A cargo hold having a plurality of spaces, which are formed by a longitudinal bulkhead and a transverse bulkhead intersecting each other and store crude oil, comprises a void space located at least one corner among corners formed by intersection of the longitudinal bulkhead and the transverse bulkhead, wherein the void space is formed of a void space structure having one side end and the other side end sealed by and fixed to the longitudinal bulkhead and the transverse bulkhead, respectively, thereby forming an empty space inside the bulkheads. The vessel cargo hold prevents a danger, such as fire and explosion, which may occur during the maintenance or repair of the vessel cargo hold for storing crude oil, and decreases work or the like required for the maintenance or repair of the cargo hold.

Floating production storage offloading (FPSO) is a special ship equipped with an offshore plant suitable for the development of small-scale deep-sea oil fields because it is capable of mining, storing and unloading crude oil on the sea and moving freely.
The FPSO refines the crude oil extracted from an offshore plant or drillship and stores the crude oil in a shuttle tanker or other transporting place. The FPSO includes a hull that is a lower ship structure for storing refined crude oil and a top side that is an upper equipment for producing and processing the crude oil.
Hereinafter, the special ships such as FPSO and FPU, which store refined crude oil, are collectively referred to as 'vessels'.
FIG. 1 is a planar sectional view showing a cargo hold according to the conventional art, and FIG. 2 is a planar sectional view showing that cargo is unloaded from the cargo hold depicted in FIG. 1 in order to maintain and repair corners of the cargo hold.
As shown in FIG. 1, a vessel 1 refines mined crude oil at the top side and then stores the refined crude oil in a cargo hold 10 constructed in the hull.
In order to store the purified crude oil to be classified depending on types, the cargo hold 10 is configured such that a longitudinal bulkhead 21 located in a longitudinal direction of the vessel 1 and a transverse bulkhead 22 located in a transverse direction of the vessel 1 intersect each other, and the intersections are welded for sealing.
The cargo hold 10 configured as above needs to be checked for welding conditions at the intersections of the longitudinal bulkhead 21 and the transverse bulkhead 22, and if the repair is necessary, the crude oil stored in the cargo hold 10 should be emptied before repairing.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, four corners 11C, 12C, 13C, 14C are formed at the intersections of the longitudinal bulkhead 21 and the transverse bulkhead 22. If one corner among the four corners 11C, 12C, 13C, 14C is repaired, the crude oil in all of the four corners 11C, 12C, 13C, 14C is emptied out in order to prevent fire and explosion which may occur during the repair process since flame spatters to the oil stored in the longitudinal bulkhead 21 or transverse bulkhead 22 at an opposite side.
As an example, when the first corner 11C depicted in FIG. 2 is repaired, the first cargo hold 10 including the first corner 11C should be emptied so that a worker may work at the first corner 11C. In addition, in order to prevent any possible fire and explosion during welding, all of the second cargo hold 10 at the second corner 12C, the third cargo hold 10 at the third corner 13C and the fourth cargo hold 10 at the fourth corner 14C should also be emptied.
Moreover, if the crude oil stored in all of the four neighboring cargo holds 11, 12, 13, 14 including the corners 11C, 12C, 13C, 14C is emptied, the storage space is insufficient, which results in a reduced yield to cause a loss. In addition since the cargo quantity at one side of the vessel is seriously reduced, the vessel is inclined. At this time, the inclination and depth of the vessel is controlled by the ballast water for compensation, but the amount of the ballast water necessary for the adjustment is increased as the amount of the reduced cargo quantity is increased, thereby deteriorating the work efficiency.


In the production of a dual work function CMOS circuit, a polysilicon layer is produced for the purpose of forming a gate structure, the average grain diameter of which polysilicon layer is greater than the minimum extent in the gate structure, in order to suppress lateral dopant diffusion. In particular, a constriction having a width less than the average grain diameter is produced in the gate structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is based on the problem of specifying an improved method for producing an integrated CMOS circuit using dual work function gate technology in which lateral dopant diffusion is suppressed and which can be carried out with reduced process complexity compared with known solutions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Both n-channel MOS transistors and p-channel MOS transistors are used in CMOS logic circuits; for example, in inventors. Electrical connections between gate electrodes of p-channel MOS transistors and n-channel MOS transistors are, in this case, very often realized in a gate plane which is formed by structuring a layer and which comprises, in addition to the gate electrodes, connection elements between the gate electrodes. It is very often the case that the gate electrodes and the connection elements between the gate electrodes are formed as a continuous gate line. In CMOS circuits which are operated with a supply voltage of 5 volts, the gate structure is usually formed from n.sup.+ -doped polysilicon or polycide.
In CMOS circuits for low-voltage/low-power applications which are operated with a supply voltage of <3 volts, the MOS transistors are optimized such that they have threshold voltages .vertline.V.sub.th .vertline.<0.5 volt in conjunction with low leakage currents. The associated high requirements on the short-channel behavior of the MOS transistors are satisfied by the use of dual work function gate technology with an optimized gate work function. Dual work function gate technology is understood to mean the fact that the gate electrode of the n-channel MOS transistors is n.sup.+ -doped and the gate electrode of the p-channel MOS transistors is p.sup.+ -doped. Owing to this different doping in the gate electrodes for the n-channel MOS transistors and the p-channel MOS transistors, there is the risk of lateral dopant diffusion in the case of a gate structure having a continuous gate line which connects differently doped gate electrodes (see, for example, L. C. Parrillo, IEDM '85, p. 398).
The electrical properties, for example the threshold voltage V.sub.t h, of the MOS transistors depend on the gate doping. Lateral dopant diffusion leads to a change in the gate doping and thus to undesirable, uncontrollable parameter shifts. In the extreme case, it is possible for reverse doping of the gate electrodes to occur, and hence total failure of the components. Furthermore, in the connection between n.sup.+ -doped gate electrodes and p.sup.+ -doped gate electrodes, it is necessary, with regard to a low bulk resistance, that n.sup.+ -doped regions and p.sup.+ -doped regions adjoin one another directly since otherwise a space charge zone forms.
In order to suppress lateral dopant diffusion in dual work function gate technology, it has been proposed (see, for example, D. C. H. Yu et al., Int. J. High Speed Electronics and Systems, Vol. 5, p. 135, 1994) not to use any continuous connections made of polysilicon between differently doped gate electrodes in the gate plane. Instead, the gate line made of polysilicon is interrupted and is electrically conductively connected via a metal bridge made of aluminum, for example. As an alternative, after the interruption of the gate line, a suitable metallic conductor (TiN, WI WSi.sub.2) is deposited and structured. This solution is complicated and in some instances requires additional space for contact-making and metallization.
Furthermore, it has been proposed (see C. Y. Wong et al., IEDM '88, p. 238) to produce, in dual work function gate technology, planar source/drain regions and the correspondingly doped gate electrodes by implantation with the same dopant. For this purpose, the implantations are carried out before the structuring of the gate electrodes. With regard to planar source/drain regions, limitations must be observed in the case of the implantation doses and the thermal loading. However, this leads to a narrow process window; for example, during dopant activation in the gate electrode and during planarization reflow.

Process for manufacturing an integrated CMOS circuit


In a casting device, when a mold varied in outer size depending on a position passes through a heat shielding portion between a heating chamber and a cooling chamber, a flexible portion of a heat shielding body is bent to fit the outer size of the mold.

For example, in a turbine blade and other components, the suppression of creep deformation and the improvement of fatigue strength have been sought by using precision casting by means of directional solidification to make the crystal structure columnar crystalline or single crystalline. The casting device sequentially cools a mold poured with a molten metal from one end part toward the other end part, normally from a lower end part toward an upper end part, thereby achieving the directional solidification. The casting device includes a heating chamber and a cooling chamber that are adjacent to each other, and the mold poured in the heating chamber is moved, from the lower end part, to the cooling chamber at a slow speed.
To appropriately advance the directional solidification, formation of steep temperature gradient near a liquidus of the molten metal inside the mold is important. In other words, it is required that temperature equal to or higher than a melting point of the target metal is maintained in a region higher than a solidification interface inside the mold, whereas temperature lower than a solidification point is maintained in a region lower than the solidification interface.
As means to maintain such temperature difference, a heat shielding body that partitions the heating chamber and the cooling chamber is used, for example, as disclosed in JP 2010-75999 A.
In a case where the technology disclosed in JP 2010-75999 A is applied to a casting largely varied in size of a cross-section, however, it is necessary to select a size of the heat shielding body according to the maximum cross-sectional area. Otherwise, a large gap occurs between a surface of the mold and the heat shielding body, which deteriorates effects by the heat shielding body.


The invention relates to reinforcing fiber scrims, comprising multi-layer, multiaxial scrims, which each comprise individual fibers arranged next to each other in a layer, wherein at least two layers are at an angle to one each other in the layer plane and are connected by a fixing means. To improve the processing of the multiaxial scrims and significantly reduce the processing time, at least two prefabricated MD scrims are arranged at an angle in a layer plane and connected to each other. Thus a reinforcing fiber scrim is provided, which has at least two individual fiber scrims and which, for a 0° position of the individual MD scrims, has six individual fiber scrims. The number of MD scrims arranged one over the other can be arbitrarily increased so that an increased layer structure is already present when the reinforcing fiber scrim is produced.

