The present invention relates to a method of producing an insulated wrap intended for wrapping any desired item in order to maintain a given temperature, either hot or cold, for the desired item. The method basically consists of providing a die having a plurality of cavities each of which has evacuation means associated therewith, placing a flexible thermoformable film over the die and evacuating the cavities thereby to thermoform the film and create multiple pouches in the film material. The pouches are then filled with a eutectic chemical compound consisting of potassium chloride solution, and then overlying the pouch-filled film with an insulated sealing film. The insulated sealing film consists of a polyethylene film co-extruded to a layer of closed cell polyolefin foam. The sealing film acts as a thermo barrier. The wrap is completed by providing fastening means at opposed ends of the wrap in order to permit the wrap to be fastened about any desired item for temperature maintenance purposes. The invention further consists of providing a product manufactured according to the subject method.

This invention relates to an insulated wrap, such as the type commonly used with beverage cans or other beverage containers, although useful to cool any desired item. The wrap of the present invention is constructed in a somewhat similar fashion to prior art type devices, however, the process whereby the wrap of the present invention is produced has been greatly improved to the extent that the entire process may be done by a single piece of machinery having multiple stages for performing each of the steps of the process. Furthermore, the wrap of the present invention is dramatically improved in terms of the construction of the wrap, as well as in terms of the eutectic solution utilized as a refrigerant.
Insofar as prior art type insulated wraps are concerned, various patents show alternate forms of existing type devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,089 shows a beverage wrap which is constructed in a linear fashion by producing a plurality of pouches along the length of the wrap. Each of the pouches self-contains a refrigerant therein, and in its completed format, is intended to wrap around a beverage can as illustrated in the drawings therein. It will be noted, however, that once constructed, the pouches are circular and/or elliptic in configuration, and hence, only the tangential portion of the pouch adjacent to the can will have any cooling impact upon the beverage can. Furthermore, the wrap as illustrated therein requires multiple steps and/or processes in order to construct the wrap, thereby making the wrap somewhat expensive to produce.
Still another patent illustrating an alternate form of a beverage wrap is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,842. As illustrated therein, the wrap consists of a multi-layered structure including an outer sheet formed from a nylon fabric having a rubber backing. There is also included an inner liner element which is sewn or otherwise secured to the inside wall of the outer sheet. The liner contains one or more liquid tight receptacles which are positioned between two sheets of thin polyester cotton thereby to create the liner. The inner liner element is then secured to the outer sheet as illustrated, by sewing or other fastening means. It will become evident that in order to create a wrap of this type, there are several individualized steps in the process which must be effected in order to create the outer sheet formed into a tubular member with the inner liner element secured thereto. Furthermore, from the above description, it is obvious that the receptacles containing the refrigerant must similarly be secured between two sheets of polyester cotton in order to create the inner liner element. Hence, the cost of production of such a wrap is prohibitively high, and it will also be appreciated that because of the manner in which the receptacles are formed, that only the part of the receptacle adjacent to the can will have the refrigerating effect. Furthermore, since the refrigerant receptacles are contained between two sheets of polyester cotton, the refrigerant compacity of the device is somewhat reduced.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,668 illustrates still another format for a beverage wrap which includes an inner coolant layer for wrapping about the container, which again contains multiple receptacles or cavities in which a coolant is contained, with the coolant layer being externally surrounded by an insulative layer. It is obvious from the description and the claims that the two layers are separately formed, and it must be mechanically manipulated in order to effectively place the wrap around a beverage container. It will also be appreciated that the coolant which is employed is one of the types generally sold under the Trademark, BLUE ICE, which is basically a gel type substance. Indeed, it is prevalent in the prior art that coolant or refrigerant which is utilized is a gel type solution which is intended to be placed in a freezer and frozen, and has characteristics of taking a period of time to defrost during which time it functions as a heat sink to cool the beverage about which it is wrapped.
Once again, it is evident from the review of the patent that multiple steps must be employed in order to create the wrap, and indeed, the inner coolant layer is separately formed from the outer insulating sheet, such that separate manufacturing processes must be employed.
A further type of beverage wrap is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,324,111. The wrap employed in the subject patent is created with multiple cavities in which a freezing gel solution is contained. As indicated previously, it is intended that the wrap be placed in a freezing compartment of some type, so that the gel will fully freeze. As shown in the drawings, once wrapped about the beverage container, the tangential sides of the circular pouches are positioned against the beverage container and function to perform the cooling process. It will be appreciated, however, that because only a part of the circular structure of each cavity is in tangential alignment with the beverage can, the cooling proficiency of the wrap is diminished.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,226 illustrates still another type of prior art beverage wrap which again is shown to be formed by a plurality of pouches in which a refrigerant of some type is employed. Once again, as with other prior art type wraps, it is apparent from review of the structure as indicated in the patent that the process for making such a wrap requires multiple processes in order to complete the construction of the wrap. As with other prior art devices, the cost of producing such products is reasonably high, and therefore, such types of wraps have not achieved any great degree of commercial success.


A gaming machine including a secondary processor coupled to a player tracking system for tracking game play of a patron using a virtual player loyalty card is described. A virtual player loyalty card can be created by associating an existing physical player loyalty card with a newly created mobile loyalty card account. The mobile card can be virtually inserted into an electronic gaming machine when a portable electronic device with an associated mobile application is in the vicinity of an electronic gaming machine. Once the mobile card is virtually inserted into the gaming machine, the patron's game play at the gaming machine can be tracked.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to gaming devices that provide communication capabilities and enhanced gaming functions on an electronic gaming machine.
Description of the Related Art
Casinos derive a large portion of their revenues from electronic gaming machines, including mechanical and video slot machines. The operating costs associated with maintaining electronic gaming machines is an important factor to casino operators. To maximize their profitability, casino operators wish to minimize the electronic gaming machine operating costs.
A significant component of the operating costs is related to the performance of maintenance operations requiring access to the interior of a gaming machine. For instance, access to the interior of the gaming machine is needed to periodically remove cash from the gaming machine, such as coins in a drop box or bills stored in a bill stacker. As another example, access to the interior of the gaming machine is needed to periodically replenish paper used to print ticket vouchers for cashless gaming applications.
For security and regulatory purposes, electronic gaming machines include a number of locked enclosures that are monitored by an internal security system. The locked enclosures and security system help to prevent unauthorized access to resources within the electronic gaming machine that may be targets of theft or tampering, such as deposited money or gaming software. To address a maintenance issue that requires access to interior portions of the gaming machine, often two or more keys carried by separate individuals can be required. During the performance of the maintenance operation in the interior, one individual not performing the maintenance may be required to watch the other individual performing the maintenance operation. Thus, a significant contributor to the gaming machine operating costs is labor costs associated with maintenance.
In addition to labor costs, while the gaming machine is being maintained it is not available for game play. Thus, revenue is lost which also contributes to the operating costs. Further, some maintenance operations, such as replenishing blank tickets that can be used to print redeemable ticket vouchers involve material costs. Thus, some maintenance operations contribute both material costs and labor costs to the gaming machine operating costs.
Balanced against minimizing operating costs are providing functions that make the machines more convenient for a player to use and encourage repeated use of the machines. For instance, a bill validator on a gaming machine is not required and its use increases gaming machine operating costs. However, the availability of a bill validator makes a gaming machine more convenient for a player to use which outweighs the additional operating costs associated with the bill validator. As another example, loyalty programs and associated hardware that allow for player rewards and a personalization of a gaming session increases operating costs. Nevertheless, it has been found that these features make a game play session more satisfying to players such that the average amount of game play or the amount of repeat business from a typical player is increased. The increase in game play or repeat business outweighs the operating costs associated with providing these features.
Thus, in view of the above, apparatus and method are desired that either reduce gaming machine operating costs or provide new features with benefits to players that outweigh the additional operation costs associated with providing the new features.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The preferred embodiments are directed to a high-energy detector that is electrically shielded using an anode, a cathode, and a conducting shield to substantially reduce or eliminate electrically unshielded area. The anode and the cathode are disposed at opposite ends of the detector and the conducting shield substantially surrounds at least a portion of the longitudinal surface of the detector. The conducting shield extends longitudinally to the anode end of the detector and substantially surrounds at least a portion of the detector. Signals read from one or more of the anode, cathode, and conducting shield can be used to determine the number of electrons that are liberated as a result of high-energy particles impinge on the detector. A correction technique can be implemented to correct for liberated electron that become trapped to improve the energy resolution of the high-energy detectors disclosed herein.

