Apparatus for and methods of inserting implants are disclosed wherein the apparatus includes a handle portion and a body portion attached to the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis. The body portion includes an outer tubular member fixed relative to the handle portion for rotation therewith about the longitudinal axis. The outer tube member has first implant engaging structure adjacent a distal end. An inner tubular member is disposed at least partially within the outer tubular member and is mounted for longitudinal motion relative to the outer tubular member. Second implant engaging structure is positioned adjacent a distal end of the inner tubular member. The body portion further includes an inner shaft, coaxially mounted at least partially within the inner tubular member for independent rotation relative to the inner and outer tubular members, the inner shaft having third implant engaging structure adjacent a distal end. In a method for inserting an implant having a hollow portion with a closed distal end and a removable cap, the first, second and third implant engaging structures are attached to the implant with at least one of the engaging structure attached to the removable cap and another of the engaging structure attached to the hollow portion. The implant is preferably preloaded with bone chips and/or bone growth inducing substances prior to attachment. Thereafter, the preloaded implant is inserted into the desired surgical location.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates generally to apparatus and methods for implant insertion. More particularly, to apparatus and methods for insertion of implants to facilitate fusion of adjacent bony structure.
2. Background of the Related Art
A large number of orthopedic procedures involve the insertion of either natural or prosthetic implants into bone or associated tissues. These procedures include, for example, ligament repair, joint repair or replacement, non-union fractures, facial reconstruction, spinal stabilization and spinal fusion. In a typical procedure, an insert, dowel or screw is inserted into a prepared bore formed in the bone or tissues to facilitate repair and healing. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No.: 5,470,334 to Ross et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,811 to Huebner; U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,403 to Lee et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,40,805 to Warren; U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,511 to Gatturna et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,020 to Vich.
Some implants are particularly configured with cavities and bores to facilitate bony ingrowth and enhance anchoring of the implant at the insertion site. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No.: 4,328,593 to Sutter et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,851 to Fox et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,915 to Brantigan. Implants in the form of fusion cages having internal cavities to receive bone growth stimulation materials such as bone chips and fragments are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.: 4,501,269 to Bagby; U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,740 to Ray et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,247 to Michaelson; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,307 to Kuslich et al. These types of implants are particularly well suited for intervertebral spinal fusion procedures necessitated by injury, disease or some degenerative disorder of the spinal disc. Subsequently, there may be progressive degeneration leading to mechanical instability between adjacent vertebrae necessitating direct fusion of the vertebrae while maintaining a pre-defined intervertebral space. This fusion may be accomplished by the insertion of one or more of the specialized implants as discussed above and also discussed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,373, incorporated herein by reference.
Both anterior (transabdominal) and posterior surgical approaches are used for interbody fusions of the lumbar spine. Fusions in the cervical area of the spine are primarily done using an anterior approach. Typically, an implant such as a plug, dowel, prosthesis or cage is inserted into a preformed cavity inside the interbody, interdiscal space. Since it is desirable in these procedures to promote a "bone to bone" bridge, connective tissue and at least a portion of the discal tissue is removed. Preferably, relatively deep cuts are made in the adjacent bones in order to penetrate into the softer, more vascularized cancellous region to facilitate bone growth across the implant.
When installing these specialized implants, an insertion tool is used to position the implant in the desired intervertebral location. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No.: 3,848,601 to Ma et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,269 to Bagby; U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,020 to Vich; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,915 to Brantigan. Once in position, the insertion tool is removed and, where the implant structure permits, bone chips or other bone growth inducing substances are packed into the implant in vivo. Subsequently, an end cap or other sealing structure is positioned to close the implant. See, for example, commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,740 to Ray et al. incorporated herein by reference.
Typical insertion tools use either a single implant engagement structure or, at most, two implant engagement structures to facilitate positioning of the implant. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,269 to Bagby, prongs are used to engage the implant. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,915 to Brantigan and U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,247 to Michaelson, a threaded rod and slot are used to engage the implant In U.S. Pat. No.: 4,961,740 to Ray et al.; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,489,308 and 5,489,307, both to Kuslich et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,838 to Bagby, a single central shaft is used. In all of these insertion tools, no structure is provided to permit the insertion tool to attach to an outer peripheral portion of the implant, either in vitro or in vivo. Further, these tools do not provide structure which separately engages both the implant and the implant closure, e.g. an end cap.
Accordingly, a need exists for an insertion tool which is capable of either inserting an implant preloaded with bone chips, etc. Such in vitro packing facilitates the surgical procedure because it is often time consuming and relatively difficult, especially for example in cervical applications, to pack the cage in vivo. It would also be advantageous if such insertion tool could be additionally used to insert/position an empty implant for subsequent in vivo packing and closure.

Apparatus and method for implant insertion


A method for manufacturing a laser diode using Group III nitride compound semiconductor comprising a buffer layer 2, an n+ layer 3, a cladding layer 4, an active layer 5, a p-type cladding layer 61, a contact layer 62, an SiO2 layer 9, an electrode 7 which is formed on the window formed in a portion of the SiO2 layer 9, and an electrode 8 which is formed on a portion of the n+ layer 3 by etching a portion of 4 layers from the contact layer 62 down to the cladding layer 4. One pair of opposite facets S of a cavity is formed by RIBE, and then the facets are etched by gas cluster ion beam etching using Ar gas. As a result, the facets S are flatted and the mirror reflection of the facets S is improved.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a group III nitride compound semiconductor laser diode (hereinafter xe2x80x9cLDxe2x80x9d). In particular, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a facet of a cavity of an LD.
2. Description of the Related Art
A light-emitting diode (LED) and a laser diode (LD) which emit blue light have been known, which comprise layers of gallium nitride group compound semiconductor (AlGaInN) formed on a sapphire substrate. A verticality and a parallelism of one pair of opposite facets of a cavity should be kept high to reflect and oscillate lights of an LD effectively. Although a cleavage is the best way to form one pair of opposite facets which has high verticality and parallelism, it is difficult to cleave the facets of the LD because the substrate and the layers are made of different materials. Accordingly, dry etching is used to form the facets as an alternative method of the cleavage.
However, the facets of the cavity formed by dry etching is damaged by ion and has a magnitude of surface roughness of 200 xc3x85. As a result, an optical reflectiveness of the facets is lowered and the oscillation threshold current density is heightened. In case that reflection films are formed on the facets of the cavity, the films cannot be formed accurately as designed because the facets of the cavity are rough. As a result, lights are scattered on the facets and the efficiency of confining emitted lights in an active layer is lowered.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve a mirror reflection of the one pair of opposite facets of a cavity of the LD, to improve the efficiency of confining lights by improving the optical reflectiveness, and to lower an oscillation threshold current density.
The present invention is related to a method for manufacturing a laser diode using Group III nitride compound semiconductor comprising the steps of forming layers comprising Group III nitride compound semiconductor on a substrate, dry-etching each of said layers to form one pair of opposite facets of a cavity, and further etching said dry-etched facets by gas cluster ion beam etching. As a result, the surface roughness of the facets of the cavity by dry etching is reduced by gas cluster ion beam etching, a mirror reflection of the facets is improved, the effect of confining lights between the opposite facets is increased, and an oscillation threshold current density of the LD is lowered.
A Group III nitride compound semiconductor should be preferably a material satisfies the formula AlxGayIn1xe2x88x92xxe2x88x92yN(0xe2x89xa6xxe2x89xa61, 0xe2x89xa6yxe2x89xa61, 0xe2x89xa6x+yxe2x89xa61) to obtain blue color short wave LD. When the semiconductor is formed by a cladding layer of Gax1In1xe2x88x92x1N (0xe2x89xa6x1xe2x89xa61) and an active layer of Gax2In1xe2x88x92x2N(0xe2x89xa6x2xe2x89xa61), output power of the blue color LD is improved. The facets are effectively formed by reactive ion beam etching (RIBE hereinafter) more than by dry etching. It is more preferable to use RIBE with Cl2 gas, because a higher etching rate can be obtained. Further, a rough layer on the facets formed by dry etching is removed effectively by gas cluster ion beam etching, and a mirror reflection of the facets is improved. The mirror reflection of the facets is improved to form the facets by gas cluster ion beam etching using inert gases like argon (Ar), helium (He), neon (Ne), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), radon (Rn), nitrogen (N2), and carbon dioxide (CO2) or reactive gases like hydrogen chloride (HCl), chlorine (Cl2), carbon chloride trifluoride (CClF3), bromine (Br), and hydrogen bromide (HBr). Then a wafer treated by above-mentioned process is divided into peaces of strip parallel to the facets of the cavity. Each of the strips are disposed with the facets of the cavity facing upside, and the facet is etched by cluster beam etching to improve the efficiency of a mirror reflection of the facet.

