An attractive and versatile storage table which can be interposed between seating units at several angles. It can serve as an arm rest to seating units. The ability to shift between several different angles allows reconfiguration of a seating arrangement to adjust to different room dimensions and focal points. The adjustable storage table includes a generally wedged shaped base and a top surface having a front edge, a back edge, a right edge and a left edge, the right and left edge of which define about a 15 degree angle, a right leaf having a left edge hingedly connected near the right edge of the top surface and having a right leaf edge defining about a 15 degree angle with respect to the left hingedly connected edge is provided on the right side. A right leaf support including a horizontal rail, and a rearwardly mounted leg on the horizontal rail, the rail being hingedly connected to a front vertical support which in turn is hingedly connected to the forward edge of the wedge-shaped base about a first and second pivot access is also provided. A left leaf and leaf support, which are substantially mirror images of the right leaf and its support, are provided.

The present invention relates to a furniture component and in particular relates to a storage table which may be interposed between seating units which are situated at an angle to each other.
Furniture components which provide attractive and comfortable seating are often times separated by tables which are both functional and have a complementary appearance. Typically, such tables would offer either parallel, spaced-apart sides designed to abut the ends of seating units or alternatively, perpendicular sides which could abut the ends of seating units arranged perpendicular to each other with adjoining front corners (i.e. corner table). Such tables tend to limit the alternative arrangements which can be achieved with combinations of seating units and tables and therefore, severely limit versatility in furniture arrangements.
In modern times, motion furniture (i.e. recliners and incliners) have been used extensively in the furniture field. The arrangement of multiple units of motion furniture within a room is additionally limited by the necessity to provide adequate simultaneous deployment space for the ottoman portion of such furniture. Specifically, arrangements of motion furniture on perpendicular sides of an interposed table (i.e. a corner table) typically are considered inappropriate since deployment of one ottoman unit will preclude deployment of the second ottoman unit.
Thus, there is an existing need for a table adapted for interposition between seating units, particularly motion furniture seating units which offers a variety of angles between the motion furniture seating units while additionally providing appropriate spacing to allow simultaneous deployment of ottoman units of motion furniture situated adjacent to each side of the table.


A single sensing unit having two electrodes with a common thermal reference is positioned near the centroid of the inertial mass of a differential inductive accelerometer. As the mass is displaced a first sensor detects an increase in inductance while a second sensor detects a decrease in inductance. Significantly, the first and second sensors share a common thermal reference eliminating any thermal differential. As the sensor system is closely aligned with the centroid of the inertial mass the sensor system of the present invention reduces or eliminates any systemic error.

Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate, in general, to accelerometers, and more particularly to a thermally balanced differential accelerometer.
Relevant Background
Accelerometers are widely used in many different application areas such as geophysical surveying, imagery, navigation, medicine, automotive, aerospace, consumer electronics and the like. These sensors detect acceleration using a fundamental application of Newton's Second Law of Motion, Force (F) is equal to Mass (m) multiplied by Acceleration (a) (F=Ma). Early accelerometer mechanisms were comprised of little more than an internal mass (m), a system that suspends the mass along an axis of interest (a sensitivity axis) and a pointer with a graduated scale to read out acceleration, typically in units of gravity (g). As the mass accelerates along the axis of sensitivity the springs are displaced. When one knows the mass of the object and the force exhibited by the displacement of the springs, he or she can determine the acceleration of the mass.
Although it has been refined and miniaturized this fundamental arrangement is still used in many of today's most advanced accelerometers. This is true even for the most widely produced class of accelerometers that are based on MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) technologies. Accelerometers of this type are used in consumer products ranging from automobiles to the latest generations of hand held telephones.
MEMS are separate and distinct from the hypothetical vision of molecular nanotechnology or molecular electronics. MEMS are made up of components that are between 1 to 100 micrometers in size (i.e. 0.001 to 0.1 mm). MEMS devices generally range in size from 20 micrometers (20 millionths of a meter) to a millimeter (i.e. 0.02 to 1.0 mm). They usually consist of a central unit that processes data (the microprocessor) and several components that interact with the surroundings such as micro-sensors. At these size scales, the standard constructs of classical physics are not always useful. For example, because MEMS have a large surface area to volume ratio, surface effects (such as electrostatics and wetting) are more dominant than volume effects (such as inertia or thermal mass).
In a typical MEMS accelerometer, as would be known to one of reasonable skill in the relevant art, the main the systems use some sort of pick-off sensor to produce an electronic signal that is proportional to acceleration. A typical arrangement of the most modern devices, such as the 3-axis accelerometer, is shown in FIG. 1. These sensors typically detect acceleration by measuring a change of position of a proof mass, for example, by a change in the associate capacitance.
In the device depicted in FIG. 1 the stationary fingers 110 are actually long thin beams used to sense the motion of the inertial mass 120 through changes in capacitance. The inertial mass 120 is suspended from a substrate by a plurality of anchors 140 using flexible legs or arms 145. As the inertial mass is displaced, one can determine the force to deform the flexible legs 145 and thereafter determined the acceleration. In this example, this displacement is measured by variance in capacitance. Each stationary finger 110 forms one plate of a variable capacitor, while the nearest protruding fingers 130 from the inertial mass 120 forms the other plate. The net capacitance for a given stationary finger is a function of the area of overlap of the two plates and the separation distance between them. For a typical MEMS type accelerometer this equates to approximately 2×10-15 farads. Therefore, in order to achieve a practical amount of capacitance it is necessary to have around forty stationary fingers arranged along each side of the inertial mass.
Measurement noise and range may vary for different applications of such sensors. Most accelerometers do not perform well at very low levels of acceleration as they are limited by inherent noise and drift in their electronics. However, as refinements occur in the ability to control and compensate noise and electronic drift, the normal inconsequential physical limitations and effects begin to dominate performance. The MEMS physical arrangement of the position sensor and inertial mass of accelerometers of the prior art typically neglects small-scale sources of error, such as thermal gradients and they lack any sort of thermal-reference plane. As a result, there are no known MEMS capacitance type accelerometers that can achieve thermal stability. One or more embodiments of the present invention address these and other deficiencies of the prior art.
Additional advantages and novel features of this invention shall be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following specification or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities, combinations, compositions, and methods particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Thermally balanced differential accelerometer


An adjustable running board comprising an elongated deck having an integrated first end-cap and an underlying support frame in which clamping bolts may be slideably positioned. The elongated deck may be cut to the length required for installation on a particular vehicle. A mounting shoulder on a second end-cap is bolted to the underlying support frame forming the running board assembly.

This invention is directed to a running board for various cars and sport utility vehicles. The running board is adjustable in length by means of a detachable molded plastic end cap. The end cap is designed to appear non-detachable, but does detach to allow the running boards to be cut to any length to fit most any sport utility vehicle ("SUV"), truck, van or the like. Once the running board has been cut to the desired length, the end cap is re-attached to give the board its finished look.
An object of this invention is to provide an adjustable running board that may fit many different vehicles. The benefit to the installer of these running boards is that they do not have to stock a plurality of different size running boards to service their customers.
Previous attempts have been made to provide novel running boards such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,035 to Waddington et al. ('035 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,049 to Khan ('049 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,567 to Michanczyk ('567 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,494 to Elwell ('494 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,991 to Gorsuch ('991 patent); all of which are incorporate herein by reference.
The '035 patent to Waddington et al. describes a multi-part running board assembly comprising a longitudinally extending deck overlapped by a decorative overlay. The ends of the deck are overlapped by two end-caps. The perceived benefit of the '035 patent is that the decorative overlay hides the mounting bolts and the end caps prevent dirt and mud from collecting on the running board itself However, the '035 patent does not provide for an adjustable deck. Preset apertures in the deck are used to bolt the end caps on either side. Should the deck in the '035 patent be cut to accommodate a differently dimensioned vehicle, the end-caps could not be secured to the deck. Therefore, the running board in the '035 patent requires prefabrication in different lengths for different vehicles types.
The '049 patent to Khan describes a vehicle running board assembly utilizing vinyl end-caps attached to a metal running board. The perceived novelty of the '049 patent is the use of longitudinally spaced brackets connected between the underside of the deck and the vehicle frame. The mounting method described for securing the end-caps is a pin and post arrangement. However, this arrangement is structurally weak and does not provide a one-piece appearance to the running board itself.
The '567 patent to Michanczyk describes a running board for vehicles having a plurality of mounting bars attached to the vehicle's frame and a cantilever system for supporting the structure. The patent also describes a vertical cover panel for illumination of the platform. The running board of the '567 is not adjustable to varying length vehicles.
The '494 patent to Elwell describes a running board having a series of lighting elements disposed within a cavity on the outside end of the running board. However, the running board of the '494 patent may not be adjusted to the varying lengths of different vehicles.
The '991 patent to Gorsuch describes a lighted running board having quick-change clips whereby burned-out lights may be quickly replaced. The running board of the '991 patent may not be adjusted to the varying lengths of different vehicles.
Consequently, there is a need in the art for an aesthetically pleasing running board that may be adjusted to fit different vehicles yet possesses good structural integrity.
There is a further need in the art for an adjustable length running board that may be lighted on one or both ends for added safety and improved appearance.
There is a further need in the art for a one-size-fits-all running board that may be manufactured in volume cycles thereby lowering the per unit cost to the manufacturer, reseller and the consumer.
However, in view of the prior art in at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could be fulfilled.


