A work vehicle includes an engine, an authentication processing unit for permitting the engine to be started only when stored authentication information and authentication information inputted by a manual operation are identical to each other, storage means for pre-storing the stored authentication information, a first switch and a second switch for performing the manual operation, authentication information identifying means for comparing the inputted authentication information acquired by the authentication processing unit with the stored authentication information, and power controlling means for allowing power to be supplied to a starter motor of the engine when the inputted authentication information is identical to the stored authentication information at the authentication information identifying means. The authentication processing unit is configured to acquire, as the inputted authentication information, the number of operation iterations of the first switch and the number of operation iterations of the second switch.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a work vehicle such as a tractor.
2. Description of the Related Art
[1] In a work vehicle, a setting screen selected by a setting information processing unit provided to an information displaying device thereof from among a plurality of set screens corresponding to a plurality of information items is displayed on a display, and the set information corresponding to the selected setting screen is changed.
For example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 2009-143456 (JP 2009-143456 A) discloses a configuration comprising a display (a display unit in JP 2009-143456 A) for displaying various different information items of a vehicle body, a switch operational tool for switching the screen displayed on the display, and a setting operational tool for performing various different settings.
In JP 2009-143456 A, a plurality of basic screens can be switched by a switch operational tool and the display of the basic screen makes it possible to understand needed information from the screen. When, in a situation where a basic screen is being displayed, a setting button is operated, the selected screen corresponding to the basic screen is thereby displayed, and the display is made to display an operation guide for guiding the selection of a setting item being displayed on the selection screen. In a situation where both the selection screen and the operation guide are being displayed in this manner, it is possible to select a setting item and perform a setting by following the operation guide, and operating a change operational tool after such a setting makes it possible to complete the setting processing.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 2010-013060 (JP 2010-013060 A) discloses a configuration (an information display system for a vehicle) in which a meter includes a display and with an operation input unit which can be operated by being pressed. In such a configuration, the display content is switched sequentially in a fixed sequence each time the operation input unit is pressed briefly (for example, for less than five seconds), and, when the operation input unit is pressed for a long time (for example, for at least five seconds), a sub-menu for selecting a desired change input screen from a plurality of change input screens is displayed. Within the sub-menu, when the operation input unit is pressed briefly, a cursor for indicating a change input menu is thereby sequentially moved, it being then possible to select a change input menu; when the operation input unit is pressed for a long time, an underlying sub-menu is thereby displayed and the setting content can be changed. The inputted content is confirmed and the sub-menu screen is restored when a operation-free state continues beyond an input confirmation interval (for example, for five seconds) after a change setting is inputted by the operation of the operation input unit in the change input screen.
In JP 2010-013060 A, when a single operation input unit constituted of the press-operated type is press-operated for only a short period of time, the display content of a display is thereby sequentially switched, and when the operation input unit is press-operated for a long period of time, the setting content is thereby changed.
As disclosed in JP 2009-143456 A and JP 2010-013060 A, the operation of switching the display content of the display by an operation performed by a worker makes it possible to understand the work situation from the display of the display, and to check a setting value, the operating situation of various machines, and the like.
The ability to change a setting by an operation involving a specific switch, as disclosed in JP 2009-143456 A, also sometimes leads to a false setting when the switch is operated mistakenly, for example, when the worker is unaware that the setting is being changed. In particular, setting the unit when fuel consumption is displayed, setting an operating mode when various machines are operated, clearing the value(s) of a trip meter, and other such operations are not very frequently performed, and setting by a service technician is preferred.
In view whereof, changing the mode of operation, as disclosed in JP 2010-013060 A, presumably renders it more difficult for a setting to be changed; however, as in JP 2010-013060 A, the screen is switched when the operation input unit is press-operated briefly, and a move is made to a screen making it possible to change a setting when the operation input unit is press-operated for a long time; even though the inputted content is confirmed by the elapsing of a period of time thereafter, it is impossible to avoid a false setting, and there remains room for improvement.
One object of the present invention is to provide a reasonable configuration for an information displaying device for suppressing the defect where set information corresponding to a setting screen displayed on a display is mistakenly changed while permitting an operation for switching to and displaying on a display a single one of a plurality of set screens.
[2] In a work vehicle, there is sometimes provided an authentication processing unit for allowing an engine to be started only when memory authentication information, which is pre-stored, and inputted authentication information, which is inputted, are identical to each other.
For example, in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 2008-162337 (JP 2008-162337 A), a configuration is such that a plurality of operation switches arranged on an operation panel can be used for password input switching; after an engine is started, when the plurality of operation switches is operated in a set sequence, the inputted sequence is understood to be a password, and continuous driving of the engine becomes possible when the password is identical to a previously set password.
In JP 2008-162337 A, the plurality of operation switches is to be used during work, and there is provided a controller (corresponding to an authentication processing unit) for acquiring information on the operation switches. A password (corresponding to authentication information) is set in a memory of the controller, and, when the inputted password (the sequence of operation of the plurality of operation switches) is identical to a previously set password, then, as described above, continuous driving of the engine is rendered possible, while when the passwords are not identical, then the controller performs a control for stopping the engine to prevent theft.
In Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 2005-255134 (JP 2005-255134 A), the number of iterations where an engine key switch for starting an engine is operated to a start position is inputted as a cipher number, it being rendered possible to send power to a starter motor and start the engine only when the inputted cipher number is identical to a pre-set number of iterations.
JP 2005-255134 A discloses a configuration in which a signal system into which a signal from the engine key switch is inputted is provided to a theft prevention device (corresponding to the authentication processing unit) having a central processing unit (CPU), the cipher number (corresponding to the authentication information) being stored in an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) of the theft prevention device. Thereby, it becomes possible to start the engine when the number of iterations where the engine key switch is operated to the start position is identical to the authentication number, and it becomes impossible to start the engine when the numbers are not identical, thus preventing theft.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 2008-162337 (JP 2008-162337 A) discloses a configuration in which, when a pre-existing plurality of operation switches is operated, an authentication is thereby executed; when the number of operation switches used in the authentication is increased in order to enhance the precision of the authentication, more effort and time are needed, because the hands are moved more when the plurality of operation switches is operated. In contrast thereto, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication 2005-255134 (JP 2005-25534 A) discloses a configuration in which the precision of the authentication is enhanced even while only a single engine key switch is to be used.
However, performing the authentication based on the number of iterations where a single switch is operated, as in the configuration of JP 2005-255134 A, also has limitations on enhancing the precision of the authentication, and there remains room for improvement.
One object of the present invention is to provide a reasonable configuration for a work vehicle for enhancing the precision of an authentication when an engine is to be started, while using a smaller number of switches.


