A computerized apparatus and method for creating and databasing vehicular window template information in memory storage with such template information being used by a window tinting system to generate window tinting film sections for use on corresponding target windows. The database would be continually increased by feeding new digitized window template images into the computer for appropriate scaling, classification, and storage. When tinting a known vehicle, the previously entered template information can be accessed and this will greatly enhance the speed and accuracy of the window tinting process.

Vehicle window tinting is a time intensive operation frequently performed on vehicles to protect the interior and occupants from harmful ultraviolet rays. Such window tinting is especially common in southern climates where vehicles face intensive exposure to sunlight. Wherein window tinting further lessens the burden on the air conditioning system. The plastic material used in tinting further protects the occupants preventing glass from shattering should the vehicle be involved in an accident.
Window tinting may be performed by the vehicle manufacturer, but is more often performed by after-market specialists. These specialists perform a labor intensive process for each window which includes: cleaning the exterior windows; covering each window with a sheet of window tint from the exterior and securing it temporarily in place with a soap and water mixture; physically cutting (with a sharp instrument) the window film to fit the area to be covered and hence act as a template for similar windows; carefully removing the window film template; using the window film template as a guide to cut other similarly needed pieces of tinting film; cleaning the interior of the window; applying the tinting film to the window; removing any extraneous film material from the exterior of the window and cleaning both the exterior surface of the window and the surrounding vehicle, as necessary. Usually, the window film template is actually applied to one of the target windows. Alternatively, a different material, other than window tinting film, might be used for making the template. Window tinting film would then be formed from the template shape as necessary.
Due to the number of steps involved, vehicular window tinting is time consuming, for any minute mistake will have an unsightly finish. With each vehicle to be tinted, the general practice is to make a new template for each window (or set of window pairs). This involves the aforementioned steps of cleaning the vehicle windows before applying the template material. Accordingly, any minimization--or even elimination--of the steps involved would greatly reduce the amount of time needed to tint a vehicle. There always exists the chance of damaging the vehicle when cutting the window template with a sharp object. Any minimization of contact with the exterior of the vehicle would greatly reduce the chance of damage by a tinting film installer.
As an additional result of the numerous steps involved, the level of artistry needed to properly apply and cut both the templates and tinting film requires a relatively high degree of training for each employee in this field. Optimization of tinting film is also a relatedly important consideration and training skill. As a variety of shapes are being cut from wide sheets of tinting film, the proper anticipation of their placement will produce less waste film. Novice or unskilled employees are more likely to make improper tint film cuts from a window template. Minimizing film waste is paramount to achieving competitive prices for the consumer and profitability for the window tinting specialist.
Prior disclosures include U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,939 which shows a CAD (computer-aided design) system connected to a CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) system which is used for the formation and attachment of a multiple-layer film graphic to a glass window of a storefront or building. Such store and building windows are generally planar in nature and not contoured like vehicular windows. Moreover, Patent '939 uses a complex multi-layering of window film, carrier film, support film, and transfer tape to form the window graphic. Such multi-layering is not necessary or even desirable for tinting vehicle windows. Thus, '939 discloses a method to manufacture and assemble, in a controlled environment, a multi-layered (and often multi-colored) window graphic prior to application to the planar surface of a store or building front and fails to disclose a method or apparatus for tinting non-planar windows. In the field of vehicular window tinting, for instance, it is extremely important to be able to fit the film over both the planar surfaces and contoured shapes encountered on vehicular windows.
Accordingly, a window tinting system is needed which minimizes the steps needed to tint non-planar vehicle windows. In particular, the steps which require repeatedly making the same window templates are eliminated by creating a computer database of existing window templates which could then drive a computer-assisted film cutting device. This would reduce the level of skill and the training time needed for each employee of a window tinting shop. This would also correspondingly reduce the amount of waste film material produced in performing the overall tinting process. Moreover, such a system should efficiently account for the complex curvature of most vehicular windows in creating its computer database.

Method and apparatus for tinting vehicle windows


A motorized trackboard has a rear-mounted engine (4) which transmits rotary motion centrally to a rear-driven track (2) at each side of a trackboard platform (1). Different types of track, different types of gear means, different sizes and different human-factor accommodations are employed for different use-conditions. For some use-conditions, a rear track-drive wheel (3) is large and sturdy to support all weight on the trackboard for positioning weight on the rear to raise the front end for turning. A front track-support wheel (7) can be positioned higher than the axis of the rear drive wheel to provide a climbing incline (15). The front track-support wheel can be spring-tensioned in a forward direction to prevent track slack. It is an all-terrain vehicle that can be made small and light enough for child use or large enough for a seat for heavy use. A steering-track embodiment can be used for such applications as hunting, snow travel, beach travel, mountain travel, tending livestock, military travel, shopping and commuting. A dual embodiment has separate front and back sections joined pivotally for steering.

This invention relates to motorized board-like platforms. More particularly this invention is a motorized trackboard having tracklaying wheels for all-terrain uses.
Motorized board-like platforms on which a person stands for recreational and other transportation uses are known in the prior art. None, however, are trackboards having motorized tracklaying wheels like this invention.
Examples of different tracklaying motorized boards known in the prior art include U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,648 issued to M. Strzok on Jan. 15, 1991. The Strzok patent taught a snow skiboard having a centrally-suspended track with drive bars that pivoted downwardly to engage snow when the skiboard was not being gravity-propelled. Weight of a user was supported by the snow skiboard instead of by a different form of track than taught by this invention. U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,073 issued to R. Honett on Jul. 15, 1986 taught a motorized platform having a curved-bottom endless belt with central drive wheels instead of the flat, rear-wheel-drive tracklaying trackboard taught by this invention.
All other known motorized platforms have employed wheels instead of track as a motive means. Examples of motorized platforms employing wheels as a motive means are motorized skateboards which include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,020,621, 4,151,892 and 4,143,728 and others.


Automatically maintaining, for life tracking purposes, the correct set of replaceable components in systems with variable configurations and replaceable components using replaceable component data from four sources to determine the correct set of replaceable components for life tracking purposes. The four sources are: 1) hardware driven sensor data provided by the low level system control computer, 2) machine modification data from the list of upgrades that have been performed on the system, 3) configuration specific replaceable component data based on the replaceable component information that is known about each possible system configuration, and 4) replaceable component information obtained by prompting the field service engineer for any supplemental information that cannot be determined automatically from the first three sources.

Many systems have multiple components that wear at different rates and are replaced as they wear out in order to keep the whole system operating. In such systems the replacement of some or all worn out components may require specially trained service professionals such as field service engineers. Some systems may be provided with replaceable components that are replaceable by the system operator, thereby eliminating or, at least reducing the frequency of, the need to place a service call. This not only may reduce overall maintenance costs, but also reduces system down time by eliminating response time. In either case, replacement by a service call or by the operator, it is desirable to track the usage of replaceable components so as to accurately anticipate when they will fail. U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,285 issued to Schwartz, et al., issued Apr. 6, 2004, henceforth referred to as the Schwartz patent, discloses a replaceable component life tracking system and is hereby incorporated in this application by reference.
The Schwartz patent discloses a replaceable component life tracking system in which the usage of each replaceable component is tracked using a predetermined parameter. In a preferred embodiment, the system is a printing device and the usage of each replaceable component is tracked using the number of pages printed. The life expectancy of each replaceable component is predetermined, and as the usage of each replaceable component is tracked. It is compared to the predetermined life expectancy, and the result periodically reported to the system operator via an operator interface. If any replaceable component usage reaches the life expectancy of that replaceable component, the operator is notified immediately, and instructed that the replaceable component be replaced.
Some systems with replaceable components may have more than one possible configuration and each configuration may have a different set of replaceable components. This can occur with large systems that are, from time to time, updated at the customer site, with newly developed features, with modifications to correct problems not foreseen at product launch, with customer requested custom modifications, or various other reasons. If the set of replaceable components changes for the different configurations, the replaceable component life tracking system must obviously be made aware of the changes and loaded with the correct set of replaceable components. As the number of possible system configurations increases the task of identifying the correct set of replaceable components for the replaceable component life tracking system becomes more difficult and the possibility of an erroneous set becomes more likely, especially if the burden of maintaining the correct set of replaceable components is on the field service technician or the operator. The need exists for a more automated tool for maintaining the correct set of replaceable components.


