The present invention relates to an abrasive article comprising:. (a) a flexible substrate having a front side and a back side; PA1 (b) at least one layer of abrasive grains bonded to said front side of said substrate by means of a make coat; PA1 (c) optionally one or more additional coats selected from the group consisting of a size coat, a supersize coat, a saturant coat, a presize coat, and a backsize coat; PA1 wherein at least one of said make, size supersize, saturant, presize, and backsize coats comprises a maleimide binder. The invention also relates to a method of making the abrasive articles.

Flexible abrasive articles include coated abrasives, lapping abrasives, and nonwoven abrasives. In the case of a coated abrasive the substrate is a backing sheet. In the case of a nonwoven abrasive the substrate is a flexible open lofty porous web. In the case of lapping abrasives, the substrate is a backing.
Coated abrasives generally comprise a flexible backing sheet upon which a binder holds and supports a coating of abrasive grains. The coated abrasive may employ a "make" coat of resinous binder material in order to secure the abrasive grains to the backing as the grains are oriented, and a "size" coat of resinous binder material which can be applied over the make coat and abrasive grains in order to firmly bond the abrasive grains to the backing. The binder material of the size coat can be the same material as the binder material of the make coat or a different material.
In the manufacture of coated abrasives, the make coat and abrasive grains are first applied to the backing, then the size coat is applied, and finally, the construction is fully cured. Generally thermally curable binders provide coated abrasives with excellent properties, e.g., heat resistance. Thermally curable binders include phenolic resins, urea-formaldehyde resins, urethane resins, melamine-formaldehyde resins, epoxy resins, and alkyd resins. The most widely used binder is a resol phenolic resin.
In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for superabrasives both in the flexible and bonded abrasive markets. Superabrasives are abrasive articles that employ abrasive grains that are superior in performance, i.e., greater than 20 times that of conventional abrasive grains in abrading difficult to grind materials such as tool steels or ceramics. Superabrasive grains are typically diamond or cubic boron nitride and these abrasive grains typically cost in excess of one thousand dollars per pound. Conventional abrasive grains include garnet, silicon carbide, silica, aluminum oxide, alumina zirconia, boron carbide, and ceramic aluminum oxide. Conventional abrasive grains are typically less than ten dollars per pound.
For bonded abrasives, if superabrasive grains are employed, the binders can be vitreous, organic, or metallic (plated or sintered). While each binder type has a specific area of application, the relative strength of the binder materials is generally from strongest to weakest 1) metallic 2) vitreous and 3) organic. As a result, optimum abrasive retention and thus performance is usually achieved with metallic binders.
It is very difficult, however, to make flexible abrasive articles capable of optimum performance using metallic or vitreous binders. This is due to the processing temperatures associated with these binders. Some conventional substrates used in manufacturing flexible abrasive articles will degrade at temperatures greater than about 200.degree. C. Additionally, the metallic and vitreous binders tend to be more rigid than organic binders. This rigidity is normally not desired in a flexible abrasive article. In order to employ superabrasive grains in a flexible abrasive article, a resinous binder, such as a phenolic resin, is employed. However, phenolic resins do not always have the necessary properties to obtain the full utilization of the superabrasive grains. Thus, it is not cost effective to use superabrasive grains and consequently, superabrasive grains are not widely used in flexible abrasive articles.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,651,012 (Holub et al.) discusses a bismaleimide binder for use as insulation, protective applications and numerous molding applications. In column 13, line 33 to 45 it mentions that the bismaleimide binder can be used in bonded abrasives.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,107,125 (Lovejoy) concerns a crosslinked aromatic polyimide resin that exhibits good strength and toughness properties. This patent mentions that this resin can be employed in a bonded abrasive article.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,142,870 (Lovejoy) discloses a bonded abrasive having a combination of two linear polyimide resins as a binder.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,384 (Licht et al.) discloses that polyimide binders can be employed in a coated abrasive.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,771, (Kunimotot et al.) involves a polyimide binder for a flexible abrasive lapping film.
However, none of these references disclose a maleimide resin as a binder for a flexible coated abrasive or a method of making such an abrasive article.
A need thus exists for a flexible coated abrasive with an improved resinous binder especially for superabrasive containing constructions. The binder should possess a high degree of strength at high temperatures and under wet conditions, a high glass transition temperature, and a high modulus.

Abrasive product having a binder comprising a maleimide binder

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


A liquid crystal display device minimizing touch inferiority and a press inferiority defects is provided. The device includes first and second substrates, a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, gap spacers between the first and second substrates for maintaining a cell gap, and pressure spacers between the first and second substrates configured to contact the first and second substrates when pressure is applied to the first or second substrate, wherein a spatial density of the gap spacers or a spatial density of the pressure spacers varies at different positions across the first and second substrates.

In view of their compact construction, light weight, and low power-consumption, flat panel display devices are being widely developed. Flat panel displays include liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs), field emission displays (FEDs), and vacuum fluorescent displays (VFDs). Owing to the ease with which they are driven, and to their superior ability to display images, LCDs are becoming increasingly popular.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a section of a typical LCD panel. As illustrated in FIG. 1, an LCD panel 1 generally comprises a lower substrate 5, an upper substrate 3 and a liquid crystal layer 7 disposed therebetween. The lower substrate 5 (also known as the driving device array substrate) includes a plurality of pixels (not shown), in which each pixel includes a driving device or thin film transistor (TFT). The upper substrate 3, also known as the color filter substrate, includes a color filter layer to provide color. The lower and upper substrates 5 and 3 further include pixel electrodes and common electrodes, respectively. An alignment layer is formed on the lower and upper substrates 5 and 3 to align liquid crystal molecules from the liquid crystal layer 7.
The lower substrate 5 and the upper substrate 3 are bonded to one another by a sealant 6 at peripheral regions thereof. A spacer 8 is interposed between the lower and upper substrates 5 and 3 to maintain a constant cell-gap therebetween. Images are displayed as the driving devices in the lower substrate 5 control light transmittance through the liquid crystal layer 7 via the liquid crystal molecules disposed between the lower and upper substrates 5 and 3.
An LCD panel may be fabricated using a driving device array substrate forming process to form driving devices in the lower substrate 5 and a color filter substrate forming process to form the color filter in the upper substrate 3. A spacer and sealant forming process may be employed to complete the fabrication process.
The driving device array substrate forming process typically includes forming a plurality of gate and data lines arranged on the lower substrate 5 to define pixel regions, forming thin film transistors (TFTs) (i.e., the driving devices) in each pixel region with each TFT being connected to a gate and data line, and forming pixel electrodes for driving the liquid crystal layer 7 when signals are applied through the TFTs. The color filter substrate forming process includes forming a black matrix on the upper substrate 3, forming a color filter on the formed black matrix, and forming a common electrode.
The spacer 8 can be a column spacer or a ball spacer. It is difficult to evenly distribute ball spacers on a substrate and maintain a uniform cell gap without reducing the aperture ratio in an LCD panel. Column spacers may be better suited for maintaining a constant cell gap and for preserving the aperture ratio, since they can be formed at predetermined positions throughout the LCD panel.
However, column spacers have their own share of problems. First, they may be unable to prevent a touch inferiority defect at the surface of the LCD device. For example, when a surface portion of an LCD device is swept away, non-uniform brightness at the swept portion may generate a stain. Secondly, a press inferiority defect may occur when the surface of an LCD device is pressed under constant strength. In this case, the color filter substrate or the TFT substrate may be altered so that a corresponding stain is generated.


