A ventilation pathway for a cooling gas to flow extends on a radial axis in a generator stator core. The ventilation pathway comprises at least two magnetic laminations and a plurality of space blocks extending radially in the generator stator core. The space blocks are fastened and disposed between the magnetic laminations. At least one of the space blocks includes a wavy longitudinal profile that includes an alternating pattern of peaks and valleys with respect to the radial axis of the generator stator core. Alternatively, at least one of the space blocks has a plurality of protrusions defining a pattern of peaks and valleys extending from a sidewall of the space block. Several different shapes of vortex generators are punched in the lamination are located within the ventilation pathway.

The present invention relates to a generator stator core, more particularly, to a ventilation duct disposed between magnetic laminations of a generator stator core.
The stator core becomes hot during operation of the electric generator and the heat must be removed to keep it from overheating. Cooling the generator stator core is important for reliable generator performance. In the conventional cooling method, the steel core is cooled by a forced-convection flow of air or hydrogen gas via radial space blocks and cooling channels. In general, hot spots usually appear near the tooth tips of the lamination. Conventionally, the gas smoothly flows inside of the cooling channels to remove heat. These space blocks are positioned in such a way to assure tightness of the core during assembly and operation, and not impede or restrict the flow of gas through the stator.
A generator stator core is constructed by stacking layers or xe2x80x9claminationsxe2x80x9d of insulated silicon-iron metal disks together. Inside space blocks or rails are inserted between the layers of the metal disk and these space blocks extend radially from the center of the core. The functions of the inside space blocks are to provide a ventilation passage for a cooling gas and to transfer the load due to axial stacking pressure of the laminators. The space blocks are spaced at regular intervals around the circumference of each metal disk. On a conventional strator lamination 1 of arcuate shape, inside space blocks 2 are typically arranged radially and have a cross-section or profile resembling small I-beams. These I-beam shaped space blocks are spot welded to stator lamination 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The space blocks are made from one of several materials such as low carbon steel, silicon-manganese bronze, or stainless steel.
Several attempts for enhancing local heat transfer and reducing hot spot temperature in the stator core were made previously. The following patents and applications are hereby incorporated by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,912 xe2x80x9cDirect-Cooled Dynamoelectric Machine Stator Core with Enhanced Heat Transfer Capabilityxe2x80x9d discloses the use of a turbulator element in ventilation ducts. The spacer blocks have a straight longitudinal profile. Commonly-assigned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/421,160, filed on Oct. 19, 1999 discloses the use of cylindrical compact posts to maximize the flow area for the cooling gas. U.S. Pat. No. 4,362,960 xe2x80x9cSpacer Assembly for a Stator Venting Duct of an Electric Power Machine,xe2x80x9d discloses slightly curved spacer members having a rectangular profile. While all of these prior art attempts do alleviate the hot spot problems to some extent, the conventional space block shapes and the straight radial configurations do not take maximum advantage of heat transfer principles. Since the search is always on for improved generator performance, there is a particular need to enhance the heat transfer in a generator stator core.
The present invention provides several structural advantages for improving heat transfer along a generator strator core. The various embodiments are based on two fundamental heat transfer principles: imparting turbulence to the cooling flow and increasing surface area. One way that enhanced cooling is achieved is in the arrangement of the space blocks. In general, the space blocks which the prior art arranged in more or less straight lines are configured, in the present invention, in undulating arrangements such as a zigzag or a sinusoidal pattern. These configurations force the cooling gas to change direction as it makes its way through the ventilation pathway. This disturbance in the flow enhances the cooling of the strator core. Another way to enhance cooling is to change the cross-sectional shape of the space blocks to provide more surface area to promote heat transfer. These two main principles are applied in various permutations to optimize the cooling effect of the cooling gas.
More specifically, according to one aspect of the present invention, at least one space block includes a wavy longitudinal profile of a generator stator core. Thus, the cooling gas is influenced to periodically change its direction along the flow path adjacent to the longitudinal profile.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of vortex generators can be applied in a generator stator core for cooling by punching a plurality of delta-shaped, wedge-shaped, or hemispherical protrusions on laminations. Thus the vortex generator impart turbulence to the cooling flow.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a generator stator core comprises at least one space block including a plurality of thermal fins extending from a side surface of the space block. Thus, the heat transfer surface is increased for the side surface of the space block.
The present invention is advantageous for augmenting the heat transfer for a generator stator core by increasing the cooling capacity at the stator core. Localized hot spots are greatly reduced by the invention. The generator output rating is increased because the stator temperature is controlled at the lower temperature than conventional cooling systems.
These features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description thereof, presented in connection with the following drawings in, which like reference numerals identifying the elements throughout.

Heat transfer enhancement at generator stator core space blocks


A driving device moves a movable lens in a plane direction intersecting at right angles with an optical axis to correct a shake. The driving device includes a movable frame which holds the movable lens, a fixed frame facing the movable frame, three balls held between the movable frame and the fixed frame, a single tension spring which pulls the movable frame toward the fixed frame to press the three balls, and VCMs which move the movable frame relative to the fixed frame. The tension spring is located inside a triangle that connects the centers of the three balls and outside a holding region where the movable frame holds the movable lens.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments described herein relate generally to a driving device which drives a lens and an image pickup device in a direction intersecting at right angles with an optical axis to correct a blurred image, and an image instrument such as a camera comprising this driving device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, digital cameras capable of obtaining not only still images but also moving images have been on the market. Some of the digital cameras of this type have what is called a shake correction function to drive a movable frame which holds some of lenses constituting an imaging lens and an image pickup device in a direction intersecting at right angles with the optical axis of the imaging lens and thereby correct camera shaking by hand.
It is preferable that a driving device which drives the movable frame precisely and stably drives the movable frame for accurate correction of the shake. On the other hand, it is preferable that the driving device consumes a small amount of electricity because the shake correction is always working while the camera is active. It is also preferable that the driving device is small and light so that the camera is small and light.
A driving device known as one such example comprises three balls intervening between a movable frame and a fixed frame, a plurality of tension springs which pull the movable frame toward the fixed frame to press the three balls, and a set of voice coil motors (VCM) which drive the movable frame relative to the fixed frame in a direction intersecting at right angles with the optical axis.
However, in the conventional driving device described above, a plurality of tension springs are located outside a triangle that connects the centers of the three balls. Therefore, particularly when the tension springs differ in resilience due to manufacturing variation and assembly variation, the balance of press forces applied to the three balls by the movable frame and the fixed frame is lost, and the holding of the movable frame tends to be unstable. In the worst case, part of the movable frame may rise and precise drive control may be difficult if the variation of the tension springs is great.
Moreover, the conventional driving device described above requires a space to place a plurality of tension springs outside the triangle that connects the centers of the three balls, and therefore has a larger device configuration. Naturally, the mass of the movable frame is increased with the increase in device size, and a greater amount of electricity is consumed to drive the movable frame.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a driving device and an image instrument equipped with this driving device which permit stable and precise driving of a movable frame, a smaller device configuration, and lower power consumption.

Driving device and image instrument comprising this driving device


Compositions comprising thrombin and methods of preparing them are disclosed. The composition may be in the form of an aqueous solution at pH 5.7-7.4 consisting essentially of 0.1 mg/mL to 5.0 mg/mL thrombin, 2% to 4% (w/v) sucrose, 3.5% to 5% (w/v) mannitol, 50 mM to 300 mM NaCl, 0-5 mM CaCl2, 0.03% to 1% (w/v) of a surfactant or high-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol, and a physiologically acceptable buffer, or may be in lyophilized form.

Formulation of pharmaceutical proteins presents significant challenges. Proteins possess multiple functional groups in addition to three-dimensional structure; degradation therefore proceeds via both chemical (modifications involving bond formation or cleavage) and physical (denaturation, aggregation, adsorption, precipitation) pathways. Since each protein embodies a unique combination of amino acid sequence, isoelectric point, and other determinants, its response to changes in solution conditions is unpredictable, and must be determined on a case-by-case basis. Attempts to prevent one form of degradation often increase the rate of another.
Degradation of proteins can be greatly reduced or avoided by lyophilization. However, lyophilization is time-consuming and costly, and can cause protein denaturation and aggregation if appropriate excipients are not included. As with solution formulation, stabilization of lyophilized proteins must be dealt with on an individual basis.
In the case of thrombin, sodium chloride can be used to maintain stability during purification and storage by reducing aggregation and precipitation. However, sodium chloride is a problematic excipient in lyophilized formulations because it lowers glass transition temperature, thereby necessitating low primary temperatures and long cycle times. In addition, thrombin must be protected from unfolding and aggregation within the lyophilized composition.
The ideal formulation will combine stability during lyophilization, as well as long-term storage and shipment with ease of handling and use.


Provided are a magnetic memory device and a method of fabricating the same. The device may include a magnetic tunnel junction including a lower magnetic structure, an upper magnetic structure, and a tunnel barrier interposed therebetween. The tunnel barrier may have a width greater than that of the lower magnetic structure.