A polishing apparatus for polishing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer has a reduced height compared with conventional polishing apparatuses. The height reduction is achieved by disposing a drive motor for rotating a top ring below a turntable, and by making a swing shaft for loading/unloading of the workpiece hollow to accommodate a rotating shaft for transmitting rotation from the motor to the top ring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polishing apparatus, and more particularly to a polishing apparatus for polishing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat and mirror polished surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent rapid progress in semiconductor device integration demands smaller and smaller wiring patterns or interconnections and also narrower spaces between interconnections with connect active areas. One of the processes available for forming such interconnection is photolithography. Although the photolithographic process can form interconnections that are at most 0.5 .mu.m wide, it requires that surfaces on which pattern images are to be focused on by a stepper be as flat as possible because the depth of focus of the optical system is relatively small.
It is therefore necessary to make the surfaces of semiconductor wafers flat for photolithography. One customary way of flattening the surfaces of semiconductor wafers is to polish them with a polishing apparatus.
Such a polishing apparatus has a turntable and a top ring which rotate at respective individual speeds. An abrasive cloth is mounted on the upper surface of the turntable. A workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer to be polished is placed on the abrasive cloth and clamped between the top ring and the turntable. During operation, the top ring exerts a constant pressure on the turntable, and an abrasive solution is supplied from a nozzle over the abrasive cloth. The abrasive solution enters the gap between the abrasive cloth and the workpiece. The surface of the workpiece held against the abrasive cloth is therefore polished while the top ring and the turntable are rotating.
One known polishing apparatus of the above-described type is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-46308. The polishing apparatus has a turntable with an abrasive cloth mounted thereon and is supported by a vertical shaft below the turntable, and the shaft is driven by a driving mechanism. A top ring holding a wafer to be polished is positioned above the turntable, and the wafer is pressed against the abrasive cloth by the vertical moving mechanism of the top ring. The pressing force against the wafer is provided by a pneumatic cylinder of the vertical moving mechanism. Also, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 6-99348 discloses another structure of a polishing apparatus.
FIG. 4 shows an example of a structure of a conventional polishing apparatus including a turntable 1 having an abrasive cloth mounted thereon, a turntable driving mechanism (not shown) for rotating the turntable 1 about the turntable support axis, a top ring 2 which holds a wafer to be polished and is positioned above the polishing position of the turntable 1, a top ring rotating mechanism which rotates a top ring shaft 21 via a top ring support member 16, and a top ring pressing mechanism 14 for pressing the top ring 2 holding the wafer against the turntable 1.
The top ring 2 is provided with shaft 21 extending upwards from the center of the top ring 2, and this shaft 21 is driven to rotate by means of a belt 13 which is coupled to a motor 6 disposed on the support member 16 which holds the top ring 2 in place. The support member 16 is provided with a cylinder forming mechanism 14 for providing a vertical movement of the top ring 2 so as to press down the top ring 2 onto the turntable 1 and a counterweight 17. There is also a mechanism for swinging the top ring 2 away from the turntable 1 for loading/unloading of a wafer. The support member 16 holding the top ring 2 is made to swing by rotating drive shaft 4 by means of gears 8, 9 driven by a motor 7. Bearing 22 disposed on the stationary base 3 freely rotatably supports the shaft 4. Therefore, the top ring 2 cannot only rotate about the shaft 21, but can also swing about the swing shaft 4.
As shown in FIG. 4, the conventional polishing apparatus described above has the top ring swing mechanism (motor 7) positioned below the turntable, however the top ring rotation mechanism (motor 6) is positioned above the turntable, and the top ring rotation mechanism and the top ring pressing mechanism also are positioned well above the top ring. The result is that the overall height of the polishing apparatus becomes large, leading to problems such as a difficulty of installing the polishing apparatus into a cleanroom. Furthermore, dust particles generated by the motor 6 are prone to fall on the turntable 1 to cause wafer quality problems, and mist scattered from an abrasive solution on the abrasive cloth often causes malfunctioning of the motor 6.


A transformer-based power conversion system includes a primary coil is provided in a current path that includes a single energy switch. An oscillator is coupled to a control input of the energy switch. The design conserves switch-based losses as compared to prior designs because a single switch is provided in a current path occupied by the primary coil. The design also provides improved conversion efficiency because parasitic capacitances associated with the energy switch cooperate with charge transfers generated by the oscillator.

The present invention relates to electrical isolators in which microtransformers provide power transfer from a first isolator loop to a second isolator loop.
The use of microtransformers for power transfer is disclosed, for example in US Patent Application Publication 2006/0120115 A1 by the present inventor, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Such power conversion systems include a power transformer that causes power transfer between a powered primary circuit loop and an otherwise unpowered secondary circuit loop. The power transformer is a member of a switch controlled, oscillating tank circuit that ideally operates at high frequency to maintain efficiency. In the known designs, at least two cross-coupled switches are needed to maintain a sustainable oscillation. The tank switching frequency is limited by the size of the switches and the inductance for the windings of the power transformers. The parasitic capacitance increases as the switch size increases and can limit the tank switching frequency.
A feedback path is provided between the circuit loops to regulate operation of the primary circuit loop to ensure that the power delivered to the secondary circuit loop remains within predetermined norms. The feedback path includes a feedback switch, which is included in a current path from a supply voltage (VDD) to the tank. This feedback switch causes undesirable power dissipation in the circuit. Moreover, the feedback path typically operates at a frequency much lower than the desired switching frequency of the tank circuit.
Power conversion efficiency and power conservation are important considerations for power converter systems. Accordingly, the inventors identified a need in the art for a microtransformer-based power conversion system that increases tank switching frequency over known systems and reduces switch-based losses.

