The present invention relates to radiation hardening by design (RHBD), which employs layout and circuit techniques to mitigate the damaging effects of ionizing radiation. Reverse body biasing (RBB) of N-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) transistors may be used to counteract the effects of trapped positive charges in isolation oxides due to ionizing radiation. In a traditional MOS integrated circuit, input/output (I/O) circuitry may be powered using an I/O power supply voltage, and core circuitry may be powered using a core power supply voltage, which is between the I/O power supply voltage and ground. However, in one embodiment of the present invention, the core circuitry is powered using a voltage difference between the core power supply voltage and the I/O power supply voltage. The bodies of NMOS transistors in the core circuitry are coupled to ground; therefore, a voltage difference between the core power supply voltage and ground provides RBB.

High-radiation environments may be associated with systems ranging from military and aeronautical to commercial and industrial. For example, outer space instrumentation has to operate in high-radiation environments. Depending on a particular mission, the high-radiation environments may include solar and cosmic radiation as well as trapped high energy electron and proton belts in the vicinity of planetary bodies. The inability to replace hardware failures on long-term space instrumentation, such as satellites, necessitates rigorous instrument design and component selection to ensure reliability during the mission timeline. Semiconductor circuits and devices, including complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) devices, are often part of systems and devices used in such harsh environments. However, semiconductors are prone to damage from radiation due to the nature of semiconductors, such as small band gap materials operating with limited numbers of charge carriers.
Radiation damage may include short term effects, which may be either temporary or permanent, or long term effects, which tend to be permanent. Total ionization damage involves impacts of high energy radiation resulting in the creation of electron-hole pairs. In materials with high electron and hole mobilities, electrons and holes may quickly re-combine or be swept away in the presence of electric fields. However, in some materials, such as some materials associated with semiconductor fabrication, the holes may become trapped, which may be problematic. A cumulative measure of the total incident ionizing radiation is the Total Ionizing Dose (TID). Ionizing radiation may impinge on oxides in a semiconductor device and generate electron-hole pairs in the oxides. Electrons tend to be very mobile in an oxide, while holes tend to be very immobile in an oxide, such that the holes may become trapped, which may result in a net positive charge. Mobility differences between electrons and holes in oxides may be several orders of magnitude. In a CMOS circuit, gate oxides may be thin enough so that both electrons and holes may tunnel out and not become trapped; however, isolation oxides are used to isolate areas from one another and must be thick enough to handle voltage differences between different areas. Therefore, holes may remain trapped in isolation oxides, such that ionizing radiation impinging on an isolation oxide may effectively implant a positive charge in the isolation oxide. Electric fields in a CMOS circuit may tend to drive the trapped holes in the isolation oxide down toward an interface between the isolation oxide and a semiconductor substrate, which may interfere with proper operation of the CMOS circuit. The TID may also manifest as increased oxide trapping and other defects.
FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a two-edge metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor 10 formed using a semiconductor substrate 12, according to the prior art. The two-edge MOS transistor 10 includes a source 14, a drain 16, and a gate 18. The source 14 and the drain 16 may be formed in the semiconductor substrate 12 using ion implantation or other semiconductor fabrication techniques. A channel (not shown) is between the source 14 and the drain 16. Isolation oxide 20 surrounds the source 14, the drain 16, and the channel to isolate the two-edge MOS transistor 10 from adjacent devices (not shown). The isolation oxide 20 may be associated with shallow trench isolation (STI). Since the two-edge MOS transistor 10 is fabricated using the semiconductor substrate 12, the semiconductor substrate 12 may have a bulk connection (not shown) electrically connected to the body (not shown) of the two-edge MOS transistor 10. The gate 18 is located over and controls current flow through the channel. A thin layer of gate oxide (not shown) electrically isolates the gate 18 from the channel. The semiconductor substrate 12 may typically be Silicon and the gate 18 may be poly-Silicon, metal, silicide, or alloy that is compatible with semiconductor manufacturing.
The two-edge MOS transistor 10 may be either an N-type MOS (NMOS) transistor or a P-type MOS (PMOS) transistor. In an NMOS transistor, the source 14 and the drain 16 may be N-type semiconductor material, and the body may be P-type semiconductor material. In a PMOS transistor, the source 14 and the drain 16 may be P-type semiconductor material, and the body may be N-type semiconductor material. If the semiconductor substrate 12 is P-type semiconductor material, then the body of an NMOS transistor may be provided by the semiconductor substrate 12 and the body of a PMOS transistor may be provided by an N-well (not shown) in the semiconductor substrate 12. Similarly, if the semiconductor substrate 12 is N-type semiconductor material, then the body of a PMOS transistor may be provided by the semiconductor substrate 12 and the body of an NMOS transistor may be provided by a P-well (not shown) in the semiconductor substrate 12.
FIG. 2 shows three-dimensional details of the two-edge MOS transistor 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. The gate 18 has been omitted to show a channel 22 between the source 14 and the drain 16. The channel 22 has a first edge 24 and a second edge 26 next to the isolation oxide 20. The gate 18 may extend over the first and second edges 24, 26 and the isolation oxide 20, which may be necessary for metallization connections (not shown). In an NMOS transistor, when a voltage at the gate 18 is positive with respect to the source 14, the NMOS transistor may turn on, thereby passing current between the source 14 and the drain 16. Similarly, when the voltage at the gate 18 is equal to or negative with respect to the source 14, the NMOS transistor may turn off, thereby blocking current between the source 14 and the drain 16.
In a high radiation environment, ionizing radiation may impinge on the isolation oxide 20 over time, thereby creating trapped holes and resulting trapped positive charges in the isolation oxide 20. In an NMOS transistor, the trapped positive charges near the first and second edges 24, 26 may behave somewhat like a virtual gate, thereby causing leakage current between the source 14 and the drain 16, lowering a threshold voltage of the two-edge MOS transistor 10, or both. In a PMOS transistor, the trapped positive charges near the first and second edges 24, 26 may behave somewhat like the virtual gate; however, a positive voltage on a PMOS gate relative to a PMOS source further turns off the PMOS transistor. Therefore, the trapped positive charges in particular, and ionizing radiation in general, tend to not be problematic in PMOS devices.
FIG. 3 shows a two-dimensional cross section of a P-type semiconductor substrate 28, which is used to form a first NMOS transistor 30 adjacent to a second NMOS transistor 32. The first NMOS transistor 30 includes a first source 34, a first drain 36, a first gate 38, and first bulk connection material 40. The second NMOS transistor 32 includes a second source 42, a second drain 44, a second gate 46, and second bulk connection material 48. The first and second sources 34, 42 and the first and second drains 36, 44 include N-type semiconductor material. The first and second bulk connection materials 40, 48 may include highly-doped P-type semiconductor material. The first and second gates 38, 46 may include a conductive material, such as poly-Silicon, metal, silicide, or alloy. The first and second gates 38, 46 are electrically isolated from channels between the first source and drain 34, 36 and the second source and drain 42, 44 with a thin gate oxide layer 50.
The first and second NMOS transistors 30, 32 are isolated from each other by the isolation oxide 20; however, the first and second drains 36, 44, which are N-type semiconductor material, and the P-type semiconductor substrate 28 between the first and second drains 36, 44 under the isolation oxide 20 may form a virtual NMOS transistor 52. Even with a voltage difference between the first and second drains 36, 44, the virtual NMOS transistor 52 does not conduct current since there is no gate voltage to bias the virtual NMOS transistor 52 into a conducting state. However, over time in a high radiation environment, ionizing radiation may impinge on the isolation oxide 20, thereby creating trapped holes and resulting trapped positive charges in the isolation oxide 20. These trapped positive charges may function as a positively biased virtual gate for the virtual NMOS transistor 52, thereby causing leakage current to flow between the first and second NMOS transistors 30, 32. Thus, there is a need to reduce or eliminate the effects of ionizing radiation in two-edge NMOS transistors and in adjacent NMOS transistors.

Total ionizing dose radiation hardening using reverse body bias techniques

Arizona Board of Regents for and on behalf of Arizona State University


The present invention is a quick-release device for engaging an umbilical. The device includes a coupling base and arms. The coupling base has a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the coupling base is configured for attachment to a valve known in the prior art which is used within rescue chambers. The first arm is pivotally connected with the top surface of the coupling base. The second arm is pivotally connected with the top surface of the base. Each arm defines anterior portions to engage the umbilical. The first arm and second arm are configured to move relative to one another to engage or disengage the umbilical. In operation, a user moves the first and second arms towards one another to engage the umbilical in fluid connection to the valve. To disengage the umbilical from the fluid connection with the valve, the user releases the spring-biased arms.

