A method and apparatus for determining important histological characteristics of tissue, including a determination of the tissue's health. Electrical pulses are converted into meaningful numerical representations through the use of Fourier Transforms. These numerical representations are then used to determine important histological characteristics of tissue. This novel invention does not require rectification and thus provides for detailed information from the ultrasonic scan.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the medical classification of human tissue as healthy or unhealthy. More specifically, the invention uses ultrasound for determining histological characteristics of tissue by converting the return energy pulses into numerical terms, thus facilitating a quantitative analysis for medical diagnosis.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Ultrasound has routinely been used in the medical profession to determine the shape, size and thickness of human tissue. Historically, this has been achieved through he detection of specular reflections from macroscopic tissue interfaces. Although this method allows for a general characterization of the tissue, it does not reveal its underlying health and structure. In order to obtain such a detailed analysis, reflections from the microscopic interfaces (scatterers) contained within the tissue must also be detected. An improved invention to detect these scatterers has yet to be discovered.
The prior art is able to determine general characteristics of tissue from its macroscopic interface reflections. This is commonly determined by transforming analog ultrasonic radio frequency data into a visual display. This technique requires the expertise of a skilled operator to interpret the display which does not include an accurate determination of the underlying pathology of the tissue.
Other prior art systems use Fourier Transforms to detect microscopic reflections; however, these systems do not allow for direct measurement of reflectance through self-calibration, and therefore are subject to calibration problems. These methods separate the components of an ultrasonic pulse into corresponding frequencies, using the Fourier Transform. This requires a reference plate to normalize the Fourier energy from the reflected tissue and thus the accuracy and range of available data is limited.
Similarly, the prior art taught by Sommer, Joynt, Carroll and Macovski ("Ultrasound characterization of abdominal tissues via digital analysis of backscattered wavefronts", Radiology, 141:811-7, 1981) uses a Fourier analysis to determine the mean spacing of scatterers in the liver and spleen. This method, however, does not provide for the determination of key variables that give ranges for specific tissues and their state of health.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,215 of Evans et al. provides a method of interpreting the microscopic interfaces which requires demodulating the return energy pulses by full-wave rectification to obtain the amplitude modulation of the pulses and computing the power spectrum by performing a Fast Fourier Transform on the rectified, digitized pulses. The requirement of rectification limits this method in providing information from the ultrasonic scan. It does not provide specific, well established physical parameters of the body tissue under investigation. It requires the comparison of Fourier energies or ratios, as well as, comparisons based on correlations.
It is, therefore, an objective of the invention to provide an improved ultrasound tissue characterization system for histological tissue classification.
It is a further objective of the invention to provide a system which does not require rectification, thereby allowing a more detailed analysis.

Method of and apparatus for histological human tissue characterization using ultrasound

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


An injector for injecting particulate material into a metallurgical furnace has a first tubular barrel and a housing defining a chamber having an inlet for particulate material, a first gas inlet and a particulate material/gas outlet connected to the rear end of the first barrel. The first air inlet has a first nozzle operable to inject gas into the chamber at a supersonic velocity when gas at suitable pressure is passed through the nozzle. A second tubular barrel surrounds the first barrel in spaced relationship therewith. The second barrel has a second gas inlet adjacent its rear end and a second nozzle adjacent its front end. Gas under pressure supplied to the second gas inlet passes between the barrels and is discharged at supersonic velocity from the front end thereof adjacent gas and entrained particulate material discharged from the first barrel so as to shroud the particulate material.

In present day metallurgical furnaces, particulate material such as carbon powder is injected into a melt at subsonic speeds through a so-called straight pipe. Unfortunately, with such an injector, a substantial amount of the particulate material becomes entrained in an off-gas suction system and is thus lost.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved carbon powder injector which reduces the amount of lost particulate material.

Injector for injecting particulate material into metallurgical furnaces


An antilock brake control system having independently controlled left and right brakes has a control program effective at the onset of antilock operation for sensing when the vehicle is braking on a split coefficient surface and for preventing excessive yaw rate by assessing the yaw rate tendency, and when the tendency is excessive, dumping the pressure on the high coefficient side wheel and forcing that wheel into antilock modulation, thereby initializing the system to contain the yaw rate to an acceptable value.

When the brakes of a vehicle are applied, a braking force between the wheel and the road surface is generated that is dependent upon various parameters including the road surface conditions and the amount of slip between the wheel and the road surface. The braking force increases as slip increases, until a critical value of slip is surpassed. Beyond this critical slip value, the braking force decreases and the wheel rapidly approaches lockup. If the wheel is allowed to lock, unstable braking occurs, and vehicle stopping distance on uniform nondeformable surfaces increases. Thus, stable vehicle braking occurs when wheel slip does not exceed this critical slip value. An antilock control system achieves stable braking and minimizes stopping distance by detecting incipient wheel lock. Criteria used to sense incipient wheel lock are excessive wheel deceleration and/or excessive wheel slip. Once an incipient wheel lock has been detected, pressure is relieved at the wheel brake. Upon releasing the brake pressure, the wheel will begin to recover from the incipient wheel lock condition. When the wheel has substantially recovered, brake pressure is reapplied. One criterion that is typically used to indicate wheel recovery is a positive wheel acceleration. Reapplication of brake pressure results in the wheel again approaching lockup and the wheel cycle process is repeated. Brake force and vehicle braking efficiency are maximized during braking by cycling the brake pressure around an optimum pressure for the particular road surface. The optimum pressure corresponds to the brake force generated while at the critical wheel slip value. Since the brake force is a function of wheel brake pressure and road surface conditions, the optimum brake force and the corresponding optimum brake pressure will change as road surface conditions vary. To optimize vehicle braking during a stop on a changing or non-uniform road surface, the antilock control system must be able to respond to each road surface and seek a new optimal pressure quickly to insure maximum braking efficiency. The U.S. Pat. No. 4,881,784 issued to Leppek discloses an example of such a system and is incorporated herein by reference.
When vehicle braking occurs on a road surface which has one coefficient of friction on one side of the vehicle and a markedly different coefficient on the other side, the surface is said to have a split coefficient. An example of this is a road which is covered with ice or snow along one side and is clear or dry near the center so that the right side wheels engage a low coefficient of friction and the left side wheels engage a high coefficient. The result of braking on such a surface is that the vehicle tends to yaw toward the high coefficient side. Most wheel lock control systems are designed to deal with the split coefficient surface in either of two ways if left and right wheels can be separately controlled. One approach is to independently control the brakes according to the optimum operation on each side. The result is that yaw occurs but stopping distance is minimized. The other approach is to control the brakes according to the optimum operation on the low coefficient side for a programmed period of time and then gradually resume independent brake control. This forces both brakes to have the same low pressure initially and increases vehicle stability but also increases the stopping distance.

Method and apparatus for initializing antilock brake control on split coefficient surface


In some embodiments, system, devices and methods for monitoring and verifying foster care placement and processes are provided, the system and devices including a fingerprint scanner configured with limited function keys to limit data tampering opportunities for users, with the fingerprint scanner having a capability to associate fingerprint images within categories including clients, staff and providers, and also having the capability to group fingerprint images into visitation sets of data, and software for monitoring the visitations by staff members with providers and clients using fingerprint images obtained using the fingerprint scanner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to foster care and child protective services monitoring and verification methods, systems, and apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Although procedures for child welfare systems vary from state to state, every department of Child Protective Services (CPS) relies upon caseworkers. After an initial report of abuse or neglect is made to CPS and an investigation determines that the report is substantiated, a child may be left in the care of his or her family, moved to a shelter or group home, or placed in the care of a relative or foster family. CPS's designation of a care provider is, in part, based on likelihood of future abuse or neglect. Therefore the safety of the child, not to mention potential liabilities for any harm to the child, can depend on how the placement or designation proceeds and the monitoring thereof afterwards.
To verify the presence of both the child and the designated care provider, and to monitor a placement or the progress of a care provider designation, caseworkers are normally required to perform regular visits that can sometimes be unannounced. This can be an effective tactic in objective monitoring and gathering of desired information, and furthermore, a care provider's or caseworker's awareness of this tactic can help deter wrongdoing. While recognizing the thousands of highly competent and caring caseworkers and providers, it is nonetheless unfortunate that some individuals are known to have manipulated or forged information or visitation records, resulting in tragic consequences or reducing the integrity of the system in general. There is also a danger that inexperienced or overworked caseworkers may misidentify children or designated care providers. Whether intentional or not, failure to accurately verify a child's placement and monitor it according to applicable policies or law, can undermine a child welfare system's primary goal—the safety and well being of its clients.
The US DHHS estimates that in the year 2002 alone, over a quarter of a million children were removed from their homes as a result of an abuse or neglect investigation. Furthermore, in the United States, it is estimated that about 542,000 children are in foster care on any given day, and more than 700,000 children live in government-run foster care each year. Nearly half of all children in foster care are over the age of 10 and about 32 percent remain in the system for more than three years. It is also notable that about 903,000 children and youth were confirmed victims of abuse and neglect in the United States in 2001. Clearly, it is desirable that an invention be disclosed that would increase the ability of child welfare systems to gather, evaluate and verify information reliably and accurately for the benefit of the public and its clients.

