OCT-enabled injection for vitreoretinal surgery may involve using an OCT image to detect when a surgical injector penetrates a desired tissue layer of the eye for receiving an injection. The injection may be triggered or automatically actuated based on the detection of the surgical injector from the OCT image.

In ophthalmology, eye surgery, or ophthalmic surgery, saves and improves the vision of tens of thousands of patients every year. However, given the sensitivity of vision to even small changes in the eye and the minute and delicate nature of many eye structures, ophthalmic surgery is difficult to perform and the reduction of even minor or uncommon surgical errors or modest improvements in accuracy of surgical techniques can make an enormous difference in the patient's vision after the surgery.
Ophthalmic surgery is performed on the eye and accessory visual structures. More specifically, vitreoretinal surgery encompasses various delicate procedures involving internal portions of the eye, such as the vitreous humor and the retina. Different vitreoretinal surgical procedures are used, sometimes with lasers, to improve visual sensory performance in the treatment of many eye diseases, including epimacular membranes, diabetic retinopathy, vitreous hemorrhage, macular hole, detached retina, and complications of cataract surgery, among others.
During vitreoretinal surgery, an ophthalmologist typically uses a surgical microscope to view the fundus through the cornea, while surgical instruments that penetrate the sclera may be introduced to perform any of a variety of different procedures. The surgical microscope provides imaging and optionally illumination of the fundus during vitreoretinal surgery. The patient typically lies supine under the surgical microscope during vitreoretinal surgery and a speculum is used to keep the eye exposed. Depending on a type of optical system used, the ophthalmologist has a given field of view of the fundus, which may vary from a narrow field of view to a wide field of view that can extend to peripheral regions of the fundus. During a procedure, the field of view of the fundus may be presented to and viewed by the ophthalmologist using an ophthalmic visualization system which may include a microscope-based or microscope-less optical system such as NGENUITY® (Alcon Laboratories, Inc.).
In addition to optics for viewing the fundus, surgical microscopes may be equipped with optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanners to provide additional information about portions of eye tissue involved with the vitreoretinal surgery. The OCT scanner may enable imaging below a visible surface of the eye tissue during vitreoretinal surgery.
For certain therapies, a surgical injector may be used to inject a substance into the eye, such as into an intraretinal or subretinal tissue layer. Because of the very small dimensions of certain tissue layers in the eye, manual actuation of the surgical injector may not be feasible or desirable, because any movement by the surgeon to perform the manual actuation may inherently cause the surgical injector to be displaced in an undesirable manner.


A sensor device includes a G sensor producing an electric signal in accordance with physical displacement of its sensing portion and a casing mounting this G sensor. A casing chamber is sealed with a potting material so that the G sensor is covered with the potting material. The potting material has the role of surely damping the high-frequency vibration which generally causes resonance. Thus, the G sensor can accurately detect the collision and vibration without being adversely influenced by the resonance.

This invention relates to a sensor device mounting an electronic sensor which is capable of detecting collision, vibration, angular acceleration, or the like based on an electric signal produced in accordance with physical displacement of a sensing portion.
Furthermore, this invention relates to a ceramic package for mounting electronic components.

Sensor device and ceramic package for mounting electronic components


An ice making apparatus is provided in which a refrigeration cycle is used to produce ice inside an evaporator that is generally horizontally disposed, with a hollow auger being provided with a helical flight thereon, for scraping ice from the inner wall of the evaporator and pushing the ice toward one end of the auger, by which it is compressed and moved by a paddle toward a flange, in which it is delivered to an ice breakup device, by which the ice is diverted into a compression zone, with water being squeezed from the ice and the ice delivered to a transport tube and then to an ice retainer. Filling the retainer or jamming of ice nuggets inside the transport will effect a shut-down of the apparatus. Various water level controls for a water reservoir are provided, whereby the auger is flooded inside and outside, for enhancing ice formation. Nugget-type ice is provided by the ice making apparatus. The apparatus allows for changing the nugget size/shape without negative ice hardness consequences.

This invention is directed to an ice making apparatus. Specifically, it is directed to an apparatus for making ice of the nugget-forming type, from ice shavings that are compacted.
Prior art apparatus and equipment for making ice of the nugget-forming type, from ice shavings that are scraped from a surface that, in turn, is refrigerated, so that water freezes on a refrigerated surface forming ice, which ice can be scraped from that surface to form ice shavings, and wherein those ice shavings are compacted to be nugget-forming, is known in the art. A representative such apparatus/system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,908, the complete disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. Ice making apparatus and systems in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,908, and other such apparatus and systems, are highly functional. Generally, such apparatus employs a refrigeration system for providing refrigerant to a freezing chamber of the hollow cylinder type. Typically, water is supplied to the freezing chamber and the water becomes frozen due to the refrigerant provided, generally via an evaporator component of a refrigeration system.
Typical of such apparatus, is that a rotatable ice auger fits inside the freezing chamber and is rotationally driven, such that flights of the auger scrape ice that is formed on a cylindrical wall of the freezing chamber. Typically, the ice is conveyed along the auger, to a location where it becomes compressed. The compressed ice is compacted into a solid form, and water is squeezed from it. The solid form ice is then delivered from the apparatus and becomes broken up into nuggets of solid form, prior to or during its delivery to a location of storage or use.


The invention relates to a method for regulating the mixture in an internal combustion engine by means of a catalytic converter and a lambda probe that is placed downstream of the catalytic converter. Depending on the historical signal values, said method determines whether intervention in the formation of the mixture is required, whether the existing signal is only decreasing slowly, which necessitates slow regulatory intervention, or whether the signal of the probe placed downstream of the catalytic converter decreases rapidly, which necessitates rapid regulatory intervention. The difference types of intervention enable the volume of the catalytic converter to be reduced, thus preventing high consumption in the warm-up phase or the poor start-up behavior of large catalytic converters.

DE 102 06 399 C1 discloses a method for forced activation of a lambda control system which improves exhaust gas conversion in the case of a three-way catalytic converter, wherein mixture control having alternately rich and lean exhaust gas packets is performed varyingly around a lambda setpoint value. For particularly reliable exhaust gas conversion, so-called fine dosing of the exhaust gas packets is performed.

Method for controlling a fuel mixture for an internal combustion engine and corresponding control unit


A support system for surgical patients, a convertible support for surgical patients, and a method for providing a convertible support for surgical patients is provided. The support system includes an arm cradle adapted to hold an arm of a patient at an angle when the patient is in a supine position and a side bolster adapted to be positioned against a side of a patient opposite the arm cradle. The side bolster is adapted to stabilize the patient in the supine position. The arm cradle is adapted to hold an arm of a patient at an angle conducive to recovery from shoulder surgery when the patient is in a supine position. The arm cradle is also adapted to be worn as a sling when the patient is ambulatory. The arm cradle, side bolster, and an optional head support may be secured to a mat in a temporary manner.

The present invention relates to supports for patients recovering from shoulder surgery. More specifically, the present invention relates to systems, apparatus, and methods that provide support for a patient's arm which enables shoulder surgery patients to sleep in a supine position in a stable manner and which include a cradle portion adapted to be worn as a sling during waking hours.
The prior art discloses several types of support pillows for shoulder surgery patients. However, none of the prior art devices provide support for the surgically repaired arm and shoulder while at the same time restricting patient movement (e.g., rolling over or shifting onto one side) in order to prevent injury or damage to the surgically repaired shoulder during sleep. Further, none of the prior art support pillows are convertible into a sling for use by the patient during waking hours.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a support device for shoulder surgery patients that supports the surgically repaired shoulder and arm while at the same time restricting patient movement. It would also be advantageous if a portion of such a support device could be adapted to be worn as a sling during waking hours.
The systems, methods and apparatus of the present invention provide the foregoing and other advantages.

Convertible support system, device, and method for shoulder surgery patients


There is provided an improved TIG welder comprising a power source for performing an AC TIG welding process across an electrode and a workpiece with a controller for creating an AC waveform. The controller having a synergic input device with an input for receiving a signal level representing a desired set current for the welding process and an output signal determining an aspect of the waveform and representing a non-linear relationship between peak positive current and peak negative current for certain desired set welding currents.