The present invention relates generally to vessel escape systems, and in particular, submarine escape systems. More specifically, the present invention is a quick-release device for engaging an umbilical of an underwater escape suit, also known as a SEIE suit. The quick-release device is used with prior art valves located within a rescue chamber of a vessel to provide a quick release fluid connection between the valve and the umbilical to provide maximum stability and safety to a user.
In submarine escape systems, there is a need for a safe and effective way to deliver air into a user's suit for quick ascension out of a rescue chamber of a submarine. Most underwater escape suits, such as the SEIE (Submarine Escape Immersion Equipment), and are designed to enable a free ascent from a stricken submarine and to provide protection for the submariner on reaching the surface. The SEIE is comprised of a submarine escape and immersion suit, an inner thermal liner, and a gas inflated single seat life raft. The suit provides sufficient lifting force and breathable air to take the escapee from the submarine to the surface at a safe speed of approximately two to three meters per second.
To use the SEIE suit, users have to put on the suit and go into the rescue chamber on the submarine. Once in the chamber, the user, using one hand, engages his umbilical or flexible tube from the SEIE suit to a valve for air while using a second hand to grasp a handle within the chamber to maintain his stability. The air fills the suit to provide positive buoyancy to the user for exiting the rescue chamber. Then the chamber is flooded, which takes about 90 seconds at 600 feet. When the water pressure in the chamber is equal to the water pressure on the outside, the outer door to the chamber opens and the user shoots to the surface because of the buoyancy of the suit.
A significant problem occurs during the filling of the SEIE suit with air. When the SEIE suit is filled with air, it provides buoyancy to the user inside the chamber and before the outer door is opened for exiting the submarine. As a result, the user may drift away and loose his umbilical connection with the valve before completely filing the SEIE suit with air. Without sufficient air inside the suit, the user may not have sufficient buoyancy to travel hundreds of feet of water in the time necessary.
Furthermore, if the umbilical were connected permanently to the valve, the user would have to manually release the umbilical. The user may not have sufficient stamina or proper conditions within the rescue chamber to manually release the umbilical from the valve. As a result, if the umbilical were permanently connected, the user may not properly exit the rescue chamber and will become tethered to a possibly sinking submarine.
To optimize stability and safety within the rescue chamber, it would require the user's use of both hands to hold his balance while the rescue chamber is completely flooded. Otherwise, without proper stability, the user may drift away from the valve before completely filling the SEIE suit with air. In addition, the connection of the umbilical to the valve must allow the user the ability to quickly release or disengage from the valve to prevent from being tethered to the valve inside the rescue chamber when the outer door opens.
There have been attempts in the prior art to prevent the user from being permanently connected by an umbilical to the valve inside the rescue chamber. However, the coupling mechanisms of the prior art for connecting the umbilical to the valve for air involve the use of at least one hand to engage the umbilical in connection with the valve for air. The coupling mechanism results in a user who is not stable during the filling of the SEIE suit. As a result, the user may not have a properly inflated suit when exiting the chamber.
Therefore, there is a need for a device which will allow the user to maximize his stability by using two hands, not just one, to grasp the interior of the rescue chamber during the filling of his SEIE suit with air. In addition, there is a need for a device that will provide a quick, temporary connection between the umbilical and the valve that can be rapidly disengaged.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Jan-Narik Enterprises a Nevada corporation


A running board assembly for a vehicle including a running board and a plurality of brackets for connecting the running board to a rocker. The brackets include first and second planar supports extending downward and laterally outward from the rocker to the running board. The planar supports are spaced from each other and are disposed in a vertical/transverse plane. The first and second planar supports are disposed parallel to each other and form a parallelogram connecting the running board to the rocker that deflects in a longitudinal direction when impacted from the side in an impact. The running board assembly includes a mounting plate attached to the rocker that defines a plurality of longitudinally extending slots. The first and second planar supports are secured to the mounting plate with a first set of fasteners that are received in the slots.

Running boards are popular accessories for vehicles such as trucks or sport utility vehicles that have high ground clearance. Passengers may step on the running board to facilitate entering or exiting the passenger compartment of high ground clearance vehicles. Running boards must be attached to a vehicle with brackets that are capable of supporting the weight of a heavy person (e.g. 300 pounds) without substantial deflection.
Many different types of running boards may be offered on similar vehicles such as flat plate running boards, rounded running boards, tubular running boards, step bar running boards, or the like. Running boards may be fabricated from fiberglass, steel or aluminum.
Running boards offered as optional accessories may change the response of a vehicle to side impact tests and also may affect calibration of airbag sensors. Airbag sensors may include pressure sensors or accelerometers that sense g-forces. Sensor recalibration may be required if different running boards react differently to lateral loading in a side impact. If one running board design absorbs more energy than a different running board design, each design must be separately tested and the airbag sensors must be recalibrated to accommodate the selected running board.
This disclosure is directed to solving the above problems and other problems as summarized below.


An optical fiber in which the macro-bending loss is lowered while an MFD is maintained large, and a waveguide including the optical fiber. The optical fiber includes a core region doped with an impurity; a first cladding region formed as a layer around the core region and including holes as microstructures; and a second cladding region formed as a layer around the first cladding region and made of a homogeneous material. A relative refractive-index difference Δ1 between the core region and the second cladding region is equal to or higher than 0.01% and lower than 0.3%. A total cross-sectional area of the holes in the first cladding region with respect to a total cross-sectional area of the core region, the first cladding region, and the second cladding region is equal to or smaller than 20%. A waveguide is formed using the optical fiber.

In general, an optical fiber includes a core region and a cladding region. The core region is made of a silica glass of which a refractive index is increased by doping, for example, a germanium. The cladding region is made of a silica glass having a refractive index lower than that of the core region, which forms a layer surrounding a circumference of the core. Light propagates through the core region by a total reflection of the light at a boundary between the core region and the cladding region. Conventionally, a relative refractive index difference between the core region and the cladding region is at largest 3% to 4%.
On the other hand, in recent years, an optical fiber has been reported with which a large relative refractive-index difference can be obtained compared to the above structured optical fiber. For example, in Patent Document 1, it has been reported that an average refractive index of the cladding region can be greatly reduced by providing a microstructure such as a hole as a representative example in the glass of the cladding region, in a longitudinal direction. In other words, the optical fiber having such structure can dramatically increase an effective refractive index of the core region compared to the conventional optical fiber.
Given this situation, in recent years, an optical fiber having the microstructure has been a focus of constant attention, in which a hole or the like is formed in a surrounding area of the core region of an optical fiber having a refractive index profile structure equivalent to a typical single mode optical fiber (hereinafter, referred to as SMF). This optical fiber has an advantage in that the microstructure provided around the core region can increase the relative refractive-index difference between the core region and the cladding region, which cannot be achieved with an SMF, thereby making the macro-bending loss of the optical fiber extremely low.
For instance, it has been reported that the macro-bending loss against a small-diameter bending with a diameter of 15 mm could be lowered to 0.04 dB/m by adopting the microstructure (see, for example, Nonpatent Document 1). After that, there has been another report that the macro-bending loss could be further lowered up to below 0.01 dB/m (see, for example, Nonpatent Document 2). On the other hand, an optical fiber has been proposed, in which the macro-bending loss is lowered while maintaining a large mode field diameter (hereinafter, referred to as MFD) in view of connection with the conventional SMF (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3306847
Nonpatent Document 1: T. Hasegawa, et al., Microoptics Conference (2003), K2
Nonpatent Document 2: Daizo Nishioka, et al., Shingaku Giho, OFT 2003-63, P.23
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004 220026


A solid state imaging device with pixels in a two-dimensional array, a controller which performs window cutting on signals read out of the pixel array in multiple column units on a column-address basis, and a selector which, when the cutting window overlaps with a multiple column unit, holds signals in a present multiple column unit and in a previous column unit, and then outputs selected consecutive signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a solid-state imaging device, a method for driving the solid-state imaging device and an imaging apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an solid-state imaging device of related art, such as a CMOS image sensor, to increase the signal output rate and reduce power consumption, when pixel data read from pixels are horizontally transferred, a plurality of columns in the pixel matrix array are used as a unit and the signals of the pixels in the plurality of columns are horizontally transferred and outputted in parallel on a row basis (see JP-A-2000-32344, for example).
In a CMOS image sensor configured to perform parallel transfer and output, for example, when the number of the plurality of columns is four, the number of outputs in horizontal transfer is four, that is, four outputs 1, 2, 3 and 4. The signal of each column will be outputted according to the order of the columns to be transferred, 4n+1, 4n+2, 4n+3 and 4n+4 (n is an integer).

