The weaponry camera sight has a digital electronic display of the sight picture for the shooter. The display may be magnified as desired, thereby eliminating need for a scope sight. The device may also include a range finding device, with range information being provided on screen. The camera may also be used to record the image viewed on screen, if so desired. Remotely situated controls may be provided for operating the zoom magnification and recording feature, thereby allowing the shooter to operate the present camera sight without need to move his or her hands on the weapon. The present camera sight is particularly well suited for use with an archery bow, but may be used with a firearm if so desired.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to handheld weaponry used for hunting and target shooting, and more specifically to a digital electronic camera sight which may be used with any such weapons to serve as both a sighting device and as a recording device. The present camera sight preferably includes adjustable magnification to eliminate the need for a scope, as well as a relatively wide field of view and range finding means.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditionally, sights used for firearms and archery have used purely optical principles, ranging from conventional open sights to magnifying scopes on firearms of various types. The archery field was later in the development of specialized sighting means, with bowstring and bow mounted sighting aids and other devices being developed relatively recently. Even more recently, video recording devices (either still or motion) have been combined with firearm scopes to provide a means of recording the sight picture viewed through the firearm scope for later viewing and/or analysis.
As a result of the development of relatively small and lightweight digital cameras and video recording devices, there has been some development of the addition of such devices to archery equipment. The present inventor is aware of at least some digital electronic video recording equipment which has been installed upon an archery bow or some component thereof. However, the present inventor is unaware of any such electronic video equipment which has been developed as an archery bow sight, and which is capable of performing as a bow sight and also capable of recording the image viewed through the sight.
Accordingly, the present invention responds to this need by providing a combination camera and sight for use with an archery bow, and attachment means for mounting the camera sighting device to the bow. The present invention also includes at least one embodiment providing an alternative attachment assembly for securing the device to a firearm, e.g., a hunting or target rifle or the like. The present camera sight also includes means for determining the range to the target, and displaying the range to the shooter. The present invention also includes zoom magnification, thus eliminating the need for a relatively bulky magnifying scope while also providing a relatively large field of view for the shooter. Remotely located control switches may be provided for certain operations, e.g., zoom magnification, camera operation, etc., in order to obviate need for the shooter to move his or her hands during camera and sight operation.
A discussion of the related art of which the present inventor is aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,514,907 issued on May 7, 1985 to Leonard F. Saltzman, titled "Bow And Arrow Sighting Device," describes a mechanically adjustable bow sight. Saltzman does not provide any means of recording a visual image viewed by or through his sight, and no magnification of the image is provided by Saltzman. While the Saltzman device provides for elevation adjustment to adjust for target range, it is a purely mechanical system and does not include any electronic display means or means for adjusting for range or adjusting the sight reticle, as provided by the present invention. Moreover, the Saltzman device is relatively restricted in its application, and cannot be installed upon a firearm, as can the present camera sight.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,741 issued on Oct. 21, 1986 to Marvin L. Bordeaux et al., titled "Electronic Rangefinder For Archery," describes a device which uses a passive principle to determine range to a target. The device requires the archer to have some idea of the size of his or her target, and then align the target between a pair of lines on the viewing screen. A given size target, when positioned exactly between lines having a certain distance therebetween, enables the device to calculate and display the range to the target on a digital readout. This system of estimating target range is approximate at best, as the exact size of the target cannot be known. Moreover, Bordeaux et al. do not provide any form of magnification or image recording.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,278 issued on Oct. 9, 1990 to Charles B. Johnson et al., titled "Day/Night Telescopic Sight," describes a device which may be attached to the eyepiece of a firearm scope and which may be used to selectively intensify the image under low light conditions. Since the Johnson et al. device uses the existing firearm scope, it does not provide any magnification of the image per se. Moreover, as the Johnson et al. device is adapted for use with a firearm scope, no means is provided for attaching the device to an archery bow. It is also noted that no range finding means or image recording means is provided by the Johnson et al. sight.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,262 issued on Jun. 4, 1991 to Louis T. Pena, titled "Camera Mount For Rifle Scopes," describes a scope attachment using a half silvered mirror to reflect the image from the eyepiece of the scope through a series of mirrors to a camera secured atop the scope. No magnification is provided by the Pena device, as the scope provides the required magnification. Moreover, no range finding capability is disclosed by Pena in his camera mount, and any sight reticles would be provided within the scope itself, rather than in the Pena camera mount apparatus. Pena only discloses a mount for a firearm scope; no means of attaching his camera to an archery bow, is disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,875 issued on Jan. 19, 1993 to Waldo A. Berry, Jr. et al., titled "Scope Adjustment For Firearms," describes a side wheel and bevel gear arrangement for turning the concentric adjustment wheel to adjust the zoom magnification in a rifle scope. No additional sighting or optical means, or range finding means, is provided by Berry, Jr. et al. Their device operates strictly to facilitate the adjustment of an existing conventional zoom magnification adjustment on a rifle scope.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,072 issued on Nov. 19, 1996 to Gary Eldridge, titled "Electric Archery Bow Sight/Range Finder," describes a device which requires the archer to first determine the distance to program the positioning of the sights in the device. The archer may then make an estimate of the distance to a target, with the device then providing a sight alignment according to the estimated distance. No actual means of measuring the distance to the target is provided by the Eldridge device. The Eldridge device cannot provide a digital visual image of the target, nor can it record such an image or provide image magnification. The Eldridge device only provides a sight alignment and/or digital readout of distance, according to the distance estimated by the archer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,867 issued on Jul. 20, 1999 to Deron Lautsbaugh, titled "Computerized Archery Aid," describes an enclosed archery shooting range having video cameras situated therein. The cameras record the flight of an arrow(s) fired by an archer to provide feedback to the archer for sighting in his or her bow. No bow mounted sighting device is disclosed by Lautsbaugh.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,352 issued on Jun. 13, 2000 to Blair J. Zykan et al., titled "Laser Bow Sight Apparatus," describes the installation of a laser rangefinder device with an archery bow. The Zykan rangefinder provides only a digital display of the distance and illuminates a corresponding sight pin or pins in a conventional archery range sight assembly. No target picture or magnification of such a picture is provided by Zykan et al. As Zykan et al. do not provide a camera with their apparatus, they cannot provide any means of recording a sight picture image, as can the present system. Moreover, Zykan et al. do not disclose any means of using their rangefinder device on a firearm, as provided by the at least one embodiment of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,880 issued on May 8, 2001 to Rhett Pitre, titled "Quick Focusing Firearm Scope," describes a cable actuated focusing mechanism for a rifle scope or the like. The Pitre device is purely mechanical, and does not include any electrical or electronic componentry. The Pitre device includes a trigger guard mounted sector gear which engages a gear driven cable, with the cable driving a ring gear around the focusing ring of the scope. No range finding means, means of electronically or otherwise recording the image viewed through the scope, or means for providing an archery bow sight, is provided by Pitre.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,581 issued on Aug. 7, 2001 to John Groh, titled "Range Compensating Rifle Scope," describes a rifle scope having a laser rangefinder device incorporated therewith. The device includes a program for calculating elevation based upon the range determined by the laser system, taking into account muzzle velocity and perhaps other factors as well. However, the Groh device does not provide any form of digital electronic display of the target, nor does it provide any means of recording such a display, as provided by the present invention. Moreover, Groh does not provide any means of using his scope and rangefinder with an archery bow, as provided by the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,483 issued on Jun. 4, 2002 to Ronald K. Perkins, titled "Sight Apparatus," describes a bow sight having a digital rangefinder device which communicates with an elevation sight guide having a plurality of LEDs or the like therein. A single one of the LEDs is selectively illuminated by the rangefinder, depending upon the range to the target. However, no digital electronic sight picture is provided by the Perkins device, nor is any means provided for magnifying or recording such a sight picture or using the device with a firearm. The Perkins sight assembly is thus more closely related to the sight apparatus of the '352 U.S. patent to Zykan et al., discussed further above, than it is to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,449,419 issued on Sep. 10, 2002 to Richard Brough et al., titled "Optical Viewing System And Clamping Device Therefor," describes a split fiber optic bundle which divides the sight picture from the eyepiece of a firearm scope into two such pictures. One is used by the shooter to view the target, while the other is passed to a camera or the like for recording or transmitting the image. A clamping mechanism for securing the fiber optic cable bundles to the eyepiece of the scope, is also disclosed. No magnification of the image or sight reticles superimposed on the image are disclosed by Brough et al., as these features are incorporated with the scope. Moreover, Brough does not disclose any means of using his invention with an archery bow, as provided by the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,083 issued on Feb. 11, 2003 to James A. Heinrich, titled "Power Focusing Device For A Telescopic Sight," describes an electric motor using a belt to drive the focusing ring of a telescopic sight. The motor may be controlled by a remotely located wireless controller. No digital display, range finding means, or means for incorporating the device with an archery bow are disclosed by Heinrich. The Heinrich device is thus more closely related to the devices of the '875 and '880 U.S. patents respectively to Berry, Jr. et al. and Pitre, than it is to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,539,661 issued on Apr. 1, 2003 to Richard W. Hope, titled "Optical Imaging Device For Firearm Scope Attachment," describes a camera or other image recording device which communicates with the eyepiece of a conventional firearm scope to record the image viewed in the scope. No magnification of the image or sight reticles are provided by Hope for his recording device, as these features are incorporated integrally with the scope. The Hope device is more closely related to the devices of the '262 and '419 U.S. patents respectively to Pena and Brough et al., discussed further above, than to the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,556,245 issued on Apr. 29, 2003 to Larry A. Holmberg, titled "Game Hunting Video Camera," describes a video camera having attachment fittings for attaching to the stabilizer of an archery bow. The Holmberg device is strictly a relatively conventional video recording camera having conventional zoom magnification, and is not aligned with the sight line of the archer when drawing the bow for firing an arrow. Accordingly, Holmberg does not provide any sighting reticles or other alignment means with his camera, as provided by the present bow sight invention. Moreover, Holmberg does not disclose any range finding means with his camera. This must be accomplished by some other apparatus or technique when using the Holmberg camera.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,291 issued on May 6, 2003 to Francis B. Hoadley, titled "Sight Apparatus For Guns And Archery Bows," describes a tubular sight apparatus for use with firearms. No magnification or other optical enhancement is disclosed, nor is any means for recording an image or determining the distance to a target. The Hoadley device is strictly an optical alignment device. Moreover, Hoadley does not disclose any means of securing his sight to an archery bow, for use therewith.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,512 issued on Jan. 27, 2004 to Dennis J. Sammut, titled "Gunsight And Reticle Therefor," describes a complex optical pattern corresponding to different elevations for different ranges, muzzle velocities, etc. The Sammut reticle is intended for use with a conventional magnifying scope, and thus does not provide any other optics or magnification per se. No range finding means is provided by Sammut; this must be accomplished by other means, with the range then being used by a person using the Sammut reticle to align the reticle with the target as desired. Moreover, no means of recording an image viewed through the scope is disclosed by Sammut.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/122,248 published on Sep. 5, 2002, titled "Power Focusing Device For A Telescopic Sight," is the prior publication of the application from which the '083 U.S. patent to Heinrich, discussed further above, issued. The same points raised in that discussion are seen to apply here as well.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/110,647 published on Jun. 19, 2003, titled "HTM Direct Drive And Positive Positioning Cross Slide And Pin Housing System," describes an essentially conventional bead type sight with mutually orthogonal adjustments for elevation and windage. The device is not electronic and provides no magnification, no recording of the image viewed through the sight, and no active range finding means. Moreover, the '647 sight is configured only for installation upon an archery bow, with no means for installing upon a firearm being disclosed.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/31,184 published on Feb. 19, 2004, titled "Optical Imaging Device For Firearm Scope Attachment," is a continuation of the application which led to the issued '661 U.S. patent to Hope, discussed further above. The disclosure of the '184 publication is identical to that of the issued '661 U.S. patent, and the same points raised in the discussion of the '661 U.S. patent are seen to apply here as well.
Finally, a web page published on the website maintained at the archeryhistory.com web site on the World Wide Web (www) (undated, but accessed on Mar. 11, 2004) discloses a single illustration of the Leupold Ml Optical Bow sight. The device apparently has a transparent screen up on which the target image appears when the sight is aligned with the target. A fluorescent reticle is superimposed upon the target, when the sight is aligned with the target. However, the device has a Weight of only six ounces and a price of only $39.50, which clearly rule out the incorporation of any electronics other than simple illumination of some sort (and relatively heavy battery power). No adjustment of the reticle relative to the sight picture is disclosed, nor is any means of magnifying or recording the image. Moreover, the means of attaching the device to an archery bow is not disclosed, and there is no suggestion of any adaptation for mounting the Leupold sight on a firearm, as provided by the present camera sight invention.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a weaponry camera sight solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