Method for manufacturing group III nitride compound semiconductor laser diodes

144, Fushimi-godoshukusha, Higashibugyo-cho, Fushimi-ku


An image reading apparatus sets an irradiation region below a fixed reading glass when light guide members diffuse light of LEDs upward so that the irradiation region corresponding to a significantly sagged portion in a main scanning direction is wider than that corresponding to portions on both sides of the significantly sagged portion, and sets a light intensity of a plurality of LEDs corresponding to the significantly sagged portion in the main scanning direction to be larger than that of a plurality of LEDs corresponding to the portions on both sides of the significantly sagged portion. Therefore, the degradation of the illuminance corresponding to the significantly sagged portion due to the pressed fixed reading glass can be prevented, and the entire document can be read with uniform reading precision.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, and an image forming apparatus having an apparatus body including the image reading apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along a moving direction K1 of a carriage 807 of an image reading apparatus 800 according to a comparative example. Light L emitted from an LED 801 of the carriage 807 passes through a light guide member 802 and illuminates a document surface (image surface) Gf of a document G placed on a fixed reading glass 803. The carriage 807 reads a two-dimensional image of the document surface Gf through line reading in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the moving direction K1 and movement in a sub-scanning direction that is the moving direction K1. The light L reflected from the document surface Gf is further reflected by a plurality of reflecting mirrors 804, and forms an image on a photoelectric conversion element 806 by an imaging optical unit 805. Then, the light L is converted into an electrical signal.
In general, the light L emitted from the LED 801 has such a light distribution characteristic that the light is bright at a center and becomes darker in positions away from the center. A light intensity obtained when only one LED 801 is used as a light source to illuminate the document is not sufficient to illuminate the document. Therefore, a plurality of LEDs 801 is necessary. A portion including the LEDs 801 and the light guide member 802 serves as a document illumination unit 808.
There is such an image reading apparatus that, when the LEDs 801 in the document illumination unit 808 are used as a light source for document illumination, the plurality of LEDs are arranged in an array form to prevent degradation of a peripheral light intensity due to the imaging optical unit 805 and this arrangement has been devised (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. S61-142857).
In this image reading apparatus, a large number of light emitting elements are arranged in a main scanning direction, and at least one of an emission intensity of each light emitting element and an arrangement pitch between the light emitting elements is changed so that an intensity of irradiation light from both end portions in the main scanning direction is larger than that from a central portion in the main scanning direction. As a result, in the image reading apparatus, a cosine-fourth-law characteristic of an imaging lens is corrected in an illuminance distribution on a document irradiation surface in advance.
In the image reading apparatus according to the comparative example, there is a problem in that, when the fixed reading glass 803 serving as a transparent member is deflected in a direction approaching the carriage 807, the illuminance is insufficient and uneven, and the entire document cannot be read with uniform reading precision.
As illustrated in FIG. 9, when a document GB having a great thickness and a binding portion, such as papers or a book, is placed on the fixed reading glass 803 by a user, there is a gap C between the document GB and the fixed reading glass 803. In order to reduce the gap C, the user strongly presses the document GB against the fixed reading glass 803 through intermediation of a pressing plate 847 for covering the fixed reading glass 803 (in a direction indicated by an arrow W). Then, a pressed portion of the fixed reading glass 803 may be elastically deformed downward from a flat position indicated by a solid line and may be deflected as indicated by a dashed line. When the fixed reading glass 803 is deflected downward, the distance between the fixed reading glass 803 and the carriage 807 is not uniform. Therefore, in the image reading apparatus according to the comparative example, there is a problem in that the illuminance is insufficient and uneven, and the entire document cannot be read with uniform reading precision.
Further, an image forming apparatus having an apparatus body including such an image reading apparatus has a problem in that a high-quality image cannot be formed.

Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus


An apparatus and a method for forming a sheath over an elongate member comprises an extruder that has an output to supply a melt material having a temperature. A heat exchanger connected downstream the output of the extruder removes heat from the melt material in a controlled manner. An elongate member, which may be a cable core, is supplied to a crosshead that is connected downstream the heat exchanger to surround the elongate member with a sheath of the melt material.

In the field of cable manufacturing, a cable core includes elements to transmit optical and/or electrical signals that may be optical waveguides or electrical wires. The optical waveguides may be grouped together and surrounded by a sheath of polymer material to form a buffer tube. For instance, one or more buffer tubes may be grouped together within a cable core. The cable core is surrounded by a cable jacket that may be made of polymer material. In order to manufacture, in a first step, the sheath of the buffer tube around the optical fibers and, in a second step, the jacket around the cable core, a process of providing a melt polymer material and disposing the polymer material at an elevated temperature around the optical fibers and the cable core, respectively, in a crosshead is a commonly used method. In general, extruding polymer materials over elongate members may be used in other technical fields as well.
In particular with optical fiber cable technology, the optical fibers are sensitive to thermal and/or mechanical stress so that the manufacturing process must be performed under controlled conditions to meet sensitivity requirements. In particular, the optical performance may suffer from excess process temperature.

Apparatus for forming a sheath over an elongate member, extruder system and method of manufacturing a fiber optic cable


Ink for ink jet recording containing water, a coloring material and a water-soluble organic solvent, containing 0.01 to 5 wt % of a polymer containing a carboxylic group or polymer having salt of a carboxylic group, having an acid value of 50 to 700; and 0.001 to 5 wt % of a surface active agent, wherein the foaming surface viscosity of the ink is 0.05 to 1.0 g/s. The polymer is a copolymer of hydrophobic .alpha., .beta.- unsaturated ethylene monomer and a monomer having a plurality of hydrophilic --COOM groups (wherein M is hydrogen, alkali metal, or an onium compound including ammonium ion, organic ammonium ion, phosphonium ion, sulfonium ion, oxonium ion, stibonium ion, stanonium and iodonium), a monomer having acid anhydride thereof or a monomer containing ester thereof. The ink for ink jet recording and the ink jet recording method according to the present invention provide an image having a high optical density, without unevenness and free from feathering and bleeding. Moreover, clogging of the nozzles and disorder in ink discharge can be prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to ink jet recording ink and an ink jet recording method, and more particularly to ink jet recording ink and an ink jet recording method which can provide an image having a high optical density without unevenness, feathering and bleeding, clogging of the nozzles and disorder in discharging ink.
2. Description of the Related Art
A so-called ink jet recording apparatus capable of recording an image on paper, cloth or a film by discharging liquid or molten solid ink through nozzles, slits, a porous film or the like has been energetically investigated because of advantages of small size, low cost and low noise. Recently, a multiplicity of ink jet recording apparatuses capable of performing a full color recording operation have been put on the market and widely used in the field of the recording apparatus, as well as black monochrome printer capable of realizing excellent print quality on so-called plain paper, such as a report sheet and a copy sheet.
Ink for use in the ink jet recording apparatus is mainly composed of solvent, a coloring material and additives. The ink for use in the ink jet recording operation is required to satisfy:
(1) An image having a high optical density and a high resolution without unevenness and free from feathering and bleeding and fogging can be obtained on a paper sheet. PA0 (2) The leading end of a nozzle must not be clogged with dried ink to provide good discharge responsiveness and ink discharging stability. PA0 (3) The ink must quickly be dried on the paper sheet. PA0 (4) The formed image must have excellent fastness. PA0 (5) Excellent storage stability can be obtained for a long time.
As for the requirement (1), a variety of means have been developed. For example, a method has been disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 63-132083 in which a solid material, composed of polyethylene glycol, fatty acid and its salt, having a molecular weight of 300 or greater and arranged such that the viscosity ratio of 10% solution to 30% solution is 1:3 or higher, is used to raise the viscosity of ink so as to prevent feathering. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,803, a bleed preventing method has been suggested in which a colloid substance, having a high molecular weight of 10,000 or more, composed of alginic acid, carboxymethylcellulose, carrageenan and the like is used. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 6-136306, a method has been suggested in which a polymeric substance having a molecular weight of 3000 to 50000 is used to make the surface tension and the viscosity of ink to be specific values so as to obtain satisfactory fixation characteristic and prevent feathering and bleeding.
Although a variety of contrivances have been suggested to prevent image feathering and bleeding, a method capable of satisfying requirements when used to record an image on a recording medium, which easily causes feathering and bleeding, has not been obtained. Moreover, a method capable of satisfying all of the other requirements which ink for ink jet recording must satisfy has not been obtained.