Various embodiments of the inventive concepts relate to a semiconductor device, and in particular, to a magnetic device and a method of fabricating the same.
With increasing use of portable computing devices and wireless communication devices, semiconductor devices may require higher density, lower power, and/or nonvolatile properties. Magnetic devices may be able to satisfy the aforementioned technical requirements.
A magnetic memory device utilizes a tunnel magneto resistance (TMR) effect of a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) element for storing data. An MTJ element having a high TMR ratio of, for example, several hundred to several thousand percent, may be desirable.

Magnetic device and method of fabricating the same


The present invention relates to a transmission device that enables transmission and reception of connected transmission channels in a 13-segment format and a transmission method of the transmission device, and to a reception device.

The applicant has suggested a method of connecting data of transmission channels in the direction of a frequency axis and transmitting the data while the guard band of each channel is removed in terrestrial digital broadcasting (see Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example). This connected transmission method is also specified in ISDB-Tsb, which is the transmission method standard in terrestrial digital sound broadcasting.
By this connected transmission method, broadcasting can be performed with higher frequency usage efficiency. On the receiving side, even if channel switching is performed between transmission channels subjected to connected transmission, the synchronizing timing set in the transmission channel received prior to the switching can also be used in the transmission channel to be received after the switching. Accordingly, the reception device can simplify the synchronization regenerating operation for demodulation, and shorten the channel switching time.
Meanwhile, terrestrial analog television broadcasting will end in July 2011, as the transition to terrestrial digital television broadcasting is in progress. Multimedia broadcasting for mobile terminals is planned by using part of the frequency band not to be used after the end of terrestrial analog broadcasting, or more specifically, by using the frequency band from 207.5 to 222 MHz. In the 14.5 MHz band from 207.5 to 222 MHz, up to 33 segments that are equivalent to two transmission channels in a 13-segment format for one channel of terrestrial digital television broadcasting, and seven transmission channels in a one-segment format can be secured.

Transmission device and transmission method thereof, and reception device of connected transmission channels in a 13-segment format

Abstract: The transmission device transmits connected transmission information that indicates that connected transmission of a plurality of transmission channels is being performed, and includes a field indicating that a 13-segment format is at least one segment format among the transmission channels being subjected to the connected transmission. The reception device receives the connected transmission information transmitted by the transmission device. The present invention can be applied to transmission devices that transmit terrestrial digital broadcast signals, for example.


A system and method for emergency notification comprising a notification module that transmits a message to a pre-established contact when one or more conditions are met.

People can often find themselves in compromising and/or dangerous situations. In these situations, an individual may need to covertly contact a third party in order to seek assistance. However, at times, it may be difficult or impossible to contact that third party without drawing attention to such contact.
Therefore, there is a need to provide a solution to the above issue.

Systems and methods for emergency notification


A method of slicing a semiconductor single crystal ingot by a wire saw slicing apparatus and a semiconductor wafer produced by the method, in which the running direction of the wire is not corresponding with the cleavage directions of the semiconductor single crystal ingot so that occurrence of cracks or breakage in the semiconductor wafer produced by the method can be suppressed significantly without any additional processes or an increase in cost.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of slicing a semiconductor single crystal ingot with a wire saw slicing apparatus and a semiconductor single crystal wafer sliced by the method.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is known a wire saw slicing apparatus as a means for slicing brittle materials such as compound semiconductor crystal ingots and silicon semiconductor crystal ingots. The wire saw slicing apparatus, as shown in FIG. 4, includes three plastic main rollers 10A, 10B and 10C of the identical construction disposed with their axes parallel spaced from one another, and a wire 12 wound spirally around helical grooves 14a, 14b and 14c formed at regular intervals or pitches in the respective outer peripheral surfaces of the main rollers 10A-10C. The main rollers may be plural in number and should by no means be limited to any particular number, but four or three main rollers as in the illustrated embodiment are used in general. The main roller 10C constitutes a drive roller and is connected in driven relation to a drive motor 16. A rotary motion of the main roller 10C is transmitted via the wire 12 to the remaining main rollers 10A, 10B which constitute driven rollers.
The wire 12 has one or a leading end portion wound around a wire reel bobbin 22 via a tension adjustment mechanism 20. The wire reel bobbin 22 is rotatably driven by a torque motor 24. A tension on a portion of the wire 12 extending between the tension adjustment mechanism 20 and the wire reel bobbin 22 is regulated according to a voltage applied to the torque motor 24. And, a tension on a portion of the wire 12 running between the tension adjustment mechanism 20 and the drive roller 10C is adjusted at a constant value by the tension adjustment mechanism 20.
Similarly, the opposite or a trailing end portion of the wire 12 is wound around a wire reel bobbin 32 via a tension adjustment mechanism 30. The wire reel bobbin 32 is rotatably driven by a torque motor 34. A tension on a portion of the wire 12 extending between the tension adjustment mechanism 30 and the wire reel bobbin 32 is regulated according to a voltage applied to the torque motor 34. And, a tension on a portion of the wire 12 running between the tension adjustment mechanism 30 and the drive roller 10C is adjusted at a constant value by the tension adjustment mechanism 30.
A workpiece 40 is composed, for example, of a semiconductor single crystal ingot having an orientation flat and attached by bonding to a workpiece holder 42 via the orientation flat. The workpiece holder 42 is vertically moved up and down along a linear path.
The wire saw slicing apparatus of the above construction operates as follows. The drive roller 10C is rotated by the drive motor 16 to reciprocate the wire 12 in the axial or longitudinal direction thereof. A working fluid containing abrasive grains is supplied to a contact area between workpiece 40 and the wire 12. While keeping this condition, the workpiece 40 is further moved downwards whereby the workpiece 40 is sliced at one time into a multiplicity of wafers by a lapping action attained by the reciprocating wire 12 and the abrasive-grains containing working fluid supplied thereto.
It is known that a semiconductor single crystal cracks or cleaves in a fixed direction to form a smooth face, that is, a cleaved face. This cracking direction is called a cleavage direction which varies with the kind of the crystal.
For example, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, in case of a silicon single crystal (W), a plurality of cleavage directions (A) exist according to crystal orientations. FIG. 7 shows cleavage directions of a (100) silicon single crystal, FIG. 8 shows those of a (110) silicon single crystal and FIG. 9 shows those of a (111) silicon single crystal.
Conventionally, when a semiconductor single crystal ingot such as a silicon semiconductor single crystal ingot (hereinafter, may be merely referred to as "ingot") is sliced by the wire saw slicing apparatus, the slicing operation was conducted with the cleavage direction of the silicon single crystal ingot almost corresponding with the wire running direction.
For example, in case of slicing a (100) silicon single crystal ingot, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, first a back plate 41 is adhered to the orientation flat portion (OF) of the ingot (W), and then the adhered back plate 41 is adhered to the workpiece holder 42 (FIG. 5), or first the back plate 41 is adhered to the portion rotated or shifted by 90.degree. from the orientation flat portion (OF) of the ingot (W), and then the adhered back plate 41 is adhered to the workpiece holder 42 (FIG. 6). Thereafter, the ingot (W) adhered to the holder 42 is moved down and pressed against the wire 12 of the wire saw slicing apparatus.
In this case, there are two cleavage directions (A.sub.1, A.sub.2) which are normal to each other when seen in the cross-section along the radial direction. In the (100) silicon single crystal, the orientation flat portion (OF) is mostly formed in either one of the two cleavage directions (A.sub.1, A.sub.2). With either one of the two cleavage directions (A.sub.1, A.sub.2) corresponding with the running direction (Y) of the wire 12, the ingot (W) is sliced.
The procedure of slicing the ingot (W) by the conventional wire saw slicing apparatus is described with reference to FIG. 4.
First, an ingot (W) is prepared (step 1). Next, the crystal orientation in the distal end face of the prepared ingot (W) is measured (step 2). A back plate 41 is adhered to the orientation flat portion (OF) or the portion rotated or shifted by 90.degree. from the orientation flat portion (OF) of the ingot (W) (step 3). The back plate 41 adhered to the ingot (W) is further adhered to the workpiece holder 42 (step 4). Then, the ingot (W) which is incorporated with the back plate 41 and the workpiece holder 42 is secured to an attaching base 44 of the wire saw slicing apparatus (step 5). The attaching angle of the ingot (W) is adjusted in accordance with individual standards (step 6). Next, with the wire saw slicing apparatus, the ingot (W) is sliced to the central portion of the back plate 41 to produce a large number of sliced wafers (step 7). Thereafter, the ingot (W) is removed from the attaching base 43 of the wire saw slicing apparatus, with a large number of the sliced wafers being still adhered to the workpiece holder 42 (step 8). The removed ingot is soaked in hot water to separate a large number of the sliced wafers from the workpiece holder 42 (step 9). The separated wafers are cleaned to be as-cut wafers (step 10).
In the above-mentioned manner, as-cut wafers are prepared from the ingot (W). However, when the ingot (W) is sliced by the wire saw slicing apparatus, the traces of running of the wire are left as saw marks on the surface of each wafer with a result that damaged layers are formed along the saw marks. The damaged layers lead to occurrence of cracks along the cleavage directions in the sliced single crystal wafer by the wire vibration or the like effect. Thus, in the conventional slicing method, the sliced wafer is disadvantageously apt to be cracked because the saw marks run in accord with either one of the cleavage directions.