Foster care monitoring and verification device, method and system


A fluid path structure in which the flow rate of fluid flowing in each flow path is equal to each other and in which each flow path has an increased flexibility in shape. The flow path structure has flow paths into which fluid is introduced. The flow paths include flow paths having different flow path lengths. The equivalent diameter of each part of each fluid path is set according to the flow path length of the fluid path so that the entire pressure loss of each flow path is equal to each other.

Conventionally, there have been known flow path structures internally including small flow paths into which fluid is introduced. For example, Patent Document 1 listed below teaches a reactor including such a flow path structure.
In the reactor disclosed in Patent Document 1, a plurality of small flow paths is parallelly arranged inside the flow path structure. A first feedstock fluid and a second feedstock fluid are introduced into each flow path from an end thereof. Then, a desired product is prepared by causing the first feedstock fluid and the second feedstock fluid to react with each other while flowing through each flow path toward its outlet side.
Here, when the plurality of flow paths is formed in the flow path structure as described above, it is desired that the flow rate of the fluid flowing through each flow path be equal to each other. For example, in a heat exchanger described in Patent Document 2, a pressure loss in each flow path is equalized among the flow paths by making flow path lengths uniform for each flow path, so that the flow rate of the fluid flowing in the flow path becomes equal to each other.
However, such an attempt of making the flow path lengths uniform for each flow path will pose a severe restriction on shape of each flow path, leading to a problem in that it becomes difficult to freely design the flow path.
Patent Document 1: Published Japanese Translation of Unexamined PCT Patent Application No. 2005-525229
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. S64-3496

Fluid path structure, reactor, and reaction method using the reactor


An apparatus and method for path creation element driven dynamic setup of forwarding adjacencies and explicit path. In one embodiment of the method, a node receives an instruction to create a tunnel between the node and another node. The node creates or initiates the creation of the tunnel in response to receiving the instruction, wherein the tunnel comprises a plurality of nodes in data communication between the node and the other node. The node maps a first identifier (ID) to information relating to the tunnel. The node advertises the first ID to other nodes in a network of nodes.

Network nodes forward packets using forwarding tables. Network nodes may take form in one or more routers, one or more bridges, one or more switches, one or more servers, or any other suitable communications processing device. A packet is a formatted unit of data that typically contains control information and payload data. Control information may include: source and destination IP addresses, error detection codes like checksums, sequencing information, etc. Control information is typically found in packet headers and trailers, with payload data in between.
Packet forwarding requires a decision process that, while simple in concept, can be complex. Since packet forwarding decisions are handled by network nodes, the total time required for this can become a major limiting factor in overall network performance.
Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is one packet forwarding mechanism. MPLS Nodes make packet forwarding decisions based on Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) distributed labels attached to packets and LDP forwarding tables. LDP is a process in which network nodes capable of MPLS exchange LDP labels (hereinafter labels). Packet forwarding based on labels stands in stark contrast to traditional Internet Protocol (IP) routing in which packet forwarding decisions are made by nodes using IP addresses contained within the packet.

Segment routing: PCE driven dynamic setup of forwarding adjacencies and explicit path


The constant velocity universal joint comprises an outer joint member 1 that has three curved guide grooves 1b formed in the axial direction on a spherical inner circumferential surface 1a thereof, an inner joint member 2 that has three curved guide grooves 2b formed in the axial direction on a spherical outer circumferential surface 2a thereof, three torque transmitting balls 3 disposed in ball tracks that are formed by the coordination of the guide grooves 1b of the outer joint member 1 and the guide grooves 2b of the inner joint member 2, a cage 4 that holds the balls 3, and elastic pressing means 5 interposed between the outer circumferential surface 2a of the inner joint member 2 and the inner circumferential surface 4a of the cage 4.

