A bed includes a bag filled with a transparent fluid and formed with a transparent portion at least at an upper surface portion thereof, and a light source for emitting light. The light emitted from the light source passes through the fluid and propagates to an outside of the bag through the transparent portion on an upper surface of the bag. As a result, a bedsore can be prevented, and a decrease in bone mass can be prevented, thus suppressing occurrence of osteoporosis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bed and, more particularly, to a bed used in, e.g., medical applications and the like.
2. Related Background Art
People who are confined to bed from various reasons rarely move their bodies and thus tend to cause bedsores. A bedsore refers to a necrotic state that occurs to a skin or soft tissue of a portion, where a bone projects, of a patient who is confined to bed for a long period of time, as a result of circulatory malady when the skin or tissue is pressed between the bone and the bed over a long period of time.
For example, a water bed 1 is conventionally used to prevent a bedsore. In the water bed 1, as shown in FIG. 7, a water bag 20 filled with water 22 is supported by a bed frame 30. A heater 40 having a thermostat is attached to the side portion of the water bag 20. When a bed user 100, e.g., a patient who is confined to bed, lies on the water bed 1, a uniform force acts on the contact portion of the water bag 20 and the bed user 100, so that no bedsore occurs easily. In addition, the bed user 100 can sleep comfortably.
However, as the causes of bedsore, in addition to the pressure described above, bacterial infection must not be forgotten. Therefore, currently, a bedsore is prevented by, e.g., cleaning a bed-confined patient with alcohol by a person in charge of nursing.
In the bed-confined state, a decrease in bone mass occurs to the bed user 100. When the bone mass decreases, porosity occurs in the bone likely to cause osteoporosis finally. As a result, the patient tends to suffer a fracture during care, which will cause bed confinement in turn, leading to a vicious cycle.
It is said that, at present, there are 4 million people in Japan who are confined to bed. As the percentage of aged people increases in the future, the number of bed-confined patients will increase, leading to an increase in medical cost.


Various methods and systems are provided for autonomous secrets management for a key distribution service (“KDS”). A KDS server performs centralized management and distribution of keys for client devices in a distributed computing system, which obviates key management and distribution at the client devices. In operation, a key request is received at a KDS server from a KDS client device. The key request is generated using a data protector and a KDS client component of the KDS client device. The key request is associated with a caller and a security token of the caller. The caller is authenticated at a security token service (STS) based on a security token. An encryption key or decryption key associated with the key request is generated. The encryption key or the decryption key is generated based on an interval-based key derivation scheme. The encryption key or the decryption key is communicated to KDS client.

Users often rely on applications and services to perform computing tasks. Cloud computing and storage solutions are computing architectures that support network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources for providing applications and services. A distributed computing infrastructure or cloud computing platform can support building, deploying and managing the application and services. An increasing number of users and enterprises are moving away from traditional computing architectures to run their applications and services on distributed computing systems. Distributed computing systems aim to efficiently and securely operate when utilizing cloud resources. Generally, secrets such as certificates, passwords, storage account keys, shared access signatures (SAS), and the like have a life cycle. At the end of life, the secret can expire or otherwise become invalid or untrusted. As such, secrets need to be renewed from time to time. In distributed computing system where resources such as data, applications, service, and secrets operate in a distributed manner, managing such distributed secrets poses various challenges.

Autonomous secrets management for a key distribution service


A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor element, a mounting pad on which the semiconductor element is mounted; first internal leads electrically connected to the semiconductor element; a heat radiation plate spaced from and opposite the semiconductor element with the mounting pad and located between the heat radiation plate and the semiconductor element, the heat radiation plate having a second internal lead; a sealing material encapsulating the semiconductor element, the mounting pad, the first and second internal leads, and part of the heat radiation plate; external leads continuing from the first internal leads and extending outside of the sealing material; and a grounding lead continuous with and extending from the second internal lead of the heat radiation plate, outside of the sealing material, for mechanically mounting and electrically grounding the heat radiation plate.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a conventional semiconductor device. In that semiconductor device, a semiconductor element 1 is secured to a die pad 2 with an adhesive 3. Electrode pads of the semiconductor element 1 and internal leads 5 are electrically connected to each other by wires 4. The semiconductor element 1, the die pad 2, the adhesive 3, the wires 4, and the internal leads 5 are encapsulated in a sealing material 6, such as an epoxy resin. The internal leads 5 extend outside of the sealing material as external leads 7.
The total thickness of the sealing material, D, includes the thickness d.sub.1 of the semiconductor element 1 and the thickness d.sub.2 of the sealing material adjacent the die pad 2.
In the conventional semiconductor device, it is desirable to decrease the total thickness D. However, when the total thickness is reduced, the thickness d.sub.2 of the sealing material 6 is also reduced and the sealing material may not completely cover the die pad 2 so the quality of the encapsulated semiconductor device is poor.
It is also possible to decrease the thickness of the encapsulated semiconductor device by decreasing the thickness d.sub.1 of the semiconductor element 1. However, when the thickness d.sub.1 of the semiconductor element is decreased, the reliability of the semiconductor element declines.
Recent applications require semiconductor devices having good heat radiating characteristics. However, in the conventional semiconductor device shown in FIG. 6, good heat radiation characteristics cannot be obtained because the heat produced by the semiconductor element 1 is radiated through the sealing material 6. In order to improve the heat radiation characteristic, the entire reverse surface of the die pad 2 may be exposed, i.e., not covered by the sealing material, as illustrated in FIG. 7. In that structure, there is no sealing material under the die-pad 2, i.e., on the side of the die pad opposite the semiconductor element 1. Therefore, the total thickness D of the semiconductor device can be decreased by the thickness d.sub.2 so that the semiconductor device is thinner. In addition, the heat produced by the semiconductor element 1 is radiated through the exposed surface of the die pad 2. Thus, a good heat radiation characteristic is obtained.
However, when the entire reverse surface of the die pad 2 is exposed, stress concentrates on an end surface 2a of the die pad 2 at an interface between the die pad 2 and the sealing material 6. Separation can occur at that interface due to the stress concentration so that the reliability of the semiconductor device declines.

Semiconductor device including a heat radiation plate


A single ASIC memory controller has full interconnectivity between various modes on the ASIC: input controller, memory controller, and output controller. The single ASIC includes an input controller section, a memory controller section, and an output controller section. The ASIC architecture is designed to allow any of the sections to be bypassed. Using the bypass mechanism, the ASIC can be combined with other like ASICs to increase system performance and capabilities without the need for ASIC redesign. The ASIC design can be used in memory subsystems that are scalable depending on user requirements.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to aggregating functionality on a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). More specifically, the present invention is directed to a system for providing a plurality of modes and interconnectability between ASICs to achieve scaling.
2. Related Art
Conventional memory controller boards comprise a number of application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). The ASICs can be functionally divided into three categories: memory input, memory output, and memory controller. Memory input ASICs accept inputs from requesters. A requester requests access to memory. The memory input ASIC provides the requester with the means to input the request to memory. The memory input ASIC routes a request to a memory controller ASIC. The memory controller ASIC processes the request and determines the appropriate memory accesses required to handle the request. For example, for a READ request, the memory controller ASIC determines the address of the request, performs a memory access, and obtains the data at the requested address. The memory output ASIC in conventional systems functions to return data to the requester. In the case of the READ request above, for example, data to be returned to the requester is sent to the memory output ASIC for subsequent return to the requester.
There are several problems with the conventional design. First, a separate ASIC must be designed for each function: memory input, memory output, and memory control. This increases system design and fabrication cost. Moreover, interconnectivity between functions is not flexible. That is, the ASIC's configuration cannot be changed as system requirements change. In addition, because of the inflexible interconnectivity, designs using conventional ASICs are not scalable. That is, it is difficult to expand the capability of the system without adding new boards. Addition of new boards, significantly increases system costs.
Thus, what is desired is an ASIC design that reduces or eliminates the need for separate ASIC designs for separate functionality. In addition, the design methodology should provide flexible interconnectivity between functionality, as well as provide scalability to grow as system requirements grow.


