A plasma processing module for processing a substrate includes a plasma containment chamber having a feed gas inlet port capable of allowing a feed gas to enter the plasma containment chamber of the plasma processing module during the processing of the substrate. An inductively coupled source is used to energize the feed gas and striking a plasma within the plasma containment chamber. The specific configuration of the inductively coupled source causes the plasma to be formed such that the plasma includes a primary dissociation zone within the plasma containment chamber. A secondary chamber is separated from the plasma containment chamber by a plasma containment plate. The secondary chamber includes a chuck and an exhaust port. The chuck is configured to support the substrate during the processing of the substrate and the exhaust port is connected to the secondary chamber such that the exhaust port allows gases to be removed from the secondary chamber during the processing of the substrate. A chamber interconnecting port interconnects the plasma containment chamber and the secondary chamber. The chamber interconnecting port allows gases from the plasma containment chamber to flow into the secondary chamber during the processing of the substrate. The chamber interconnecting port is positioned between the plasma containment chamber and the secondary chamber such that, when the substrate is positioned on the chuck in the secondary chamber, there is no substantial direct line-of-sight exposure of the substrate to the primary dissociation zone of the plasma formed within the plasma containment chamber.

The present invention relates to plasma processing modules for the processing of a semiconductor substrate in the manufacture of integrated circuits. More particularly, the present invention relates to downstream, inductively coupled plasma processing modules and methods of using the modules during the processing of the semiconductor substrates.
Semiconductor substrates are typically processed using plasma processing modules to perform various process steps during the manufacture of the semiconductor devices. Generally, these plasma-enhanced processes are well known to those skilled in the art and include various etching processes and stripping processes.
In recent trends, plasma-enhanced processes have been more frequently used to perform resist stripping. Traditionally, the resist stripping or ashing process has been considered a fairly straight forward process. However, due to the small feature size and increased complexity of devices now common in the semiconductor industry, conventional plasma processing modules tend to cause plasma-induced damage to the semiconductor devices during the processing of the semiconductor substrates. To more thoroughly illustrate the problems associated with the use of conventional plasma processing modules, a prior art inductively coupled plasma processing module 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 1.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, plasma processing module 100 includes a plasma chamber 102 formed by chamber walls 104 and dielectric window 106. Plasma processing module 100 includes a feed gas inlet 108 for allowing feed gasses 109 to flow into chamber 102. An exhaust port 110 is also provided for exhausting gases from chamber 102. An inductive source 112, typically taking the form of a coil positioned on dielectric window 106, is used to energize feed gases 109 within chamber 102 and strike a plasma within the chamber. In this example, inductive source 112 is powered by RF power supply 114.
With the above described configuration, the shape of inductive source 112 causes the plasma within chamber 102 to form a plasma having a primary dissociation zone 116. This primary dissociation zone is the region within the chamber that the plasma most efficiently dissociates feed gases 109 (for example O.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O vapor) into neutral non-charged species (for example O, H, and OH). In the case in which inductive source 112 takes the form of a coil attached to dielectric window 106, primary dissociation zone 116 takes the form of a generally donut shaped region located within chamber 102 directly below the coils of inductive source 112.
Still referring to FIG. 1, plasma processing module 100 also includes a liner 118, such as a quartz liner, for protecting the walls of the plasma chamber from the plasma and reducing the recombination of neutral radicals like O or OH. A chuck 120 is positioned in the bottom of chamber 102 and is configured to support a semiconductor substrate 122. As is known in the art, chuck 120 may be heated to improve the efficiency of the process. Plasma processing module 100 also includes a quartz baffle 124 located above substrate 122. Baffle 124 includes a plurality of openings 126 formed through baffle 124 which cause any gases flowing through chamber 102 to be redistributed so that the gases flow more evenly over substrate 122 than would be the case if baffle 124 were not included in module 100.
Although baffle 124 partially shields substrate 122 from direct exposure to the plasma, portions of substrate 122 remain directly exposed to the plasma. This direct exposure to the substrate to the plasma may cause different types of the plasma-induced damage. For example, in semiconductor substrates having small feature sizes such as 0.25 .mu.m devices, charge damage can occur when electrically charged species from the plasma accumulate non-uniformly on device gates and interconnections. This charge accumulation can lead to large voltage potentials across individual gates or between devices that can cause gate degradation or loss of gate integrity. Device damage has been found to correlate with the charge species dose that the device is exposed to during the process. Therefore, exposing the device directly to charged species produced within the plasma at high concentration (e.g., >10.sup.11 /cm.sup.3) for even a short duration of time (e.g., seconds) or moderate concentration (e.g., 10.sup.9 /cm.sup.3 to 10.sup.10 /cm.sup.3) for a longer duration (e.g., tens of seconds) can cause significant problems for this type of device. In another example, device damage has been attributed to direct UV radiation exposure from the plasma. In the conventional configuration of an inductively coupled plasma processing module, such as module 100 described above, portions of substrate 122 are directly exposed to UV radiation from the plasma.
Another problem associated with conventional inductively coupled plasma processing modules such as module 100 is that they often provide relatively poor dissociation of the feed gases. In some cases, much of the RF energy is input into ionization at the expense of dissociation of the feed gas. This poor dissociation decreases the efficiency of and therefore increases the time necessary for processing, further contributing to the above described problem of charge damage to devices on the substrate. This poor dissociation is at least in part due to the fact that the feed gases 109 are not forced to flow directly through the primary dissociation zones 116. As mentioned above, primary dissociation zones 116 are the regions within chamber 102 in which the plasma most efficiently dissociates the feed gases.
The present invention provides improved designs for inductively coupled plasma processing modules and methods of using the novel modules to process semiconductor substrates. These designs provide an isolated plasma containment chamber within the module. This isolated plasma containment chamber prevents the semiconductor substrate from being directly exposed to line-of-sight UV radiation produced by the plasma and substantially reduces the concentration of charged species that the semiconductor substrate is exposed to compared to prior art inductively coupled plasma processing modules. Also, the plasma processing modules of the present invention provide a module that improves the dissociation of the feed gases compared to prior art inductively coupled plasma processing modules. This is accomplished by specifically controlling the flow of gases through the module.

Inductively coupled plasma downstream strip module


Apparatuses and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention include a rigid or semi-rigid platform having a first-toe side, a fifth-toe side laterally opposite the first-toe side, and a first support structure arranged in a midfoot region of the rigid or semi-rigid platform and laterally extending from the fifth-toe side to a portion of the midfoot region of the rigid or semi-rigid platform. The apparatuses and methods also include a lateral abutment arranged in the forefoot region of the rigid or semi-rigid platform and extending vertically from the rigid or semi-rigid platform near the first-toe side, the lateral abutment configured to laterally support the user's foot at the first toe.

An over-pronation of a foot and ankle may lead to a fallen arch and splayed foot, described as pes planus, or partial dislocation of a talus (a bony structure of an ankle). This may result in a dysfunctional foot, which may cease to use a normal biomechanics. A dysfunctional gait cycle involving a pronated push-off may lead to an additional dysfunction/compensation such as a progressive pain and injury brought on by a potential bunion formation, progressive knock-knees, inwardly rotated hips, as well as a back dysfunction.
Previous attempts to address these problems have supported the foot and/or ankle by changing a weight bearing foot position during gait. This, however, further enhances the dysfunctional gait cycle rather than addressing the dysfunctional biomechanics of the foot.

Method and apparatuses for positioning a user's foot


A variable cam profile selection system is disclosed having cams controlling both the tilt and the rotate motion of the single element typewriter. The tilt cam and rotate cam are mounted so that they may be moved with respect to their support to vary the cam rise. The rise of the cam is controlled by interposers under the influence of the keyboard to select or define the amount of movement of the cam member, thereby defining the cam rise. The single cam member for each movement may be positioned in any one of a plurality of positions and, by so doing, correspondingly effect the movement of the cam follower as the cam is rotated about an axis.