A method of fabricating a semiconductor device, including: forming a first well of a second conduction type and a second well of a first conduction type on a semiconductor substrate of the first conduction type, forming a gate oxide corresponding to each element on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, forming trenches by etching at forming locations of first and second trench isolating regions respectively at a first depth larger than a depth of a diffusion layer formed in a memory-cell forming region within the second well and smaller than a depth of a diffusion layer of a transistor of a peripheral circuit region, executing additional etching at a forming location of the second trench isolating region so that a second depth larger than the first depth is obtained and doping the trenches at the forming locations of the first and second trench isolating regions respectively, with a doping agent, thereby executing a planarization process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device employing a shallow trench isolation structure (STI) as an element isolating structure and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A technique of isolating elements has recently been changing from local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) to shallow trench isolation (STI) for the purposes of high integration and miniaturization in the fabrication process of semiconductor memory devices. In the element isolation technique employing STI, shallow trenches are formed and filled with an isolator so as to be flattened, whereupon a trench isolating region is provided.
Furthermore, in the element isolating technique employing STI, the trench isolating region is set so as to have a minimum width in a region of a memory cell. With this, a depth of the trench isolating region is reduced in order that a filling capacity of the trench isolating region may be ensured in the aforesaid region of the memory cell, whereby an aspect ratio is required to be reduced as much as possible in filling the trench isolating region.
However, a peripheral circuit performing drive control of the memory cell includes elements which are required to have a higher breakdown voltage than those in the memory cell. Accordingly, when the aforesaid trench isolating region is employed, the distance of isolation between elements or the width of the trench isolating region is increased or a stopper region is formed under the trench isolating region. However, either method requires a large width of trench isolating region in order that a large element isolation width may be ensured or a stopper region may be formed, resulting in a problem that an area for the element isolation is increased.
To overcome the above-described problem, JP-A-2002-368077 discloses a structure in which the depth of the trench isolating region of the peripheral circuit is larger than a depth of a diffusion region of a cell array. As the result of the structure, since the trench isolating region with a depth in accordance with the breakdown voltage is formed, an increase in the area of the cell is limited and the breakdown voltage can reliably be ensured.
However, the STI technique forming a trench isolating region with a depth in accordance with the breakdown voltage results in the following new problem: a non-volatile memory generally comprises a memory cell and a peripheral circuit. The peripheral circuit includes a circuit requiring a high breakdown voltage (a high withstand circuit) and a logic circuit requiring a current drive capability but not a high breakdown voltage (a low withstand circuit). The high breakdown voltage circuit requires a breakdown voltage of a gate isolation film as well as the breakdown voltage between diffusion layers. Accordingly, the gate isolation film of a high breakdown voltage transistor requires a larger film thickness than the gate isolating film of a low breakdown voltage transistor. As a result, when the film thicknesses of the gate dielectric films required in the respective circuits are compared with one another, the gate isolating film of a high breakdown voltage transistor requires a larger film thickness than that of the memory cell transistor, while the required film thickness of the gate isolation film of the memory cell transistor is as large as or larger than that of the low breakdown voltage transistor.
A circuit for controlling the cell array of the non-volatile memory needs to be formed by high breakdown voltage transistors in order to control write of data onto the memory cell and deletion of data therefrom. Accordingly, the memory cell region (a region where a gate dielectric film of the memory cell is formed) is encompassed by the region of high breakdown voltage gate dielectric film.
In the above-described case, in order that the width of the trench isolating region may be reduced in the high breakdown voltage region or the insulation film of the high breakdown voltage circuit, a depth of the trench isolating region formed into a high breakdown voltage element is increased so that the breakdown voltage is ensured in the direction of depth, and, in the memory cell region (in the region where the gate isolation film of the memory cell is formed), a shallow trench isolating region is formed in order that the aspect ratio may be ensured with the width at which the breakdown voltage is ensured, whereupon the element region can be reduced.
In the prior art as shown in the foregoing document, a shallow trench isolating region with a small width is formed for the purpose of reduction in size in the high breakdown voltage element forming region or low breakdown voltage element forming electrode. However, since such consideration as described above is not given to a boundary region between the trench isolating regions, the width of the boundary region between the element forming regions is increased as the number of element forming regions is increased. Consequently, there is a definite limit in the reduction in the size of the semiconductor memory device.
Additionally, the prior art as shown in the foregoing document has the following defects in the fabricating process. FIGS. 24A and 24B explain the defects in the case where two types of trench isolating regions are provided. FIG. 24A typically shows the section of a boundary region 4 located between a memory cell region 2 and a high breakdown voltage circuit region 3 both formed on a silicon substrate 1.
A thin gate dielectric film 5 is formed on the memory cell region 2, whereas a thick gate dielectric film 6 is formed on the high breakdown voltage circuit region 3. A polycrystalline silicon film 7 and a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) stopper film 8 are deposited on upper surfaces of the gate dielectric films 5 and 6 in turn. A shallow trench 9 (for forming a shallow trench isolating region) is formed in the memory cell region 2, whereas a deep trench 10 (for forming a deep trench isolating region) is formed in the high breakdown voltage circuit region 3. A doping agent 11 for isolating film is formed so as to cover the aforementioned films and trenches.
When two types of trench isolating regions having respective depths d1 and d2, the doping agent 11 needs to be deposited thick according to the deeper trench 10 in order that shallow and deep trenches 10 may be simultaneously embedded. In such a case, accordingly, the doping agent 11 is deposited so that its thickness Tcell in the shallow trench 9 is larger than its thickness THV in the deep trench 10 on the surface of the silicon substrate 1.
When a planarization process is carried out by the CMP method while the trenches have been doped with the doping agent 11, in order that the thick doping agent 11 deposited on the cell region 2 may be removed, the CMP process is carried out excessively by the difference in the film thickness for the doping agent 11 deposited on the peripheral deep trench 10 since the memory cell 2 side is smaller than the high breakdown voltage circuit region 3 side regarding the heights H1 and H2 from the surface of the stopper film 8 of the CMP to the surfaces of the trenches 9 and 10 respectively.
In such a case as described above, there is a possibility that the CMP process, when carried out, may cause dishing in the trench isolating region 12 formed in the boundary region 4 between the high breakdown voltage circuit region 3 and the memory cell region 2, resulting in a problem of abnormal shape. In particular, the width of the trench isolating region needs to be increased in the boundary region 4 since a well isolation is also carried out. Dishing D as shown in FIG. 24B tends to occur in the boundary region 4 between the memory cell region 2 and the high breakdown voltage circuit region 3 during CMP since the width of the trench isolating region is required to be increased for additional execution of well isolation, and the boundary region 4 is located between two regions of the peripheral region where the memory cell region 2 and the high breakdown voltage circuit region 3 both having different height distributions of the doping agent 11.
A dummy pattern is suggested to be disposed on an end of the cell array region to prevent dishing in order that an adverse effect of the dishing may be reduced. However, the number of dummy patterns needs to be increased with increase in the degree of dishing, whereupon a new problem arises that an area of the cell (or chip size) should be increased.
Furthermore, the process of doping the trenches 9 and 10 with a doping agent is carried out after formation of the gate dielectric films 5 and 6 in a self-aligned STI (SA-STI) process. In the SA-STI process, the difference in the height between the CMP stopper films 8 depends upon the difference in the film thickness between the gate dielectric films 5 and 6 of the memory cell region 2 and the high breakdown voltage circuit region 3 as well as the difference in the film thickness between the regions 2 and 3. This difference in the height between the CMP stopper films 8 also results in abnormal shape, such as erosion (dishing), scratch, etc., due to the CMP process in the boundary region 4 between the memory cell region 2 and the high breakdown voltage circuit region 3. Additionally, when the stopper film 8 is peeled by the dishing due to the CMP process in the memory cells of the cell array located in the vicinity of the boundary region 4, the height of the trench isolating region in the peeled portion is reduced, which reduction in the height results in various variations in the processing of memory cells and increases the variations in the electric characteristics of the memory cells.

Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same


The dimensions of an electrode group in each battery are set so as to obtain a relationship such as H >L>W, where H is the height of the electrode group, L is the width thereof and W is the thickness thereof, and the product K of the width L and the thickness W, that is, K=L.times.W, is set so as to fall in a range 10<K<100 while the space D between adjacent batteries is set so as to fall in a range of 0.02.ltoreq.D/W.ltoreq.0.3, thereby the efficiency of heat radiation of a battery module or a battery group is enhanced, and accordingly, the cycle life and the discharge capacity of the battery can be enhanced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a storage battery system consisting of a battery module in which a plurality of storage batteries each using negative electrodes made of, as a main component, a hydrogen storage alloy that electrochemically absorbs and desorbs hydrogen, are arranged in rows, or which comprises a battery group composed of a plurality of such battery modules combined with one another and arranged in rows, and in particular to the heat radiation structure of the storage battery system.
2. Prior Art of the Invention
A nickel-hydrogen storage battery having a negative electrode which is a hydrogen storage electrode made of hydrogen storage alloy or the hydride thereof, and a positive electrode made of nickel oxide, is interchangeable with a nickel-cadmium storage battery but can have a capacity greater than that of the nickel cadmium battery. However, such a nickel-hydrogen storage battery expels a large volume of oxygen gas from its positive electrodes during charging or in particular upon overcharging.
This oxygen gas is reacted with hydrogen occluded in the negative electrode so as be reduced into water. At this time, the temperature of the battery rises due to the exothermic reaction thereof. Further, it has been known that the temperature rise at this time is higher than that of the nickel-cadmium storage battery during charging.
Further, a conventionally used small size cylindrical type nickel-hydrogen storage battery radiates its generated heat, outside of the battery during charging with a high degree of efficiency since the sheath casing is made of metal, and accordingly, the temperature rise of the battery is not high even upon overcharging.
However, a nickel-hydrogen storage battery having an intermediate capacity of about 20 to 300 Ah generates a large volume of heat during charging. The generation of heat is caused by a joule heat due to a resistance, heat of reaction due to electrode reaction and heat of reaction by hydrogen.
At this time, if the efficiency of heat radiation of the battery, outside of the battery, is not high, the generated heat is accumulated in the battery, resulting in abrupt increase in the temperature of the battery.
Further, since the charging and discharging efficiency of the battery is lowered if the temperature of the battery becomes high, and accordingly, the availability of active materials decreases. Thus, it has been found that a desired battery characteristic is sometimes unable to be obtained if the heat generated during charging is not efficiently radiated outside of the battery.
Further, in a storage battery module in which a plurality of storage batteries are stacked one upon another, or in a storage battery system composed of a battery group in which a plurality of such storage battery modules are arranged, the temperatures of the batteries differ from each other depending upon the dispositions of the batteries during charging.
Gas or electrolyte possibly leaks from a battery at a high temperature through a safety valve incorporated in the battery case since the internal pressure of the battery increases, and accordingly, the use life of the entire storage battery system is deteriorated due to the battery from which electrolyte has is been depleted.
Further, a battery module having a relatively small capacity has less charge and discharge current, and accordingly, the temperature rise of the battery is not high. However, the larger the capacity thereof, the larger the charge and discharge current, and further, since the number of batteries constituting the battery module becomes larger, the efficiency of heat radiation of the battery is lowered, thereby the temperature rise of the battery becomes higher.
The structure of the battery system in which the efficiency of heat radiation of a storage battery system having a large capacity and a large number of batteries to be used can be enhanced so as to restrain the temperature rise of the batteries is important.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 3-291867 proposes a storage battery system in which several batteries inevitably generating heat are arranged in rows, and in which spaces through which air flows are defined between the batteries, having the ratio between the width of the spaces between the batteries, and the width of a single battery set in a range of 0.1 to 1.0.
Further, a device for forcibly blowing air into the spaces between the batteries is attached to one side surface of the storage battery system in order to restrain the temperature rise of the batteries during charging.
However, in this arrangement, if the ratio between the width of the spaces between the batteries, and the width of the single battery is increased to 1, although it is preferable in view of the heat radiation, the bulk of the storage battery system increases since the width of the spaces becomes larger, and accordingly there has been raised a problem of lowering the energy density of the battery system (which corresponds to the ratio between the output energy and the bulk of the battery system). Further, since the width of the spaces between the batteries is regulated in accordance with the width of the batteries, that is, the width of the battery casings, the width of the spaces between the batteries varies even though the same electrode groups are used, because the width of the battery casings vary as the thickness of the walls of the battery casings varies. The temperature rise of the batteries during charging depends upon the size of the electrode group stored in the battery casing.
That is, the larger the thickness of the electrode group, the harder it is to radiate the generated heat, that is, the larger the heat is accumulated in the electrode group. Accordingly, the space between the batteries, which influences the efficiency of heat radiation of the storage battery system, should be determined not by the width of the batteries but by the thickness of the electrode group. Further, it is appropriate to regulate the width of spaces between the batteries in accordance with the thickness of the electrode group under such a condition that the thickness-wise sectional area of the electrode group falls in a certain specified range.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An object is to provide a power module in which adhesion of a sealing resin is sufficient and which is highly reliable. The power module includes: an insulative board in which a pattern of a conductor layer is formed on a ceramic plate; power semiconductor elements placed on the insulative board; lead frames each in a plate shape connecting from electrodes of the power semiconductor elements to screw-fastening terminal portions; and a sealing resin portion that seals connection portions between the power semiconductor elements and the lead frames, and regions around the connection portions; wherein, in the lead frames, opening portions are formed at positions where each of the lead frames at least partly overlaps, in planar view, with a portion of the insulative board on which the conductor layer is not formed.