Ink jet recording ink and ink jet recording method


There is provided an eyepiece lens which has a long length from an image display surface to a first lens, a high observation magnification, and a large apparent field of view. An eyepiece lens used to observe an image displayed on the image display surface includes a first lens with a positive refractive power, a second lens with a negative refractive power, and a third lens with a positive refractive power sequentially from the image display surface side to the observation side. The lens surface of the first lens on the image display surface side has a convex shape on the image display surface side. The lens surface of the second lens on the observation side has a concave shape on the observation side. The focal length of the eyepiece lens, the focal length of the lens surface, and the focal length of the lens surface are set appropriately.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an eyepiece lens and an observation apparatus having the same, and is suitable for observing an image displayed on an image display element in an electronic viewfinder used in, e.g., a video camera, still camera, or broadcasting camera.
Description of the Related Art
An electronic viewfinder used in an image pickup apparatus (camera) such as a video camera or still camera has conventionally used an eyepiece lens to enlarge and observe an image displayed on a liquid crystal image display. To easily view the image display surface in the electronic viewfinder, it is necessary to enlarge the image display surface such as a liquid crystal image display, or increase the observation magnification of the eyepiece lens.
However, a large image display surface upsizes the viewfinder. To downsize the overall viewfinder, the observation magnification of the eyepiece lens is preferably increased. To increase the observation magnification of the eyepiece lens, the positive refractive power of the eyepiece lens needs to be high. At this time, if the eyepiece lens is constituted by only lenses (positive lenses) with a positive refractive power, axial chromatic aberration and lateral chromatic aberration are greatly generated, and it becomes difficult to correct these aberrations.
To improve the performance at the time of observation, aberrations including chromatic aberration need to be corrected using a lens (negative lens) with a negative refractive power. An eyepiece lens constituted by three lenses including negative and positive lenses has conventionally been known.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-65265 has disclosed an eyepiece lens which is constituted by a positive lens, positive lens, and negative lens sequentially from the image display surface side to the observation side (eye point side), and has a long interval from the image display surface to the first lens. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-221091 has disclosed an eyepiece lens which is constituted by a positive lens, negative lens, and positive lens sequentially from the image display surface side to the observation side, has a high enlargement ratio, and is compact in the entire system.

Eyepiece lens and observation apparatus having the same


A rubber composition and a tire using the rubber composition utilizing a functionalized silica dry precipitated silica with a specific surface area in the range of 100 to 300 m2/gm treated with a plurality of silanes coupling agents to form a wet polymer silica masterbatch, then blending the masterbatch with a latex rubber component that includes a styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber or a blend of the styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber and another conjugated diene base rubber using a plurality of coupling agents simultaneously.

A need exists for filler that can be easily incorporated into styrene-butadiene during an emulsion process.
A need exists for a silica filler that provides mixing and performance benefits as well as a resulting rubber formulation with reduced sulfur content.
A need exists for a rubber composition for use in tires formulated using an emulsion styrene butadiene rubber process with a silica masterbatch having multiple coupling agents simultaneously.
The present embodiments meet these needs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Functionalized silica for silica wet masterbatches and styrene butadiene rubber compositions


A short protection circuit for protecting a power switch. The short protection circuit has a transistor and compares a differential voltage between a first end of the power switch and a second end of the power switch to a threshold voltage of the transistor only when the power switch is in an ON state; and wherein when the differential voltage is higher than the threshold voltage, the short protection circuit turns off the power switch.

Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS) is widely used for converting an input voltage into an output voltage and supplying a load, due to its many advantages such as high efficiency, high current carrying ability and so on. The output voltage is usually regulated by controlling a duty cycle of a power switch where the duty cycle is the ratio of the on time in a cycle period. SMPS comprises many topologies such as boost converter, buck converter, flyback converter, etc.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art boost converter for converting an input voltage Vin at an input port IN into an output voltage Vout at an output port OUT, wherein the output voltage Vout is higher than the input voltage Vin. The output voltage Vout is regulated under the switching action of a power switch Q which is coupled between a switching node SW and a reference ground GND. Boost converter further comprises an inductor L1 coupled between input port IN and switching node SW, a rectifier D1 coupled between switching node SW and output port OUT, and an output capacitor Gout coupled between output port OUT and reference ground GND. However, when power switch Q is in ON state and if switching node SW is electrically shorted to input voltage Vin, current flowing through power switch Q would increase dramatically and power switch Q would be damaged. Thus, a short protection circuit is required to protect power switch Q from being damaged when switching node SW is shorted to a high voltage rail such as input port IN.
Conventional short protection circuit normally uses a current amplifier for sensing the current flowing through power switch Q and a current comparator for comparing the current signal with a maximum current reference. When the current signal rises above the maximum current reference, power switch Q is turned off. However, the current comparator is required to have high accuracy which would have a long response delay. Due to the delay of the current sense amplifier, the delay of the current comparator and the other delays, the current flowing through power switch Q at the time when power switch Q is turned off is much higher than the maximum current reference. And power switch Q would be damaged.
Accordingly, a short protection circuit is required to at least address one or some of the above deficiencies.

Short protection circuit for power switch and associated protection method


Briefly, one preferred embodiment of the present invention (10) is an extension handle (26) for a golf bag (12) having a top opening (19), and carrying straps (22). The extension handle (26) includes one or more brackets (28) attached to the golf bag (12) near the top opening (19), the brackets (28) having attachment points (48) for attachment of the golf bag straps (22), these attachment points (48) extending beyond the top opening (19) of the bag (12). The extension handle (26) includes a handle (36) attached to the bracket or brackets (28). Also a golf bag (10) having an extension handle (26).

Golf is a game in which obtaining exercise is one of many goals, but in which its practitioners generally like to avoid discomfort. As golf can be practiced by people of many ages and physical conditions, it is important that carrying the golf clubs around the course not be perceived as burdensome. In an effort to make carrying the bag of golf clubs as easy as possible, many types of straps have been produced to improve the comfort of the user. The first types of straps used were generally single straps that extended from the bottom or foot of the golf bag to somewhere around the top of the bag. This was of course an improvement over carrying the bag by hand, and left the user's hands free.
The dual or double strap system has several advantages over the single strap because the weight is divided between the two straps, thus causing less stress on each of the shoulders. Several U.S. patents have been involved with this dual strap concept. Among them are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,038,984, 5,042,703 and 5,042,704 to Izzo, U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,205 to Steurer and U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,778 to Jones. (X strap by Reimers) Each of these makes an attempt to improve the balance and/or weight distribution of the golf bag to improve the user of the user who is carrying the bag. Crucial considerations in the balance of the bag are the placement of the strap mounting points.
The stability of the bag as the user walks about is also of concern. A bag that bounces or swings excessively is undesirable, as this type of motion can be very tiring, as well as possibly annoying. Users of prior golf bags often are seen holding the ends of the bag to minimize motion. This of course defeats the objective of allowing the user to have his hands free while the straps carry the bag. One cause of this swinging motion and accompanying fatigue is the misalignment of the center of gravity of the bag compared to the center of gravity of the user. This is illustrated in FIG. 2 (prior art) and is partially caused by the positioning of the attachment points of the straps on the bag. This misplacement of the center of gravity of the bag could be corrected by using a longer bag, but this would increase weight and "swallow" clubs with short handles instead of leaving both short and long clubs visible.
Golfers routinely mount and dismount their golf bags from their backs in order to access their clubs. As the bag is slung across their backs in a generally horizontal orientation, it is the common practice for the golfers to reach around behind themselves to grasp whatever portion of the bag is reachable by their hands to swing the bag into an upright position while they shrug their way out of the straps. Bags are generally set up so that the opening at the bag's top is located on the right hand side of a right-handed user, so that the right hand may reach back and grasp a portion of the bag. This is usually done by using the "goose neck grip", as it has been called, to insert the user's fingers into the bag opening and then pinch with the thumb to grasp the upper portion of the golf bag. This grip is shown in FIG. 3 (prior art), and involves an awkward and potentially painful contortion where the user must pull his elbow as far as possible behind him, arch his wrist to a nearly painful degree, and then attempt to grasp the bag's opening and support it, which may weigh as much as 35 lbs when loaded, in this goose neck grip, while struggling out of the straps.
Additionally, the goose neck grip requires that the user insert their fingers into the upper compartment of the bag when grasping it, which may be difficult if this compartment is already filled with clubs. In this case, the user may have to grab the straps for guidance, turning the dismounting process into a two-handed operation, with additional contortions. This is even more awkward in cases where the bag has a built-in stand which the user must activate, as the user may then have to temporarily stand the bag vertically, re-grip it and then tilt it and push downward to activate the stand.
Thus there is a need for a golf bag which is more stable, involving very little swing or bounce, which distributes the weight of the bag on the shoulders well and has improved balance. There is also a need for a golf bag which is easier to mount and dismount than those currently in use.

Extension handle and golf bag with extension handle


A steering angle detection device includes plural control units and plural steering angle sensors. Each control unit is configured to transmit steering angle information related to a steering angle of a vehicle to an external device and transmit and receive information mutually therebetween. Each steering angle sensor is provided in correspondence to each control unit and configured to output a sensor signal corresponding to a detection value of a change in the steering angle to the corresponding control unit. One of the control units transmits, as a transmission control unit, the steering angle information to the external device at one transmission timing.

