A sonde (transmitter) housing having a one-piece design for improved housing rigidity. The housing includes a mechanically-adjustable mounting configuration adaptable to a variety of sonde applications. A method of making the sonde housing in a one-piece design and infinitely orienting the sonde clocking electronics.

Horizontal directional drilling is a process commonly utilized to create boreholes for the installation of utilities underground. The process involves a drilling machine, a drill string and a drill head. The drill string is typically composed of individual sections of hollow drill rod, and is attached above ground between the drilling machine and the drill head. The drilling machine is typically capable of rotating and longitudinally propelling and thrusting the drill string, while simultaneously pumping a fluid through the drill string. The drill head is typically composed of an adapter assembly and a drill bit. There are many types of adapter assemblies, including static and dynamic, each typically connecting on one end to the drill string, and on the other end to the drill bit. There are a variety of drill bits, each designed to be used in conjunction with a specific type of adapter.
The process starts with installing the drill head onto a single drill rod above ground. The drill rod is then connected, at the opposite end, to a drilling machine. The drilling machine then rotates and pushes the drill rod and drill head into the ground. At the same time, a fluid is pumped through the drill rod and typically directed to the cutting surface of the drill bit to assist in cutting the ground material.
The pumped fluid has a variety of purposes. One primary purpose relates to removal of material to create the borehole. In this application, fluid transports cuttings created by the drill bit back along the bored hole and out to the ground surface. In most setups, a particular drill bit is configured to cut a hole larger than the drill rod diameter by disturbing the soil formation as it is rotated. Examples of such bits can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,799,740 and 5,899,283. At the same time, a water-based fluid is pumped through the drill string and through the bit to thoroughly mix with the disturbed soil, creating a slurry. The slurry then follows the path of least resistance, which is typically back along the drill string, and exits at the point the drill string enters the ground. In this application the adapter assembly is static, simply adapting from the drill rod threaded connection, which is smaller diameter, to the drill bit, which is larger in diameter to cut the larger hole required for the proper transfer of cuttings.
In some other applications there is no requirement to transport the cuttings and the ground is simply compacted, forming a borehole without any material removal. Impact or hammering load on the drill bit increases the productivity of drilling. For this type of application, the adapter assembly includes a dynamic component, typically a pneumatic hammer, in addition to a static adapting element. (An example disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,704.) The fluid being pumped in the drill string is compressed air that transfers power to actuate the pneumatic hammer. The path of fluid flow includes the drill string, the static component of the adapter assembly, and the hammer.
In yet other applications, typically highly compressed soils and or rock, a similar setup utilizing a down hole hammer can be used in conjunction with a different drill bit to create cuttings for transport. The hammers can be pneumatic hammers or water hammers. The drill bits are designed primarily to fracture the soil or rock formation by the impact loading received from the hammer. Once the formation is fractured, the cuttings need to be transported away from the cutting face.
Transportation of the cuttings is aided by rotation of the drill bit and drill string, along with the resulting flow of the fluid. The fluid is typically air or a mixture of air and a water based fluid or other suspension material which functions to aid the air's ability to transport the cuttings. In this type of application, the fluid is utilized to transfer power to actuate a hammer to transport cuttings. The path of fluid flow includes the drill string, adapter assembly and drill bit.
In still another arrangement involving cutting highly compressed soils or rock, the drill bit is adapted to rotate. One such design includes the use of a mud motor capable of converting fluid power (from the pumped fluid) into rotational power to rotate the drill bit. In this type of application, the adapter assembly includes a dynamic component, the mud motor, along with the previously described static element. The fluid is typically water based. The path of fluid flow includes the drill string, the adapter assembly and the drill bit.
In all these applications, the transfer of fluid assists in the efficient functioning of the drill bit and/or transportation of the cuttings; relatively large flow rates may be required. The path of fluid flow, in all cases, is through the adapter. Thus a key characteristic of the adapter is fluid transfer capability.
Another key aspect of horizontal directional drilling is the detection of location and position of the drill head. This information is necessary to properly control the drilling process so that the bored hole is properly positioned. This is typically accomplished by installing tracking electronics in the drill head, typically in the form of a sonde. Sondes are currently available in a variety of sizes, from a variety of manufacturers and include 2 basic types; a type powered by a battery and a type powered by a wire that is threaded through the drill string to an above-ground power source.
An example of a battery powered sonde and its mounting configuration within a drill head is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,589. FIG. 4 of '589 illustrates a drill head with the adapter assembly connected on one end to the drill string and to the drill bit at the other end. This is a schematic representation illustrating primarily the electronic package. This arrangement illustrates that the adapter assembly is configured to hold the sonde or transmitter which is generally cylindrical and whose diameter is significant in relation to the diameter of the drill rod. This static section of the adapter assembly has become known as the sonde housing.
Other examples of sonde housings can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,740 (hereinafter '740), U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,721 (hereinafter '721), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,634 (hereinafter '634). FIG. 11 of '740 more closely exemplifies the design of typical sonde housings. The housing is configured to accept a sonde, to mate to a drill bit, to mate to the drill string, and to provide a passage for fluid. The mechanical configuration is such that a cavity for the sonde is positioned off center and located as close as possible to the edge of the adapter, as constrained by minimum material thickness. This provides a maximum cross-sectional area of the fluid passages, also constrained by minimum material thickness surrounding the passage. The location of the fluid passages is thus close to the outer diameter of the sonde housing.
In order to manufacture typical sonde housing passages, the sonde housing is made as two pieces. The cylindrical main section, illustrated as FIG. 11 in '740, includes a threaded section with an inner diameter sufficiently large to allow the fluid passages to be manufactured with normal drilling. This thread is much larger than the threads utilized on the drill rod. Thus a second piece, illustrated in FIG. 10, screws into these large threads on one end and adapts to the threads of the drill string on the other end. In this manner, the sonde housing is constructed from multiple parts that are screwed together. The sonde is installed into the sonde housing by separating the two pieces at this threaded connection. This type of sonde housing is referred to as an end load sonde housing as the sonde is inserted from an end of the sonde housing.
The cylindrical sonde housing illustrated in the '634 patent also utilizes a two piece construction. FIG. 2 illustrates a similar main section adapted to accept a sonde, adapted to a drill bit on one end, and to a second adapter on the opposite end. Rather than utilizing a threaded connection between the main section and the adapter, this sonde housing utilizes a splined connection. One such adapter is illustrated in FIG. 22 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,935 (hereinafter '935), and herein incorporated in its entirety by reference. Here again, the inner diameter of the splined connection is such that the fluid transfer holes can be drilled with normal drilling techniques. The sonde housing illustrated in the '634 patent is generally referred to as a side load housing as the sonde housing includes a door that covers the sonde cavity mounted on the side of the sonde housing and the sonde is accessed from the side.
FIG. 1 of '935 and FIG. 3 of '721 illustrate the difficulty of manufacturing a one-piece sonde housing. In '935 the fluid transfer holes are drilled at an angle, adding cost and complexity to the assembly. In '721 the fluid transfer holes require 4 separate, intersecting drilled holes creating 90-degree angles in the fluid pathway. This configuration results in significant flow restriction.
In addition to providing a flow passage, the sonde housing also serves to support and position the sonde. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,260,634 and 6,148,935 illustrate the use of a splined connection between the sonde housing and the drill bit that can only be assembled in one rotary orientation. This, combined with the rotary orientation control of the sonde, coordinates the orientation between the sonde and the drill bit. This arrangement is dependent on the splined connection, which results in restricting the variety of drill bits that can be utilized with the housing, as not all bits include such splines.
Other mounting requirements for sondes include vibration isolation, particularly when the adapter assembly includes a hammer, and/or provision for a wire passage for use with a wire-line sonde. The sonde housing, being located near the drill bit, is subjected to severe load conditions. The mechanical rigidity and assembly characteristics affect the durability of the sonde housing. The requirement for durability is exemplified by the existence of industry standards for certain types of drilling components. For instance, the American Petroleum Institute has adopted a specific thread configuration for use with drilling components that imposes an additional physical constraint affecting the mechanical configuration of the sonde housing.


A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which a terminal can be used in further consideration of user's convenience. The present invention includes displaying at least one object on a display unit of a touchscreen type provided to a front side of a housing of a bar type, if a first touch gesture is performed on the object, enabling the object to move from the main display unit via a first subdisplay unit provided to one lateral side of the housing to a second subdisplay unit of the touchscreen type provided to a backside of the housing, and if a second touch gesture is performed on the object displayed on the second subdisplay unit, enabling the object to move to the main display unit via the first subdisplay unit from the second subdisplay unit. Accordingly, when a touchscreen is attached to at least two sides of a mobile terminal, a terminal user is facilitated to use the mobile terminal in a manner of utilizing how to display the touchscreen provided to the at least two sides.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal and controlling method thereof. Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for facilitating a terminal to be used in further consideration of user's convenience.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A mobile terminal is a device which may be configured to perform various functions. Examples of such functions include data and voice communications, capturing images and video via a camera, recording audio, playing music files and outputting music via a speaker system, and displaying images and video on a display. Some terminals include additional functionality which supports game playing, while other terminals are also configured as multimedia players. More recently, mobile terminals have been configured to receive broadcast and multicast signals which permit viewing of contents, such as videos and television programs.
Generally, terminals can be classified into mobile terminals and stationary terminals according to a presence or non-presence of mobility. And, the mobile terminals can be further classified into handheld terminals and vehicle mount terminals according to availability for hand-carry.
There are ongoing efforts to support and increase the functionality of mobile terminals. Such efforts include software and hardware improvements, as well as changes and improvements in the structural components which form the mobile terminal.
Recently, various kinds of touchscreen type mobile terminals are ongoing to be introduced. A touchscreen used to be provided to one side of a conventional mobile terminal. On the contrary, in case that a touchscreen is provided to at least two sides of a mobile terminal, many efforts need to be made to research and develop a method of displaying the touchscreen provided to the at least two sides of the mobile terminal in order to facilitate a terminal user to use the mobile terminal.

Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof


A vehicle is equipped with a transmitter/receiver user recognition device and a control system for allowing a user to act remotely on one or more sub-systems of a vehicle, e.g., opening a panel such as a boot. In use, the system operates in association with a user identification device so as to activate an illumination block when the identification device has been recognized by the user recognition device and the identified user's hand is approaching, and to control the operation of one of the sub-systems when the identified user s hand is touching the illumination legend.

It is known to provide vehicles with "hand free" access system allowing user to act on a vehicle, e.g. for locking/unlocking the locks of the openable-panels of the vehicle, from outside this vehicle, if the user carries an appropriate identifier which is recognized by a transmitter/receiver recognition device with which the vehicle is equipped, when it lies in a specified geographical zone in the vicinity of the vehicle.
One disadvantage of such system is that generally the user needs to walk around his vehicle to operate the desired openable-panels.

Vehicle equipped with a control system for operating one or more vehicle sub-system


An organic electroluminescent display device includes an organic electroluminescent display panel including top emission pixels to emit light toward a top side of a substrate and bottom emission pixels to emit light toward a bottom side of the substrate, the top emission pixels and the bottom emission pixels being formed such that corresponding ones thereof share a common transparent area, a scan driver for supplying a scan signal to scan lines each connected to selected ones of the top and bottom emission pixels, and a data driver for supplying a data voltage to data lines each connected to selected ones of the top and bottom emission pixels. The top emission pixels and the bottom emission pixels are formed on the substrate to alternate with each other on a pixel basis, on a scan line basis, or a data line basis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescent display device with double-sided light emission and a method for driving the same.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Various flat panel display devices capable of overcoming drawbacks of a cathode ray tube (CRT), namely, heavy and bulky structures, have been proposed. As such a flat panel display device, there is a liquid crystal display device, a field emission display device, a plasma display panel, an organic electroluminescent display device or the like.
In particular, the organic electroluminescent display device, which is a self-luminous device, has advantages of fast response time, high emission efficiency, high luminance, and wide viewing angle, as compared to other flat panel display devices.
Organic electroluminescent display devices are classified into a top emission type organic electroluminescent display device and a bottom emission type organic electroluminescent display device in accordance with the emission direction of light from an organic light emitting layer. Recently, there has been a demand for a double-sided emission type organic electroluminescent display device capable of simultaneously realizing top emission and bottom emission.

Organic electroluminescent display device and method for driving the same


A system and associated method for data mining prediction is presented according to which the user selects a database table by means of a graphical user interface. Some records in the table are complete, while other records are incomplete. A subset of records of the database table is determined wherein each record of the subset contains a data value in the column selected for prediction. This subset of records is used to generate a model by means of a data mining algorithm, such as linear regression, radial basis function, decision tree or neural network methods. The resulting model is then utilized to predict the empty data fields in the column. After completing the prediction, the predicted values are entered into the column for display to the user.

Data mining is a data processing task which is based on a structured set of raw data. Typically the raw data includes a large set of records, each record having the same or a similar format. Each field in a record can take any of a number of logical, categorical, or numerical values.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,194 describes a method for data mining including a feedback mechanism for monitoring performance of mining tasks is known. A user selected mining technique type is received for the data mining operation. A quality measure type is identified for the user selected mining technique type. The user selected mining technique type for the data mining operation is processed and a quality indicator is measured using the quality measure type. The measured quality indication is displayed while processing the user selected mining technique type for the data mining operations.
A common disadvantage of current mining methods is the complexity of the operations the user has to perform. FIG. 1 shows a typical example of a prior art data mining method:
First, table 1 with training data is provided. Table 1 contains a number of records having data fields which are assigned to input field values such as "pain type", "angina" . . . Column 2 of table 1 has been selected by a user. The column 2 is associated with the field value "diseased".
Based on table 1 with column 2, a model 3 is formed by means of a data mining operation. In principle, any suitable current data mining method can be used such as linear regression, radial basis function and decision tree as well as neural network methods.
Model (or tree) 3 of FIG. 1 shows by way of example a decision tree model. The root of model 3 contains all the input records of table 1 and the leaves of model 3 represent the disjoint subsets which try to separate the records of table 1 according to the different field values occurring in column 2.
Model 3 is verified by means of test data which is contained in column 2 of table 4. By inputting the test data of table 4 and model 3 into the data mining application, column 5 is outputted containing data values that are predicted based on the input attributes contained in table 4 by means of model 3.
The predicted data in column 5 can be compared with the real data in column 2 in order to determine the quality of model 3. When the quality of model 3 is considered sufficient, application data provided in a table 6 and model 3 is inputted into the data mining application in order to predict the corresponding data values within column 5.
For performing the data mining task, the end user has to understand the different modes "training," "test," and "deployment" and needs to work with different types of data objects in the correct sequence. Furthermore, the end user needs to specify these objects correctly as input or output parameters:                the user needs to specify a table having a number of n+1 columns as input for the training mode;        a target column (column 2 of FIG. 1) needs to be specified for the purposes of prediction;        a model is outputted from the training mode;        a test data needs to be inputted into the test mode (table 4 with column 2 of FIG. 1);        the model needs to be specified as input into the test mode;        the output of the test mode is an n+2 column table comprising the additional column with the predicted data values (column 5 of FIG. 1);        the quality information which is outputted from the test mode needs to be evaluated;        the model needs to be specified as input into the deployment mode;        an n column table needs to be provided as an input for the deployment mode (application data); and        the result of the prediction is outputted in another column (column 5 of FIG. 1).
The complexity of the resulting user interface limits applications of data mining. What is therefore needed is an improved method for data mining, and in particular an improved user interface for data mining that allows non-expert users to perform data mining tasks.

System and method of using data mining prediction methodology

International Business Machines Corporation


A keratome includes a miniature differential micrometer having a barrel, a middle sleeve, and a inner sleeve connected by a threaded shaft having threads of two different pitches. One end of each of the middle sleeve and inner sleeve is drilled and tapped undersize and is slotted to conform resiliently to the threaded shaft. The middle sleeve is attached to a keratome by set screws drawing the middle sleeve into tight contact with the body of the keratome. The adjustable plate in the keratome is attached to the inner sleeve.