Method of slicing semiconductor single crystal ingot


The invention includes using multiple wireless vehicular sensor nodes to wirelessly receive multiple, time-interleaved vehicular waveform reports from the nodes. Each vehicular waveform report approximates a raw vehicular sensor waveform observed by a magnetic sensor at the node based upon the presence of a vehicle. The vehicular waveform reports are products of this wirelessly receiving process. The invention includes apparatus supporting the above outlined process. The vehicular waveform reports may be time synchronized.

Today, there are numerous situations in which confirming the type of vehicle passing over a spot on the road is important. While visual inspections can provide a good deal of information, they do not readily report the magnetic signature of a vehicle, which can reveal additional details about the vehicle contents. Methods are needed for determining that magnetic signature in a cost effective and reliable manner.
The situation has some significant hurdles. Running wires to sensors embedded in roadways turns out to be difficult, expensive, and often unreliable in the rugged environment of a roadway with multiple ton vehicles rolling over everything on a frequent basis. What is needed is a way to use a wireless vehicular sensor node to report something approximating the raw vehicular sensor waveform via wireless communications.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus reporting a vehicular sensor waveform in a wireless vehicular sensor network


The light emitting device has a light emitting diode which is made of a nitride semiconductor and a phosphor which absorbs a part of lights emitted from the light emitting diode and emits different lights with wavelengths other than those of the absorbed lights. The phosphor is made of alkaline earth metal silicate fluorescent material activated with europium.

The light emitting device is, for example, an inorganic LED, an organic LED, a laser diode, an inorganic thick film electroluminescence sheet, or an inorganic thin film electroluminescence unit.
In particular, the LED is outstanding for the characteristics of a long life, the absence of necessity of a wide space, the strength against the impact, and further for the light emission in a narrow spectrum band.
The inherent light emission from an active semiconductor material of LED does not offer sufficiently a number of emission light colors, in particular, a number of emission light colors with a wide spectrum band. This is true of, in particular, the case that white color light emission is targeted.
From the state of the art, even an emission light color unavailable originally by semiconductors can be obtained by a color conversion technique.
The color conversion technique is essentially based on the following principle: that is, at least one phosphor is disposed on an LED die; the phosphor absorbs the light emission from the die; and then it emits photoluminescence light in another light emission color.
To compose the phosphor, basically, an organic material is available and an inorganic material is also available. The essential advantage of inorganic pigment is that it has a higher environment resistance than an organic based phosphor. In consideration of the color stability based on the long life of inorganic LED, the inorganic material is more advantageous.
In consideration of the processing easiness, it is apparently advantageous to use an inorganic fluorescent pigment instead of an organic fluorescent coat based phosphor that requires an excessively long growthperiod to obtain a necessary film thickness. The pigment is added into the matrix, and then placed on the LED die.
From the reason that the number of inorganic materials satisfying the above-mentioned demands is small, YAG group materials are, at present, used as the pigment for the color conversion inmost cases. However, the YAG group materials have a disadvantage that they show a high efficiency only when the light emission maximum value is less than 560 nm. Because of this, when using a YAG pigment in combination with a blue diode (450 nm and 490 nm), only a white emission light color with a cold feeling can be realized. Especially, in the field of lighting, there is a higher demand concerning the color temperature and the color reproduction. This demand cannot be satisfied by white LED's available now.
The International publication No. WO 00/33389 discloses that Ba2SiO4:Eu2+ can be used as the phosphor to get light close to white in using a blue LED. The emitted light of Ba2SiO4:Eu2+ has a relatively short wavelength of 505 nm, and therefore, the light is remarkably in cold color.
S. H. M. Poortetal., "Optical properties of Eu2+-activated", page 297 reports the properties of Ba2SiO4 and a phosphate such as KbaPO4 and KSrPO4 that are activated by Eu2+. In this report, it is confirmed that the light emission of Ba2SiO4 is at 505 nm. Furthermore, it is reported that the light emission of the two phosphates are essentially at a further shorter wavelength (420 nm to 430 nm).


The present invention is a method for producing ready to use RFID devices in a convenient and economical manner. The method in one embodiment includes a substrate having a first a second face and applying a pattern of adhesive to the first face of the substrate. A conductive foil is then laminated to the pattern of adhesive, and the conductive foil is cut to form a plurality of antenna patterns. A chip is applied to each of the antenna patterns. Printing is applied on the second face of the substrate to create distinct printed areas. Each of the printed areas is then read and the information is matched with each of the distinct printed areas to information encoded in each of the chips. Finally, each distinct printed area is separated from the substrate.

RFID devices can be produced in a number of different methods and commonly include some sort of chip attachment to an antenna which is then used to make an RFID device. The chip can be attached either through the use of a strap or may be applied directly to the antenna. The antenna is a conductive material which may be produced by etching, die cutting or printing of conductive ink on a substrate.
Conductive laminates such as foil laminates are used in a number of applications, ranging from containers for microwave packages to smart cards. Such laminates have regularly been created by die cutting, stamping, and other mechanical processes that generally lend themselves well to high speed situations in which a relatively simple shape or pattern can be created.
The increased demand for circuits has created a need for a manufacturing method that can quickly and efficiently produce such circuits. Once such method is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 2007/0171129 A1. This method includes the steps of providing a reinforced metal foil laminate, having a metal foil layer bonded to a reinforcement layer, and a carrier layer bonded to the metal foil laminate. The method includes the step of using a rotary die cutter to cut an antenna pattern through the metal foil laminate to the carrier layer. The method concludes by removing an undesired matrix portion of the reinforced metal foil laminate to provide a metal foil laminate antenna disposed on the carrier layer.
A rotary die cutter has been used to produce various structures because it is both fast and inexpensive. However, rotary die cutters have poor resolution and are currently limited to having a minimum distance between cut lines of about 1 mm. An additional problem with using a rotary die cutter to cut a construction requiring high precision and tolerance is that the cylindrical die used by the rotary die cutter cannot be quickly or easily changed. Accordingly, the design is not readily changeable, and thus it is often not economically feasible to produce small batches of a particular design because of the need to constantly change out die heads. Furthermore, any change in design would require a large lead-time, as a new cylindrical die must be manufactured each time the design is changed. This can create a large inventory of die heads, the storage of which can occupy valuable factory floor space.
What is needed therefore is a method and apparatus that can produce small batch of RFID devices in a finished format that is ready to use and relatively inexpensive so that RFID device manufacturing can be co-located with the manufacturing of consumer goods such as apparel items.

Method for making short run radio frequency identification tags and labels


An optical system of inspecting bonding wires on a semiconductor by using a camera, focal length and depth adjusting unit, and an illumination device for irradiating brilliantly a desired portion of an inspection object with an illumination light. The focal length and depth adjusting means comprises a plurality of glass plates each having a different focal length and depth, and each bonding wire is inspected at a plurality of levels at a height position of the wire and at a plurality of portions thereof in its longitudinal direction to make a comparison between focal point evaluation quantities or feature quantities at each detected position so that wiring defects can be detected.

This invention relates to a method of inspecting the outer form or appearance of a bonding wire bonded onto a semiconductor and an apparatus used for working of the method.
In recent years, according as semiconductor elements such as ICs, LSIs, COBs (chips on board), etc. have been highly integrated, and the quantity of productions has been increased, a method and an apparatus for carrying out inspection of the outer appearance of bonding wires connecting chips to package frames or boards in these semiconductor element highly integrated have been developed to find out wiring and ball defects such as broken or too close wires and incorrect wiring paths.
In such bonding wire inspection method and apparatus, it is required to inspect precisely the three-dimensional outer appearance of the bonding wires.
This kind of method and apparatus are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication (Japanese Kokai) No. 139638/1984. In the conventional method and apparatus, there is provided a table movable horizontally and vertically for supporting a semiconductor as an inspection object. Over the table is disposed a camera which has a lens with a small focal depth and captures image of bonding wires on the semiconductor to send video signals to a signal processing unit.
The table for supporting the semiconductor is moved vertically little by little within the entire range of the semiconductor in its height direction. That is, the table is, firstly, stopped at a first position where the top portion of a bonding wire having a curved shape coincides with the focal point of the camera. At this time, an image at the top portion of the wire is displayed clearly or brightly with other portions thereof displayed dimly. Secondly, the table is moved slightly upwardly to stop at a second position where a portion of the wire slightly lower than the top portion thereof coincides with the focal point of the camera, resulting in that an image at a portion of the wire lower than the top portion thereof is displayed brightly with other portions thereof including its top portion displayed dimly. In this manner, the semiconductor as an inspection object is gradually moved to change the relative position between the focal point of the camera and the curved shape of the wire thereby to capture an image of portion of the wire which is located at position in focus. These images thus obtained are processed by the signal processing unit to recognize the three-dimensional shape of each bonding wire. Instead of the table, an optical system in the camera may be operated to change its focal point.
The above method and apparatus can be theoretically carried out and manufactured, respectively.
However, in this conventional method and apparatus, the table for supporting the semiconductor thereon or the optical system of the camera must be moved precisely intermittently to stop at a several of different positions within a small range corresponding to the height of the inspection object.
Therefore, the conventional method and apparatus is not fully satisfactory at present.