Conventionally, a steering device for controlling a steering mechanism that steers steered wheels is known. For example, two steering angle sensors which detect a steering angle are provided in such a steering device.
Detection values of two steering angle sensors are output to a steering control device and a reaction force control device, respectively. In case of a plurality of independent steering angle sensors, errors occur in the detection values due to detection errors of sensor elements, deviations in detection timing and the like.

Steering angle detection device and electric power steering device using same


System with a computer for computer-aided creation of an application program, wherein the computer contains a software module, a display device, and an input device. The system has a gravimetric measuring instrument for execution of the application program, and a communications link. The computer executes the following steps:                Representation, selection, and linkage of several application modules on the display device;        Conversion of the selected application modules and the link into an invalidated application program;        Validation of the application program by applying a prescribed rule-set, wherein        i) the application program is released for use if the validation is completed successfully, or        ii) computer-aided adaptation of the application program with renewed computer-aided validation is made possible if the validation was not successful.

The invention relates to gravimetric measuring instruments, and to systems with a gravimetric measuring instrument, and to the creation of application programs for execution by a gravimetric measuring instrument. Particularly affected are electronic balances and/or scales which are linked via a network connection to a network and a computer, or which can be linked directly to a computer via a serial interface, USB, or wireless connection.
Normally, balances and/or scales, as they are used in research, development, and production, are realized as independent devices which require only an electric power supply to be capable of use.
There are electronic balances and/or scales which have a network interface and can be operated in an internetwork. Normally, for this purpose, the balance or scale is fitted with a simple RS-232 interface. The possibilities afforded by connection to a network are not exhausted by any means. Applications are now being developed which increasingly make use of connection to a network.
In laboratories, particularly in industrial manufacturing, there are numerous processes which require exact reproducibility of all process-steps. For this purpose, exact and unmodifiable documentation is an absolute necessity. Many institutions and companies have either created their own rules (called, for example, "Standard Operating Procedures") for defining and documenting the processes in their laboratories or manufacturing plants, or they use sets of rules which are laid down, for example, in the form of standards or legal regulations.
An example of a software-based solution which supports the creation of "Standard Operating Procedures" (SOP) is described in European Patent Application 02100040.1 with the title "Programmable Device with a Gravimetric Measuring Instrument, Method of Programming such a Device, and Software for Executing this Method". This application was submitted on Jan. 18, 2002 in the name of the company Mettler Toledo GmbH, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
A further example of a software which allows definition of certain SOPs is the "Balance Data System" (BDS) of the company Labtronics Inc. of Canada. This is a software which supports and simplifies use of scales and balances. The software guides the user through the process, and ensures that the SOPs are complied with. Details of BDS can be found, for example, in the brochure "BDS Balance Data System" of Labtronics Inc., which at the time of the application can be ordered from http://www.balanceinfo.com/bds.htm. However, associated with BDS is the disadvantage that data communication between the computer on which BDS is installed, and the gravimetric measuring instrument, must be installed at all times; alternatively, connected to the measuring instrument can be a simpler instrument such as a PDA, on which a minimum part of BDS is installed, and which serves as a storage buffer for the data, the latter being then transported to the BDS computer via a different route. The BDS only allows definition and execution of a closed sequential procedure, and therefore has only limited flexibility. Depending on the configuration and application, the user must alternately make inputs to the computer and to the scale/balance, which is a hindrance.
Especially in the pharmaceutical, food, and chemical field, as well as in the medical and health fields, adherence to prescribed procedures and rules is important. Under certain circumstances, for example, the approval of a medicine, or the certification of industrial procedures, depends on whether the respective institution or company is able to guarantee adherence to prescribed procedures and rules. Aspects which are of importance in this connection are: use management (e.g. the assignment of rights of use); access security; identification and authentication of users; audit trail (e.g. in the form of a record of all relevant steps); change management (e.g. in the form of a record of all changes); and central data storage, to quote a few examples.
A known example is the so-called Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 11, which is increasingly followed in the USA and other countries.
There are, for example, so-called laboratory information management systems (LIMS) which allow all steps and operations to be documented meticulously.

Programmable gravimetric measuring instrument, method for creating an application software, system with a programmable gravimetric measuring instrument, and software for executing the method for creating an application software


The invention deals with a process for providing a cellulosic material, such as a fabric or a paper and pulp product, with improved strength and/or shape-retention and/or anti-wrinkling properties, the process comprising contacting, in an aqueous medium, the cellulosic material with a xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (XET).

Today, virtually all grades of paper, cardboard and the like are produced from aqueous pulp slurry. Typically, the pulp is suspended in water, mixed with various additives and then passed to equipment in which the paper, cardboard etc. is formed, pressed and dried. Irrespective of whether mechanically produced pulp, semi-chemically produced pulp, unbleached chemical pulp or pulp made from recycled fibres (i.e. pulp prepared from recycled paper, rags and the like) is employed, it is often necessary to add various strengthening agents to the pulp in order to obtain an end product having adequate strength properties. In the case of paper and board for use in packaging and the like, the tensile strength and tear strength under dry and wet conditions are of primary importance; moreover, notably in the case of certain grades of cardboard (e.g. so-called unbleached board for the manufacture of corrugated cardboard boxes for packaging, transport and the like), the compression strength of the material is often also an important factor.
Among the strengthening agents used today there are a number of environmentally undesirable substances which it would be desirable to replace by more environmentally acceptable materials. As examples hereof may be mentioned epichlorohydrin, urea-formaldehyde and melamine-formaldehyde.
The industry is also looking for environmental friendly methods for increasing the strength and/or the shape-retention and/or the anti-wrinkling properties of cotton textiles. Today various cross-linking technologies are in use:
DMU technology, in which dimethyl urea and a catalyst are used; this technology has the disadvantage that formaldehyde is released; PA0 DMDHEU technology, in which dimethylol dihydroxyethylene urea and a catalyst are used; this technology has the disadvantage that some formaldehyde is released+the cellulosic material becomes stiff; PA0 BTCA technology, in which butane tetracarboxylic acid and a catalyst are used; this technology has the disadvantage that the formed ester has low durability+the process is expensive.
Thus there is a need in the industry to find a more environmental friendly process for improving the strength and/or shape-retention and/or anti-wrinkling properties of various cellulosic materials; said process should preferably at the same time give a product with a high durability.

Use of xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (XET)


The invention relates to an electrical connector assembly, comprising an electrical connector and a cable connected to the electrical connector, which each have at least one conductor pair for transferring a differential signal, wherein the cable has a first section and the electrical connector has a second section, in which second section the conductor pair has plug contacts, and wherein the conductors have a first mutual distance (X) in the first section and a second mutual distance (Y) in the second section, which second mutual distance is greater than the first distance, wherein an intermediate section, in which the distance of the conductors of a conductor pair increases toward a plugging end of the electrical connector, is formed between the first section and the second section, wherein the conductor pair is surrounded by a conductor pair shield in the first section and/or in the second section, which conductor pair shield shields the conductor pair from external electromagnetic influences, and wherein the conductors are surrounded by a conductor shield in at least part of the intermediate section, which conductor shield shields the conductors from external electromagnetic influences and from electromagnetic influences of the other conductor. The invention further relates to a method for signal transfer.

DE 202015000753 U1 describes a connector arrangement comprising a sleeve part. In this case, a pair of cores for transmitting a differential signal runs in a cable, wherein the cores of the pair of cores are at a first mutual distance in the interior of the cable. Starting from the sheathed cable section, the two cores of the pair of cores run away from one another in the direction of the connector in an intermediate section until they enter a guide section of the connector in which they are at a second mutual distance which is greater than the first mutual distance.
US 2007/259568 A1 describes a connector arrangement comprising a connector and a cable which is connected to the connector, which connector and cable each have at least one pair of conductors for transmitting a differential signal, wherein the cable has a first section and the connector has a second section in which the pair of conductors has electric contacts, and wherein the conductors are at a first mutual distance (X) in the first section and are at a second mutual distance (Y), which is greater than the first distance, in the second section, wherein an intermediate section, in which the distance between the conductors of a pair of conductors is increased in the direction of a interface-side end of the connector, is formed between the first section and the second section.
WO 2012/078824 describes a connector arrangement comprising a connector and a cable which is connected to the connector, which connector and cable each have at least one pair of conductors for transmitting a differential signal, wherein the cable has a first section and the connector has a second section in which the pair of conductors has electric contacts.
Owing to the change in distance between the cores or conductors, the differential impedance of said cores or conductors changes, as a result of which an interference point can occur.
This is a state for which improvement is sought.

ROSENBERGER HOCHFREQUENZTECHNIK GMBH & Co. KG


The present disclosure provides a method and a device for controlling a downlink optical signal in a passive optical network, and a computer-readable storage medium. The method includes: monitoring power of a downlink optical signal in a process of receiving the downlink optical signal; and adjusting an attenuation value of a variable optical attenuator at an ONU side according to the power of the downlink optical signal until the power of the downlink optical signal falls within a preset power range. The variable optical attenuator at the ONU side is located between an optical splitter and an ONU.

