A door lock (10) includes a driving device (30) having an outer spindle (36) and an outer handle (38) mounted to the outer spindle (36). A mounting member (56) is rotatably mounted in a compartment (46) of the outer handle (38). A positioning member (72) is movably received in a groove (54) of the outer handle (38). When a lock core (74) disengages from the mounting member (56), the mounting member (56) cannot move along a longitudinal axis but can pivot about a pivotal axis relative to the outer handle (38) to change a positional relationship between first and second holes (64, 66) of the mounting member (56). After the lock core (74) engages with the mounting member (56), the mounting member (56) cannot pivot about the pivotal axis relative to the outer handle (38).

The present invention relates to a door lock permitting easy change in the lock core assembly orientation and, more particularly, to a door lock permitting an assembly orientation of a lock core of the door lock to be adjusted to the correct assembly orientation no matter the door is right-handed or left-handed, such that the orientation of the key inserted by the user is the same.
Doors are classified into left-handed type and right-handed type according to the type of the wall separating spaces. A left-handed door has a side end pivotably mounted to a door frame, and a door lock is mounted to a right side of the left-handed door, permitting opening and closing by the right side of the left-handed door. A right-handed door has a right side pivotably mounted to a door frame, and a door lock is mounted to a left side of the right-handed door, permitting opening and closing by the left side of the right-handed door. A pivotal direction of a lock core of the door lock mounted to the left side of the door is opposite to a pivotal direction of a lock core of the door lock mounted to the right side of the door, such that the orientation of the keyway of the lock core of the door lock mounted to the left side of the door is opposite to the orientation of the lock core of the door lock mounted to the right side of the door. Thus, the direction of rotating a key for unlocking the door lock could be different, too.
Replaceable figure 8-shaped lock cores have been proposed by manufacturers to solve this problem. Specifically, two keys are provided for a figure 8-shaped lock core, one of which can be used to unlock the door lock, and the other can be used to detach the lock core from the door lock to permit a change in the assembly orientation of the lock core. However, the cross sections of the figure-8 shaped lock cores are not circular, such that the cross sections of a compartment for receiving the lock core is not circular, either. Thus, in addition to detaching the lock core, the outer handle must be detached from the door lock for changing the assembly orientation of the lock core. Namely, the outer handle is reassembled to the correct direction (i.e., the opposite direction), and the lock core is recoupled to the outer handle. Furthermore, to achieve an anti-theft effect, the outer handle cannot be directly detached unless the components in the inner handle are detached. Thus, the assembly orientation of the lock core cannot be changed when only the lock core is detached, leading to insufficient utility.

Door lock permitting easy change in lock core assembly orientation


A method of manufacturing a panel, the panel comprising a composite skin and at least one composite stiffener, the method comprising: positioning first and second mandrels on opposite sides of the stiffener; positioning first and second compaction tools on opposite sides of the skin; and compacting the skin between the first and second compaction tools by moving one or both of the compaction tools, wherein the movement of the compaction tool(s) causes the first and second mandrels to move towards the stiffener along inclined paths so as to compact the stiffener between the mandrels.

The wing or empennage structure of a modem airliner is typically a stiffened skin construction. Together with spars and ribs, the skin forms a torque box which will resist external loads.
In the case of a fuselage, the curved stiffened skin panels together with fuselage frames form the stiffened shell. Traditionally these skins are made from aluminium alloys, but as aircraft performance is becoming more and more important, composite skin panels are becoming more and more popular in aircraft primary structure construction.
Stiffened composite panels in primary structures may be used in horizontal tail plane, vertical tail plane and/or centre wing box construction. Typical for all these (excluding centre wing box) is that the skin is manufactured starting from the aerodynamic or outer surface. Since the thickness tolerance of the components is relatively poor this leads to additional costs in the final assembly where the resulting gaps and/or mismatches between skins, ribs and spars must be filled or adjusted with a suitable method to maintain the aerodynamic tolerance of the whole torque box.
Significant savings in the final assembly phase and completely new torque box designs could be utilised if the skin thickness tolerance could be maintained accurately enough so that both the outer mould line (aerodynamic) and inner mould line (e.g. spar & rib landings, main landing gear area) tolerances in critical locations could be controlled.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,018 describes a method of composite material manufacturing process in which a stack is placed on an upwardly directed female former, and then stamped by a male hydraulic press.


An image sensor includes a photoelectric conversion region formed in a substrate, an interlayer insulation layer formed over a front side of the substrate, a carbon-containing layer doped with impurities and formed over a back side of the substrate, and a color filter and a micro-lens formed over the carbon-containing layer.

1. Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of fabricating a semiconductor device, and more particularly, to a back side illumination image sensor and a method for fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image sensor is a device that converts an optical image into an electric signal. The image sensor is generally classified into a charge coupled device type (CCD type) image sensor and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor type (CMOS type) image sensor. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, and each pixel outputs a pixel signal corresponding to incident light. Each pixel accumulates photocharges corresponding to the incident light through a photoelectric conversion device, i.e., a photo diode, and outputs the pixel signal based on the accumulated photocharges.
In the image sensor, dark current is generated due to the electric charges generated at the surface of the substrate where the photoelectric conversion device is formed. The dark current degrades the properties of the image sensor by acting as noise to the pixel signal.

Image sensor and method for fabricating the same


An air bag cover and manufacturing method thereof wherein the air bag cover comprises a core member which can be formed by injection molding, and a decorative sheet disposed on the surface of the core member. The decorative sheet includes at least two layers, an outer layer and a barrier layer disposed on a back side of the outer layer to protect the outer layer when the core member is injection molded. The core member is made of thermoplastic elastomer which can be thermally fused to the barrier layer. A breakable portion is provided in the barrier layer and core member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air bag cover made of synthetic resin which can be used to cover a folded air bag of an air bag device in an instrument panel, a door trim, a seat back, or a steering wheel of an automobile and manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, an air bag cover comprises a synthetic resin core member and a decorative sheet disposed on the front surface of the core member (see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho. 63-22262 for example).
The conventional air bag cover includes a breakable portion which, when the air bag is expanded, can be easily broken to allow the expanding air bag to project outwardly. This breakable portion is produced by forming a recessed portion in the air bag cover by means of high frequency, heat, or supersonic waves (see Japanese Patent Publications Nos. Hei. 2-248238, 4-151345, 6-218811 for example).
When the recessed portion is formed on the side of the air bag cover visible to a passenger of an automobile, the design quality of the air bag cover is lowered. For this reason, the recessed portion is conventionally formed on a back side of the air bag cover. Yet, in order to allow the air bag cover to break smoothly, the decorative sheet must also be provided with a recessed portion.
Conventionally, the decorative sheet is formed by superimposing three layers one on top of another into a united body, including an outer layer made of soft vinyl chloride or the like, a barrier layer made of polypropylene used to protect the outer layer from the heat and pressure associated with forming the core member, and a foaming layer made of foaming polypropylene, urethane or the like interposed between the outer layer and barrier layer. To allow the air bag cover to break smoothly, the conventional decorative sheet provides a recessed portion not only in the barrier layer but also in the back side of the outer layer.
However, the thickness of the outer layer is small, on the order of 1 mm, and, therefore, it is difficult to control the thickness of the outer layer when the recessed portion is formed. The thickness is even more difficult to control when the air bag cover is formed to have a curved surface and the breakable portion is formed in the curved surface.
Moreover, because the outer layer is made of soft vinyl chloride, the outer layer can become brittle at low temperatures, raising a fear that small fragments of the outer layer will be projected when the air bag deploys. This problem makes it necessary to strongly bond the outer layer to the foaming layer by adhesive.