The invention relates to reinforcing fiber scrims, comprising multi-layer MD scrims (multiaxial scrims), which each comprise fibers arranged next to each other in a layer, wherein at least two layers are at an angle to one another in the layer plane and are connected by a fixing means.
So-called multiaxial scrims consisting of carbon fibers, for example, are used wherever extreme tensile strength is required and the weight should be as small as possible. That is why multiaxial scrims for the intended components are put into a mold after they are finished and subsequently filled out with a synthetic resin, for instance epoxy resin. Workpieces can consequently be manufactured that can take on any arbitrary shape in a single piece. Strength that is far superior to other materials is achieved in connection with this because of the fibers that are used. The strength characteristics can be significantly increased because of the special nature of the carbon fibers, so the multiaxial scrims can be used in more and more areas. Typical examples of use are as boat hulls and as installed components and superstructures in boot and ship construction. Furthermore, the multiaxial scrims can be used for wing and tail-assembly skins and fuselage shells in aircraft construction. Even for helicopters, the multiaxial scrims can be used for the construction of the rotor blades. Moreover, the possibility exists in the construction of vehicles to replace a wide range of parts of the vehicle components with molded components that consist of resinified multiaxial scrims.
A series of advantages involving, for instance, the fact that greater payload amounts with lower fuel consumption can lead to higher economic efficiency due to the low unladen weight can consequently be obtained because of the high structural strength with a low component weight, especially in vehicle and aircraft construction. The use of multiaxial scrims makes a real contribution towards the solution of ecological and economic problems as far as that is concerned. It is necessary to arrange a number of multiaxial scrims on top of one another due to the fact that compliance has to be kept with a specified material thickness in some cases.
Manufacturing multiaxial scrims in such a way that two individual scrims, each comprising individual fibers arranged next to each other in a layer, are to be folded together or wrapped at an angle of 45° as an example, was previously known with regard to this. As an alternative, the possibility exists to arrange a 0° layer in the longitudinal direction of the multiaxial scrims in addition to the two +/−45° layers.
Connecting the multiaxial scrims that are individually folded together by means of a sewing technique or a gluing technique is known with regard to this. In so far as multiaxial scrims are sewed together, special machines are required that need a substantial amount of time for the sewing. It turned out here, as a further drawback, and in fact for later use, that the manufacturing-related gaps between the scrims to be sewn lead to instability in the sewn area. This drawback does not arise when the individual fibers are arranged next to one another without gaps and are connected to one another via adhesive threads or an adhesive mesh so that they can no longer shift in the positions that have been established. Dense fiber networks that can only be penetrated with difficulty by the resin to be added arise because of that as a rule, however. On the other hand, it was noted that gaps that improve penetration of the resin arise between the individual fiber because of the insertion channels brought about during sewing. A combination of both methods could certainly be useful depending on the subsequent application, in order to obtain the required strength values, on the one hand, but to simultaneously ensure that the resin materials that are used can penetrate into all of the layers of the scrims. Alternatively, one or the other of the variants can be used depending on the intended purpose.
The multiaxial scrims can be manufactured via a cutting/folding technique, but also via a wrapping technique in which at least two tapered fiber bundles are wrapped up at a wrapping angle of +/− 45° vis-a-vis one another, for example. A possibility exists with regard to this of providing the individual scrims with adhesive threads or adhesive meshes so that the further fibers that are put on the first scrim are connected with it.
The above-mentioned processes consequently make it possible to manufacture multiaxial scrims that consist of two individual layers as a rule, or three layers if necessary, and that are called MD scrims. Because of the existing thickness of the MD scrims, a number of individual work steps are required that have to be carefully performed, on the one hand, and that take up a great deal of time, on the other hand, to achieve the desired layer thickness and advantages.

Reinforcing fiber scrims and method for the production thereof


A plasma treatment apparatus that can perform an excellent plasma treatment on a portion of a work which is to be used for producing products or parts, while preventing undesirable occurrence of discharge at that portion reliably is provided. The plasma treatment apparatus performs a plasma treatment on a plate-shaped work having an usable region to be used for producing products or parts and an unusable region other than the usable region. The plasma treatment apparatus includes a first electrode, a second electrode provided so as to face the first electrode via the work so that a space is formed between the second electrode and the work, a gas supply unit which supplies a gas into the space, a power circuit having a power source which applies a high frequency voltage across the first and second electrodes so that the gas supplied into the space is converted into a plasma, and a support unit which supports at least a part of the second region of the work so that the work is spaced apart from the first electrode in a distance at which discharge does not occur between the first region and the first electrode when the high frequency voltage is applied across the first and second electrodes. A plasma treatment method performed using such a plasma treatment apparatus is also provided.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a plasma treatment apparatus and a plasma treatment method.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, there is known a plasma treatment apparatus which performs a plasma treatment on a surface of a work (See, for example, JP-A-6-244175 and JP-A-7-211769). FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view which schematically shows a configuration of a conventional plasma treatment apparatus.
Specifically, the plasma treatment apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 3 includes a stage (first electrode) 120 provided with an electrostatic chuck (electrostatic absorption unit) 125 for holding a wafer (work) 110, an electrode 130 for generating plasma (second electrode) arranged to face the first electrode 120 via the wafer 110, a gas supply unit 140 for supplying a gas between the wafer 110 and the second electrode 130, a high frequency power source 150 for applying a high frequency voltage across the first electrode 120 and the second electrode 130, and a chamber 160 in which the wafer 110, the first electrode 120 and the second electrode 130 are housed (See, for example, JP-A-7-211769).
In such a plasma treatment apparatus 100, when a high frequency voltage is applied across the first electrode 120 and the second electrode 130 while supplying a particular gas between the wafer 110 and the second electrode 130, the gas is converted into a plasma. As a result, the plasma treatment is performed on the wafer 110 due to the action of an activate atom or activate molecule contained in the thus generated plasma.
However, in the plasma treatment apparatus 100, in the case where a space is formed between the wafer 110 mounted on the first electrode 120 and the first electrode 120, the following defect occurs. Specifically, if a distance of the formed space between two objects (the wafer 110 and the first electrode 120) is too small, discharge readily occurs between the two objects.
Therefore, in the case where only a small warpage is present in the wafer 110, a space is formed between the wafer 110 and the first electrode 120 due to the warpage of the wafer 110. As a result, discharge readily occurs between the wafer 110 and the first electrode 120 due to the existence of the space. Especially, in the case of a wafer 110 made of a metallic material and having too thin thickness, warpage is easily to occur, the above mentioned tendency becomes noticeable.
When discharge occurs between the wafer 110 and the first electrode 120, there is a case that a portion of the wafer 110 at which the discharge occurs is degenerated or deteriorated. In the case where the degenerated or deteriorated portion of the wafer 110 is used for producing products or parts, the products or parts become defective goods.

Plasma treatment apparatus and plasma treatment method


The present invention relates to a photosensitive resin composition for a color filter and uses thereof. The photosensitive resin composition includes an alkali-soluble resin (A), a compound (B) containing an ethylenically unsaturated group, a photoinitiator (C), a pigment (D) and an organic solvent (E). The photosensitive resin composition according to the present invention can improve linearity of pattern with high finesse and developing-resistance of the color filter.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a photosensitive resin composition for a color filter in a liquid crystal display element, and a color filter and liquid crystal display element formed by the aforementioned photosensitive resin composition. More particularly, the invention provides a photosensitive resin composition for a color filter having good linearity of pattern with high finesse and developing-resistance.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, a color filter has been applied widely in the field such as a color liquid crystal display device, a color fax machine, a color camera or the like. Since the requirement of imaging equipment, such as color liquid crystal display device, has become expanding, the production technology of the color filter also tends to diversify.
The color filter is usually obtained by a dyeing method, a printing method, a plating method, a dispersion method or the like, wherein a red pixel, a green pixel, and a blue pixel are formed on a transparent glass substrate. Generally, in order to raise the contrast of the color filter, a black matrix is usually disposed between colored pixel layers.
The process of the aforementioned dispersion method comprises, first, dispersing pigments in a photo-curing resin to form a colored photosensitive resin composition, and then forming a colored pixel layer with the resin composition. Furthermore, the process of the dispersion method usually comprises using a metal such as chrome or chrome oxide or a photosensitive resin shading film to form a black matrix on a transparent support such as a glass substrate, and coating a photosensitive resin dispersed with a red pigment (also referred as color photoresist) on the transparent support by spin coating. After the steps of exposure with a mask and development, a red pixel can be obtained. Such process is repeated, and a green and blue pixel can be obtained thereby.
In recent years, the application of the color liquid crystal display device is not limited in personal computers, and it has been applied widely in color televisions and various monitor screens (particular in color liquid crystal screens of large sizes), so the requirement for color saturation of the liquid crystal display device becomes higher. Due to the requirement of the high color saturation, it needs to increase the concentration of the pigment, and under the high-concentration pigment, the ratio of the pigment in the photosensitive resin composition is also high which leads the relative used amounts of an alkali-soluble resin and photosensitive monomer to decrease. Such phenomenon causes the decrease of the degree of cross-linking after exposure and then causes poor develop-resistance.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-138950 discloses a specific alkali-soluble resin for forming a colored pixel layer with a good roughness surface and a color filter having good pattern and brightness. However, it tends to lead the linearity of pattern with high finesse of the photosensitive resin composition poor.
Therefore, improving the linearity of pattern with high finesse and developing-resistance simultaneously in order to meet the modern requirements is a target remained to be achieved.