Power modules are well-suited to use with a high voltage and a large current, and are thus becoming widespread over all products from industrial apparatuses to home electronics and information terminals. Recently, with respect to the modules to be installed in the home electronics, they are required to have high productivity and high reliability that allow them to deal with a wide variety of products, as well as to be made compact and lightweight. At the same time, they are also required to have package configurations that are applicable to SiC semiconductors which are highly likely to go mainstream in future because of being high in operation temperature and superior in efficiency. Further, because the power modules each deal with a high voltage and a large current and thus generate a large amount of heat, in many cases, a ceramic plate that is superior in heat conductivity is used as its insulative board in order to efficiently release the heat. Further, according to increase in density of power semiconductor elements, such a method is becoming in use in which an electrode plate (lead frame) is directly soldered to the power semiconductor element in order to form a high current-density circuit.
The power module of the thus-provided configuration is, in many cases, sealed in an insulated manner with a sealing resin made of an epoxy resin; however, because the degree of adhesion of the sealing resin to the power module is generally low, UV radiation is applied in some cases in order to improve such a situation. In these cases, because the electrode plate of Cu tends to become wider in order to deal with the elevation in voltage and increase in current of the power module, it is difficult to radiate UV light to a shaded region developed by that electrode plate (mostly, by an in-casing root portion of the Cu electrode plate), so that there is concern that the productivity will be affected if the UV radiation time is increased or the reliability will be affected due to insufficient adhesion of the sealing resin. In regard to this, formation of an opening portion in the electrode plate is proposed in Patent Document 1.

Power module having a hole in a lead frame for improved adhesion with a sealing resin, electric power conversion device, and method for producing power module


An improved formed lighting fixture having a frame, a light source, a cover layer coupled to the frame, and a fibrous layer coupled to the cover layer, in which the frame is formed by gathering a plurality of rods and profiled in a specific contour, the light source is configured to provide light from inside the frame and out through the cover layer onto the fibrous layer. The fibrous layer is configured to provide decorative and functional aspects to the lighting fixture, including, in some embodiments, a contoured or fur-like appearance, or where the fibrous layer has light-diffusive properties, a dazzling glow effect when light from the light source is diffused.

In order to heighten a festive atmosphere, formed lighting fixtures made in specific shapes can be displayed. Embodiments of various formed light fixtures are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,757, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a conventional formed lighting fixture A is constructed with a frame 1 and a light source 2, in which the frame 1 can have a specific appearance and be comprised of a plurality of rods, while the light source 2 is a plurality of light bulbs that are spaced apart about the entire skeleton such that the frame 1 could serve as a lighting ornament. The frame 1 is also coated with a layer of cover material 3. In some embodiments of the prior art, the cover material 3 is a transparent refracting material that refracts the light emanating from the light source 2.
In the conventional formed lighting fixture A, the cover material 3 is a substantially flat layer that does not have a dimension of material extending outward from the surface of the cover material 3. Without the added dimension of material of the present invention, certain functional and decorative aspects of the lighting fixture are not present. For example, added dimensions of material on the outer surface of the lighting fixture A would allow refraction of light passing through the cover material 3, and would allow further decorative options to enhance the appearance of the formed lighting fixture A. Moreover, the added dimension of material may be electrostatically flocked to the cover material 3 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. There are a variety of electrostatic flocking methods and devices available, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,173,032, 2,174,328, 4,879,969, 4,905,627 and 5,108,777, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Formed lighting fixture having a fibrous layer


A limited-life reusable hard pack for encasing a soft pack of cigarette. The reusable hard pack permits easy access to the cigarette by the feature of a sliceable interior wall attached to a pivotable bottom wall that when moved relative to the exterior walls of the hard pack pushes the soft pack upward and beyond the top of the hard pack. An overhang on a top wall extends across and beyond one side wall to prevent the bottom wall from pivoting downward, beyond the bottom plane of the hard pack. The opposite side of the top wall leaves a gap through which cigarette may be removed without opening to top closure. One such hard pack is collapsed and inserted into a standard ten-pack carton.

This invention relates to the field of cigarette packages. More particularly, this invention relates to a limited-life reusable hard-pack cigarette case into which soft-pack cigarette containers may be inserted.
Cigarettes are normally sold in either hard or soft packs of twenty to twenty-five cigarettes. These packs are also sold in ten-pack cartons, and sometimes in five-pack half-cartons. Both hard and soft packs typically cover an inner foil lining, which protects the flavor of the tobacco.
Hard packs have the advantage that they are more sturdy than soft packs, protecting the cigarettes from being crushed when a pack is placed in a consumer's purse, or pocket, rolled up shirt sleeve, or when a heavy object is inadvertently placed on top of the pack, such as on an automobile seat. In addition, hard packs provide easier access to the enclosed cigarettes than soft packs by having recessed front walls adjacent to the top closure.
Hard packs, however, cost more to make than comparable soft packs. In addition, hard packs require more material than soft packs, raising environmental concerns of waste, both in use of resources and in disposing of used packs.
There is a need for a system that couples the advantages of hard packs--both in product protection and ease of access to the cigarettes--that costs less and is less wasteful of environmental resources.

Reusable hard-pack cigarette case and blank therefor


An integrated circuit (IC) package with a heat conductor is disclosed. The IC package has an IC disposed on a surface of a package substrate. A molding compound injected into the IC package surrounds the IC package and covers the perimeter of the top surface of the IC, exposing the center portion of the top surface of the IC. A heat conductor is disposed onto the top surface of the IC that is not covered by the molding compound. The heat conductor is placed such that the heat conductor lies adjacent to the center portion of the top surface of the IC and the edges of the heat conductor are surrounded by the molding compound.

Integrated circuit (IC) chips are usually mounted on IC packages. Different types of IC packages cater to different types of applications and requirements. With the increase in processing power, heat dissipation has become one of the core issues in IC packaging. The heat generated by the IC chip in a package affects the overall performance and reliability of the device. Heat dissipation is thus an important aspect in IC packaging because unwanted heat in a circuit needs to be dissipated to prevent an excessive rise in temperature that could possibly affect the performance of the circuit.
The thermal resistance of an IC package is one measure of the ability of the IC package to transfer heat generated by the IC chip out of the IC package. An IC package with a high thermal resistance has a low thermal performance because of its inefficiency in transferring heat generated by its IC chip. Therefore, packages that have a high thermal resistance are unsuitable for high power applications, e.g., circuitry that are operating above 3 watts.
The thermal resistance in an IC package depends very much on the materials used in that IC package. For example, in a conventional wire-bond ball grid array (BGA), the molding compound used may have a low thermal conductivity and would thus be a poor heat conductor. As such, a conventional wire-bond BGA package may only be suitable for low power applications. An embedded heat slug may be used to improve the thermal conductivity of an IC package. However, the use of a heat slug limits the size of the die as it takes up a substantial substrate area.
Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the thermal resistance of an IC package to improve its thermal performance. It is also desirable to have a cost-effective method to reduce the thermal resistance without limiting the size of the die that can be mounted on the IC package. It is within this context that the invention arises.

Integrated circuit package with a heat conductor


There is disclosed breathing apparatus equipment which may be in the form of a waist mountable manifold. The breathing apparatus equipment comprises a manifold having a manifold inlet port for a source of breathable gas and at least one manifold outlet port for delivering breathable gas to a user. The equipment further comprises a strap arranged to be worn by the user, and a holder coupled to the strap and having a socket. The socket is configured such that the manifold can be removably located within the socket in multiple orientations.

