The invention relates to a raisable undercarriage comprising a hinged leg and associated bracing means. According to the invention, the undercarriage is of the leg-shortening type, and the bracing means are organized in the form of a foldable brace having its bottom arm hinged to bottom end of the sliding rod of the hinged leg, said brace further being organized so that, in the undercarriage down position, the lowered leg slopes towards the front of the aircraft.

An undercarriage of this type includes at least four wheels, and in general includes six or eight wheels for a heavy transport aircraft, i.e. an aircraft weighing considerably more than 400 tons. The leg of such an undercarriage is naturally dimensioned accordingly, so that the recess for receiving the undercarriage when it is in the up position has to be long, and the structure of the aircraft must therefore be reinforced.
Reference may be made for example to Documents EP-A-0 492 685, EP-A-0 492 687, and EP-A-0 492 688.
Furthermore, the undercarriage leg and the associated bracing means are disposed such that considerable cutting forces are exerted on the shock-absorbing rod by the set of wheels when they bear against the ground, so that the leg has to be dimensioned accordingly to enable the sliding rod to slide normally under any circumstances.
Finally, the presence of a hinged longitudinal beam equipped with pairs of wheels (forming what may be referred to as a rocking bogie) makes it necessary to have a special linkage if, in the undercarriage up position, the beam is to be angularly positioned so as to be compatible with the desired compactness of the recess for receiving the undercarriage. To this end, in order to have a minimal recess height, it has been proposed to provide a linkage for turning the longitudinal beam over through 180.degree. before retracting the main landing gear assembly in question.
The technological background of the invention is also illustrated by Documents EP-A-0 361 549, U.S. Pat. No. 2,754,072, and FR-A-1 232 741.

Raisable undercarriage, in particular for a heavy transport aircraft


A process for simultaneously fabricating a flash-EEPROM memory and circuit transistors using a DPCC process. A first polysilicon layer is not removed from the circuit area, and the gate regions of a circuit transistors are formed by shorting first and second polysilicon layers. A thin tunnel oxide layer of the memory cells is formed using the same mask provided for implanting boron into the cell area of the substrate. Following implantation and without removing the mask, the gate oxide formed previously over the whole surface of the wafer is removed from the cell area; the boron implant mask is removed; and tunnel oxidation is performed to increase the thickness of the tunnel oxide by a desired amount, and to slightly increase the thickness of the oxide in the transistor area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for fabricating integrated devices including flash-EEPROM memories and transistors.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Flash-EEPROM memories are Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memories (EEPROMs) which combine the high density and low cost of EPROMs, with the advantage of electrical erasability. These memories have recently become the most attractive of the nonvolatile memories for their potential application in solid state disks for portable computers.
Although different flash memory concepts have been developed, most flash manufacturers utilize a double-poly single-transistor cell which is very similar to a standard EPROM cell.
FIGS. 1 and 2 are cross-sectional views of EPROM and flash-EEPROM cells, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, an EPROM cell, indicated as a whole by 1, is formed in a P-type substrate 2, having N+ type source and drain regions 3 and 4, respectively, separated by a channel region 5 formed by the substrate itself. Over substrate 2, at channel 5, two gate regions are provided: a floating gate region 6 completely embedded in an oxide layer 8, and a control gate region 7. Gate region 6 is made of polycrystalline silicon; gate region 7 may be polysilicon or polycide (polysilicon and silicide). The floating gate region is separated from the substrate by an oxide layer (gate oxide) 8a of a given thickness (typically 200 Angstroms).
As shown in FIG. 2, a flash-EEPROM cell, indicated as a whole by 15, is very similar to the EPROM cell shown in FIG. 1, and is formed in a P-type substrate 16, having source and drain regions 17 and 18, respectively, separated by a channel 19. A floating gate region 20, and a control gate region 21, both surrounded by an oxide layer 22, are provided. As compared with EPROM cell 1, however, the oxide layer 22a, which separates floating gate region 20 from substrate 16, is known as the tunnel oxide and is much thinner than oxide layer 8a, typically 100-130 A. In the specific embodiment shown, source region 17 has a graded junction with the substrate, and is formed in two parts: a heavily doped (N+) part 17a facing the larger surface 23 of the substrate, and a deeper, lightly doped (N-) part 17b surrounding part 17a on the sides not facing surface 23.
The purpose of a graded junction is to enable the cell to better withstand the electrical stress to which it is subjected during erasing and programming, and may or may not be provided, depending on the operating conditions of the memory array. The thin tunnel oxide layer, on the other hand, is essential for enabling electronic erasing (and programming) of the cell by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling between the substrate and floating gate.
Due to its limited thickness, flash-EEPROM fabrication involves specific steps for forming the tunnel oxide layer, thus ruling out direct application of standard EPROM processes.
The present applicant has developed and patented an EPROM process whereby the second polysilicon layer is deposited directly on the first in the circuit transistor area for forming the gate regions of the transistors. This process, unlike other known processes, does not require removal of the first polysilicon layer in the circuit area. This process, which is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,184 issued Jan. 12, 1988, is known as DPCC (Shorted Double Poly) and provides advantages of reliability and in the number of masks required.

Process for fabricating integrated devices including flash-EEPROM memories and transistors


The disclosure is directed to a device for electroporating and delivering one or more antigens and a method of electroporating and delivering one or more antigens to cells of epidermal tissues using the device. The device comprises a housing, a plurality of electrode arrays projecting from the housing, each electrode array including at least one electrode, a pulse generator electrically coupled to the electrodes, a programmable microcontroller electrically coupled to the pulse generator, and an electrical power source coupled to the pulse generator and the microcontroller. The electrode arrays define spatially separate sites.

A major obstacle to effective vaccination via antigenic plasmids is the need of the DNA vaccine to be delivered intracellularly. The delivery of naked DNA through a standard intramuscular injection is notoriously inefficient outside of rodent models. Historically, this has led to an inability to achieve robust immune responses in large mammals and humans. Several strategies have been developed to enhance the expression of DNA-based vaccines, such as codon-optimization, RNA optimization, leader sequence addition and the development of optimized consensus sequences. These optimization strategies can lead to improved, cross-reactive immune responses. The addition of co-delivered gene-based molecular adjuvants is another area where an augmentation of resulting immune responses frequently occurs. Despite the improvements in vector design and use of molecular adjuvants, there is still a clear need for an efficient method of administration of DNA vaccines that results in high level expression of the plasmid in the desired cell type of the desired tissue, most commonly, muscle, tumor or skin.
Drug delivery to dermal tissue (intradermal) is an attractive method in a clinical setting for a number of reasons. The skin is the largest organ of the human body, the most accessible, and easily monitored, as well as being highly immuno-competent. However, the impervious, barrier function of the skin has been a major obstacle to efficient trans-dermal drug delivery.
Human skin comprises approximately 2 m2 in area and is around 2.5 mm thick on average, making it the largest organ of the human body. Conventionally, the skin has two broad tissue types, the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is a continually keratinizing stratified epithelium. The outermost layer of skin is the stratum corneum (SC) and functions as the primary barrier. The SC is a 15-30 cell thick layer of non-viable but biochemically active corneocytes. The other three strata of the epidermis (S. granulosum, S. spinosum, S. basale) all contain ketatinocytes at different stages of differentiation as well as the immune Langerhans cells and dermal dendritic cells.
Both physical and chemical methods for trans-dermal drug delivery and gene delivery have been detailed by groups worldwide. Iontophoresis, lipid delivery and gene gun are such examples. A physical method to temporarily increase skin permeability is electroporation ("EP"). Electroporation involves the application of brief electrical pulses that result in the creation of aqueous pathways within the lipid bi-layer membranes of mammalian cells. This allows the passage of large molecules, including DNA, through the cell membrane which would otherwise be less permeable. As such, electroporation increases the uptake or the extent to which drugs and DNA are delivered to their target tissue.
Although the precise mechanism by which electroporation enables cell transformation has not been elucidated, a proposed theoretical model involves a poration event due to the destabilization of the membrane, followed by the electrophoretic movement of charged molecules into the cell. For electroporation to occur, the formation of pores requires that a threshold energy be achieved and the movement produced by the electrophoretic effect depends upon both the electric field and the pulse length.
In the case of DNA vaccines, electroporation has been shown to quantitatively enhance immune responses, increase the breadth of those immune responses as well as improve the efficiency of dose. More recently, the DNA-EP platform has been successfully translated into the human clinical setting and has demonstrated significantly improved immune responses in several vaccine studies. Therefore, there has developed a need for a dermal electroporation device that would be considered tolerable, user-friendly and easily amenable to mass production, while continuing to achieve high transfection rates resulting in robust immune responses.
Although a number of intramuscular devices have now successfully entered clinical trials, the procedure is generally considered invasive and painful. To be considered amenable to mass vaccination, especially in a pediatric setting, a solution for a more tolerable electroporation method is needed. Accordingly, an effective dermal electroporation device that is capable of delivering a multi-agent DNA vaccine in a tolerable manner is desirable.