The present invention relates to a constant velocity universal joint that is suited to applications where rotation backlash is undesirable, and is particularly preferable for the steering apparatus of an automobile.
In the steering apparatus of an automobile, for example as shown schematically in FIG. 34, rotation torque imparted to a steering wheel 20 is transmitted via a main shaft 21 of a steering column and an intermediate shaft 22 to a gear shaft (pinion shaft or the like) 24 of a steering gear 23, while being converted to a linear motion by the mechanism of the steering gear 23 thereby to be transmitted via a link mechanism (knuckle or the like) 25 to wheels 26 as steering force. The steering gear 23 may be one of various types including rack and pinion type, ball screw type and worm roller type, while the rack and pinion type is predominantly used for the reason of high rigidity and light weight thereof. The intermediate shaft 22 is disposed at an angle to the main shaft 21 and the gear shaft 24, and is connected to the main shaft 21 and the gear shaft 24 via universal joints 27, 28, for the purpose of absorbing the impact energy in case of collision.
While the Cardan joint (universal joint employing cross yokes) has been predominantly used for the universal joints (27, 28) of the steering apparatus, constant velocity universal joints are being increasingly employed instead of the Cardan joint in order to allow a larger angle in the joint (in conjunction with the layout of vehicle components) and improve the movement of the joint (feel of the steering operation).
Meanwhile a constant velocity universal joint of ordinary constitution has a small clearance (inner gap) between torque transmitting ball and a ball track, which inevitably results in rotation backlash (play in the circumferential direction) taking place in the joint when the direction of rotation changes. Thus use of the constant velocity universal joint of the ordinary constitution in the steering apparatus leads to such problems as the loss of stability in steering, and loss of sharp or direct feel of steering.
In the field of automobile, constant velocity universal joints have many records of applications to the drive shaft, and the constant velocity universal joint of the ordinary constitution is normally designed to such specifications that satisfy the requirements of the drive shaft. In the case of the steering apparatus, however, since less load torque is applied to the joint and the joint rotates at lower speeds than the drive shaft, the constant velocity universal joint of the ordinary constitution has rather excessively higher specifications compared to the required characteristics, and therefore improvements are required for the reduction of joint weight and manufacturing cost.
The ball fixed type constant velocity universal joint of this type also requires the complicated assembly process as described above, and therefore has such disadvantages as follows.
(1) The assembly work requires skilled technique and is difficult to mechanize (automate).
(2) It is necessary to make the guide grooves of the inner and outer joint members longer (in the axial direction) than the length required for the function, in order to facilitate the assembly of the balls, thus resulting in larger joint dimension.
(3) It is necessary to make the size of the pocket of the cage in the circumferential direction larger, in order to facilitate the assembly of the balls (because the balls move in the circumferential direction in the pocket of the cage when the inner and outer joint members are caused to make angular displacement). This makes a disadvantage in the design of the cage in terms of strength.
(4) It is necessary to prepare the inner joint member and the shaft separately (in case the inner joint member and the shaft are prepared as an integral part, the shaft interferes with the outer joint member when assembling the balls, thus making it impossible to secure the amount of angular displacement required for the assembly). This leads to increases in the number of parts and in the number of assembly steps.
An object of the present invention is to solve the problem of rotation backlash in the ball fixed type constant velocity universal joint, and provide a simpler, light weight, compact and low-cost ball fixed type constant velocity universal joint that can be assembled in an improved process.
Another object of the present invention is to ensure good feel of rotation (smoothness of rotation) and, when applied to the steering apparatus in particular, improve the performance such as the feel of steering, while maintaining the constant velocity characteristics of this type of constant velocity universal joint.
Yet another object of the present invention is to reduce the resistance to the rotation in the constant velocity universal joint of this type and ensure good feel of rotation (smoothness of rotation) and, when used in a steering apparatus in particular, improve the performance such as the steering force, auto-centering of the steering wheel and the feel of steering.
In order to achieve the objects described above, the present invention provides a ball fixed type constant velocity universal joint comprising an outer joint member having a curved guide groove formed in the axial direction on a spherical inner circumferential surface thereof, an inner joint member having a curved guide groove formed in the axial direction on a spherical outer circumferential surface thereof, ball disposed in a ball track formed by the coordination of the guide groove of the outer joint member and the guide groove of the inner joint member, and a cage that holds the ball, with the center of the guide groove of the outer joint member and the center of the guide groove of the inner joint member being offset to the opposite sides to each other by equal distances in the axial direction with respect to the center plane of the joint that include the centers of the ball, the ball track being gradually reduced toward the opening or the innermost side of the joint, wherein the inner joint member is allowed to make relative displacement in the axial direction with respect to the cage, and elastic pressing means having a spherical surface that makes fitting contact with the outer circumferential surface of the inner joint member is interposed between the outer circumferential surface of the inner joint member and the inner circumferential surface of the cage, so that the elastic force of the elastic pressing means presses the outer circumferential surface of the inner joint member toward the side opposite to the offset direction of center of the guide groove thereof.
The inner joint member makes a relative displacement in the axial direction opposite to the offset direction under the urging pressure of the elastic pressing means, thereby to press the ball, and stops at a position where the inner gap between the balls and the guide grooves of the inner and outer joint members disappears. As a result, a certain amount of preload is applied in the axial direction to the ball, thus eliminating the rotation backlash (play in the circumferential direction). Also because the spherical surface of the elastic pressing means presses the outer circumferential surface of the inner joint member, the surface pressure in the portion of contact between both members is reduced and the outer circumferential surface of the inner joint member can be guided by the spherical surface.
In the constitution described above, the ball track may have such a configuration that is gradually reduced toward the opening side of the joint, at least the region on the opening side of the inner circumferential surface of the cage is a cylindrical surface that fits with the outer circumferential surface of the inner joint member, and the elastic pressing means is disposed on the cylindrical surface. This configuration makes it possible to assemble the inner joint member into the inner circumferential surface of the cage after assembling the cage and the ball into the outer joint member.
In addition to the constitution described above, the region on the opening side of the inner circumferential surface of the outer joint member may have a cylindrical surface that fits with the outer circumferential surface of the cage. This configuration makes it easier to assemble the cage into the outer joint member.
Since the inner joint member can be assembled after assembling the cage and the balls in the outer joint member, it is made possible to integrate the inner joint member and the shaft (to form in an integral part, or bond together) thereby decreasing the number of parts and the number of assembly steps, without causing any trouble in the assembly operation.
Further, in order to achieve the objects described above, the present invention provides a ball fixed type constant velocity universal joint comprising an outer joint member having a curved guide groove formed in the axial direction on a spherical inner circumferential surface thereof, an inner joint member having a curved guide groove formed in the axial direction on a spherical outer circumferential surface thereof, ball disposed in ball track formed by the coordination of the guide groove of the outer joint member and the guide groove of the inner joint member, and a cage that holds the ball, with the center of the guide groove of the outer joint member and the center of the guide groove of the inner joint member being offset to the opposite sides to each other by equal distances in the axial direction with respect to the center plane of the joint that includes the center of the ball, the ball track being gradually reduced toward the opening or the innermost side of the joint, wherein at least the region on the opening side of the inner circumferential surface of the cage is formed in a cylindrical surface that fits the outer circumferential surface of the inner joint member, and a retaining member having a spherical portion that makes fitting contact with the outer circumferential surface of the inner joint member is disposed on the cylindrical surface. This type constant velocity universal joint can be used for a connection joint for drive shafts, propeller shafts or the like of automobile, in addition to steering apparatus.
This configuration makes it possible to assemble the inner joint member into the inner circumferential surface of the cage after assembling the cage and the ball into the outer joint member, by forming at least the region on the opening side of the inner circumferential surface of the cage in a cylindrical surface that fits the outer circumferential surface of the inner joint member. After being assembled in the inner circumferential surface of the cage, the inner joint member is retained in place by the retaining member that is disposed on the cylindrical surface of the cage. The outer circumferential surface of the inner joint member is guided by the spherical portion of the retaining member.
In addition to the constitution described above, the region on the opening side of the inner circumferential surface of the outer joint member may also be formed in a cylindrical surface that fits the outer circumferential surface of the cage. This configuration makes it easier to assemble the cage into the outer joint member.
Since the inner joint member can be assembled after assembling the cage and the ball in the outer joint member, it is made possible to integrate the inner joint member and the shaft (to form in an integral part, or bond together) thereby decreasing the number of parts and the number of assembly steps, without causing any trouble in the assembling operation.