Solid-state imaging device, method for driving solid-state imaging device and imaging apparatus


A loading device of a leg extension machine includes: a set of symmetric left and right gear disks linked and engaged with each other and installed onto two axles of left and right leg extension elements respectively, such that if the leg extension elements are pulled apart or pressed together, the two axles drive the left and right gear disks to rotate in opposite directions synchronously; a motor having a first gear installed on a main shaft and engaged with one of the left and right gear disks and a second gear engaged between the first gear and the gear disks for producing a driving resistance to the left and right gear disks synchronously; a current controller, provided for an exerciser to adjust the current transmitted to the motor through a microcomputer control panel; and a movement path sensor, for using pulse signals generated by a pair of optical couplers as feedback positions and determining the positive or negative rotation if the axle drives the optical interrupt disk, so as to control a curved load, and appropriately compensate the load current to provide a smooth and real-world setting.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a loading device of a leg extension machine, in particular to a loading device using the linear proportion between current and torque of a DC or brushless motor and a pair of gear disks as resistance components to improve traditional exercise loads.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various different types of fitness equipments are designed according to different fitness exercises. For instance, a treadmill machine is designed specially for jogging or running, and a leg extension machine is designed specially for training abductor and adductor (inner and outer thigh muscles) and leg and foot muscles, and these machines were disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,396,319, 5,575,744 and 4,478,411.
In addition to leg extension components, the main structure of a conventional leg extension fitness machine further includes a resistance device as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,396,319 and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for providing an exercise load. The fitness machines of this sort include extension elements 12 installed at the front of a seat 11 and provided for exercising a thigh 121 and a calf 122, a movement and internal or external direction switching component 13 installed at the bottom of the fitness machine, a resistance arrangement 14 disposed at a lateral side of the fitness machine and linked with the movement and internal or external direction switching component 13 by a cable 15 to provide a load. When the exerciser's thigh and calf drive the extension element 12 to move inward or outward to link the movement switching component 13, the resistance component 14 still provides an exercise load to the exerciser.
However, most conventional exercise loads are resistance components 14 composed of a plurality of weight stacks 141, but such conventional loads still have the following drawbacks:
1. The weight stack 141 comes with a large volume and occupies much space. If an exerciser needs to adjust the exercise load by increasing the number and the weight of the load such as the weight stack 141, it will take much time and effort for the exerciser to make the adjustment, and the exerciser also has to stop the exercise to do so, and thus it is difficult to achieve the expected exercising effect.
2. The load such as the weight stack 141 is heavy and cannot be adjusted easily. Furthermore, a variable load for continuous and smooth exercise cannot be achieved according to a curve, and thus the exercising effect will be lowered, and there is also a potential risk of an exercise-induced muscular injury.
3. If the load such as the weight stack 141 is lifted by a transmission cable 15 and then released slowly, an annoying sound will be produced, and the irritating sound will cause discomfort to the exerciser. Furthermore, the transmission cable 15 is operated together with a winch, and it makes the machine more complicated.
In addition to the aforementioned three drawbacks, the loading device of the conventional leg extension fitness machine 10 still requires a manual mechanism to switch exercises for training the exerciser's inner thigh and outer thigh. Obviously, the prior art requires further improvements.


A lamp includes a lamp cover, a light emitting diode (LED), and a lamp holder. The lamp holder includes a lamp seat, an inner cover, and an outer cover. An annular groove into which a head of the lamp cover is mounted is provided in the lamp seat. The inner cover, formed by a permanent portion and a movable portion firmly combined or attached to each other, includes two or more channels running longitudinally through its hollow interior body in communication with two or more openings or through holes extending through the lamp seat. Legs of the LED pass through the through holes and extend into the longitudinal channels of the inner cover to make an electrical engagement with lead wires projecting upwardly from the bottom end of the longitudinal channels. The inner cover is completely inserted into the outer cover.

Lamps with an LED light source typically include a lamp cover, the LED, and a lamp holder. The LED is positioned inside the lamp cover and has two legs extending out of a head of the lamp cover through attached lead wires. The lamp cover head is then put in a machine for injection, forming a lamp holder within which the lamp cover head and the lead wires are tightly enclosed. Producing a lamp in this manner is relatively difficult and complicated. Additionally, if the LED or the lamp cover breaks, a professional tool is generally required to split open the lamp holder and to replace the broken part. The lamp holder must then be injected again.

Lamp including a replaceable light emitting diode (LED)


Novel processes for preparing hydridosiloxane and organohydridosiloxane resins are disclosed. The processes of the invention broadly provide for the steps of contacting a silane monomer with a solid state catalyst in the presence of a reaction mixture that includes a nonpolar, e.g., hydrocarbon, solvent, and a polar solvent, e.g., alcohol and water. The process is conducted under conditions effective to catalytically convert said silane monomer into hydridosiloxanes and organohydridosiloxanes. Recovery of the products is advantageously aided by the ease of separating the solid state catalyst from the reaction mixture. Hydridosiloxanes and organohydridosiloxanes resins produced by the processes of the invention are also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the preparation of substrates used in the manufacture of integrated circuits. In particular, the invention provides new and improved methods for preparing siloxane resins, including hydridosiloxanes and organohydridosiloxanes, that are free of the many disadvantages that previously attended the preparation of such materials. More particularly, the invention pertains to synthetic methods that employ a solid state catalyst that avoids the disadvantages of previously employed catalytic systems that required hazardous catalytic reagents. The invention also pertains to synthetic methods that avoid the need for additional washing and purification steps that have heretofore been believed to be required to produce such resins.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known in the art that siloxane based resins are useful in the electronic and semiconductor fields to coat silicon chips and other similar components. Such coatings protect the surface of substrates and form dielectric layers between electric conductors on integrated circuits. Such coatings can be used as protective coatings, interlevel dielectric layers, doped dielectric layers to produce transistor like devices, pigment loaded binder systems containing silicon to produce capacitor and capacitor like devices, multilayer devices, 3-D devices, silicon on insulator devices, coatings for superconductors, superlattice devices and the like. These resins include hydridosiloxanes and organohydridosiloxanes containing a significant portion of organic moieties.
The production of siloxane resins, such as silsesquioxane resins, is well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,564 describes the production of polyhydrogensilsesquioxane resins for electronic coatings. However, the process employs dangerous fuming sulfuric acid/sulfuric acid as a catalyst to produce polyhydrogensilsesquioxane. The product was contaminated with significant levels of trace metals despite washing in multiple steps with water containing decreasing percentages of sulfuric acid, followed by removal of all traces of water by azeotropic distillation. In an attempt to remedy these shortcomings, U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,190 describes fractionation of the silsesquioxane product using polar and nonpolar solvents. Other attempts to remedy these deficiencies in the production of silsesquioxane compounds employed supercritical fluid extraction in the purification process, as described by U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,267 and employed fuming/concentrated sulfuric acid but with CaCO.sub.3 neutralization, as described by U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,159.
It is also known that the dielectric constant of such insulating films is an important factor where integrated circuits or IC's with low power consumption, cross-talk, and signal delay are required. As IC dimensions continue to shrink, this factor increases in importance. As a result, siloxane based resin materials, and methods for making such materials, that can provide insulating films with dielectric constants below 3.0 are very desirable. In addition, it would be desirable to have siloxane-based resins, and method for making the resins, that provide such low dielectric constant films and which additionally have a high resistance to cracking. It would also be desirable for such films to have low stress when formed in thickness of approximately 1.0 micron (.mu.m) or greater. Additionally, it would be desirable for such siloxane-based resins, and methods for making, to provide low dielectric constant films via standard processing techniques. In this manner curing processes that require an ammonia or ammonia derivative type of atmosphere (See, U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,723, Sep. 8, 1992, Ballance et al.), an ozone atmosphere (See, U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,532, Haluska et al.), or other non-standard type of semiconductor process, are avoided.
Thus, it would be desirable to produce useful siloxane coating compositions, such as hydridosiloxane and organohydridosiloxane resins, by methods which are both efficient and which do not employ toxic catalytic reagents. It has now surprisingly been found that a reaction employing solid state polymeric catalysts will produce the desired hydridosiloxane and organohydridosiloxane resins while avoiding all of the above described shortcomings of previous methods.

Synthesis of hydrogensilsesquioxane and organohydridosiloxane resins


A dome for applying a vacuum to a patient""s skin surface is comprised of a generally rigid dome capable of withstanding a pressure differential, with a rim cushion underlying the rim of the dome for supporting a rim from the patient""s skin surface. The rim may be generally wider than the dome in order to distribute the attendant forces across a greater surface and avoid tissue damage. A sticky sole underlies the rim cushion and seals the rim cushion to the patient""s skin to thereby preserve the vacuum within the dome. The sticky sole may be comprised of any adhesive material or even be achieved through the use of an appropriate material for the rim cushion itself.