The invention relates to breathing apparatus equipment, in particular, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a waist mountable manifold which can be worn around the waist of a user and connected to a source of breathable gas and a delivery device, such as a facemask or hood or protection suit, such that the user can breathe the breathable gas.
When working in an environment in which the atmosphere is either contaminated or otherwise unsuitable for breathing it is necessary to use breathing apparatus. One option is to use self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) which typically comprises a cylinder of breathable gas that is carried by the user. Whilst this may be suitable for some applications, the equipment worn by the user may be bulky and may therefore restrict the activities that the user can carry out, and the size of the cylinder that the user can carry may not contain enough breathable gas for a suitable working duration.
It is therefore known for the breathable gas to be supplied to the wearer from a large cylinder that is either static or moveable on a trolley, or from a breathable gas airline installed within the building. The breathable gas is typically delivered to the user through a facemask or hood or protection suit that is fluidically connected to the source of breathable gas, such as a tank or airline, with a flexible conduit. The breathable gas may be supplied on demand, by using a lung demand valve for example, or may be supplied constantly.
In order reduce the likelihood of the flexible conduit presenting a trip or snagging hazard, it is known to provide a waist mountable manifold which can be worn around the users waist, usually on the left or right side. The waist mountable manifold comprises an inlet for the breathable gas, and an outlet which is connected to the facemask or hood or protection suit.
Whilst this type of arrangement may be satisfactory, it is somewhat inflexible and it may be difficult or time consuming to adapt the apparatus so that it can be used on a different side of the user's body. Further, the apparatus itself may present a snagging hazard and may be difficult to clean or decontaminate.
It is therefore desirable to provide improved breathing apparatus equipment which addresses at least some of these problems to at least some extent.


A module includes at least an associated two-layer structure with one first layer being a polymer base layer highly loaded with mineral fillers contributing to the rigidity of the module, and a second layer made from a printed polymer film defining the decorative part of the module, and the protection of the decorative part. An outer surface of a rigidifying base layer is designed to form a spacer means in the form of a plate of dimensions substantially greater than the format of the module, over all or part thereof, to constitute after abutment of the modules and/or edge jointing of the plate edges, a zone for receiving a sealant such as a binder, putty and like bonding.

The invention relates to an assembly module made of synthetic material and having the appearance of tiling for floor and/or wall coverings.
The invention relates to the technical field of covering floors and walls with prefabricated modules which may be of the tiling, ceramic, terracotta or parquet type, or made of woven or nonwoven materials of the carpet type, or of synthetic materials.
The use of square modules is well known per se and they have become popular because they are practical to lay and change in the event of damage. Furthermore, there is the possibility of laying out the modules in personalized decorative configurations, which presents an undeniable advantage.
Modules in the form of tiling in ceramic, terracotta and similar materials have the disadvantage that they are heavy, their edges chip easily and they can be damaged by impact. In addition, their properties and capacities in terms of heat and/or sound insulation are very limited. Moreover, when laying them it is necessary to first prepare a smooth screed. This demands a degree of skill.
The use is also known of modules in the form of tiles made from woven or nonwoven textiles of the carpet type. In addition to the great deformability of this type of tiles, there are the conventional drawbacks that they collect dust, acarids, and are difficult to clean.
Also known are modules in the form of tiles made of synthetic material that look like tiling. These are described in patent EP 203 042 MONDO, comprising a layered structure with a thick part forming a core and two layers of flexible, substantially inextensible synthetic material, between which is an intermediate separating layer. The covering thus made in the form of tiles is delimited along its sides by tapered peripheral edges which define rounded edges on the upper face.
Also known, from patent EP 625 170, are tiles made of synthetic material having a multilayer ceramic appearance.
The tiles thus made in particular in patents EP 203 042 and EP 625 170, are placed edge to edge when assembled and binders, glues or the like are used on the one hand to bond them to the relevant support surface and on the other hand to join them together. In this case, said binder is inserted into the space for jointing of the tiles at their rounded edges, as shown for example in the MONDO patent.
Although advantageous, the various embodiments mentioned above do not allow for a variation in the decorative effect, the tiles being essentially square.
Furthermore, when positioned edge to edge in assembly, the binder or glue part is generally flush with their upper plane and the desired imitation-ceramic effect is lost.

Assembling module for floor or wall coverings


A steering system for a vehicle is provided. The steering system has a handlebar assembly and a steering column assembly connected to the handlebar assembly. The handlebar assembly includes a first conical surface and a first angular position limiter. The steering column assembly includes a second conical surface mated with the first conical surface, and a second angular position limiter configured to engage the first angular position limiter to limit an angular position of the handlebar assembly relative to the steering column assembly about a steering axis of the steering system. A compression element engages the handlebar assembly and the steering column assembly to compress the first and second conical surfaces against one another in order to fix the handlebar assembly to the steering column assembly. A plurality of linkages is configured to operatively connect the steering column assembly to at least one ground-engaging member of the vehicle.

A vehicle's steering system often undergoes an alignment process to ensure that the steerable ground-engaging components (e.g., wheels, skis, etc.) of the vehicle are aligned with the steering control (e.g., handlebar) of the vehicle. This aligning process can be done by the manufacturer, the dealer and/or the operator of the vehicle.
In a conventional wheeled vehicle having a handlebar, the alignment process for the steering system can be relatively elaborate, notably involving adjusting the length of the vehicle's tie rods, which operatively connect the wheels to a steering column of the steering system, to ensure that when the steerable wheels are in their straight vehicle movement orientation (i.e., in a 0° turn position in which the vehicle moves in a straight line), the handlebar is also in a straight orientation.
In addition, this alignment process does not ensure that a Pitman arm of the vehicle is equally in its straight orientation. The Pitman arm is a mechanical element that extends radially outward from and rotates with a steering column of the vehicle and pivotally connects to at least one linkage (e.g., a tie rod) so as to convert rotation of the steering column to a translation of the linkage(s). Thus, while the handlebar and steerable wheels are in their straight orientations, the Pitman arm, and any of the steering components extending between the handlebar and the tie rods, may be misaligned relative thereto. When this misalignment is sufficiently large, the vehicle can be subject to undesirable dynamic effects such as bump steer (i.e., when the steerable wheels steer themselves without any input at the handlebar as a result of a displacement of the suspension), as well as a tendency for the vehicle to pull toward the left or right side during acceleration or deceleration.
Similar effects can be observed when the vehicle is equipped with a rack-and-pinion assembly instead of a Pitman arm.
There is therefore a desire for a steering system for a vehicle that addresses at least some of these drawbacks.


A bandage for applying to and protecting a wound or the like comprises generally of a central cone piece with a plurality of attached legs. In a second embodiment of the present invention, the bandage comprises generally a substantially circular mid-piece with a center region; a proximal first flexible strip end; and a distal second flexible strip end. The substantially circular mid-piece with a center region is perforated along a radius from about the center region to a circumference of the substantially circular mid-piece and the proximal first flexible strip end is perforated longitudinally along a midline from about an end of the proximal first flexible strip to the circumference of the substantially circular mid-piece.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to the field of wound care. More specifically, the present invention relates to adhesive bandages and methods for protecting a wound with a bandage.
2. Description of Related Art
Adhesive bandages are used to protect wounds from friction, bacteria, damage and dirt in order to facilitate the healing process. Typically, an adhesive bandage lays flat on the wounds and is covered by a woven plastic or latex strip that contains an absorbent dressing that may or may not be medicated with an antibacterial or antiseptic compound. The bandage is usually applied such that the dressing covers the wound and the woven plastic or latex strip is adhered to the skin thereby holding the bandage in place over the wound.
The adhesive bandage is well known in the prior art. While most bandages lay flat against a wound, there have been various attempts to create a raised area above the wound so that the wound is not irritated by the bandage covering. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,785,677 to Stumpf, U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,666 to Fryslie, U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,781 to Loomis, U.S. Pat. No. 6,096,943 to Maiwald, U.S. Pat. No. 7,265,256 to Arenstein and U.S. Pat. No. 8,237,008 to Alessandrini all disclose a bandage with a raised area with shapes ranging from circular, semi-circular to rectangular. However, the application of pressure against these raised areas results in the bandage pressing up against the wound. Further, as the raised areas are a permanent part of the bandage design, the bandages are unable to be easily transported and stored. The present invention is distinguishable from the prior art in that it creates a raised cone, which is significantly more difficult to press against the wound based on the strength of the cone design. Further, the cone is created at the time of bandage application and not manufacture, thus allowing the bandages to be shipped and stored in flat position.
While U.S. Pat. No. 6,570,050 to Augustine et.al. discloses a semi cone like raised area above the wound, the adhesive material of the bandage is limited to a round shape that does not allow for the bandage to grasp "hard to apply" body locations such as the fingers or other appendages. The present invention is distinguishable from '050 to Augustine in that it may be applied as a flat bandage or may be applied in the cone shape above the wound. Further, the bandage has attached legs that may be used to grip the skin and body parts around the wound location.


Performing an operation comprising extracting a first element of encrypted data embedded in a digital recording comprising at least one of audio data and image data captured in a recording environment, generating a first decrypted value, the generating performed by execution of a cryptography algorithm based on a private key and the first element of encrypted data, comparing the first decrypted value and a stored value associated with a first element of the digital recording, and authenticating the digital recording based on the first decrypted value substantially matching the stored value.