This invention relates to surgical apparatus and, in particular, to a miniature differential micrometer for a keratome.
A keratome is a surgical instrument for making thin slices of the cornea of the eye and resembles a tiny block plane having an overall length of about three centimeters. Unlike a block plane, the bottom of a keratome is not a single surface. An adjustable plate is located at the leading or front end of the keratome, followed by the cutting blade. Also unlike a block plane, the blade in a keratome oscillates from side to side at high speed to slice the corneal tissue.
In the normal cutting position of the keratome, the adjustable plate forms part of the bottom surface of the keratome and can be moved up and down, i.e. perpendicular to the bottom surface. (Any reference to direction is for the sake of description only. A keratome can be held and used for cutting in any orientation.) The adjustable plate is slightly trapezoidal in shape and one of the parallel edges of the plate is positioned adjacent the blade. The vertical spacing between the plate and the blade determines the depth or thickness of the cut.
The human eye is actually a compound Optical system including a fixed "lens," the cornea or outer surface, and a focusing lens. Severely myopic (nearsighted) patients often can have normal vision restored by thinning the cornea. In surgery on the cornea, the depth of cut is critical because the cornea of a human eye is typically 520 microns (0.020 inches) thick. In a procedure known as kerato-mileusis in-situ, the outer surface of the cornea, e.g. 150 microns, is removed in a first slice, a section 20-250 microns is removed in a second slice, and the first slice is re-attached to the eye. Obviously, the setting of the blade is extremely critical for each cut. The depth of cut must be known precisely and accurately.
In the past, keratomes have been provided with an adjustment screw having a fine thread, enabling small changes to be made in the depth of cut. The problem is knowing how deep the cut will actually be. Typically, a gauge is provided for measuring the displacement of the plate from the blade. The problem with a gauge is that it cannot withstand sterilization. Since the surgical field and all instruments must be sterile, adjusting the blade means placing the keratome in a non sterile gauge, setting the depth of cut by touching the plate with part of the gauge, and then sterilizing the keratome.
Thus, it is desired to have a keratome with an integral, calibrated adjustment. Micrometer adjustments of the prior art rely on a fine threaded screw but even this is not very accurate. For accurate correction of myopia, ophthalmic surgeons want an adjustment accurate to .+-.(2-5) microns. While micrometers capable of this accuracy are known, they dwarf the keratome in size and are unsuited to being incorporated into a keratome.
Berkman et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,489--discloses a surgical knife for use in a procedure known as radial keratotomy in which shallow, radial slits are made in, but not through, the cornea. The knife includes a micrometer and electronics within the knife are used for "eliminating reliance on the accuracy of the adjusting screw." In other words, the micrometer is not sufficiently accurate for surgery on the eye. A calibration system is disclosed for sensing the zero or "datum" point on the extension of the blade from the end of knife. In surgery, the electronics in the knife indicate the amount the blade is extended.
The most accurate micrometers known are differential micrometers. These devices have a single screw with threads of two different pitches. The movement of the contact point in the micrometer is determined by the difference in pitch of the threads. For example, if one thread were twenty turns per inch (0.05 inches per turn) and the other thread were twenty five turns per inch (0.04 inches per turn), then one turn of the screw would produce a movement of 0.01 inches of the contact point. Differential micrometers of the prior art are typically four-six inches long, far too large for a keratome.
Differential micrometers cannot simply be scaled down in size. Everything that is made smaller is also made weaker. For example, tension nuts, needed to avoid backlash, break during use when a differential micrometer is made small enough to be incorporated into a keratome. (Backlash is movement of the contact without rotation of the barrel or no movement of the contact with some rotation of the barrel.)
Even if a small differential micrometer were available, the problems of calibration and sterilization remain. Surgeons want a device with a dial, easily read, that can be adjusted in the operating room, knowing that the cut will be the thickness indicated. In this way, two consecutive cuts of different thickness can be made without contaminating the keratome between cuts with a calibration gauge.
The dial should be easily read and provide the surgeon with a feel for how much the plate has been adjusted. Typically, the barrel of a micrometer moves as it is rotated to reveal more or less of a fixed scale. If the pitch of the thread on which the barrel turns is made arbitrarily fine, then the barrel moves little. Thus, there are contrary demands on the pitch of the threads: a larger pitch causes the barrel to move a greater distance while a smaller pitch increases the resolution of the micrometer.
In view of the foregoing it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a differential micrometer fitting on one end of a keratome.
Another object of the invention is to provide a keratome which is calibrated during manufacture and does not require re-calibration thereafter.
A further object of the invention is to provide a keratome which can cut with a resolution of one micron and an accuracy of .+-.(2-5) microns.
Another object of the invention is to provide a keratome which can be sterilized and used without further calibration.
A further object of the invention is to provide a miniature differential micrometer.
Another object of the invention is to provide a miniature differential micrometer having a relatively large longitudinal movement of the barrel in proportion to the movement of the contact point.

Keratome with miniature differential micrometer


A die transfer system that includes a lower die, an upper die carried for reciprocal movement toward and away from the lower die to perform at least one operation on a workpiece positioned therebetween, and a conveyor for sequentially conveying workpieces between the dies. The conveyor includes a pair of elongated transfer bars parallel to each other and to the direction of movement of workpieces through the dies. Each transfer bar includes hands for engaging and carrying the workpieces. A pair of transfer drives are each operatively coupled to an associated one of the transfer bars for moving the transfer bars longitudinally parallel to each other independently of each other and out of phase with each other. A workpiece infeed conveyor is disposed adjacent to one end of a first of the transfer bars for feeding workpieces to the first transfer bar. A workpiece outfeed conveyor is disposed adjacent to the same end of the second of the transfer bars for receiving workpieces from the end of the second transfer bar. A transfer conveyor is disposed adjacent to the other ends of the first and second transfer bars for transferring workpieces from the second end of the first transfer bar to the second end of the second transfer bar. In this way, workpieces are conveyed by the first transfer bar from the infeed conveyor to the transfer conveyor, then by the transfer conveyor to the second transfer bar, and then by the second transfer bar to the outfeed conveyor.

In so-called progressive die systems, workpieces formed from strip stock remain attached to webs that extend along lateral edges of the pieces to facilitate indexing of the workpieces through successive stages of the die assembly. Although such arrangements facilitate conveyance of workpieces through the die stations, they possess the disadvantage that the workpieces must be formed in a linear array at spaced locations along the strip stock, leading to substantial inefficiency and waste. Furthermore, the fact that all workpieces remain interconnected during at least a major portion of the die operation can lead to difficulty and inefficiency in performing operations on the workpieces at a given station. For these reasons and others, so-called die transfer systems have been developed in which the workpieces are pre-separated and fed as individual units to the die arrangement. A die transfer system of this character permits more efficient use of the strip stock material, and also permits greater flexibility in operations that can be performed at the individual die stations. However, the conveyor arrangement for indexing individual workpieces through a die transfer system is more complex than those in typical progressive die systems, usually involving release and re-engagement with the workpieces at each of the individual die stations.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,874, assigned to the assignee hereof, discloses a die transfer system that includes a lower die, an upper die carried for reciprocal vertical movement toward and away from the lower die to perform at least one operation on a workpiece positioned therebetween, and a conveyor arrangement for sequentially conveying workpieces between the dies. The conveyor arrangement has a pair of conveyors disposed on opposite lateral sides of the lower die. Each conveyor includes a plurality of hands for gripping or otherwise engaging the workpieces, with the hands being spaced from each other lengthwise of the conveyor by distances corresponding to stations of the die. Each conveyor and its associated hands are indexed in a longitudinal direction through the die between the stations in synchronism with motion of the upper die. The hands are moved simultaneously in at least one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal indexing direction by a camshaft that extends through the stations along an axis parallel to the indexing direction. A cam is mounted on each camshaft for rotation with the camshaft in synchronism with motion of the upper die. A follower arrangement couples each cam to the hands of the associated conveyor, so that reciprocal rotation of the camshaft about its axis results in reciprocal motion of the hands in one or more directions lateral to the longitudinal direction of conveyance of workpieces through the die stations. The conveyor camshafts are rotated by cam-and-follower arrangements coupled to the upper die, or by electric servo motors controlled by a master controller.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,787, also assigned to the assignee hereof, discloses a die transfer system in which the conveyor for transferring workpieces between the dies includes a camshaft having an axis of rotation parallel to the direction of movement of workpieces through the die system, a transfer bar parallel to the camshaft axis carrying a plurality of hands for engaging the workpieces, and a cam arrangement coupling the camshaft to the transfer bar for moving the transfer bar both horizontally and vertically orthogonal to the camshaft axis. The cam arrangement includes a cam arm coupled to the camshaft and having a pair of angularly spaced drive rollers mounted thereon. Separate horizontal and vertical cam follower slots are disposed adjacent to the cam arm for sequential driving engagement by the rollers on the cam arm, such that rotation of the camshaft and cam arm brings the rollers into sequential engagement with the cam follower slots for driving the transfer bar horizontally and vertically with respect to the lower die.
Although the transfer systems and indexing conveyor arrangements disclosed in the noted patents address and overcome problems and deficiencies theretofore extant in the art, further improvements remain desirable. It is a general object of the present invention to provide an indexing conveyor and transfer drive system and method of the type disclosed in the noted patents that occupy reduced floor space and therefore form workpieces at reduced cost as compared with the prior art.

Indexing conveyor for a die transfer system and method


A microelectronic package and method for forming such packages. In one embodiment, the package can be formed by providing a support member having a first surface, a second surface facing opposite the first surface, and a projection extending away from the first surface. A quantity of adhesive material can be applied to the projection to form an attachment structure, and the adhesive material can be connected to a microelectronic substrate with the attachment structure providing no electrically conductive link between the microelectronic substrate and the support member. The microelectronic substrate and the support member can then be electrically coupled, for example, with a wire bond. In one embodiment, the projection can be formed by disposing a first material on a support member while the first material is at least partially flowable, reducing the flowability of the first material, and disposing a second material (such as the adhesive) on the first material.

