An absorbent article is provided which has such a structure that a bled portion of the colored indicator is unnoticeable. The absorbent article includes a liquid permeable top sheet, a liquid impermeable back sheet, an absorbing core interposed between the two sheets, and an indicator making it possible to visually ascertain that the absorbing core is in the wet state. The back sheet has an average hole diameter of 0.3 μm to 3 μm, and has a light transmittance of not less than 20% and not more than 45% in a state in which the absorbing core is dry.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an absorbent article that absorbs body fluids, such as a disposable diaper, and particularly to an absorbent article with an indicator making it possible to visually ascertain whether an absorbent core in an absorbent article is wet.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, it has been known to provide an indicator in an absorbent article, such as a disposable diaper and a urine-absorbing pad, so that the excretion of urine can be ascertained from the outside of a liquid impermeable back sheet, namely from the outside when the absorbent article is worn. This indicator is positioned between the back sheet and an absorbent core of the absorbent article, and contains an indicating agent whose color shows clearly when wetting occurs.
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H9-299401 discloses that an indicator includes an ink layer which shows clearly when wetting occurs and an ink covering layers which are interposed between the ink layer and a back sheet and are close contact with the ink layer, and that the ink covering layer contains a surface active agent.
On the other hand, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-516185 discloses an absorbent article provided with an indicator that consists of an indicating agent whose color shows clearly when wetting occurs, and a base polymer. This absorbent article prevents the indicator from generating an error signal due to moisture, by employing a moisture permeable film as a back sheet.
In the indicator disclosed in the above publication No. 9-299401, a moisture absorbing paper is used as the ink covering layer, and the ink layer is formed by printing ink on this paper. The application of the indicator including this ink layer to a diaper may ruin its soft touch. Further, for the paper used in this ink layer, the absorbed urine is susceptible to diffusion into the paper. Therefore, when viewed from the outside of the back sheet, in some cases, the colored indicator may be blurred. If this is the case, it is difficult to distinguish the wet region of the absorbent core by using the indicator. Further in some cases, the ink of the indicator may diffuse into its surroundings and the colored portion may fade away. For this reason, it might be difficult for the indicator disclosed in the above publication No. 9-299401 to accurately indicate when to replace the diaper.
Similarly, for the absorbent article disclosed in the above publication No. 2003-516185, no attention has been paid to the preventing from bleeding of the color indicator, to make it unnoticeable.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an absorbent article having a structure such that a bled portion of a colored indicator is unnoticeable, thus making it possible to accurately indicate the timing for replacement.


A method of bonding a substantially planar sheet material to a corrugated sheet material using an automated process the method characterized by the steps of    a) applying adhesive in discrete amounts to the contact points of the corrugated sheet material, and    b) holding the sheet materials together until a bond is formed between them.

Single faced corrugated paper board is very well known and is used extensively in industry, especially in packaging where it is used as protective padding and wrapping. It is also used as a basic component in the production of many structural objects such as boxes, panels, pallets etc.
Sheets of single faced corrugated paper board can be bonded together to form multilayer corrugated paper boards of various thickness and strength. One reason for the wide use of such paper board is its relatively light weight, rigidity and strength.
Single faced corrugated paper board is made by bonding a fluted sheet, typically of corrugating medium (generally recycled paper) paper, onto a liner sheet. The liner sheet is typically Kraft paper although other materials may be used.
In a conventional machine for producing single faced fluted paper board, the fluted sheet is formed by passing a sheet of paper between two corrugating rollers. The two rollers are arranged such that there is an inter-meshing of the teeth at the periphery of each roller. A sheet of paper is fed between the teeth of the rollers which forces the paper into flutes as the teeth of the rollers intermesh. The fluted sheet is held in contact with the teeth on the periphery of one of the corrugating rollers, typically by a vacuum formed within the corrugating cylinder, at least until the liner is added.
A line of adhesive is applied to the crests of the flutes to bond the liner to the fluted paper. A sheet of liner paper is typically pressed onto the crests by a smooth roller so as to bond the liner with the fluted paper to form a single faced corrugated (or fluted) board.
A limiting factor in this process is the requirement to maintain contact between the fluted sheet and the liner for sufficient time for a bond to be formed. This time can be several seconds or longer at normal room temperatures and pressures. However, the time can be reduced by raising the temperature during the bonding process and by applying pressure to the join between the crest and the liner.
High pressure steam is commonly used to heat the cylinders over which the fluted paper and liner paper move, raising the temperature of the paper. Typical operating temperatures for the corrugating rollers can be around 200° C.
Pressure can be applied to the joint between the liner and each crest by a pressure roller arranged to press the liner against the glued crest. As the contact time between the pressure roller and corrugating roller (which holds the fluted sheet) is relatively short, high pressures are generally required to significantly speed up the bonding process.
With this type of arrangement (heating plus high pressure) the bonding time can be reduced to a few hundredths of a second, allowing high speed production of single faced paper board. However, one problem with this arrangement is that the high pressure exerted by the pressure roller can distort the paper and leave unsightly marks on the surface of the liner paper, reducing its value.
In some machines other devices, such as endless belts, are used to press the liner and fluted sheets together as they move around the corrugating roller. This extends the period of time pressure is applied, and therefore lower pressures can be used so as not to deform the surface of the paper board.
A typical arrangement of a machine to produce single faced paper board generally as described above is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,817 (Thomas).
The machinery depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,817 has a limited contact time (and hence bond time) between the fluted sheet and the liner—as evidenced by the fluted sheet/liner combination only being in contact with a third of the circumference of the corrugated wheel. Such limited contact time requires the use of a fast drying adhesive such as a starch based glue used typically in the industry. Unfortunately, starch based glues requires the application of heat (say in the order of 150° C. or so) to activate. This leads to disadvantages as discussed below.
Although the use of heat can shorten the time required to form a bond between the fluted sheet and the liner, and therefore allow high through-put, it does introduce a number of engineering issues which significantly increase the cost of the machinery and the operating costs for the process. The use of high pressure steam introduces the need for boilers, pipe work, and housing to ensure containment of the steam at all times. There is a need for additional safety measures to ensure that the steam is produced and managed correctly and that the heat produced does not provide a safety hazard during operation of the machine. Typically a heating engineer is required to operate the boiler and maintain the heating system, adding the cost of additional skilled labour, as well as potentially stopping production if such an engineer is not available.
The addition of a high pressure steam system to the basic elements of the machine inevitably leads to an increase in the size of the machine and therefore the space required for operation of the machine. The requirement for more space adds to the operating costs for production of the single faced fluted board.
Furthermore high pressure steam is highly corrosive to many materials, and those parts of the machine exposed to the steam, for example the corrugating rollers, need to be made from appropriate materials. Such materials, for example alloy steel 48 CrMo hardened to HRC 58-62 standard, are generally expensive and heavy. A machine made from such materials can require substantial support structure to maintain the structural integrity of the machine.
A problem with both methods of applying pressure (roller and belt) is that the applied pressure can spread some of the adhesive away from the contact line between the liner and the fluted sheet across the crest, thus wetting the surrounding paper. As this spread adhesive is not under pressure (once away from the contact line) and does not necessarily form a bond, further heating can be required in order to dry out the paper and superfluous (spread) adhesive. This adds to the cost of production and may limit the speed of the process.
The spread adhesive can also get transferred to the surface of the device applying the pressure (eg, roller or belt) requiring the surface of the device to be continually cleaned. Some adhesive can be transferred to the outer surface of the liner, which can cause problems during storage when rolled, as neighbouring sheets can stick together making the product unusable. Further, the adhesive can mark the surface, adversely affecting the appearance and reducing value of the corrugated board.
A further disadvantage with conventional machines is that typically the feed rollers used to feed the paper (both to be fluted and used as a liner) onto the corrugating rollers, and the corrugating rollers, are heated in order to dry out the paper prior to addition of the adhesive. This is to reduce the moisture content of the paper and to produce a rapid bonding time. The production of high pressure steam to heat the corrugating rollers and to pre-heat the paper can require a significant amount of energy.
All of the above factors can add significantly to the cost of single face fluted board made by conventional processes and machines.
It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicant reserves the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications may be referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art in New Zealand or in any other country.
It is acknowledged that the term 'comprise' may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term 'comprise' shall have an inclusive meaning—i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term 'comprised' or 'comprising' is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process.
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

Method of forming single face corrugated board


A semiconductor package comprises a substrate, a first semiconductor die mounted to the substrate, and a first double side mold (DSM) internal stackable module (ISM) bonded directly to the first semiconductor die through a first adhesive. The first DSM ISM includes a first molding compound, and a second semiconductor die disposed in the first molding compound. The semiconductor package further comprises a first electrical connection coupled between the first semiconductor die and the substrate, and a second electrical connection coupled between the first DSM ISM and the substrate.