Photosensitive resin composition for color filter and uses thereof


Acoustic-optic devices which use a crystal of tellurium into which is launched acoustic shear waves by a lithium niobate transducer in accordance with an input RF signal. Tellurium used in the devices exhibits a figure of merit in the range of around 5,000 to 10,000.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention in general relates to acoustic-optic devices and particularly to acoustic-optic devices with a crystal which imparts higher efficiency to the devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Acoustic-optic devices such as AOTFs (acoustic-optic tunable filters), delay lines, RF spectrum analyzers and laser beam scanners utilize a particular crystal to which is coupled an acoustic transducer. An RF signal applied to the transducer produces an acoustic wave in the crystal which is used to modify light in some manner, projected through the crystal. The term "light" as used herein is meant to apply to radiation of a particular wavelength, not necessarily in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Associated with the crystal is a figure of merit M2 defined by,M2=n6×p2/v2×ρ
Where: n is the refractive index of the crystal; p is the photoelastic coefficient; v is acoustic velocity in the crystal; and ρ is the density of the crystal
Basically, the higher the figure of merit M2, the higher will be the efficiency of the device. For example, in an AOTF, higher efficiency enables higher resolution with lower power requirements. Thus, better and brighter images may be obtained at low power.
The present invention provides for an acoustic-optic device which utilizes a crystal of tellurium, resulting in a figure of merit far greater than current devices.

Acoustic-optic devices utilizing tellurium crystals


A method for debugging a program that includes declarative code and procedural code includes presenting to a user on an output device data relating to execution of the procedural code and data relating to execution of the declarative code. The data is presented in the form of a sequence of execution events corresponding to a computational flow of an execution of the program.

Debugging is a methodological process in which a technician systematically searches for anomalies or discrepancies (hereinafter—anomalies) in a computer program or an electronic hardware component, and fixes them.
Typically, debugging extends from finding and fixing small errors to lengthy and tedious data collecting, analysis and scheduling updates.
Debugging involves human skills and typically depends on the programming language use and the available debugging tools (also referred to as—debuggers).
There are known debugging tools for procedural code and separate known debugging tools for declarative code.

Method and system for debugging a program that includes declarative code and procedural code


A wearable speaker includes a pair of speaker boxes that are attached on both ends of an attached band and a speaker unit and a passive radiator that are attached on each of the speaker boxes. The attached band is a neck hanging unit that is attachable on a neck of a user of the wearable speaker.

When listening to music through headphones, the sound may be localized in the center of the head, which causes discomfort and fatigue in some cases. A speaker apparatus, e.g., a stationary speaker apparatus does not cause such a problem. However, there has been a problem that such a speaker cannot be carried or a person other than the listener may hear the sound. In consideration of such a point, a neck-hung speaker apparatus has been proposed (see, for example, the following Patent Literature 1).

Wearable speaker and reproduction apparatus


An agricultural harvester includes an unloading auger carried by a chassis and supplied with cleaned crop material that has passed through a cleaning system. The unloading auger includes a drive auger assembly having a drive coupling and a driven auger assembly. The driven auger assembly includes a hollow tube having an inner surface; an inner rod journaled within the hollow tube and defining a first end and a second end; a coupler attached to the first end of the inner rod that is configured to couple to the drive coupling; and a tube connector rotatably coupling the inner rod to the inner surface of the hollow tube adjacent to the second end of the inner rod. The inner rod is only rotatably coupled to the hollow tube adjacent to the second end of the inner rod.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to agricultural harvesters, and, more particularly, to driven shafts for agricultural harvesters.
2. Description of the Related Art
An agricultural harvester known as a "combine" is historically termed as such because it combines multiple harvesting functions with a single harvesting unit, such as picking, threshing, separating and cleaning A combine includes a header which removes the crop from a field, and a feeder housing which transports the crop matter into a threshing rotor. The threshing rotor rotates within a perforated housing, which may be in the form of adjustable concaves and performs a threshing operation on the crop to remove the grain. Once the grain is threshed it falls through perforations in the concaves onto a grain pan. From the grain pan the grain is cleaned using a cleaning system, and is then transported to a grain tank onboard the combine. When the grain tank becomes full, the combine is positioned adjacent a vehicle into which the grain is to be unloaded, such as a semi-trailer, gravity box, straight truck, or the like; and an unloading system on the combine is actuated to transfer the grain into the vehicle.
Typical unloading systems for combines involve unloading augers that are formed from inner and outer tubes (relative to the chassis of the combine) with rotatable augers inside that can be actuated to move grain longitudinally through the tubes. The tubes are pivoted to the combine so that they may be displaced laterally relative to the movement of the combine to an unload position in which grain is deposited in a wagon or other vehicle for transport. When the unloading function is completed, the auger tubes are retracted to a fold position in which the inner auger tube is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the combine and the outer auger tube is bent to an angle in a horizontal plane so that its free end is maintained within the overall configuration of the combine.
The auger tubes each have longitudinally extending augers within them that are mounted for rotation so that crop material is moved longitudinally through the augers. Because the auger tubes are pivoted between the unload and fold position, it is necessary to provide a mechanical coupling between the drive auger in the inner auger tube and the driven auger in the outer auger tube that delivers crop material to a transport vehicle. The coupling can be a first coupler, such as a cog, on the end of the auger shaft of the drive auger that has a complementary shape to a second coupler, which can also be a cog, on the auger shaft of the driven auger, so that the first cog abuts against the second cog during rotation of the drive auger to drive the driven auger.
When the drive auger and driven auger are pivoted apart then back together, the cogs can become separated from one another such that the first cog of the drive auger must be rotated nearly a full 360 degrees before abutting against the second cog of the driven auger. This rotation produces maximum potential rotational speed prior to abutment of the cogs and maximizes kinetic energy transfer over a short duration of time. This relative velocity of the two mating cogs upon impact creates a large impact force, which is then transmitted upstream through the drive system and can cause accelerated wear of drive and driven auger components.
What is needed in the art is an unloading auger with reduced rotational impact energy between the drive and driven couplers.

Driven shaft with rotational kinetic energy dissipation for an agricultural harvester


The present invention concerns an arrangement for cleaning ducts and chimneys, such as air conditioning ducts. The arrangement comprises a guide wire cable having a cleaning end and a feed end, a brush or some other tool being connected to the cleaning end of the guide wire cable, and a drive unit connected to the feed end of the guide wire cable, the arrangement further comprising transmission means for moving the brush by means of the drive unit. According to the invention the drive unit comprises a hydraulic pump, the transmission means are provided by hydraulic pipes arranged inside the guide wire cable, and the primary drive unit for the brush being a hydraulic motor connected to the cleaning end of the guide wire cable.

The invention related to an arrangement for cleaning ducts and passages, such as air-conditioning ducts or chimneys.
The invention also relates to a receiver unit and a transverse workhead which are part of the arrangement.
According to the prior art, cleaning apparatuses and methods are used where a brush at the end of a long guide wire cable is inserted into the duct to be cleaned. The brush is moved inside the duct and for enhanced cleaning effect it is rotated or caused to make jerking movements. An alternative solution involves a technique based on intense compressed-air blasting where the cleaning end progresses inside the duct by means of compressed air. Even compressed-air turbine brushes are known. During cleaning, an intense underpressure is created in the duct system which during brushing enables the removal by suction of loose dirt from the system. The rotational or jerking movement of the brush is achieved either by an electric or pneumatic drive, whereby the electrically or pneumatically driven motor is connected to the brush and the drive force is transmitted to the motor along the guide wire cable by means of electric or pressure lines. Solutions are also known where a flexible shaft rotates inside the guide wire cable, whereby the motor generating the drive force is situated at the opposite end of the guide wire cable with regard to the brush. The loose dirt from the duct system is led to outdoor air either without filtration or after prefiltration or, alternatively, it is released into the indoor air after filtration.
The prior art is hampered by several drawbacks. Particularly in the case of large duct diameters, great output capacity, adjustable rotational velocity and great driving torque are required of the drive unit to rotate and move the large brush in the desired manner.
Particularly when extensive air conditioning systems are being cleaned, the cleaning efficiency required is so high that the motor size and thereby weight of electric motor drives become too extensive to allow sensible movement of the motor on the guide wire cable. As the space to be cleaned is in practice filled by a mixture of dust and air, sparking of the electric motor inside the space to be cleaned constitutes a severe risk of fire and explosion. In addition, the duct system, which usually is made of an electrically conductive material, is problematic in combination with electric drives, as the electric lines inside the guide wire cable may in the case of a damaged wire cable short circuit in the duct system being cleaned, whereby there is not only a risk of fire and explosion but also of electric shock.
Pneumatic drives arc also hampered by several drawbacks. In order to achieve the power required for large duct systems, pneumatic compressors of such external dimensions are required that they must usually be arranged outside the building being cleaned. Such large compressors are either driven by combustion motors or alternatively, they require three-phase current which is not available in all real properties. Pneumatic compressors and motors are relatively loud and the pneumatic hoses required by the system are awkwardly moved inside the buildings. In addition, in pneumatically driven systems lubricating oil from the motor is spread into the duct system to be cleaned along with the compressed air. The oil spread into the duct system gives rise to odour nuisance and accelerates refouling of the pipes because the oil acts as an effective adhesion surface for the dirt particles.
Solutions based on a mechanical flexible shaft for their part are extremely heavy at the power levels required, and furthermore, the guide wire cable will easily be too loose to be inserted into the duct by pushing. Hereby the resulting friction is also excessive for the motor and transmission.
The prior art is further hampered by the aftertreatment of the dirt removed from the duct system. If the outlet air is prefiltered, some larger solid particle may break the filter system used at present, because the intense underpressure exerts intense suction moving all sizes of dirt particles toward the filter at high speeds. If, then, no filtration is performed, substances which are detrimental to health may spread into the environment.
The prior art is limited to the cleaning of air-conditioning ducts only and offers no means for cleaning planar surfaces or for treating such surfaces without dust nuisance. If the surface to be treated contains health-endangering substances, use of the prior art equipment may cause health detriments unless the workers protect themselves in the required fashion.
The present invention aims at eliminating the drawbacks hampering the prior art and at achieving an entirely novel type of system and method for cleaning air-conditioning ducts and other duct systems and chimney systems. A further aim is to apply the invention to dustfree cleaning and working of planar surfaces.
The invention is based on hydraulically generating the drive force for rotating the cleaning brush along the guide wire cable. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the loose dirt is collected into a receiver unit and the air exiting the receiver unit may then be after-filtrated. Further according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a transverse workhead equipped with a bevel gear and a suction hood is used for treating essentially planar surfaces.