A protective enclosure for protecting well head equipment at a surface location is made up of an open framework of structural members which surround and protect the well head. Individual steel panels are assembled to form a series of upstanding walls which are covered by a series of roof panels and which together define the quasi-enclosed area surrounding the well head. The roof panels are covered with a steel grating which forms a covered roof for the protective enclosure. The tubing which makes up the steel panels is spaced to allow access to the enclosed area by a worker needing to access the well head. Upright legs of the steel panels are joined together by hinged brackets. The panels can also be secured to the surrounding terrain by a cemented retainer arrangement.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a system and apparatus for protecting equipment associated with oil and gas producing wells and, more specifically, for protecting exposed well head equipment such as Christmas trees, valves and accessory equipment located at the well surface.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The nature of the ordinary well head is such that it embodies sufficient control means that the well can be adjusted to safely produce at a desired rate. Depending on the type of formation being produced and other factors, the well head itself can assume different proportions and embody varying forms of equipment adapted to the particular conditions at hand. It is customary in the oil and gas industry to refer to the upper most portion of the well head as it leaves the surface of the ground as the "Christmas tree." The Christmas tree is generally an assembly of valves, tees, crosses, and other fittings at the well head used to control oil or gas production and to give access to the well tubing. Other fittings such as choke jackets, pressure gauges, and the like, can become part of what is known in the art as the "Christmas tree." Many times, a master valve is provided on the Christmas tree which controls the flow of gas or oil directly from the well itself. This valve can be closed, preventing any flow from the well to the Christmas tree itself.
Other valuable devices, such as additional expensive valves, may also be present at the well head. Many times, a very expensive control valve may be mounted on a pipeline itself. These valves and controllers are quite expensive, and their damage likewise brings a loss of production or supply of oil or gas flowing with the pipeline. While this assembly of valves, tees and other fittings which is affixed to the gas well or oil well at the well head is fairly sturdy in construction, it is possible for it to become damaged in a number of different situations.
One way in which damage can occur is due to the nature of the proximity of plural wells being completed within feet of each other. Often, where a highly productive oil or gas reserve field is discovered, a number of wells will be drilled into the area, each being furnished with a well head which protrudes just above the ground. Often in a highly productive area, these well heads are closely spaced. This situation creates particular concern where a new well is being completed in close proximity to an already completed well head or well heads. It is always possible that equipment can be dropped on the existing well head/heads, for example, by a crane being used to move a new Christmas tree into position at the site. The undesirable consequence of such damage could be an uncontrolled flow of the crude oil or gas. There have been instances, for example, where well heads have been damaged to the point of requiring replacement of one or more of the component parts.
Various schemes have been proposed for protecting both surface well head equipment and also sub-sea well head equipment. However, the prior art proposals have generally been lacking in one or more respects. For example, certain of the prior art constructions were permanent in nature and were not easily removed or transported from one well site to another.
A further feature of a suitable well head protective enclosure for the present purposes is that it must accommodate workover tools and instruments which are periodically inserted into the well for various reasons. It is also obviously necessary for worker personnel to be able to access the well head components to perform these and other customary operations. The protective enclosure must not impede these necessary operations.
It has therefore become a desirable to provide some form of protective enclosure for a well head of the type under consideration, especially where several well heads are located in close proximity. Preferably, the protective structure would be designed to deflect or deter damaging contact between a well head and heavy moving objects or lines. A primary function of the protective enclosure would be to permit the well head to operate in a safe manner and yet be readily accessible for workover purposes and/or for inspection, routine maintenance, or other such purposes. The enclosure would also preferably be assembled from a number of component parts which could be disassembled and transported to another location, when desired, with a minimum of effort being required for the disassembly.
Thus, despite the advances which have been made in well head construction, there continues to exist a need for an improved well head enclosure which would meet the previously expressed needs.


A display module includes a display panel, a flexible circuit board, a driving control chip, a touch control chip and a protective structure. The flexible circuit board is bonded to the display panel. The driving control chip is located on the display panel or the flexible circuit board. The touch control chip is located on the flexible circuit board or the display panel. The protective structure covers the driving control chip and/or the touch control chip. And the protective structure includes a first insulating layer, a heat dissipation layer and an electromagnetic shielding layer that are sequentially disposed away from the display panel.

An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) has advantages of self-luminescence, low energy consumption, lightness and thinness, high color saturation, etc., and may be manufactured into a flexible display device based on a flexible material. The OLED is widely applied to various electronic devices including a computer, a mobile phone and the like.

CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A novel process of the preparation of amorphous atorvastatin calcium starting from a compound of Formula (II).

Atorvastatin calcium is known by synonyms like [R—(R*,R*)]-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-□□, 6-dihydroxy-5-(1-methylethyl)-3-phenyl-4-[(phenylamino) carbonyy-1h-pyrrole-1-heptanoic acid hemicalcium salt; (□R,□R)-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-□□-dihydroxy-5-(1-methylethyl)-3-phenyl-4-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-, 1H-Pyrrole-1-heptanoic acid hemicalcium salt; [R—(R*,R*)]-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-□□-dihydroxy-5-(1-methylethyl)-3-phenyl-4-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-, 1H-Pyrrole-1-heptanoic acid hemicalcium salt or (□R,□R)-2-(p-Fluorophenyl)-□□-dihydroxy-5-isopropyl-3-phenyl-4-(phenylcarbamoyl)pyrrole-1-heptanoic acid hemicalcium salt.
Hemicalcium salt of [R—(R*,R*)]-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-□□-dihydroxy-5-(1-methylethyl)-3-phenyl-4-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-, 1H-Pyrrole-1-heptanoic acid, a synthetic HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, is used for the treatment of hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia, both of which are risk factors for arteriosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Open dihydroxy carboxylic acid, lactone and various salt forms of [R—(R*,R*)]-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-□□-dihydroxy-5-(1-methylethyl)-3-phenyl-4-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-, 1H-Pyrrole-1-heptanoic acid have been synthesized.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,995, describes that [R—(R*,R*)]-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-□□-dihydroxy-5-(1-methylethyl)-3-phenyl-4-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-, 1H-Pyrrole-1-heptanoic acid has surprising inhibition of the biosynthesis of cholesterol. Calcium salt of [R—(R*,R*)]-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-□□-dihydroxy-5-(1-methylethyl)-3-phenyl-4-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-, 1H-Pyrrole-1-heptanoic acid (2:1) which is more suited to formulations and has been recommended as a drug.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,003,080; 5,097,045; 5,103,024; 5,124,482; 5,149,837; 5,155,251; 5,216,174; 5,245,047; 5,248,793; 5,273,995; 5,280,126; 5,298,627; 5,342,952; 5,385,929; 5,397,792; European Patent 409,281; and WO 89/07598 describe various processes and key intermediates for preparing atorvastatin.
WO 97/03958 and WO 97/03959 disclose novel crystalline forms of atorvastatin calcium designated as Form I, Form II, Form III and Form IV and method for their preparation which provide more favorable filtration and drying characteristics.
WO 97/03960 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,087,511 describe the procedures for converting the crystalline form of atorvastatin calcium to the amorphous form. The process disclosed therein involve dissolving form I atorvastatin calcium in a non-hydroxylic solvent like tetrahydrofuran or a mixture of tetrahydrofuran and toluene.
WO 00/71116 describes the procedure for converting the crystalline form-I by dissolving it in a non-hydroxylic solvent like tetrahydrofuran and precipitating amorphous atorvastatin calcium by the addition of nonpolar hydrocarbon solvents like, n-hexane, cyclohexane or n-heptane. The process described in the above mentioned patent involves dissolving the crystalline atorvastatin (form-I) in a non hydroxylic solvent like tetrahydrofuran or mixtures of tetrahydrofuran and toluene, followed by removal of the solvents under high temperature (about 90° C.) and high vacuum (about 5 mm). This process may not suitable on a large scale as the conditions used for drying may lead to degradation of the product.
Many of the process disclosed in the above patents does not produce atorvastatin calcium in its amorphous form consistently. Often a mixture of crystalline and amorphous form is obtained which is not suitable for filtration and drying and therefore not a desirable process for large-scale production.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a novel process for the preparation of amorphous atorvastatin calcium, which is unique with respect to its simplicity, cost effectiveness and scalability.

Process for the production of amorphous atorvastatin calcium


The present invention discloses a device and method pertaining to battery construction. In the preferred embodiment, the shape and construction of the battery is designed to maximize energy density and efficiency, while minimizing volume and related restrictions. Furthermore, the efficient, simplified internal construction of the present invention, using readily available tubes, pins and spacers, renders it safe and reliable for medical applications, and lends to relative ease and cost effectiveness in manufacturing. The utilization of a neutral case further adds to the safety and reliability of the present invention. Also, the strategic positioning of the electrolyte fill hole allows for quick filling. A related battery construction tool and method are also disclosed adding to the overall usefulness and efficiency of the present invention.