Virtual Frisch-grid detectors represent a class of single-carrier devices for which fast-moving electrons are used to measure energies deposited by X-rays, gamma-rays, ionizing particles, and the like. A main drawback of single carrier devices is that the output signals are influenced by the stationary holes whose effects depend on the locations of interaction points inside the device. Such behavior of the output signals, caused by uncollected holes, is commonly called the "induction effect." This effect inhibits spectral resolution of single-carrier detectors unless special measures are implemented to neutralize the holes. Two techniques directed to minimizing the induction effect are: (1) subtracting the fraction of the charge signal contributed by the stationary holes and (2) electrostatic shielding of the stationary holes.
In the first technique, the induced charge contributed by the holes is measured and subtracted from the total output signal. The holes-induced signal can be measured with one or several electrodes located adjacent to the collecting electrode. The electrodes can be composed of pixels or strips and, depending on the locations of interaction points, the same electrode can be used for measuring collected or induced-only charges. Coplanar-grid devices proposed for Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CdZnTe or CZT) and fluid Xenon (Xe) detectors are special cases for implementing this technique.
For the second technique, there are two types of devices that employ the electrostatic shielding: Frisch-grid and virtual Frisch-grid detectors. In a classic Frisch-grid ionization chamber, a metal grid (or mesh) is used for electrostatic shielding of the collecting electrode (or several collecting electrodes) from the positive ions. In a virtual Frisch-ring detector, the shielding electrode (or several electrodes) is placed around the sides of the device's sensitive volume but they produce essentially the same shielding effect as if a real Frisch grid were placed inside the detector.
In the past, several designs of virtual Frisch-grid detectors were proposed for CdZnTe semiconductor: CAPture™, hemispherical, Frisch-ring, and pixel detectors. (CAPture™ is a trademark of eV Products, Inc. of Saxonburg, Pa.). CAPture™-type and hemispherical type detectors are generally produced by extending the cathode electrode up the sides of the detector crystal body. In both devices, the extended electrodes are in physical contact with the semiconductor surfaces. As a result, a wide area of the bare detector crystal body surface surrounding the anode is required to keep the surface leakage current below an acceptable level. While these convention devices typically achieve acceptable results for low energy gamma-rays, which normally interact close to the cathode, these conventional devices typically do not perform as well for higher energy gamma-rays that interact closer to the anode. Since the area near the anode is not properly shielded, convention Frisch-grid detectors usually exhibit low energy tails for peaks in the pulse height spectra.
FIG. 1A depicts a perspective view of a conventional virtual Frisch-grid detector 100 and FIG. 1B depicts a cross-sectional view along a longitudinal axis 102 of the conventional virtual Frisch-grid detector 100. In this example, the conventional virtual Frisch-grid detector 100 is a CAPture™-type detector that has an extended cathode 104 formed at one end 106 of a detector crystal 108. An unshielded and uninsulated area 110 lies between the cathode's edge 112 and an anode 114 formed at the other end 116 of the detector crystal 108; thereby leaving the detector crystal susceptible to electrostatic interference.
In conventional Frisch-ring detectors, the cathode is also extended along the longitudinal surface of the detector, but the extended portion of the cathode is physically separated from the longitudinal surface by a thin layer of insulating material. The non -contacting electrode, also known as the non-contacting Frisch ring, is the main feature that makes Frisch-ring detectors different from CAPture™ and hemispherical-type devices. The non-contacting electrode is placed along the longitudinal surface of the crystal and is physically connected to the cathode. A common high-voltage bias (with respect to the anode) is applied to the cathode and the non-contacting electrode. The output signal is read out from the anode. Thus, a gap (typically 2-3 mm) of insulating material is generally left between the Frisch-ring and the anode's contact to prevent high leakage current or even possible discharge in the area between these two electrodes. As a result, an electrostatically unshielded area of the surface exists near the anode, which results in a low energy tailing effect discussed above.
FIG. 2A depicts a perspective view of a conventional Frisch-ring detector 200 and FIG. 2B depicts a cross-sectional view along the longitudinal axis 202 of the conventional Frisch-ring detector 200. In this example, the longitudinal surface 204 of the detector crystal 206 is insulated with an insulator 208 leaving only the ends 210 and 212 available for making electrical contact. The cathode 214 is extended along the longitudinal length of, but electrically isolated from, the detector crystal 206. However, an unshielded area 216 between the edge 218 of the cathode 214 and an anode 220 is generally required to prevent leakage current or even electrical discharge between the cathode 214 and the anode 220.
Conventional virtual Frisch-grid detectors generally have three common effects that result in degradation of their performance. The first effect that degrades their performance is the presence of an unshielded area near the anode. The second effect that degrades their performance is that the electric field inside the detector (drift field) does not generally direct electrons, liberated by the incident photons or particles, toward the anode (defocusing field). The third effect that degrades their performance is the two-terminal nature of devices in which the cathode signal cannot provide the particle's interaction depth information to correct the electron losses due to trapping.


A method and system for electronically selling a data item such as a song, a literature piece or a picture. A data repository is used for a seller to store the data item that the seller wishes to sell for a fee. The data repository is accessible to a buyer who deposits a fund to the data repository prior to downloading the data item. Preferably, the data repository is connected to a telecommunication network such as the Internet so that the buyer can download the purchased data item directly through the telecommunication network. Preferably, the seller posts a price which is the maximum amount the seller wishes to collect and sets a minimum amount that the seller is willing to collect from the buyer for downloading the data item. Preferably, the buyer makes an offer to the data repository wherein a software program is used to check whether the offered price falls within the fee range as set by the seller.

It is well-known that a data item such as a song, a piece of music, a document, a legal form, a book, a research report or a picture can be purchased through the Internet. Currently, there are two widely used methods for making such a transaction electronically.
One current method is for the seller to send the data item directly to the buyer via e-mail, wherein the price for buying the data item is negotiated between the two parties and the money is sent to the seller according to a paying method agreed upon. The major shortcoming of this method is that the seller must know the buyer or have faith in the buyer, hoping that the buyer will eventually pay for the data item. Furthermore, when the data item is sold to a large number of buyers, the seller must set up a system to keep track of which buyers have paid and which buyers have not yet paid. Many sellers may not have the temperament, the knowledge or the time to tend to the administrative aspect of doing business.
The other current method is for the seller to upload the data item to an Internet service provider or a Web site operator. The Internet service provider/Web site operator will then notify the buyer via e-mail with a unique universal resource locator (URL) so as to allow the buyer to download the data item through the URL. Musical works have been known to be purchased in this fashion wherein a buyer can download a song in an MP3 file to the buyer's computer. With this method, however, the buyer must provide a credit card number in order to be charged for downloading the data item. This is not advantageous to the Internet service provider/Neb site operator who provides the transaction service because credit card and bank fees are typically larger with high volume, low amount transactions.
It is advantageous and desirable to provide a method and system for providing a service to a seller who wishes to sell one or more data items electronically to one or more buyers without the above-described shortcomings.


Apparatus for detecting the presence of a targeted group of hydrocarbons, such as diesel/fuel oil, lube oil, motor oil, hydraulic oil, jet fuel, mineral oil and crude oil in a highly reliable manner even though present at only extremely low concentration. A high power, pulsed light source is focused into a collimated beam that is reduced by a set of filters to a band of pulsed light within a precise set of wavelengths and directed vertically onto a target surface, such as a body of water. All but a precise band of light wavelengths returning to the apparatus are blocked so that substantially all light which then reaches an internal photodetector is within such precise band of wavelengths; as a result receipt of such light programmed intervals following such pulses is indicative of the presence of a member of the targeted hydrocarbon group.