Miniminally invasive dermal electroporation device


A data processing system for processing digital data comprises a first program bus for transferring a unit instruction, a second program bus for transferring a multi instruction consisting of unit instructions, a first program memory connected with said first program bus for storing the unit instruction, a second program memory connected with the second program bus for storing the multi instruction, and a process core for executing the unit or multi instruction fetched. The first and second program memories preferably have different bits widths. The process core includes an instruction input interface circuit for adding NOP instructions to a unit instruction fetched from the first program memory so as to form a multi instruction. The instruction input interface circuit preferably comprises an instruction converter for converting the unit instruction to the multi instruction by adding said NOP instructions, and an instruction selector for selecting the multi instruction generated from the instruction converter or another multi instruction fetched from the second program memory.

Recently, semiconductor fabrication technology has made it possible to achieve a semiconductor chip with complex functions, which includes various circuits constituting an electronic system on the single chip to considerably reduce the system size. Namely, the various independent devices constituting the control circuits of a computer system conventionally have been mounted on the main board, but the recently developed technology makes it possible to obtain the various control devices as a single chip, so that the size of the whole circuits may be reduced, and thus the size of the electronic system. This in addition reduces the production cost together with the operating power consumption. Moreover, such development of the semiconductor fabrication technology has affected the micro controller unit (MCU) and digital signal processor (DSP).
It has been generally known in this art that a DSP is suitable for a signal processing program to execute repeated computations, and a MCU for a control program. However, there frequently occurs a case in which a single information-handling task is composed of control parts and computational parts (especially repeated computations), and to use both a DSP and a MCU complicates handling of such a task. For example, one problem is to employ two different instructions, complicating the mutual interface such as data exchange. Another problem is that the development environment is complicated due to the two instruction streams to make the program debugging difficult. A third problem is that the synchronization between DSP and MCU is not easy. And another problem is an increase in the circuit size. In order to cope with these problems, the orthogonal instruction of the RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) type may be used to achieve good compilation.
DSPs and MCUs have different structural characteristics. A DSP is designed to suit the algorithm to process a voice signal, an audio signal, etc. at high speed, thereby having a very irregular hardware structure and non-orthogonal instruction set. This makes it very difficult to develop a high performance compiler to compile programs for DSP. For most of the cases, the application programs for DSP are usually developed by using an assembler.
Application of DSP suffers poor locality of data owing to continuous input and output of data, compared to application of MCU, so that it is difficult for DSP to have the memory hierarchy consisting of register, cache, virtual memory, etc. The architecture of a DSP is generally based on the memory rather than the register, employing the so-called Harvard Architecture that the program memory and data memory are separated from each other to have respective program bus and data bus in order to facilitate data access.
A DSP designed for implementing a filter frequently performs multiplying operations using two operands, and therefore employs the modified Harvard architecture using the program memory bus as the data memory bus, or two data memory buses. Such a DSP employs the general purpose registers less than an MCU, but employs special purpose registers to facilitate special data process.
If there occurs an overflow in an MCU, a trap is usually generated. However, a DSP is provided with a guard bit to prevent the overflow or to become saturated without delay when there occurs an overflow.
A DSP has no cache, or otherwise has a cache structured in a manner different from an MCU. The reason is that the execution time varies with the cache hit rate. For the same reason, a page miss of the virtual memory hardly allows the memory abort in DSP. Further, a DSP is used in the application of digital signal processing, thus having many special instructions suitable therefor, while an MCU has versatility.
A 16 bit DSP has instructions of various lengths such as the basic 16 bit instruction, 32 bit instruction, and 36 to 40 bit instruction containing the guard bit, and particularly an ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit) instruction for high speed operation to simultaneously execute both an ALU operation and multiplication, and instructions for barrel shift.
A DSP is structured to fetch two operands in a single cycle for data access, simultaneously executing both ALU operation and loading/storing data into the memory. Its hardware has a repeated loop function to support the repeated operation together with modulo addressing function. Thus, a DSP instruction may perform multiple operations in a single cycle, achieving high speed digital signal processing.
On the other hand, a 32 MCU is based on 32 bit data, performing data access operations in bytes. It employs the orthogonal instruction set using many general purpose registers to support the compiler. For example, it supports the branch instruction, relative addressing, index addressing, bit manipulation, etc. Further, it strongly supports interrupts, traps, etc. exceptionally occurring.
As described above, DSPs and MCUs have respectively inherent characteristics to support corresponding applications. These are especially applied in the form of a single chip embedded with core, memory and peripheral equipment. Electronic systems such as cellular phones, video cameras, multi media systems, etc. are equipped with both processors. A DSP is used to process digital signals such as voice signals in the cellular phone and audio and video signals in the video camera. Thus, both processors serve respective functions. Recently, 16 bit fixed point DSP and 32 bit MCU have become widely used in various electronic systems.
The complicated multi functional electronic systems developed recently should have to do with many data, especially processing data in real time, so that the general purpose MCU for control needs many repeated computations, and the DSP for processing signals also needs the control function. Namely, the situation requiring processing of greatly increased data in a short time and performing of corresponding control functions requires that a DSP have such control function as in an MCU, and an MCU have such high speed data operational function as in a DSP.
As the DSP application program increases its size to include a control program together with the program of data signal processing, it becomes difficult to develop it with an assembler. Moreover, it is important for the application program to be properly provided for the rapidly developing related technology. In this respect, a high level program language may be a proper means to facilitate the development of the application program for DSP, and the architecture of DSP must necessarily be changed so as to reduce the size of the codes generated by compiling the application program.
Meanwhile, the fact that the MCU needs the instructions required for performing such data processing function as in a DSP, and the DSP the instructions required for such control function as in an MCU blurs the boundary dividing a DSP and an MCU. Recently, studies have been made to integrate the two processors in a single chip, resulting in a unified processor integrating both MCU and DSP. Such unified processors are generally divided as follows:
One approach is to make a processor provided with both MCU instructions and DSP instructions. This may again be achieved by several ways. The first way is to add a coprocessor to an MCU so that the coprocessor may perform DSP instructions. The second is to design the MCU instruction to include the DSP instruction. The third is to design the DSP instruction to have enough orthogonal characteristics to partake with the MCU instructions. Though these ways provide a single chip processor having both DSP and MCU functions, the problem is that the processor is achieved by using two separate instruction sets. When the MCU and DSP instructions are not properly unified through the coprocessor, it is hard to determine whether the MCU or DSP instruction may be used when preparing the codes that belong to the intermediate zone between MCU and DSP. In addition, the existence of both MCU and DSP instructions increases the number of instructions, so that it becomes difficult for the compiler to effectively compile all of the instructions. Especially, it is important to use an instruction with a small bit-width for the program size stored into the embedded memory of the processor. However, it is hard to minimize the code size with the small bit-width instruction because of many kinds of the instructions contained in both DSP and MCU instruction sets. Moreover, the separate DSP and MCU instructions make it difficult to effectively use the resources of the processor. Namely, both the resources for DSP and MCU are not commonly occupied and wasted.
Secondly, a processor may be made using the superscalar method to perform multiple instructions in a single cycle, or the VLIW (Very Long Instruction Word) method. In the ordinary MCU instruction, there are many cases where the program code size is reduced to improve the performance. But, in case of a DSP, it is more effective that the instructions contained in the repeated loop are optimized instead of reducing the code size to improve the performance, for the DSP program usually contains many repeated loops, which are only parts of the overall code of the program but take a considerable part of the execution time. In a DSP, a considerable part of the instructions is allocated for the instructions frequently used in such loop as MAC (multiplication and accumulation). The MAC instruction is designed to execute an addition, a multiplication and two data loadings. Such instructions to improve the performance of DSP may correspond with a combination of several simple MCU instructions in many cases. In connection with an MCU, the instruction constituting a large part of the code need be more effectively designed to simply reduce the code size, but a DSP may be improved in performance by increasing the instructions to execute several operations in a single cycle. Considering both of these cases, the instruction set may be designed to execute several instructions in a single cycle with such simple instructions as a RISC, which both reduces the program code size of an MCU and improves the performance of a DSP. This leads to another kind of unified processor achieved by applying the superscalar or VLIW method.
The superscalar method is to schedule by means of hardware (processor) what instructions would be simultaneously executed and in what order the instructions are executed. The processor according to this method is programed as an MCU, so that at least four instructions must be executed at once in order to achieve the performance of a DSP with the MCU instructions. Scheduling this, the hardware suffers a very large overhead, so that the processor is hardly achieved with low cost and low power consumption.
The VLIW method has no such drawbacks as the previous method because the scheduling is made by the compiler, so that a small hardware may execute several instructions at once. However, the VLIW instruction has non-scheduled portions containing NOP (No-OPeration) instructions, increasing the code size and thus the bit-width of the program memory. Hence, where the program memory is not included in the processor chip, an external memory bus must be constructed with a large bit-width, increasing the production cost.
Besides all such problems accompanying the design of the unified processor by using the conventional methods, there occurs a problem owing to the structural difference between the data buses of a DSP and an MCU. Generally, an MCU is suitable for applications requiring many real-time computations and controls because it has a large memory region and performs 32 bit integer operation. However, it is sufficient for DSP to make 16 bit fixed point operation. This is the reason that DSP with a 16 bit bus width is unified with an MCU with 32 bit bus width to achieve the unified processor. In this case, the final bus width is constructed to accommodate 32 bits, so that DSP uses only 16 bits of the 32 bit bus, wasting the remaining resources.

