An anchoring system includes a simply-structured device which permits a portion of a catheter or similar medical article to be easily anchored to a patient, desirably without the use of tape or needles and suturing. The anchoring system desirably includes a retainer and an anchor pad. The retainer is sized and configured to accept and retain a section of a catheter within the anchoring system and desirably includes a pair of posts and a clip. The posts are sized and configured to releasably accept holes formed in the catheter or catheter fitting. The clip is sized and configured to releasably accept a portion of the catheter. The anchor pad secures the retainer to a patient""s skin.

1. Field on the Invention
The present invention relates in general to an anchoring system for securing a medical article to a patient and, in particular, to an anchoring system for securing a catheter or other elongated medical article to a patient to inhibit movement or migration of the catheter or medical article relative to the patient.
2. Description of Related Art
It is very common in the treatment of patients to utilize catheters to introduce fluids and medications directly into the patient or to withdraw fluids from the patient. For example, one catheter utilized to introduce fluids into a patient is a midline catheter.
In many cases, the catheter remains in place for several days or weeks. In order to secure the catheter in position at the insertion site, a health care provider often secures the catheter to the patient using tape. That is, the health care provider commonly places long pieces of tape across a section of the catheter near the insertion site in a crisscross pattern to secure the catheter to the patient""s skin. This securement inhibits movement of the catheter relative to the insertion site, as well as prevents the catheter from snagging on the bed rail or other objects.
Tape, however, often collects dirt and other contaminates. Normal protocol therefore requires periodic (e.g., daily) tape changes to inhibit bacteria and germ growth at the securement site. Frequent tape changes, however, create the problem of excoriation of the patient""s skin. Additionally, valuable time is spent applying and reapplying the tape. Further, because many health care providers find the taping procedure difficult and cumbersome when wearing latex gloves, they often remove their gloves when taping. Not only does this further lengthen the taping procedure, but it also subjects the health care provider to possible infection. Moreover, even if health care providers remain gloved, contact between the adhesive surface of the tape and the latex gloves causes micro-holes in the gloves, which subjects the health care provider to possible infection.
As an alternative to tape securement, some catheters include an integrated or a movable flexible claim with winged extensions. These extensions are sutured to the patient""s skin in order to secure the catheter in position at the insertion site. In other applications, the flexible claim is covered by a rigid box claim, which receives the catheter/clamp combination in a friction-fit manner. The rigid box clamp and the flexible clamp have lateral, aligned holes in them, which allow the combination to be sutured to the patient""s skin. Although this technique securely attaches the catheter to the patient, it obviously is painful and uncomfortable for the patient. This prior retention procedure is also time consuming and inconvenient, poses the risk of needle-stick to the health care provider, and risks suture-site infection to the patient.
In addition, suture material tends to exhibit poor gripping on medical tubes and can cut through the winged extension of the flexible clamp, if a rigid clamp is not used. The use of a rigid clamp, however, complicates the securement procedure by adding yet another component that can be dropped on the floor and become unsterile. In addition, the sutured securement of the flexible clamp or the flexible/rigid clamp assembly, does not permit easy release of the catheter from the patient for dressing changes and insertion site cleansing.
An aspect of the present invention involves a simply-structured anchoring system that secures an elongated medical article (e.g., a catheter) in a fixed position relative to an insertion site and resists tugs on the medical article, while facilitating intentional release of the medical article from the anchoring system for dressing changes or other servicing. Tools, such as hemostats or surgical clamp, need not be used to release the medical article from the anchoring system.
In one mode, the anchoring system comprises an anchoring pad having a first surface and a second surface. The second surface includes an adhesive layer that covers at least a portion of the second surface. A retainer is mounted on the first surface of the anchor pad for receiving a portion of the medical article. The retainer includes a base that is attached to the first surface and at least one post that extends from the base. The post has a securing portion, which is arranged toward an outer end of the post. At least one clip is also formed on the retainer. The clip is sized and configured to engage at least a portion of the medical article.
Another aspect of the present invention involves an anchoring system for securing an elongated medical article to a patient. The medical article includes at least one aperture. The anchoring system comprises an anchor pad and a retainer mounted to the anchor pad. The retainer includes a first retention member that is positioned generally upright relative to the anchor pad. The first retention member is configured to be inserted through the corresponding aperture of the medical article. The retainer also includes a second retention member that is coupled to an anchor pad. At least a portion of the second retention member is positioned to lie generally normal to the first retention member, and is spaced from the anchor pad by a distance so dimensioned to permit at least a section of the elongated medical article to be placed between the portion of the second retention member and the anchor pad.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of securing a medical article to the body of a patient, wherein the medical article includes an elongated body with pliable wings that extend out from the body, with each wing including at least one suture hole, is provided. The method involves providing a retainer that has at least first and second posts, which are spaced apart. A clip of the retainer is positioned to the side of the post. The first post is inserted into one of the suture holes of the pliable wings of the medical article. The pliable wings are stretched so as to position that other suture hole over to the second post. The stretched wing is then hooked over the second post so as to insert the second post into the corresponding suture hole. A section of the elongated body is inserted into the clip and positioned therein so as to inhibit the elongated body from disengaging from the clip. In the preferred mode, the retainer is adhered to the body of the patient.
Further aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment that follows.


A phase-shifting lithographic mask having two or more self-aligned phase-shifting regions is fabricated by a sequence of etchings of the phase-shifting mask using a protective resist layer having three or more regions that have been subjected to mutually different doses (including possibly zero) of actinic radiation-such as electron beam, ion beam, or photon beam radiation. A self-aligned opaque region can be supplied by carbonization of remaining resist material.