The present invention relates to digital recordings, and more specifically, to authenticating digital recordings using embedded encrypted data.
With the proliferation of mobile devices, any number of devices may record audio, images, and/or video at a given time. With modern editing techniques, the captured audio, images, and/or video may be manipulated to present an inaccurate depiction of events. For example, an audio recording of a speech may be spliced to order the speech in an inaccurate way, creating the impression that the speaker said something that was not actually stated.

International Business Machines Corporation


A highly strain tolerant, substantially moisture impermeable, reflective crack relief interlayer is provided. The interlayer includes a polymer modified asphalt binder mixed with a dense fine aggregate mixture containing a substantial amount of manufactured sand. The interlayer mix is designed using a fatigue test and a stability test. Preferably, a hot mix asphalt overlay that is compatible with the interlayer, as well as the demands of local traffic and climate, is placed over the interlayer so that a protected, smooth paved surface is provided. The interlayer may delay the first appearance of cracks and the severity of cracks for several years compared with traditional hot mix overlays and extend pavement service life.

The present invention relates to an interlayer placed on cracked pavement. More specifically, this interlayer includes a mixture of aggregate and preferably polymer modified asphalt that is used to delay or minimize the occurrence of cracking, control crack severity, reduce overlay thickness, and enhance waterproofing capabilities.
When pavements deteriorate, they may be overlaid with hot mix asphalt (HMA) to repair them. When designing an overlay, the rate of crack propagation through the overlay, the rate of deterioration of the reflective crack, and the amount of water that can infiltrate through the cracks must be considered. One disadvantage with such HMA overlays is that cracks in the old pavement reflect through the new overlay. To relieve this reflective cracking, thicker overlays are often placed. Another disadvantage with such HMA overlays is that they are permeable allowing water to enter the base. A third disadvantage with these overlays is that they typically have a low strain tolerance and a low resistance to reflective cracking.
Other reflective crack control measures that are used to rehabilitate distressed pavements include placing stress-absorbing membrane interlayers (SAMI), placing grids or fabrics as an interlayer before placing HMA, breaking and seating of pavement, rubblization of pavement, and reconstruction. One disadvantage with some of these processes is that they can be expensive. Another disadvantage with these processes is that if the paved surface is not reconstructed, it may still have cracking problems soon after construction.
As discussed above, one disadvantage with typical HMA overlays is that they have a low resistance to reflective cracking. A typical highway HMA surface mixture has a fatigue life of only about 2000-10,000 cycles, when tested at 10° C. with a strain amplitude of 2000 microstrains and frequency of 10 Hz using a 4-point bending beam apparatus. Accordingly, fatigue resistant interlayers have been introduced to retard reflective cracking. These interlayers may have a fatigue life greater than 200,000 cycles, at identical testing conditions. However, in order to get such a fatigue life and retard the progression of reflective cracks in the pavement, these interlayers sacrifice a degree of its load bearing capacity, as measured in the Hveem stabilometer, and typically have Hveem stabilities of about 18-21.
As a consequence of their high compliance, one disadvantage with these interlayers is that they tend to have inferior load bearing capacity and have a propensity toward showing a lack of dimensional stability under load. In order to compensate for their inferior stability, these interlayers are placed below the top layers of a pavement structure so that they are not exposed to direct traffic loads. Thicker top layers help to improve the total structural stability but are costly. Still further, the top layers of the pavement structure cannot completely compensate for the inferior load bearing capacity of the interlayer.
In order to overcome these disadvantages, an improved interlayer that is able to slow reflective cracking, resist rutting and protect the pavement structure is needed. Still further, this interlayer should be easy to apply and provide a smooth riding surface.

Reflective crack relief pavement interlayer with improved load bearing capacity and method for designing interlayer


To provide a display device and a projector capable of enhancing the quality of dynamic images, of reducing limitations on light sources, enhancing the utilization efficiency of light, and of displaying images in full color, illumination light emitted from a light source lamp is irradiated onto some pixels of a liquid crystal light valve capable of displaying images in colors. A rotating prism scans the illumination light. At this time, fly eye lenses and an superposing lens condense illumination light emitted from the light source lamp to form an image. The image formed by the fly eye lenses and the superposing lens is formed again on the liquid crystal light valve by the image re-forming lenses. The image of the liquid crystal light valve is enlarged and projected by the projection lens to a screen.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a display device to irradiate illumination light emitted from a light source onto display elements, thereby displaying images, and to a projector to make illumination light that is modulated by a plurality of pixels incident on a projection lens of the display element and projecting images from the projection lens to a screen, thereby displaying the images.
2. Description of Related Art
In related art display devices, a technique is known wherein the image quality of dynamic images is enhanced by scanning a region onto which the illumination light is irradiated to a display device.
In a related art display element, a structure is known wherein a region onto which illumination light is irradiated to a display element is scanned by intermittently turning on and off a plurality of light sources arranged on the rear face of the display element. See Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-275604.
In another related art display device, a structure is known wherein an illuminated region is scanned to a display element by rotating a condensing barrel that has a slit for determining the direction in which light sources emit light. See Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-6766.


Nucleic acid molecules encoding an R1-protein from wheat are provided. Also provided are transgenic plant cells and plants containing the nucleic acid molecules, and starch obtainable from the transgenic plant cells and plants.

The polysaccharide starch constitutes one of the most important storage substances in plants. Starch is widely used for the production of foodstuffs and plays also a significant role as a regenerative raw material in manufacturing of industrial products. In order to use starches in many different technical areas a large variety of optionally modified starches is required in order to meet the varying needs of the processing industry.
Although starch consists of a chemically homogeneous basic component, namely glucose, it does not constitute a homogeneous raw material. It is a complex mixture of molecules which differ in their degree of polymerization and degree of branching of the glucose chains: Amylose-type starch is a basically unbranched polymer consisting of α-1,4-glycosidically branched glucose molecules, whereas amylopectin-type starch is a mixture of branched glucose chains, comprising additionally α-1,6-glycosidic interlinkings.
The molecular structure of starch mainly depends on its degree of branching, the amylose/amylopectin ratio, the average chain-length, chain lenght distribution, and degree of phosphorylation, further determining the functional properties of the starch and the aequous solutions thereof. Important functional properties of the starch, resp., the aequous solutions thereof are, e.g., solubility, tendency to retrogradation, capability of film formation, viscosity, pastification (binding and gluing) properties, and cold resistance. Additionally, the size of the starch granules may also determine the suitability of the starch for particular applications.
Since starch is often adapted by chemical and/or physical modification in order to meet the requirements of industry, there is a great need for the provision of modified starches which would render plant cells or plant parts containing modified starch more suitable for industrial processing, e.g., the production of foodstuff or technical products. Therefore, it is desired to avoid chemical and/or physical modification, which is time-consuming and expensive and to provide plants which synthesize a starch which meets more closely the demands of the starch processing industry.
Conventional methods for the preparation of modified plants which produce modified products, e.g., by classical breeding and/or the production of mutants, are limited to the use of homologous genes and are not always satisfying. Particularly in wheat, it is difficult to prepare a stable mutant by classical breeding due to the polyploidity of wheat (tetra- or hexaploidity). However, a wheat mutant producing waxy-type starch (amylose-free starch) was recently achieved by breeding methods (Nakamura et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 248 (1995), 253–259).
A further alternative is the preparation of transgenic plants which comprise nucleic acid molecules suitable to modify plant starch metabolism in order to synthesize a modified starch. Such plants are produced by means of recombinant molecular biological techniques and the introduction of homologous and/or heterologous nucleic acid molecules (e.g., coding regions, regulatory elements, introns), which interfere in starch metabolism. However, the application of recombinant molecular biological techniques requires the availability of suitable nucleic acid which participate directly or indirectly (e.g., cosuppression, anti-sense-technology, generation of protein or ribozyme) in starch metabolism or starch biosynthesis (i.e., synthesis, modification and/or degradation of starch) with respect to quantity and/or quality of the starch.
Numerous genes are involved in starch metabolism. Therefore, a large number of genes encoding, e.g., branching enzymes, debranching enzymes, isoamylases, starch synthetases, ADP-glucose-pyrophosphorylases, have been used to modify starch metabolism in plants.
R1 proteins are involved in starch metabolism, especially with respect to the degree of phosphorylation of the starch and therefore, suitable to modify starch synthesis. In particular, R1-proteins and genes encoding R1-proteins derived from a number of plant species are known, i.e., potato from WO 97/11188-A1 and Lorberth et al., Nature Biotechnology 16 (1998), 473–477), maize from WO 98/27212-A1, rice from Sakaki et al., EMBL database entry Accession No. C 71741 (1997-09-19), and arabidopsis, ginger, mosses, cattail (Typha latifolia), and soybean from WO 99/53072-A1.
However, the presence of an R1-protein in wheat plants was not shown, corresponding nucleic acid molecules were not identified. Furthermore, the known nucleic acid molecules encoding R1-proteins are not always satisfying or suitable for the genetic engeneering or the in vivo mutagenesis of wheat plants in order to modify wheat starch biosynthesis and/or metabolism.