A fiber optic component testing apparatus includes first and second transceiver devices respectively placed on proximal and distal ends of a fiber optic component. The first transceiver device transmits a visible light signal from an optical transmitter into the proximal end for the fiber optic component to conduct to the distal end. An optical reflector of the second transceiver device reflects the light signal at the distal end back towards the proximal end. A sensor of the first transceiver device monitors the light signal reflected by the optical reflector to determine whether a power level of the reflected light signal is greater than a given threshold. The sensor activates an indicator light to flash for a technician to view (and activates an indicator speaker for the technician to hear) when the power level of the reflected light signal is greater than the given threshold.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to testing fiber optic components and, more particularly, to a fiber optic component testing method and apparatus which provide visual information indicative of optical loss and continuity of a fiber optic component to technicians in a safe and protective environment. The present invention will permit the normal access and use by human activities using Network standards when working with potentially harmful light transmission sources.
2. Background Art
Technicians test fiber optic components (i.e., optical facilities) when placing the fiber optic components in given locations in order to ensure that the fiber optic components are functioning properly. Fiber optic components include fiber optic strands, jumpers, and cables. One way in which a technician tests a fiber optic component such as a fiber optic cable is by affixing an optical transmitter on the first end of the fiber optic cable. The technician then points the second end of the fiber optic cable towards a light reflectant object such as a piece of paper, the technician's hand, etc. The optical transmitter emits a signal of visible light into the first end of the fiber optic cable when the technician turns on the optical transmitter. The second end of the fiber optic cable emits the (attenuated) visible light after the visible light travels from the first end through the fiber optic cable. The visible light emitted from the second end of the fiber optic cable illuminates the paper, the technician's hand, etc., such that the technician is able to see the visible light emitted from the second end of the fiber optic cable. The technician then determines that the fiber optic cable is functioning properly upon seeing the visible light emitted from the second end of the fiber optic cable. That is, the technician determines that the fiber optic cable is functioning properly if the technician sees visible light emitted out from the second end of the fiber optic cable when the optical transmitter emits visible light into the first end of the fiber optic cable.
This testing practice is dangerous because it teaches technicians to indirectly visually observe light signals emitted from fiber optic components. As a result, technicians may determine that it is proper to visually observe light signals emitted from fiber optic components by directly looking with their eyes into the ends of fiber optic components in which the light signals are being emitted. This testing practice is also dangerous because it teaches technicians to point fiber optic components towards their hands, clothing, etc., and then have the light signals emitted from the fiber optic components radiate their body, clothing, etc.
Because visual light falls into the visible spectrum (400–700 nm), this testing practice gives technicians the false impression that all optical signals emitted from fiber optic components are visible and can be seen. A problem with this false impression is that telecommunication fiber optic components nominally transmit non-visible light signals during normal use instead of in the visual light spectrum. Non-visible (i.e., invisible) light signals fall outside of the light spectrum (400–700 nm) visible to the naked eye and, as a result, cannot be seen by the naked eye. If a fiber optic component is lit with an invisible signal while being tested by a technician using the visible light optical transmitter, then the technician would likely mistake the invisible signal for the "absence of light" and directly or indirectly view the light signals emitted from the light emitting end of the fiber optic component. A technician viewing invisible light signals emitted from a lit fiber optic component may be subjected to undue harm. Similarly, a technician pointing the emitting end of a lit fiber optic component on the technician's body, clothing, etc., such that the invisible light signals irradiate the technician's body, clothing, etc. may also be subjected to undue harm, especially with the new power levels of services being transmitted today.

Method and apparatus for providing visual information indicative of tested fiber optic component


Preferred methods and systems generate a control input based on a periodically-varying characteristic associated with the rotation of a drill string. The periodically varying characteristic can be correlated with the magnetic tool face and gravity tool face of a rotating component of the drill string, so that the control input can be used to initiate a response in the rotating component as a function of gravity tool face.

Underground drilling, such as gas, oil, or geothermal drilling, generally involves drilling a bore through a formation deep in the earth. Such bores are formed by connecting a drill bit to long sections of pipe, referred to as "drill collars" and "drill pipe," so as to form an assembly commonly referred to as a "drill string." The drill string extends from the surface to the bottom of the bore.
The drill bit is rotated so that the drill bit advances into the earth, thereby forming the bore. In a drilling technique commonly referred to as rotary drilling, the drill bit is rotated by rotating the drill string at the surface. In other words, the torque required to rotate the drill bit is generated above ground, and is transferred to the drill bit by way of the drill string.
Alternatively, the drill bit can be rotated by a drilling motor. The drilling motor is usually mounted in the drill string proximate the drill bit. The drill bit can be rotated by the drilling motor alone, or by rotating the drill string while operating the drilling motor.
One type of drilling motor known as a "mud motor" is powered by drilling mud. Drilling mud is a fluid that is pumped at high pressure from the surface, through an internal passage in the drill string, and out through the drill bit. The drilling mud lubricates the drill bit, and flushed cuttings from the path of the drill bit. The drilling mud then flows to the surface through an annular passage formed between the drill string and the surface of the bore.
In a drill string equipped with a mud motor, the drilling mud is routed through the drilling motor. The mud motor is equipped with a rotor that generates a torque in response to the passage of the drilling mud therethrough. The rotor is coupled to the drill bit so that the torque is transferred to the drill bit, causing the drill bit to rotate.
Drilling operations can be conducted on a vertical, horizontal, or directional basis. Vertical drilling refers to drilling in which the trajectory of the drill string is inclined approximately 10° or less in relation to the vertical. Horizontal drilling refers to drilling in which the drill-string trajectory is inclined approximately 90°. Directional drilling refers to drilling in which the trajectory of the drill-string is inclined between approximately 10° and approximately 90°.
Various systems and techniques can be used to perform directional and horizontal drilling. For example, so-called "steerable systems" use a drilling motor with a bent housing incorporated into the bottom-hole assembly of the drill string. A steerable system can be operated in a sliding mode in which the drill string is not rotated, and the drill bit is rotated exclusively by the drilling motor. The bent housing steers the drill bit in the desired direction as the drill string slides through the bore, thereby effectuating directional drilling. Alternatively, the steerable system can be operated in a rotating mode in which the drill string is rotated while the drilling motor is running. This technique results in a substantially straight bore.
So-called "rotary steerable tools" can also be used to perform directional drilling. One particular type of rotary steerable tool can include pads or arms located on the drill string, proximate the drill bit. The arms can extend and retract at some fixed orientation during some, or every revolution of the drill string. Contact the between the arms and the surface of the drill hole exerts a lateral force on the portion of the drill string proximate the drill bit. This force pushes or points the drill bit in the desired direction of drilling. A substantially straight bore is drilled when the arms remain in their retracted positions.
Directional drilling can also be accomplished using a so-called "rotary steerable motor" as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,389,830, entitled Rotary Steerable Motor System For Underground Drilling, the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Rotary steerable motors typically comprise a drilling motor that forms part of the bottom-hole assembly, and also include some type of steering means, such as the extendable and retractable arms discussed above in relation to the rotary steerable tool. In contrast to steerable systems, rotary steerable motors permit directional drilling to be conducted while the drill string is rotating. Hence, a rotary steerable motor can usually achieve a higher rate of penetration during directional drilling than a steerable system or a rotary steerable tool, since the combined torque and power of the drill string rotation and the motor are applied to the bit.
Directional and horizontal drilling require real-time knowledge of the angular orientation of a fixed reference point on the circumference of the drill string in relation to a reference point on the bore. The reference point is typically magnetic north in a vertical well, or the high side of the bore in an inclined well. This orientation of the fixed reference point is typically referred to as "tool face," or "tool face angle." For example, drilling with a steerable motor requires knowledge of the tool face so that the pads can be extended and retracted when the drill string is in a particular angular position, so as to urge the drill bit in the desired direction.
Tool face, when based on a reference point corresponding to magnetic north, is commonly referred to as "magnetic tool face" (MTF). When based on a reference point corresponding to the high side of the bore, tool face is commonly referred to as "gravity tool face" (GTF). The desired heading for steering during directional and horizontal drilling is usually expressed in terms of GTF, once the initial angle has been established.
GTF is usually determined based on measurements of the transverse components of the local gravitational field, i.e., the components of the local gravitational field perpendicular to the axis of the drill string. These measurements are typically acquired using accelerometers. Acquiring instantaneous measurements of the local gravitational field during rotary drilling is usually not possible, however, because the vibrations of the drill string can be many times greater than one g, i.e., one times the force of gravity.
MTF is usually determined based on measurements of the transverse components of the earth's local magnetic field. These measurements are typically acquired using a magnetometer. Acquiring measurements the earth's local magnetic field during rotary drilling, however, can also present difficulties. For example, a typical drill string can rotate at an angular velocity of approximately 180 revolutions per minute (rpm), or 1,080 degrees per second. The substantially instantaneous determination of MTF under such conditions requires that the components of the transverse magnetic field be measured with sufficient accuracy, and that MTF be calculated in milliseconds. This requirement can place a large, and potentially unacceptable computing load on the down hole data processing equipment used to acquire and calculate MTF. Also, the presence of magnetic material in the drill string proximate the magnetometer can perturb the geomagnetic field, and thereby introduce inaccuracies into the calculation of MTF.
Moreover, as the desired heading for directional and horizontal drilling is usually expressed in terms of GTF, MTF usually needs to be converted to GTF. This conversion typically requires a relatively complex series of mathematical calculations. The need to perform these calculations at a relatively high rate can further increase the computing load the down-hole data processing equipment.
Consequently, an ongoing need exists for methods and systems that permit a down-hole component of a rotating drill string to be activated based on the orientation of the component referenced to GTF, while minimizing the associated computing load.