Also, in order to achieve the objects described above, the present invention provides a constant velocity universal joint comprising an outer joint member having a curved guide groove formed in the axial direction on a spherical inner circumferential surface thereof, the guide groove having center of curvature at a point (O1) that is offset by a predetermined distance (f1) from the center of curvature of the spherical inner circumferential surface to one side in the axial direction, an inner joint member having a curved guide groove formed in the axial direction on a spherical outer circumferential surface thereof, the guide groove having center of curvature at a point (O2) that is offset by a predetermined distance (f2) from the center of curvature of the spherical outer circumferential surface to the other side in the axial direction, a ball track formed by the coordination of the guide groove of the outer joint member and the guide groove of the inner joint member that opposes the former, the ball track having wedge-like shape that reduces toward the other side in the axial direction, torque transmitting ball disposed in the ball track, a cage that holds the torque transmitting ball, and preloading means that reduces a clearance between the torque transmitting balls and the ball track by causing an elastic relative displacement to take place in the axial direction between at least one of the outer joint member and the inner joint member and the torque transmitting ball, wherein the offset distance (f1) of the center of curvature (O1) of the guide groove of the outer joint member and the offset distance (f2) of the center of curvature (O2) of the guide groove of the inner joint member are set to have different values, and such a configuration is employed as the center of curvature (O1) and the center of curvature (O2) are offset to the opposite sides by the same distances (f) in the axial direction with respect to the center plane of the joint that includes the center of the torque transmitting ball, when the clearance is reduced by the preloading means.
Specific embodiments of the preloading means may be, for example, (1) to have the torque transmitting ball undergo a displacement in the axial direction toward the reduced side of the ball track, (2) to have the inner joint member undergo a displacement in the axial direction opposite to the offset direction of the center of curvature of the guide groove thereof, (3) to have the outer joint member undergo a displacement in the axial direction to the offset direction of the center of curvature of the guide groove thereof, or (4) to have the inner joint member undergo a displacement in the axial direction opposite to the offset direction of the center of curvature of the guide groove thereof and to have the outer joint member undergo a displacement in the axial direction to the offset direction of the center of curvature of the guide groove thereof.
Relation of inequality and difference between the offset distance (f1) of the center of curvature (O1) of the guide groove of the outer joint member and the offset distance (f2) of the center of curvature (O2) of the guide groove of the inner joint member are set by taking into consideration the mode of preloading, the amount of inner gap (the amount of rotation backlash: play in the circumferential direction), presence and size of clearance between the torque transmitting ball and the cage and other factors, so that the center of curvature (O1) and the center of curvature (O2) are offset to the opposite sides by the same distances (f) in the axial direction with respect to the center plane of the joint that includes the center of the torque transmitting ball when the clearance is reduced by the preloading means. This makes it possible to achieve good feel of rotation (smoothness of rotation) while maintaining the constant velocity characteristics of the joint. Relation between the offset distance (f1) and the offset distance (f2) may be set to satisfy f1 greater than f2, or to satisfy f1 less than f2.
The preloading means may be constituted from, for example, a clearance provided in the axial direction between the inner joint member and the cage, and an elastic member that is interposed between the inner joint member and the cage and presses the inner joint member in a direction opposite to the offset direction of the center of the guide groove of the inner joint member. In this case, under the pressing force of the elastic member applied thereto, the inner joint member makes a relative displacement in the axial direction opposite to the offset direction of the center of curvature of the guide groove thereby to press the torque transmitting ball, and stops at a position where the inner gap between the torque transmitting balls and the guide groove (ball track) of the inner and outer joint members disappears. As a result, a certain amount of preload is applied in the axial direction to the torque transmitting ball, thus eliminating the rotation backlash (play in the circumferential direction).
Regions that are free of undercut may be provided in the guide grooves of the outer joint member and the inner joint member. This makes it possible to increase the operating angle of the joint.
The region on the opening side of the inner circumferential surface of the outer joint member may be formed in a cylindrical surface that fits with the outer circumferential surface of the cage. This makes it easier to assemble the cage into the outer joint member.
The constant velocity universal joint of the present invention is light in weight, small in size and low cost, and rotates smoothly without backlash while being capable of taking a large operating angle, and is therefore particularly preferable for the steering apparatus of an automobile.
Also, in order to solve the problems described above, the present invention provides a constant velocity universal joint comprising an outer joint member having a curved guide groove formed in the axial direction on a spherical inner circumferential surface thereof, an inner joint member having a curved guide groove formed in the axial direction on a spherical outer circumferential surface thereof, a ball track formed by the coordination of the guide groove of the outer joint member and the guide groove of the inner joint member that opposes the former, the ball track having wedge-like shape that reduces toward one side in the axial direction, torque transmitting ball disposed in the ball track, a cage having a pocket that holds the torque transmitting ball, and preloading means that reduces the clearance between the torque transmitting balls and the ball track, wherein the clearance xcex4 of the pocket in the axial direction between the pocket of the cage and the torque transmitting ball is set in a range of 0xe2x89xa6xcex4xe2x89xa655 xcexcm.
The reason for setting the clearance xcex4 of the pocket in the axial direction in the range of 0xe2x89xa6xcex4xe2x89xa655 xcexcm is as follows. In the constant velocity universal joint of this type (ball fixed type constant velocity universal joint), the clearance xcex4 of the pocket in the axial direction is normally set to be xcex4 less than 0 (negative clearance) thereby allowing a slight tightening allowance between the pocket of the cage and the torque transmitting ball, in view of the importance placed on the function of the cage to guide the torque transmitting ball (function to keep the torque transmitting ball in the bisecting plane (xcex8/2) of the operating angle xcex8, thereby to ensure constant velocity characteristic of the joint). However, since setting the clearance xcex4 of the pocket in the axial direction to a negative value makes it difficult for the torque transmitting ball to roll over the ball track, this setting has a disadvantage in terms of the resistance to rotation (torque) when the joint of this type transmits rotation torque while taking an operation angle. Resistance of the joint to rotation affects the performance such as the steering force and auto-centering capability in a steering apparatus, and is preferably as small as possible. Although rolling performance of the torque transmitting balls can be improved thereby decreasing the resistance of the joint to rotation by setting the clearance xcex4 of the pocket in the axial direction to be xcex4xe2x89xa70 (positive clearance), making the clearance xcex4 of the pocket in the axial direction too large leads to a decrease in the capability of the cage to guide the torque transmitting ball, resulting in the loss of the constant velocity characteristic of the joint. In the steering apparatus, loss of the constant velocity characteristic of the joint leads to the generation of unusual sound and deterioration in the feel of steering such as hitch. Therefore, it is necessary to set the clearance xcex4 of the pocket in the axial direction in an optimum range in order to reduce the resistance of the joint to rotation and achieve good feel of steering (smoothness of rotation).
Accordingly, a test was conducted to determine the optimum range of the clearance xcex4 of the pocket in the axial direction. The results are shown in Table 1. The test was conducted on the constant velocity universal joint of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Sample joints having different sizes of clearance xcex4 of the pocket (xcex4=Lxe2x88x92DBALL: refer to FIG. 6) in the axial direction were fabricated and tested to evaluate the resistance to rotation and the feel of steering (smoothness of rotation) under a predetermined operating angle xcex8 and a predetermined magnitude of rotation torque applied thereto. The resistance to rotation was evaluated by whether it was greater or smaller than a criterion. The feel of steering was rated as ◯ when a criterion was exceeded, xcex94 when the criterion was missed with a little margin and ▴ when the criterion could not be reached with a large margin. Comprehensive evaluation which combined the resistance to rotation and the reel of steering was rated as ◯ when the total criterion was reached or xcex94 when not.
As will be apparent from the test results, satisfactory performance was achieved in both the resistance to rotation and the feel of steering when the clearance xcex4 of the pocket in the axial direction was set in a range of 0xe2x89xa6xcex4xe2x89xa655xcexcm. When xcex4 less than 0, resistance of the joint to rotation increases because it becomes difficult for the torque transmitting balls to roll. When xcex4 greater than 55 xcexcm, on the other hand, the joint cannot operate with satisfactory constant velocity characteristic, thus resulting in poorer feel of steering with such impression as hitch. In view of reducing the resistance of the joint to rotation and achieving good feel of steering (smoothness of rotation) while maintaining the constant velocity characteristic, the optimum range for the clearance xcex4 of the pocket in the axial direction is 0xe2x89xa6xcex4xe2x89xa655 xcexcm.
The preloading means reduces the inner clearance provided between the torque transmitting ball and the ball track by causing a relative displacement between any two components among the outer joint member, the inner joint member, the cage and the torque transmitting ball. The preloading means may be constituted from, for example, a clearance provided in the axial direction between the inner joint member and the cage, and an elastic member that is interposed between the inner joint member and the cage and presses the inner joint member in a direction opposite to the offset direction of the center of the guide groove of the inner joint member. In this case, under the pressing force of the elastic member applied thereto, the inner joint member makes a relative displacement in the axial direction opposite to the offset direction of the guide groove thereby to press the torque transmitting ball, and stops at a position where the inner clearance between the torque transmitting ball and the guide grooves (ball track) of the inner and outer joint members disappears. As a result, a certain amount of preload is applied in the axial direction to the torque transmitting balls, thus eliminating the rotation backlash (play in the circumferential direction).
Regions that are free of undercut may be provided in the guide grooves of the outer joint member and the inner joint member. This makes it possible to increase the operating angle of the joint.
The region on the opening side of the inner circumferential surface of the outer joint member may be formed in a cylindrical surface that fits with the outer circumferential surface of the cage. This makes it easier to assemble the cage into the outer joint member.
The constant velocity universal joint of the present invention is light in weight, small in size and low cost, and rotates smoothly without backlash with less resistance to rotation, while being capable of taking a large operating angle, and is therefore particularly preferable for the steering apparatus of an automobile.