Oil spills and leakages, both large and small, have become a major problem throughout the world. With continued dependence on fossil fuels and oil derivative products, there is more production, transportation, storage, and use of oils than ever before. Because oil spill and leakage prevention and response are growing concerns as a result of growth, demand, and the omnipresence of oil, new methodologies and technologies necessary to protect ourselves and the environment are being sought.
It is felt that the ability to detect petroleum spills, leakages and sheens in real time should allow response personnel to often contain pollution before extensive damage is done to the wildlife, environment, etc. Successful prevention and/or minimization of a spill or leakage as a result of real time detection will provide a substantial benefit not only to the entity responsible for the spill or leakage, but also to all waterway stakeholders, the surrounding environment, and society as a whole. Previous in-water systems which were developed for monitoring bodies of water have required substantial maintenance as they were susceptible to bio-fouling and to debris inherent within water deployment. Likewise, flow-through systems were found to be susceptible to bio-fouling and oil staining on the sampling tube. Accordingly, better automated systems that will remotely monitor for such petroleum spills, leakages and sheens and provide prompt notification and/or alarm upon detection of a spill, leakage or the like have continued to be sought after.

Non-contact oil spill detection apparatus and method


Provided are: a protein degradation inducing tag which is a molecule that has affinity with proteases and does not inhibit degradation of a protein by proteases; a protein degradation inducing molecule that is a conjugate of at least one protein degradation inducing tag and at least one protein binding molecule that binds to a protein; and a usage of those.

Controlling the amount (expression) of a target protein in a cell, a living body, and the like is very useful for analyzing the functions of the target protein and life phenomena in which the target protein is involved. When a target protein is responsible for a disease, the disease can be prevented or treated by decreasing the amount of the target protein.
As a conventional technique for controlling the amount of a target protein at the DNA level, known is the gene knockout technique in which a gene coding the target protein is made defective. As another technique for controlling the amount of a target protein at the RNA level, known is the RNAi (RNA interference) technique in which mRNA of the target protein is degraded with siRNA (small interfering RNA). However, the gene knockout technique is time consuming and expensive, and in addition, may involve bioethical issues. Further, the gene knockout technique cannot be applied to medicine because the gene of a target protein itself is made defective in the technique. Meanwhile, the RNAi technique suffers from off-target effects, and thus the amount of a target protein is difficult to be controlled in a specific manner. Further, the RNAi technique has been challenged in terms of the delivery of siRNA, and many problems need to be solved for applying to medicine.
In view of the above circumstances, a technique has recently gathered much attention in which a target protein is degraded in a cell to control the amount of the target protein at the protein level. This technique is roughly categorized into an ubiquitin dependent technique in which ubiquitination of a target protein is used and an ubiquitin independent technique in which ubiquitination of a target protein is not used.
As the ubiquitin dependent technique, known is a technique in which a complex is used, the complex having a structure where a molecule capable of binding to a target protein is linked to a molecule capable of binding ubiquitin ligase (E3) (For example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-056837 U.S. Pat. No. 7,208,157, a report by Itoh, Y. et al., (Itoh, Y. et al., "Development of target protein-selective degradation inducer for protein knockdown.", Bioorg. Med. Chem., 2011, 19, 3229-3241), a report by Demizu et al., (Demizu, Y. et al., "Design and synthesis of estrogen receptor degradation inducer based on a protein knockdown strategy.", Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 2012, 15, 1793-1796), and a report by Hines et al. (Hines, J. et al., "Posttranslational protein knockdown coupled to receptor tyrosine kinase activation with phosphoPROTACs.", Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 2013, 110(22), 8942-8947)) This technique involves allowing a target protein to be connected with ubiquitin ligase through the aforementioned complex to specifically ubiquitinate the target protein. This can lead the target protein to degradation by a proteasome. It is noted that the aforementioned complex may also be referred to as SNIPER (Specific and Nongenetic IAP-dependent Protein ERaser), PROTAC (PROteolysis TArgeting Chimera), and the like.
As the ubiquitin independent technique, known is a technique in which a complex is used, the complex having a structure where a molecule capable of binding to a target protein is linked to a hydrophobic tag (for example, see WO2012/003281, a report by Long et al. (Long, M. J. et al., "Inhibitor mediated protein degradation.", Chem. Biol., 2012, 19(5), 629-637), and a report by Neklesa et al. (Neklesa, T. K. et al., "Greasy tags for protein removal.", Nature, 2012, 487, 308-309)). This technique involves allowing the aforementioned complex to bind with a target protein to mimic a partially unfolded state of the target protein. This appears to lead the target protein to degradation by a proteasome.

Protein degradation inducing tag and usage thereof


An axial pin tubular lock for use in securing portable computers and other devices having spindle-accepting ports. The lock is bade up of an outer shell attached to a cable, an inner shell, a rotatable driver sleeve, a stationary tumbler sleeve, a rear scuff plate held in place by a combination of an adhesive and cooperative geometric engagement with the outer shell, a locking spindle extending through the driver and tumbler sleeves, a retaining plate and an anti-rotation extension which may be integrally formed with the retaining plate. The rotatable driver sleeve is equipped with an internally disposed detent which engage a groove on the spindle, thereby providing proper axial and radial alignment between the spindle and the driver sleeve. The internal surface of the stationary tumbler sleeve has an indented support surface, thus providing spindle support while permitting passage of the spindle head through the tumbler sleeve during assembly. The tumbler sleeve is held in place by a pin which engages a slot located on the sleeve's outer perimeter and by the retaining plate which is disposed against the sleeve's rearward face. The retaining plate is, in turn, held in place by both a spring and the spline detail of the inner shell. The spindle itself incorporates a curved surface design which distributes forces more evenly across the spindle surface, thereby reducing the potential for spindle failure.

In the past several years the use of portable computers and other high-priced, portable electronic devices have increased dramatically. While the size of these devices promotes efficiency due to their ease of transportation, the portable nature of these devices also renders them susceptible to theft. Accordingly, as these devices become increasingly portable, there is a corresponding need to enhance the theft protection of these devices through adaptable locking means.
A variety of tumbler locks, such as the well-known axial pin tubular locks, are presently available for use in applications such as vending machines. Such locks, however, have been used primarily in locking applications associated with stationary objects.
Prior to the present invention, no acceptable lock specifically adapted for use in securing portable computers or similar devices has been available. Rather, users of these portable devices have relied primarily on secondary security measures, such as maintaining the device in a locked drawer when not in use, or attaching a locking device to the handle of the computer for securement during periods of non-use. These security measures, however, have proved highly ineffective due to the ease with which they are overcome. A shortcoming of utilizing a chain or some other standard device around the handle of a portable computer lies in the fact that the handle may be easily broken away with relatively little effort, thereby permitting the theft of the computer or other protected apparatus. Locking the computer in a storage area such as a desk drawer or a file cabinet, when not in use, represents an alternative solution to the potential threat of theft. As will be recognized, however, such securement measures may lead to decreased efficiency regarding the use of the computer due to the expenditure of additional time and effort in securing the computer in the storage area and then retrieving it prior to use.
Accordingly, it has been proposed that a lock which may be inserted into a standardized and dedicated locking aperture within the body of a portable computer or other device to be secured would overcome the prior disadvantages and problems. Such a lock should have high security attributes which will preclude a thief from easily overcoming the lock by means of either picking or forced disengagement of the lock due to withdrawal of the locking member.


A system and method for determining the type of power source supplying electrical power to a power adapter for a portable computer. In an embodiment of the invention, a power adapter for a portable computer is provided with a first power identification circuit for generating system information relating to operation on an AC power source and a second power identification circuit for generating system information relating to operation on a DC power source. A power source detector is operable to detect whether the electrical power supplied to the power adapter is AC or DC power and to enable the first or second power identification circuit, respectively, thereby generating a data signal indicating the respective type of power source. The data signal is provided to a subsystem manager in the computer to allow identification of the type of external power source. The information regarding the type of external power source can be used by the portable computer to control various operating parameters, including the charging state of the battery and the power consumption levels of various system components.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of information handling systems, and more particularly to a method and system for controlling delivery of electrical power to a portable information handling system.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Information handling systems configured as portable computers have grown increasingly favored by businesses and individuals due to the flexibility of their use. Portable computers typically include a battery to power components so that the portable computer may be carried and used independent of fixed power sources. Although internal power sources provide greater flexibility, they typically have a limited duration and need periodic recharging. If portable computers are not recharged before the battery discharges completely, the portable computer may shutdown resulting in a loss of active data and an inability by the user to turn the portable computer system on again unless an external power source is connected. A method and system for determining external power availability is generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,597,565 issued to Kluth et al., issued on Jul. 2, 2003, which by this reference is incorporated herein for all purposes.
Many of today's airline, automobile and train passengers carry portable computers on-board for in-transit use. However, since portable computers consume relatively large amounts of power, the batteries that operate the device do not last for more than typically 2–6 hours. On long trips or when the battery is weak, a computer can drain the battery quite rapidly. For the traveler attempting to minimize the weight of their computer luggage, heavy spare batteries are undesirable and still only provide a nominal amount of additional computer operating time.
Because the use of computers during travel is so common, some airlines and trains have begun offering in-seat power systems for powering devices such as portable computers. These power systems often provide DC power via an in-seat connector that is typically either a modified version of the standard auto cigarette lighter socket or a manufacturer-specific plug configuration. Standard power adapters used with portable computers, however, typically are designed to work with AC power. As will be understood by those of skill in the art, different power adapter system components are required when operating a portable computer on DC power instead of AC power. There is a need, therefore, for the portable computer to receive information regarding the type of power being supplied to the power adapter. In addition, there is a need for a method and system to enable a portable computer to modify its operating parameters to enter various charging modes and various power consumption modes depending on the type of power source supplying power to its power adapter.