Single element typewriters have historically utilized a rotating shaft to effect cam rotation. The shaft either carried with it a single cam with a plurality of cam grooves, each individually selectable by its own cam follower, such as that found in Shakib, U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,304, or a single cam groove was formed into a rotating shaft with a form of a relievable follower assembly attached driveably to that cam groove as in DeKler, U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,984 and Hughes, U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,397. The rotation of the shaft to provide the movement of a cam in its simplest form will provide only a single defined mechanical output absent a plurality of cam surfaces or a motion modifying device. The DeKler and Hughes patents provide an alternative to multiple cam surfaces but utilized a fixed cam drive. The fixed cam drive must be defined in such a way that the cam rise is fast enough to accommodate the greatest possible amount of selection movement required of the type element and, therefore, must generate higher than required accelerations and forces during many of the printing and selection cycles of the typewriter. It is desirable to overcome the high loading conditions and reduce accelerations and forces generated during the selection cycle. The avoidance of high loading and accelerations on the drive system of the typewriter may be accomplished by multiple cam surfaces as the prior art has implemented, but the requirement of extensive adjustments and the multiplication of parts makes the manufacture of the apparatus more complicated and expensive.
Another example of a multiple cam surface selection apparatus is Schaefer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,666,070 where face cam surfaces are formed conically into a cam cylinder. Cam profiles are expensive to design and to manufacture in materials which will withstand high stresses and, therefore, increase the expense of such a typewriter.
The DeKler patent referred to above discloses a spring biased detent ball acting as a cam follower in a continuing cam groove to translate a follower block into forceable engagement with a controllable and selectable stop member. The detent ball relieves forces of the cam groove against the follower block when the follower block has forceably engaged the increment defining interposers. An alternative and improved approach which reduced forces and stresses involved in driving the selection system is disclosed in the Hughes patent where a follower block riding in a shuttle engages a stop member and then is spring relieved to provide a capability of driving the shuttle through the remainder of its movement while stopping the typehead movement defining linkage attached to the individual follower blocks.
The DeKler and Hughes devices, while both driving the rotate linkage only so far as needed for selection, must accommodate high acceleration and deceleration forces during the early portion of a print cycle regardless of the amount of rotation of the typehead desired and, therefore, is subjected to unnecessarily high forces during many of the selection cycles. The Schaefer patent, although not requiring excessive acceleration and loading of the selection system during the cycles selecting relatively close or low rotate value characters, requires a more complex cam with concomitant design and manufacturing problems.
The variable cam profile selection system disclosed herein utilizes two ring members pivoted on collars mounted on a print shaft capable of rotation in a cyclic manner. The annular ring cam surfaces are thus able to pivot with respect to these collars, thereby presenting to the cam follower engaged therewith, a cam rise of controlled but variable height. By controlling the height with a mechanical device such that the height of the cam rise corresponds to the input increment required to control the rotation of the type element for a desired quantity of element rotation and likewise element tilt, the mechanical displacement of the followers may be translated from the variable cam profiles to varying but controlled rotation and tilt increments of the typehead. The amount of cam rise is controlled by the removal of interposers from a zone of engagement with a stop member and a moveable cam control slide surface. If all interposers are left in the zone of engagement, the cam will exhibit its highest rise while with each additional removal of interposers, the cam rise will diminish. The interposers are extracted prior to the initiation of a selection cycle and remain extracted from the zone of engagement until the completion of the selection cycle and the restoration of the cam member and the cam slide.
In summary, the invention is a unitary cam member capable of movement under control of a selectable apparatus to be positioned, thereby providing a plurality of cam rises from a single cam member.

Variable cam profile selection system for single element typewriter

International Business Machines Corporation


A balancing arrangement for double hung windows is disclosed including a spring arrangement supported by a spring holder installed in a window jamb and a balance shoe installed in a window sash. A leaf spring is supported to engage a detent in the balance shoe installed in the top window sash, whereby displacement of the top sash when closed is prevented to maintain the seal between the bottom and top sashes at the horizontal center of the window when the bottom sash is lowered for closing against the compression force of a weather stripping seal at the horizontal center. The opening of the top sash is unaffected, other than a slightly greater force being required to bypass the leaf spring and detent arrangement.

Double hung windows feature a balancing arrangement to counter the weight of the window sashes, thereby permitting a user to position the sashes at a desired opened height. The balancing arrangement also enables the user to open and close the windows with minimum exertion.
Traditionally the aforenoted counter balancing has been accomplished via a pulley, weight and rope arrangement. In modern double hung windows the pulley, weight and rope arrangement has been replaced by a spring arrangement of one type or another. A "constant force" spring arrangement is commonly used.
An important feature of modern double hung windows is the weather stripping which seals against seepage of hot and cold air. One of the prime locations for a weather stripping seal is the horizontal center of the window, i.e. where the bottom of the top and the top of the bottom window sashes meet.
Most weather stripping seals are of a flexible material and the compression of the material provides the seal. It has been found that compression of the weather stripping material can require a force greater than the balancing force needed for raising and lowering the window sashes. Accordingly, when the bottom sash is raised to a venting position and the user desires to lower the sash to close the window, the force required for compressing the weather stripping at the meeting rail, i.e. the horizontal center of the window, displaces the top sash downward, causing a poor seal and also causing poor alignment of the sash locks.
The invention herein disclosed overcomes this problem by incorporating a leaf spring and detent into the window balancing arrangement associated with at least the top sash, whereby the aforenoted displacement of the sash is prevented and the effectivity of the weather stripping seal is maintained.

Balancing arrangement for double hung windows


Methods of and systems for establishing an augmented communication channel between an interactive voice response (IVR) system and an electronic device associated with a user are disclosed. A first method comprises sending, an audio call request; establishing an audio channel; establishing a data channel between the IVR system and the electronic device; receiving, via the data channel, IVR tree data, the IVR tree data allowing association of a position of the user with respect to the menu navigation structure; sending, via one of the audio channel and the data channel, a user selection relating to the IVR tree data; and receiving, via the other one of the audio channel and the data channel, an updated position of the user with respect to the menu navigation structure based on the user selection. A method to be executed by the IVR system is also disclosed.

Interactive voice response systems (also referred to as "IVR systems") are widely deployed into organizations of various sizes, ranging from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to large organizations such as, for example, hospitals and public administrations. IVR systems enable routing incoming calls from one or more users to relevant services and/or responders based on a selection made by the users, typically further to the users having listened to a menu/list of options. In most instances, the menu of options is provided to a user as an audio message via an audio channel established between the IVR system and an electronic device from which the user initiates the call. Once the user is connected to the IVR system, she/he is prompted, by the IVR system, to select, from the menu of options, which option she/he desires. The user typically provides her/his selection by pressing on a keypad associated with the electronic device. In turn, the electronic device generates a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) code (also referred to as DTMF tone) associated with the entry made by the user on the keypad. The DTMF code is sent to the IVR system which interprets the DTMF code and executes a corresponding action (e.g., routing the call to a given responder).
Even though IVR systems have improved productivity by automating, at least partially, the routing of incoming calls throughout organizations, it still presents certain deficiencies, in particular in terms of user experience. For example, but without being limitative, (1) it may take time for a user to reach an item she/he wishes to select from the menu/list (as the menu/list is typically recited, via an audio channel, one item at a time) thereby resulting in potential additional communication costs; (2) an item the user is looking for may no longer exist; and/or (3) for cases wherein the menu/list is structured as a tree having multiple nodes, navigation throughout the tree may not be intuitive and may result in the user giving up looking for the item she/he wishes to select before reaching it.
Various solutions have been investigated and/or implemented to mitigate some of the drawbacks listed in the above-paragraph. Those solutions include, for example, but without being limitative, (1) click-to-call from a web page either towards a third-party communication device or within a browser using WebRTC technology; (2) visual IVR systems such as IVR solutions from Dialogic Corporation; (3) publicly providing phone numbers that are internal to a given organization; and/or (4) vocal recognition, including vocal recognition based on machine-learning algorithms.
Improvements are however still desirable.
The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches.

System for and method of establishing an augmented communication channel with an interactive voice response system


A method for managing traffic flow through a multipath network and systems and apparatuses configured to employ such a method are provided. The method includes forwarding a packet along a first link of the multipath network and tracking a load of the first link subsequent to forwarding the packet. In addition, the method includes preserving the first link for a subsequent packet having the same flow address as the forwarded packet upon determining a desired load change of the first link is less than a predetermined value.