Methods and systems for determining angular orientation of a drill string


An image sensor having pixel circuitry operable in multiple gain modes is provided. The pixel circuitry may include first and second floating diffusion (FD) regions, a first photodiode coupled to the first FD region via a first transfer gate, a second photodiode coupled to the first FD region via a second transfer gate, a third photodiode coupled to the second FD region via a third transfer gate, and a fourth photodiode coupled to the second FD region via a fourth transfer gate. The first FD region may be coupled to the second FD region via first and second control transistors. The control transistors may be connected to a shared reset transistor. During readout, both control transistors may be deactivated to provide a high gain mode, only one transistor may be activated to provide an intermediate gain mode, or both control transistors may be activated to provide a low gain mode.

The present invention relates to image sensors and, more particularly, to image sensors that are used to produce high-dynamic-range images.
Image sensors are commonly used in electronic devices such as cellular telephones, cameras, and computers to capture images. In a typical arrangement, an electronic device is provided with a single image sensor and a single corresponding lens. Some electronic devices use arrays of image sensors and corresponding lenses to gather image data. In certain applications, such as when acquiring still or video images of a scene with a large range of light intensities, it may be desirable to capture high-dynamic-range images. In high-dynamic-range images, highlight and shadow detail can be retained that would otherwise be lost in a conventional image.
It would be desirable to be able to capture high-dynamic-range images with electronic devices containing image sensors.

Triple conversion gain image sensor pixels

Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC


A welding-type apparatus and method providing controlled termination of a welding-type process includes monitoring an arc parameter and setting a threshold based on the monitored arc parameter. When the arc parameter achieves the threshold, weld power is gradually reduced until arc termination. The system provides for a controlled arc termination process which is dynamically defined by the characteristics of each welding arc.

The present invention relates generally to welding systems and, more particularly, to a welding arc termination procedure and control.
During a welding process, a weld power is generated by a power source and is communicated to a weld site via a torch. A shielding gas is also communicated to the weld site and shields a weld pool from environmental contaminants. The environmental contaminants include air and its constituents such as water vapor and oxygen. Exposure of the molten weld material to the contaminants detrimentally affects weld quality. The interaction between the contaminants and the material of the weld is, in part, temperature dependent. Accordingly, it is desirable to maintain the flow of the shielding gas after an arc termination until the weld has cooled such that the material of the weld is non-reactive with the environmental contaminants.
Frequently, when an operator desires to terminate a welding process, the operator releases the torch trigger which nearly instantaneously terminates the weld arc and the flow of shielding gas. Although such arc termination expeditiously terminates the weld process, such termination results in an unsatisfactory weld discontinuity at the point of weld termination. During welding arc termination, a gradual reduction in weld power in conjunction with continued flow of shielding gas improves the quality of the weld at the weld termination.
Welding devices with arc termination control which provide for the gradual reduction of weld power and the continued flow of shielding gas generally require operator actuation of a switch to initiate the arc termination sequence. Commonly, the torch includes a switch that is separate from the torch trigger which, when activated, causes the power source to provide the gradual reduction of weld power and continued shielding gas flow. Alternatively, a foot pedal can be provided which actuates the arc termination procedure. Although such devices provide improved arc termination control, they are not without drawbacks.
The extraneous switching means require operator actuation and are ill equipped to tolerate a dynamic welding environment. When an operator is focused on a welding process, the operator occasionally loses the relative position of the torch positioned or foot pedal switching means. Wearing the protective apparel associated with the welding process, the operator can have difficulty locating the pedal when arc termination is desired and thereby terminates the weld process without actuation of the weld termination procedure. Additionally, operator manipulation of the components associated with the welding process inhibits the operator's degree of freedom of motion. Particularly during gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), wherein the operator is commonly required to position the torch relative to the workpiece with one hand and feed the consumable material with the other hand, the operator is ill-equipped to manually actuate a switch to actuate the weld termination procedure.
Other welding-type devices have automated the means for initiating the weld termination procedure but suffer from alternate drawbacks than those mentioned above. One such system has a feedback feature which monitors a parameter of the weld process and actuates the weld termination procedure responsive to the feedback signal. Prior to initiation of a welding process, an operator must preset a plurality of arc threshold values. During the welding process, when one of the thresholds is crossed a first time, a termination sequence is enabled, and when the threshold is crossed a second time, or a second threshold is crossed, the termination procedure is then actuated. Although such a termination procedure reduces the number of operator steps needed to actuate the arc termination procedure during welding, this weld termination procedure still does not minimize the steps for most efficient operation.
The arc parameters associated with the weld process are affected by the amount of power required for a desired weld process, a length and size of weld cable between the power source and the torch, condition of the weld cable, size and type of the consumable material, desired arc length, and operator skill. Understandably, these are but a few of the variables which affect the value of the monitored arc parameter. The operator must account for each of these parameters when setting the plurality of arc threshold values which initiate and actuate the arc termination procedure. This becomes particularly problematic with novice or minimally experienced operators who may be unaware of the effect of any of the variables on the monitored parameter. That is, an operator unfamiliar with a particular welding system or the requirements of a desired welding process can inadvertently set the threshold values at a value that cannot be achieved during the welding process. Such a configuration results in inoperability of the weld termination procedure. Conversely, if the operator sets the thresholds within a range of normal weld arc performance, the weld termination procedure is initiated and activated prematurely.
In addition to the operating issues addressed above, even when the operator appreciates the interrelation of the all of the variables associated with the threshold, presetting the thresholds is a time consuming and tedious process. In a dynamic work environment, an operator is required to transition from one welding process to another. The variable parameters between the welding processes are not always the same. As such, the operator is required to reset the thresholds for different welding process or forgo utilization of the weld termination procedure. If the operator elects to reset the thresholds, process efficiency decreases as the welding apparatus is idle until the thresholds are reset and weld quality is sacrificed if the operator elects to circumvent the weld termination procedure.
It would therefore be desirable to have a system and method capable of automatically actuating a weld termination procedure and which is dynamically responsive to different weld processes.

Welding device with arc termination control


A pixel according to the present invention includes: an organic light emitting diode having a cathode electrode connected to a second power; a first transistor controlling an amount of current supplied from a first power line connected through a third node to the organic light emitting diode connected through a second node in correspondence to the voltage applied to a first node; a storage capacitor connected between the first node and the second power; a second transistor connected between the first node and the third node and being turned on when a scan signal is supplied to a scan line; and a third transistor connected between the second node and the data line, and being turned on when the scan signal is supplied.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pixel and an organic light emitting display device using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, various flat panel display devices capable of reduced weight and volume, which are disadvantages of a cathode ray tube, have been developed. As the flat panel display devices, there are a liquid crystal display, a field emission display, a plasma display panel, an organic light emitting display device, and the like.
Among the flat panel displays, the organic light emitting display device, which displays an image using an organic light emitting diode generating light by recombination between an electron and a hole, has advantages in that it has a rapid response speed and is driven at low power.

Pixel and organic light emitting display device using the same


Provided is a flexible heat sink article comprising a base comprising a polymer and a plurality of polymeric protrusions extending away from the base, each protrusion having a major dimension and a minor dimension. The base comprises thermally conductive particles, and the protrusions comprise non-spherical thermally conductive particles substantially aligned in the direction of the major dimension within the protrusions. A thermal interface material may be provided contiguous with the base. Also provided is a flexible heat sink article comprising a base comprising a polymer and having a first surface and a second surface, a plurality of polymeric protrusions extending away from the first surface of the base, each protrusion having a major and a minor dimension, and a metallic layer contiguous with the second surface of the base, wherein the base and the protrusions comprise thermally conductive particles. Also provided is a method of making a flexible heat sink.

Heat sinks conduct thermal energy away from a heat-generating component to the environment by convection, radiation, or further conduction. Heat sinks usually have an extended surface area to improve heat dissipation to the environment. Aluminum (or other metal such as copper) extrusions are a common form of heat sink. These extrusions have a rigid base and extended surface area fins. The metal heat sinks are normally electrically conductive, and may contribute to electromagnetic interference problems in electronic devices. Other versions of metal heat sinks include flexible copper foils in various shapes, which optionally may have electrically insulating coatings on one or both major surfaces. Ceramics, metal, and sintered heat sinks are generally rigid.
Thermally conductive polymers have been used in heat exchangers, electronic devices, bipolar plates, and thermal interface materials. Injection molded heat sinks formed from high modulus thermoplastic or epoxy materials containing dispersed conductive particles have been described, as have composite heat sinks consisting of polymer fins laminated with metal foil. Non-metallic heat sinks can reduce interference problems with electromagnetic and radio frequency fields.


An aerial monitoring system and method for identification and location of object features is disclosed. The aerial monitoring system and method includes training an image processing engine to identify predefined object features in images. Training involves the image processing engine generating a model for identifying predefined object features in images. Identifying the predefined object features includes using a drone outfitted with a drone camera to capture and geotag monitoring images of target objects. The monitoring images are both infrared and non-infrared. The image processing engine applies the model to the monitoring images to determine whether the monitoring images include object features that fit within one of multiple categories. The image processing engine uses a fuzzy clustering process to group objects into cluster locations. The image processing system outputs the identification and location of the object features. The output is used for maintenance planning related to the objects.