At present, the technology of Passive Optical Network (PON) is being continuously updated. However, as a single-wavelength modulation rate increases, receiver sensitivity decreases, resulting in a decrease in link power budget. Since an Optical Distribution Network (ODN) cannot be changed, how to increase the link power budget has become a problem which must be solved.
It is one of the effective solutions to the above problem to add an amplifier in a PON to increase transmission optical power of a transmitter or to increase receiving optical power of a receiver. For example, an optical amplifier (OA) may be added at an optical line terminal (OLT) side to increase transmission optical power. However, in a PON system, attenuation of links from different optical network units (ONUs) to an OLT differs, with a maximum difference of 15 dB. In a case that an optical amplifier is added at the OLT side to increase power of a downlink optical signal, when an ONU, whose initial receiving optical power is minimum, is in an appropriate receiving optical power range, a receiving optical power of an ONU, whose initial receiving optical power is maximum, may exceed a damage threshold, resulting in damage to an optical receiver. It can be seen that there is a risk of amplifying a downlink optical signal only by a fixed gain.

Method and device for controlling downlink optical signal, and computer-readable storage medium


A sub-miniature valve which provides an actuator of shape memory alloy film coupled so as to move a poppet adjacent to a valve port. The shape memory alloy film actuator is thermally cycled through its phase change transition temperature, resulting in either a contraction or elongation of the actuator. This causes the poppet to move relative to the port and either increase or decrease fluid flow. The shape memory alloy film is biased toward its deformed position when cooled below its transition temperature. The valve can be electrically operated with commonly available voltages, including those used for micro-electronics. The relatively large forces and displacements achieved using the shape memory alloy film provide less restriction and greater flow than in other similarly sized valves.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to valves for the control of gas or liquid fluids. More particularly, the invention relates to miniature valves such as microvalves which are electrically actuated using the shape memory properties of certain alloy thin films.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art includes the Busch et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,914 entitled Shape-Memory Alloy Micro-Actuator which is assigned to TiNi Alloy Company, the assignee of the present invention. The Busch et al. patent describes initial work performed by the inventors which made thin film shape memory alloys possible. The patent discloses a method for producing small actuator mechanisms using thin film shape memory alloys, specifically for moving elements with respect to one another.
In the prior art the miniaturization and consolidation of electronics and mechanisms has become a necessary characteristic of technological progress. Although the electronics industry has been very successful in producing integrated circuits and microprocessors on a micrometer scale, mechanical devices must also follow suit. One immediate need for millimeter size mechanisms is in the field of fluid flow control. Extremely small valves and pumps are desired in such fields as gas and liquid chromatography, biomedical research, medical instruments, robotics, building HVAC systems and factory automation equipment. The present invention provides a new design which meets many of these commercial needs.
The smallest electrically operated and commercially available valves, until recently, were solenoid-driven devices occupying several cubic centimeters. Scaling to smaller dimensions by means of solenoids, or electromagnetic technology in general, is highly unlikely because of the difficulty in obtaining sufficient actuation force in scale-down as well as in the complexities of manufacturing. New actuation means are being developed in the prior art to make millimeter size microvalves feasible.
One such approach described in J. H. Jerman "Electrically-Activated, Normally-Closed Diaphragm Valves," International Conference on Solid-State Sensors and Actuators (IEEE #91CH 2817-5), Montreux, Switzerland, Jun. 24-27, 1991 and J. H. Jerman, "Electrically-Activated Micromachined Diaphragm Valves, Technical Digest" IEEE Solid-State Sensors and Activator Workshop, Hilton Head, N.C., USA, pp. 65-69, 1990 uses a silicon membrane as a poppet, but it is actuated by means of differential thermal expansion. Thin film resistors are embedded onto the surface of a bimetallic membrane. When the membrane is heated, it deflects toward or away from a valve seat. Such a valve approach has many of the same disadvantages described above. Thus, the stroke of the membrane is severely limited, thereby diminishing its tolerance for small particles in the flow stream. Although this design does not have as much mass-to-heat ratio, it still has a relatively slow time constant. Fabrication of the actuator is also complicated, requiring silicon, metal, resistor implantation and circuitry.
Another approach is similar to a switch actuator suggested by U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,824. In this third approach, a membrane is deformed by air against a valve seat.
A third approach, described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,943,032, 4,824,073 and 4,821,997 takes advantage of special fluids which expand upon heating. The expansion is used to deform a membrane toward an opposing valve seat, thereby closing the valve. These devices have several disadvantages. First, the fluid must be hermetically sealed in a cavity behind the working membrane. Any leaks or change in cavity volume will reduce the performance of the valve. Second, because these valves are fabricated in silicon, which is the method of choice for microdevices, the working membrane must also be made of material with limited elastic strain capability. This means that the valve displacement, limited by a tolerable elastic strain of approximately 0.1%, is very small relative to the membrane diameter. To achieve sufficient "poppet" stroke, the valve assembly must be relatively large. Further, the inherently limited distance between membrane and valve seat diminishes the valve's ability to handle flow streams that contain small particles. Third, the time constant for such a valve would be very long because the heat used to expand the fluid must be dissipated before the next cycle can begin. This problem is exacerbated by heat capacity of the working fluid. Fourth, such a design enables only a normally open valve. Most commercial applications prefer normally closed valves.
The need has therefore been recognized for a microvalve which obviates many of the disadvantages of the prior art devices, and in particular which operates with lower power consumption, faster response time, is capable of linear proportional control and higher flow rates, and which is simple in construction and can be easily manufactured.

Shape memory alloy film actuated microvalve


An apparatus being connectable as a latch stage into a asynchronous latch chain comprises a reception interface, wherein upon receipt of the first signal at the reception interface, the apparatus switches to one of the first power saving mode and a second power saving mode, depending on the second signal at the reception interface and wherein the apparatus offers a first power consumption and a first wake-up time in the first power saving mode, and a second power consumption and a second wake-up time in the second power saving mode.

Modern computer systems offer a significant amount of computing power, as well as a large memory capacity, which enables fast and highly complex computations, as well as fast handling and processing of data. However, in modern computer systems, a key issue is the power management and power consumption. For instance, in the field of mobile computing, the available power is limited by the accumulators and/or the batteries available. Moreover, in the field of stationary computers, power consumption is a great issue, as the power dissipated has to be transported away from the components preventing overheating of the respective circuitries and components.
Many computer systems and components of computer systems offer a power saving mode, in which components of the computer system are turned off or shut down. An example for a computer system or a subsystem of a computer system offering such a power saving mode is the memory system, which is employed in personal computers (PC), servers and workstations. One memory system employed in the mentioned computer systems is referred to as the so-called fully buffered DIMM system or a FBDIMM system (FBDIMM=Fully Buffered Dual Inline Memory Module; DIMM=Dual Inline Memory Module).
Today's concept, especially for high-speed interfaces in FBDIMM systems, however, offers only a single mode to reduce the power consumption of the system. Therefore, a compromise between the power saving and the time needed to switch back from the power saving mode to an active mode, or a normal mode of operation, has to be made since this time is crucial for the system performance.
In other words, measures taken to reduce the power consumption exhibits a strong negative influence on the performance of the computer system, especially the computing power and the available and effective bandwidth of bus structures, which are required for the transport of data between different components of the computer system, for instance, between a processor and the memory. In this context analog circuits used in interfaces exhibit, for example, a large power saving potential but suffer from the fact that they need a long time to recover again since, for instance, control loops and other feedback loops are needed to reach and maintain a stable working point and a stable working condition, before these interfaces can provide a reliable and fast data communication between the components attached.