In gas tungsten arc welding, sometimes referred to as TIG welding, the output current can be provided by any number of constant current power sources. Most metals are capable of being welded by the GTAW or TIG welding process; however, they are generally welded by a DC negative arc using an inert gas atmosphere. When welding aluminum or magnesium using the TIG welding process, the current is generally AC with an electrode positive current section and an electrode negative current section. These two sections are balanced to a limited extent using known technology; however, more recently, variable polarity power sources have become available. Using inverter technology with a waveform generator, as pioneered by assignee of the present invention, the positive current section and the negative current section of the waveform for TIG welding can be adjusted in shape, amplitude and duration. AC TIG welding of the variable AC waveform type is performed with a pure tungsten electrode. The size of the electrode is determined by the application and the current range required for the welding process. If a given size electrode is welded at a positive current or positive heat energy above its desired range of operation, the tungsten electrode may become too hot and the electrode will "spit" metal from its molten tip into the welding pool. This is not acceptable. In most cases, the electrode spitting occurs in the positive half cycle or section of the waveform when the instantaneous positive current is too high for the particular electrode being used. In common AC TIG welding, duration of the different current sections are controlled for adjusting the welding process to the desired conditions. This duration adjustment is a direct linear relationship with greater negative penetration durations and greater positive clean durations as the set current is increased. Such control does not address the problem of electrode spitting by overheating the tip of the electrode.
TIG welding with an AC waveform using the inverter type technology is performed by using a square wave positive current section and a square wave negative current section. The average current for the TIG welding is generally obtained by multiplying the positive current by the positive duration and the negative current by the negative duration. These functions are then added and divided by the total duration of both current sections. When performing a TIG welding process, the average current is generally set by the operator or adjusted by a foot pedal. The set current is maintained by controlling the current during both the positive and negative portions of the AC waveform. However, it is not unusual to adjust or set the current based upon the current during the negative polarity waveform, since this portion of the waveform is used for heating and penetration while the positive portion is merely used for cleaning the workpiece. To provide desired TIG welding results, as mentioned earlier, the cleaning duration is adjusted in a direct relationship with respect to the penetration duration based upon the desired TIG welding current, whether the average current or the negative penetration current. The direct relationship of durations means cleaning is increased as penetration is increased. This relationship of durations may be scaled. Thus, TIG welding systems or welders feature a method to adjust the waveform balance between penetration and cleaning based upon the set current, either average or negative. This balance concept does not address a basic concern in TIG welding wherein the current of the positive half cycle merely increases as the set current increases. Thus, at high currents, there is a tendency for the tungsten electrode to "spit" molten metal from the tip of the electrode into the melted puddle on the workpiece. This event is not acceptable in high quality TIG welding.


The tree fastener includes a shank, a head and wings on first and second opposed sides of the shank. The wings are split along the tool parting line into wing portions which extend from the shank at different angles so that the spacing between wing portions is one half the distance between successive wings. Additionally, the wing portions are diagonally paired so that wing portions on a first opposed side of the shank and a first side of the tool parting line extend from the shank at the same angle as wing portions on a second opposed side of the shank and a second side of the tool parting line. Likewise, wing portions on a second side of the shank and a first side of the tool parting line extend from the shank at the same angle as wing portions on a first side of the shank and a second side of the tool parting line.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to a tree fastener with wings which are split along the tool parting line and offset half of the branch spacing distance.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Tree fasteners with radially extending branches or wings for insertion into apertures in sheet metal and similar structures are known in the prior art. However, prior art tree fastener designs have a minimum branch spacing dictated by tooling constraints. The branch spacing governs the amount of play when the fastener is installed. If the panel thickness is such that one set of branches is unable to clear the panel, then the tree fastener is retained by the next lower set of branches. This creates play and rattles which are unacceptable in motor vehicles and similar applications. Ideally, the branches would always be located to clear the panels precisely, but thickness variations, burrs and manufacturing tolerances prevent the ideal situation. Some prior art designs rely on flexible arms to compensate for this play and these intolerances, but many times design constraints prevent the use of flexible arms.
Examples of prior art tree fasteners are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,108 entitled "Spiral Flex Tree Fastener" issued on Nov. 21, 1995 to Sullivan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,267 entitled "Tee Tree Fastener" issued on Aug. 13, 1991 to Wollar; U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,739 entitled "Plastic Drive Fastener" issued on Oct. 11, 1988 to Hamman; U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,238 entitled "Plastic Drive Fastener" issued on Mar. 1, 1988 to Chisholm et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,641 entitled "Self Centering Fastener" issued on Sep. 6, 1983 to Arff; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,278 entitled "Fastener" issued on Jul. 12, 1983 to Mugglestone.


A direct injection engine has a fuel injection valve that directs a spray of fuel to each side of a spark plug electrode. The fuel mixes with the air to define a region of relatively richer air-fuel mixture and a region of relatively leaner air-fuel mixture. The electrode is positioned within the relatively leaner region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a direct injection internal combustion engine and more particularly relates to such an engine in which the fuel is supplied in a stratified manner with a lean mixture proximate a spark plug electrode and a rich mixture proximate a cylinder wall.
2. Description of the Related Art
Japanese Patent Application No JP-A-2000-345944 disclosed a direct injected internal combustion engine. The engine comprised a cylinder bore and a cylinder head. A piston was positioned in the cylinder bore and reciprocated therein. The cylinder head had an intake passage in one side portion and an exhaust passage in the other side portion. A fuel injection valve was provided that injected fuel obliquely downward from one side of the cylinder head into the cylinder bore. A spark plug was located approximately on a central longitudinal axis of the cylinder bore. The spark plug had an electrode, or discharging part, that was positioned within the cylinder bore. The electrode would ignite the air-fuel mixture contained within a combustion chamber portion of the cylinder bore.
During operation, the fuel injection valve injected fuel during a compression stroke of the piston. The injected fuel collided with a top surface of the piston. The collision directed the injected fuel toward the electrode of the spark plug as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 in the patent document. In other words, a rich air-fuel mixture layer was positioned about the electrode, which would reliability ignite during operation of the internal combustion engine. A more lean air-fuel mixture layer would adjoin the rich air-fuel mixture and the more lean mixture would be ignited by the flame generated when the rich air-fuel mixture ignited. This is known as a stratified charge combustion method. As used herein stoichiometric is an air-fuel mixture of 14.7:1 and a leaner mixture has a higher than stoichiometric ratio (e.g., 17:1) while a richer mixture has a lower than stoichiometric ratio (e.g., 12:1).
When stratified charge combustion is established, ignition can be reliably achieved as described above and greater fuel efficiency can be achieved. The improved fuel efficiency results because a portion of the overall air-fuel mixture contains less fuel relative to the region proximate the electrode. Reliable combustion of the overall lean mixture results even during low load operation.

Direct injection internal combustion engine


In one aspect, a method for optimizing execution of dynamic language code is provided, the method includes identifying a first dynamic language function call during runtime, the function call including argument values for one or more arguments of the function, calculating a type signature for the one or more argument values of the function, determining if a function associated with the type signature is stored in a cache, looking up the function in the cache when the function associated with the type signature is stored in the cache and dynamically calling the function associated with the type signature when the specialized function for the type signature is not stored in the cache.

Dynamic languages such as PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP), Python, Ruby, and Perl have been adopted heavily for web development and applications development because they allow for high developer productivity due to their flexibility in comparison to static languages such as C, the Java® programming language, or C++. However, this flexibility typically leads to significantly slower execution of these languages over static languages.

Optimized execution of dynamic languages


A stringed musical instrument is provided wherein each string has two critical points. A fulcrum tremolo is mounted on the instrument for varying the tension of the strings and the distance between the two critical points. The strings are attached to a plurality of intonation modules mounted on the fulcrum tremolo. Each intonation module is adjustable so that the strings can be adjusted from an untensioned state to a proper playing pitch. A bearing assembly is also included to facilitate pivoting of the fulcrum tremolo.