Method for manufacturing an air bag cover


Imaging system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus, with a projection objective (200, 300, 500, 600) that serves to project an image of a mask which can be set into position in an object plane onto a light-sensitive coating layer which can be set into position in an image plane, and with a liquid-delivery device (205) serving to fill immersion liquid (202, 310, 507) into an interstitial space between the image plane and a last optical element (201, 309, 506) on the image-plane side of the projection objective; wherein the last optical element on the image-plane side of the projection objective is arranged so that, seen in the direction of gravity, it follows the image plane; and wherein the projection objective is configured in such a way that when the system is operating with immersion, the immersion liquid has at least in some areas a convex-curved surface facing in the direction away from the image plane. It is also proposed for the last optical element (201, 309, 506) on the image-plane side of the projection objective to be arranged below the image plane in such a way that the immersion liquid (202, 310, 507, 601) is held at least in part in a substantially tub-shaped area on the last optical element on the image-plane side. Also, a rotator can be provided which serves to rotate a substrate carrying the light-sensitive coating (401) between a transport orientation in which the light-sensitive coating lies on a substrate surface that faces against the direction of gravity and an exposure orientation in which the light-sensitive coating (401) lies on a substrate surface that faces in the direction of gravity.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an imaging system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus which is specifically configured to operate with immersion.
2. State of the Art
A known means to achieve ever higher levels of resolution in microlithography, besides using projection objectives of high numerical aperture and using light of shorter and shorter wavelength, consists of introducing an immersion medium of a high refractive index, in particular a liquid, into the space between the last optical element on the image-plane side of the projection objective and the light sensitive coating layer. This technique is referred to as immersion lithography.
The known state of the art of projection objectives includes a number of diverse designs that serve to improve the handling of the immersion liquid during the scanning activity which is performed in the production of wafers and in which a relative movement occurs in particular between the last optical element and the light-sensitive coating.
The following references to examples for designs of projection objectives are presented to delineate the state of the art, albeit without any claims of completeness and without a definitive assessment of their merits.
A projection exposure apparatus is disclosed in JP 2000-058436A, which is designed so that a supplementary lens can be inserted into the interstitial space between a projection objective that is configured as a dry objective and a light-sensitive coating layer, wherein the supplementary lens can in particular have a concave curvature on the image side. An immersion fluid, for example an oil, can be introduced between the inserted lens and the light-sensitive coating.
In WO 2004/090956, a projection exposure apparatus is disclosed with a movable substrate stage which serves to hold the substrate over the projection objective and with an immersion liquid to fill the remaining space in between at least partially with immersion liquid. The intended purpose is in particular to prevent the immersion liquid from escaping ("scattering") and to avoid impeding the movement of the substrate stage with immersion liquid conduits.
A system for immersion photolithography is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,809,794 wherein the projection objective is likewise positioned below the substrate that is to be exposed. According to the example in which the concept is implemented, there are in particular a plurality of lenses arranged in a housing with an opening at the top which is designed so that an immersion liquid which is present in a pressure region between the last lens (shown as a bi-convex lens) and the top portion of the housing will form a liquid meniscus above the projection objective or, more specifically, over the opening.

Imaging system for a microlithographical projection light system


A method of detecting and identifying an object (O) which is provided with identification elements (Io) and wireless transmission elements (Ao), the object being disposed close to one receiver module (Mi) from among a plurality of receiver modules (M1, . . . , Mi, . . . , Mn). The inventive method includes: (i) an electromagnetic coupling between the object's wireless transmission elements (Ao) and a fixed antenna (Ai) which is associated with the aforementioned receiver module (Mi); and (ii) an electrical coupling between the fixed antenna (Ai) of the receiver module (Mi) and a secondary fixed antenna (3) which is common to all of the fixed antennas (A1, Ai, . . . , An) of the receiver module. Moreover, the common secondary fixed antenna (3) is electromagnetically coupled to a primary fixed antenna (2) which is connected to a read module (4) that is designed to read the identification data originating from the identification elements (Io).

The present invention relates to a method for the detection and identification of objects. It is also aimed at a device for the detection and identification of objects using this method, objects containers and systems provided with this device, as well as objects adapted to this method.
There is a requirement for the detection and identification of objects which are of a sensitive nature in terms of security, such as keys and bunches of keys or weapons. Lockable cabinets containing modules provided for receiving keys are already known, these receiver modules being able to be equipped with locking means. Likewise, secure cabinets for storing weapons comprising devices for locking these weapons already exist.
The objects intended to be stored in these cabinets are generally provided with identification means such as electronic contact identification components of the "Dallas" type or components of the RF tag type. The locking devices associated with these objects include reader modules provided to cooperate with these identification components.
In the specific case of a lockable cupboard, providing identification and locking for each key or bunch of keys provided with identification means currently requires the provision of as many reader modules as locking modules of these keys or bunches of keys. As a result, production costs are incurred for a large capacity lockable cabinet, because of the unit cost of each reader module.

Method and device for the detection and identification of objects, secure containers and systems which are provided with said device, and objects adapted for same


An example system for mapping payout information can include: a processor; and system memory including instruction which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: generate a story selection module programmed to present a user with at least one story scenario, with the story scenario including a story having a story outline with a plurality of story conditions, and each of the story conditions includes a plurality of selectable story options; and generate an insurance payout module programmed to present the user with an estimated insurance payout based upon the selectable story options and information associated with an insurance plan available for selection by the user.

Insurance is a means of risk management that minimizes financial loss. Regardless of the type of insurance, insurance companies typically have a wide array of plans from which to choose. Insurance plans can vary based on various parameters, such as the benefit amount, covered events, etc. The number of available options often leads to confusion when selecting a desired plan. Due to this confusion, individuals may choose a plan without fully understanding the cost and coverage options.


A flexible metallized polymer film cover provides environmental protection of electronic assemblies such as circuit card assemblies which are susceptible to external environmental factors which can impede functional performance and reduce reliability. The fully integrated cover provides this protection and also allows for circuit repair and rework in such a manner as to make cover removal and reseal economically attractive. The use of a metallized polymer film in the form of a two layer film, with two intimately bonded layers one being electrically insulative and the other metallic, provides environmental and electrical protection of the enclosed assembly. The variables of film materials and thicknesses allow for specific cover designs to be fabricated to meet various requirements for assembly protection. The flexible film nature of the cover allows for strict conformance to underlying devices and less dimension and weight for the assembly. The cover can also be easily and quickly removed from the assembly to allow repair of underlying devices. The cost of these films also makes replacement of the film cover attractive.

As background for our invention, circuit cards and devices have been protected from environmental effects by polymeric encapsulation, metal covers, hermetically sealed metal or ceramic covers and combinations of the afore mentioned techniques. The encapsulation or potting methods provide conformal coating but the coating does not provide a hermetic barrier to moisture permeation or chemical diffusion. It also does not provide reliable EMI/ESD protection for the underlying hardware. Standard formed or machined metal covers or dust covers are only mechanically fastened over the assembly and do not provide environmental protection or complete EMI protection.
Hermetically sealed covers of ceramic or metal do provide environmental protection but tend to be bulky, heavy and expensive. Both cover methods, do not insure EMI/ESD protection, depending upon the configuration. The metal covers also tend to add unwanted dimension and weight to the assembly.
Furthermore, use of electrostatic discharge (ESD) bags and ESD bag material for a cover work in protection of underlying hardware from mild electrical effects but does not provide the hermetic environmental protection. The polymeric bags are susceptible to chemical diffusion and moisture permeation. Numerous ESD bags are available on the market, but none provide satisfactory results. The ESD bags have metallized layers that are too thin to prevent permeation or diffusion of external media through the metal layer.
However, new and existing film metallization processes, such as magnetron sputtering and roll plating, along with development of high performance polymer films are allowing for the feasible design of light weight, formable and hermetic metallized polymer film covers to replace or enhance the above techniques for protection of electronic devices and assemblies.

Electronic assembly with flexible film cover for providing electrical and environmental protection

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention is directed to a system and method for monitoring system performance by using a multi-phase approach. The first phase, referred to as the burst counting phase, utilizes a set of counters to identify calls and returns which are heavily used. In the second phase, referred to as the instrumentation phase, the performance characteristics of the "hot spots" are monitored through the use of hardware counters. In a symmetrical multi-processor embodiment, the performance profiler is active on all processors at the same time. Frequently executed code paths are identified in a manner that is minimally-intrusive to the system as a whole, and uses relatively little storage. The user may specify a threshold count, after which hardware monitoring begins, and the user may specify the type of hardware performance data collected. After both phases of the performance monitor are run, the data can be presented to the user in a variety of ways.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to information processing systems and, more particularly, to tools and methods for monitoring, modeling, and enhancing system performance.
2. Description of Related Art
To enhance system performance, it is helpful to know which modules within a system are the most frequently executed. These most frequently executed modules are referred to as "hot" modules. Within these hot modules, it is also useful to know which lines of code are the most frequently executed. These frequently executed code segments are known as "hot spots."
A programmer hoping to improve system performance should focus his or her efforts on improving the performance of the hot modules and hot spots within those modules. Improving the performance of the most frequently executed modules and code segments will have the most effect on improving overall system performance. It does not make sense to spend much time improving the performance of modules or code segments which are rarely executed, as this will have little, if any, effect on the overall system performance.
Many modern processors contain hardware capability which allows performance data to be collected. For example, most modern processors have the capability to measure cycle time. Many modern processors also have the ability to count other items, such as cache misses, floating point operations, bus utilization, and translation look-aside buffer (TLB) misses. To count cache misses, for example, a bit or a sequence of bits within a status register is set to a predetermined code. This bit sequence tells the processor to increment a counter every time there is a cache miss. When the bit sequence is reset, the processor stops counting cache misses, and the total number of cache misses can be read from another register or from a memory area.
Prior art approaches to collecting hardware performance data have focused on collecting this data for a specified period of time. However, data collected in this way is not very useful. For example, knowing that there were 50,000 cache misses during a particular time period does not tell a programmer where to focus his or her efforts to improve this statistic. Knowing that a particular operation takes a certain amount of cycle time is also not very helpful without knowing the cycles per instruction of each of the hot modules within the system.
Consequently, there is a need for a method and tool for identifying the most frequently executed code segments within a software system, and then collecting useful hardware performance data regarding these particular code segments in a non-intrusive manner.