System for fetching unit instructions and multi instructions from memories of different bit widths and converting unit instructions to multi instructions by adding NOP instructions


Methods of preparing a gelled dried sweetened products comprise the steps in sequence of: providing a hot fluid gelable base blend at near finish % solids, and depositing the fluid gelable base blend into shaped cavities. The present methods can further comprise the steps of rapidly curing the base blend to form gelled shaped pieces; and, separating the gelled shaped pieces from the shaped cavities to form quantities of shaped pieces. Depositing a gelable base blend at near finish solids content is possible by completely hydrating any gel hydrocolloids prior to addition to other wet and dry ingredients.

The present invention relates to improved food products and to their methods of preparation. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for preparing confectionery gelled food products, especially fruit based.
The present invention provides an improvement in gelled food products such as prepared by starch molding and to their methods of preparation. In particular, the present invention comprises depositing a gelable fluid mixture at or near finish moisture into shaped starch cavities. The present invention provides product preparation methods that importantly comprise shorter residence times during curing than in conventional starch molding techniques by eliminating or at least greatly reducing drying required for obtaining the finished products.
Wholesome snacks prepared from sweetened intermediate moisture shelf stable fruit or xe2x80x9cfruit snacksxe2x80x9d herein have recently become popular food items. These compositions are sold in various physical forms and shapes such as: 1) in rolled sheet form; 2) in rolled strip form; 3) in string form mounted on a U-board; 4) soft center filled pieces, and 5) in gelled bite size pieces of various shapes or in gelled bite size piece form prepared by starch molding.
Generally, these products are prepared from wet mixtures of the various fruit materials and added ingredients that are dried to desired moisture contents. The dehydrated compositions are formed into articles of desired shapes and sizes. In other variations, all or a portion of the fruit material is substituted with pure sugars. Such low fruit, high sugar formulations can be flavored with fruit flavors and/or other flavors. Within this general similarity, however, the particular methods of preparation, product formulations and apparatus used to prepare particular products vary considerably. Moreover, such variations are highly interdependent. Formulations and method steps suitable for one product form might or might not be suitable for another product form due to the processing difficulties, or desired end product attributes such as shape or texture.
Particularly popular products are in rolled sheet form such as are sold under the Fruit Roll-Ups brand. Popular products rolled strip form are sold under the Fruit By The Foot brand (see also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,053 entitled xe2x80x9cRolled Food Itemxe2x80x9d issued Oct. 3, 1995). Food products in string form mounted on a U-board are sold under the String Thing(trademark) mark while other products in bite size pieces of various shapes are sold under various brands. (See, for example, commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,268 entitled xe2x80x9cEmbossed Shape-Food Itemxe2x80x9d issued Aug. 24, 1999 to Zimmermann et al.). Soft center filled pieces products are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,236 entitled xe2x80x9cDual Textured Food Piece Of Enhanced Stability Using An Oil In Water EMULSIONxe2x80x9d (issued Mar. 18, 1988 to Langler et al.) while apparatus and fabrication methods therefor are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,059 entitled xe2x80x9cDual Textured Food Piece Fabrication Apparatusxe2x80x9d (issued Jun. 10, 1992 to Dubowik et al.).
In particular, the present invention provides further improvements in the gelled food products in bite size pieces and their starch molding methods of preparation taught in related commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,557 entitled xe2x80x9cGel Products Fortified With Calcium And Method Of Preparationxe2x80x9d (issued Jun. 20, 2000 to Gordon et al.) and which is incorporated herein by reference. In that application, a calcium slurry is prepared and is added to other materials such as sugars and fruit purees to form a calcium bearing fluid gelable blend or slurry. The calcium bearing gelable blend is then further processed such as by forming that blend into shaped pieces by adding to shaped cavities in starch moulds and curing and drying to form finished calcium fortified gelled food pieces.
Also, the present invention further provides an improvement towards an alternative to that calcium slurry such as is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Ser. No. 09/596,512 entitled xe2x80x9cGel Products Fortified With Calcium And Methods Of Preparationxe2x80x9d (filed Jun. 19, 2000 by Gordon et al.) and which is incorporated herein by reference.
In each of the ""557 patent and U.S. Ser. No. 09/596,512, the gelable calcium bearing compositions are formed into pieces, and cured by conventional starch molding. The curing step involves the formation of the gel structure of the gelling agents, and optional heating of the products to remove excess moisture and eventual cooling down of the products to form a gel that is able to withhold its individual shape. The conventional starch molding step is practiced with extended curing time ranging from about 16 to 48 hours. While a gel structure forms early in the curing step, the lengthy duration is required by the need for substantial moisture removal from the gel into the starch.
However, in the present invention, by virtue of the present improved deposition of a gelable fluid at near finish moisture contents, the starch molding curing times can be substantially reduced.
These dried fruit products are especially popular with children, particularly as snack or convenience foods. To continue to appeal to children, manufacturers must introduce frequent changes to such products. For example, the shapes of the products can be changed to employ currently popular character shapes such as from a movie, television show, cartoons, etc. An advantage of starch molding is that such shape changes can be made quickly, cheaply, and easily.
In starch molding, shapes are stamped into a bed of starch forming cavities by a shaped die or tamper. A gelable fluid mixture is then charged to the cavities and is allowed to cure to harden and to dry to form thereby gelled food products.
One problem, however, with starch molding is that holding times for curing are lengthy and can generally range from one to several days. After curing the shaped pieces are removed from the starch. Large quantities of product, starch and holding rooms and equipment are required to provide such lengthy holding times.
Thus, it would be desirable to reduce starch molding curing times. One approach to reducing curing times is simply to increase the solids content of the fluid gelable mixture being deposited so as to reduce degree of the drying required and thus to reduce the curing time. However, increasing the solids content can also increase the viscosity of the fluid mixture, which in turn can impair the ability to properly fill the starch cavities, and thus lead to product shape defects. The mixture can also be prone to premature gelling causing fouling and other processing and starch cavity mould filling problems. Often such problems are due to inadequate hydration of one or more gelling agents or inadequate mixing of the composition due to restrictions on moisture usage.
In view of the current state of the gelled food art, there is a continuing need for new and improved formulations and methods for preparing gelled shaped food products.
The present invention satisfies this need by providing methods for preparing such starch molded gelled bite size dried fruit products that are characterized by reduced or even no drying and thus reduced curing times. In part, the present invention involves providing a gelable sweetened fruit fluid slurry of increased solids intermediate product that nonetheless (has lower or comparable viscosities) that allows for successful starch molding.
In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide methods for preparing fortified sweetened dried gelled fruit compositions having reduced cure times.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide high solids content gelable food slurry product intermediates useful in the preparation of gelled food products.
Still another objective is to provide techniques and methods for providing such high solids gelable fluid intermediate products.
It has been surprisingly discovered that the above objectives can be realized and superior dried sweetened fruit preparation methods provided by preparing a high solids content gelable fluid by the herein described techniques that requires minimal curing times whether by reducing setting and/or drying times. The present invention further provides novel methods of preparation of such gel products characterized by reductions or elimination of drying times or by reductions or elimination of setting times.

Gel products forming system and methods of preparation


A new and improved apparatus is disclosed for reminding people to water a house plant. A user would hang a house plant from an eye hook located at the bottom of the bottom of the present invention, and an included readout would indicate when a user would need to water the house plant. The top half of the readout would be red and would not be visible when the houseplant would have sufficient water. The lower half of the readout would be green and would be visible through the bottom of the apparatus when the would have sufficient water. However, the top half of the readout would start to become visible through a transparent central portion of the apparatus when the houseplant would need to be watered. At the same time, the bottom half of the readout would be pulled into the apparatus and would gradually disappear as the need for water for the houseplant would increase.