A communication network implements a timing system that closely approximates network response times so that information may be transmitted between two data processing systems within the network in a timely and efficient manner. During operation of the communication network, a sending data processing system sends query data to a receiving data processing system. A response timer within the sending data processing system is initialized to track the query operation. If the receiving data processing system provides a response to the sending data processing system before the response timer expires, the timing implemented for data communications is proper for the communication network. However, if the receiving data processing system fails to provide a response within a time specified by the response timer, the transmitting data processing system resends a query frame. Subsequently, the sending data processing system in the communication network gradually increases a response time until the time measured by the response timer does not expire before a response is received by the sending data processing system.

Communication networks allow people and computers to transfer information to one another over great distances and at a timely speed. When this information is transferred across the communication network, the signals are transmitted in compliance with a network protocol established between a sending and a receiving data processing system. Many such network protocols use sequencing to facilitate the transfer of multiple data packets from one data processing system to a second data processing system, where the second data processing system does not provide an acknowledgement back to the first data processing system. In such protocols, the sending data processing system tags each data packet with a sequence number. Receipt of the data packets is effective acknowledged by the receiving data processing system by identifying a sequence number which was last received. When a data packet is lost on the network, the acknowledgement for the lost frames and subsequent frames is not forthcoming from the receiving party.
When a data packet is lost on a network, it is often necessary for a transferring data processing system to resend the data packet. To determine a point at which the data should be resent, many data processing systems use a static default timer. When a static default timer is implemented in a data processing system, a predetermined period of time is set to provide a time period by which an acknowledgment of receipt of data values should be determined. While such systems are adequate, it is desirable for the timer to be more closely tied with an actual network response time so that a data condition may be detected as soon as practical, while cases in which needless queries are made due to slow responses are minimized.
In an attempt to address these issues, some protocols provide for the receiving data processing system to detect that it has missed a packet by detecting a missing sequence number (per the protocol) and output a request for the missed data packet be resent. Alternatively, a receiving data processing system may fail to acknowledge that it has received a data packet with a predetermined sequence number, assigned in compliance with the protocol. In both of these cases, a response timer is implemented. The response timer is active when data packets are outstanding without acknowledgement. Therefore, when this timer expires, the sending data processing system transmits a query frame to the receiving data processing to determine which data packets need to be resent. This query process is costly to execute since no data may be sent from the sending data processing system or the receiving data processing system while the query is outstanding. If the response timer were made to closely reflect the network response times, the query process would be more apt to be executed when needed. However, current implementations of communication networks fail to implement a timer which does closely approximate and reflect network response times within a communications network.
Therefore, a need exists for a communication network having data processing systems which closely track a response time of the network so that data packets may be transmitted and received at the most efficient rates.

Communication network having adjustable response timeouts and method therefore

International Business Machines Corporation


A shock absorber has a function of transmitting electric power between sprung and unsprung electrical components. The shock absorber includes a pair of conductive elements. The conductive elements are coupled electrically to each other. One of the conductive elements is attached to the rod of the shock absorber. The other conductive element is mounted within the tube.

The present invention relates generally to apparatuses having a function of transmitting electric power between sprung and unsprung parts of a vehicle, and more particularly to a shock absorber having a function of transmitting electric power between sprung and unsprung parts of a vehicle.
In recent years, there have been developed various electric vehicles for environmental protection. In particular, compact electric vehicles with a short distance per charge become widely available. Some of the compact electric vehicles include an electric motor attached to a wheel assembly, to use the limited space efficiently. On the other hand, an electric brake system, which is driven by an electric motor instead of a hydraulic circuit, is under study, to reduce liquid waste of brake fluid. These vehicles need electric power supply from sprung parts (body) to unsprung electrical components, especially electric motors, near wheel assemblies. In general, electrical components and power supply are directly connected with wire in electric vehicles. In middle size electric vehicles, the strokes of suspensions are long to provide preferable ride, and the thicknesses of wires are large in accordance with large capacities of motors. In this structure, bended repeatedly, the wire may get fatigued to break. Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 11-18212 (JP11-18212) discloses a technique against this problem. In JP11-18212, a power supply system includes a first coil as a sprung component, and a second coil as an unsprung element. Electric power is transmitted by electromagnetic induction between the pair of the coils. In other words, a transformer is formed to transmit electric power between sprung parts to unsprung parts.

Shock absorber with a function of transmission of electric power between sprung and unsprung parts of a vehicle


An autonomous mobile robot system allocates mapping, localization, planning and control functions to at least one navigator robot and allocates task performance functions to one or more functional robots. The at least one navigator robot maps the work environment, localizes itself and the functional robots within the map, plans the tasks to be performed by the at least one functional robot, and controls and tracks the functional robot during task performance. The navigator robot performs substantially all calculations for mapping, localization, planning and control for both itself and the functional robots. In one implementation, the navigator robot remains stationary while controlling and moving the functional robot in order to simplify localization calculations. In one embodiment, the navigator robot is equipped with sensors and sensor processing hardware required for these tasks, while the functional robot is not equipped with sensors or hardware employed for these purposes.

The present invention relates generally to mobile robot systems and, more particularly, relates to a system and method for allocating mapping, localization, planning, control and task performance functions in an autonomous multi-platform robot environment.
Mobile robots have been designed, developed and deployed to handle a variety of tasks such as cleaning and security. Most mobile robots are non-autonomous; that is, they are unable to autonomously navigate. The economic benefits provided by non-autonomous robots are limited by the inflexible behavior of the robots and their extensive installation costs. Skilled technicians often must be hired and paid to preprogram the robots for specific routes and tasks. It may be necessary to install objects in the environment to guide the robots, such as tracks, buried signal emitting wires, markers or sensors. Further modifications to the environment may also be necessary to minimize installation and operational problems.
Some mobile non-autonomous robots can detect obstacles blocking their paths, and can stop or deviate slightly from their paths to avoid such obstacles. If the environment is modified significantly, however, such as by moving a large item of furniture, conventional non-autonomous robots do not properly react. Part or all of the installation process often must be repeated. Given this limitation, non-autonomous robots are usually deployed only on stable and high value routes. Though some non-autonomous robots rely on random motion to perform their tasks, such as pool cleaning robots, only a limited number of applications are amenable to this approach.
Fully autonomous mobile robots have begun to emerge from research laboratories during the past few years. Autonomous robots are able to navigate through their environment by sensing and reacting to their surroundings and environmental conditions. Autonomous robot navigation involves four primary tasks: mapping, localization, planning and control. These closely related concepts are analogous to asking the questions xe2x80x9cWhere am I?xe2x80x9d (mapping and localization), followed by xe2x80x9cWhere do I want to be?xe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cWhat do I want to do?xe2x80x9d (planning), and finally, xe2x80x9cHow do I get there?xe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cHow do I do that?xe2x80x9d (control).
Once mapping is complete, the robot""s current position, orientation and rate of change within the map must be determined. This process is referred to as localization. Autonomous robots that rely on 2D mapping and localization are often not able to navigate with adequate reliability due to the relative simplicity of the map. Often, the robots become lost, stuck or fall. Use of dynamic 3D mapping and localization, by contrast, permits navigation that is more reliable but involves complex calculations requiring a large amount of computational overhead. 3D maps typically have millions of cells, making straightforward operations such as landmark extraction, localization and planning computationally intensive. The resulting computational delays limit the speed of robot movement and task performance.
Once mapping and localization are accomplished, task planning and performance must be undertaken. Some localization will still be required during task performance. With one robot, attempting to localize while performing tasks leads to unacceptable delays. If multiple robots are used, the tradeoffs described above are often still present, and must now be dealt with multiple times over.
In view of the above, an autonomous, multi-robot system having fast, accurate and cost effective mapping and localization, as well as effective planning and allocation of tasks is needed.
The present invention is directed toward a system and method for allocating mapping, localization, planning, control and task performance functions in a multi-robot environment. The system comprises at least one navigator robot platform and one or more functional robot platforms that perform predetermined tasks.
For each task, a navigator and a given functional robot work in tandem. Mapping, localization, planning, and control functions are assigned to the at least one navigator robot, and functional tasks are assigned to the one or more functional robots. In one implementation, the system is used for cleaning the interior of a house or office. In this implementation, the functional robots perform the tasks of vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, cleaning bathroom fixtures, etc., while the navigator robot navigates, maneuvers and monitors the functional robots.
In one aspect of the present invention, there is a autonomous system of mobile robots operating within an arbitrary environment and comprising one or more functional mobile robot(s) that are responsible for performing functional tasks, and one or more autonomous navigator mobile robot(s) that localize themselves and the functional robot(s) within the environment using the functional robot(s) as landmarks and control the functional robot(s) during task performance.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is an autonomous system of mobile robots operating within an environment and comprising one or more functional mobile robot(s) that are responsible for performing functional tasks; and one or more autonomous navigator mobile robot(s) that localize themselves and the functional robot(s) within the environment using the functional robot(s) as landmarks and control the functional robot(s) during task performance, wherein, when the functional robot(s) are moving, the navigator robot(s) remain stationary, and wherein, when the navigator robot(s) are moving, the functional robot(s) remain stationary.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, there is an autonomous system of robots operating within an arbitrary environment and comprising one or more functional mobile robot(s) that are responsible for performing functional tasks; and a plurality of navigator robots including one or more autonomous navigator mobile robot(s) and one or more computing platform(s), wherein the navigator robots localize themselves and the functional robot(s) within the environment using the functional robot(s) as landmarks and control the functional robot(s) during task performance.
Further features and advantages of this invention as well as the structure of operation of various embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.