System and method for multi-phased performance profiling of single-processor and multi-processor systems


An electrostatic plotter or similar color image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, e.g. a paper web being transported under tension by a transport roller pair by a head while sensing a register mark formed on the medium. The distance between the register mark and a register mark sensor and the distance between the paper web and the head are maintained constant.

The present invention relates to an electrostatic plotter or similar color image forming apparatus for forming an image on a paper web or similar recording medium being transported under tension by a transport roller pair by a head while sensing a register mark recorded on the medium.
Color image forming apparatuses of the type recording an image on a recording medium, i.e., paper web being transported under tension by multiple roller pairs are extensively used today and include an electrostatic color plotter. It is a common practice with this type of apparatus to record a register mark in a predetermined position on a recording medium and sense it by, for example, a photosensor. The transport of the medium is controlled on the basis of the register mark to form color components expected to form a color image in accurate register on the medium. To enhance the sensing accuracy of the photosensor, the register mark is condensed by a lens and then sensed by the photosensor. However, the problem is that the medium in transport is apt to move up and down at the position where the photosensor is located, changing the distance between it, i.e., the register mark provided thereon and the lens. Then, the photosensor fails to sense the register mark accurately. A head for recording an image on the medium has to be spaced apart from the medium by a predetermined distance. Should this distance be inaccurate, especially in the main scanning direction, the quality of reproduced images would be critically degraded. In practice, however, the distance between the recording medium and the head changes when the medium is set on the apparatus or in the event of maintenance of the head. Specifically, in such an occasion, since a guide member for guiding the medium is rotated about, for example, a hinge to a retracted position, the guide member cannot be accurately restored to the original or operative position due to the play of the hinge.

Color image forming apparatus with means for biasing a recording head


One or more embodiments of this application provide a claim settlement method and apparatus employing blockchain technology, which are applied to a blockchain comprising a node device of an insurer and a node device of an insured party, a first smart contract for insurance claim settlement being deployed in the blockchain. The method comprises: acquiring a first transaction for making claim settlement payment to an insured party, wherein the first transaction comprises claim settlement event data corresponding to the insured party; and calling a first smart contract, executing an insurance claim settlement logic declared in the first smart contract and corresponding to the insured party, and performing, on the basis of the claim settlement event data, claim settlement processing with respect to the insured party.

A blockchain technology, also referred to as a distributed ledger technology, is an emerging technology in which a plurality of computing devices jointly participate in "ledger recording" and maintain a complete distributed database. Because the blockchain technology is characterized by decentralization, openness, and transparency, allowing each computing device to participate in database recording, and allowing rapid data synchronization among the computing devices, the blockchain technology has been widely applied in many fields.

Claim settlement method and apparatus employing blockchain technology


A method of manufacturing a microelectronic package comprising, in one embodiment, providing a package substrate, coupling a device substrate to the package substrate, and assembling a bifurcated mold around the device and package substrates, the bifurcated mold including a seal. The method also includes encapsulating the device and package substrates employing the bifurcated mold.

The present disclosure relates generally to microelectronics packaging and, more specifically, to manufacturing a microelectronics package with a sealed bifurcated mold.
Flip-chip ball grid array (FCBGA) packaging generally employs a plurality of solder bump balls that may be coupled between bond pads of a microelectronics device substrate and a package substrate. An encapsulant is typically applied to back-fill the bonded device substrate and BGA while the package is housed in a mold. However, during encapsulation, encapsulant or flash mold material can leak from the mold, the package/substrate interface and/or other gaps/cracks. The mold material is difficult to remove and can deteriorate proximate electrical contacts. The excess encapsulate is also difficult to remove from the mold, therefore requiring frequent cleaning.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a device and manufacturing method that addresses the above discussed issues.

Microelectronics package assembly tool and method of manufacture therewith

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A retainer for removable components that plug into a printed circuit board retains the removable component in an associated sockets on a printed circuit board. The retainer has the form of a clip including a retaining surface that applies a retaining force to the component. The retaining force is largely a spring force that directs the leads into the associated sockets by applying pressure to the top of the component. The retainer further has a positioning surface that positions the retaining surface in association with the component. This is done by the positioning surface engaging the exposed exterior surface of the associated sockets. A connecting surface connects the retaining surface to the positioning surface around the circuit board. In the preferred embodiment, the component is a crystal oscillator that plugs into the printed circuit board. Such crystal oscillators are removable to permit changing the operating frequency of an associated microwave transmission circuit.

Microwave radiofrequency transmission devices are designed to operate at many different frequencies. The frequency for any microwave radiofrequency transmission device is largely a function of a crystal oscillator that provides a timing signal to the circuit. In many microwave circuits and within a relatively broad range of operation, it is possible to use the same basic circuitry to emit microwave signals having many different principal frequencies. Thus, by using different oscillators with the same basic circuitry it is possible to interchange crystal oscillators to have the circuit emit different microwave signals. Circuits with this flexibility use removable crystal oscillators that plug into sockets that are pre-positioned in the printed circuit board. This design is an economical and practical way to increase microwave module assembly flexibility.
A limitation, however, exists with this design. In most crystal oscillator designs, only three leads plug into three sockets of the circuit board. These three leads make a good connection with board circuitry when the crystal oscillator is fully positioned within the sockets, but may come loose and thereby disconnect the crystal oscillator. Once the crystal oscillator falls out of the circuit board, the microwave device becomes fully non-operational. It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a way to retain the crystal oscillator in pre-positioned sockets of a circuit board.
There are known ways to retain removable crystal oscillators and other similar devices securely plugged into a circuit board. The conventional apparatus is a metal retaining arm device that includes a rubber pad or grommet to contact and direct the crystal oscillator into its socket. The metal retaining arm is screwed into the circuit board using a small screw.
Limitations with this design are numerous, but at least include the following problems. First of all, the metal retaining arm device comprises at least three parts. The first part is the metal retaining arm itself, the second is the rubber grommet, and the third is the fastening and positioning screw. For this device, the fastening and positioning screw must have a screwhole that is fabricated into the printed circuit board. The costs associated with this device include assembling the rubber grommet into the metal retaining arm, installing the screw in the circuit board, forming the screwhole within the circuit board, and positioning the metal retaining arm and rubber grommet over the crystal oscillator. Another limitation of the prior art metal retaining arm device is that the base of the retaining arm and the screwhole require circuit board space or "real estate" that could be used more effectively for other components or, similarly, could be avoided to make the circuit board smaller.
It is a further object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a retainer for a removable crystal oscillator or other component that significantly reduces the complexity of conventional devices.
It is yet another object of the present invention to avoid waste of circuit board real estate by removing from the circuit board the screwhole and avoiding the need for the space that accommodates the metal retaining arm.
It is, thus, an object of the present invention to provide a retainer that retains the leads of removable circuit board components such as a crystal oscillator in a plurality of associated sockets on the circuit board. This is done by the retainer having a retaining surface that applies a retaining force to the component. The retaining force includes a spring force that directs the plurality of leads into the associated sockets. A positioning surface on the retaining clip positions the retaining surface in association with the component by engaging the positioning surface with an exposed exterior surface of the associated sockets. A connecting surface connects the retaining surface with the positioning surface around the circuit board and assists in maintaining the retaining force against the component.
The retaining clip is made of an insulating material that has an elastic memory for constantly applying the retaining force against the component. Although the preferred embodiment of the retainer is a clip for retaining crystal oscillators on a circuit board, the retainer has many potential uses for any other components that plug into sockets on a circuit board.