Conventional microelectronic device packages typically include a microelectronic substrate or die attached to a support member, such as a printed circuit board. Bond pads or other terminals on the die are electrically connected to corresponding terminals of the support member, for example, with wire bonds. The die, the support member, and the wire bonds are then encapsulated with a protective epoxy material to form a device package. The package can then be electrically connected to other microelectronic devices or circuits, for example, in a consumer or industrial electronic product such as a computer.
In one existing arrangement shown in FIG. 1A, a microelectronic device package 10a includes a support member 20 having an aperture 21. A microelectronic substrate 30 is attached to the support member 20 with strips of adhesive tape 40a. Substrate bond pads 31 are then electrically connected to corresponding support member bond pads 22 with wire bonds 32 that extend through the aperture 21. An encapsulant 11, which includes a suspension of filler material particles 12, is disposed over the microelectronic substrate 30 and the wire bonds 32. The sizes of the filler material particles 12 in any given package 10a typically range in a standard distribution about a selected mean value.
One drawback with the foregoing arrangement is that the filler material particles 12 (and in particular, the largest filler material particles 12) can impinge on and damage the microelectronic substrate 30. Because the larger particles 12 tend to settle toward the support members 20, one approach to addressing the foregoing drawback is to increase the separation distance between the microelectronic substrate 30 and the support member 20 by increasing the thickness of the tape 40a. Accordingly, an advantage of the tape 40a is that it can be selected to have a thickness sufficient to provide the desired separation between the microelectronic substrate 30 and the support member 20. However, a drawback with the tape 40a is that it can be expensive to install. A further drawback is that the tape 40a can be difficult to accurately position between the support member 20 and the microelectronic substrate 30.
FIG. 1B illustrates another existing microelectronic device package 10b having a microelectronic substrate 30 attached to the support member 20 with screen printed strips of epoxy 40b. The epoxy 40b can be easier than the tape 40a (FIG. 1A) to dispense on the support member 20, but can have other problems. For example, the epoxy 40b can apply stresses to the sides of the microelectronic substrate 30, but it may be difficult to control how much of the sides the epoxy 40b contacts, making it difficult to control the stress applied to the microelectronic substrate 30. Another drawback is that the thickness of the epoxy 40b typically ranges from about 8 microns to about 25 microns, while in some cases the desired separation between microelectronic substrate 30 and the support member 20 is greater than about 75 microns, for example, to avoid the particle impingement problem described above. Still another drawback is that the interfaces between the epoxy 40b and the encapsulant 11 (one located to the outside of the microelectronic substrate 30 and the other located beneath the microelectronic substrate 30) can delaminate, which can reduce the integrity of the package 10b. The interface located beneath the microelectronic substrate 30 can also create a high stress region that can cause a crack C to form in the encapsulant 11. The crack C can damage the integrity of the wire bond 32.
Another problem with both the tape 40a and the epoxy 40b is that the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of these components is typically substantially different than the CTE of other components of the package. For example, the microelectronic substrate 30 typically has a CTE of about 3 parts per million (ppm) per ° C., the support member 20 typically has a coefficient CTE of about 50 ppm/° C., and the encapsulant 11 typically has a CTE of from about 10–15 ppm/° C. By contrast, the tape 40a and the epoxy 40b each have a CTE of about 150–400 ppm/° C. Accordingly, both the tape 40a and the epoxy 40b can exert substantial shear and/or normal forces on the microelectronic substrate 30 during thermal excursions for curing, reflow and other processes. These forces can crack the microelectronic substrate 30, and/or delaminate layers from the microelectronic substrate 30 and/or the support member 20, causing the package to fail.

Method and apparatus for attaching microelectronic substrates and support members


In at least one embodiment of the disclosure, an electrophoretic display apparatus includes a first substrate. A refractive index variation layer is arranged so as to oppose the first substrate. An electrophoretic layer is arranged between the first substrate and the refractive index variation layer. A refractive index of the refractive index variation layer increases as it recedes away from the electrophoretic layer in a thickness direction of the electrophoretic layer.

An electrophoretic display apparatus acquired by pouring dispersion liquid in which electrophoretic particles are dispersed into areas divided by walls which are formed between a pair of substrates are known (for example, refer to JP-A-2013-7985).
However, when a certain pixel is focused as a target pixel, the brightness of the target pixel changes due to the colors (reflectance) of peripheral pixels, and thus there is a problem in that display irregularity occurs.

Electrophoretic display apparatus and electronic apparatus


The touch panel (1a) of the present invention includes a plurality of driver electrodes (2), a plurality of detection electrodes (3) that extend in the column direction, and a complementary electrode (4), which extends in the direction in which the driver electrodes extend, and which forms a parasitic capacitance that corresponds to capacitance components that are not affected during detection of an object to be detected that comes into contact with or approaches the detection surface among the parasitic capacitances formed in the gaps between the driver electrodes (2) and the detection electrodes (3), in the gap from the detection electrodes (3).

A touch panel that detects that a finger, a stylus, or the like of a user has come into contact with or approached a detection surface is known. In recent years, electronic devices in which touch panel functions (also referred to as touch sensor functions) that can freely perform various functions just by having a stylus or the like touch the display screen are provided in a liquid crystal display element such as a liquid crystal display screen are starting to become widely used. Such a touch panel is formed onto a display panel, and by displaying various types of buttons on the display screen as images, it is possible to realize data input substituting these displayed buttons for normal buttons. Thus, when applying such a touch panel to a miniature mobile device, it is possible to have the display and buttons share a common space, thus presenting great advantages such as being able to increase the size of the display screen, decreasing the amount of space dedicated to control parts, or reducing the number of parts.
Additionally, a technique is known in which a touch panel shares some of the structure of the display part. For example, a configuration is known in which pixel electrodes or an opposite electrode for liquid crystal display, or the source bus lines double as one of the detection electrodes (detection lines) of a capacitance detection type touch panel. If the configuration is shared in this manner, it is also possible to attain the advantage that the device can be made thin.
However, if the detection electrode doubles as an electrode for display in this manner, the display driving frequency and the detection driving frequency match due to configurational reasons. As a result, even if an attempt is made to raise the detection driving frequency because the detection speed is low and the responsiveness to data input is bad, there is a problem that it is not possible to freely change the detection driving frequency due to restrictions in the display driving frequency.
Patent Document 1 discloses a contact detection device in which the detection speed is improved without raising the detection driving frequency. As shown in FIG. 31, in Patent Document 1, the touch panel 110 has a contact response part that includes driver electrodes E1 and detection electrodes E2, which respond to contact and cause an electrical change, and a contact driver scanning part 111. The contact driver scanning part 111 scans a detection surface 113A in one direction by applying drive voltage to the driver electrodes E1, and controls output of the electric change from the detection electrodes E2 in chronological order. At this time, the contact driver scanning part 111 performs a plurality of scans (Re1 and Re2) in parallel with a drive signal source S and an inverted drive signal source Sx for different regions in the touch panel 110. With this configuration, the detection speed is improved without raising the frequency for contact detection.
Also, as shown in FIG. 32, in Patent Document 1, the contact driver scanning part performs parallel scanning to two different regions in the contact response part and supplies drive voltages having phases that are 180° apart with respect to each other to the two regions, the contact driver scanning part controlling the output of electric change in chronological order by performing scanning in one direction on the detection surface by applying drive voltages to the contact response part, which causes electrical change in response to an object to be detected coming into contact or approaching the detection surface.

Touch panel and display device provided with same


In an example, a flexible three-dimensional (3D) maskant is described. The maskant comprises a flexible base structure comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, where the first side is configured to attach and conform to a surface being spray coated. The maskant further comprises a plurality of members attached to, and protruding from, the second side of the base structure. Each member comprises (i) a base end attached to the second side of the base structure and (ii) a distal end. An outermost subset of the plurality of members are positioned along an outer edge of the base structure. Each distal end of the outermost subset extends outward beyond the outer edge of the base structure, thereby overhanging the surface when the maskant is attached to the surface of the object being spray coated.

A surface can be coated with a material in various ways, such as using spray atomization. Maskants are typically temporarily attached to surfaces to protect designated areas of the surfaces when the surfaces are coated with a material.
Existing maskants often do not achieve desired effects when an area is spray coated. Masking tapes, for instance, can leave hard edges in the material. Hard edges in coated material are often undesirable, and feathered or tapered edges are preferred instead. Thus, when spray coating leaves hard edges, these edges are typically sanded, which can damage the surface and increase the amount of time spent preparing a coated surface. Multiple layers of masking tapes can be strategically applied and removed over consecutive passes of a spray applicator in order to create a taper, but this existing technique can involve more time and labor than desired. Typically, existing maskants require a large amount of time to cover designated areas, particularly when such areas are large and/or involve surfaces with complex curvatures. Further, existing maskants that are designed to help achieve feathered or tapered edges of a coated material have drawbacks as well. For instance, such maskants are not typically reusable, are costly to manufacture, and are often unable to match complex curvatures.
What is needed are maskants that are reusable, efficient to apply, versatile, and less costly, while also achieving desired effects when spray coating a surface.


The present invention is in the area of administration forms and delivery systems for drugs, vaccines and other biologically active agents. More specifically the invention is related to the preparation of suspensions of colloidal solid lipid particles (SLPs) of predominantly anisometrical shape with the lipid matrix being in a stable polymorphic modification and of suspensions of micron and submicron particles of bioactive agents (PBAs); as well as to the use of such suspensions or the lyophilizates thereof as delivery systems primarily for the parenteral administration of preferably poorly water-soluble bioactive substances, particularly drugs, and to their use in cosmetic, food and agricultural products.. SLPs and PBAs are prepared by the following emulsification process:. (1) A solid lipid or bioactive agent or a mixture of solid lipids or bioactive agents is melted. PA1 (2) Stabilizers are added either to the lipid or bioactive agent and to the aqueous phase or to the aqueous phase only depending on their physicochemical characteristics. Stabilizers may also be added or exchanged after homogenization. PA1 (3) Drugs or other bioactive substances to be incorporated into the SLPs may be melted together with the lipids if the physicochemical characteristics of the substance permit or may be dissolved, solubilized or dispersed in the lipid melt before homogenization. PA1 (4) The aqueous phase is heated to the temperature of the melt before mixing and may contain for example stabilizers, isotonicity agents, buffering substances, cryoprotectants and/or preservatives. PA1 (5) The molten lipid compounds and the bioactive agents are emulsified in an aqueous phase preferably by high-pressure homogenization.