High frequency power converter based on transformers


A papermaking process comprising forming an aqueous cellulosic papermaking slurry and adding a cationic polymer and an anionic polymer to the slurry to increase retention and/or drainage is disclosed. The anionic polymer comprises a formaldehyde condensate of a naphthalene sulfonic acid salt (NSF) with a molecular weight range of 500 to 120,000, while the cationic polymer has a molecular weight range of from 500,000 to 20 million. After addition of the polymers, the slurry is drained to form a sheet, and the sheet is dried.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the technical field of papermaking, and more particularly in the technical field of wet-end additives to papermaking furnish.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the manufacture of paper an aqueous cellulosic suspension or slurry is formed into a paper sheet. The cellulosic slurry is generally diluted to a consistency (percent dry weight of solids in the slurry) of less than 1 percent, and often below 0.5 percent ahead of the paper machine, while the finished sheet must have less than 6 weight percent water. Hence, the dewatering aspects of papermaking are extremely important to the efficiency and cost of the manufacture.
The least costly dewatering method is drainage, and thereafter more expensive methods are used, for instance vacuum pressing, felt blanket blotting and pressing, evaporation and the like, and any combination of such methods. Since drainage is both the first dewatering method employed and the least expensive, improvement in the efficiency of drainage will decrease the amount of water required to be removed by other methods and improve the overall efficiency of dewatering and reduce the cost thereof.
Another aspect of papermaking that is extremely important to the efficiency and cost of manufacture is retention of furnish components on and within the fiber mat being formed during papermaking. A papermaking furnish contains particles that range in size from about the 2 to 3 millimeter size of cellulosic fibers to fillers measuring only a few microns. Within this range are cellulosic fines, mineral fillers (employed to increase opacity, brightness and other paper characteristics) and other small particles that generally, without the inclusion of one or more retention aids, would pass through the spaces (pores) between the cellulosic fibers in the fiber mat being formed.
One method of improving the retention of cellulosic fines, mineral fillers and other furnish components on the fiber mat is the use of a coagulant/flocculant system, added ahead of the paper machine. In such a system there is first added to the furnish a coagulant, for instance a low molecular weight cationic synthetic polymer or a cationic starch, which coagulant generally reduces the negative surface charges present on the particles in the furnish, particularly cellulosic fines and mineral fillers, and thereby agglomerates such particles. The coagulant is followed by the addition of a flocculant. The flocculant is generally a high molecular weight anionic synthetic polymer which bridges the particles and/or agglomerates, from one surface to another, binding the particles into large agglomerates. The presence of such large agglomerates in the furnish increases retention The agglomerates are filtered out of the water onto the fiber web, where unagglomerated particles otherwise would to a great extent pass.
While a flocculated agglomerate generally does not interfere with the drainage of the fiber mat to the extent that would occur if the furnish were gelled or contained an amount of gelatinous material, when such flocs are filtered by the fiber web the pores thereof are reduced, thus reducing drainage efficiency. Hence, the retention is increased at the expense of decreasing drainage.
Another system employed to provide an improved combination of retention and dewatering is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,753,710 and 4,913,775, inventors Langley et al., issued respectively Jun. 28, 1988 and Apr. 3, 1990, the disclosures of which are incorporated hereinto by reference. In brief, such method adds to the aqueous cellulosic papermaking suspension first a high molecular weight linear cationic polymer before shearing the suspension, followed by the addition of bentonite after shearing. The shearing generally is provided by one or more of the cleaning, mixing and pumping stages of the papermaking process, and the shearing breaks down the large flocs formed by the high molecular weight polymer into microflocs, and further agglomeration then ensues with the addition of the bentonite clay particles.
Another system uses the combination of cationic starch followed by colloidal silica to increase the amount of material retained on the web by charge neutralization and adsorption of smaller agglomerates. This system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,150, inventors Sunden et all, issued Jun. 14, 1983.
Dewatering generally, and particularly dewatering by drainage, is improved when the pores of the paper web are less plugged, and it is believed that retention by adsorption in comparison to retention by filtration reduces pore plugging.
Greater retention of fines and fillers permits a reduction in the cellulosic fiber content of the paper being formed. As pulps of less quality are employed to reduce papermaking costs, the retention aspect of papermaking becomes more important because the fines content of such lower quality pulps is generally greater than that of pulps of higher quality.
Greater retention of fines, fillers and other slurry components reduces the amount of such substances lost to the white water and hence reduces the amount of material waste, the cost of waste disposal and the adverse environmental effects therefrom.
Another important characteristic of a given papermaking process is the formation of the paper sheet produced. Formation is determined by the variance in light transmission within a paper sheet, and a high variance is indicative of poor formation. As retention increases to a high level, for instance a retention level of 80 or 90 percent, the formation parameter generally abruptly declines from good formation to poor formation. It is believed that as the retention mechanisms of a given papermaking process shift from filtration to adsorption, the deleterious effect on formation, as high retention levels are achieved, will diminish, and a good combination of high retention with good formation is attributed to the use ofbentonite in U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,775.
It is generally desirable to reduce the amount of material employed in a papermaking process for a given purpose, without diminishing the result sought. Such add-on reductions may realize both a material cost savings and handling and processing benefits.
It is also desirable to use additives that can be delivered to the paper machine without undue problems. An additive that is difficult to dissolve, slurry or otherwise disperse in the aqueous medium may require expensive equipment to feed it to the paper machine. When difficulties in delivery to the paper machine are encountered, the additive is often maintained in aqueous slurry form by virtue of high energy input equipment. In contrast, additives that are easily dissolved or dispersed in water require less energy and expense and their uniformity of feed is more reliable.
The treatment of an aqueous cellulosic slurry with a cationic polymer followed by shear, preferably a high degree of shear, is a wet-end treatment in itself known in the field, for instance as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,753,710 and 4,913,775, inventors Langley et al., issued respectively Jun. 28, 1988, and Apr. 3, 1990, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The present invention departs from the disclosures of these patents in the use of a low molecular weight anionic polymer after the shear, instead of bentonite. Also, it has been found in this case that equivalent or greater activity can be found by reversing the order of addition of the compounds, i.e., introducing the anionic polymer prior to the cationic polymer.
As described in the Langley patents, paper or paper board is generally made from a suspension or slurry of cellulosic material in an aqueous medium, which slurry is subjected to one or more shear stages, which stages generally are a cleaning stage, a mixing stage and a pumping stage, and thereafter the suspension is drained to form a sheet, which sheet is then dried to the desired, and generally low, water concentration. As disclosed in these patents, the cationic polymer generally has a molecular weight of at least 500,000, and preferably the molecular weight is above 1,000,000 and may be above 5,000,000, for instance in the range of from 10 to 30 million or higher. The cationic polymer is substantially linear; it may be wholly linear or it can be slightly cross linked provided its structure is still substantially linear in comparison with the globular structure of cationic starch. Preferably the cationic polymer has a relatively high charge density of for instance about 0.2 and preferably at least about 0.35, and most preferably about 0.4 to 2.5 or higher, equivalents of cationic nitrogen per kilogram of polymer. When the polymer is formed by polymerization of cationic, ethylenically unsaturated monomer, optionally with other monomers, the amount of cationic monomer will normally be above 2 mole percent and usually above 5 mole percent, and preferably above 10 mole percent, based on the total moles of monomer used in forming the polymer. The amount of the cationic polymer employed in the process, in the absence of any substantial amount of cationic binder, is typically at least 0.005 percent based on dry weight of the slurry, and preferably 0.6 percent in the substantial absence of cationic binder and 0.5 percent in the presence of cationic binder, same basis, which is from 1.1 to 10 times, and usually 3 to 6 times, the amount of cationic polymer that would be used in conventional (dual polymer) processes, and hence is considered "an excess amount" of cationic polymer. The cationic polymer is preferably added to thin stock, preferably cellulosic slurry having a consistency of 2 percent or less, and at most 3 percent. The cationic polymer may be added to prediluted slurry, or may be added to a slurry together with the dilution water.
Also as described in aforesaid patents, the use of the excess amount of synthetic cationic polymeric flocculant is believed necessary to ensure that the subsequent shearing results in the formation of microflocs which contain or carry sufficient cationic polymer to render at least parts of their surfaces cationically charged, although it is not necessary to render the whole slurry cationic. Thus the Zeta potential of the slurry, after the addition of the cationic polymer and after the shear stage, may be cationic or anionic.
The present invention shows that low molecular weight cationic polymers may be used in conjunction with the anionic polymer of U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,520, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,520 the cationic polymer is limited to a molecular weight of 1,000,000 and higher.


A control device may comprise a plurality of buttons, a plurality of light sources located behind the respective buttons and configured to illuminate the buttons, a light detector circuit configured to measure an ambient light level around the control device, and/or a control circuit configured to control the light sources to adjust surface illumination intensities of the respective buttons in response to the measured ambient light level. Each button may comprise indicia indicating a function of the button. The control circuit set the first button as active and the second button as inactive in response to an actuation of the first button. The control circuit may, based on the measured ambient light level, control the light sources to illuminate the first button to an active surface illumination intensity, and to illuminate the second button to an inactive surface illumination intensity that is less than the active surface illumination intensity.