Retainer for removable circuit board components


A method for re-testing semiconductor device includes following processes: (1) providing a first carrier for accommodating semiconductor devices which have been tested; (2) taking the semiconductor devices out from the first carrier and placing them according to the information of a fist map by a pick-and-place machine, wherein the information of the first map has the coordinates of the positions of the film frame where the semiconductor is to be placed; (3) placing the film frame with the semiconductor devices placed thereon to a testing machine, and re-testing the semiconductor devices according to the information of the first map by the tester; (4) placing the film frame with the semiconductor devices attached thereon to a pick-and-place machine, and taking the semiconductor devices out according to the result of the retesting from the film frame, and placing the semiconductor devices on at least one carriers.

1. Field of Invention
This invention is related to a method for testing a semiconductor device. More particularly, the present invention is related to a method for retesting a semiconductor device by taking back the semiconductor device which is disposed on the carrier to perform the retesting steps.
2. Related Art
After completing the manufacture of a wafer, the wafer is needed to be entered into assembly and testing steps so that the semiconductor devices provided in the wafer is able to be separated from each other, disposed on and electrically connected the motherboard. Therein, the assembly steps include the steps of wafer dicing, die attaching, wire bonding and encapsulating. However, the semiconductor devices may be damaged, destroyed or not connected well to the motherboard. Thus, the testing steps following the assembly steps are usually required so as to verify whether the function of the semiconductor devices are performed well.
According to the requirement of products, the testing steps may be performed either before or after assembly steps. As shown in FIG. 1, a wafer 1 is placed on a film frame 222, wherein the wafer 1 has a plurality of semiconductor devices 10. The wafer 1 is entered into testing processes through a tester, wherein the testing processes include the visual inspection and signal testing. After each semiconductor device or chip 10 is finished testing, the testing result will be recorded in a wafer map. Then, the chips or semiconductor devices 10 placed on the film frame 222 will be taken out and then placed on chip carrier such as Gel Pak according to the testing result recorded in the wafer map through a pick-and-place machine. Generally speaking, the testing result may divide the semiconductor devices or chips into two or more groups in different degrees. Different groups in different degrees may be placed on different carriers. For example, the chips or semiconductor devices 10 may be divided into two groups. One is qualified for shipping-out and the other is disqualified for scraping. The pick-and-place machine, according to the testing result recorded in the wafer map, will take the good chips out and then place them on the carriers so as to ship the good chips out. However, the disqualified ones will leave on the film frame 222 to be under scraping processes.
As mentioned above, if the good chips placed on the carriers are required to be divided into two different groups in different degrees, the good chips are usually not able to be placed in the tester again so as to cause such good chips to be scraped. In addition, when the yield rate of the chips are low, it is usually required to take out the chips disposed on the film frame 222 which are originally regarded as disqualified ones but not far away from the qualified standard so as to increase the yield rate. However, the tester is not able to perform the testing processes on the chips left on the film frame 222 so that the testing processes are not usually performed well.
Therefore, providing another testing method to solve the mentioned-above disadvantages is the most important task in this invention.

Method for retesting semiconductor device

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.


Dynamic positioning of a vessel 10 connected to the seafloor 14 by a riser 12 utilizes a measurement of riser 12 bottom angle combined with a measurement of vessel 10 velocity, optionally obtained from a Doppler log 16. These two signals are combined to produce a single position estimate using an algorithm such as a Kalman filter. Using riser bottom angle only would result in an unstable control system, since the bottom angle lags the vessel motion by a considerable amount and the relationship is non-linear. Using the velocity measurement alone would result in a slow drift of position. The combination of the two eliminates the disadvantages of the individual measurements.

A ship moves in six axes, three translational (surge, sway and heave) and three rotational (roll, pitch and yaw). These six axes are shown in FIG. 1. A DP system for a surface vessel usually controls only the three movements in the horizontal plane, namely surge, sway and yaw, but it may need to take into account measurements on all six axes.
The fundamental components of a DP system are: one or more position reference systems to measure the vessel position and heading; thrusters to apply control action; and a controller to determine the required thrusts. The object of a DP system is not to hold the vessel absolutely stationary, but to maintain its station within acceptable limits. The magnitude of the permitted position variation is dependent upon the application and on operational concerns. In many applications a loss of position beyond the acceptable limits may have a severe impact either on the safety of personnel or equipment, or on the environment. It is vital, therefore, that adequate measures are taken to maintain the integrity of the DP system as far as is reasonably possible.
Safe operation in DP relies upon measurement of the vessel position and heading at all times. In order to ensure that this is true, even under fault conditions, all measurement systems include redundancy. Physical redundancy requires the replication of equipment to ensure that a single failure of any piece of equipment will not result in complete failure of the overall system and allows faulty equipment to be by-passed using the redundant hardware. The parallel redundant systems must be independent—i.e. no single failure mode should be capable of disabling the overall system. For measurement of heading this independence can be achieved by installing multiple gyrocompasses, since no failure of an individual unit will affect the others.
Whilst the gyrocompass offers a compact, reliable and accurate measurement of vessel heading (yaw), independent of outside disturbances, the measurement of position in surge and sway has proved to be more complex.
The provision of independent position measurements depends upon the location and operation of the vessel. For stationary operation in water depths up to about 1000 m multiple taut-wire systems provide independent redundant feedback of vessel position. No single failure can disable all the taut-wires. However, for many vessels, taut-wire is not an option; for example, drilling vessels have to operate in increasingly deep water.
Acoustic position measuring equipment (PME) systems suffer from a number of disadvantages. In deep water their measurements can be noisy and the interval between measurements increases, leading to loss of positioning accuracy. Multiple acoustic systems cannot be considered independent of each other since they all rely on the integrity of the same medium—the water. Deployment and recovery of acoustic beacons are an unavoidable burden on fast turn-around times.
The global positioning system (GPS) and differential GPS (DGPS) now dominate the position measurement market due to their cost, convenience, accuracy and size. They do, however, share a single mode of failure: ionospheric perturbations, particularly in tropical regions, have resulted in complete loss of GPS measurements for significant periods.
One function of a DP controller is to combine all available measurements of position, from whatever source, into a single estimate of ship position. The algorithm for combining the measurements can be based on a Kalman filter. The sources of measurements have included a wide variety of devices, including satellite navigation systems, hydroacoustic reference systems and taut wire systems. Recently, the use of velocity measurements as a supplementary measurement has been proven. (Stephens, R. I., Meahan, A. J. and Flint, J. C.: "Using Doppler logs for safer DP", OSV Singapore 2005, jointly organised by Joint Branch of RINA-IMarEST Singapore and CORE, 20-21 Sep. 2005.) Doppler logs are relatively cheap and compact. They operate by measuring the Doppler shift of high-frequency acoustic signals reflected either from the sea-bed (known as "bottom lock") to derive the vessel's speed relative to the sea bed; or from particles in the water below the keel (known as "water lock") to derive the vessel's speed relative to the surrounding water.
Suitable velocity measurements can be obtained from Doppler effect devices mounted beneath the vessel. Velocity measurements alone, however, cannot form a permanent position reference due to the drift in position resulting from the integration of errors in the velocity measurements. Therefore, some other form of position measurement is also necessary.
Risers are long pipes or rods which are used extensively in the oil and gas exploration and production industries. They are used for drilling and for extraction. Risers can be rigid or flexible. Normally, the positioning requirement of vessels with risers is related to maintaining the vessel position relative to the bottom of the riser. Attempts have been made at using information from risers to give a position measurement for use in DP. However, the disadvantages include the unknown shape of the riser string as it hangs in the water, since it is affected by water currents which can change and which are different at different depths. One proposal uses measurement of top and bottom riser angles coupled with measurement of water currents in an attempt to model the exact shape of the riser and the profile of currents from sea bed to surface. (Eger, P. O.: "The advantages of riser information to DP drilling units", Proceedings of the 2001 IMCA Marine Division Annual Seminar & Workshops, 13-14 Sep. 2001, Stavanger, Norway, pp. 55-57.)


The invention provides a respiratory mask comprising a mask body including a base and walls upstanding from the base and converging towards an apical region and a forehead engagement member extending from the apical region of the mask body. The forehead engagement member coupled to the mask body so as to be movable relative to the mask body in a sagittal plane when the mask body is worn by a patient. An adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting the relative positions of the forehead engagement member and the mask body. In another aspect, the invention also provides a respiratory mask including a mask body including a base and walls upstanding from the base and converging towards an apical region. The body includes a pair of transversely opposite headgear anchors adapted for attachment to headgear that a patient wears during use to secure the mask to the face of a patient.