Method of and apparatus for multi-image inspection of bonding wire


A cordless telephone system serves a building with a moving conveyance such as an elevator. The system has at least one portable cordless telephone, at least one fixed base station that communicates with the portable cordless telephone by a wireless circuit outside the moving conveyance, and a moving-conveyance base station that communicates with the portable cordless telephone by a wireless circuit inside the moving conveyance. A central switch routes calls to the fixed base station or moving-conveyance base station according to the field strength of signals received at these stations from the portable cordless telephone.

This invention relates to a cordless telephone system for use in a building with one or more moving conveyances, such as an office building with elevators or a factory with moving overhead cranes.
Cordless in-building telephone systems have been available for several years. A typical system comprises a central switch coupled by wires to external lines, to extension telephones installed in rooms of the building, and to fixed base stations installed in rooms and corridors of the building. Hand-held portable telephones communicate via wireless links with the base stations, thus enabling calls to be set up between a pair of portable telephones, or a portable telephone and an extension telephone, or a portable telephone and an outside telephone.
In existing systems a problem occurs when a person making a call with a portable telephone enters a moving conveyance such as an elevator. Initially, the call is relayed by a base station near the entrance to the elevator, but the elevator rapidly carries the person away from this base station, thereby weakening the wireless link between the base station and the portable telephone. As the separation increases the quality of the link deteriorates, making communication difficult, and when a certain separation is reached the link is broken, cutting off the call. Reliable telephone communication from a moving elevator is thus impossible.

Cordless telephone system for moving conveyances


Provides methods for transforming a flowchart to an equivalent tree diagram, methods for transforming an equivalent tree diagram to a flowchart, methods for verifying reorganization of a flowchart, methods for editing a flowchart, methods for creating a flowchart and a flowchart editor. A flowchart includes one or more logic structures and one or more processing activities in said one or more logic structures. The method for transforming a flowchart to an equivalent tree diagram comprises: traversing said flowchart; transforming said one or more logic structures in said flowchart to one or more branching nodes in said tree diagram; and transforming one or more processing activities in said logic structures of said flowchart to one or more leaf nodes below corresponding branching nodes in said tree diagram. Further, edition of a flowchart and verification of reorganization of a flowchart are performed by utilizing an equivalent tree diagram.

Flowcharts are widely used in fields of analyzing business flow, designing computer program, developing and managing data processing system, etc. As well known, a flowchart is a formalized graphic representation of a program logic sequence, work process, organization structure, etc. Traditional flowchart comprises a set of simple geometric symbols representing the beginning or end of a process, intermediate steps, decisions, I/O processes and directional lines connecting these symbols. The meanings of these geometric symbols have been clearly defined in industrial standards, such as ANSIx3.5, ISO 5807:1985, etc. FIG. 1 shows several common geometric symbols and their meanings in traditional flowchart.
At present, there are many computer software or hardware tools for designing, editing a flowchart, e.g., Holosofx™, Rational Rose™, CA™ process modeler, Sybase™ Power Designer, Enterprise Architect, etc. These tools can help business executives, business analyzers and commercial consultants get familiar with business flow, analyze business flow, and can also help system analyzers or program designers in designing and editing various flowcharts, some of these tools can generate various project documents or even source program code automatically. Due to the use of these tools, it has dramatically reduced system analyzer or program designer's workload.
However, for existing tools (technology) of designing and editing a flowchart, once finished flowchart design, it's hard to make modification or reorganization.
Consider the following scenarios. FIG. 2A is a simple illustrative flowchart edited by Rational Rose™. As shown in FIG. 2A, activities 2 and 3 are performed in parallel with activities 4 and 5. If we want to modify the execution mode of the four activities from parallel to sequential, as shown in FIG. 2B, then you need to perform following six operations: 1) delete the first synchronization bar; 2) delete the second synchronization bar; 3) add a flow from Activity 1 to Activity 2; 4) add a flow from Activity 3 to Activity 4; 5) add a flow from Activity 5 to Activity 6; 6) re-layout all of these graphic symbols.
If we want to change the synchronization (parallel) logic in FIG. 2A to decision logic, as shown in FIG. 2C, then we need to perform following nine operations: 1) delete the first synchronization bar; 2) delete the second synchronization bar; 3) add a condition box at the place of the first synchronization bar; 4) add a flow from Activity 1 to the condition box; 5) add a flow from the condition box to Activity 2; 6) add a flow from the condition box to Activity 4; 7) add a flow from Activity 3 to Activity 6; 8) add a flow from Activity 5 to Activity 6; 9) re-layout all of these graphic symbols.
Further, if we want to move Activity 3 in FIG. 2A to a place after synchronization (parallel) logic, as shown in FIG. 2D, then we need to perform following five operations: 1) reconnect the control flow between Activity 3 and the second synchronization bar to point to Activity 6; 2) reconnect the control flow between Activity 2 and Activity 3 from the second synchronization bar to Activity 3; 3) delete the control flow between the second synchronization bar and Activity 6; 4) add a control flow from Activity 2 to the second synchronization bar; 5) re-layout all of these graphic symbols. From the above examples we can see that it's very inconvenient to modify a flowchart using prior flowchart editing techniques, especially for complex flowcharts and when the flowcharts need to be changed often. For this reason, system analyzer and program designers waste a great deal of time and energy in those trivial editing operations.

Editing, creating, and verifying reorganization of flowchart, and transforming between flowchart and tree diagram

International Business Machines Corporation


Methods for causing T cell anergy, treating allograft transplant rejection, treating graft versus host disease, and preventing or treating rheumatoid arthritis are presented, the methods comprising co-administration of a molecule that binds to the B7 antigen and an immunosuppressive agent.

