A method and a device are for testing the detectability of at least one flaw in a component, or for evaluating ultrasonic signals of the flaw. The method provides for an electronic specification of the flaw to be generated, which includes a two-dimensional or three-dimensional point pattern. This specification predefines the number, position, shape, orientation, and dimensions of flaws to be deliberately generated. A test specimen is produced, where for each point of the point pattern, a microcrack is generated at the position of this point. An ultrasonic image of the test specimen is recorded and evaluated. The test specimen may be made out of a material transparent to visible light, e.g., crown glass, optical glass, borosilicate glass, or quartz glass. The microcracks may be produced, using internal laser engraving.

The metallic materials used for manufacturing heavy-duty components must satisfy stringent quality standards. Such components include, for example, rapidly rotating disks of turbine or compressor stages of a gas turbine that propels an airplane. Blades are attached to these disks. In such a material, flaws may occur that are caused by, in particular, the manufacturing process of the material. These flaws include casting bubbles, pores, inclusions, heat-treatment cracks, and welding cracks. Methods and devices are needed for detecting such flaws and quantifying the detectability of flaws.
The use of ultrasonics for non-destructive material testing is described in "Dubbel—Taschenbuch für den Maschinenbau" (Dubell—Pocket Book of Mechanical Engineering), 20th edition, Springer Publishing House, 2001, E33 and S87.
Test specimens and calibration specimens are used for the reliable and comparable testing of a component with the aid of ultrasonics. Conventionally, blocks having flat-top bores or cross bores are provided for this. These blocks are mostly made out of the same material as the part to be manufactured. Therefore, neither the shape and dimensions, nor the reflection characteristic and reradiation characteristic of real flaws are realistically described.
Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2002-048773 describes a device for calibrating an ultrasonic testing device. The method may be used for a testing device having one probe and for one having two probes. Several calibration holes are introduced into a welded component in a particular manner. The probe(s) are applied or attached to the part and at specific angles to one another, and a characteristic curve for the distance, spacing or interval between distance and amplitude is generated.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,670,719, a system is described which ascertains the resolution of medical ultrasonic testing devices. The system predicts the local wounds or tumors in the tissue of a human that the testing device detects. A phantom container simulates human tissue. Wounds and tumors are simulated in several layers with the aid of scattering particles. It is determined, which particles are detected and which are not.

Method, device, and test specimen for testing a part, and use of the method and device


The methods and systems disclosed herein provide a server that periodically monitors a user's location using one or more beacons while periodically monitoring hazardous conditions using a variety of electronic sensors, such as thermographic imaging. When the user is within a predetermined proximity of a hazardous condition the server transmits an instruction to an electronic wearable device to present a notification (e.g., haptic, noise, and the like) warning the user of the hazardous condition.

As location and movement-tracking technology allows for more efficient tracking and monitoring user locations, more people rely on technologies for indoor and outdoor navigation. However, several technological shortcomings have also been identified and have created a new set of challenges. Existing and conventional navigation systems do not provide an accurate identification of obstacles and hazardous areas. Conventional indoor and/or outdoor navigation systems use a retroactive methodology where a navigation device identifies an obstacle after the navigation device (or the user operating the navigation device) has made contact with the obstacle. For instance self-driven robotic devices, such as robotic vacuum cleaners or other household items, identify obstacles after detecting an impact with the obstacle. Subsequently, the self-driven robotic devices change course to avoid another impact. As expected, these navigation systems may not be suitable for human users with disabilities, such as visually impaired users.

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY


A bicycle designed to reduce the transfer of vibrations to the rider. The bicycle includes a frame having a first frame element and a second frame element. A first wheel is coupled to the frame and a damping member is disposed between the first frame element and the second frame element. The damping member provides vibration damping between the first frame element and the second frame element.

The present invention generally relates to bicycles, and particularly to bicycle frames that are designed to dampen vibrations.
Bicycles include a frame that is supported by two wheels. The frame supports a seat for a rider, and handlebars that allow the rider to steer the bicycle. A front fork extends from the frame and rotates relative to the frame to allow the rider to steer and control the bicycle. The frame also supports the rear wheel of the bicycle and the drive mechanism including the chain, pedals, gears, derailleur, and the like.
During a bicycle ride, the rider will often encounter bumps or uneven road conditions that cause vibrations. Many of these vibrations will travel through the wheels and the frame to the seat and handlebars. From the seat and handlebars, the vibrations can pass into the rider's torso and arms. These vibrations can be uncomfortable to the rider.

Bicycle wheel support with vibration isolation


A tool hanger has a rail and multiple hanging blocks. The rail is an elongated bar and has at least one hole. The hanging blocks are mounted slidably on the rail and are adjustable in distances between the hanging blocks on the rail. Each hanging block has a hanging body, an arm, a hook and an escaping recess. The hanging body has a sliding slot being slidably mounted on the rail. The arm protrudes from the hanging body and has a cylinder. The hook is attached to the arm. The hook is attached to the arm. The escaping recess is formed in the bottom surface at the free end of the hook to form an escaping segment on the free end of the hook and having a depth smaller than that of a segment of the hook opposite to the free end.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tool hanger, especially to a tool hanger being able to hang more tools and being made with less material.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional tool hanger is used to hang and display socket wrench adapters or box-end wrenches and comprises a rail and multiple hanging blocks. The hanging blocks are slidably attached to the rail. Each hanging block has a cylinder or a hook for hanging a socket wrench adapter "adapter" or a box-end wrench "wrench".
A hanging block of the conventional tool hanger can only hang one specific kind of tool. To hang adapters and wrenches on the tool hanger, multiple different hangers in different kinds and sizes are necessary. However, arranging different tool hangers requires lot of material for production and increases cost for manufacturing the tool hanger. In addition, each hanging block of the conventional tool hanger can only hang one specific kind of tool and is not versatile in use.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,239, entitled to "Hanger Rack for Hand Tools" discloses a hanger rack comprising multiple fixture pieces moveably mounted on a bar. However, the fixture pieces of the '239 Patent can only hold a single specific tool.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,805,777, entitled to "Tool Holder" discloses a tool holder comprising an upper bracket and two plates combined with the upper bracket. Multiple fingers and multiple beads are formed respectively on the plates. However, the tool holder of the '777 Patent are composed of three bracket and plates, so to assemble the tool holder is laborious. In addition, the distances between the fingers and beads are not adjustable, so the tool holder is not versatile in use.
U.S. Design No. D478,805, entitled to "Hook Assembly" discloses a hook assembly having a hook segment. However, the hook assembly can only be applied to hang a single objection.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a tool hanger to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.


A framework structure for a computer main frame, comprises an outer frame and an inner frame in which the inner frame is combined with an inner portion of the outer frame. A rear end of a first plate is pivotally connected to a bottom of the inner frame, and a front end of the first plate is combined with a downside of a bottom of the inner frame and positioned on a downside of a first hole of the inner frame. A hard drive can be locked on an upside of the first plate. Bottom ends of a plurality of shafts are respectively combined with the inner frame so as to use upper ends of the shafts to combine with a motherboard to allow the hard drive to be positioned below the motherboard.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a personal computer, and more particularly to a multi-configuration stackable modular personal computer structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 6,118,663 discloses a multi-configuration modular computer; it comprises a display module, a keyboard and pointer device module, a motherboard and power module, a mass-storage module, and an expansion module. A user can stack and assemble different uses of devices such as a LCD displayer, a notebook computer and a desktop computer by selecting and combining different modules.
Taiwan Patent Publish No. 490,121 discloses a outer frame structure capable of integrating a modular computer comprising a plurality of cabin bodies. Elements such as semi-system cabin and a displayer cabin are installed in the cabin bodies. The semi-system cabin is constituted by a outer frame, an inner seat and a panel. A rear end of the outer frame has a hollow section to form a hollow connection space. A plurality of connection elements is installed in a suitable position of the outer frame. The inner seat is installed in the outer frame. A rear end of the inner seat has a hollow section corresponding to the hollow section of the outer frame to form a hollow connection space. The panel is combined with a front end of the inner seat. The displayer cabin includes a main display device and an outer frame is mutually moveably connected. A plurality of connection elements is installed in a suitable peripheral position of the outer frame. There is a connecting wires space between the outer frame and the display device which corresponding to the connecting wires space of other cabin. The semi-system cabin and the displayer cabin are combined with each other stably through the connection elements so as to allow the whole to have an identical length and width, and have corresponding spaces for providing various connecting wires and terminals to be disposed in a connection space at a rear side of each cabin.
According to the modular computers disclosed in the US patent and Taiwan patent mentioned above, without allowing a hard drive to be positioned below a motherboard to benefit a space disposition above the motherboard and be convenient on the maintenance or the replacement of the hard driver.