Respiratory masks used in the treatment of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) may comprise either a nasal mask, designed to cover a patients nose, or a full face mask designed to cover the nose and mouth of the patient. A cushion is commonly used with the mask and comfortably spaces the rigid shell away from the face, while also forming a gas tight seal. In addition, the mask is commonly secured to the patients face by a strap or system of straps/headgear which extends around the rear of the patient's head. The tension in these straps is then adjusted to secure the mask against the patients face with sufficient force to achieve a gas tight seal there-between.
Gas is supplied to the mask by a blower and is directed to the mask through a conduit or tube. The mask system typically further includes a means such as vent holes for releasing exhaled CO2 and also typically includes ports through which mask pressure may be measured and/or supplemental oxygen supply may be delivered to the patient.
Existing masks can include forehead supports for providing a support outside the sealing boundary of the mask seal or cushion to limit the force applied to seal the cushion onto the patients face in the pressure sensitive nasal bridge area. Historically, the most basic forms of forehead support took the form of flat sign-post like structures with a single pad attached to comfortably contact with the patient's forehead, and slots to receive the headgear. The pad would be selected from a range of pads of varying thickness and attached by adhesive to the rigid forehead support post. Whilst effective, the trial and error process required to select the correct pad and finally attach it to the mask is a cumbersome and time consuming solution for achieving the desired forehead support offset.
Existing masks exist that include quick release clips for attaching the headgear straps to the mask body. These clips may take the form of a seatbelt buckle configuration whereby the trailing portion of the clip has a slot to receive the headgear strap and the leading portion has a resiliently biased button or buttons which engage with an aperture in the mask when inserted and which release when pressed into disengagement by the user. Other existing clips comprise a hooked leading portion which detents into a corresponding recess in the mask or vice versa, along with the trailing slot to receive the headgear. Shortcomings of this style of clip include difficulty in operating them by feel in the dark.
Any discussion of background art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that any of the documents or other material referred to was published, known or forms part of the common general knowledge.


In one embodiment, the present invention includes a semiconductor package having a plurality of fan blades embedded within a first surface of the package, where a first group of the fan blades extend from a first side of the package and a second group of the fan blades extend from a second side of semiconductor package. The fan blades may be powered by piezoelectric devices to cause motion of the fan blades. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

In today's electronic systems, heat dissipation can adversely affect performance. Cooling difficulties may be particularly experienced in dense form factors and bladed architectures such as Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture (ATCA), Advanced Mezzanine Card (AMC), and Micro-ATCA (uATCA) implementations of blade and other types of servers and similar equipment. Cooling multiple AMC modules in ATCA configurations can be extremely problematic due to the ventilation blocking effect one AMC module presents to another.
Integrated circuits and other electronic devices generate heat as they operate, and their performance and reliability may decrease as their temperature rises. For example, an integrated circuit might operate more slowly or become damaged when it becomes too hot. To reduce this effect, a motorized fan heatsink (e.g., a blower) or liquid cooling system may be provided to lower the integrated circuit's temperature. In either case, the moving parts associated with the cooling system may fail. In addition, the location of the integrated circuit and surrounding components might make such solutions impractical. Moreover, the sound and/or electromagnetic noise produced by these cooling systems may be undesirable.

Piezoelectric cooling of a semiconductor package


The present invention concerns a device for the suspension and displacement of an object or a person, this device including at least two unaligned cables, a profile borne by the cables and a trolley mobile over the length of this profile, characterized in that the profile links said cables together, in that the profile located between the two unaligned cables defines a curved zone, in that the profile includes at least one rectilinear zone in which the cable is kept in the profile and in that the cable is located outside of the profile in the curved zone and close to this curved zone. This device can be used as a Tyrolean traverse.

Currently, various suspension devices exist, enabling the displacement of an object or a person from one point to another by means of a cable or a rope. With these devices, either the cable is driven and the object to be moved is integral with the cable, or the cable is stationary and the object is mobile on the cable. The present invention concerns the second variant.
Among the existing devices using this variant, devices known under the name of aerial rope slide, "taggle rope" or "zip lines" exist, that are made from two anchor points linked by a cable or rope along which the object or person moves. These anchor points can be at different altitudes so that gravity moves the person or object from the highest point to the lowest point.
In these devices, the person's or object's path is rectilinear since the rope or cable is tight between the two anchor points. To be more specific, it should be specified that the rope or cable presents sag and that the term rectilinear should be understood as "contained in a vertical plane".
Given that the cable is fixed only to each of its ends, it is not possible to make very long sections, for example, several kilometers.
Other devices are also available that enable displacing suspended people or objects in which the path may include turns, that is, the path is not contained in only one vertical plane. In these devices, a metallic structure is generally used, such as a rigid rail to which the object or person to be moved is suspended and this object or person follows the rail route. This type of device presents two major drawbacks. On the one hand, it implies the set-up of a heavy structure which has a harmful impact on the environment in which it is placed. On the other hand, the cost of such an installation is relatively high.
Such a device is notably described in the patent application EP1 238 880. In the embodiment described in this document, the system comprises a rail formed of sections linked together at each end. This rail is suspended to cables supported by pylons. In this invention, the rail must be rigid because it must bear important stress, particularly on the turns. The result is also the setting up of a heavy and expensive structure which cannot be placed in some environments such as, for example, in the mountains.
Other similar devices are described, for instance, in documents EP 1 026 061 or DE 76581. These documents nevertheless do not deal satisfactorily with the management of the turns.
The present invention proposes overcoming the drawbacks of the devices of the prior art by realizing a suspension device allowing the displacement of objects or people, this device enabling realizing sections of any length, involving rectilinear zones as well as curved zones, not needing, nevertheless, an unaesthetic and expensive heavy structure.

Device for suspending and moving an object or person


A three-dimensionally embossed non-woven fabric, which is comprised of fibers and/or filaments (3) oriented primarily in the moving direction (2) of the machine, and has zones (5, 7) with regularly alternating elevations (4a, 8a) and indentations (4b, 8b), which are separated from one another by non-embossed areas (6) that are continuous in the moving direction (2) of the machine. These non-embossed areas constitute a proportion ranging from 5% to 50% with regard to the entire surface of the non-woven fabric (1) and the elevations (4a, 8a), and indentations (4b, 8b), when viewed from the opposite side, form indentations or elevations respectively, whereby the surfaces (10a, 10b) delimited by the elevations give the non-woven fabric an apparent thickness ranging from 0.5 mm to 5.5 mm.

The absorbent core of infant diapers, incontinence and feminine hygiene products is today covered by at least two layers on the side worn next to the body. Between the cover non-woven fabric or the perforated film and the absorbent core is positioned an acquisition and distribution layer (ADL) of non-woven fabric or reticulated foam, which as the name implies, quickly takes up the body fluid (urine, thin feces or menses) and distributes it as uniformly as possible to the absorbent core lying under it, which is normally made of cellulose and super absorbent powder. This keeps the human skin dry, thus preventing skin irritation as well as leakage of the body fluid at the sides. The back of the absorbent hygiene product is sealed against permeation of body fluid by a watertight film or a non-woven-film laminate.
Non-woven fabrics bonded thermally in a hot air dryer or non-woven fabrics of crimped, relatively coarse denier fibers bonded by polymer dispersions are known for use in ADLs. The fibers have deniers greater than 3.3 dtex and are made up primarily of polyester (polyethylene terephthalate) and/or polyolefins, bicomponent fibers having a side-by-side or a core/jacket structure being used for fiber bonding in the through-flow oven and one of the two fiber components being melted significantly more deeply than the other component. In relation to their low weight, such non-woven fabrics have a relatively high bulk (thickness). It is known, however, that this initial thickness is already significantly reduced when the product is rolled up under stresses ordinarily used and the pressure conditions in the packaging contribute further to the reduction in thickness.
For that reason, means have been sought to achieve a thickness not only by using crimped fibers having a more or less statistical distribution and their bonding but also to bring such crimped non-woven fabrics into the third dimension, which we will consistently describe as the Z-direction in the following, by undulation or other geometric orientations. It has been shown that this makes it possible to attain higher compression resistances than by using high-loft non-woven fabrics with the consequence of significantly reduced loss of thickness when a diaper passes through the production steps, including packaging and storage.
An embossing method for manufacturing a structured, bulky non-woven fabric is described in DE 197 25 749 A1. A pre-bonded spun non-woven fabric, the endless filaments of which have been drawn to only 50% to 70% of the maximum possible draw ratio, are subjected to a particular finishing treatment. In doing so, the spun non-woven fabric is passed between a positive roller having a knobby surface and a negative roller having lamellar strips positioned transverse to the machine direction, the strips meshing with the channels kept open by the knobs. This results in 3D non-woven fabrics having areas of conically shaped weight-thinned elevations that are surrounded by linear, undeformed areas.
The disadvantage of the embossing method described in DE 197 25 749 A1 is that it is limited to undrawn or partially drawn endless filament non-woven fabrics (spun non-woven fabrics). Such non-woven fabrics are made from coarse-denier, uncrimped endless fibers that are known to result in hard, rough and non-textile products and therefore are not used as ADLs in diapers. Such endless filaments having a side-by-side structure or an asymmetric core/jacket structure do not result in crimping in a partially drawn state. Such crimping is ordinarily triggered by subsequent thermal processing, which in turn—as is known to those skilled in the art—prevents drawability (or formability) due to the crystallization which has occurred. Consequently, the prerequisites for the applicability of the embossing method described in DE 197 25 749 A1 are lacking.
A fluid distribution material having improved fluid distribution properties is described in EP-B 0.809.991 and EP-A 0.810.078. In this case, a plastically deformable web is formed into a non-woven fabric having a 3D structure by passing it through a pair of negative/positive rollers. A variation of the two applications referenced above is the embossed material and method for it, which is described in EP-B 0.499.942. However, such structures similar to corrugated cardboard have the disadvantage that they do not withstand any sustained pressure loads.
In EP applications 1.047.824, 1.047.823, 1.047.822 and 1.047.821, non-woven fabrics having elevations and indentations are produced in an intermediate step by passing the sheet material over two heated toothed gear rollers. The ribbings have little compression stability based on the fact that they lack a non-stabilizing fabric, which is glued to one side of the elevations or stiffenings. In the patent applications cited, it is rather the case that the undulations must be removed to the greatest possible extent or partially removed to produce soft and slightly elastic products transverse to the undulation.
Absorbent disposable items having a fecal management layer are known from EP-A 0.976.375, EP-A 0.976.374 and EP-A 0.976.373, the latter being made from an undulated non-woven fabric to which a flat non-woven fabric backing (EP-A 0.976.375) is cemented. Thick polymer filaments (EP-A 0.976.374) or meshed fabrics (EP-A 0.976.37) may be used instead of the non-woven fabric backing. Such undulated non-woven fabric laminates stabilized by a backing have proven to be suitable ADLs for fecal management and improved urine management. However, the production of such 3D laminate structures is very elaborate and requires two components and an additional adhesive in many cases. However, the use of a thick monofilament (having a denier in the range of several thousand dtex) proved to be unsuitable because such monofilaments are undrawn (or come from a hole-type nozzle) and therefore stretch under the strong mechanical load in the machine direction in diaper production with thinning of the filament and thus have an unacceptable property in this respect.