Implantable medical devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators, speech processors, left ventricular assist devices (LVAD), and neurostimulators are becoming more and more common and have many unique requirements. Small, round, lightweight devices having flat shapes are desirable for ease of implant and patient comfort. Additionally, these devices have strict safety and reliability requirements.
In many of these devices, the batteries make up the majority of the weight and volume. Therefore, batteries are needed of a specific shape to make the best use of the space available in each device. For many of these devices, the batteries themselves should be small, flat, and lightweight.
One method of producing flat cells is by using a stacked plate design. As shown in FIG. 1, a typical battery stack 10 is constructed such that the positive electrodes 11 have tabs 12 that extend past the edges of the negative electrodes 13 and serve as the current collectors. The positive tabs 12 are collected and connected by a weld or other attachment 14 (shown schematically). Likewise, the negative electrodes 13 have tabs 15 that extend past the edges of the positive electrodes 11 and are collected and connected by a weld or other attachment 16 (shown schematically). The tab design is simple and advantageously has only a small number of cell components. However, the tabs must be of sufficient length to reach each other to connect all the tabs and to insulate and isolate the tabs of the opposite polarity. Using tabs wastes internal volume, or headspace, around the tabs causing the battery volume to be larger or the battery capacity to be smaller than if tabs were not used. Furthermore, because the number of tabs that can be connected together in a weld or electromechanical joint is limited, this construction limits the number of electrodes capable of being stacked together. Overall, using tabs reduces the energy density of the cell. With the search for smaller and smaller packages, especially in medical applications, designers are pressed to fit more into less space, which is a difficult task with the tab design.
For stacked plate design batteries, one of the most important design requirements to ensure performance and safety is maintenance of electrode alignment. Proper alignment of the electrodes and separators must include an adequate safety margin for initial assembly and must be maintained for safe operation over the life of the cell. This is especially important for implantable cells because of the effects that a failure may have on the device performance and ultimately on the patient. For tab designs in which all of the terminations are made through a single common point, maintaining proper alignment can be difficult. Cell elements unintentionally may be allowed to rotate, leading to safety concerns such as short circuits or Li plating. While alignment is improved with multi-tab designs, headspace remains an issue, with the multiple tabs taking up significant space in the cell.
Another drawback of the typical tab design is that as the electrode layers are cut, the cutting process tends to produce burrs at the corners, particularly at inside corners such as area 17. These burrs can cause short circuits.
Another method of producing flat profile cells is by using a folded-type cell design. In these designs each electrode is layered together in an alternating fold with a separator being combined during each consecutive fold. Each panel of the electrode is connected with a small jumper ribbon of material and serves as the current collector of the entire combination of electrodes. This design is well proven in cell phone applications and has potential for inexpensive construction and manufacture. However, this geometry has size constraints and still has the problem of maintaining alignment of the components during manufacture and usage. The ribbons protrude in a similar manner as the tabs described above, thereby wasting precious space. Because the folded designs do not incorporate alignment features, the relative sizes of the electrodes are used to ensure the safety of the device. The negative electrodes are sized larger than the positive such that under its greatest misalignment, the positive is still covered by the negative. This makes the folded-type battery less space efficient.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,987 to Koo et al., a bipolar battery uses an anode pin and a cathode pin to mount electrodes and contact rings, with anode contact rings fitted into cutouts of the cathode and vice versa, thus obviating the use of tabs. However, it is not clear how the electrodes are actually aligned and electrically and mechanically coupled; proper alignment and coupling are critical to the operation of the battery. Furthermore, the battery is filled with electrolyte through a center hole called an electrolyte injection hole; the electrolyte must flow into the hole and through smaller ports in the injection ring to contact and saturate the electrodes. Moreover, there is no mention of terminals and it is unclear what structures would function as terminals.
It is therefore desirable to provide a reliable flat battery having a configuration that eliminates the use of tabs for construction while overcoming other limitations of the prior art.
It is also desirable to provide a configuration that can be made into custom shapes for applications that are space-limited, such as implantable medical devices and satellites and other aerospace devices.
It is further desirable to provide a safe, compact, space-efficient, high capacity battery.


The present embodiment provides a compound represented by the formula (1):Q-CHR2  (1)(Q is a nitrogen-containing aliphatic group containing two or more tertiary nitrogens but no oxygen, and R is an aliphatic group containing a biodegradable group). From the compound in combination with other lipids such as a lipid capable of reducing aggregation, lipid particles can be formed. Further, the compound can be used for a pharmaceutical composition to deliver an activator into cells.

Studies and researches have been made on liposomes for the purpose of various disease treatments. Liposomes are lipid-made minute capsules with nanometer-order sizes. They can enclose therein various compounds and the like and also are excellent in biocompatibility, and hence are ideal material for selectively delivering therapeutic agents or activators to the aimed parts in living bodies. For that use, large unilamellar liposomes (LUV: large unilamellar vesicles) having a mean particle size of 100 nm or more are generally employed and various substances have been developed for the membrane of them.
The liposomes can be made of a single lipid. In that case, for example, a phospholipid having a head part and a hydrophobic part connected thereto is adopted as the lipid, so that molecules thereof assemble to form membranes and thereby to produce the minute capsules capable of enclosing activators or the like. However, in order that the liposomes can have favorable properties, they are generally made of a lipid mixture. The mixture comprises a combination of, for example, lipids having excellent biodegradability, lipids inhibiting aggregation of the formed liposomes, lipids having an effect of inhibiting leakage of enclosed substances, and lipids having an effect of membrane fusion.
Those lipids are individually under research and development to further improve properties of the liposomes. For example, medical-use liposomes specialized for gene transfer are preferred to have high biodegradability, excellent biocompatibility, strong ability for gene transfer and low cytotoxicity, and accordingly lipids are preferably capable of forming those liposomes.
As the lipids described above, various compounds have been developed. However, living bodies to be treated may underlie various conditions and there are many diseases to be cured, and hence it is desired to increase kinds of lipids that can be selected according to the requirements. Further, there is a desire for lipids capable of forming liposomes having properties superior to those of conventional liposomes.

Biodegradable compound, lipid particle, composition comprising lipid particle, and kit


A motion assisted manure fork having a handle, a fork head having a plurality of tines, and a motor assembly that imparts a sinusoidal motion to the plurality of tines. The fork head includes a frame having a neck dimensioned to receive one end of a handle and a plurality of tines. The plurality of tines has an inner tine section, and an outer tine section on each side of the inner section with a hinge positioned between the inner tine section and each of the outer tine sections. The fork head also has an angle of inclination, which divides the plurality of tines into an upper portion of tines at a first angle to the handle and a lower portion of tines at a second angle to the handle. A support member extends across the plurality of tines, which includes a plurality of supports positioned between the tines to provide strength to the fork head during use. The outer tine sections are attached to and extend from the frame, while the inner tine section is not fixedly attached to the frame except by the hinge.

It can be appreciated that for a considerable period of time, livestock animals that are normally confined in stalls or pens or use a stall to get out of the weather have been provided with bedding material of natural straw. This bedding is provided to absorb the urine produced while the animal is confined, and to improve the comfort of the animal. Such stalls, whether using straw bedding, shavings or sawdust materials, naturally require frequent removal of the urine soaked material. As a consequence of this confinement there are also considerable manure deposits, which, by the activity of the animal walking around the stall, can become mixed with the bedding and scattered around the stall. This mixture of urine, manure and bedding must be frequently removed and replenished for the health of the animals and to reduce noxious odors.
When raising or keeping horses, the bedding may be cleaned several times a day or completely stripped and replenished daily or weekly. Thusly, the cost and storage of bedding materials, the extent to which it is lost when cleaning and the size of composting piles and their disposal are problems faced by all in the field. During the past few decades, in addition to straw, two additional types of bedding have come into fairly regular use. One common type is pine or cedar wood shavings or chips, either in bulk form or compressed and bagged. The other being sawdust or compressed sawdust pellets. Since shavings and sawdust or pellets have come into common usage and that they are smaller or finer in comparison to the long strands of straw, during the removal of bedding some sifting can take place. All the urine soaked bedding will be removed and the undisturbed piles of manure will be discarded whole. However, the movement of horses in their stall results in many manure piles being broken down into smaller component manure balls. The sifting of the bedding to separate the small manure pieces from the voluminous bed of shavings results in considerably less of the bedding material being thrown out with the manure.
Manual cleaning of horse stalls or other livestock facilities is typically performed utilizing a manure fork, which consists of a fork head configured with a row of plastic or metal tines. A handle typically made of wood having a circular cross-sectional shape is attached to fork head.
In conventional practice of stall cleaning, there is substantial waste because much of the wood shaving bedding material becomes removed and discarded along with the manure, thus necessitating frequent costly replenishment that can amount to many cubic feet of shavings per week per animal, representing a substantial cost and profuse disposal factor. The main approach presently available to control excess shavings disposal is to train, motivate and supervise workers to take the extra time and diligent effort to manually agitate the fork in a vigorous and tiring fashion to promote the separation of manure pieces from the bedding, thus reducing the quantity by salvaging the wood shavings; however such special training and effort is likely to be merely a tradeoff, shifting the cost to labor and supervision, and could result in zero or negative savings overall. The cost of wasted bedding material is particularly high in prestigious operations and expensive boarding sites where, except for their exercise periods, the horses are normally confined in a stall. These stalls must be kept in top condition by frequent cleaning and wood shavings are utilized plentifully for health as well as aesthetic and show purposes.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a motion assisted manure fork that can save time, fatigue and reduce waste by assisting the user with the separation of the shavings, sawdust, pellets or other bedding from the manure balls.