Home automation systems, which have become increasing popular, may be used by homeowners to integrate and control multiple electrical and/or electronic devices in their house. For example, a homeowner may connect appliances, lights, blinds, thermostats, cable or satellite boxes, security systems, telecommunication systems, and the like to each other via a wireless network. The homeowner may control these devices using a controller, a remote control device (e.g., such as a wall-mounted keypad), and/or a user interface provided via a phone, a tablet, a computer, or the like directly connected to the network or remotely connected via the Internet. These devices may communicate with each other and the controller to, for example, improve their efficiency, their convenience, and/or their usability.
The user interface used to control the multiple electrical and/or electronic devices may provide backlighting that indicates which button is selected and which button(s) are unselected. However, the intensity of this backlighting may be inconsistent when viewed in various light levels. For example, the user may be able to easily distinguish between the selected and unselected buttons in higher light level situations, but it may be difficult to distinguish between the selected and unselected buttons in low light level situations, or vice versa. As such, a need exists to for systems and methods that provide for automatically adjustable backlighting that, for example, is based on the current ambient lighting conditions in the space.

Control device having buttons with automatically adjustable backlighting


An apparatus for testing mobile phones of the type having a protruding antenna includes an air chamber which provides radio frequency shielding and which surrounds the mobile phone under test, a radio equipment automated testing circuit, an antenna mounted within the air chamber which includes a hollow cylinder of electrically insulating material for surrounding a portion of the protruding antenna during testing, a thin, electrically conductive film mounted on a surface of the hollow cylinder, the film including a first band portion extending in a circumferential direction entirely around a peripheral surface of the hollow cylinder, a finger portion extending from the first band portion in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the hollow cylinder, the finger portion tapering to a point at a location furtherest from the band portion, and a second band portion having a width that is smaller than the width of the first band portion, and extending from the point of the finger portion in a circumferential direction only partially around the peripheral surface of the hollow cylinder, and an electrical connection to the point of the finger portion for connecting the antenna to the radio equipment automated testing circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a low cost, easy to use production test apparatus for PCS and cellular telephones and, more particularly, to a thin film cylindrical antenna for such a test apparatus.
2. Related Art
Currently, PCS and cellular telephone production tests require that the Unit Under Test (UUT) be placed in a large anechoic chamber with a directional antenna pointed at the antenna. This test relies on the assumption that the antenna characteristics do not vary spatially from one UUT to the next, which is frequently not the case because this parameter is less tightly controlled than the limits of the test allow. This causes many unacceptable false failures, whereas widening the test limits allows bad units to pass. The test chamber is also very large and costly. What is needed is a simple to use, low cost PCS and cellular telephone production test apparatus.

Thin film cylindrical antenna for use in a test station


Systems and methods for monitoring a condition of a tubular configured to convey a fluid such as for use in producing hydrocarbons in relationship with a hydrocarbon system related wellbore operation. The methods include transmitting a data signal along the tubular with the communication network. The methods may include initiating a tubular operation responsive to the data signal indicating that the condition of the tubular is outside a predetermined condition range. The methods may include transmitting the data signal by propagating the data signal along the tubular via a plurality of node-to-node communications between communication nodes of the communication network and monitoring a signal propagation property of the plurality of node-to-node communications that is indicative of the condition of the tubular. The methods may include detecting the condition of the tubular and generating a condition indication signal.

A tubular, such as a pipeline, a casing string, a tubing string, and/or the like, may be utilized to convey a hydrocarbon fluid. Over an operational lifetime of the tubular, the condition of the tubular may change due to a variety of factors. As examples, the tubular may corrode, such as due to chemical interactions with fluids that may be in contact with the tubular, and/or may be eroded away, such as due to a flow of particulate materials within a tubular conduit that is defined by the tubular. As an additional example, a portion of the tubular conduit may be restricted, such as due to buildup of scale, hydrates, wax, and/or asphaltenes within the tubular conduit.
Historically, changes in the condition of the tubular may not be detected without direct intervention within the tubular conduit. For example, a caliper, camera, and/or other logging tool may be inserted into the tubular conduit and conveyed along a length of the tubular conduit to assess the condition of the tubular and/or to quantify blockage of the tubular conduit. While such a detection methodology may be effective at detecting some changes in the condition of the tubular and/or blockage of the tubular conduit, it may be necessary to cease production and/or other flow of the hydrocarbon fluid within the tubular conduit to permit insertion of the logging tool into the tubular conduit. In addition, the costs and difficulties associated with these detection methodologies may preclude their frequent use. Thus, there exists a need for improved systems and methods for monitoring the condition of a tubular that is configured to convey a hydrocarbon fluid.

Systems and methods for monitoring a condition of a tubular configured to convey a hydrocarbon fluid


An apparatus for controlling a printer, by which an image is printed in a raster mode by counting the number of functions that affect the printing speed from the image, and a method thereof are provided. In this printer controlling method, a page area to be printed is classified into image data and font data, when a printing command is received from an application. Next, the image data is divided into objects and processed in units of objects. Then, the number of functions for outputting the processed objects is counted. If the counted value is equal to or greater than a limit value, the page area is converted into a bitmap.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printer control system, and more particularly, to an apparatus for controlling a printer, by which an image is printed in a raster mode by counting functions, which affect the printing speed, from an image, and a method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, printer drivers include a font processing module and an image processing module, and control printing operations. Here, an image processing module includes a vector module and a raster (or bitmap) module. A vector module defines each image written in a document as objects and produces commands corresponding to the objects. A raster module converts an image into a bitmap in contrast with in a vector module and transmits the bitmap to a printer.
In a process for processing image data in a conventional printer driver, when an application executes a printing command to print a document, the graphic device interface (GDI) of the Windows calls the printer driver. Next, the printer driver sets a vector mode, in which a document can be more precisely printed, rather than a raster mode as a default, when typical documents are printed, and processes an image on an object-by-object basis. Here, an image included in the document of a specific application is made up of hundreds of thousands of objects.
Accordingly, the printer driver must produce a large number of vector commands if it converts these objects into vector commands. Also, when a document having complicate data is printed, a printer must interpret a large number of objects received from the printer driver and reorganize them into one page, resulting in a time-consuming printing for one page.

Apparatus for controlling printer to improve printing speed and method thereof


A light emitting module is attached to one of a pair of separable U-shaped metal clamps that can fit around a weapon trigger guard. The clamps have recesses for retaining elastomeric inserts which contact the trigger guard. The inserts are of inexpensive glass-filled molded plastic rather than machined steel so that a greater variety can be provided at low cost and little value is lost by discarding those not needed for a particular weapon. The greater variety provides a better fit with little or no custom shaping and the elastomeric inserts are much easier to shape if an unusually contoured trigger guard is encountered. The electrical cord running to the on/off switch for the module emerges from the module in fixed relationship to the clamps and need not be removed to change the module batteries. A trigger guard mountable laser sight that is more resistant to shock and requires less ongoing adjustment to maintain light beam and boresight coincidence is obtained.