System having a power adapter that generates a data signal based on the state of a external power source that is used to manage the power consumption of a CPU


An enclosure assembly includes a first enclosure unit including a first door, a second enclosure unit, and a handle coupled to the second enclosure unit, the handle being operative so as to turn on or turn off power to the first enclosure unit, and wherein the first enclosure unit and the second enclosure unit are configured such that the first door cannot be opened if the handle has not been turned to a power-off position.

Electrical enclosures can be used to house assorted electrical and datacom equipment. The enclosure protects the electrical equipment from the environment and helps prevent access to the equipment. The majority of enclosures need the power entering the enclosure to be turned off at a disconnect switch or circuit breaker before the enclosure can be opened. However, some enclosures do need to be accessed with the power still on (e.g., for troubleshooting). Both of these scenarios can still lead to a dangerous situation due to live circuits still being present in the enclosure. Even with the power off, live circuits are present upstream of the disconnect switch/circuit breaker. A short due to human error or other circumstances can lead to an explosion, known as an "arc flash" event, and can lead to major injury or death.


In one exemplary embodiment, a method of providing safety assistance on a test ride of a vehicle includes opening a locking device to provide access to a vehicle access component. A safety protocol is initiated with a computerized device. The vehicle is operated with the vehicle access component. A gesture is performed with the computerized device to summon assistance.

The disclosure relates to a method and system for providing safety assistance on a vehicle test ride.
Automobile dealerships and vehicle rental businesses frequently provide temporary access to a vehicle for the purpose of a test drive or rental access. Typically, a salesperson from a dealership, in particular, will accompany the prospective customer on the drive. In rare instances, the prospective customer may threaten or intimidate the salesperson, such that the salesperson wishes to seek help or report the incident.


The method and apparatus of the present invention includes a method for providing a non-container object with the appearance of container object attributes in a graphic user interface operating environment. This method and apparatus includes creating a container manager and associating the container manager with the non-container object. A container pane is created and associated with the container manager. This container pane is in communication with the container manager and a list control in the graphic user interface operating environment. The container pane in the container manager both interact to provide the non-container object with the appearance of the container object attributes. If an item is present in the non-container object when the non-container object is started, a contained object is created for the item to be displayed within the non-container object. Next, if an item is added to the non-container object, a contained object is created for the item to be displayed within the non-container object. When an item is removed from the non-container object, the contained object for the item is deleted. When a contained object is present, the container manager is provided control over the display manipulation of the contained object while that contained object is within the non-container object. Moreover, the container pane graphically displays an icon that represents the contained object in a window. The container pane also relays input by a user to the container manager.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to an object-oriented development tool kit component for aiding in developing applications for use with a graphic user interface operating environment that is operating in a nonobject-oriented environment, and in particular to a method for a container object management system for use with the graphic user interface operating environment outside of the object-oriented environment. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a container management system for use with a graphic user interface operating environment outside of the object-oriented environment that provides non-container objects with container-like properties.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Object-oriented languages confer the benefits of extendibility and reusable code, but in an object-oriented environment, situations exist in which operations such as accessing data outside the environment, sending information outside of the environment, or other programming calls to applications or operating systems outside of the environment may be desirable. At this point in time, graphic user interface operating environments not in an object-oriented environment are being developed in which application developers desire to create applications for use with these operating environments. In some situations, an application developer may be programming in an object-oriented language. In such a case, it is necessary to perform operations both inside and outside the object-oriented environment. One operating environment is an end user interface which is an operating environment using the methodology, including devices, by which an end user interacts with the operating environment, an application in the environment. A graphic user interface ("GUI") operating environment is an end user environment that is graphical. For example, the end user interacts with the environment via windows, icons, menus, pointing devices, etc.
Presently, persons writing applications in an object-oriented language for GUI operating environments must include in their applications C code and/or application programming interface ("API") calls. The use of C language or API calls and the retraining issues for programmers and developers trained in object-oriented languages are extremely costly.
Applications may be built using objects. In an object-oriented environment, an object consists of related pieces of code and data. An object has a library of methods which are essentially unique to an object giving the object its specific behaviors. The class of an object defines a grouping based on one or more properties, and an instance as a single item in a class. For example, a class of an object could be considered as analogous to professions, i.e., lawyers, doctors, engineers, and programmers, with an instance of an object being analogous to a particular individual in a class.
A class defines methods for constructing new instances and also instance methods which define how an instance behaves and reacts to incoming messages. The instance variables define the particular features of an instance object such as an individual's salary. The instance variables may be defined or may be empty awaiting definition. An instance's data structure is described by its collection of instance variables. Applications in object-oriented environments may be divided into three basic components: models, view, and controllers. Model objects are the components of the application that does the work; i.e., manipulate data. Next, view objects handle all graphical aspects; i.e., screen presentation. The controller objects make up the interface between model objects, view objects, and input devices (e.g., keyboard or pointing device) . In other words, the controller objects deals with user input device interactions.
Some GUI operating environments, such as OfficeVision/2, a product of International Business Machines Corporation, are not created using an object-oriented language. Presently in such a situation, the only development option available to developers for creating applications for use with such an operating environment has been to create applications using C language, Presentation Manager, and OfficeVision/2 API's.
Presently, GUI operating environments such as OfficeVision/2 contain classes of objects: container objects, device objects, and data objects. Container objects include things such as folders, drawers, and file cabinets in a GUI operating environment, while devices include, for example, printers, facsimiles, and shredders. Data objects are anything that is neither a container object nor a device object. Some examples of data objects include a document such as a letter or illustrative memo, or a spreadsheet such as a monthly budget. The data objects include the application running the object. For example, a memo would include the word processor used to edit or create the memo. The focus on the data object, as opposed to the application, is to direct the users attention to the memo and not the word processor.
Currently, devices and data objects do not have manipulative characteristics such as dragging an icon from one container to another and dropping it into the new container. That is, within a data object icons are not associated with their files for manipulation.
For example, a user of a business planning memo might have spreadsheets or other memos related to the business planning memo. The user would not be able to see iconic representations of the related memos or spreadsheets and manipulate them as in a container object. Thus, it would be desirable to have a system that would provide non-container objects with container-like properties.

Method and system for providing container object attributes to a non-container object


Systems and methods for multi-stage signal detection in MIMO transmission including Bernoulli-Gaussian detection are provided. A multistage iterative signal decoder is provided that exploits the property that in a relatively simply decoding scheme such as mean square error (MSE) or zero-forcing (ZF) only a small portion of the total symbols are mis-detected. Therefore, an optimality test is performed on the output of a relatively low complexity decoder unit. If the symbol passes the optimality test, it is presumed to be correctly decoded. Otherwise, the symbol is sent for further processing to a relatively higher complexity decoding unit such as a sphere decoder. In this way, processing efficiency is increased, because only those symbols requiring additional processing are processed by the high complexity processing unit.