The parenteral, in particular the intravenous, administration of water-insoluble or poorly water-soluble substances such as drugs or other biological materials often presents a problem to the formulator. Since the diameter of the smallest blood capillaries is only a few microns the intravenous application of larger particles would lead to capillary blockage. Solid drug substances are, however, commonly disintegrated by milling and grinding, thereby generating particles from a few millimeters down to the micrometer size range which are too large to be injected directly as an aqueous suspension. As a consequence, intravenous administration systems containing suspended particles of water-insoluble drugs are not commercially available due to the risk of embolism. A further decrease in particle size is expensive, ineffective or even impossible by conventional techniques. Additionally, the reduction of solids to submicron-sized powders brings about heavy difficulties in handling these dry products such as an increased risk of dust explosions and cross-contamination problems in a factory environment. Moreover, such systems present a health risk for persons exposed to the possible inhalation and absorption of potent bioactive materials. Up to now the only possibilities to administer poorly water-soluble substances by the intravenous route are the use of co-solvents or the development of carrier systems which incorporate such substances in vehicles with hydrophilic surfaces.
Basic requirements of an ideal drug carrier system imply biodegradability, non-toxicity and non-immunogenicity. Moreover, the carrier should be suitable for the intended route of administration, e g with regard to particle size. Often a controlled release of the incorporated bioactive material is desired, for example when constant serum levels should be maintained over a long period of time or when the drug exhibits only a low therapeutic index.
Furthermore, carrier systems can be employed to prolong the half-life of certain substances which are unstable due to rapid enzymatic or hydrolytic degradation in biological milieu. On the other hand the incorporation of drug in the carrier material also presents an opportunity to protect the host from the drug in case of non-selective toxic substances such as antitumour agents.
In many cases drug carrier systems are developed with the object to deliver drugs to site-specific targets under circumvention of uptake by the reticuloendothelial system (RES). The rationale for such a drug targeting is an enhancement of the drug's therapeutic efficacy by an increase of the drug concentration at the target site with a simultaneous decrease at non-target sites, thereby rendering possible a reduction of the administered dose. Thus, the toxicity of drugs, e g anticancer agents, can be diminished, leading to a decrease of side effects.
The prerequisite of a successful site-specific delivery implies a certain selectivity of the carrier system for the target tissue as well as the accessibility of the desired target site. Targeting by the intravenous route of application is generally connected to an avoidance or at least a reduction of carrier uptake by the RES except for the cases where a direct targeting to cells of the RES is desired. Clearance of colloidal particles by the RES has been described to depend on particle size as well as on particle surface characteristics such as surface charge and surface hydrophobicity. In general, small particles are cleared less rapidly from the blood stream than large particles whereas charged particles are taken up more rapidly than hydrophilic non-charged particles. Due to these facts approaches to drug targeting are the modification of surface characteristics and the reduction of particle size.
Moreover, a small particle size is also required for the targeting of drugs to extravascular sites since extravasation is only feasible through a receptor-mediated uptake by phagocytosis/pinocytosis or where the endothelial wall is fenestrated. These fenestrations can be found for example in the sinusoids of liver, spleen and bone-marrow and show diameters of up to approximately 150 nm.
From the manufacturing point of view the ideal drug carrier system should be preparable without complications by easy-to-handle techniques in a reproducible manner and possibly at low production costs. The formulation should exhibit sufficient stability during preparation as well as on storage.
In recent years several colloidal systems have received special interest for their potential application as drug carriers, among them being liposomes, lipid emulsions, microspheres and nanoparticles. However, all of the systems mentioned possess a certain number of draw-backs which so far have prevented the break-through of any such system as a wide-spread, commercially exploited drug carrier.
Drug carrier systems in the micrometer size range are represented by microspheres consisting of a solid polymer matrix, and microcapsules in which a liquid or a solid phase is surrounded and encapsulated by a polymer film. Nanoparticles consist, like microspheres, of a solid polymer matrix. Their mean particle size, however, lies in the nanometer range. Both micro- and nanoparticles are generally prepared either by emulsion polymerization or by solvent evaporation techniques. Due to these production methods micro- and nanoparticles bear the risk of residual contaminations from the production process like organic solvents such as chlorinated hydrocarbons, as well as toxic monomers, surfactants and cross-linking agents, which may lead to toxicological problems. Moreover, some polymeric materials such as polylactic acid and polylactic-glycolic acid degrade very slowly in vivo so that multiple administration could lead to polymer accumulation associated with adverse side effects. Other polymers such as polyalkylcyanoacrylates release toxic formaldehyde on degradation in the body.
Drug carrier systems for parenteral administration based on lipids are liposomes and submicron lipid emulsions. Although such systems consist of physiological components only, thus reducing toxicological problems there is a number of disadvantages associated with these lipid carriers.
Liposomes are spherical colloidal structures in which an internal aqueous phase is surrounded by one or more phospholipid bilayers. The potential use of liposomes as drug delivery systems has been disclosed inter alia in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,993,754 (issued Nov. 23, 1976 to Rahmann and Cerny), 4,235,871 (issued Nov. 25, 1980 to Papahadjopoulos and Szoka) and 4,356,167 (issued Oct. 26, 1982 to L. Kelly). The major drawbacks of conventional liposomes are their instability on storage, the low reproducibility of manufacture, the low entrapment efficiency and the leakage of drugs.
According to the IUPAC definition, in an emulsion liquids or liquid crystals are dispersed in a liquid. Lipid emulsions for parenteral administration consist inter alia of liquid oil droplets, predominantly in the sub-micron size range, dispersed in an aqueous phase and stabilized by an interfacial film of emulsifiers. Typical formulations are disclosed in the Jap. Pat. No. 55,476/79 issued May 7, 1979 to Okamota, Tsuda and Yokoyama. The preparation of a drug containing lipid emulsion is described in WO 91/02517 issued Mar. 7, 1991 to Davis and Washington. The susceptibility of these lipid emulsions towards the incorporation of drugs is relatively high due to the mobility of drug molecules within the internal oil phase since diffusing molecules can easily protrude into the emulsifier film causing instabilities which lead to coalescence. Furthermore, release of incorporated drugs from lipid emulsions is relatively fast so that the possibilities for a sustained drug release are limited.
Fountain et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,868 issued Sep. 9, 1986) developed lipid mhatrix carriers which are described as globular structures of a hydrophobic compound and an amphiphatic compound with diameters from about 500 nm to about 100.000 nm. The hydrophobic compound can be liquid or solid. The preparation techniques, however, employ organic solvents and are thus associated with the problem of complete solvent removal.
So-called lipospheres disclosed by Domb et al (U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 435,546 lodged Nov. 13, 1989 and now abandoned; Int. Appl. No. PCT/US90/06519 filed Nov. 8, 1990) are described as suspensions of solid, water-insoluble microspheres made of a solid hydrophobic core surrounded by a phospholipid layer. Lipospheres are claimed to provide for the sustained release of entrapped substances controlled by the phospholipid layer. They can be prepared by a melt or by a solvent technique, the latter creating toxicological problems if the solvent is not completely removed.
A slow release composition of fat or wax and a biologically active protein, peptide or polypeptide suitable for parenteral administration to animals is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 895,608 lodged Aug. 11, 1986, and now abandoned, to Staber, Fishbein and Cady (EP-A-0 257 368). The systems are prepared by spray drying and consist of spherical particles in the micrometer size range up to 1,000 microns so that intravenous administration is not possible.
Problems with the formulation of water-insoluble or poorly water-soluble substances are not restricted to the parenteral route of administration. Thus, the peroral bioavailability of drugs is related to their solubility in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), and it is generally found that poorly water-soluble drugs exhibit a low bioavailability. Moreover, the dissolution of drugs in the GIT is influenced by their wettability. Substances with apolar surfaces are scarcely wetted in media so that their dissolution rate is very slow.
In an attempt to improve the intestinal absorption of lipophilic drugs, Eldem et al (Pharm. Res. 8, 1991, 47-54) prepared lipid micropellets by spray-drying and spray-congealing processes. The micropellets are described as spherical particles with smooth surfaces. The lipids are, however, present in unstable polymorphic forms, and polymorphic phase transitions occur during storage so that the product properties are constantly changing (T. Eldem et al, Pharm. Res. 8, 1991, 178 -184). Thus, constant product qualities cannot be assured.
Lipid nanopellets for peroral administration of poorly bioavailable drugs are disclosed in EP 0 167 825 of Aug. 8, 1990 to P. Speiser. The nanopellets represent drug-loaded fat particles solid at room temperature and small enough to be persorbed. Persorption is the transport of intact particles through the intestinal mucosa into the lymph and blood compartment. The lipid nanopellets are prepared by emulsifying molten lipids in an aqueous phase by high-speed stirring. After cooling to room temperature the pellets are dispersed by sonication.