It is well known in the art to utilize a light beam as a sighting aid for weapons. An illumination source is provided that projects a narrow beam of light in a direction parallel to the weapon boresight. When the light beam and boresight are properly aligned, the bullet (.or other projectile) will hit on or very close to the location of the light beam on the target. Light beam sighting aids are particularly useful at night when ordinary iron or telescopic sights are difficult to use because of low ambient and/or target illumination levels. Light beam sights for weapons are well known in the art.
Lasers are the preferred means of generating light beams for sighting applications. They have comparatively high intensity and can be focused into a narrow beam with a very small divergence angle so that they produce a small, bright light spot on the target tens to hundreds of yards from light source. Semiconductor light emitting diodes (LEDs) are well known compact light sources that are suitable. As used herein the word "laser" is intended to include any form of light source, and the words "laser sight" are intended to refer to a light emitting module or assembly that projects a beam of light having a small divergence angle suitable for alignment, sighting or pointing purposes. The term "light emitting module" is intended to include an LED or any other type of suitable light source. Light emitting modules for pointing and sighting purposes are well known in the art.
It is known in the art to attach a light emitting module to the trigger guard of a hand gun or other weapon. The battery and other electronics necessary to power an LED may be included within the module or mounted in the butt of the weapon. There are several types of prior art trigger guard mounts. A first type uses two sets of spaced-apart U-shaped clamps. Such a dual-clamp type mount generally provides reasonable stability for the laser sight because it is attached in two spaced-apart locations on the trigger guard. However, a dual-clamp type mount has the disadvantages of being bulkier and more expensive than a single-clamp type of mount.
A second type of mount uses a single U-shaped clamp. Such single-clamp mounts come in several varieties: (i) a custom fitted clamp which is machined to precisely fit a particular weapon, and (ii) a "universal" clamp which is intended to fit a wide variety of weapons. The custom fitted clamp provides reasonable stability for a laser sight but has the disadvantage of being comparatively expensive and only being suitable for the particular weapon trigger guard that it is shaped to fit. The prior art universal, single-clamp mount suffers from a number of disadvantages described below.
A significant practical problem associated with trigger guard mounted laser sights is that trigger guards are complex three-dimensional shapes with non-uniform cross-sections. A trigger guard's function is to prevent accidental discharge of the weapon by inadvertent contact with the trigger. A trigger guard must be smooth so as to not catch on holsters, pockets, trouser waist bands and other locations in which a weapon is carried ready for use. It is these requirements that dictate trigger guard design. Historically, little or no thought has been given to making trigger guards suitable for attachment of a light emitting module since such modules are a comparatively recent development. Classical trigger guard shapes are generally inconvenient for attachment of a light emitting module. A further complication is that different types of weapons have different trigger guard shapes, even guns from the same manufacturer. Thus, it has been difficult to provide a mounting fixture for attaching a laser sight to a trigger guard that is both rugged (i.e., shock and movement resistant) and adaptable to many different types of trigger guards of past, present and future weapons, i.e., a "universal" mount.
Unless custom fitted, prior art universal type, single-clamp trigger guard mounts for laser sights have generally not proved to be sufficiently rugged. It is difficult to maintain alignment of the light emitting module. The shock associated with handling and shooting the weapon is sufficient in many cases to jar the module sufficiently so that the light beam is knocked out of alignment with the weapon boresight. In order to maintain accuracy of the laser sight, it has been necessary to repeatedly remount and/or realign the light emitting module, or to have a skilled gunsmith or machinist custom fit the mount to the desired weapon. Thus, prior art single-clamp trigger guard mounts have not proved well suited for a "do-it-yourself" type of installation, especially one that is adaptable for many trigger guard shapes on different types of guns.
Thus, there continues to be a need for an improved, externally mounted laser sight for weapons (e.g., hand guns) and other purposes, and especially for a universal type mount which attaches to multiple trigger guards or other structures of complex shape using a single clamp.

Externally mountable laser sight for weapons and other applications


In an embodiment of the invention an application provider may include “tracing elements” in a target software application. While working with the application the trace elements are detected and provide a “baseline trace” indicating proper application execution. The provider then supplies the application, which still includes the trace elements, and the baseline trace to a user. The user operates the application to produce a “real-time trace” based on the application still having trace elements that produce trace events. A comparator then compares the baseline and real-time traces. If the traces are within a pre-determined range of each other the user has a level of assurance the software is operating correctly. If the level of assurance is low, an embodiment may trigger a hardware interrupt or similar event to prevent further execution of software. Other embodiments are described herein.

Software may stop working correctly for several reasons including "malware" and "software rot." Malware is a source of problems on computer systems and it comes in a variety of forms with unlimited vectors of attack. Regardless of the form and vector, the end result of malware is that the original software does not work correctly. "Rot" (also known as "software aging") concerns the condition that after some period of time software stops working correctly. The reasons could be resource consumption, bugs, or transient hardware faults like stray energetic particles striking a chip. Whatever the reason for the rot, the end result is that the software stops working correctly.

System and method for correct execution of software based on baseline and real time information


A system and method for programmably creating a security application via a graphical user interface. The method comprises: causing a display of a service stage GUI window including at least one security phase zone; receiving a selection of at least one security service including at least one security decision engine; causing a display of an event rule stage window including at least one event rule parameters zone; receiving a selection of at least one event rule related to the at least one SDE; causing a display of an event relationship stage GUI window including at least one rule selection zone; receiving a selection of at least one workflow rule and at least one action; and configuring the security application based on the selected at least one work rule and the selected at least one action.

The Internet provides access to various pieces of information, applications, services, and vehicles for publishing information. Today, the Internet has significantly changed the way we access and use information. The Internet allows users to quickly and easily access services such as banking, e-commerce, e-trading, and other services people access in their daily lives.
In order to access such services, a user often shares his personal information such as name; contact details; highly confidential information such as usernames, passwords, bank account number, credit card details; and the like, with service providers. Similarly, confidential information of companies such as trade secrets, financial details, employee details, company strategies, and the like are also stored on servers that are connected to the Internet. There is a threat that such confidential data may be accessed by malware, viruses, spyware, key loggers, and various other methods of unauthorized access, including using legitimate tools (e.g., a remote desktop and remote processes services) that have been compromised to access or to install malware software that will allow access such information. Such unauthorized access poses great danger to unwary computer users.
Recently, the frequency and complexity level of attacks has increased with respect to attacks performed against all organizations including, but not limited to, cloud providers, enterprise organizations, and network carriers. Some complex attacks, known as multi-vector attack campaigns, utilize different types of attack techniques and target network and application resources in order to identify at least one weakness that can be exploited to achieve the attack's goals, thereby compromising the entire security framework of the network.
Another type of complex attack is an advanced persistent threat (APT). An APT is an attack in which an unauthorized hacker gains access to a network and remains undetected for a long period of time. The intention of an APT attack is usually to steal data rather than to cause direct damage to the network or organization. APT attacks typically target organizations in sectors with high-value information, such as the national defense, manufacturing, retail, and financial industries.
These attacks are frequently successful because modern security solutions are not sufficiently agile and adaptive with respect to detection, investigation and mitigation of resources needed to meet such evolving threats. Current security solutions cannot easily and promptly adapt to detect and mitigate new attack behavior, or attacks that change their behavior in a significant manner. In addition, current security solutions cannot easily and promptly adapt to new network technologies and topologies implemented by the entities to be protected.
For example, in modern computing platforms, such virtualization and software-defined networks (SDN) face real challenges to security systems. Such platforms host an enormous number of tenants with virtual distributed and dynamic resources. Each tenant can be removed or created in minutes and can be transformed into a malicious resource, thereby attacking its own "neighbors," tenants or remote network entities.
Specifically, currently available solutions suffer from drawbacks including lack of, for example, programmability capabilities, automatic mitigation, and collaboration. For example, a security defense system that is not programmable becomes ineffective in a matter of a few days or even a few hours because such security systems fail to resist or adapt to any new attack behavior in time.
Security solutions, and in particular solutions for APT attacks, do not provide reliable automatic mitigation capabilities. Typically, APT security solutions are not designed for both detection and automatic mitigation. In addition, system administrators do not trust currently available APT security solutions due to the high level of false positive alerts generated by such systems. As a result of such false positive alerts, system administrators must often manually perform mitigation actions rather than permit automatic mitigation, which usually prolongs the time to mitigate attacks.
Moreover, current security solutions do not share attack information and detection, investigation and mitigation solutions between different companies due to the risk of revealing confidential data of a protected entity. This lack of communication limits the ability to adapt one security system using information related to attack behavior detected by another system in another organization or same organization, which would permit the security systems to promptly react to new threats by allowing a security system that has been subject to a new threat, and successfully addressed the threat, to provide information about the security functions or applications that were used.
For a modern security expert to develop a solution, the expert should be skilled in a number of complex security techniques including, for example, control of computing resources, advanced analytics systems, and different types of security products with no standard control "language." Additionally, such a security expert cannot realize a combination from security functions provided by different security systems and/or vendors. Typically, such functions are not programmable, and thus cannot be integrated with other functions. In addition, to define and create a new security function currently requires months of research and development. For evolving attacks and threats, these are not feasible solutions.
Existing solutions further face challenges when utilized by cyber security experts lacking knowledge of the particular manner in which an organization typically programs its cyber security applications. Specifically, experts may not be familiar with the idiosyncrasies of an entity's cyber security programs. As a result, modifying the behavior of existing cyber security systems requires that an outside expert either take significant time to gain familiarity with the existing cyber security applications used by the enterprise and/or rewrite new portions of the cyber security applications.
Further, existing solutions lack capability of easily managing security operations for complex cyber security systems. In particular, an enterprise network to be protected typically utilize a large number of networked devices, computers, servers, and other end-points, thereby increasing vulnerability to security threats. To protect such an enterprises different cyber security systems are typically utilized. As a result, the management, configuration and orchestrating the various systems in the organization is a complex task and typically requires months of programming work to accomplish. As a result current security systems configured to protect large scale enterprise networks are not easily adaptable to protect against ongoing security threats. For example, to change the mode of operation one resource or add a new resource to such security systems would require programming a new application. This means months of programming and deployment. Furthermore, currently there is no tool that displays all resources in the cyber security systems available for mitigating, investigating, or mitigating attacks or which available resources can be utilized to handle a specific threat. Therefore, the current security systems under-perform relatively to their full capabilities.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a solution that would overcome the deficiencies of the prior art.