FIG. 1 shows a typical optical lithographic fabrication system 100 for delineating features in a workpiece 120. Typically the workpiece comprises a semiconductor wafer (substrate), together with one or more layers of material(s) (not shown) located on a top major surface of the water. More specially, monochromatic optical radiation of wavelength .lambda. emitted by an optical source 106, such as a mercury lamp, propagates through an aperture in an opaque screen 105, an optical collimating lens 104, a lithographic mask of reticle 103, and an optical focusing lens 102. The optical radiation emanating from the reticle 103 is focused by the lens 102 onto a photoresist layer 101 located on the top major surface of the workpiece 120. Thus, the pattern of the reticle 103--that is, its pattern of transparent and opaque portions--is focused on the photoresist layer 101. Depending upon whether this photoresist is positive or negative, when it is subjected to a development process, typically a wet developer, the material of the photoresist is removed or remains at and only at areas where the optical radiation was incident. Thus, the pattern of the mask is transferred to ("printed on") the photoresist layer 101. Subsequent etching processes, such as wet etching or dry plasma etching, remove selected portions of the workpiece 120. Portions of the workpiece 120 thus are removed from the top surface of the workpiece 120 at areas underlying those where the photoresist layer 101 was removed by the development process but not at areas underlying those regions where the photoresist remains. Alternatively, instead of etching the workpiece, impurity ions can be implanted into the workpiece 120 at areas underlying those where the photoresist layer was removed by the development process but not at areas underlying where the photoresist remains. Thus, the pattern of the mask 103--i.e., each feature of the mask--is transferred to the workpiece 120 as is desired, for example, in the art of semiconductor integrated circuit fabrication.
In fabricating such circuits, it is desirable, for example, to have as many transistors per wafer as possible. Hence, it is desirable to have as small a transistor or other feature size as possible, such as the feature size of a metallization stripe--i.e., its width W--or of an aperture in an insulating layer which is to be filled with metal, in order to form electrical connections, for example, between one level of metallization and other. Thus, for example, if it is desired to print the corresponding isolated feature having a width equal to W on the photoresist layer 101, a feature having a width equal to C must be located on the mask (reticle) 103. According to geometric optics, if this feature of width equal to C is a simple aperture in an opaque layer, then the ratio W/C=m, where m=L2/L1, and where m is known as the lateral magnification. When diffraction effects become important, however, the edges of the image become indistinct; hence the resolution of the features of the reticle 103, as focused on the photoresist layer and transferred to the workpiece, deteriorates.
In order to improve the resolution, in the prior art phase-shifting lithographic masks have been taught. A phase-shifting mask is used as the mask (or reticle) 103 in the system 100. Moreover, a phase-shifting mask comprises various regions that impart various phase shifts to the optical radiation that originates from the source 106 and propagates through the mask 103 in the system 103. More specifically, these phase-shifting masks have opaque and transparent regions. The transparent regions typically have at least two different thicknesses suitable for imparting at least two different phase shifts, typically 0 and .pi. radians, to the optical radiation (of wavelength .lambda.) propagating through the mask when it is being used as the reticle 103.
For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a phase-shifting mask 200, typically a slab of (optically transparent) quartz, comprises an optically opaque region 201 located at a top surface of the mask. This opaque region 201 is bounded by a pair of edges running parallel to the Y-direction and terminating at say Y=Y.sub.0.
The opaque region 201 typically can be supplied by an opaque metallic region. Alternatively, the opaque region 201, it can be supplied by a diffraction grating region that is constructed so as to diffract light away from the zero'th order of the resulting diffraction pattern, and thus the diffraction grating region is equivalent to an opaque region when the mask 200 is used as the reticle 103 in the system 100. Such a diffraction grating region, however, requires a higher resolution than does the remainder (transparent regions) of the mask, whereby undesirably long fabrication times, as well as undesirably stringent geometric tolerances, are required.
The opaque region 201 separates portions of optically transparent regions 210 and 211, which respectively impart phase shifts .PHI..sub.0 and .PHI..sub.1, typically approximately equal to 0 and .pi. radian, respectively. On the other hand, a transparent transition region 212, which is also located between regions 210 and 211, separates other portions of these regions 210 and 211 from each other. This transition region 212 imparts a phase shift that is intermediate .PHI..sub.0 and .PHI..sub.1, typically approximately .pi./2 radian, that of itself does not produce a separate (third) region in the image on the photoresist layer 101 but produces only a transition region in the mask 200. The transition region 212 can also be subdivided, as indicated in phase-shift mask 300 (FIG. 3), into transparent subregions 221 and 222 that impart phase shifts equal to approximately .pi./3 and 2.pi./3 radian, respectively.
When using the mask 200 or 300 as the reticle 103 in the system 100, the optical radiation from the source 106 will be focused as an image on the photoresist layer 102 in such a manner that this image will have a feature running parallel to the Y-direction and terminating along an edge parallel to the X-direction. Thus, after the development process the photoresist layer will be patterned; more specifically, it will have a feature bounded by a pair of parallel edges running parallel to the Y-direction and terminating at say Y=Y.sub.1, (not shown) where Y=Y.sub.1 is the image of Y=Y.sub.0. Finally, the thus patterned photoresist layer can be used to transfer its pattern to the underlying workpiece 120, as by means of ion implantation, or by means of dry or wet etching.
In a paper authored by H. Ohtsuka, et al. entitled "Conjugate Twin-Shifter for the New Phase Shift Method to High Resolution Lithography," published by SPIE (The Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers), The International Society for Optical Engineers, in the Proceedings of Optical/Laser Microlithography IV, Vol. 1463, pp. 112-123, (Mar. 6-8, 1991), multiple phase-shifting transparent regions apparently were formed by successive anisotropic etching (successive vertical cuts) to mutually differing depths in a phase-shifting layer. Each of these etchings, however, require a separate alignment step for aligning the boundary edges of the phase-shifting region to be etched with the boundary of edges of a phase-shifting region that has already been etched.
This requirement of separate (multiple) alignment steps has one or more of the following disadvantages. First, formation of alignment marks is required during the first alignment, and these marks must be plated with metal (to remove accumulated electrical charge) so that they can be detected--i.e., their locations can be ascertained--during each of the subsequent alignment steps. This formation, plating, and repeated detection of the alignment marks entails an undesirably large amount of costly effort. Second, each of the etchings requires a separate spinning-on and patterning of a fresh resist layer. Each of the required resist layers undesirably adds to costs of (resist) materials. Third, removal of each resist layer produces particulate matter so that a careful cleaning step is required prior to spinning-on the next resist layer to avoid defects in the mask otherwise caused by this particulate matter. Fourth, development of each resist layer likewise produces particulate matter that locally spoils the etching properties, so that a careful cleaning step is required between each development and etching of a given resist layer. Since any added cleaning steps take time, these cleaning steps undesirably add to processing time and costs. Fifth, any alignment with respect to alignment marks is not as precise as an alignment of a single beam of actinic radiation--that is, a beam of radiation that modifies the development properties of a resist, such as an electron beam, a photon beam, or an ion beam. Although the effects of such misalignment can be avoided by restricting some, if not all, discontinuities in thickness of the transparent material to be located at positions overlying opaque (metallic) material, the kinds of geometries of images that can be handled by the phase-shifting mask when used as the reticle 103 are undesirably limited.
In a paper authored by H. Watanabe et al. entitled "Transparent phase shifting mask with multistage phase shifter and comb-shaped shifter," published by SPIE in the above-mentioned Proceedings at pp. 101-110, multiple phase shifts in a phase-shifting masks were obtained by using the multiple phase shifts produced in a resist layer that had multiple thicknesses. The resist layer was located on a transparent parallel slab. The multiple thicknesses were produced by development of a resist layer, initially of uniform thickness prior to such development, having four regions that had been implanted with four mutually different dose levels (i.e., charge per unit area, one of them equal to zero) of electrons. A disadvantage of this method is that the resist layer is an essential phase-shifting element that remains in the phase-shifting mask. Such a resist layer cannot be repaired easily in case it has defects, is not stable with the passage of time (during subsequent use as the reticle 103 in the system 100), and introduces undesirable optical reflections owing a resulting discontinuity of refractive index at the interface of the resist layer and the underlying transparent slab.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a method of forming a phase-shifting mask having three or more phase-shifting regions which impart three or more mutually differing respective phase shifts to the optical radiation of wavelength .lambda. propagating through mask, but which does not require a separate alignment step between each etching and which does not rely on multiple phase shifting by resist material.
In addition it would be further desirable to have a single-alignment method of forming just two phase-shifting regions--such as regions 210 and 211--that impart two different phase shifts and that are separated by an opaque region, as exemplified by the cut 11--11 shown in FIG. 2. And it would be yet further desirable to have a self-aligned method of forming an opaque region that does not require a diffraction grating.

Self-aligned method of making phase-shifting lithograhic masks having three or more phase-shifts


Amplifier systems for measuring a wide range of current are provided herein. In certain embodiments, an amplifier system includes a controllable sensing circuit, a first amplifier including an output configured to drive a device under test (DUT) through the controllable sensing circuit, and a second amplifier including an input coupled to the controllable sensing circuit and operable to generate a measurement signal indicating an amount of measured current of the DUT. The amplifier system further includes a control circuit operable to control a configuration or mode of the controllable sensing circuit suitable for a particular type of DUT.

Certain electronic devices employ amplifiers for processing signals. When operating open loop, such amplifiers receive an input signal and generate an output signal having a gain in comparison to the input signal. Examples of amplifiers include, but are not limited to, operational amplifiers, transimpedance amplifiers, and transconductance amplifiers. Certain amplifiers are implemented in a multi-stage configuration to enhance gain and/or performance thereof.


In a permanent magnet field starter motor, a ring shaped enlarged portion is formed at an end of a yoke and has an inner diameter Da which is larger than an inner diameter of the yoke. The inner diameter Da of the enlarged portion is at least as large as an outer diameter Db of a brush member holder plate which is inserted to an inner side of the enlarged portion, so that the radial position between the yoke and the brush member holder plate is directly aligned. A cut-out groove is formed on the yoke for inserting a bush member. The bush member is inserted into the cut-out groove, so that a thrust direction position of an outside portion lead wire, a lead terminal, and a lead wire is determined. A projection formed on the brush member holder plate has a width Wb which is at least as large as the width Wa of the cut-out groove. By inserting projection into the cut-out groove, the circumferential position between the yoke and the brush member holder plate is aligned.

The present invention relates to a permanent magnetic field starter motor in which permanent magnets are used as a magnetic field and in particular to a permanent magnetic field starter motor having improved position alignment accuracy between permanent magnets and a brush member.
In a permanent magnetic field starter motor according to the prior art, first of all permanent magnets are arranged an inner peripheral face of a yoke. Next, a brush member is arranged on a brush member holder plate and the brush member holder plate is aligned in position and fixed to a rear bracket using screw members. After that, by aligning the rear bracket (to which the brush member holder plate is fixed) and the yoke (to which the permanent magnets are arranged,) the permanent magnets and the brush member are aligned in position.
As the techniques relating to the above stated kinds of the permanent magnetic field starter motor apparatus are disclosed in, for example Japanese patent laid-open publication No. Sho 64-77,446, Japanese patent laid-open publication No. Hei 7-123,628 and Japanese patent laid-open publication No. Hei 6-284,626.
However, in these conventional permanent magnetic field starter motor techniques, arrangement of the permanent magnets and the brush member at a predetermined position (such as between the permanent magnets and the yoke; the yoke and the rear bracket; the rear bracket and the brush member holder plate; and the brush member holder plate and the brush member) requires three components (the yoke, the rear bracket, and the brush member holder plate) in addition to the permanent magnets and the brush member. Further, to arrange the permanent magnets and the brush member at the predetermined position, four positioning alignments are required.
Positioning alignment errors between the respective components affect the positioning accuracy between the permanent magnets and the brush member. As a result, the position of the brush member against the permanent magnets slips off, so that a desirable performance of the permanent magnetic field starter motor can not obtained.
When positioning accuracy between the respective components is increased, the above stated problem would be resolved; however, the manufacturing cost of the permanent magnetic field starter motor becomes high, and as a result the price of the permanent magnetic field starter motor also becomes high.


A header for a combine harvester capable of improving the flow of grain from the header to a feeder house and reducing grain buildup about a void proximate an aft section of the header is disclosed. The header includes a chassis and a cross auger extending in a widthwise direction of the chassis. The header also includes a feed mechanism mounted on the chassis proximate a posterior end of the cross auger and within the void of the header.