1. Field of the Subject Matter
The present disclosure generally relates to multipath computer networks and, more specifically, to methods, a system and apparatuses that manage traffic flow through a multiple path network.
2. Background Information
In computer network implementations, data may be transferred in packets between a source device and a destination device via one or more routers. In some cases, routers may include multiple ports such that packets may follow alternative paths to a destination device. Such a configuration is referred to herein as a "multipath network" and may generally refer to a network that has multiple media channels (including wired and wireless channels), multiple routes (such as those generated by a multipath routing protocol), or redundant links between a source and a destination. Traffic partitioning in multipath networks may, in some embodiments, be accomplished by dynamically distributing packets across routers. In one example of dynamic distribution of network traffic, the path loads within the network may govern the assignment of a data packet to a path. More specifically, a data packet may be forwarded along a path with the smallest load. Such a load balancing technique, however, may cause path oscillation (i.e., delivering packets of the same stream on different paths). Packets traveling from the same source to the same destination may generally be referred to herein as members of the same address flow or the same stream. In some cases, path oscillation causes packets of the same stream to be delivered to the destination address out of order. In such a case, the receipt of data at the destination device may be delayed relative to if the stream was delivered sequentially over the same path since the packets have to be reordered prior to being received at the destination address.
Other manners for dynamically partitioning network traffic include recording path assignments in individual routers or within the packet's header and adjusting the assignment as needed for load balancing. Such techniques may reduce path oscillation relative to the method described above in which path loads are used to govern the path assignment of a data packet. The method of storing path assignments or any additional information within a packet's header is sometimes referred to as packet tagging. Such a method may increase the processing time per packet within the routers, causing loads of the routers to increase relative to embodiments in which the path assignment is not recorded within the packet header. In addition, such a method involves multiple routers agreeing on the meaning of the recorded path assignments. Consequently, there is a setup cost associated with this method. The method of recording path assignments at each router, however, may entail the routers to store the status of each flow, which is sometimes referred to as "per-flow state-maintenance." A large amount of memory is needed for each router in such a method and, as a result, the number of flows per router is limited.
In some cases, the technique in which path assignments are determined at individual routers may be altered slightly by grouping flows into buckets according to their hashed addresses, where the number of buckets is smaller than the number of flows, but larger than the number of paths. The router maintains the path assignment for each bucket rather than for each flow, providing a coarser granularity than maintaining path assignments per flow. When path loads are unbalanced, at least one bucket of flows is moved across routes in order to rebalance the paths. A large number of buckets allows for fine-grained load balance but requires more memory and more computation, while a small number of buckets may not be effective in reducing path oscillation, especially if buckets are unevenly loaded. Consequently, such a technique includes some drawbacks with regard to the number of buckets selected to group the flows. In addition, when traffic patterns change, it might be necessary to reset the number of buckets accordingly. This is undesirable since resetting the numbers of buckets increases the burden on network management.
Regardless of the technique used, dynamic partitioning may, in some embodiments, reduce bandwidth on Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connections. TCP is the protocol for the majority of traffic on the Internet and private networks and uses a congestion window to limit how fast the sender can inject packets into the network. In general, a network with larger capacity or less congestion will produce a larger window size, which allows higher sending bandwidth. If packets in the same TCP connection are transmitted over paths of different loss rates, the resulting bandwidth may reflect the highest loss rate rather than take advantage of the bandwidth available in lower-loss paths. Therefore, due to loss rate variation as well as out-of-order delivery, TCP traffic may not be able to consume the bandwidth otherwise made available by multipath networking when dynamic partitioning is employed.
As such, it would be advantageous to develop systems, apparatuses and methods for improving bandwidth utilization for Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connections on multipath networks. In addition, it would be advantageous to develop systems, apparatuses and methods for distributing data packets on multipath networks that allow for fine-grained load balancing. Moreover, it would be beneficial for such system, apparatuses and methods to be configured to preserve a path for packets within the same flow as long as load balancing permits. In cases of unbalanced loads, however, it would be desirable for the system, apparatuses and methods to switch only a minimal amount of traffic between paths. In addition, it may be advantageous to develop system, apparatuses and methods of partitioning flows which do not require per-flow state-maintenance or packet tagging.

Traffic flow management through a multipath network

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A technique for providing per station control of multiple stations in a wireless network across multiple access points. A look-up table that assigns a station connected to the access point and at least one communication parameter to each of a plurality of persistent, uniquely-assigned BSSIDs (Basic Service Set Identifiers) is stored. An access point responds to messages addressed one of the plurality of persistent, uniquely-assigned BSSIDs and ignores messages addressed to other BSSIDs. Persistence of the BSSID allows the controller to maintain individual control over each station after moving to a second access point of the plurality of access points. A frame comprising the plurality of BSSIDs corresponding to each connected station aggregated into the frame is generated. The frame is transmitted to the plurality of stations. Responsive to a station of the plurality of stations being handed-off to a different access point, a uniquely-assigned BSSID corresponding to the station is deleted from the look-up table.

Wireless computing technologies provide untethered access to the Internet and other networks. One of the most critical technologies for wireless networking (or Wi-Fi) is the IEEE 802.11 family of protocols promulgated by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Currently, the protocols are widely adopted in stations such as laptop computers, tablet computers, smart phones, and network appliances.
Stations complying with standards such as IEEE 802.11 have control over how a connection to wireless network is made. Namely, a station selects an access point among a number of access points that have sent out beacons advertising a presence. The beacon includes a BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier) as an identifier of the access point. In turn, the station sends data packets which include the BSSID of the intended access point. Unintended access points receiving a transmission merely ignore the data packets.
One technique to address this issue is to download customized software to a station. But reconfiguration of stations running on a station is not always desirable. For instance, guests connecting to a public hot spot for only one time would be burdened with the process of downloading and installing a client during a short connection. Furthermore, many computer users are weary about malicious applications downloaded from the Internet.
Another technique to address this issue, known as virtual port, assigns a BSSID to each station in order to set uplink parameters. Unfortunately, the overhead of virtual port is prohibitive for scaling because regular beacons are sent out for each BSSID to maintain synchronization with an access point. In larger deployments, the occurrence of still beacons increase as the requirement for individual beacons required over each period cannot be met. Consequentially, degradation of station connectivity can occur, for instance, when 20 or more wireless stations are connected to the access point.
What is needed is a robust technique to provide a more scalable solution for per station control of multiple stations across multiple access points in a wireless communication network.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Aggregated beacons for per station control of multiple stations across multiple access points in a wireless communication network


A drivetrain is proposed for a hybrid motor vehicle, which comprises an electric machine arranged between the vehicle's transmission (2) and a differential (8) of a driven axle in order to drive the axle via a Cardan shaft (7) or another shaft capable of torque transfer in which a transmission (10) made as a reducing gear system is arranged in the force flow direction behind the electric machine in order to produce the necessary speeds and torques and transfer them to the Cardan shaft or to the other shaft.

In the hybridization of motor vehicles, according to the prior art, the system consisting of a combustion engine and the transmission can be equipped with a crankshaft starter generator, with an electric machine arranged co-axially in the area of the Cardan shaft for driving under electric power or for recuperation. With such an arrangement, the rear axle differential of the vehicle is driven by the transmission via one or more Cardan shafts. The rotor of the electric machine is usually connected to the Cardan shaft or to another shaft in a rotationally fixed manner with the Cardan shaft, whereby the electric machine can be used for boosting or recuperation or for driving purely under electric power when certain clutches are disengaged in the transmission so that the transmission is idling.
The speed of the Cardan shaft is determined by the transmission ratios and the driving speed desired. As a rule the structure of the electric machine is designed so that with the smallest sized electric machine, the highest possible torque can be transmitted to the Cardan shaft. For that purpose, it may be necessary to construct the electric machine so that it runs at a substantially higher speed than the Cardan shaft.
The purpose of the present invention is to indicate a design for the drivetrain of a hybrid motor vehicle, whereby the force flow is optimized.


A system and method to enhance pedestrian safety that include accessing pedestrian data and vehicle system data and determining a current location and a speed of a vehicle based on the vehicle system data. The system and method also include determining a current location and a speed of a pedestrian based on the pedestrian data and building at least one vehicle polygon that represents a predicted path of the vehicle. The system and method additionally include building at least one pedestrian polygon that represents a predicted path of the pedestrian. The system and method further include determining if the at least one pedestrian polygon intersects the at least one vehicle polygon and actuating a warning based on an intersection of the at least one pedestrian polygon with the at least one vehicle polygon.

The disclosed subject matter relates to a vehicle pedestrian safety system, and methods of use and manufacture thereof. In particular some embodiments relate to methods and apparatus for generating, transmitting, and/or receiving data using a connected vehicle system that relates to enhancing pedestrian safety.
The travel of a vehicle along predetermined routes, such as on highways, roads, streets, paths, etc. (hereinafter generically referred to as paths) can be affected by other vehicles, objects, obstructions, and pedestrians (hereinafter generically referred to as Vulnerable Road User or VRU) on, at or otherwise in proximity to the path. The circumstances in which a vehicle's travel is affected can be numerous and diverse, and thus vehicle communications networks can be used to address these circumstances.

Vehicle pedestrian safety system and methods of use and manufacture thereof


A gate valve assembly and a frame assembly for mounting the gate valve assembly on the discharge opening from a railway hopper car. The gate valve assembly includes an operating assembly for movement of a valve member within the gate valve assembly between a first, closed position and a second, open position. A locking mechanism is mounted on the frame assembly to maintain the gate valve assembly in its first closed position when the associated railway car is subjected to large impact forces. The operating assembly includes a lock striker which may be moved longitudinally relative to the valve member to deactivate the locking mechanism while the valve member remains in its closed position. The frame assembly also provides an enhanced seal or barrier to prevent materials from escaping when the gate valve assembly is in its closed position.