Solid lipid particles, particles of bioactive agents and methods for the manufacture and use thereof


Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a display stand for securing a tablet computer from unauthorized removal or theft. The display stand may include a sleeve configured to at least partially receive a tablet computer therein and a base configured to releasably engage the sleeve. The base may be configured to engage the sleeve in a locked configuration so as to prevent removal of the sleeve and the tablet computer from the base and to disengage the sleeve in an unlocked configuration so as to allow the sleeve and the tablet computer to be removed from the base.

Security stands, also commonly referred to as "kiosk" stands, are known for securing a tablet computer in a manufacturing, retail or office environment. A tablet computer security stand commercially known as VOLT™ is available from Vanguard Protex Global, Inc. (VPG). The VOLT™ security stand comprises a display pedestal and a disconnect sensor configured to be attached to the tablet computer and removably supported on the pedestal. The VOLT™ security stand may also include means for providing power and/or charging the tablet computer through a power adapter cord, and may be electrically connected to an alarm module containing monitoring electronics for activating san alarm in the event that the tablet computer is detached from the disconnect sensor. The disconnect sensor of the VOLT™ security stand, however, does not comprise a sleeve that is configured to enclose a tablet computer, such as, an Apple® iPad® tablet computer.
An enclosure for an iPad® tablet computer commercially known as the Archelon™ iPad Enclosure includes an inner frame configured to receive an iPad® and an outer frame that is secured to the inner frame by mechanical fasteners. The inner frame is movably mounted on a kiosk stand such that the frame and the iPad® can be tilted, rotated 180 degrees and/or angled as desired.
An enclosure for an iPad® tablet computer commercially known as the Jacket iPad® Enclosure includes a two-piece frame that is secured and locked around an iPad tablet computer with a barrel lock and key. The Jacket iPad® Enclosure may be supported on and locked to an optional mount.


A new Collapsible Engine Hoist for hoisting an engine of a vehicle and being collapsible for convenient and compact storage. The inventive device includes a base tube member with a base extension section having a caster wheel telescopically engaged to each end of the base tube member. Extending from the base tube member are a plurality of spaced apart leg tube members each with a leg extension section having a caster wheel telescopically engaged to the end of each the leg tube member. A support post member having a clevis bracket at one end is pivotally mounted on a support post base extending between the leg tube members to permit pivoting of the support member between an erect position and a collapsed position. Pivotally mounted to the clevis bracket is a lifting beaam tube member having extension beam section telescopically engaged to one end of the lifting tube member. The extension beam section includes a flexible member having a hook portion for suspending a load from it. A jack pivotally mounted on the support post member and detachably attached to the lift beam tube member provides a means for pivoting the lifting beam tube member relative to the support post member when in the erect position. At least one support brace pivotally mounted on the base tube member and detachably attached to the support post member provides support to the support post member when positioned in an erect position. A leg support brace extending between the leg tube members provides support to the lifting beam tube member when in the collapsed position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to engine hoists and more particularly pertains to a new Collapsible Engine Hoist for hoisting an engine of a vehicle and being collapsible for convenient and compact storage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of engine hoists is known in the prior art. More specifically, engine hoists heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art engine hoists include U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,640; U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,566; U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,304; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 349,996; U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,469; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,625.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new Collapsible Engine Hoist. The inventive device includes a base tube member with a base extension section having a caster wheel telescopically engaged to each end of the base tube member. Extending from the base tube member are a plurality of spaced apart leg tube members each with a leg extension section having a caster wheel telescopically engaged to the end of each the leg tube member. A support post member having a clevis bracket at one end is pivotally mounted on a support post base extending between the leg tube members to permit pivoting of the support member between an erect position and a collapsed position. Pivotally mounted to the clevis bracket is a lifting beam tube member having extension beam section telescopically engaged to one end of the lifting tube member. The extension beam section includes a flexible member having a hook portion for suspending a load from it. A jack pivotally mounted on the support post member and detachably attached to the lift beam tube member provides a means for pivoting the lifting beam tube member relative to the support post member when in the erect position. At least one support brace pivotally mounted on the base tube member and detachably attached to the support post member provides support to the support post member when positioned in all erect position. A leg support brace extending between the leg tube members provides support to the lifting beam tube member when in the collapsed position.
In these respects, the Collapsible Engine Hoist according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of hoisting an engine of a vehicle and being collapsible for convenient and compact storage.


An information recording control apparatus that automatica1ly selects a recording device at the time of file recording. In response to a file recording request from a terminal apparatus and in accordance with the device information about recording devices, which is stored in a management information database, and the attribute information about a file, which is received from a terminal apparatus, an information recording control apparatus searches for a recording device available for recording from among a plurality of recording devices, and selects a recording device for use in recording. The information recording control apparatus changes the status of the selected recording device so that no other recording operation is performed, and transmits the information for identifying the selected recording device to the terminal apparatus. The terminal apparatus sets the recording device designated by the information recording control apparatus as the recording destination, and begins to transmit the file. The selected recording device records the received file on an inserted recording medium.

The present invention relates to an information recording control apparatus and file recording control method for properly recording files in a plurality of recording devices connected to a network.
In the past, a video camera for shooting a subject to acquire video data and a recording reproducing apparatus or other broadcast device for recording or reproducing shot image data were interconnected via an SDI (Serial Digital Interface) or other synchronous interface to transmit and receive files.
Recently, broadcast devices have improved, for instance, by incorporating an IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 1394 terminal to support an asynchronous network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The support for asynchronous networks has made it easy to exchange AV (Audio/Video) data files, which contain video data and audio data, between a remote device and a local device. Further, a file format such as the MXF (Material Exchange Format) is standardized so that AV data files can easily be exchanged between different models of devices and between different makes of devices. A technology for connecting a plurality of audio/video devices to a network and managing the audio/video devices is disclosed by Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Hei 10-164820.
A conventional video recording reproducing system will now be schematically described. FIG. 4 illustrates a typical configuration of a conventional video recording reproducing system 100. The video recording reproducing system 100 includes a studio 50 and terminal apparatuses 60A, 60B, . . . , which are connected via a network 61. The studio includes, for instance, recording devices 51A, 51B, 51C, . . . , an editing apparatus 52, and a communication section 54, which are interconnected via a LAN or other network 53. The communication section 54 controls the communication between network 61 and network 53.
The recording devices 51A, 51B, 51C, . . . use a removable recording medium such as a magnetic tape or optical disk, and record input AV data files on the removable recording medium. A hard disk or other fixed medium may be used as a recording medium for the recording devices 51A, 51B, 51C, . . .
A common computer, such as a personal computer, may be used as the editing apparatus 52, which includes a communication section that is capable of establishing communication via network 61. The editing apparatus 52 can read AV data files stored in the recording devices 51A, 51B, 51C, . . . , edit the AV data files, and write the edited AV data files into the recording devices 51A, 51B, 51C.
The terminal apparatuses 60A, 60B, . . . are used, for instance, for recording, reproducing, or editing video camera data or other video data. These apparatuses include a communication section that is capable of establishing communication via network 61.
The recording devices 51A, 51B, 51C, . . . exchange AV data files with the editing apparatus 52 and terminal apparatuses 60A, 60B, . . . The terminal apparatuses 60A, 60B, . . . store AV data, which is obtained, for instance, as a result of shooting or editing, into a file, and transmit the file to the recording devices 51A, 51B, 51C, . . . via network 61.
In the conventional video recording reproducing system 100, AV data file transmission/reception via network 61 is executed directly between the terminal apparatuses 60A, 60B, . . . and recording devices 51A, 51B, 51C, . . . When, for instance, terminal apparatus 60B is to transmit an AV data file to recording device 51A, a file transmitting person verifies that recording device 51A is available for recording by checking the free space remaining on the recording medium inserted into recording device 51A and the internal status such as the format that recording device 51A can handle for recording purposes. Further, the file transmitting person selects recording device 51A as a recording destination for terminal apparatus 60B, and then transmits the AV data file. If recording device 51A is not available for recording, the file transmitting person checks the internal status of another recording device, such as recording device 51B, verifies that recording device 51B is available for recording, and transmits the AV data file.

Information recording control apparatus and file recording control method


Systems and methods for managing dependencies in a source control management system or revision control system are provided. A request to commit a first modified component of a software application may be received. The software application may include a plurality of components. In response to the request to commit the first modified component, a blocking condition may be identified. The blocking condition may be a dependency of the first modified component, in that the first modified component depends upon a second component of the software application. The second component may not satisfy the dependency. A request to commit a modified version of the second component may be received. A determination may be made that the modified version of the second component satisfies the dependency of the first modified component upon the second component. The first modified component and second modified component may then be committed.