The subject application relates generally to a feeding mechanism of a header for a combine harvester. In particular, the subject application relates to a header having a conveyor, such as a cross auger, and a feeding mechanism for processing grain to a feeder house of the combine harvester.
Combines are used to harvest agricultural crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat and other grain crops. As the combine is driven through crop fields, the combine cuts the crop, separates the desired crop from the undesired waste, stores the crop, and discards the waste.
In a typical combine harvester, a header is mounted to the front of the combine to gather the crop and feed the crop into the combine for processing. As the combine is driven through the field, the crop material is collected by the header and transported to a feeder house. The crop material is then transported upwardly and into the combine by a feeder drum at the front of the feeder house and a feed elevator located within the feeder house. The crop material then typically passes through a threshing and separating mechanism. Stalk material that is separated from the grain is commonly referred to as material other than grain (MOG).
After passing through the threshing and separating mechanism, the grain and MOG are deposited onto a grain cleaning system. The grain cleaning system of a typical combine includes a pair of adjustable cleaning sieves, often referred to as a chaffer sieve and a shoe sieve.
The sieves are typically reciprocated back and forth in opposite directions along an arcuate path. This motion has the tendency to separate the grain from the MOG. To further separate the grain from the MOG, a cleaning fan or blower is positioned so as to blow air up through the cleaning sieves. This flow of air tends to blow the MOG, which is typically lighter than grain, rearwardly and out the back of the combine. Grain, which is heavier than MOG, is allowed to drop through the openings in the sieve.
The clean grain that falls through the cleaning sieves is deposited on a collection panel positioned beneath the cleaning sieves. The collection panel is angled so as to permit the grain to flow, under the influence of gravity, into an auger trough positioned along the lowermost edge of the collection panel. The auger trough is typically positioned near the forward end of the cleaning sieves and extends along the width of the sieves. The grain collected in the auger trough is then moved by an auger towards the side of the combine where it is raised by a grain elevator and deposited into a storage tank or grain tank.
In typical combines, current auger based headers have reached their effective capacity in regards to feeding material from the header cross auger into the combine's feeder house. Crop material cut by the header's knives is pulled into the cross auger for transport to the feeder house. The cross auger is typically adjusted to compress the moving crop material between the outer circumference of the cross auger flights and either the bottom of the auger trough or the rear wall of the header. However, as the cut crop material reaches the feeder house inlet opening, this pinch point is lost and the grain typically expands prior to being pulled into the feeder house. Oftentimes this expansion of crop material (especially in high volume crops) prevents the combine feeder conveyor from fully controlling the material resulting in crop material buildup about the feeder house inlet opening.
In conventional combine headers, a gap or void exists between the cross auger of the header and the feeder drum of the feeder house. This void creates a "dead zone" within which harvested grain is not actively being transported or moved. As a result, the rate of grain processed can be negatively impacted resulting in the buildup of grain at this location.

Feeding mechanism of a header for a combine harvester


A server acquires a feature label vector of each seed user and forms a first number of clusters corresponding different information categories according to the feature label vectors of the seed users. The server calculates a central vector of each cluster according to the feature label vectors of the seed users in the cluster. The server acquires a feature weight vector corresponding to the information categories. The server acquires a feature label vector of each potential user. The server calculates first distances from the potential users to the central vector of the information categories according to the feature label vectors of the potential users, feature weight vectors and central vectors corresponding to the information categories. The server selects a second number of potential users corresponding to the shortest first distances from the first distances and sends them information that is matched with corresponding information categories of the target users.

Along with development of big data application, a large amount of user information such as preference, ages, careers and demands of users is stored in instant messaging and social application platforms, and the user information has important reference value on whether information, such as information about product advertising, may be pushed or not.
In the conventional technical scheme, a massive number of collected users are simply screened generally, for example, users who browsed information which is the same as or similar to information which is about to be pushed by service providers are selected as target users, and push information of the related service providers is provided for the target users. But in real life, each user is an independent existence and has diversified characters, and the simple way for screening the target users for whom the information is provided is not accurate enough.

Information pushing method, storage medium and server

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


A method of manipulating a three-dimensional image file including a virtual object includes obtaining image information in a processing device of a non-instrumented physical object manipulated by a user, such image information including movement information; and causing virtual movement of the virtual object based on the movement information. A method of shaping a virtual object includes obtaining image information including movement information; and determining a shape of the virtual object based on the movement information. A method of modifying a virtual object includes obtaining image information including movement information; and altering a virtual surface appearance of at least a part of the virtual object based on the movement information. Systems and computer-readable media are also described.

Conventional graphical human-computer interfaces are referred to as "WIMP" interfaces, for the Windows, Icons, Menus, and mouse Pointers they provide and employ. Traditional WIMP based modalities, when applied to interactions in virtual 3-D environments, are completely oblivious to users' spatial interaction capabilities and the affordances of physical objects in the surrounding environment. Instead they rely on minimalistic user motions to accomplish large scale 3-D interactive tasks. As a result, a large part of the input effort users apply while performing 3-D tasks are based on their cognitive perceptions and processes. In addition, the lack of expressiveness in these modalities requires the presence of an extensive set of non-intuitive control widgets (e.g., buttons, icons, menus etc.) for providing spatial inputs. Such mechanisms make shape modeling tasks difficult to learn and apply.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Manipulating virtual environment using non-instrumented physical object


An IC card is more expensive than a magnetic card, and an electronic tag is also more expensive as a substitute for bar codes. Therefore, the present invention provides an extremely thin integrated circuit that can be mass-produced at low cost unlike a chip of a conventional silicon wafer, and a manufacturing method thereof. One feature of the present invention is that a thin integrated circuit is formed by a formation method that can form a pattern selectively, on a glass substrate, a quartz substrate, a stainless substrate, a substrate made of synthetic resin having flexibility, such as acryl, or the like except for a bulk substrate. Further, another feature of the present invention is that an ID chip in which a thin film integrated circuit and an antenna according to the present invention are mounted is formed.

In recent years, one person possesses many cards. The amount of information has been kept increasing since various kinds of information are stored in a card and rewritten as necessary.
The increase in the amount of information is essential in many fields. For example, there are heightened calls for strengthening product safety or management system to the food industry or the manufacturing industry, and thus, product information is increased. However, the current products information is exceedingly little, as information such as a country of manufacture, a maker, a product number which are mainly provided by using bar codes containing figures of over ten columns. Further, when bar codes are used, much time is required due to a manual operation of reading each product.
Considering the above, there is devised a method of managing product using networks. Using this method, the information on products is transferred to stores via a server by inputting identifiers of products with a network terminal in each store (Reference 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-230141). According to Reference 1, the identifiers of products are shown with two-dimensional bar codes or character strings, and are sent to a server after they are inputted into terminals in stores. The products have a detachable storage medium that holds programs and data on products, or personal information. Cards such as an IC card, a smart card, and a compact flash card are given as examples of the storage medium.
There is proposed a method by which a minute IC chip is installed in valuable securities for preventing misuse thereof, and at the same time, if it returns to a regular manager, the manager can use it again (Reference 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-260580).

Manufacturing method of semiconductor device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


The present invention provides a head holding member and a head holding method of a head actuator having a very high impact resisting property, and having a simple construction, and a disk device using the head holding member and the head holding method. The head holding member resists an impact applied at a stopping time, and a stable operation can be performed at a power turning-on time.