There are numerous instances where persons desire enlargement of the soft tissues in their bodies. One such instance is for the replacement of one or both breasts amputated during a mastectomy in order to restore physiological symmetry and psychological well-being. Other instances are for correction of natural abnormalities such as dimpling. Still other instances are for augmentation of physical attributes to improve cosmetics and self-esteem. These latter soft tissue enlargements are principally directed to breast enlargement in females and penis enlargement in males.
Prosthetic implants have been developed for insertion below the skin. However, the severity of the potential complications including scarring, implant rupture, capsular contracture, necrosis and implant migration as well as the recent adverse publicity thereof have significantly reduced the desirability of these implants. Thus, there is a societal need for other means to obtain soft tissue enlargement.
Some soft tissue enlargements occur naturally. For instance, during pregnancy, the skin over a woman""s abdominal region enlarges approximately nine times its previous area to accommodate the fetus without a proportional decrease in skin thickness. In other words, the abdominal skin tissue actually enlarges and does not merely stretch during pregnancy. Similarly, the skin will expand to accommodate any growth under the skin.
In the past, plastic surgeons have used this phenomenon to their advantage to expand skin in order to accommodate prosthetic implants. To conduct this procedure, the surgeon inserts a balloon beneath the skin in the area where additional skin is desired. By progressively expanding the balloon, the skin first stretches and eventually actually grows to accommodate the increased volume underneath it. When the desired amount of skin is formed, the balloon is deflated and removed, and the implant is inserted into the cavity left by the balloon. Similar methods have been used by native African tribes to enlarge lips, nostrils, and earlobes.
Other surgical techniques have used tissue expansion to achieve other types of soft tissue growth. For instance, balloons have been successfully expanded underneath nerves, veins, tendons, and the like to thereby elongate these tissues to repair damage and alleviate various abnormalities.
A more advanced surgical method is known as callotasis or limb lengthening. This method comprises cutting the bone about its periphery at the location where lengthening is desired, leaving the tissues inside and around the bone intact. Brackets are attached to the bone on each side of the separation, and the bone segments are slowly pulled away from one another while remaining integral over a period of several months. Not only does this cause the mended bone to be longer, but also the soft tissue surrounding the bone actually grows to accommodate the increased limb length. Similar methods have been used by African native tribes to lengthen necks for cosmetic purposes.
Each of these above-mentioned apparatuses and methods requires an invasive surgical technique to accomplish the soft tissue expansion. Invasive techniques increase the likelihood of the complications associated with the procedure including those mentioned above with respect to implant surgery. In addition, the expense of surgery precludes many persons from having their abnormalities corrected or physical attributes enhanced.
Other soft tissue enlargement techniques have been developed which use other mechanisms to cause the enlargement. For instance, an instrument and technique have been developed for the non-surgical correction of inverted nipples due to short lactiferous ducts. The instrument is comprised of a cup having an internal volume shaped like that of the final desired nipple. The user places the cup over the inverted nipple, pumps the air out of the cup with a syringe and adjusts the vacuum within the cup using a check valve to just below the threshold of discomfort. Thus attached, the device puts he lactiferous ducts in tension and extends them sufficiently after two to three months of wear at 8-12 hours per day.
Although this device is sufficient for its intended purpose, it is not suitable for general soft tissue enlargement. Laceration and contusion can occur if too strong of a suction is applied to soft tissue. As the pressure within the inverted nipple instrument is not regulated, contusion or laceration can occur. When a vacuum is developed within the cup of the instrument, an equal and opposite force is applied to the patient about the rim of the cup. Excessive contact forces against the patient can cause ulceration, laceration, and contusions. As the contact forces are not regulated in the nipple instrument, these further complications also can occur. In addition, general soft tissue enlargement is not feasible with the instrument due to the size and shape of the cup.
Another prior art device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 936,434 as a device for enlarging a woman""s breasts. This device included a pair of cups for placement on the breasts and a pump for exhausting the air from between the cups and breasts. However, this patent provides no teaching as to the pressures to be used, the potential danger to the skin tissues, or any suggestions as to how the device is to be retained in place during use. Apparently, the device is used in a clinical setting and is not suitable for long term wear such as for 8-10 hours. As the patent suggests that the vacuum acts to cause the veins and arteries to engorge, thereby nourishing the breasts, it is clear that the patentee is suggesting that the breast tissue actually expands through this expansion of blood vessels alone. This patent has been the subject of ridicule by at least one medical authority. See xe2x80x9cAn Anthology Of Plastic Surgeryxe2x80x9d edited by Harry Hayes, Jr., M.D., Section 6, xe2x80x9cQuackery and Nostrumsxe2x80x9d pub. 1986 by Aspen Publishers, Rockville, Md.
Another prior art device although notorious is worthy of note. This device is commonly referred to as a penis pump and is sold primarily as a novelty as its long-term enlargement efficacy has never been proven and is in fact universally disclaimed by its distributors. The device is comprised of a cylinder having one open end into which the penis is inserted and a pump attached to it such that a vacuum can be created within the cylinder. Not only does this device have the same drawbacks as the nipple instrument with respect to potential complications, but also it is unlikely that sufficient vacuum can be maintained by the device to cause any notable long-term soft tissue enlargement. Further, this device is apparently designed to accomplish two tasks unrelated to enlargement. First, the device is used for stimulation and sexual gratification. Second, the device is used to promote erection by drawing blood into the penis.
Most of these prior art devices and methods have failed to achieve long term soft tissue enlargement while preventing damage to the soft tissue being enlarged, as well as surrounding tissue. As disclosed and claimed in the parent applications noted above, the inventor herein has succeeded in designing and developing a new generalized method and apparatus for soft tissue enlargement which prevents damage to soft tissue. The apparatus used for this enlargement is comprised of a rigid, fluid-impervious dome having a rim about its periphery and a vacuum pump for reducing pressure within the dome. The rim has sufficient surface area such that the pressure applied to the patient by the rim is less than or equal to the negative pressure applied to the soft tissue under the dome. In the parent applications, one specific teaching to achieve this balanced force utilized a rim with substantially the same cross-sectional area as the normal area of the dome. Thus, as long as pressure within the dome is regulated to a limit below which medical complications will not occur, the opposing contact pressure against the patient is below this threshold as well. With this approach, damage is avoided not only to the soft tissue being enlarged, but the surrounding tissue as well. In the preferred embodiment of the apparatus, the vacuum pump has a self-contained power source. In addition, a pressure sensor and servomechanism control the pump such that the vacuum within the dome is maintained at a magnitude less than 35 mmHg. Variant embodiments may be configured to fit over and enlarge a human breast, a human penis, or any other desired area.
In still another patent application filed on behalf of the present inventor entitled xe2x80x9cMethod And Apparatus For Promoting Soft Tissue Enlargement and Wound Healingxe2x80x9d having Ser. No. 08/408,423 filed Mar. 22, 1995, the present inventor disclosed and claimed an invention which utilizes a rigid fluid-impervious dome having a rim about its periphery and a vacuum pump for reducing pressure to thereby apply a distracting force to the soft tissue isolated by and within the dome. The dome may be conveniently located over an open wound in order to promote healing of the wound by enlarging the soft tissue under the dome. As the soft tissue grows, it promotes healing of the wound through acceleration of the closing thereof by soft tissue growth. As wounds may be received by a patient to any part of his body, the inventor""s prior disclosed and claimed invention includes the use of a dome over virtually any part of the human body.
In implementing these prior inventions, the inventor intends that it be capable of achieving its therapeutic effect without creating any long term tissue necrosis from use. In other words, a vacuum must be applied to the desired area to achieve the therapeutic effect for sufficient periods of time without applying too great a vacuum or contact pressure which will damage the underlying tissue. As considered from this generalized approach, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand the inventor""s teaching to include the idea of providing a smaller vacuum pressure within the dome and balancing that smaller vacuum with a rim having a surface area less than the normal area of the dome, thereby creating a greater contact pressure which is still within acceptable limits. Still another approach which may very well provide a therapeutic effect would be to cycle the vacuum in the dome such that it is applied for periods of time at elevated levels and relaxed levels so that the rim might also have a cross-sectional area less than the normal area of the dome, but yet avoid creating any tissue necrosis. The cycling of the vacuum pressure in the dome could be readily achieved in an automatic manner by appropriately programming the vacuum pump and regulator. Therefore, the invention should be understood as being limited only by the current medical understanding of the causative effects of pressure sores and other tissue damage by an applied pressure or vacuum.
It is well recognized in the medical literature that decubitus ulcers are caused by unrelieved external pressure that occludes blood flow and results in tissue necrosis. In recognition of this fact, these ulcers are called pressure sores. The average capillary pressure in human skin is around 15-20 mmHg. E. M. Landis, Micro-Injection Studies of Capillary Blood Pressure in Human Skin, 15 Heart 209-228, (1930). For convenience, 20 mmHg will be used to describe this pressure throughout the remainder of this description. However, it should be understood that pressures below 20 mmHg may also be used without departing from the scope of this invention and that these lower pressures may provide additional margins in preventing damage to tissues. Therefore, the local application of an external pressure up to 20 mmHg will not collapse capillaries adjacent the location of the applied pressure and thus will not disturb the circulation. Therefore, local application of contact pressures less than or equal to 20 mmHg are well tolerated for prolonged periods of time. This tolerance has been confirmed by the inventor through use of a prototype which did not cause adverse effects after many hours of continuous use as long as the pressure under the rim remained below or around 20 mmHg.
Pressures greater than 20 mmHg will occlude the capillaries and stop tissue perfusion. Tissues can tolerate short periods of ischemia, but if the pressure is continuous and perfusion is not restored within a relatively short period of time, tissue damage will ensue. xe2x80x9cThe time factor is thus more important than pressure intensityxe2x80x9d. A pressure of 100 mmHg will lead to pathologic changes after only two hours. T. Hussain, An Experimental Study of Some Pressure Effects on Tissues, with Reference to the Bed-Sore Problem, 66 J. Path. Bact. 347-358, (1953).
The experimental results of additional investigators can be used to develop a safe time-pressure curve above which tissue damage will ensue. For instance, 20 mmHg is well tolerated for prolonged periods of time, but 40 mmHg will lead to tissue injury if the pressure is not relieved for 13 hours. The injury is more severe if the pressure is 60 mmHg, and even greater injury will result with a pressure of 100 mmHg after shorter periods of time. O. Lindan, Etiology of Decubitus Ulcers: An Experimental Study, 42 Arch. Phys. Med. Rehab. 774-783, (1961). Similarly, a pressure of 70 mmHg, if unrelieved, will lead to pathologic changes after 2 hours. However, if the pressure is intermittent, applied 5 minutes on, and 5 minutes off, there is no pathologic tissue changes. M. Kosiak, Etioloqy of Decubitus Ulcers, 42 Arch. Phys. Med. Rehab. 19-29, (1961).