Apparatus and method for switching an apparatus to a power saving mode


An insertable calibration device for a programmable tester apparatus comprises at least one calibration unit and a control unit. The progammable tester apparatus is configured to test at least one electronic device with electronic circuits. The progammable tester apparatus comprises a holding device, contact-making devices for the electronic device, and tester channels for coupling in signals to the electronic device. The calibration unit is connected to a first tester channel to be calibrated. The calibration unit is configured to detect a calibration signal edge of a calibration signal that is transmitted by the tester apparatus at a certain transmission instant, to detect a reference signal edge of a reference signal that is transmitted by the tester apparatus via a second tester channel at a reference instant, to compare the instants at which the two signal edges arrive, and to output a comparison result. The control unit evaluates the comparison results and can be used to program the transmission instants in such a way that the instants at which the calibration signal edge and the reference signal edge arrive, for the compensation of signal propagation time differences, are substantially identical. The calibration device has the same form and connections as the electric device and is insertable into the holding device with an accurate fit instead of the electronic device.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a calibration device for a programmable tester apparatus that can be inserted into a holding.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic circuits, which are used for example for integrated circuits in chips or electronic components, have to be tested before being shipped to the customer. This is done using tester devices which couple in predefined signal sequences to the circuits under test, or the device under test having the electronic circuits, and register and evaluate the corresponding reaction of the devices under test.
In the case of memory testers, which for example test memory chips with regard to their functionality, essentially rising and falling signal edges with a specific temporal succession are passed to a memory chip under test and corresponding signals are coupled out from the memory chip and analysed. A tester arrangement of this type is generally provided with a number of bidirectional tester channels that are led via corresponding adapter sockets to the device under test, here the corresponding memory chip. A tester channel is understood hereinafter to be the means by which test signals are passed to the device and, in the case of bidirectional embodiment, signals also pass from the device to the tester.
In order to be able to test modern, fast memory chips, in particular, synchronization of the many different tester channels by means of which signal edges are coupled into the device under test is very important. In order to test memory accesses, by way of example, rising and falling signal edges have to be applied simultaneously to a specific number of data connections of a memory chip under test. In order that the respective test signal edges arrive simultaneously at the device under test, it is necessary, in the context of test signal or test signal edge generation, to take account of the signal propagation times through cable connections, test sockets, propagation times through to the connecting elements to the connection pins of the device under test in the definition, at the tester end, of the instants at which respective signal edges are generated.
FIG. 4 shows by way of example, an arrangement for testing electronic devices. In this case, a programmable tester device is provided, having a tester mainframe TMF, for generating test signals that are passed via tester channels TKN and holding and contact-making means TK, HFM, DSA, S to a device under test DUT.
In this case, in generally known tester arrangements, the device under test DUT is inserted into a socket S, which is in turn mounted on a device socket adapter DSA. The connection between the actual test head TK, having the driver electronics and comparators for the individual tester channels TKN, and the device socket adapter DSA is effected by a so-called HiFix HFM, which keeps a cabling K ready. In order to take account as far as possible of the entire signal path between the tester mainframe TMF with the test head TK and the device under test DUT in the calibration of the tester channels TKN, various solutions have been proposed in the past.
In a procedure according to the so-called autocalibration AutoCal, a calibration unit (not illustrated here) with drivers and comparators for each tester channel is placed on to the test head TK. It is then possible, through comparison of the arriving signals at a calibration unit of this type, to determine at least the signal propagation time difference between tester channels TKN in the test head TK itself and to compensate for these differences through programming of the tester mainframe. In a procedure according to AutoCal it is not possible, however, to take account of influences through the cabling K in the HiFix HFM, which is required in the actual memory test. A further disadvantage is that docking the calibration unit to the test head TK is time-consuming and thus delays a subsequent tester run. Furthermore, AutoCal affords only low accuracy for the calibration.
In a calibration according to SBCal the device socket adapters DSA have to be replaced by manufactured calibration socket adapters CSA which short-circuit groups of tester channels TKN or cables K of the HiFix with one another. It is thus possible, through suitable programming PRG of the tester mainframe TMF, to detect the signal propagation time by transmitting signal edges into the HiFix HFM and detecting the corresponding signal on the assigned short-circuited tester channel, a propagation time through to the device socket adapter and to compensate for it through suitable programming.
Although SBCal achieves calibration through to the HiFix plane, the calibration outlay as a result of the removal of the device socket adapters and the devices under test is high. Moreover, influences on the signal propagation time within the sockets S and the device socket adapter DSA cannot be taken into account here.
In the case of so-called HiCal, the sockets S are removed from the device socket adapters DSA and the corresponding contacts between device socket adapter DSA and socket S are tapped by means of a robot. This external robot thus measures signals such as would be coupled into the socket S during a test method. By means of the external evaluation in a robot, the tester mainframe TMF can again be manually programmed in such a way that signals coupled into the tester channels TKN arrive simultaneously at least at the device socket adapter DSA. However, the influences of the sockets S on the signal propagation times are left out of consideration in the case of HiCal as well.
The already known possibilities for calibrating the tester channels thus have a series of disadvantages. In comparison with carrying out the test method on the device under test, it is necessary for the signal paths to be altered during the calibration. Additional tester hardware is required for the known calibration methods. Compared with an actual test cycle of the devices, it is necessary to alter the set-up for the calibration, which is time-consuming.


The present invention is a method and apparatus for providing a pseudo random sequence for a spread spectrum system that prevents interception and provides real estate and power consumption efficiency. A pseudo random sequence may be created in real-time by associating a pseudo random sequence of a channel location of the carrier frequency at an instant in time. For example, the entire band of the spread spectrum system may be scanned to detect a channel with a low received signal strength. The location of the channel, or the actual frequency of the channel, could be associated with a particular pseudo random sequence to create a hop set for frequency hopping. Additionally, the location of a characteristic of the spread spectrum system, such as a noise characteristic, could be utilized to determine a content of a pseudo random sequence.

Wireless communications have become popular as a reliable and cost-effective alternative to hard-wire communication transfer. Along with infrared and microwave radio, spread spectrum technology is employed in many wireless communication systems. Spread spectrum is a type of modulation that scatters data transmission across an available frequency band in a pseudo-random pattern. Thus, spread spectrum employs a signal resistant to noise, interference, and eavesdropping. Additionally, spread spectrum is an efficient way to use radio waves as multiple users may share radio frequencies at the same time without interfering with each other.
In a spread spectrum signal, a modulated carrier is further modulated by a spreading code that spreads the signal over a larger bandwidth. This may be accomplished through a direct sequence system, frequency hopping, and time hopping. Direct sequence and frequency hopping systems utilize pseudo random sequences to spread a signal across the entire bandwidth. Direct sequence utilizes a pseudo random sequence to encode transmitted digital data to randomize the output spectrum wherein frequency hopping utilizes a pseudo random sequence to randomly alter the center frequency of the carrier from a set of frequencies.
The employment of pseudo random sequences makes spread spectrum appear wide band and noise-like. This characteristic is advantageous because it provides intercept prevention. Spread spectrum signals are difficult to detect on narrow band equipment because the signal's energy is spread over a bandwidth many times greater than the information bandwidth. The utilization of a pseudo random sequence is further advantageous because a transmitter and receiver may each execute the same pseudo random sequence to aid in the synchronization of multiple users.
A drawback associated with conventional schemes for generating pseudo random sequences known to the art is the ability of an eavesdropper to intercept the random sequence. For example, a potential eavesdropper may effectively learn a hop set created from the pseudo random sequence for a frequency hopping spread spectrum system by measuring the time between control point beacons on separate channels. As a result, an eavesdropper may have the capability of intercepting spread spectrum signals upon determining the pseudo random sequence.
Another disadvantage to utilization of pseudo random sequences is the requirement of additional hardware or processor operation to generate the pseudo random sequences. Hardware random number generators require the use of a resistor and detection equipment designed to measure the noise present across the resistor. Other types of hardware random number generators may include shift registers and logic circuitry. Thus, hardware random number generators require additional components that add cost and occupy chip real estate on a spread spectrum radio. Software random number generators utilize a program of instructions executed by a microprocessor. The microprocessor performs multiple iterations of an algorithm to generate a pseudo random sequence. This requires additional processor action which increases power consumption. Spread spectrum technology is frequently employed in remote, battery-powered devices in which space and power consumption is restricted. Consequently, a method and apparatus for generating a pseudo random number for a spread spectrum system that prevents interception and provides real estate and power consumption efficiency is necessary.


A gaming system including one or more community game triggering events which function to both: (i) trigger a play of a community game and (ii) determine which players participate in the triggered community game. If a community game triggering event occurs, the gaming system causes a player playing a primary game associated with the occurrence of the community game triggering event to participate in a play of a community game. The gaming system additionally causes zero, one or more other players (i.e., players different from the player playing the primary game associated with the occurrence of the community game triggering event) to also participate in the play of the community game. The gaming system determines which other players participate in the play of the community game based on the specific community game triggering event which occurred.

Gaming machines which provide players awards in primary or base games are well known. Gaming machines generally require the player to place or make a wager to activate the primary or base game. In many of these gaming machines, the award is based on the player obtaining a winning symbol or symbol combination and on the amount of the wager (e.g., the higher the wager, the higher the award). Generally, symbols or symbol combinations which are less likely to occur usually provide higher awards. In such known gaming machines, the amount of the wager made on the base game by the player may vary.
Gaming machines which provide secondary or bonus games are also known. The secondary or bonus games usually provide an additional award, such as a bonus award, to the player. Secondary or bonus games usually do not require an additional wager by the player to be activated. Instead, secondary or bonus games are generally activated or triggered upon an occurrence of a designated triggering symbol or triggering symbol combination in the primary or base game. For instance, a bonus symbol occurring on the payline on the third reel of a three reel slot machine may trigger the secondary bonus game. When a secondary or bonus game is triggered, the gaming machine generally indicates this triggering to the player through one or more visual and/or audio output devices, such as the reels, lights, speakers, video screens, etc. Part of the enjoyment and excitement of playing certain gaming machines is the occurrence or triggering of the secondary or bonus game (even before the player knows how much the bonus award will be).
In recent years, gaming has become a more social leisure activity. Gaming establishments often strive for ways to enable players to work together in gaming. Working together creates camaraderie among the players and provides an enhanced gaming experience. Certain secondary or bonus games include a group gaming aspect wherein a plurality of players participate in a group bonus game for one or more bonus awards.
Accordingly, there is a continuing need to provide new bonus games which include a group gaming aspect, wherein a plurality of players playing at linked gaming machines participate in a group bonus game for one or more bonus awards.