Apparatus for cleaning channels for air conditioning and other purposes


A method for stimulating the synthesis and/or secretion of proteoglycans and/or glycosaminoglycans by keratinocytes of a human in need thereof, by applying to an external body area of the human a composition containing an effective amount of D-xylose, an ester thereof or an oligosaccharide containing D-xylose, in a combination with a cosmetically or pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

The invention relates to novel uses of D-xylose, esters thereof and oligosaccharides containing xylose for improving the functionality of epidermal cells.
It relates more precisely to novel uses of these products in the field of cosmetics and pharmacy, especially dermatology, for improving this functionality by stimulating the synthesis of proteoglycans and/or glycosaminoglycans.
Throughout the present statement, proteoglycans will be denoted by the abbreviation PG and glycosaminoglycan is by the abbreviation GAG.
If it is desired to improve skin hydration, it is possible to employs products whose action is associated with:
either an occlusive effect: this property makes it possible to regulate the water loss b) creating a barrier which opposes the passage of water molecules;
or a humectant effect: these products act bad hygroscopic;
or a keratiniocyte differentiation effect leading to skin hydration: this action culminates in the formation of corneocytes, particularly the corneocyte envelope, and to the formation of substances synthesized by keratinocytes during their differentiation;
or an effect which increases the water retention capacity of intercellular spaces: this effect can be obtained by promoting the synthesis of PG and/or GAG by skin cells, especially, keratinocytes and/or fibroblasts.
PG, formerly called mucopolysaccharides, are complex macromolecules consisting of a central protein, or xe2x80x9ccarrier proteinxe2x80x9d, substituted on its serine residues by osidic chains called GAG. These chains consist of a series of hexosamines (glucosamine or galactosarnine) alternating with another sugar (glucuronic or iduronic). In skin they are sulfated in the 2-, 4-, 6-position or on the amine group. (Structure and metabolism of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans, J. E. Silbert, J. Invest. Dermatol. (1982), 79, 31-37).
Like GAG, PG are secreted in the skin by keratinocytes and fibroblasts and are partly responsible for its hydration.
The organism is permanently subjected to many types of aggression from the external environment.
The skin serves to protect the organism against the external environment. The epidermis is the external barrier of the skin. It consists especially of keratinocytes, which differentiate in the course of their migration from the basal layer of the epidermis to the corneal layer of the epidermis.
One of the most important functions of this barrier, or epidermis, is to prevent water loss from the organism. Another function is to combat the various forms of physical, chemical and microbial aggression from the surrounding medium.
Water loss is largely combated by PG and GAG, which are present in large amounts in the extracellular medium. These molecules participate substantially in the hydration and mineralization (fixation of counterions) of the extracellular matrices, particularly by virtue of their capacity to fix water. They also participate actively in the correct functioning of the epidermal cells.
In particular, these PG and GAG are synthesized by keratinocytes in the epidermis.
Once synthesized by a cell, these PG and GAG remain in the extracellular matrix surrounding this cell and undergo little or no migration.
PG represent about 0.2% of the dry weight of the skin, which is low in comparison e.g. with the amount of collagen, which represents more than 75% of said dry weight (The collagens: biochemistry and physiopathology, E. J. Kucharz, published by Springer-Verlag, 1992). This is in no way a reflection of the physiological importance of PG and GAG.
In fact, by dint of their polyanionic osidic structures, these molecules have the characteristic of associating very strongly with counterions (sodium and potassium) and water molecules. They have the capacity to fix water up to 1000 times their volume, thereby forming gels. They therefore behave like natural mineralizing hydrating agents for the epidermis, particularly the epidermal cells and especially the germinal cells, the cellular basal membranes, the skin appendages, particularly the hair follicles, and also the extracellular matrices such as that of the dermo-epidermal junction (DEJ). PG and GAG therefore play a decisive part in the functionality of these cells and of the matrix to which these cells adhere.
The most abundant GAG in the skin are hyaluronic acid (50% of the hyaluronic acid in the organism is in the skin) and dermatan sulfate, while others, like chondroitin 4- and 6-sulfate, heparan sulfate and keratan sulfate, are found in smaller amounts. Hyaluronic acid is without doubt the most widely known skin hydrating agent. It is pointed out that, as distinct from the other GAG, this molecule is neither sulfated nor fixed to a carrier protein.
The epidermis contains chondroitin 4-sulfate and keratan sulfate. The dermo-epidermal junction contains chondroitin 6-sulfate and heparan sulfate, which are very important in the cohesion between dermis and epidermis. Hyaluronic acid is located principally in the basal layer and to a lesser extent in the spinous layer (Age-dependent changes of hyaluronan in human skin, L. J. M. Meyer and R. Stern, J. Invest. Dermatol. (1994), 102, 385-389).
It is also known that ageing has important repercussions on the content and distribution of PG and GAG in the skin. The epidermal distribution of hyaluronic acid is seen to fall drastically to the point where it is no longer detected in the senescent epidermis (Age-dependent changes of hyaluronan in human skin, L. J. M. Meyer and R. Stern, J. Invest. Dermatol. (1994), 102, 385-389). Likewise, a decrease is noted in the chondroitin 6-sulfate located principally in the dermo-epidermal junction (DEJ) (Patterns of glycosaminoglycan/proteoglycan immuno-staining in human skin during ageing. M. D. Willen, J. Invest. Dermatol. (1996), 968-974).
D-xylose is a well-known sugar of the 5-carbon aldose family. For its description, its sources and its main properties, reference may be made to the following publication: Merck Index 20th edition (1996), no. 10220.
Swiss patent CH 368 267 describes compositions with a moisturizing effect which contain a pentose in combination with an amino acid. Xylose is mentioned among the pentoses as a product of hygroscopic character.
Within the framework of the present invention, it has now been discovered, surprisingly, that D-xylose, esters thereof and oligosaccharides containing xylose make it possible substantially and significantly to stimulate the synthesis and secretion of PG and GAG by human keratinocytes.
Thus. by virtue of their stimulating action on the synthesis of PG and GAG by the epidermal keratinocytes, D-xylose, esters thereof and oligosaccharides containing xylose can be used in cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions, especially dermatological compositions, for topical application. making it possible inter alia to promote hydration of the skin, particularly of the epidermis, but also of tissues with a keratinocyte covering compartment, such as mucous membranes, particularly the lips, and also skin appendages, particularly the hair follicles.
D-xylose, esters thereof and oligosaccharides containing xylose can also be used to prevent or treat the effects of skin ageing, particularly the effects on the epidermis, which is the center of a large decline in PG and GAG content with age, being accompanied in particular by increased dryness of the skin.
D-xylose, esters thereof and oligosaccharides containing xylose can thus be used in any applications where it is desired to improve the synthesis of GAG and PG.
Thus, according to one of its characteristics, the invention relates to the use of a compound selected from the group consisting of D-xylose, esters thereof and oligosaccharides containing D-xylose as a cosmetic agent for stimulating the synthesis and/or secretion of proteoglycans (PG) and/or glycosaminoglycans (GAG) by the keratinocytes, especially the keratinocytes of the epidermis and the tissues with a keratinocyte covering compartment, such as mucous membranes, particularly the lips, and skin appendages, particularly the hair follicles, said agent being incorporated in a cosmetic composition comprising a cosmetically acceptable vehicle.
More precisely, it has been found that, because of their stimulating effect on the synthesis of GAG and PG by normal human keratinocytes, D-xylose and the compounds mentioned above make it possible:
to combat ageing of the epidermis. It is in fact known that ageing of the epidermis is largely associated with a loss of hyaluronic acid;
to combat drying of the skin associated with an insufficiency in the action of GAG, particularly hyaluronic acid. Said drying is observed especially on old skin and is associated essentially with a loss of hyaluronic acid;
to improve the tonicity of the skin. It has in fact been observed that an increase in the synthesis of GAG makes it possible to create a hydrated cellular environment which is favorable to exchanges of nutriments, ions, cytokine and growth factors secreted by epidermal cells. Such an environment is also favorable to the elimination of toxic metabolites. This effect therefore results in toned and healthy skin;
to maintain or restore the suppleness and elasticity of the skin. This effect is associated with stimulation of the synthesis of GAG, which makes it possible to create a hydrated environment for the matrical constituents, especially at the dermo-epidermal junction for favoring the microdisplacements between the elements of this matrix during mechanical stress. Such an effect therefore contributes towards creating a more supple and more elastic skin;
to improve the mineralization of the epidermis, thereby making the skin healthier and improving its vitality. This effect is associated with an improvement in the synthesis of GAG, which makes it possible to assure a good mineralization of the epidermis. In fact, via their charged groups, GAG can fix ions and contribute to the osmolarity of the epidermis. Here again, a good mineralization of the skin is synonymous with healthy skin of good vitality.
to facilitate intercellular exchanges. This effect can also be compared with simulation of the synthesis of GAG. which makes it possible to assure a correct differentiation of the epidermis since destruction of the hyaluronic acid causes opening of the intercellular spaces and epidermal acanthosis. This effect produces a more toned, denser and more compact skin;
to improve the three-dimensional structure of the dermo-epidermal junction. This can also be connected with an improvement in the synthesis of GAG, which makes it possible to assure the spatial organization of the matrical constituents, for example by strengthening the binding between laminin-6 and nidogen at the dermo-epidermal junction;
to facilitate healing without scar formation, thus making it possible to repair epidermal microtraumatisms which appear when there is a break in the continuity of the skin. Such an effect makes it possible to combat chapping and the cracked appearance of the skin;
to facilitate migration of the keratinocytes, allowing the formation of a corneal layer of good quality;
to modulate the action of the growth factors and the cytokines produced by the skin cells. Such an effect enables the cells to make use of the signals they need to assure their function.
According to one of its other characteristics, the invention further relates to uses of D-xylose and/or one of its esters for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition, especially dermatological composition, for treating insufficiencies in the synthesis or secretion of proteoglycans (PG) and/or glycosaminoglycans (GAG) by the keratinocytes, with a view to correcting the adverse effects of said insufficiencies and in particular to improving the functional state of the skin cells, especially the epidermal cells.
In particular, this pharmaceutical composition may be intended to facilitate healing and repair epidermal microtraumatisms, or to treat skin ulcerations, especially ulcerations on the legs, or to reduce the striae distensae of pregnancy.
In one particularly advantageous variant, D-xylose will be chosen as it has the advantage of being a commercial product.
However, it will also be possible to use one of its esters, particularly the D-galacturonic acid ester.
Esters of fatty acids comprising from 16 to 24 carbon atoms, particularly esters of natural fatty acids, may also be used advantageously.
Among these fatty acid esters, it will be advantageous to choose the esters of palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, arachidonic, erucic and lignoceric acids.
These fatty acid esters of D-xylose are of very particular interest in terms of the invention because, due to the presence of the fatty chain, they enable the xylose to penetrate the skin better by rendering the whole compound lipophilic. Furthermore, due to the presence of esterases in the skin, the xylose can be released in the skin, thus enabling these products to have the same advantages as D-xylose with regard to the synthesis and secretion of GAG.
Another family of compounds whose use proves to be of particular value in terms of the invention is the family of oligosaccharides containing xylose. According to the invention, oligosaccharide is understood as meaning sugar chains containing from 2 to 6 sugars.
According to the present invention, the oligosaccharide containing xylose will preferably be selected from those oligosaccharides as defined above which comprise at least one xylose and from 1 to 6 sugars. Such oligosaccharides are advantageously selected from xylobiose, xylobiose hexaacetate, methyl-xcex2-xylobioside, xylotriose, xylotetraose, xylopentaose and xylohexaose.
The oligosaccharides will preferably be xylobiose, which is made up of two xylose molecules joined by a 1,4 linkage, and xylobiose acetates such as xylobiose hexaacetate.
These oligosaccharides are of particular value within the framework of the invention because they can be degraded gradually in the skin by the numerous osidases present, and can thus release xylose. Therefore, in a manner of speaking, these oligosaccharides containing xylose act like xylose precursors and constitute true reservoirs of xylose to be released over a period of time.
In both the cosmetic and the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention, the D-xylose, esters thereof or precursors of the oligosaccharide type defined above will advantageously be present at a concentration of between 0.001 and 5% by weight, preferably of between 0.01 and 0.5% by weight, based on the weight of said composition.
In general, the compositions of the invention will advantageously be formulated for topical application, particularly as emulsions, lotions, gels, lipsticks or mascaras.
In another variant of the invention, the cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition, especially dermatological composition, may comprise liposomes, the D-xylose, D-xylose ester or oligosaccharide containing xylose being either outside said liposomes or partially or totally incorporated inside said liposomes.
Finally, in one particularly valuable variant of the invention, the D-xylose, esters thereof or precursors of the oligosaccharide type defined above may be combined, in the composition of the invention, with a number of active principles such as:
amino sugars, particularly D-glucosamine and D-galactosainine;
amino acids, particularly L-serine or any extract containing it, especially extracts of algae;
sodium ascorbate (vitamin C) and derivatives thereof such as the phosphate, palmitate, acetate or propionate;
vitamin A (also called retinol) and esters and derivatives thereof, particularly the palmitate, acetate and propionate;
madecassic acid, asiatic acid and glycosylated derivatives thereof,
B group vitamins, particularly vitamins BI, B6 and B12, and folic acid;
vitamin PP;
forskolin, derivatives thereof and extracts of Coleus forskolii;
salicylic acid and derivatives thereof, particularly those with lipophilic chains;
ecdysterone and derivatives thereof, particularly the acetates;
retinoids, particularly retinoic acid, retinaldehyde and retinyl phosphate;
micronutrients such as silica and derivatives thereof like silanol, magnesium and salts thereof and manganese and salts thereof,
extracts of Potentilla erecta;
extracts of fruits, particularly apple and lemon and especially apple juice or its polyphenols;
phosphodiesterase inhibitors, particularly xanthines;
extracts of Siegesbeckia orientalis_or daturoside;
extracts of Centella asiatica enriched in triterpenes;
extracts of Bertholletia;
chliorogenic acid. caffeic acid, sinapic acid, and caffeoylquinic acid;
free radical inhibitors, particularly procyanidolic oligomers, extracts of green tea and grape seeds, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), curcumin extracts and curcuminoids.
According to another of its essential characteristics, the invention further relates to a method of cosmetic or pharmaceutical treatment wherein it is sought to stimulate the synthesis and/or secretion of proteoglycans (PG) and/or glycosaminoglycans (GAG). According to this method, an effective amount of D-xylose, one of its esters or an oligosaccharide containing D-xylose, as defined above, is applied to the part of the body in question in order to stimulate said synthesis and secretion.
The compositions used in these methods of treatment are those described above.
According to another essential characteristic, the invention further relates to the use of a D-xylose ester, particularly the D-galacturonic acid ester or one of the fatty acid esters of D-xylose as defined above, or an oligosaccharide containing D-xylose, particularly an oligosaccharide as defined above, as a cosmetic agent for hydrating the basal layer of the epidermis.
According to another feature, the invention further relates to the use of a D-xylose ester, particularly the D-galacturonic acid ester or one of the fatty acid esters of D-xylose as defined above, or an oligosaccharide containing D-xylose, particularly an oligosaccharide as defined above, for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition, especially dermatological composition, for treating insufficiencies in the hydration of the basal layer of the epidermis.
The Examples which follow are given purely by way of illustration of the invention.