Embossed non-woven fabric having a three-dimensional structure


A method of producing a truck-like conversion van starts with a conventional, cargo van, and vertically cuts the conventional van only partially along a vertical section of the main frame of the vehicle, just rearwardly of the side doors of the van. Thereafter, a horizontal cut is made starting from the bottom of the vertical cut and progressing rearwardly all the way through the frame or existing floor of the van. Thus a rectangular-shaped slab or cutout of the conventional van is removed. The horizontal plane in which the horizontal cut is made is above the top of the rear tail lights, so that, not only are all of the mechanical parts of the original van retained, but also the same, original tail lights are also retained. After the slab has been cut away and removed, a truck-bed liner-insert of the invention is inserted into the cut-away, rear portion of the van, which rear portion is partially hollow, by which the liner-insert may be received therein. The truck-bed liner-insert is shaped in order to simulate the bed of a conventional pick-up truck, whereby the conversion van may now take the shape of a specialty truck-conversion van having a rear truck-bed for storage and transport.

The present invention is directed to a conversion van in the form of a pick-up truck-like vehicle. Such a vehicle is presently produced by Centurion Vehicles, Inc., of White Pigeon, Mich. This prior-art, truck-like conversion van is produced by starting with a conventional cargo van, or the like, and vertically, completely cutting that conventional van into two separate halves: A forward half-section, and a rear half-section. The vertical cut is made just rearwardly of the side doors of the van. The front section is retained, and the rear section is discarded, or recycled for other uses. Thereafter, a new rear section is welded to the front section, which new rear section is in the form of a pick-up truck bed.

Method of making a specialty-truck conversion van


A structural block has a body which is yieldable in a transverse direction; and a plurality of reinforcing elements provided on the body and extending in a vertical direction, so that loads applied in a vertical direction are adequately taken by said reinforcing elements, while under the action of transverse forces the body can yield and therefore the whole structural element can yield.

The present invention relates generally to the construction industry, and in particular to construction blocks as well as to structures provided with them.
It is known that the construction blocks are usually composed of various materials, such as for example stone, concrete, etc. In highly seismic areas it is however necessary to erect buildings which on the one hand are strong enough to support loads during their operation, and on the other hand can react during earthquakes so as not to be destroyed completely or at least partially. Several approaches are used for erecting earthquake-resistant buildings. It is believed that it is advisable to further improve the existing approaches.

Construction block, and a structure provided with the same


The presence and a quantitative estimate of microorganisms in a sample is determined by monitoring the growth of vertical subsurface colonies in a soft agar medium. A culture cell containing the sample-agar mixture is positioned on a rotating circular index table and, at an inspection station, a video camera monitors colony growth with an image processor and computer processing the output of the video camera. Select output parameters include, but are not restricted to, colony counts and growth rates, morphological variations and identification criteria.

Historically, the accepted method for determining the presence of microorganisms in a sample has been to streak the surface of nutrient agar or inoculate tubes of nutrient broth. After incubation at suitable temperatures, discrete areas of growth known as colonies appear on the agar surface or the tubes of broth become cloudy from the microorganism growth.
Although numerous chemical and physical microbial detection methods have been introduced including, carbon labelled glucose, ATP reaction, impedance measurements, electrochemical techniques, and pressure measurements, the agar plate and tubes of broth are still de rigueur in many laboratories. This is particularly true of clinical laboratories where blood samples are routinely introduced into containers of nutrient broth and growth visually monitored by the technician. Resistance to new techniques results partially from the biological fact that the number of organisms required to evoke a chemical or physical response is also essentially the same number present when turbidity becomes visually apparent in the broth. Thus, a test sample containing 10 to 100 cells/ml requires eight to ten hours incubation, or longer to reach 10.sup.5 to 10.sup.6 cells per ml, the point when visual turbidity occurs or a physical or chemical measurement is productive.
Another historical method that impacts the present invention is the growth of colonies on the horizontal surface of agar in a Petri dish. The solidifying agent, agar is generally used in concentrations of 1-2% and is referred to as firm or hard agar. However, little attention has been paid to the vertical subsurface growth of microorganisms in an agar medium. In studies on the effect of gravity on subsurface growth, Wilkins, J. R. et al ("Effect of Gravity on the Colonial Morphology of Staphylococci in Soft Agar" Applied Microbiology, Vol 18, No. 4; pages 680-681, October 1969) described the effect of agar concentration on the subsurface colony morphology of Staphylococcus aureus. As discussed therein, at an agar concentration of 0.54% compact spherical colonies were produced, but as the agar concentration was reduced, the morphology varied from a tear drop shape to elongated, diffuse colonies in soft agar at a concentration of 0.18% agar. In addition, even though colony morphology was shown to be influenced by agar concentration, the subsurface growth can also be used to determine the number of organisms in the test sample. The same guidelines that govern the accuracy of surface counts where colonies are determined to arise from single cells or clumps would also be applicable to subsurface colonies. The morphology of developing subsurface colonies aids in identification of the test organism in the sample.
Another prior art method of determining microorganism growth rate is the pour plate procedure. In this technique the sample is added to 20-30 ml of molten agar at 45.degree. C., mixed and at once poured into an empty Petri dish. After solidification at room temperature and incubation at 37.degree. C., the colonies are examined and counted. As the growth medium employed in the pour plate method contains 1.5% agar, the majority of subsurface colonies are lenticular in shape with a few compact or disk-shaped colonies. In the present invention the microbial detection process differs markedly from this classical pour plate technique in two important aspects. First, the concentration of agar has been reduced from the usual 1.5% to a range of 0.16 to 0.40% which is generally referred to as soft agar. Next, the vertical depth of the agar medium has been increased by an order of magnitude from 10 mm in a Petri dish to 100 mm in a specially designed culture cell. Thus, the combination of soft agar and increased vertical depth of the agar medium permits the development of subsurface colonies as described by Wilkins, et al (Applied Microbiology; vol. 18, supra). In this report at an agar concentration of 0.54% compact spherical colonies were produced and, as the agar concentration was reduced, the morphology varied from tear shape to elongated, diffuse colonies in soft agar at a concentration of 0.18% agar.
Systems are still needed to study the morphology of developing colonies as an aid in identification of test organisms in a test sample. Also, a system for detecting both aerobic and anaerobic organisms, where special media conditions are required to exclude oxygen, is needed in the art. Further, a need still exists for a simple method of automatically determining the types and numbers of various microbes by conceptually blending electronic video and computer technology with microbiology into a workable system.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automated system for detecting and enumerating the number and types of viable microorganisms present in fluid clinical samples of blood, urine, body and spinal fluids, samples from polluted water, food processing plants and fermentation liquids.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a culture cell that permits subsurface growth of organisms in a vertical plane.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a culture cell having two chambers for separately and simultaneously growing aerobic and anaerobic organisms.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a dual compartment culture cell having a hinged closure that permits ready access to either chamber for adding growth media and removing microbial growth for further laboratory testing.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a video camera for recording the subsurface growth in a culture cell.
An additional object of the present invention is the provision of a computer and video camera system for capturing, digitizing, and computer processing microbial growth information to determine the presence and quantity of a suspect microorganism from a test sample.