An electric motor assembly includes a housing and a stator. The housing includes an outer housing surface, an inner housing surface defining an interior housing cavity, and a plurality of housing protrusions extending from the inner housing surface. The stator is disposed in the inner housing cavity and includes an outer stator surface, an inner stator surface, and a plurality of stator protrusions extending from the outer stator surface toward the outer housing surface. The stator protrusions are configured to mate with the housing protrusions to frictionally couple the stator to the housing in order to fix the stator relative to the housing.

Electric motors, such as those typically used in hybrid electromechanical powertrains for automotive vehicles, have a rotor and a stator surrounding the rotor. The rotor can rotate relative to the stator, and the stator is fixed to a stationary member, such as a transmission housing or casing. An air gap established by the radial clearance between the rotor and the stator. It is important to maintain the relative positions of the stator and the rotor in order to preserve the size of the air gap. However, maintaining relative positions of the stator and the rotor may be challenging because the rotor and stator relative positions are affected by manufacturing tolerances of all components in the air gap tolerance stack path. Additionally, the electric motor may be subjected to vibrations and mechanical shock. It is also important to maintain the position of the stator relative to the housing, both axially and radially, especially when the housing or the stator expand or contract due to thermal expansion.


A metal element density is lowered in a crystalline silicon film obtained by four hour treatment at about 550.degree. C. by using a catalyst metal which accelerates crystallization. At the same time, a crystalline silicon film can be obtained which has a high crystallinity. For this purpose, extremely oxide film 13 is formed on an amorphous silicon film formed on this glass substrate in the beginning. An aqueous solution of acetate added with 10 to 200 ppm (need adjustment) of catalyst element like nickel or the like is dripped. This state is held for a predetermined time. Then the spin drying is performed by using a spinner. The film is crystallized by four hour treatment at 550.degree. C. Then a localized nickel component is removed by the fluoric acid treatment. Further, the crystalline silicon film is obtained by laser light irradiation. Then a crystalline silicon film is obtained having a low density of metal element and a small defect density by four hour heat treatment at 550.degree. C.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing semiconductor device using a crystalline semiconductor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Thin film transistors (TFTs) using thin film semiconductors are known. These TFTs are constructed by using a semiconductor thin film on a substrate thereof. These TFTs are used in various integrated circuits. They are noted as a switching element particularly in an electro-optical device, and more particularly as a switching element provided in each pixel in an active matrix type liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and as a driver element formed in a peripheral circuit portion.
With semiconductors thin film used in the TFTs, an amorphous silicon film can be conveniently used. However, such silicon film has a problem in that the electric characteristics are low. To improve the characteristics of the TFTs, crystalline silicon thin films may be used. Crystalline silicon films are referred to as a polycrystalline silicon, polysilicon, fine crystal silicon or the like. To obtain such a crystalline silicon film, an amorphous silicon film may be formed first followed by heating the film to crystallize it.
However, there is a problem in that crystallization of the silicon film by heating requires a heating temperature of 600.degree. C. or more and a heating time of 20 hours or more, a glass substrate can be used with great difficulty. For example, Corning 7059 glass has a glass skew point of 593.degree. C. In consideration of the maximization of the substrate, heating the silicon film at 600.degree. C. is problematic. In other words, when Corning 7059 glass substrate often used is heated at 600.degree. C. or more for 20 hours or more, shrinkage and warp of the substrate become very conspicuous.
To solve the above problem, heating at the lowest possible temperature is required. On the other hand, heating process time is demanded to be shortened as much as possible to heighten the productivity.
When the amorphous silicon film is crystallized by heating, there arises a problem in that the whole silicon film is crystallized, which impedes partial crystallization of the substrate or a control of crystallization of a specific region of the substrate.
As a method for solving the above problem, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. HEI 2-140915 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. HEI 2-260524 describe a technique for selectively crystallizing the substrate by artificially forming a portion or a region that will constitute a crystal nuclei in the amorphous silicon film followed by heating the substrate.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. HEI 2-140915 describes a structure of crystal growth from this crystal nuclei by forming an aluminum layer on the amorphous silicon film and growing the crystal nuclei in a portion where this amorphous silicon contacts the aluminum followed by heating the silicon substrate. Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. HEI 2-260524 describes a structure for doping tin (Sn) into the amorphous silicon by the ion doping method to grow a crystal nuclei in a region into which tin ions are implanted.
However, Al and Sn are substitute metals which constitute an alloy with silicon so as not to diffuse into and intrude the silicon film. Then the portion of the metal which forms an alloy core together with silicon constitutes a crystal nuclei. The crystal is allowed to grow from that portion. When Al and Sn are introduced, the crystallization is characterized in that the crystal growth proceeds from the portion at which Al and Sn are introduced (an alloy layer of Al and Sn, and silicon). Generally, the crystallization proceeds in two stages; generation of an initial core and the crystal growth from the core. Al and Sn which are substituent metal elements with respect to silicon are effective in the generation of the initial core, but is hardly effective in the crystal growth after that.
Consequently, when Al and Sn are used, the temperature cannot be set to a low level compared with the crystallization of the amorphous silicon film by heating nor the heating time can be set to a short level. In other words, use of Al and Sn shows no remarkable superiority over the crystallization process of amorphous silicon film which is carried out by the conventional simple heating.

Method for producing semiconductor device


A power supply control apparatus includes an input device for receiving data from a machine, the data being indicative of a condition of a malfunction occurring in the machine; a communication device for communicating between the input device and an external apparatus installed at a position separate from the machine; and a power supply control device for controlling a supply of electric power to the machine. The communication device transmits the received data to the external apparatus, and based on the malfunction condition indicated by the data, the external apparatus transmits an instruction to the communication device to interrupt the supply of power to the machine. The power supply control device interrupts the supply of power to the machine in accordance with the instruction from the external apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a machine managing apparatus for concentratively managing one or more conditions of a machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
A demand for the addition of a variety of functions and upgrades to a copier has caused the structure and functions of the copier to become more complicated. Also, the number of copiers installed in a company is increasing, so that normal using conditions and function data of these copiers are collected and concentratively managed by a management section of the company or a technical expert in order to manage the use of the copiers as well as attend to maintenance, appropriate and rapid repair for a trouble, and so on.
To realize such management, a copier is known, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,875, which is provided with a communication control unit for communicating with an external apparatus via a communication network to permit periodical or arbitrary communications such as transmission and reception of data between the copier and the external apparatus installed in a management section.
A copier is generally equipped therein with a security device for automatically isolating an abnormal portion upon the occurrence of an abnormality in a part or operation of the copier, for example, a temperature fuse, a thermostat or the like for a fixer of the copier, so as to isolate the circuit of concern when the temperature abnormally rises due to a trouble in a part of the machine, the occurrence of a malfunction or the like, to prevent such trouble from developing into a serious accident.
However, such a security device itself has a problem in that aging changes and deteriorates its constituent parts, which may result in preventing the security device from normal operation, and accordingly causing a delay in shutting off a power supply upon detecting an abnormality of a copier, thereby making an accident more serious.
Further, in a structure in which a security device is released by manipulating a main switch, monitoring and countermeasures of an abnormality are delayed.
Particularly, with a complicated copier which is concentratively managed by an external apparatus, it cannot be expected in practice to appropriately and rapidly attend to machine trouble detected by a copy operator.
In addition, there may occur other inconveniences when communications with the outside are disabled due to an abnormality of a communication control section of a copier, a communication network, or an external apparatus connected thereto, or when an error is included in the communicated contents. When an abnormal condition occurs in a communication system, although it may readily be detected that a communication control unit in the copier is suffering from trouble, it takes a lot of time and procedures to confirm whether the trouble is caused by an abnormality of the copier, a network, or an external apparatus, whereby the copier remains in an inoperative condition for a long time.
When communications are performed with the outside, a power supply of a copier must be turned on. If the power supply is shut off during a data communication with an external apparatus, by reason of termination of a copy operation or the like, the data communication with the outside is interrupted in an incomplete condition with communicated data being damaged, which results in largely damaging the reliability of the copier.
There is also known a copier which is provided with a storage unit for storing a using condition, control data and the like, such that data can be transmitted to an external apparatus installed in a management section or the like on a periodical basis or by a request generated by the management section.
However, when a request for starting a copy operation is generated during a periodical data transmission, or a data transmission requested by the management section or the like, a control unit concurrently performs a control for transmitting stored data and a copy control, that is, the objects to be controlled are increased in number, whereby the processing speed is decreased, and an external network is arbitrated for a long time, which results in impeding other communications as well as increasing a network rental fee.

Communication control apparatus for monitoring a condition of a machine and for transmittiing the condition to an external apparatus


Catheters such as guide catheters can be configured to provide distal occlusion, while still providing sufficient interior lumen space for device delivery. Such catheters can also provide a desired level of flexibility, yet can include sufficient column support. A catheter can include an elongate shaft having a distal region, a proximal region and a lumen extending therebetween. A distal occlusion member can be disposed over a portion of the distal region of the elongate shaft and an occlusion activating member can be disposed over the elongate shaft.

Catheters such as guide catheters can be subject to a number of often conflicting performance requirements such as flexibility, strength, minimized exterior diameter, maximized interior diameter, and the like. In particular, there can be a balance between a need for flexibility and a need for strength or column support. If a catheter is sufficiently flexible to reach and pass through tortuous vasculature, the catheter may lack sufficient column strength to remain in position while, for example, subsequent treatment devices are advanced through the catheter.
Some medical procedures require a method of occluding blood flow distally of a treatment site, while other procedures benefit from occluding blood flow proximally of a treatment site. While a balloon catheter can be used to occlude blood flow, inclusion of a balloon catheter requires either a separate lumen through a guide catheter or a substantial amount of the lumen space within the guide catheter.
A need remains for a catheter such as a guide catheter that can provide desired strength versus flexibility characteristics. A need remains for a catheter such as a guide catheter that can occlude blood flow without sacrificing the interior lumen space otherwise required by a balloon catheter.