A stacked OLED includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a plurality of luminescent regions disposed between the first and second electrodes, and an intermediate electrode disposed between successive luminescent regions. At least one intermediate electrode comprise a metal-organic mixed layer disposed between a first charge injecting layer and a second charge injecting layer.

The present disclosure relates, in various exemplary embodiments, to organic light emitting devices (OLEDs). In particular, the present disclosure relates to stacked OLED configurations.
Organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) represent a promising technology for display applications. A typical organic light emitting device includes a first electrode; a luminescent region comprising one or more electroluminescent organic material(s); and a second electrode; wherein one of the first electrode and the second electrode functions as a hole injecting anode, and the other electrode functions as an electron injecting cathode; and wherein one of the first electrode and the second electrode is a front electrode, and the other electrode is a back electrode. The front electrode is transparent (or at least partially transparent) while the back electrode is usually highly reflective to light. When a voltage is applied across the first and second electrodes, light is emitted from the luminescent region and through the transparent front electrode.
It is sometimes desirable to laminate two or more individual OLEDs in a stacked configuration to form a stacked OLED. Stacked OLED configurations include intermediate electrodes disposed between adjacent luminescent regions. That is, the stacked OLED includes a plurality of individual OLEDs which are defined by a luminescent region disposed between two electrodes. A top electrode of one individual OLED in the stack also functions as a bottom electrode of another OLED in the stack. Successive luminescent regions share an intermediate electrode.
Stacked OLEDs may emit different colors such that a true color pixel is formed from which any color may be emitted. For example, Burrows et al. disclose in Appl. Phys. Lett. 69, 2959 (1996) individual OLEDs with red, green, or blue emissions stacked to form color-tunable vertically integrated pixels.
Stacked, monochromatic OLEDs are also possible such as demonstrated by Matsumoto et al. (SID 03 Digest, 979 (2003)). Stacked, monochromatic OLEDs potentially provide an OLED configuration having high electroluminescence efficiency.
The intermediate electrodes are typically transparent. Additionally, the intermediate electrodes are often required to act as electron injecting contacts on one side and as hole injecting contacts on the other side. To exhibit all the features required in the intermediate electrodes, the intermediate electrodes are typically made of multiple layers and from materials, e.g., ITO, V2O5, that are hard to deposit via thermal vapor deposition processes. Consequently, fabricating stacked OLEDs requires additional, more aggressive techniques, such as, for example, sputtering. The required additional, more aggressive deposition techniques increases the costs of fabricating the OLEDs and also increases the risk of damaging the other more fragile organic layers of the stacked OLED.
Therefore, there is a need to provide an intermediate electrode composition or configuration that allows for a stacked OLED to exhibit the advantages of existing stacked OLED configurations. There is also a need to provide an intermediate electrode having a light absorbing capability. There is also a need to provide an intermediate electrode composition or configuration suitable for use in a stacked OLED that is amenable to physical vapor deposition processing.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Intermediate electrodes for stacked OLEDs


A system and method for supporting verifiable invoice and credit financing in a verifiable manner across a plurality of different platforms.

It is known for suppliers of products and/or services to issue invoices to buyers, which then typically pay within a predefined period of time. However, suppliers may have difficulty maintaining their cash flow because of the elapsed time between when the product or service is supplied, and the time that the invoice is paid. Such a period of elapsed time can be particularly difficult for smaller suppliers, those in capital intensive industries, and suppliers undergoing rapid growth.
To assist suppliers with this cash flow problem, various types of financing are available to provide money more quickly to suppliers. "Factoring" involves purchase of the invoice and collection process by a financier or factor, and reliant solely on information from suppliers; typically the supplier only receives a fraction of the invoice value, but the money is received rapidly. "Invoice Discounting" (or "Receivable Finance"), with insurance, typically pays more to the supplier overall, but the supplier is responsible for collecting its own invoice. "Reverse Factoring" (or "Supply Chain Finance" or "SCF") can provide the highest payment to the supplier, but usually involves confirmation of payment by the buyer—and of course, a reliable buyer that is likely to pay the invoice.
For business buyers, term payments—net 30 days, net 45 days, etc.—are common in trade but not yet prevalent for B2B eCommerce platforms. The consumerization of digital economy necessitates the trend for immediate payment in B2B transactions, thereby driving the requirement for buyers to obtain and use line-of-credit for purchases. Alternatively, buyers can use third-party credit financing solution to make term payments. These credit financing solutions typically alleviate the credit checking of the buyers by the suppliers, and enhance the buying experience to that for a consumer.
All of these solutions have been automated to certain extent by technology where applicable, but they usually involve an intermediary to provide matchmaking or auctioning between suppliers and financiers, or a buyer-initiated program with predefined parameters. There have been cases of fraud in which financial information was altered by the intermediary to meet lending criteria and increase transaction volume. There are concerns on protecting the privacy of parties to the commercial transactions and contracts, transparency in processes, as well as to set transparent pricing for these various types of finance.
Furthermore, the available solutions are not widely applicable outside of specific industries and/or specific countries, even then, there have been fraudulent cases of supplier selling the same invoice to multiple financiers to collect multiple payments. Buyers work with captive credit financing programs which may not offer the best terms. There are no widely available international solutions which can overcome the problems of determining credit risk in different countries, for example. Thus, suppliers which could benefit from invoice financing, and buyers which could benefit from credit financing—and financiers which might otherwise be interested in providing such financing—they are unable to make the connection and hence to benefit globally.

System and method for verifiable invoice and credit financing


A relay communications system is described in which a base station receives a request from an MME that an overload procedure be started or stopped. The base station inserts the identity of the MME into the request and forwards the modified request to a relay node. The relay node then initiates or terminates the overload procedure in accordance with the request for mobile telephones which the MME that made the request serves, but not for mobile telephones which the MME does not serve.

Relaying is considered for LTE-Advanced as a tool to improve, for example, the coverage of high data rates for User Equipment (UE), group mobility, temporary network deployment, the cell edge throughput and/or to provide coverage in new cell areas. E-UTRAN supports relaying by having a Relay Node (RN) wirelessly connected to a base station (eNB) (referred to as a Donor eNB (DeNB)). In addition to serving its own 'donor' cell, the Donor eNB serves the RN, via a modified version of the E-UTRA radio interface. The modified interface is referred to as the 'Un' interface.
Each RN is provided with many aspects of a base station's functionality and is therefore capable of acting as a base station serving its own 'relay' cell. From the perspective of the user equipment in the relay cell, therefore, the RN essentially appears to be a conventional LTE base station. In addition to the base station functionality, however, the RN also supports a subset of the UE functionality including, for example, many aspects of the physical layer, layer-2, radio resource control (RRC), and non access stratum (NAS) functionality, to allow it to connect wirelessly to a Donor eNB.
Several mobility management entities (MMEs) are located in the core of the E-UTRA network. Each MME serves a respective subset of the user equipment in the 'donor' cell of the Donor eNB, the relay cell, and/or other cells in the wider network. The Donor eNB forwards control messages received from the MME to the RN over the Un interface and, from the perspective of the RN, the Donor eNB appears to be a single MME that serves all the items of user equipment registered with the RN in the relay cell.
Accordingly, the Donor eNB is capable of handling communication both 'directly' to and from user equipment camped in its own cell and 'indirectly', via the RN, to and from user equipment camped in the relay cell.
The MMEs in the core network can become overloaded and, accordingly, each MME is provided with an overload handling capability. Specifically, when one of the MMEs experiences an overload situation, it randomly selects a subset of the base stations that it communicates with, and sends the selected base station(s) a control message to request initiation of a procedure to alleviate the overload situation. Typically, for example, the requested overload procedure will involve the base station rejecting attempts to establish a connection made by user equipment served by the MME making the request.


A pixel array includes a plurality of pixel groups, each of which includes a plurality of brightness sub-pixel regions, a plurality of first sub-pixel regions, and a plurality of second sub-pixel regions. Each brightness sub-pixel regions has a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side. The first sub-pixel regions include a first group and a second group, and the second sub-pixel regions include a third group and a fourth group. The first, the second, the third, and the fourth groups are respectively disposed at the first, the third, the second, and the fourth sides of the first brightness sub-pixel region. Extension lines of long directions of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth groups respectively interlace a vertical baseline at a first angle θ1, a second angle θ2, a third angle θ3, and a fourth angle θ4. 0°<θ1<90°, 0°<θ2<90°, 0°<θ3<90°, and 0°<θ4<90°.