Semiconductor devices are commonly found in modern electronic products. Semiconductor devices vary in the number and density of electrical components. Discrete semiconductor devices generally contain one type of electrical component, e.g., light emitting diode (LED), small signal transistor, resistor, capacitor, inductor, and power metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). Integrated semiconductor devices typically contain hundreds to millions of electrical components. Examples of integrated semiconductor devices include microcontrollers, microprocessors, charged-coupled devices (CCDs), solar cells, and digital micro-mirror devices (DMDs).
Semiconductor devices perform a wide range of functions such as signal processing, high-speed calculations, transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals, controlling electronic devices, transforming sunlight to electricity, and creating visual projections for television displays. Semiconductor devices are found in the fields of entertainment, communications, power conversion, networks, computers, and consumer products. Semiconductor devices are also found in military applications, aviation, automotive, industrial controllers, and office equipment.
Semiconductor devices exploit the electrical properties of semiconductor materials. The atomic structure of semiconductor material allows its electrical conductivity to be manipulated by the application of an electric field or base current or through the process of doping. Doping introduces impurities into the semiconductor material to manipulate and control the conductivity of the semiconductor device.
A semiconductor device contains active and passive electrical structures. Active structures, including bipolar and field effect transistors, control the flow of electrical current. By varying levels of doping and application of an electric field or base current, the transistor either promotes or restricts the flow of electrical current. Passive structures, including resistors, capacitors, and inductors, create a relationship between voltage and current necessary to perform a variety of electrical functions. The passive and active structures are electrically connected to form circuits, which enable the semiconductor device to perform high-speed calculations and other useful functions.
Semiconductor devices are generally manufactured using two complex manufacturing processes, i.e., front-end manufacturing, and back-end manufacturing, each involving potentially hundreds of steps. Front-end manufacturing involves the formation of a plurality of die on the surface of a semiconductor wafer. Each die is typically identical and contains circuits formed by electrically connecting active and passive components. Back-end manufacturing involves singulating individual die from the finished wafer and packaging the die to provide structural support and environmental isolation.
The package has external metal contacts for transferring electrical signals into and out of the die. The die has a number of bond pads, which are connected to the external contacts of the package by wire bonds. Wire bonding provides an electrical interconnect between the active surface of the die and bond sites on a leadframe or bond fingers on the substrate, which in turn provide connectivity to other circuitry external to the semiconductor package.
One goal of semiconductor manufacturing is to produce smaller semiconductor devices. Smaller devices typically consume less power, have higher performance, and can be produced more efficiently. In addition, smaller semiconductor devices have a smaller footprint, which is desirable for smaller end products. A smaller die size may be achieved by improvements in the front-end process resulting in die with smaller, higher density active and passive components. Back-end processes may result in semiconductor device packages with a smaller footprint by improvements in electrical interconnection and packaging materials. Numerous package approaches have made use of multiple integrated circuit die or package-in-package (PiP) structures. Other approaches use package level stacking or package-on-package (PoP) arrangements. Both approaches involve the stacking of two or more devices or packages within a package.
FIG. 1 illustrates one known PiP structure. Semiconductor die 12 is attached to substrate 14 with die attach adhesive 16. Bond wires 18 make electrical contact between bond pads on semiconductor die 12 and bumps 20 to transfer electrical signals into and out of the package. Similarly, semiconductor die 22 is attached to substrate 24 with die attach adhesive 26. Bond wires 28 make electrical contact between bond pads on semiconductor die 22 and bumps 20 to transfer electrical signals into and out of the package. An encapsulant 32 seals semiconductor die 22 to form internal stacking module (ISM) 34. A dummy spacer 30 separates semiconductor die 12 and ISM 34, and provides structural support for the package. Adhesive 38 secures dummy spacer 30 to semiconductor die 12 and ISM 34. FIG. 2 shows a top view of an ISM with package test pads 42 and bond finger pads 44.
There is an ever-increasing demand for semiconductor devices having more capability. The semiconductor package must be able to accommodate more semiconductor devices, i.e., greater device packing density, within the package. The aforedescribed dummy spacer requires significant space and places demands on the headroom of the package. The dummy spacer reduces the space available for semiconductor device and thereby decreases the packing density of the PiP structure.

Stackable package by using internal stacking modules


There is provided herein a multilayer laminate comprised of a layer of a film and a layer of a nonwoven fabric. The film is made from polymers and has as one surface a semi-crystalline/amorphous or "heterophasic" polymer, an optional inner, less expensive, filler type polymer, and as the other surface, a polymer with a lower coefficient of friction. The nonwoven fabric may be a spunbond or meltblown fabric, preferably spunbond and preferably also including a heterophasic polymer. The film and nonwoven components are bonded together using thermal point bonding preferably while the film is stretched at least 5 percent. Such a laminate may be made into a personal care product like a diaper, training pant, absorbent underpants, adult incontinence product, and feminine hygiene product.

Thermoplastic resins have been extruded to form fibers, films and webs for a number of years. The most common thermoplastics for these applications are polyolefins, particularly polypropylene and polyethylene, though each material has its characteristic advantages and disadvantages vis a vis the properties desired in the final products.
Nonwoven fabrics are one type of product which can be made from such polymers and are useful for a wide variety of applications such as personal care products like diapers, feminine hygiene products and incontinence products, infection control products, garments and many others. The nonwoven fabrics used in these applications are often in the form of laminates having various numbers of layers of meltblown fabric, spunbond fabric and/or films like spunbond/meltblown/spunbond (SMS) laminates, SMMS laminates, spunbond/film (SF) and SFS laminates and even laminates having 6 or more layers.
One disadvantage to, in particular, SF laminates, is that they can delaminate under certain conditions. Such delamination is, of course, undesirable, as it can result in product failure. There remains a need for a spunbond/film laminate which is lightweight and thin yet also provides adequate adhesion between the layers such that delamination does not occur.
It is an object of this invention to provide laminates having at least one layer of a nonwoven fabric with at least one layer of a film where the laminate exhibits greater delamination or peel strength than heretofore known similar laminates.


A hip joint prosthesis is formed of a coil spring having a middle section bounded by first and second opposite ends, with one of the two ends configured as a femoral fixing end and the other of the two ends configured as an acetabular fixing end. A central axis of the coil spring extends between the two opposite ends, providing a freely movable, flexible central coil linking the two ends.

Field of the invention—The invention generally relates to prosthesis and to implantable prosthesis, bone prosthesis, and to joint bone prosthesis. In one aspect, the invention relates to a bone, particularly a joint bone, and more particularly to a hip joint bone, especially to a femoral joint head. In a further aspect, the invention includes a portion of a prosthesis secured to the natural acetabulum by an adhesive or gap filling substance, i.e., cement. The invention also is a substitute for an acetabular cup and femoral head.
Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98—The natural hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint between a ball on the top end of the femur bone of the upper leg and a socket, called the acetabulum, defined in the pelvis. The socket includes cartilage that aids in stabilizing the ball. This area is regarded as a joint capsule. A hip fracture is a break that occurs in the upper part of the femur, such as in the head or neck of the femur. A fracture within the joint capsule is called an intracapsular fracture. The types of breaks in an intracapsular fracture are further categorized. A fracture of the femoral neck, near the femoral head, is further called subcapital. A fracture lower on the femoral neck is called transcervical. Another type of fracture located near the bottom of the femoral neck is known as basicervical and can be regarded as intracapsular. Other types of hip fracture occur below the head and neck of the femur and are not intracapsular.
Treatment of intracapsular fracture in some cases is by hemiarthroplasty, which is replacement of the broken part of the bone with prosthesis. A replacement head is attached to the femur with a metal stem known as a femoral stem that is placed into the hollow center of the femur. The femoral stem may be either cemented into the femur or pressed into this bone. The replacement ball may be either a single unit with integral stem or may be a separate component that is attached to the stem. In either case, the ball is positioned at the upper part of the stem to substitute for the damaged femoral head, which typically has been surgically removed in preparation for implanting the prosthesis. The replacement ball often is formed of a metallic material in hope of surviving wear and tear. However, it is known that even metallic hip prostheses are subject to wearing out, or wearing out adjacent contacted bone.
In other cases, treatment of an intracapsular fracture is by total hip replacement, wherein both the damaged portion of the femur and the cartilage of the acetabulum are surgically removed and replaced. As with the hemiarthroplasty, a replacement head is attached to the femur upon a metal femoral stem that either is pressed or cemented into the hollow center of the femur. For accurate understanding, it may be noted that bone cement is not necessarily an adhesive, but tends to be a fill in gaps between a prosthesis and bone. An example is polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The damaged cartilage surface of the acetabulum is removed and replaced with a metal socket. Either screws or bone cement are used to hold the socket in place. A plastic, ceramic, or metal spacer is inserted between the new ball and the socket to serve as a smooth, gliding surface.
Intracapsular replacements using the described replacement heads have been known to fail. Typical causes are loosening implant wear, infection, fracture, and dislocation. For example, after a hip hemiarthroplasty, wear and tear can degrade cartilage in the acetabulum, resulting in painful contact between the metal ball and the exposed bone at the acetabulum. The metal parts of an implant have been known to fail when a plating metal peels off at contact areas. In a general way, these failures are a product of high pressures, impacts, and other difficult conditions encountered by a hip joint prosthesis.
It would be desirable to have a hip joint prosthesis that engages the femur and pelvis in a static relationship such that artificial materials do not slide against one another or against bone of the hip joint.
To achieve the foregoing and other object and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the method and apparatus of this invention may comprise the following.