The complexity reduction of well-performing Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) detection schemes has drawn considerable interest recently. Even though sophisticated integrated circuits may be available today for the most complex schemes, including Maximum Likelihood (ML, using sphere decoding), the actual throughput and integration costs of these detectors is out of the scope of projected applications of MIMO systems. Low complexity heuristic methods using techniques derived from equalization provide a simple alternative to algorithmic schemes. However, their poor performance makes them unsuited for most practical applications. Typically, the proportion of wrongly decoded symbols (even in the case of zero-forcing 'ZF' or means square error 'MSE') represent only a fraction of the transmitted data. Thus, gains in accuracy are derived at the expense of significant losses in performance and increased system complexity.
Multi-carrier transmission over a frequency selective channel implies large differences between the Signal to Noise Ratios (SNR) on the transmitted tones. For independently detected tones, the best performance in terms of average bit error rate (BER) is obtained when conditions are equally good on all sub-carriers, as proved by Jensen's inequality. In the case of precoded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), independent per dimension minimum square error (MSE) and joint-maximum-likelihood (ML) detections are not equivalent, as tones are no longer independent. Jensen's bound, which is reached by MSE detection, can then be outperformed. However, the computational complexity of joint-ML detection makes it unrealistic in practical systems.

Systems and methods for multistage signal detection in mimo transmissions and iterative detection of precoded OFDM


Disclosed herein are polydiorganosiloxane-polycarbonate block copolymers having desirable optical properties, and methods of making such block copolymers. Also disclosed herein are analytical methods for evaluating hydroxyaryl end-capped polydialkylsiloxane monomers.

Silicone-polycarbonate block copolymers have been recognized for their ductility and impact strength at low temperatures, as well as flame retardance. However, the properties of such block copolymers can vary significantly based on the source of the silicone starting materials. Furthermore, silicone materials such as hydroxyaryl end-capped polydiorganosiloxane polymers can be challenging to evaluate using traditional methods, due to the variability of refractive index and ultraviolet absorption signals across the molecular weight distribution of the polymers.
There is a need for polydiorganosiloxane-polycarbonate block copolymers having consistent optical properties, and methods of producing such block copolymers. Furthermore, there is a need for analytical methods to completely characterize the properties of silicone polymers such as hydroxyaryl end-capped polydiorganosiloxanes.


A novel card device which may be supported on a refrigerator or other metallic objects by magnetic coupling thereto. The card device is preferably made in the form of a mailable postcard or otherwise a greeting card or an announcement card. In the case of an announcement card and postcard, a single substrate is employed and a magnetic film is adhesively secured to an upper face of the substrate. A second substrate or otherwise a portion of the first substrate may be folded over and placed facewise upon the second substrate and adhesively secured thereto. The magnetic film is thereby captured between the two plies. In the preparation of a greeting card, a substrate may be folded into three different panels with one panel being folded over the next adjacent panel and attached thereto with a magnetic film secured therebetween, again usually by adhesives. A message may be then presented on any of the exposed faces of the panels. In addition, individual strips of the magnetic film may be employed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in cards which are capable of being magnetically coupled to a metallic substrate and, more particularly, to cards which may be prepared in the form of a postcard, a greeting card, or other information bearing card, and which is light in weight and highly effective in use.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
In recent years, flexible and bendable magnetic films have been commercially available. These films usually include a substrate, such as a cellulose substrate, e.g., a paper substrate, with magnetic material either coated on the substrate or otherwise applied thereto. The substrate with the metallic and magnetically prepared material thereon will then function as a permanent magnetic. One such form flexible magnetic is offered by Magnetic Specialty, Inc. of Murrietta, Ohio.
With the advent of these flexible magnetics, there have been several attempts to produce a card, in the nature of commercially usable cards employing this flexible magnet. There has been one very recent attempt to produce a postcard employing this flexible magnet. The postcard uses two overlying plies with the magnet embedded therebetween. However, the plies are relatively thick so as to be capable of supporting the magnetic film captured therebetween and this interferes with the magnetic coupling to a supporting surface such as a refrigerator. Consequently, only very weak magnetic coupling is obtained. In addition to the foregoing, the device uses a rather large block of the magnetic film thereby substantially increasing the weight of the card. As a result, the card cannot be used as a postcard at standard postcard mail rates, and when so used, a much higher amount of postage is required.
For many years, people have attached notes, paper announcements and the like to refrigerators as a type of reminder. The same holds true with calendars and the like. Normally, these cards, calendars and other substrates are secured to the refrigerator by permanent magnets which are used for this purpose. In fact, many novelty stores offer magnets for attachment of substrates to a refrigerator. It would be desirable to provide a postcard which could be readily and easily secured to a refrigerator without the need of an external magnet for attaching same. This postcard could contain information, as for example, a health professional appointment or the like. However, it is imperative that any such postcard be capable of being mailed at low postcard mail rates in any country of use. Otherwise, the much higher cost of mailing may render the use of the postcard to be prohibitive.
It would also be desirable to use these flexible magnets in other forms of cards, as hereinafter described, so that the cards could also be mounted on a metallic wall. However, light weight is a paramount requirement and, moreover, low cost is also equally critical. There has been a need for a card of this type for some period of time, although none have been available or proposed.

Magnetically supportable card device and method of producing same


Scale inhibition in a water treatment system can be achieved by using a composition which combines a butenedioic acid, such as maleic acid and/or fumaric acid, phosphorous acid, and a peroxide, such as hydrogen peroxide.

Scale deposit, for example, in the form of calcium carbonate in industrial boilers cooling towers, heat exchangers and the like, is a very common and serious problem. Various types of water treatment chemicals have been proposed including chelants (e.g., EDTA and NTA), lignosulfonates, polyphosphates, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, maleic anhydride copolymers, polymaleic anhydride, phosphate esters, and phosphonates (see Principles of Industrial Water Treatment, Drew Chemical Corporation, 1977, pp. 81-84).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,359 to R. J. Lipinski is one example of corrosion and mineral scale deposition inhibition in which a water soluble polymer comprising acrylic acid is used in combination with minor amounts of phosphorous acid and derivatives.
More recent U.S. Pat. No. 4,306,991 to C. M. Hwa advocates use of a copolymer of styrene sulfonic acid and maleic anhydride or maleic acid, along with a water soluble organophosphonic acid compound.


An automatic sample injector for a gas chromatograph includes not only a syringe with a barrel and a plunger which is adapted to move inside the barrel but also a plunger-driving motor for pushing and pulling the plunger inward and outward inside the barrel, a position sensor for the plunger and an abnormality detector for detecting an abnormal operating condition of the plunger. The plunger-driving motor has a variable torque, and it is operated at a preliminarily determined reduced torque smaller than the normal torque at which it is operated under normal conditions. The subsequent motion of the plunger, or lack thereof, is monitored by the position sensor to determine whether the plunger is totally or partially stuck inside the barrel.

This invention relates to an automatic sample injector for injecting a liquid sample into the vaporization chamber of a gas chromatograph.
A syringe is commonly used for injecting a liquid sample to be vaporized for analysis into a gas chromatograph. Such a syringe comprises a barrel, a plunger adapted to slide inside the barrel in a liquid-tight relationship therewith, and a needle at the tip of the barrel having a liquid passage therethrough. After a liquid sample is introduced into the barrel, the needle is caused to penetrate a septum (a rubber membrane) and is inserted into the vaporization chamber such that the liquid sample can be dispersed. The liquid sample is made into particles as it is sprayed, vaporized by the heat in the vaporization chamber and transported into the chromatograph column by a carrier gas which is introduced into the vaporization chamber.
An automatic sample injector is for carrying out these processes automatically, comprising a syringe-driving mechanism for moving the syringe with respect to the vaporizer and inserting the needle into the vaporization chamber and a plunger-driving mechanism for moving the plunger with respect to the barrel so as to suck in a liquid sample into the barrel or to inject it out of the barrel. There may also be provided means for moving the syringe between a sample bottle and the vaporizer and for cleaning the barrel and the needle.
One of the problems with automatic sample injectors is that the plunger sometimes gets stuck inside the barrel and cannot be moved. A pulse motor is usually used for driving the plunger but since it is controlled in an open loop, it may appear to the motor (or the control unit therefor) as if the injector is operating normally even when the plunger is stuck inside the barrel and the injector is not operating normally at all. After a specified number of pulses is transmitted to the motor, for example, the control unit of the driving mechanism takes it for granted that the plunger has already moved and starts the next operation. If the plunger is stuck, the needle may be pulled out of the vaporization chamber before the liquid sample is completely injected thereinto, and subsequent processes will be carried out as if there was no abnormality. Since the automatic injector is used for analyzing many samples continuously, many analyses will thus be wasted in the case of such an accident. If the motor has a stronger torque than the force holding the plunger, there may be a damage to the plunger which is usually made of a metallic material such as stainless steel and is very thin (about .phi.1 mm.times.several cm).
In order to prevent such occurrences, it has been known to provide an automatic sample injector with a sensor for detecting the plunger at a specified home position (such as the position of the plunger when it is inserted most deeply) and to check whether the plunger has come back to the home position after a specified number of pulses has been transmitted from the control unit to the motor or whether the plunger has left the home position.
Although a prior art detector of this kind can detect an abnormal condition when the plunger does not return to the home position or leave the home position, this relates to a situation when the plunger is completely stuck to the barrel and cannot move at all. When the plunger is stuck but not completely and it can still move a little although the resistance is very strong, however, a prior art detector will not identify it as an abnormality, and there remains the possibility that the suction and injection of the sample may not be carried out as intended before the system moves onto the next process. If the motor has a strong torque, furthermore, the plunger is again likely to be damaged.