These findings are consistent with the clinical testing of the prototype of the breast device. It was found that a continuous pressure under the rim of 40 mmHg could be tolerated for only one hour by healthy volunteers. After one hour, the volunteers started to complain of pain which is the warning sign of impending tissue damage. Higher pressures led to pain under the rim after even shorter periods of time. Lower pressures around 30 mmHg led to pain after 4 hours. However, if the pressure is allowed to cycle, that is if it is dropped down to 0-20 mmHg to allow the tissues to temporarily reperfuse for a few minutes, higher peak pressures can be tolerated. The higher the peak pressures, the shorter they are tolerated and the longer the low pressure part of the cycle needs to be to allow the tissues to recuperate.
Therefore, pressures under the rim greater than 20 mmHg can only be tolerated if there is a means to continuously cycle the pressure peaks on and off allowing for tissue re-perfusion during the off periods. The higher the peaks, the shorter the pressures are tolerated and the longer the period of low pressure recuperation needs to be.
From the above experimental animal data and human study, the inventor concludes that 20 mmHg is the highest pressure that can be safely tolerated under the rim on a prolonged basis. Higher pressures can only be applied intermittently, and then cycled down to less than 20 mmHg.
The method of use is comprised of the steps of attaching the dome to the location of desired enlargement, and creating a vacuum within the dome. In the continuous application method in which the vacuum is applied at pressures that can be withstood continuously, the vacuum should be maintained for a minimum of eight hours per day and results should be sufficient after several months.
As indicated by the summary of the medical literature given above, a vacuum dome may also be used in alternative methods in keeping within the scope of the inventor""s concept. For example, the device might have a rim cross-sectional area substantially less than the normal area of the dome and be used in either of two methods. In a first method, a somewhat lower vacuum pressure may be induced in the dome such that the opposing contact pressure under the rim may be maintained at bearable pressures for extended periods of time and yet provide a therapeutic effect. Alternatively, the vacuum in the dome may be regulated in a routine which provides somewhat higher vacuum pressures in the dome for shortened periods of time separated by periods of lower vacuum pressures to allow tissue reperfusion. In other words, alternating cycles of high vacuum, tissue reperfusion, high vacuum, tissue reperfusion, etc., may achieve a therapeutic effect in enlarging the soft tissues. With either of these methods, the rim may have a cross-sectional area substantially less than the normal area of the dome.
In an alternate embodiment, the dome may include a flexible sheet attached about the rim and spanning the dome. The sheet may be applied to the desired soft tissue with an adhesive, and the vacuum may be applied between the dome and the sheet to introduce a tensile force to the surface of the soft tissue so as to pull the soft tissue away from the body. The adhesive may comprise typical adhesives or glues, as well as, sticky gels or sheets of double-sided adhesive tapes. Further, the adhesive may be an adhesive substance embedded in the sheet or in the rim of the dome.
In addition to the embodiments already discussed, the inventor has conceived of additional embodiments which further utilize the vacuum dome. One such embodiment is especially useful in the healing or reconstruction of amputation stumps. Whether the amputation is exemplified by an acute open wound (e.g. fingertip amputations) or an extremity amputation stump that tends to break down because of a deficiency in soft tissue padding, the growing of soft tissue may be especially advantageous in healing these wounds and adding tissue padding to what might otherwise become a chronic wound particularly susceptible to infection. In this application, the vacuum dome is supported around the amputation stump, much as taught in the inventor""s prior disclosures, and maintained using an appropriate protocol to encourage the growth of soft tissue. Still another newly conceived application for the vacuum dome is as an aid in endoscopic or other minimally invasive surgery. In this application, a vacuum dome may be placed over a skin surface and used as an external retractor to lift up the surface integument to thereby create an optical cavity for subcutaneous endoscopic surgery. A pressure differential introduced within the dome may be used to separate the skin from the underlying tissue without interfering with either surgical access or viewing by the surgeon during the procedure. As such, this application for the vacuum dome provides distinctive advantage over several of the prior art approaches including the use of balloons to gently separate the skin from the underlying tissue. When in place, the balloon obviously interferes with surgical access and obscures surgical viewing. Applying a vacuum to the skin to encourage its separation may be done externally and thereby leave clear access in sight to the surgical point of contact.
In implementing any of the embodiments of these prior inventions, the inventor utilizes a dome which is positioned adjacent a skin surface and which requires an airtight seal between the dome and the skin surface. In several of these embodiments, a vacuum may be drawn within the dome as well. In utilizing this construction, the inventor is aware of potential complications which can develop when an area of the body needs to be enclosed for prolonged periods of time within the dome having an airtight seal. For example, while a rim made of conforming or other soft materials may suffice for temporary use, a number of problems arise in the skin contact area when prolonged negative pressure application is necessary. The present invention includes in its various aspects various features which are intended to deal with these problems.
One such concern is for the management of the shear forces generated by the dynamic inward pull of the skin. As explained above, drawing a vacuum within the dome creates dynamic forces under the rim of the dome as the skin and other soft tissue is xe2x80x9cpulledxe2x80x9d up into the dome by the vacuum. Generally speaking, these forces place a shear force on the skin which has been found to be roughly equivalent to a normal force in that the skin blood flow decreased roughly linearly with the increase of shear forces. See the effect of shear forces externally applied to skin surface on underlying tissues by Zhang and Roberts, Journal of Biomedical Engineering, Vol. 15, No. 1, January 1993, pages 451-456. The effect of these shear forces may be dramatically minimized by providing an interface between the dome and the skin which allows inward displacement of the contact surface in response to the vacuum. There are numerous examples of structures which could achieve this desired inward displacement including a gel, an inflatable bladder, a bellows, a corrugated collapsible structure, or virtually any other mechanical/geometrical design which will allow substantially inward concentric movement of the contact surface area.
Still another problem encountered in applying a dome to a skin surface is the possibility for tissue damage at points of pressure concentration. It is well known from the literature on pressure sores that the body has numerous pressure points where bony prominences lack the thick layer of soft tissue padding needed to dissipate the pressure subjected to the overlying skin. These are the prominences where pressure sores tend to develop. Furthermore, with movement of the body parts, these pressure points are not static and fixed but have a tendency to shift from one cutaneous area to the other. To avoid creating points of pressure concentration at these shifting surfaces over bony prominences, it is important for the cushion under the dome to be able to constantly and evenly distribute the pressure on its underlying skin. This even distribution may be provided by a rim on the dome that has fluid-like properties. This cushion could be constructed with an air or fluid bladder, or any other type of membrane containing a gel-like fluid. Still other equivalent structures could be envisioned to achieve the same effect such as the use of a gel-like substance that can retain its contour and shape without a membrane layer boundary. This gel-like substance would approximate the hydraulic effect of a fluid-filled bladder.
A related problem to that of shifting points of pressure concentration is the overall contour of the body surface underlying the rim. This is especially the case as a wearer of the dome performs his routine daily activities. These routine daily activities would ordinarily shift the dome and would potentially cause the dome rim to contact other areas of the body not having the same contour as at the xe2x80x9cat restxe2x80x9d orientation. For these reasons, the rim should be designed to constantly accommodate a potentially ever-changing contour for the underlying body surface. To achieve this, the rim should be flexible and have a surface with mechanical bending properties approximating those of the underlying body tissue. This may be achieved by using a cushion having the fluid-like properties as described above to accommodate pressure concentration caused by bony prominences.
Another significant consideration in utilizing a dome in the various inventions developed by the inventor herein is the requirement that an airtight seal be maintained to preserve minimal to small vacuum pressure differentials. Escaping air at the interface between the rim and the skin leads to loss of vacuum and necessitates frequent activation of a pressure pump. This is undesirable in that it is at best a nuisance. Loss of vacuum is untenable for a truly portable device which would require a portable pump and power supply. In any event, the integrity of the seal between the rim and the skin directly impacts on the useability and performance of the vacuum dome. Ideally, a cushion may be utilized under the rim and between it and the skin to provide an airtight seal without an excessive force being applied as excessive forces may themselves create tissue damage. A heightened seal integrity may be achieved through the use of a xe2x80x9cstickyxe2x80x9d material which may be placed under the cushion or surrounding the cushion so as to adhere and bond to the skin a surface which preserves the pressure integrity. This xe2x80x9cstickyxe2x80x9d aspect of the present invention may be achieved by utilizing a material for the cushion itself which has a sticky, gooey, gluey, or gummy surface property. Numerous materials including polymers such as silicone, hydrogels, and many other low durometer synthetic rubbers and gels have this inherent surface property. A sheet or layer of this xe2x80x9cstickyxe2x80x9d polymer or other material may be added as a skin surface contact sole to the undersurface of the cushion for the rim, with the cushion itself not exhibiting this xe2x80x9cstickyxe2x80x9d property. Still another alternative is a skin adhesive layer which can be painted, sprayed, or otherwise applied to the lower surface of the cushion intended to contact the patient""s skin. Again, this would essentially form a xe2x80x9csolexe2x80x9d for the rim cushion. Still another methodology may consist of applying a layer of adhesive by painting, spraying, or otherwise adhering a gluey or sticky surface directly to the skin itself. A xe2x80x9cstickyxe2x80x9d tape may be used as the sole or even a double-sided sticky skin tape can be provided to interface between the rim cushion and the skin. Those of ordinary skill in the art could conceive of other ways to achieve this xe2x80x9cstickyxe2x80x9d contact between the dome and the underlying skin in order to maintain the integrity of the seal. Furthermore, the combination of the relatively hard rim that can distribute the counter-pressures evenly along its width with the underlying cushion of gel or fluid-filled bladder when combined with the adhesive xe2x80x9cstickyxe2x80x9d sole for maintaining the integrity of an airtight seal can be blurred and yet be covered by the inventor""s inventive concepts. For example, these advantages may all be achieved through structure constructed out of the same material with a gradient of tackiness or durometer properties.
While the practical advantages and features of the present invention and method have been briefly described above, a greater understanding of the novel and unique features of the invention may be obtained by referring to the drawings and Detailed Description of the Preferred embodiment which follow.