Gaming system and method for providing a multiple player game


A stage (1) for fixing at least one porous or non-porous medium (27) that carries one or more samples to be observed and to be analyzed by means of a microscope. The stage includes a hole (10) for receiving a plate (20; 28) for supporting the medium (27) and thus for observing the samples carried thereby. The stage is designed for pressing the medium (27) against the support plate (20; 28) by suction. The invention is applicable to the biological industry for rapid and indexed analysis under a microscope of filters and other media carrying multiple samples.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stage for holding porous media (filters) or non-porous media, that are flexible or rigid, and that carry multiple samples which may be biological or otherwise, and also to a method of analyzing said samples using the above-mentioned stage. The stage is suitable for placing beneath an optical microscope and may constitute an over-stage, or else it may replace the conventional stage. The stage of the invention is particularly suitable for analyzing samples rapidly, in particular by making use of automatic image analysis by computer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is recalled that in microscopy the object rests on a glass slide and, in general, it is covered by a glass cover-slip. When analyzing bacteria on a filter, this additional medium is naturally present, given that the only possible technique presently known for ensuring that the filter is properly plane is to mount it between a slide and a cover-slip.
Conventionally, a microscope stage includes a fixing plane which is fixed to a focusing rack. The plane of the stage moves in the Y direction and the slide is held by a vice that is movable in the X direction. The slide is placed against the stage and a spring Jaw is pressed laterally against the slide. In practice, this system suffers from two defects:
1) the glass slide may be at a slight angle relative to the plane of the stage; and
2) the lateral stress exerted by the spring may curve the slide slightly.
At high magnification, and when performing X and Y displacement, it thus becomes essential to keep on readjusting the focus, to such an extent that a microscope operator generally works with one hand constantly active on the micrometer screw.
The ever increasing use of image-analyzing computers coupled to microscopes has led to X-Y stages being used that are driven by stepper motors. On the more sophisticated models, a special over-stage stresses the slide better.
Regardless of whether conventional analysis or automatic image analysis is being performed, the system includes a glass slide (with the commonest size being 75 mm.times.25 mm.times.1.2 mm) that will never be accurately plane given that the slide is very thin (1.2 mm) and very long (75 mm). In addition, slides are cheap consumable objects and they are not required to have very special optical properties.
It should be observed that the thinness of the slide is desirable for optical reasons. In conventional microscope applications, light arrives from below (transmitted light) via a condenser. To ensure that the illumination is intense and uniform, it is necessary to bring the condenser as close to the object as the objective lens.
This is not possible at very high magnification. An objective lens having a magnification of 100 times (giving a total magnification of 2000) is disposed at a distance of about 0.2 mm from the object (which leaves only just enough room for the cover-slip over the object).
Naturally, when using epifluorescence, there is no need for a condenser since the illumination arrives via the objective lens.
With filters, mounting a filter between a slide and a cover-slip is the only available technique for making the filter properly plane.
Filtration is being used more and more for analyzing particles contained in gases and liquids. These particles are varied in nature, being biological, mineral, metallic, etc. . . . One example is separating and counting bacteria in milk (using filters known under trade names "NUCLEOPORE", "MULLIPORE", etc.).
It should also be recalled that a liquid mounting medium is required, constituting either by oil, or by a viscous medium (Canada balsam) or else by a medium that sets over time.
The corresponding operations are relatively difficult and not very compatible with notions of high analysis throughput.
In addition, it is very difficult to obtain an accurately plane preparation. The filter cannot be pressed down accurately and the inevitable differences in the thickness of the above-mentioned mounting liquid cause the cover-slip itself to be deformed (which is not very serious if immersion oil is interposed between the objective lens and the cover-slip).
It should therefore be observed that it is theoretically not possible merely to place the filter on a conventional glass slide for direct observation while dry. The undulations of the filter would be too big. However, there would be immense advantages in terms of simplicity and said if such observation were possible.
Thus, it may be observed that automatic image analysis which gives the best performance finds its performance degraded by the unsuitability of the methods of preparing and observing the sample. J-C. BISCONTE has described elsewhere a method making use of transparent films for continuous observation by image analysis (cf. French patent FR-2 565 350 and the patent issued on Euro-PCT patent application WO 85/05563).
For each slide, it is necessary to initialize image analysis, in particular to verify focusing.
This focusing problem is the most difficult part of analyzing small particles, and in particular for analyzing bacteria.
In this context, it may be recalled that bacteria may sometimes measure less than one micron, and that under the best observation conditions, the depth of field is about half a micron. Thus, a defect in planeness of about one micron suffices to take bacteria completely out of focus, and therefore make them unsuitable for automatic analysis.
It is possible in image analysis to perform an automatic search for the best focus, however this process takes time. It requires 3 to 10 positions of stage height to be tested (in increments of 0.25 microns) in order to find the best adjustment (greatest degree of sharpness in the observed objects).
If the surface of the filter is subject to large fluctuations in planeness, e.g. of about 50 microns, then the image analysis faced with an empty field must be capable of deciding whether the field really is free from bacteria or whether the field is badly out of focus. It is quite normal to spend 10 to 20 seconds analyzing such a field! . . .
Unfortunately, such fields cannot be "skipped" since that runs the risk of obtaining completely erroneous results.
Patent application GB-2 141 254 (Miles) describes a device for holding an object to be observed stably in position on an observation window. To this end, that device comprises in combination:
a plate having mutually parallel main faces and an optical observation window of transparent material centrally disposed in a through opening therein; PA1 an annular suction gap surrounding the optical observation window; and PA1 a duct connecting the annular suction gap to a vacuum source (or source of reduced pressure). PA1 1) it makes it possible to obtain a medium for analysis that is accurately plane; PA1 2) it is particularly suitable for automatically and rapidly holding one or more samples in indexed manner for easy analysis (disposed on the same medium and always presented in the same X, Y, and Z manner) for the purpose of automatic image analysis by computer or for the purpose of manual analysis; PA1 3) it is also suitable for automatically searching for the best focus; PA1 4) it is compatible with observation both by transmission and by epifluorescence; PA1 5) it enables the medium to be observed directly without a cover-slip, thereby making it possible to use microscope objective lenses having very short focal lengths, thus obtaining better performance; PA1 6) it is compatible with dry observation and with observation under an immersion oil; and PA1 7) while being particularly adapted to optical microscopy, it may also be applied to electron microscopy or to other means of observation. PA1 an airtight annular gap provided at least around the plate and delimited between said plate, the stage, and at least an annular peripheral portion of the medium projecting beyond the plate; PA1 a device for applying suction to at least said annular peripheral portion of the medium to be analyzed, by creating a vacuum; and PA1 at least one airtight channel provided in the stage and putting the airtight suction gap into communication with the device for creating a vacuum; PA1 the plate is fixed to a radially inner end of an annular seat projecting from a portion of the wall delimiting the hole through the stage, the observation face of the plate against which the medium is pressed being at the same level as the top face of the stage when said plate is disposed in said hole, said plate having a radially outer surface portion spaced apart from the wall of the hole by said seat such that the airtight suction gap is delimited between: said radially outer surface portion of the plate, a surface portion of the seat on which the plate is fixed, said portion of the wall delimiting the hole through the stage, and said annular peripheral portion of the medium overlying in airtight manner the gap between the plate and the wall of the hole through the stage, the channel connecting the device for creating a vacuum to the airtight gap for applying suction to at least the annular peripheral portion of the medium being constituted by at least one blind groove formed in the stage and including a seat for receiving an airtight closure strip (for this suction groove) provided with a suction orifice for coupling to the above-mentioned device for creating a vacuum. PA1 an airtight annular gap provided at least around the plate and delimited between said plate, the stage, and at least an annular peripheral portion of the medium projecting beyond the plate; and PA1 a device for applying suction to at least said peripheral zone of the medium to be analyzed by establishing an electromagnetic field suitable for magnetizing at least said annular peripheral portion of the medium, which is fitted with or made of an annular band of ferromagnetic material. PA1 a device for applying suction to at least an annular peripheral zone of the medium to be analyzed by establishing a vacuum, which device is in communication with said peripheral zone of the medium, the observation plate being porous at least in a portion corresponding to said peripheral zone, said peripheral zone of the medium being pressed against the observation plate.
More precisely, Miles sets out essentially to replace the conventional slide carrier of a microscope which is unsuitable for supporting a flexible film, and also to avoid touching the top main face of the film so as to prevent any contamination or scratching thereof, and as a result Miles should be considered as constituting the technological background of the present invention while also illustrating the closest state of the art to the invention.
An object of the present invention is thus to provide a stage for holding porous media (filters) or non-porous media, that are flexible or rigid, and that carry samples which my be biological or otherwise, the stage satisfying practical requirements better than a conventional stage, and in particular:
A preferred application of the stage of the invention is constituted by counting bacteria on "NUCLEOPORE" type microporous filters.