Catheter with distal occlusion apparatus


A heat pipe (20) includes a pipe (21), a wick (22) formed on an inner wall (23) of the pipe, and a working fluid (not shown) sealed in the pipe and soaked in the wick. The wick is formed by sintering nano-size metal powder disposed inside the pipe. First through holes (25) are defined in the wick in an evaporator section (20a) of the heat pipe. A central one of the first through holes is aligned along an axis 20c of the heat pipe, and other first through holes are parallel to the axis 20c. A second through hole (26) is defined in the wick in a condenser section (20b) of the heat pipe. The second through hole communicates with the first through holes, whereby the working fluid flows through the first and second through holes. These characteristics give the wick low thermal resistance, a high evaporator surface area, and high capillary force.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to heat transfer devices, and more specifically to heat pipes having wick structures.
2. Related Art
A typical heat pipe transports heat in the form of latent heat of a working fluid thereof. The heat pipe is made of a heat conducting material. In assembly, air is evacuated from the heat pipe, a condensable fluid such as water is filled in the heat pipe, and then the heat pipe is sealed. The heat pipe is essentially a receptacle (container) which transports heat as latent heat of the working fluid therein. Heat input from outside the heat pipe evaporates the working fluid, the vapor flows to a condenser section of the heat pipe having a low temperature and a low pressure, the vapor condenses, and the released heat radiates from the condenser section of the heat pipe. Because the heat is transmitted in the form of latent heat of the working fluid, the heat pipe has from more than ten times to several hundred times the heat transmitting capacity of that of copper, which is generally considered to have the highest heat conductivity among common metals.
The evaporated vapor phase working fluid flows to the condenser section due to the temperature and pressure differentials. After the heat is released, in a typical heat pipe, the condensed liquid phase working fluid is refluxed to the evaporator section by capillary action of a wick contained within the heat pipe.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a conventional heat pipe 10 includes a pipe 11, a wick 12 formed on an inner wall 17 of the pipe 11, and a working fluid 13. The working fluid 13 is sealed in the pipe 11 and soaked in the wick 12. Before filling the wick 12 with the working fluid 13 and sealing the pipe 11, the inside of the pipe 11 has to be evacuated. The pipe 11 has two end sections. One of the end sections is an evaporator section 10a (a heating section). The other end section is a condenser section 10b (a cooling section). An adiabatic section may be provided between the evaporator and condenser sections, according to practical need. A vapor 14 of the working fluid 13 in the wick 12 is generated by the working fluid 13 being heated at the evaporator section 10a of the heat pipe 10. The vapor 14 flows through a hole 16 to the condenser section 10b where the temperature and the pressure are low. Then, the heat 15 is dispersed from the vapor 14 at the condenser section 10b, and the vapor 14 is condensed and liquefied back to working fluid 13. After that, the working fluid 13 is refluxed to the evaporator section 10a by capillary action of the wick 12. According to this system, the heat 15 is taken continuously from the evaporator section 10a of the heat pipe 10 to the condenser section 10b of the heat pipe 10, and is dissipated at the condenser section 10b.
The wick is essentially a member for creating capillary pressure. Therefore, it is preferable that the wick 12 has excellent so-called hydrophilicity with the working fluid. Further, it is preferable that the wick has an effective radius of a capillary tube as small as possible at a meniscus of the liquid phase working fluid. In this connection, a porous sintered compact or a bundle of extremely thin wires is generally employed as the wick. The porous sintered compact may create great capillary pressure, i.e. pumping force acting on the liquid phase working fluid, because the dimensions of the openings of its cavities are smaller than those of other wicking structures such as thin wires. Further, the porous sintered compact can be formed into a seat shape, so that it is easily employed in the vapor chamber of a flat plate type heat pipe or the like. Accordingly, the porous sintered compact is viewed by many as the preferred wicking material.
A sintered wick made from sintered metal powders and sintered ceramic powders is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,479. A heat pipe capillary wick constructed from a sintered metal cylinder is formed in close contact with an inner wall of a heat pipe casing. Longitudinal grooves are defined in an inner surface of the wick, adjacent to a vapor space of the heat pipe casing. The grooves provide longitudinal capillary pumping, while the high capillary pressure of the sintered wick provides liquid to fill the grooves. This structure assures effective circumferential distribution of liquid in the heat pipe. However, because of the large particle size of the powder and small evaporator surface area of the sintered wick, the wick has relatively high thermal resistance and low heat transfer capacity. In particular, because only one axis hole is defined within the heat pipe casing, the sintered wick has only a single inner circumference communicating with the vapor space. This provides only a relatively small evaporator surface area.
What is needed, therefore, is a heat pipe with low thermal resistance, a high evaporator surface area, high capillary force, and good heat transfer capability.


A male asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) hybrid denoted ‘NJ977’. The plant has many desirable traits including vigorous plant growth, high yield, good resistance to rust (Puccinia asparagi) and good field tolerance to asparagus root and crown rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium moniliforme. These desirable traits have been shown to be transmissible to its progenies. The invention relates to plants and plant parts of ‘NJ977’ plant. The invention further relates to hybrid asparagus seeds and plants produced by crossing the male asparagus ‘NJ977’ plant with any female asparagus plant.

For an asparagus plant to be commercially viable and profitable, good yield is essential. It is well known that asparagus is susceptible to a number of diseases. Among the most devastating are rust caused by Puccinia asparagi d.c., (Kahn et al. 1952) and crown rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum, root rot caused by Fusarium proliferatum (syn =F. moniliforme) (Johnston et al., 1979; Guerrero et al., 1999). The presence of these diseases aversely impacts the yields and therefore the profitability of the product. Accordingly, resistance to these diseases is important to commercial success.
This invention herein described relates to a new and distinct asparagus hybrid, which was developed through crossing an elite female asparagus plant RF50 (Unpatented) selected from an old asparagus field with a homozygous male plant 22-34 (U.S. Plant Pat. 18387 P3). The performance of this hybrid has been evaluated for over 9 years in fields located near New Brunswick and Bridgeton, N.J. It is distinguished particularly as to its desirable traits of vigorous growth habit, higher yield, good field resistance to rust (Puccinia asparagi) and good field tolerance to root and crown rot (Fusarium oxysporum) and (Fusarium moniliforme).


The present invention relates to a copper plating solution for relieving the deposit stress of an electroplated copper film. In the copper electroplating solution of the present invention, glycerin propoxylate ethoxylate is used as a carrier for relieving the deposit stress, and phenylurea is added as a deposit stress relieving additive. The copper electroplating solution of the present invention includes the phenylurea by from about 0.02 to about 0.08 g/l.

A desired material to be plated is deposited on the surface of an object positioned at a negative electrode by using electroplating utilizing the principle of electrolysis. Basic elements for the electroplating include a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte. In addition, the electrolyte includes a metal material or ions of the metal to be plated.
During the electroplating, deposit stress may be generated at a plated film. The deposit stress includes a compressive stress and a tensile stress. These stresses induce various limitations. These limitations include the adhesion of an electroplated film and a base material, the breaking phenomenon due to the deformation of the base material, the difficulty of assembling during conducting an assembling process of a plated base material, the deterioration of the reliability of a product, the decrease of the lifetime of a product and the like. Particularly, the limitations due to the deposit stress may be generated more significantly in a product in which the plating is conducted only on one side thereof when compared to a product plated on both sides thereof.
For example, when manufacturing an electrode for a touch screen of which use is increasing due to the explosive increase of smart devices in these days, if employing an electroplating method instead of a screen printing method or a sputtering method, only one side is usually plated. In addition, when manufacturing an electrode used in a solar cell which is one of clean energy sources by the electroplating method instead of the common screen printing method, only one side is usually plated. The one-side plating causes the base material of a product manufactured by the electroplating to be deformed, or the adhesive strength of the base material such as a silicon wafer, reinforced glass or a plastic resin with a plated film to be deteriorated due to the above-described deposit stress.
If the electrode of the solar cell or the electrode of the panel of the touch screen is manufactured by applying the electroplating method, the price competitiveness is improved as compared to other plating methods. However, despite the price competitiveness, since the electroplating method causes technical disadvantages as described above, the electroplating method has not been actually utilized.
Accordingly, if the deposit stress generated in the electroplated copper film could be relieved, a copper electroplating method could be applied, and thus, production costs may be largely reduced. Particularly, economic feasibility is even more significant when considering the steep increase of the production costs due to the price rise of a silver paste, etc. that are currently used as the electrode.
The present technology described in this patent document is a result of the research efforts by the inventors and can be used to address the above-described limitations.


Clothing items including at least one sewn-in liquid cushioned bladder conforming to one or more pressure points experiencing friction or repeated shocks. Distributed through vents and sealed islands define one or more endless channelways to facilitate moisture transfer and assure even liquid distribution with body movement. Associated vented, wicking coverings transfer perspiration away from the bladder and wearer. Preferred embodiments include pantswear, gloves and an improved bladder containing seat cushion.