A fishing reel includes a reel body that supports a spool so as to be rotatable, and a spool brake. The spool brake includes an operator and a braking force adjuster. The operator is configured to be rotatable and axially immovable with respect to the reel body, and has an internal space extending in an axial direction and opening axially outwardly. The braking force adjuster is disposed in the internal space and is configured to be axially movable with respect to the reel body in conjunction with rotation of the operator to adjust a braking force of the spool.

Conventional fishing reels such as dual-bearing reels include a spool braking mechanism (refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Hei 11(1999)-46641). These spool braking mechanisms have a bottomed cylindrical operating member and a braking force adjustment member.
For example, in the second embodiment (FIG. 5) disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Hei 11(1999)-46641), the operating member is rotatably mounted and axially immovable with respect to the reel body. The braking force adjustment member is screwed into the inner circumferential surface of the operating member in a state of abutment with an end portion of the spool shaft via a friction member.
In this state, when the operating member is rotated, the braking force adjustment member moves in the axial direction in the inner peripheral portion of the operating member, adjusting the pressing force of the spool shaft, so that the rotation of the spool is braked.
In the above-described spool braking mechanism, when the operating member (e.g., a first operating member) is operated to brake the rotation of the spool, the axial position of the operating member does not change, and the braking force adjustment member moves axially in the inner peripheral portion of the bottomed cylindrical operating member. As a result, the axial position of the first operating member relative to a second operating member, for example, the axial position of the first operating member relative to the handle, does not change, which improves operability. However, it is necessary to secure a space between the bottom portion of the interior of the first operating member and the braking force adjustment member, which corresponds to the amount of movement (stroke amount) of the braking force adjustment member, which requires an operating member with a long axial length.
In addition, since the braking force adjustment member is disposed on the inner peripheral portion of the bottomed cylindrical operating member, it is difficult for the angler to ascertain the amount of movement (stroke amount) of the braking force adjustment member, that is, the degree of the braking force of the spool.


The present invention relates to a device for climbing up trees and for maintenance of trees having trunks which do not branch out but rather have a single stem, such as palm trees or coconut trees.

The technology available for climbing up trees for purposes of their maintenance consists of lifting a worker to tho working site. For this purpose hydraulic devices are used. The devices vary in their capacity to lift the worker to varying heights and ground structure transferability. The price of these devices varies according to their capabilities and safety characteristics. The higher a device can lift, the higher its price will be.
In the palm tree plantation today many kinds of man lifting devices are used to do the work at the tree top. These devices are the same as those used in such sites as construction sites, electric company working sites, local municipality sites and others.
The devices operating today in palm tree plantations include: EFRON--a small device for lifting a person to various heights up to 15 meters, MANITO--a medium size device for lifting a person to heights up to 15 meters , MARK LIFT--large devices for sites up to 20 meters high. The two last devices mentioned are very expensive and their operation is very slow. The slow work pace is one of the problems that the palm tree growers have to deal with. In working on plantations there are quite a few tasks that have to be done quickly or else insufficient amounts of fruit will be gathered. The devices common today are slow and are too expensive to make it possible to purchase several devices. Most palm tree growers cannot afford to buy the expensive devices, so when a tree reaches the height of the maximum capability of the device that they can afford, the tree is cut down and replaced by a new young tree that will yield its first fruit only seven years later. The amount of fruit yielded by palm trees is in close correlation with their heights. Thus just when the tree is cut down it has the potential for yielding its best crop. The risk of lifting a person to this height is very great and so the lifting devices get to be large and expensive and the growers cannot afford them. Another problem of the large devices in the plantation is their weight which does considerable damage to the ground--packing the ground, a problem from which agriculture suffers a great deal.
The present invention relates to a device that may replace the common technology used today especially for palm plantations and the like and which is based on a new conception of the task at hand--control from the ground by remote control. The device can rise to any desired height without risk to a person or damage to the ground. The price of the proposed device can be low enough for the growers to afford, and thus they will be able to buy several devices at a much lower price than that of one of the common devices used today. The device according to the present invention will be able to do the work faster, cheaper and much more safely for a much lower price.


A semiconductor apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate having a device region and a periphery region surrounding the device region; a semiconductor device provided in the device region of the semiconductor substrate; a first electrode pad provided on the semiconductor substrate; a second electrode pad provided on the semiconductor substrate; a strip-like, first conductivity type semiconductor pattern; and a strip-like, second conductivity type semiconductor pattern. The strip-like, first conductivity type semiconductor pattern extends in the periphery region of the semiconductor substrate, and the first electrode pad is electrically connected to one end of the first conductivity type semiconductor pattern. The strip-like, second conductivity type semiconductor pattern constitutes a p-n junction in conjunction with the first conductivity type semiconductor pattern. The first and second electrode pads are electrically connected to both ends of the second conductivity type semiconductor pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor apparatus, and more particularly is used for detecting defects such as cracks and breaks in a semiconductor chip at the time of packaging.
2. Background Art
In recent years, portable devices as typified by mobile phones have been enhanced with various capabilities such as addition of a camera, and the number of components used therefor tends to increase. However, portable devices still continue to be downsized, which increases the demand for using smaller and slimmer components. For this reason, the chip size of semiconductor apparatuses such as power amplifier modules has been reduced, and mount module boards and packages have been made smaller and slimmer. Moreover, the field of packaging techniques has seen an introduction of flip chip bump packaging, which involves smaller packaging area than in using wire bonding.
On the other hand, the above-described power amplifier generates a large amount of heat because of its operation at an extremely high power density, and thus requires close attention to its thermal stability. One of the measures to address this is to improve heat dissipation. One of the technical trends therefor is to reduce the thickness of the chip.
This involves a problem of causing cracks and breaks in a semiconductor chip due to mechanical and thermal stress at the time of packaging such as the mounting and bonding of the semiconductor chip.
Methods of detecting cracks and breaks in a semiconductor chip are disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications 6-244254 (1994) and 6-347509 (1994). In these known arts, as shown in FIG. 10, a conductive pattern is arranged in the chip periphery region. A chip crack will disconnect the conductive pattern. The presence of chip crack is detected by sensing the change of electric characteristics of the pattern. In FIG. 10, a strip-like conductive pattern 102 made of aluminum or silver paste is formed in the periphery region of a semiconductor chip 101 made of compound semiconductor such as a gallium arsenide (GaAs) substrate. The conductive pattern 102 generally circumscribes the semiconductor chip 101. Detecting pads 103 adjacent to each other are connected to both ends of the conductive pattern 102, and configured to detect cracks and breaks in the semiconductor chip 101 by measuring the value of current between the pads.
However, fine cracks (microcracks) may cause only a slight change of electric characteristics because the conductive pattern does not lead to disconnection or the damage to the conductive pattern is not significant. Therefore this method still has a problem that chip cracks cannot be detected reliably.
To solve this problem, a method of using p-n junction is proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 6-77300 (1994). This method takes advantage of the fact that a microcrack crossing a p-n junction produces a path of surface current, which changes the electric characteristics of the junction. More specifically, it is suggested that chip cracks, and also microcracks, can be detected by examining leak current under a reverse bias to the p-n junction.
However, the inventor's investigation has revealed a problem that chip cracks cannot be always detected reliably by application of the above approach to a chip of compound semiconductor such as GaAs. More specifically, compound semiconductor as typified by GaAs often incurs a smooth cleavage surface by nature. For this reason, application of the above approach to a chip of compound semiconductor such as GaAs does not always lead to a large leak current. A problem is thus found that chip cracks cannot be detected reliably by examining the electric characteristics of p-n junction.