Nucleic acid molecules from wheat encoding an R1-protein, and transgenic plant cells and plants comprising the nucleic acid molecules


A device has means for computing and obtaining blood vessel extraction images by extracting blood vessel portions from two or more fundus images, means for computing and obtaining a corner data image having corner portions of the blood vessel portions detected from the obtained blood vessel extraction image, means for computing and obtaining a probability distribution diagram for the corner data image by convolving the corner data image with a window function, means for computing a matching probability score when executing a matching processing between two or more fundus images on the basis of the probability distribution diagram corresponding to each fundus image obtained and the corner data image, and means for creating a retinal fundus map by superimposing two or more fundus images on the basis of the obtained matching probability score.

The invention relates to a device and a method for creating retinal fundus maps by combining two or more retinal fundus images.
In a previously known device for combining two or more retinal fundus images to create a retinal fundus map (retinal image montage), intersections between blood vessels which are shown in each fundus image are extracted as characteristic points, and correlation matching is executed on image data which are at a periphery of the intersections of blood vessels in two sheets of fundus images to find a pair having a common intersection, and two fundus images are superimposed on each other with the found intersection pair as a standard so as to create a retinal fundus map. Such technique is disclosed in Japanese patent application publication No. 2000-23921.
If photographic conditions (which may be changed according to a value of gamma, existence of optic disk, state of flare, or quantity of blood vessels) are not constant at the time of matching for blood vessel intersections, correct correspondence between the intersections is not ensured, and this matching lacks credibility. Since the matching of intersections is executed on image data, pixel data are matched with each other. Then, computational load is rather high, and it takes longer time for processing thereby. And, two or more fundus images to be compounded respectively need to have intersections of blood vessel to be matched. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain fundus images in advance so as to include such a common intersection of blood vessel when obtaining fundus images. That is, a skill for obtaining such fundus images is necessary for testers.
The invention has been made under the above-mentioned circumstances, and the object of the invention is to provide a device and method for creating retinal fundus maps wherein a stable matching is possible even if photographic conditions (which may be changed according to a value of gamma, existence of optic disk, state of flare, or quantity of blood vessels) are not constant, the computational load at the time of the matching can be reduced, and no skill is necessary for testers when obtaining fundus images.

Device and method for creating retinal fundus maps


A force-sense imparting type multidirectional input device includes a base body including a receiving space, a slider movably disposed in the receiving space, an operating member integrated with the slider, a first driving member that includes a first engaging portion rotationally driven along the movement of the slider, a second driving member that includes a second engaging portion rotationally driven along the movement of the slider and a force-sense imparting unit that imparts a sense of force to an operator through the operating member. The slider is slidingly moved along the first virtual axis and swings about the first virtual axis in a direction orthogonal to the first virtual axis, the first engaging portion of the first driving member is rotationally driven with the sliding movement of the slider, and the second engaging portion of the second driving member is rotationally driven with the swing of the slider.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to a force-sense imparting type multidirectional input device and more particularly, to a force-sense imparting type multidirectional input device that is easy to operate.
2. Description of the Related Art
While driving an automobile, a driver may adjust a function by manually operating an operating knob of an on-vehicle control device of a car air conditioner, a car audio system, a car navigation system, or the like. In recent years, a force-sense imparting type multidirectional input device has been used as an input device that is used to perform this operation. Such a force-sense imparting type multidirectional input device reliably performs a desired operation with a good operation feeling by applying an external force (sense of force), such as a resistance force or a thrust, according to the operation amount or the operating direction of an operating knob. A force-sense imparting type multidirectional input device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-79620 is a known force-sense imparting type multidirectional input device.
The force-sense imparting type multidirectional input device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-79620 will be described below with reference to FIG. 20. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a force-sense imparting type multidirectional input device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-79620.
As shown in FIG. 20, a force-sense imparting type multidirectional input device 900 disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-79620 includes a slider 910 that is disposed so as to be movable on a plane including an X1-X2 direction and a direction (referred to as a Y1-Y2 direction) orthogonal to the X1-X2 direction when seen from a side corresponding to a Z1 direction. For example, it is possible to move a cursor displayed on a display device such as an LCD monitor, which is separately provided, by operating an operating knob 920 connected to the slider 910 to move the slider 910.
When the force-sense imparting type multidirectional input device 900 in the related art is disposed on a center console of the automobile, it is thought that an operator grips an operating knob 920 and performs an input operation while placing one's elbow on an armrest. At this time, when an operator operates the slider 910 for the movement of the slider 910 of the force-sense imparting type multidirectional input device 900 on a plane, there is an operating direction (for example, referred to as an X1-X2 direction) in which the operator feels it easy to rotate the wrist in terms of the structure of a human body. However, since the slider 910 of the force-sense imparting type multidirectional input device 900 is moved along the plane, it is difficult for the operator to operate the slider when the operator operates the slider 910 in the X1-X2 direction.

Force-sense imparting type multidirectional input device


A phase-stable, biocide concentrate and/or solution composition is provided for disinfecting surfaces such as in animal husbandry applications, food processing, medical purposes, and the like. In the concentrate form, the composition comprises a quaternary ammonium biocide, an aliphatic dialdehyde and a foam surfactant. Typically, the solution composition may employ glutaraldehyde, a foam producing surfactant, a chelating agent, an odor obscuring compound, and an acid to lower the pH and stabilize the glutaraldehyde. The concentrate has a stability at ambient temperature of up to about two years. When applied to surfaces employed in animal husbandry, the adhesive properties of the composition enable it to remain in contact with these surfaces a sufficiently long time and thereby provide effective cleaning and disinfecting capability.

This invention relates to a new and improved composition for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, such as for animal husbandry, and for food processing and handling.
The requirements for cleaning and disinfecting compositions of these types are numerous, and involve good adhesion to a surface, not only for animal husbandry applications, where lengthy contact times improve cleaning and disinfectant results, but also for uses in areas such as food and food handling.
Also, it is desired to improve the phase stability and storage life capability, and to reduce obnoxious odors frequently associated with these compositions. Further, it is desired to provide biodegradable compositions, where feasible, and to ensure they are reasonably safe for general consumer use.
Moreover, it would be desirable to provide a cleaning and disinfecting composition which is effective in hard water, for example up to about 2,000 ppm and, at a high challenge of organic material, up to about 20%. Additionally, it would be desirable to provide a composition operable over a wide pH range of for example 0-9, since this would produce suitable cleaning and disinfecting activity for numerous microorganisms.
Typical publications concerning these compositions include: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,469,614; 4,654,374; 4,923,899; 4,983,635; 5,124,359; 5,252,606; 5,284,875; 5,322,856; 5,338,748; 5,344,838; and, French Patent 2,622,397. In addition to these patents, a brochure entitled, Cetylicide.sup.R" " published by Cetylite Industries, Inc., discloses germicidal compositions for use with medical equipment. Some problems concerning the compositions described in these publications is that they do not provide long term storage life, have a limited pH range capability, and do not appear effective at high levels of water hardness.
French Patent 2,622,397 describes ethoxylated fatty alcohol surfactants, but their corresponding commercial product TH4+.TM. contains a foam depressor which acts within about 5-10 minutes to reduce foam. Moreover, the only described use of the French patent is for corrosion prevention of metallic supports.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,338,748 and 5,344,838 also describe use of compositions where corrosion is a problem, but they omit a surfactant. Also, these two patents suggest employing deadly arsenic and cyanide salts, and other salts such as lead, chromium and selenium with less deadly, but nevertheless possessing dangerous properties at relatively high concentration levels. Consequently, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,338,748 and 5,344,838 do not appear suitable or intended for animal husbandry use including poultry ranching and/or egg processing, or associated with domestic farm animals, or exposure to humans.
By contrast, the present invention involves the food industry, especially for animal husbandry, for poultry facilities and transportation, and for egg processing including egg storage, candling, and handling.

Cleaning and disinfectant biocide composition, and method for cleaning animal husbandry surfaces


A pressure sensor for measuring a pressure difference between a pressure being measured and the ambient atmospheric pressure surrounding the pressure sensor, including a platform and a membrane loadable with a pressure being measured. The membrane is secured at its edge to the platform, with a pressure chamber thus being formed between the platform and the measuring membrane. The pressure chamber communicates over a reference air path with the atmosphere, with the reference air path being a winding path.

The mentioned introduction of the reference air can bring moisture into the pressure chamber, which then condenses in the interior of the sensor when the temperature falls below the dew point. This can degrade the functioning of the sensor. Such is especially a problem, when the air surrounding the sensor has a higher temperature than the medium whose pressure is being measured.
Hegner et al. disclose in European Patent Application EP 0 974 825 A3 a relative pressure sensor, which has a reference air path with a moisture filter. The moisture filter is arranged in the front area of the relative pressure sensor, near the measuring membrane, thus near the medium, so that the temperature of the moisture filter is similar to the temperature of the media. This arrangement assures that moisture in the reference air can condense out before it even gets into the reference air path, so that there is hardly any possibility of a falling below the dew point in the pressure chamber. The described arrangement is, however, comparatively costly.
Other relative pressure sensors have a capillary tube communicating with the platform-side opening of the pressure chamber. The capillary tube serves as a reference air path, while opposing encroaching moisture with a certain diffusion resistance. The capillary tube is frequently a small metal tube, which, for example, is secured to the platform by glazing. This manner of assembly is accompanied, likewise, by an increased manufacturing cost. Additionally, the entrance opening of the capillary tube is largely thermally de-coupled from the pressure measuring cell, so that, in the case of higher temperatures at the entrance opening, air with a high water content can get into the capillary tube, which leads to falling below the dew point in the colder pressure chamber. The condensation in the measurement cell is significantly delayed and even decreased by the described arrangement, but it cannot, however, be prevented by this technique.