Field of the Invention
The present disclosure generally relates to computer programming source control management systems and distributed development systems for software applications.
Related Art
Modern software development is often performed by groups of two or more developers, each of whom develop and work on separate portions of a particular software application to be developed. One developer may modify a portion of the software application being developed, such as a specific file of the software application being developed, while another developer simultaneously modifies another file of the software application. Software development is often facilitated by a source control management system, which assists in ensuring that two developers do not modify the same piece of code at the same time.
Some source control management systems can be understood using a tree analogy, in which the in-production, or most current, version of code in a code base is referred to as the "trunk." A developer may check out and modify a portion of the code in a "branch," and once the development is complete on the branch, the branch is merged back into the trunk. Complications arise, however, when a modified portion of the code in a branch depends on another portion of code that does not yet satisfy those dependencies, or when the modified portion of the code depends on other conditions outside of the control of a developer. In such a situation, checking in the modified code may cause instability or other issues in the code base.
Thus, there is a need for an improved method and system for managing dependencies in a source control management system.
Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures, wherein showings therein are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure and not for purposes of limiting the same.

Source control management system with contingent dependency handling


Methods and apparatus are disclosed for an improved underwater vacuum cleaning system. Urging elements are provided on a vacuum head to encourage debris, especially large pieces of underwater debris, to matriculate under the head or otherwise toward the vacuum opening, rather than traveling over the head or otherwise NOT toward the vacuum opening. Various embodiments of engagement elements are disclosed between the vacuum head and a vacuum hose to improve the connection therebetween.

Many prior art underwater vacuums used for cleaning swimming pools consist of two components designed to be used together, namely, the vacuum head and vacuum hose. Pool vacuum heads tend to have a body element rectangular in shape and have a central hole formed to receive a vacuum hose; the heads are often made of flexible plastic, fitted with wheels (though some use brushes), and have a handle that can be attached to a telescopic pole to enable a user to manipulate the head and vacuum the bottom (underwater surfaces) of a pool while standing above the pool on the pool deck.
A flexible and generally water tight vacuum hose with a cuff mounted on each end is generally used with the vacuum head. The hose cuffs are designed to serve as both male and female attachments; their generally cylindrical shapes have inside dimensions sized to fit snugly over many male vacuum connectors, and their outside dimensions fit snugly within many female connectors. When in use for cleaning a swimming pool, the hose typically connects a source of vacuum to the vacuum head to provide the desired vacuum action as the head moves across the pool's underwater surfaces. Typically, one cuffed hose end is connected to the vacuum head's central hole (using either the male or female connection, based on what fitting is present on the vacuum head), and the other cuffed hose end is connected to suction plumbing (again with either a male or female connection) that is located either in the pool skimmer or a similar plumbing feature. The vacuum force within the hose tends to pull the head into tighter engagement with the hose, but as described herein, that "vacuum/friction fit" connection is less than satisfactory in many situations.
The overall combination of vacuum head, vacuum hose and attached telescopic pole enable a user to maneuver the vacuum head around the pool to remove dirt, leaves and other sorts of debris from the pool. The vacuum pulls the targeted debris under the typically rectangular body element of the vacuum head, through the vacuum head's central hole, through the hose, and then through the suction plumbing (to be filtered or otherwise disposed of, such as by straining it through baskets and/or other filters). This process thus draws the dirt, leaves, etc. out of the pool and removes it from the pool water.
Some problems with swimming pool vacuums and hoses of prior art, however, are associated with the failure of the vacuum head to effectively 'pick up' debris such as leaves, twigs, etc. from the pool bottom. In order for vacuum heads to effectively maintain suction suitable for cleaning, the head typically must relatively closely confront the swimming pool's surface that is being cleaned. Among other things, this relatively close proximity ensures that the debris is within the effective scope of the vacuum power. When used as intended, the heads thus have suction around their edges (the edges that are on or adjacent the surface being cleaned), much like a carpet vacuum operates in a home.
Wheeled vacuum heads can involve performance trade-offs. The wheels are often positioned in such a way that the vacuum head sits some quarter inch or so above the surface being cleaned. Although this permits small debris to easily be drawn under the vacuum head's housing, it is not uncommon for the vacuum head to be so low (or so close to the surface being cleaned) that the head passes under large debris such as leaves or twigs, failing to remove them from the pool. In some instances, such large debris is even pushed away or otherwise moved by the vacuum head (without being sucked into the vacuum), resulting in a further failure to effectively clean the swimming pool or water feature.
Another common problem with prior art systems occurs with the connection between the vacuum head and hose. As indicated above, typically the connection involves a male/female mating fitting. Due to a number of factors, the snugness of that fitting (and the resulting effectiveness of transmission of the vacuum pull through that male/female joint) can deteriorate over time (or may even be deficient from its first use). Among other things, mating parts can be damaged or worn down after repeated use, especially in view of the environments in which they are used (commonly outdoors, with extreme sun exposure that itself can damage the integrity of the typically plastic male/female fittings), and in view of the lack of careful handling that is common by persons operating the equipment. Even if the fittings are made from metal or a combination of materials, such damage and/or wear and tear can occur (and can negatively affect the quality of the male/female fit). These issues can occur on both or either end of the hose (and the related corresponding fitting), and can occur regardless of the orientation and/or position of the male versus the female fitting.
Other factors and usages/actions can similarly damage the quality of the hose/head joint. For example, some suction plumbing connections (such as pool skimmers and/or similar hookups) are located in areas that are relatively distant from parts of the pool that need cleaning. In such situations, a user sometimes must 'stretch' the hose to (or even beyond) its normal limits in order to vacuum one or more of those distant portions of the pool. Sometimes this stretching can cause the connection between the vacuum head and hose to fail (such as becoming disconnected). If the failure occurs while the hose is in the pool water and before actual vacuuming begins, the hose (having a natural tendency to float and coil) will tend to drift away from the vacuum head, and the user will be forced to retrieve the hose end, reconnect it to the vacuum head, and start the "stretching" again. If the hose separates from the head during vacuuming, the internal suction action in the hose will cause the hose almost immediately to float to the pool's surface, where the end of the hose commonly breaches the surface and sucks air into the vacuum plumbing. This air intake sometimes causes the pool pump to lose prime, so that not only will the user need to start the entire process again (see above), but he/she will also have the additional burden of priming the pump.
Furthermore, many pool owners and professionals find it convenient to keep the vacuum head and hose connected when they are not in use. Doing so can make transporting the hose/head assemblies easier, especially if the hose is coiled around the vacuum head and bound with a bungee cord or strap. However, accidental separation at the male/female joint can and does occur while such assemblies are being carried. In addition to being generally irritating, such separations also result in the inconvenience or even danger of the user having to catch and/or pick up falling/fallen pieces when the user's hands are already full from carrying the vacuum hose and vacuum head. Such situations may even lead to minor injury of the user's feet (since people are often barefooted when around swimming pools) or of other persons who may happen to be in the vicinity.

Vacuum head and hose apparatus and related methods


A method for compatibility testing that includes executing a test suite to test an application programming interface (API) implementation, wherein the test suite comprises a plurality of compatibility tests that test the compatibility of the API implementation to an API specification. The method also includes requesting sample data for at least one test of the plurality of compatibility tests using a provider interface, wherein the sample data corresponds to the API implementation, and receiving the requested sample data from a provider, wherein the provider implements the provider interface. In addition, the method includes using the sample data by the at least one test to test the API implementation, receiving a result of the at least one test, and reporting a result of executing the test suite using the result of the at least one test.

Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user or a computing device in both stand alone terminals and networked environments. In private and public computer networks (including the Internet), authentication is commonly performed through the use of logon passwords. Knowledge of the password is assumed to guarantee that the user is authentic. Typically, each user initially registers using an assigned or self-declared password. On each subsequent use, the user must remember and use the previously declared password.
Biometrics makes use of a user's personal characteristics to perform authentication. A user's personal characteristics may include, for example, unique patterns and/or traits in fingerprints, irises, voice, faces, and/or DNA. These personal characteristics may be acquired using a variety of biometric devices including, for example, a fingerprint scanner, a retinal scanner, a voice acquisition hardware/software unit, and other devices well known in the art.
Organizations that distribute sensitive information (e.g., flat files, databases, web pages, web application, web services, and applications) to authorized parties over a network are increasingly adopting biometrics as a necessary component for authentication. In a general sense, each type of sensitive information (e.g., a sensitive file, database, application, web application, web page, web service, etc.) may be referred to as a secure resource. Some secure resources may be more sensitive than other secure resources, and thus may require a more rigorous authentication process. Also, some secure resources and users may require different access interfaces.
To use a biometric for authentication, a user must be enrolled in the biometric authorization system. More specifically, an initial biometric image (i.e., a biometric sample) is acquired from the user. This image may be processed to extract characteristic features from the image. The image or some characteristic representation of the image (i.e., a reference biometric template) is then stored securely for future reference. During an authentication procedure, a new image is taken from a candidate individual, the new image is processed to create a candidate biometric template, the candidate biometric template is compared with the reference biometric template, and a decision made as to whether or not the candidate biometric template matches the reference biometric template.
In a biometric authorization system, a biometric server may provide biometric authentication services such as enrollment of users, storage of users' reference biometric templates, and matching reference biometric templates to candidate biometric templates. Typically, a biometric server application on the biometric server provides a user interface that may be used by other parts of the biometric authorization system to request the biometric authentication services of the biometric server. The biometric server application processes the service requests using a biometric application programming interface (API) implemented by the biometric server. More specifically, the biometric server may include a concrete implementation of a biometry API that exposes classes and interfaces for using the services (e.g., biometric matching, user enrollment, reference template creation, etc.).
The biometry API may be defined by a biometry API specification. A biometry API Specification is a document that describes all the components (i.e., classes, interfaces, functions, etc.) of the biometry API and the intended behavior of these components. This description is in the form of compatibility rules (i.e., statements or assertions about the intended behavior). One example of a biometry API specification is the JAVA CARD™ Biometry API Specification. JAVA CARD™ is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif.
Typically, an implementation of a biometry API is tested for compliance (i.e., compatibility) to the biometry API specification. In general, the compatibility testing exercises features of the API to ensure that the implementation of the features complies with the compatibility rules (i.e., assertions) in the specification.