A cigarette inspection device designed to obtain an image showing filter end faces of a bundle C of filtered cigarettes arranged side by side with their axes parallel to one another, analyze the image and determine whether the bundle is short of filtered cigarettes comprises a first determination section which determines how many filtered cigarettes are arranged side by side from contours of filter end faces in the image generated, and determines whether the bundle consists of a predetermined number of filtered cigarettes, and a second determination section which determines whether the first determination section has falsely recognized one cigarette as two.

Filtered cigarettes are made into bundles of a predetermined number (twenty, for example) and packaged by a packaging machine as disclosed in patent document 1, thereby formed into finished products called cigarette packs. For example, the packaging machine disclosed in patent document 1 is applied to a bundle formed by stacking a plurality of rows of filtered cigarettes arranged side by side with their axes parallel to one another, and packages such bundle by wrapping a wrapper around the bundle and then folding the wrapper inward to close the opposite open ends of the wrapper, thus sealing the open ends.

Cigarette inspection device for inspecting the number of cigarettes in cigarette pack


The present invention teaches a computerized automatic photography booth for generating a synthesized sketch and a method therefor. The initial images to be converted may be real-time images taken on sight and/or stored images previously programmed into the memory of the computer. The computer maps out the essential characteristics of each image and converts the image into a sketch. Optionally, a background sketch is also programmed so as to form a composite.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to automatic photograph booths, and more particularly, to an automatic photography booth containing a microprocessor and video camera for converting two or more images into one computer generated synthesized composite sketch.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are presently known in the art coin or bill operated photo finishing booths which have fixed lens cameras therein and which take a series of photographs of an individual sitting in the booth. Such photographs are developed in the machine and then dispensed to the individual. However, the photographic capabilities of presently available machines is of poor quality, the photographs dispensed are exceptionally small and of poor lighting contrast, and the lens is fixed such that the individual cannot adjust the area to be encompassed in the photograph.
Automatic coin or bill operated photostudios, also known as "photographic vending machines," which are actuable by a user for taking self-portraits are well known in the prior art. Generally, these photostudios include a housing that is divided into a studio compartment where the user sits to be photographed and an adjoining apparatus compartment housing a portrait camera and associated film handling and processing equipment. Upon actuating the photostudio, usually by inserting a coin, bill or token into a receiving mechanism or by other means such as actuating an electrical switch, the camera operates to photograph the user sitting in the studio compartment and then the exposed film unit is automatically processed and delivered to the user, via a delivery chute or slot, in a relatively short period of time.
Automatic photostudios which utilize self-developing film units typically use film holding cassettes and a cassette changing apparatus for moving such cassettes into and out of operative relation with the camera. Generally, such cassette changing apparatuses include means for holding a supply of film cassettes and transfer means for moving a cassette from the supply means into a camera cassette receiving receptacle, removing the cassette from the receptacle after the film units therein have been expended, and replacing the removed empty cassette with a full cassette.
Self-serve photography booths typically have a still or video camera mounted in a booth wall opposite the user's seat. In some such systems, the wall with the camera mounted therein also has a video monitor for displaying the camera's image. The user is typically given a certain amount of time to position himself where desired within the camera's field of view before the image is captured and printed. Often, the user sits on a bench and if he needs to change the position of his image in the camera's field of view, he must shift his position up or down or side to side on the bench. Some such booths may have an adjustable height seat that gives the user control over the height of his image in the field of view.
In one such system, the platform to which the camera is mounted may be tipped on a horizontal axis by use of a motor-driven camera-mount platform to change the vertical field of view of the camera. This system provides adjustment only in the vertical direction; therefore, it does not allow the user to place his image everywhere within the camera's field of view. Furthermore, the camera movement is accomplished with a motor and pulley arrangement which is relatively expensive, complex and subject to breakdown and maintenance.
Moreover, there would of necessity be some time lag between the operator's use of the motor control button and the movement of the camera. Accordingly, it is relatively difficult and time consuming for the user to place his image where desired. Since these booths typically have a relatively short time, for example ten seconds, for the user to place himself where desired in the camera's field of view, this motor driven vertical positioning system will not provide the means by which the user can exactly place his image in the camera's field of view. This is a severe problem in such photography booths in which the user selects a stored image into which his image is placed digitally to provide a fantasized picture of the subject; in such instances, it is imperative that the subject be placed at exactly the right position and at the right angle, with the correct intensity of lighting and shading, to exactly fit in the stored image so that the resulting picture looks as realistic as possible.
More modern conventional photography booths include a video-photo installation that produces a photographic montage using a real-time image of a subject-user of the installation and a stored image selected by the subject-user. In such photography booths, a sensor registers the position of the subject-user and adjusts that position as needed. A control enables the installation to be controlled by the subject-user in accordance with instructions provided by the installation. The control may be executed by touch screen and communication with the user may be effected by audio/visual units that have multi-lingual capacity. Cosmetic features or messages may also be added to the image. The stored images may be replaced by reloading of a diskette. The advantage of such a system is that it is user-friendly and can superimpose one image on top of another image.
However, such a system does not have the ability to provide a sketch or a multiplicity of the sketch onto a substrate. Furthermore, the prior art systems do not superimpose a sketch of a user and a sketch of selected background to create a novel composite third sketch which is a hybrid of the first two sketches. Furthermore, there is a need for an improved camera operating system such that the subject-user need not concern himself or herself with posing in a certain position. The present invention teaches a system which includes these features as well as other improvements over the prior art. The term "sketch" as herein employed is understood to mean a representation of the real time image, such as a digital image and the like.

Automatic photograph booth for forming sketches


An electronic device includes: a video signal processing unit that receives a video signal and outputs a predetermined type of signal; an arithmetic processing unit that transfers a correction segment data corresponding to a different segment between a current unevenness correction data and a previous unevenness correction data; and an unevenness correction unit that corrects the predetermined type of signal based on the current unevenness correction data.

In electronic devices such as projectors and monitors that display images using light from liquid crystal panels, it is necessary to reduce an amount of color unevenness caused by the liquid crystal panels and an amount of luminance unevenness caused by optical systems (light sources) that irradiate the liquid crystal panels with the light.
Therefore, in conventional liquid crystal panel projector devices, a high-quality projected image is obtained by correcting RGB video signals (correcting the unevenness) using unevenness correction patterns (unevenness correction data) (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Electronic device and control method for electronic device


The invention is an apparatus and methods for optimizing the performance and protecting one or more aerosol generating transducers from deterioration while operating in a chemically reactive aqueous solution by utilizing one or more protective barrier techniques to eliminate chemical interaction between the aqueous solution and the transducers. The method of the present invention produces an aerosol producing transducer with the transducer housing and assembly to be constructed in such a way as to assure its efficient and effective long-term and problem free operation in an aqueous solution that is chemically reactive.

The apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,366,125, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including any references cited therein, generates a hydrogen peroxide mist by an ultrasonic waves vibrator. The mist adheres to the surface of materials being sterilized and is then irradiated with ultraviolet-ray lamps. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,878,355 and 6,102,992, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including any references cited therein, disclose a method and device for decontamination of a contaminated process area whereby a fine aerosol of an encapsulant is generated to encapsulate contaminants within a contaminated environment. The aerosol is generated by one or more ultrasonic transducers located below the surface of a reservoir containing a liquid. The output of the transducers is focused to either a point and/or directed toward an area near the surface of the liquid to cause a surface disturbance, which results in the formation of an aerosol from the liquid. The transducers used in these apparatuses are made from lead-zirconate-titanate-four (PZT-4) or other piezoelectric materials. This material is coated with a conductive coating (electrode material) that enables an electrical signal to energize the transducer and causes it to emit high frequency pressure (energy).
While operating these prior art apparatuses and similar apparatuses, it has been found that certain liquids, especially acidic solutions, chemically react with the electrode materials of the transducers that generate the aerosol. The result is a noticeable deterioration of both the transducers and their performance. For example, acidic solutions of hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid have caused noticeable deterioration of the transducers within minutes of operation.
An attempt was made to prevent transducer degradation by coating the face of the transducers with a thin coating of different materials. None of these efforts have been successful. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,863, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including any references cited therein, discloses similar findings. The protective coating on the transducer deteriorated to a point where the transducer failed to be energized. It was initially believed that this deterioration was caused by transducer induced cavitation within the tank; however, the aforementioned coatings were also shown to fail in simple immersion tests, conducted over time in an acidic solution, with unpowered transducers. For example, laboratory work indicated that PZT material coated with an electroless nickel plating, or a glaze, were both found to be incompatible with a 4% solution of hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid, after being exposed to the solution for two weeks at 160.degree. F.
In addition, it was found that various materials used to construct the transducer housing and assembly experienced deterioration after being subjected to a simulated long-term exposure to an acid solution of hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid. This was observed with an accelerated aging test. This test consisted of placing components constructed of various material types in vessels containing the hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid solution and subjecting them to increased temperature over a course of time. Without being limited to the theory, this test is based on the theory recognized in the art that at higher temperatures chemical or physical reactions will proceed faster due to the increased probability that two molecules will collide and chemically react.
Without being limited to a mechanism, method, or chemical, it is believed that chemically reactive liquids are necessary in sterilization processes to contact contaminants including but not limited to toxins, bacteria, virus, fungus, and spores (both fungal and bacterial), prions or protein structures, within a target area(s) either killing or neutralizing the bacteria, virus, fungus, and spores, or rendering the toxin, virus, or protein structure incapable of replication or otherwise interfering with the target's cellular physiology, or destroying or neutralizing the toxin. These chemically reactive liquids may be provided as an aerosol. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,951, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including any references cited therein, teaches using hydrogen peroxide to sterilize medical articles by condensing hydrogen peroxide-water vapors to deposit a film of liquid on the medical devices. The liquid film is then evaporated off the medical devices.
While the prior art attempted to coat the transducer, there were problems with these coatings. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,729,138; 4,109,863; and 4,976,259, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including any references cited therein, teach that the optimum thickness of a glass barrier, which may be used as a protective plate and/or cover, on a transducer should be any multiple of one-half (½) the wavelength of the transmitted pressure (energy). The thicknesses of protective barriers have been calculated using wave transmission theories and their respective mathematical formulas known to those skilled in the art. It is estimated that roughly twenty percent (20%) of the energy emitted from the transducers is being transmitted into the liquid beyond the protective barrier. The prior art does not include techniques for further increasing the energy emitted from the transducer with a protective plate and/or cover.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,433,461; 3,729,138; 4,109,863; and 4,976,259, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including any references cited therein, teach that an effective thickness of a protective barrier material "interfaced with" a transducer can be any multiple of one-half (½) the wavelength of the transmitted pressure (energy) from the transducer. Prior art has taught that one-half (½) wavelength thick barriers constructed from non-conductive and/or insulating type materials like glass, could be effectively coupled with an ultrasonic transducer for generating aerosol, as long as they included a special design consideration for cooling the transducer, or the transducer was separated from the glass barrier with a layer of liquid. U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,461 teaches utilizing a 1.5 inch diameter transducer bonded to a metal barrier that is a one-half wavelength thick. A problem associated with using metal barriers is corrosion, which was acknowledged in U.S. Pat. No. 3,729,138. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 3,433,461 discloses that heat has a detrimental effect associated with the operation of a transducer and that a metal barrier interfaced with a transducer permitted the use of much higher driving powers than in prior art devices, since it provided more heat dissipation. Further, the driving power supplied to the transducers is limited by the heat dissipation in the device, which is a function, in each case, of the total area of the generator.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,259, an attempt was made to bond a glass barrier to a piezoelectric crystal with an adhesive, but such an attempt did not improve on the prior art and resulted in a major loss of acoustic coupling of the ultrasonic energy into the glass cover as the adhesive bond deteriorated. The deterioration was due to high localized temperatures caused by reflected energy resulting from mismatched acoustical impedances.
The prior art does not currently include commercially effective techniques for constructing and operating a high frequency and high power aerosol producing transducer assembly consisting of one or more transducers bonded or adhered to a protective barrier constructed from non-metallic and/or insulative type materials, such as glass, with a thickness that is not one-half (½) of a wavelength. Furthermore, the prior art does not currently include high frequency and high power aerosol producing glass barrier and transducer assemblies that are capable of operating without additional liquid layers or liquid cooling means incorporated into the transducer assembly design.
Therefore, the need for a protective barrier for the aerosol producing transducer that is highly resistant to degradation caused by chemically reactive solutions exists. The protective barrier should withstand the heat generated by a transducer and should function effectively with the transducer to produce a fine aerosol at high output levels (which requires high energy emitted by the transducer). This heat is due to the high frequency and energy that is needed to achieve a high output of aerosolized liquid per hour with the aerosol droplets being less than about 10 microns in size. In general, within the effective frequency band, the higher the power at the effective aerosol producing frequencies, the larger the quantity of aerosol produced; and the higher the effective frequency the smaller the droplet size in the aerosol.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for optimizing aerosol generation with ultrasonic transducers


Connection elements which, for example, may be used to facilitate interconnection to and stacking of electronic assemblies or may include an elongated conductive core, such as a wire or a hollow tube structure, coated with a layer of elastomeric material containing conductive particle such that the elastomeric material is conductive at least when compressed. The substrates of multi-chip modules (MCMs) have electrical connection sites in the form of metal-lined channels in the substrate edges, and the connection elements are pressed into the channels. Separate compression or clamping elements may be employed to enhance conductivity, as well as to facilitate external connections. The elongated conductive core may take the form of a hollow tube structure which may be expanded under internal pressure to compress the layer of elastomeric material. The compression elements may take the form of printed circuit boards. In alternative embodiments the connection elements may be clamped between conductive channels of side-by-side substrates or between opposed conductive channels of stacked substrates.