A composition is disclosed, comprising, based on the total weight of the composition, from 20 to 60 wt. % of a polyimide having a glass transition temperature above 180° C.; from 10 to 30 wt. % a polyester-polycarbonate copolymer; from 30 to 60 wt. % of a reinforcing filler; and at least two flame retardant additives selected from the group consisting of from 0.01 to 0.5 wt. % of a first sulfonate salt, from 0.01 to 0.5 wt. % of a second sulfonate salt, from 0.5 to 5 wt. % of a siloxane copolymer, and combinations thereof. An article molded from the composition attains an improved UL94 rating, as compared to an article molded from the same composition without the at least two flame retardant additives.

This disclosure relates to polyimide compositions, and in particular flame retardant polyetherimide/polyester-polycarbonate compositions, as well as their method of manufacture and articles formed from the polyimide compositions.
Polyimides (PI), and in particular polyetherimides (PEI), are amorphous, transparent high performance polymers having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of greater than 180° C. These polymers further have high strength, heat resistance, and modulus, and broad chemical resistance. Polyetherimides are widely used in application as diverse as automotive, telecommunication, aerospace, electrical/electronics, transportation, and healthcare. Filled and unfilled PEI compositions further comprising a polycarbonate (PC) and/or polyester-polycarbonate (PCE) are particularly useful as molded parts for metal replacement, for example in automotive and electrical/electronic applications. PEI-PCE blends have good mechanical and thermal properties, including excellent dimensional stability at high temperatures.
There has long been interest in developing thermoplastic compositions, in particular PEI-PCE compositions that are flame retardant. A specific area of interest in compositions for transportation applications, such as rail cars and airplanes. Polymer blends that have been used in these applications are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,483. These compositions combine PEI with PCE and polyetherimide siloxane copolymers. Despite the effectiveness of these compositions there still exists a need for even better flame resistance performance in these polymer compositions. It would be advantageous if improved flame retardance could be achieved without significantly adversely affecting the good mechanical and thermal properties of the compositions. It would further be advantageous if flame retardance could be achieved in the absence of halogenated flame retardants, in particular brominated and/or chlorinated flame retardants.

Flame retardant polyimide/polyester-polycarbonate compositions, methods of manufacture, and articles formed therefrom


A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising the steps of: providing a coarse-foamed fracturing fluid comprising a liquid fracturing fluid component, a gas, proppant particulates, and a foaming agent; and placing the coarse-foamed fracturing fluid into a portion of a subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to create or extend at least one fracture therein.

The present invention relates to coarse-foamed fracturing fluids and methods of using such fluids in subterranean fracturing operations.
The term "coarse foamed" as used herein refers to the texture of the foam. A coarse foamed fluid has a relatively nonuniform bubble size distribution (e.g., a combination of large and small gas bubbles) whereas a fine texture foam has relatively uniform bubble size distribution and most of the bubbles are relatively small. (See FIG. 1 illustrating a coarse foam and a fine textured foam at nonlimiting examples of certain quality levels.) The term "quality" as used herein refers to a foam quality level above which a pure fine textured foam exists, which will depend, inter alia, on the particular fluid composition and the foaming agent used. On a schematic plot of viscosity versus quality in a foamed fluid, the foam transition point is the point at which the foamed fluid becomes a more coarse textured foamed fluid. The transition point is a level of maximum viscosity, which may be relatively well-defined in some instances. The foam transition point for a particular foam may vary as a result of, inter alia, the foam composition (e.g., whether it is an aqueous-based foamed fluid or an oil-based foamed fluid). The particular quality level of the foam at the transition point will similarly vary. The coarse-foamed fracturing fluids of the present invention are foamed fluids that have a quality level at or above the foam transition point for the particular fluid.
Hydraulic fracturing is a process commonly used to increase the flow of desirable fluids from a portion of a subterranean formation. Traditional hydraulic fracturing operations usually comprise the steps of placing a viscous fracturing fluid (often an aqueous gelled fluid) into a portion of a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure such that fractures are created or enhanced in a portion of the subterranean formation. The fractures propagate, e.g., as vertical and/or horizontal cracks radially outward from the well bore. In such treatments, once the hydraulic pressure is released, usually the fractures will not remain fully open. Often, particulate materials, known as proppant, are suspended in the fracturing fluid during at least a portion of the fracturing operation. The particulates are carried into the fractures and deposited therein such that when the hydraulic pressure is released the particulates help prevent the fracture from fully closing, and thus, aid in forming conductive channels through which produced fluids may flow into the well bore. Without the particulate material, the fractures tend to close, thus potentially negating any permeability gained by the fracturing operation. Suitable particulate materials must have sufficient compressive strength to resist crushing, but also should be sufficiently non-abrasive and non-angular to preclude cutting and imbedding into the formation.
Conventional fracturing operations are not universally acceptable treatments for all subterranean formations. One factor that may limit the universal application of a conventional fracturing operation is that they tend to leave behind a residue on the surfaces within the formation and the created fractures. This residue may act as a barrier to desirable fluids that could otherwise travel to the well bore and be produced. One source of such residue is the gelling agent used in the fracturing fluid to create the viscosity necessary to suspend particulates in the fracturing fluid.
One method that has been employed to reduce the load of gelling agent in a fracturing fluid without affecting its ability to suspend proppant particulates has been to foam the fracturing fluid. For example, a gaseous internal phase may be mixed into a liquid fracturing fluid so that the liquid becomes an external phase to the gaseous internal phase. However, as the percentage of gas in the foam increases beyond a specific high quality limit, the ability of the foamed fracturing fluid to carry particulates is thought to decrease. Moreover, it may be difficult to maintain a competent foam with known foaming agents as the percentage of gas in the foam increases. While traditional foamed fracturing operations have a quality of between 50% and 75%, foams having qualities of 70% to 90% have been used in water sensitive formations. Moreover, it has long been believed that in order to successfully carry proppant particulates, a foamed fluid must have a fine, uniform texture rather than a coarse texture.
Another factor that may limit the universal application of a traditional fracturing fluid operation is that some formations are sensitive to the introduction of liquids commonly present in fracturing fluids (be it an aqueous liquid or an oil-based liquid). Thus, alternative operations have been developed wherein a fracturing fluid used is made up entirely of a gas, such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide. Even pure nitrogen treatments have been performed. Such operations eliminate the undesirable liquids, and may be particularly suited for use in shale and coal seam formations. Unfortunately, such 100% gas treatments are not suitable for delivering proppant particulates as part of the treatment.
While these alternative fracturing operations may show a benefit in increased production from a treated well bore, the benefits usually diminish as the fractured formation recovers and the fractures close. Generally, the benefit from such a job can be expected to last no more than 9 months. In order to get a more lasting benefit, it is necessary to have at least a portion of the fracturing fluid comprise a liquid so that the fluid may carry proppant particulates to the fractures. Thus, there is a tension between receiving more lasting benefit by including proppant and reducing the liquid load in the fracturing fluid when conducting fracturing operations in formations that are sensitive to the liquid components in a fracturing fluid.

Coarse-foamed fracturing fluids and associated methods


A vehicle battery charging apparatus includes a charging connector including a charging current output terminal for outputting a charging current to a vehicle having an electric motor as a drive source and a proximity detection terminal for detecting a proximity of the charging connector to a inlet on the vehicle, a voltage output portion that outputs a voltage from the proximity detection terminal via a first resistor, a detection means that can detect a variation in current flowing through the first resistor caused by fitting the charging connector to the vehicle inlet, and a control section that detects the proximity of the charging connector and the vehicle inlet based on the variation in current flowing through the first resistor detected by the detection means, and enables the charging current output terminal to output a charging current when the proximity is detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a vehicle battery charging apparatus for charging a vehicle having an electric motor as a drive source, such as so-called Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHV).
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, vehicles using an electric motor as a drive source for driving a vehicle are becoming widespread as environmental issues are taken into account. A charging stand for charging such vehicles as in, e.g., JP-A-2010-283902 is known.
The charging stand disclosed in JP-A-2010-283902 is configured such that voltage application is started based on a result of communication with a vehicle when a charging connector is connected to a vehicle having a function of communicating therewith and voltage application is started by operating a charging start switch when the charging connector is connected to a vehicle not having a communication function. Note that, a standard for the charging connector and the specification of communication between the charging stand and the vehicle, etc., are defined in the international standard SAE J1772.