A time color indicator and method are provided. The time color indicator includes a base layer segment having a transparent impermeable layer, a substantially non-curing opaque coating, and a release sheet. A portion of the uncoated surface of the transparent layer bears a printed area including a camouflage pattern printed with non-migrating ink and a message segment printed with migrating ink. An indicator layer segment includes a transparent impermeable layer, a substantially non-curing opaque coating, and a release sheet partially folded back to form a finger gripping tab and expose an indicator layer coating portion which contacts and adheres to the base layer adjacent the printed area. The time color indicator is activated by pulling the finger tab to remove the release sheet, causing the indicator layer coating to cover and contact the printed area, with the message segment migrating through the indicator layer coating. In the method of the invention both the base layer segment and indicator layer segment may be formed in the same process steps from a single web of transparent polyester film, the base layer being printed with the message and the indicator layer segment being divided from the web and superimposed over and adhered to the base segment.

The present invention relates to the type of time color indicator described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,212,153 issued to Kydonieus et al entitled "Time Color Indicator". In general, the Kydonieus patent discloses a time color indicator having a reservoir layer adhesively attached to an indicator layer. In accordance with the Kydonieus patent, a migrating agent in the reservoir layer migrates through the adhesive layer and the indicator layer to the top or front surface of the indicator layer. The Kydonieus patent also teaches that the reservoir layer is preferably mounted on a barrier layer with an adhesive and release sheet on top of the reservoir layer. The indicator is activated by removing the release sheet and applying an indicator layer to the adhesive layer. Alternatively, the adhesive and release sheet may be associated with the indicator layer. Kydonieus further teaches that the indicator layer is a solid sheet or film of non-porous polymer which allows migration of the chosen agent, and that appropriate indicator layer materials include plasticized PVC, semi-plasticized PVC, rigid PVC, acrylics, polyurethanes and hytrel. The Kydoniesus indicator layer is 2 to 14 mils thick, and may contain plasticizers and stabilizers. The reservoir layer is preferably made from a plastisol, although vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, a urethane polymer, a polyolefin, hytrel, and polyvinyl chloride may be used in forming the reservoir layer. Kydonieus teaches that the reservoir layer should be 1 to 20 mils thick, and is preferably 1 to 5 mils thick. Kydonieus also contemplates that the reservoir layer may be layered down as an ink onto the barrier layer. Specifically, Kydonieus contemplates printing the reservoir composition on mylar or aluminum foil. The Kydonieus patent suggests that appropriate adhesives include thermosetting or thermoplastic pressure-sensitive acrylics or rubbers. The adhesive layer can be preformed and applied as a sheet, applied with another layer such as a release sheet or by coating. One suggested application for the Kydonieus device is greeting cards.
Kydonieus further teaches that the amount of time required from initiation to perception depends upon and may be controlled through adjustment of the thickness of the indicator layer, indicator layer identity, reservoir concentration, interposition of barrier layers and/or selection of the migrating agent. Kydonieus also contemplates a white indicator layer to provide increased contrast.
Kydonieus discusses use of the time color indicator through comparison of the indicator with a color scaled to determine when conversion is complete. However, Kydonieus also suggests that the reservoir layer could be printed in the shape of words or using a stencilled barrier layer. In practice, ink containing the migrating agent has been printed in the shape of words, with the surrounding area overprinted with similar ink not containing the migrating agent. Typically, however, the screened message can readily be discerned notwithstanding the surrounding overprint.
While the Kydonieus Time Color Indicator represents a significant and useful advance in the art, providing reliable and repeatable control of the time and extent of change have proven difficult.
By way of example, it has proven difficult to provide a time color indicator which obtains consistent conversion in a matter of minutes or hours. For such a short duration indicator adjustment of the time control parameters discussed by Kydonieus does not provide adequate time control. Indeed, adjusting the indicator layer thickness, reservoir concentration, etc. in the manner suggested by Kydonieus have not been found to obtain reliable results. To the contrary, it has been found that the same construction could yield varying time change characteristics. Despite attempts to control the various parameters discussed in the Kydonieus patent, consistent results have been difficult to obtain.
Another problem is that Kydonieus structure is a two part construction, requiring the user to assemble the indicator and reservoir layers. In Kydonieus' preferred embodiment, a release sheet is removed from either the indicator layer or the reservoir layer to reveal a pressure sensitive adhesive for assembling the components. This construction is also relatively expensive to make, due to the fact that Kydonieus' two part construction requires that each part be produced in separate processes to be assembled in yet another step. The added costs incurred in such manufacture may make the time color indicator too costly under some circumstances.
In practice, the Kydonieus structure has been practiced with an indicator layer consisting of a solid layer containing titanium dioxide coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive and a release sheet. The two part construction is activated by removing the release sheet and applying the adhesive-bearing indicator layer to the reservoir layer. The migrating agent then travels through the pressure sensitive adhesive into the receptive titanium dioxide containing layer.
In longer term applications, it has been found that in the above-described structure the migrating agent or dye becomes dissolved or dispersed in the titanium dioxide containing layer, reducing the sharpness and effectiveness of the displayed message. To overcome this particular problem, it has been suggested to add an additional layer atop the indicator layer, including a further pressure sensitive adhesive layer and a clear, impermeable barrier. In this manner, the migrating agent travels from the reservoir layer through the titanium dioxide-containing layer into the additional pressure sensitive adhesive layer. The message to be displayed is clearly visible against the titanium dioxide background, but the migrating agent does not mix with, dilute, or become dissolved in the titanium dioxide layer. The structure including additional pressure sensitive and clear layers has recently been introduced to the market.
Therefore, it is one object of the invention to provide a time color indicator having improved time change characteristics.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a time color indicator having reliable short duration time change characteristics.
Another object of the invention is to provide a time color indicator which is economical to make and easy to use.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a time color indicator that may readily be activated in a one-step activation procedure.


A pump comprising a piston in communication with a valve chamber provided with a first valve seat and a second valve seat, and a resilient valve element comprising a first tapered portion, a second tapered portion and a flange portion extending from a periphery of the first tapered portion, in which the flange portion co-operates with the first valve seat to form an inlet valve, and the second tapered portion co-operates with the second valve seat to form an outlet valve, and in which negative pressure applied to the flange portion by the pressure means in use lifts it from the first valve seat, and positive pressure applied to the first tapered portion by the piston in use lifts the second tapered portion from the second valve seat.

This invention relates to a fluid pump provided with a novel valve element, for use particularly, but not exclusively, with a soap dispenser.
A fluid dispensing device can be provided with a pump comprising a fluid inlet, a priming cylinder with a piston, a fluid outlet, and a valve element disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The valve element is adapted to seal the fluid outlet when the cylinder is primed with fluid, and to seal the fluid inlet when said fluid is driven from the cylinder.
In one arrangement a conical flexible valve element is provided, which is disposed in compression between a relatively large inlet aperture, and a relatively small outlet aperture. The periphery of the valve element surrounds the inlet aperture, and the apex of the valve element is seated in the outlet aperture, thereby creating an inlet and an outlet seal. In use the periphery of the valve element is drawn away from the inlet aperture, and the apex is pressed into the outlet aperture when the cylinder is primed with fluid, and the periphery of the valve element is pressed against the surface around the inlet aperture, and the apex is drawn away from the outlet aperture, when said fluid is driven form the cylinder.
The valve element must be provided with a particular rigidity in order to provide adequate seals, and in particular to maintain one seal when the other is opened. As a result, a relatively large force may be required to manipulate the valve element as described above. This can put a strain on associated parts of a pump and reduce its life span.