In recent years, pneumatic and vacuum systems have been developed for removing the contents of railway hopper cars having one or more hopper sections. Other systems use rack and pinion assemblies to open and close a gate valve. These systems have generally been designed to operate in conjunction with a gate valve mounted adjacent to the bottom of each hopper section of the railway car to control the discharge of materials from the associated hopper section.
Railway hopper cars often include one or more hopper sections with each hopper section having a discharge opening through which various types of material and/or lading may be discharged by gravity and/or pneumatic pressure. Typically a gate valve assembly including a gate and a frame assembly are mounted on each discharge opening. The gate and frame assembly cooperate with each other to allow longitudinal movement of the gate between a first, closed position and a second, open position to control the discharge of material from the respective hopper section of the railway car.
Railway hopper cars are often subjected to impact forces which can be quite severe. Therefore, it is important to prevent undesired opening of the gate valve assemblies associated with a hopper car. Various types of locking mechanisms have been previously provided to maintain the associated gate valve assembly in its closed position. Examples of such gate valves and locking mechanisms are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,713. Also, a wide variety of gate valves have previously been used with railway hopper cars. U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,811 provides one example of such gate valve assemblies. Both of these patents are incorporated by reference for all purposes within this application.
Gate valve assemblies associated with railway hopper cars are often subjected to harsh operating conditions and frequent cycling between open and closed positions. Therefore, it is important to provide a reliable seal or material barrier when the gate valve assembly is in its closed position to prevent any undesired leakage of material from the associated railway hopper car. It is also necessary to prevent leakage into the hopper car.

Railway hopper car gate valve and operating assembly


A method for heat treating a metal article such as a fastener comprising the step of case hardening the fastener in a gas carborizing atmosphere at a temperature of about 1700.degree. F. or in a carbonitriding atmosphere at a temperature of about 1550.degree. F., and quenching the fastener in water or oil and tempering the fastener at a minimum temperature of 770.degree. F. for approximately one hour.

Case hardened self-drilling, self-piercing and self-tapping screws are often used to reduce fastener joint complexity and fastener assembly. Self-drilling screws have point and thread configurations that allow the screws to cut threads into the mating materials. Self-piercing screws have point configurations that allow the screws to form their own pilot holes and then tap or cut threads into a mating component. Self-tapping screws, also referred to as thread forming screws, have point and thread configurations that allow the screws to form threads in mating components. These screws simplify the assembly process and provide economic benefits by eliminating the need for pre-drilled and pre-threaded holes, by helping to align fastener joints during assembly, and by reduced fastener joint packaging space.
There are many industrial applications where case hardened fasteners can be used to provide economic cost savings. A common usage of case hardened fasteners is in the assembly of thin sheet metal components such as the mounting of body panels to the frame of vehicles and the assembly of paneling to the structural components of a building. Case hardened screws are used in many industries such as appliance, automotive, aerospace, as well as others.
In order for self-tapping, self-drilling and self-piercing fasteners to perform the their intended functions, the surface hardness of the threads must be harder than the materials into which threads are being cut or formed. Typically, case hardened fasteners have been manufactured from steel which is case hardened by carbonnitriding or, less commonly, gas carburizing. This produces a fastener with a hardened steel surface, referred to as the "case," and a less hard, more ductile core. The hardened surface extends to a specified depth, which depends on the diameter of the fastener, and typically has a hardness greater than 45 HRC. The core hardness typically ranges from 28 to 39 HRC.
Many of the above applications for case hardened fasteners involve long term exposure to corrosive environments. The process for making self-tapping metal screws, in particular, customarily includes the step of plating the screws with a corrosion resistant barrier or sacrificial metal layer coatings after the hardening operation. Prior to plating, fasteners are cleaned of heat treat scale, oil and contaminants using either acid or caustic cleaning baths. The type of coating and the process in which a coating is applied depends on the desired corrosion resistance, cosmetic appearance, electrical conductivity, and friction characteristics. Coatings can be applied after cleaning by one of several methods including, but not limited to electroplating, mechanical plating, dip-spinning, and spraying.
Unfortunately, when hardened steel is either acid cleaned or electroplated it can become embrittled through a process called "hydrogen embrittlement." Hydrogen embrittlement is a process of time dependent subcritical crack formation and crack growth resulting from the cooperative interaction between static stress and hydrogen. The susceptibility of steel to hydrogen embrittlement has typically been related to increasing hardness, stress and the amount of hydrogen available for diffusion to tri-axial stresses. Case hardened fasteners are particularly susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement due to their high surface hardness and their processing under traditional manufacturing methods. The formation and growth of cracks due to hydrogen embrittlement typically result in the separation of the head of the fastener from the shank or threads and can occur within minutes or days after assembly.
In order to relieve the hydrogen embrittlement and reduce the danger of cracking, standard specifications call for electroplated fasteners to be baked, heat treated for 4 to 24 hours at 400.degree. F. within one hour of electroplating. Baking is not always completely successful in relieving the hydrogen embrittlement and adds cost to fasteners. A more certain method for preventing hydrogen embrittlement is therefore needed.
Hardened steel fasteners that are susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement are also susceptible to "stress corrosion cracking", also referred to as "environmentally assisted hydrogen embrittlement". Stress corrosion cracking of fasteners is similar to hydrogen embrittlement in that hydrogen is involved in embrittling the steel. However, in stress corrosion cracking, hydrogen is supplied by the corrosion reaction between the steel surface, the sacrificial coating and the environment. As with hydrogen embrittlement, fastener failure occurs some time after assembly and can vary from minutes to any time during the lifetime of the fastener. There are no known methods of relieving stress corrosion cracking susceptibility.
Soft steels are typically not as susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement. Unfortunately, soft steels do not contain a sufficient hardness to cut, pierce and form threads as self-drilling, self-piercing, or self-tapping fasteners. Any solution to prevent hydrogen embrittlement and stress corrosion cracking in self-tapping, self-piercing and self-drilling screws must address material susceptibility yet preserve the ability of the fasteners to perform their intended functions. Baking, choosing alternate coatings, and attempting to manage the fastener stress state have proved to be unreliable solutions to hydrogen embrittlement and stress corrosion cracking. The invention below describes a process and recommended materials in which self-tapping, self-piercing and self-drilling screws can be manufactured that are resistant to hydrogen embrittlement and stress corrosion cracking, yet can still perform their intended functions.

Case hardened self-drilling, self-tapping, self-piercing fasteners and process for making the same


This invention is directed to dual UV and heat activated compositions comprising. (1) a liquid, ethylenically unsaturated monomer, oligomer or prepolymer of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is H or CH.sub.3, R.sub.1 is an organic moiety and n is 2 to 4, hereinafter referred to as the ethylenically unsaturated compound, PA1 (2) a photoinitiator, and PA1 (3) a substituted or unsubstituted pinacol. The exposure to UV radiation and heat in seriatim or simultaneously results in a cured solid product which can be utilized as coatings, gaskets, sealants, resists and the like.

It is known to carry out interrupted polymerization of compounds which contain polymerizable double bonds by heating said compound with a substituted ethane polymerization catalyst, cooling to interrupt the reaction and, when desired, reheating to continue the polymerization reaction. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,378,533. It is also known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,313,863 to produce molded articles by heating storable masses of unsaturated polyesters with conventional copolymerizable monomeric compounds and a substituted ethane catalyst.
It is further known from British Pat. No. 1,041,040 to prepolymerize unsaturated polyester molding masses to a gel stage by moderate heating in the presence of a substituted ethane polymerization catalyst and in the presence of gellers or activators such as mixtures of amine salts and mercaptans. However, the addition of these monomercaptans with amine salt activators render the masses unstable at ambient or moderate temperatures, thereby greatly reducing shelf life. It is also known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,233 to form cured polythioethers by admixing a composition comprising an ethylenically unsaturated compound containing at least two unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bonds per molecule a polythiol containing at least two thiol groups per molecule, a photoinitiator and a catalytic amount of a pinacol and, thereafter, subjecting the admixture to UV radiation and heat.
One object of the instant invention is to produce a composition which can be dual UV and heat cured. Another object of this invention is to produce cured products by exposing a composition to UV radiation followed by the application of heat. Another object of this invention is to produce cured products by simultaneously UV radiating and heating a curable composition.

Dual UV/thermally curable acrylate compositions with pinacol


A method of producing metal bearings first by forming grooves substantially V-shaped in cross section on opposite surfaces of a composite plate in the form of a web comprising a bearing alloy layer and a backing metal layer and then by cutting the composite plate at the grooves to form severed portions of the composite plate into metal bearings, wherein cutting of the composite plate and forming of the severed portions thereof into metal bearings are carried out in one stroke so as to efficiently produce metal bearings. In forming the substantially V-shaped grooves, embossing or cutting may be used singly or they may be used in combination.

This invention relates to methods of producing metal bearings of semicircular shape or cylindrical shape (wrap-formed bush), and more particularly to a method for producing metal bearings wherein the number of process steps are reduced to produce metal bearings of high quality at high speed and with high efficiency and yet economically without damaging the metal bearings produced.