Framework structure for computer main frame


An easily peelable or chemically strippable laminate and method of making same comprising an aluminum carrier, an aluminum oxide layer, which is at least 800 Angstroms thick and deposited on the aluminum carrier, copper foil electrodeposited on the aluminum oxide layer and optionally, a brass layer electrodeposited on the copper foil have been discovered. Such laminates find utility in the electronics industry in the fabrication of printed circuit boards and afford an ease of strippability of the protective aluminum carrier-aluminum oxide layer heretofore unknown in the industry. The protective aluminum carrier-aluminum oxide layer of the laminates of the present invention may also be chemically etched away providing a universal carrier for copper foil.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to metallic laminates and more particularly to metallic laminates suitable for use in the electronics industry. Specifically, the present invention relates to an aluminum carrier-aluminum oxide layer with a layer of copper electrodeposited on the aluminum oxide layer and a barrier layer of brass electrodeposited on top of the layer of copper.
2. State of the Art
Copper foil finds utility in the production of printed circuit boards. It is desirable to protect the copper foil from the point of electroforming the copper foil to the point of laminating the copper foil to a polymeric substrate, as is typically done in the industry.
One method of protecting the copper foil involves electrodepositing the copper foil on top of an aluminum substrate. This aluminum substrate, or carrier as it is frequently termed, protects one side of the copper foil, typically termed the shiny side of the copper foil. The other side of the copper foil, i.e., the matte side, is adhered under elevated temperatures and pressures to a polymeric substrate. Subsequent to this procedure, the aluminum layer may be mechanically stripped away leaving an exposed pristine surface of copper. This surface of copper is masked and etched resulting in the desired circuitry in the form of a network of copper lines.
The aluminum carrier layer may be removed by chemical means as opposed to the aforementioned mechanical means. In this approach, the aluminum layer is chemically etched from the surface of the copper layer.
As aluminum readily oxidizes, the copper foil is actually electrodeposited on a layer of aluminum oxide. Difficulties may arise in employing aluminum as a carrier. For instance, copper atoms may diffuse into the aluminum carrier producing a laminate that is difficult to process, i.e., the interdiffusion of copper atoms into the aluminum layer results in a laminate which is not easily peelable. In the past, one technique utilized to overcome this problem has been to electrodeposit a thin layer of zinc on the matte side of the copper surface. This zinc layer minimizes the diffusion of copper atoms into the aluminum carrier layer. However, the use of a thin layer of zinc on the matte side of the copper foil does not alleviate the problem of the undercutting of the copper foil from the underlying polymeric substrate during etching. A thin layer of brass has not been utilized in the past because brass does not suppress the diffusion of copper atoms into the aluminum layer and, inter alia, creates release problems of the copper from the aluminum carrier.
The following U.S. patents describe inventions relating to copper foil laminates.
Lifshin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,710, describe a copper-clad laminate in which an initial copper film is formed on an aluminum carrier by vapor deposition at a temperature of between 100 degrees Celsius and 250 degrees Celsius.
Berdan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,969,199, describe an improved mechanically strippable copper plate on an aluminum carrier wherein the aluminum carrier is pretreated with an alkaline, aqueous, alkali metal zincate composition containing a small amount of one or more soluble cobalt or nickel salts and removing the zincate coating with acid prior to plating with copper.
Morisaki, U.S. Pat. No. 4,049,481, describes a method of electrodepositing a binary alloy consisting of zinc and tin on copper foil as a barrier layer to the migration of copper during heat press lamination onto an adhesive substrate.
Hutkin, U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,544, describes a method and a composite which relate to enhanced strippability of an aluminum carrier from the underlying copper foil and to improved adhesion between the copper foil and the underlying polymeric substrate.
Yates et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,601, describe a copper foil laminate and a method of making a copper foil laminate wherein the laminate contains a release layer.
Grey, Jr. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,664, describe a method of making a copper-clad laminate wherein a copper film is vapor deposited on the matte side of an aluminum carrier.

Universal carrier supported thin copper line


An amplifier system for a radio receiver, comprising: amplifier means for amplifying a signal applied to an amplifier input to generate an amplifier output signal; and control means for sensing the amplifier output signal and, in response to a relatively high level of the output signal, controlling the current applied to the amplifier input to maintain the amplifier means in a linear mode of operation.

This invention relates to an amplifier system, especially an adaptive amplifier system for a signal receiver, for example a portable telephone handset or satellite receiver.
A radio signal receiver typically includes a chain of filter stages and amplifier stages ("gain stages") through which the received radio frequency signal is passed in series. The filter stages and amplifier stages alternate throughout the chain. The filters filter out unwanted (out of band) frequencies and the amplifiers amplify the remaining signals. The resulting signal passes to a mixer where it is downconverted and it is subsequently demodulated.
Signal receivers that are especially sensitive (those having a high degree of amplification through the chain) may suffer particular problems. To cope with the extreme sensitivity of the signal the receiver must have a very low noise characteristic (known as noise figure); otherwise the noise will tend to be amplified so that it swamps the signal. However, to achieve the required sensitivity relatively many gain stages may be required: possibly three or more gain stages in the receiver's UHF section alone, whereas a typical conventional mobile telephone has only one or two gain stages. And if a three gain-stage UHF section, for instance, is built using the same principles as a standard receiver section its IIP3 ("third order input intercept point") performance will be relatively poor (perhaps 20 dB worse than that of a comparable signal receiver with only one or two gain stages). Therefore, such a signal receiver will be especially vulnerable to interference from unwanted signals--especially signals just outside the band of desired frequencies. The problems will be particularly acute if the signal receiver's filters are low insertion loss filters with relatively little attenuation of signals just outside the desired band.


The present embodiment is able to find the optimal or near optimal variables composition of multivariate models by an evolutionary process within acceptable amount of time and resources that are less than using full variables permutation methodology. Subjected to any data, it adaptively identifies and constructs the most effective combination of the relevant variables to achieve one or more objectives. The objective could be for high explanatory power, high predictive power, response measure, or other objectives that the user defines. The present embodiment solves the sequential F-test problem by conducting non-sequential and non-linear search. The algorithm also solves partial F-test dilemma by evaluating all candidate variables membership intact, maintaining fidelity of full variables membership test throughout its permutation. Furthermore, the stochastic nature of the algorithm neutralizes the prejudices of manual decisions in variables identification and membership construction.

1. Field of Invention
The present embodiment relates generally to the field of statistics and mathematical modeling employing multivariate regression and, more specifically to using genetic algorithm to construct the independent variables composition of the multivariate regression models while optimizing one or more objectives. The objectives of these models includes but not limited to explanatory, prediction, and response measure.
2. Prior Art
Mathematical multivariate (or multi-variable) regression analysis is employed as an analytic tool for any number of reasons. One of them being the need to develop an estimate of a functional relationship, which we can use for prediction or forecasting. Another motivation for multivariate regression may be to estimate rates of change of response with respect to particular regressor variables, i.e. estimates of regression coefficients. The other reason would be explanatory; that is to extract meaning from the data.
The primary challenge in building MultiVariate Regression models, otherwise also referred to herein as MVR models, is to determine which regressor variables truly influence the response output, i.e. to determine what variables are truly relevant. The problem evolves from uncertainty of what variables to include in the model and in what combination thereof. The decision can be further complicated by the existence of multicollinearity or perhaps by the scientists' prior views and prejudices regarding the importance of individual variables. Assumptions are made regarding correctness of a postulated model when we are truly trying to find the best approximation that describes the data. Using the traditional method, a successful model builder will eventually understand that with many data sets, several models can be fit that would appear to be nearly equal in effectiveness. Thus, the problem that one deals with is the selection of one model from a pool of candidate models. Unfortunately, a human modeler could never be certain which one among all the candidate models found thus far may represent the global optima, if any at all. This is due to the fact that many of the candidates of 'best' model are only optimal to the subpart of the variables set, i.e. locally optimal.
Valuation on the appropriateness of a regressor variable often depends on what regressor variables are in the model combined together with it. Some combinations of the variables may in fact cause adverse results, possibly from multicollinearity or other noise, corrupting the explanatory power of the model. Thus a full scale variable screening can not be accomplished effectively by using stepwise sequential F-test or partial F-test methods although they are much quicker to evaluate and utilize less compute resources.
One would logically think that the variables evaluation should go through full permutation of all candidate variables. This is certainly true, but it is not practical in reality since the costs of computing all permutations could be far beyond the constraints of resources making it almost impossible to be accomplished. Those constraints may include but not limited to time required to evaluate all possible permutations and computing technology available. For example, to evaluate all permutations of n independent variables in a multivariate regression model, we must compute 2n model tests. Therefore, to evaluate 45 independent variables requires us to compute 245 scenarios or 35,184,372,088,832. That is over 35 billion scenarios to be computed and the costs could be further increased by the size of statistical data that needs to be processed per scenario. Imagine how long it would take to test the scenarios on 10 years of time-series data per scenario. So it is obvious why stepwise method, with its quicker evaluation time than full permutation, has become the standard methodology for building MVR models. Unfortunately, stepwise method has severe drawbacks associated with sequential F-test, partial F-test, and human prejudices. Hence, the present embodiment uses genetic algorithm instead.
In stepwise sequential method, the valuation of adding a regressor variable into the model is fully dependent on which sequence the variable is being added into the combination. A sequential process of regressor variables test starting from variables combination of (A, B) may not give the same end result if the sequence of test was to start from variables combination of (C, D) and on. One would hope that both sequential paths end up with identical variables combination of (C, F, H, I, K, R, S, U) as the optimal model, but in reality they most often do not. This problem occurs on all types of stepwise variables evaluation such as forward and backward evaluations.
While in partial testing, one immediately encounters the problem of how to segment the full list of potential variables, such as the number of variables that should be tested at any given time. Furthermore, partial testing of variables may only give the local optima result. For example, partial testing of 12 potential variables may produce models with (A, B, C, H, S, R) and (A, H, S, X, Y, Z) combinations as the pool of optimal models; which is certainly not even close to resemble the true global optimal of (C, F, H, I, K, R, S, U). This underscore the problem of presuming that 6 variables combination to be optimal, as suppose to 8 variables combination in partial variables set testing.
Another significant challenge in multivariate regression modeling is the fact that the data represents dynamic events, hence, rendering a static model functionally useless in its explanatory power to describe what is currently happening as suppose to what was happening long in the past. A static model may become over-specified or under-specified at different time in the future as the dynamics of the data shift even though it was properly specified during the time it was built. This is also known as prediction bias and it arises because the determination of the final model is uniquely related to the observation data at hand during the time the final model was built. If we are to refer back to the 45 variables evaluation example, we could not finish the evaluation before the market dynamic has shifted again. To put it another way, the challenge of building predictive models with multivariate regression is to find the appropriate combination of variables that has the most explanatory power while remaining current in its predictive accuracy within the given resources. We wish to obtain an MVR model that is adaptively accurate at reasonable amount of resources.
Genetic Algorithms belong to the class of probabilistic algorithms, but they are different from pure random algorithms since they combined both directed and stochastic search. They maintain a population of potential solutions, while most other search algorithms maintain only a single point of the search space. A single point search algorithms inherently have the problem of reaching local optima and prematurely stipulates it as global optimality. Genetic Algorithm performs a multi-directional and non-linear search by maintaining a population of potential solutions and encourages information formation and exchange between these directions. The population undergoes a simulated evolution: at each generation, the relatively "good" solutions reproduce, while the relatively "bad" solutions die. Genetic algorithms are search algorithms that are based on natural selection and genetics. They combine the concept of survival of the fittest with a randomized exchange of information. In each genetic algorithm generation there is a population composed of plurality of genomes. Those genomes can be seen as potential solutions to the problem being solved. In each successive generation, a new set of genomes is created using portions of the fittest of the previous generation. However, randomized new information is also occasionally included so that important data are not lost and overlooked.