Compatibility testing of an application programming interface


When an album mode is selected by a predetermined operation, thumbnail image data is acquired corresponding to saved video files which are retrieved from a thumbnail image data storage area (1495) and a list display of the thumbnail images is shown in the main display section (102) based on the thumbnail image data of each video file. When one of the thumbnail images is selected by the user, the operation judges whether or not the playback time for a video file of a selected thumbnail image is longer than a predetermined playback time. If shorter than a predetermined playback time, a normal playback is performed in the display position of the thumbnail image during which the thumbnail image scale-size is reduced.

In recent years, multi-function digital cameras or cellular phones (also commonly referred to as mobile-phones) capable of recording still images and comprised with a video recording function are becoming prevalent in the digital photography marketplace. As a means to visually locate still images, these digital cameras or cellular phones commonly include a thumbnail display mode feature which is provided to show a plurality of reduced images on one display screen. For example, in the case video as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2000-278641 titled "DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING MOVING PICTURE," the beginning image (lead frame) of each of a plurality of videos is used for displaying thumbnails as still images.
However, in a conventional digital camera or cellular phone, and more particularly in a cellular phone, simultaneous playback of a plurality of videos cannot be performed all at once. Also, in a cellular phone, the first screen (lead frame) is displayed as still images. Afterwards, if the beginning is the same image as a video of a different image, the actual contents are not understood only by a thumbnail display. For this reason, in order to check the subject matter of each video, a playback procedure has to be executed for each video. Thus, this is a troublesome process.

Video playback device, playback method and video playback program


The present invention provides a preformed modular wall panel for constructing the exterior walls of a building and a method of assembling such wall panels. The wall panel comprises a rigid frame, a sheet of exterior finishing material attached to the exterior periphery of the frame and a sheet of insulating material held in slots in the frame intermediate the exterior and interior peripheries of the frame. This spaced-apart relationship defines a closed-air space between the exterior sheet and the insulating sheet. A cementitious exterior sheet attaches to the exterior periphery of the frame by a plurality of projections extending from the frame. The projections are embedded in a fluidal cementitious material held in a casting form. The cementitious material cures into a solidified exterior sheet. A method and apparatus for manufacturing the panel and a method and apparatus for erecting a wall of the panels are disclosed.

The erection of low rise, slab foundation buildings has been simplified by development of modular construction techniques. Such low-rise buildings are used typically as houses, warehouses, office buildings, and stores in shopping centers. Some such buildings are typically erected on poured concrete slab foundations. With conventional construction techniques, stud walls are prepared and secured to the foundation. The walls support rafters that span the foundation, and a roof is secured to the rafters. Interior walls subdivide the foundation and further support the rafters. Such a stick-frame building is closed-in by installing siding of various materials. Typically, several layers of siding materials are used, and these include fiber insulation boards, construction board sheets, and exterior skin materials such as brick, concrete, or wood siding. Insulation as appropriate is installed on the interior spaces between the studs. The interior walls are then typically closed with sheets of dry wall material.
Such extensive work typically required for on-site construction of stick-frame building is laborious, expensive, and time consuming. Weather conditions may also delay the construction schedule until the building is closed in.
Modular construction techniques, however, overcome some of these problems. These techniques include the use of modular panels for assembling the exterior walls. Generally, the modular panels include a support frame and an exterior skin. The modular panels are positioned in sequence around the foundation and are joined together. The exterior wall accordingly is closed-in as the building is assembled. U.S. Pat. No. 4,291,513 issued to Ankarswed describes a wall construction unit for buildings. A reinforced concrete layer constitutes the exterior face of the building. Longitudinal flanges extend from the concrete layer toward the interior of the building. Joists and intermediate insulation join the free end of the flanges and insulation is placed in the spaces between adjacent flanges. The insulation prevents formation of cold bridges between the exterior and interior of the building. The wall construction unit also includes a prolonged portion of the concrete layer extending from one flange, an intermediate portion extending from the end of the prolonged portion at right angles and parallel with the flanges, and a terminating flange extending at right angles from the end of the intermediate portion inwardly towards the adjacent flange. In cross-sectional view, these flanges in the prolonged portion partially close a substantially rectangular space which is filled with insulation. This rectangular section of the wall unit facilitates forming corners with a pair of such wall units.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,381 issued to Charles describes a panel with an exterior stucco surface. The panel attaches to adjacent studs of a building wall. The panel comprises a rectangular metal frame, a stucco sheet, and a plurality of metal tabs attached to the longer sides of the metal frames at vertically spaced intervals. The panel is assembled by placing the frame on a support with a sheet of felt paper in the frame. Cementitious material is poured onto the paper and cured. A rib lath is set on top and a second layer of cementitious material is poured. The cured panels are fastened to the framing studs by nailing through the metal tabs into the stubs.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,952,471 issued to Mooney describes prefabricated wall panels for a building. The building is constructed of load-bearing wall panels in combination with in-fill wall panels. The load-bearing panels include an integral subground level portion. This lower portion forms the foundation wall and rests on the footing of the building. In cross-sectional view, the load-bearing panels define a U-shape. A pair of flanges are disposed vertically on the side edges of the panel. The flanges constitute support columns for carrying the weight of the roof of the building. The space between the flanges is used for a pipe chase, air duct, recess for a sink unit, shelf space or insulation. As with standard construction, the space may also be covered by attaching interior wall panels to the free ends of the flanges. The load-bearing panels are positioned on the foundation on a steel angle embedded in the footing. A portion of the footing projects upward. A bolt also extends upward from the footing. The bottom front edge of the panel is welded to the portion extending upwardly from the footing. The back of the panel receives the bolt. A levelling nut is turned on the bolt to level the panel and is secured by welding the nut on the bolt. The in-fill panels are precast of reinforced concrete and preferably contain the window and door openings. The in-fill panels are positioned between and secured to a pair of load-bearing panels.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,669 issued to Considine describes a structural wall panel and method of assembly of such a panel. The panel includes a rigid insulating material to which studs and an exterior wafer board panel are bonded. The panels are manufactured by applying an adhesive to the wafer board panel, positioning the wafer board panel on top of a stud wall, and pressing the wafer board panel into the stud wall for a pre-determined time to secure the wafer board panel to the stud wall.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,743 issued to Jellen describes a construction method that erects pre-formed panels on a foundation of the building. The panels are mounted on carrier assemblies that travel in a track around the exterior of the foundation. Once the panels are in position, leveling bolts in the base of the panel are backed out to engage the upper surface of the track. Cementitious material is poured around the track and the base of the panel to firmly lock the panels and their supporting carrier assemblies into place.
Such known modular panels and systems for installing modular panels have drawbacks which reduce the benefits that are expected from modular construction techniques. These drawbacks include low insulative characteristics of the panels, construction time and labor that decreases the advantages of modular construction, complications with assembly of the panels into a wall, and panels that are not readily adapted to include window and door openings. For some panels, insufficient insulative properties of the assembled panel requires on-site addition of insulation. This additional labor and expense at a job site is eliminated by a modular panel designed with improved insulative characteristics.
For some modular panels, construction assembly is time consuming and labor intensive. Special connecting and leveling members are included in the panels, thereby increasing the cost and complexity of the panels. The modular panel should reduce overall labor and construction time to reduce the cost of the building construction.
Related to this is on-site assembly of the panels into an exterior wall. Some panels have complicated interlocking flanges and support frames. These complicated assemblies are labor intensive to align the panels, level the panels, and join the panels together and to the foundation. Some wall panels made substantially entirely of concrete are heavy and require cranes to lift and move the panels.
Some known modular buildings have windowless exterior walls. As discussed above, it is known to provide an in-fill panel to accommodate windows and doors. The modular panel should easily be adaptable to accommodating windows and doors. This will provide flexibility in designing office buildings and houses using these modular panels.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for a modular panel for assembling exterior walls that has improved insulative characteristics, reduces labor and time to manufacture, is readily and easily assembled, and accommodates placement of windows and doors.

Wall panel for modular buildings and method of assembly