Semiconductor apparatus and method of manufacturing same, and method of detecting defects in semiconductor apparatus


An electronic coupon distribution system providing on-line coupon information for a potential consumer using a personal computer connected to a host computer. A potential consumer using a personal computer and a modem connects to a host computer via the Internet or directly. The potential consumer may specify product preferences or search and view coupons of interest to the consumer. The consumer may then download from the host computer coupon information that may be printed on the potential consumer's printer connected to his personal computer. Information identifying the downloaded coupon is coded or encrypted onto the printed coupon to prevent unauthorized reproduction. The coupon distribution system may be used to obtain additional information about the potential consumer for future marketing purposes. The present invention greatly facilitates and makes economical distribution of coupons or certificates.

Paper coupons have been distributed to potential consumers who redeem the coupon upon purchasing a product or service. The coupon generally provides a discount for the product or service purchased by the consumer. Paper coupons are generally found in magazines, newspapers, and direct mailings to potential consumers. Paper coupons are costly to print and distribute. Additionally, many of the paper coupons distributed may never be seen or used by a consumer. Many of the coupons received by a potential consumer may be of no interest to that particular consumer. Therefore, there is a need for an alternative distribution system or method that will be more economical and be directed to a potential consumer with an interest in the product or service for which the coupon is to be redeemed.


A control system, for a press machine including a plurality of die cushions, by which force control and position control may be suitably switched from one to another in each control device for each of the die cushions. The control system includes a plurality of control devices for controlling a servomotor of each die cushion and a switching signal generating part capable of collecting the judgment result of each control device. The switching signal generating part transmits a switching signal to each control device, in order to switch the control mode of each control device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control system, for a servo die cushion, which generates a force on a slide of a press machine using a servomotor as a drive source.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known that a press machine, for press working such as bending, drawing or punching, can be provided with a die cushion mechanism, as an attached device, for applying a predetermined force or pressure, during the press working, to a movable support member (generally called a slide) supporting a first mold for press working, the force being generated by another movable member supporting a second mold. The die cushion mechanism is generally configured such that the slide (or the first mold), moving in a mold-clamping direction, directly or indirectly collides with a movable element (generally called as a cushion pad) held at a predetermined pressure and, until the molding is finished, the cushion pad is moved with the slide while applying force or pressure to the slide. During this operation, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of wrinkles in a workpiece to be pressed by, for example, clamping an area around a site, of the workpiece to be pressed, between the cushion pad and the slide.
Many conventional die cushion mechanisms use a hydraulic or a pneumatic unit as a drive source. However, control by a hydraulic or a pneumatic unit may be carried out only under a constant pressure. It is preferable that the pressure during drawing is varied corresponding to the amount of the drawing. However, the pressure cannot be varied in a hydraulic or a pneumatic unit.
In recent years, therefore, a die cushion mechanism using a servomotor as a drive source has been used to carry out force control at a high speed, as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 10-202327. In the die cushion mechanism described in this publication, a cushion pad positioned below a slide of a press machine may be upwardly and downwardly moved by a servomotor, corresponding to the rise and fall motions of the slide. The servomotor is activated by a predetermined force command corresponding to the position of the cushion pad and adjusts the force or pressure applied, to the slide, by the cushion pad while the cushion pad moves with the slide. The collision of, and pressure between, the slide and the cushion pad may be determined by detecting a load applied to the output of the servomotor via the cushion pad.
It could be said that one preferred control device for the die cushion is capable of suitably switching from the above force control to position control by using a position detector, or vice versa. For example, a control device as shown in FIG. 3 has a first speed commanding part 56, for generating a first speed command of the die cushion, based on a position command generated by a position commanding part 52 and a detected result by a position detector 54 for detecting the position of the die cushion. The control device 50 also has a second speed commanding part 62, for generating a second speed command of the die cushion, based on a force command generated by a force commanding part 58 and a detected result by a force detector 60 for detecting the pressure between the slide and the die cushion. The control device 50 further has a switch judging part 64 for judging that the command for controlling the die cushion should be switched from the first command to the second command, or vice versa, and a switching part 66 for switching the command based on the judgment of the judging part 64.
If the number of the die cushion to be controlled is one, the control device 50 may perform a control of the die cushion more preferable than only force control or speed control. However, when the cushion pad is relatively large and the cushion pad is supported by a plurality of die cushions, the control device 50 cannot perform suitable control. In other words, when a plurality of die cushions are used, each die cushion is independently controlled by an individual control device. Therefore, at a certain of time during press machining, there may be a situation in which one die cushion is controlled by position control and the other die cushion is controlled by force control. In such a situation, as the cushion pad supported by the plurality of die cushions is generally an integral member, an undesired mechanical distortion may occur in the cushion pad due to an excess force applied to the cushion pad. As a result, the accuracy of press machining may be reduced and the press machine may be damaged.


An image scanning apparatus for scanning a plurality of mediums of different thicknesses with each medium scanned by pressing the medium to the scanning surface of an image scanning sensor with appropriate force using a first pressure mechanism comprising first rollers for pressing the medium to the scanning surface, a coil spring for urging the first rollers toward the scanning surface when the media thickness is less than a specified thickness, and a first tension spring for urging the first rollers to the scanning surface when the media thickness exceeds the specified thickness and a second pressure mechanism comprising second rollers for pressing the medium to the scanning surface, and a second tension spring for urging the second rollers to the scanning surface wherein the force imposed upon the scanning surface by the coil spring is substantially equal to the force imposed by the second tension spring.

1. Field of Technology
The present invention relates to an image scanning apparatus for scanning and imaging both thin media such as checks and slips and thick media such as cards, and to a hybrid processing apparatus incorporating this image scanning apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Payment systems using checks are widely used throughout Europe and North America. This payment system enables businesses and consumers to use checks to make payments and financial transfers of many kinds. When a check is used, it is ultimately presented to the bank on which the check was drawn to either deposit or withdraw funds.
Bank tellers at each bank branch typically process many checks in a short time. The bank teller also typically confirms check validity, the check date, and the signature before completing the deposit or withdrawal. The teller also prints an endorsement on the back, and issues a transaction receipt as required. The teller may also require a driver license or other photo ID to check the identity of the person presenting the check (the check user), and in some situations may make a photocopy of the license or photo ID using a copying machine. A copy of the check is also captured and stored using a check scanner.
To process checks more efficiently by electromagnetically reading and processing information from each check, compact check processing terminals that can be installed at each teller window have been developed so that each teller can process checks more quickly with dependable accuracy.
These check processing terminals have a magnetic ink character reading (MICR) head, scanner head, and print head disposed along the check transportation path. When a check is received from a customer, the teller passes the check through the check processing terminal. The check processing terminal can thus read the magnetic ink characters printed on the check using the MICR head, capture an image of the check using the scanner head, and print an endorsement on the back of the check using the print head. See, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Appl. Pub. 2000-344428.
In Japanese patent application 2003-066747 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/759,868), a hybrid processing apparatus is disclosed that can image a check and a card such as a driver license. The check transportation path and the card transportation path in this hybrid processing apparatus share part of the same media transportation path. A contact image sensor (CIS) scanner is disposed to this common portion of the transportation path so that a single scanner can be used to scan and image different types of media, that is, both checks and cards.
A CIS scanner requires pressing the scanned medium with appropriate pressure against the sensor surface (document glass) of the CIS scanner. Cards such as driver licenses and photo ID cards, and slips such as checks, are typically significantly different in thickness. As a result, if the force used to press the scanned medium to the document glass (such as the force of a pressure spring) is adjusted for use with checks, the pressure means will be too weak to press a card against the document glass, and reliably pressing such cards to the sensor surface may not be possible. This is particularly a problem when the card is warped because the card cannot be pressed sufficiently to the sensor surface, the card is therefore not held at the focal point of the scanner, and the scanned image will be out of focus and difficult to read.
On the other hand, if the force of this pressure means is adjusted for thick media such as cards, too much pressure will be applied when scanning checks and other slips. The check may therefore be wrinkled, or a paper feed error (jam) may occur.