Aerial monitoring is a way of inspecting large areas of space. For example, aerial monitoring can be used to monitor the solar panels of a large solar park for problems. During aerial monitoring of a solar park, a drone outfitted with a camera can fly to the location of the solar panels and capture images of the solar panels. Aerial monitoring can allow large areas covered by solar panels to be monitored faster than a human physically visiting the solar panels. Using aerial monitoring can be advantageous for monitoring thousands of solar panels in parks sprawling on hectares of land. However, aerial monitoring typically still requires humans to manually inspect the images for certain problems that require maintenance (e.g., problems or issues that make solar panels less effective). Accordingly, the duration of inspection is limited by how quickly a human can recognize images. Additionally, the duration of inspection is limited by how quickly a human can determine the location of the solar panel. In some cases, a drone may not have enough battery life to efficiently complete inspection without going back to a charging station. Furthermore, humans make many errors when inspecting solar panels.
There is a need in the art for a system and method that addresses the shortcomings discussed above.

Aerial monitoring system and method for identifying and locating object features


A method and apparatus are provided for calibrating a flow meter having an array of sensors arranged in relation to a pipe that measures a flow rate of a fluid flowing in the pipe. The method features the step of calibrating the flow rate using a calibration correction function based on one or more parameters that characterize either the array of sensors, the pipe, the fluid flowing in the pipe, or some combination thereof. The calibration correction function depends on either a ratio t/D of the pipe wall thickness (t) and the pipe inner diameter (D); a ratio t/λ of the pipe wall thickness (t) and the eddie wavelength (λ) of the fluid; a Reynolds number (ρUD/μ) that characterizes the fluid flow in the pipe; a ratio Δx/D of the sensor spacing (Δx) and the pipe inner diameter (D); a ratio fΔx/Umeas of usable frequencies in relation to the sensor spacing (Δx) and the raw flow rate (Umeas); or some combination thereof. The apparatus takes the form of a flow meter having a calibration correction function module performing the aforementioned functionality.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to flow meters; and more particularly to a method and apparatus for calibrating a flow meter having an array of sensors arranged in relation to a pipe that measures a flow rate of a fluid flowing in the pipe.
2. Description of the Related Art
Volumetric flow measurement plays a critical role in process optimization and control of most industrial processes. The current industrial flow measurement market is often segmented into two broad technology categories: old technology and new technology flow meters. Old technology flow meters include flow measurement technologies that have been in used for greater than 70 years and include turbine meters, orifice plates and variable area flow meters. The new technology flow meters have emerged over the last 30˜50 years and offer advantages over the old technologies in performance, functionality, and reliability. The major types of new technology flow meters include ultrasonic meters, electromagnetic flow meters, vortex flow meters, and coriolis flow meters. Each type has evolved to serve various aspects of the diverse range of applications within the industrial flow meter landscape. For example, the electromagnetic flow meter has emerged as the dominate type of flow meter used in the paper and pulp industry.
In particular, flow meters having an array of sensors arranged in relation to a pipe that measure a flow rate of a fluid flowing in the pipe are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,069, which is incorporated by reference, discloses a method and apparatus for determining the flow velocity of fluid within a pipe, such as an oil pipe.
One problem with flow meters in the art is that, despite the fact that they are calibrated to measure a flow rate of a given fluid(s) flowing in a given pipe(s), this calibration may not be correct when the flow meter is used in the field to measure different types of fluids flowing, for example, in different types of pipes than those in which the flow meter was originally calibrated to measure fluid flow. For example, the original calibration is likely to provide an incorrect measurement when the flow meter is used in relation to a fluid having a different density or viscosity than it was originally calibrated, or when the flow meter is used in relation to a pipe having a different wall thickness or inner diameter than it was originally calibrated, or when the array of sensors are spaced differently in relation to the pipe than it was originally calibrated. In view of this, the known flow meters are likely to have an error in their measurement, for which no correction is made. Moreover, the known flow meters are not designed to correct the original calibration based on one or more parameters that characterize either the array of sensors, the pipe, the fluid flowing in the pipe, or some combination thereof.
There is a need in the prior art for a flow meter that can be calibrated in the field based on receiving such parameters.

Method for calibrating a volumetric flow meter having an array of sensors


A trigger mechanism has a hammer, a hammer spring, a disconnect rest and a sear. The sear translates along a longitudinal axis between a rest position and a break point and also moves in an arc around a rotational axis from the break point to a disconnect position. The sear has a hammer side that presses against and rotates the hammer's cam end of as the sear moves between the rest position and the break point and thereby rotates the hammer's striking end around the hammer's pivot point between its seated and cocked positions. The support side contacts the disconnect rest's face as the sear moves between the rest position and the break point. The support side has an edge that is located at the ledge at the break point position. The hammer spring forces the sear to the disconnect position as the edge moves past the ledge.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a trigger mechanism, and more particularly to a trigger mechanism for a firearm.
2. Related Art
There are a number of trigger mechanisms that have been used for firearms, including trigger mechanisms that are particularly designed for single-barrel pistols and multi-barrel pistols. In particular, there are double-action trigger mechanisms that have been designed for Derringer-type pistols. Additionally, there are existing trigger mechanisms which can maintain a constant pressure throughout a trigger pull and can allow for an adjustment of the pressure which is required for the trigger pull, i.e, the trigger pull weight. However, none of these known trigger mechanisms provide an operation that is as smooth and efficient as the trigger mechanism provided in the present invention. In particular, none of these known trigger mechanisms combine the mechanical advantage of a wedge element (generally, an inclined plane) in the sear assembly that works in combination with the hammer spring to control the trigger pull weight as the hammer is forced to rotate from its seated position to its cocked position.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A plurality of pixels are two-dimensionally arranged on a semiconductor substrate. Each of the pixels includes: two photodiodes each generating charge by photoelectric conversion; first and second memories spaced apart from each other between the two photodiodes as viewed in cross section; a first readout gate reading charge from the two photodiodes to the first memory; and a second readout gate reading charge from the two photodiodes to the second memory.

The present disclosure relates to a solid state imaging device that can be used for distance measurement.
Solid state imaging devices known in the art use a time of flight (TOF) technique for distance measurement. Such a solid state imaging device detects an image of light reflected from an object irradiated with pulsed light from a light emitting diode (LED), and obtains distance information based on a delay time of the reflected light with respect to the irradiation light.
Specifically, a pixel structure called a charge distribution structure, for example, is used. In this structure, a plurality of capacitors are connected to a single photodiode generating charge by photoelectric conversion. Charges are read from the photodiode at different timings in synchronization with light emission from an LED, and the read charges are separately accumulated in the capacitors. The distance to an object is calculated based on the amount of the charges accumulated in the capacitors (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-89346).


An electronic imaging apparatus includes a color imaging device having several drive modes including at least first and second drive modes. A simultaneous shooting unit simultaneously or continuously executes an operation of acquiring a first image data by driving the color imaging device in the first drive mode and an operation of acquiring a second image data by driving the color imaging device in the second drive mode. A color conversion parameter calculator calculates color conversion parameters so that color reproduction of the first and second image data acquired by the simultaneous shooting unit becomes the same.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic imaging apparatus and method using a color imaging device. In particular, the present invention relates to electronic imaging apparatus and method that can provide still image shooting and live view display using a color imaging device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic imaging apparatus such as a digital still camera (hereinafter, referred to as a camera) includes a color imaging device having several different drive modes. For example, the following digital still camera has been proposed. The digital still camera has a still image shooting drive mode and a live view display drive mode. According to the still image shooting drive mode, an imaging device output is all read to preferentially consider the quality of a recorded still image. According to the live view display mode, the image obtained by the imaging device is displayed on a display such as a LCD in real time. According to the live view display drive mode, part of the imaging device output is thinned, and thereafter, read. This is because of shortening read time of the imaging device output and imaging processing time after that, and providing real-time display.
A charge of a pixel, which is not driven, leaks into a driving pixel in the live view display drive mode. In this case, other color component is mixed in a pixel reading an output; for this reason, color mixture takes place. As a result, color reproduction is different in shooting image between the live view display drive mode and the still image shooting drive mode.
On the contrary, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2004-328460 discloses the following technique. According to the technique, a ratio of an imaging device sensitivity is previously calculated in the still image shooting drive mode and a moving image shooting (or live view display) drive mode. Based on the calculated ratio, a correction operation on white balance gain is made.