A gas transport system includes at least one chemical reactor having at least one inlet and at least one gas outlet and at least one sample introduction unit for delivering the sample into the chemical reactor. The gas transport system at least one carrier gas line fluidly coupled to the chemical reactor inlet for introducing into the chemical reactor carrier gas from a carrier gas source, at least one gas outlet line from the chemical reactor gas outlet, and at least one gas recycling line connected to the gas outlet and/or the gas outlet line by a first gas line junction that is arranged between the chemical reactor and a downstream detection unit on the gas outlet line. The gas transport system is adapted to allow recycling of at least a portion of gas emerging from the chemical reactor outlet back to the chemical reactor via the gas recycling line.

Elemental analysis is a method for the determination of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen and/or sulphur composition of different materials, including liquids, solids and gases. During elemental analysis, samples are typically converted to simple gases such as H2, CO, CO2, N2, SO2, and H2O, usually by combustion or reduction/pyrolysis in a high temperature reactor (usually at about or exceeding 1000° C.), and usually with aid of catalysts to facilitate the combustion. Also a combination of two or more reactors are not uncommon, e.g. one oxidation reactor combined with a reduction reactor to reduce e.g. nitric oxides to nitrogen. The combustion products are carried by an inert carrier gas (e.g. He or Ar) to a detector. The samples can subsequently be transported for further detection or simply vented. To allow quantitative or qualitative determination of each gas species, the mixture is separated, for example in one or more chromatographic columns, such as a gas chromatographic column, or by adsorption/thermodesorption techniques, and detected using for example flame photometric detection, atomic absorption spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), optical absorption spectrometers (e.g. for infrared absorption), mass spectrometers, including inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), glow discharge mass spectrometry (GD-MS), or by mass spectrometers for isotope ratio analysis.
Typical systems comprise a reactor to convert sample material to simple gases, one or more chemical traps to adsorb undesired gas analytes such as H2O, one or more separation columns and a detector. For high reproducibility, the system is permanently flushed with the carrier gas. This is done to maintain pressure and temperature regimes, to avoid introduction of contaminant gases such as air, and to avoid damage to any materials and chemicals within the system and to continuously flush away contamination. Elemental analyzers can require a flow up to, or in excess of, 1000 mL/min, which varies depending on the volume that needs to be flushed. The biggest volume in the system is the combustion and/or reduction or pyrolysis reactor.
In some commonly used systems, a flow rate of 40 to 300 mL/min, or more commonly 80 to 200 mL/min is required. Typical analysis time of a sample is up to 15 minutes. Of this time, the analyte gases pass through the reactor in less than 3 minutes, and for the remaining time, the system is flushed with carrier gas which is usually vented and thus wasted to atmosphere.
The most common carrier gas is helium, but in recent times this gas has become expensive, in part due to less availability. To reduce cost, it is common to reduce helium consumption in elemental analyzers by argon, for example in systems provided by Thermo Fisher Scientific S.p.A (Rodano, Italy), Elementar Analysensysteme (Hanau, Germany), Perkin Elmer (Waltham, Mass., USA) and LECO Corporation (St. Joseph, Mich., USA). However, argon suffers from the disadvantage that it has a high thermal conductivity and high ionization efficiency, which make it particularly unfavourable when a mass spectrometer is used for detection. Additionally, use of argon as carrier gas requires recalibration of volume flow controller and replacing detectors, since current detectors and applications of the systems are adapted to use of helium as carrier gas.
Further helium consumption is needed for purposes of a reference signal in the thermal conductivity detector (TCD) of a typical elemental analyzer. This reference flow of pure helium compares the thermal conductivity of the reference with the mixture of helium and analyte gas that arrives at the detector. The reference flow is also used to purge the sample in the sample injection system (for example autosamplers) before it is injected into the reactor, to remove ambient air. This reference/purge flow of carrier gas thus prevents contaminating gases such as nitrogen oxygen, and water from entering the reactor during injection. The helium purge flow can be as high as 250 mL/min, and is therefore a major source of helium consumption.
WO 98/36815 discloses a carrier gas recycling system for an analytical instruments such as a gas chromatograph, that collects, purifies, compresses and recycles carrier gas. The system includes means to collect a carrier gas along with contaminants, a purifier to remove contaminants from the carrier gas, a compressor to compress the collected and purified gas, a source of a make-up carrier gas, and means to receive recycled, purified gas and introduce the recycled carrier gas into the analytical instrument.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,995 discloses a gas chromatograph that includes a closed-loop system for storage and reuse of hydrogen carrier gas. The chromatograph includes a gas storage system that receives a gas output from a detector, and stores the gas for subsequent reuse. The storage system preferably includes a metal hydride storage system.
In U.S. Pat. No. 8,308,854, a system for recycling helium gas is disclosed, that includes a bladder to receive helium-bearing gas from a vent of a gas chromatograph, a source of pressurized air or gas to supply gas into a compartment containing the bladder so as to compress the bladder containing the helium bearing gas, a gas reservoir coupled to the bladder interior so as to receive the helium bearing gas, and at least one purification module for removing contaminants from the helium bearing gas, and an output for coupling the purification module to a carrier gas inlet of the gas chromatograph.
The present invention has been made against this background, to provide an improved and flexible system that consumes less carrier gas than systems previously described in the art. The invention further provides a method of elemental analysis that requires reduced gas consumption.

Method and apparatus for reducing gas consumption in continuous flow analytical instruments


A socket wrench organizer includes top and bottom socket holders with receptacles for holding sockets for a socket wrench. The receptacles may be individually sized to each socket. A magnet is provided near the bottom of each receptacle for securely holding the sockets. Magnetic or mechanical fasteners hold the socket wrench organizer together in a closed position with the sockets inside for even more securely holding the sockets. The sockets are nested within each other when the socket wrench organizer is in the closed position for compactness and space efficiency. A wrench handle is provided with a flat portion and a hole to facilitate attachment in a convenient package of the socket wrench and socket wrench organizer in the closed position. A non-scratching, non-marring coating is provided on the surface of the socket wrench organizer to facilitate magnetically attaching or merely placing the socket wrench organizer on a scratchable surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to tool storage and organizing. More specifically, the invention relates to an organizer for keeping sockets in proximity with their associated socket wrench and which may be conveniently and temporarily mounted on any magnetically attractable surface.
2. Related Art
The socket wrench is a common, familiar, and widely used tool. It is used in such widely varied applications as, for example, auto mechanics and electronics work. The socket wrench usually includes a handle unit with a head for attaching interchangeable sockets of various sizes. The head typically includes a drive nub which is square for fitting into a square drive hole in the socket. For example, standard sized drive nubs may be xc2xc, xe2x85x9c, or xc2xd inches square. The drive nub usually includes a spring and ball detent mechanism for more securely holding the interchangeable socket. The head typically includes a ratchet unit, but may include a swiveling hinge or universal joint, or other various features and combinations of features. The relatively expensive wrench is usable with a large number of relatively inexpensive sockets, which are interchangeable and can be supplied in a large range of varying sizes.
It is desirable to have some means of storing the multiplicity of interchangeable sockets in order to keep them together in one place, to keep them from getting lost, to keep them sorted, to make them readily transportable, and to keep them readily accessible. Further, it is desirable to be able to conveniently attach the holder to a project working surface such as an automobile fender, or metal electronics equipment rack. In addition, it is desirable to have some compact, space efficient means to keep the set of interchangeable sockets together with their socket wrench.
One common and inexpensive apparatus used to address some of these problems is a simple socket rack which includes a number of spring clips in a line and typically a carrying handle at one end. Each spring clip is of a size to fit into the drive hole of each socket, and holds the socket by friction against the force of the spring inside the drive hole. These simple socket racks are prone to having the surface of the spring clips wear out so that sockets are not securely held and may come off too easily. In addition, the spring clips can lose resiliency over time, also contributing to the same problem of sockets not being securely held. These simple racks typically place all the sockets out in a single line so that they tend to be long and bulky and hard to fit into the limited space of, for example, a toolbox. In other words, these simple racks are not compact and space efficient.
Another rack, similar to the simple spring clip socket rack, is one which provides a row of socket nubs with a spring and ball detent mechanism, mimicking that of the wrench drive nub, in each socket nub. This rack appears to be an attempt at addressing the problem, outlined above, of securely holding the sockets despite wear, but may still be subject to wear of the ball and nub, and loss of resiliency in the spring of the spring and ball detent mechanism. A disadvantage of this rack is that it is relatively expensive.
Another rack that addresses the problem of securely holding the sockets despite wear is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,107 which uses a cam mechanism to xe2x80x9clockxe2x80x9d a socket in place after it has been placed over a nub. This rack stores the sockets spaced apart, due to the bulkiness of the cam mechanism, in a line so that it also is not compact and space efficient.
Magnetic racks address the problem of wear by using magnets to hold the sockets rather than a spring clip or nub. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,817 discloses a magnetic socket rack on which sockets may be placed in a line. This rack does not provide any aid for positioning or sorting the sockets on the rack. It provides an adhesive backing for attachment of the rack to a work bench or tool box, but not for temporary convenient attachment to a work surface. Another rack which places all the sockets out in a line, but with the improvement of adding a plate to help position the sockets on the rack is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,580. This rack discloses a magnet for temporarily attaching the rack to a metallic work surface, but is not concerned with attaching or placing the rack on a work surface that is easily scratched or marred, such as a painted car fender or plastic surface. Another rack which places all the sockets out in a line, with the improvement of adding a contoured tray to help position the sockets on the rack is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,631, which also discloses providing a magnet for temporarily attaching the rack to a metallic work surface and a coating to increase friction between the work surface and the rack, but not to prevent marring or scratching of the work surface. Another rack which places all the sockets out in a line, with individually sized holes for each socket to help position the sockets on the rack is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,377. None of these magnetic racks protect the sockets while they are being stored from accidentally being dislodged by the user""s fingers, for example, or from falling off of or out of the rack if the rack is subjected to a sudden or accidental jarring or impact.
As can be seen, there is a need for a socket wrench organizer which securely holds a number of interchangeable sockets and which continues to securely hold the sockets despite normal wear. There is also a need for a socket wrench organizer which protects the sockets from being accidentally dislodged or removed while the sockets are being stored or carried. There is also a need for a socket wrench organizer which can be conveniently placed on or temporarily attached to a work surface without marring or scratching the work surface. There is a further need for a socket wrench organizer which is compact and space efficient, and which facilitates storing the sockets, for example, in toolboxes or metal toolbox drawers. In addition, there is a need for a socket wrench organizer which facilitates keeping the sockets together with the wrench with which they are to be used.
The present invention provides a socket wrench organizer which securely holds a number of interchangeable sockets and for which normal wear will not affect how securely the sockets are held. Furthermore, the socket wrench organizer of the present invention protects the sockets from being accidentally dislodged or removed while the sockets are being stored or carried with the socket wrench organizer in its closed position. One embodiment also provides a socket wrench organizer that can be conveniently placed on or temporarily attached to a work surface without marring or scratching the work surface. In one embodiment the socket wrench organizer is compact and space efficient, and facilitates storing sockets, for example, in toolboxes or metal toolbox drawers. In addition, one embodiment provides a socket wrench organizer that facilitates keeping the sockets together with the wrench with which they are to be used.
In one aspect of the present invention, a socket wrench organizer includes top and bottom socket holders with receptacles for holding sockets for a socket wrench. The receptacles may be individually sized to each socket, for example, or a single receptacle, not sized to the individual sockets, may be provided with centering nubs for each socket, or a single receptacle with linearly tapered sides for aligning the sockets may be provided. A magnet is provided near the bottom of each receptacle for securely holding the sockets in the receptacles. Fasteners, for example, magnets, are provided for holding the top and bottom socket holders together in a closed position with the sockets inside for added security in holding the sockets, for example, when being stored or carried.
In another aspect of the present invention, the sockets are nested within each other when the socket wrench organizer is holding sockets in the closed position. The nesting of sockets makes the socket wrench organizer more compact and space efficient, improving, for example, efficiency of storage and ease of carrying the sockets.
In another aspect of the present invention, a wrench handle is provided with a flat portion and a hole or holes to facilitate attachment of the socket wrench and socket wrench organizer in the closed position, improving organization, for example, by keeping the socket wrench together in a convenient package with its associated sockets.
In another aspect of the present invention, the magnets used for securely holding the sockets in the receptacles can also be used for temporarily attaching the socket holders to magnetically attractable work surfaces. A rubberized coating or other non-scratching, non-marring coating is provided on the surface of the socket wrench organizer to facilitate either attaching the socket wrench organizer to a magnetically attractable scratchable surface, such as a car fender, for example, or for merely placing the socket wrench organizer on a scratchable non-magnetic surface such as a plastic electronics cabinet.