Vacuum dome with supporting rim and rim cushion


A portable device and method for supporting a load in a cantilevered disposition relative to a shelf, cabinet, or other extant structure is provided, which device is foldable into a relatively compact entity when not in use. The device includes at least a platform portion 01, a bracing portion 02, and a pivotably attached hanging bracket 03, and can be configured to support such a load in a horizontal or inclined position at a near or relatively distant horizontal or vertical relationship to the extant structure. The device may be independent, attached to, or integrally manufactured with the load.

1. Field of Invention
This invention is related to cantilevered supports, particularly to such supports which can be readily attached to or removed from an extant horizontal structure.
2. Prior Art
Although various devices exist to support a cantilevered load as an extension to a shelf, table, or other extant structure, most such devices generally include some type of mechanical fastener or clamping mechanism and others appear to be limited in functionality. Devices with permanent or semi-permanent connection to the extant structure by means of screws, rivets, or mechanical tightening devices are exemplified by Weight U.S. Pat. No. 2,254,832. Devices which incorporate some type of clamping device: are exemplified by Howard U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,607 and Prioux FR 1,242,268. O'Brien U.S. Pat. No. 4,033,652 exemplifies cantilever devices designed for specific receptors. Cantilevered extensions from a vertical surface with a top edge or vertical stop are exemplified by Harms U.S. Pat. No. 4,269,381 and Shumaker U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,140. Book holders for permanent under shelf mounting are disclosed by Krauss U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,948 and Nickerson U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,385B1. Pendulum type hangers are exemplified by Pearse U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,490. Table mounted baby seats are disclosed by Ducey U.S. Pat. No. 2,451,667, Robinson U.S. Pat. No. 3,133,760, Smith U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,535, Marion U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,928, Hoffman U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,120, Johnson U.S. Pat. No. 3,126,226, and Harley CA 957,265, most including some type of clamp. Hensel U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,534 B1 discloses a recipe card holder for a residential kitchen which appears to be held in place by a closed cabinet door. Harms U.S. Pat. No. 4,269,381 provides a cookbook support restrained by a vertical cabinet member.
The most relevant prior art includes devices having a cantilevered platform supported by a frame designed to fit over the edge of an extant structure and to distribute the resultant forces at a location near the edge of the top extant surface and at a location on the bottom of the extant shelf farther removed from the edge. For instance, 1904 U.S. Pat. No. 752,234 by Lawson, teaches a "Reference Book Shelf Desk" of such a design. While this device may appear to have certain similarities to the present invention it distinctly differs in critical respects. Lawson provides a rigid frame with notch-like openings which are relatively narrow in vertical dimension, therefore his device is limited in that it can not be compactly folded when not in use, nor can it be fitted over a variety of differing edge conditions or shelf thicknesses. In addition, Lawson's device, if mounted on a cabinet with doors, would prevent such doors from closing because the platform and structure extends above the top surface level of the extant shelf. Dotson U.S. Pat. No. 3,181,485, Scott U.S. Pat. No. 3,101,406, Barton U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,777, Tice U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,006, Montagner U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,302, Ducey U.S. Pat. No. 2,451,667, Pavoni U.S. Pat. No. 3,212,747, Scheh U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,318, Gaba U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,646B1, and Borgh WO 99/27816 each teach related devices having a rigid frame with similar limitations. Omessi U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,977 teaches a cantilevered tray device having a multi-part hanging bracket in order to afford limited adjustability relative to shelf thickness but which does not appear to fold or store compactly. Skewis U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,432 teaches a cantilevered tray with a complex multi-directionally folding frame having hanging portions which appear to be connected to the frame via a vertical hinge-like mechanism. However, Skewis's device appears to be relatively cumbersome to unfold and the hanging portions are of a shape which would appear to interfere with a cabinet door if the device were mounted in such a condition. Furthermore, Skewis's device also appears to be designed for a predetermined shelf thickness and to not be adaptable to variable thickness conditions or angular configuration, in that the hanging portions are effectively rigidly connected to the frame when the device is unfolded.
Thus it can be seen that, despite a considerable amount of prior art in the field, none addresses the objects of the present invention as presented below. The need for a simple, easy to use cantilever support device which can fold compactly when not in use, accommodate diverse shelf thicknesses and edge conditions, allow for closure of an overlapping door, provide support at an extended distance before and/or below an extant structure, and provide the other advantages of the present invention as can be seen throughout this document is apparent.


A toner cartridge for supplying toner to a replenishment apparatus of an electrophotographic imaging device has an elongated cylindrical container filled with toner. The container has a longitudinal axis, an open end and a closed end. An end cap is adapted and arranged to close the open end and to accommodate relative rotational motion between the container and the end cap. The end cap has a flange portion defining an open end terminating in an end portion having an edge. An elastomeric seal is provided to effect a positive, relatively low-friction toner seal between a relatively rotating container and the end cap. The seal in an exemplary embodiment comprises an elastomeric band, which is sized properly to affix onto the outside diameter of the cap end portion, with a portion of the seal extending beyond the cap end portion. This extending part of the seal conforms around the inside of the cap end portion such that when the cap is slid over the container during assembly, the seal rides over, and conforms to, the outside diameter of the container. Accordingly, as the bottle and cap are rotated relative to one another, the seal conforms and seals. The toner is discharged through an opening in the end cap.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrostatic imaging devices in general, particularly to toner cartridges for supplying toner to a replenishment mechanism for an electrostatic imaging device and, more particularly, to a replacement toner cartridge having a rotary seal.
2. Background
Devices for replenishing the toner in an electrophotographic or dry-toner type imaging device are known in the art. Generally, in such imaging devices, dry toner is supplied from a storage region to an imaging drum or film, where it is subsequently transferred to the image carrier and fused thereto to form a permanent image. As the supply of toner becomes depleted after repeated images are formed, it becomes necessary to replenish the supply.
The prior art contains many examples of the types of arrangements that are presently used for replenishing dry toner in imaging devices. For example, the replenishing supply of toner can be in the form of a relatively simple container 12 having a spout which mates to a storage region of the imaging device, and the toner might be dumped by gravity into the storage region.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,603 to Ikesue et al. describes an arrangement wherein replenishing toner is supplied in a cylindrical cartridge, one end of which contained a discharge opening. A removable gear was attached to the discharge end of the cylinder, the gear having teeth about its periphery. By attaching the gear and cartridge combination to a replenishment mechanism of the imaging device, the gear teeth of the cartridge was matable with a drive sprocket, which when activated rotated the toner replenishment cartridge about its longitudinal axis. A spiral guide rib raised on the inside surface of the cylindrical cartridge aided to feed the powder toward the discharge end of the cartridge and into the replenishment mechanism of the imaging device. This replenishment system requires the user to remove an end cap or a cover from the toner cartridge and also a sealing mechanism between the toner container and the imaging device replenishment mechanism.
New and better methods for supplying replenishment toner are still being sought.