In a stringed musical instrument, such as a guitar, the strings extend unsupported between a first critical point usually formed by the nut where the neck joins the head and a second critical point usually formed by the bridge positioned on the body. The strings are anchored at one end on a portion of the instrument known as the tailpiece, strung over the bridge and the nut on the head of the instrument and in conventional instruments anchored on the other end to the tuning pegs where an untensioned string is tensioned and adjusted to a tuned condition. The second critical point is formed by a part of the bridge or by a part of a combined bridge and tailpiece structure. Traditionally, the size of the bridge elements are quite small so as to create a clearly defined single point of contact between the string and the bridge element. It is between these two points that the string length is determined. This is sometimes referred to as the scale length. Adjusting the relative distance between the first and second critical points is called harmonic tuning. Some bridges structures have individually adjustable bridge elements for each string. Often, the typical construction of the strings, particularly for guitar and bass, has a plain end and a "ball end" where a washer-like addition is wrapped by the string itself as a means to help secure the string to the instrument at the tailpiece. The wrapping usually extends for at least a 1/2" towards the plain end and as such the tailpiece structure must insure that the wrapping does not extend over the second critical point when arranged on the instrument. Fine tuning has been a long standing problem for stringed musical instruments.
In the Proelsdorfer U.S. Pat. No. 2,304,597, string tensioning devices placed on the tailpiece for fine tuning the pitch of the strings of violins, guitars and the like, were disclosed, however such pitch adjustment is quite limited in range and designed to offer the tuning of the strings a minor adjustment of pitch after the general tuning is achieved with the tuning pegs on the head of the instrument which in part provides the means for raising and adjusting the tension of the strings to pitch from an untensioned condition.
It is known to those skilled in stringed musical instrument design and construction that various tremolos have been proposed and utilized for varying the tension of all the strings simultaneously for the purpose of creating a tremolo sound. Further, it is known to those skilled in the art that there are a great many commonly used names for such devices, such as tremolo, tremolo device, tremolo tailpiece, tremolo bridge, fulcrum tremolo, fulcrum tremolo bridge, fulcrum tremolo tailpiece, fulcrum tremolo bridge-tailpiece, vibrato, vibrato bridge, vibrato tailpiece, vibrato bridge tailpiece, etc.
The forerunner of one such species, known as the fulcrum tremolo, Fender U.S. Pat. No. 2,741,146, shows and provides a tremolo device which incorporates a novel bridge structure which incorporates the tailpiece which is commonly known to provide the anchoring means for the strings. The bridge plate is also known as the base plate. The base plate upon which the individual bridge elements are adjustably secured has a beveled ridge portion mounted to the instrument body by six screws permitting pivotal movement about a fulcrum axis for varying the tension on the strings and producing the desired tremolo effect. Further, the bridge and the tailpiece both move together as the tremolo device is pivoted. A singular aspect of the fulcrum tremolo is that the harmonic tuning is upset as the device is pivoted.
Typically, when a fulcrum tremolo pivots about its fulcrum axis, counter springs are utilized to counteract the pull of the strings. Counter springs are usually connected to the body of the instrument at one end and to an attachment means on the bottom of the tremolo at the other end. One of the most troublesome problems with prior art has been maintaining the initial tuning at proper playing pitch. When a musician plays on the string there is usually some kind of string stretch over time and, consequently, a lessening of tension that results in the overall tuning going out of balance. Similarly, the use of the tremolo itself may also introduce string stretch. Further, various factors such as the changes in the humidity of the atmosphere causing the wood in the neck and/or body of the instrument to swell often create subtle distortions in the instrument's geometry which would then in turn disturb the equilibrium point between the tension of the strings and the tension of the counter springs and then as a consequence disturb the initial position. Initial position refers to a specific equilibrium point between the tension of the strings and the tension of the counter springs at the intended tuned pitched condition of the strings. Often the pivot means is subject to wear and the tremolo does not always return to its initial position.
Improvements to the Fender U.S. Pat. No. 2,741,146 fulcrum tremolo have included using string clamps at the nut and immediately behind the intonation points on each of the bridge elements to limit string stretch to within these two points that define the scale length and separately adopting a novel beveled edge adjustably supported by two screw-like members positioned in the body at the fulcrum point to improve the return to initial position after pivoting the tremolo device (Rose U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,661). In Rose U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,236 a combination of the bridge element, the tailpiece and fine tuners replaced the "novel bridge structure" incorporating the tailpiece of the Fender device so that within the limited range (typically less than a whole tone) the strings could be re-tuned without unlocking the string clamps at the nut. However, string stretch beyond the range of the fine tuners necessitated a correction that is tedious, and time consuming involving unlocking the string clamps, re-tuning the strings, readjusting the clamp, and re-tuning all the other strings to re-balance the equilibrium point back to initial position.
Therefore, for stringed musical instruments, as is known to those skilled in the art:
the second critical point is a clearly defined point on the bridge or individual bridge elements, the adjustment of which relative to the first critical point on the nut defines the length of the string or scale length and is called harmonic tuning; PA1 both the bridge portions and the string anchoring means, the tailpiece, simultaneously move about a fulcrum axis; PA1 there is a tendency for the harmonic tuning to be upset; and PA1 various factors can disturb the equilibrium point between the tension of the strings and the tension of the counter springs and as a consequence disturb the initial position; and PA1 the fine tuners simultaneously move with the bridge and tailpiece portions about the fulcrum axis when the device is pivoted; and PA1 fine tuners are designed to offer the tuning of the strings a minor adjustment of pitch after the general tuning is first achieved by the tuning pegs on the head of the instrument; and PA1 string stretch beyond the clamps at the first and second critical points is eliminated offering the most stability of tuning possible in regards to this set of problems associated with string stretch. PA1 the length of the string subject to stretch beyond scale length, which includes the additional string length as measured from the bridge element to the anchoring point, is excessive in general practice at initial position and is far more so when the device is pivoted as would be seen in view of the improvements made by Rose U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,661 and, PA1 the tensioning of the strings which holds the ball end of the string securely against the outer opening of the string holding member is inadequate to keep the ball ends as seated throughout the performance range of the tremolo; such mis-seatings are devasting to the effort to maintain a tuned fulcrum tremolo. PA1 increasing the tension of the associated string to a proper pitched condition and varying the tension of the string thereof so as to provide the macro-tuning function, and PA1 drawing the fork-like string clamping means of the string tensioning element within the restricted portion of a sleeve-like portion of the intonation module structure, compressing and closing the forks upon the string at the clamping point for transferring the anchoring of the string to an improved anchoring means positioned at the end of the string tensioning element closest to the second critical point.
for fulcrum tremolos as originated by Fender U.S. Pat. No. 2,741,146, when pivoted:
for those fulcrum tremolos equipped with fine tuners as with Rose U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,236, Storey U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,750 and Fender U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,737:
for those fulcrum tremolos fitted with string locks at the first and second critical points as in Rose U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,661,
In Steinberger U.S. Pat. No. Re. 31,722 stringed musical instruments without tuning pegs placed in the typical fashion on the head of the instrument were commonly known as "headless" stringed musical instruments. The replacement tuning machines were mounted on the body opposite the side where the neck joins the body.
Takabayashi U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,905 describes an improvement on fulcrum tremolos incorporating, "octave tuners", tuners which function like the tuning pegs at the head of the instrument but which is integrated into the tailpiece function in the tremolo means. The bridge portion of the device comprised a "roller" configuration for the second critical point similar to Storey U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,750 and Steinberger U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,936. A cylindrical portion adjustably secured to the base plate houses a string holder member for one end of the string which is "fitted in such a manner as to be allowed to move freely in the axial direction". The ball end of each string is arranged to be anchored "to the rear end opening of the string holding members" which is adjustably positionable "in the stretching direction of the strings for effecting octave tuning". The string continues through the string holder member which is sufficient in size to ensure that the wrapping of the ball end does not extend over the second critical point; the string then passes over the bridge element towards the nut. In this device the string holder member accomplishes the tailpiece function by anchoring the string at a single point which moves accordingly when the string holder member is displaced to achieve the tuning of the instrument.
Further improvements in the fulcrum tremolo utilized an arrangement with ball bearings at the pivot point within a housing adjustably mounted to the body which not only improved return to initial position after use of the tremolo but also virtually eliminated the wear and tear associated with prior art (McCabe U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/607,458, Continuation Ser. No. 08/027,729, filed Jan. 14, 1993).
Additionally, the replacement of fine tuners with macro-tuners on a fulcrum tremolo (McCabe U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/607,458, Continuation Ser. No. 08/027,729, filed Jan. 14, 1993) provided an intonation module that included a novel integrated one piece bridge-tailpiece structure secured to the base plate where each string anchored within its respective structure passes through a separate lever member and over the bridge element wherein the lever member could be displaced by an adjustment bolt to provide the means to bring and adjust the strings to playing pitch from an untensioned condition circumventing the retuning limits imposed by the fine tuner arrangements. These macro-tuners are often part of an intonation module dedicated to each string for use with but not exclusive to "headless" stringed musical instruments, that is, instruments without tuning pegs placed in the typical fashion on the head of the instrument. Certainly, a fulcrum tremolo with macro-tuners could be used with instruments which had tuning pegs without a disadvantage. Further, macro-tuners could be placed on the head or the body of the instrument and if integrated with a string anchoring means could replace the tuning pegs.
Macro-tuners refer to tuners with the capacity to raise and adjust the tension of the strings from an untensioned condition to a proper playing pitch, and as such provide for alternate tunings and compensation for substantial string stretch during the life of the string essentially without additional means.
Often the musician is called upon to play in an ensemble where the other instruments are not tuned to a typical concert pitch. Accordingly, the musician must flatten or sharpen the initial tuning of all the strings on his instrument in order to meet the pitch requirements of other instruments. This retuning often disturbs the initial position because the tension of the counter springs has not been readjusted as well. Accordingly, the position of the base plate of the tremolo is either tilting away from or towards the body of the instrument which then can limit the range in which the tremolo can be activated. Steinberger U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,005 and Gunn U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,275 provide for an adjustable counter spring and utilize an adjustment knob that provides a means to vary tension of the counter spring and thereby maintain the equilibrium point between the tension of the counter spring and the tension of the strings on fulcrum tailpiece tremolo, that is, a tremolo device where the bridge elements do not pivot with the anchoring means and, therefore, do not upset the harmonic tuning as such. There is no prior art for this type of arrangement on a fulcrum tremolo.
An alternate means to tuning pegs on the head of the instrument has been proposed in a quick tuner arrangement design (McCabe U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/607,458) wherein the tuning device, now known to those skilled in the art as a "semi-headless tuner", has the capacity to individually anchor and bring the strings to playing pitch and then accomplishing the fine tuning. The primary tuning means is afforded by a forceps-like clamp at one end of a L-shaped arm with a plurality of "teeth" engaged with "teeth" on a holding bracket. This arrangement provides for a variety of locking positions that correspond to a variety of pre-set tuned conditions for the associated strings secured to the opposite end of the L-shaped arm. The secondary tuning means or fine tuning is provided by a small thumb screw adjacent the point where the string is secured to the L-shaped arm, however, this arrangement is subject to premature string breakage and a limited range.
Additionally, these improvements listed above are characterized by a number of other defects or limitations which will now be briefly indicated. The ball bearing means (McCabe U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/607,458, Continuation Ser. No. 08/027,729, filed Jan. 14, 1993) for adjustably mounting the fulcrum tremolo to the instrument body are arranged in a bearing housing supported within a fork-like structure in the base plate. This placement of the bearing arrangement is often then too close to the pickups and prevents installation on some instruments. Further, for instruments being built to receive this design, the typical placement of the pick-up in relation to the second critical point is disturbed and may affect the tonal character of the instrument in an undesirable manner. Further, the fork-like portion that holds each bearing housing is delicate and is subject to breakage.
The design of the macro-tuners (McCabe U.S. patent application No. 07/607,458, Continuation Ser. No. 08/027,729, filed Jan. 14, 1993) requires the string to be bent severely to achieve the necessary tuning. This arrangement makes tuning at the higher pitches difficult and in some cases may introduce string breakage.
The "octave tuners" of the Takabayashi fulcrum tremolo U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,905 anchor the strings at a point on the string holder member spaced on the opposite side from the second critical point on the bridge elements. This arrangement presents serious problems:


A self-aligned contact etch and method for forming a self-aligned contact etch. In one embodiment, the present invention performs an oxide selective etch to form an opening originating at a top surface of a photoresist layer. The opening extends through an underlying oxide layer, and terminates at a top surface of a nitride layer which underlies the oxide layer. Next, the present invention performs a nitride selective etch to extend the opening through the nitride layer to an underlying contact layer. In the present invention, the nitride selective etch causes the photoresist layer to be etched/receded. The nitride selective etch of the present invention further causes the oxide layer to be etched at and near the opening at the interface between the photoresist layer and the oxide layer. As a result, the opening is rounded at the top edge thereof when the layer of photoresist is removed.

During the formation of semiconductor devices, it is often necessary to electrically couple layers which are vertically arranged. That is, it is often necessary to electrically couple features on one layer to features on an underlying or an overlying layer. In order to accomplish such a task, an opening is typically formed extending through the vertically arranged layers. The contact opening is then filled with a conductive material so as to form a conductive path extending between the vertically arranged layers.
Prior Art FIG. 1A shows a side sectional view of a step during a conventional contact etch formation method. In Prior Art FIG. 1A, a substrate, not shown, has a nitride layer 100 disposed thereover. An oxide layer 102 is disposed overlying the nitride layer 100. A photoresist layer 104 is disposed above oxide layer 102. In the conventional contact opening formation step illustrated in Prior Art FIG. 1A, photoresist layer 104 has been patterned to remove the photoresist from area 106. An opening (i.e. a portion of a contact opening) has then been formed extending through oxide layer 102 to the top surface of nitride layer 100.
Referring now to Prior Art FIG. 1B, after the formation of the opening extending to the top surface of nitride layer 100, nitride layer 100 is etched away to provide a contact opening at area 106. As shown in Prior Art FIG. 1B, the contact opening extends completely through both oxide layer 102 and nitride layer 100. In such an example, the formation of the contact opening is sometimes used in conjunction with a self-aligned contact etch.
As shown in Prior Art FIG. 1C, such a conventional contact opening formation method then removes the photoresist layer 104 of Prior Art FIGS. 1A and 1B. However, such a conventional contact opening does not have an ideal profile for subsequent semiconductor processing steps. Specifically, in such a conventional contact opening formation method, the upper edge of the contact opening is a sharp corner. For example, regions 108a and 108b of the contact opening are sharp corners. Such a profile induces preferential deposition of metal near the top of the contact during PVD processing. This cusping at the top of the contact results in inadequate filling at the bottom or void formation which reduces electrical performance and reliability of manufactured semiconductor devices.
Thus, a need exists for a method for forming a contact opening wherein the method provides for selective etching of a desired material. A further need exists for a method for forming a contact opening wherein the method does not required substantial deviation from existing semiconductor manufacturing steps and processes. Still another need exists for a method for forming a contact opening wherein the upper edge of the contact opening is beneficially shaped for subsequent processing.

In-situ corner rounding during oxide etch for improved plug fill


A method is provided for incorporating lubricant and a sintering aid into a metallurgical powder composition of iron-based powders. A particulate iron-based powder is contacted and wetted with solution of a metal salt of a fatty acid in an organic solvent. The solvent is removed to provide iron-based particles having a coating of the metal salt. The resulting self-lubricated powder composition can be compacted and sintered to produce a compact having superior strength properties.

The use of powder metallurgical techniques in the production of metal parts is well established. In such manufacturing, iron or steel powders are often mixed with one other alloying element, also in particulate form, followed by compaction and sintering. The presence of the alloying elements permits the attainment of strength and other mechanical properties in the sintered parts at levels that could not be reached with unalloyed iron or steel powders alone.
In one aspect of this alloying procedure, it is an aim to have additional metals adhered in some manner to the surface of the iron-based particles so that upon compaction and sintering, desired alloys form along the grain boundaries. One art-recognized technique for accomplishing this result is to coat the iron-based particles with a sticky substance and then apply a dusting of the alloying materials, in fine particulate form, to coat the iron-based particles. The coated iron-based particles can then be heated to produce diffusion-bonded alloy particles on the surface of the core particles. The final parts made from the compaction and sintering of such pretreated powders have been known to attain improved density and strength. However, the original application of the alloying metal to the surfaces of the individual iron particles is often not uniform.
In some practices, the iron-based particles are admixed with particles of the alloying material as well as with small amounts of an organic binder that is used to bind or "glue" the alloying powders to the iron-based particles. Such compositions are generally not subjected to a pretreatment in order to diffusion-bond the alloying particles to the surfaces of the underlying iron-based particles, but rather are used "as is" in the further compaction and sintering steps leading to the finished metal part. It is known, however, that some such organic binders have adversely affected the compressibility of the powder, thereby lowering the density of the pressed "green" part as well as that of the final sintered part.
Powder metallurgical compositions are also traditionally provided with a lubricant, such as a metal stearate, a paraffin, or a synthetic wax, in order to facilitate ejection of the compacted green component from the die. The friction forces which must be overcome in order to remove a compacted part from the die, which generally increase with the pressure used to compact the part, are measured as the "stripping" and "sliding" pressures. The lubricants generally reduce these pressures, but their presence can also adversely affect compressibility of the powder composition. Although the compressibility of iron-based powder compositions that contain particulate alloy materials can be increased by reducing the amount of lubricant used, the resulting decrease in lubricity can cause unacceptably large increases in the ejection forces, which can result in scoring of the die, loss of die life, and imperfections in the surface of the compacted part. A traditional method for combining a lubricant with a metallurgical powder is to combined the lubricant, generally in solid particulate form, with the metal powder itself.