Current strategies for the prevention of graft rejection after transplantation are based on the use of broad acting immunosuppressive agents such as cyclosporin A (CsA), FK506 and corticosteroids. These drugs must often be taken over long periods of time and therefore increase the risk of serious infections, nephrotoxicity, and cancer. In addition, not all patients can tolerate high doses of these immunosuppressive agents, often resulting in graft rejection or graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Optimal prevention of graft rejection should be based on the induction of specific tolerance to the donor tissue. Thus, the ideal drug for prevention of transplant rejection should induce clonal unresponsiveness, or anergy, of donor-reactive T cells, without the need for long-term immunosuppression. Anergy is thought to be the result of intercellular signaling after interaction between the T-cell receptor (TCR) and the peptide-presenting major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen in the absence of a "costimulatory" signal. Mueller, D. L. et al., Annu. Rev. Immunol. (1989) 7:445. This costimulatory signal is normally provided by the cell surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Hawrylowicz, C. M. et al., J. Immunol. (1988) 141:4083; and Springer, T. A. et al., Annu. Rev. Immunol. (1987) 5:223.
T Cell Activation
T cells play an important role during the normal in vivo immune response. They are involved in cytotoxicity, delayed type hypersensitivity, and T cell-dependent antibody production by B cells. Furthermore, T cells can produce a wide variety of lymphokines such as interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-.alpha.), lymphotoxin, gamma interferon (IFN-.gamma.), and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF).
The activation of T cells is the result of ligand-receptor interactions. Under physiological conditions, the TCR/CD3 complex binds to antigenic peptides presented by the MHC molecules of APCs. The TCR/CD3 complex plays two roles in antigen-induced activation. First, it recognizes a specific antigen in the context of an antigen-presenting MHC molecule. Then, the recognition event is transmitted through the plasma membrane by a signalling mechanism. However, binding of antigen to the TCR alone is not sufficient for maximum T cell activation. A number of other accessory molecules on the surface of the T cell are known to play important roles in adhesion or signalling or both. For instance, the CD2 molecule on T cells can bind to LFA-3 on APCs, but it has also been shown that binding of antibodies to CD2 can augment the signals provided by the TCR/CD3 complex. Other ligand pairs involved in T cell activation are LFA-1/ICAM-1, CD4/MHC-class II antigen, VLA-4/VCAM, and, most importantly, CD28/B7.
The CD28 and B7 Antigens
The likely candidate for the costimulatory signal that determines whether TCR-stimulation leads to full T cell activation or to T cell anergy is that generated by interaction of CD28 on the T cells with B7 on APCs. It has been demonstrated in vitro that cross-linking of the CD28 molecule can rescue T cells from becoming anergic. Harding, F. A. et al., Nature (1992) 356:607. CD28 is a homodimeric transmembrane glycoprotein with an apparent molecular mass of 44 kDa and is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily (Aruffo, A. & Seed, B. PNAS (USA) (1987) 84:8573). The CD28 molecule is expressed on approximately 95% of CD4-positive T cells and 50% of CD8-positive T cells. Costimulation of T cells with monoclonal antibody to the TCR/CD3 complex and CD28 results in greatly enhanced T cell activation. Thompson, C. B. et al., PNAS (USA) (1989) 86:1333-1337; June, C. H. et al., J. Immunol. (1989) 143:153-161; and Lindsten, T. et al., Science (1989) 244:339-343. This effect apparently involves stabilization of mRNA for several lymphokines, including IL-2, resulting in a greatly enhanced production of these lymphokines. June, C. H. et al., supra; and Lindsten, T. et. al., supra. Furthermore, a CD28-responsive element has been demonstrated in the enhancer of the IL-2 gene, suggesting that there is also regulation at the transcriptional level. Fraser, J. D. et al., Science (1991) 251:313 and Verwey, C. L. et al., J. Biol. Chem. (1991) 266:14179-14182. Certain models of T cell activation mediated by CD28 have been reported to be relatively resistant to inhibition with CsA. June, C. H. et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. (1987) 7:4472-4481.
B7 is a monomeric transmembrane glycoprotein with an apparent molecular mass of 45-65 kDa and is, like CD28, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. Freeman, G. J. et al., J. Immunol. (1989) 143:2714-2722. Moreover, B7-expressing CHO cells are able to synergize with TCR stimulation, resulting in IL-2 secretion and T cell proliferation. Linsley, P. S. et al., J. Exp. Med. (1991) 137:721-730; and Gimmi, C. D. et al., PNAS (USA) (1991) 88:6575. B7 also binds to a recombinant fusion protein of the CTLA-4 molecule. Linsley, P. S. et al., J. Exp. Med. (1991) 174:561-569. CTLA-4, too, is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, and the cytoplasmic regions of CTLA-4 and CD28 show significant homology. Harper, K. et al., J. Immunol. (1991) 147:1037. The B7 molecule is expressed on activated B cells (Freeman, G. J. et al., supra), monocytes stimulated with IFN-.gamma. (Freedman, A. S. et al., Cell. Immunol. (1991) 137:429-437), and isolated peripheral blood dendritic cells (Young, J. W. et al., J. Clin. Invest. (1992) 90:229-237). Immunohistochemical studies have shown that the B7 molecule is also constitutively expressed in vivo on dendritic cells in both lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissue. Vandenberghe, P. et al., "International Immunology" (1993).
In vivo, the B7 antigen is involved in T cell activation during transplant rejection. Lenschow and co-workers have used a soluble fusion protein of human CTLA-4 and the immunoglobulin G1 Fc region (CTLA4Ig), which strongly binds to both mouse and human B7, to prevent rejection of human pancreatic islets after transplantation in mice (Lenschow, D. J. et al., Science (1992) 257:789-792). Here CTLA4Ig blocks rejection of a xenoantigen (an antigen foreign to the species from which the T cell is derived).
Molecules that interfere with the interaction between the B7 and CD28 antigens are known in the art. The soluble CTLA4-Ig fusion protein is known to partially block this interaction. Linsley, P. S. et al., J. Exp. Med. (1991) 74:561. Anti-CD28 antibodies are also known to block this interaction. Furthermore, anti-B7 antibodies are known in the art. Yokochi, T. et al., J. Immunol. (1982) 128:823; Freedman, A. S. et al. J. Immunol. (1987) 139:3260; Valle, A. et al. Immunol (1990) 69:531. Commonly owned, co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 07/910,222 describes the generation of one such monoclonal antibody (mAb) called B7-24.
However, nothing in the art relates to (1) the use of anti-B7 antibodies to cause T cell anergy and thereby prevent or treat graft rejection or GVHD, or (2) the use of molecules that bind to the B7 antigen in conjunction with other immunosuppressive agents to cause T cell anergy and thereby prevent or treat graft rejection or GVHD.

Methods of blocking T-cell activation using anti-B7 monoclonal antibodies


Protective device for protecting a port needle or Huber needle against shifting and for protecting at least one port needle puncture site and/or incision site. A frame-like spacer element is provided with an inner opening, recess or cutout for surrounding or receiving the port needle or Huber needle, which frame-like spacer element has a height corresponding to at least half the height of the port needle or Huber needle and has at least one means for fixing or securing the spacer element in the area of a port.

Port catheters and port needles are known in the prior art. Port catheters are fixedly implanted subcutaneous plastic reservoirs connected to the central venous system in order to permit a reliable vascular access. A port catheter is applied when long-term or frequent vascular access is required. The port is usually composed of a chamber with a thick silicone membrane and an attached tube or catheter. After implantation of the port catheter, the access to the blood stream of the patient can be established by percutaneous insertion of what is called a port needle or Huber needle through the silicone membrane. The port needle lying in the chamber allows blood to be removed or allows a medicament to be administered by infusion. After application of the port needle, that is to say after the latter has been inserted into the silicone membrane of the port, and if the injection is intended to last a considerable time, the port needle is usually fixed in place with a sterile plaster in order to avoid shifting of the port needle or Huber needle. The port needle is usually changed after at most eight days, in order to avoid infections. After the port needle has been removed, the injection site is usually disinfected and covered with a sterile plaster. Port systems are known from DE 37 44 527 A1 or DE 37 19 238 A1, for example.

Protective device for protecting a port needle or huber needle


During microelectronic processing of a substrate, a gap on the substrate surface may be filled with a material by alternating deposition and etch processes while the substrate remains in the same process chamber. Alternating deposition and etch processes allows the gap to be completely filled absent a void.

This invention relates generally to microelectronic processing and in particular to filling one or more spaces on the surface of a substrate.
Plasma assisted deposition of films is widely used in microelectronics manufacturing. For example, dielectric films are often deposited in gaps or trenches on a substrate surface for use in isolation, passivation and barrier applications. However, completely filling a gap with the deposited material may prove to be challenging. This is especially true for those gaps having a high depth to width ratio. For example, typical deposition plasmas tend to deposit a non-uniform film in the gap that results in excess deposition at or near the opening of the gap as compared to the bottom of the gap. As a result, a void may form in the gap.
Generally, voids are undesirable because the electrical or physical isolation to be provided by the gap is disrupted. Thus, if present, voids may cause degradation in the performance of or even the failure of the circuit in which they occur.
Therefore, there is a continuing need for microelectronic processing techniques to deposit films that fill gaps on the surface of a substrate.

In-situ sequential high density plasma deposition and etch processing for gap fill


A method and apparatus for binding the fibers of a fiber reinforced plastic preform. A fiber reinforced plastic preform is created in a preselected geometry from a mixture of reinforcing fibers and binding fibers, the binding fibers being responsive to a high frequency electromagnetic field to melt thereby binding the reinforcing fibers. The fiber reinforced plastic preform is then exposed for a short period of time to a high frequency electromagnetic field, with the high frequency electromagnetic field causing the binding fibers to melt thus binding the reinforcing fibers of the preform.

The present invention relates generally to forming fiber reinforced plastic preforms and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for binding the fibers of a fiber reinforced plastic preform.
Fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) parts or composite parts are well known and used in a wide variety of applications. An FRP part generally consists of a plastic shape in which carbon, fiberglass, or other reinforcing fibers are dispersed in order to provide strength to the plastic. One method of making an FRP part is known as resin transfer molding (RTM). In RTM, fibrous material in a mold is injected with resin which cures to form the part. Examples of these techniques are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,740,346; 4,849,147; and 4,863,771, which are hereby incorporated by reference. In RTM, fibrous material is often formed into a preliminary shape before being placed into the mold. The shaped sections generally conform to the shape of adjacent mold die surfaces and are known as preforms. Preforms have been made in several different manners. One approach is to direct chopped fibers by means of a flow of air onto a screen. One problem with this technique is that it is difficult to obtain desired fiber orientation. Another method is to make the preforms from mats of fibrous material. This method however results in undesirable amounts of scrap and is labor intensive thus resulting in production cost inefficiencies. Still another technique known as a wet slurry process is disclosed, for example, in Keown et al., "Wet Slurry Process Brings Precision To Reinforced Plastics". As discussed therein, a slurry containing chopped glass strands or fibers is sucked by vacuum into a chamber covered by a screen. As a result the fibers are deposited on the screen. This approach, however, also has some drawbacks. For example, it is somewhat difficult to consistently obtain the desired fiber orientation and compactness or density of the fibers using this equipment. In addition, the pumps and other equipment required to create the vacuum and suck the slurry through the screen may be unduly complex and difficult to maintain. Furthermore, the process is relatively slow. An improved wet slurry process is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,465, which is also hereby incorporated by reference. The process disclosed therein teaches drawing the slurry through the screen by raising the screen through a tank containing a slurry of fibers resulting in the fibers being deposited on the screen. Further disclosed are unique configurations for the holes in the screen to direct the fibers into desired orientations.
Of concern in any preform forming process is handling the fiber preform without disturbing the shape of the preform or the orientation of the fibers. To this end, it is known that a binding material may be deposited along with the fibers when forming the preform. The binding material gives the preform sufficient strength to allow for handling without disturbing its shape or the orientation of the fibers. In typical applications, the binding material is a thermoplastic fiber mixed into the slurry with the reinforcing fibers as in a wet slurry process or blown along with the reinforcing fibers as in an air blown process onto the screen. After the preform is shaped, the preform, still on the screen, is placed into an oven where it is heated thus melting the thermoplastic fibers and binding the reinforcing fibers. Once cooled, the preform can be removed from the screen and handled without damaging it. However, this heating and cooling process, often taking several hours, is not well suited for mass production in that it requires the use of many screens, large ovens, and is very time consuming.