When the operation of the disk device is stopped, the actuator mounting the signal converting element is unload-operated from an area for recording data, and is moved and held in a predetermined area (parking zone) on a recording medium. Otherwise, the actuator is moved and held in a predetermined position near the outer circumference of the recording medium in which no signal converting element comes in contact with the surface of the recording medium. Namely, when the operation of the disk device is stopped, the actuator is held in a predetermined escaping position. Further, when an impact from the exterior is applied at the stopping time of the operation of the disk device, the actuator is moved from the escaping position to the data recording area on the recording medium, and the data area surface on the recording medium is damaged by a collision of the signal converting element and the recording medium surface. Otherwise, the data area surface on the recording medium is damaged by a sliding movement with respect to the signal converting element due to an operation start from a state in which the actuator comes in contact with the data recording area at the moving time to the data recording area as it is. Otherwise, a separate constructional part of the disk device and the actuator collide so that the constructional part and the actuator are damaged. A holding member or a holding method of the actuator for holding the actuator in the predetermined escaping position is adopted so as not to cause such fatal breakdowns.
An example of the disk device having the holding member of the conventional actuator will be explained next. First, with respect to a disk drive unit having the holding member of the actuator, a converting head (corresponding to the above signal converting element) is attached to one end of an actuator arm. A coil is attached to the other end of the actuator arm. A projection is integrally arranged on the other end side of the actuator arm. An iron piece is attached to the projection, and is rotatably attached around a rotary shaft so that the actuator as a voice coil motor (hereinafter called VCM) is constructed. Further, a permanent magnet is fixed to a housing so as to be opposed to the iron piece arranged in the actuator arm. The iron piece arranged in the actuator arm is magnetically attracted by the permanent magnet fixed to the housing. The actuator arm is fixed by the magnetic attractive force of the permanent magnet. Such a construction is proposed. In this example, the iron piece arranged in the actuator arm and the permanent magnet fixed to the housing function as the head holding member, and the head holding method using the magnetic attractive force generated by the permanent magnet is adopted.
In such a construction, at the stopping time of the operation of the disk drive unit, an electric current is supplied to a coil of the VCM, and the actuator arm is operated so as to be moved to the predetermined escaping position. When the actuator arm approaches the predetermined escaping position, the iron piece is attracted to the permanent magnet and the actuator arm can be fixed in the escaping position. In this state, even when an external force is applied, the actuator arm is fixed by the magnetic attractive force so that no actuator arm is moved. The data of the data recording area on the recording medium and the actuator are protected from unprepared movements of the converting head and the actuator arm (e.g., see Japanese Registered Patent No. 2803693).
With respect to an actuator lock method of the disk drive unit having the holding member of the actuator, the holding member of an actuator arm, similar to that of the example of the disk drive unit having the holding member of the above actuator, is arranged. Further, the holding member of an actuator arm constructed by a leaf spring having elasticity and a solenoid coil is arranged. The leaf spring having elasticity so as to be engaged with the actuator in the vertical direction and having stress in the upward direction is vertically moved in accordance with the movement of a plunger manufactured by iron and generated by supplying an electric current to the solenoid coil. A magnet as a first magnetic field supply means having a first magnetic force is arranged on the lower side of the plunger. A VCM yoke as a second magnetic field supply means having a second magnetic force is arranged on the upper side of the plunger. When a first electric current is supplied to the solenoid coil, magnetic force for pushing-up the plunger is generated and the leaf spring is moved on the upper side. When a second electric current different from the first electric current is supplied, magnetic force for pushing-down the plunger is generated and the leaf spring is moved on the lower side. Further, the leaf spring is fixed on the lower side by the first magnetic force of the magnet having a downward magnetic force greater than the upward stress of the leaf spring. In addition to the upward stress of the leaf spring, the leaf spring is attracted and fixed on the upper side by the second magnetic force of the VCM yoke. Such a construction is proposed.
In such a construction, at the operating time of the disk drive unit, the plunger is attracted in the direction of the magnet by the first magnetic force. Further, the leaf spring is pressed on the lower side by the plunger, and is fixed so as to attain a lock release state in which the leaf spring is fixed to a height for preventing no movement of the actuator. At the stopping time of the operation of the disk drive unit, the actuator is moved to a predetermined lock position (corresponding to the above escaping position). Further, the first electric current for generating the upward magnetic force and greater than the difference between the magnitude of the first magnetic force of the magnet and the magnitude of stress of the leaf spring is supplied to the solenoid coil. The leaf spring is moved in the upward direction. The leaf spring is then moved and fixed so as to attain a lock state fixed on the upper side. Here, the electric current is supplied to the solenoid coil only at a transfer time from the lock release state to the lock state, or a transfer time from the lock state to the lock release state. When the leaf spring is in each of the lock release state or the lock state fixed on the lower side or the upper side, no electric current is supplied to the solenoid coil. At the stopping time of the operation of the disk drive unit, the magnetic attractive force using the iron piece and the permanent magnet and the leaf spring are fixed on the upper side, and the actuator is locked in the escaping position as the lock state. Thus, the actuator can be fixed with respect to the vertical direction as well as the horizontal direction, and the movement of the actuator due to an impact can be prevented (e.g., see Japanese laid-open patent gazettes of JP-A-8-221915, JP-A-10-302418 and JP-A-2002-260356, etc.).
Further, a separate example of the disk drive unit having the lock mechanism of the actuator is proposed. In this example, the disk drive unit is constructed such that the actuator is arranged so as to be rotationally moved with an actuator swinging axis as a center, and a head arm and a coil arm are arranged so as to be mutually located on opposite sides through this actuator swinging axis. The disk drive unit of this construction has the following features (1) to (8). (1) The head arm is constructed by a carriage arm and a suspension arm, and this suspension arm has a tab in which a convex portion for escaping the suspension arm to a ramp block is formed. A head slider mounting a signal converting element is mounted to the vicinity of this tab. (2) The coil arm mounting a voice coil onto its inner face is constructed by an outer arm and an inner arm. On the other hand, (3) a lamb block arranged in the escaping position of the actuator and an inertia latch mechanism are stored to the interior of an enclosure. (4) The ramp block fixed to the enclosure by screws has plural ramps convexly arranged in the horizontal direction from the side face of a ramp support. The ramp has a composite plane including a first slanting face, a top portion plane, a second slanting face, a bottom portion plane and a third slanting face. (5) The inertia latch mechanism is constructed by an inertia lever able to be swung with an inertia lever swinging axis as a center, a latch lever able to be swung with a latch lever swinging axis as a center, and a spring for holding the latch lever in an arm opening position. In inertia moments of the inertia lever and the latch lever around the respective swinging axes, the inertia moment of the inertia lever is set to be greater than that of the latch lever. (6) The inertia lever has an inertia arm and a balance arm in which a first engaging projection engaged with the latch lever in a first engaging portion, and a second engaging projection engaged with the latch lever in a second engaging portion are formed. (7) The latch lever has a latch arm and an auxiliary arm in which two spring engaging projections, a positioning projection and a latch projection engaged with an acting side end portion of the spring are formed. The positioning projection is arranged to determine an actuator opening position and an actuator latch position of the latch lever. The latch projection is arranged to be engaged with a tip portion of the inner arm of the actuator and latch the actuator when the latch lever is moved to the actuator latch position. (8) An actuator lock mechanism is constructed by the ramp block and the inertia latch mechanism, and functions as the head holding member.
In such a construction, when no disk drive unit is operated, the actuator is unloaded to the escaping position, and the tab of the suspension arm is held in the bottom portion plane of the ramp. With respect to a weak impact, a tab convex portion of the suspension arm climbs the second slanting face or the third slanting face of the ramp block. Thus, swinging energy of the head arm is attenuated and the movement of the head arm is restrained. The head arm is prevented from moving from the escaping position to the disk side or its opposite side. The ramp block functions as the holding member of the actuator for holding the head arm in the escaping position. In the operation of the inertia latch mechanism when an impact is applied to the disk drive unit at the non-operating time of the disk drive unit, torque intended to make a rotating movement in the counterclockwise direction is applied to each of the inertia lever and the latch lever with the respective swinging axes as centers when torque for making a swinging movement in the counterclockwise direction is applied to the actuator by the impact from the exterior. If the torque applied to the inertia lever is greater than resultant torque provided by the torque due to the impact applied to the latch lever, and the torque of the spring intended to rotate the latch lever in the clockwise direction with the latch lever swinging axis as a center, the inertia lever is rotated in the counterclockwise direction irrespective of the direction of the torque applied to the latch lever. In the first engaging portion, the latch lever is pulled by the first engaging projection, and is swung in the counterclockwise direction. A latch projection of the latch arm is engaged with the tip portion of the inner arm moved from a state located in the escaping position so that the actuator is latched. Thereafter, the tab of the actuator is pushed back to the bottom portion plane of the ramp block by the operation of the second slanting face of the ramp block. The engagement of the inner arm tip portion and the latch projection is released. The latch arm is returned to the actuator opening position by the operation of the spring. When torque for making the swinging movement in the clockwise direction is applied to the actuator by the impact from the exterior, torque for making a rotating movement in the clockwise direction is applied to each of the inertia lever and the latch lever with the respective swinging axes as centers. Torque intended to make the rotating movement in the clockwise direction with the latch lever swinging axis as a center is always applied to the latch lever by the spring in addition to the torque due to the impact. If the torque applied to the inertia lever is greater than resultant force provided by the torque due to the impact applied to the latch lever and the torque due to the spring in the second engaging portion, the latch lever is pushed by the second engaging projection in the second engaging portion. The latch lever is swung in the counterclockwise direction. The latch projection of the latch arm collides with a crush stop constructed by an elastic body for regulating a swinging range of the actuator, and is engaged with the inner arm tip portion rebounded in the counterclockwise direction so that the actuator is latched. The inertia moment of the inertia lever is set to be greater than the inertia moment of the latch lever such that the torque due to the impact applied to the inertia lever is greater than the torque applied to the latch lever by the impact, and the swinging movement is made in the direction of the torque of the inertia lever due to the impact. The swinging distance of the latch projection from an opening point to a latch point, the position of the latch point, the distance from the latch projection to the swinging axis, etc. are set so as to move the latch projection to the latch point before the inner arm tip portion is moved from an escaping point to the latch point. The actuator is then latched to the escaping position, and is locked. Thus, the head arm and the head slider are prevented from entering an arranging space of the disk.
However, in the holding method of the actuator used in the disk drive unit having the holding member of the above conventional actuator, the actuator arm is fixed in the escaping position of the actuator by the attractive force of the iron piece arranged in the actuator arm and the permanent magnet fixed to the housing at the stopping time of the operation of the disk drive unit. In the actuator holding method having such a construction, a comparatively high impact resisting property is provided with respect to the impact of the same direction as the rotating direction of the actuator. However, the impact resisting property with respect to a large impact applied for a short time or an impact having a vertical component with respect to the rotating direction of the actuator is comparatively low. Therefore, a problem exists in that no holding function with respect to the impact can be sufficiently shown. Further, the iron piece and the permanent magnet are required to hold the actuator in the escaping position. Therefore, a problem also exists in that the number of parts constituting the device is increased and cost is increased.
Further, in the above conventional holding method of the actuator, when a comparatively large impact is applied, it is constructed such that the actuator is held in the escaping position so as not to move the actuator located in the escaping position up to the data recording area of the recording medium. In particular, in the example for arranging the actuator holding member constructed by the lock means and the solenoid coil, the actuator is constructed so as to be held by the iron piece arranged in the actuator arm, the permanent magnet arranged in the housing, the leaf spring for gripping the actuator, the magnet for fixing this leaf spring onto the lower side, the plunger for vertically moving the leaf spring, and the solenoid coil for vertically moving the plunger. At the stopping time of the operation of the disk drive unit, the actuator is moved to the escaping position, and the leaf spring is moved in the upward direction as the plunger is vertically moved. The leaf spring is then set to the lock state, and the actuator is locked in the escaping position. Accordingly, the impact resisting property is also provided with respect to the comparatively large impact. However, when a very large impact of the same direction as the moving direction of the plunger is applied, it is necessary to set the stress onto the upper side of the leaf spring and the second magnetic force of the VCM yoke to values for resisting this impact so as to maintain the lock state of the leaf spring. Accordingly, it is necessary to flow a large electric current to the solenoid coil and generate large magnetic force so as to move the plunger in the downward direction against such large resultant force provided by the stress onto the upper side of the leaf spring and the second magnetic force of the VCM yoke, and set the leaf spring to the lock release state. Therefore, the solenoid coil is large-sized. Further, a space for arranging respective parts constituting the holding member of the actuator for locking the actuator in the escaping position is required. Therefore, a problem exists in that it becomes difficult to make the disk drive unit compact. Further, many parts are required to construct the holding mechanism of the actuator. Therefore, a problem also exists in that this requirement increases the cost of the device.
In the disk drive unit constructed such that the actuator is rotatably arranged with the swinging axis as a center and the head arm and the coil arm are arranged so as to be mutually located on the opposite sides through this swinging axis, the inertia latch mechanism is constructed by the inertia lever, the latch lever and the spring. When a comparatively large impact is applied at the non-operating time of the disk drive unit, the inertia lever is rotated and the latch lever is rotated in the counterclockwise direction irrespective of the direction of torque applied to the latch lever. Thus, the latch projection of the latch arm is engaged with the inner arm tip portion in the coil arm of the actuator moved from a state located in the escaping position, and the actuator is latched. Therefore, the inertia moment of the inertia lever is set to be greater than the inertia moment of the latch lever. In the lock mechanism of the actuator using the construction having such an inertia latch mechanism, a non-sensitive band area with respect to the impact can be set to be very small. Accordingly, reliability as the lock mechanism of the actuator is improved. However, many parts are required to construct the inertia latch mechanism. Further, a space for arranging these parts is also required. Therefore, a problem exists in that these requirements increase the cost of the device, and become an obstacle with respect to compactness.
The present invention solves the above problems, and its object is to provide a head holding member and a head holding method of the actuator having a very high impact resisting property by a very simple construction, and a disk device using the head holding member and the head holding method.