The present invention is that of a new and improved apparatus for reminding people to water a house plant.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,731, issued to Wesolowski, discloses an apparatus for watering a plant while it is supported in an elevated position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,494, issued to Spelt, discloses a fluid control apparatus for controlling water supply to a potted plant and a main valve responsive to weight of the potted plant.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,764, issued to Nucci, discloses a spring scale which is adapted to weigh containers carrying fluids.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,315,784, issued to Henehan, discloses a device for rotating a hanging plant to keep it from growing lopsided.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,869, issued to Dawson, discloses suspension or hanger bars, particularly a weight-responsive hanger bar which is pivotable to indicate changes in weight of the suspended object.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,831, issued to Gallo, discloses a watering indicator for hanging plants including two support elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,625, issued to Loeb, discloses an apparatus having a spring biased shaft which provides vertical support to a hanging plant container.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,578, issued to Gallo, discloses a moisture gauge for a hanging potted plant, which comprises a generally U-shaped spring element.
The present invention is that of a new and improved apparatus for reminding people to water a house plant. A user would hang a house plant from an eye hook located at the bottom of the bottom of the present invention, and an included readout would indicate when a user would need to water the house plant. The top half of the readout would be red and would not be visible when the houseplant would have sufficient water. The lower half of the readout would be green and would be visible through the bottom of the apparatus when the would have sufficient water. However, the top half of the readout would start to become visible through a transparent central portion of the apparatus when the houseplant would need to be watered. At the same time, the bottom half of the readout would be pulled into the apparatus and would gradually disappear as the need for water for the houseplant would increase.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of an apparatus for reminding people to water a house plant in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the apparatus for reminding people to water a house plant that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the apparatus for reminding people to water a house plant in detail, it is to be understood that the apparatus for reminding people to water a house plant is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The apparatus for reminding people to water a house plant is capable of other embodiments and being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present apparatus for reminding people to water a house plant. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regard as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for reminding people to water a house plant which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for reminding people to water a house plant which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for reminding people to water a house plant which is of durable and reliable construction.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for reminding people to water a house plant which is economically affordable and available for the buying public.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and appended claims.

Notification apparatus for watering houseplants


An optical fiber connector includes a wedge for gripping one or more buffered optical fibers. The wedge comprises a body portion having an opening that extends through it from one end to the other through a longitudinal axis of the wedge for receiving the pair of optical fibers contained within a cable. The wedge further includes a pair of flexible cantilevers that extend from one end of the body portion along a direction that is parallel to the longitudinal axis. Each cantilever includes an inner surface that faces the inner surface of the other cantilever, and each inner surface includes an like number of grooves that are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the wedge. The grooves grip the pair of buffered optical fibers when compressed by crimping a surrounding bushing, and thereby restrain the optical fibers from being pulled back into the cable during handling. The cantilevers are symmetrically positioned on opposite sides of a plane which contains the longitudinal axis of the wedge.

The use of optical fibers in communication systems is growing at an unprecedented rate. Low loss optical fibers which are produced by any of several techniques may be stranded into cables, or enclosed individually in a jacket and used in the transmission of large amounts of information which is typically binary (i.e., on/off pulses). An optical fiber comprises a thin glass fiber which has been processed to confine light along its longitudinal axis, and then enclosed within one or more layers of a protective coating material that cushions the glass fiber against severe bending and protects it from contaminants such as water vapor to preserve its inherently high tensile strength. In some applications, no additional jacketing is applied to the individual fibers; however, in other applications is it necessary to add a buffer material around each coated fiber. In these situations, a layer of nylon or polyvinylchloride, for example, is extruded around the individual optical fibers to form what is known as a "buffered optical fiber." In most interconnection cable applications, one or more of these buffered fibers is combined with strength members of various types and covered with a polymer jacket or sheath.
In optical fiber connectors, particularly duplex connectors which are used for making connections to a pair of optical fibers, it is necessary to provide a force transfer system at the cable-entrance end of the connector to hold strength members of the cable in such a manner that tensile forces on the cable are transferred to the housing of the connector. These tensile forces are also coupled to the optical fiber(s) which reside in the cable and, without proper restraint, will pull the fibers from the connector back into the cable. Such shortening of the fibers inside the connector case can cause high-stress bending where the fiber is joined to a plug assembly thereby causing a decrease in long-term reliability.
A known technique for immobilizing buffered fibers within a duplex optical fiber connector utilizes a cylindrical rubber grommet which is secured within the connector housing. Epoxy is applied to prevent the grommet itself from moving due to exposure to high/low temperature extremes. The grommet includes three openings that are arrayed in a triangular pattern and extend between opposite ends of the grommet along a direction that is parallel to its central axis. Two of the openings are grooved to facilitate gripping the buffered fiber. The remaining opening is smooth and receives a metal pin which, when inserted, causes the grooved openings to compress around the buffered fibers to hold them securely. And while this technique is useful for immobilizing buffered fibers within an optical fiber connector, it is somewhat expensive, it requires careful manual assembly, and adhesive materials must be handled and cured.
What is needed, and what is not supplied by the prior art, is a force transfer system for use within a connector that grips one or more optical fibers in a manner which is cost effective, easy to assemble, and preferably avoids the use of adhesives.

Force transfer system for an optical fiber connector


An apparatus provides a virtual display in an environment for various applications including avionic, naval, military, remote control, medical and other applications. The apparatus includes a camera and a processor system. The processor system for provides the virtual display using an orientation of the head sensed from a camera image. The camera image includes a marker image associated with a fixed marker disposed in the environment. The virtual display includes a virtual panel and an image panel from the camera.

The present specification relates generally to the field of displays. More specifically, the specification relates to virtual displays.
Virtual displays can provide information that is viewable in virtual space for a user of equipment, such as robotic equipment, remote vehicles, unmanned vehicle systems (UVSs), aircraft, ships, boats, naval craft, medical equipment, training simulators, entertainment systems, military equipment, land vehicles, etc. The information can include equipment parameters, location information, video information, remote views, etc.
Virtual displays can utilize Head Mounted Displays (HMDs) (e.g., helmet mounted displays and head worn displays) to provide images to an operator or user (e.g., a pilot in a cockpit). In aircraft applications, HMDs generally include visors, combiners, optical projection elements, an image source, and a head orientation sensor. The image source provides an image which is projected to a combiner to provide a collimated image to the pilot. The image can include enhanced vision images, targeting data, flight instrument data, synthetic vision images, head up display (HUD) data, etc.
Conventional HMDs, such as those used on modern fighters, use a complex head orientation sensor to coordinate the image provided to the pilot with respect to the view within and outside the cockpit. However, complex orientation sensors are expensive, tolerance limited, bulky, require calibration, and can be inaccurate.
Video games, computers, and entertainment systems have used cameras to track body position and body movement. The body position and body movement are used to move characters in the game environment, and/or to provide hands free computing, three dimensional modeling, virtual reality, and computer aided design. In one application, Free Track software available under the GNU General Public License can be used with inexpensive off-body cameras and fixed light patterns on the head to track head movements using a four point pose estimation algorithm or a three point geometric algorithm. In another application, the Vuzix® augmented reality system uses a camera mounted on eyewear to provide an augmented reality display.
Thus, there is a need for a low cost, lightweight head orientation sensing system for virtual display. There is also a need for a head orientation sensing method which can be used with an HMD and does not require a complex orientation sensor. There is further a need for a head orientation sensor system and method that can be easily integrated in the design of a virtual display without requiring extra display space. There is further a need for a virtual display having a lower cost. There is also a need for a virtual display system and method that is optimized for use in a cockpit environment.

System for and method of providing a virtual cockpit, control panel, or dashboard using augmented reality


A water actuated toy kitchen set includes a housing having an interior cavity therein supported by a support base. A sink includes a depressible faucet together with a sink well and drain coupling. A dishwasher cavity supports a slidable dishwasher tray, a spray head, a return drain and a pivotable dishwasher door having a transparent window therein. A pressure responsive bellows is operatively coupled to the dishwasher spray head and controls the vertical position of one or more simulated toast slices within a toaster which appears to rest upon the counter top of the kitchen set. A battery-operated pump and pump motor is operatively coupled to a switch mechanism actuated by depressing the faucet to pump water under pressure through the faucet as well as through the dishwasher spray head. Recirculating paths are provided for the pump water to maintain a continuous recycled water flow. A plurality of miniature dishes, preferably coated with a thermochromic material, are supported within a movable dish rack supported within the dishwasher.