A brush seal is provided for sealing, with minimized leakage, a circumferential gap (S), for example between a rotor (1) and a stator (2) in a gas turbine engine. The brush seal includes a bristle housing (4) rigidly mounted on the stator or the rotor, and bristles (6) having fixed ends securely and durably held in the housing (4) and free ends protruding toward and into the annular gap (S). The housing (4) includes two holder disks (5A, 5B) with an interspace (Z) therebetween, wherein the interspace includes at least one of an axially directed first clamping portion (8) and a radially directed second clamping portion (10), and a widened non-clamping portion (7A, 7B). The fixed ends of the bristles are clampingly held in the first and second clamping portions, while the free ends of the bristles extend generally toward the opposite rotor or stator while being movably supported and guided by the widened non-clamping portion of the interspace (Z). The bristles (6) may extend at a tilt angle in the circumferential direction and may be stitched, woven, or glued together at their fixed ends in order to form a single bristle packet.

Brush seals of the above mentioned general type are used in turbine machines, and especially gas turbine engines, to provide a seal with the minimum possible leakage at circumferential gaps, for example between a machine housing and rotor or around a rotary shaft of the turbine machine, between two spaces having different prevailing fluid pressures within the turbine machine. Generally, the bristles of the brush seal are held and guided so as to be elastically yieldable or movable in order to compensate for any eccentric or oscillating motions of the rotor or shaft relative to the housing, which may result, for example, from rotor imbalances or the like. In this context, brush seals have been recognized as advantageous over the previously long utilized labyrinth seals, because such labyrinth seals can only adapt themselves to eccentric shaft movements to a very limited degree. Furthermore, brush seals advantageously distinguish themselves over prior labyrinth seals by a lower production cost and a lower weight.
Brush seals are generally known having a brush housing including two support disks or holder disks with an interspace therebetween, and with the seal bristles held in the interspace. The housing is mounted on the rotor or stator of a turbine machine, so that the bristles are directed toward the opposite stator or rotor. Such a brush seal arrangement is, for example, disclosed in German Patent 3,720,069.
In order to achieve a long operating life for such a brush seal, it is essential that the brush bristles are securely and durably mounted and held in the seal housing, so that the bristles cannot come loose and fall out during operation. Namely, such a loss of bristles would at least reduce the seal effectiveness, and in the worst case could damage or destroy the rotor or other components of the turbine machine and thus jeopardize the operating condition of the machine. According to German Patent 3,907,614, the bristles of a brush seal are looped around a core ring, and the bristles together with the core ring are further encircled and held by a clamping ring. The clamping ring is split or slotted in the circumferential direction so that the free ends of the bristles are directed radially inwardly so as to project out of the clamping ring toward the rotor. The bristle ring that is embodied and held together in such a manner is then inserted between two holding disks which form the brush housing and which then exert and transfer the clamping force onto the clamping ring. Disadvantageously, such a known brush seal arrangement is relatively complicated in structure, and also requires complicated and time consuming assembly and maintenance steps.

Brush seal between a rotor and a stator in a turbine machine

MTU Motoren-und Turbinen-Union Muenchen GmbH


A vacuum packaging system includes a vacuum room, a delivery apparatus, a discharge device, a second heating apparatus. The delivery apparatus transport the pre-packaged container into the vacuum room. The discharge device discharges a sealing material to seal an exhaust through hole of the pre-packaged container. The discharge device includes a vessel configured for containing sealing material, a transport pipeline, a first heating, and a controlling element. The first heating apparatus softens the sealing material into viscous liquid. The second heating apparatus is mounted on the inner wall of the vacuum room between the second hatch and the transport pipeline.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to packaging technology and, in particular, to a vacuum packaging system for a vacuum device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some vacuum devices, such as flat panel displays, are packaged by a vacuum packaging system to create a vacuum within such devices. Referring to FIG. 2, according to the prior art, a typical vacuum packaging system 300 is shown. The typical vacuum packaging system 300 includes a vacuum room 30, a first accommodating room 31 and a second accommodating room 32 disposed at opposite sides of the vacuum room 30, a delivery device 35, and a sealing device 36 connected to the vacuum room 30. The first accommodating room 31 and the second accommodating room 32 communicate with the vacuum room 30 via a first hatch 33 and a second hatch 34. The delivery device 35 can carry workpieces to be packaged between the first and second accommodating rooms 31, 32. The sealing device 36 is located outside the vacuum room 30 and emits a laser to package the workpieces.
The packaging method utilizing the above vacuum packaging system 300 includes the following steps. A pre-packaged container 37, that has an exhaust through hole 371 defined thereon, is prepared in the first accommodating room 31. An exhaust pipe 372 is provided. One end of the exhaust pipe 372 is inserted into and fixed in the exhaust through hole 371 via low-melting glass powder (not labeled), and another end of the exhaust pipe 372 is exposed outside the pre-packaged container 37. The sealing device 36 heats and softens the exhaust pipe 372 so as to seal the open end thereof. The pre-packaged container 37 and the exhaust pipe 372 fixed on the pre-packaged container 37 are transported into the vacuum room 30 via the delivery device 35. The vacuum room 30 is connected to a vacuum pump 38 that is used to create a vacuum. The outer end of the exhaust pipe 372 is then sealed utilizing the sealing device 36. The packaged container (not labeled) is cooled in the second accommodated room 32 to obtain a packaged container under vacuum.
However, the exhaust pipe 372 needs to be disposed at the through hole 371 of the pre-packaged container 37 in the above method. In addition, the exhaust pipe 372 is retained outside of the packaged container, which is disadvantageous with respect to safety and reliability. Furthermore, to expediently seal the end of the exhaust pipe 372, the exhaust pipe 372 should have a small diameter, for example, less than 5 mm, which results in more time to remove air from the pre-packaged container 37. Therefore, the structure of the packaged container becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost is increased.
What is needed, therefore, is a vacuum packaging system for a vacuum device, which can overcome the above-described shortcomings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The upper part of a brace is concave to receive a human calf and extends forwardly at either side of the calf. Elastic straps extend from the upper right and left sides of the brace downwardly to the top outside of a modified conventional shoe to support the shoe from plantarflexion as well as inversion and eversion. The lower end of the brace is removably and pivotally connected to the heel curve of the shoe.

Drop foot is characterized by an insufficient control to check plantarflexion, inversion and/or eversion of the foot while walking. Consequentially, a victim suffering from drop foot walks with the toe of an affected foot dragging along the ground. Further, the affected foot may twist inversionally or eversionally. Either or both symptoms provide a sufferer of drop foot with an embarrassing and unsafe gait. Generally, drop foot is incurred by stroke victims, multiple sclerosis patients and/or those suffering from neurological, muscular and/or orthopedic pathological conditions. Victims of any of these pathological conditions can be especially prone to medical complications which may result from a fall caused by tripping due to the drop foot stride.
Drop-foot and similar pathological conditions can be corrected utilizing an appropriate ankle-foot orthosis. Moreover, in many cases, by utilizing an appropriate ankle-foot orthosis in a therapeutic rehabilitation program, the patient can be cured of at least the symptomatic gait associated with drop-foot.
It is advantageous for a therapeutic rehabilitation program to include the patient's normal daily routine, such as walking while involved in working or social situations. In this case, the ankle-foot orthosis should not only be effective in (Correcting foot drop, but also comfortable to wear and not overly conspicuous so as not to draw attention to the infirmity or otherwise embarrass the patient. Further, an appropriate drop-foot orthosis should be relatively inexpensive, not requiring the patient to acquire different sets of shoes (which can be used only during rehabilitation due to differing sizes), and adaptable to a wide variety of shoe styles. Still further, the ankle-foot orthosis should be adjustable to be applicable to a wide variety of orthopedic needs and rehabilitation stages. In light of the circumstance that many drop-foot patients suffer from pathological conditions also affecting their dexterity, the ankle-foot orthosis should also be simple to use.
Before the present invention, there has been no ankle-foot orthosis design that successfully and fully addresses these concerns. Many attempted to provide a static stop to prevent any plantarflexion, such as Mason et al.'s U.S. Pat. No. 4,289,122 and Goffredo's U.S. Pat. No. 2,584,010, but these devices have proved, in many cases, to aggravate the patient's condition since the muscles used for plantarflexion tend to atrophy from disuse. Mason et al., as well as other devices, such as Shad's U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,501, require a larger than normal-size shoe to accommodate the brace, and necessitate the leg's intimate and extensive contact with the brace which increases the user's discomfort. Further, in Goffredo and Shad, methods of applying the orthosis to the foot challenge a patient's dexterity. Furthermore, these devices, like those of Heaney's U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,982 and Deis' U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,447, do not address lateral (laterally outward) or medial-lateral (laterally inward) support of the foot. Although lateral support is addressed in Wertz's U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,589, Wertz discloses a lever arm which is too short for either effectively encouraging dorsiflexion or discouraging plantarflexion. Also, Wertz's support member is unstably secured to the leg and may slip from its relative position due to the movement of the foot, destroying the brace's potential effectiveness, since it is merely held firm to the back of the leg via the elastic straps. Furthermore, none of these orthosises provides for ease in adjustability of their supports. Von Baeyer's drop foot brace, as illustrated on page 426, FIG. 700 of the Orthopaedic Appliances Atlas, Volume I (1952), although providing sufficient moment arm and ease of adjustability for its elastic supports, which encourage the dorsiflexion of the foot and control the lateral or medial-lateral deflection of the foot, appears to provide for intimate contact of the foot with the straps by securing the straps inside the shoe, and further appears to provide at least one static stop for plantarflexional motion.