Vehicle battery charging apparatus comprising detecting connecting state of charging connector to vehicle inlet


A portable cosmetic container basically comprised of a container, cover, and hinge pin, all fabricated from synthetic resin to allow the container to be recycled as a completely plastic item while providing a stable free-stop function. The hinge structure includes a hinge pin inserted within a continuous bore formed in a hinge block integrally formed on the cover part, and a hinge body integrally formed on the container part. Applying friction to said hinge pin maintains the cover at any angular open position through friction between the hinge pin and hinge block hole by a slight interference fit between the hinge pin and hole. Splines are gouged in the hinge block hole to prevent rotation of said hinge pin. The spline fixedly secures the hinge pin within the hinge body through interference fit joint.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a synthetic resin-made cosmetic container of the type in which a cover part is joined to a container part by means of a hinge mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
A portable cosmetic container, commonly called a "compact," is generally employed by people as means of conveniently carrying cosmetic substances. An existing type of a widely used compact is generally comprised of a structure in which the rear extremity of the cover part is rotatably joined to the rear extremity of the container part by means of a hinge, thus allowing the cover part to movably rotate as means of exposing or sealing the cosmetic substance held in the container part. This type of cosmetic container further employs a clasp mechanism installed at the front extremities of the aforesaid cover and container parts, said clasp mechanism serving as means of securing the cover to the container.
In many cases both the container and cover part of the compact are fabricated from synthetic resin for various reasons which include the desire to simplify the manufacturing process, reduce the weight of the compact, and provide convenient means of altering the appearance of the compact to attain various decorative effects.
In cases where the aforesaid container and cover parts are fabricated from synthetic resin, the hinge is normally fabricated from a metallic material. As recycling is becoming an increasingly desirable and prevalent method of conserving natural resources through reprocessing discarded items, the presence of metallic hinge pins in an otherwise all synthetic resin cosmetic container makes it difficult, time consuming, and inconvenient to recycle the compact as a synthetic resin product. Specifically, the metal hinge pins, which are often pressed into the container and cover parts through interference fit, must be removed before the compact can be recycled. Considering the difficulty of recycling a compact made from both synthetic resin and metal components, it would be advantageous to fabricate all of the compact's components, including the hinge pins, from a synthetic resin as means of making the compact completely recyclable.


A mobile FM-multiplex-broadcast receiving device for receiving digital information (e.g., traffic information and general information) transmitted by FM-multiplex-broadcasts, which is capable of quickly obtaining a sufficient amount of necessary information by reliably selecting an optimally receivable FM-broadcasting station. This is realized by providing the receiving device with device for determining a correct reception ratio of digital information by calculating an amount of correctly received data to a total amount for each of FM-broadcasting stations and a driver for allowing a driver to select one of stations receivable with correct reception ratios greater than a certain preset value.

Recently, there has been developed such a mobile digital information system wherein a receiving device mounted in a vehicle receives traffic information (supplied by VICS--Vehicle Information and Communication System) or general information (e.g., news) transmitted as FM-multiplex broadcast from FM broadcasting stations and presents the received information on a screen of a navigator mounted in the vehicle.
There have been used conventional FM-multiplex broadcast receiving devices which search broadcasting stations whose radio-waves have field strengths higher than a certain preset level and automatically selects a suitable one.
The above-mentioned FM-multiplex-broadcast receivers, however, encounter such a problem that traffic information or general information supplied by the VICS utilizing a FM-multiplex broadcast is digitally coded information and, therefore, a received group of data (a packet) may become unusable if it contains an error that can not be corrected. This reduces a correct reception ratio of the broadcast.
Since a FM-multiplex broadcast sends traffic information and general information by using sub-carriers (space) available in the FM broadcast, the reception of the traffic and other general information transmitted by the sub-carrier may sometimes be affected by noise having neighboring frequencies while the main FM broadcast can be received with a sufficient electric field strength.
Consequently, there still remains a problem that traffic and general information supplied by VICS can not sufficiently be received by automatically searching and selecting any one of stations whose broadcasts have an electric field strength higher than a specified level at the receiving place.

Mobile FM-multiplex-broadcast receiving device


A Hall device of the present invention includes a cross-shaped magnetometric sensing surface, a pair of power terminal portions and a pair of output terminal portions. The surface is formed of a rectangular and mutually opposed extensions provided on each side of the rectangular. The pair of power terminal portions is provided on a pair of the opposed extensions at the surface. The pair of output terminal portions is provided on another pair of the opposed extensions at the surface. Slits extending in each opposed direction completely split the power portions and the output portions and in partway split each extension at the surface, and each of the slits is provided with a separation layer of an insulator. An outline formed of the surface, the power portions and the output portions is quadrature-symmetrical with the center. The Hall device of this structure is highly sensitive to a magnetic field.

A Hall device has a broad scope of application and has been used, for example, in a non-contact type rotation detecting sensor for a brushless motor employed with a VTR, CD-ROM drive or the like, and in a current flow measuring apparatus.
A currently proposed Hall device for detecting magnetic field which is particularly employed in a magnetic sensor has a variety of shapes. Those include a rectangular shape and a clover shape, and a rectangular or a Van der Pauw type Hall device is typically used when measuring the polarity, density and mobility of carriers within a conductive sample.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a structure of a Hall device which is often used for physics experiments. For enhancing the magnetic field detecting sensitivity, the Hall device is provided with a rectangular magnetometric sensing surface 110 having a distance L between a pair of power terminals and a distance W between a pair of Hall voltage output terminals. The opposed short sides are provided with a power terminal C1111 and a power terminal C2112, respectively. The opposed long sides are provided with a Hall voltage output terminal S1113 and a Hall voltage output terminal S2114, respectively.
For the Hall device for detecting a magnetic field, offset compensation is particularly essential. Thus, such a device known as a symmetry-type Hall device has been mainly employed, which attains offset compensation by alternately exchanging the positions of the power terminals and the Hall voltage output terminals (SCM: Spinning Current Method).
The "symmetry-type Hall device" herein refers to a Hall device which includes a rectangular or substantially cross-shaped magnetometric sensing surface and power terminals and Hall voltage output terminals. One of an opposed pair of the corners or sides of the magnetometric sensing surface is provided with a pair of the power terminals and the other of the pair is provided with another pair of the power terminals. One of the other opposed pair of the corners or sides of the magnetometric sensing surface is provided with a pair of the Hall voltage output terminals and the other of the other pair is provided with another pair of the Hall voltage output terminals. Additionally, the geometrical shape of the Hall device is not altered when the positions of the power terminals and the Hall voltage output terminals are exchanged. In other words, the outline of the symmetry-type Hall device is quadrature-symmetrical with its center.
FIG. 2 illustrates the structure of the symmetry-type Hall device. A rectangular magnetometric sensing surface 120 is equipped with power terminals C1121, C2122 and Hall voltage output terminals S1123, S2124 on its four corners. The power terminals and Hall voltage output terminals are opposed.
This symmetry-type Hall device is one of the most widely used Hall devices for detecting magnetic field due to an extremely simple configuration and an easiness of manufacturing.
Additionally, a cross-shaped Hall device is one of the known symmetry-type Hall devices.
FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a structure of a cross-shaped Hall device created by Popovic et al. Four extensions at a cross-shaped magnetometric sensing surface 130 are provided with power terminals C1131 and C2132, and with Hall voltage output terminals S1133 and S2134, respectively mutually opposed.
When the Hall device is formed on a Si substrate, the terminals and the magnetometric sensing surface of the Hall device are freely structured since fine process on the substrate is easily performed. For example, there are disclosed a vertical type Hall device for detecting magnetic field in a parallel direction to a substrate surface in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 63-055227 (1988), a lateral type Hall device for detecting magnetic field in a perpendicular direction to a substrate in Japanese Patent Application Laying-open No. 7-249805 (1995), a device which accomplishes offset compensation not by the SCM but by dividing output terminals to connect to an offset compensation circuit in Japanese Patent Application Laying-open No. 11-183579 (1999), and a device provided with a configuration and a circuit for reducing variations in offset and sensitivity in Japanese Patent Application Laying-open No. 7-193297 (1995).
The above symmetry-type Hall devices offer an advantage in that they are capable of attaining offset compensation by the SCM. However, such Hall devices have a drawback of providing low sensitivity to detecting magnetic field compared with a rectangular Hall device.
The Hall voltage produced between two Hall voltage output terminals of a constant-current-drive Hall device depends on its configuration, and is calculated according to the following equation:VH=G·rH·I·BZ/ned  (1)where I, BZ, n, and e represent a current flowing between the power terminals, an applied magnetic flux density, a carrier density, and an unit charge, respectively, and d, G, and rH represent a thickness of layer in which current flows, an geometrical factor, and a Hall scattering factor, respectively.
FIG. 4, which is transferred from R. S. Popovic, "Hall Effect Device", shows the relationship between the ratio of the distance L between the power terminals to the distance W between the Hall voltage output terminals (L/W ratio) and the geometrical factor G of the rectangular Hall device. The longer the distance L between the power terminals is than the distance W between the Hall voltage output terminals, the larger the geometrical factor G becomes. The geometrical factor G is approximately 1 when L>3W. However, the geometrical factor G is only about 0.6 when L=W, which shows a rectangular shape corresponding to the configuration of the symmetry-type Hall device, depending on the applied magnetic flux density. This means that the symmetry-type rectangular Hall device loses approximately 40% of magnetic field detecting sensitivity due to its shape.