The present invention relates to sportswear and, in particular, to an improved liquid bladder containing bicycle seat cover and padded pantswear and gloves for the bicyclist, among a variety of end users.
Depending upon an individual's vocation (e.g. working on an assembly line or driving a truck), or preferred leisure activities (e.g. riding a bicycle, motorcycle or horse, rowing a boat or sailing), participation requires physical contact between the participant and a work object or work piece with dynamic points of friction and shock occurring therebetween. These points of contact or pressure points and the resultant heat and stress can over time produce muscle fatigue, pressure sores, blistering, numbness, reduced blood circulation and/or tissue damage, all of which detract from the participant's enjoyment and performance. Longer lasting injuries may also result, such as has been experienced by workers in the auto industry or in the sport of tennis or baseball, among others, where carpale tunnel syndrome has developed in the arms and hands of a number of individuals.
For the sport of bicycling and of which Applicant is particularly aware, pressure points occur at the hands with the grasping of the handlebars and at the buttocks and inner thighs with sitting on the bicycle seat. Over time, with dynamic changes in road condition, such as transmitted vibrations and bumps and/or varying cyclist movement, the relatively minute and localized heat buildup and jarrings at each contact point can progressively worsen to oftentimes produce blistering and soreness.
Although a variety of cushioning materials may be positioned between the rider and bike to distribute the contact forces over a broader contact area, they provide only temporary relief, since all encountered forces are not directed perpendicular to the rider. That is, a lateral or shear component also exists which is not particularly negated or alleviated with most foam or non-flotational cushioning materials, since these materials provide more flex in the transverse direction than in the lateral direction. In particular, the rising and falling of the thighs relative to the seat pommel or the lateral oscillating movement of the buttocks across the bicycle seat produces friction which is not alleviated by a non-flotational cushioning material. A hydraulic flotational cushioning or artificial blister is therefore preferred which not only accommodates orthogonal cushioning forces, but also lateral shear forces. A hydraulic cushioning also improves blood flow by providing a greater area of pressure contact, while a non-flotational cushion allows a non-distributed contact with nerve compression and blood acclusion. Skin ulceration, tissue damage and numbness are particularly alleviated with a properly designed flotation cushion.
In the latter regard, Applicant in his U.S. Pat. No. 4,504,089 discloses a bladder containing bicycle seat cushion including a chamber configured to meet with the primary contact areas at the buttocks and thighs. Sealed, discontinuous shaped voids are provided for cushioning, but which shapes have been found to be disruptive of liquid flow and therefore less effective than an uninterrupted or an endless cavity of a more circuitous construction. The use of a non-porous bladder material has also shown the necessity of providing a perspiration venting arrangement to reduce the build-up of perspiration which can accentuate blistering, if undeterred.
Applicant has also determined that by directly including an improved bladder in the rider's pantswear, advantages can be obtained, even if a seat cushion is not used. Such a cushion may also be designed to fit the contact points directly, regardless if a seat cushion is used. Sewing or attaching the cushion to the clothing about its periphery also prevents bunching or cushion movement.
Appreciating further that the rider not only experiences frictional contact with the seat, but also with the handlebars, Applicant has sought to reduce stress to the forearms and hands across the palm area with improved handwear. Such a flotation cushion including glove also finds advantage with other work and recreation gloves for gripping a steering wheel, golf club, baseball bat, weight lifting equipment, hammer or jack hammer. Regardless of a wearer's grip, it is in this region that the primary gripping forces are encountered. Thus, an improved glove equalizes pressure over the gripping area and improves blood circulation.
Heretofore, Applicant is aware only of the use of foam or other rigid glove cushioning materials but which, again, do not alleviate lateral shear forces as effectively as the present liquid-filled cushion.


An information reproducing apparatus which has a rotating driver for rotating a disc-shaped recording medium, a floating-type head for reproducing information recorded in the recording medium while floating above the disc-shaped recording medium that is being rotated by the rotating driver, and a suspension, made of an elastic member, for supporting the floating-type head. The information reproducing apparatus is characterized in that the floating-type head has a slider which is floated by an air flow that is directed near the surface of the rotating disc-shaped recording medium, and that the slider has a bevelled portion at one side that faces the outer edge of the disc-shaped recording medium such that any contact between the slider and the ridge that exists along the outer edge area of the disc-shaped recording medium is virtually eliminated. Since the slider is virtually free from contacting the ridge that exists along the outer edge area of the disc-shaped recording medium, the storage capacity of the disc-shaped recording medium can be more effectively used.

Recently, magneto-optical disks have been developed for use as optical memory elements that can record, reproduce, and erase information. The magneto-optical disk is constituted of a vertically magnetized film and a protective layer, formed on a substrate. Information recording on the magneto-optical disk is executed as follows: A light beam is projected onto the vertically magnetized film, causing a temperature rise at the illuminated area, and thus the magnetic coercive force of the area is lowered. In this state, an external magnetic field is applied onto the vertically magnetized film in such a manner that the direction of magnetization at the area where the coercive force lowered is inverted and aligned in the same direction as the external magnetic field, thereby permitting information to be recorded.
Recording methods in the magneto-optical disks are roughly classified into two methods: the light modulation method wherein recording is executed by modulating the intensity of a light beam in accordance with information to be recorded while simultaneously applying an external magnetic field in a constant direction; and the magnetic field modulation method, wherein recording is executed by inverting the direction of the external magnetic field in accordance with information to be recorded while applying a light beam of a constant intensity.
Here, the magnetic field modulation method is considered to be the most prospective as a method for achieving the so-called overwriting technique, wherein rewriting process allows new information to be written directly onto the previous information without the necessity of any erasing process. In adopting this overwriting technique, it is necessary to lower the inductance of the magnetic head with a view to increasing the switching speed of the external magnetic field direction and thereby enhancing the transfer rate. However, simultaneously, as the inductance of the magnetic head is lowered, the intensity of the magnetic field is also lowered and this necessitates that the magnetic head be disposed as close as possible to the magneto-optical disk.
When a resin such as polycarbonate is used as a substrate of the magneto-optical disk, considerable unevenness on the surface of the substrate can appear; that is, there exist protrusions and recessions in the circumferential direction. Because of this unevenness, if the magnetic head is located too close to the magneto-optical disk, the magnetic head might come into contact with the magneto-optical disk, causing damage to the magnetic head or the magneto-optical disk. Therefore, a certain amount of gap should be provided between the magnetic head and the magneto-optical disk, and this presents a problem in that it is difficult to obtain sufficient intensity of the magnetic field. Further, since the distance between the magnetic head and the vertically magnetized film is varied due to the unevenness, the intensity of the magnetic field tends to vary.
For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 48 and 49, a magneto-optical recording-reproduction apparatus, wherein a floating-type magnetic head 1 is adopted, has been proposed.
A floating-type magnetic head 1 is constituted by a magnetic head 8 (shown by hatching in FIG. 49) and a slider 7 which is provided with a magnetic head 8 and designed to glide above the magneto-optical disk 3.
The slider 7 is secured to the tip of a suspension 6 that is composed of plate springs, and is pressed toward the magneto-optical disk 3 by the suspension 6. The base of the suspension 6 is secured to a fixing member 5. The slider 7 is disposed so as to face the top surface of the magneto-optical disk 3, which is rotated by the spindle motor 2, and in this position, the magnetic head 8 is located to face an optical head 4, which is disposed below the bottom surface of the magneto-optical disk 3.
Seen from above, the slider 7 has a rectangular shape, and the magnetic head 8 is fixed to the rear end thereof. The size of the slider 7 is, for example, 5 mm long in the radial direction of the magneto-optical disk 3, and 7 mm long in the circumferential direction.
When the magneto-optical disk 3 rotates, an air flow is produced between the surface of the magneto-optical disk 3 and the floating-type magnetic head 1. Thus, the floating-type magnetic head 1 floats up to a height at which an upward floating force, caused by the air flow, and a downward pressing force, created by the suspension 6, balance with each other. With this arrangement, the gap between the floating-type magnetic head 1 and the magneto-optical disk 3 is kept virtually constant; therefore, the intensity of the magnetic field applied from the magnetic head 1 is not affected by the unevenness of the magneto-optical disk 3. Thus, stable recording operation can be performed on the magneto-optical disk 3.
However, in the case where the so-called CSS(Constant Start and Stop) method is adopted, wherein the floating-type magnetic head 1 comes into contact with the magneto-optical disk 3 upon floating or landing, problems are encountered in that the magneto-optical disk 3 and floating-type magnetic head 1 might be worn away or damaged due to repetitive CCS operations and, furthermore, the floating-type magnetic head 1 may stick to the magneto-optical disk 3, with the result that the spindle motor 2 is unable to rotate the magneto-optical disk 3.
These problems become more serious if the floating-type magnetic head 1 is used in a magneto-optical disk cartridge that is manufactured according to the ISO standard, a standard which is to be defined without anticipating the use of the floating-type magnetic head 1.
Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 50 and 51, in the case where a ridge 3a exists near the outer edge of the magneto-optical disk 3, the movement of the floating-type magnetic head 1 is limited since it cannot pass the ridge 3a to the outer edge of the magneto-optical disk 3; thus, a problem is encountered whereby the storage capacity of the magneto-optical disk 3 is virtually reduced.
The ridge 3a occurs when a protective layer is formed through the spin-coat method. For example, a plurality of substrates made up of polycarbonate, each having 3.5 inches in diameter, are initially produced. Then, protective layers are formed on the respective substrates through the spin-coat method, and surface dimensions near the outer edge of each substrate are measured. The following FIGS. 52 through 55 show the results of the measurements.
In the magneto-optical disk 3 of FIG. 52, a ridge starts from a radial position of 41.5 mm from the center, and a maximum height of the ridge 3a is 16 .mu.m.
In the magneto-optical disk 3 of FIG. 53, a ridge starts from a radial position of 41.6 mm from the center, and a maximum height of the ridge 3a is 14 .mu.m.
In the magneto-optical disk 3 of FIG. 54, a ridge starts from a radial position of 41.6 mm from the center, and a maximum height of the ridge 3a is 12 .mu.m.
In the magneto-optical disk 3 of FIG. 55, a ridge starts from a radial position of 41.7 mm from the center, and a maximum height of the ridge 3a is 12 .mu.m.
Since the floating-type magnetic head 1 floats with a small gap from the surface of the magneto-optical disk 3, the floating-type magnetic head 1 comes into contact with the ridge 3a when it is used with the above magneto-optical disk 3 and moved to a radial position in the proximity of 41 mm (see FIGS. 50 and 51).
Additionally, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem of sticking, attempts such as providing a special texture treatment on the surface of the magneto-optical disk 3 or applying a lubricant thereto have been made.
Moreover, it has been reported in a digest C-27 of the Spring-time National Convention of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers of Japan,"Experiment of Landing on-off Flying Head Slider", and in a digest C-474 of the same convention (1990), "Flying Head Slider for Landing on-off", that the front and rear portions of the slider bottom surface were spherically machined in order to permit the floating head to land on/off without contacting against the disk.