This invention relates generally to electrical interconnections between electronic modules and, more particularly, to stacked circuit substrates or modules, such as multi-chip modules (MCMs), having closely spaced interconnections that can be readily removed for repair, replacement and reconfiguration of individual modules.
The invention is applicable in particular to memory modules and electronic back planes, where the interconnect structure is not very complex, and the substrates or modules have a high degree of common signals or electrical potentials. The invention is also applicable to demountable and repairable assemblies of supercomputer modules.
Disclosed in Eichelberger et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,695 and related patents, a high density interconnect (HDI) structure offers many advantages in the compact assembly of electronic systems which include a number of integrated circuit "chips." HDI fabrication techniques can be employed to form multi-chip modules (MCMs). Very briefly, a substrate is provided. The substrate is typically made of ceramic. However, plastics or composites of various types may also be employed. Individual cavities or one large cavity having appropriate depths at the intended locations of the various chips are prepared. The various "chips" and other components are placed in their desired locations within the cavities, and adhered by means of a thermoplastic adhesive layer. A multiple layer interconnect overcoat structure is then built up to electrically interconnect the components into a functioning system.
The process of forming the multiple layer interconnect overcoat structure begins with laminating a polyimide dielectric film, which may be DuPont Kapton, polyimide, about 12.5 to 75 microns thick, across the top of the chips, other components and the substrate. The as-placed locations of the various components and contact pads thereon are then determined, and via holes are laser drilled in the Kapton film in alignment with the contact pads. A metallization layer is deposited over the Kapton film layer and extends into the via holes to make electrical contacts to the contact pads disposed thereunder. This metallization layer may be patterned to form individual conductors during the process of depositing it, or may be deposited as a continuous layer and then patterned using photoresist and etching. Additional dielectric and metallization layers are formed as required to make all of the desired electrical connection among the chips supported by the substrates.
For even higher density, individual HDI substrates or modules have been stacked to form what may be termed a three-dimensional high density interconnect structure. Examples are disclosed in Eichelberger et al U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,019,946 and 5,107,586. The individual HDI modules are vertically interconnected by providing electrical contact pads on the side surfaces of the individual HDI substrates, so that, when the individual substrates are stacked, the stacked configuration has a side surface presenting a number of contact pads which can then be interconnected to form interconnections between the substrates.
To make interconnections on the side surface, a fabrication process comparable to the above-summarized lamination process for building the multi-layer interconnection overcoat structure of the individual modules is employed, including laser ablating vias down to the edge pads, metallizing and patterning the metal.
This process is both time consuming and costly. The resultant assembly is essentially a bonded stack that is not easily repairable or demountable for replacement of defective modules.
As an alternative, wire bonding of the edge pads of such stacked modules has been performed. However, wire bonding increases interconnect length and the wire bonds are difficult to remove without damage to the modules. In addition, the process requires specialized wire bonding equipment which can operate on the edges of the substrates.
To avoid wire bonding to the substrate edges, pyramidal structures may be formed with a succession of module sizes, so that one tier of interconnects can be wire bonded from the upper major surface of one module to interconnect pads on the upper major surfaces of the adjacent tier or tiers. Such a pyramidal structure imposes a penalty in that the area of the upper modules in the stack must be reduced.
Another solution that has been proposed is the use of anisotropic conductive adhesive films. As is described for example in a literature reference Gilleo, K. (Alpha Metals, Jersey City, N.J.), "Assembly with Conductive Adhesives," Proceedings of Surface Mount International 1994, San Jose, Calif., pp. 279-288, anisotropic conductive adhesives provide unidirectional conductivity in the direction of the vertical, or Z-axis. This uni-directional conductivity is achieved by using a relatively low volume loading of conductive filler in a dielectric polymer bonding agent. The low volume loading is insufficient for inter-particle contact and prevents conductivity in the X-Y plane of the adhesive. The material, in film or paste form, is interposed between the surfaces to be connected. Application of heat and pressure causes conductive particles to be trapped between opposing conductor surfaces. Once electrical continuity is produced, the dielectric polymer binder is hardened by thermally initiated chemical reaction (thermosets) or by cooling (thermoplastics). The hardened polymer holds the assembly together and helps maintain the pressure contact between conductors and particles.
For assembling a three-dimensional stack of modules, anisotropic conductive adhesive films are placed between adjacent modules to establish electrical connections between pads on the bottom of one module and on the top of the next lower module in a stack. For the bottom connection, within or on the individual module substrate, interconnects are extended bottom pads through via holes or wrap around interconnects. As in the case of the three-dimensional high density interconnect structure summarized above, the resultant assembly is essentially a bonded stack that is not easily repairable or demountable for replacement of defective modules.
Soldered interconnects such as ball grid arrays (BGA) offer similar possibilities. Ball grid arrays also have the disadvantages of relative difficulty in assembly and repair, as well as a lack of demountability. Further, it is difficult to achieve a high density of interconnect even with micro-ball grid arrays. A 50 mil pitch is typical, with perhaps a 10 mil pitch being the lower limit which can be achieved with a ball grid array.
Also relevant in the context of the present invention is the prior art use of conductive elastomeric materials for providing electrical interconnection. Conductive elastomeric materials typically employ conductive particles, such as silver, carbon, nickel and gold, dispersed throughout a rubber-like material, such as silicone rubber material or certain polyurethanes.
Like anisotropic conductive adhesives, conductive elastomeric materials are typically anisotropic, meaning they are conductive, when compressed, only in the direction of compression, compression causing the conductive particles to contact each other. Generally, raised contact pad areas are provided, designed to give a 20% compression, or better. Sheets of anisotropic conductive elastomeric materials accordingly can be employed to achieve selective connection zones, while maintaining virtual open circuits to adjacent lines or pads.
Such conductive elastomeric materials (as well as anisotropic conductive adhesives) have been used for years to interconnect liquid crystal display cells and printed circuit boards to other electronics. In the case of connections to liquid crystal display cells, high resistance connections (e.g. hundreds of Ohms) are acceptable, since such constitutes a small additional series resistance. Carbon fillers in silicone rubber have been used for these applications for years. In other applications where a lower resistance interconnect is required, silver or gold fillers are used in the elastomeric interconnect materials.
A disadvantage of such use of sheets of anisotropic conductive elastomeric material deserving mention in the context of the present invention is that they can take a compressive "set," and often are not reusable following a repair operation.
To eliminate multiple particle connection regions that are intrinsic to the use of elastomeric materials filled with conductive particles, a structure known as metal ring banding can be employed. In metal ring banding, a plurality of conductive rings are provided around an elongated silicone core. The metal rings do not touch, and so maintain electrical isolation. When compressed, selected areas are connected. Metal ring banding around a silicone core is limited in the thickness of the core material, which is generally in the 15-20 mil region and up.
Another interconnection technique which deserves brief mention in the context of the subject invention is the use of the Zebra strip connectors, where wires are arrayed in a vertical orientation between PC boards and the like. These wires are on a 50 mil or greater pitch. The connections are made by pressure and are not widely used, due to the large containment structures employed to keep from bulging. Zebra strip connectors are generally used to make connections from one MCM to another, but without making connections to the edges of the MCMs. Zebra strip connections are not well suited to stacking modules, unless a backplane is provided.

Demountable and repairable low pitch interconnect for stacked multichip modules


A method and system that limits the use of a communication device present in an area controlled by an intelligent controller. The intelligent controller detects any present communication devices in the area and conducts an inventory providing information about each detected device. The intelligent controller compares that information to a standard of use data, which specifies the conditions need to be present for allowing the usage of a communication device. If such conditions are not met, the intelligent controller sends commands to the communication device to restrict its functionality. Else if, the intelligent controller is incapable of restricting the communication device, it can notify authorities of unauthorized usage of a communication device in the restricted area.

The use of wireless devices has increased dramatically within the last decade. Individuals and business entities are in constant communication via wireless networks through devices such as cellular telephones, PDA's, hybrid cellular telephones, tablet computers, and computers. The ability to easily communicate with others has caused many individuals to develop habits of using these devices at various locations. However, some uses of wireless communication devices are disturbing to the public, interfere with various sensitive electronics and provide additional venues for fraudulent behavior. In the most extreme cases, this interference can be life threatening.
To restrict this interference, many different mechanisms have been proposed. For instance, after various studies, many U.S. jurisdictions have prohibited cell phone usage while operating a vehicle because the studies indicated that operating a cell phone is a distraction to the driver. The driver's attention becomes focused on operating the device and talking into it rather than the traffic and other driving conditions in her surroundings.
Many technological advances have led to developments to correct these problems. Some of these advances are voice recognition units, speakerphone components, hands-free devices, Bluetooth-enabled devices, and earpieces. However, such devises do not monitor nor prevent the use of cellular telephones.
Concurrently, theaters, restaurants, churches and schools began to regulate the use of cellular telephones since cellular communications can be a nuisance. One approach to solve this problem was the creation of cell phone silencers. Such devices communicate with cellular phones within the area and turn down their ringers. However, this system still does not prevent the use of a cellular phone. Rather, it prohibits a cell phone from ringing.
In hospitals and airplanes the use of wireless communication devices interferes with various sensitive electronics, such as electronic monitoring equipment. Cellular phone detection products were developed to detect the presence of cellular phones and send an alarm to the user. However, such systems do not strictly prohibit the use of a cellular phone since a user need not cooperate. Intel has developed a system for use in an airplane. The system uses Bluetooth technology to detect and determine the type of electronic devices present and subsequently notifies the crew. Further, the system can send a "shutdown command" to the electronic device which automatically turns the device off. While useful, the system unnecessarily disables the electronic devices from use.
Wireless communication devices, including cellular phones and laptops, can access confidential financial documents stored in financial institutions computing systems through wireless networks, servers and monetary dispensing machines. Financial institutions use an array of fraud prevention techniques including private networks, secure socket layer encrypted connections, strong passwords, and video surveillance. However, these techniques quickly become obsolete as the technology for fraudulent behavior continues to evolve. Wireless communication device users may exploit weak spots, inherent in any computing system, to obtain bank account numbers or customer information. Exploitation, or hacking, can be accomplished through any communication device capable of wireless internet connection. Additionally, MP3 function found on many wireless communication devices can be used to sonically record account information found on magnetic stripping of credit cards and debit cards while in use at monetary dispensing machines. There are currently no entirely secure methods of protecting financial information. Inhibiting the use of wireless communication devices in financial institutions and near monetary dispensing machines would prevent fraudulent behavior before it can be attempted.
Methods for interrupting transmitted and received signals from communication devices are well known. Most of these devices simply distort, revert, block, or otherwise manipulate the signal. One device currently being used in Europe is called a "Jammer," which simply blocks signals centered on frequencies used by the communication device. When in use, the communication device appears to have no signal. However, all frequencies within a predetermined area up to 30 feet are blocked. No emergency numbers can be dialed or received, which creates an unsafe situation. In addition, Jammers are currently illegal in the United States.
In order to overcome the problem of non-selective blocking, an "Interceptor" is often used. Instead of completely blocking the signal in a specified area, incoming calls are diverted to a user's voicemail while outgoing calls are blocked. An exception can be made for emergency numbers. However, these emergency numbers need to be pre-programmed within a specific area of use. In addition, the Interceptor has to communicate with a proximate cellular tower to maintain functionality.
Consequently, methods and systems have been developed to incorporate jamming technology into vehicles and/or communication devices. One method electrically connects a jamming device to the transmission of a car in order to render the communication device "on" while the vehicle is in "Park," or "off" when the vehicle is in a gear permitting movement. Further development in this field, incorporates additional circuitry and components into the vehicle and communication device which allows for more versatility and functionality of the communication device. These methods and systems selectively control the functions of the communication device. However, these functions are determined by pre-determined, specified parameters. For instance, these conditions might include times when the car is moving at or above a certain speed; when the car is not in "Park"; when pressure is sensed on the drivers' seat; and/or when the conditions monitored within the car are suitable for driving.
In order to determine the existence of one of the aforementioned conditions, many electronic devices are used. Infrared devices, wireless components, and many other types of sensors are used to determine the functionality of a communication device. For example, the sensor or sensors can detect signals to and/or from the communication device and either (i) disable it when a first condition is present, or (ii) turn it off when a second condition is present. However, this system is expensive to implement because it requires circuitry in the phone, in the vehicle, and in any other area for use. In addition, this type of system does not allow passengers within the vehicle or other individuals within a given area to use their cellular devices. Consequently, the entire vehicle becomes a "dead" zone.
Therefore, there is a clear need for a method and system in which the operation of a communication device is selectively controlled, yet maintains efficiency, effectiveness, and simplicity.