A bottom fishing weight is provided with an attaching eye for a fishing line at the leading end. The leading portion of the lower surface of the weight is upwardly inclined so as to create a lifting force when reeled in and the trailing portion of the lower surface is concavely cupped to also create a downward force which stabilizes the attitude of the weight. A vertical fin on the upper surface of the weight is included to improve directional stability.

Lake or river bottom fishing is a specialized variation of the sport wherein a weight is placed at the end of the line, below one or more baited hooks, so as to carry the line out and to the bottom when cast. Lake bottoms, in particular, are commonly cluttered by debris and growth which may snag the line upon retrieval and the further the line is cast, the more likely this will happen.
The object of the present invention therefore, is to provide a fishing weight which swims to the surface upon retrieval and thereby lifts the line and hook rapidly from the bottom so as to minimize the potential of snagging debris by the hook or the weight itself.


A spindle motor control method stops a spindle motor which rotates in a forward direction in response to a rotation signal. The spindle motor control method includes two steps. First, a brake signal is supplied to the spindle motor for rotating the spindle motor in a reverse direction when stopping the spindle motor which rotates in the forward direction. Second, the rotation signal and the brake signal are put in an OFF state when a frequency generator signal FG, which indicates a rotational phase of the spindle motor and is generated based on an output of the spindle motor, is not detected for a predetermined time.

The present invention generally relates to spindle motor control methods and disk units, and more particularly to a spindle motor control method for positively stopping rotation of a spindle motor and to a disk unit which employs such a spindle motor control method.
In disk units such as magnetic disk units, optical disk units and magneto-optic disk units, a spindle motor rotates a recording medium such as a magnetic disk, optical disk and magneto-optic disk. The spindle motor rotates the disk during operation of the disk unit, but in a power save mode or the like, the spindle motor is stopped in order to reduce the power consumption. In addition, when the disk is loaded into the disk unit, the disk is mounted on a spindle which is rotated by the spindle motor. On the other hand, when unloading the disk from the disk unit, the disk is removed from the spindle. There is a possibility of a recording surface of the disk from becoming damaged if the spindle rotates while loading and unloading the disk to and from the disk unit, and for this reason, the spindle motor is stopped when loading and unloading the disk to and from the disk unit.
When stopping the spindle motor, there is a demand to positively stop the rotation of the spindle motor within a short time from a start of a stop operation. If the rotation of the spindle motor actually does not stop completely even when the stop operation is carried out, there is a possibility of damaging the disk when loading and unloading the disk to and from the disk unit. Furthermore, if it takes time for the actual rotation of the spindle motor to completely stop after the start of the stop operation, it takes that much time to load and unload the disk to and from the disk unit in a case where the loading and unloading of the disk is prohibited until the rotation of the spindle motor comes to a complete stop, and the operation characteristic of the disk unit becomes poor.
Conventionally, there is a spindle motor which is provided with a Hall element for detecting the rotation of the spindle motor. According to this spindle motor, a brake signal is supplied to the spindle motor based on a rotation detection signal which is detected by use of the Hall element, so as to stop the rotation of the spindle motor. It is possible to judge whether or not the spindle motor is stopped based on the rotation detection signal.
But recently, in order to reduce the cost of the spindle motor, there are disk units which use a type of spindle motor which is not provided with a Hall element. For this reason, it is impossible to judge whether or not this type of spindle motor is stopped based on the rotation detection signal described above.
Hence, in the case of this type of spindle motor which is not provided with a Hall element, there is no means of detecting whether or not the spindle motor is stopped, and a brake signal is turned ON/OFF by use of a timer or the like when stopping the spindle motor.
However, when the brake signal is supplied to the spindle motor when stopping the spindle motor which is undergoing a steady state rotation, there was a problem in that it is impossible to positively and accurately stop the spindle motor by simply turning the brake signal ON/OFF by determining a brake time by use of the timer or the like, because a deceleration value at an initial stage of the brake time slightly differs for each individual spindle motor. In addition, since the characteristic of the spindle motor is temperature dependent, there was also a problem in that an accurate brake time cannot be obtained when a temperature change occurs. In these cases, because an appropriate brake time cannot be obtained, the spindle motor continues to rotate in a forward direction due to inertia if the brake time is too short, and the spindle motor starts to rotate in a reverse direction due to inertia if the brake time is too long.
Conventionally, the possibility of the spindle motor slightly rotating due to inertia is taken into consideration, and after the supply of the brake signal to the spindle motor is stopped, the spindle motor is regarded stopped after a predetermined time elapses from the stop of the brake signal supply by use of a timer. As a result, there was a problem in that it takes time to detect the stop of the spindle motor, and when this spindle motor is applied to the disk unit, there was a problem in that the operation characteristic of the disk unit becomes poor when loading and unloading the disk to and from the disk unit.