1. Field of Disclosure
The present invention relates to a pixel array, especially relates to a pixel array of a display panel.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, portable display panels have gradually replaced regular displays. Compared to other display panels, auto-luminescence displays such as organic or inorganic light-emitting displays have more superiorities of wide viewing angles, good contrast, and high response speeds. Therefore, the organic or inorganic light emitting displays, especially organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays composed by organic materials, have been widely focused as the next generation displays. Compared to the inorganic light emitting displays, the OLED displays have good brightness, lower driving voltages, and faster response times while providing color images.
The organic light emitting diodes can be grouped to be passive matrix OLEDs (PMOLEDs) and active matrix OLEDs (AMOLEDs) according to their driving methods. The light emitting diode of a PMOLED is not luminous until the data is written therein. The PMOLED with this driving method has simple structure, low cost, and is easy to design. Therefore, the PMOLED is suitable for small/medium-sized displays. On the other hand, for the AMOLED, each pixel of the pixel array thereof has a capacitor to store data, maintaining each pixel luminous. Since the power consumption of the AMOLED is lower than that of PMOLED, and the driving method of the AMOLED is suitable for large-sized and high-resolution displays, the AMOLED has became main trend of display development.
In general, pixels per inch (ppi) is a unit of pixel resolution of displays, which represents the number of pixels contained in each square inch. The higher the ppi value, the higher the pixel density, resulting in more abundant details of the images. In related art, the pixel arrangement of the conventional AMOLED is that blue sub-pixels, green sub-pixels, and red sub-pixels are disposed side by side, and the pixel arrangement of the AMOLED is a strip arrangement. A tolerance space is formed between any two immediately adjacent sub-pixels, such that the conventional AMOLED is hard to achieve high aperture ratio or high resolution. Moreover, the same color sub-pixels in some arrangements of the AMOLED are adjacent disposed, which lowers the display quality if the adjacent sub-pixels are high brightness green sub-pixels.
In view of above, many in the industry are striving to provide a new display panel or improve the conventional display panel (especially its pixel array) to increase the aperture ratio and upgrade the display quality, thereby improving or eliminating the drawbacks mentioned above.


A toothbrush has a brush head of bristles joined to a gripping portion which when grasped and used by a user in a natural, common and ordinary manner, results in the brush head being positioned automatically at a 45.degree. angle with the long axis of the teeth; the preferred tooth cleaning position of the Dr. Skillman and Dr. Bass toothbrushing method. The handle is a symmetrical four-sided column having a cross-section which can be circumscribed by a square with one diagonal parallel to the bristles of the brush head.

The present invention relates to a toothbrush, more particularly, the invention relates to a toothbrush having a handle specifically designed in cross-section and in geometrical relationship to the brush head in a manner whereby when the toothbrush is used in a natural common and ordinary manner the bristles of the brush head will be automatically angled 45.degree. into the long axis of the teeth when used in all areas of the user's mouth.
Although bacterial plaque has been recognized as the prime cause of tooth decay and periodontal disease which results in tooth loss, fluorides put in drinking water, toothpastes and mouthwashes have made tooth enamel resistant to said bacterial plaque with a very significant reduction of tooth decay. Tooth loss today in most advanced countries, is caused by unremoved plaque in the inter-dental areas and gum margins hardening into tartar. This results in subsequent gum irritation, recession and bacterial infection of the gums, exposure of the decay-prone dentine, invasion of bacteria and degeneration of bone resulting in loosening of the teeth. In order to make a significant contribution in reducing tooth loss, a modern, improved toothbrush must address these issues. It must remove plaque in and around inter-dental areas, gum margins and under the sulcus. It must gently massage the gums at the interface of the tooth and gum, thus contributing to the general health of the gums in essentially the same way that exercise contributes to the general health of living tissue by drawing blood into the exercised area.
The importance of caring for gums and teeth as a system for proper oral health care was first taught by U.S. Pat. No. 2,845,649 wherein soft toothbrush bristles and massages were recommended as best for gingival tissue. Many toothbrushing methods have been developed by dental professionals to achieve this end. The most popular current method is the Bass, or Stillman technique. A current textbook describing this method is "Glickman's Clinical Periodontology," Ferman A. Carranza, Jr., Dr. Odont, Fifth Edition, 1979, pages 729 to 738 published by W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia. The Bass Stillman toothbrushing method calls for short horizontal brush strokes and angling the bristles 45.degree. into the gumline. This method and others taught by dental health professionals, if applied faithfully by the average person using any of many conventional toothbrushes commercially available will result in reasonably clean, plaque-free teeth in the critical areas previously described. Recent surveys have shown that the average person does not use a professionally developed and recognized toothbrushing method, or take the time necessary to brush his or her teeth properly. If taught a correct method, the person soon forgets or revises the method and reverts to old, incorrect toothbrushing habits. The average person brushes their teeth in a casual manner using brush strokes that are basically, but not entirely, horizontal, while brushing for a short period of time compared to what is required for the Dr. Bass or a similar professional toothbrushing method. Conventional flat-handled toothbrushes used in this casual manner do not provide proper oral health care.
The challenge is to provide a toothbrush that compensates for this fact, or teaches the proper technique.
Pugh, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,876, expanded and used the soft bristle concept and taught the value of inclined bristles or filaments flexing relative to the upright as brushing force is applied to the toothbrush handle, so that plaque is removed more effectively by the flexing action.
Rauch, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,054, shows a brush head which automatically compensates for a user's lack of proper method, by providing increased bristle action in the sulcus, gum and gumline area.
Other patents disclose that the relationship of the brush head and brush handle and the shape of the brush handle can help position the bristles in relation to the teeth and gingival tissue in a preferred manner. McGauley, U.S. Pat. No. 2,263,885 and Grossman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,080 are examples of this concept.
Raymond, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,109, has expanded the foregoing concept by calling for specific positioning of the thumb and index finger on a marked or colored portion of part of a brush handle to position the brush head in a choregraphed manner, so that the bristles are positioned in a preferred angular position within the mouth.
In order to be effective, a modern, improved toothbrush must function in an optimum manner in the inter-dental, gingival margin and sulcus area.
The principal object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush which greatly reduces and prevents tooth decay, tooth loss and gum diseases.
An object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush which is usable with facility and ease and which, when used properly, will greatly reduce and prevent tooth decay, tooth loss and gum diseases.
Another object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush of simple structure, which greatly reduces and removes bacterial plaque, when used in a simple prescribed manner, thereby greatly reducing and eliminating tooth decay and gum diseases.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush which may be used in a casual manner to clean the teeth and massage the gums in a superior manner.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush which may be used in a casual manner to clean and massage the inter-dental, gum margin and sulcus areas in a superior manner.
Another object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush which functions with the highest efficiency, effectiveness and reliability possible in removing plaque in relation to the time and effort expended by the user in brushing the teeth.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush which, in use, positions the brush head bristles in the user's mouth automatically, without the user's conscious effort, in the position prescribed in the Dr. Bass and Dr. Skillman toothbrushing method.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush which, in use, positions the bristles of the brush head in the user's mouth automatically, without the user's conscious effort, at a 45.degree. incline with the long axis of the teeth in all areas of the user's mouth.
Another object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush which, in use, positions the brush head bristles in the user's mouth, automatically, without the user's conscious effort, at a 45.degree. incline with the sulcus in all areas of the user's mouth to facilitate the entry of the bristles under the sulcus to clean and massage this area.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush having a handle with two pairs of detented positions, running the length of the gripping portion of the handle, which permits the automatic positioning of the brush head bristles into the sulcus area at a 45.degree. angle in all areas of the user's mouth.
Yet, another object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush having a handle with rounded corners extending for the length of the gripping portion of the handle, which corners cause the user's hand to slip, when wet, into the comfortable detented handle positions thereby permitting the automatic positioning of the brush head bristles into the sulcus area at a 45.degree. angle in all areas of the user's mouth.


A sheet stackable device including a sheet stackable bin and a first edge guide is provided. The first edge guide is slidable in a first direction. The sheet stackable bin includes a first rail to guide the first edge guide, a second rails to guide the first edge guide, and teeth arranged along the first direction. The first edge guide includes a first protrusion configured to contact the first rail along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a second protrusion configured to contact the second rail, a locking part engageable with the teeth, and a handle to disengage the locking part from the teeth. The handle is arranged in a position between the first rail and the second rail with regard to the second direction.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a sheet stackable device and an image forming apparatus.
Related Art
A sheet stackable device, such as a sheet feeder cassette, having a sheet tray, on which sheets may be stacked, and an edge guide, which may be movable with respect to the sheet tray, is known. In this sheet stackable device, the edge guide may have an upright part to restrict a position of the sheets stacked on the sheet tray. The sheet tray may have a guide rail that guides the edge guide to move along a bottom of the sheet tray. The edge guide may have a handle, which may be pressed toward the upright part by a user. When the handle is pressed toward the upright part, the handle may rotate about a shaft extending vertically, and the edge guide may be unlocked from the guide rail.
When the handle is pressed to move the restrictive part along the bottom of the sheet tray, a rotation moment produced in the edge guide may affect the edge guide to incline with respect to the guide rail, and movability or operability of the restrictive part may be lowered.