System and method for programmably creating and customizing security applications via a graphical user interface


An optical system for a stage lamp wherein the optical system comprises: a light source, a light condensing device, an effect component, a lens, a multi-reflector optical component fixed on an upper portion of the lens, a light emitted by the light source being reflected by the light condensing device and converged to form a main light beam along a transmission direction of the light, the main light beam sequentially passing through the effect component and the lens and being reflected by the multi-reflector optical component; wherein the multi-reflector optical component is provided with at least three reflective mirrors, and is connected to a at least three-stage linkage mechanism which is capable of driving the multi-reflector optical component, and achieving a three-dimensional dynamic light spot effect. When the optical system according to the present invention is applied to the stage lamp, one lamp simultaneously presenting a plurality of same dynamic spot effects is implemented.

Stage lamps play an important role in modern stage performance, which can achieve the following functions: (1) illumination for performance: to enable the audience to see the performance of actors and images of sceneries clearly; (2) guiding visions for the audience; (3) shaping people character images: to express feelings and show stage hallucinations; (4) creating a space environment for a play; (5) rendering atmosphere for a play; (6) displaying time and space conversion, highlighting play conflicts and strengthen stage rhythm, and enriching artistic appeal. The commonly used lamps are: spotlights, beam lights, soft lights, track lights, astigmatism lights, scanning lights, or the like.
The core technologies of the stage lamp are design of an optical system and design of a control manner, wherein the design of the optical system is essential to the lamp products. Good optical system can determine functions, effects, usages, and recognition in the market of the applied products. The optical system structure used for the current stage lamp is relatively single, such that it is hard for the stage lamp to achieve a dynamic light spot effect, and the usage effect of the stage lamp is poor.


A first communication element is received on a communicating device. A defined mapping is identified based on an identification of a recipient device. The first communication element is mapped to a second communication element based on the defined mapping. The mapped communication element is provided to the recipient device.

As electronic devices and their use become more pervasive, particularly in public settings, there is an increased desire for privacy in electronic communications. Electronic devices like cell phones frequently display confidential communications viewable by an onlooker who is not a sender or an intended recipient of the communication. It may be desirable, therefore, to provide privacy safeguards for confidential communications.

International Business Machines Corporation


A neural monitoring system for determining a proximity between a stimulator and a nerve within an intracorporeal treatment area of a human subject includes a stimulator, a mechanical sensor, and a receiver. The stimulator is configured to extend within the intracorporeal treatment area and to provide an electrical stimulus therein. The mechanical sensor is configured to be placed in mechanical communication with the muscle and to generate a mechanomyography output signal corresponding to a sensed mechanical movement of the muscle. The receiver is configured to: receive the mechanomyography output signal from the mechanical sensor; receive an indication of a magnitude of the provided intracorporeal stimulus; determine a magnitude of acceleration of the muscle from the received mechanomyography output signal; and determine a proximity between the stimulator and the nerve from the magnitude of the provided intracorporeal stimulus and the magnitude of acceleration of the muscle.

The present disclosure relates generally to a neural monitoring device that may be capable of detecting the proximity of a nerve from an invasive stimulator, and monitoring for potential nerve injury during a surgical procedure. Traditional surgical practices emphasize the importance of recognizing or verifying the location of nerves to avoid injuring them. Advances in surgical techniques include development of techniques including ever smaller exposures, such as minimally invasive surgical procedures, and the insertion of ever more complex medical devices. With these advances in surgical techniques, there is a corresponding need for improvements in methods of detecting and/or avoiding nerves.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An improved cutting tool insert for an assembly comprising a tool holder having an engagement pocket, the cutting insert configured generally as a polyhedral cutting element and adapted to engage the pocket in the tool holder, and a clamping member adapted to retain the insert in the pocket. A planar clamp bearing surface is formed in the insert oblique to the longitudinal, horizontal, and vertical axes of the insert such that pressure exerted by the clamping member on the bearing surface causes the insert to seat in the pocket and be held in place thereby.

Tool holders and associated cutting tools are routine fixtures in today's industrial environment. For many applications, the most cost effective method of performing the cutting operation is to provide a sturdy, reusable cutting tool holder with a relatively inexpensive and disposable cutting tool insert. These inserts may be made of specialized metals suitable for performing the cutting operation, and are often equipped with carbide or diamond cutting tips.
During the cutting operation, the insert is subjected to substantial vertical, horizontal, and lateral forces. To insure the close tolerances demanded in modern cutting applications, it is essential that the insert be secured against these forces.
A number of systems have been developed for securing cutting tool inserts in associated holding devices. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,669,924 and 4,545,705, issued to Benson, disclose a method for securing the cutting tool insert to the tool holder. Typically, a clamp having a beveled face engages a corresponding beveled surface in the cutting tool insert. The clamping member exerts a lateral force tending to squeeze the insert tightly against one side of the tool. This methodology, however, is not altogether satisfactory in that it does bring the insert into a secure holding relationship with the rear wall of the pocket in which the cutting tool insert is mounted and, accordingly, does not adequately secure the insert against forces acting in all three axes.
A similar effort was made by Jones, et al, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,754,309. In this device, a vertical force is exerted against a diagonal slot in the tool insert, in an effort to reduce front to back motion of the cutting insert in the tool holder. Cutting tool inserts and clamps manufactured by the Sandvik Company utilizes similar engagement geometry between the clamping member and the insert.
The prior art fails to adequately address the problem of holding the cutting inserts securely in place against forces acting in all three axes. Therefore, there is a need in the industry for a means of automatically positioning and securing a cutting tool insert against forces acting in all three axes.


An apparatus for preparing hot beverages includes a water reservoir, a flowmeter, a pump and a heating unit connected in series by piping. A non-return valve is positioned in an exit water outlet of the heating unit. A branch return pipe having an electro-valve positioned therein is connected to the piping between the heating unit and the pump and terminates in the reservoir.

This invention relates to an arrangement for the preparation of beverages, more especially in a coffee machine, comprising a water reservoir connected in series to a flowmeter, to a pump, to a heating unit and to a hot water outlet opening onto the coffee to be extracted.
Coffee machines with flowmeters are known. For machines such as these, it is important--for maintaining uniformity of size of the cups of coffee produced--to have an electro-valve with a water return pipe to the main reservoir. At present, this electro-valve is situated at the outlet of the heating unit. The mode of operation is as follows: when the machine is actuated, the water arriving from the reservoir passes through the flowmeter, the pump and the heating unit and is returned through the open electro-valve to the reservoir. After a time of about 1 second, the electro-valve is closed and the flowmeter and associated electronics take into account the quantity of water passing through the flowmeter for the size of cup. Now, this positioning of the electro-valve has disadvantages, depending on the moment selected for its closure. If the electro-valve is designed to close when the water has completely filled the heating unit, all the air present in the heating unit will have been returned to the reservoir. On the other hand, the size of cup will certainly always be constant. However, since the present machine is used above all to prepare an espresso coffee, it is now known from experience that, to obtain a good espresso coffee, the extraction water has to be mixed with the air present in the heating unit which gives a coffee having an unctuous and lasting froth. If, by contrast, the electro-valve is designed to close before the water has completely filled the heating unit, a mixture of air and water will effectively be obtained but since, in this case, the exact moment of arrival of the water in the heating unit will not be known, there will be no uniformity in the size of cup during successive extractions.