Method for binding fibers in a fiber reinforced preform using an electromagnetic field to melt binding fibers


A contact element adapted for connection with or within a terminal measuring device for inspecting terminal dimensions, comprising a contact head corresponding to and connectable to a terminal to be inspected, the contact head having a contact portion containing a technical ceramic for contacting the terminal to be inspected. The present invention also relates to a terminal measuring system comprising such contact element.

For inspection of terminal dimensions, in particular at HF connections which are usually configured as coaxial connections, dial gauges exist which are available from a large number of various manufacturers. Such dial gauges comprise a contact head made of metal by which particularly the inner conductor dimension of the connections may be inspected. A positive i.e. excessive inner conductor dimension could damage a mating connection or could cause contact problems and should therefore be avoided.
In order to precisely determine the dimensions of the inner conductor, it is necessary to have smooth, clean, and undamaged contact surfaces on these dial gauges and on the test objects to be inspected, since these contact surfaces are brought in contact with the end faces of the test objects and thus represent a reference surface for the measurement. A correct measurement therefore requires a proper contact between the contact surface of a dial gauge and the front surface of the test object.
However, modern HF connection systems often have very small terminal dimensions, for example a so called 1 mm system is now available. This makes it more and more difficult to achieve proper contacts for measuring the dimensions of a terminal connection. In particular, there is a risk that the contact surface of a dial gauge becomes deformed, worn off, damaged, or otherwise worn out without being noticed by a user such that the measurement results in an inaccurate reading.

Contact element adapted for connection with or within a terminal measuring device, and terminal measuring system


A cover for a housed thermostat having a thermostat valve which is held on the cover, forms a main valve and a short-circuit valve and contains a thermostatic working element whose housing is connected with the main valve disk. The cover has a projection which surrounds the housing of the working element in a cage-type manner and is molded to the main valve disk which is manufactured as a molded plastic part. The end of the projection projects over the housing of the working element and forms part of the short-circuit valve.

The present invention relates to a cover for a housed thermostat comprising a thermostat valve which is held on the cover, forms a main valve and a short-circuit valve, and contains a thermostatic working element the housing of which is connected with a main valve disk which is loaded by a closing spring in the direction of a valve seat, the closing spring being supported on holding devices connected with the cover.
A cover of the above-described type is shown, for example, in German Patent Document DE-U 88 797.4, and forms a constructional unit together with the thermostat valve. This constructional unit can be tested separately, that is, without being installed into the housing, with respect to the tightness of the main valve. In the cover shown in the German Patent Document, a main valve disk made of sheet metal is fastened to the housing of the thermostatic working element. The closing spring of the main valve disk is supported against a bow which is hung into finger-type holding elements which are molded onto the cover. The housing of the thermostatic working element is lengthened by means of a metallic pin on which a short-circuit valve disk with a slideway is arranged. The short-circuit valve spring is situated between this valve disk and the housing of the working element.
German Patent Document DE-U 91 04 964.4 shows a main valve disk of a thermostat valve manufactured as a plastic molded part which is held on the housing of the thermostatic working element in a form-locking manner. The sealing surface of the main valve disk is provided with a recess into which a sealing ring is inserted.
German Patent Document DE-U 88 08 932.0 shows the fastening of a sleeve on the housing of the thermostatic working element which forms a slide for a slide valve. By means of its end, this sleeve dips into a recess of a housing.
German Patent Document DE-U 87 00 216.7 shows the fitting of a cap-type part on the end of a housing of a thermostatic working element, which part forms a chamber with the housing in which an electric heating element is arranged in the form of a PTC-resistance.
It is also known, in the case of thermostat valves, to guide the short-circuit valve disk on several pins which are fastened to the main valve disk. These pins are surrounded by pressure springs against the force of which the short circuit valve disk can be slid on the pins.
An object of the present invention is to provide a cover for a housed thermostat of the initially mentioned type in such a manner that the manufacturing costs are reduced.
This and other objects are achieved by the present invention which provides a cover for a housed thermostat, the housed thermostat having a thermostat valve which is held on the cover and forms a main valve and a short-circuit valve. The thermostat valve contains a thermostatic working element with a housing and a main valve disk connected with the housing of the thermostatic working element. The cover comprises a projection molded to the main valve disk and is a molded plastic part that surrounds the housing of the working element in a cage-type manner. An end of the projection projects over the housing of the working element and forms a part of the short-circuit valve.
The present invention retains the advantage that the cover forms a constructional unit with the thermostat valve which can be tested separately, particularly with respect to the tightness of the valve seat (leakage) and function, before it is installed into the housed thermostat. The design of the main valve disk makes it possible to combine the short circuit valve with the main valve disk, without the requirement that the thermostatic working element has to accommodate any parts for the short circuit valve. It is therefore easily possible to use the same thermostatic working element for thermostat valves with or without a short-circuit valve. Furthermore, shaped sheet metal parts are avoided which require increased manufacturing expenditures and which must be made of an expensive material because they must be resistant to corrosion.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a pin is molded onto the projection of the main valve disk on which a short-circuit valve disk is guided. This short-circuit valve disk may be made of sheet metal or plastic.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the projection of the main valve disk has a bottom with a surrounding closed ring which is used as a shorting plunger. In this embodiment, the short-circuit valve is constructed as a sliding valve, the shorting plunger dipping into a corresponding bore of the housing. In order to guide the shorting plunger and to center it in the bore of the housing, it is provided in a further embodiment of the invention that the ring is extended in the axial direction by means of guide fingers.
In another embodiment of the invention, the cover is equipped with molded-on holding fingers which extend essentially in parallel to the longitudinal direction of the housing and have receiving devices pointing to the center for the support of the closing spring.
In another embodiment of the invention, an insert is mounted on the cover which is constructed as a plastic molded part and which forms an abutment for the closing spring. Also in this embodiment, the cover together with the thermostat forms a preassembled constructional unit which can therefore be tested with respect to the tightness of the valve seat and the function, while the abutment for the closing spring is not molded onto the cover.
In another embodiment, the insert has a lengthening which is equipped with window-type recesses and in which the projection of the main valve disk is guided which has a surrounding bottom with a surrounding closed ring which forms a short-circuit sliding valve with the lower edges of the window-type recesses of the insert. In this embodiment, the short-circuit sliding valve is integrated into the constructional unit which is preassembled with the cover so that the closing temperature is independent of any tolerances or the like of the housing. It need only be provided that the insert is sealingly inserted into the short-circuit line of the housing which does not present any difficulty also in the event of relatively large permissible tolerances.
In order to provide a thermostat valve which can be adjusted in a simple manner to different opening temperatures, an embodiment of the present invention provides the projection of the main valve disk with a bottom, the projection forming a chamber with the end of the housing of the thermostatic working element in which an electric heating element is arranged which rests against the bottom of the housing As a result, it becomes possible to adjust the thermostatic working element to a high opening temperature by the selection of its wax filling and nevertheless cause an opening in the case of a lower coolant temperature. By the electric heating of the thermostatic working element, a mixed temperature will then be obtained from the coolant temperature and the temperature generated by the electric heating which "simulates" to the thermostatic working element an increased coolant temperature so that this working element already opens despite the lower coolant temperature
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


Disclosed are antifoam emulsions useful in control of foam in aqueous foaming systems which comprise:. (A) polydiorganosiloxane; PA1 (B) fine solid particles of inorganic oxide, bearing on the surface thereof a polydiorganosiloxane component; wherein the total amount of polydiorganosiloxane present in components (A) and (B) comprises 5 wt % to 60 wt % of the emulsion and the weight ratio of the total amount of polydiorganosiloxane present in components (A) and (B) to the amount of said inorganic oxide is 10:1 to 200:1; PA1 (C) an organic surfactant dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of non-ionic tetrafunctional block copolymers terminating in primary or secondary hydroxyl groups and mixtures thereof, which agent comprises 0.1 wt % to 36 wt % of said emulsion; PA1 (D) a block copolymer of polydimethylsiloxane with one or more blocks of polyalkylene oxide, the molecular weight of the polydimethylsiloxane portion being 300 to 100,000 Daltons and the total molecular weight of all polyalkylene oxide blocks present being 100 to 40,000 Daltons, which copolymer comprises 0.1 wt. % to 20 wt. % of said emulsion; PA1 (E) a non-ionic surfactant component comprising one or more non-ionic surfactants not conforming to agent (C) nor to copolymer (D) and comprising 1 wt % to 60 wt % of said emulsion; PA1 (F) a thickener component which comprises 0.01 wt % to 15 wt % of said emulsion; PA1 (G) a protective colloid component which comprises 0.01 wt. % to 10 wt. % of said emulsion; and PA1 (H) water comprising up to 95 wt. % of the emulsion.