Sheet stackable device and image forming apparatus


A device for fastening the abutment of a bowden cable on a constructional element in which a T-bolt is fastened on the constructional element, a fastening tab is provided on the abutment the fastening tab has a keyhole-like recess, the recess has a greater opening for the passage of the head of the T-bolt and a smaller opening which is somewhat greater in diameter than the diameter of the shank of the T-bolt, and a collar for supporting the head of the T-bolt is provided round the small opening; when the T-bolt is introduced with its shank into the smaller opening of the recess and the head of the T-bolt rests on the collar. The abutment is secured on the constructional element.

The invention relates to a device for fastening the abutment of a bowden cable on a constructional element.
In the past, abutments of bowden cables have been fastened on constructional elements by clips, for example as in the case of bicycles. This necessitates conformity between the shape of the abutment and the shape of the constructional element so as to rule out mutual displacement. Furthermore, these clips can become loose so they have to be monitored continuously in order not to impair or even completely prevent operation of the bowden cable. In addition, clips lead to a risk of injury from their projecting parts.
It is an object of the present invention to construct a device for fastening the abutment of a bowden cable on a constructional element so as to provide reliable, prolonged operation whilst having a simple design.

Device for fastening a bowden cable on a constructional element


A network apparatus includes an independent power supply providing a first power signal, and a data distribution device which is operably coupled to the independent power supply and a remote data distribution device, where the remote distribution data device exchanges data and provides a second power signal to the data distribution device, and further where the data distribution device selects the first power signal or the second power signal for operational power. A method includes scanning a plurality of sensors, each coupled to a plurality of power inputs, to ascertain if a power signal is present, determining whether a power signal associated with an independent power supply is present at a power input, sourcing power from the independent power supply if the power signal is associated with an independent power supply, and sourcing power from an alternative supply if the power signal is not associated with an independent power supply.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to the power management of networking devices, and more particularly, networked data distribution devices having a plurality of selectable power supplies. Additional embodiments are directed to utilizing such data distribution devices in conjunction with Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephones.
2. Description of the Background Art
The IEEE Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard 802.3af may increase the flexibility and capability of existing Ethernet networks by providing power over the same connection media which is use to exchange data. Because PoE may provide power in a reliable manner over the same cables as data, it can improve the flexibility of the placement of network devices, which may be useful for various network devices, such as, for example, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephones. Additionally, when the PoE source is supplemented with a UPS as a power backup, PoE may be able to permit a network device to function during an AC power outage, which may be especially useful for VoIP telephones in emergency situations. However, problems can arise if the PoE source is overburdened by too many devices drawing more current that the PoE supply can provide, or when one or more devices malfunction and draw too much power. This can cause the PoE source to malfunction and may reduce device and network system reliability.
In a related area of endeavor, rapid advances in network technology have provided the opportunity for commodity network devices, such as, for example, personal computers, Ethernet switches, routers, etc., to communicate over networks using gigabit rates. This may present bottlenecks in the network as other legacy hardware, such as, for example, VoIP telephones, may not be able to switch data to downstream devices at gigabit rates. The performance of some legacy network devices may not be improved with high speed data rates, and moreover, such hardware may be expensive to upgrade. Therefore simply replacing the legacy hardware may not be an economical solution to network bottlenecks.
Accordingly, there is a need for devices and methods which economically address network bottlenecks, and have the ability to select power from a plurality of power sources to improve reliability and ease power consumption over PoE sources.

Apparatus and methods for data distribution devices having selectable power supplies


A range-gated shearography system and related methods. Implementations of range-gated shearography systems may include a laser light source, at least one imaging detector coupled to the laser light source, a shearing interferometer coupled to the at least one imaging detector, and a ranging detector coupled to the laser light source. A method of range-gating a shearography system may include emitting laser light, determining a range interval for at least one object, receiving reflected laser light from the at least one object through a shearing interferometer from the range interval, and collecting at least one shearography image.

1. Technical Field
Aspects of this document relate generally to imaging systems.
2. Background Art
Conventional imaging systems vary depending upon the characteristics of the target and the desired image output. For example, camera imaging systems collect visible light reflected and/or emitted from a target and convert the light to an electronic signal using a photodetector. The resulting electronic signal can then be stored in any of a wide variety of retrievable formats on a computer readable medium. Some conventional imaging systems operate by illuminating a target with a light source and measuring properties of the illuminating light reflected back from the target. In some imaging systems, interferometric techniques, such as shearography, measure properties of imaged objects by observing surface vibrations.

Range gated shearography systems and related methods


The solution illustrated herein enables provision of applications, for example, augmented reality applications, to a user node automatically or at least semi-automatically based on location of the user node. The user node sends a request comprising location information of the user node to a network node. The network node has mapped geographical coordinates into a plurality of zones. Based on the request comprising the location information, the network node identifies one or more zones and transmits program content provider information associated with the one or more zones to the user node.

Augmented reality refers to an enhanced version of reality where live direct or indirect views of physical real-world environments are augmented with superimposed computer-generated images over a user's view of the real-world, thus enhancing one's current perception of reality. Augmented reality content may be used, for example, as a tool assisting in everyday activities or for entertainment as a game. Typically, augmented reality use cases are bound to single applications. This means, that a user needs to find and download an application before the user can utilize its content. This can be annoying and tiresome to the user, as one needs to make an effort in seeking applications of interest, download them, and run them individually each time when needed.
Based on the above, there is a need for a solution that would allow easier download of applications.

Providing location-based augmented reality content


A limited slip differential includes a friction clutch mechanism, a viscous coupling, and a camming mechanism disposed between the friction clutch mechanism and the viscous coupling. The camming mechanism converts shearing forces within the viscous coupling to an axial force applied to engage the clutch mechanism. The camming mechanism includes annular discs having axially inclined ramps, and a roller bearing for movement along the ramps to provide for variable spacing between the annular discs, wherein increased spacing is used to apply the axial force.

This invention relates to a limited slip differential which is actuated to limit the relative rotational speed between two driven shafts above a predetermined amount.
Limited slip differentials are known for providing rotational drive to two output shafts. In particular, such differentials are often used to drive the axles of motor vehicles. A limited slip differential allows relative rotation between two output shafts under certain circumstances. For example, when a vehicle turns, the output shaft of the outer wheel typically turns at a higher rotational speed than the output shaft of the inner wheel. A limited slip differential allows this relative rotation. If one of the wheels begins to slip, however, the relative rotational speed between the output shafts of the two wheels exceeds a predetermined limit. A limited slip differential resists such relative rotational speed.
One known limited slip differential employs a viscous coupling which "monitors" any relative rotation between the two output shafts. Should the relative rotational speed exceed a certain limit, viscous fluid in the viscous coupling expands to create an axial force against an actuation member. In turn, the actuation member is forced against, and engages a friction clutch, directly connecting the first and second output shafts.
There are drawbacks to such prior art differentials. Relying on fluid expansion does not provide fine control over the amount of relative rotation required before clutch actuation. Further, the reliance on the expanding fluid also may not be easily controlled to allow variation of the desired limit on relative rotational speed.

Locking differential with clutch activated by electrorheological fluid coupling


A user-operated seat uplift apparatus including a structural frame unit and a mechanical uplift assembly unit, thereby allowing the user to more easily obtain a standing position from a previous seated position. The structure frame unit is used to support and guide the mechanical uplift assembly unit. The uplift unit consists basically of a seat member, two rail members, one disposed on each side of the seat member, and an interconnection means. The user presses downward upon the rail members, which move in a downward direction. This downward movement produces an upward movement in the seat member. And likewise, downward movement of the seat member results in upward motion of the rail members. This interface allows the user to more easily uplift themselves from a seated position and should prove especially useful for older and medically disabled persons.

This invention relates to a seat uplift apparatus and in particular to a sitting device from which the user may uplift themselves from a seated position to a point where a standing position may be more easily obtained. This is accomplished solely by the user whereas the user pushes downward upon a set of rails, producing downward motion in the rails. This downward motion creates upward motion in the seat element. This raised seat position allows the user to more easily achieve an upright, standing position.
As may be seen, there already exists sitting devices designed to assists the user in obtaining a standing position from a previous seated position. However, these sitting devices are relatively expensive, bulky and heavy in size, and difficult to move from place to place. Also, these devices use electrical power to uplift the user, therefore these devices must always be located close to electrical outlets. Given the fact that there are a good many persons, especially those elderly and medically disabled, who have difficulty uplifting themselves from a seated position, it comes as a surprise that no one has designed a seat uplift device which is user-operated purely through mechanical means. These devices could be designed for use on house, yard, car, and airline chairs, for use on toilets, for use on wheel chairs, and many other items.