An exercise apparatus is arranged to include a rotatable support pad having an underlying wheel support, to include a positioning leg extending between the pad and a support shaft to rotatably mount the pad about the support shaft, with handles mounted to the support plate at a periphery of the support plate extending from the support plate, whereupon an individual is positioned upon the pad and simultaneously rotates about the support shaft while grasping the handles.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to exercise apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved abdominal exercise apparatus wherein the same is arranged to improve abdominal tone and strength.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Abdominal apparatus of various types have been utilized in the prior art and exemplified by the U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,046,726; 5,050,875; 4,736,946; and 5,005,832.
The instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by providing for an exercise apparatus arranged to accommodate an individual thereon to provide for continuous aerobic and abdominal exercise.


At least one collapsible tube for containing at least one product, comprising: external flexible thread form on flexible throat coupled to flexible shoulder. The flexible throat and flexible shoulder flatten to dispense essentially all the contained product. The flexible shoulder may include a raised detent for stopping a cap and/or raised flexible ribs to control the direction of flattening the flexible shoulder. At least one cap for the collapsible tube including an interior bulge or an interior rim, both for urging an included interior thread form to engage with an external flexible thread form included in the flexible throat, and further including a lower surface to engage with the raised detent, and/or internal ribs and/or internal posts to engage with the raised flexible ribs. Manufacturing methods for the collapsible tubes and caps, and these items as products of the manufacturing processes.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to open thread screw and cap mechanisms with particular application to forming collapsible tube dispensers.
2. Background Information
This application is a continuation in part of two applications previously filed for the applicants disclosing reusable, collapsible tube dispensers. While the earliest collapsible tube dispensers in the US patent database date from the early nineteenth century, there were problems reported with the prior art which the previous applications addressed, namely:                The prior art collapsible tubes do not lend themselves both to being reusable and supporting the complete, controlled dispensing of their contents. As the term is used herein, reusable will refer to the capability to dispense small, or controlled, portions of the contents multiple times, perhaps on different occasions. Reusable may further refer to the capability to refill the contents multiple times. And reusable may further refer to a container, which can be cleaned, and refilled with differing contents.        With the exception of some one-time use containers, prior art collapsible tube dispensers typically possess a rigid shoulder and a rigid throat. The rigid throat provides an exterior, rigid screw. This exterior rigid screw mates with a cap providing a matching interior screw pattern. When the cap is screwed onto the exterior screw of the throat, a seal is formed, which seals in the contents of the collapsible tube.
There are several terms which will be used herein:                Personal care products include, but are not limited to, cosmetics, facial care products, skin care products, over-the-counter health products, and/or hair care products.        Open thread screws have threads that taper away from the body, or remain of constant thickness. Up until the parent applications, using these open thread screws required that the throat and the threads of a collapsible tube be essentially rigid. An essentially rigid throat on a collapsible tube dispenser virtually guarantees that some of the tube contents will not readily leave the tube, causing the tube to waste some of its contents. The rigid shoulder further guarantees this waste.
FIG. 1A shows a prior art exterior screw 20 with a prior art external flexible thread form 22. The prior art external flexible thread form 22 is shown in an expanded view through the following examples shown in FIGS. 1B and C with a matching internal thread form 24.
There is a local coordinate system in FIG. 1A, which will be used throughout this document. The z axis 10 extends through the center of the cylinder of the prior art exterior screw 20, and is the central axis of the cylinder. The r axis 12 is the radial direction of the thread at a point, which, for the sake of discussion, is referred to as thread point 22 in FIG. 1A. The n axis 14 is normal to the thread point 22. When the screw is turned in the n direction, it engages more of the threads.
The engagement of an exterior screw thread and matching interior screw is shown in the expanded view of the prior art open screw thread 22 in FIG. 1A. The expanded view is a cross-section of the threads taken in the plane of the z axis 10 and the r axis 12.
FIG. 1B shows an example of FIG. 1A using a standard acme thread for the external flexible thread form 22 and the matching internal thread form 24. A first external acme thread 22-1 matches the first internal acme thread 24-1. A second external acme thread 22-2 with the second internal acme thread 24-2.
FIG. 1C shows an example of FIG. 1A using a standard buttress thread for the external flexible thread form 22 and the matching internal thread form 24. A first external buttress thread 22-3 matches the first internal buttress thread 24-3. A second external buttress thread 22-4 with the second internal buttress thread 24-4.
FIG. 1D shows an example of FIG. 1A using a box thread for the external flexible thread form 22 and the matching internal thread form 24. A first external box thread 22-5 matches the first internal box thread 24-5. A second external box thread 22-6 with the second internal box thread 24-6. One skilled in the art will recognize that FIGS. 1B to 1D show some of the many variations in open threads in use today. Other commonly used threads include various "V" shaped threads, as well as variations in angles of the walls, variations in the shape of the peaks and troughs of the threads.
To summarize from the parent applications, what is needed and has been addressed in them are reusable collapsible tubes able to dispense essentially all of its contents.

Apparatus and method for open thread, reusable, no-waste collapsible tube dispensers with control ribs and/or detent


A hydraulic engine mount is provided having at least one channel provided within the engine mount. The channel is provided fully enclosed within the engine mount. The channel includes at least two restrictions operable to partially restrict fluid flow through the channel thereby preventing unwanted noise heard by the user. The at least two restrictions include at least one protrusion extending away from a side wall of the channel. Two protrusions are provided to form each restriction where the protrusions are opposed and spaced apart extending into the channel. The at least one protrusion includes at least one sloped wall. The at least one sloped wall is disposed upstream of the fluid through the channel and may be positioned adjacent to an inlet or an outlet of the channel.

It is common for hydraulic engine mounts to have an inertia track assembly having an upper inertia track and a lower inertia track. The hydraulic engine mount assembly having an inertia track assembly often includes an elastomeric disc (decoupler) captured between the upper and lower inertia tracks (See FIG. 7 illustrating the prior art). The inertia track is a channel filled with a hydraulic fluid moving between the upper and lower chambers of the hydraulic mount. The inertia track is unobstructed throughout the entire length of the track to offer the most efficient movement of fluid within the track as it enters and exits the track.
However, a common problem with a fluid filled engine mount inertia track is that the decoupler disc creates noise caused by the contact between the disc and the inertia track pieces. The contact of the disc also produces a force which is transferred through the mount to the attaching vehicle structure which can cause vibration and/or noise in the vehicle and heard by the user. Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to provide a hydraulic engine mount having a fluid filled inertia track with decreased vibration and noise.

Hydraulic engine mount inertia track with multiple restrictions


An arrangement for transferring a paper web from the last drying cylinder of a first dryer group to the first dryer cylinder of a second dryer group. The last of the first drying cylinders lies outside a first endless loop porous support belt of the first dryer group. The first of the second drying cylinders lies outside a second endless loop porous support belt of the second dryer group. A first guide roll lies inside the loop of the first belt and is spaced from the first cylinder. A second guide roll lies inside the loop of the second belt, and is spaced from the second drying cylinder and along the path of the first belt between the first drying cylinder and the first guide roll. The second belt wraps around the second guide roll and the web on the first belt contacts the second belt on the path of the first belt toward the first guide roll. An air guide box upstream of the first guide roll directs air against the first belt into a wedge-shaped zone upstream in the travel path of the first belt for helping to transfer the web from the first belt to the second belt. The air guide box may have a stripper to strip air off the first belt, a wall that diverges from the first belt in the path toward the first guide roll, and a deflection surface for deflecting air passing along the first belt at the first guide roll.

The present invention relates to an arrangement for transferring a traveling web, preferably a paper web which is to be dried, from a first drying cylinder at a first porous support belt to a second drying cylinder at a second porous support belt between the two cylinders. Such an arrangement is used, for example, in paper manufacturing machines, particularly in the dry end. The arrangement is used for transferring the web of paper being produced from the support belt of one dryer group, which customarily comprises a plurality of heatable drying cylinders, to the support belt of a subsequent dryer group, which also comprises a plurality of heatable drying cylinders. The arrangement can, however, also be used within a so called twin wire dryer group for the repeated transfer of the web to be dried from the upper dryer wire to the lower dryer wire, and vice versa.
Known transfer arrangements for this type are described in the following publications: 1) Federal Republic of Germany Utility Model 89 06 273, which is equivalent to U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,317; 2) Federal Republic of Germany Utility Model 90 01 209, which is equivalent to U.S. application Ser. No. 07/467,788; 3) U.S. Pat. No. 3,868,780 at FIG. 8; 4) U.S. Pat. No. 3,250,019; and 5) U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,577.
In accordance with Reference 1) or 2) the second guide roll along the path between the two cylinders lies within the loop of the first endless support belt and is developed as a suction roll or a vacuum roll and is also known as a "pick-up roll". As is known, the shell of the guide roll is perforated and a vacuum must be produced within the roll, preferably by means of a stationary suction box which defines a specific partially circumferential or angular suction zone. Suction rolls of this kind have high manufacturing costs and operating expenses. Therefore the arrangements according to References 3, 4 and 5 attempt to get along using ordinary guide rolls, i.e. rolls which are free of suction means. However, arrangements using ordinary guide rolls at the transfer between dryer groups do not always operate dependably, particularly at extremely high operating speeds now desired, which may be between 500 and 2000 m/min.
A certain improvement can be obtained according to FIG. 9 of Reference 5 because the travel paths of the two support belts form a small angle of divergence with each other upon departure from the second guide roll. This differs from the parallel guidance in References 3 and 4. However, diverging belt paths present a problem too. On one hand, the place at which the first support belt travels onto the first guide roll should be located at a sufficiently large distance from the web which is traveling together with the second support belt. This should avoid the web being lifted off again from the second support belt within this region by the rotation of the first guide roll, which causes a vacuum. This danger is present if the angle of divergence is selected to be too small or even if it assumes a value of 0, i.e. parallel guidance. On the other hand, it is not desired to make the angle of divergence too great, in order that the web may experience the smallest possible deflection at its place of transfer.