Cross-shaped Hall device having extensions with slits


The method for producing a superheavy oil emulsion fuel includes the steps of (a) adding to a superheavy oil 0.1 to 0.6 parts by weight of a nonionic surfactant having an HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) of 13 to 19, based on 100 parts by weight of the superheavy oil, and water, to prepare a homogeneous liquid mixture; and (b) mechanically mixing the homogeneous liquid mixture with a high shearing stress, to produce a superheavy oil emulsion fuel having a particle size distribution. In this method, a 10% cumulative particle size is from 1.5 to 8 .mu.m, a 50% cumulative particle size is from 11 to 30 .mu.m, and a 90% cumulative particle size is from 25 to 150 .mu.m, and coarse particles having particle sizes of 150 .mu.m or more occupy 3% by weight or less in the entire emulsion fuel, and the concentration of the superheavy oil is from 76.5 to 82.0% by weight.

It is well known that the superheavy oil emulsion fuels give stable emulsion fuels when used together with additives, such as emulsifiers, stabilizers, and fluidizing agents, and various excellent emulsifiers to be used in emulsion fuel compositions have been developed (See Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-185394, U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,676, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-313595). However, even when these additives including emulsifiers, stabilizers, and fluidizing agents are used, the concentration of the superheavy oil in the superheavy oil emulsion fuel is at most 77% by weight. A superheavy oil emulsion fuel which is stable and has good fluidity is easy to handle. As the concentration of the superheavy oil increases, the thermal energy loss by water decreases, thereby making the resulting emulsion fuel more valuable. Also, a high superheavy oil concentration is beneficial because it can be diluted upon use where necessary.

Method for producing superheavy oil emulsion fuel


A pan head system for selectively attaching a video camera to a stand that enables the video camera to be operated and panned from a remote location. The pan head system includes a camera mount for engaging a video camera. The pan head system also has a stand mount for engaging a support stand. A motorized orientation mechanism is disposed between the camera mount and the stand mount for selectively varying an orientation of the camera mount relative the stand mount. A user interface is provided for controlling the motorized orientation mechanism. The user interface is remote from the motorized orientation mechanism and communicates with the motorized orientation mechanism via a communications link.

1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to pan heads that are used to change the direction in which a camera is pointing while the camera is in operation. More particularly, the present invention relates to automated camera panning systems that are operated by remote control.
2. Description of Related Art
Video cameras are devices that are used to produce video images. The video images generated by the video camera can either be viewed live or recorded for later viewing. There are two primary uses for video cameras. One use is surveillance. The other use is for personal recording of events.
When a video camera is used for surveillance. The video camera is typically mounted at place of interest in order to view activity at that place of interest. For instance, surveillance cameras are used by stores, banks and casinos so that a video record will exist if ever there is a theft or an attempted theft. When a video camera is used for surveillance, the video camera itself is seldom used to directly record the viewed image. Rather, video cameras are connected with cables to remote recording devices that record images generated by the cameras. Since the surveillance cameras do not directly record, they can be made very small and inconspicuous.
Surveillance video cameras are sometimes mounted to motorized pan heads. The pan heads are often controlled by the security personnel who are observing the images being generated by the surveillance video cameras. In this manner, a security officer can cause a particular video camera to zoom in on a particular person or event and the surveillance video camera can be caused to follow that person or event across a predetermined range of view.
When a video camera is used for recording personal events, the operation of the video camera is very different. A video camera that is configured to record personal events is typically a mobile handheld camera. Furthermore, the image viewed by the camera is recorded directly by the camera on a tape or magnetic disk that is located within the camera. As such, video recording cameras are generally larger and bulkier than surveillance cameras. Personal video recording cameras also contain some form of viewing screen that enables a person holding the camera to visualize what the video camera is recording. Thus, personal video recording cameras are designed to be manually maneuvered in order to have the video camera follow a person or event across a range of view.
Although personal video recording cameras are designed to be manually operated and oriented, many personal video recording cameras do come with infrared remote controls. However, these controls only enable a person to remotely start, stop and zoom the video camera. The remote controls provide no ability to pan the camera across a range of view.
There are many situations where it would be convenient for a person to be able to pan a personal video camera from a remote position. For example, if a parent is sitting in an audience of a school event, it would be rude to stand up in order to clearly video record the event. However, if the parent merely left the personal video recording camera running on a tripod near the stage, the event could be clearly recorded without any inconvenience to others. However, if a person does leave the video camera, that person abandons the ability to manually pan the camera and properly center the event being recorded.
A need therefore exists for a system that enables a person to sit remotely from a personal video camera, yet view the image being recoded by that video camera and pan the camera to control the position of the video camera. In this manner, a personal video camera can be left in an unobstructed position and can be used to clearly record an event by a person sitting in an obstructed position. This need is met by the present invention as described and claimed below.

Remote controlled pan head system for video cameras and its method of operation


Active optical filter adapted for a spectacle lens, the active optical filter being configured so as to filter light radiations over at least one predetermined range of wavelengths, wherein the full width at half maximum of the filtering function of the optical filter is smaller than or equal to 100 nm.

During life, individuals have their eyes cumulatively exposed to harmful light (UV, blue light). Solar lenses protect the eyes from the harmful effects of natural light but a prolonged wearing might in particular affect the optimal regulation of circadian rhythms. Besides, sunglasses are not systematically worn outdoors, particularly in the winter, fall and spring and thus no photo-protection is provided during that time.
There is a need to provide an optical filter, other than a sunglass, that filters a maximum of the potentially harmful wavelengths while (i) ensuring a proper regulation of circadian rhythms, (ii) maintaining visual comfort, in particular for color discrimination and scotopic vision, and (iii) providing an acceptable aesthetics, for any user profile and for a permanent wear.
Existing passive filters can partially modulate the spectrum of light received by the eye. All these solutions have drawbacks:
First, the residual color (due to the filter in the visible range) is constant, and can be very pronounced for strong levels of filtering and/or broad rejected spectral ranges. For example, with a high level of blue-violet light filtering, the residual color is yellow and can significantly degrade the aesthetics of the filter lens, making it less comfortable for the wearer.
Secondly, the filter being passive, the spectral filtering functions cannot be activated at the most appropriate times. For a convenient photo-synchronization of circadian rhythms, filtering is required only for limited periods, at specific hours, and depends on the user's profile (shift workers, teenagers . . . ).
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical filter that does not present the above identified drawbacks.
In particular there is a need for active and selective band stop filters in any range of optical wavelengths (UV, visible, IR . . . ).

Active optical filter for spectacle lenses


Methods and apparatus for determining an endocardial implantation site for implanting an electrode, such as a leadless stimulation electrode. An embodiment of one method in accordance with the invention includes delivering sufficient electrical energy for initiation of cardiac activation to a plurality of different test locations at the heart of a patient, and determining hemodynamic responses in reaction to that the stimulus delivered to the different test locations. This method further includes identifying an implantation site for implanting the electrode by selecting at least one of the test locations corresponding to a favorable hemodynamic response.