Spindle motor control method and disk unit


A beverage container holder having a receptacle, gripping members, and a membrane is disclosed. The membrane is disposed in openings located between a sidewall of the receptacle and the gripping members. Living hinges are integrated into the gripping members, which allow the gripping members to flex and provide a gripping force on a beverage container that has been placed into the beverage container holder in order to provide a more stable and secure placement of the container. The receptacle and gripping members are manufactured in one step process, preferably an injection molding process, and are composed of a material having a low coefficient of friction, preferably a hard plastic, which allows for the easy placement or retrieval of a beverage container. The membrane is overmolded onto the receptacle and gripping members and is preferably composed of a flexible material such as a soft plastic or rubber.

Beverage container holders provide a secure location to place a beverage container when an individual needs to free up both hands for some other reason or if the individual just wishes to relax from holding the beverage container. One prime example would include the operator of an automobile placing a beverage container into a beverage container holder in order to free up both hands in order to properly operate an automobile. Beverage container holders typically have a receptacle that consists of a base with a flat top surface for a beverage container to rest on, a sidewall extending from the base that at least partially surrounds the beverage container and prevents the container from tipping over, and an open top portion that allows for the easy placement in or retrieval from the beverage container holder of the beverage container.
Some beverage container holders also include flexible gripping members that protrude toward the interior of the sidewall when there is no container in the beverage container holder. When a beverage container is placed into the beverage container holder, the gripping members will flex away from the interior of the sidewall and provide a gripping force on the beverage container to provide a more stable and secure placement of the container.
Various efforts have been made to include gripping members that provide additional gripping forces to provide a more stable and secure placement of a beverage container in a beverage container holder.
It is known to manufacture the gripping members and other components of the beverage container holder in separate processes. This configuration presents design difficulties which require the packaging of several individual components into the final product. Also, this configuration will require additional time and expense to produce, because the individual components are manufactured separately and assembly of the components is required to obtain the final product.
It is also known to manufacture a beverage container holder having gripping members from a two-step molding process, where the gripping members are made from a soft material, such as a soft plastic or rubber that is overmolded onto the remaining portion of the beverage container holder. Since the beverage container holder is manufactured from a two-step molding process, this configuration eliminates the packaging difficulties presented in the design process and the requirement that individual components be assembled into a final product. This configuration however, may result in unwanted efforts or complications to insert or remove the beverage container because of the high coefficient of friction typical of soft plastic or rubber.
It would be desirable to provide a beverage container holder that is manufactured from a two-step molding process to eliminate the individual manufacturing of components, the need to assemble the individual components into the final product, and the packaging difficulties presented in the design process, while at the same time providing a gripping member that is composed of a material having a low coefficient of friction which allows a beverage container to be easily inserted or removed from the beverage container holder.


A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes monitoring a plurality of channels provisioned for an endpoint. The method also includes reacting to an alert message by adjusting one of the channels for the endpoint. The adjustment is a selected one of increasing a volume associated with the channel receiving the alert message, or changing a spatial direction from which the alert message and an associated media stream are conveyed to the endpoint. In other embodiments, the adjustment provisions the alert message from a left ear to a right ear of an end user of the endpoint. In still other embodiments, the adjustment includes determining which is a primary channel of the channels and provisioning the alert message to the primary channel of the endpoint. The media stream associated with the alert message is also moved to a same spatial direction along with the alert message.

Communications architectures have grown increasingly complex in communication environments. This complexity has resulted in numerous protocols being implemented to satisfy endpoints and to intelligently respond to challenging situations. Push-to-talk (PTT) devices are commonly used in safety and security environments. PTT devices carried by emergency response personnel (ERT) can support a single channel or a plurality of channels.
Typically, a management center supports a plurality of channels, where less important channels are rendered to one ear, and channels that are more important are rendered to the other ear. Universally, channels are statically configured, where the volume of each channel can be manually adjusted by an end user. When important information needs to be broadcast, channels should be configured optimally. If the channels are not fully utilized, then messages are not received by their intended recipients.
Thus, the ability to offer a system or a protocol that offers an effective coordination for channels in a communications environment provides a significant challenge to network designers, component manufacturers, service providers, and system administrators alike.

System and method for providing channel configurations in a communications environment


A transfer system has a position aligning device, a mounting device, and a transfer mechanism having two pick. In a delivery position aligning method for use in a transfer system, a set of delivery position coordinates that defines an access point of each pick of the transfer mechanism is temporarily determined. Then, a set of delivery position coordinates of each pick of the transfer mechanism to the position aligning device is fixed, and parts of sets of delivery position coordinates of each pick of the transfer mechanism to devices other than the position aligning device are fixed. A position alignment object is transferred to the position aligning device via a transfer route passing an unfixed set of delivery position coordinates, and an amount of positional displacement thereof is calculated. The unfixed set of delivery position coordinates is corrected based on the amount of positional displacement, and fixed.

In general, various processings, such as film formation, etching, oxidation, diffusion and the like, are performed on a semiconductor wafer to manufacture a semiconductor integrated circuit. Along with a recent trend of miniaturation and high integration of a semiconductor integrated circuit, there has been a strong demand for improvements of throughput and yield. For meeting such a demand, a so-called clusterized processing system has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 2000-208589, wherein plural processing apparatus for performing an identical processing or different processings are coupled to each other through a common transfer chamber, and thus, different processings may be continuously performed on a wafer while the wafer is not exposed to the air.
In such a processing system, the wafer is handled as follows. First, the wafer is transferred by a first transfer mechanism from a cassette container installed in an inlet port, which is provided at a front end of the processing system, to be loaded into an inlet side transfer chamber of the processing system. After the wafer is position-aligned by using a position-aligning mechanism, it is loaded into a load-lock chamber that can be vacuum-exhausted. Subsequently, the wafer is loaded by using a second transfer mechanism into a common transfer chamber under a vacuum atmosphere, to which plural vacuum processing apparatus are connected. The wafer is sequentially introduced into the respective vacuum processing apparatus by using the common transfer chamber as a center, and thus, being continuously processed. A processed wafer is transferred along a same route as in the loading, but in a reversed order, to thereby be accommodated in the original cassette container. Such a processing system has therein a single or plural transfer mechanism(s); and an exchange or a transfer of the wafer is performed in an automated manner by using the transfer mechanism(s).
Such a transfer mechanism has one or two pick(s) capable of freely contracting and extending, revolving and elevating. The wafer is directly supported by the pick to be moved in the horizontal direction, so that it is transferred to a predetermined position. While the transfer mechanism is operated, the pick and the wafer kept therein should be prevented from being interfered by or from colliding with other members. Moreover, the pick needs to properly unload the wafer placed on a specified place to transfer same to a destination, and to perform an exchange of the wafer at the destination with high accuracy, e.g., positional accuracy within ±0.20 mm.
For the same reason, in case when an assembling or a large device remodeling is performed, a so-called 'teaching operation' has been performed, wherein an important place, e.g., a place where an exchange of the wafer W is performed at a moving route of the pick of the transfer mechanism, is stored as a set of delivery position coordinates in a controller formed of a computer or the like, which controls an operation of the transfer mechanism. The teaching is performed on each pick for all access points thereof (e.g., access points of the pick to the cassette container, the mounting table of the load-lock chamber, a position-aligning device and a susceptor of each vacuum processing apparatus); and sets of delivery position coordinates defining these access points are stored in the controller. Further, a driving unit of a transfer device has therein an incorder for specifying a pick position. The driving unit has a pulse motor as a driving source; and the number of pulses applied to the pulse motor is controlled based on a detection result of the incorder to control the pick position precisely.
A teaching method of a transfer system in a clusterized processing system has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 2000-127069. When performing the teaching, there is employed a dummy substrate made of a transparent plate having substantially identical diameter and thickness to a semiconductor wafer to be transferred. On the dummy substrate, an outline of the pick is marked at a position where the pick will support the dummy substrate. If the marking coincides with the outline of the pick, the dummy substrate is considered to be kept at a proper position on the pick.
The teaching is performed by following a sequence as explained below. First, a set of delivery position coordinates is temporarily determined in advance with 'rough accuracy' before the teaching is performed with high accuracy. The term used herein 'rough accuracy' refers to an accuracy, wherein the wafer is made sure not to collide with members, e.g., an inner wall of the chamber and the like, even while it is automatically transferred based on this temporarily determined set of delivery position coordinates; and it may contain an error, e.g., about ±2 mm, for a finally fixed set of delivery position coordinates. Subsequently, the dummy substrate is mounted at a very accurately determined proper position by being manually position-aligned at a delivery position on a mounting table in the load-lock chamber, on a susceptor of the vacuum processing chamber or the like. Further, the dummy substrate is unloaded by the pick to be transferred to an orienter as a positioning mechanism, which detects a positional displacement. The temporarily determined a set of delivery position coordinates is corrected based on the positional displacement detected, and the corrected set of delivery position coordinates is stored in the controller as a fixed set of delivery position coordinates. The aforementioned teaching operation is performed on each pick for all access points thereof.
In the teaching method as mentioned above, a position alignment should be performed carefully on all access places to each pick by an operator with the naked eye by using a manual. For the same reason, there are problems that the teaching needs to be performed for a long time, thereby burdening the operator.
Further, in case where the wafer unloaded from the cassette is transferred to the susceptor of the processing device, a position of the wafer to be mounted on the susceptor may be slightly shifted for each transfer route through which the wafer passes, since a manual position alignment is carried out for each pick on a place where the pick accesses.