Head holding member, disk device with the head holding member, and head holding method in the disk, device


A selected gate (SG) driver circuit, including a first NMOS transistor, a second NMOS transistor, a third NMOS transistor, a first PMOS transistor, and a second PMOS transistor. A gate electrode of the first NMOS transistor is connected to a gate electrode of the first PMOS transistor, a source electrode of the first NMOS transistor being connected to a drain electrode of the third NMOS transistor, and a drain electrode of the first NMOS transistor being connected to a drain electrode of the first PMOS transistor and a gate electrode of the second NMOS transistor. A source electrode of the second NMOS transistor is connected to a source electrode of the third NMOS transistor, and a drain electrode of the second NMOS transistor being connected to a drain electrode of the second PMOS transistor and a gate electrode of the third NMOS transistor.

Non-volatile memories (NVRAMs) are common semiconductor devices. NVRAMs have many types based on the different materials and structures.
Recently, as portable electronic devices such as mobile phones and computers are widely used, NVRAMs have been widely developed. Almost all NVRAMs include selected gate (SG) driver circuits.
However, when using existing SG driver circuits to drive NVRAMs operated in high speed, the NVRAMs need to hop from idle phase to read operation phase if a read operation needs to be executed. The word line preparation phase of the read operation may be too short to result in competition between MOS transistors in the SG driver circuit. The read operation may not be executed accurately.
The disclosed SG driver circuit, related control device and control method are directed to solve one or more problems set forth above and other problems.

Selected gate driver circuit in memory circuits, and control device and control method thereof

SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING INTERNATIONAL (SHANGHAI) CORPORATION


A method of forming a dense oxide coating on an aluminum component of semiconductor processing equipment comprises cold spraying a layer of pure aluminum on a surface of the aluminum component to a predetermined thickness. A dense oxide coating is then formed on the layer of pure aluminum using a plasma electrolytic oxidation process, wherein the plasma electrolytic oxidation process causes the layer of pure aluminum to undergo microplasmic discharges, thus forming the dense oxide coating on the layer of pure aluminum on the surface of the aluminum component.

In the field of semiconductor material processing, semiconductor plasma processing chambers including vacuum processing chambers are used, for example, for etching and deposition, such as plasma etching or plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) of various materials on substrates. Some of these processes utilize corrosive and erosive process gases and plasma in such processing chambers. It is desirable to minimize chamber component wear, and particle and/or metal contamination of substrates processed in the chambers. Accordingly, it is desirable that plasma-exposed and/or process gas exposed components of such apparatuses be resistant to corrosion and erosion when exposed to such gases and plasma.

Dense oxide coated component of a plasma processing chamber and method of manufacture thereof


A voltage controlled oscillator (10) operable on two widely separated frequency bands of 800 MHz and 1.9 GHz, for example. The two operable frequency modes are controlled by changing base bias voltages on at least two transistors with commonly connected emitters. A base circuit of each transistor is connected to an independent resonator and tuning element and shares a common feedback reactance. By increasing a base bias voltage of first transistor relative the a second transistor, an associated first base circuit is turned on and allowed to oscillate at a first frequency while a second base circuit is turned off preventing oscillation at a second frequency. Correspondingly, by decreasing the base bias voltage the first base circuit is turned off and the second base circuit is turned on. The transistors share a common collector connection and output providing either one of the two frequencies.

New frequency spectrum allocations for personal communications have created a need for portable telephones which operate both in the existing 800 MHz frequency band as well as the newly allocated 1.9 GHz frequency band. Therefore, local oscillators for these dual band portable telephones are required to operate in two widely separated frequency ranges.
Prior art dual band devices have included; completely separate local oscillators with combiner networks, local oscillators with doublers or triplers to multiply the frequency, pin diodes or other similar RF switching devices, and extremely wide band oscillators having an operable frequency range that overlaps the two bands of interest.
The disadvantage of using completely separate local oscillators with combiner networks is that two complete sets of VCO circuitry are required in addition to the combiner network circuitry which adds cost and size to the overall circuit. Further, typical combiner networks waste power.
The disadvantage of using local oscillators with doublers or triplers to multiply the frequency is that spurious signals are always present in the output. These spurious signals must be filtered out to avoid degrading receiver performance or interference with other radio services. In addition, running multiple frequency sources wastes power.
The disadvantage of pin diodes is that pin diodes require significant DC current to obtain a low "on" impedance, and when the pin diodes are "off" they can create high levels of harmonically related spurious signals. Moreover, tank circuits associated with the pin diodes reduce circuit Q, which reduces efficiency, and causes higher phase noise in the output circuit.
The disadvantage of using extremely wide band oscillators is that wideband oscillators are necessarily very sensitive to tuning control. This sensitivity makes the oscillator more susceptible to noise on the tuning control line. Correspondingly, more sensitive tuning requires tighter coupling to the tuning (voltage variable reactance) element of the oscillator which causes higher losses in the associated tank circuit.
There is a need for a voltage controlled oscillator that: can generate different frequencies, operates on only one frequency at a time to save power, does not require completely separate oscillator circuits to obtain different frequencies, does not require combiners or pin diodes, has narrow band operation within either of two widely spaced frequency bands, is not sensitive to noise on a tuning control, exhibits a good frequency stability, minimizes spurious frequency signals, has low losses and current drain, and requires simpler, and therefore less costly, circuitry.