The medical treatment endoscope according to the present invention includes a sheath having a flexibility; at least one arm member having a bending part that projects out from a front end of the sheath and performs bending actions; an open/close mechanism which directs the arm member from a direction along a central axis of the sheath to a direction deviated from the central axis of the sheath, and from a direction deviated from the central axis of the sheath to a direction along the central axis of the sheath; and a viewing device and an illuminating member that are disposed to the front end side of the sheath.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus.
2. Background Art
Laparoscopic surgery is a conventionally known technique that has been employed when performing a medical procedure such as observation or treatment of the internal organs of the human body. Rather than making a large abdominal incision, laparoscopic surgery provides for the procedure to be carried out by making several openings in the abdominal wall, and inserting a laparoscope and surgical instruments such as forceps into these respective openings. This type of surgery offers the benefit of being less invasive on the patient, since only small openings are made in the abdominal wall.
As a method of even further reducing stress on the patient, it has been proposed in recent years to carry out medical procedures by inserting a flexible endoscope into the patient via a natural opening such as the mouth, nostrils or anus. An example of a medical treatment endoscope used in such procedures is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0065397.
In the medical treatment endoscope disclosed in this reference, arm members that have a bendable end are respectively inserted into a plurality of lumens disposed within a flexible inserted part that is inserted into the body via the mouth of the patient. By inserting respective instruments through these arm members, the procedure site of interest can be approached from different directions with the various instruments. Accordingly, a plurality of procedures can be carried out in continuum by means of a single endoscope inserted into the body.


Disclosed is a tool with cutting surfaces on the sides, end and tip that is inserted into a handpiece or milling machine. It is used according to a specific technique disclosed herein to mill precision surfaces in dental prostheses that are retained by screws to dental implants, abutments or replicas. The invention mills all types of dental implant prostheses that use a screw for retention. The milling tool of this invention allows the screw to pass through the screw access opening in the prosthesis and fit flush against the screw seat in the prosthesis, leaving space between the axial surfaces of the head of the screw and the screw access channel of the restoration. It also mills the small opening through the prosthesis through which the shank of the screw passes, so there is no contact between the prosthesis and the shank of the screw. It is important to not have contact between either the shank of the screw or the axial surface of the head of the screw with the prosthesis to avoid adverse tension of the screw. It maximizes optimal surface contact between the head of the screw and the prosthesis.

The present invention relates to the field of dentistry, particularly the dental implant field. This invention is important because since two-stage dental implants were introduced to the U.S. market in 1982, their use and popularity have soared. Implants of this type are described in many issued patents, including inter alia, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,376,004; 5,366,374; 5,350,300; 5,344,457; 5,342,199; 5,328,371; 5,316,476; 5,312,256; 5,312,255; 5,312,253; 5,269,686, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Other patents and publications describing known implant systems include the following; Schulte, U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,178; Scantlebury et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,916; Tatum, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,915; Sandhaus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,796; Small, U.S. Pat. No. 4.439,152; Niznick, U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,416; Mozsary et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,629; Branemark et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,891; Branemark et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,065,817; Cohen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,905,109; Stevens et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,831; Predecki et al., J. Biotaed. Mater. Res., 6:401 (1972); Williams, J. Med. Eng. Tech., 266 (1977); Beder et al., O.S.,O.M. & O.P., 787 (1959); Branemark et al., "Osseointegrated Implants in the Treatment of the Edentulous Jaw", Scan. J. Plas. Recon. Surg., Vol. 11, Suppl. 16, (1977).
The most popular types of dental implant restorations are held in place by screws that thread into the implant or implant extension (abutment). One problem that has been discussed in dental meetings and in the scientific literature is the problem of screws that loosen up over time. Patients run the risk of having their prostheses and even implants destroyed because of this problem.
Pre-machined components (cylinders) have been developed by the manufacturers of dental implants to be incorporated into the restoration fabricated by the dental laboratory to provide a precision interface between the implant or implant extension and the seat of the head of the screw.
During the normal process of fabrication employed by dental laboratories, the surface of the interface against which the head of the screw fits, becomes less precise because of the investing and casting procedures.
During investing or mold-making, small minute air bubbles may get trapped in the cylinder. These small voids may be replaced by molten metal during the casting process. Expansion of the investment may not be identical to the expansion of the precision cylinder which is expanding in the mold. This might allow a small gap within the mold which would enable molten metal to flow into, eliminating the precision surface. Other laboratory processes such as cleaning out the investment after casting, as well as finishing techniques and sandblasting can ruin the precision surface. It has been suggested in the scientific literature that the heat involved in the casting process is enough to change the surface and shape of the pre-machined cylinder.
These pre-machined components are relatively expensive and even when the laboratory notices a problem with the screw seat, it is likely to try to grind away the imperfections making the machined surface equally imprecise, but less perceptible.
These surfaces against which the screw fits are often extremely difficult to inspect. They are deep within the restoration where they are not readily seen. These precision surfaces are never-the-less extremely important in obtaining the proper preload tension of the screw. Making the surface of the restoration where the head of the screw seats perfectly flat and perpendicular to the long axis of the implant will put less stress on the screw and allow for more optimum preload. This will extend the life of the screw and it will effectively solve many problems of screw-loosening.
A need was seen by the present inventor to develop a tool together with a technique for using that tool, that any laboratory could use with any type of dental implant system, to precisely mill the seat for the screw that holds the dental prostheses to the dental implant (or implant extension) to eliminate inaccuracies that occur in everyday fabrication processes in the dental laboratory.
Another important aspect of milling the screw seat pursuant to the teachings of this invention is to mill the opening through the center of the cylinder so the shaft of the screw does not contact as it passes through the restoration. If the shaft of the screw achieved contact on the axial walls of either the head of the screw or the shaft, the screw would come under tension reducing the amount of optimum preload required to keep the screw tight.
For these reasons, there is a need to mill the sides of the restoration at and above the screw seat as well as the opening beneath the screw seat. This allows the screw to be tightened so the head of the screw contacts only the base of the restoration and not the sides of the restoration, and allows the shaft of the screw to pass through the restoration without adverse contact.
One manufacturer (Interpore) saw the need for improving the interface of both the screw seat and the implant or implant extension seat after casting procedures. They produced an instrument the laboratory could use to remill these surfaces after casting. These instruments were turned by hand into the casting surface removing bubbles and debris. These instruments provided absolutely no level of precision, however, because they could cut at any angle and there was no technical means by which they could mill at the precise angle necessary to create a seat for the screw that would be perpendicular to the axis of the implant. This is important to achieve because stress is placed on the screw when the seat is not at a right angle to the shaft of the screw.
Another problem with Interpore's device is the screw seat device they used was tapered rather than flat. The vast majority of dental implants use a pan-head type screw that requires a flat surface for the head of the screw to fit against.
Implant Innovation, Inc. (31), another dental implant manufacturer, also sells and markets an instrument for milling the screw channel for UCLA abutments. This is also a manual instrument that provides no accuracy in milling the screw seat as it is operator sensitive. As with the Interpore instrument, it does not mill a flat area for the pan-head type screw and cannot be used for other types of dental implant cylinders. It is not effective in milling the screw seat so it is at the right angle to the shaft of the screw and it offers no precision surface for the screw to seat against.
Similar tools are also sold and marketed by Vident, Calcitek, Lifecore Biomedical and Attachments International with the same drawbacks and limitations.
Steri-Oss sells and markets hand instruments that mill the screw seat as well as the screw channel for a flat headed screw. This manufacturer realizes the limitations of these tools and cautions users in their prosthetic manual that over use of their tools seriously jeopardize the integrity of the screw seat. This tool is used manually and lacks the precision necessary to mill the screw seat perfectly flat and perpendicular to the long axis of the implant.
To achieve the purpose of milling the screw seat flat and at the correct 90.degree. angulation to the axis of the implant, as well as centering the tool over the implant or abutment to provide the clearance for the shaft of the screw and the head of the screw, an entire set of procedures have been developed that can be followed and used by any person with an appropriate milling instrument.