Delivery position aligning method for use in a transfer system and a processing system employing the method


Systems and methods which allow for the self-service selection and recording of local storage devices which can be provided as part of a larger object such as a toy. Specifically, the systems and methods discussed herein generally comprise self-service kiosks or other related systems whereby a final consumer, who is engaged in the manufacture or creation of a personalized or semi-personalized toy, can provide for transfer of sound or other data to a local storage device which will be incorporated into the toy in an on-demand fashion.

1. Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates to systems and methods for recording of data, specifically sounds, on a local storage device which is included as a portion of a larger object such as a toy. Specifically this disclosure relates to customer self-service local storage device recording for use in systems where final consumers participate in the manufacturing process of plush toys, and interactivity provided by having such a local storage device as a part of toys.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the world has become more advanced, virtually every aspect of human existence has incorporated new technologies. In many respects, toys, generally objects used for play to train children for future life and often designed to be versions of objects used by adults, have been around for as long as mankind Because toys are designed for play intended to teach behavior, as the world has changed, toys have changed to allow for children to play with objects that have become commonplace.
Prior to the invention of the telephone, there was no need for toy telephones. Similarly, prior to the invention of the automobile, there were no toy cars or trucks. While the types of toys emulate the environment in which children grow, toys also gain increased functionality as technology provides for better and safer ways to incorporate into toys functionalities that are provided by devices that are often sophisticated machines more so than playthings.
An early toy telephone may look like a telephone, but generally did not provide for parts that operated like those of a real telephone. However, as technology has improved, toy telephones now incorporate moveable buttons which control computer chips so that the telephone not only can be manipulated like a real telephone, but can be interactive and provide tactile, audible, and visual stimulation and feedback.
One major advancement in toys is the ability of them to provide audible stimulation (sound). Originally, sounds were often provided by mechanical means, such as by having a bell that movement of a component of the toy would strike. While this was effective for certain sounds and types of toys, this type of technology could not produce complicated sounds such as speech and is often only suitable for certain limited applications.
With the commoditization of recording technologies, the ability to include sound in toys suddenly became feasible. Toys have traditionally had fixed recorded chips where the push of a specific button or a particular activation of a toy could produce a specific series of associated sounds. For example, a toy tractor may make engine noise as the toy moved across the floor, or a recording of a farmer's speech may play when a button associated with him is pressed.
While the ability to include such recorded sound in a toy was an advancement because it allowed for sounds to be reproduced from a recording instead of created by the toy, the consumer had no control over the sounds included. Instead, the sounds were preprogrammed and preassembled into components of the toy. Thus, the consumer was stuck with whatever sounds the toy had regardless as to the desirability of these sounds to the child, or the annoyance of the sounds to the parent.
One area where sound in toys is particularly common is in plush toys. As these toys are often used by the child as a comfort object, the ability for the toy to issue soothing or reassuring sounds, or to provide sounds or speech associated with parents can be particularly desirable. Plush toys commonly include sound devices to allow them to tell stories, to speak certain phrases, and even to emulate sounds in a mother's womb.
Even as sound provision has become more sophisticated, with audio tape players being replaced by solid state chips and MP3 compression technology, one thing has generally remained the same when it came to sounds in toys: the final consumer is always limited by available sounds to those that have been prerecorded on the sound device and included with the toy. Specifically, the chips only have sounds chosen by the manufacturer. Even toys which included sophisticated sound players such as integrated cassette decks (e.g., Teddy Ruxpin™) are often limited to having to use prerecorded media of the manufacturer in order for the media to interact with the toy.
In the last 15 years, the manufacturing process of toys has become additionally personalized through the advent of toy stores where the toy is not just purchased off a rack, but is manufactured by the child themselves. One such type of store is the Build-a-Bear Workshop™ store where a person can construct a toy from various provided components. Part of the entertainment value of the toy is the ability of the child to be part of the toy's process of manufacture. In these types of on-demand and self-service manufacturing methodologies, the child is present for the toy's creation and construction, and the toy is often more personalized because the child has made personal decisions about the design of the toy. This can include decisions as to the toy's design and what additional components or functionality it includes.
In effect, the toy becomes more capable of reflecting the toy's owner because its owner is also, in many respects, its creator. This is beneficial both for children in making customized toys and for toys which are given to the child. The latter instance often has a more personal connection as associated with the person who made and gave the toy to the child because of the personalization. Further, the very process of building a toy is "play" which emulates modern manufacturing and construction techniques. Further, toy stores are also becoming play destinations where the toy is viewed as a "friend" or "companion" allowed to take part in the child's activities instead of an inanimate object.
One of the personalizations of these customer manufactured toys is sound. Traditionally, construction of a toy by a final consumer allows for the selection by the final consumer as to whether or not to include a sound chip for provision of sound in the toy, but the final consumer was still limited to the sounds provided on prerecorded chips. While technology existed which allowed recording a custom sound (e.g., the voice of the person creating the toy), other sounds could not be used due to licensing concerns and the difficulty in programming a device at the point-of-sale and on-demand by the final consumer. For example, if the final consumer wanted a toy to play a specific song, that song had to be available on a prerecorded chip: there was no way for the song to be recorded for the consumer at the point they were making the decision as to whether to add sound to the toy.
This situation presented two problems. In the first instance, the person's selection was dictated by the manufacturer and the number of available professionally produced sounds was generally limited by available inventory space. Secondly, the party providing the local storage devices for inclusion had to choose sound material of widespread interest because otherwise they could end up with dead stock of sound chips including less desirable sounds that could result in a significant wasted investment.

Point-of-sale integrated storage devices, systems for programming integrated storage devices, and methods for providing custom sounds to toys


A muffler includes an inner pipe and an outer pipe which, along with the inner pipe, forms a double-wall pipe. A cavity is provided between the inner and outer pipes. A first end of the double-wall pipe is closed between the inner and outer pipes, and a second end of the double-wall pipe has an opening between the inner and outer pipes. The cavity communicates with an exhaust channel via the opening. The cavity is formed as a result of the inner pipe being shaped in a manner such that a portion of an outer-circumferential surface of the inner pipe is positioned on an inner-circumferential side relative to a reference, the reference being a position of an outer-circumferential surface of the outer pipe.

A known exhaust system for automobile is provided with a sub-muffler between a catalyst disposed upstream of an exhaust channel and a main muffler disposed downstream of the exhaust channel (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The sub-muffler described in Patent Document 1 has a double-wall pipe including an outer pipe and an inner pipe, and the inner pipe has a plurality of small holes.


A CRT comprising a front panel coated with a fluorescent layer on the inner surface thereof, a shadow mask, a mask frame separating the shadow mask at a distance from the front panel, a funnel extending outwardly from the front panel forming an envelope surrounded by the front panel and the funnel, and an inner shield inside such an envelope to shield against earth and other external magnetic fields. The mask frame and the inner shield are welded together at their ends.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), and more particularly to a structure of a magnetic shield provided in a CRT to shield against the earth magnetic field and the external magnetic field.
B. Discussion of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a flat CRT comprises a panel 2 provided on the front surface of the CRT. A fluorescent screen 9, which is coated with a fluorescent substance, is provided on the inner surface of the panel 2 to emit visible light when struck by electron beams. A funnel 3 is fixedly attached to the rear of the panel 2 by fusion with a frit glass. An external shield 6 is coupled to the CRT by a reinforcement band 10. The band 10 is provided on a connection member of the panel 2 and the funnel 3.
An electron gun 5 is provided in a neck 3a of the funnel 3 to emit three electron beams of three primary colors, red, green and blue. A shadow mask 7 is mounted on the inner surface of the panel 2 and perforated with numerous tiny holes of slit shapes to ensure that each of the three electron beams strikes only its intended color fluorescent dot. A frame 8 is provided to separate the shadow mask 7 from the panel 2 at a distance.
The electron beams 4, which are emanated from the electron gun 5, pass through respective holes of the shadow mask 7 and strike the fluorescent screen 9, which is coated with a fluorescent substance on the inner side of panel 2, to emit visible light. The external shield 6 reduces the extent of the deflection defocusing of the electron beams which may be caused by the earth magnetic field and/or the external magnetic field.
Referring to FIG. 3, the external shield 6 comprises a funnel flange 6-1 and a panel flange 6-2. The funnel flange 6-1 extends along the circumference of the funnel 3 towards the neck 3a of the funnel 3. The panel flange 6-2 provides contact with the panel 2. Since the external shield 6 is made of magnets, the external magnetic field introduced into the CRT tends to easily flow through the external shield 6, reducing the above-described deflection defocusing effect caused by the external magnetic field.
Referring to FIG. 2, a portion A refers to a situation in which the panel flange 6-2 of the external shield 6 mounted on the CRT tends to cover a portion of the viewing screen of the panel 2. In this situation, the panel flange 6-2 must be cut short, as shown in FIG. 1, after the external shield 6 is mounted on the CRT. This cutting process is cumbersome and inconvenient. Further, the external shield 6 is typically thin, and therefore when it is mounted on the outside of the CRT, it tends to be deformed.
Yet further, the external shield 6 is a major cost factor in making CRTs because it has to be drawn along the shape of the funnel during manufacturing.