Adaptive multivariate model construction


An optical disk device comprises position control portions which carry out position control of at least one of an optical head and an objective lens based on a detection signal from the optical head, and disturbance learning portions which reduce a compensation gain of the position control portion in a range in which servo control is not deviated, and detect disturbance information of the optical disk to store it as learning disturbance information. Fine disturbance information can be reliably learned because the information is not affected by the compensation gain.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disk device for learning disturbance of an optical disk. More particularly, the present invention relates to an optical disk device and a disturbance learning method for the optical disk device for carrying out reliable disturbance learning by reducing a servo gain during learning.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, an optical disk device such as DVD (Digital versatile Disc) has been developed and widely known. In such an optical disk device or the like, it is required to improve operational reliability more remarkably.
As one example of such an optical disk device, in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication Nos. 8-77589 and 9-50303, there is disclosed an optical disk device having a stable control system for taking a correlation between an error signal before one cycle and a current error signal, and increasing a gain of the control system when this correlation is strong, or reducing the gain of the control system when the correlation is weak so as not to respond to a component other than damage or dust and cyclic disturbance such as external vibration.
Similarly, in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 11-86309, there is disclosed a learning compensator comprising a signal generator circuit which changes along with the rotation number, the learning compensator generating a timing for learning, thereby enabling learning in which a time delay becomes constant even if the rotation number changes, in an optical disk device having a changed rotation number.
In the prior art disclosed in these references, respectively, a repetition learning device is used to lean a disturbance component generated along with the disk rotation to compensate for the component in a feed forward manner.
However, in these disturbance learning processes, there is a problem that a disturbance value is small as compared with a control gain, thus disabling sufficient learning.
In addition, in the case of an optical disk device having a changed rotation number, since a disturbance suppression rate changes depending on a frequency and a positioning error quantity changes depending on the frequency, there is a problem that a precise disturbance value cannot be obtained.
Further, in a recording type optical disk device, since a disk reflection index differs depending on whether or not information is recorded in a target optical disk, that is depending on a recorded region or an unrecorded region, it is inevitable that the gain of the control system changes frequently. Therefore, a precise disturbance value cannot be obtained in the recording type optical disk.
In other words, in the conventional optical disk device, since a value of disturbance information in an optical disk is comparatively small, the disturbance value is affected by the gain of servo control or a change in the rotation number of the optical disk. In addition, in the case of the recording type optical disk, the disturbance value is affected by a difference between reflection indexes of the recorded region and the unrecorded region. Thus, there is a problem that a process of learning of precise disturbance information cannot be carried out.

Optical disk device and disturbance learning method for optical disk device


A process for manufacturing a semiconductor, including generating a first plasma of a V group element from a V group element source; generating a second plasma of an auxiliary material for activating a metal organic compound containing a III group element separately from and at the same time as the first plasma; adding the vaporized metal organic compound and the plasma of the auxiliary material to the plasma of the V group element; and forming, on a substrate, a film of a semiconductor compound containing the III group element and the V group element. A semiconductor and a semiconductor device having high quality and high functions can be manufactured in a short time at high yield. An amorphous material includes at least hydrogen, a III Group element, preferably gallium, and nitrogen. In the infrared absorption spectrum measured of the amorphous material, the ratio of the absorbance I.sub.N-H, at the absorption peak indicating the bond (N--H) between nitrogen and hydrogen to that, I.sub.C-H, at the absorption peak indicating the bond (C--H) between carbon and hydrogen is 2 or more; and the ratio of the absorbance, I.sub.N-H, at the absorption peak indicating the bond (N--H) between nitrogen and hydrogen to the absorbance, I.sub.III-H, at the absorption peak indicating the bond (III-H) between the III Group element and hydrogen is 0.2 or more.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for manufacturing a semiconductor, an apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor, and an amorphous material suitable as a optical semiconductor for optoelectronics.
2. Description of Related Art
Wide bandgap semiconductor compounds, such as AlN, GaN, AlGaN, GaInN, InN, and the like have lately attracted considerable attention as materials applicable to blue LED, blue LD, and visible light emitters. NH.sub.3 or N.sub.2 is used as a V group element source in manufacturing these nitride type III-V (13-15: Group number defined by inorganic chemical nomenclature revised edition (1989) in IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry)) semiconductors. However, NH.sub.3 and N.sub.2 are more stable and inactive than other V group element sources such as AsH.sub.3 and PH.sub.3, which are used in manufacturing other III-V semiconductors. Therefore, the substrate temperature is adjusted to from 900 to 1,200.degree. C. when forming a film of a nitride type III-V semiconductor compound on a substrate by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD).
On the other hand, In (indium) is hardly incorporated into crystal at all, even at such a high temperature as 900 to 1,200.degree. C., at which GaN of good quality grows. For this reason, the substrate temperature is lowered when manufacturing a mixed crystal containing In. However, with this method, film quality is sacrificed and it is difficult to prepare a mixed crystal of good quality containing 10% or more of In. Also, in a method involving changing the substrate temperature, it is difficult in practice to produce multilayer film type and superlattice type components and the like. The reason for this is that, when forming a film at high temperature on a film formed at low temperature, there is the risk of element diffusion and the like occuring in the film formed at low temperature.
As a method for lowering the growth temperature, disclosed are methods in which a plasma is formed of N.sub.2 or NH.sub.3 as a V group element source by radio frequency discharge, microwave discharge or electron-cyclotron resonance and a metal organic compound containing a III group element is introduced into the remote plasma to form a film (J. M. Van Hore et al, J. Cryst. Growth 150 (1995) 908, A. Yoshida, New Functionality materials, Vol. C. 183-188 (1993) and S. Zembutsu et al, App. Phys. Lett. 48, 870, 1986). As an apparatus for practicing this method, a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus is conventionally known which comprises a plasma generating means communicating with a reactor, a first supply means for supplying a V group element such as N.sub.2 gas to the plasma generating means from the side opposite to the reactor, and a second supply means for supplying a metal organic compound containing a III group element to the reactor side of the plasma generating means.
When a mixed crystal is produced using this semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, mixed gas containing two or more metal organic compounds, for example, trimethylgallium and trimethylindium is supplied by the second supply means. However, when the mixed gas containing these metal organic compounds is introduced into plasma, either of these tends to be selectively decomposed since these metal organic compounds have different bond energies. Therefore, it is difficult to control the composition of the film to be produced even if the ratio of these compounds is controlled, and the resultant film contains carbon impurities derived from the metal organic compound that is more resistant to decomposition.
In addition, when laminating a film of different elements using the above apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor, raw gas needs to be replaced. It takes from a few minutes to less than 20 minutes for the concentration of an active material to reach the desired value from the time at which raw gas is replaced. The film cannot be formed during that time.
On the other hand, with respect to an amorphous optical semiconductor, an amorphous chalcogenide compound such as selenium, tellurium, or the like is conventionally used as a photoelectric transfer material in camera tubes, receiving optics, photoreceptors and the like as described in "Fundamentals of amorphous semiconductors" published by Ohm Co., Ltd. Recently, hydrogenated amorphous silicon has been used in solar batteries, image sensors, thin film transistors, photoreceptors and the like.
The amorphous chalcogenide compound is, however, thermally unstable and tends to crystallize, so service conditions are limited and hence the valence electron is not well-controlled.
On the other hand, the valence electron of the hydrogenated amorphous silicon can be well-controlled so that the pn junction and the field effect at a boundary layer can be realized. Also, the hydrogenated amorphous silicon has enough thermal resistance to withstand temperatures of up to about 250.degree. C. However, the photoconductivity of the hydrogenated amorphous silicon is weakened by intense light (Staebler and Wronski effect: Handbook of applied physics and the like). Therefore, the efficiency of the hydrogenated amorphous silicon may be reduced in use due to the deterioration caused by light during use in solar batteries and the like. Also, semiconductors composed of these elements, including crystals, are of an indirect transition type and hence there are limitations to their application. For example, they cannot be used in light emitters. Amorphous materials of the III-V compound semiconductors have been investigated as materials able to solve the problems of these amorphous materials.
The amorphous materials of III-V compound semiconductors are formed into a film either by processing a III-V crystal by vapor deposition or sputtering or by reacting an atomic III metal with a molecule or active molecule containing a V group element. Also, a metal organic compound containing a III metal and a metal organic compound containing a V metal are used to form a III-V compound film on a heated substrate (MOCVD). When a crystal film is formed on a substrate using these methods (at 600-1,000.degree. C.), the substrate temperature is set to be lower than the above temperature in order to prepare an amorphous III-V compound. In this case, however, carbon derived from the organic metal remains in the film, and there is a large number of defect levels in the film, and the like and hence there is no amorphous III-V compound able to function as a photoelectric material (H. Reuter, et al, (Thin Solid Films), Vol. 254, pp.96-102 (1995)).
On the other hand, it is known that the density of defect levels between bands in amorphous silicon is reduced by hydrogenation, which allows the valence electron to be controlled. A III-V amorphous compound semiconductor is conventionally hydrogenated by reactive vapor deposition or reactive sputtering (M. Onuki et al, Journal of Non-crystalline Solids Vol. 114, pp.792-794 (1989); U. Coscia et al, Journal of Non-crystalline Solids Vol. 194, pp.103-108 (1996); and the like).
By the introduction of hydrogen, the passivation of dangling bonds is expected, the dangling bond being generated when a III atom and a V atom are combined with each other in a film and become amorphous. However, the resultant film may be sensitive to air so that oxidation tends to occur depending on the bond configuration with hydrogen and the amount of hydrogen introduced.
Also, when hydrogen is introduced for the III-V compound semiconductor, it is known that there is not only the problem with respect to the passivation of the unbonded bands, but also the fear that a dopant for pn control is inactivated in the case of crystal films. In the case of amorphous films, the content of hydrogen in the film and the bonding positions are factors to be considered as problems.