Arrangement for the transfer of a traveling web


Documents used for process control can be managed and maintained from a document server and a terminal. In order to update the documents quickly so that an operated process is always kept in the most preferable state of operation, the document server stores and manages production documents used for actually controlling and monitoring a control system plant, whereas the terminal system is used to refer and edit plant documents. The terminal can synchronize contents of the plant documents in the document server with those in the control system before storing the synchronized plant documents in the terminal.

The present invention relates to a document management system and a document management method.
Conventionally, control documents of a plant controller used in a plant such as a thermoelectric power plant, an atomic power plant, a chemical plant, and a water supply and sewerage plant are generally stored and managed by a company or the like, which owns and operates the plant. For this reason, the company or the like, which owns and operates the plant, not only operates the plant but also stores and manages the control documents which are software required for the operation of the plant. Accordingly, the company employs a staff member having technical knowledge which is different from the operation of the plant to assign the staff member to take charge of the storage, and the management, of the software.
Because control documents of the plant controller according to the prior art are stored and managed by the company or the like, which owns and operates the plant, the company must employ a staff member having technical knowledge which is different from the operation of the plant to assign the staff member to store and manage the control document. This produces a problem of expenses spared for the staff member, and a problem of enormous labor required for storing and managing the document.

System and method for document management and synchronization


An integrated risk management tool includes a persistent object database to store information about actors (individuals and/or groups), physical surroundings, historical events and other information. The risk management tool also includes a decision support system that uses data objects from the database and advanced decision theory techniques, such as Bayesian Networks, to infer the relative risk of an undesirable event. As part of the relative risk calculation, the tool uses a simulation and gaming environment in which artificially intelligent actors interact with the environment to determine susceptibility to the undesired event. Preferred embodiments of the tool also include an open “plug-in” architecture that allows the tool to interface with existing consequence calculators. The tool also provides facilities for presenting data in a user-friendly manner as well as report generation facilities.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to the management of risk in general and more particularly to an apparatus and method of managing risks associated with terrorism.
2. Related Art
Risk can be defined as probability*vulnerability. Probability is the probability that an undesirable event will occur. Vulnerability is susceptibility to the event multiplied by the consequences associated with that event. Managing risk involves the process of determining the risk and taking steps to decrease the risk by decreasing the probability or vulnerability, or both. Managing risk is an important task faced by people in many different situations. Insurance companies and financial planners manage risk to capital when deciding when to insure and what stocks on bonds to include in a portfolio. Homeowners manage risk when deciding whether to purchase a burglar alarm system. One particularly important form of risk management is terrorism prevention.
Terrorism is a world-wide problem. Unfortunately, many in the United States associate terrorism with certain Arabian and/or Islamic nations and view the threat of terrorism from this limited framework. However, as recent events such as the Oklahoma City bombing have demonstrated, terrorism is not limited to any particular nation, religion, political system, or ideology. Today, the problem has become far more complex and is rapidly changing.
One problem faced by those with responsibility for assessing the threat of terrorism and its prevention is the lack of suitable tools to help them perform their tasks. Known tools generally fall into one of two categories: a) terrorist attack damage assessors; and b) terrorist attack likelihood predictors (i.e., probability calculators). The first type of tool, terrorist attack damage assessors (i.e., consequence calculators), are generally computer based. These tools attempt to answer the questions like "What will happen if a car carrying a 500 pound bomb explodes at the front door of my building?" (Blast model tools) and "What will happen if a 50 gallon drum of nerve gas is opened in the parking garage?" ("CBR"—chemical, biological and radiological—tools). The tools, which typically employ complex computer modeling algorithms such as those found in CAD/CAM programs, have three important drawbacks. First, they require detailed information (which can be difficult, time consuming and expensive to obtain) to construct the model and are often not flexible enough to handle situations in which the detailed data is not available. It is likely that data required to use these tools on the Murrah building in Oklahoma City would still not be collected at this point due to the time and costs associated with collecting such data. Second, these tools require expertise on the part of the user. Third, and perhaps most importantly, programs such as these provide no guidance as to the likelihood that the attack will succeed (the accessability), the likely location of an attack (e.g., the front or rear of the building, which building, etc., the type of weapon (explosive, chemical, biological or radiological) likely to be used, and how to prevent or at least minimize the occurrence of the attack in the first place.
The second type of tool, terrorist attack likelihood predictors, are typified by paper and pencil questionnaires provided by government agencies to remote locations. These tools attempt to answer the question "How likely am I to be attacked by terrorists?" The form of the tool is generally a series of questions such as "Do you have any nuclear material at your facility?", "Are you located in an urban, suburban or rural area? And "Are you a military or civilian installation?" These questionnaires award a certain number of points based on each answer and base the likelihood of terrorist attack on the total number of points. These tools also suffer from several serious drawbacks. While they may tell you that an attack is likely, they provide no guidance as to the nature of the attack and how to prevent it, provide no indication as to whether the attack will be successful, and provide no indication of the consequence of a successful attack.
Another problem faced by those charged with preventing terrorism is the lack of flexibility in adapting anti-terrorism plans. It has become the practice of many institutions to formulate an anti-terrorism plan that defines a number of threat levels. These plans are typically prepared by outside agencies or consulting firms based on individual knowledge and experience. Updating the plans based on changed circumstances requires the individual security specialists to be recalled, which is expensive and time consuming. Furthermore, the plans may not be appropriate for changing circumstances. By way of example, there may be great differences between a plan for high threat of terrorist activity on a military installation that was designed to protect mission-critical assets such as a weapons system and a plan for a high threat of terrorist activity on that same military installation when the high-threat condition is caused by a visit from a head of state or because of threatened attacks on troops rather than the weapons system. Furthermore, the source of the threat may also change its nature. A plan devised to stop a suicide car bomb attack favored by one known terrorist group may not be effective for a chemical attack favored by another terrorist group.
Changes to the plan may also become necessary because the site has expanded, or because of changes to the physical surroundings (e.g., new developments have been built in close proximity to a site previously surrounded by woods). Plan changes are also necessitated by the frequent changes to AT/FP doctrine, enunciated in sources such as DoD 2000.16, the Joint Service Integrated Vulnerability Assessment (JSIVA) Team standard operating procedures, and the J34 Installation AT/FP Planning Template, due to the evolving nature of the threat and lessons learned from previous attacks.

Method and apparatus for risk management


A sensor network collects time-series data from a process tool and supplies the data to an analysis system where pattern analysis techniques are used to identify structures and to monitor subsequent data based on analysis instructions or a composite model. Time-series data from multiple process runs are used to form a composite model of a data structure including variation. Comparison with the composite model gives an indication of tool health. A sensor network may have distributed memory for a more simplified configuration.