Pacemakers and implantable cardioverters/defibrillators are widely used to treat a number of different cardiac conditions. For example, localized pacing has been used to terminate and/or control bradycardia, bradyarrhythmia, tachycardia, tachyarrhythmia, and other conditions. Over the years, many sophisticated algorithms and complex electromechanical devices have been developed and implemented in pacemaker technology for detecting the onset of abnormal rhythms and treating these conditions.
To better understand the effect of pacing devices, it is useful to understand the electrical-mechanical operation of the heart. The normal electrical activation system of the heart initiates left and right heart conduction using a complex structure/network of cardiac cells that rapidly conduct cellular-level electrical activation through cardiac tissue. For example, in the left and right ventricles of the heart, the Purkinje system, a specialized network of cells, conducts electrical activation endocardially and spreads the activation through the myocardial layers to the epicardium. Via connection to the atrial-ventricular node (A-V node), which is a specialized network of cells between the atria and the ventricles, normal ventricular electrical activation originates in the superior, septal aspect of the left ventricle, and then propagates through the septal wall, left ventricular free wall, and right ventricular free wall. This electrical activation induces the mechanical contractions of the ventricles that eject blood from the heart and into the vascular system. The strength and pattern of the mechanical contractility of the heart significantly affects the hemodynamic function. For example, when the normal electrical conduction pattern is blocked by ischemic regions in the ventricles, the mechanical contraction patterns of the heart are modified. Therefore, changes in the electrical conduction pattern have a direct impact on the hemodynamic function of the heart.
In the presence of cardiac disease, the dynamic and complex changes in regional electrical conduction and in mechanical function can lead to inefficiencies and cardiac hemodynamic output that eventually cause cardiomyopathy, mitral valve regurgitation, and other global physical and functional changes. Such mechanical dysfunction leads to further electrical conduction abnormalities, and thus further mechanical dysfunction. This progressively deleterious cycle of events leads to further inefficiencies and ever-worsening cardiovascular status (e.g., progressive heart failure).
Typical pacing devices artificially initiate electrical conduction in the heart by delivering small amounts of electrical current (e.g., a stimulation pulse) between two electrical contacts (electrodes) located on a lead placed in or on the heart. At least one electrode typically touches cardiac tissue. The site of the electrical contact then becomes the earliest site of activation and a conduction pattern propagates from this site throughout the cardiac tissue. It is desirable for pacing devices to deliver the stimulation pulse to a selected site along the normal electrical conduction paths in order to more appropriately synchronize the activation pattern of the heart. In many applications, for example, it would be desirable to stimulate from an endocardial location in the left ventricle to more closely approximate the normal electrical activation that initiates in the superior, septal aspect of the left ventricle. However, as explained below, many lead-based systems cause an abnormal conduction pattern to propagate through the cardiac tissue because lead-based electrodes are limited to being placed at an abnormal site of origin.
One drawback of lead-based pacing systems is that they are not well suited for endocardial pacing in the left ventricle. For the emerging treatment of heart failure, through what is commonly known as resynchronization therapy, bi-ventricular pacing is utilized. Bi-ventricular pacing requires that an additional lead be placed in contact with the left ventricle. To access the left ventricle, a third lead is typically advanced through the right atrium and the orifice of the coronary sinus, and then the third lead is maneuvered through the coronary veins to a position in the vein that is on the epicardial aspect of the lateral wall of the left ventricle. Less commonly, the third lead is placed directly on the epicardium and then subcutaneously tunneled to the implant location of the pacing device. The left ventricle is accordingly stimulated epicardially from this position. Unlike normal endocardial electrical activation in which the activation initiates in the endocardium and then propagates through the myocardial layers to the epicardium, such epicardial stimulation of lead-based electrodes progresses in the opposite transmural direction. This approach may reduce the efficacy of lead-based left ventricular pacing. Moreover, because the size and course of the coronary sinus varies from patient to patient, it is often difficult to manipulate the lead within the coronary sinus. The available stimulation sites within the coronary sinus are accordingly limited by the individual anatomic features of each patient. Also, because the lead is located on the epicardial side of the left ventricle, the electrical current/energy required to stimulate the left ventricle is generally significantly higher for this treatment compared to standard endocardial locations within the right ventricle. This occurs, in part, because the electrical contacts of the lead may not be in intimate contact with the myocardium (i.e., they may be more preferentially in contact with the vein or situated centrally within the vessel). Thus, higher electrical currents in the stimulation pulse may be required to initiate activation. These higher electrical currents may stimulate other unintended, nearby structures such as the phrenic nerve.
Although implanting pacemaker leads directly within the left ventricle has been proposed, it is not yet practiced because prior art medical devices that reside on the arterial side (left side) of the cardiovascular system increase the risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, and vascular occlusions. For example, left ventricular lead placement is not practical because thrombus formation on the lead body and subsequent systemic embolization would require patients to have long-term anticoagulation drugs. Moreover, it may be necessary to extract the lead from the left ventricle, but this procedure may have considerable risks. Placing the lead retrograde through the aortic valve may cause aortic regurgitation and the proximate end of the lead may cause arterial bleeding because this end of the lead would need to exit through an artery. Alternatively, placing the lead through a transeptal atrial puncture and then across the mitral valve into the left ventricle, may possibly worsen mitral valve regurgitation. Therefore, implanting lead-based electrodes into the left ventricle of the patient is not practical using conventional systems.
Another aspect of implanting pacing systems is to determine the stimulation site to effectuate optimal synchronization timing between pacing sites and the resultant hemodynamic performance. Clinical studies of pacing modalities to treat heart failure have shown that acute hemodynamic measurements are correlated with patient benefit. For example, a separate catheter placed acutely within the left ventricle has been used to evaluate hemodynamic responses for bi-ventricular pacing. Specifically, a pressure-volume catheter system has been used to obtain simultaneous measurement of (a) aortic and left ventricular pressures, (b) an index of contractility (dP/dTmax), and/or (c) left ventricular chamber volumes. Based on these clinical studies, it appears that it would be desirable to optimize the number and location of the stimulation sites to provide the optimal patient benefit.
One drawback of using hemodynamic measurements within the left ventricle for pacing applications is that it is impractical to implant lead-based electrodes in the left ventricle for the reasons explained above. Therefore, even though hemodynamic responses have been evaluated for bi-ventricular pacing using epicaridal lead placements, this concept has not been used for endocardial pacing in the left ventricle because conventional pacing devices are not well suited for left ventricular pacing even if such left ventricular sites are the optimal stimulation sites.

Methods and apparatus for determining cardiac stimulation sites using hemodynamic data


There is provided a PDP that can both prevent cross-talk between discharge cells and improve contrast, comprising a first substrate and a second substrate bonded to face each other; a plurality of discharge cells formed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a plurality of X electrodes formed between the first substrate and the second substrate and crossing the discharge cells; and a plurality of Y electrodes formed between the first substrate and the second substrate and crossing the discharge cells, wherein the discharge cells in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the X electrodes and the Y electrodes extend share the X electrodes with the adjacent discharge cells.

1. Field of the Invention
The present embodiments relate to a plasma display panel (PDP), and more particularly, to a plasma display panel that can both improve contrast and prevent cross-talk between discharge cells.
2. Description of the Related Art
Plasma Display Panels (PDPs), which display images using a gas discharge, are known for their excellent display capabilities such as brightness, contrast, residual image, viewing angle, etc., and have drawn attention as display devices that can replace cathode ray tubes. PDPs emit light by exciting phosphor using an emission of ultraviolet rays occurring with a discharge between electrodes which is generated by a direct current voltage (DC voltage) or an alternating current voltage (AC Voltage) applied to the electrodes.
A PDP includes a first substrate and a second substrate which face each other to form a discharge space, a plurality of pairs of discharge sustain electrodes that are disposed on the first substrate, a plurality of address electrodes that are disposed on the second substrate, and barrier ribs that define the discharge space into a plurality of discharge cells.
The discharge sustain electrodes are disposed in pairs of an X electrode and a Y electrode, so that X electrodes and Y electrodes are disposed in an X-Y-X-Y . . . order. Therefore, an X electrode and a Y electrode are adjacent between adjacent discharge cells, thus generating cross-talk.
Referring to FIG. 1 for a more detailed description, the X electrodes and the Y electrodes are sequentially disposed in a Y1, X1, Y2, X2. . . order in the vertical direction of the paper, each X and Y electrode extending in the horizontal direction of the paper, and the address electrodes are disposed to intersect the X and Y electrodes at right angles in an A1, A2, . . . order. A first discharge cell (C1) is formed where A1 crosses X1 and Y1, and a second discharge cell (C2) is formed where A1 crosses X2 and Y2.
Here, the X1 electrode and the Y2 electrode are adjacent, thereby allowing cross-talk.
In PDPs, black stripes are formed of a black insulator between each pair of discharge sustain electrodes, that is, between each pair of X and Y electrodes, to improve contrast. A typical example of the black stripes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,500.
However, this remains problematic in that a separate space is needed for disposing black stripes to improve contrast, which diminishes the discharge cell area and increases the number of the manufacturing steps.
Thus, the present embodiments, contrived to solve problems including those mentioned above, are intended to provide a plasma display panel that can improve contrast and prevent cross-talk between discharge cells.


Even when a gate valve for a vacuum apparatus used in a vapor deposition apparatus is in an open position, reliability of keeping a vapor deposition chamber vacuum can be improved by protecting an inner wall surface of a valve casing and a sealing member of a valve body against a vapor of a vapor deposition material. A gate valve (1) for a vacuum apparatus (50) is used as a gate valve for an electron gun (52). When the valve is in a closed position, as with the related art technique, a valve body (3) detaches an electron gun (52) part from a vapor deposition chamber (51). On the other hand, when the valve is in an open position, a valve chamber (15) is separated from the vapor deposition chamber (51) by inserting a cylindrical movable shield (22) into the valve chamber (15) to prevent the inner wall surface of a valve casing (2) and a sealing member (5,6,7) of the valve body (3) from being exposed to vapor in the vapor deposition chamber (51), with the result that they are protected against the deposition of a deposition material (MgO) (81).