Process for manufacturing semiconductor, apparatus for manufacturing semiconductor, and amorphous material


The finding that Dickkopf1 (Dkk1) is a dual function protein demonstrates a mechanism for the coordination of cell migration and antagonism of Wnt/β-catenin signaling during developmental and pathological processes. The profile of Dkk proteins expressed by human breast cancers correlates with indicators of outcome: Dkk1 associates with markers of poor prognosis whereas expression of single function Dkk2 or Dkk3 (which inhibit Wnt/β-catenin signaling and promote migration, respectively) correlates with phenotypes reflective of good prognosis. Therefore, the pro-migratory activities of Dkk1 and 3 identified here offer new insights into breast cancer progression and a potential avenue for therapeutic intervention.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to Dickkopf (Dkk) proteins, functional fragments thereof, and more specifically to their functional activities related to cell migration, maturation and wound healing.
2. Background Information
Cancer remains one of the most significant health problems world wide, and ranks second only to heart disease as a leading cause of death in the United States. Cancer, for the most part, involves uncontrolled proliferation and altered differentiation of the involved cells. Although the causes of most cancers are not identified and the mechanisms remain obscure, human, epidemiological, and experimental efforts have generated considerable information on the attributes of cancer. Many factors that are normally important in cell growth and differentiation, as well as normal molecular signaling, in healthy individuals can contribute to the genesis or progression of the carcinogenic process in certain disease states.
Members of the Wnt family of signaling molecules have been implicated in the genesis and progression of several human cancers. Wnt signaling mediates cell growth and differentiation, as well as many patterning processes, during invertebrate and vertebrate development. The Wnt signaling pathway also plays an important role in the inductive interactions that regulate growth and differentiation, and also likely critical in the homeostatic maintenance of post-embryonic tissue integrity. Wnt stabilizes cytoplasmic β-catenin, which stimulates the expression of genes involved in cell growth and differentiation. As such, altered regulation of Wnt signaling can not only cause defects during development, but also affects the regulated growth and differentiation of cells following development.
Although progress is being made in understanding the biochemical and genetic mechanisms responsible for many cancers, very few successful treatment options currently exist. Unfortunately, even the most effective therapies have significant negative systemic side effects and toxicity that can be intolerable to the patient. Typical negative side effects can include, for example, nausea and vomiting, hair loss, anemia, depression of the immune system leading to infection and sepsis, and other toxic effects. Because these effects on a patient can sometimes be as debilitating as the disease being treated, the effectiveness of these current therapies is severely limited.
There is, therefore, a need for new methods and compositions for treating cancer. In particular, there is a need for treatment compositions and methods capable of inhibiting unregulated growth, differentiation and migration of cancer cells.

Compositions and methods for inhibiting cell migration


A rear lock-up bolt action assembly is provided. The bolt action assembly can include a receiver body including a front aperture capable of receiving a firearm barrel and a rear aperture. A lug groove can be formed in the vicinity of the rear aperture of the receiver body. The bolt action assembly can also include a bolt assembly including a bolt handle and three rear locking lugs arranged on a rear portion of the bolt assembly. The bolt assembly is configured to be arranged in the receiver body such that the three rear locking lugs are capable of being rotated within the lug groove when the bolt handle is rotated. When a round is fired, the three rear locking lugs are forced to mate with the lug groove thereby evenly distributing a bolt pressure on the receiver body.

There are a variety of known designs of bolt actions for rifles. A design objective of bolt actions is the precise alignment of a bolt face to a cartridge chamber to properly position the firing pin to strike the primer of a cartridge. To achieve precise and repeatable firing results during competition shooting, it is desirable to accurately secure the bolt mechanism in its proper position and keep it relatively immovable with respect to the cartridge and barrel during movement of the firing pin and the striking of the cartridge primer.
Moreover, due to the nature of high-powered rifles, the bolt mechanism is subjected to enormous stress as gas pressure caused by cartridge firing rapidly builds and expels the projectile from the barrel. In order to achieve precise accuracy during firing, it is critical that the axis of the bolt and the firing pin remain parallel with the axis of the bore of the firearm barrel while also providing a perpendicular surface to accept a cartridge head.
In competition shooting, rimfire cartridges are often used with a bolt action rifle. The forces generated by a rimfire cartridge are much less than a center fire cartridge. A rimfire cartridge, when fired, is traveling about a third of the speed of a center fire cartridge which means the bullet is in the barrel a longer period of time when compared to a center fire. The resulting lag time in the barrel exposes the bullet to vibrations created during the firing process and these vibrations affect the bullet's trajectory. It has been proven through extensive testing that a front lock-up bolt design generally used with center fire ammunition accentuates the vibrations experienced by rimfire cartridges due to the close proximity of the lugs to the case rim and the lag time, and is therefore considered detrimental to accuracy.
In addition, known rear lock-up bolt receivers distribute bolt pressure over a maximum of two contact points at the rear of the receiver. This results in the bolt assembly flexing and moving during the firing of a round. Such movement of the bolt assembly also prevents consistent positioning of the components of the bolt action thereby jeopardizing accurate, repeatable performance by the shooting competitor.
Bolt action rifles that fire rimfire cartridges incorporate an offset firing pin. A center fire cartridge has a replaceable primer located in the center of the cartridge and when struck by the centrally located firing pin, the primer creates a flash that ignites the gun powder. In contrast, a rimfire cartridge's primer is part of the case. More specifically, there is a fold of brass material at the rim of the rimfire cartridge that has a chemical compound applied to the area inside the case prior to the gun powder and bullet being installed in the cartridge. The firing pin of a rimfire bolt action assembly is offset and strikes the rimfire cartridge on the outer edge of the case. Due to the firing pin being off center, the bolt will experience a force that is shifted to one side and the bolt will move away from the force if not supported properly.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a rear lock-up rimfire bolt action assembly that can evenly distribute the forward pressure the bolt assembly places on a chambered round and will not allow the bolt assembly to move or flex within the action body during the firing of the round.

Rear lock-up rimfire bolt action assembly


Disclosed herein is a built-in RFID tire tag. The built-in RFID tire tag includes an antenna and a circuit unit. The antenna is mounted in a tire, and is configured to be operated by resonating with radio waves, which are transmitted from an RFID reader and to have a repetitive corrugated shape. The circuit unit is configured to be operated by being supplied with power using the radio waves. The antenna includes a pair of tag radiators. Each of the tag radiators is divided into a first region and a second region. The corrugation density of the second regions, which are close to the circuit unit, is greater than that of the first regions, which are not close to the circuit unit. The first regions, which depend on rotational motion of the tire, adapt flexibly to bending and torsion of the tire by the difference between the corrugation densities.