Wireless communication device management


A vehicle having three or more wheels, supporting substantially all of the vehicle weight on its wheels, for removing a traffic marking from a road surface, has a vertically floating head cutter mechanism comprising a mounting shroud having an open bottom and being suspended from the vehicle in substantially vertically movable relation with respect to the vehicle by two or more vertical guides. The vertical guides define upper and lower limits of vertical travel of the mounting shroud and are dimensioned and otherwise adapted to locate the mounting shroud in an operative intermediate position between the upper and lower limit positions. First and second cutter head assemblies are operatively mounted within the mounting shroud adjacent the open bottom for counter-rotation about respective first and second axes, which axes are preferably canted from zero degrees to ten degrees to the vertical. Hydraulic drive motors are operatively connected to the first and second cutter head assemblies for causing the counter-rotation thereof. Biasing springs and hydraulically actuated cylinders are interconnected between the mounting shroud and the vehicle for biasing the mounting shroud towards the lower limit position and for resiliently urging the first and second cutter head assemblies into cutting engagement with the road surface through the open bottom of the mounting shroud, with a substantially constant cutting force applied by each cutter head assembly to the road surface irrespective of irregularities encountered in the road surface as the vehicle moves therealong.

It is common to paint assorted patterns of traffic markings, such as center lines, directional arrows, and the like, on various types of road surfaces. Such road surfaces may include roads and parking lots, and so on, made from asphalt, concrete, or similar material. Such traffic markings are usually applied using special types of paints that permeate into the asphalt or concrete perhaps as much as a millimeter, so that the traffic markings do not readily wear off. Accordingly, in the event that it is necessary to remove the traffic markings, it is difficult to perform such removal without also removing a portion of the underlying road surface.
Prior art traffic marking removers comprise small manually motive powered devices having a single cutter head assembly mounted on a main body for rotation of the cutter head assembly about a vertical axis. The cutter head assembly typically comprises a base member securely mounted on a drive shaft for rotation therewith about the vertical axis, which drive shaft is mounted in a housing by means of a pair of cooperating drive shaft bearings. A plurality of cutter heads are rotatably mounted on the base member in radially projecting relation thereto, each by means of a pair of cooperating cutter head bearings engaged on respective stub axles secured to the base member. The cutter heads are at all times, when in use, in contact with the road surface having a traffic marking to be removed therefrom.
Accordingly, prior art traffic marking removers remove traffic lines by cutting a shallow rut in the road surface, which rut has substantially vertical sides separated by a span substantially the same width as the diameter of the cutter head assembly. The creation of such ruts is undesirable, since vehicle tires tend to get caught by the substantially vertical sides, which may be dangerous, especially at high speeds.
Also, most prior art traffic marking removers tend to remove uncontrolled varying amounts of road surface, due to an inability to accurately control the downwardly directed pressure of the cutter heads on the road surface. It is usually not possible for prior art traffic marking removers to apply a constant cutting force by the cutter head mechanism to a road surface having a traffic marking removed therefrom, especially at locations where dips, bumps or other irregularities are encountered in the road surface. Thus, using prior art traffic marking removers, the vertical depth of road surface removed might easily vary along the length of the traffic marking being removed from virtually nothing removed, to far too much removed. As a consequence, in order to ensure that the marking is completely removed along its entire length, it is necessary with prior art equipment to remove an excessive amount of road surface, thereby creating an excessively deep rut along at least some portion of the length of the marking. It can be readily understood that the deeper the rut, the greater the danger of a vehicle tire being caught in the rut. It is also common for water to accumulate in the ruts thus created, which is undesirable, and unsafe, especially if the water freezes.
Indeed, it has been found, that in many jurisdictions, governmental bodies responsible for the maintenance of roads have set forth specifications for traffic marking removal on some road surfaces, such as highways, which specifications usually cannot be met by prior art traffic marking removers, especially if the road surface is uneven. It is often only through chance that a traffic line removal done by a prior art traffic marking remover apparatus conforms to such specifications.
Also, since prior art traffic marking removers have only a single cutter head assembly, the torque from the engagement of the single cutter head assembly with a road surface is counteracted only by the weight of the traffic marking remover and the strength of the operator. Accordingly, prior art traffic marking removers are operated at a cutter head assembly speed of about 300 to 500 r.p.m. so as to minimize such torque. Even at that slow speed, however, prior art traffic marking removers tend to draw themselves off the course intended by the operator, which is unacceptable. Also, due to the slow rotational speed of the cutter head assembly, traffic marking removal tends to be quite slow. A typical rate of progress is in the order of about one kilometer per day, per machine.
Another significant problem with prior art traffic marking removers is that of an unacceptable short useful life of drive shaft bearings and cutter head bearings. The drive shaft bearings and cutter head bearings are constantly, during use, subjected to a substantial lateral load. The drive shaft bearings and cutter head bearings are not typically lubricated, and thus generate a substantial amount of heat. It has been found that the temperature of drive shaft bearings and cutter head bearings may reach temperatures in the order of 350 degrees F. Such high temperatures tend to substantially accelerate the wear of drive shaft bearings and cutter head bearings.
Further, the drive shaft bearings and cutter head bearings are subjected to asphalt or concrete dust and debris created by the cutting operation, which dust and debris tend to settle in the bearings. Accordingly, the bearings tend to wear out very quickly, or suddenly seize, and therefore must be replaced as frequently as every day, or even more frequently, depending on the particular application, which replacement is extremely undesirable in terms of unproductive down time and in terms of the actual cost of the bearing replacement.
Yet another significant problem with prior art traffic marking removers is that of flat spots on the generally circular perimeter cutter heads. As the cutter head bearings become worn or contaminated by dust and debris, the cutter heads rotate less freely, which increases the likelihood that a perimeter section of the teeth of the cutter head that are in cutting contact with the road surface, will remain in said cutting contact with the road surface. Accordingly, these teeth tend to become worn so as to create a "flat spot", which worn teeth do not effectively cut the road surface. Once a flat spot comes into existence on a cutter head, the cutter head will rotate until the flat spot is in contact with the road surface, and will remain in contact with the road surface, thus accelerating the wear of the already overly worn teeth. The cutter head must then be replaced in order to achieve proper cutting of a road surface. It is common for cutter heads to be replaced quite frequently, perhaps even daily, depending upon the nature of the job conditions, which is extremely undesirable in terms of unproductive down time and in terms of the high replacement cost of the cutter heads. Such frequent replacement of the cutter heads would cause traffic marking removal to be even slower than an expected rate of progress of about one kilometer per day, per machine.
Further, it has been found that using cutter heads with flat spots also tends to cause excessive wear on the cutter head bearings.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle for removing a traffic marking from a road surface, which vehicle has a vertically floating cutter head mechanism.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle for removing a traffic marking from a road surface, which vehicle has cutter heads that are intermittently in contact with a road surface, so as to ensure rotation of the cutter heads, thereby to prevent flat spotting of the cutter heads.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle for removing a traffic marking from a road surface, and having a vertically floating cutter head mechanism, which vehicle removes a readily controllable depth of underlying road surface.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle having a vertically floating cutter head mechanism, for removing a traffic marking from a road surface, which vehicle does not cut a substantially vertically sided rut in the road surface.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle having a vertically floating cutter head mechanism, for removing a traffic marking from a road surface, which vehicle applies a substantially constant cutting force to the road surface, irrespective of irregularities in the road surface.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle having a vertically floating cutter head mechanism, for removing a traffic marking from a road surface, which vehicle does not exceed a maximum specified depth of cut in a road surface.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle having a vertically floating cutter head mechanism, for removing a traffic marking from a road surface, which vehicle has a significantly faster travelling speed that prior art machines for the same use.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle having a vertically floating cutter head mechanism, for removing a traffic marking from a road surface, which vehicle does not draw itself off course.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle having a vertically floating cutter head mechanism, for removing a traffic marking from a road surface, which vehicle has drive shaft bearing and cutter head bearing temperatures significantly less than prior art machines for the same use, so as to prevent bearing overheating and/or failure.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle having a vertically floating cutter head mechanism, for removing a traffic marking from a road surface, which vehicle has increased drive shaft bearing life over prior art machines for the same use.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle having a vertically floating cutter head mechanism, for removing a traffic marking from a road surface, which vehicle has increased cutter head bearing life over prior art machines for the same use.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle having a vertically floating cutter head mechanism, for removing a traffic marking from a road surface, which vehicle has increased cutter head life over prior art machines for the same use.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle having a vertically floating cutter head mechanism, for removing a traffic marking from a road surface, which vehicle resists flat spots from being produced on the teeth of the cutter heads utilized in the cutter mechanism.