An electrical contact stabilizer assembly includes support and positioning means to sandwich an electronic leadframe between opposing interconnecting members which maintain the contact leads of the leadframe in predetermined spaced relationship during the molding process by which the leadframe is encapsulated in a housing. Opposing members are integrally formed of an insulative material and include cooperative connecting means and spacers to hold the contact leads in the intended spaced relation to each other.

It is well known to provide a plurality of leads on a lead frame and to encapsulate such leads in a plastic housing. Typically, an electronic circuit, such as a thick film hybrid circuit, is mounted on the leadframe prior to encapsulation. During the encapsulating process, the leads are often subject to forces which result in the leads becoming mis-aligned, deformed or out of relative position with respect to each other. As a result, the leads do not correctly align with mating contacts of an associated device. In prior attempts to avoid such mis-alignment, the leads of a lead frame have been pre-molded with a plastic member intended to position the leads in intended alignment. The lead frame with the pre-molded member is thereafter fully molded into a completed housing. This pre-molding operation does not wholly eliminate the problem of mis-alignment as the pre-molding process itself can cause mis-alignment of the leads.


A mezzanine connector includes a first connector including a pass-through hole and a first plurality of contacts arranged around the pass-through hole, the first connector arranged to be connected to a first substrate such that the first plurality of contacts are connected to the first substrate, and a second connector including a beam and a second plurality of contacts arranged around the beam, the second connector arranged to be connected to a second substrate such that the second plurality of contacts are connected to the second substrate. The pass-through hole extends fully through the first connector in a mating direction of the first connector and the second connector, and the beam of the second connector is arranged to extend into the pass-through hole of the first connector when the first connector and the second connector are mated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors and more specifically, the present invention relates to a mezzanine connector having a low profile.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electrical connectors are used to allow electrical devices, such as substrates or printed circuit boards, to communicate with one another. A connector may be thought of as having two portions, one portion which connects to a first electrical device and the second portion which connects to a second electrical device to be put into communication with the first device. To connect the two electrical devices, the two portions of the connector are mated together.
Each connector includes one set of contacts in a first portion and a second set of contacts in a second portion to be connected with contacts of the first portion. This can be readily accomplished by providing a male connector and a female connector with corresponding sets of contacts that engage when the male and female connectors are mated. Further, the male and female connectors are easily connected and disconnected from each other to respectively electrically connect and disconnect the electrical devices to which they are connected.
Accordingly, each connector portion is connected to an electrical device through its contacts. The contacts are typically permanently connected to the electrical device. Further, the connector portions are typically secured to electrical devices by fusing the contacts to contact pads or other suitable structure provided on the electrical device.
Recently, there has been a trend toward miniaturization of most electrical devices. As electrical devices become smaller and more complex, the connectors used with these electrical devices must also become smaller and must be able to accommodate the more complex electrical devices. One problem with miniaturized connectors arises from the increased precision (i.e., tighter tolerances) of placement necessary to produce the proper positioning and connection of the connector contacts onto the electrical device. This problem is exacerbated by the ever-increasing input/output (I/O) density requirements demanded of the progressively smaller connectors by increasingly miniaturized electrical devices. As the number of contacts increases in each connector, it becomes more and more difficult to maintain desired levels of co-planarity, while maintaining connection of all of the contacts to a substrate.
In order to provide for a higher density of substrates, mezzanine connectors have been used. Mezzanine connectors are typically used to connect a first substrate to a second substrate in a parallel manner. A conventional mezzanine connector assembly includes a male connector to be mounted on one substrate, and a female connector to be mounted on another substrate. The male connector includes a plurality of contacts that each engages a corresponding contact on the female connector when the male connector and the female connector are mated, thereby establishing electrical contact between the two substrates. The individual electrical contacts in the male and female connectors are used to conduct electrical signals or electrical power. Examples of mezzanine connectors can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,702,590 and 6,918,776.
As the progression toward higher density continues, it has become useful to reduce the distance between substrates that are connected by mezzanine connectors by modifying the structure of the mezzanine connectors. However, conventional mezzanine connectors have a number of problems, as described below.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,590, one problem with conventional mezzanine connectors is that the distance between the substrates is limited by the heights of the plug and the receptacle. That is, the plug is only partially inserted into the receptacle, such that the heights of both the plug and the receptacle significantly contribute to the overall height of the mated plug and receptacle and thus the distance between the substrates.
As shown in FIGS. 48 and 49 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,590, another problem with conventional mezzanine connectors is that reducing the heights of the plug and/or receptacle also reduces wipe distances of the contacts when the plug and receptacle are connected, which may negatively affect the performance and longevity of the electrical connection. A wipe distance between corresponding contacts refers to a distance between a first point where the corresponding contacts initially touch during mating of the plug and receptacle, and a second point where the contacts are positioned when the plug and the receptacle are fully mated. Along the wipe distance, oxides and other substances are wiped off of the corresponding contacts due to their physical engagement, thereby improving a mechanical connection between the contacts. A short wipe distance may cause poor electrical performance due to a weak mechanical connection between the corresponding contacts.
Furthermore, poor electrical performance in mezzanine connectors may result from a force normal to the mating direction of the plug and receptacle being insufficient to wipe off the oxides and other substances from the corresponding contacts. However, if the force normal to the mating direction of the plug and the receptacle is too great, one or more of the contacts may bend or buckle when the plug and receptacle are mated. Accordingly, proper alignment between the plug and the receptacle during mating is important to help ensure that the force normal to the mating direction of the plug and the receptacle is sufficient to wipe off the oxides and other substances from the corresponding contacts, yet insufficient to cause any of the contacts to bend or buckle. As an example, cantilevered contacts are particularly susceptible to variations in the force normal to the mating direction of the plug and the receptacle.
As shown in FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,918,776, an additional problem with conventional mezzanine connectors is that the distance between the substrates is also limited due to both the plug and the receptacle being mounted on the surface of substrate. That is, a distance between each of the plug and the receptacle and a surface of each of the substrates contributes to the distance between the substrates.
A further problem with conventional mezzanine connectors is the use of multiple folded contacts in the plug and receptacle that require the width of the connector to be much wider. For example, the Panasonic P5KF series of mezzanine connectors have contacts that are folded over multiple times, which causes these connectors to have a substantial width.