A memory device can include a plurality of banks, each bank including memory locations accessible by different access circuits; at least a first address port configured to receive addresses on falling and rising edges of a timing clock, each address corresponding to locations in different banks; and at least two read/write data ports configured to receive write data for storage in one of the banks, and output read data from one of the banks.

FIG. 10A is a block diagram of a conventional memory device 1000. A conventional memory device can be a quad data rate (QDR) type static random access memory (SRAM) type device, such as that manufactured by Cypress Semiconductor Corporation of San Jose, Calif., U.S.A. Conventional memory device 1000 can include one address port 1002, a read data port (Q) 1004 and a write data port (D) 1005. An address port 1002 can be a 28-bit wide address port (×28), while data ports (1004, 1005) can be 18-bit or 36-bit wide data ports. It is understood that data ports (1004, 1005) are unidirectional ports, providing one-way input or output data paths. Operations for conventional memory device 1000 are shown in FIGS. 10B and 10C.
FIG. 10B is a table showing two possible conventional modes of operation shown as B4A1 and B2A2. In the table, "DATA BURST" shows how long a data burst (set of consecutive data values) can be in the mode. "#ADD/CYCLE" shows the number of addresses received in a timing cycle. "# READ PORTS" shows the number of available read ports. "# WRITE PORTS" shows the number of available write ports "I/O WIDTH" shows a bit width for data values.
Mode B4A1 involves a burst of four data values in response to a single address value. In such a mode, a memory device can read or write a burst of four data values at one bank in response to one address.
Mode B2A2 involves bursts of data values, each in response to one of two address values. In such a mode, a memory device can read or write two bursts of two data values in response to two addresses.
FIG. 10C is a timing diagram showing one example of a B2A2 type mode of operation. At time t0, a read operation can start with a first address value (ADD0) being latched on a rising edge of a timing clock CLK. Subsequently, at times t4 and t5 a burst of two data values Q00 and Q01 can be output on a read port Q.
At time t1, a write operation can start with a second address value (ADD1) being latched on a falling edge of timing clock CLK. At the same time, a first write data value (D10) of a two value burst can be provided on write port D. At time t2, a second write data value (D11) of the burst can be provided on write port D.

Memory devices and methods having multiple address accesses in same cycle


The present invention relates to a monitor method for quality of metal Antireflection Coating (ARC) layer and, more particularly, to a fast and accurate monitor method for quality of metal ARC layer. By using of immersing a silicon wafer comprising an ARC layer into an acidic (such as a developer) or an alkalescent solution for about 200-300 seconds, according to the present invention, at weak points of the metal ARC layer there occur voids (defects) due to a Galvanic cell effect enhanced by these chemical solutions and then how many defects can be counted by a wafer defect inspector such as a KLA instrument so that quality of the metal ARC layer can be monitored by this defect number. Besides, Since the silicon wafer used as a sample for the wafer defect inspector simply comes from a production line, i.e. a developing process, rather than from other additional processing, said method allows for fast and accurately monitoring quality of the metal ARC layers.

Semiconductor devices are fabricated step-by-step, beginning with a silicon wafer (substrate), implanting various ions, depositing insulating and conductive layers. Some of these layers are subsequently etched by using a patterned photoresist as a mask to create various circuit structures; wherein these pattern transferring processes substantially include a photolithography process, transferring a pattern of a mask to a photoresist layer overlying the silicon wafer, and then a dry etching process, transferring a pattern of the photoresist layer to these insulating or conductive layers by selectively removing unmasked area thereof. However, it is often difficult to obtain a faithful pattern on the photoresist layer overlying highly reflective layers during the photolithography process because the amount of exposing light that the layers reflect can partially expose some of the photoresist. The major highly reflective layers are metal layers such as aluminum or gold. This problem becomes more significant as the patterns become finer because the amount of reflected light has a greater relative effect on exposing a thin line, which casts a narrow shadow, than a thick line, which casts a wide shadow. Therefore, It is needed to have an Antireflection Coating (hereinafter referred as ARC) layer on top of the highly reflective layers to improve the resolution of the photoresist pattern and subsequent precision of the pattern in the reflective layers. Most material of the ARC layer is TiN.
Since the silicon wafer has finished most processes of whole integrated circuit wherein even more includes a multilevel metalliztion structure before forming the ARC layer, its surface topology is such uneven that weak points of the followed formed ARC layer often occur at recess regions. When the silicon wafer is immersed in an acidic solution, for example, a developer or an alkalescent solution, these solutions will diffuse from these weak points of the ARC layer into the underlying highly reflective layer such as metal layer, as shown in FIG. 1. After forming a first metal pattern 20 atop a silicon wafer (substrate) 10, an interlevel dielectric layer 30 such as oxide, a second metal layer 40 such as aluminum to be formed a second metal pattern in following processes, and a thickness of 300-500 angstroms of ARC layer 50 such as TiN are formed in this sequence, shown in FIG. 1. As aforesaid, if the silicon wafer is immersed in an acidic or alkalescent solution, these solutions will diffuse from weak points A (generally at recess regions) and that will result in a Galvanic cell effect. The Galvanic cell effect is substantially an electrochemical battery and comprises the second metal layer 40 as an anode, the ARC layer as a cathode, and the acidic or alkalescent solution as electrolyte, thereby the second metal layer 40 electrolyzed and etched to form voids at these recess regions, as shown in a double-declined line area of FIG. 1, which further make the second metal layer 40 lose its integrity, increase its resitivity, and even more form an open circuit, thus considerably lowering reliability of product.
Except that said recess regions of surface topology of the silicon wafer may form weak points, it is inevitable that some particles, coming from a chamber and co-deposited on the silicon wafer during a sputter depositing process of ARC material of TiN, also may form these weak points and deteriorate quality of the ARC layer. For the time being, there is no other method to monitor quality of the ARC layer except by an inference from back-end test of electric parameters of the silicon wafer and thus yield of product will be lowered because a timely reworking process can""t be applied to the bad quality of the ARC layer. Therefore, it is needed to propose a monitor method for quality of the ARC layer allowing for obtaining a fast and accurate response to remind operators applying a timely reworking process, thereby raising yield of product.
Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a monitor method for quality of the ARC layer allowing for obtaining a fast and accurate response to remind operators applying a timely reworking process, thereby raising yield of product.
It is another object of the invention to provide an in-line monitor method for quality of the ARC layer because of its sample wafer prepared from a production line, i.e. a developing Process.
By immersing a silicon wafer comprising an ARC layer into an acidic (such as developing solution) or alkalescent solution for about 200-300 seconds, according to the present invention, the weak points of the metal ARC layer which occur as voids (defects) due to a Galvanic cell effect enhanced by these chemical solutions and then counting the number of defects by a wafer defect detector such as a KLA instrument so that the quality of the metal ARC layer can be monitored by this defect number. Since the silicon wafer used as a sample for the wafer defect detector comes from a production line, i.e. a developing process, rather than from other additional processing, this method allows for fast and accurately monitoring quality of the metal ARC layer.