Method of making lubricated metallurgical powder composition


A portable dispensing system comprising a vending machine including an upper snack-holding portion, an intermediate beverage-holding portion, a lower refrigeration portion, contained within a housing that fits within the basket of a golf cart. The snack-holding portion and the beverage-holding portion occupy a common cabinet being separated by an insulating wall, allowing a refrigeration mechanism within the refrigeration portion to refrigerate the beverage-holding portion without refrigerating the snack-holding portion. The cabinet is disposed above the basket within the golf cart, and may be provided with a pair of belts for fastening the dispensing system to the golf cart. Within the snack-holding portion, snacks are held in a plurality of snack-holding bins, with similar snacks being stored in a single bin, separated from one another by sliding platforms. When a sliding platform is pulled away, the snack product resting atop the sliding platform is released to fall downward into a lowest position within the bin, to be retrieved by the user through a door. Within the beverage-holding portion, cans are stored in a plurality of columns to be retrieved through doors. An inventory management system is disclosed for controlling and monitoring the dispensing of refreshments and sundries. The inventory management system including a systems for electronically accepting payment, a system for monitoring inventory levels, and a system for wirelessly communicating with a remote terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to portable refreshments and sundries dispenser devices, and specifically to portable refreshments and sundries dispenser devices that may be mounted onto vehicles such as golf carts or any other movable or fixed object.
2. Description of Related Art
Often it is desirable to have refreshments and sundries readily available on demand to consumers who may not have access to stores or to other vendors that carry such items. One example is during a round of golf, where players are scattered over a large area that by necessity do not have numerous facilities available for the purchase of refreshments or sundries. Although these items may be available for purchase at a clubhouse or through stationary vending machines, or even from vendors that may travel around the golf course for the purpose of selling these items to golfers, the availability of the items is often too limited for many players. In addition, players may have a need or impulse at times to purchase such items as tees, golf balls or golf gloves, regardless of where the players are located on the golf course. For example, having these items readily available in a dispenser that travels with the consumer benefits both the consumer (in this example the golfer) and the vendor (in this case the golf course operator). The golfer has immediate access to beverages and sundries and the golf course operator can increase sales by satisfying the golfer's immediate need to buy.
Certain containers and/or mounted beverage containers for use on vehicles are known in the art. The basic cooler is well known. Mounting brackets specifically designed for the portability of coolers on pull-type gold carts have been disclosed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,267 issued to Bolton, which is hereby incorporated by reference in a manner consistent with this disclosure, discloses a cooler caddy for a pull-type golf cart and discusses a holder structure for holding the cooler and an attachment for removably attaching the holder structure to the golf cart. U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,767 issued to Buschbom, which is hereby incorporated by reference in a manner consistent with this disclosure, discloses a golf cart cooler that is releasably mounted on the front end of a motorized golf cart. The cooler may be mounted either on the inside of the front end of the cart or the outside of the cowling. U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,154 issued to Blount, which is hereby incorporated by reference in a manner consistent with this disclosure, discloses a support device for removably attaching a cooler to a pull-type golf cart.
Other coolers for mounting to motorized-type golf carts are also known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. D432,363 issued to Bassford et. al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in a manner consistent with this disclosure, discloses a design for a cooler for golf carts. U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,883 issued to Henderson, which is hereby incorporated by reference in a manner consistent with this disclosure, discloses' an insulated beverage box with a dispenser for liquid beverages that is compatible with golf cart baskets. This box has a plurality of chambers for the storage of various beverages, and is insulated to hold cold beverages. U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,029 issued to Deaton, which is hereby incorporated by reference in a manner consistent with this disclosure, discloses a storage compartment for use with motorized golf carts.
Still other references disclose portable cooler holders. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,645 issued to Brown, which is hereby incorporated by reference in a manner consistent with this disclosure, discloses a mounting device for holding a cooler on an external vehicle surface or vessel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,011 issued to Kennedy, which is hereby incorporated by reference in a manner consistent with this disclosure, discloses a mountable beverage cooler and dispenser system. The housing comprises a circular roof and a cylindrical wall. The primary purpose of the invention is to mount beverage cooler and dispenser systems on a golf cart or bag. U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,154 issued to Christoff, which is hereby incorporated by reference in a manner consistent with this disclosure, discloses a beverage container with a mounting bracket for use with a golf cart or any other surface having a support member to which the container can be attached. Japanese Patent No. JP6018138 issued to Nobuaki, which is hereby incorporated by reference in a manner consistent with this disclosure, discloses a soft drink selling device that can be installed in a vehicle, such as a taxi, comprising a small-sized refrigerator.
Other references have disclosed portable vending devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,111 issued to Burton, which is hereby incorporated by reference in a manner consistent with this disclosure, discloses a portable self-contained mobile vending device that allows a mobile food vendor to offer a buffet style set up of foods, with a minimal amount of set-up. The mobile device can include a variable number of chafing dish compartments. U.S. Pat. No. 6,345,852 issued to McCarthy, which is hereby incorporated by reference in a manner consistent with this disclosure, discloses a mobile vending assembly with a portable structure that encloses and protects a vending machine. The invention is directed to a structure for enclosing, protecting, and transporting vending machines to a desired location.

Portable dispensing device for refreshments and sundries


A first device that includes a processor configured to transmit/receive a trigger message to/from a second device based on wireless short-range communication. The trigger message initiates a registration process within a wireless local area network (WLAN).

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to network communications and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus that utilize Near Field Communication (NFC) to register with external networks in wireless network environments.
2. Related Art
The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Wireless local area network (WLAN) locations or environments are sometimes known as "hotspots" in reference to a location or environment that is within communication range of WLAN signals. Such exemplary WLAN locations or environments include coffee shops, retail stores, home locations (e.g., homes and apartments), educational facilities, office environments, airports, public transportation stations and vehicles, hotels, etc. Such WLANs are often implemented as access networks that provide access to the Internet and may be associated with, or support access to, external networks (e.g., WLAN-supported networks) owned and/or operated by subscription-based service providers.
Wireless devices may negotiate connection, credential and other information with the external networks through a WLAN hotspot to enable registration of the wireless devices with the external networks. Current registration techniques rely on user involvement typically through the use of a user interface to register a wireless device with an external network either prior to visiting a WLAN hotspot or when the wireless device comes within communication range of the WLAN hotspot.

Wireless local area network hotspot registration using near field communications


In a network including a group of proxy servers for processing a signaling protocol for transferring signaling messages through a communication route connecting a pair of user terminals, an abnormal end of a communication session established between the pair of user terminals is detected by capturing and analyzing a signaling message received or transmitted by a proxy server. A cause section that has caused the detected abnormal end of the communication session is determined. Then, the number of abnormally ended communication sessions caused by the cause section is counted to determine an influenced range of a fault occurrence in the network on the basis of the counted number of abnormally ended communication sessions caused by each of cause sections and proxy connection information indicative of connection relations among the group of proxy servers.