Generally, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system is a non-contact identification system that enables a small-sized chip to be attached to various articles and transmits and processes information about the articles using radio frequencies, and includes a tag, which is provided with a chip and an antenna, and a reader, which reads information about articles stored in the chip.
Generally, such an RFID tag is attached to the surface of a commodity or is inserted into an article. The success rate of detection (identification rate) varies according to the angle formed between the RFID tag and an RFID reader, which is used to detect RFID tags. When the RFID reader is oriented perpendicular to the plane of the RFID tag, the success rate of detection by the RFID tag is highest. In contrast, when the RFID reader is oriented parallel to the plane of the RFID tag, the success rate of detection of the RFID tag is lowest. Accordingly, in order to increase the success rate of detection of the RFID tag, an attempt to manufacture a three-dimensional RFID tag has been made. However, there are problems in that the three-dimensional RFID tag cannot be mounted to some articles, and in that the cost of the RFID tag itself is increased.
Furthermore, when tires are manufactured, in order to perform production management using the LOT numbers of respective tires, or for application in an ERP system for inventory management, such tags may be attached to or mounted in respective tires in a tire forming process. In this case, the quality of the tags may be lowered due to damage under the severe manufacturing conditions of a vulcanization process, which is a process that is performed after the tire forming process, that is, at a temperature between 200° C.˜250° C. and at a pressure of more than 30 Bar, and thus the tags may not perform their functions.
Furthermore, due to the rotational motion of a tire, a tag, which is mounted in the tire, may be moved from its original position, or may be deformed.
In addition, due to the rotational motion of a tire, a tag which is mounted in the tire may be damaged.
Accordingly, the present applicant intends to propose an RFID tire tag, in which the antenna of the tag is formed to have a corrugated shape through a plate etching process, a press molding process, or a extrusion molding process, and is then mounted in a tire, thus minimizing deformation and damage attributable to rotational motion of the tire and increasing mechanical reliability and identification success.


An airbag module has an airbag and a gas generator. A supporting element is arranged between the gas generator and the airbag in the direction of deployment of the airbag such that, when folded, a portion of the airbag which is at the front in the direction of deployment rests essentially flat against a front surface of the supporting element.

The invention relates to an airbag module, in particular an airbag module for installation on the front passenger side of a motor vehicle.
Hitherto, front passenger airbag modules have generally been installed in motor vehicles such that they are covered by a solid part of the interior trim of a motor vehicle. Particularly in the case of front passenger airbag modules that require a large outlet opening, a sturdy cover over the airbag module is necessary to protect the airbag module from damage. A cover of such sturdiness is required to give the interior trim of the motor vehicle, e.g. the instrument panel, the necessary shape and strength. These solid covers are generally designed as one or multi-part flaps that open when the airbag is deployed. During this process, a film that forms the surface of the interior trim and is arranged over the flaps tears at predetermined tearing points. This allows the airbag to deploy into the vehicle interior.
This arrangement has the disadvantage that relatively large forces are required to open the rigid flaps, and this requires a high internal pressure in the airbag before the opening of the flaps. A comparatively long time is needed to build up this required high internal pressure by the gas generator, and this leads to slower deployment of the airbag. The full protective effect of the airbag is therefore delayed. Particularly in what are referred to as xe2x80x9cout-of-positionxe2x80x9d cases, however, in which a vehicle occupant is too close to the instrument panel support, very rapid and gentle deployment of the airbag is desired to avoid or minimize injuries to the vehicle occupant. The opening of the flaps also represents an additional risk of injury.
Further, in these known airbag modules, the folded airbag is arranged above or around the gas generator. When the airbag is deployed the gas pressure produced by the gas generator starts inflating the airbag and the airbag is substantially at once ejected from the housing before the airbag is completely inflated. This represents a further risk of injury in particular in xe2x80x9cout-of-positionxe2x80x9d cases, since parts of the folded airbag are ejected with a high velocity without unfolding at the same time and may hit the vehicle occupant. In the worst case, in particular if the occupant is situated very close to the airbag module, the vehicle occupant may be hit by the complete packet of the folded airbag which is ejected with a high velocity out of the housing of the airbag module. Further, if the airbag is not completely inflated it does not have the required internal pressure and is not taut enough to provide a sufficient protective effect in particular in an xe2x80x9cout-of-positionxe2x80x9d case.
There is provided in accordance with the present invention an airbag module that allows more rapid and gentler deployment of the airbag. The airbag module has a sturdy surface and forms an additional impact protector, particularly with a view to meeting the requirements of European regulation ECE R 21/Head Impact.
The airbag module of the present invention has an airbag and a gas generator. A supporting element is arranged in such a way between the gas generator and the airbag in the direction of deployment of the airbag that, when folded, a portion of the airbag which is at the front in the direction of deployment rests essentially flat against a front surface of the supporting element.


A method for making conductive wires is provided. Firstly, an ink having carbon nanotubes is provided. Secondly, a baseline is formed using the ink on a substrate. Thirdly, the baseline is electroless plated.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to methods for making conductive wires and, particularly, to a method for making conductive wires based on carbon nanotubes.
2. Description of Related Art
Ink jet printing can be advantageous for making unique prints because, as a digital technology, images can be easily changed or varied. As the advancement of science and technology continues, ink jet printing may be used in the process of making an interconnection wire.
One method for making interconnection wires includes the following steps. Firstly, a dispersion of carbon nanotubes with carbon nanotubes dispersed in an organic solvent is prepared. Secondly, a baseline is printed with the dispersion on a surface of a substrate. Thirdly, the organic solvent is evaporated to obtain a conductive baseline. Finally, the surface of the conductive baseline is electroplated in an electroplating bath containing a metal ion, so that an interconnection wire, which is a composite of metal and carbon nanotubes, is formed.
However, the method for making interconnection wires by printing and electroplating has the following disadvantages. Firstly, a mass ratio of the carbon nanotubes in the dispersion solvent used in this method is large, usually above 10% to ensure formation of a conductive baseline for the electroplating. Such a large mass ratio means the carbon nanotubes cannot be dispersed in the solvent uniformly, resulting in a non-uniform thickness of the interconnection wires. Secondly, current density in the conductive baseline will be non-uniform during electroplating which further contributes to the non-uniform thickness of the interconnection wires.
What is needed, therefore, is to provide a method for making conductive wires having an improved uniformity of thickness.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate at least one embodiment of the present method for making conductive wires, in at least one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner.


A method of determining a center of curvature of the spherical outer surface of an object using a computer system is provided. The method includes defining at least one contact region on the spherical outer surface in a plane substantially tangential to a circumference thereof and a first reference axis normal to said plane. Spatial coordinates of at least one of a first and a second geometric parameter are determined, the first geometric parameter including at least two points located on the spherical outer surface and the second geometric parameter including a second reference axis normal to the spherical outer surface. The center of curvature of the spherical outer surface is then calculated using the first reference axis and at least one of the first and second geometric parameters. An associated system and calibration device is also provided.

Proper calibration of tools, bone structures, implants and other components used in computer assisted surgery (CAS) procedures is vital.
In particular, determining the center of rotation (COR) of a spherically shaped object for use during a CAS surgery is a fairly common, but nonetheless important procedure. For example, during a total hip replacement (THR) surgery, determining the COR of the partially spherical femoral head and/or the corresponding cup-shaped acetabulum within which it is received, is typically required in order to ensure proper relative positioning of the respective femoral head and acetabular cup implants.
At least two known methods are currently employed for determining the COR of such a spherical object using a CAS system. For simplicity, these methods will be briefly described with reference to calculating the center of rotation of a femoral head. The first method involves rotating the femur between several positions, and capturing position and orientation information at each of the positions using the CAS system, from which the CAS system is able to determine the center point about which the femur is rotating by extrapolating lines from each of the captured positions and determining an intersection point thereof. More specifically, the femur is first maintained in a stable position such that the CAS system is able to register its position in space. The femur is then rotated to another position, and the position capturing procedure is repeated. This is repeated in order to permit the CAS system to identify and capture at least three distinct positions of the femur, from which the CAS system can define and calculate an imaginary cone having a tip coincident with the COR of the femoral head about which the femur was rotated between measured positions. Alternately, another method involves gradually rotating the femur in space during which time the CAS system automatically collects position and orientation information of the femur at predetermined regular intervals. These methods are simple, however have certain drawbacks. Particularly, if only three points are captured, the error margin remains relatively high. However, capturing a plurality of points, while improving accuracy, can be overly time consuming. Additionally, if the surgeon or user is not careful to displace the limb through its full rotational envelope and the points are captured too close to each other (i.e. linearly or quasi-linearly), then the resulting cone calculated by the CAS system will be skewed and not representative of the true COR of the limb. Further, another disadvantage of this method is the fact that it requires the surgeon to hold and rotate the limb of the patient through a relatively large region above the operating table, which in certain cases can at the very least be quite awkward. Other possibility for errors exists with these methods. For example, any displacement of the femoral head within the acetabulum as it is rotated therewithin, additionally adds error to the calculation of the tip of the cone and therefore the calculated center of rotation can differ from the true center of rotation of the limb by a significant amount.
A second method which as been employed to determine the COR of a spherical object using a CAS system involves using a tracked pointer or digitizer to collect a number of points on the spherical surfaces itself. Given a sufficient number of points on the surface, the CAS system is then able to reconstruct or digitize the surface, from which it can calculate an estimated center of rotation thereof. This method, however, requires relatively complex calculations on the part of the CAS system and further can result in imprecise results caused by an imperfectly digitized surface. This method also requires that a plurality of points on the surface of the spherical surfaces be digitized in order to provide accurate results.
Accordingly, there remains nonetheless a need for an improved device and method for determining the center of rotation of a spherical object using a CAS system.