Image scanning apparatus and a hybrid processing apparatus incorporating the image scanning apparatus


It is an object of the present invention to improve estimation accuracy of an air excess ratio within a fuel spray and quickly cause the air excess ratio to approximate to a target value when the engine load factor rises. An internal combustion engine control apparatus includes a parameter acquiring section to acquire an air intake parameter and a fuel parameter, a first estimation section to estimate an in-fuel-spray air excess ratio using the air intake parameter and fuel parameter, and a pressure calculation section to calculate, if the in-fuel-spray air excess ratio is less than a target in-fuel-spray air excess ratio, a necessary fuel injection pressure to match the in-fuel-spray air excess ratio with the target in-fuel-spray air excess ratio, in which if the necessary fuel injection pressure is equal to or less than a maximum injection pressure, fuel injection is to be performed at the necessary fuel injection pressure.

It is generally known that an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine such as a diesel engine contains harmful substances such as NOx, SOx and smoke and dust or substances that apply load to the environment. Thus, various schemes have been proposed for reducing such substances.
Conventionally, a method for controlling an air excess ratio to an appropriate value is known as one method for reducing smoke, dust and/or the like.
For example, PTL 1 (below) discloses a method for estimating a flowing state of an in-cylinder gas of an internal combustion engine, taking into account the estimated flowing state of the in-cylinder gas to estimate a value equivalent to a concentration of an air-fuel mixture of fuel and intake air as an air-fuel mixture concentration equivalent value, and adjusting engine control parameters (e.g., fuel injection timing, fuel injection pressure, amount of fuel injection, amount of exhaust gas recirculation) so that the estimated air-fuel mixture concentration equivalent value matches a predetermined concentration.
PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2005-226460

Internal combustion engine control apparatus and control method thereof


A method is provided for application of part flow model for a programmable logic controller logical verification system. The method includes the steps of constructing a part flow model, determining whether the part flow model is acceptable, and using the part flow model to test PLC code to build a manufacturing line.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to programmable logic controllers and, more specifically, to a method of part flow model for a programmable logic controller logical verification system for manufacturing a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known that programmable logic controller code is written by controls engineers after assembly tooling designs are completed and a manufacturing process has been defined. The creation of the programmable logic controller code is mostly a manual programming task with any automation of the code generation limited to "cutting and pasting" previously written blocks of code that were applied to similar manufacturing tools. Once the programmable logic controller code is written, it is used by a programmable logic controller to build subsequent hard tools used in the manufacture of parts for motor vehicles. The programmable logic controller code is not validated (debugged) until the hard tools are built and tried. A significant portion of this tool tryout process is associated with the debugging of the programmable logic controller code at levels of detail from a tool by tool level, to a workcell level, and finally at a tooling line level.
It is also known that a manufacturing line is typically made of three to twenty linked workcells. Each workcell consists of a fixture to position product (sheet metal) and associated automation (robots) that process the product (welding). The workcell typically consists of a fixture/tool surrounded by three or four robots. The product is then transferred to the next workcell in the manufacturing line for further processing, until it exits the manufacturing line.
It is further known that the workcells for a manufacturing line can be modeled before the manufacturing line is implemented. The modeling techniques, such as Robcad from Tecnomatix and Igrip from Deneb, for the manufacturing process are limited in scope to a workcell level, due to how these type of technologies represent and manipulate three dimensional data and tool motions. It is still further known that there are two PLC simulation systems commercially available, one from SST called PICS and the other from CAPE Software called VPLink. However, neither simulation system has an explicit part flow model for discrete part manufacturing. It is further known that part flow model simulation software exists known as "Discrete Event Simulation". Although Discrete Event Simulation software uses an explicit part flow model, the parts are active and engage resources as they move through the system. The software also makes use of an event clock that is incompatible with the needs of the PLC emulation for continuous time.
In manufacturing plant floor operations, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) execute PLC code through sensing where parts are located within the tooling by using sensors/switches. The representations of parts and part flow are unique and necessary within a Virtual PLC (VPLC) to accurately portray the logical condition of the manufacturing process to the inputs of a PLC. Without part movement in the VPLC that can be "sensed", the emulated PLC would be unable to exercise its code for even its basic function of automatic sequencing.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method for application of a part flow model as part of a programmable logic controller logical verification system. It is also desirable to provide a method for logical modeling and simulation of parts that hold information specific to manufacturing processes that the parts have been routed through. It is further desirable to provide a method of part flow as a component of the VPLC to allow additional uses beyond verifying PLC logic such as routing and quality testing. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a method that meets these desires.

Method of part flow model for programmable logic controller logical verification system


A refine on the generate corona discharges which contains one base; one low-voltage plate that is set in the base; one insulating board that covers the low-voltage plate; one high-voltage plate; and one cover board that fixes the high-voltage plate in position. The high-voltage plate is suspended and is as close as possible to the insulating plate, thereby greatly reducing the noise that accompanies the occurrence of coronas; also, said high-voltage plate is in a paper-clip shape that facilitates the production of ozone O.sub.3 ! from the oxygen molecules O.sub.2 ! contained in the air that passes through the corona area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is a type of improvement relating to a corona generator. It especially refers to a refine on the generate corona discharges used for air-purification purposes in relatively small, sealed spaces, such as in the passenger compartment of an automobile, such that, during the occurrence of a corona, noise can be greatly reduced without reducing the concentration of ozone.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As is known from the literature published in this country and other countries on ozone technology, the most common method of generating ozone is to force air or pure oxygen (O.sub.2) through the "surface" discharge area formed by high-voltage electricity opposite low voltage electricity (also know as corona). The theoretical reaction formula for the phenomenon therefrom produced is: EQU 2O.sub.2 <=>O!+O.sub.3 EQU M+O.sub.3 <=>O.sub.2 +O!+M EQU O!+O!+M<=>O.sub.2 +M
The ozone concentration therefrom produced is directly related to the size of said corona area and the oxygen content of the air that passes through said corona area. In industrial and commercial applications, ozone can be used to purify, deodorize, and sterilize air or water.
In recent years, several patents have been developed both in this country and in other countries that relate to corona generators, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,109,289 and 5,502,346 and Taiwan Patent Nos. 78212629 and 83203594. However, these have not been oriented towards use in small rooms or the passenger compartments of automobiles. The cause for this lies in the fact that the corona generators that are currently used for commercial purposes or in household ozone units must leave a gap of from 1 to 2 mm for the occurrence of coronas between the high-voltage plate and the insulating board of the low-voltage plate in order to provide a flow of air through said corona area. When high voltage plates discharge electricity at the opposing low-voltage plate and a corona occurs, there is no relatively superior method to reduce the accompanying noise (see FIG. 5). If it is used in a passenger compartment with closed windows and doors or in a relatively small room, it is certain to make people feel uncomfortable. Moreover, as a result of the structure of existing corona generators, though mere adjustment of the gap between said high-voltage plate and insulating board may lower the volume of the noise during the occurrence of a corona, the volume of air flowing through said corona area is simultaneously reduced, with the result that ozone concentration drops sharply and the hoped for effect is not achieved.

Refine on the generate corona discharges


A self-defense device includes a housing structure, a spray apparatus and a sound generating mechanism. The housing structure includes an interior space accessible though an opening within a first end portion thereof. The spray apparatus is attached to a first end portion of the housing structure. The spray apparatus allows a substance configured for impairing at least one of sight and respiratory function of a person to be selectively sprayed therefrom. The sound generating mechanism within the interior space of the housing structure. Actuation of the sound generating mechanism causes a sound recognizable as that of a firearm being mechanically charged to be created thereby.

The realities surrounding the need for self-defense devices are well known. It is also well known that people want to feel safe in their personal space (e.g., at home). However, they often prefer to provide for their own safety through self-defense in a manner that does not involve an inherently lethal means of protection. Accordingly, a device that provides for such self-defense in a manner that is not specifically configured to inflict life threatening injuries and that is specifically configured to serve as a deterrent to being attacked or otherwise victimized is beneficial desirable and useful.