Floating head cutter mechanism for removing traffic markings


A solution is proposed for populating a policy file in a Java environment automatically. For this purpose, there is provided a wrapper for a security manager in charge of controlling any access to protected resources. A generic Java application is run in a test environment. Whenever a specific operation must be executed on a secured resource, the Java application submits a corresponding permission request to the wrapper. The wrapper forwards the permission request to the security manager, which verifies whether the required permission is available in the policy file. The wrapper logs any denied permission. In any case, the wrapper always grants the required permission to the Java application, so that its operation can continue without any problem. At the end of the running of the Java application, the logged missing permissions are added to the policy file.

The configuration of software applications is a very complex task. A typical scenario is the definition of the security requirements for the correct operation of the software applications.
For example, the software applications may be written in the Java language. Java applications run in a Java Virtual Machine (JVM), which consists of an abstract computing machine providing a runtime environment independent of the underlying (hardware and software) platform. This allows running the Java applications virtually on any type of computers (provided that the required JVM is available). For this reason, the Java applications have found extensive use in the Internet. Whenever a Java application must execute a specific operation on a secured resource (for example, reading or writing a file), a corresponding permission must be granted for that operation. In the Java environment, all the available permissions are defined in a so-called policy file (or more). Therefore, when a new Java application (or a new version thereof) is deployed it is necessary to ensure that the permissions required for its correct operation are defined in the policy file.
However, the composition of the policy file is decidedly not trivial. Indeed, for this purpose an operator must add a specific entry to the policy file for each required permission (according to the corresponding syntax).
Some graphical tools (such as the "policytool" shipped with the JSDK) are available to facilitate the task of editing the policy file—without the need of knowing its syntax.
In any case, this task remains substantially manual (and then strongly dependent on the skill of the operator and prone to errors).
Moreover, it is very difficult (if not impossible) to identify all the permissions required by the Java application a priori. Therefore, it may happen that some permissions are missing; in this case, when an operation requiring a missing permission is invoked at run-time a corresponding exception is thrown. Typically, this exception reaches a bottom of an execution stack (since it cannot be managed within the Java application itself), thereby causing a malfunctioning in the whole Java application. The operator must then stop the Java application, add the missing permission to the policy file, and then restart the Java application.
However, the above-described "trial and error" approach is very time consuming. Moreover, this has a deleterious effect on the reliability of the Java application.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,526,513 discloses a solution for managing the permissions dynamically. In this case, when a Java application requires a permission that is not defined in the policy file, a user is prompted to grant or deny the required permission at run-time; the granted or denied permissions may also be saved so as to take effect across different sessions. The cited document further introduces the concept of denied permissions in the policy file, so as to allow granting permissions to large collections of secured resources with the exception of a few of them.
However, the proposed technique requires the definition of a custom security manager (in place of the standard one that is used to manage the permissions in the Java environment). In any case, the problem of defining the bulk of the permissions statically in the policy file remains unresolved (with the same drawbacks pointed out above).

Automating configuration of software applications


A motor includes a stator including a plurality of stator poles arranged in a repetitive arrangement with a first pitch, the stator poles facing a first side of a plane of movement, and a mover including a plurality of mover poles arranged in a repetitive arrangement with a second pitch, the mover poles facing a second, opposite side of the plane of movement. The poles of the stator and/or the mover are provided with a winding to alter a magnetic field in the respective ones of the stator poles and the mover poles in response to an electric current through the respective winding. At least one of the stator and the mover includes a permanent magnet for generating a magnetic field extending from the permanent magnet via at least one respective pole of the stator and the mover to the other one of the stator and the mover and back.

A lithographic apparatus is a machine that applies a desired pattern onto a substrate, usually onto a target portion of the substrate. A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). In such a case, a patterning device, which is alternatively referred to as a mask or a reticle, may be used to generate a circuit pattern to be formed on an individual layer of the IC. This pattern can be transferred onto a target portion (e.g. including part of, one, or several dies) on a substrate (e.g. a silicon wafer). Transfer of the pattern is typically via imaging onto a layer of radiation-sensitive material (resist) provided on the substrate. In general, a single substrate will contain a network of adjacent target portions that are successively patterned. Conventional lithographic apparatus include so-called steppers, in which each target portion is irradiated by exposing an entire pattern onto the target portion at once, and so-called scanners, in which each target portion is irradiated by scanning the pattern through a radiation beam in a given direction (the "scanning"-direction) while synchronously scanning the substrate parallel or anti-parallel to this direction. It is also possible to transfer the pattern from the patterning device to the substrate by imprinting the pattern onto the substrate.
In lithography, high power electric motors, such as planar motors are used, for example to enable a substrate table that holds the substrate, or a support that holds a pattering device, to be moved. On the one hand, the high accelerations require powerful motors. On the other hand, powerful motors involve a high weight of a moving part, which adversely affects a maximum acceleration to be achieved due to the higher mass of the structure to be moved. Furthermore, compliance plays a role. In case a plurality of motor units are applied, for example a motor unit to propel in an x direction and a motor unit to propel in an y direction, a compliance of a structure that interconnects the motor units may limit a maximum bandwidth and dynamic performance of movements to be achieved.

Planar motor and lithographic apparatus comprising such planar motor


Material of a given chemical type is selectively electrochemically removed from a structure by subjecting portions of the structure to an electrolytic bath. The characteristics of certain parts of the structure are chosen to have electrochemical reduction half-cell potentials that enable removal of the undesired material to be achieved in the bath without applying external potential to any part of the structure. The electrolytic bath can be implemented with liquid that is inherently corrosive to, or inherently benign to, material of the chemical type being selectively removed.