Method and apparatus for calibrating spherical objects using a computer system


A vehicle trunk lid securing apparatus includes an elongated flexible inelastic strap and first and second connectors connected to the strap. The first connector includes a base ring through which is looped a portion of the strap and a releasable snap hook being rotatably mounted to the base ring and adapted to releasably attach to a hook of a trunk lid locking mechanism. The second connector includes an elongated handle portion and a rigid wire loop insert portion attached to an end of the handle portion and being operable to attach to a latch of the trunk lid locking mechanism by gripping the handle portion and pulling on the strap toward the latch. The apparatus also includes a cam-type buckle mechanism operable for adjusting the effective length of the strap to establish a set distance between the first and second connectors which matches the distance between the hook and latch of the trunk lid locking mechanism. The cam buckle mechanism has a body receiving a pair of sections of the strap therethrough and a cam lever actuatable relative to the body between an open unclamping condition and a closed clamping condition to respectively release the strap sections for movement relative to one another and restrain the strap sections from undergoing movement relative to one another.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to vehicle trunk lid fastening devices and, more particularly, is concerned with a vehicle trunk lid securing apparatus which employs the hook and latch of an existing trunk lid locking mechanism.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well-known that occasionally things have to be carried in the trunk compartment of a car which are too large or bulky to permit the complete closing of the trunk lid. The term "trunk lid" as used herein is meant to also include a conventional hatchback lid.
In order to prevent the trunk lid from blocking the rear view of the driver, it is useful to employ a device to tie down the lid in order to prevent it from bouncing up and down. Representative examples of some devices used for this purpose are the ones disclosed in U.S. patents to Glave (U.S. Pat. No. 2,908,522), Miener (U.S. Pat. No. 2,919,946), Gregoire (U.S. Pat. No. 2,973,217), Dedic, Sr. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,117,689), Brown (U.S. Pat. No. 3,180,668), Simon (U.S. Pat. No. 3,328,064), Wilson (U.S. Pat. No. 3,891,257), Barner (U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,413) and Miller (U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,122). A drawback shared by all of these devices is that they require suitable features such as holes or projections to be available in the trunk lid and trunk compartment for attaching and anchoring these devices thereto. These devices appear to be awkward to use and thus unsatisfactory.
Another device for use in tying down a trunk lid is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,194 to Charman. The Charman device overcomes the above-described drawback of the other devices by utilizing the existing hook or striker and latch of the trunk lid locking mechanism as the features for connecting the device between the trunk lid and trunk compartment. The Charman device includes an elongated webbing strap with a buckle for adjusting its length, an openable clasp at one end of the strap, and a keeper at the opposite end of the strap. The one end of the strap is threaded through the clasp. The clasp has a hook portion, a loop portion through which the strap passes, and a tongue portion engaging the inside of the hook portion. The keeper is an assembly of a pair of spaced plates with central openings and a plurality of cylindrical pins of different diameters extending between corners of the spaced plates. The openable clasp is for engaging with the hook or striker of the trunk lid locking mechanism and the keeper is for engaging with the latch of the trunk lid locking mechanism which is then restored to its latched condition. The keeper can be rotated within a loop of the strap to bring any one of the cylindrical pins into line with the strap.
However, the Charman device appears to be too complicated in construction and too awkward to use and thus unsatisfactory. Consequently, a need still exists for improvement of the construction of trunk lid fastening devices so as to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art without substituting new ones in their place.


A plurality of integrating photosensors is disposed in an array of rows and columns, with a given row select line connected to the gates of P-channel MOS transistors associated with that given row and a given column sense line connected to the drains of the P-channel MOS transistors associated with that given column. A sense amplifier is associated with each column. An integrating sense amplifier according to the present invention includes an amplifying element having an inverting input and a non-inverting input. The non-inverting input is connected to a source of reference voltage the inverting input is connected to a sense line. A P-channel balance transistor is connected between the inverting input and the output of the amplifying element and a capacitor is also connected between the inverting input and output of the amplifying element. A capacitor, preferably a varactor element, is connected between the output and the inverting input of the amplifying element. An exponential feedback element may be provided in the sense amplifiers for signal compression at high light levels.

1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to imaging arrays and systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a single chip high-sensitivity imaging system for producing serial-scanned outputs.
2. The Prior Art
Imaging circuits typically include a two-dimensional array of photosensors, each of which converts a pixel of light energy from an image into an electrical signal representing the light value of the pixel. The imaging circuit scans the photosensors to read out the electrical signals representing the light values of all pixels from an image.
As a result of the advances in semiconductor technology, single chip imaging circuits are known in the art. The most common single chip imaging technology is the charge coupled device (CCD) camera. A CCD device operates by accumulating photo-generated charge in potential wells in a semiconductor substrate at or slightly under the surface of the substrate. The depth of these wells is controlled by the voltage on gate electrodes located just above the surface of the substrate. By manipulating the voltage on several of the gates, the accumulated charge can be shifted along the surface to a sensing point, where it is amplified into a signal which can be driven off of the chip.
Using modern MOS processing techniques, the transport of charge in a CCD structure can be accomplished with almost perfect efficiency at video rates; typically less than ten parts per million of the charge in a well is lost in each transfer. In a typical serial-scanned CCD imager, such as is used for video applications, the charge is shifted out once per frame, and hence the total charge in each well is collected over the entire frame time, typically 1/60 second. Sensing technologies which operate in this manner, by accumulating charge over the entire time between scanout events, are called integrating photosensors.
Despite its technical achievements and wide spread commercial success, CCD technology has its limitations. Because the photo-generated charge is shifted directly, the gain of the device (electrons out per photon in) is always less than unity. Because the charge stored in each well is limited, the CCD imager has severe dynamic-range constraints. At the low end, the sensitivity is limited by how small a charge can be sensed above the noise of the readout amplifier. At the high end, the range is limited by the total charge that can be shifted from one well into the next.
To overcome these dynamic-range limitations of the CCD imager, a number of attempts have been made to use phototransistors to sense incoming light, such as seen in Analog VLSI and Neural Systems, by Carver A. Mead, Addison Wesley Publishing Co., 1989, at pp. 260-261. Phototransistors can have a gain of over 100 electrons per absorbed photon. In a typical application, the photocurrent from each phototransistor is fed into a device with exponential current-voltage characteristics, such as a pair of diode-connected MOS transistors. The output voltage of such a device is then a logarithmic function of the light level. These devices show much wider dynamic rage than do CCD devices, but are not as sensitive at low light levels because they operate in instantaneous-current mode rather than in integrating mode.
Photons absorbed in the neighborhood of a phototransistor collector-base or emitter-base junction create electron-hole pairs that are collected by the nearest p-n junction. Minority carriers collected by either junction act as base current, and are multiplied by the current gain of the transistor to produce the collector current. The emitter current is the sum of the base current and the collector current. For this reason, the emitter current is usually used as the output of the sensor.
Prior art phototransistor sensors suffer from low-current limitations. The current-gain of the phototransistor sensor device is high at high photocurrents, where it is not needed, and is low at low photocurrents, where it would desirably be higher. Because of this behavior of phototransistors, they have not found widespread use in commercial scanned imagers.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved single-chip serial-scanned imager, which can exhibit higher sensitivity at lower light levels than current mode imagers, and in the same device operate over a dynamic range larger than that achievable with CCD imagers.


A phase change memory device is disclosed. A second conductive spacer is under a first conductive spacer. A phase change layer comprises a first portion substantially parallel to the first and second conductive spacers and a second portion on top of the second conductive spacer, wherein the second conductive spacer is electrically connected to the first conductive spacer through the second portion of the phase change layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a memory device and fabrication thereof, and more particularly relates to a phase change memory device and fabrication thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Phase change memory devices have many advantages, such as high speed, lower power consumption, large capacity, greater endurance, better process integrity and lower cost. Phase change memory devices can thus be used as independent or embedded memory devices with high data integrity. Due to the described advantages and others, phase change memory device may replace flash memory.
To serve as a viable alternative, phase change memory technology requires highly reliable, high-speed, low-current, low-voltage operation. Current phase change memory technology employs heating at the interface between a metal electrode contact and the phase change material. This heating method is highly inefficient, however, and requires a lengthy programming duration of up to several hundred nanoseconds, and may also require a substantial amount of current (0.5 mA or greater). The described inefficient heating is also characterized by non-uniform temperature distribution within the phase change region, diminishing reliability due to accumulation of incomplete phase change in the programming volume. It is thus desirable to devise a phase change memory cell structure design that avoids these disadvantages.

Phase change memory device and fabrication method thereof

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A respiratory flow therapy apparatus including a sensor module can measure a flow rate of gases or gases concentration provided to a patient. The sensor module can be located after a blower and/or mixer. The sensor module can include at least an ultrasonic transmitter, a receiver, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a humidity sensor and/or a flow rate sensor. The receivers can be immersed in the gases flow path. The receivers can cancel delays in the transmitters and improve accuracy of measurements of characteristics of the gases flow. The receivers can allow for detection of a fault condition in a blower motor of the apparatus.