Uses of D-xylose, the esters thereof and oligosaccharides containing xylose for improving the functionality of epidermal cells


A compound represented by Chemical Formula 1, wherein in Chemical Formula 1, each substituent is the same as defined in the detailed description, a photosensitive resin composition including the same, and a color filter manufactured using the photosensitive resin composition are provided.

A color filter manufactured by using a pigment-type photosensitive resin composition has limits in terms of luminance and contrast ratio caused by pigment particle size. In addition, an imaging sensor device requires a smaller dispersion particle size to form a fine pattern. In order to satisfy the requirement, an attempt to realize a color filter having improved color characteristics such as luminance, contrast ratio and the like has been made by introducing a dye forming no particle instead of a pigment to manufacture a photosensitive resin composition. Accordingly, research on an appropriate compound as the dye used to manufacture the photosensitive resin composition is needed.

Compound, photosensitive resin composition comprising the same and color filter


A scalable edit window and position indicators displayable on a display of an electronic typewriter are provided. The width of the scalable edit window adjusts in accordance with the paper size or size of the recording medium selected for printing the keyed-in characters, or in accordance with a value provided by the operator. The height of the scalable edit window adjusts in accordance with the font size of keyed-in characters. The keyed-in characters are displayed in the scalable edit window in a font size and appearance as characters which will be printed on a recording medium. The displayable position indicators include a horizontal ruler and a vertical ruler. The horizontal ruler is adjusted in accordance with the maximum printing capability of the system printer or the width of a recording medium used for printing the keyed-in characters. The vertical ruler is adjusted in accordance with the font size of the keyed-in characters or the length of the recording medium. Also included is a scaled image of a recording medium which facilitates operator visualization of the printed document.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for displaying keyed-in characters in electronic typewriter applications. More particularly, the invention involves a display device for an electronic typewriter which displays a scalable edit window and position indicators for the window, both of which facilitate operator preview of keyed-in characters while providing location information of the characters with respect to a recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional electronic typewriters include some sort of display screen on which keyed-in characters are displayed prior to printing. However, to identify the position at which displayed characters will be printed, it is necessary for the operator to refer to a horizontally-engraved ruler located adjacent the printer carriage, or to a cursor position marker located on the printer head. To perform this task, the operator must, however, switch his/her focus from the display screen, where edit and keying operations are displayed, to the ruler or marker. When several edit operations are necessary, such cross-reference between the display screen and a ruler or marker causes great inconvenience and results in reduced efficiency. In addition, since such conventional rulers or markers only provide horizontal position information, the operator cannot determine the vertical line position or vertical span of the printed characters with respect to the paper.
Thus, there exists a need for a system which displays on a single display device, the spatial relationship of keyed-in characters with respect to the recording medium selected for printing. In particular, there exists a need for a system which provides horizontal and vertical positional information of keyed-in characters, with respect to the recording medium selected for printing the characters, so that the format of the characters on the recording medium may be previewed prior to printing. There also exists a need for a display device which facilitates the display of characters of a variety of font sizes on a single line, including very large font sizes.
In addition, since electronic typewriters generally print each line of characters as soon as keying-in of the characters is complete, the typewriter display screen is usually large enough to display only a single line. Even though markers indicating the horizontal position of the keyed-in characters may be available prior to printing, since only a single line is displayed the operator is generally unable to visualize where on the recording medium the line will be printed. Thus, to visualize the document he/she is formatting, the operator must either print a draft of the document or project an inherently inaccurate mental image of the unprinted document. Inconvenience, delay and inaccuracy are the resulting consequences.
Thus, there exists a need to provide the operator of an electronic typewriter with assistance in visualizing where on a page keyed-in characters will be printed.