One of the more popular groups of toys which have been provided through the years are those generally referred as kitchen toys. Kitchen toys, which are made popular in part by the tendency of young girls to seek to mimic the activities of their parents in the kitchen areas during cooking or other activities, have assumed a variety of shapes and structures. Such kitchen toys have included miniature stoves, refrigerators or other kitchen appliances. Some of these kitchen appliances have included operative features intended to impart a reasonable degree of realistic action to increase the enjoyment on the part of the child user. Other types of kitchen toys have included various miniaturized cooking utensils and other objects generally found about the typical kitchen.
Other related and often similar types of toys include those operating in response to water or water flow. Such toys have included miniature tub and shower facilities as well as replicas of laundry facilities or the like. In many cases, the replicas of tubs, showers or laundry toys have been directed at use with cooperating dolls and doll clothing.
Faced with the continuing need for evermore realistic childrens' toys, practitioners in the art have endeavored to impart realism to their kitchen toys and similar articles. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,101 issued to Tomita sets forth a TOY KITCHEN ASSEMBLY in which a toy stove assembly includes a housing member configured to simulate a stove having an upper burner portion. A cooking vessel includes an aperture false bottom connected to a conduit that extends to the exterior of the cooking vessel. Pressurized air is generated and connected to the conduit such that air can be introduced into the cooking vessel to simulate boiling of any liquid substance within the cooking vessel. A toy kitchen sink may be included with the stove assembly utilizing the pressurized air to provide water pressure.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,997,807 issued to Woron sets forth a TOY TOASTER having a generally rectangular housing defining a pair of toast receiving slots on the upper surface thereof. A spring loaded toast carrier is vertically movable within the rectangular enclosure to provide movement of simulated bread within the toy toaster corresponding to toast popping up.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,765,120 issued to Waak sets forth a TOY TOASTER including a housing supporting a mechanism having a presettable spring actuated timing device which is operative when a lever is depressed to lower simulated slices of bread through a pair of upper slots into the toy toaster housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,846,933 issued to Hill, et al. sets forth a PNEUMATIC TOY STOVE ACCESSORY in which a simulated toy stove is provided with a source of pressurized air. A simulated burner receives the pressurized air and couples it to a simulated uncooked food item such as a pie, cake or the like having a simulated crust or other portion made from a stretchable diaphragm. As the pressurized air builds within the simulated dish, the simulated crust becomes distended and rises simulating the action of a crust in a cooking dish.
U.S. Pat. No. Des.152,185 issued to Barr sets forth a COMBINED TOY SINK WATER DISPENSER AND RECEIVER comprising a miniaturized sink of the type found within a bathroom having a faucet attached thereto and a mirror cabinet supported on the back portion thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,341,034 issued to Tsui, et al. sets forth a TOY WASHING MACHINE having a cabinet including a toy opening and an internally supported tub. A rotatable agitator is supported in a movable fashion within the tub and is driven by an agitating mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,001 issued to Meyer, et al. sets forth a DOLL SHOWER AND BUBBLEBATH DEVICE simulating a shower or bath facility. The device includes a base tub portion having an upstanding post supporting a shower head which includes a spray nozzle. The nozzle is supplied with water through a conduit in response to a bellows-like pump which operates in combination with a check valve to pump water in a recycling fashion from the tub through the conduit and thence from the shower nozzle.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,842,531 issued to Sloan sets forth an AMUSEMENT DEVICE for providing the visual effect of a doll figure being showered. The doll is mounted within an enclosure chamber having partially transparent walls. Water is showered downwardly upon the doll figure under the urging of gravity from an upper reservoir through a nozzle in the upper portion of the fixture.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,015,828 issued to Beebe sets forth a SPRAY BATH having a simulated bathtub together with a recirculating pump which provides a pressurized liquid stream to a flexible hose terminating in a spray nozzle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,643 issued to Hippely, et al. sets forth a TOY VEHICLE WITH THERMOCHROMIC MATERIAL in which a toy vehicle is painted with a thermochromic paint to provide a variety of patterns, designs and the like which change color in response to temperature variations.
While the foregoing described prior art devices have provided entertaining and often amusing toys for use by younger children, there remains a continuing need in the art for evermore improved and realistic childrens' kitchen set type toys.


A unidirectional acoustic probe including a high-performance interconnection network, and a method of manufacturing such a probe. The unidirectional acoustic probe includes linear piezoelectric transducers on the surface of a dielectric film. The dielectric film includes a connection device to electrically connect the piezoelectric transducers to a control device. The connection device includes primary connection pads, facing the piezoelectric transducers, secondary connection pads, offset with respect to the piezoelectric transducers, so that the transducers can be connected to the control device, and conducting tracks connecting the primary connection pads to the secondary connection pads. The conducting tracks are in a direction perpendicular to the direction defined by a major axis of the piezoelectric transducers.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is that of probes including a set of emitting and/or receiving elements obtained by cutting from a transducer block. Such probes are currently used especially in applications such as echography. More specifically, the invention relates to unidirectional acoustic probes, including linear elements which can be excited independently of each other by virtue of an interconnection network connected to a control circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
One method of producing these probes consists first of all in producing an assembly of a printed circuit including an interconnection network/layer of piezoelectric material/acoustic matching plates, then in cutting out the individual piezoelectric elements. International application WO 97/17145 filed by the applicant describes such a method and more particularly a method of manufacturing a probe using a printed circuit on which conducting tracks are produced, making it possible to address the various acoustic elements.
FIG. 1 actually illustrates more specifically a piezoelectric material 13 assembled to acoustic matching plates Li1 and Li2, said material being cut in two perpendicular directions by the standard sawcuts Ti and Tj. A flexible printed circuit 12 includes conducting tracks PI and vias, at least part of one and the same via being positioned on a conducting track and on a metallization Mi of associated piezoelectric material. In this configuration, linear acoustic pathways are defined parallel to the lines Tj, each acoustic pathway being subdivided into a subpathway defined parallel to the lines Ti. When the previously described assembly is produced, the probe is shaped, an operation making it possible to produce curved probes which are particularly sought in the echography field. To this end, the printed circuit including its individual acoustic elements may be adhesively bonded to the surface of a solid absorbing material having a curved surface. The flexible printed circuit is then folded over the edges of the ceramic and of the absorber as illustrated in FIG. 2. The acoustic pathways defined parallel to the axis X, are also parallel to the tracks PI, the printed circuit and conducting track assembly is, on the one hand, placed on the surface of the absorber ABS and, on the other hand, folded back vertically over the sides A and At of said absorber for reasons of compactness. In this configuration, the tracks are thus folded at 90° with a sharp angle which tends to weaken them or even break them.

Unidirectional acoustic probe and method for making same


Thermoplastic container (1) which after filling and sealing is able to withstand without any substantial deformation to an internal pressure lower than atmospheric pressure, comprising a body (2) with substantially cylindrical upper (3) and lower (4) parts and an intermediate part (5) having a curvilinear triangular cross section and comprising three main faces (6a, 6b, 6c) joined by three edges (7a, 7b, 7c); these edges are rounded, having continuous curvature, joined tangentially to the main faces and have radii of curvature (ra, rb, rc) comprised between approximately 5% and 35% of the largest dimension (D) of the cross section of the lower part (3); the main faces have radii of curvature (Ra, Rb, Rc) greater than the largest dimension (D) of the cross section of the lower part (3).

From document FR 2,906,224, a container as indicated above is known, which is arranged with each of the edges shaped in the form of a groove that opens outwards and comprises a bottom which has a reversed curvature with its convexity directed outwards. However, this arrangement reflects a concern for the purely mechanical reinforcement of the edges: for applications distributed in very large numbers, such as bottled water for example, the cost of containers must be reduced to a minimum, which means that each container has the thinnest possible walls even in the edge zones; if these walls become deformed, for example when the rounded faces of the body are subjected to a force directed radially inwards (particularly when the container is grasped in the hand), the edges "break", in other words they deform in an angular, inflexible manner and are unable to resume their original shape. But such an arrangement does not allow a container of this type to be produced, which after filling and sealing is able to withstand without any substantial deformation to an internal pressure lower than atmospheric pressure, in particular after filling with a hot liquid.
Admittedly, from document WO 2005/123517 a container is known the edges of which are in a projecting shape, each comprising a rounded wall portion flanked by two columns, in order to avoid any deformation of the edges when the container is filled with a hot liquid. However, the bulges thus formed between the rounded faces of the body do not give the container an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
It must also be noted, as regards the container known from document FR 2,906,224, that although the appearance can be considered aesthetically better than that of document WO 2005/123517, nevertheless the edge zones also have reliefs (in this case sunken) which are not always favourably received in practice.
Furthermore, for the two above-mentioned types of containers, the relatively complex shape of the body thus constituted, with its projecting or sunken reliefs in the edge zones, requires lengthy and therefore costly machining of the blow mould.
Finally, the presence of these reliefs in the edge zones makes affixing a label or similar more difficult and the latter less robust and more easily detached or torn.