This invention relates to systems for collecting and analyzing data and using analysis of data for performance monitoring and in particular to the use of such systems on tools that process substrates.
Substrate processing equipment is used to process a variety of different substrates in different industries. Semiconductor substrates, such as silicon wafers, generally go through multiple substrate processing tools during manufacture of integrated circuits. Such tools perform different processes including cleaning, depositing material, removing material, forming patterns on the substrate and heating the substrate. Some tools have different modules that perform different processes such as a cleaning process in a cleaning module prior to a deposition process in a deposition module. Some tools have the capability to perform multiple tasks in the same process chamber such as both a cleaning step and a process step. Tools are also used to perform measurements on substrates at various points in the production of integrated circuits. Within a tool or a module, a process takes place that may affect the substrate in some way. Careful control of a process may be necessary in order for the integrated circuit produced to perform properly. For example, when a layer is deposited, it must generally have a thickness that is within a particular range. This range must be maintained across the substrate so that each integrated circuit has a layer of the correct thickness. Otherwise, some integrated circuits on a substrate may have too thick or too thin a layer and may not function correctly. To maintain control of a process, there may be certain process parameters that need to be controlled. For example, temperature, pressure, gas flow rate or chemical concentration may need to be carefully controlled. In addition to controlling a process parameter for a process module in general, the uniformity of a process parameter at different points across a substrate may also be controlled. Many tools include sensors to monitor such process parameters. Some tools use feedback and other types of control based on the measurements obtained from sensors. Substrate processing tools are used for other substrates including other semiconductor substrates such as Gallium Arsenide, Indium Phosphide and Indium Gallium Arsenide and for Flat Panel Display (FPD) substrates.
Various sensors are available for monitoring process parameters. Sensors may be used to measure properties such as temperature, pressure, gas flow rate, gaseous chemical composition within a chamber, position within a chamber, ion current density, ion current energy, light energy density, and vibration and acceleration of a wafer. Sensors may be mounted to a tool or may form part of a Process Condition Measuring Device (PCMD) such as those described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/718,269 filed on Nov. 19, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,151,366, which application is hereby incorporated in its entirety by this reference.
Tool health may be determined from measurements made by sensors. Tool health is a general term used to describe whether the tool is performing in an acceptable fashion. This generally means that it is achieving a designated process within some limits set by a user.
For certain applications it is useful to record data from a process tool in a separate unit called a data logger. The data may come from the tool through a communications port or may come from sensors or test points connected or dedicated to the data logger. The data are typically logged and later analyzed to better understand the process or to diagnose a problem that may exist in a process module. Current data loggers suffer from certain limitations. Dedicated leads or cables are generally needed for each sensor, sensors may be difficult to individually configure and software used to analyze data is often complex and difficult to customize for a particular application. Some currently used methods for reporting Sensor Data such as SECS/GEM typically report their data at a uniform or non-uniform frequency, sometimes a low frequency such as 1-5 Hertz or lower.
Therefore, there is a need for a user configurable data collection and analysis system. There is also a need for a data collection and analysis system that identifies process anomalies in a simple manner.

Determining process condition in substrate processing module


A system and method for measuring air quality using a micro-optical mechanical gas sensor is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the system includes an emission source that includes a conduit gap for receiving a gas; a plurality of electrodes for applying an electric field to at least a portion of the conduit gap, the application of the electric field creating a plasma in the conduit gap; and a detector that detects an emission from the plasma. The emission source and the detector may be micro-optical mechanical devices. A method for measuring air quality is discloses. According to one embodiment, the method includes the steps of (1) placing a chip containing an emission source and a detector in a gas flow; (2) applying an electric field to at least a portion of a conduit gap within the emission source, the electric field creating a plasma; (3) detecting an emission from the plasma; and (4) processing data related to the detected emission to determine at least one constituent of the gas flow.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to measuring air quality using a sensor, and, more particularly, to a system and method for measuring air quality using a micro-optical mechanical gas sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is growing public awareness and concern about the adverse effects of indoor air quality on human health and productivity in public buildings, work places and personal dwellings. Media attention concerning toxic mold and related health effects as well as the outbreak of infectious diseases such as SARS has led to renewed attention to indoor air quality in homes, commercial buildings, schools and hospitals. See Instrument Society of America (ISA), "Air-Pollution Sensors Forecast 25% Growth by 2003", InTech, September, 1999.
Current commercial air quality monitoring devices are large expensive analytical instruments, such as mass spectrometers and spectroscopes, that are often restricted to monitoring a small number of atmospheric pollutants. Each type of device has its advantage and disadvantages. For example, optical absorption spectroscopy devices are sensitive and selective, but are expensive and non-robust. Electrochemical/electroadsorptive devices, although inexpensive and portable, typically are limited to sensing only one gas. Mass spectroscopy devices are sensitive, but are expensive and requires vacuum technology. Finally, chromatography devices are sensitive, but expensive, non-portable, and non-robust.
A variety of methods are available for simultaneously detecting a number of components in a gas mixture. For example, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ("FTIR") spectroscopy, and mass spectroscopy may be used. While these methods have their merits, they also have their drawbacks. Cumbersome vacuum technology, an essential part of mass spectroscopy, limits its portability. FTIR spectroscopy typically employs absorption spectroscopy, which, in order to achieve high sensitivity, requires the use of some form of White cell, see White, J. U., J. Opt. Soc. Am. 32,285 (1942), where pathlengths of up to kilometers may be attained. See Hanst, P. L., "Pollution: Trace Gas Analysis" in "Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy", etd. J. R. Ferraro & L. J. Basile, vol. 2, 79-110, Academic Press, Inc. (1979). The use of some form of White cell restricts ruggedness since careful alignment of the infrared beam entering and leaving the cell is required.

System and method for determining at least one constituent in an ambient gas using a microsystem gas sensor


A method includes receiving data comprising a plurality of requests and a plurality of responses to the requests. The requests and the responses are associated with a virtual assistant programmed to address the plurality of requests. In the method, a machine learning (ML) classifier is used to partition the requests into a plurality of partitions corresponding to a plurality of request types. An interface for a user is generated to display a subset of the requests corresponding to at least one partition of the plurality of partitions and to display a response corresponding to the subset of the plurality of requests, wherein the response is based on one or more of the plurality of responses. The interface is configured to permit editing of the response by the user. The method also includes processing the response edited by the user, and transmitting the edited response to the virtual assistant.

Virtual assistants, also referred to herein as "chatbots" or "software agents," refer to software for conducting a conversation with a user via verbal or textual methods. A virtual assistant uses natural language processing (NLP) and natural language understanding (NLU) techniques to process verbal (e.g., spoken) and textual natural language questions and/or responses from a user. Virtual assistants often need to differentiate between multiple questions and responses in order to respond appropriately to a user.
In conventional systems, virtual assistants can seem like they are selecting from a plurality of pre-configured responses that are not necessarily responsive to a user's input, and do not always match with how a user is interacting with the system. Generating appropriate responses that enable a virtual assistant to appear to better understand a user's intent and goals has important consequences for how users perceive and interact with a virtual assistant.
Accordingly, there is a need for techniques to improve the responsiveness of virtual assistants to the various inputs that may be posed by a plurality of users.

Building and managing cohesive interaction for virtual assistants


A method, system and program product for equitable sharing of a CAM (Content Addressable Memory) table among multiple users of a switch. The method includes reserving buffers in the table to be shared, the remaining buffers being allocated to each user. The method further includes establishing whether or not an address contained in a packet from a user is listed in a buffer in the table, if the address is listed, updating a time-to-live value for the buffer for forwarding the packet and, if the address is not listed, determining whether or not the user has exceeded its allocated buffers and whether or not the reserved buffers have been exhausted, such that, if the user has exceeded its allocated buffers and the reserved buffers have been exhausted, the address is not added to the table and the user is precluded from using any additional buffers in the network switch.

Business networks, such as, most data center networks share switches between users and/or customers and/or departments, etc. As such, a single user, deliberately or unintentionally, can generate a large number of packets with random MAC (Media Access Control) addresses that fill the CAM (Content Addressable Memory) table in a switch and cause traffic to be flooded. Once the CAM table is full, the traffic is flooded out on all ports, causing network congestion on all segments connected to the switch.
This is known in the literature as a MAC Attack or CAM Table overflow. Once the CAM table is full, the switch is unable to learn any new MAC addresses. Similarly, if a large number of DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) requests are sent, an attacker can exhaust the address space available to the DHCP servers for a given period of time, thus, creating a simple resource starvation attack. As such, there is a need for a business and/or data center to provide a cost-effective way to develop ways to share switches between users and/or customers, while minimizing any external threats.

Method, system and program product for equitable sharing of a CAM table in a network switch in an on-demand environment

International Business Machines Corporation


The hoisting arrangement of a hoist of a of a crane, includes a trolley arranged to move along a main support structure of the crane, whereby the trolley includes a support frame structure; bearing wheels which are fastened to the support frame structure and by means of which the trolley is arranged to move along said main support structure; a hoisting mechanism that has a rope drum for a hoisting rope, a rope pulley arrangement which has upper sheave arrangements and lower rope pulley arrangements and through which the hoisting rope may be guided from the rope drum to an attachment point, and a hoisting member in cooperation with the hoisting rope for hoisting a load; whereby the rope drum is supported to the support frame structure of the trolley so that the axle of the rope drum is parallel to the main support structure. In the hoisting arrangement, the disengagement point of the hoisting rope from the rope drum, the attachment point of the sheave, and the attachment point of the first end of hoisting rope are arranged on the same vertical plane of the hoisting arrangement. The rope drum has a first end towards which the hoisting rope is wound in the hoisting member's upper position, and a second end towards which the hoisting rope is unwound in the hoisting member's lower position. The first rope pulley of the rope pulley arrangement is so placed that the release point of the hoisting rope from the first rope pulley to the first sheave is, in the axle direction of the rope drum, further from the second end than the first end of the rope drum.