A method of identifying a cause of an interrupt related to an interrupt indication received from an interrupt indicating circuit in a processor, includes the steps of having the interrupt indicating circuit provided with a plurality of lowest-layer registers having a plurality of bits, each of the plurality of bits corresponding to the cause of the interrupt, and one or more upper-layer registers for aggregating the plurality of lowest-layer registers; forming a hierarchical structure with the one or more upper-layer registers and the plurality of lowest-layer register; and identifying the cause of the interrupt by having the processor read the upper-layer registers and the lowest-layer registers in order following the hierarchical structure.

As communication speed and capacity of communication networks increase more and more, an amount of alarm information handled by a monitoring apparatus used in such a communication network also increases. In such a monitoring apparatus, an alarm generated in a network is sent to a microprocessor as an interrupt indicating signal, and the alarm that causes the interrupt is identified. However, with an increasing amount of alarm information, it takes a long time to identify the alarm, and workload of the microprocessor increases.
There are known methods of collecting alarm information such as a technology that aggregates alarm information using logical OR operations, or a technology that indicates a high-priority alarm by grouping alarms (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

Method and apparatus for identifying cause of interrupt


System and method for detection of pre-drowning and drowning events based on underwater images are disclosed.

The number of deaths caused by drowning in residential pools is continuously increasing worldwide. Current systems for detection of pool drowning events are typically expensive, occupy significant space in an area around the pool, have high false alarm rates and poor night vision, live view streaming and communications capabilities.
There is a long-felt need for a low-cost, robust, compact system for detecting pre-drowning and drowning events in pools, for example in residential pools, with low false alarm ratio and enhanced night vision, live view streaming, charging and communication capabilities.

System and method for pre-drowning and drowning detection


Embodiments of the invention provide a low-power, high-gain amplifier for a crystal oscillator. In some embodiments, the oscillator amplifier circuit comprises two NMOS transistors stacked in series with a PMOS transistor. In various embodiments, each of the NMOS transistors is diode-connected through a resistor and has the input signal capacitively coupled onto its control terminal. The stacked amplifier raises the DC level of the amplified oscillatory signal and can support a substantial oscillation amplitude without clipping.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the field of electronic circuitry and, more specifically, to a system and method for providing an oscillator amplifier.
2. Description of the Related Art
Crystal oscillator amplifiers are used extensively in a wide variety of electronic circuits. As microelectronic fabrication processes advance, there is an increasing demand for oscillator amplifiers that are capable of providing accurate high-gain signal amplification, while consuming minimal power. Nominal threshold voltages in many new NMOS fabrication processes are 500 mV or less. The combination of process and temperature variation can reduce the threshold voltage, Vth, of the amplifier by more than 200 mV, meaning that a nominal Vth of 500 mV could be less than 300 mV in some cases. The DC bias voltage of a typical NMOS Pierce oscillator, which is operated in weak inversion, can therefore be 200 mV or less. As a result, such an oscillator cannot always support peak-to-peak amplitudes greater than 400 mV without clipping its output, thus creating susceptibility to noise and electromagnetic interference (EMI). It also limits the amount of hysteresis that can be designed into the buffer circuit used to convert the sinusoidal signal into a square wave.
In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there is a need for a general purpose low power crystal oscillator circuit which maximizes signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and which does not distort or add harmonics into the signal. In particular, there is a need for a low-power, high-gain amplifier for a crystal oscillator which can support a substantial oscillation amplitude greater than 1Vpp without clipping.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional processes and technologies will become apparent to one of skill in the art after reviewing the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings and detailed description which follow.


A timed telephone silencer with its associated features is disclosed, its intended use being for selectively disabling (silencing) a telephone for a user-determined interval during a time period when the user does not wish to be disturbed by telephone calls. The device provides a cord with attached modular plug for connecting the device to a telephone line, and a cord with modular jack for connecting a telephone to the device. A quartz-controlled clock provides the timing function, with a selector knob on the top external surface of the housing for choosing the number of hours that one wishes to have his telephone remain silent. The same knob can be used to instantly abort a period of telephone silence, or make the telephone operational for a few moments or minutes and then return to the period of telephone silence. The user can see by a glance at the device whether his telephone is in the on or off mode, this possible because of indicator lights on the device. At the end of the user-determined period of telephone silence, the device automatically returns an attached telephone to full function. The device operates on 110 VAC power.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of telephone control devices, and is more particularly directed to a timed telephone silencer device which allows the user to disable the function of his telephone for a predetermined timed interval. The user is thereby able to choose not to be disturbed by the ringing of his telephone when he is sleeping, resting, sick, etc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Some related devices have been developed, allowing one to silence the ringer of his telephone, some of these devices requiring that the user manually restore his telephone ringer's function when he again wishes to hear incoming calls. At least one automatically turns the ringer back on at the end of the user-determined period of silence. At least one automatically turns the telephone off and on each 24 hour period. The object of the present invention is to provide the user with a device that he can use to turn off his telephone (all functions) for a set period of time, and then the device will automatically restore all functions at the end of the selected time period. The advantage of the present invention is that it presents the user with a device which performs timed telephone silence in a simpler manner with no programming to do, and no other functions such as traditional clock, alarm, and calendar functions, since most users would already have an alarm clock and a calendar. At least one related device that has already been patented is battery-operated, resulting in the need to worry about changing or recharging batteries. This timer operates on AC, eliminating the need to change or recharge batteries.

Timed telephone silencer. (telephone silencer with timer function)


An automotive seat-back assembly is provided, having a seat-back panel, a plurality of floor-mount brackets for attaching the seat-back panel to an automotive floor, and an anchorage bar operably located on the seat-back panel. Provided on the anchorage bar is at least one anchorage fixture for engaging with a mating anchorage device provided on an object to be secured.

For many years, prior art child restraint seats were fixed directly to the vehicle seat, generally by making use of the existing vehicle seatbelt system. In turn, a child was then securely restrained using a dedicated seatbelt system provided with the child restraint seat. In many instances, the overall installation of the child restraint seat in a vehicle was deficient in some capacity, oftentimes as a result of a complicated and difficult attachment arrangement.
More recently, an international standardized anchorage system has been developed, generally termed ISOFIX. ISOFIX defines standard attachment points to be manufactured into cars, enabling compliant child restraint seats to be securely installed. Child restraint seats are secured with a single tether attachment at the top, and two attachments at the base of each side of the seat.
The two attachment points at the base of each side of the seat are provided in the form of anchorage loops, and generally extend from the vehicle chassis. For example, the anchorage loops may be attached directly to the vehicle floor. The anchorage loops are configured to extend upwards, and are accessible at the juncture between the seat back, and the seat cushion. In general, structures to provide the ISOFIX attachment points are separate from the seat panels.
There has also been a current trend in automotive manufacturing to form automotive components using thermoplastics, generally for overall weight reduction. Seating systems and seatbacks in particular are required to meet certain loading characteristics, for example to reduce the risk of cargo intrusion during an accident event. To achieve the required load characteristics in plastic seat panels, and in particular with blow molded seat panels, additional stiffening structures such as steel reinforcement components are incorporated into the seat panel construction.
The incorporation of ISOFIX compliant structures into automotive vehicles and the ongoing development of plastic seat panels have up to now been separate engineering tasks. There is clearly a need for an improved ISOFIX compliant seat system that accommodates the shift towards light-weight materials in vehicle seat construction.


Electronic price label system and method for transferring information in an electronic price label system, the electronic price label system includes at least one base station and a plurality of electronic labels for transferring information between the base station and electronic labels. The base station(s) and the electronic labels includes at least communication member. The method includes sending first message from base station to electronic label using a first frequency band, after sending the first message, sending a second message from base station to electronic label using second frequency band, and sending a third message from electronic label to base station using a second frequency band.