Monitor method for quality of metal ARC (antireflection coating) layer


A system for determining the proximity of client devices to locations of interest is provided. The system includes a data server configured to receive data identifying a plurality of vehicles and associated vehicle locations and an input processor configured to process the received data to identify a plurality of locations of interest related to one or more assets. A database in operative communication with the data server is provided to store the locations of interest as information records. A notification server is provided to receive data identifying geographic locations of a plurality of client devices. An output processor is operatively coupled to the notification server and is configured to determine whether one or of more the client devices are within a predetermined proximity to one or more of the locations of interest. The output processor is further configured to generate a proximity alert when the one or more client devices are determined to be within the predetermined proximity to one or more of the locations of interest.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to systems for identifying locations of interest. In particular, this disclosure relates to systems for issuing alerts and providing information about assets within the locations of interest when users are determined to be nearby the location of interest.
2. Background
Vehicles and other assets may be repossessed when a borrower is delinquent in payment of a loan or other contractual agreement. In a common scenario, if the borrower cannot timely service the loan and is delinquent in payments, the creditor may seek to repossess the vehicle or other asset, either directly or more commonly, through an affiliated repossession company.
The borrower may willingly relinquish possession of the vehicle or asset to the repossession company. In such circumstances, the repossession company may take possession of the vehicle or asset at the debtor's residence. In other situations, the debtor may not willingly relinquish possession of the vehicle or asset and, in the case of vehicles, may hide the vehicle or otherwise maintain the vehicle at an undisclosed location away from his or her place of residence. This renders it difficult for the repossession company to locate the vehicle.
Further, when a vehicle to be repossessed cannot be easily located, agents, "skip-tracers," and "spotters" associated with the repossession company may randomly view the license plates of vehicles in areas known to be frequented by the debtor, often based on the description of the vehicle. However this is very expensive, inefficient and time-consuming because the agent, spotter, or skip-tracer may have a set of documents for each vehicle to be repossessed, and must cross-reference the documents in his possession with each suspect license plate that he or she views while driving or while a passenger in a spotter vehicle. Additionally, using agent, spotter, or skip-tracer is inherently unreliable because it necessarily depends on the agent, spotter, or skip-tracer's ability to locate and accurately identify a vehicle.

System and method for determining a vehicle proximity to a selected address


The present invention provides the use of a fluorinated polyether composition as a surfactant, said fluorinated polyether composition comprising a mixture of fluorinated polyethers of the formula:(Rf)n—Xw—Z   (I)wherein n is 1 or 2, w is 0 or 1, X is a divalent or trivalent organic linking group, Z is a polar group selected from the group consisting of an acid group or a salt thereof, an ammonium group, an amine-oxide group and an amphoteric group, and Rf represents a perfluorinated polyether group of the formula:CF3CF2CF2—O—[CF(CF3)CF2O]k—CF(CF3)—wherein k is at least 1;said mixture of fluorinated polyethers having a weight average molecular weight between 750 g/mol and 5000 g/mol and the amount of perfluorinated polyether groups in said mixture where k is 2 or less, is not more than 10% by weight of the total amount of perfluorinated polyether groups in said mixture.

Fluorinated polyethers are well-known in the art and have found many applications. For example, fluorinated polyethers and their use have been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,250,808, 3,839,425, and 5,130,477. The fluorinated polyethers have been used as intermediates in the preparation of useful compositions to be applied to substrates to impart oil and/or water repellent properties. The fluorinated polyethers have also been used as surfactants and emulsifying compounds. For example, fluoropolyether acids, amides and salts thereof have been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,644,492, 3,798,265, 3,555,089, 3,621,059, 3,944,610, and 3,536,710.
There is however an ever growing environmental awareness and the fluorinated polyethers disclosed in the art, in particular those that have been disclosed for use as surfactants, may no longer meet today's expectations with respect to the environmental properties and impact of compositions based on such polyethers. It is a particularly desired environmental property that the fluorochemical surfactants are substantially free of fluorochemical components that eliminate slowly from the body of living organisms. Additionally, it is desired that the fluorochemical surfactants have a sufficient stability under normal conditions of use and storage such that they do not decompose into fluorochemical components that eliminate slowly from the body of living organisms. Of course in seeking more environmentally friendly compositions, other properties such as the performance as surfactants in a broad variety of applications should not be compromised or at least not to a substantial level and preferably the compositions can be conveniently manufactured at minimal costs.

Mixture of fluorinated polyethers and use thereof as surfactant


An production apparatus of a semi-solidified metal has a vessel and a cooling device. The vessel into which a liquid-state metal material M is poured has a hollow member which is opened in up and down directions, and a bottom member which can close the lower opening of the hollow member and can be separated from the hollow member. The cooling device can cool the bottom member more than the hollow member.

A semi-solidified metal is formed by a liquid-state metal material being cooled in a vessel. The metal material coheres an inner surface of the vessel in a process of forming a semi-solidified state, therefore after the metal material becomes a semi-solidified state, the semi-solidified metal sometimes cannot be smoothly taken out of the vessel even if the vessel is turned upside down.
Therefore, Patent Literature 1 discloses the following method as the method of taking out a semi-solidified metal from a vessel. First, the vessel is configured by a hollow member which is opened at its upper and lower ends and by a bottom member which closes the lower opening of the hollow member. Liquid-state metal material is poured into the vessel to form the semi-solidified metal. When the semi-solidified metal is formed, the bottom member is detached from the vessel. Then, a long-length pushing member is inserted from one opening of the hollow member, and the pushing member is used to push the semi-solidified metal toward the other opening of the hollow member.

Molding apparatus, production apparatus of semi-solidified metal, production method of semi-solidified metal, and molding method


A computer security vulnerability remediation system (CSVRS) is disclosed, including a CSVRS client communicatively coupled to a remediation server through a network. The CSVRS client includes software having a security vulnerability, which vulnerability may be known to malicious actors who develop an exploit. In some cases, the exploit is a “zero-day exploit,” meaning the vulnerability may not be known to the CSVRS client until the exploit is deployed. A RSP receives information about the exploit and vulnerability from a team of remediation experts. The RSP may prepare a remedial exploit, which carries a self-healing pay load. The remedial exploit may be delivered either through the vulnerability itself, or through credentials granted by the CSVRS client to the RSP. The self-healing pay-load takes appropriate action, such as closing ports or disabling scripts, to prevent the vulnerability from being further exploited.

This specification relates to the field of computer security, and more particularly to a computer security vulnerability remediation system.
One species of computer attack is the "advanced persistent threat" (APT), in which a malicious actor systematically attacks a computer system or network. An APT attack may begin when the malicious actor discovers a vulnerability and prepares malicious code to exploit the vulnerability (sometimes called an "exploit"). The exploit may include a malicious payload designed to harm the target computer or expose data. In other words, the exploit takes advantage of a vulnerability to grant a malicious actor access to a vulnerable machine. The payload then deploys to create a desired effect.
A prior art method of security remediation includes matching suspect code to a signature of a known exploit. A network protected by prior art methods may, however, still be susceptible to exploits of "zero-day" vulnerabilities.
The term "zero-day" as used in this specification refers to the time elapsed since a vulnerability has been publicly disclosed. Day D−N may refer to the date when a malicious actor identifies a vulnerability. Day D0, or "zero day," refers to the day when the exploit is first released into the wild. D0 is generally the first day on which a vendor becomes aware of the exploit in its code and can begin working on a patch to cure the vulnerability. The vendor then tests the patch and deploys the patch on day DN. The period between D−N and DN represents the malicious actor's "window of opportunity." The period between D0 and DN represents the time during which vulnerable machines are at risk of an exploit.
In the worst cases, the gap between D−N and DN can be years. For example, in 2008 a vulnerability was discovered in Microsoft Internet Explorer that had existed in all versions since at least 2001.

Remediation of computer security vulnerabilities


A sealing washer assembly includes a threaded fastener, a nut and a resilient member attached to the nut and washer or screw and washer. The resilient member, typically a polymer of propylene, ethylene or other suitable material, is oversized with respect to the nut. The assembly is useful for connecting one member to another via an opening in the first member, and particularly, provides a system for sealing the opening against the passage of fluid, such as air.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is in the field of fasteners such as threaded bolts and nuts used with sheet materials such as metal and the like. Particularly, the present invention relates to a sealing washer assembly including a threaded fastener and a resilient member oversized with respect to the threaded fastener. More particularly, the present invention relates to an assembly for attaching one member to another member, via an opening in the first member and then sealing the attachment against the passage of fluid, including but not limited to air, and for preventing noise transmission through the connection.
2. Discussion
A nut and bolt combination is a well known device for securely fastening two or more members. Generally speaking, a metal washer encircles the bolt shaft and is interposed between the nut and the member against which the nut is tightened. Location of a washer between rotatable and static members is known to promote a fit of the fastened members which is more resistant to loosening from vibration. The nuts, bolts and washers in common use are often manufactured of metal but modification of this arrangement has been suggested for various purposes over the years.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,982,573 to McKee, Jr. describes a composite sealing washer having an annular sealing portion constructed of neoprene rubber that is received within a cup-shaped flexible metal member. A washer is used in conjunction with a conventional nut and bolt to fasten two plates together. The annular sealing portion is oversized so that when the nut is tightened onto the bolt, the material of the sealing portion spreads into a gap between the bolt and plates. It is also known to secure a rubber gasket or other suitable flexible material to a washer with adhesive for sealing the aperture through which a fastener passes, for example, when sealing an opening in an automotive vehicle. The gasket is positioned to be compressed between the washer and the workpiece.
One longstanding problem with known sealing washers arises when the gasket is compressed between the clamped components of the formed joint and subsequently relaxes, leading to leakage. Although sealing washers are generally considered low-cost items in themselves, they can be very time consuming to replace in the event of failure.
Another problem with known assemblies is that, due to the compression of the gasket and the virtual metal contact effectual, noise can be transmitted through the assembly from the attached member into the other member.