In a service for implementing peer-to-peer communication over the Internet, such as IP phones, videophones, or instant messengers, a signaling technology for controlling the establishment, change, and disconnection (or termination) of a peer-to-peer session (for example, communication session) over the Internet is important, in addition to the technology for transmitting, in real time, media information on audio, video, text or the like by using an IP (the Internet protocol) packet.
For example, IP phones, which have become widespread remarkably in recent years, are implemented by combining a VoIP (Voice over IP) technology for transmitting an audio signal in an IP packet in real time and the signaling technology.
For signaling protocols available for IP phones, H.323 methods recommended by ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication sector) in 1997 and SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) provided as the standard track in RFC 3261, which was standardized by IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) and issued in 2002, have been implemented. Especially, SIP, in which a message is described in text, is designed on the model of HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) for web services and SMTP (Simple Message Transfer Protocol) for electronic mails. As a result, SIP is simple, highly scalable and highly compatible with the Internet and is now becoming the standard of the signaling protocols used in IP phones.
SIP is a signaling protocol for controlling the establishment, change, and disconnection (or termination) of a communication session between a pair of user terminals in an application layer.
The establishment, change and disconnection of a communication session is performed by exchanging a method (or a request message) and a response (response message) between user terminals through a relay server called SIP server deployed over the Internet, in accordance with predetermined steps.
For example, the establishment of a communication session starts from the transmission of INVITE message. The user terminal in SIP (or UA: User Agent) is identified on the basis of the URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) form, such as sip:firstname.lastname@example.com, and sip:email@example.com.
By exchanging SIP messages, information on a medium to be used (audio, video or text), information on an encoding method to be used for an audio medium, information on a protocol to be used for transporting the audio packet, a port number to be used, an audio packet transmission cycle and so on are notified.
In a general telephone service, the reaction to the occurrence of a network fault and quick recovery of the service are essential for achieving the customer satisfaction and the reliability for the service. Upon occurrence of a fault, in order to properly respond to expected customer inquiries, to suppress the expansion of the influence, and to recovery the service, it has been desired to quickly grasp the range of influence (for example, influenced users).
In a conventional public switched telephone network: PSTN (Public Switched telephone Network), one line unit provides one communication path, and when a communication error or a congestion is detected, the communication path itself is blocked. Therefore, by checking the block state of the communication path, the range of influence can be identified.
An IP phone is a new form of telephone service and is basically a service based on IP protocol. Therefore, a technology for identifying the fault range on the basis of the concept of the communication path as in PSTN cannot be applicable thereto.
As a result, in reality, the fault detection in the IP phone service has no other choice than to rely on the fault detection method for IP networks. For example, the set of paths where a fault has occurred is identified by measuring the communication quality information on the combinations of all paths constructing the Internet between terminals, in the conventional technology as disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2005-102180.
In the case of an IP network having a tree structure, connection information between network apparatus and user information accommodated in a network apparatus can be managed in association with each other in advance. In the case, when a fault has occurred an area of the network, all users accommodated in an area of the network which is closer to the user side than the area where the fault has occurred may be regarded as influenced by the fault.
In the case of an IP network having a mesh structure, a possible method is to narrow the range of influence by performing a communication test between contraposition area-pair in the network, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2005-102180.

Method and apparatus for determining an influenced range of a fault occurence in a network


An injection mold for rotary-type gravity casting and a gravity casting method using the same are provided. The injection mold includes a molten metal-supply chamber that is selectively coupled to a die. The molten metal-supply chamber is also configured to, during gravity casting along with rotation, supply a pure molten metal into the die while collecting impurities contained in the molten metal and preventing the ingress of the impurities into the die.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to an injection mold for rotary-type gravity casting and a gravity casting method using the same and, more particularly, to an injection mold for rotary-type gravity casting which prevents the ingress of impurities into the mold during the gravity casting accompanied by rotation, and a gravity casting method using the same.
Description of the Related Art
Generally, gravity castings are casting processes that fabricate castings, such as pistons, sleeves, crankcases, cylinder heads or the like, by pouring a molten material, such as nonferrous alloy including aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu) or the like, cast iron, or steel, into a mold using gravity. Currently, when a cylinder head for a diesel engine is manufactured using the gravity casting, a riser is used to store molten metal used to compensate for the shrinkage of the casting, thereby providing a high quality of product.
Particularly, the riser provides the casting with a final solidified part to allow the casting defects and impurities to be collected therein, as well as to provide latent heat required for the casting to be uniformly unidirectionally solidified. A molten metal recovery ratio can be expressed by a ratio of product weight to total amounts of molten metal injected, and thus research and development of the technology for improving the quality of the casting while reducing the size and number of risers has been actively performed.
However, in the manufacture of a conventional cylinder head, as shown in FIG. 1, risers occupy about 50% of the total volume of molten metal injected, thus causing the recovery ratio to be a mere 50%. Further, rectangular injection molds are used to introduce molten metal into the mold along with impurities, degrading the quality of the casting.
The foregoing is intended merely to aid in the understanding of the background of the present invention, and is not intended to mean that the present invention falls within the purview of the related art that is already known to those skilled in the art.

Injection mold for rotary-type gravity casting and gravity casting method using the same


In a suction hood (2) for a wet floor cleaning machine (1) in which a motor-driven scrubbing roller (3) rotates, accompanied by application of water, on an axle (free-arm axle) which is clamped in on only one side within the suction hood (2) which overlaps this axle (7) at both ends, this suction hood (2) is guided so as to be displaceable axially relative to the scrubbing roller (3).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a suction hood for wet floor cleaning machines primarily for commercial use.
2. Description of the Related Art
A device of the above-described type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,233.
The set of problems in all machines of this generic type known heretofore which arise with respect to the dry suction of the floor surfaces to be cleaned consists above all in that, in order to achieve the desired suction effect, the suction hood must project to some extent beyond the ends of the scrubbing roller, which, in turn, however, brings about the disadvantage that an overlap of suitable extent inevitably prevents the scrubbing roller from moving close enough to corners and edges, so that strips of dirt are left behind.

Suction hood for wet floor cleaning machines


A seatbelt retractor system allowing optimization of energy absorbing characteristics, includes a spool for retracting a seatbelt; a torsion bar made of a twistable material; a locking mechanism for stopping the rotation of the spool at least in a seatbelt withdrawing direction; a substantially disk shaped ring disposed in the inner periphery of an axial end of the spool; and a plastically deformable energy absorbing member. The energy absorbing member may have a substantially circular cross section. A first end of the energy absorbing member may be fixed to an outer periphery of the substantially disc-shaped ring, while a second end of the energy absorbing member may be detachably engaged with an inner periphery of the spool.

The present invention relates to a seatbelt retractor system for retracting the webbing of a seatbelt and, more particularly, it relates to a seatbelt retractor system having an energy absorption mechanism (an EA mechanism) for absorbing an inertial energy applied to an occupant when restraining the movement of the occupant by locking the seatbelt in an emergency to a seatbelt system.
Seatbelt systems provided to vehicle seats are essential systems for ensuring the safety of occupant's bodies by restraining abrupt movement of the occupants due to acceleration generated at vehicle collision.
The seatbelt systems generally include a webbing (belt), a retractor system, a buckle unit and the like.
The retractor system winds the webbing around a winder (a bobbin or a spool) to retract it inward by a spring force, and in a collision at which an impact is applied, locks the withdrawal of the webbing from the winder to thereby restrain the body of an occupant who is abruptly moving forward with the locked webbing. However, when the forward movement of the occupant is abruptly retrained, an impact by the reaction of the restraining is applied to the chest of the occupant and so on via the webbing. A method for energy absorption (hereinafter, referred to as "EA" as appropriate) has already been known to reduce the impact to the occupant. In a method disclosed by Japanese Patent No. 2875505, the collision energy applied to the occupant is absorbed in such a manner that a predetermined tensile load of the webbing is maintained while a larger withdrawing resistance than a fixed value is being applied to the webbing shortly after locking, and in this state, the webbing is withdrawn by a predetermined length.
The system of this conventional technique includes: a shaft disposed in a spool for winding the webbing in such a manner as to rotate relative to the spool; a locking mechanism that can lock the withdrawal of the webbing by stopping the rotation of the shaft; and a plastically deformable energy absorbing member (EA plate) disposed between the inner periphery of the spool and the outer periphery of the shaft. When the shaft is locked not to rotate by the locking mechanism in an emergency, the tension of the webbing that retrains the occupant who is moving forward by an inertial force acts as a turning force of the spool for winding the webbing relative to the shaft in the webbing withdrawing direction. When the relative turning force exceeds a fixed value, the EA plate is wound around the outer periphery of the shaft in the webbing withdrawing direction while being plastically deformed, thus absorbing the collision energy by the plastic deformation resistance, at that time. Accordingly, the spool rotates gradually whereas the locking mechanism is working, to withdraw the webbing while applying a fixed tension or more to the webbing, thereby reducing the force applied between the webbing and the occupant's body (see Japanese Patent No. 2875505 (Paragraph Nos. 53 to 60, FIGS. 7 and 8).
The above-described conventional technique, however, has the following problems.
In general, an impact at a collision depends on the structure of a vehicle. Accordingly, for sufficient protection of an occupant's body, it is necessary to optimize energy absorbing characteristics such as a set load (i.e., energy absorbing load; webbing tension at which absorption of energy is started) at which the energy absorbing mechanism starts operation and the amount of deformation when an impact is absorbed (i.e., webbing withdrawing stroke) and the like. As a result, flexibility and high design freedom for varying energy absorbing characteristics have been required for the entire retractor systems.
The foregoing conventional technique does not particularly consider changing of impact energy that the EA plate can absorb, and discloses no specific arrangement and principle of the changing. As a result, it was difficult to respond to the need for optimization of energy absorbing characteristics.
Since the EA plate has a specified width, the spool incorporating it increases in length, causing the obstruction to reduction of the size of the system.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a seatbelt retractor system in which the energy absorbing characteristics can easily be optimized in response to the recent needs and which can be reduced in size, and a seatbelt system having the same.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.