Thermoplastic container in particular a bottle having a partially prismatic triangular body


A system and computer-implemented method is used for operating a crane on an offshore unit on which entities (e.g., personnel and/or equipment) operate. A dimensional map of the unit is created so locations of the entities can be tracked in the dimensional map of the unit. For example, wireless monitoring is received from wireless devices associated with both the entities and the offshore unit to perform the tracking. Dynamic operating parameters of the crane are also obtained while the crane is operating on the unit. These parameters can be received remotely from the crane. A programmable control device calculates a lifting zone that moves dynamically in the dimensional map based on the parameters, detect a conflict of a tracked location interfering with the zone, and outputs the detected conflict for appropriate action.

On an offshore drilling rig or other platform, a number of personnel may be performing different functions at various locations. At the same time, equipment may be moved, and various operations may be conducted in various areas on the platform. One piece of equipment commonly used on a platform is a crane, which is used for lifting and moving equipment (e.g., pipe stands, generators, wellhead components, etc.) on the platform, unloading supply vessels, and the like. As will be appreciated, being able to identify and track personnel in real time during operations of a crane or other equipment on the platform can be very useful.
The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.

System and method for remote crane operations on offshore unit


The aqueous hair and body treatment composition, containing 0.001 to 0.1 percent by weight hinokitol and 0.01 to 0.1 percent by weight heliotropin, has excellent germ inhibiting or germ killing action, is well tolerated physiologically and can be used alone or in combination with additional fragrant components.

The invention relates to an aqueous hair and body treatment composition containing a combination of (a) hinokitiol and (b) heliotropin.
As a rule, hair and body treatment compositions contain a preservative which should effectively protect the composition from infection by microorganisms, as well as fragrances to give a pleasant aroma to the compositions.
When preservatives are used in hair and body treatment compositions, conflicting demands are made on them. On the one hand, they should be well tolerated in physiological and dermatological respects. On the other hand, they should have a good germ inhibiting or even germ killing action. Usually, the two demands can be reconciled only with difficulty.
Preservatives commonly used in hair and body treatment compositions are e.g. formaldehyde (a), 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane (b), p-hydroxybenzoic acid ester (c), 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether (d), 5-chloro-2-methyl-3-isothiazolone (e), 2-methyl-3-isothiazolone (f), and 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (g).
Certain preservatives such as formaldehyde and 2-methyl-3-isothiazolone are currently suspected of being insufficiently tolerated. Aldehydes and phenols having a preservative action are known to react with proteins or to interact with them in a denaturing manner. Aldehydes carry the additional risk of sensitization.
Another risk which argues against the use of such preservatives is the danger of nitrosamine formation. In preservatives containing nitro groups ((b) + (g)), this risk is particularly high when they are used together with other nitrogen-containing components of the cosmetic composition.
For this reason, an increasing number of consumers show a desire for hair and body treatment compositions which do not contain the preservatives mentioned above and which have, in addition, a pleasant and stable aroma.
Repeated attempts have already been made to replace the conventional preservatives with new substances with improved physiological tolerability, but none of the new compounds were able to satisfy all requirements.
For example, in the present Applicant's EP-OS 0 346 582 it was suggested to use cosmetic alcohols, e.g. ethanol, propanol or isopropanol, for preserving anionic hair care emulsions. However, a disadvantage consists in that at least 9 percent by weight alcohol is required for sufficient preservation, which can impair the stability of the emulsion.
It is also known from the literature in the field, e.g. B. Ziolkowsky, "Konservierung kosmetischer Mittel [Preservation of Cosmetic Compositions]", in Seifen-Ol-Fette-Wachse [Soaps, Oils, Fats and Waxes] 112 (10), pages 355 to 364, to use hinokitiol for preserving cosmetic compositions. However, it is noted that hinokitiol is also not suitable in higher concentrations for preserving oil-in-water emulsions. In view of the high price of hinokitiol, the use of higher concentrations also appears impractical on economic grounds.
Heliotropin, one of the principle substituents of elderberry fragrance, is likewise poorly suited for preserving cosmetic compositions, since more than 0.5 percent by weight heliotropin is required for sufficient preservation, which results in a serious impairment of the aroma of the cosmetic composition.


A biometric authentication system has a terminal which extracts and encodes feature data for authentication from acquired biometric information, and which transmits the encoded feature data for authentication. The system has a DB for storing encrypted authentication information, a search unit which searches for encrypted authentication information included in the DB, and a decryption unit which decrypts the encrypted authentication information searched for using encoded feature data for authentication as a decryption key. Accordingly, a user is uniquely identified using the obtained authentication information. Further, a processing unit performs authentication response processing with respect to the identified user, based on authentication information obtained by decryption. Thus, authentication is implemented without limiting user and terminal combinations, without reconfiguring a service server, and without requiring a user to enter an ID or present a card at the terminal, when a user utilizes existing services from one or plural terminals.

The present invention relates to a system that performs processes such as authentication, encryption, and signature based on biometric information specific to an individual person.
Along with evolution of information technology (IT) in all sectors of society, it is becoming increasingly important to identify and authenticate a user reliably in various scenes such as ATMs in banks, online banking, credit card payment, Web services, entering and leaving management, attendance management, use of hotels and members' facilities, etc. Conventionally, an identification and authentication method using a password, an ID card, or the like, has predominated. However, there are an increasing number of victims of identity theft by a password list attack, card counterfeiting, etc. and expectations are raised for a biometric authentication technology that identifies and authenticates an individual person based on biometric information such as fingerprints, veins, faces, and irises as a more reliable and convenient means for authentication.
With an increase in the number of systems and services that a person uses, the number of IDs, passwords, and cards that one user must manage increases accordingly and this reduces convenience; additionally, there arises a problem in which security decreases, such as recycling the same password and an increase in a risk of card theft and counterfeiting.
Because of this background, attempts are proposed to make a variety of services available only by undergoing biometric authentication; for example, UAF standards formulated by FIDO Alliance define a protocol in which, if biometric authentication is successful at a user terminal (smartphone, PC, etc.), a challenge-response authentication based on a public key encryption technology is performed between the terminal and a server through the use of a secret key within the terminal. A user should register his or her biometric information with his or her terminal beforehand, create a pair of his or her secret key and a public key for each service (e.g., Online Payment, Netbanking, etc.), and register the secret key with the terminal and the public key with each service server; subsequently, the user can utilize each service only by presenting the biometric information to his or her terminal. In this method, however, a user is required to pre-register his or her biometric information and a secret key per service with a terminal. Hence, FIDO assumes a way of use in which a user owns one or two terminals and access to each service is only made from this terminal(s) owned by the user. However, in a way of use in which one or plural terminals are shared by plural users or many and unspecified users at ATMs and POS terminals and in an office, a college, or the like and in a case where one user owns many terminals or a case where one user renews a terminal frequently, the FIDO/UAF method poses a problem in which operation for registration is complicated (reducing convenience) and a problem of increasing the risk of leakage of highly confidential and sensitive information, i.e., biometric information and secret keys (safety decreases).
Meanwhile, a technology called biometric encryption draws attention as a technology that protects biometric information that has been registered and stored and reduces the risk of leakage considerably. When registering biometric information, the biometric encryption extracts a feature metric X from the biometric information and adds random number information R to X, which is a kind of processing to conceal the feature metric X, thus creating data H which is called auxiliary information. The auxiliary information H is stored in, inter alia, a user terminal. When authentication is performed, a feature metric X′ is extracted from newly acquired biometric information and R′ is restored by executing restoration processing for auxiliary information H using X′. When and only when X′ is sufficiently close to X, correct random number information is to be restored (R=R′). Moreover, an algorithm is designed so that estimating X and R from H is sufficiently difficult, unless knowing X′ that is sufficiently close to X. By registration and matching check of a value of R or a hash value of R, authentication can be accomplished with the feature metric X extracted from the registered biometric information remaining concealed; besides, by regarding a value of R or a hash value of R as a secret key and executing processes of data encryption and decryption and generating electronic signature, encryption/decryption and electronic signature based on biometric information can be implemented without holding a secret key directly.
In combination of biometric encryption with the FIDO/UAF standards, a user is not required to store biometric information and a secret key in his or her terminal and, instead, auxiliary information H is only required to be stored. This enables it to reduce the risk of leakage of biometric information and secret keys. However, given that the above combination is applied to the way of use in which when one or plural terminals are shared by plural users or many and unspecified users, the problem in which operation for registration is complicated (reducing convenience) is still left unsolved. Furthermore, random number information R restoration processing in biometric encryption may require complicated calculation such as error correction processing and cryptographic processing and there is also a problem in which, considering the amount of calculation, it is difficult to execute restoration processing for auxiliary information relevant to a large number of users within a terminal having limited calculation capability.
Furthermore, authentication based on FIDO/UAF can be utilized only with a service server compliant with the FIDO/UAF standards. Biometric encryption can also be utilized only with a service server with its specific authentication functionality installed therein. Hence, for a variety of existing online services that use exiting authentication means such as password authentication and PKI authentication, utilizing a service only by undergoing biometric authentication without reconfiguring a server cannot be implemented by the foregoing technologies.