Breathing assistance apparatuses are used in various environments such as hospital, medical facility, residential care, or home environments to deliver a flow of gas to users or patients. A breathing assistance apparatus, or a flow therapy apparatus, may be used to deliver supplementary oxygen with the flow of gas, and/or a humidification apparatus to deliver heated and humidified gases. A flow therapy apparatus may allow adjustment and control over characteristics of the gases flow, including flow rate, temperature, gases concentration, humidity, pressure, etc. Sensors, such as heated temperature sensing elements and/or pressure sensors, are used to measure these characteristics of the gases flow.

Flow path sensing for flow therapy apparatus


A method of isolating monocyte populations of cells and inducing apoptosis in these populations without production of pro-inflammatory mediators is disclosed. The method comprises isolating the monocytes and, subjecting them to substrate-adherence and serum deprivation conditions. Apoptotic monocytes as prepared are useful for treating inflammation-associated diseases.

The present invention relates to methods of using dying cells for treating diseases characterized by pathological immune responses, and to devices for preparing such dying cells. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods of using apoptotic leukocytes for treating diseases characterized by pathological immune responses, such as autoimmune diseases and transplantation-related diseases, and to devices for preparing such apoptotic leukocytes.
Diseases characterized by pathological immune responses include a large number of diseases which are associated with significant mortality and morbidity, and for which no satisfactory/optimal treatments are available. Such diseases particularly include autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), transplantation-related diseases such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).
The immune system is a complex network comprising cells, antibodies, tissues, and chemical messenger molecules which allow for communication between these structures. A hallmark of a healthy immune system is the ability to recognize bacteria, viruses, and other foreign bodies and to effectively attack such pathogens while continuing to distinguish between the foreign bodies and the molecules, cells, tissues and organs of the body. In addition to fighting infections, the immune system has other roles in maintaining the normal state of health and function of the body. Throughout the life span of an organism, tissues become reshaped with areas of cells being removed. This is accomplished by a process termed programmed cell death or apoptosis, the apoptotic cells disintegrating in an orderly and harmless fashion and being phagocytosed. In many organs, for example, a certain percentage of the cells die off every day while different branches of the immune system are typically called in to remove the dead cells and parts thereof to make room for the new cells which arise to replace them. Were it not for the cellular debris-removing cells of the immune system, typically macrophages, tissue and organ growth would be impossible due to a lack for space. The process of apoptosis is furthermore considered to be particularly important in the development and maintenance of the immune system itself, where the immune cells which recognize or attack normal cells of the body are destroyed and removed by this process.
The number of monocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes that are produced, circulating, dying, and extravasating in the body is controlled at various levels, including via apoptosis.
In the case of monocytes, CFU-GM, the earliest identified cell committed to differentiate along the myeloid pathway, develops into monocyte in the bone marrow, mainly in the presence of M-CSF, IL-3, and low levels of GM-CSF. No bone marrow reserve exists for monocytes, which spend 1-3 days in transit through the marrow and are then released to spend from 8 to 72 hours in the blood, with subsequent further possible differentiation, maturation, and proliferation in tissues [1]. Monocytes comprise 1-6 percent of peripheral leukocytes, and it is estimated that 5.7×106 monocytes/kg are produced every day. Monocytes can survive in tissues as macrophages for long periods, but a substantial portion of monocytes are constantly undergoing apoptosis, either in the absence of anti-apoptotic factors or following infection or activation.
Monocytes express Fas and Fas ligand irrespective of their state of activation [2, 3], and were shown to undergo Fas-dependent apoptosis upon culture [3], activation [4], or infection [5]. Monocytes can be rescued from apoptosis upon exposure to growth factors, differentiating factors (GM-CSF and IL-4), or activation factors [3, 6-8]. Upon differentiation to macrophages, monocytes are rescued from Fas-dependent apoptosis by the expression of Fas-associated death domain-like IL-1-beta-converting enzyme-inhibitory protein (FLIP) [3, 9].
Neutrophils constitute the most abundant population of leukocytes. In humans, the daily turnover of neutrophils is about 1.6×109 cells/kg body weight (Klebanoff S J, Clark R X: The Neutrophil: Function and Clinical Disorders. Amsterdam, North-Holland Publishing, 1978, p 313), which keeps the number of mature neutrophils within defined limits despite the tremendous proliferative potential of the bone marrow precursor cells. This large turnover is mediated by the continuous egress of neutrophils from the circulation. Neutrophils do not return to the circulation but are eliminated by secretion in mucosa or die in the tissues within 1-2 days (Klebanoff S J, Clark R X: The Neutrophil: Function and Clinical Disorders. Amsterdam, North-Holland Publishing, 1978, p 313). Under normal non-inflammatory conditions neutrophil turnover takes place without harmful effects, despite the large bioagressive and destructive potential of these cells displayed under various inflammatory conditions [Weiss S J: Tissue destruction by neutrophils. N Engl J Med 1989; 320:365-376]. A special mechanism of harmless neutrophil destruction is provided by apoptosis, genetically programmed cell suicide.
While apoptosis is a process used by the immune system in protecting the body, it is also used to maintain tolerance to self-antigens and therefore allowing the immune system to fulfill its role in distinguishing the body's own cells from foreign bodies.
Cellular apoptosis plays an important role in antigen-presentation. Immature dendritic cells have the capacity to engulf apoptotic cells and to acquire and immunologically present their antigens Immature dendritic cells that capture apoptotic macrophages exposed to killed influenza-virus, mature and activate lymphocytes to mount virus-specific CTL responses in the presence of conditioned media. However, in the absence of infection and conditioned media, immature dendritic cells do not mature following uptake of apoptotic cells and as a consequence are less able to efficiently present acquired antigens. Furthermore, it has been suggested that following interaction with apoptotic material, immature dendritic cells may have a role in maintaining peripheral tolerance to self-antigens that are permanently created at different sites. In support of this, autoimmunity or SLE-like disease has been observed in mice and humans deficient in receptors important for uptake of apoptotic cells such as ABC1 cassette transporter, Mer, and complement deficiencies, as further described hereinbelow. Clearance via specific receptors may dictate specific immune response or tolerance as demonstrated by TGF-beta and IL-10 secretion by macrophages following uptake of apoptotic cells by macrophages. Thus, cytokines, chemokines, eicosanoids, and additional mediators present in the milieu of the interaction, may polarize the immune response.
When the immune system is deficient in recognition between self- and non-self-antigens, the result is a state of disease, this may result in the immune system attacking one or more specific self molecules or cells leading to tissue and organ damage, resulting in autoimmune disease Immunopathology of non-targeted tissues also may be indirectly caused non-specifically as a consequence of inflammation resulting from immune rejection of neighboring cells and tissues. Other than classical autoimmune diseases such as those mentioned hereinabove, it is becoming increasingly apparent that many vascular disorders, including atherosclerotic forms of such disorders, have an autoimmune component, and a number of patients with vascular disease have circulating autoantibodies. Autoimmune diseases may be divided into two general types, namely systemic autoimmune diseases, such as SLE and scleroderma, and organ specific autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, and diabetes. Many clinically different types and subtypes of autoimmune disease occur. Although each type of autoimmune disease is associated with a spectrum of clinical symptoms and aberrant laboratory parameters, signs and symptoms of autoimmune diseases frequently overlap so that one or more are diagnosed in the same patient. The vast majority cases in which one or more autoimmune disease has been diagnosed are characterized by the presence in the affected subject of antibodies directed against self-antigens, termed autoantibodies. Such autoantibodies are often present in tissues at ten to one hundred times the normal level in healthy individuals and give rise to a significant proportion of the organ and tissue damage associated with the particular autoimmune disease. For example, in the autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis, autoantibodies against a receptor in neuromuscular junction are associated with muscle weakness, while in SLE, anti-dsDNA antibodies are associated with nephritis in human patients and can cause nephritis upon injection to normal mice. In such diseases, the tissue and organ damage is attributed to the presence of autoantibodies and to the inflammation, which arises due inflammatory immune responses set off by autoantibodies.
Systemic lupus erythematosus is a model disease for understanding and developing inventive treatments for autoimmune disease in general. While it has long been appreciated that DNA and histones are major autoantigens SLE, only recently has evidence been provided that the DNA-histone complex, i.e., nucleosomes, are the preferred targets of autoantibodies in SLE. During apoptosis, the membrane of cells undergoing apoptosis form cytoplasmic blebs, some of which are shed as apoptotic bodies. It was recently demonstrated that exposure of keratinocytes to high frequency light induces apoptosis, and that the cell surface expression of the ribonucleoproteins Ro and La, but also of nucleosomes and ribosomes, can be explained by translocation of certain intracellular particles to the apoptotic surface blebs. Significantly, another translocation which occurs during apoptosis is that of phosphatidylserine (PS), an acidic phospholipid that normally resides on the inside of the cell, but flips to the outside of the cell membrane when the cell undergoes apoptosis. Phosphatidylserine, like cardiolipin, is a major autoantigen for anti-phospholipid antibodies in SLE. Taken together, these findings suggest that SLE involves autoimmunity directed against intracellular proteins translocated to the cell surface during apoptosis, and hence that SLE patients form an immune response to apoptotic material. This hypothesis is supported by the observation that brief, limited administration of syngeneic apoptotic cells to normal strains of mice leads to induction of autoantibodies and glomerular depositions. The immunopathology of SLE appears to further involve defective uptake of apoptotic material by macrophages, as observed in the reduced uptake/clearance of apoptotic cells by macrophages from SLE patients in-vitro, and by the high incidence of SLE in patients deficient in the C1q and C4 components of the complement system, which is involved in uptake of targeted antigens.
Lymphocytes, i.e. T-cells and B-cells, are relatively resistant to apoptosis. Upon antigenic stimulation, B-cells and T-cells proliferate and some will differentiate into effector cells. Plasma cells secrete antibodies that immobilize pathogens and promote their complement-mediated destruction and Fc (Ig constant region)-receptor-mediated ingestion by certain myeloid cells. Activated T-cells produce cytokines, some of which promote proliferation and functional activation of B-cells and T-cells themselves, whereas others provide feedback signals to cells of the innate immune system Immune effector mechanisms are highly potent weapons designed for the killing of free pathogens and also pathogen-infected host cells. This armory has the potential to destroy healthy cells and tissues because many of the effector molecules, such as pro-inflammatory cytokines, act in a non-antigen-specific manner and also because certain pathogen-specific receptors, such as B-cell receptors (BCRs) and T-cell receptors (TCRs) may cross-react with host antigens.
Immune responses to pathogens therefore pose a potential danger to the host and immunopathology occurs with many types of infection. In addition, chronically activated lymphocytes that are rapidly proliferating, particularly B-cells in germinal centers undergoing Ig-variable gene hyper-mutation, are at risk of sustaining mutations in proto-oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes that could lead to the development of lymphoma and/or leukaemia. Multiple regulatory mechanisms have evolved to prevent immunopathology. These include functional inactivation of cells of the immune system, a process that is potentially reversible and therefore does not eliminate the danger, and killing of no-longer needed and/or potentially dangerous cells by apoptosis [Marsden and A. Strasser, 2003. Annu. Rev. Immunol. 21:71-105].
Cells undergoing apoptosis signal neighboring cells, professional phagocytes, and/or antigen presenting cells to rapidly engulf them, without triggering an inflammatory or autoimmune response [10-12]. This process seems to play an important role in homeostasis, resolution of inflammation, and tolerance induction [13-15]. However disregulation of this process may represent a mechanism of escape from immune surveillance against infections and tumors and, if inefficient, it may support persistent inflammation and autoimmunity [16, 17].
Another issue that remains unclear is the role of apoptotic cell-derived antigens in cross-priming of immune responses. It has been shown that human dendritic cells, but not macrophages, efficiently present antigen that is derived from influenza-infected apoptotic monocytes, which stimulates class I-restricted CD8+ CTLs [18]. It remains unclear how dendritic cells derive a pro-inflammatory presentation of antigens from influenza, since these antigens are acquired from apoptotic cells that are usually considered anti-inflammatory, and that were shown to prevent maturation of dendritic cells [15, 19]. While in the former study conditioned media was employed as an adjuvant, the physiological adjuvants enabling cross-priming nevertheless remain unknown. Thus, antigens derived from apoptotic cells of given lineage may result in of activation or suppression of immunity due to mechanisms which remain to be resolved.
Manipulation of the immune system to treat immunopathology associated with autoimmune diseases, such as SLE, and transplantation-related diseases, such as GVHD, have been major goals of immunologists for many years. Traditionally, such manipulation has involved use of immunosuppressive drugs, such as corticosteroids, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, and cyclosporine. While such drug-induced immunosuppression has resulted, for example, in improvement of the 5-year survival rate of SLE patients in the last three decades, it is far from being an ideal treatment since no cure is achieved, since such treatment is associated with very serious side-effects, including general immune suppression, leading to high rates of morbidity, and is the primary cause of premature mortality. Administration of biological agents such as anti-CD40 ligand, and CTLA-4Ig has also been advocated. However, the toxicity and efficacy of such treatments is suboptimal, being potentially associated, for example, with general immune suppression similarly to the above-mentioned immunosuppressive drugs.
Thus, in view of the tolerizing/non-inflammatory properties of dying leukocytes described hereinabove, a potentially optimal strategy for treatment of diseases characterized by pathological immune responses, such as autoimmune diseases and transplantation-related diseases, involves administration of dying leukocytes having immunosuppressive/non-inflammatory properties. Such a strategy would inherently circumvent the aforementioned significant disadvantages of prior art immunosuppressive drug-based treatment approaches.
Several prior art approaches involving administration of dying leukocytes have been employed or suggested for treatment of diseases characterized by pathological immune responses.
One approach suggests administration of apoptotic donor cells, such as apoptotic donor leukocytes, to facilitate engraftment of donor hematopoietic grafts transplanted into an allogeneic recipient [Penuche S. et al., 2004. Am J Transplant. 4:1361-5; Kleinclauss F. et al., 2003. Transplantation 75(9 Suppl):43S-45S]. Such an approach, however, suffers from various drawbacks, including requirement for administration of allogeneic leukocytes, which inherently are associated with risk of GVHD as well as of their own rejection, suboptimal efficacy, failure to demonstrate adequate safety with respect to potential for inflammatory side-effects, and/or of never having been attempted in human patients, and hence of never having demonstrated any therapeutic efficacy in human patients.
Another, apheresis-based, approach, termed "extracorporeal photopheresis", involves administering to a patient a photoactivatable pigment which can be specifically taken up by specific hematopoietic cells, such as T-cells, and following such uptake harvesting blood, isolating the specific hematopoietic cells, triggering their apoptosis via UV irradiation, and infusing them back into the patient (U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,584). This approach has been advocated for treatment of hypersensitivity, graft rejection, or SLE (U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,852); or for amelioration of GVHD. Prior art approaches involving apheresis, however, are often suboptimally effective, and may be associated with undesired side-effects of unknown origin, such as inflammatory side-effects (refer, for example, to: Siami G A. et al., 1997. Cryofiltration apheresis and plasma fractionation causing anaphylactoid reactions in patients receiving angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. Ther Apher. 1:325-9; Schwarzbeck A. et al., 1997. Anaphylactoid reactions during dextran apheresis may occur even in the absence of ACE-inhibitor administration. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 12:1083-4; Koga N. et al., 1993. Anaphylactoid reactions and bradykinin generation in patients treated with LDL-apheresis and an ACE inhibitor. ASAIO J. 39:M288-91; Strauss R G., 1996. Mechanisms of adverse effects during hemapheresis. J Clin Apheresis 11:160-4; Rossi P L. et al., 1991. Comparison of the side effects of therapeutic cytapheresis and those of other types of hemapheresis. Haematologica. 76 Suppl 1:75-80; Huestis D W., 1989. Risks and safety practices in hemapheresis procedures. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 113:273-8; Hocker P, Wagner A., 1987. Side-effects of cytapheresis with cell separators. Infusionsther Klin Ernahr 14 Suppl 4:31-5). Extracorporeal photopheresis, in particular, involves generation and administration of harmful necrotic/pro-inflammatory cells (Caricchio R. et al., 2003. Ultraviolet B Radiation-Induced Cell Death: Critical Role of Ultraviolet Dose in Inflammation and Lupus Autoantigen Redistribution. The Journal of Immunology 171:5778-5786).
Thus, all prior art approaches have failed to provide an adequate solution for using dying leukocytes for treatment of diseases characterized by pathological immune responses.
There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, a disease treatment method devoid of the above limitation.


