesion of the frame 63 becomes liable to occur when the sensor chip is mounted.
Further, in the dicing process of the semiconductor pressure sensor, as shown in FIG. 37, the dicing blade 105 used for thick plates such as the glass plate 102 is liable to generate big chippings 106 compared to the other dicing blade which is used for thin plates such as a silicon wafer. In this case, an exfoliation of the vapor deposition layer 103 formed on the back face of the glass plate 102 accompanies the chippings 106, thereby resulting in inferior junction between the glass base 97 and the metallic stem 99 in the sensor chip shown in FIG. 36.

Method of producing semiconductor device by dicing


A plastic closure includes a base molded as one piece with a lid and integrally connected to the lid by a hinge. The lid is radially inwardly displaced from an outer periphery of the base. The hinge has a central portion with a convex outer surface, with the lid closed and as viewed in side elevation, that blends with a smooth curvature into outer surfaces of the lid and the base. The hinge has laterally spaced end portions on opposite sides of the central portion and having concave outer surfaces when the lid is closed. The base preferably has a circular periphery and the end portions of the hinge are angularly spaced from each other. The outer surface of the lid preferably is flat, and the lid preferably is integrally connected to the base as molded by at least one frangible bridge spaced from the hinge.

A general object of the present disclosure is to provide a flip-lid dispensing closure molded as one piece with the lid in the closed position, and to provide a package that includes such a closure, in which the hinge that couples the lid to the base of the closure smoothly blends into the adjacent surfaces of the lid and the base and functions as a snap hinge resiliently to hold the lid in the open position and the closed position.
The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can be implemented separately from or in combination with each other.
A plastic closure in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure includes a base molded as one piece with a lid and integrally connected to the lid by a hinge. The lid is radially inwardly displaced from an outer periphery of the base. The hinge has a central portion with a convex outer surface, with the lid closed and as viewed in side elevation, that blends with a smooth curvature into outer surfaces of the lid and the base. The hinge has laterally spaced end portions on opposite sides of the central portion and having concave outer surfaces when the lid is closed. The base preferably has a circular periphery and the end portions of the hinge are angularly spaced from each other. The outer surface of the lid preferably is flat, and the lid preferably is integrally connected to the base as molded by at least one frangible bridge spaced from the hinge.


A first storing unit stores therein information on a communication status relating to installing positions of a plurality of storage devices forming a disk array. A selecting unit selects a plurality of storage devices for storing data, based on stored information. A second storing unit stores recovery data recovered from a storage device from which a failure is detected from among the storage devices forming the disk array in selected storage devices in a striping manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology for recovering data stored in a storage device from which a failure is detected from among storage devices constituting a disk array.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a redundant-arrays-of-independent-disks (RAID) structure that includes a plurality of disk devices, when a failure occurs in a disk device, a reconstruction processing is generally performed for recovering data stored in the disk device.
With the reconstruction processing, the data stored in the failed disk device is recovered by performing an exclusive-OR operation between data and parity read from the rest of the disk devices in the same RAID structure.
The recovered data is to be stored in a disk device prepared as a spare disk device that is provided separately from the rest of the disk devices. At this moment, if the capacity of the failed disk device is smaller than the capacity of the spare disk device, a free space is to be left without being used in the spare disk device.
A technology for removing such a free space is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-149374. According to the technology, when data with a specific size needs to be stored in a disk device, a logical storage area with a required size for storing the data is formed by combining the disk devices, and the data is stored in the logical storage area.
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H6-230903 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-200157 disclose technologies, in which recovered data is stored in free spaces left in each of the disk devices in which data is already stored, in a striping manner, instead of separately preparing a spare disk device.
However, with the disclosed technologies, there still is a problem that it takes a longer processing time for performing the reconstruction processing when a communication speed of transmitting the data on a communication path to a destination disk device is slow.
For example, a RAID structure using a fiber channel-arbitrated loop (FC-AL) technology includes a configuration in which a plurality of groups including the disk devices connected in a loop via a fiber channel are formed. With the above configuration, if a disk device connected to a fiber channel with a large communication load is selected as a data recovery destination for performing the reconstruction processing, a high speed can hardly be achieved in performing the reconstruction processing.
Further, when the disk devices are connected to switches while groups including the disk devices and the switches are formed in the above configuration, and when a disk device connected to a switch with a large communication load is selected as the data recovery destination for performing the reconstruction processing, it is also difficult to perform the reconstruction processing at a high speed. Moreover, if the operation speed of the disk device is slow, the reconstruction processing cannot be performed at a high speed.
Because the RAID structure becomes in a degeneration state during a performance of the reconstruction processing and redundancy of the data in the RAID structure is not to be assured, it is required to complete the reconstruction processing as fast as possible. Therefore, it is critical to select a proper disk device as the data recovery destination and perform the reconstruction processing at a high speed.