1:N biometric authentication, encryption, signature system


The present invention is directed at an electronic lock assembly which uses a simplified locking mechanism, which is operable by a suitably programmed electronic key. The invention is directed to a cylinder type locking mechanism wherein a solenoid and plunger is provided to electronically lock and unlock a key cylinder, thereby allowing rotation of the key cylinder for unlocking of a locking mechanism when a suitably programmed electronic key is used in connection with the mechanism. A side bar and retaining spring engage the cylinder plug to prevent rotation thereof in the locked position with the side bar contacted by the plunger of the solenoid to prevent the side bar from moving until an authorized key is used to unlock the mechanism.

In many environments, such as apartment houses, multi-family dwellings, condominiums or the like, the transient nature of residents present problems in using conventional locking mechanisms in association with a door having a latch which is operable from both sides of the door by means of a handle or the like. In such environments, keys usable to unlock conventional lockable latching mechanisms are easily replicated, thereby potentially compromising the security provided by the lockable latching mechanism. As tenants or occupants move from such an environment, a key or copy of the key can be retained, though the former tenant or occupant is no longer entitled to access thereto. Similarly, if maintenance or repair procedures require access by other personnel, maintaining security may again be compromised if keys are duplicated or not returned by the repair or maintenance personnel. Thus, security standards in such environments may require that the lock be removed in its entirety and replaced, or the lockable latching mechanism is swapped with another mechanism from another unit to ensure security. Another alternative is to have the lockable latching mechanism re-keyed such that the previous key will not operate the mechanism. In each of these situations, the replacement, re-keying or swapping of the lockable latching mechanism is costly, both in terms of expense and/or personnel resources, and/or presents a time consuming and inefficient process for ensuring security.
Attempts have therefore been made to provide enhanced security by providing an electronic lock which employs a programmable processor which can be programmed to only allow operation of the lock if a valid key is used. Thus, when a tenant moves from a premises, the electronic lock can simply be reprogrammed so that the old key will not operate the lock, thereby eliminating the need to replace or re-key the lock. Although electronic locks using card readers, key pads or contact activated data ports are known, various deficiencies in such electronic lock assemblies have been found, and such systems have generally been cost prohibitive or complex, thereby limiting widespread use in such environments.
Based upon the foregoing, the present invention is directed at an electronic lock assembly which uses a simplified locking mechanism, which is operable by a suitably programmed electronic key. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an electronic lock mechanism which can be manufactured simply, is reliable in use, and is cost-effective to facilitate use in suitable environments, and to avoid the need to re-key or replace existing lock mechanisms while providing enhanced security.
The invention is directed to a cylinder type locking mechanism wherein a solenoid and plunger is provided to electronically lock and unlock a key cylinder, thereby allowing rotation of the key cylinder for unlocking of a locking mechanism when a suitably programmed electronic key is used in connection with the mechanism. A side bar and retaining spring engage the cylinder plug to prevent rotation thereof in the locked position with the side bar contacted by the plunger of the solenoid to prevent the side bar from moving until an authorized key is used to unlock the mechanism.
These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Side bar plunger and solenoid cylinder locking mechanism


A structure for removably attaching a heat sink to an electronic package. At least one heat sink engaging member engages a surface of the heat sink opposite a surface of the heat sink engaging the electronic package. At least two heat sink retaining clips extend from opposite sides of the at least one heat sink engaging member. Each retaining clip includes a first arm for extending past a side of the heat sink and a portion of the electronic package and a second arm extending from the first member for engaging the electronic package.

Typically, electronic devices, such as semiconductor chips are attached or mounted to various structures to facilitate their installation in a machine, such as a computer. For example, a chip may be mounted on a lead frame, chip support, or other such structure that may ultimately be interconnected with a circuit board or circuit card. A part of the packaging often includes a heat sink to dissipate heat generated by operation of the chip or other semiconductor device.
As chip density and speed of integrated circuit chips increases, chips often require high performance surface mount packages assembled very close to each other on circuit cards. These packages dissipate heat and, since they are packed very close to each other, they become hot. One of the most commonly used methods of cooling package is to attach heat sinks to the packages.

Structure for removably attaching a heat sink to surface mount packages

International Business Machines Corporation


A gap-fill or caulking composition, comprising one or more fluid polythioether polymers having reactive terminal groups, blended with hollow spheres coated with an inert electroconductive metal or metal nitride, which provide excellent chemical bonding with graphite composite surfaces, aluminum surfaces, including composite aluminum surfaces, and with epoxy, polyurethane, and acrylic primed surfaces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel polythioether/filler compositions in which the polythioether is a liquid which is curable at room temperature to form an elastomer having terminal groups which chemically bond to metallic surfaces such as aluminum alloy and aluminum composite surfaces, and/or to epoxy primer coatings applied to such surfaces. Such compositions are well suited for use in filling gaps, cracks or other narrow spaces in metallic, polymeric, composite and/or epoxy, polyurethane, or acrylic-primed surfaces since they are light in weight, they bond to such surfaces during curing at room temperatures as well as at elevated temperatures, they provide improved filler properties at very low temperatures, and they form smooth rubbery deposits having excellent water resistance and corrosion resistance, expansion-and-contraction properties and resistance to cracking.
2. Discussion of the Known Art
Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,366,307, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference, for its disclosure of polythioether/filler compositions in which the polythioether is a liquid polymer which is curable at room temperature to form an elastomer having terminal vulcanizable or reactive groups such as silyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, mercapto and/or other reactive groups. The compositions of the Patent can contain amounts of filler, such as carbon-black, and are disclosed for use as water-, solvent-, fuel- and temperature-resistant sealants.
Various other polythioether liquid polymers are known which are curable at room temperatures to form rubbery solids which can contain fillers as colorants, conductivity particles, etc. While such compositions display better adhesive properties for metallic surfaces and better resistance to cracking than other gap-filling or caulking compositions, such as those based upon polyurethanes, silicone sealing polymers or other conventional binder materials used in caulking and gap-filling compositions, they present problems with respect to their use as binder materials for electroconductive fillers in gap-filler compositions.
Conventional polythioether/conductive filler compositions contain metallic powders, particles, or flakes, such as of nickel, to render the cured compositions electroconductive and heat-conductive. However, such metal particles, powders, and flakes render the gap-filler composition non-flowable or so slowly-flowable when used in the amounts necessary to impart sufficient conductivity, that the composition does not level when applied to cracks and gaps, such as over metal or composite surfaces, prior to solidification. This necessitates the additional step of sanding the gap or crack fill areas to render them level or coplanar with the surface areas.
In addition, the sanding of such composition is so hazardous to the health, due to the possible inhalation of the metal-containing dust, as to be prohibited by many safety regulatory agencies or to be permitted only with the use of masks or ventilation equipment.


Disclosed herein is a photographic camera having an integral flash unit which illuminates object space through the camera's viewfinder. According to a preferred embodiment, light from an energized flashlamp mounted within the camera interior is reflected into object space by means of a mirror which is pivotally mounted in the camera's viewfinder. Prior to shutter release, the mirror is stored in a position to allow normal use of the viewfinder. In response to actuation of the camera's shutter release mechanism, the mirror pivots to a position on the optical path of the viewfinder, whereupon it reflects light emanating from the flashlamp through the front of the viewfinder and into object space.

The present invention relates to photographic cameras which include, as an integral part, a flash unit for momentarily illuminating objects to be photographed. More particularly, the invention relates to a camera in which light from an integral flash unit is directed into object space through the camera's viewfinder.
Generally speaking, electronic flash units of the type used with photographic still cameras are either of an accessory nature, being detachably coupled to the top or the side of the camera housing, or of an integral nature, being built-in to the camera housing. Examples of cameras having accessory and integral flash units are respectively disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,437,021 and 3,357,328.
While cameras having integral flash units are usually less bulky and, hence, less cumbersome to use and carry than cameras requiring accessory-type flash units, they are nevertheless considerably bulkier than cameras having no flash capability. The reason for this increased bulk is that it has been common heretofore to position the unit's flashlamp and its associated optical elements on the front surface of the camera housing. Since these elements consume space, the camera housing must be of a size to accommodate them. Added to the disadvantage of the increased bulk, the placement of a flash unit on the front surface of the camera housing often detracts from the aesthetic appearance of the camera. In these days of ever-increasing interest in minimizing camera bulk and streamlining camera design, it would be desirable for a camera having an integral flash unit to be no bulkier than and be as streamlined as a camera without flash capability.
To satisfy the above desire, some cameras embodying integral flash units store the flash unit out of sight within the camera housing. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,153,355 issued on May 8, 1979, a camera is disclosed having an integral flash unit which is slidably mounted on the camera housing for movement between a retracted position with the camera housing and a pop-up position outside the housing. In its retracted position, the flashlamp is inoperable and hidden from sight; in its pop-up position, the flashlamp is in an exposed position to illuminate the scene. When not being used, cameras of this type are only slightly bulkier than similar cameras having no flash capability; in use, however, the flashlamp is located where it can be mishandled and damaged, or worse yet, can cause injury to the camera user.
In addition to the aforementioned disadvantages, cameras embodying integral flash units are particularly subject to the so-called "finger-over flash" failure. As cameras become increasingly smaller in size, proper handling of the camera at the time of exposure becomes more critical. Human factors engineers report that a substantial percentage of underexposed photographs is caused by an obstruction in the optical path of the flashlamp. Typically, this obstruction is the photographer's finger which, during the picture composing period, becomes inadvertently moved to an obstructing position. It would be desirable, therefore, for a camera user to be able to detect such an obstruction prior to shutter actuation so that he can take corrective measures.