A multi-camera programmable pan-and-tilt apparatus comprising a base and a camera mechanism having a first camera and a second camera, with the second camera including a zoom mechanism for varying the zoom magnification of the second camera. The apparatus further has a pan-and-tilt mechanism for moving the cameras with respect to the base, and a video switch receiving the video outputs of the cameras and selecting one for view. The first camera is viewed while the camera mechanism is moved from one scene to another and the second camera is viewed while the camera mechanism is not moving and is paused for observation of a scene. A programmable controller controls the camera mechanism and the pan-and-tilt mechanism, and, while the camera mechanism is moving from one scene to another and the output of the first camera is being viewed, causes the zoom magnification and focus of the second camera to become set to the desired zoom magnification and focus for the next scene position. The second camera may also have a motion sensor alarm for detecting viewed motion while the camera mechanism is paused at a given scene, and the detection of such motion can cause the camera mechanism to pause an additional time at the given scene and to alert the operator. A microphone may detect motion noise of the pan and tilt and cause the viewed video to switch from camera to camera in response to the motion noise.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to surveillance equipment, and, in particular, to programmable pan-and-tilt camera surveillance apparatus.
2. Information Disclosure Statement
It is often desired to monitor a variety of locations or scenes using surveillance equipment. Well-known solutions for this problem include pan-and-tilt camera apparatus controlled from a remotely-located operator's console having a video monitor for viewing the scenes observed by the camera. The pan-and-tilt apparatus rotates ("pans") the camera about a typically vertical axis and also changes the azimuth of ("tilts") the camera to position the camera from scene to scene, and it is well-known to have programmable pan-and-tilt camera apparatus in which a sequence of pre-set viewing positions are sequentially viewed, with each pre-set viewing position having remembered pan, tilt, and magnification parameters set by the operator's panel.
It is important in the use of such surveillance equipment to be able to maximize the information conveyed by the equipment and observed by an operator. The operator needs to view the camera's output while the pan-and-tilt apparatus is moving the camera from one position to another, and the operator also needs to closely view the pre-set selected viewing positions at which activities, such as theft or undesired access, could occur that require surveillance.
Heretofore, pan-and-tilt surveillance apparatus would view a first pre-set scene location for a pre-set delay time, then move to a second pre-set scene location, change the zoom magnification and focus, and then view the second pre-set scene location for a second pre-set delay time. The zoom magnification of the camera from viewing the first scene is rarely, if ever, optimal for meaningful viewing of the larger scene as the camera is moved from the first pre-set scene location to the second pre-set scene location, and, upon reaching the second pre-set scene location, the operator must wait a significant time while the camera magnification is changed to the desired zoom magnification for the second pre-set scene location. This pattern repeats as the pan-and-tilt apparatus moves to third, fourth, etc., pre-set scene locations, and a significant portion of the possible surveillance time is wasted.
It is therefore desirable to have an improved pan-and-tilt camera apparatus that allows pre-set scenes to be viewed at desired focus and zoom magnification settings without delays for changing between one focus and zoom magnification setting to another, and also that allows the larger scene to be viewed at a wide-field focus and zoom magnification setting as the pan-and-tilt camera apparatus moves from one scene to another.
It is further desirable to have such an improved pan-and-tilt camera apparatus that pauses at each scene location when motion is detected.
A preliminary patentability search in Class 348, subclasses 212, 213, and 214, produced the following patents, some of which may be relevant to the present invention: Sergeant et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,236, issued May 14, 1996; Washino, U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,140, issued Sept. 12, 1995; Natori, U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,761, issued Dec. 25, 1990; Vye, U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,647, issued Apr. 8, 1986; Kadosawa, U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,036, issued Jan. 21, 1986; Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,625, issued Mar. 23, 1982; Williams, U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,876, issued Oct. 6, 1981; and Marrone, U.S. Pat. No. 3,916,094, issued Oct. 28, 1975.
Sergeant et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,236, describes a single-camera video surveillance system having a programmable pan-and-tilt mechanism and having preset focus and zoom settings. Washino, U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,140, describes a plurality of single-camera pan-and-tilt mechanisms controlled from a single operator's interface. Natori, U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,761, describes a single-camera pan-and-tilt mechanism in combination with a fixed and non-moving camera, with video signals being switchable from the two cameras. Vye, U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,647, describes a plurality of single-camera pan-and-tilt mechanisms controlled from a single operator's interface, in which the focus and zoom of each single-camera mechanism can be varied. Kadosawa, U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,036, describes a plurality of single-camera pan-and-tilt mechanisms controlled from a single remote control operator's interface. Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,625, describes a plurality of single-camera pan-and-tilt mechanisms controlled from a single remote control operator's interface. Williams, U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,876, discloses a dual-channel camera unit mounted on a single pan-and-tilt mechanism, one camera being a low-light camera and the other camera being a day-light camera, with both cameras having zoom and focus means. However, unlike the present invention, the Williams patent does not teach to have the unviewed camera's zoom and/or focus setting being changed while the output of the other camera is being viewed during motion of the pan-and-tilt mechanism, and only teaches switching between the two cameras under varying light level situations.
Additionally, the inventors are aware of Sasaki, U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,088, issued Nov. 27, 1990, which describes a single-camera programmable pan-and-tilt apparatus having programmable control means for controlling a single camera mounted upon a pan-and-tilt mechanism and also having a remote operator's panel in communication with the programmable control means.
Still further, the inventors are aware of various microphones, such as those sold under the trademark and tradename PANASONIC electret condenser microphone cartridge, that could be used with the present invention, as well as operational amplifiers, such as those sold under the trademark and tradename NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR LM324A low power quad operational amplifier, that would be suitable for constructing the circuitry of one embodiment of the present invention.
None of these references, either singly or in combination, disclose or suggest the present invention.

Multi-camera programmable pan-and-tilt apparatus


According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a contact plug. The first conductive layer is disposed on the substrate and contains a metal silicide. The second conductive layer is disposed on the first conductive layer and contains a metal having bond dissociation energy larger than bond dissociation energy of the metal silicide. The contact plug is disposed on the second conductive layer and includes a main body portion, and a peripheral portion disposed on the surface of the main body portion and containing titanium.

In a semiconductor memory device, a diffusion layer and a gate electrode of a transistor, and an upper layer wiring, are electrically connected to each other by a contact plug. This contact plug is configured with a metal layer and a barrier metal layer, and provided on a silicide layer formed on silicon. In a structure in which the barrier metal layer of the contact plug is in contact with the silicide layer, there may be a concern that a resistance increases between the contact plug and the silicide layer.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof


A robust position control method for a permanent magnet synchronous motor considering current limitation is provided. The method fully considers the influence of current limitation on a closed loop system in controller design, stability analysis and other theoretical analysis phase, can effectively overcome the influence of system disturbances including system parameters uncertainty and unknown load torque, and finally realize a control objective of accurate tracking of the motor position. More importantly, the technology is a continuous control method which can overcome the inherent chattering problem while having strong robustness of sliding mode control. Meanwhile, a controller designed by the present invention also has the advantages of simple structure, etc. The technical solution proposed by the present invention has wide practical application prospect due to the characteristics of excellent anti-disturbance capability, and simple and feasible structure.