Dual frequency voltage controlled oscillator


Embodiments provide a channel listening type indication method and apparatus. In those embodiments, the method includes: determining, by a network device based on a relationship between a first sub-band set and a second sub-band set, a corresponding channel listening type for performing channel listening by a terminal device for the first sub-band set, where the first sub-band set includes at least one sub-band occupied when the network device schedules the terminal device to send uplink information, the second sub-band set includes at least one sub-band occupied by the network device to send downlink information, and the channel listening type includes a long listening type or a short listening type; and sending, by the network device, first indication information to the terminal device, where the first indication information is used to indicate the channel listening type.

To resolve a problem of a relatively small quantity of available frequency domain resources on a licensed spectrum, a licensed-assisted access using long term evolution (licensed-assisted access using long term evolution, LAA-LTE) technology is introduced into the long term evolution (LTE) Release 13, and an enhanced license assisted access (eLAA) technology is introduced into the Release 14. Principles of the LAA technology and the eLAA technology are mainly as follows: An available spectrum is extended to an unlicensed frequency band by using a carrier aggregation technology, and downlink information and uplink information are transmitted on the unlicensed spectrum depending on a licensed spectrum. Further, on the basis of LAA and eLAA, the Multefire standard further proposes a standalone unlicensed LTE technology. The standalone unlicensed LTE technology means that uplink transmission and downlink transmission in an LTE system are completely implemented on an unlicensed spectrum without depending on a licensed spectrum.
In actual application, there are inter-RAT radio nodes such as a network device, user equipment, and wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) of different operators on an unlicensed spectrum. In the LAA, eLAA, and Multefire technologies, to ensure friendly coexistence of different system nodes, a listen before talk (LBT) channel access mechanism is proposed. LBT For example means that a sending node needs to first perform channel listening before performing data transmission, and then performs data transmission after the channel listening succeeds.
In addition, in a 5G NR system, a wideband (WB) transmission technology is supported. A bandwidth occupied by one carrier is extended. One carrier includes a plurality of sub-bands (SBD). For example, in the wideband NR system, a bandwidth of one carrier is extended from 20 MHz in an LTE system to 40 MHz. One carrier may include two sub-bands, and each sub-band occupies 20 MHz. However, in a scenario of the 5G NR system, there is no related solution for indicating, by a network device, a channel listening type used by a terminal device to perform channel listening on a sub-band.

Channel listening type indication method and apparatus


The invention concerns a method for controlling a transfer device in a packaging machine. The transfer device comprises a first conveying device which is moved in cycles, a second conveying device which is moved in cycles and extends, at least in sections, parallel to the first conveying device, and a pushing device which performs a pushing motion substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the conveying devices. A product is supplied by the first conveying device to a transfer location, is transferred by the pushing device to the second conveying device during a standstill phase of both conveying devices and subsequently further transported by the second conveying device. The pushing device is in a withdrawn position outside of the path of motion of the product disposed on the first conveying device and extends over the first conveying device and also at least partially over the second conveying device in an insertion position. Further transport of the transferred product by the second conveying device starts before the pushing device has reached its withdrawn position.

The invention concerns a method for controlling a transfer device in a packaging machine, wherein the transfer device comprises a first conveying device which is moved in cycles, a second conveying device which is moved in cycles and extends, at least in sections, parallel to the first conveying device, and a pushing device which performs a pushing motion substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the conveying devices, wherein a product is supplied to a transfer location via the first conveying device, transferred to the second conveying device by the pushing device during a standstill phase of the two conveying devices, and is subsequently further transported via the second conveying device, wherein the pushing device is in a withdrawn position outside the path of motion of the product disposed on the first conveying device, and, in an insertion position, at least partially extends over both the first conveying device and the second conveying device.
The invention also concerns a transfer device in a packaging machine, comprising a first conveying device which is moved in cycles, a second conveying device which is moved in cycles and extends at least in sections parallel to the first conveying device, and a pushing device which performs a pushing motion substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the conveying devices, wherein a product can be supplied to a transfer location via the first conveying device, transferred to the second conveying device by the pushing device during a standstill phase of the two conveying devices, and further transported via the second conveying device.
Products must be relocated between two conveying devices of a packaging machine, or transferred from one conveying device to a second conveying device. The conveying devices are usually endless circulating conveying belts or chains which are moved in cycles. In the following example, the first conveying device is the so-called product chain for supplying a product to a transfer location, and the second conveying device is the so-called folded box chain for supplying a package or a folded box to the transfer location. The invention is, however, not limited to the above-mentioned conveying devices, but can also be applied to different types of transfer of a product between two conveying devices, which are driven in cycles, within a packaging machine.
The product chain sequentially supplies a continuous row of a plurality of similar products to the transfer location. A plurality of erected, similar folded boxes are correspondingly sequentially supplied in a continuous row to the transfer location via the folded box chain. The cycled drive motions of the product chain and the folded box chain, which extend parallel to each other at least at the transfer location, are synchronized by using a common drive, such that, at the transfer location, the product can be pushed from the product chain onto the adjacent folded box chain by a pushing device during a standstill phase of the drive motions, and be pushed into the open package at that location. As soon as the pushing device has returned into its withdrawn rest position and is positioned outside of the path of motion of the product chain and the folded box chain, the two chains are advanced and moved on by one motion cycle.
Modern packaging machines operate at very high cycle rates, such that one working or motion cycle may take only a few milliseconds. The packaging machine is consequently subjected to relatively great dynamic loads, since the masses to be moved must be quickly accelerated, decelerated, and stopped. In particular, the folded box containing the product may have a relatively large mass which produces vibrations resulting in unstable operation of the packaging machine during operation at high cycle rates.
Handling of the package containing the product subsequent to product transfer, i.e. downstream of the transfer device, may also be problematic due to the relatively short cycle times, since subsequent closing of the package requires a highly dynamic closing motion and only a very short time is available to remove the package containing the product from the packaging machine.
In order to eliminate the above-mentioned dynamics problems, the cycle rate has been reduced, thereby reducing the speed of motion of the product chain and the folded box chain with the disadvantageous consequence that the efficiency of the packaging machine is greatly reduced.
It is the underlying purpose of the invention to provide a method for controlling a transfer device in a packaging machine which reduces the dynamic loads in the packaging machine without reducing the efficiency of the packaging machine, and a transfer device for performing the method in a simple fashion.

Transfer device on a packaging machine and method for control thereof


The present invention is directed to an apparatus for maintaining contact between a portion of a workpiece between a kerf intrusion device and an alignment fence. In an aspect of the present invention, a table saw is configured with a support having a support surface for accepting a saw blade extended through an aperture in the support to cut a workpiece. An alignment fence is adjustably coupled to the saw to allow for workpiece positioning with respect to the saw blade. A kerf intrusion device such as a back splitter is coupled to an arbor for rotating the saw blade. An side pressure splitter is further included on the intrusion device such that a portion of a workpiece disposed between the intrusion device and the alignment fence is directed into contact with the alignment fence.

A table saw is usually at the heart of any woodshop. Often a table saw is the first woodworking tool purchased due to its versatility. Typically, a table saw is provided with a rip fence, or alignment fence which is orientated parallel with the saw blade. An alignment fence allows the user to accurately, and easily position a workpiece to insure an even, accurate cut.
One difficulty which may occur is the tendency for a workpiece to "wander", or move away from the alignment fence. For example, a novice user may not push the workpiece evenly, such as by slightly angling the workpiece against the front portion of an alignment attachment while cutting. In the previous example, this tendency may be magnified for larger workpieces such as when cutting a large piece of plywood. While experienced woodworkers posses the knowledge and the ability to avoid these types of problems, inexperienced woodworkers may become discouraged which may in-turn lead to user dissatisfaction with the device.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a side pressure splitter for directing a workpiece into contact with an alignment fence.


According to one embodiment, there is provided an optical disc apparatus of a slot loading type, including a photosensor disposed near a disc insertion port and configured to change an output therefrom when an optical disc is inserted, a memory configured to record an output signal from the photosensor, and a controller configured to estimate a transparent clamp area of the optical disc based on the output signal, estimate a position of a center hole part of the optical disk based on the estimated clamp area, and detect presence of a foreign matter in the center hole part when a light-blocking percentage in the center hole part indicated by the output signal is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.

Presently, there are marketed reproducing apparatuses for optical discs, such as a Blu-Ray, a DVD, a CD, and the like, having a mechanism that uses a photosensor to detect disc insertion. In each of these apparatuses, when a disc is detected using the photosensor, the disc is introduced inside the apparatus using an insertion mechanism, and a center hole part of the disc is fixed to a disc rotation mechanism by applying pressure to allow the disc rotation mechanism to retain the disc.
However, if the center hole part is clogged with a foreign matter, the disc rotation mechanism cannot retain the disc normally, resulting in failing to reproduce the optical disc. Moreover, there is a possibility that a foreign matter entered with a previously inserted disc is left on a disc rotation table or an area around the table, which may prevent reproduction of even a normal disc.
Moreover, among vehicle-mounted optical disc reproduction apparatuses, there is known one having a configuration in which a roller is rotated by application of a certain voltage to move the disc to a position that can be retained by the rotation mechanism. However, a constant moving speed of the disc cannot be maintained depending on the way a user pushes the disc into an insertion port, user's timing of releasing the disc, environment temperature at the time of use of the optical disc reproduction apparatuses or due to adhesion of dirt to the roller.
This prevents the center hole part from being easily identified at the point of the photosensor during passage.