Reproducing apparatus with suspension supporting a floating-type head with a bevelled slider


A method for protecting a circuit component on a semiconductor substrate from a plasma etching or other removal process includes forming a screening layer over an auxiliary layer to conceal at least an area of the auxiliary layer that overlays at least a portion of the circuit component, such as for example a high-ohmic poly resistor. The method transfers a pattern defined by a mask onto the screening layer by selectively removing portions of the screening layer in accordance with the pattern. Portions of the auxiliary layer that are not protected by the screening layer are removed using a plasma gas selective to the auxiliary layer material, without removing the area of the auxiliary layer that overlays the portion of the circuit component, thereby protecting the circuit component from the plasma gas via the screening layer and auxiliary layer.

One of the basic technological goals when manufacturing analog resistors is to achieve a low dispersion or high stability control of the resistances across the analog resistors from die-to-die, wafer-to-wafer, and lot-to-lot.
Current methods to improve the cross-chip stability of analog resistors employ laser blowing, Zener diode "zapping", or other techniques that generate a desired resistance. Such methods involve manufacturing resistor chains across a substantially large area of silicon and trimming the resistor chain to the desired resistance. The method of laser blowing creates open circuits in the resistor chain, while the Zener diode method creates short circuits within the resistor chain in order to achieve the desired resistances and thus cross-chip stability.
Such methodologies involve a substantial amount of processing time since they use the specific trimming and testing of each resistor chain across all dies in each wafer of every lot. The resistor chains also cover a large area of the silicon wafer, leading to a costly manufacturing process. For example, many of the resistors in the chain are not pertinent to the overall resistance, since most of the resistors are electrically disconnected using the various trimming techniques such as laser "blowing" or zener "zapping" as described above, and therefore significant areas of the wafer may ultimately be wasted.

Method for manufacturing high-stability resistors, such as high ohmic poly resistors, integrated on a semiconductor substrate


Catalyst composition produced by combining a cobalt-containing precursor in an alkyl alcohol with a phosphine ligand to the solution; and subsequently adding an iodine compound. Reductive carbonylation processes using the catalyst composition to produce aldehydes are also provided.

Cobalt can catalyze the formation of acetaldehyde from methanol, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen, a reaction known as reductive carbonylation. For example, it was disclosed by Wender et al., Science, 113, (1951), 206-207, that a cobalt carbonyl catalyst system could be used. However, the product of the disclosed process was primarily ethanol, together with a small amount of acetaldehyde. It was later shown that the addition of iodide to a cobalt-containing catalyst system increased the amount of acetaldehyde produced. Iodide is typically added as a co-catalyst (also commonly referred to as a promoter) to the reaction in a form such as hydroiodic acid (a strong acid), methyl iodide, elemental iodine, or as an iodide salt such as lithium iodide or sodium iodide.
Homologation of methanol to ethanol can be achieved by addition of a hydrogenation catalyst, typically ruthenium based, to a reductive carbonylation system. For example, Mizoroki, et al., Bull. Chem. Soc. Japan, 52, (1979), 479-482, have described a catalyst system containing a cobalt compound, a ruthenium compound and methyl iodide to convert methanol to ethanol with 77% selectivity.
There is, however, a need to influence readily the relative amounts of aldehyde and/or alcohol produced in a reductive carbonylation reaction to maximize the desired product profile. In particular, methods of making aldehydes are desired. There is also a need for an inexpensive catalyst that can be used instead of the typical rhodium catalyst or iridium/ruthenium catalyst for the reductive carbonylation of alcohols.

Reductive carbonylation of methanol to acetaldehyde


Generating an abstract model of the behavior of a hardware and/or software design. A learning framework learns an unknown regular language that represents the behaviors of the hardware and/or software logic which do not violate a specified property that the abstract model is required to satisfy. The framework receives input data including the specified property, concrete models of the behavior of the hardware and/or software; and an alphabet of all symbols that are allowed to occur in any string that can be defined in the unknown regular language, each symbol representing an event in the hardware and/or software. The framework generates an abstract model of the behavior of the hardware or software design by checking whether a sequence of events in a concrete model satisfies the specified property and outputs the generated abstract model.

The present invention relates to generation and verification of abstract models, and in particular to the generation of abstract hardware models and abstract software models and the verification of hardware-software co-designs.
In software engineering and computer science, abstraction is a technique for arranging and reducing complexity of systems, in particular computer systems and its software and/or hardware components. It works by establishing a level of complexity on which a person interacts with the system, suppressing the more complex details below the current level. The programmer works with an idealized interface (usually well defined) and can add additional levels of functionality that would otherwise be too complex to handle. For example, a programmer writing code that involves numerical operations to be performed by a particular hardware module may not be interested in the concrete model by which numbers are represented in this hardware module (e.g., whether they're 16 bit or 32 bit integers). By suppressing (abstracting away) those details of the concrete model, a simplified or abstract model of the hardware module is provided which simply receives and returns some numbers via a defined, simple interface with which the programmer and other system components can work and interact easily. To give a further example, the task of sending an email message across continents would be extremely complex if the programmer had to start with a piece of fiber optic cable and basic hardware components (the concrete model). By using abstracted models of hardware and/or software systems, modules, physical cables, and network layout, the programmer or other system components are presented with a virtual data channel, this extremely complex task is made manageable. According to a still further example, the notion of an object in object-oriented programming can be viewed as a way to combine abstractions of concrete data and code.

Learning framework for software-hardware model generation and verification

International Business Machines Corporation