A utensil kit with a knife, spoon and two forks and method particularly for training adolescents to hold eating utensils correctly and in the a proper eating position where each of the utensils includes a contoured gripping portion formed over the utensil handle adapted to receive and register fingers and the thumb in color coded grooves corresponding to the proper position for the respective eating utensil and to enhance hand comfort when the utensil is being held and manipulated according to proper etiquette.

As use of a standard set of eating utensils namely, knives, forks, and spoons, has evolved over the past century, many different structures, systems, and methods have emerged for teaching children etiquette and, more particularly, proper conventional utilization of such eating utensils. It is also well known that customs of different cultures create diverse utensil handling habits differently. For example, unlike the United States, in Europe the knife and fork do not change hands. Due to its cultural diversity, the United States has given rise to its own customs and nuances of proper utensil use.
Regardless of the culture, it is indisputable that adherence to proper table manners is of great social significance, particularly for adults in formal surroundings. Although typically of a more forgivable nature, the proper practice of utensil etiquette by children is also considered important when in public. Therefore, due to the importance ascribed to proper utensil etiquette, different methods and devices have been developed to encourage utensil manipulation.
Many eating utensil and handle adjuncts developed for use by infants and toddlers, particularly during initial utensil handling training, are helpful in respect to utensil stabilization but not particularly useful for mastering proper utensil use. Likewise, special utensils developed for use by persons with eating or manipulative disabilities, while very useful for their intended function, are not particularly helpful in teaching proper utensil etiquette. In the patent literature many such devices are disclosed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,224,093 discloses a training utensil directed to teaching toddlers and infants how to hold on to utensils. In connection with eating adjuncts for persons with disabilities, U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,975 disclose an improved eating utensil for manually impaired individuals that incorporates a handle and finger grip/guide. Adjuncts have even been developed to assist in dietary control during eating. U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,819 discloses eating utensils that incorporate a timing element to provide a signal to the user corresponding to the appropriate interval between bites.
Notwithstanding the usefulness of the above-described utensil modifications and methods, a need still exists for a simple utensil handling teaching method that corresponds to American eating customs and etiquette.

Utensil manipulation training tools and method