Toshiba Alpine Automotive Technology Corporation


A diffraction grating recording medium (3) that enhances the ability to prevent forgery and make security more reliable. The diffraction grating recording medium (3) comprises a first recording region (31) including viewing image unit cells (11a), (12a), (13a) having a light diffraction structure, and a second recording region (32) including hidden image unit cells (2a). The viewing image unit cells of the first recording region (31) has a grating pitch more than the wavelength of visible light, and the hidden image unit cells of the second recording region (32) has a grating pitch less than the wavelength of visible light.

A variety of forgery prevention means have so far been used with articles requiring authorization plus forgery prevention like cards such as cash cards, credit cards and check cards, tradable coupons, and important documents. For instance, a credit card is provided on its surface with a rainbow hologram comprising a relief hologram including a metal reflective layer in the form of an authorization structure for card authentication by visual inspection. An apparatus for recording such a hologram is disclosed in Patent Publication 1.


The present invention discloses an HDTV, and a method for controlling adjustment of the HDTV, which make it possible to set control information of the HDTV easily at low cost without unpacking the TV set. Adjustment data is included in an INFO frame, transmitted from an external device, and written into a register of an HDMI receiver 14 through a video signal input terminal 13. Further, a microcomputer 15 reads the adjustment data and controls the adjustment of the HDTV 11 based on contents of the data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to High Definition Television (HDTV), and more particularly, to HDTVs in which various adjustments are made based on adjustment data.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, HDTVs use digitized signal processing with a greater number of scanning lines (compared to conventional TVs) with insignificant loss in signal quality, generating high-definition video display.
HDTVs generally include a memory, with control information for displaying video signals, and a microcomputer for processing the video signals based on the control information within the memory. In general, the control information relates to display conditions, non-limiting examples of which may include brightness, hue, and contrast.
In general, all control information is pre-set to some standard as initial factory settings in a factor during the assembly of the HDTV, which can later be changed according to user preferences. Control information changes may also be required when the HDTV is repaired. During maintenance or repair work, a utility worker opens a case of the HDTV and unpacks a set of internal electronics etc. to do the maintenance work.
However, in unpacking the HDTV set, there have been a number of working steps required for analysis and adjustment. Also, due to such work itself might induce another error. Furthermore, due to such analysis and adjustment, additional adjusting equipment has been necessary, being one of the reasons for pushing up the cost.
The Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2001-346234 (Cited Document 1) discloses a construction in which a memory of the television receiver is updated by a signal-stopping circuit for stopping communication of a signal between a microcomputer and the memory, and a memory updating circuit comprising a conversion means for signals from a video input terminal and a conversion means for signals from an audio output terminal. With the construction shown in the cited document 1, it is not necessary to unpack the set. However, it is necessary to newly add a memory updating circuit even though it may be a simple one. Therefore, the construction shown in the cited document 1 cannot solve the problem of pushing up the cost.
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 64-27392 (Cited Document 2) discloses a technology, in the inspection of a display, wherein control data of the internal electronics is shown on the display so that a user can make sure that the operation and what is shown on the display correspond to each other. The construction of the cited document 2 can reduce the burden on the worker. However, it is still necessary to unpack the set and the problems accompanying such a process cannot be solved.


A control circuit for reducing current flow through the UV light bulb of a water purification unit when water is not flowing through the unit. In a first embodiment, the control circuit includes an RC shunt selectively connected in parallel with the UV bulb, thereby selectively adding a positive impedance in parallel with the negative impedance of the bulb. In a second embodiment, the control circuit includes an impedance selectively connected in series with the bulb ballast. In either embodiment, the impedance circuit is actuated in response to a water flow switch. When water is flowing through the unit, the impedance is removed so that full current is delivered to the bulb enhancing UV intensity. When water is not flowing through the unit, the impedance is added so that current flow is reduced.

The present invention relates to water treatment systems, and more particularly to a bulb intensity control circuit for an ultraviolet household water treatment system.
Household water treatment systems are gaining popularity, particularly in areas with less than ideal potable water. A household unit is mounted on a single tap to treat selectively water flowing through the tap. Treatment may include filtration, sterilization, or both.
The most effective water treatment systems include ultraviolet (UV) irradiation for sterilizing the water stream. It is well known that such UV treatment kills bacteria and viruses with an extremely high degree of reliability. The water to be treated is routed through a container, and a UV light source within or adjacent to the container directs UV light through the water stream.
Two considerations factor into the intensity of the UV light. First, it is desirable to operate the light at optimum intensity to achieve the maximum "kill rate" whether water is flowing or stagnated. Second, it is desirable to avoid excessive UV light intensity to avoid excessive warming of water "stagnated" within the treatment chamber when water flow stops. Stagnation occurs whenever the tap is not used for a considerable period of time, for example, overnight. Prior artisans have accommodated these considerations by selecting a single optimum intensity of a constantly on bulb to balance "kill rate" and temperature rise. The UV bulb is always at optimum intensity, and the first water out of the tap is properly treated. When water flow ceases, the optimum UV intensity prevents bacteria from recolonizing in the treatment chamber. However, the temperature rise of the stagnated water is undesirable.

UV bulb intensity control for water treatment system


On the basis of a first configuration of one or more imaging sensors, first video data is captured at a first frame rate and a first resolution and second video data is captured at a second frame rate and a second resolution. The second frame rate is higher than the first frame rate and the second resolution is lower than the first resolution. Further, an amount of motion is detected in the captured second video data. On the basis of the detected amount of motion, the at least one imaging sensor is switched to a second configuration. On the basis of the second configuration, third video data is captured at a third frame rate and a third resolution. The third frame rate is higher than the first frame rate and the third resolution is higher than the second resolution.

Various kinds of electronic devices, e.g., smartphones, tablet computers, or digital cameras, also support capturing of video with a general trend to support of higher quality images by utilizing higher resolutions, such as "Full HD" (1920×1080 pixels) or "4 K" (3840×2160 pixels) and frame rates, e.g., 60 frames per second. Capturing video at high frame rates also allows for producing high quality slow motion videos.
However, the utilization of high frame rates and resolutions comes at the cost of increased resource usage, e.g., with respect to required memory for storage of the captured video data or energy consumption for operation of a high resolution image sensor at high frame rate. This may be taken into account by the user manually activating recording at higher frame rates only when needed, e.g., for generating a slow motion video of a scene with fast movements, such as a swimmer diving into the water.
However, such manual activation of high frame rate capturing implies the possibility that the user may forget to activate the high frame rate capturing or that the high frame rate capturing is activated too late, e.g., due to the fast movements in the scene not being expected by the user.
Accordingly, there is a need for techniques which allow for efficiently capturing video at higher frame rate.

Sensor configuration switching for adaptation of video capturing frame rate


A linear drive which has a housing with a longitudinal slot. A drive part able to be longitudinally moved in the housing is connected by the aid of a link part, running in the longitudinal slot, with a guide part, which is guided for motion on a longitudinal guide arranged outside the housing. As a longitudinal guide a rod guide is provided, which has at least one guide rod adjacent to the housing and spaced from it radially. The guide rod is exposed along its guide stroke and has the guide part encircling it. There is therefore the possibility of accurate guiding of the moving unit without being affected by any tendency of the housing to splay outwards. The costs of manufacture are low.

The present invention relates to a linear drive comprising a housing which has a longitudinal slot, a drive part able to be moved longitudinally in the housing, a longitudinal guide arranged outside the housing and extending parallel to the direction of movement of the drive part, on which a guide part, suitable for connection with a load, in arranged for movement along a guide path in the longitudinal direction, and a link means connecting the drive part with the guide part with the formation of a common longitudinally moving unit and extending through the longitudinal slot.
Linear drives of this type are termed slotted cylinders and are described in, for instance, the European patent publication 0 113, 790 B1, the European patent publication 0 157 892 B1 or the German patent publication 3,124,915 C2. In such designs the drive part is constituted by a piston, which is moved by the action of a drive fluid. The carriage-like guide part is moved synchronously on displacement of the drive part as a consequence of the coupling via the link means. It serves for connection with a load and to join the drive with moving loads. Owing to the external longitudinal guide for the guide part the drive part is practically not subjected to external factors likely to cause wear.
In the case of the known linear drives the guide part is mounted externally on the housing containing the drive part, straddles the slotted part of the housing and bears on either side of the slot directly on guide tracks shaped or formed directly on the outer periphery of the housing. Although the straddling of the slotted part of the housing prevents splaying of the housing when it is subjected to a high internal pressure, there are substantial transverse forces adjacent to the guiding contact, which may lead to jamming and an impairment in function, and at least to more rapid wear of the guide components. Jamming may, it is true, be substantially prevented if sufficient play is provided adjacent to the guide contact, but apart from the loss of a straddling effect, this means that accuracy of guiding is less satisfactory. In the case of a guide part heavily loaded by an object to be conveyed erratic movements may even effect the drive part, for which reason in the European patent publication 0 113, 790 B1 or the European patent publication 0 157 892 B1 intermediately arranged couplings are provided, which isolate the guide part from the drive part to a certain degree. Apart from these shortcomings the manufacture of the guide tracks on the housing is elaborate and when wear takes place it is difficult to repair the guide tracks.