Scalable edit window and displayable position indicators for an electronic typewriter


A method is described of providing dealer authorization information to a remote processing system. A local processing system receives information from a manufacturer for updating a database of authorized dealers. The local processing system then receives a validation request from the remote processing system via a network. In response to receiving the validation request, the local processing system queries the database and transmits information to the remote processing system, including an indication of whether a particular dealer is an authorized dealer for one or more manufacturers. The validation request is generated in response to the remote processing system's having identified a predetermined HTML tag in a dealer World Wide Web page. Capability to recognize the tag and transmit a validation request in response thereto is provided by a Web browser plug-in downloaded to the remote processing system. The local processing system may also include a number of order processing units for electronic commerce. Each order processing unit is customized for a specific manufacturer and a specific dealer and provides a customized user interface for ordering products only from the one specific manufacturer and dealer. A customer using a remote processing system accesses an order processing unit by first accessing a manufacturer Web site, which provides a hypertext link to one of the processing units.

The Internet has developed into a convenient medium by which consumers can purchase goods and services. The ability to purchase goods over the Internet is sometimes provided by software applications known as a "shopping baskets". A shopping basket application, which commonly executes on a World Wide Web site of a product manufacturer or retailer, generally provides a virtual store in which a customer can view descriptions of and purchase various products electronically. A shopping basket application generally allows a customer to add products to or delete products from a virtual shopping basket and specify various attributes, such as quantity, size, color, etc. The customer's selections are generally stored in a database associated with the Web site. When the customer is ready to purchase the contents of the shopping basket, he may click on a hypertext link labeled "Purchase Shopping Basket", for example, which causes the customer to be prompted to enter billing information (i.e., name, address, and credit card number) and to confirm the transaction.
Unfortunately, while the Internet makes electronic commerce convenient, it also provides a medium for perpetrating fraud and other illegal or unethical activities in connection with electronic commerce. In particular, the anonymity of the Internet provides a relatively safe medium for the sellers of gray market goods. It is also not uncommon for the unscrupulous to sell brand name goods through Web sites that are not authorized to sell such goods. A manufacturer may provide a list of authorized dealers (i.e., retailers, or product fulfillers) to the public, by which a customer can theoretically verify that a dealer is authorized to sell a given brand. However, it is inconvenient for the consumer to have to obtain this information, and many manufacturers do not provide such information. Further, because Web sites can be set up with relative ease, an unauthorized site can be set up which is virtually indistinguishable from that of an authorized dealer. Hence, consumers who purchase products on-line take the risk that the products may be counterfeit or may not be backed by a warranty. Manufacturers, on the other hand, have little or no ability to detect or prevent unauthorized on-line sales of their products and other unauthorized on-line use of their brand names.
Hence, it is desirable to provide a technique by which consumers visiting a dealer Web site have greater assurance that the Web site is that of an authorized dealer. In addition, it is desirable to provide a technique by which manufacturers have greater control over the on-line sales of their products, whereby manufacturers can set standards for their dealers and conveniently inform consumers whether a Web site belongs to a dealer which meets those standards.
Manufacturers who wish to promote on-line sales of their products must decide whether or not to handle such sales themselves. For various reasons, it may be undesirable for a manufacturer to make direct sales over the Internet. Direct sales by the manufacturer may be precluded by distribution agreements, or the manufacturer simply may not be equipped to process and fulfill product orders. As an alternative to direct sales, therefore, a manufacturer may wish to refer potential customers to an authorized dealer by providing a link on its own Web site to a Web site of the authorized dealer One problem with this approach, from a manufacturer's point of view, is that a dealer's Web site generally also displays and allows customers to purchase products of competing brands. In addition, the manufacturer often is not informed immediately of a sale by the dealer, making it difficult for the manufacturer to maintain current records.
Therefore, in addition to the above-mentioned capabilities, it is desirable to provide a technique by which a manufacturer can refer a potential on-line customer to an authorized dealer for on-line sales, without exposing the customer to competing product information.

Performing electronic commerce on the internet providing links from product manufacturers to authorized dealers where the authorized dealer provides a custom order interface for the manufacturer's products


An integrated circuit includes a first and a second die positioned on a lead frame of a package. The lead frame includes a plurality of bond fingers. The integrated circuit includes a first bond pad on the first die that is electrically interconnected to a corresponding second bond pad on the second die through first and second bond fingers of the lead frame. The package may be a QFP, DIP, PLCC, TSOP, or any other type of package including a lead frame.