Foam control compositions which are designed for use in aqueous systems may or may not contain water, but in both cases, they are, preferably, water dispersible. Their preparation and properties are well known and are already disclosed in the patent and scholarly literature. For example, DE 2626994, GB197254, DE 3013923, U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,082, JP 58007335 and the review articles listed below report the preparation of such formulations, their use as foam control additives in the textiles, food, agriculture and paper industries, and investigate their mechanism of action and deactivation.
R. S. Bhute, J. Scient. Ind. Res. 1971, vol 30, 241 PA0 K. Roberts et al, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 1977, vol 62, 264 PA0 S. Ross, Chemical Engineering Process, 1967, vol 63, 41 PA0 The emulsion viscosity should be low for ease of use PA0 The emulsion should be stable to temperatures as high as 50.degree. C. PA0 The emulsion once diluted with water, should be free of unemulsified oil and non-dispersed solid particles.
Silicone foam control formulations have been known in the art for many years and are widely recognised as being the most effective agents in a plurality of situations. They are formulated to be active in either aqueous or non-aqueous systems. In the case of the aqueous systems, the silicone foam control agent can be either an emulsion (water in oil, oil in water, or multiple phase) or a water dispersible composition. Silicone foam control agents in the form of an emulsion are widely used today.
The first step in the preparation of a silicone antifoam emulsion is the preparation of the silicone antifoam compound. This is typically a mixture of a silicone fluid and fine solid particles, frequently silica, that has undergone a heat treatment at 100-300.degree. C. for several hours in the presence of catalysts, such as alkali silanolate or alkali hydroxide to increase effectiveness, as described, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,235,509 and 3,560,401. Often, the antifoam compound also contains non-silicone oils (EP 687725, WO 95 05,580, CN 1 088 128) to improve performance or compatibility in certain applications.
Antifoam compounds such as these described above can not be easily used as such in aqueous systems because they do not disperse easily in water. This not only reduces their potency but it may cause other undesirable effects, such as, silicone spotting of fabrics in textiles. It is thus indispensable that they be made water compatible.
Water compatibility can be achieved by either blending surfactants in with the antifoam compound (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,984,200, 4,076,648, JP 05261206) to produce self-emulsifiable compounds, or by emulsifying the antifoam compound to an oil in water or multiple phase emulsion. While there exists a large patent literature on self-emulsifiable compounds, the majority of material commercially used is of the emulsion type. The main reason is ease of use: the antifoam emulsion can be easily and uniformly dispersed into an aqueous phase using only slight or moderate mixing.
The preparation of silicone antifoam emulsions, while appearing easy, is in fact complicated due to the numerous variables, demonstrated empirically, that affect performance. These can arise from changes in the composition of the antifoam compound, in the composition and nature of the emulsion, and in the nature of the foaming system.
The antifoam emulsion droplet size is one of the most important factors controlling the antifoam activity in a given foaming medium. Antifoam effectiveness however, is not the only requirement. In particular, in sensitive industries such as textiles, the antifoam emulsion quality is also of importance:
In addition, textile formulators require that the emulsion, when diluted with water, form stable dilutions that they can then sell at a profit. This is a particularly difficult prerequisite. Effective antifoam emulsions use thickeners in amounts optimised for the undiluted emulsion to prevent droplet creaming and coalescing. Upon dilution with water, the thickener levels are drastically reduced and are thus no longer capable of imparting the required stability: the diluted emulsion separates. The separation may not be obvious, as, in certain cases, there is no phase separation visible to the naked eye. However, if the diluted emulsion be tested for antifoam efficiency, it will be found that either the top or the bottom layer (depending on whether the droplets are lighter or heavier than the continuous phase) have retained efficiency. The rest of the dilution, being depleted of antifoam droplets, exhibits drastically reduced foam control.
A way to overcome this would be to use higher quantities of thickeners but this would result in an unacceptably high emulsion viscosity. Alternatively, the emulsion droplet could be made smaller through processing (eg, homogenising) to achieve the required stability, but then the effectiveness of the antifoam would be reduced.
European Patent No 0 769 548 teaches the preparation of silicone antifoam emulsions using alkylpolyglucosides and anionic surfactants as the emulsifiers and xanthan gum as the thickener. The antifoam compound is based on a blend of silicone oil and hydrophobic silica. The finished formulation is stable for 180 days at 40.degree. C. and exhibits foam control.
German Patent No 42 37 754 teaches the use of linear polyurethane dispersions or emulsions as protective colloids in the preparation of silicone antifoam emulsions. The emulsifiers are non-ionic polyethylene oxide modified triglycerides or alcohol ethoxylates. The antifoam compound is based on a silicone oil and hydrophobic silica. The finished formulation exhibits foam control and stability in a variety of latexes.
German Patent No 30 13 923 teaches the use of water soluble molecules having the general formula R.sup.1 {CH.sub.2 CH(R.sup.2)O}R.sup.3 where R.sup.1 is either an alkyl or alkoxy group, R.sup.2 is either hydrogen or methyl and R.sup.3 is an alkyl group for the preparation of silicone antifoam emulsions. These compounds help in the emulsification and improve the dispersibility and foam control efficiency of the emulsion. The emulsifiers are non-ionic triglycerides and alcohol ethoxylates. The antifoam compound is based on a blend of a silicone oil and hydrophobic silica. No thickeners or protective colloids are disclosed in this patent. The finished emulsion has low viscosity and exhibits foam control.
German Patent No 43 43 185 teaches the use of polyalkylene oxide modified siloxanes as emulsifiers for silicone antifoam compounds that are based on blends of polyalkylene oxide modified siloxanes and hydrophobic silica. The siloxane chain is either linear or branched and the polyalkylene oxide moiety is either pendant or end-blocked. No protective colloids or thickeners are disclosed in this patent. The final emulsion showed compatibility and foam control in acrylic latexes.
The limitation of the formulations described in the patents above is that they do not embody all the requirements that an emulsion destined for the textiles market demands.


An apparatus includes processor in communication with a memory and a communication interface. The processor is configured to receive, via a network and the communication interface, at least one image and to analyze the at least one image via facial recognition to define an analyzed data set. The processor is configured to (1) identify a user based on data included in user profile data structure, (2) identify a set of people connected to the user based on user connection data from at least one connection database, (3) compare the analyzed data set to facial image data of a person connected to the user, and (4) define a confidence level based on the comparison. When the confidence level satisfies a criterion, the processor can send to a client device a signal indicative of a notification that the person is within a predetermined proximity of the user.

The embodiments described herein relate generally to facial recognition and/or video analytics, and more particularly, to apparatus and methods for performing facial recognition analysis to identify proximity-based user connections.
Increases in the availability and capability of electronic devices such as cameras, tablets, smartphones, etc. have allowed some people to take pictures and/or capture video of their experiences. For example, the inclusion and improvement of cameras in smartphones, tablets, and/or other similar devices have led to increases in those devices being used to take pictures (e.g., photographic data, image data, etc.) and videos (e.g., video stream data). While, it has become easier for some people to take pictures and/or videos of their experiences, in some instances, there can still be challenges in including the desired parties (including the person who would otherwise be taking the picture or video). Moreover, a person generally has to remember and/or have the chance to take the picture and/or video, and failing to do can result in a lost opportunity.
In some instances, venues and/or events such as sporting events, concerts, rallies, graduations, and/or the like have cameras that can take pictures and/or video of those in attendance. In some instances, however, analyzing, parsing, and/or otherwise making the pictures and/or video stream available can use a relatively large amount of resources, can be inaccurate, and/or can fail to provide associated contextual data or the like. In some known systems, facial recognition technology can be used to facilitate the process of identifying people in the pictures and/or video stream captured at these venues and/or events and some such systems can be configured to distribute and/or otherwise make available the pictures and/or video stream to the people identified therein. While such systems may aid a person (e.g., a user) in memorializing events and/or the like by capturing them in pictures and/or video, in some instances, it may be desirable to receive information and/or notification when one or more people who have a connection with the person are also present at the venue and/or event to allow for shared experiences and/or the like.
Thus, a need exists for improved apparatus and methods for performing facial recognition analysis on one or more images and providing a user with one or more notifications when a result of the facial recognition analysis indicates that a person sharing a connection with the user is identified in the analyzed one or more images.