Methods and mobile devices determine an exit from a vehicle. Sensors of a mobile device can be used to determine when the user is in a vehicle that is driving. The same or different sensors can be used to identify a disturbance (e.g., loss of communication connection from mobile device to a car computer). After the disturbance, an exit confidence score can be determined at various times, and compared to a threshold. A determination of the exit of the user can be determined based on the comparison of the exit confidence score to the threshold. The mobile device can perform one or more functions in response to the exit confidence score exceeding the threshold, such as changing a user interface (e.g., of a navigation app) or obtaining a location to designate a parking location.

Mobile devices today can provide various functionality in response to a user request. For example, a user can request to see a navigation map or provide other user input to switch among user interfaces, or otherwise obtained desired functionality. However, users must provide input to get the desired functionality.
It is therefore desirable to provide methods and mobile devices that can automatically perform functions, without a user providing input. As identified by the inventors, one instance that automated functionality may be desired is an exit of the user from a vehicle. Therefore, it is desirable to also provide methods and devices they can determine an exit of the user from the vehicle.


An ink jet recording head has an ink passage unit (1) formed by superposing a nozzle plate (3) with a plurality of nozzles (2) and an ink passage plate (8). The ink passage plate (8) has first and a second surface (8a, 8b), and is provided with a plurality of pressure producing chambers (5) connected to the plurality of nozzles (2), and an ink reservoir (7) communicating with the pressure producing chambers (5) by means of ink inlet ports (6). A cover plate (11) is closely joined to the first surface (8a) of the ink passage plate (8). The coverplate (11) is deformed elastically by piezoelectric vibrators (10) so as to apply pressure to the ink contained in the pressure producing chambers (5). The ink passage plate (8) is a metal sheet (21) having first and second surfaces (8a, 8b) of the ink passage plate (8). A through hole (20) for the ink reservoir (7) is formed from the first surface to the second surface in the metal sheet (21). A plurality of recesses (27) forming the pressure producing chambers (5) are formed in the first surface of the metal sheet by press working.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording head which has pressure producing chambers adapted to be pressurized by a pressure generator to jet ink droplets from nozzles.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ink jet recording head has a plate provided with a plurality of independent nozzles arranged in a row and a plurality of pressure producing chambers arranged in a row and connected to a common ink chamber. The inkjet recording head jets ink droplets from the nozzles by changing the volumes of the pressure producing chambers by piezoelectric vibrators or by vaporizing ink with heating devices.
The pressure producing chambers of the ink jet recording head must be arranged regularly at pitches corresponding to recording density. Therefore, the pressure producing chambers are formed by etching a plate or by an injection molding process using a polymeric material.
When it is desired to form the pressure chambers accurately in the plate by etching, an expensive silicon single crystal must unavoidably be used as the plate and the pressure producing chambers must be formed by anisotropic etching.
Although a plate of a polymeric material provided with pressure producing chamber can relatively easily be formed high accurately by an injection molding process, the plate is liable to be broken due to fatigue caused by repeated cyclic stress induced by piezoelectric vibrators or liable to be deteriorated by repeated heating by the heating devices.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording head excellent in durability and capable of being manufactured at a low manufacturing cost.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, an ink jet recording head comprises an ink passage unit formed by superposing a nozzle plate, an ink passage plate and a cover plate, the nozzle plate being provided with a plurality of nozzles. The ink passage plate has a first surface and a second surface which are opposite to each other, and is provided with a plurality of pressure producing chambers connected to the nozzles respectively and with an ink reservoir communicating with the pressure producing chambers by means of a plurality of ink inlet ports. The cover plate is closely joined to the first surface of the ink passage plate. The ink jet recording head also comprises a pressure generator to apply pressure to an ink in the pressure producing chambers. The ink passage plate is made of a metal sheet having the first surface and the second surface, the ink reservoir is made by forming a through hole from the first surface to the second surface in the metal sheet, and the pressure producing chambers are made by forming a plurality of recesses in the first surface of the metal sheet by press working.
Preferably, the first surface of the metal sheet is subjected to a flattening process after the press working.
Preferably, a plurality of recesses forming the ink inlet ports and the recesses forming the pressure chambers are all formed simultaneously by the press working.
Preferably, the recesses forming the pressure producing chambers and the ink inlet ports are all formed in the first surface of the metal sheet.
Preferably, the recesses forming the ink inlet ports are shallower than the recesses forming the pressure producing chambers.
Preferably, the recesses forming the pressure producing chambers are formed in the first surface of the metal sheet, the recesses forming the ink inlet ports are formed in the second surface of the metal sheet, and the metal sheet is provided with connecting holes which enable the pressure producing chambers to communicate with the ink inlet ports respectively.
Preferably, both the first and the second surfaces of the metal sheet are subjected to a flattening process after the press working.
Preferably, a protuberance-forming recess is formed in the second surface of the metal sheet by the press working so that protruding portions are formed surrounding the recesses forming the pressure producing chambers when the recesses forming the pressure producing chambers are formed in the first surface of the metal sheet by the press working.
Preferably, a plurality of the protuberance-forming recesses formed in the second surface of the metal sheet are formed in a plurality of regions corresponding to a plurality of walls separating the adjacent pressure producing chambers respectively.
Preferably, a plurality of the protuberance-forming recesses formed in the second surface of the metal sheet are formed in a plurality of regions extending across the pressure producing chambers and a plurality of walls separating the adjacent pressure producing chambers respectively.
Preferably, the protuberance-forming recess formed in the second surface of the metal sheet is formed in a single region corresponding to all of the pressure producing chambers.
Preferably, the metal sheet is a sheet of pure nickel, a ternary alloy of zinc, aluminum and copper, or a superplastic alloy of lead, tin and bismuth or the like.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, an inkjet recording head comprises an ink passage unit formed by superposing a nozzle plate, an ink passage plate and a cover plate, the nozzle plate being provided with a plurality of nozzles. The ink passage plate has a first surface and a second surface which are opposite to each other and, is provided with a plurality of pressure producing chambers connected to the nozzles respectively and with an ink reservoir communicating with the pressure producing chambers by means of a plurality of ink inlet ports. The cover plate is closely joined to the first surface of the ink passage plate. The ink jet recording head also comprises a pressure generator to apply pressure to an ink in the pressure producing chambers. The pressure producing chambers are formed as a plurality of recesses formed in the first surface of the ink passage plate, the ink inlet ports are formed as a plurality of recesses formed in the second surface of the ink passage plate, and the ink passage plate is provided with a plurality of connecting holes which enable the pressure producing chambers to communicate with the ink inlet ports.
Preferably, the ink inlet ports and the pressure producing chambers are spaced apart in a direction along a thickness of the ink passage plate and partly overlap each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction along the thickness. The connecting holes are formed in portions of the ink passage plate where the ink inlet ports and the pressure producing chambers overlap each other.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, an ink jet recording head comprises an ink passage unit formed by superposing a nozzle plate, an ink passage plate and a cover plate, the nozzle plate being provided with a plurality of nozzles. The ink passage plate has a first surface and a second surface which are opposite to each other, and is provided with a plurality of pressure producing chambers connected to the nozzles respectively and with an ink reservoir communicating with the pressure producing chambers by means of a plurality of ink inlet ports. The cover plate is closely joined to the first surface of the ink passage plate. The ink jet recording head also comprises a pressure generator to apply pressure to an ink in the pressure producing chambers. The ink passage plate comprises a first sheet having the first surface and a second sheet having the second surface, the first sheet and the second sheet being superposed. The first sheet is provided with a plurality of through holes corresponding to the pressure producing chambers, a through hole corresponding to the reservoir, and a plurality of through holes forming the ink inlet ports. The ink inlet ports enable the through holes corresponding to the pressure producing chambers to communicate with the through hole corresponding to the reservoir. The second sheet is provided with a plurality of recesses forming the pressure producing chambers and a through hole forming the reservoir. The recesses forming the pressure producing chambers are connected to the through holes corresponding to the pressure producing chamber, and the through hole forming the reservoir is connected to the through hole corresponding to the reservoir.
Preferably, the second sheet is made of a metal sheet having a second surface and a third surface which are opposite to each other. The through hole forming the reservoir is formed from the second surface to the third surface in the metal sheet, and the recesses forming the pressure producing chambers are formed in the third surface of the metal sheet by a press working.
Preferably, the third surface of the metal sheet is subjected to a flattening process after the press working.
Preferably, a protuberance-forming recess is formed in the second surface of the metal sheet by the press working so that portions surrounding the recesses forming the pressure producing chambers are protruded when the recesses forming the pressure producing chambers are formed in the third surface of the metal sheet by the press working.
Preferably, a plurality of the protuberance-forming recesses formed in the second surface of the metal sheet are formed in a plurality of regions corresponding to a plurality of walls separating the adjacent pressure producing chambers respectively.
Preferably, a plurality of the protuberance-forming recesses formed in the second surface of the metal sheet are formed in a plurality of regions extending across the pressure producing chambers and a plurality of walls separating the adjacent pressure producing chambers respectively.
Preferably, the protuberance-forming recess formed in the second surface of the metal sheet is formed in a single region corresponding to all of the pressure producing chambers.
Preferably, the metal sheet is a sheet of pure nickel, a ternary alloy of zinc, aluminum and copper, or a superplastic alloy of lead, tin and bismuth or the like.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an ink jet recording head comprises an ink passage unit formed by superposing a nozzle plate, an ink passage plate and a cover plate, the nozzle plate being provided with a plurality of nozzles. The ink passage plate has a first surface and a second surface which are opposite to each other, and is provided with a plurality of pressure producing chambers connected to the nozzles respectively and with an ink reservoir communicating with the pressure producing chambers by means of a plurality of ink inlet ports. The cover plate is closely joined to the first surface of the ink passage plate. The ink jet recording head also comprises a pressure generator to apply pressure to the ink in the pressure producing chambers. The ink passage plate is made of a metal sheet having a first surface and a second surface, the metal sheet comprising a through hole formed from the first surface to the second surface to form the reservoir. A plurality of recesses are formed in the first surface of the metal sheet to form the pressure producing chamber, and a recess is formed in the second surface.
Preferably, a plurality of the recesses formed in the second surface of the metal sheet are formed in a plurality of regions corresponding to a plurality of walls separating the adjacent pressure producing chambers respectively.
Preferably, a plurality of the recesses formed in the second surface of the metal sheet are formed in a plurality of regions extending across a plurality of walls separating the adjacent pressure producing chambers and the pressure producing chambers respectively.
Preferably, the recess formed in the second surface of the metal sheet is formed in a single region corresponding to all of the pressure producing chambers.
Preferably, the metal sheet is a sheet of pure nickel, a ternary alloy of zinc, aluminum and copper, or a superplastic alloy of lead, tin and bismuth or the like.
In the ink jet recording heads according to the first, second, third and fourth aspects of the present invention, it is preferable that the ink passage plate is provided with ink outlet holes in portions of bottom walls of the pressure producing chambers corresponding to the nozzles so as to connect the pressure producing chambers to the nozzles respectively.
In the ink jet recording heads according to the first, second, third and fourth aspects of the present invention, it is preferable that the cover plate is an elastic plate which is capable of being deformed at least in portions corresponding to the pressure producing chambers respectively. The pressure generator includes a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators which are capable of deforming the elastic plate.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the ink passage plate is formed by forming a through hole for forming the reservoir and the recesses for forming the pressure producing chambers in the metal sheet by press working. Therefore, the pressure producing chambers of the ink passage plate, which significantly affect the ink jetting performance of the ink jet recording head, can accurately be formed in a desired size.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the recesses forming the pressure producing chambers are formed in one of the surfaces of the ink passage plate and the recesses forming the ink inlet ports are formed in the other surface of the ink passage plate. Therefore, the recesses forming the pressure producing chambers and those forming the ink inlet ports can simultaneously be formed by press working using a pair of dies. Each of the pair of dies need not be provided with projections differing from each other in height and, consequently, accurate press working can be achieved.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the first sheet provided with the through holes forming the ink inlet ports and the second sheet provided with recesses forming the pressure producing chambers are superposed to form the ink passage plate. Therefore, the ink inlet ports having a sectional shape of a desired shape can accurately be formed.