Systems and methods for handling a plurality items by using a sorter to receive items and obtain item information and delivery destinations from the items. A run manifest is generated having an item identifier and a destination for each of the plurality of items. The run manifest data is used in a routing module to generate dynamic routes for delivering the plurality of items, and generating a sequence identifier for each of the plurality of items according to the dynamically generated routes.

Field
This disclosure relates to the physical delivery of items using dynamic routes.
Description of the Related Art
The physical delivery of items by a distribution service is affected by the number and characteristics of the items to be delivered. The number of items to deliver to a particular location may change from day to day. Delivery routes and schedules may need to be adjusted to accommodate changing item inventory and in order to maximize efficiency of the delivery route and the workforce. A system for understanding the quantity and type of items to be delivered is important to preparing and planning delivery routes, evaluating staffing and equipment requirements, and for efficient execution of item delivery.

System and method for dynamically routing items


A steering column in an automotive vehicle is supported by a stationary wall that carries two capsules on either side of the steering column. The steering column has an attachment wall that extends within the capsules. Each capsule has two support walls sandwiched around the attachment wall and a tubular connector joining the support walls together. Severable ribs are integral with the tubular connector and in contact with edge areas of the attachment wall, such that in a crash situation the steering column can collapse forwardly to minimize chest injury to the driver of the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a support structure for the steering column of a steering wheel in an automotive vehicle. The invention is an improvement on the steering column support structure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,955 assigned to the assignee of the present patent application.
2. Description of Prior Developments
U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,955, issued to T. Kaliszewski et al, discloses a steering column support structure that includes two stationary capsules located along side surfaces of the column to grip upper and lower surfaces of attachment walls extending from the column. Each capsule has a bolt for securing the respective capsule to a stationary support structure, and two pins extending through notches formed in the steering column attachment wall. In a crash situation involving forward displacement of the steering wheel, the steering column attachment walls exert shearing forces on the pins; the pins are severed to enable the steering column to move forward.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,476,345, issued to T. Ristau, shows a steering column support structure that includes two capsules bolted to a stationary support structure, and two brackets carried by the steering column. Each capsule has two channels fitting around edge areas of the associated bracket and two shearable pins extending through the channels and cutouts in the bracket. In a crash situation the bracket walls exert shearing forces on the pins.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,778, issued to Y. Yamamoto, shows a steering column support structure that includes stationary capsules formed out of metal and resin components. The metal component is bolted to a stationary support without producing any creep in the resin component. During a crash situation, flat plates carried by the steering column exert shearing forces on projections formed on the resin components of the stationary capsules.

Steering column support apparatus with shearable ribs


A method and computer program product are disclosed for generating training data over a plurality of feature variables for a new output class in a pattern recognition classifier representing a plurality of existing classes with previously calculated statistical parameters. Deviation measures are generated for each feature variable for each of the plurality of existing classes from the calculated statistical parameters. The deviation measures for each feature variable are averaged across the plurality of existing classes. Feature data is extracted from an ideal pattern, representing the new class, for each of the feature variables. Statistical parameters are approximated for each feature variable for the new class from the extracted feature data and the averaged deviation measures.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a system for generating training data for new classes in a pattern recognition device or classifier. Image processing systems often contain pattern recognition devices (classifiers).
2. Description of the Prior Art
Pattern recognition systems, loosely defined, are systems capable of distinguishing between various classes of real world stimuli according to their divergent characteristics. A number of applications require pattern recognition systems, which allow a system to deal with unrefined data without significant human intervention. By way of example, a pattern recognition system may attempt to classify individual letters to reduce a handwritten document to electronic text. Alternatively, the system may classify spoken utterances to allow verbal commands to be received at a computer console. In order to classify real-world stimuli, however, it is necessary to train the classifier to discriminate between classes by exposing it to a number of sample patterns.
Training a pattern recognition system requires a large number of samples to obtain acceptable accuracy rates. In some applications, samples will not be available in sufficient number for some or all of the output classes. Even where samples are available in sufficient numbers, collecting and preparing the samples can be a significant expense, especially where the output classes for a particular application change frequently. Further, training a pattern recognition classifier is a time-intensive process that must be repeated with the addition of each new output class. It would be desirable to quickly approximate data from a new output class from a single, ideal sample.

Method and computer program product for generating training data for a new class in a pattern recognition classifier


A cellular wheel sluice for granulate bulk product has a housing in which a cellular wheel is rotatably mounted. The housing has an inlet duct for the bulk product. At least two raised granulate roofs are arranged at the inlet duct. A granulate groove is arranged respectively at the transition between two granulate roofs and/or at the transition between one granulate roof and an inlet edge. The two granulate grooves in each case run together at an intersection point in the rotation direction of the cellular wheel.

JP S62-059622 U discloses a cellular wheel sluice with a granulate roof arranged on the housing at the inlet duct, wherein a granulate groove is provided at the transition between a granulate roof and the inlet duct. The granulate groove reduces the risk that a granulate grain of the bulk product will fall into the already largely filled chamber of the cellular wheel and be torn and/or cut between the housing edge and the rotor blade. Nonetheless, chopping, i.e. destruction of the granulate grain, can occur at the groove outlet where the groove ends. The groove outlet is known as the intersection point.

Cellular wheel sluice for granulate bulk product


A video streaming playback system is provided with a video playback module, a tipping module, a reward download button/link display module, and a setup interface for selecting to offer a reward or not offer a reward for a video which a user who is a content creator has uploaded; wherein the reward download button/link display module is configured to, in response to a tip payment process being executed for the video, display an activated reward download button/link on the user interface when the user who is a content creator has selected using the setup interface to offer a reward upon payment of a tip, or has not selected using the setup interface to not offer a reward upon payment of a tip, and not display an activated reward download button/link on the user interface when the user who is a content creator has not selected using the setup interface to offer a reward upon payment of a tip, or has selected using the setup interface to not offer a reward upon payment of a tip.

Recently, there are numerous services for video hosting websites; because of their convenience, these services have been attracting increasing numbers of users from year to year, and are recognized by society at large.
Video hosting website services can be broadly divided into two types.
One type is video hosting sites of the ad-supported model, in which users can watch videos for free in return for viewing ads (videos/images/audio/text); examples of these services include YouTube, Facebook video, and dailymotion (all registered trademarks). The other type is the subscription-based model, in which users pay a fee to watch videos; examples of these services include NetFlix, Amazon Video, and YouTube Red (all registered trademarks).
Video hosting websites of the first type, the ad-supported model, have the drawback that, while users can view videos for free, many users are annoyed by the ads on the video sites. Ads on video sites are primarily online targeted advertising, wherein a user's video watching history and the user's residence (geographical location; determined from the IP address of the site connection), age, sex, etc., are determined, and, based on this information, the site operator shows ads to the targeted users requested by the advertiser. This arrangement allows for highly cost-effective advertising. However, this also means that the disclosure and collection of private information is the price users pay to view videos for free. Moreover, no matter how advanced online targeted ad technology may become, users simply want to watch videos, and it is natural for users to be annoyed by their videos being interrupted by ads.
Moreover, in the ad-supported model, it is difficult for a user to confirm the quality of video content before viewing the video, and some content creators, taking advantage of the way the ad-supported model works, put extreme titles and thumbnails on videos of low content quality to attract users, and there are also numerous fake videos and ad videos that profiteer off the ad revenue from the video ads that play before a video is viewed.
As concerns video ratings, the ratings of good (Like) and bad (Dislike) on YouTube and Facebook Video, for example, are based merely on the subjective impressions of individual users, and are not theoretical.
In addition, video hosting websites of the ad-supported model present the problem of forbidding the downloading and saving of all videos, including videos for which copyright ownership has been made explicit, on user terminals. Such websites also prevent background playback, which would allow a user to listen to video music while in another browser or application. The reason for this is that downloading and saving videos to personal terminal allows users to view videos offline, which means circumventing highly cost-effective online targeted advertising and making it difficult to obtain ad revenue. In addition, for users to listen to video music in the background, without visiting the video site, means circumventing advertising. In fact, YouTube has rolled out another video service (YouTube Red) that is ad-free and enables downloading and saving of videos and background playback for a subscription (monthly), which shows that subscription services must take the place of ad revenue in order to provide ad-free service that offers video downloading and saving and background playback.
Meanwhile, video hosting websites of the subscription-based model do not disclose the contents of videos, and are configured so that viewers have no way of knowing the contents of video content, and must pay a fee unilaterally set by the video site before having any way of knowing the value of videos. On paid sites, users have no way of judging the value of video content, and must pay a unilaterally set fee in advance, which is not a fair transaction, and subjects users to risk.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Video streaming playback system and method