Integrated circuits or electronic chips are ubiquitous, being contained in many electronic devices used by a person during a typical day, such as in cellular telephones, personal computers, automobiles, and even common household appliances like toasters. A chip includes a semiconductor die, which is made of semiconductor material such as silicon, and in which desired electronic circuitry is formed. For example, a memory chip is a chip containing a die in which electronic circuitry is formed for storing and retrieving data. A chip also includes a package that houses the die and includes pins that provide for electrical interconnection of the chip to external electronic components. Various different types of packages are utilized for chips, with the specific type of package being determined by numerous factors such as required heat dissipation, the physical size of the chip, and the number of interconnections needed from the die to external electronic components. Common packages for chips include dual in-line packages (DIPs), plastic leaded chip carriers (PLCC), Thin Small Outline Packages (TSOPs), pin-grid arrays (PGAs), ball-grid arrays (BGAs), and quad flat packs (QFPs).
In some situations, more than one die is housed in a given package to form what is commonly referred to as a "system in a package" (SIP) device or simply a SIP. The two or more die in this situation must be electrically interconnected, and depending on the type of package this interconnection may present difficulties. Specifically, difficulties arise when using any type of package including a lead frame, such as the DIP, PLCC, TSOP, and QFP packages previously mentioned. For example, a quad-flat pack (QFP) is a package having pins or external leads that project from all four sides of the package. QFP packages are relatively cheap and also are relatively thin (i.e., have a small height) compared to other types of packages, and accordingly may be utilized where cost and height of the package are of concern. A QFP package includes a lead frame and the physical structure of the lead frame and overall QFP package makes the interconnection of multiple dies in such a package problematic.
FIG. 1 is a simplified top view of a portion of a chip including a conventional QFP package containing a lead frame 100. The lead frame 100 includes a die paddle 102 on which two die 104 and 106 are mounted, with the die 104 being a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and the die 106 being a memory controller in the example of FIG. 1. The die paddle 102 is supported by four support arms 108 (commonly called tie bars) attached to respective corners of the die paddle. Arranged around the periphery of the die paddle 102 are a number of bond fingers 110, several of which are shown along the top, bottom, left, and right edges of the paddle. These bond fingers 110 typically extend from all four sides of the QFP package to form the external leads of the QFP and are also coupled or connected through respective bonding wires 112 to corresponding bond pads 114 on one of the dies 104 and 106. The die paddle 102, bond fingers 110, bonding wires 112, and bond pads 114 are all formed from electrically conductive material, such as a metal, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. To simplify FIG. 1, some of the bond pads 114 on the dies 104 and 106 are not labeled with the reference indicator 114, although all the small squares contained on each of these dies correspond to respective bond pads. The illustrated bond pads 114 on each of the dies 104 and 106 merely serve to indicate that each die includes such bond pads and the number and arrangement of such bond pads may of course vary for different types of dies.
Each bond finger 110 and corresponding external lead function to route a respective electrical signal via a corresponding bonding wire 112 to or from the memory controller die 106. In general, bond fingers 110 may route respective electrical signals to both dies 104 and 106, although in the example of FIG. 1 such signals need only be routed to the memory controller die 106 since this die functions as the interface to the DRAM die 104. These signals would include address, data, and control signals in the example of FIG. 1, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
The die paddle 102 is typically metal and is typically utilized as a ground plane, meaning that the paddle is coupled through bonding wires 112 to bond fingers 110 that receive ground signals, as shown for two bond fingers 110a and 110b along the right edge of the die paddle. Any bond pads 114 on the dies 104 and 106 that are to be coupled to ground are then simply "down bonded" to the die paddle 102, meaning such bond pads are coupled directly to the die paddle via a corresponding bonding wire 112. Several examples of down bonded ground wires 112a, 112b, and 112c are shown in FIG. 1. Note that in the present description when referring generally to a plurality of the same type of component, such as bonding wires, a number descriptor will be utilized and when referring to a specific one of the plurality of components a letter designation may be appended to the number to more precisely identify a specific one of the components.
There must also be electrical interconnection between the DRAM die 104 and memory controller die 106. In the example of FIG. 1, the memory controller die 106 requires control, address, and data signal interconnections to the DRAM die 104 to transfer data to and from the DRAM die. This interconnection of signals between the dies 104 and 106 is straightforward where the bond pads 114 are positioned along edges of the two dies that are adjacent one another. In FIG. 1 this corresponds to bond pads 114a positioned along the inner edge of the DRAM die 104 and bond pads 114b positioned along the adjacent inner edge of the memory controller die 106. The bonding wires 112 in this situation are simply routed as shown from each bond pad 114a on the DRAM die 104 to a corresponding bond pad 114b on the memory controller die 106.
In addition to the bond pads 114a and 114b along the adjacent inner edges of the two dies 104 and 106, there are also typically bond pads along other edges of at least one of the dies that also require interconnection to the other die. For example, in FIG. 1 the DRAM die 104 includes three bond pads 114c, 114d, and 114e positioned along an upper edge of the DRAM die and the memory controller die 106 includes three bond pads 114f, 114g, and 114h positioned along an upper edge of the memory controller die. The bond pad 114c on the DRAM die 104 may need to be electrically connected to the bond pad 114f on the memory controller die 106. Similarly, the bond pads 114d and 114e on the DRAM die 104 may need to be electrically interconnected to the bond pads 114g and 114h, respectively, on the memory controller die 106.
In this situation, bonding wires 112 cannot simply be utilized to interconnect the bonding pads 114c-e and 114f-h or else the bonding wires will short together or contact one another and thereby undesirably electrically interconnect multiple bond pads. This is illustrated in FIG. 1, where bonding wire 112d interconnects bond pads 114c and 114f, bonding wire 112e interconnects bond pads 114d and 114g, and bonding wire 112f interconnects bond pads 114e and 114h. These bonding wires 112d-f are likely to short-circuit or undesirably contact each other, as represented by the circle 116. Moreover, even if these bonding wires 112d-112f could initially be properly routed between the bond pads 114c-114e on die 104 and bond pads 114f-114g on die 106, subsequent manufacturing steps of the overall package or chip containing the lead frame may cause these bonding wires to short circuit. This could occur, for example, during encapsulation of the package during which an epoxy resin or other type of glue is formed over this entire structure.
The structure of a QFP package requires that bonding wires 112 be used to directly interconnect the required bond pads 114 on the two dies 104 and 106. This is in contrast to other types of packages such as ball grid arrays (BGAs) where there is an underlying substrate on which the two die 104 and 106 are mounted. This substrate functions like a miniature circuit board and simplifies the routing of the signals between the two die 104 and 106.
One approach to solving the problem of interconnecting bond pads 114 not located along the inner edges of the dies 104 and 106 is to alter the design of dies 104 and 106 so as to reposition the location of selected bond pads on the DRAM die 104 to be directly across corresponding bond pads on the memory controller die 106. Ideally, however, it is desirable that the same die 104 and 106 could be utilized whether the dies are being placed individually inside a QFP package, a ball grid array package, or any other type of package, of if they are placed inside a SIP chip. Repositioning the bond pads 114 on the dies 104 and 106 could make these die unsuitable for use individually in standard packages. Moreover, this redesign of dies 104 and 106 is relatively expensive and time consuming since it involves the cost of new mask layers used in the die fabrication process and the time it takes to fabricate new die.
Another approach for providing the required electrical interconnection of bond pads 114 not positioned along the inner edges of the dies 104 and 106 is to relocate these bond pads using a redistribution layer ("RDL"), which is a layer formed as an additive process on the top of each die. As its name implies, such a redistribution layer redistributes or repositions the locations of underlying bond pads 114 on the dies 104 and 106. With this approach, the bond pads 114f-h along the upper edge of the memory controller die 106 would be repositioned along the inner edge of this die to allow for easy connection to an adjacent bond pad 114 on the DRAM die 104 through a respective bonding wire 112. The same is true for the bond pads 114c-e along the upper edge of the DRAM die 104, with these pads being repositioned along the inner edge of this die for easy connection to corresponding bond pads on the memory controller die 106. This approach requires the design and actual physical formation of the redistribution layers on the dies 104 and 106. While this method of relocating the bond pads 114 is less expensive and faster than modifying the dies themselves, it is still undesirable. The inner edges of the dies 104 and 106 may already be fully populated with bond pads 114 thus be unable to accept new pads. This solution also requires an RDL be used on both dies 104 and 106.
Yet another approach is an interposer layer positioned under the dies 104 and 106. The interposer layer functions similar to the substrate previously described for a ball grid array to route connections for bond pads on the two dies 104 and 106, such as the bond pads 114c-e and 114f-h. Once again, this approach is relatively expensive and therefore undesirable, and also increases the vertical height of the QFP package and thereby contravenes one major advantage of a QFP package, namely the small overall height of the package. The same is true for the approach of stacking the two die 104 and 106, which also may not be practical if the size of the two die are incompatible.
There is a need in QFP or other lead frame packages that include more than one die of reliably and inexpensively electrically interconnecting the two die.

System and method for routing signals between side-by-side die in lead frame type system in a package (SIP) devices


A handheld collector device adapted to retrieve small objects, the device having an elongated handle, a head mounted to the handle, a plurality of tine sets retained by the head and an ejection mechanism to eject the objects. Each tine set has a plurality of individual tines projecting outwardly in spaced relation. The tines are relatively rigid members possessing a degree of flexibility such that when the ends of the tines are pressed onto objects to be collected, the tines flex sufficiently to pass over and capture the objects. The device is modular in construction such that the tine sets can be removed and replaced in order to adapt the device to provide optimum results for varying sizes and types of objects.

The invention relates generally to collector devices structured to collect, gather or retrieve small three-dimensional objects dispersed on a surface, such as the ground or floor. More particularly, the invention relates to such devices that are handheld and that comprise a discharge or ejection mechanism for releasing or removing the small objects from the device.
There are situations where it is desired or necessary to gather up a large number of small objects that have been spread on the ground or another surface, such as for example, nuts that have dropped from pecan trees, golf balls on a practice range, shell casings at a shooting range, etc. Picking up each object by hand is time-consuming and uncomfortable, as the worker must stoop or kneel to retrieve the objects. With shell casings or other objects, it may be desirable to avoid skin contact due to toxic, corrosive or irritating residues present on the objects. A number of tools have been developed to make gathering the small objects a less arduous task, some of which are relatively large devices often towed behind motorized vehicles and some of which are handheld. One type of handheld device involves a collector assembly mounted onto a long handle, the collector assembly comprising a plurality of bales or wires that spread apart when pushed onto one or more object and then return to a close proximity to entrap the object within the collector assembly. Examples of these and similar devices are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,736,157 to Weathersby, U.S. Pat. No. 2,788,630 to Nisbet, U.S. Pat. No. 2,972,851 to Goehring, U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,071 to Laughlin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,953 to Luther, Sr., U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,618 to White, U.S. Pat. No. 6,925,791 to Herndon, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,698,882 to Tinlin.
These devices do not provide optimal mechanisms for retrieving or for ejecting the objects. For example, the wires or bales may be permanently deformed after a large number of uses if the device is pressed onto an excessively large object. Some devices do not possess mechanisms for ejecting the objects that have been retrieved. Some devices are not adjustable in order to accommodate different sized objects.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved handheld collector device for gathering small objects dispersed on a ground or floor surface, the device also having an ejection mechanism for easily and quickly releasing the objects from the device. It is a further object to provide such an improved handheld collector that is modular in construction such that the device can be easily adapted or reconfigured to correspond to the particular size of the objects being gathered, or to replace individual components that have been damaged.

Handheld collector device for gathering small objects


In one example a docking mat for an electronic device comprises a first major surface on which the electronic device may be positioned, a wireless power transmitting device, and a controller comprising logic, at least partly including hardware logic, to determine a location of the electronic device on the first major surface of the docking mat, establish a communication connection with the electronic device, receive at least one charge parameter from the electronic device, and activate the wireless power transmitting device in response to a determination that the electronic device is positioned proximate the wireless power transmitting device and the at least one charge parameter indicates that the electronic device is in a condition to receive power from the wireless power transmitting device. Other examples may be described.

The subject matter described herein relates generally to the field of electronic devices and more particularly to a wireless docking mat for electronic devices.
Wireless charging platforms for electronic devices typically incorporate a wireless power transmitting device which may be coupled, either by inductance or by capacitance, to a wireless power receiving device in an electronic device. Efficient coupling between wireless power transmitting device and the wireless power receiving device is useful to support efficient wireless charging. Accordingly, wireless docking mats for electronic devices may find utility.