A microswitch is provided with a movable electrode contact component including a bending displacement component having a cantilever shape, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element having a piezoelectric/electrostrictor and a voltage application electrode layers, and a substrate joined to a support portion of the movable electrode contact component and having a fixed electrode disposed on the surface thereof, wherein the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element is driven to displace the movable electrode, so that the movable electrode and the fixed electrode can be brought into a state of being electrically connected to each other or disconnected from each other. At least a thin plate of the bending displacement component is made of a ceramic material, and the thin plate, the piezoelectric/electrostrictor, and the voltage application electrode layers are integrated by firing. The microswitch can efficiently switch high-frequency signals at low power consumption and has excellent responsiveness, excellent durability, and high reliability of long term driving.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microswitch and a method for manufacturing the same. In particular, it relates to a microswitch useful as, for example, compact high-frequency switches for cellular phones and other portable communications equipment.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, as the market for portable communications equipment and other various high-frequency equipment has been expanded and the development thereof has been expedited, the production of high-frequency electronic components to be incorporated into these equipment has been stepped up. In particular, with respect to high-frequency signal transmission and reception circuits incorporated into portable communications equipment, requirements for higher performances of compact high-frequency switches used for switching input and output signals of antennas have become even more intensified.
In particular, a high performance is required for achieving a lower insertion loss of high-frequency signal on switch-on and higher isolation on switch-off. Now, in general, the compact high-frequency switch is of a mechanical type by the use of a relay or an electronic type by the use of a PIN diode, or the like. Recently, the use of a microswitch has been studied in accordance with technological development of Micro Electro Mechanical System primarily based on a silicon process (Si-MEMS) to which a semiconductor manufacturing process is applied. Examples of advantages of the microswitch are low the insertion loss of high-frequency signal, relatively low production cost, and low power consumption, as compared with those of other electronic switches.
Examples of driving systems of the microswitch to which the above-described Si-MEMS technology is applied (hereafter referred to as "Si-MEMS switch") include an electrostatic type in which an electrostatic force serves as a driving force, a thermal type in which a component made of a bimetal is deformed by heating, a magnetic type in which a magnetic force serves as a driving force, and a piezoelectric type in which a driving force of a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element is used. Among them, the microswitch adopting the piezoelectric type driving system is noted since switching of high-frequency signals can be efficiently performed at a low power consumption as compared with those of microswitches adopting other driving systems (refer to JP-K-2003-519821, for example).
However, a Si-MEMS switch proposed in the above-described JP-k-2003-519821 and the like is to switch high-frequency signals through elastic deformation of a Si substrate and, therefore, in some cases, the reliability of long term driving is unsatisfactory. Furthermore, since a piezoelectric film and electrode films are formed on the Si substrate by a vacuum film forming process, occurrence of crack or peeling off of the films resulting from differences in thermal expansion between the Si substrate, the electrode film and the piezoelectric film must be avoided. Therefore, there is a problem in that it is difficult to increase the film thicknesses of the piezoelectric film and the electrode films.
On the other hand, a micro machine switch has been proposed as a microswitch other than the Si-MEMS switch. The micro machine switch is provided with a signal line conductor, a cantilever driven short circuit mechanism made of Cr or the like that is a material having spring characteristics, and a piezoelectric, and the short circuit mechanism is driven by the piezoelectric to displace and short-circuit the signal line conductor and a predetermined grounding conductor, so that a high-frequency signal passing through the signal line conductor is interrupted (refer to JP-A-2003-217421, for example). In addition, a piezoelectric actuator has been proposed, in which a predetermined shape of metal plate with a piezoelectric element stuck on the surface thereof is configured to be driven by bending this piezoelectric element (refer to JP-A-2001-68751, for example). Examples of methods for disposing the piezoelectric (piezoelectric element) on the surface of the metal substrate include a vacuum film forming process and a method in which a piezoelectric element prepared separately is stuck with an adhesive or the like.
However, as described above, there is a problem in that it is difficult to increase the film thicknesses of the piezoelectric element (the piezoelectric film and the electrode films) by the vacuum film forming process. In the case where the piezoelectric element is stuck to the substrate by using the adhesive, the durability of the adhesion surface and the reliability is not always satisfactory. In particular, a microswitch required to reliably switch high-frequency signals for a long term must be further improved.

Microswitch and method for manufacturing the same


A lawn game apparatus including a bag-like throwing member used to be thrown at a target member defining a plurality of target zones therein. The bag-like throwing member includes an internal chamber with loose pelletized filler material to provide weight to facilitate throwing of the bag-like member. The bag-like member includes a hook and loop interconnecting securement means on one end thereof adapted to engage other hook and loop securement sections within the specific target zones to facilitate securement thereto and for scoring of the game. The bag-like throwing member includes two sides both of flexible material with only one side coated with the hook and loop interengagement means to facilitate formation of game strategies and enhance game play.

1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention deals with the field of devices of games and in particular lawn games utilizing thrown projectiles and specifically designed targets. The specific design of the targets of the present invention is adaptable for use to simulate games such as horseshoes, baseball, shuffleboard and the like.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
Other prior art devices have been conceived and patented utilizing various types of projectiles and targets. Some of these games may be utilized as lawn games and others require specific equipment. Examples of such games are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,923,548 patented Feb. 2, 1960 to M. Kappel on an "Aerial Projectile Game"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,628,793 patented Dec. 21, 1971 to R. Mudloff on a "Sandbag And Target Apparatus In Which The Target Also Serves As A Carrying Case"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,271 patented Nov. 4, 1975 to J. Lemelson et al on a "Ball For Target Games"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,383 patented Mar. 2, 1976 to W. Clarke on a "Velcro Projectile And Target"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,953,030 patented Apr. 27, 1976 to B. Muchnick on a "Throw And Catch Toy"; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,999,748 patented Dec. 28, 1976 to W. Clarke on a "Childrens Game Of Catch"; and U.S Pat. No. 4,017,076 patented Apr. 12, 1977 to H. Bai on a "Target Game"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,029,316 patented Jun. 14, 1977 to W. Clarke on a "Game Ball"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,251 patented Sep. 12, 1978 to J. Imes, Jr. and assigned to RB Toy Development Co. on a "Target Game"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,823 patented Apr. 24, 1979 to D. Boganowski on a "Targetable Projectile Amusement Apparatus"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,925 patented Feb. 5, 1980 to A. Goldfarb et al and assigned to Adolph E. Goldfarb; Elisabeth Benkoe, executrix for the estate of Erwin Benkoe on a "Competitive Toss Game"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,240,639 patented Dec. 23, 1980 to D. Bolton et al and assigned to Cadaco, Inc. on a "Toss Ball Construction"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,023 patented Dec. 4, 1984 to J. Tomoff on an "Educational Game Device Of The Colored Pattern Type"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,333 patented Nov. 20, 1990 to O. Buselli on a "Wall Mounted Decorative Art Convertible To A Toss Game With Catch Area"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,891 patented May 21, 1991 to D. Nelson on a "Projectile-Target Game Apparatus"; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,727 patented Nov. 26, 1991 to P. Crompton on a "Ring Toss Game".

Aerial projectile and target apparatus for use in playing a lawn target game


A mechanism of monitoring activity on a computer which may be applied to measuring the performance of the computer. The computer is configured to track a first set of information relating to at least a first occurrence of at least one scenario on the computer. At least some of the first set of information is evaluated to make a determination about the first occurrence of the scenario. Based on that determination, the computer may be configured to track a second set of information relating to at least a second occurrence of the scenario on the computer, in which the second set of information includes at least some types of information not tracked in the first set of information. The second set of information can then be evaluated.

1. Field of Invention
The techniques described herein are directed generally to the field of computer applications, and more particularly to techniques for monitoring activity on a computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Systems exist for collecting data from computers executing in the field, i.e., in environments where they are used by customers who purchased the computer systems or aspect thereof. For example, the developers of some software applications insert special probe or event functions into the software code, producing instrumented software code. The instrumented software code instructs the computer on which the code is running to store some limited information specified by the software developers, about the software and/or its operating environment, in a location in computer memory or in computer storage media. The information may be transmitted for a number of reasons by the computer system to the software developer who may analyze the data. For example, if a software application crashes, that information may be transmitted back to the software developer, who may then look for information useful in debugging errors in the software.