Seatbelt retractor system and seatbelt system


A recreational and amusement device for a dog takes the form of a ball having a substantially spheroidal profile. The exterior wall of the ball is shaped to form surfaces of a main body and surfaces of two substantially identical handles spaced approximately 180.degree. apart and lying within the substantially spheroidal profile. The main body includes an outer surface which conforms to the substantially spheroidal profile and a plurality of inboard surfaces extending between different locations on the substantially spheroidal profile. The handles include outer surfaces lying within the substantially spheroidal profile of the ball and inner surfaces opposing respective ones of the inboard surfaces of the main body. The inner surfaces of the handles and the inboard surfaces of the main body form contours which bound openings extending through the substantially spheroidal profile. The handles and openings are sized and shaped to receive the snout of the dog to permit the dog's mouth to extend completely around either of the handles to grip the ball. When one of the handles is so gripped, the opposite handle may be grasped by a human who can pull on the ball to play with the dog. Preferably, the ball is formed from two molded half portions which are substantially identical and is made of plastic, rubber, vinyl or other elastomeric material which is sufficiently resilient to bounce.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to recreational and amusement devices for animals and, more particularly, to a ball having handles suitable for being gripped in the mouth of a dog.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various ball-type pet toys have been proposed which include projecting straps or tethers that enable a pet, such as a dog or a horse, to easily grip and play with the ball. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,888, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a ball having plural handles formed by looping cords through openings defined in the ball. Dogs can grasp the handles to play with one another or with a person. U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,559, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a pet toy in the form of a ball having an external handle to which a flag is attached to permit a dog to easily grasp the flag and play with the ball. U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,420, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a ball suitable for use with horses having multiple solid ribs projecting from the ball by which an animal can grasp and play with the ball.
One disadvantage of such pet balls is that the projecting straps or tethers tend to reduce the ball's ability to roll freely, which may reduce the pet's interest in the ball. Further, the projections can easily snag on other objects as the ball moves.
Other ball-shaped pet toys which do not include projections that extend beyond the profile of the ball are known. Such balls may include an irregular surface, recesses or holes which allow the pet to grip the ball. However, no such pet toys are known which include plural or opposing handles or gripping devices within the profile of the ball to permit the ball to be grasped simultaneously by the pet and a human in order to allow a person to interactively play with the pet. Accordingly, there remains a need for a recreational and amusement device for pets which rolls freely and which can be simultaneously grasped and pulled via opposing handles or the like.

Recreational and amusement device for animals


An electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber formed in the shape of a polyhedron includes an electromagnetic wave absorbing apparatus installed on at least one wall of metal conductors of the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber. The electromagnetic wave absorbing apparatus having a shape of a roll screen and includes an electromagnetic wave absorbing film, a roll for rolling the one end of the electromagnetic wave absorbing film, a cover for covering the roll, and a fixing unit for fixing the other end of the electromagnetic wave absorbing film.

As information technology is developed rapidly and a desire for the communication of a human being is increased, mobile communication devices such as a portable device are necessities of a contemporary man. However, the effect of the electromagnetic wave generated by the device to a human body has been an important issue as the use of the portable device is increased. At present, a relation between the electromagnetic wave in a frequency bandwidth used in a cellular phone and the effect of the electromagnetic wave to the human body has not been disclosed clearly. However, it has been being reported that the electromagnetic can affect various diseases such as a leukemia, an encephaloma, a headache, a decreased visual acuity, a brain wave disorder when the electromagnetic wave is accumulated in the human body, the damage of the reproduction ability of a man, etc.
In addition, a malfunction between information communication devices due to undesirable electromagnetic wave is constantly reported. This is an electromagnetic interference/electromagnetic compatibility (EMI/EMC) problem. Thus, the measurement method and the acceptable standard of the unwanted frequency of an electrical and an electronic communication device are prescribed in order to prevent interference between the devices due to the unwanted frequency. Moreover, the EMC should be considered at the stage of design and manufacture to satisfy the method and the standard and the EMC test should be satisfied for selling a product.
An electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber as an experiment facility for measuring the EMI and a radiation tolerance has been reported as the experiment result of a national institute standards and technology (NIST) and an international special committee on Radio interference (CISPR) prescribed specifications for the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber in a IEC 61000-4-21.
The electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber is a measuring chamber of which all inner walls do not absorb the electromagnetic wave so that the electromagnetic wave has optimal reverberation time and diffusivity in the chamber in contrast to an anechoic chamber. Thus, the electromagnetic wave anechoic chamber should absorb electromagnetic wave fully by using an electromagnetic wave absorber installed on the all inner walls of the electromagnetic wave anechoic chamber. However, the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber does not need the absorber because the all inner walls of the chamber should reflect the electromagnetic wave fully. Instead, the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber is generally manufactured by installing a metal wall on the inner wall thereof.
The conventional electromagnetic anechoic chamber provides a non-reflection environment and thus can evaluate performance of a target device without being affected by a peripheral communication environment. However, this cannot accurately evaluate the performance of the target device in the real environment. This is because, in the real environment, various communication services are provided, and the target device is used in a multi-reflection environment due to various reflectors. For that reason, there is required a technique capable of measuring and evaluating the target device in a facility close to the real environment. As for a method for creating a multi-reflection environment in the conventional large electromagnetic anechoic chamber, there was suggested a technique for performing measurement and evaluation by adding an apparatus capable of generating various channel sources. However, such apparatus requires a considerably high cost, and a large facility such as an electromagnetic wave anechoic chamber is still required. Therefore, there is required a measurement apparatus capable of solving a high-price software-based device in a hardware manner and realizing it in a small size and at a low cost. Accordingly, an electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber is proposed in IEC 61000-4-21 standard. The electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber can be manufactured in a considerably smaller size compared to the electromagnetic anechoic chamber, and does not require an additional high-price apparatus. In addition, the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber can provide a measurement environment similar to the real environment where the target device is used.
The electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber obtains the uniformity of the electric field by using a stirrer in order to lower lowest usable high frequency (LUF). The uniformity of the electric field can be determined by a total number of modes which can be generated in the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber, Q-factor of the medium used for manufacturing the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber and the efficiency of the stirrer, etc.
Meanwhile, a technology improving the performance of the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber by using the electromagnetic wave absorber has been reported.
Meanwhile, there is recently proposed a technique for improving the performance of the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber by using a material based electromagnetic wave absorber other than an element for determining the performance of the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber.
This technique can emulate various reflection environments by controlling reflection characteristics of the electromagnetic wave in the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber by using the electromagnetic wave absorber installed in a certain space in the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber.
FIG. 1 shows an outer shape of a conventional electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber and FIG. 2 depicts an inner shape of a conventional electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber can be manufactured in the shape of a polyhedron. The electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber has the shape of a cube generally. All the inner wall of the chamber consists of a metal conductor for the total reflection of the electromagnetic wave, and the stirrer and a pyramidal electromagnetic wave absorber are installed in the intended space for controlling the reflection characteristic of the inside of the chamber. The pyramidal electromagnetic wave absorber improves the reflection characteristic of the inside of the chamber so that more uniform electrical field distribution can be obtained. The position, size and electromagnetic field absorption rate of the pyramidal electromagnetic wave absorber affects the total performance of the chamber.
However, the conventional pyramidal electromagnetic wave absorber is not suitable for a device to be tested since the size of the conventional pyramidal electromagnetic wave absorber is so large that the inside space of the chamber can be small. In this case, since the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber should be manufactured to be larger, there exist problems that the manufacture cost of the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber is raised and an installation space for the chamber should be larger.
In addition, since the conventional pyramidal electromagnetic wave absorber is manufactured by using a material having absorption characteristic and is developed by a trial and error method, there exist considerable problems that the manufacturing process of the absorber is complicated and it is difficult to adjust the absorption characteristic and an absorption frequency bandwidth.
Meanwhile, as the additional examples of the conventional electromagnetic wave absorber, there is a 4/λ type wave absorber or a flat-plate type resonant absorber such as a Salisbury screen.
The construction of the resonant absorber is simple since the resonant absorber consists of a resistive film, a dielectric spacer and a metal conductor ground surface. Thus, the resonant absorber can be manufactured easily and the absorption performance thereof can be easily adjusted. In addition, when the resonant absorber is manufactured in a multilayer form, a multiple bandwidth absorption characteristic can be obtained.
However, the conventional resonant absorber has a problem that the thickness of the dielectric spacer needs to be equal to or larger than 4/λ from the metal conductor ground surface.
Meanwhile, various reflection environments can be created in accordance with the installation position and the area of the electromagnetic wave absorber, so that the electromagnetic wave absorber of a desired size needs to be easily attached to and detached from any wall. In other word, since all inner walls of the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber are made of metal conductors, the electromagnetic wave absorber needs to be easily installed at a desired location such that additional options can be added while maintaining the performance of the reverberation chamber.
However, the material based absorber is not easily attached to the wall of the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber, and it is difficult to install the material based absorber having a desired area. Further, the absorption performance of the material based absorber is changed in accordance with temperature and humidity. Hence, the material based absorber is highly sensitive to the environment variation and may be harmful to human.

Electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A controller performs image recognition of the design of at least part of a picture obtained by capturing, by an image capturing unit, an image of a character(s) printed on or attached to a character item, generates an augmented reality image by combining a stagecraft image, prepared in association with each of image-recognized designs, with a subject image of a person wearing or having the character item, and displays the augmented reality image on a display unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device, a terminal program, an augmented reality system, and a character item such as clothing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Printed T-shirts are T-shirts on which images of figures or motifs are printed as still images by using a processing technique such as silk screen. In recent years, the market is flooded with T-shirts, bags, or character items (may also be referred to as "character goods") such as toys on which popular characters or popular animation for children are printed, and these items receive a good reception from children.
At the same time, because of the ever-increasing multifunctionality of mobile terminal devices, recently smartphones in the enhanced network communication environment for connecting to the Internet have been widely used in place of mobile phones. With a smartphone, the user can obtain application programs distributed in the market by downloading them. Accordingly, the user can customize his/her smartphone over a wide variety of genres as a tool for utility uses such as data management and text messaging, for practical uses such as weather forecast, public transportation transfer guide, gourmet guide, and navigation using satellites, for business uses such as a memo tool and business card management, for communication uses such as "Skype" (registered trademark) and "Twitter" (registered trademark), or for entertainment uses such as online games.
Hitherto, augmented reality (AR) technology that augments a real environment perceived by human beings by using a computer is known. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-204047 introduces technology for appropriately changing an object image combined with an image representing the appearance of a real world in an augmented reality image.
As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-204047, AR technology arranges figures with certain shapes, which are called markers and which are used to recognize three-dimensional positions, in a real world, and an image capturing device captures an image of the real world including these markers. Therefore, the markers are arranged in a configuration where they are subjected to perspective transformation in the captured image. Perspective transformation technology is applied to objects associated with the markers, and object images obtained with the captured image as the background are combined, thereby generating an augmented reality image. This AR technology makes it possible to reproduce computer graphics (CG) including moving images or still images.
If a collaboration of the above-described smartphones and character items such as T-shirts enables reproduction of an augmented reality image generated by combining a consumer with a stagecraft image associated with the design of a character item purchased by the consumer, that character item can gain added value. It is thus expected that more elaboration and promotion effects can be achieved. In realization of this collaboration and its effects, there is also a demand for easily reproducing an augmented reality image without using sophisticated perspective transformation technology.

Generating augmented reality image using mobile terminal device


A computer system having an air cooling path includes a motherboard, a circuit board having an edge connector for mounting onto the motherboard, and a chassis defining an interior for containing the circuit board and motherboard. The chassis includes a rear panel having an inset access for accessing the circuit board, where the inset access is spaced inwardly from the rear panel. The computer system further includes an interior panel (within the interior of the chassis) that is connected to the rear panel at a connection location on the rear panel. The connection location is spaced apart on the rear panel from the inset access. The motherboard is mounted to the interior panel, while the rear panel defines a vent between the inset access and the connection location. The interior panel, motherboard, and vent define the air cooling path across the circuit board.

Typically, the airflow in a computer chassis is received or ejected in an area that is adjacent to the removable circuit boards which have an edge connector for connection to a mother board. Moreover, the removable circuit boards usually include thermally sensitive components that reliably operate only within a certain temperature range. Therefore, these components require a certain amount of cooled air to maintain a temperature within that range.
Using the traditional method of defining an airflow path in a chassis creates a region of low airflow across an area of the removable circuit board. Because of this region of low airflow, circuit board designers are required to keep thermally sensitive components out of that area. Thus, the design options and possibilities are unnecessarily limited.
Therefore, what is needed is a method and an apparatus that provides for an improved airflow path over all areas of a removable circuit board mounted inside a chassis such that the efficiency of the device used to move the air through the chassis is increased.

Apparatus for improved air flow through a computer chassis


A method and apparatus is disclosed for automatically preheating an oven, such as a food oven, based upon its immediate usage history. This preheat function operates by regulating the base heating elements until the temperature of the base plate is within a specified temperature range from the pre-programmed base set point temperature, and then turning quartz lamps on until the air temperature within the oven cavity reaches a certain fixed preheat "exit" temperature. This preheat exit temperature need not be a fixed value, but can be a function of the base set point temperature or the air temperature before or during the preheat operation. In addition, the preheat function can be performed at various times during the oven's operation, and not necessarily only upon power up of the oven.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of food ovens. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a food oven having two heating elements whereby control means are provided for automatically preheating the heating elements before and throughout the operation of the oven to efficiently cook a particular food item.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Today, restaurants find it increasingly more desirable to efficiently cook food in order to provide fast service and to reduce the labor costs involved in the cooking process. Efficiency means that a particular food item is cooked in a short time and with minimal interaction required from an operator while not sacrificing food quality.
Many ovens currently in use contain a single heating element and the user must set the temperature and monitor the food item to determine when to remove it from the oven. Some ovens contain a timer which turns the heating element on and off to allow a food item to cook for a predetermined time.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,669 to Huntley, is directed to and entitled, an Oven Having Dual Heating Means. This invention describes an oven having a base plate which is heated. Food items may be placed directly on the heated base plate. A second heating element, preferably a quartz lamp heating element, is placed above the base plate, in the oven's cavity. This quartz heater has a greater thermal intensity than the base heater. A timer is provided which allows the quartz heater to be turned on after a predetermined time, and remain on for a second predetermined time. This would allow, for example, the top of a pizza to be browned quickly after the pizza had almost fully cooked. Thus, the brief time but intense heat from the quartz heater permits a pizza to be rapidly cooked without sacrificing food quality.
When cooking food products in such an oven, a problem arises because of the different heating characteristics of the oven based upon the oven's immediate usage history. For example, when cooking pizzas at the maximum rate allowed by the oven, the pizzas will gradually become more and more "done", which is defined by the amount of browning of the crust bottom and the cheese topping. This is due to the fact that the process of cooking products causes the air cavity to warm up. Therefore, a process and apparatus are needed to automatically preheat the oven to a predetermined state so that subsequent products heated within the oven will undergo a more uniform heating.

Preheating method and apparatus for use in a food oven