Dental implant milling tool and methods of the use thereof

North Shore Dental Porcelains Laboratories, Inc.


A fan wheel structure comprises an annular wall, a central shaft extending along a central axis of the annular wall, an annular bottom plate extending outward from a bottom of the annular wall, and plural blades provided on the bottom plate. A joint area between the annular wall and the annular bottom plate is an annular arcuate wall to avoid interference with the air driven by the fan wheel, thereby providing a smoother airflow.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fan wheel structure for a blower fan. In particular, the present invention relates to a fan wheel structure for a blower fan that drives air to flow in an improved, smoother manner.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates a conventional blower fan comprising a casing 90 having an axle tube 91 around which a stator 92 is mounted. A bearing 93 is mounted in the axle tube 91 for rotatably holding a central shaft 95 of a fan wheel 94. The fan wheel 94 comprises an annular wall 98 and an annular plate 96 extending radially outward from a bottom edge of the annular wall 98. Plural blades 97 are mounted upright on an annular outer edge of the annular plate 96 and spaced from the annular wall 98 by an appropriate gap. When the fan wheel 94 is driven to turn, air is sucked into the blower fan an exits via an outlet by the blades 97. Such a conventional blower fan creates a suction force for driving the air by means of a turbulent flow passing through a swirl passage in the casing 90. Therefore, the blowing effect largely depends on the smoothness of the flow. However, the joint area between the annular wall 98 and the annular plate 96 is at a right angle such that the sucked air would accumulate in the joint area and thus form turbulence.
Taiwan Utility Model Publication No. 388203, issued to Applicant on Apr. 21, 2000 and entitled AN WHEEL STRUCTURE as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings of the present application, discloses a fan wheel 80 comprising plural axial flow blades 82 and plural blower blades 83 on an outer periphery of an annular wall 81 thereof. When the annular wall 82 turns, the axial flow blades 82 drives air along an axial direction while the blower blades 83 drives air along a direction orthogonal to the axial direction.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a fan wheel structure for a blower fan that drives air to flow in an improved, smoother manner, thereby providing an improved blowing effect.
The fan wheel structure in accordance with the present invention comprises an annular wall, a central shaft extending along a central axis of the annular wall, an annular bottom plate extending outward from a bottom of the annular wall, and plural blades provided on the bottom plate. A joint area between the annular wall and the annular bottom plate is an annular arcuate wall to avoid interference with the air driven by the fan wheel, thereby providing a smoother airflow.
Other objects, specific advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and preferable embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.


The present invention is to improve on an emissive display by providing a backplane and modulation system that enables fabrication of multi-color or monochrome LED display systems that operate efficiently and without objectionable image artifacts. One aspect of the present invention is to implement the backplane of an emissive display that offers high precision across an array of pixels and extremely low variation. The present invention uses a large L FET to generate a reference current and then uses the same large L FET to act as a current source mirroring the reference current, thereby ensuring a substantially perfect match between reference current FET and current source FET.

Emissive displays have proved useful for a variety of applications. For example, plasma display panels (PDPs) were at one time the leading flat panel display technology. More recently, displays using organic light emitting diode (OLED) technology have gained favor, most recently as a display component for useful devices such as mobile telephones, automobile radios, and many other consumer products. Even some applications that are not display oriented have been postulated, including use as a pixilated emissive device in an additive manufacturing device. Additionally, an emissive display may form part of more general illumination systems such a headlamp system for a motorized vehicle, such as an automobile or a motorcycle. Other general lighting applications are conceived of.
More recently, emissive display system developers have demonstrated emissive displays based on backplanes driving small LEDs with a pitch between adjacent pixels of 8 micrometers (hereafter microns or μm) or less. These small LEDs are commonly termed microLEDs or μLEDs. LEDs are designed to exploit the band gap characteristic of semiconductors in which use of a suitable voltage to drive the LED will cause electrons within the LED to combine with electron holes, resulting in the release of energy in the form of photons, a feature referred to as electroluminescence. Those of skill in the art will recognize that semiconductors suitable for LED applications may include trace amounts of dopant material to facilitate the formation of electron holes by acceptor impurities or inject excess electrons by donor impurities.
The choice of semiconductor materials to form an LED will vary by application. In some applications for visual displays one monochrome color may be desirable, resulting in the use of a single semiconductor material for the LEDs of all pixels. In other applications, a full range of colors may be required, which will result in a requirement for three or more semiconductor materials configured to radiate, for example, red, green and blue or combinations thereof. In the case of additive manufacturing, a semiconductor material may be selected such that it emits radiation at a wavelength suitable for it to act as actinic radiation on a feed material used in the additive manufacturing process. All potential variations are included within the scope of the present invention.
It is well known that a preferred means for controlling the apparent intensity of an LED is pulse width modulation, also referred to as duty cycle modulation. Pulse width modulation is preferred because, as is well known in that art, voltage modulation of an LED often results in a shift in the color emitted by the LED, thereby complicating the task of maintaining color balance within the display. Such pulse width modulation necessarily requires that the rate at which pulses occur must be very rapid compared to the visual characteristics of human vision. This characteristic is typically referred to as critical flicker frequency or flicker fusion frequency. It is the frequency at which a human observer perceives a flashing light as a steady light.
One requirement for some applications of an array of LEDs is to achieve both high precision and extremely low variation in the output of the LEDs. Achieving this requires a different approach than can be achieved using more conventional approaches.

Emissive pixel array and self-referencing system for driving same


The present invention provides a slit grating structure and a display device, and relates to the field of stereo display technology. The slit grating structure of the present invention comprises a plurality of alternately arranged transparent strips and switching strips, and a drawing and injecting unit, wherein the drawing and injecting unit is configured to inject non-transparent liquid into the switching strips from a cavity and draw non-transparent liquid out of the switching strips. When the slit grating structure cooperates with a 2D display panel, 2D and 3D switching display can be achieved.

At present, autostereoscopic 3D display is generally realized by providing a slit grating on a light outgoing surface of a 2D display panel. The slit grating separates the light going to left and right eyes through light blocking strips and transparent strips, thus to realize autostereoscopic 3D display. However, some film resources or texts need to be watched in a 2D condition. Therefore, the capability of switching between 3D display and 2D display is needed.
As shown in FIG. 1, an existing method of switching between 3D display and 2D display typically injects liquid crystals into switching strips 2 (light blocking strips) of a slit grating, and forms indium tin oxide (ITO) transparent electrodes on both upper and lower surfaces (light outgoing surface and light incident surface) of the slit grating. The deflecting directions of the liquid crystals in the switching strips 2 are controlled by applying voltage to the transparent electrodes on both upper and lower surfaces of the slit grating. When the transparent electrodes on both upper and lower surfaces of the slit grating are applied with certain voltage, the liquid crystals in the switching strips 2 of the slit grating rotate, which makes the polarized light that passes through the slit grating rotate 90 degrees (wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the slit grating are provided with an upper polaroid and a lower polaroid parallel to the vibration direction, respectively), so that the polarized light cannot pass through the slit grating, and 3D picture display is implemented. When the transparent electrodes on both upper and lower surfaces of the slit grating are not applied with voltage, the liquid crystals in the switching strips 2 of the slit grating do not rotate, so that the polarized light can passes through the slit grating, and 2D picture display is implemented. That is to say, when the light can pass through the switching strips 2, the 2D display function is realized, and when the light cannot pass through the switching strips 2, 3D display function is realized.
The inventor finds that at least the following problems exist in the prior art: if the display panel is a liquid crystal display panel, the indium tin oxide transparent electrodes on both upper and lower surfaces of the slit grating will form a bypass electric field after they are applied with voltage, which may affect rotation of the liquid crystals in the display panel and further affect display quality of the display panel.

Slit grating structure and display device

BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.