An extendible multi-frame stand includes at least three frames arranged in a telescoping relationship, having a single coherent alignment and locking mechanism which includes alignment means for preventing relative rotation between the first and second frames, alignment means for preventing relative rotation between the second and third frames, means for locking the second and third frames at the limits of their longitudinal extension positions, and cam-operated releasable locking means for controlling extension and retraction of the second and third frames relative to each other and to the first frame.

Copending application Ser. No. 07/503,297, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,089 issued May 5, 1992, shows an extendible jack stand including a first or bottom frame, second and third elongated upper frames that are normally arranged in telescoping relationship, and releasable locking means that is cam-actuated for automatically locking or unlocking the third frame relative to the second frame. The releasable locking means is quiescent while the third frame is being raised or extended, but when the third frame reaches its limit of extension is cam-actuated to automatically lock the third frame to the second. During retraction, the second frame remains locked to the third frame until the second frame has been fully retracted into the first frame.
As shown in the copending application, it is desirable to maintain the relative rotational alignment of the frames so that none will rotate about its longitudinal axis relative to another, and also to positively lock the adjacent frames at their limits of longitudinal movement relative to each other so that they cannot be inadvertently pulled apart.
Experience has shown that in certain situations the locking action both for rotational alignment and for the limits of extension needs to be very positive; for example, where a misalignment between the associated power unit and the jack stand has occurred, the power unit might overpower the jack stand and pull it apart, unless it is very positively locked.
Thus it is important to achieve optimum operation of the alignment means for preventing relative rotation of the frames; of the locks for limiting the longitudinal extension positions of the frames; and of the releasable locking means that automatically locks or unlocks the third frame relative to the second frame.

Alignment and locking mechanism for extendible jack stand


In general, techniques are described for dynamically controlling host-bound traffic by dynamically adding and updating, within the forwarding plane of a network device, network packet policers that each constrains, for one or more packet flows, an amount of host-bound traffic of the packet flows permitted to reach the control plane in accordance with available resources. In one example, a control plane of the network device detects internal congestion in the communication path from the forwarding plane to control plane (the “host-bound path”), identifies packet flows utilizing an excessive amount of host-bound path resources, computes limits for the identified packet flows, and adds “penalty-box policers” configured with the computed limits for the identified packet flows to the forwarding plane. The forwarding plane subsequently applies the policers to the identified packet flows to constrain the amount of traffic of the packet flows allowed to reach the control plane to the computed limits.

A computer network is a collection of interconnected computing devices that can exchange data and share resources. Example network devices include layer two devices that operate within the second layer of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model, i.e., the data link layer, and layer three devices that operate within the third layer of the OSI reference model, i.e., the network layer. Network devices within computer networks often include a control unit that provides control plane functionality for the network device and forwarding units for routing or switching data units. In some cases, for example, a network device may include a plurality of forwarding units and a switch fabric that collectively provide a forwarding plane for forwarding network packets.
For example, the control plane functions provided by the control unit of a router include storing network topologies in the form of a routing information base (RIB), executing routing protocols to communicate with peer routing devices to maintain and update the RIB, providing a management interface to allow user access and configuration of the network device, responding to Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) requests, and/or other control plane functions. Thus, in addition to receiving and processing network packets destined for other network devices, including end-user devices, application servers, database servers, routers, and so forth, a network device also receives network packets directed to the network device itself. The control plane receives these "host-bound" packets (collectively, host-bound traffic) from the forwarding plane and processes the host-bound traffic to carry out control plane functions.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Penalty-box policers for network device control plane protection


Disclosed is a new process for preparing bevantolol hydrochloride suitable for industrial production in which bevantolol hydrochloride can be obtained in a high yield and HVA of an expensive material can be recovered. The process for the preparation of bevantolol hydrochloride comprises the steps of: causing 3-(m-tolyloxy)-1,2-epoxypropane (TOEP) to react with .beta.-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethylamine (HVA) of excess mole per mole of said TOEP; dissolving the reaction mixture in a halogenated hydrocarbon to give a solution; mixing the solution with hydrochloric acid; separating an organic layer from the resulting mixture; and obtaining 1-[(3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl)amino]-3-(m-tolyloxy)-2-propanol hydrochloride from the organic layer.

It is known that hydrochloride of bevantolol represented by the following formula (1): ##STR1## shows cardio-selective .beta.-receptor blocking action (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,891, Japanese Patent Publication No. 52(1977)-33621, Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. (1985) -246351) .
A process for the preparation of above bevantolol is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 52(1977)-33621, in which 3-(m-tolyloxy)-1,2-epoxypropane (TOEP) and .beta.-(3,4 -dimethoxyphenyl) ethylamine (HVA) are caused to react in equimolar amounts at 0 to 150.degree. C. for 10 minutes to 24 hours. This publication has no description as to yield of the desired compound. However, in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 60(1985)-246351, it is described that a trace experiment of Example 2 of the above U.S. Patent results in a yield of not more than 50 % though the yield is variable (page 7, left upper column, lines 2 to 3 in the publication). The reason of such low yield is considered as follows:
When 3-(m-tolyloxy)-1,2-epoxypropane (hereinafter referred to as TOEP) represented by the following formula (2): ##STR2## reacts with .beta.-(3,4 -dimethoxyphenyl) ethylamine (hereinafter referred to as HVA) represented by the following formula (3): ##STR3## to give bevantolol of the above formula (1), the resultant bevantolol further reacts with TOEP of the starting material to produce a by-product represented by the following formula (4): ##STR4## Such consumption of the produced bevantolol causes its low yield.
Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 60(1985)-246351 discloses a process for preparing bevantolol comprising the steps of bringing the compound of the above formula (2) into contact with the compound of the above formula (3) in equimolar amounts, and adding a small amount of a seed of bevantolol to the reaction mixture. In the process, the obtained bevantolol is taken off from the reaction mixture by the addition of the seed for crystallization and the produced bevantolol is kept from reacting with TOEP of the starting material. By the procedure, it is intended that a yield of the bevantolol is increased. However, the process needs a long period of time in the adding procedure and the mixing procedure (Example 2 of the above-mentioned publication describes that it takes a period of time of not shorter than 100 hours from the mixing of starting materials to obtaining bevantolol). Further, the initial contact between TOEP and HVA is required to perform under cooling.

Process for preparation of bevantolol hydrochloride


The invention relates to a drive control means, in particular for controlling a windscreen wiper drive of a motor vehicle, having a first interface and a second interface, wherein, after receiving control information via the first interface, the drive control means is arranged to configure itself in a master role and to output control information via the second interface in order to control a further drive control means.

The invention relates to a drive control means, in particular for controlling a windscreen wiper drive of a motor vehicle.
Motor vehicles have windscreen wipers in order to clear moisture and dirt from the window panes of the motor vehicle. A windscreen wiper comprises a drive, a wiper arm and a wiper blade. The drive transmits an oscillating movement to the wiper arm, which guides the wiper blade across the window pane. Windscreens of passenger cars are normally equipped with two adjacent wipers. In order to avoid a mechanical connection between the wiper arms of both windscreen wipers, each windscreen wiper can have its own drive associated therewith, wherein the drives are synchronized in order to prevent a collision of the wiper arms or respectively the wiper blades and in order to maintain a predetermined sequence of movement of the windscreen wipers. Each of the drives comprises a control means associated therewith. Depending upon the configuration of the entire windshield wiper system, one of the control means in the role of the "master" defines the movement to be performed by both of the wiper arms and transmits certain items of movement information to the other control means, which in the role of the "slave" follows this lead. Both control means furthermore control the drives associated with them.
The aim of the invention is to provide a drive control means, which allows for a dynamic association of the roles in a two wiper system.

Windscreen wiper drive control system and method