Conventionally, the price information on price tags in shops is always changed manually when the price of the product is changed. The new prices are printed out on paper or a corresponding material, and these tags with their new price markings are placed manually in a location reserved for the price tags on shelves in the sales premises. Thus, an employee must first find the correct location of the price tag to be updated, after which the previous price tag is removed and discarded and the new price tag is inserted in its position. A disadvantage in this arrangement is, among other things, the fact that the arrangement is very laborious and there is a high risk of mistakes. In case of a mistake, a situation may, for example, occur, in which the price information on the price tags on the shelves conflicts with the price information in the cash register system.
To avoid the above-mentioned drawbacks, electronic systems have been developed, in which electronic price labels and their electronic displays are provided on the front edge or above the shelves, close to the products, in which the price information of the products can be changed in a centralized manner from the control centre of the system, or the like. This will facilitate and accelerate the updating of the price information to a significant extent. The data on the displays can be updated in a cabled or wireless manner, depending on the system. Cabled systems involve the problem that a wire connection must be provided for each display for data transmission and possibly also for power supply. For example in a normal retail outlets for daily consumer goods, the number of displays is relatively large; consequently, there must also be a large number of wires, which causes problems and limitations, for example, on the placement of the price displays.
Wireless systems do not require complex wirings but, in turn, they require transponders equipped with antennas in connection with battery-driven price displays, for communicating with the control unit of the system via suitable communication means.
When the aim is to minimize the power consumption of the electronic price labels and thereby to extend the service life of their batteries, one method in the communication between the communication means and the electronic price labels is such in which the transducer placed in the electronic price labels does not, by itself, implement active radio transmission so that the transmission power would be supplied from a separate power supply of the electronic price label, but the electronic price label only reflects the radio transmission of the communication means at a given moment of time and in a given way. The electronic price label can change the reflectance of its own antenna, wherein the electronic price label is capable of acknowledging or responding to messages of the communication means by simple reply messages. In the following, such a communication method will be described on a general level.
The communication means communicate with the electronic price labels by transmitting signals which are listened to by all the electronic price labels and from which a single electronic price label identifies a command relating to itself on the basis of a given electronic price label specific identification. After receiving a command relating to itself, the single electronic price label responds to the communication means by reflecting the transmission of the communication means itself back to the communication means, changed by a phase shift caused by a given time delay and at a given moment of time. Typically, after transmitting a command intended for a given price display, the communication means starts to transmit, for example, a carrier wave of a given type for a given period of time, the carrier wave being reflected back, with a given phase shift, by the price display that recognized the command. Consequently, the communication means is capable of identifying the reflected response as belonging to a given price display, because it knows to expect it within a given period of time after sending a unique command to said display. From its own transmission, the communication means can separate the reflected response that is significantly weaker in power, on the basis of the phase shift produced by the display device.
Because these reflected response signals are typically very weak and they can be disturbed and suppressed by other ambient reflections or signals, there is a need to improve the quality of the received signal by all possible means.

Transferring of information in electronic price label systems


A luminaire has a first housing portion and a second housing portion formed of a polymeric material. A hinge pivotably connects the first housing portion to the second housing portion and includes a pintle formed as one-piece with one of the first and second housing portions and a knuckle formed as one-piece with the other one of the first and second housing portions. A sealing structure seals a compartment formed between the first housing portion and the second housing portion. The sealing structure includes a channel supported by one of the first and second housing portions and a frame supported in the channel. The frame supports a deformable gasket. A sealing member extends from the other one of the first and second housing portions where the sealing member extends into the channel and engages the gasket. A locking feature secures the first housing portion to the second housing portion.

An LED luminaire typically includes a plurality of LEDs that serve as a light source, an LED driver circuit to regulate voltage and current that reaches the LEDs, a heat exchanger to transfer heat generated by the LEDs, and a luminaire housing. The luminaire may further include an optical waveguide that controls the distribution of light. The luminaire may be mounted on a stanchion or pole to provide a luminaire suitable for use in outdoor applications such as street lights, parking lot lights or the like. Such luminaires may produce a high luminous flux and may produce significant heat. A durable luminaire that efficiently produces a high luminous flux is desirable in many applications.


Water-buoyant compositions comprising a source of micronutrients for photosynthetic phytoplankton growth are useful for stimulating photosynthetic phytoplankton growth in ocean areas devoid of such growth when deployed on ocean surfaces as floating particles. Iron is the preferred micronutrient.

Iron is known to be an essential micronutrient for the photosynthetic growth of phytoplankton (algae) in global waters, particularly oceans. More than one-fifth of the world's oceans have iron-deficient surface waters with little or no algae growth despite the presence of all other essential growth nutrients (Kolber et al. Nature 371, 145 (1994)). These regions have been referred to as high-nitrate, low-chlorophyl (HNLC) areas. Martin and others have suggested adding iron to the ecosystems of these oceanic areas to encourage phytoplankton growth on a scale sufficient to affect the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide, which in turn might be of use to help prevent global warming. See, for example, Martin, J. H. et al. Nature 371, 123 (1994).
A major "iron-seeding" experiment performed in 1993 in an area of the equatorial Pacific Ocean currently devoid of algae showed that the addition of iron produced an immediate and dramatic growth of phytoplankton. The effect, however, was short-lived. A major reason was rapid loss of iron. Iron loss was attributed to iron sinking into deeper waters and/or possible adsorption of iron by organic material (Van Scoy, K. et al. New Scientist, p. 32 (Dec. 3, 1994), Martin, J. H. et al. Nature 371, 123 (1994)). Little effect on surface carbon dioxide concentrations was detected, presumably because of the short-lived nature of the experiment (Watson, A. J. et al. Nature, 371, 143 (1994)).
Wells, M. L. et al., in Nature, 353, 248 (1991), disclose that iron availability as a micronutrient for algae growth depends on its chemical liability and/or ease of dissolution. Natural sources of iron are often in an unconfined refractory particulate or colloidal form, unavailable for direct assimilation by phytoplankton. Such forms are eventually converted by natural means into bioavailable forms, but at a slow and unpredictable rate. Time-consuming chemical reactions must occur before this iron is "bioavailable", i.e., converted to a form which can be utilized in photosynthesis. Much "natural" iron is lost by sedimentation or other means before such conversion is complete. Johnson, K. S. et al., in Marine Chem. 46, 319 (1994), disclose that iron in particles or colloids must be at least partly solubilized for bioavailability to support phytoplankton growth. Experiments wherein iron addition led to rapid, albeit temporary, algae growth have employed soluble ferrous or ferric salts such as ferrous sulfate dissolved in acidified seawater (Van Scoy et al., supra).
Although the prior art has shown the positive impact on photosynthetic growth of adding nutrients such as iron, nutrient sources were supplied in a non-buoyant form. Non-buoyant sources quickly sank and disappeared from the growth sites, after which photosynthesis declined rapidly. Alternately, in order to mimic the major source of natural iron to remote areas of the world's oceans, atmospheric dust particles were added as aerosols. Such particulate sources of iron, even though mostly refractory (non-lablile) iron, contributed to photosynthetic phytoplankton growth, as measured by chlorophyl production. See K. S. Johnson et al., supra. It was found that photochemical reduction contributed to the bioavailablity of the particulate iron.
It is the purpose of the present invention to artificially provide micronutrients to phytoplankton on a more continuous or sustained basis. Floating or water-buoyant compositions containing photosynthetic growth micronutrients such as iron will remain longer in surface waters, and thus can increase the availability of nutrient iron for photosynthetic processes. Floating materials containing a source of one or more elemental nutrients, especially iron, on or near the surface of bodies of water deficient in such elemental micronutrients, will stimulate and maintain effective photosynthetic phytoplankton growth for a sustained period of time.

Water-bouyant particulate materials containing micronutrients for phytoplankton


The invention relates to a processor having a data flow unit for processing data in a plurality of steps. In one version, the data flow unit includes a plurality of consecutive stages which include logic for performing steps of the data processing, the stages being coupled together by a data path, at least one stage being coupled to a transceiver which causes data to be provided to the stage for processing or to bypass the stage unprocessed in response to a stage enable signal; a synchronizer which receives processed data from the stages and causes the processed data to be provided to external logic in synchronization with a clock signal.

Current microprocessors typically include a large number of data flow structures, examples include functional units for executing various types of instructions. Certain types of instructions, such as floating point instructions, require several processing steps to execute. Thus, each data flow structure typically comprises a number of individual stages, each of which is designed to perform one of the processing steps required to executed the instruction. Typically, each stage performs its operation in one clock cycle. Thus, if a data flow structure comprises four stages, then it will require four clock cycles to execute an entire instruction.
In order to increase the throughput of the data flow structure, pipelining techniques are used to allow the data flow structure to execute more than one instruction at a time. Specifically, the data flow structure is designed so that with each clock cycle, data required to execute a new instruction is passed to the first stage, while data from the previous instruction is simultaneously passed from the first stage to the second stage. A similar operation is performed for the remaining stages, so that with each clock cycle, data from one instruction is being passed into the data flow structure while processed data from a prior instruction is being passed from the data flow structure to other resources on the microprocessor.
While pipelining significantly increases throughput, conventional data flow structures still suffer from several drawbacks which limit their overall speed. For example, conventional data flow structures are designed with a fixed number of stages. Instruction data must be processed through each stage before it is output onto the data bus. Not all instructions, however, actually require processing by each stage in the structure for proper execution. For example, in a typical fused multiply-add floating point instruction unit, such as that used in the exemplary IBM POWER PC architecture, there are four stages, i.e., the multiply stage, the shift stage, the add stage and the normalization/round stage. For some instructions, such as multiply or divide, processing by all four stages is required. However, for simple floating point additions, only the add and normalization stages are required. Nevertheless, because the number of stages is fixed, execution of an add instruction still requires four clock cycles.
Another drawback to conventional data flow structures is that each stage requires a clock cycle to process data because the stages only operate on clock cycle intervals. However, different bit patterns of data require different amounts of time to actually process. Some "best case" bit patterns process in much less time than a clock cycle. But because of the synchronous operation of the stages, the data flow structure is unable to take advantage of these advantageous data patterns.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the above described problems and to provide further improvements and advantages which will become apparent in view of the following disclosure.

Elastic self-timed interface for data flow elements embodied as selective bypass of stages in an asynchronous microprocessor pipeline

International Business Machines Corporation