An asymmetric Fabry-Perot modulator comprises a multiple quantum well (MQW) p-i-n diode (8, 10, 12) defined by a front surface of reflectivity 0.3 and back surface of reflectivity 0.95. The cavity length L is such that resonance occurs close to the long wavelength side of the unbiased MQW absorption edge so that application of a bias signal to the MQW (12) causes the reflectivity of the cavity to become close to zero. This arrangement provides a high contrast modulator less sensitive to temperature variations and deviations from ideal reflectivities of the front and back surfaces than high-finesse Fabry-Perot modulators.

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to Fabry-Perot modulators and in particular, but not exclusively, to those employing a multiple quantum well modulator.
II. Related Art and Other Considerations
Since the first observation of the effect of electric fields on the optical properties of GaAs-AlGaAs multiple quantum well (MQW) structures a number of opto-electronic devices have been demonstrated which exploit their enhanced electro-absorptive properties, e.g. fast intensity modulators and hybrid optical logic elements, both bistable and non-bistable. These devices employ an MQW layer grown epitaxially as the intrinsic region of a pin diode that can operate as an electro-absorptive modulator and efficient photodetector simultaneously.
A contrast ratio (on:off) of .apprxeq.2:1 has been observed in devices with only .apprxeq.1 .mu.m of MQW absorber usually consisting of well and barriers .apprxeq.100 .ANG. thick. This is very efficient, given the device size, but a better contrast ratio is desirable. By `contrast ratio` is meant the ratio of the high: low output states, irrespective of whether the device switches on or off with applied bias. `Modulation` is the absolute change in state, which in reflection or transmission terms can only be between 0 and 1.
It would at first seem obvious simply to increase the thickness of the MQW layer to obtain better modulation figures. However, the situation is complicated by the background doping level of this layer which up to now has had a lower limit of .apprxeq.1.times.10.sup.15 cm.sup.3 in the best available material, and is routinely two or three times this value. This causes a significant fall-off in the electric field across the intrinsic region of the pin device which broadens the absorption edge of the MQW material even at zero bias and, moreover, produces a different red shift of the excitonic absorption in each well as an external bias is applied to the device for modulation. As the bias is increased the absorption edge broadening becomes worse due to the roughly parabolic dependence of the edge shift on applied field. So, instead of producing a larger change in the intensity of a transmitted or reflected beam of light the increase in thickness of the absorbing layer might only serve to distribute absorption changes over a wider spectral region and leave the modulation at the operating wavelength relatively unaffected.
Optimisation calculations have shown that if the residual doping is 2.times.10.sup.15 /cm.sup.3 it is best to use about 45 wells of 100 .ANG. GaAs separated by barriers of 100 .ANG. Al.sub.0.3 Ga.sub.0.7 As confirming the limit of around 1 .mu.m for the total thickness.
A second problem with increasing the MQW thickness is the additional bias voltage required to induce a given change in absorption. This would also be the main disadvantage in using narrower quantum wells e.g. 60 .ANG., where changes in absorption can be much greater because of the increased zero-bias exciton oscillator strength at the absorption edge and the greater resistance of the exciton to field-induced broadening, but the shift of the absorption edge with applied field is much reduced. It has been proposed that MQW devices may be integrated in 2-dimensional arrays with Si-based LSI electronics to form high-bandwidth optical interconnects, and in this case drive voltages for such modulators or logic gates will be limited to a few volts.
One method of improving modulation in a device that has limitations on its absorber thickness and drive voltage is to increase the effective optical path length by incorporating the MQW pin diode into a Fabry-Perot etalon.
An asymmetric Fabry-Perot modulator has been proposed which operates as a reflection modulator with a low reflectivity front surface and a high reflectivity back surface (Whitehead M., Parry G. and Wheatley P. "Investigation of etalon effects in GaAs-AlGaAs multiple quantum well modulators". IEE PROCEEDINGS, Vol. 136, Pt.J,Nol, February 1989 pp 52-58).
Modelling of one such a device demonstrated a maximum change in reflectivity of about 80.degree./o. However, it is desirable to have not only a large absolute change but to have a large modulation depth, or contrast ratio, i.e. the ratio of the maximum and minimum reflectivities. It is an object of the present invention to provide an asymmetric Fabry-Perot modulator having an improved contrast ratio. Accordingly there is provided a Fabry-Perot modulator comprising a resonant cavity defined by front and back reflective surfaces of different reflectivities and including an electro-absorptive means, the absorption of which can be increased by the application of an electrical bias signal to a value such that the reflectivity of the cavity is substantially zero at a resonant frequency of the cavity.

British Telecommunications public limited company


Sustainable lubricant compositions made from recycled thermoplastic polyesters and other reclaimed or biorenewable reactants and a method of formulating them are disclosed. The lubricant compositions comprise a polyester base oil, which incorporates recurring units from a digested thermoplastic polyester, a low-molecular-weight polyol, and C8-C24 fatty acid. The base oil has a number-average molecular weight within the range of 300 to 5000 g/mol, a hydroxyl value less than 50 mg KOH/g, and a viscosity at 40° C. less than 5000 cSt. Some of the lubricant compositions comprise the polyester base oil and one or more additives including anti-wear agents, corrosion inhibitors, antioxidants, thickeners, detergents, and the like. The lubricants have properties that rival those of commercial products made from nonrenewable hydrocarbon blends or polyol esters and are useful for many practical applications such as internal combustion engine oils, gear lubrication oils, hydraulic oils, compressor oils, metal working fluids, and lubricating greases.

It is hard to imagine a world without lubricants. With no cars, boats, airplanes (or even bicycles) to transport us, without tractors to plant and process crops, without machines to process metal and plastics into everyday containers, without HVAC systems to keep us comfortable, without refrigerators to keep our food fresh, and without the lubricants needed for almost all of our creature comforts, our lives would grind to a halt. Indeed, we would quickly revert to pre-Industrial Revolution status. Such is the importance of the humble lubricant.
Lubricants help to separate moving parts, reduce friction, transfer heat, remove contaminants, transmit power, protect against wear and corrosion, and provide a seal to keep gases in or out. Because lubricants are so ubiquitous and serve so many different functions, they come in many varieties and have properties well-suited to meet the demands of a particular application. Most lubricants include a "base oil" and other components. Most base oils are paraffinic, naphthenic, or aromatic mixtures that derive from petroleum and thus depend on the availability of non-renewable resources.
Various synthetic oils are known, including poly(alpha-olefin)s, synthetic esters, polyalkylene glycols, phosphate esters, and other materials. Many of these materials are designed for special needs that cannot be satisfied by hydrocarbon lubricants.
Polyol esters and other esters of mono-, di-, or polycarboxylic acids have been used for some lubricant applications. The ester functionality provides thermal stability helpful for some uses. Usually, the polyol esters are built from typical low-molecular-weight building blocks that are staples of the chemical industry and most frequently come from petrochemicals. In some cases, vegetable oils have been used as a source of raw materials.
Waste thermoplastic polyesters, including waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) streams (e.g., from plastic beverage containers), provide an abundant source of raw material for making new polymers. Usually, when PET is recycled, it is used to make new PET beverage bottles, PET fiber, or it is chemically transformed to produce polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). Ideally, these recycled materials could find other applications outside the field of thermoplastic polyesters. Lubricants provide a largely unexplored yet diverse field into which these recycled materials can be re-purposed and up-cycled.


The error correcting decoding device of the present invention performs Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) decoding which accommodates a plurality of code rates while sharing circuits to suppress increase in circuit scale. If the set code rate is a second code rate which is a higher code rate than a first code rate, a column processing and row processing calculating unit (120A) uses a distributed submatrix in which a number of columns are selected and combined, wherein the number of columns is equal in number to the number of columns with which a first submatrix is constructed from a distributed check matrix corresponding to a second check matrix which accommodates the second code rate. At this time, the column processing and row processing calculating unit (120A) uses a distributed submatrix such that the row degree is less than or equal to the row degree of the first submatrix.