The invention relates to a hoisting arrangement of a hoist of a crane, comprising a trolley, arranged to move along a main support structure of the crane, whereby the trolley comprises a frame structure; bearing wheels which are fastened to the frame structure and by means of which the trolley is arranged to move along said main support structure; a hoisting mechanism that has a rope drum for a hoisting rope, a rope pulley arrangement which has upper sheave arrangements and lower rope pulley arrangements and through which the hoisting rope may be guided from the rope drum to a attachment point, and a hoisting member in cooperation with the hoisting rope for hoisting a load; whereby the rope drum is supported to the support frame structure of the trolley so that the axle of the rope drum is parallel to the main support structure.
A crane type, often used in industry, is a bridge crane which consists of a bridge running on a rail or rails, a trolley running on the bridge, and a hoist for a load, fixed to the trolley. The hoist of a bridge crane is typically a rope crane. It is important for the usability of a crane that it makes efficient use of the available working space.
In such a case, the hoisting arrangement of a rope hoist is advantageous to be such that it allows hoisting a load as high as possible, using the available free height. Yet, the rope arrangement must be economical to manufacture whereby when the hoist is at its upper position, the rope forces must not increase with the demand for more expensive roping. The rope arrangement must also be reliable, for example when the hoist is at its upper position the risk of the hoisting hook and pulley tipping over to their side must be minimized.

Hoisting arrangement of a hoist of a crane


A system and a method for editing moving image content are provided. The method includes acquiring moving image content, mapping an image of a person included in the moving image content and speech data of the person, selecting at least one frame among frames included in the moving image content, and creating edited content of the moving image content using the mapped image and speech data, and the selected at least one frame.

As multimedia and network technologies have developed, it has become possible for a user to create his/her desired content or to receive various content from another terminal or service sever to use the content. However, as the number of pieces of content to be used by users increases, users have difficulty effectively selecting content that they will use. Thus a technique for editing details of content and providing editing information has been developed. However, a technique for providing editing information of the related art involves simply combining some of existing media, and thus it is difficult for users to be aware of details of content in a comfortable and familiar manner. Accordingly, a content editing technique is desired to efficiently enable users to be aware of details of content and use the editing information in a familiar manner.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

Apparatus and method for editing content


An electric device supports gesture input, so a user can determining whether the electric device is in a state of accepting the gesture input. An electronic device includes a touch panel display, a storage unit for storing sets of display data and trajectory related information that is associated with each set of display data, and a control unit. The trajectory related information includes trajectory data and function information that is associated with the trajectory data, and the control unit determines whether or not to accept the gesture input on the basis of the trajectory related information that is associated with the display data displayed on the touch panel display. When having determined to accept the gesture input, overlay-displays on the touch panel display, the trajectory data included in the trajectory related information that is associated with the display data so as to be overlaid on the display data.

A mobile terminal device, like a mobile phone and a PDA (Personal Data Assistance, Personal Digital Assistants) is becoming popular. In these days, a display unit of the mobile terminal device is getting larger and contents to be displayed on the display unit are upgraded. It becomes required than ever before to make operations easy to understand for a user by making the mobile terminal device multifunctional and upgraded so that a user fully utilizes the mobile terminal device.
Therefore, a touch panel display is employed in order to achieve understandability of operations while utilizing high-quality display. The touch panel display includes a function of a touch panel that an object touched by a user is inputted as input data and a function of the display unit which displays a result of an operation. With respect to display data displayed on the touch panel display, when a user points (touch) the touch panel display by using a finger, a pen, or the like, processes of cursor movement through a key operation and selection decision by using an ENTER key can be shortened. Thereby, operations in which input frequency is decreased are achieved.
Further, a technique of gesture input is attained as a technology using the touch panel display. The gesture input means that a user touches the touch panel display to input a predetermined trajectory (input trajectory). When a predetermined trajectory 213-1 is registered in a storage unit of a mobile terminal device as shown in FIG. 14A, and when an input trajectory 220 corresponds to the trajectory 213-1 as shown in FIG. 14B, the mobile terminal device activates and executes a function corresponding to the trajectory 213-1.
However, a current way of the gesture input includes following problems.
Initially, a first problem is described. In the gesture input, a user has to draw the same trajectory as predetermined trajectory data as the input trajectory. When a plurality of types of trajectory data exist, a user has to remember the plurality of trajectory data. In this case, it is expected that a user fails to utilize the gesture input due to faulty memory or input of an ambiguous trajectory. In this case, since an input trajectory 221 do not correspond to the trajectory 213-1 as shown in FIG. 14B, the mobile terminal device neither activates nor executes a function desired by a user.
Next, a second problem is described. The mobile terminal device executes processing based on a user's touching operation of the touch panel display or a user's operation of an input unit, and displays display data generated based on the processing on the touch panel display. At this time, when displaying the display data on the touch panel display, the mobile terminal device does not always accept the gesture input. That is because both software responding to the gesture input and software not responding thereto exist. Suppose that while the software not responding to the gesture input works, the display data used in the software is displayed on the touch panel display and a user draws a predetermined trajectory while touching the touch panel display. Then, the software does not execute processing. The user, however, cannot determine whether the reason why the software fails to execute processing is because the mobile terminal device is not in a state of accepting the gesture input since the working software does not meet the gesture input, because the drawn trajectory is wrong, or because the gesture input is carried out by mistake. Therefore, it is desired that a user is capable of recognizing whether or not the gesture input is accepted.
Patent document 1 describes a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal includes a camera input interface which executes a performance associated with a movement trajectory of a determination object inputted from a camera. The mobile terminal is characterized in further including means for outputting operation guidance information representing a correspondence relation between the movement trajectory of the determination object and the performance associated with the movement trajectory, and means for drawing the movement trajectory of the determination object, input of which is accepted, so as to be overlaid on display contents of a display.
Patent document 2 describes a user interface device. The user interface device includes storage means, trajectory analysis means, gesture search means, guide trajectory display means, and command calling means. The storage means stores a gesture to which a predetermined command is allocated and a guide trajectory leading the gesture. The trajectory analysis means analyzes a user's operation trajectory on a trajectory input device. The gesture search means searches one or more than one gesture corresponding to the operation trajectory in a gesture stored in the storage means, each time the trajectory analysis means analyzes the user's operation trajectory. The guide trajectory display means acquires, from the storage means, the guide trajectory searched by the gesture search means and displays the guide trajectory, and deletes the displayed guide trajectory of the gesture when the gesture previously searched by the gesture search means does not accord with the user's operation trajectory. When the gestures searched by the gesture search means are confined to one, the command calling means calls the command allocated to the gesture.

Electronic device, gesture processing method and gesture processing program


A method for testing a capacity of a drive rescue battery includes opening a first switching device and second switching device to disconnect a LCL filter from AC mains and form a test load for testing the capacity of the drive rescue battery while disconnecting one of the LCL filter capacitors associated with a third phase from the test load, the test load including a series connection from one of the downstream LCL filter inductors and the LCL filter capacitors associated with the first phase to one of the LCL filter capacitors and the downstream LCL filter inductors associated with the second phase; and determining at least one of a voltage or a current of the drive rescue battery resulting from the test load.

When a power sag or power loss occurs, a transportation system such as an elevator, an escalator, a moving walkway or the like my come to an unintended halt concerning a safety of passengers using the transportation system. An elevator may become stalled between floors in the elevator hoistway until the power supply returns to the nominal operating voltage range. In conventional systems, passengers in the elevator may be trapped until a maintenance worker is able to release a brake for controlling cab movement upwardly or downwardly to allow the elevator to move to the closest floor. To improve this situation, elevator systems employing automatic rescue operation have been introduced. These elevator systems include electrical energy storage devices, e.g. in the form of a drive rescue battery, that are controlled after power failure to provide power to move the elevator to the next floor for passenger disembarkation. An integrated rescue feature of new generation drives for elevators thus enables battery discharging to drive internal loads such as moving the trapped elevator car up or down to the closest floor.
However, many current automatic rescue operation systems are complex and expensive to implement, and may provide unreliable power to the elevator drive after a power failure. For example, battery capacity will decrease over time and use. It is extremely important to replace the rescue battery with a new one before a given capacity, i.e. stored electric charge, of the battery is too small to complete the rescue operation leading to a situation that the rescue operation may fail.
Previous attempts to safeguard a sufficient capacity of the drive rescue battery rely on an external load resistor or braking resistor which may have been used as a load resistor. Power from the drive rescue battery can also be supplied to a motor of the elevator but this test operation requires closing of a safety chain of the elevator and having permission from an elevator level controller to perform the test.

Method for testing a capacity of a drive rescue battery of a transportation system, software program, and testing arrangement