Microscope stage for rapid and indexed analysis of filters and other media carrying multiple samples, and a method of analyzing such samples using said stage


A system and method for heating a surface. The system can be a solar panel system and the surface can be a solar panel. The system includes a heat source and a processor. The processor determines an amount of heating energy for removing an accumulated material from the solar panel to obtain an unobstructed solar panel, determines an amount of energy production of the unobstructed solar panel, and controls the heat source to apply the determined amount of heating energy to the solar panel when the determined amount of energy production is greater than the amount of heating energy.

The present invention relates to surface temperature management, and more specifically, to a system and method for controlling a temperature for clearing ice and snow from a solar panel.
A solar plant uses solar panels that are placed outdoors in order to receive light from the Sun. In cold climates or seasons, snow or ice can form on the solar panels, obstructing light from the Sun from reaching the solar panels and thus reducing electricity production. In such a scenario, a plant employee heats the solar panels to eliminate the accumulation of snow or ice on the solar panel. However, if timed poorly, the energy spent during the day to melt the snow or ice on the solar panel is more than the amount of energy generated by the solar panel during the day after the snow or ice has been melted. There is, therefore, a need for an intelligent energy-efficient approach to reducing snow or ice accumulation on solar panels.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


An exercise device has a base, an exercise platform (which can be split into a left and right platform) and two or more springs that connect the base and the exercise platform(s) and hold the exercise platform(s) substantially parallel to the base when the exercise device is not in use, preventing the exercise platform(s) from coming into contact with the base when the exercise device is in use and allowing the position of the exercise platform to vary relative to the base as weight is applied to the exercise platform(s) at different points apart from a center point of weight balance while straps can be used to stabilize or selectively vary the center point of weight balance.

The exercise and fitness industry is big business. It has gyms, certified trainers and many different companies that manufacture, distribute and sell exercise devices and equipment. And the market for such services and devices is enormous.
It is well known that exercise, in proper moderation, is extremely beneficial to the human body. It is also well known that there are many different exercises and exercise devices for exercising different muscles in the human body, and that variety in an exercise routine can make the difference between success and failure. Finally, it is also well known that while exercise devices can be complicated, expensive and space consuming, many consumers look for compact, inexpensive, safe and practical exercise devices for use anywhere, and there is always a need for such devices, especially if they will help exercise the so-called core muscles of the body.
One type of exercise device that has achieved success is an exercise ball. It can be deflated, so it is compact, it is inexpensive, safe and can be used in a variety of locations, and it can be used in a variety of different ways to exercise the core muscles of the body. There are also other exercise devices that allow for balancing the body during exercise, examples of which U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,292,296, 5,643,164, 5,897,474, 6,017,297, 6,652,432, 6,705,977, 6,719,676, 6,916,276, D505,985, D507,026 and U.S. Patent Publication Nos. US2004/0198573 A1, US2006/0217250 A1, and US2007/0027010 A1.
The present invention seeks to fulfill the need for improved exercise devices by providing a new exercise device that is compact, inexpensive, safe and simple to use, that can be used in a variety of locations to exercise a variety of different muscles, and especially core muscles, while providing a wide variety of options for custom workouts to maintain and stimulate user interest.
The present invention does all of these things by providing a multi-purpose, multi-angle balance exercise board that is compact, inexpensive, safe and practical for use in a variety of locations. It differs from prior exercise devices in its use of more than one spring coil for multiple functions and resistances that offers users a variety of levels ranging from beginner to advanced and the present invention can be used for an endless variety of exercises such as (1) dual leg squats; (2) single leg squats; (3) stationary and alternating lunges; (4) step-ups; (5) squat jumps; (6) upper body push-ups; and (7) oblique twists. Additional types of exercise equipment like bands, cables and free weights can be incorporated into each of these particular exercises, allowing the user an infinite possibility of custom workouts. The motion of the present invention's spring coils offers a full range of positions, targeting multiple muscle groups simultaneously. Accordingly, the present invention provides a multi-angled balance exercise board that can be used in a variety of different angles for exercising various parts of the body simultaneously while maintaining focus on stabilization.


The invention provides an apparatus for growing zeolite crystals from an aqueous solution in a metallic pressure tank for admitting pressure to the aqueous solution. Devices for feeding microwave energy into the aqueous solution comprise a capacitor between whose plates the aqueous solution is situated, one of the capacitor plates being formed by a wall of the pressure tank and the other capacitor plate being arranged in the interior of the pressure tank.

This invention relates to an apparatus for growing zeolite crystals from an aqueous solution, by coupling microwave energy into the solution under pressure.
Zeolites are inorganic crystals with a pore or duct structure which is open toward the outside, and which permits versatile industrial applications. Zeolites are used, for example, as catalysts in the petrochemical industry, as additions to detergents, and as molecular sieves. Also, high-power sensors and microfilters are produced from zeolite crystals, and they are used as ion exchangers in applications for a more efficient purification of water and for the disposal of radioactive waste.
The conventional method for the production of zeolites in the lab is crystallization from an aqueous solution. For the optimal formation of zeolite crystals in this manner, it is necessary to heat the volume of the solution rapidly (within seconds) and locally in a uniform manner. The solution is held for up to 30 seconds at a temperature of 180.degree. C. and is then cooled again to the ambient temperature. In order to avoid boiling of the solution at 180.degree. C., a pressure of approximately 15 bar is required in the cell.
The requirement for a rapid and uniform heating of the aqueous zeolite solution can be implemented only by the use of microwaves. Conventionally heated resistance furnaces, for example, require hours for the heating. Furthermore, only the exterior edge of the specimen is heated directly; heat transport into the interior takes place with a certain time delay by way of thermal convection and heat conduction.
Crystallization by means of microwave heating was developed and tested only a few months ago. First promising results are available. (I. Girnus, et al., Adv.Mater. 1995, 7, No. 8, p. 711; A. Arafat, et al., ZEOLITES, 1993, Vol. 13, p. 162 ). In both cases, a pulsed MW system with mode mixing was used; nothing was reported concerning the homogeneity of the temperature distribution. In the case of Girnus, et al., the crystallization takes place without the admission of pressure. In the case of Arafat, et al., a container which is provided with a pressure piston and in which the zeolite solution was situated was arranged in a conventional microwave oven.
A first measurement of the dielectric constant .epsilon.' and .epsilon." of a zeolite A-solution at room temperature, for a frequency of 2.45 GHz, resulted in the following values: ##EQU1##
In comparison to pure water, a loss factor is therefore obtained which is higher by a factor of 15; that is, the zeolite solution acts like an electrically poorly conducting material. The direct beaming-in of microwaves therefore causes only a heating of the exterior edge and no volumetric heating of the solution. The requirement of a uniform heating can therefore not be met by means of this process.
In the field of the heating of fluids, it is known (German Patent Document DE 41 02 233 A1; U.S. Pat. Document U.S. 38 12 315 ; Stuwe: "Conventional and Dielectric Heating of Honey", in Elektrowarme International, No. 8, 1968, P. 284 to 291) that uniform heating can be achieved if the fluid is subjected to a high-frequency electric field, or an electric field situated in the microwave range which exists between two capacitor plates. In this case, the heating takes place by the action of pressure on the fluid.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for growing zeolite crystals from an aqueous solution under an increased pressure and a raised temperature, which permits uniform heating of the whole volume of the solution to be heated, and which requires minimal space.
This object is achieved by the apparatus according to the invention, which comprises a metallic pressure tank for admitting pressure to the aqueous solution, and devices for feeding microwave energy (for example, 2.45 GHz) into the aqueous solution by means of a capacitor between whose plates the aqueous solution to be heated is situated. One of the capacitor plates is formed by a wall of the pressure tank, while the other is arranged in its interior. The electric field distribution in a capacitor is homogeneous with the exception of edge effects, and while the entry of the zeolite solution causes a change of the capacity, it does not introduce field distortion.
By integration of the capacitor and the pressure tank according to the invention, an extremely compact and easily operable apparatus is obtained.
The apparatus according to the invention is suitable for growing zeolite crystals on board a spacecraft or on earth.
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.

Apparatus for growing zeolite crystals from an aqueous solution