In a vacuum apparatus used in manufacturing a semiconductor, a thin film, a liquid crystal, or the like, a gate valve for opening/closing each vacuum chamber is employed.
In related art, various kinds of gate valves for vacuum apparatuses are known. For example, an inflation-sealing member is used when closing a valve, so that a sealing performance is enhanced (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). In addition, a pendulum gate valve or the like is also known.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show an example of a pendulum gate valve. In a pendulum gate valve 200 in related art, an opening 204b is formed on a sidewall 202b of a valve casing 202, as viewed from a front thereof (FIG. 6). The valve 200 further includes a valve chamber 215 formed between a sidewall 202a and the sidewall 202b facing each other, a pendulum valve body 203 provided in the valve chamber 215, and a sealing ring 205, as viewed inside the valve casing 202 from a side thereof. On the sidewalls 202a and 202b facing each other, an opening 204a and the opening 204b are formed. To the sealing ring 205, ring-shaped sealing members 206 and 207 are attached (FIG. 5).
When closing the valve 200 in an open state, an air actuator 209 provided on a side of the valve casing 202 is driven by using an air pressure, and an actuator shaft 208 is rotated to move the pendulum valve body 203 up to in front of the opening 204a, i.e., a valve closing, position. Then, an air cylinder 211 is driven by using the air pressure to move a shaft 210, and the sealing ring 205 is pressed against the valve body 203. Thus, in the valve casing 202, the sealing member 207 seals a gap between an inner wall surface around the opening 204b and the sealing ring 205, and the sealing member 206 seals a gap between a surface of the valve body 203 and the sealing ring 205. As a result, a gap between the opening 204a and the opening 205b is blocked.
In a vacuum chamber of a vacuum vapor deposition apparatus, a vapor deposition material such as a metal, a metal oxide, or a metal compound is evaporated by heating (see FIG. 7). In this case, a vapor of the vapor deposition material generated from a vaporization source gets into an electron gun 252, which causes a problem in that it is difficult to continuously and stably generate a beam for a long time period. To solve this problem, various measures have been tried but failed.
For example, exhaust means for exhausting a gas in the vicinity of an exit hole of an electron beam has been provided like the vacuum vapor deposition apparatus shown in FIG. 7. Alternatively, a trap (not shown) for trapping the vapor of the vapor deposition material has been provided in front of the exit hole of the electron beam (see, Patent Document 3).
However, in the case of MgO, MgO gets into the electron gun in a significant amount, so that a sufficient effect cannot be obtained. Even if the vapor of the vapor deposition material can be prevented from getting into the electron gun, periodical maintenance such as an exchange of a filament is required.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-145980 (page 3, FIG. 1)
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-360754 (page 4, FIG. 1)
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-58832 (page 4, FIG. 1)


An automated unified pricing method and system that allow companies to precisely calculate the price of a combination of products and/or services when those products or services are offered together in a bundle for a unified price are described. This methodology applies to the situation where there is some observable or predicted market value to the bundle elements sold individually, or to bundles which are a subset of a larger bundle being contemplated. The method and system determine linked usage correlation values to determine a core product of a pool of candidate products. The selection of the core product is maximized or optimized by eliminating substitutes from the pool and recalculating the linked usage correlation values. The unified price is calculated by multiplying the price (retail price) of each individual candidate product by the correlation coefficient related to the joint relationship of the core product and the respective candidate product to create adjusted prices for the candidate products. The adjusted prices are added together to determine the bundle value or unified price for the combined multiple product offer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to product and/or service pricing, and particularly to an automated unified pricing method and system for calculating via a computer or other computing device, a unified price for a bundle of goods, services or a combination of goods and services using linked usage correlation values calculations for products of the bundle or combined multiple product offer (CMPO).
2. General Background
Today, all bundle prices are estimated through judgment or by market trial and error. One approach to estimate bundle prices is the use of cross-sell data to determine bundle components. However, the percentage of customers who have purchased e.g. two different products is not a good indication of bundle suitability. Cross-sell is, in most cases, a historical artifact of company sales efforts. I have determined that the cross-sell approach does not provide bundle pricing based on a correlation estimates indicative of purchase dynamics.
As can be readily seen, there is a continuing need for a mathematical formula that allows a computer or other computing device to calculate the value, and therefore provide a baseline for human adjustment, or for direct unified pricing of the bundle or CMPO.
Another continuing need is for a method to calculate a unified price which uses the pattern of joint purchases to develop a linked usage correlation value of those purchases wherein the correlation values among candidate products of the bundle are used to establish a unified price.
As will be seen more fully below, the present invention is substantially different in structure, methodology and approach from that of other pricing methods.

Automated unified pricing method and system for improved pricing of a bundle of goods or services


A fluid evacuating dental dam is disclosed, the fluid evacuating dental dam including a manifold having at least one aperture formed therein, a dental dam selectively attached to the manifold, a suction device in fluid communication with the manifold, and selectively removable cover members disposed over the aperture of the manifold.

Dental dams are well known in dentistry for maintaining a dry field for dental work in progress, and to prevent dental debris from entering the mouth and throat of a patient. Conventional rubber dam structures utilize a U-shaped extraoral metal frame to which a piece of rubber sheeting is attached. The rubber sheeting is the dental dam. Prior to being disposed in a mouth, the rubber sheeting is perforated for projection of the tooth (or teeth) therethrough, thereby isolating the tooth/teeth. Clamps are then used to hold the dam around the isolated teeth. Finally, the dentist stretches the periphery of the rubber dam over the extraoral frame, outside the mouth, to keep the dental dam held taut in front of the patient's face. High speed dental drills that use water as a cooling medium for the tooth may cause a considerable water discharge over the face of the dam. The water discharge necessitates the use of a suction tube handled by a dental assistant to maintain a dry field of work and to militate against the water from flowing onto the patient. Some of the water from the drill may flow under the dental dam and into the patient's mouth. Water that flows under the dental dam and saliva that forms thereunder must also be suctioned by the dental assistant to maintain the dry field.
However, existing dental dams have several disadvantages. One disadvantage is that installing such dental dams requires the dentist to take the time-consuming steps described above. When installed, the dental dams are imposing and uncomfortable, and the patients are required to leave their mouths open during the entire dental procedure. Further, the dental dams are flimsy and may collapse. For example, the rubber dental dam my come free from the frame and/or the clamp may come off the tooth. This is especially problematic where patients are young children who are impatient and frightened by the dental dams.
Other dental dams known in the art include a manifold for evacuating fluid from the patient's mouth to maintain a dry field. Such manifolds typically include a plurality of apertures. The apertures are disposed above the dental dam and cannot suction fluids from below the dental dam. The manifold is in communication with a suction device that draws the fluid from the patient's mouth and into the apertures of the manifold. If the suction force provided by the suction device is insufficient, the field may not be sufficiently dried. If the suction force is too great, the dental dam, the patient's cheek, or other materials may occlude the apertures of the manifold. Furthermore, the apertures formed in such manifolds are randomly disposed and may be adjacent teeth that the dentist is not working on.
It would be desirable to develop a fluid evacuating dental dam including a manifold having apertures formed therein, the apertures having cover members for selectively opening the apertures disposed thereon or therein and/or a means for militating against occlusion thereof during use.


A laser diode pumped solid laser comprises a solid laser medium, to which a rare earth metal has been added, a semiconductor laser, which produces a laser beam for pumping the solid laser medium, and a condensing lens, which causes the laser beam to converge in the solid laser medium. The condensing lens is located such that an optical axis of the condensing lens may deviate in the width direction of a semiconductor laser active layer from a center of irradiation area of the semiconductor laser. The amount of light returning to the semiconductor laser is thereby reduced markedly, and good stability in the output power of the laser diode pumped solid laser is obtained. A nonlinear optical material for converting the wavelength of a laser beam, which has been produced by the solid laser medium, into a different wavelength may be located in a solid laser resonator.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a laser diode pumped solid laser. This invention particularly relates to a laser diode pumped solid laser, wherein the amount of light returning to a laser diode (a semiconductor laser) is kept small.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Laser diode pumped solid lasers have been proposed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62(1987)-189783. The proposed laser diode pumped solid lasers comprise a solid laser medium, to which a rare earth metal, such as neodymium (Nd), has been added. The solid laser medium is pumped by a semiconductor laser. In such laser diode pumped solid lasers, a laser beam, which has been produced by a semiconductor laser and which serves as a pumping beam, is ordinarily condensed by a condensing lens such that the laser beam may converge in a solid laser medium.
However, with the laser diode pumped solid laser described above, problems occur in that the oscillation of the semiconductor laser becomes unstable due to light returning from the solid laser medium to the semiconductor laser, and the intensity and the wavelength of a laser beam produced by the semiconductor laser sway. As a result, noise occurs, and the output power of the laser diode pumped solid laser fluctuates. The primary reason for the occurrence of much return light from the solid laser medium is that the beam output end of the semiconductor laser and the surface of the solid laser medium are in confocal relation to each other with respect to the condensing lens, which is located between the semiconductor laser and the solid laser medium.
Therefore, an attempt has heretofore been made in order to reduce the amount of return light by locating the solid laser medium such that the position of the surface of the solid laser medium may not coincide with the position, at which an image of the laser beam is formed by the condensing lens. However, with such an attempt, good stability in the output power of the laser diode pumped solid laser cannot be obtained.