Wireless docking mat for electronic devices


An organic light-emitting device that exhibits a light emission of extremely high efficiency, high brightness, and long lifetime is provided. An organic light-emitting device includes a pair of electrodes including an anode and a cathode, and one or more layers containing an organic compound, the layers being sandwiched between the pair of the electrodes, characterized in that at least one layer of the layers containing an organic compound contains a compound represented by the following general formula (1)

Organic light-emitting devices are luminescent devices utilizing light that is emitted when excitons of fluorescent organic compounds move back to the ground state, the excitons being formed by sandwiching a thin film that contains the fluorescent compounds between an anode and a cathode and injecting electrons and holes (positive holes) from the respective electrodes.
A study by Eastman Kodak Company in 1987 (Appl. Phys. Lett. 51, 913 (1987)) reports that a light emission of about 1000 cd/m2 was observed under an applied voltage of about 10 V. In the study, the device had a function-separated type bilayer structure and used ITO as the anode, a magnesium-silver alloy as the cathode, an aluminum quinolinol complex as an electron-transporting material and a light-emitting material, and a triphenylamine derivative as a hole-transporting material. Related patent documents include U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,507, No. 4,720,432, and No. 4,885,211, etc.
Moreover, various light emissions in a range of from ultraviolet to infrared can be accomplished by using various different fluorescent organic compounds. Recently, a lot of studies on various compounds have been conducted actively. For instance, those studies are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,629, No. 5,409,783, No. 5,382,477, No. 5,130,603, No. 6,093,864, No. 5,227,252, Japanese Patent Applications Laid-Open No. 5-202356, No. 9-202878, and No. 9-227576.
In addition to the organic light-emitting devices using small molecular materials as described above, the organic light-emitting devices using conjugated polymers have been reported by the group of Cambridge University (Nature, 347, 539 (1990)). This report discloses that a film of polyphenylenevinylene (PPV) is formed by coating method and it is surely observed that a single layer of the film emitted light. Related patent documents on organic light-emitting devices using conjugated polymers include U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,190, No. 5,514,878, No. 5,672,678, No. 5,317,169, No. 5,726,457, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-247460, etc.
Thus the remarkable progresses have been made in organic light-emitting devices, so that the recent luminescent devices are characterized by high brightness even when a lower voltage is applied, diversity in emission wavelengths, and rapid response, and thin and lightweight luminescent devices can be obtained, which suggests a wide range of possibilities of the device being utilized for various uses.
However, under the present circumstances, light emissions exhibiting higher brightness or higher conversion efficiency are required. Furthermore, there are still many problems in regard to durability such as change with elapse of time due to prolonged use and deterioration or the like, by moisture and the atmospheric gas containing oxygen. Moreover, in view of application to a full-color display etc., blue, green, and red light emissions having higher color purities are needed, and this problem has not been solved sufficiently yet.


A thin-film transistor structure having a storage-capacitor-on-gate and a black matrix for manufacturing a liquid crystal display is disclosed. A metal layer is deposited and patterned as a black matrix on a glass substrate of the thin-film transistor plate. An insulating layer having a contact hole for contacting the black matrix is formed over the surface of the black matrix and the substrate. An inverted thin-film transistor having a metal gate on the bottom is then fabricated on top of the insulating layer. The thin-film transistor controls an ITO pixel electrode of the liquid crystal display. A gate line including the metal gate of the thin-film transistor is formed over and above a space between two adjacent black matrixes. The gate line is connected to one of the two black matrixes by the contact hole. The other black matrix serves as a light shield element of the ITO pixel electrode. The technique is also applicable to the manufacturing of a non-inverted thin-film transistor having a metal gate on the top.

Thin-film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have been widely used in areas such as personal notebook computers, portable televisions and video camera monitors. In conventional TFT LCDs, the back-light consumes most of the power. In order to reduce the power consumption of the LCD devices, there are two approaches commonly adopted. One is improving the efficiency of the back-light and the other is increasing the transmission of the light through the liquid crystal cells.
Many different technologies of manufacturing TFT-LCD devices with various structures have been presented to improve the back-light efficiency. U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,611 of T. Hashimoto discloses a glass substrate for LCDs in which unnecessary light of the region other than pixel electrodes can be completely shielded, the TFT optical leak current can be totally suppressed, and the light reflection at the black matrix portion can be almost fully depressed. M. Katayama et. al. presented "A 10.4 in. Diagonal Full-Color TFT-LCD with New Self-aligned a-Si TFTs for OHP System" in pages 243-246 of Conference Record of the 1991 International Display Research Conference. The light degradation of the LCD performance has been suppressed by new self-aligned a-Si TFTs and a new driving method presented in the article.
The light transmission through the liquid crystal cells depends on the aperture ratio of a TFT-LCD device. Much research and development work has been dedicated to obtaining a high aperture ratio for TFT-LCD devices. N. Takahashi presented a structure that achieves a 35% aperture in "A High-Aperture Ratio Pixel Structure for High-Density a-Si TFT Liquid-Crystal Light Valves" of SID 1993 DIGEST, pp. 610-613. "A High-Aperture TFT-LCD with Shield-Electrode Structure" of SID 1993 DIGEST, pp. 739-742 presented by T. Ueda shows that a 58% aperture has been developed. T. Kitazawa et. al. further shows an ultra-high-aperture ratio of 70% by using a shield-electrode structure and a storage-capacitor-on-gate structure in "A 9.5-in. TFT-LCD with an ultra-High-Aperture-Ratio Pixel Structure" of SID 1994 DIGEST, pp. 365-368. An analytical investigation of the aperture ratio on high TFT-array structure has been discussed by K. Suzuki in "High-Aperture TFT Array Structures" of SID 1994 DIGEST, pp. 167-170.
It is clear that there is a strong need in achieving a high aperture ratio for the TFT-LCD devices. Various designs and techniques in forming the black matrix structure in TFT-LCDs have been studied to increase the aperture ratio and improve the back-light efficiency.

Thin-film transistor structure for liquid crystal display having black matrixes connected to a gate line

Industrial Technology Research Institute


Disclosed herein are various systems and methods for traversing an anatomic wall. A system can include a port that mates with an anatomic wall and provides a lumen for the passage of a guide tube of a transluminal device. The port can inhibit the passage of biological materials through the anatomic wall. Further described herein are methods for implanting the port and/or for inserting the transluminal device into a body cavity.

Traditionally, open surgical techniques or laparoscopic procedures have been used to access the abdominal cavity. Such procedures require incision through the skin and underlying muscle and peritoneal tissue and can result in significant patient recover periods and post-surgical scarring.
Other approaches have been considered, including access through a natural body orifice. For example, an endoscope can be directed through a patient's mouth to gain access to a body cavity. Although the growing capabilities of such therapeutic devices allow physicians to perform an increasing variety of surgeries through minimally invasive routes, further refinements may allow even less traumatic surgical access and/or performance of traditional open surgical or laparoscopic procedures through a natural orifice. Accordingly, methods and devices that enhance access, particularly improvements that facilitate access through anatomic structures, would be beneficial.

Methods and devices for traversing an anatomic wall


A vehicle arresting device comprises a net intended to be laid flat on the ground in the path of a target vehicle with an array of upwardly-directed spikes attached to the net along a leading portion, so that when a vehicle runs over the device some of the spikes engage in its front tires and the net is caused to wrap around the front wheels, being pulled tight under the vehicle to prevent further rotation of those wheels. There are two rows of spikes, with the spikes in the second row being substantially longer than the spikes in the leading row. The gauge of the netting also varies, with the leading strip which includes the shorter spikes and back towards the longer spikes being of a thinner gauge, the portion from the longer spikes back to approximately the mid length of the net being of a thicker gauge, and the trailing portion reverting to the thinner gauge. These measures help to ensure that the net is capable of arresting a wide range of vehicles, from passenger cars to trucks.

The invention is more particularly concerned with vehicle arresting devices of a kind comprising a flexible substrate intended to lie flat upon the ground when deployed with an array of upwardly-directed spikes attached to the substrate along a leading portion thereof (in the sense of the intended direction of approach of a vehicle to be arrested). The substrate in a device of this kind may be, for example, a panel of silk or other woven material, or it may be in the form of a net. One form of the latter kind of device is known from US Patent Application Publication no. 2006-0140715, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The modus operandi of a successful arrest with a device of that kind is as follows. When a vehicle runs over the device the run-over spikes engage in its front tires and the net is caused to wrap around the front wheels, the portion of the net between those wheels being pulled tight under the vehicle so that the tension in the net prevents further rotation of the wheels and the vehicle is brought to a stop. In practice this occurs in a similar distance to an emergency stop as if the vehicle's brakes had been applied, and has the advantage that it can stop the vehicle without causing serious damage to the vehicle or injury to its occupants.
Devices of this kind have been tested in different grades aimed at the arrest of different classes of target vehicle but each have limitations for the arrest of a wider range of vehicles. For example a device made with a spike length and netting grade sufficient for the successful arrest of smaller, lighter vehicles such as passenger cars may be unable to arrest larger, heavier vehicles such as trucks for which longer, heavier spikes are required in order to achieve sufficient retention in the tires and a heavier grade of netting is required for sufficient strength to absorb the higher levels of kinetic energy involved in stopping a truck. More surprisingly, a device made with a spike length and netting grade sufficient for the successful arrest of the larger, heavier class of vehicle may not also be suited to the arrest of the smaller, lighter class of vehicle. In this respect, account must be taken of the relationship between tire diameter and spike length in order to achieve penetration when the tires encounter the spikes. For vehicles with small diameter tires, it may occur that long spikes are simply knocked over by the tires which have insufficient circumferential "reach" to roll onto the tips of the spikes. Furthermore, where spike penetration does initially take place, it may occur that the spikes are pulled out again if there is insufficient tire thickness and internal tire braiding to retain the heavier spikes against their inertia and the high centrifugal forces which are generated as they turn with the tires. This problem may also be exacerbated by the inertia of the heavier netting as the leading edge is picked up and the tire accelerates the net.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle arresting device of the general kind indicated above but which is more suited to arresting a wider range of vehicle types than heretofore.