A field-emission cathode (or field emitter) contains a group of electron-emissive elements that emit electrons upon being subjected to an electric field of sufficient strength. The electron-emissive elements are typically situated over a patterned layer of emitter electrodes. In a gated field emitter, a patterned gate layer typically overlies the patterned emitter layer at the locations of the electron-emissive elements. Each electron-emissive element is exposed through an opening in the gate layer. When a suitable voltage is applied between a selected portion of the gate layer and a selected portion of the emitter layer, the gate layer extracts electrons from the electron-emissive elements at the intersection of the two selected portions.
The electron-emissive elements are often shaped as cones. Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1a-1d illustrate a conventional technique as, for example, disclosed in Spindt et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,389, for creating conical electron-emissive elements in a gated field emitter for a flat-panel CRT display. At the stage shown in FIG. 1a, the partially finished field emitter consists of substrate 20, emitter-electrode layer 22, dielectric layer 24, and gate layer 26. Gate openings 28 extend through gate layer 26. Corresponding dielectric openings 30 extend through dielectric layer 24.
Using a grazing-angle deposition procedure, lift-off layer 32 is formed on top of gate layer 26 as depicted in FIG. 1b. Emitter material is deposited on top of the structure and into dielectric openings 30 in such a way that the apertures through which the emitter material enters openings 30 progressively close. Generally conical electron-emissive elements 34A are thereby formed in composite openings 28/30. See FIG. 1c. Layer 34B of excess emitter material simultaneously forms on top of gate layer 26. Lift-off layer 32 is subsequently removed to lift off excess emitter-material layer 34B. FIG. 1d shows the resultant structure.
Using lift-off layer 32 to remove excess emitter-material layer 34B is disadvantageous for various reasons. Portions of the lift-off material invariably accumulate along the side edges of gate layer 26. This reduces the size of the openings through which the emitter material is initially deposited and makes it difficult to scale down electron-emissive elements 34A. The grazing-angle deposition of lift-off layer 32 becomes increasingly difficult as the lateral area of the field emitter increases and thus presents an impediment to scaling up the field-emitter area.
The lift-off material deposition must be performed carefully to assure that no lift-off material accumulates on emitter layer 22 and causes cones 34A to be lifted off during the lift-off of excess layer 34B. Since layer 34B is removed as an artifact of removing lift-off layer 32, particles of the removed emitter material can contaminate the field emitter. Furthermore, deposition of the lift-off material takes fabrication time and therefore money.
Wilshaw, PCT Patent Publication WO 96/06443, discloses a process for manufacturing a gated field emitter in which each electron-emissive element consists of a molybdenum cone situated on a cylinder. The electron-emissive elements are formed over a bottom metal layer. Using an aqueous electrolytic solution, Wilshaw applies an external potential of 2-4 volts to a niobium gate layer in order to electrochemically remove a layer of excess molybdenum that accumulated over the gate layer during the deposition of molybdenum through openings in the gate layer to form the conical portions of the electron-emissive elements.
Just before electrochemically removing the excess molybdenum, Wilshaw removes the bottom metal layer. Consequently, Wilshaw's electron-emissive elements are electrically isolated from one another during the removal of the excess emitter material. Inasmuch as some electron-emissive elements may be electrically shorted to the excess molybdenum during the removal step, Wilshaw needs this isolation to protect the unshorted electron-emissive elements since they could otherwise be electrically shorted through the back metal layer and the shorted elements to the excess molybdenum and thus could be electrochemically attacked in removing the excess molybdenum. Finally, Wilshaw forms a resistive layer over the bottoms of the electron-emissive elements, and a layer of emitter electrodes over the resistive layer.
Wilshaw's electrochemical removal technique avoids the necessity to use to use a lift-off layer for removing the layer of excess emitter material. However, removing the back metal layer before removing the excess molybdenum and then creating emitter electrodes after completing the electrochemical removal is time-consuming and requires several complex processing steps. Applying the external potential to the gate layer entails making an electrical connection to the gate layer, thereby further increasing the fabrication time and complexity. In manufacturing a gated field emitter having electron-emissive elements at least partially shaped as cones, it is desirable to remove a layer containing excess emitter material without incurring the fabrication inefficiency of Wilshaw or the fabrication difficulty involved in utilizing a lift-off layer.

Selective removal of material using self-initiated galvanic activity in electrolytic bath


Materials and methods for mitigating passive intermodulation. A membrane for reducing passive intermodulation includes a first polymeric layer, a second polymeric layer, and a continuous metal layer encapsulated between the first and second polymeric layers. A self-adhesive radio frequency barrier tape includes a waterproof polymeric top layer, a metal-containing layer adhered by an adhesive layer to the polymeric top layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer adhered to the metal-containing layer, and a release liner on a bottom surface of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer. A method of mitigating passive intermodulation includes passing a probe over an area of interest, the probe being sensitive to an intermodulation frequency of interest, and identifying a suspected source of passive intermodulation when the amplitude of the probe output exceeds a threshold at the frequency of interest. The method further includes covering the suspected passive intermodulation source with a radio frequency barrier material.

An essential element of modern mobile communications systems is the "cell site." The cell site includes one or more directional base station antennas aimed at a desired geographical area of coverage with coaxial cable connecting the antennas to base station radio equipment. The base station radio equipment acts as a transceiver, transmitting high power signals (37 dBm to 49 dBm channel power) in the direction of mobile users and receives low power signals (as low as −106 dBm channel power) from mobile user equipment. Often the range of a cell site is uplink limited, meaning that the distance that a particular cell site is able to cover is limited by the transmit power of the mobile equipment and the path loss between the mobile equipment and the cell site. The signal received at the cell site from mobile equipment reduces by 6 dB each time the distance between the mobile equipment and the cell site is doubled. Eventually, the signal from the mobile equipment drops to a level where the base station receiver is not able to distinguish the signal from background noise, and the call is dropped.
Mobile operators typically design their network of cell sites to achieve a signal-to-interference plus noise ratio (SINR) of >6 dB across the region of coverage. This means that the signal level arriving from mobile equipment at each base station receiver should be at least 6 dB higher than all sources of noise generated within or received by the base station receiver. For data networks, the network of cell sites may be designed to achieve even higher SINR levels to enable faster data transmission.
In order to achieve the strongest possible signal from mobile equipment, it is desirable to locate the cell site antennas at an elevation that is higher than the average clutter (trees, buildings, etc.) in the area to be covered. This can be achieved by erecting a tower at the cell site to support the antennas at the desired elevation or can be achieved by mounting the antennas on existing infrastructure, such as building rooftops. When mounting antennas on buildings, the building owner may require for aesthetic reasons that the operator only install the antennas at locations that are not visible from the ground outside the building. This often forces the antennas to be installed near the center of the building rooftop rather than near the edges of the building.
For example, FIG. 1 shows a ground-level perspective view of a building 100, showing that no cell site is visible. However, FIG. 2 shows building 100 from an upper oblique view, revealing cell site 200 on roof 201, set back from the edges of roof 201.
The performance of cell sites installed on building rooftops is often limited due to passive intermodulation (PIM). Passive intermodulation occurs when the high-power downlink signals broadcast by the base station antennas mix at passive, non-linear junctions in the RF path, creating new signals. If these new signals (intermodulation products) fall in an operator's uplink band, they act as interference and reduce SINR. As the SINR is reduced, the geographic coverage of the cell site is reduced and the data capacity of that cell site is reduced.

Self-adhesive membrane for mitigating passive intermodulation


Instruments and methods are provided for delivering multiple implants to locations for implantation in a patient without requiring a second implant to be loaded onto or engaged to the delivery instrument after delivery of a first implant.

Various types of devices and systems have been used for positioning implants into a patient in surgical procedures. Spinal stabilization systems have employed plating systems, rods, anchors, fusions devices, artificial discs, and other implants along or in the spinal column for rigid, dynamic, and semi-rigid spinal stabilization procedures. Such systems often include multiple implant members that must be engaged for the system to be properly installed. There remains a need for instruments and methods for delivering multiple implants to the implantation location while minimizing the time and complexity associated with handling and positioning such implants during surgery.

Instruments and methods for delivering multiple implants in a surgical procedure


The present invention is incorporated in a three-part primary nutrient system for facilitating the growth of a plant in any growing media. The first part of the nutrient system comprises calcium and nitrogen and is devoid of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, and trace minerals. The second part of the nutrient system comprises nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, and trace minerals and is devoid of calcium. The third part of the nutrient system comprises potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, and trace minerals and is devoid of nitrogen and calcium.

Mineral nutrition plays a crucial role in the biochemical economy of green plants. As autotrophic organisms, plants synthesize all of the organic compounds they need for survival from inorganic mineral elements, most of which are derived from the soil.
Plant physiologists have determined that among the 90 or so chemical elements that occur in the earth's crust and atmosphere there are at least sixteen (16) elements that are essential for plant growth. An element is deemed to be essential if, in its absence, a plant fails to grow properly and complete its life cycle in a normal manner. The essential elements are listed in Table 1.
TABLE 1The Essential Elements and their Chemical SymbolsHydrogen—HCarbon—COxygen—ONitrogen—NPotassium—KCalcium—CaMagnesium—MgPhosphorous—PSulfur—SChlorine—ClBoron—BIron—FeManganese—MnZinc—ZnCopper—CuMolybdenum—Mo
TABLE 2Major ElementsHydrogen—HCarbon—COxygen—ONitrogen—NPotassium—KCalcium—CaMagnesium—MgPhosphorous—PSulfur—S
TABLE 3Minor ElementsManganese—MnChlorine—ClBoron—BIron—FeZinc—ZnCopper—CuMolybdenum—Mo