In recent years, LDPC code is becoming a focus of attention as error correcting code that yields high error correcting performance. LDPC code is error correction code defined by a low-density parity check matrix.
Since the LDPC code has high error correcting performance and can be easily mounted, the LDPC code is being considered as an error correcting coding scheme for an IEEE802.11n high speed wireless LAN (Local Area Network) system, digital broadcasting system or large-capacity storage apparatus or the like.
One example of a conventional LDPC code decoding apparatus is disclosed in Patent Literature 1. The decoding apparatus described in Patent Literature 1 is a decoding apparatus adaptable to a plurality of check matrices and classifies check matrices so that edges are included in a unit region. Here, the "edge" refers to element "1" of a check matrix. In the case of LDPC code in binary notation, elements of a check matrix are "0" or "1." The "elements of a matrix" represent components of the matrix. The decoding apparatus described in Patent Literature 1 stores edge arrangement information of edges located in a classified group and thereby reduces the memory capacity. Furthermore, Patent Literature 1 describes a method of simplifying connections between memory and calculation processors using the edge arrangement information.

Error correcting decoding device and error correcting decoding method

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


In a dumb terminal to which an auxiliary device may be attached, improvements in display definitions. In the transfer of data between a host computer and the terminal or an auxiliary device, and in character generation memory. In the area of display definition, pages may be mapped onto the terminal's display memory and viewports may be mapped onto pages. Page and viewport definition are independent of each other and settable modes permit a viewport to follow the active position. In the area of transfer of data, the source of data for the host computer and the destination of data from the host computer may be specified independently. Improvements in flow control ensure that the host computer can always change the destination of data and gain control of the terminal. Improvements in access control ensure that neither the terminal nor the auxiliary device can monopolize transfer between it and the host. Moreover, transfer can proceed transparently even when non-ASCII 8-bit codes or a 7-bit host-terminal link are involved. Finally, a protocol permits one portion of character generation memory to be copied to another portion thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to digital data and word processing systems and more particularly to terminals employed therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art One of the most common varieties of prior-art terminal is the "dumb" terminal. A "dumb" terminal is so called because it performs no local processing of data beyond what is required to receive the data in the terminal and provide it to a digital computer or to receive the data from the digital computer and display it on the terminal screen. Communication between the "dumb" terminal and the digital computer is by means of protocols. Different protocols specify the data transferred between the digital computer and the terminal, permit the digital computer to control the operation of the terminal, and indicate the state of the terminal to the digital computer. A common class, of "dumb" terminals is made up of ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standard terminals which are controlled by means of protocols compatible with the ANSI X3.4, X3.41, and X3.64 standards.
As microprocessors, display controllers, and memory have dropped in cost and grown in speed and power, the "dumb" terminals have become "smarter". An example of such a "smart" "dumb" terminal is the IBM 3163. This and similar ANSI standard terminals now have sufficient display memory to hold more than one terminal screen's worth of data. In such terminals, the display memory is divided into pages and a user of the terminal can specify which page of display memory is to be displayed. The 3163 and others of these terminals also permit the terminal screen to be divided into viewports. A viewport is a "window" onto a page, and consequently, a terminal with viewports can display data from more than one page simultaneously.
Other areas where "dumb" terminals have grown smarter include the capability of transferring data not only between the terminal and the computer, but also between the computer and an auxiliary device connected to the terminal and the capability of displaying more than one character font. In all of these areas, the prior art has left certain problems unsolved. These problems are addressed in the improved terminal of the present invention.

Terminal with viewports, auxiliary device attachment, and host-terminal flan control


A water bed having a built-in drain pipe. The water bed includes a water tight bladder penetrated by a pump assembly connected to the bladder by a bell shaped insert. The pump assembly includes an inlet port and an outlet port and a jet pump connected between the inlet port and the outlet port. The contents of the water tight bladder can be sucked out by providing a motive liquid at the inlet port and attaching drain tubing at the outlet port. The jet pump includes a jet nozzle and a diffuser aligned with the jet nozzle. A filter may be provided to allow filtering of fluid drawn into the diffuser. The jet pump and fluid passages leading into and out of the pump can be formed as a single piece.

A water bed is simply a water filled bladder that is used as a mattress. The bladder is sometimes filled with fiber or fitted with internal channels to improve comfort. Otherwise, the interior of the mattress can be empty. Examples of known water bed assemblies are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,748,669 to Warner and U.S. Pat. No. 3,999,235 to Mollura.
Waterbeds must be drained in order to be moved, relocated or repaired. Typically, the water-tight bladder is fitted with one or more valves through which water is added to fill the bladder or pumped out to drain the bladder. The conventional valve is simply a threaded neck of the type shown in the Warner patent which may be capped. Currently, draining is performed through the use of an external pump that is fitted to an adapter threaded to a valve that is permanently installed in the bed. The adapter is used to convert the valve thread to a garden hose thread and to provide a swivel for ease of hose attachment. An example of such an adapter is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,212,335 to Bova.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional water bed mattress. The water bed mattress includes a water tight bladder 5 having a water tight interior area 50 which may be filled with water so that the bladder may be used as a mattress. As mentioned above, the bladder 5 is sometimes filled with fiber or fitted with internal channels to improve comfort, but for simplicity these are not shown. The water tight bladder may be formed of any suitable water tight material as is known in the art.
The bladder 5 includes a valve through which water can be added to or pumped from the bladder. As shown in FIG. 1, the valve is typically a neck portion formed with threads 3 or the like. The neck-type fill/drain valve 1 is typically formed separately from the water tight bladder 5 and secured thereto by heat or adhesive. The threads 3 need not be formed directly on the neck; they may be provided by attaching an adaptor or the like to the neck as is known in the prior art.
In FIG. 1 the overall size of the water filled bladder 5 is represented schematically. As is known in the art, the water filled bladder is typically mattress-sized.
In a conventional water bed, an adaptor such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,212,335 to Bova may be fit into an opening or threaded to the valve threads so that a garden-type hose can be attached for filling or draining. When the bladder is being drained, a pump must be used. Typically, either a venturi pump of the type disclosed in the present inventor's previous patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,170 or an electric pump is used. In the case of modern fiber filled mattress bladders, an electric pump can be clogged by the fiber fill. Moreover, external pumps are expensive and must be rented by the customer. Accordingly, in at least these cases, a venturi pump is preferred.
The use of venturi action for causing suction by the passage of fluid through nozzles is well known and documented. A venturi pump typically includes a water supply pipe, and an outlet pipe which is in line with the inlet pipe. Variations of this basic construction are disclosed in the present inventor's previous patent as well as in U.S. Pat. No. 857,920 to Boekel and U.S. Pat. No. 995,969 to Junk.
While venturi pumps offer advantages as a water bed draining pump, known venturi pump constructions are difficult to use with a water bed. Among other things, known venturi pumps are difficult to connect to water beds and must be stored when not in use. These inconveniences have adversely affected the acceptance of venturi pumps for use as water bed drain pumps. Currently the water bed industry is striving to make water beds more user friendly. Accordingly, a premium is placed on user convenience. For these reasons, a water bed with an easy to use venturi pump would be desirable.
The present inventor's previous patent application Ser. No. 07/818,764 filed Jan. 8, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,739 addressed many of these problems by providing a water bed with a built-in drain pump. The pump of that application was preferably a venturi pump that works on the principle that different flow velocities produce different amounts of suction. The bed is fitted with two distinct connections instead of the current one. The second connection remains capped during filling. For draining, however, hoses are attached to both connections. One hose provides a supply of pressurized fluid to the venturi and the second connection allows fluids to discharge.
The bed includes a water-tight bladder having a water tight interior. An inlet port or valve is provided to allow fluid to flow into the interior of the water tight bladder. An outlet port or valve is provided to allow fluid to flow out of the port or valve. A fluid inlet pipe extends into the interior of the water tight bladder from the inlet port. A fluid outlet pipe extends into the interior of the water tight bladder from the outlet port. The distal ends of the inlet and outlet pipes are preferably coaxially aligned. A nozzle is provided in the end of the inlet pipe and a diffuser is formed in the end of the outlet pipe. The nozzle and diffuser are maintained in alignment by a spacer member provided in the interior of the water tight bladder. The spacer member may be of any convenient form, but is preferably formed with openings or elongated slots such that spacer member acts as a filter to prevent clogging of the fluid passages. A filter mesh may be provided to enhance this effect. The venturi pump may be formed as a one-piece element adapted to be inserted into either the outlet pipe or, preferably, the inlet pipe.
The invention described in the previous application is particularly well suited for retrofitting existing bed valves and adapters with an in-bed pump. There remains a need, however, to reduce cost and provide a more compact unit.

Water bed with compact built-in drain pump