Precision position control has become more and more important in many applications such as assembly robot, semiconductor production machine, high-resolution numerical control machine and aero-engine power transmission. Because of having good characteristics of high efficiency, small volume, large torque to weight ratio and almost no maintenance, a PMSM becomes an important tool in the field of precise position control. Meanwhile, complex nonlinear characteristic, strong coupling characteristic and presence of internal and external system disturbances also increase the difficulty of precise position control of the PMSM.
In the position control of an industrial PMSM, a three closed loop cascade control structure of position loop-speed loop-current loop is usually adopted. In particular, the controllers used in the speed loop and current loop are PI controllers, and the controller used in the position loop is a most basic P controller. Such control method has the advantages of simple realization, convenient adjustment and the like, but belongs to a linear control technology in essence. A PMSM system is a nonlinear system of state coupling, meaning that the PI control scheme is difficult to obtain excellent dynamic performance, and has poor robustness, so the performance may deteriorate rapidly in the face of system parameters uncertainty and unknown load torque disturbance.
In order to realize high-accuracy position control of the PMSM, advanced control algorithms such as adaptive control, robust control and sliding mode control are put forward in succession, and then numerous practical industrial application problems are solved. However, although the position control of the PMSM has made great progress, numerous open problems still exist which deserve to be considered and solved.
1) For safety reasons, for many methods at present, an amplitude limited element is added after the reference current of the current loop to indirectly realize the constraint on the motor current and prevent the current from exceeding the limit value. However, when conducting controller design and stability analysis, most of the existing technical solutions do not consider the influence of the current amplitude limited element on the system, that is to say, the amplitude limited element is ignored during theoretical analysis and is directly added in practical application. However, the presence of the amplitude limited element may influence the system dynamics, since the value of the reference current will be kept at a constant value after exceeding the limit of the amplitude limited element, the reference current is no longer the same as the designed reference current, and the change of the reference current means that the actual current of the motor may also change with the reference current, as a direct result, the dynamic response of the system is obviously different from that of the system in the absence of the amplitude limited element, and even the stability of the system may be destroyed under serious conditions. Therefore, in the theoretical analysis phase before the actual industrial application of the controller, the influence of the presence of the amplitude limited element on the system response should be fully considered, and the adverse effects on the dynamic performance and stability of the system should be avoided or suppressed in a reasonable manner.
2) Internal and external system disturbances including system parameters uncertainty and unknown load torque influence is always one of the most difficult technical problems ailing PMSM control. In particular, in practical industrial application, on the one hand, due to the influence of operating environment change and other factors, certain deviations are usually present between the actual values of the parameters of the PMSM system and the nominal values thereof, which may result in a large reduction in the control performance of many algorithms depending on the precise parameters of the system. On the other hand, in many practical operating conditions, the load torque of the PMSM system is often unknown and is in change, which may obviously affect the position control and speed tracking performance of the PMSM. An existing effective method to deal with the influence of system disturbances is a sliding mode control algorithm, which has the advantages of strong robustness, quick dynamic response and the like, but belongs to a discontinuous control algorithm in essence, and a discontinuous signum function term contained in the controller thereof may cause chattering of the system. However, chattering is the biggest obstacle in the practical application of sliding mode control. The presence of chattering may worsen the dynamic performance and static performance of the system, and aggravate the mechanical loss and energy consumption of the system. In more serious cases, high-frequency chattering may excite the unmodeled dynamics of the system, severely destroy the stability of the system, and even cause the control system to fail to operate normally.
In conclusion, it is a problem urgently to be solved at present about how to fully consider the presence of a current amplitude limited element in the design of a position control algorithm of a PMSM and ensure that the proposed method can effectively suppress the influence of internal and external system disturbances on the premise of not introducing chattering, to finally realize accurate position control of the PMSM.

Robust position control method for permanent magnet synchronous motor considering current limitation


Apparatuses, circuits, and methods for receiving at least one radio signal in a radio controlled timing apparatus using a single timing source. The present invention advantageously eliminates the need to provide an additional timing source to receive at least one radio signal, and therefore reduces the material cost and eliminates many engineering challenges.

A radio controlled clock is a timepiece capable of adjusting its time by receiving and decoding a special time code signal. The time code signal is encoded with the current time and date and may also contain a daylight savings time and/or leap year indicator. The time code signal may also contain parity bits for ensuring accurate reception. Typically, this time code signal modulates a low frequency carrier signal which is transmitted by a government-established radio station. Several governments throughout the world have established one or more radio stations to broadcast such time code signals, including: the United States' WWVB broadcasting at 60 kHz; the United Kingdom's MSF broadcasting at 60 kHz; Germany's DCF77 broadcasting at 77.5 kHz; Japan's JJY broadcasting at both 40 kHz (transmitting in the Fukushima prefecture) and 60 kHz (transmitting on the border of the Saga prefecture and the Fukoka prefecture); China's BPC broadcasting at 68.5 kHz; Switzerland's HGB broadcasting at 75 kHz; and eastern Russia's RTZ broadcasting at 50 kHz. Additionally, some transmitters in the LORAN-C navigation system (which broadcast at 100 kHz) transmit time code signals which are synchronized to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Each of these radio stations modulates the carrier in substantially the same manner: reduced carrier pulse width modulation. However, since different radio stations generally broadcast time code signals on different frequencies, a radio controlled clock marketed for operation in more than one location and/or country needs to be designed to receive time code signals on multiple frequencies.
Broadcast time code signals are generated by modulating a carrier signal with a time code signal. Generally, the modulation is accomplished by the following: a carrier signal is locked to a precise oscillator (such as a cesium oscillator); a 60-bit time code containing at least the current time and date is generated with reference to a national time source (such as UTC); and the carrier power is dropped and restored at pre-determined times, depending on the modulated value of a specific time code bit.
Many radio controlled clocks contain one quartz crystal for time keeping purposes and at least one additional quartz crystal for demodulating the broadcast time code signal. The quartz crystal used for time keeping purposes is frequently divided to create a one pulse per second signal which drives a display mechanism. The frequency of the quartz crystal used for demodulating the broadcast time code signal correlates to the frequency of the particular radio station to be received.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional radio controlled clock marketed for operation in a single location and/or country. A first quartz crystal 11 is coupled with an oscillator circuit 12 to provide a reference timing signal 13. Typically, this first quartz crystal 11 has a resonance frequency of 32768 Hz. The oscillator circuit 12 is further coupled to a frequency divider 20 which generates a real-time signal 21. The real-time signal 21 is used to drive a timing mechanism 30, and typically, has a frequency of one pulse per second. A low frequency broadcast time code signal 41 is received by an antenna 42 and amplified by an RF amplifier 43 to generate a modulated time code signal 44. The RF amplifier 43 is coupled to a second quartz crystal 51 to produce a time code signal 55. The resonance frequency of the second quartz crystal 51 is determined by the location and/or country in which the radio controlled clock is specified to operate. For example, a unit marketed for operation in the United States may have a second quartz crystal 51 with a resonance frequency of 60 kHz. The time code signal 55 is received by a radio receiver/time code decoder 60 which generates a time setting and/or correction signal 61. The timing mechanism 30, by receiving the time setting and/or correction signal 61, may therefore be synchronized with the broadcast time code signal 41.
More recent radio controlled clocks are marketed for operation in multiple locations and/or countries and therefore are able to receive multiple broadcast time code signals on different frequencies. FIG. 2 shows an example of how conventional multi-channel radio controlled clocks may differ from conventional single-channel radio controlled clocks. A low frequency broadcast time code signal 141 is received by an antenna 142 and amplified by an RF amplifier 143 which generates a modulated time code signal 144. A quartz crystal matrix 150 receives the modulated time code signal 144. The quartz crystal matrix may include quartz crystals 151, 152, 153 to convert the modulated time code signal 144 into the time code signal 155. For example, a radio controlled clock marketed for operation in the United States, Japan, and Germany may have one each of quartz crystals with resonance frequencies of 60 kHz, 40 kHz, and 77.5 kHz. The switching matrix 154 determines which of the plurality of quartz crystals 151, 152, 153 are electrically connected and is configured by a selectable frequency control signal 170. However, in some implementations, quartz crystals 151, 152, 153 are all electrically connected and thus the switching matrix 154 is not necessary. In such an implementation, the radio controlled clock will be used in locations where only one broadcast time code signal 141 is present, and thus, a valid time code signal 155 will be generated by only one of the quartz crystals 151, 152, 153. Similar to the conventional single channel radio controlled clock, the time code signal 155 is received by a radio receiver/time code decoder 160 to produce a time setting and/or correction signal 161. In addition to the multiple quartz crystals used in the quartz crystal matrix, the conventional multi-channel radio controlled clock might also have an additional quartz crystal to generate a real-time signal 21 as shown in FIG. 1.
Quartz crystals are used in conventional radio time clocks because they have very high frequency stability. The use of quartz crystals to generate a real-time signal leads to timepieces which keep very accurate time. The inherent stability of quartz crystals also increases the likelihood of accurate demodulation of a broadcast time code signal, since, the carrier of the broadcast time code signal is locked to that of a very stable cesium oscillator. However, the inclusion of multiple quartz crystals significantly increases the cost and size of such radio controlled clocks. A conventional quartz crystal radio controlled clock may contain up to N+1 quartz crystals, where N is the number of radio frequencies that the quartz crystal radio controlled clock is configured to receive. For example, a radio controlled clock which is marketed for use in the United States, Japan, and Germany may contain up to four quartz crystals. In addition to the increased product cost, there are engineering and manufacturing difficulties as well: multiple quartz crystals need to fit within the device. Thus, using multiple quartz crystals in a radio controlled clock may be disadvantageous because of increased material costs and engineering challenges.
Therefore, a need exists for a radio controlled clock that can receive radio signals at any of a plurality of frequencies but which enables the use of a single quartz crystal.