Apparatus and methods for facial recognition systems to identify proximity-based connections


A method and a terminal are provided for use in a communication system. The method includes determining an average power from power obtained in a measurement section of a data symbol in a time slot including an updated gain section and a maintained gain section, the measurement section starting after a last gain is applied in the data symbol and ending before a mid-amble of the time slot is buffered, determining an average error power from a difference between a predetermined target power and the average power, and determining an output power by adding the average error power to power that is received over the time slot.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates generally to a method for controlling gain in a communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA), a plurality of subscribers execute communication in a single frequency using different time bands, unlike in Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) or Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), which use multiple transmission/reception frequencies. TD-SCDMA is a Time Division Duplex (TDD) based mobile communication scheme, which transmits or receives a data block based on a time slot (TS). TD-SCDMA uses a mid-amble of a data block as a reference signal, and distinguishes a part of the data block before the reference signal and a part of the data block after the reference signal as Data-1 and Data-2, respectively.
In TD-SCDMA, reception power is different for each data block, and gain may be controlled to adjust a difference in reception powers. For example, a conventional technique, such as Automatic Gain Control (AGC) may be implemented as the gain control method.
A first AGC method executes gain estimation and gain control N times using Data-1, and fixes the last gain. In this method, when data allocation of a TS is executed first, the lowest gain is set as an initial value; otherwise, the last gain of a previous sub-frame is set as an initial value.
A second AGC method calculates an error based on an input power and a target power, and uses an algorithm that changes an AGC loop speed based on the calculated value. Specifically, when a signal is input in a gap section, an error value rapidly increases. The second AGC method increases the speed, based on the increased error value, in order to execute faster AGC. When the error value is adjusted within a predetermined range, the method executes slower AGC. Also, the gain initial value of the AGC is set to a previous convergence value of an error value stored in a memory, by which an AGC stabilization time may be reduced.
The above described first and second AGC methods correspond to AGC operations when a difference in reception powers is high among data blocks, in order to converge a signal on a target level after a predetermined period of time, which indicates that the gain used in a data block and a received signal level may have been different in the part before the reference signal, i.e., Data-1.
However, when a receiver, which is capable of securing high performance at a constant gain for each data block is assumed, the above-described conventional AGC methodologies may not overcome deterioration in performance. Therefore, when the difference in reception powers among blocks is high, there is a desire for a method that enables convergence of signals on a target level in order to overcome performance deterioration.

Apparatus and method for controlling gain in communication system


In a contention resolution system for use in connection with transmitting and receiving data over a communication medium, a first station determines a contention based variable E for a future upstream data frame. The variable E indicates a number of resolution slots (i) which result from expansion of a contention slot of a previous upstream data frame containing contention between the second station and other stations, and (ii) within which previously contending data may be re-transmitted by the second station. The first station inserts the variable E in a downstream data frame for transmission over the communication medium to the second station. The second station receives the variable E from the downstream data frame. The second station randomly selects one of the E resolution slots, and the second station inserts the previously contending data in the randomly selected resolution slot for re-transmission in an upstream data frame.

Communication systems typically include a plurality of stations connected to one another over a communication medium. For example, in a community antenna television (CATV) system, a headend and a plurality of subscriber stations communicate over a cable. The cable supports downstream communication from the headend to the subscriber stations and upstream communication from the subscriber stations to the headend. Data, which is transmitted between the headend and the subscriber stations, is transmitted in data frames. Accordingly, when the headend communicates with a subscriber station, the headend transmits a downstream data frame to the subscriber station, and when a subscriber station communicates with the headend, the subscriber station transmits an upstream data frame to the headend.
In such a CATV system, the headend and the subscriber stations must share the resources of the cable in some manner. For example, downstream and upstream communications are typically allocated to different frequency ranges. In a sub-split allocation, downstream communications are allocated to a frequency range between 54 MHz and 750 MHz and above, while the upstream communications are allocated to a frequency range below 42 MHz. In a mid-split allocation, downstream communications are allocated to a frequency range of 162 MHz and above, while upstream communications are allocated to a frequency range between 5 to 100 MHz. In a high-split allocation, downstream communications are allocated to a frequency range of 234 MHz and above, while upstream communications are allocated to a frequency range between 5 MHz and 174 MHz.
Moreover, the subscriber stations must also share the resources of the cable in some manner. In a time division multiple access (TDMA) CATV system, the subscriber stations typically share the cable by transmitting data during uniquely assigned and non-overlapping time periods. In a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) CATV system, the subscriber stations share the cable by dividing up the available upstream frequency bandwidth into numerous narrow frequency channels and by allocating to each subscriber station its own uniquely corresponding narrow frequency band. In a code division multiple access (CDMA) CATV system, the subscriber stations share the cable by multiplying their data messages by corresponding assigned code words and then transmitting the result.
A TDMA system, which assigns each subscriber station to a unique time slot, avoids collisions of data transmitted by the subscriber stations but restricts the amount of data throughput from the subscriber stations to the headend. An FDMA system, which allocates to each subscriber station its own uniquely corresponding narrow frequency band, similarly restricts throughput because the number of frequency bands allocated to the subscriber stations is limited. A CDMA system likewise limits throughput over a communication cable because the number of code words which are available to be assigned to subscriber stations is limited.
In order to increase throughput of the data transmitted by the subscriber stations to the headend of a CATV system, it is known to allow the subscriber stations to contend for the same frequency, time, or code word slots in the upstream data frame and to use a tree algorithm to resolve any resulting contention. Contention is created when two or more subscriber stations transmit data in the same slot or slots of an upstream data frame. When the headend detects such contention, the headend initiates a tree algorithm which assigns, for a second layer of contention, a predetermined number of resolution contention slots in the next upstream data frame for each contention slot in the previous upstream data frame in which there was contention. In other words, the tree algorithm expands each contention slot in which there was contention to a predetermined number of resolution contention slots.
Each subscriber station determines whether it transmitted in one of the contention slots in which there was contention. Each subscriber station, which determines that it transmitted in a contention slot in which there was contention, randomly selects one of the resolution contention slots corresponding to the contention slot of the previous upstream data frame in which it transmitted data. These subscriber stations then re-transmit their data in the corresponding randomly selected resolution contention slots. If the headend again detects contention, the tree algorithm assigns, for a third layer of contention, a predetermined number of resolution contention slots in the next upstream data frame for each previous resolution contention slot in the previous upstream data frame in which there was contention. The contending subscriber stations respond as before. In this way, contention is resolved.
There are several problems with this approach. For example, there is no estimation of the number of subscriber stations which transmitted colliding data so that the contention slots in which contention occurred are merely expanded to a predetermined number of resolution contention slots. Expanding the contention slots in which contention occurred to a predetermined number of resolution contention slots is not an optimum method of reducing contention because many iterations are required until all subscriber stations are able to successfully transmit their data. These iterations add excessive delay to the transmission of data, and result in excessive power being transmitted into the expanded contention slots over a long period of time which thereby saturates the communication medium and causes noise in adjacent channels.
The present invention is directed to a dynamic search tree which is used to resolve contention that arises when two or more stations of a communication system transmit in the same contention slot and which solves one or more of the above described problems.

Dynamic search tree for resolution of contention between transmitting stations


A learning method of a neural network, in which from a set of learning patterns belonging to one category, specific learning patterns located at a region close to learning patterns belonging to another category are selected and learning of the neural network is performed by using the specific learning patterns so as to discriminate the categories from each other.

The present invention generally relates to a neural network and more particularly, to a learning method of the neural network, which enables reduction of processing time for learning and prevention of excessive learning.
Recently, multilayered neural networks which learn by a learning method based on error back-propagation have been employed in fields of speech recognition, character recognition, etc. Conventionally, multilayered perceptron type neural networks have been generally used for such fields. The multilayered perceptron type neural networks are constituted by at least three layers, i.e. an input layer, an intermediate layer and an output layer.
When learning patterns and categories are input to the input layer, the above mentioned multilayered perceptron type neural network (referred to simply as a "neural network", hereinbelow) by itself learns to determine boundaries of the categories to be classified. Furthermore, in the neural network, weights of synapse connections for connecting units contained in one of the layers and units contained in the rest of the layers are automatically set and a configuration of the neural network is determined.
As a result, on the basis of the learned boundaries of the categories to be classified, this neural network which has finished learning classifies the input patterns into the categories to which the input patterns belong. At this time, the number of the units contained in the input layer is determined by the degree of the input patterns, for example, the learning patterns, while the number of the units contained in the output layer is determined by the number of the categories to be classified.
However, when a conventional neural network learns, the learning patterns are merely inputted to each unit of the input layer. Therefore, in the conventional neural network, a rather long processing time is required for learning by using a number of learning patterns, which is a great stumbling block to utilization of the neural network. Meanwhile, generally, as the large number of the inputted learning patterns is increased, accuracy of evaluation of the neural network is further improved. However, an increase in the number of the learning patterns also results in an increase in convergence of learning based on error back-propagation or causes excessive learning. Thus in the neural network which has learned by using such exceptional learning patterns, such a problem arises in that the capability for judging the categories degrades at the time of evaluation of input patterns different from the learning patterns.