An electronic device includes a housing, and an operation member mounted on an inner surface of the housing. The housing includes a projection inwardly projected from a main surface of the housing and a wall erected on the main surface and having a light guide hole through which light passes. The operation member includes a holding part extending along the main surface from the projection to the wall, an erecting part erected from the holding part along the wall, a transmission part engaged with peripheral edges of the light guide hole while being fitted into the light guide hole and configured to transmit the light, and a receiving part configured to receive a user's operation from an outside of the housing.

An electronic device including an operation member configured to receive an operation by a user from the outside of the housing of the electronic device (hereinafter referred to as a "user's operation") and a transmission part configured to transmit infrared rays for communication, light for displaying an operation state of devices, or the like is required mounting of the operation member and the transmission part on the housing.
For example, PTL 1 discloses a method for mounting an operation member to a housing, in which a pin provided on the housing is inserted into a through hole provided in the operation member and the tip end of the pin projected from the operation member is welded to the housing.
PTL 2 discloses a method for mounting an operation member on a housing, in which one end of the operation member is hooked on an L-shaped projection provided on a main surface of the housing and the other end of the operation member is hooked on claws projected from a wall of the housing.
According to the electronic device in which the operation member is welded to the housing as disclosed in PTL 1, it is necessary to cut the welded portion so as to detach the operation member from the housing. This makes replacement of the operation member alone difficult, and thus replacement of the whole housing is required even in the case where only the operation member is damaged for example. In addition, assembly of such an electronic device requires equipment for welding.
Additional equipment is not required in the case where an electronic device is assembled by the method disclosed in PTL 2 in which an L-shaped projection and claws are provided on a housing, and either end of an operation member is hooked on the projection or the claws to fix the operation member to the housing. In addition, it is possible to detach the operation member from the housing. However, an inclined core or the like is required to provide the housing with the L-shaped projection and the claws by resin molding using a mold. The structure of such a mold becomes more complicated, as the number of the projections and the claws increases. Some molds have a portion where an inclined core cannot be provided, and the projection or the claw cannot be provided to such a portion. PTL 2 also discloses a method of forming an L-shaped projection by providing a hole in the housing. This method enables integrated molding of the L-shaped projection on the housing without using an inclined core. However, the method cannot be employed when a hole in the housing is not desired.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A unit for forming a continuous mat of tobacco with denser portions, wherein the mat of tobacco is formed on a suction conveyor belt looped about a return pulley and extending through two successive shredded tobacco feed stations; and wherein the return pulley, located at one of the two feed stations, has a number of radial suction seats, each for retaining a localized quantity of tobacco on the conveyor belt.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a unit of the type comprising a conveyor belt extending along a given path; feed means located along said path to feed a continuous mat of shredded tobacco onto said conveyor belt; and suction means located on the opposite side of said conveyor belt to said feed means, and cooperating with said feed means to retain said continuous mat of shredded tobacco on said conveyor belt.
In cigarette manufacturing, the continuous mat is fed onto a continuous strip of paper, which is folded transversely about the mat to form a continuous cigarette rod, which is then cut into cigarette portions, which in turn are subsequently cut and rolled to form a succession of normally filter-tipped cigarettes.
When cutting and rolling the cigarette portions, the tobacco particles inside tend to separate and spill from the ends of the cigarette portions. To eliminate this drawback, the continuous cigarette rod is so formed that, when cut into cigarette portions, the density of the tobacco at the ends of the cigarette portions is greater than that of the tobacco in the intermediate portions of the cigarette portions.
This is normally achieved, in units for forming a continuous mat of tobacco of the type described above, using pressure devices located downstream from the feed means to compact given portions of the continuous mat of tobacco, or using shaving disks, also located downstream from the feed means and having peripheral cavities arranged so that the mat of tobacco is shaved less or not at all at given areas spaced along the mat of tobacco with a spacing equal to the length of the cigarette portions to be produced.
Though widely used, the above methods do not always succeed in achieving the desired result, owing to the mat of tobacco simply comprising a totally heterogeneous bed of shredded dry leaves, whose response to external processing differs from one point to another.
To eliminate this drawback, as opposed to variously processing the mat of tobacco, it has been proposed to obtain denser portions along the mat by adding to the mat a succession of localized masses of tobacco. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,795,249 and 4,693,262, for example, denser portions are achieved by depositing on the conveyor belt, upstream from the feed means, extra amounts of tobacco, which are fed beforehand by further feed means to respective suction radial seats on a wheel external to the conveyor belt and positioned with a lateral surface tangent to the conveyor belt. By virtue of said suction means, the extra quantities of tobacco are deposited on the conveyor belt at the point of tangency between the wheel and the conveyor belt.
This solution obviously has major drawbacks, owing to the wheel being located outside the tobacco feed means. That is, transferring the masses of tobacco formed on the wheel to the conveyor belt seriously complicates the structure of the unit, and involves repeated handling of the shredded tobacco, thus reducing the quality of the finished cigarettes.

Unit for forming a continuous mat of tobacco


A processor-implemented method executing on a computer for using customer behavior to implement product design is provided. The method comprises the computer identifying a set of behavioral profiles that captures at least about sixty percent of a customer base, identifying products from a current offering that substantially match behavioral traits associated with each profile, and studying usage patterns of the products by customers, wherein the patterns are those of a plurality of customers using the products. The method also comprises the computer refining the profiles of the customers using the products, identifying underutilized features of the products based on patterns and one of discontinuing and repositioning the underutilized features, and identifying features indicated as desirable based on usage patterns and adding the features to the identified products; wherein the products comprise at least one of hardware, software executing on the hardware, and services associated with the use of the products.

Vendors of electronic products often sell goods with as many features as they can profitably fit into their products. Many products are sold with so many features that models in a product line may overlap and customers have difficulty distinguishing between models and features, complicating purchase decisions. Service providers selling electronic products with subscription service plans may often make excessive services available, further complicating buyers' decisions. Manufacturers, service providers, and retailers may conduct marketing studies and surveys that segregate customers along socio-economic and demographic lines with accompanying tastes and preferences, often with little regard for specific user needs. Customers may then be placed in market segments determined by vendors, sometimes with minimal customer participation in the process. Using marketing strategies that include advertising, product placements, and price incentives, customers may then be directed to products that may be inappropriately targeted to them and are often loaded with features that overlook customers' fundamental needs. Customers may be confused and purchase products and services not well suited to their needs.

Habituation oriented product selection system


A method of receiving data segments of a data file on a user electronic device from a remote data source or sources over a data network. The data file being requested by or being pushed to an intended recipient application program executing on the user electronic device. The method includes receiving incoming data segments from the remote device over the data network and maintaining a memory buffer in memory of the user electronic device comprising one or more memory blocks. A status indicator for each memory block in the memory buffer is maintained that is indicative of the status of the memory block and the incoming data segments are allocated to specific memory blocks for storage in the memory buffer based at least partly on their respective status indicator. The stored data segments from the memory buffer are then provided to the recipient application program on the user electronic device for use or playback for example.

Electronic data files are transmitted over the internet or other data networks to be accessed, stored or streamed for video and/or audio playback by user electronic devices such as computers, tablets, smart phones, smart televisions and the like. The electronic data files are typically requested by application programs or software applications running on the user electronic devices, and the application programs are capable of playing back the video and/or audio data files received over the data network.
The data files are typically transmitted using network protocols including TCP/IP and FTP. Traditionally these data files are segmented into multiple data packets and transmitted from one device, such as a server, to a client or user electronic device where they are reassembled for storage and/or playback. The data files may be downloaded entirely prior to playback, or alternatively streamed for playback.
Typically, the reassembly of the received data packets occurs in memory (e.g. RAM) or cache of a client or user electronic device and is then transferred to an Input/Output (I/O) storage device, component or module of the electronic device for storage. This I/O storage component is then accessed by the application program on the client or user electronic device to access the data, for playback of streaming audio or video for example. I/O storage devices typically include, for example, Hard Disk Drives, Solid State Drives and flash memory. Individual application programs sometimes have areas on an I/O storage device that are treated as a cache by that application program.
In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Method and system for receiving a data file


The invention provides a method of testing a circuit on a substrate. Generally speaking, a substrate is located in a transfer chuck, a surface of a test chuck is moved into contact with a substrate, the substrate is secured to the test chuck, the test chuck is moved relative to the transfer chuck so that the substrate moves off the transfer chuck, terminals on the substrate are moved into contact with contacts to electrically connect the circuit through the terminals and the contacts to an electric tester, signals are relayed through the terminal and the contacts between the electric tester and the circuit, the terminals are disengaged from the contacts, and the substrate is removed from the test chuck.

1). Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for testing circuits on substrates.
2). Discussion of Related Art
Electronic circuits are often manufactured on semiconductor wafers. A saw is then used to cut the wafer into individual dies, each carrying a respective circuit. The dies are then mounted to other substrates which provide both structural support and electric communication to other devices.
It is often required to test such circuits at various stages during manufacture and before they are sold. An apparatus used for testing such a circuit usually includes a plurality of spring contacts which are brought into contact with terminals connected to the circuit. Electronic signals are then relayed through the contacts and terminals between an electric tester and the circuit so as to test functional integrity of the circuit.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.