A network system can communicate with user and provider devices to facilitate the provision of a network-based service. The network system can identify optimal service providers to provide services requested by users. The network can utilize context data in matching service providers with users. In particular, the network system can determine, based on context data associated with a user, whether to perform pre-request matching for that user. A service provider who is pre-request matched with the user can be directed by the network system to relocate via a pre-request relocation direction. When the user submits the service request after the pre-request match, the network system can either automatically transmit an invitation to the pre-request matched service provider or can perform post-request matching to identify an optimal service provider for the user.

A network-based service can enable users to request and receive various services through applications on mobile computing devices. The network-based service can match a service provider with a requesting user based on the current location of the service provider and a start location specified by the requesting user or determined based on the current location of the requesting user.

Forecasting requests based on context data for a network-based service


A pylon structure for mounting an aircraft engine to a wing. The pylon structure comprises a torque box having a wing mount on the aft portion, a first engine mount on the fore portion and second engine mount on the aft portion.

Contemporary aircraft may include a mounting structure to mount an engine to the wing of an aircraft. Typical mounting structures include a plurality of interconnected trusses that create a space frame to carry the loads of the engine into the wing. The design of such mounting structures take into account resistance to engine loads, mass of the structure and structural integrity of the structure in the event of an uncontained engine rotor failure.


An apparatus (11) for processing a sample, circuit board (8008) suited to use in such an apparatus and a method of processing are provided in which the apparatus (11) is provided with alignment features to assist in provided the circuit board and a sample cartridge (9) in the correct position relative to one another. In this way, the plurality of sections for processing a sample in the cartridge (9) are positioned against a plurality of elements, such as a heater (4) for heating the sample cartridge (9) or an electrical contact (EP1-EP4) for powering features on the sample cartridge (9), correctly and can operate independently of one another.

The invention concerns improvements in and relating to analysis, particularly, but not exclusively, in relation to biological samples.
Analysis of samples, for example biological samples, is known. However, such analysis typically involves many process steps, requires skilled operatives and is labour intensive. It would be desirable to at least partly automate the analysis. It would also be desirable to reduce the requirement for skilled operatives.

Performance of an analyzer for biological samples


A device which produces adequate local anesthesia for the purpose of infant male circumcision. The elastic form fitting body of the device is measured to fit over the infant male penis, and contains a coated inner surface that contacts the penile skin with an anesthetic gel, which upon contact, initiates anesthesia locally at the glans tip of the infant penis.

The process of male circumcision in the infant is accomplished using several different surgical techniques. Although this operation is very common and is often performed within the first 24 hours of life, there is often no anesthetic used during the procedure. Recent evidence suggests that the experience is in fact painful for the infant and the operation would be better performed using anesthesia.
The present methods of anesthesia, not including general anesthesia, include the application of a local anesthetic such as LIDOCAINE.RTM. via injection into the penis or via the application of a gel which is then wrapped with a sheet-like gauze material to hold the gel in place prior to the start of the procedure. These two common methods are not without flaws. The injection of anesthetic can cause complications such as pain, bleeding, hematoma and cardiac arrest if accidentally injected into the vascular tree. The application of anesthesia locally with a wrap is less dangerous but is more cumbersome to carry out. This method is time consuming and requires two procedures. This makes the method more difficult to perform and less cost effective. If the anesthetic is absorbed by the sheet-like material used to wrap around the penis to hold it in place, it will also take longer for the penis to become adequately anesthetized. This will therefore decrease the use of the anesthetic in performing circumcisions.
It is therefore desirable to provide a method and device for providing adequate anesthesia for the operation of infant male circumcision which does not require injection or cumbersome, time consuming and special skill requiring use.

Method and device for infant male circumcision anesthesia


A process and apparatus for removing elements is described herein.

The field of the invention is a process and apparatus for the removal of elements from water, and more particularly the removal of contaminants, such as selenium.
Selenium is a naturally occurring metalloid element having atomic number 34 and an atomic weight of 78.96. Selenium is widely dispersed in igneous rock. Selenium also appears in large quantities, but in low concentrations, in sulfide and porphyry copper deposits. Moreover selenium is widely associated with various types of sedimentary rock. Inorganic selenium is most commonly found in four oxidation states (Se6+, Se4+, Se0, and Se2−). Selenate (SeO42−, Se(VI)) and selenite (SeO32−, Se(IV)) are highly water soluble. Elemental selenium (Se0) is insoluble in water.
Selenium is a common water contaminant throughout the United States and the world and represents a major environmental problem. Human related selenium release originates from many sources including mining operations, mineral processing, abandoned mine sites, petroleum processing, and agricultural run-off. The principal sources of selenium in mining are copper and uranium bearing ores and sulfur deposits. Selenium is commonly found in these mining wastewaters in concentrations ranging from a few micrograms per liter up to more than 12 mg/L. In precious metals operations, waste and process water and heap leachate solutions may contain selenium at concentrations up to 30 mg/L. It has been observed that concentrations of selenate as low as 10 μg/L in water can cause death and birth deformities in waterfowl; therefore, the established regulatory limit is 5 μg/L. Most of these mining operations, including both metal and non-metal mining operations, will need inexpensive and effective selenium removal processes to meet discharge and closure requirements. Additionally, the selenium removal difficulties include the different dissolved species, no direct precipitation chemistries, difficulty of reducing selenate, and sulfate interference.
The present invention attempts to solve these problems, as well as others.


A novel approach to diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in the peritoneal cavity is described. More specifically, a technique for accessing the peritoneal cavity via the wall of the digestive tract is provided so that examination of and/or a surgical procedure in the peritoneal cavity can be conducted via the wall of the digestive tract with the use of a flexible endoscope. As presently proposed, the technique is particularly adapted to transgastric peritoneoscopy. However, access in addition or in the alternative through the intestinal wall is contemplated and described as well. Transgastric and/or transintestinal peritoneoscopy will have an excellent cosmetic result as there are no incisions in the abdominal wall and no potential for visible post-surgical scars or hernias.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a procedure for accessing and examining and/or conducting surgical procedures in a body cavity, such as the peritoneal cavity, and instruments adapted therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
The traditional approach to the peritoneal cavity is by trans-abdominal wall incision. More recently, the less invasive laparoscopic surgical technique has been used to access and examine the peritoneal cavity. Laparoscopy is currently performed via small incisions made through the anterior abdominal wall. Via these incisions, a rigid laparoscope is introduced, as are various microsurgical instruments if a procedure is performed within the peritoneal cavity. Laparoscopy is therefore a surgical procedure and carries the risk of infection of the skin incisions and possible development of post-operative hernias, and/or scars which may create cosmetic defects.

Methods for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in the peritoneal cavity


Transflective articles comprising a first layer having a first, outer major surface having a plurality of apertures therein; and a second layer having a major transflective surface. The transflective articles are useful, for example, in light assemblies.

Light source applications are well known in the art and include those that are configured so that light is emitted relatively uniformly over a given area in a desired direction. The degree of uniformity and the degree of aiming are dictated by the specific application, but the emitting area is generally comparable to the device that is being illuminated.
Common applications for lighting include backlights for displays and signs as well as vehicular lights. A liquid crystal display (LCD) is commonly used in laptop computers, monitors and televisions. Because a liquid crystal produces no light of its own, but simply modulates light, it is common practice to provide directed area lighting, called a backlight, behind the LCD. This backlight is roughly the same size as the LCD and provides a beam that is directed through the LCD toward the viewer. One type of backlight commonly comprises at least one fluorescent lamp illuminating the edges of a plastic light guide. Light is extracted from the light guide via light extraction features on the surface of the light guide (e.g., bumps, pits, and paint dots).
Illuminated signs, of the type that comprise an internal light source and a translucent outer cover with text and/or graphics formed on it, are another application of directed area lighting. One common internal light source for this application is a row of fluorescent bulbs, with the uniformity requirements being met by placing diffuser plates between the bulbs and the outer cover.
Vehicular lights (e.g., headlights and taillights) are also examples of directed area lighting. For example, SAE J586 JUL2007, Section 6.4.2, published July, 2007, calls out a minimum lighted area of 50 cm2 for brake lights, and gives details on how this is to be interpreted. In addition, FIGS. 3 to 5 and the associated text in Section 5.1.5 specify the minimum and maximum intensity that needs to be emitted in certain directions.
Several types of suitable light sources are available, and include incandescent bulbs, fluorescent tubes, discharge lamps, and light emitting diodes (LEDs). Recent developments in LED technology have made them among the most efficient.

Transflective articles and light assemblies