Piezoelectric ink jet recording head formed by press working


A system and method for maintaining a washer fluid above a predetermined temperature at a point of delivery where the fluid is directed onto a windshield of a vehicle. The system and method include a washer nozzle that has an internal resistance such that, when a current is passed through the nozzle, a temperature of nozzle is maintained at a predetermined temperature which is above the freezing temperature of the fluid. In one embodiment, the nozzle body and its electrical terminals are a one-piece molded construction, with another embodiment having a plurality of metallic conductors insert-molded into the nozzle. The nozzle has a nozzle body which is molded of an electrically conductive, internally-resistive, thermo-plastic which can be energized with less than about twenty or even ten amperes so that the nozzle body temperature is maintained above, for example, one hundred twenty degrees Fahrenheit when an ambient temperature of about seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit. In one embodiment, the nozzle body in the embodiment being described has a volume resistance of less than 10.sup.11 ohms-cm and a internal resistance of less than about 500 ohms.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to windshield wiping systems, and more particularly, to a system and method for maintaining a windshield wash fluid in a liquid state using an internally-resistive and electrically conductive washer nozzle which is provided in a one-piece molded construction.
2. Description of Related Art
Windshield wiper systems have for many years included systems and methods for directing wiper fluid to a surface of a windshield while the wiper blades are actuated in order to wash and clean the windshield from debris, such as dirt, snow, rain and the like. In winter conditions, the washer fluid may have a tendency to freeze, particularly if an alcohol or antifreeze used in the washer fluid is evaporated sufficiently to increase the freezing temperature of the fluid above the ambient temperature in any part of the wiper system. This evaporation occurs mostly at the output or washer nozzles which directs the fluid in a spray pattern onto the surface of the windshield.
Heated nozzles have been used in the past that have a built-in heating device, such as a coil or other metallic heater, either molded into the nozzle directly or otherwise inserted into the nozzle.
In some prior applications of the heated concept, wiper blades have been provided with conduits for directing washer fluid to the windshield wherein the wiper blades comprise a heating element, such as a coil, mounted or molded directly into the wiper blade.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,828 issued to Basheer et al., a thermally conductive elastomeric or rubber material is shown having a plurality of terminals which, when energized, apparently cause the wiper blade to become heated. Unfortunately, the amperage needed to heat a wiper blade of this design is estimated to be unreasonably large, such as in excess of 50 amps. This reduces or eliminates the attractiveness of the design of this approach. Also, it is believed that the engineering, tooling and surrounding apparatus, such as the wires used to couple the wiper blade to the electrical system of a vehicle makes this approach an unattractive design and relatively expensive.
What is needed, therefore, is a simple design, which is relatively easy to implement, inexpensive to manufacture and which provides a simple system and method for maintaining a washer fluid in a liquid state so the fluid may be sprayed on the windshield.

Heated windshield wiper washer nozzle system and method


A spoked wheel includes a rim with a plurality of holes for a respective plurality of nipples and an equal plurality of spokes secured to the rim by these nipples. The nipples are arranged to be fitted so as to be substantially gastight in the respective holes in the rim for the purpose of fitting tubeless tires to the rim.

The invention relates to a spoked wheel of the type including a rim with a plurality of holes for a respective plurality of nipples, and an equal plurality of spokes secured to the rim by means of the nipples.
Wheels of the above-mentioned type are widely used on both pedal cycles and motorcycles. In the latter case in particular, a need has been felt to use pneumatic tires of the tubeless type, without an inner tube.
These tires have the advantage of deflating relatively slowly in case of a puncture and are therefore suited to the high speeds which may occur in the case of motorcycles.
On the other hand, the use of tubeless tires is not compatible with spoked wheels unless these incorporate special characteristics.
A first type of spoked wheel designed for cycle use with tubeless tires provides for the rim to have a double channel. The first channel is formed between the rim and the tire and provides an airtight seal designed to form the inflation chamber of the tire. The second channel, provided with holes, is used for fitting the spoke anchorage devices. Examples of this technical solution are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,746 and US 2003/0025383 A1.
However, this type of wheel is not well suited to motorcycle use since it increases appreciably the mass of the rim in rotation. Moreover, it has been found that in wet conditions water tends to accumulate in the second channel (which is not airtight) with disadvantages such as an increase of the mass in rotation, corrosion phenomena and worse still appreciable wheel imbalance.
Another type of wheel for the fitting of tubeless tires is described in Japanese patent 2003146001, European patent 1209006 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,177. In this case, however, external sealing means are used to eliminate the problem of airtightness between the nipple and the rim.
This type of solution provides relatively unreliable sealing which is likely to be damaged if impacts occur.
Moreover, it has been found that a serious sealing problem is caused by relative movement between the rim and the nipple due to the inevitable elastic deformation of the rim during use. This is because there may be axial displacement of the nipple and of the spoke secured to it due to the effect of deformation of the rim by even a few millimetres and, when seals are inserted between the nipple and the rim, it is clear that this may cause pressure losses in the inflation chamber of the tire and may even cause sudden deflation of the tire.


A portable apparatus includes an electronic device defining a locking slot and a positioning device for detachably attached to the electronic device. The positioning device includes a cover defining an opening and a through hole; a supporting member comprising a hook protruding from the through hole to insert in the locking slot to lock in the electronic device and a supporting portion protruding from the opening of the cover to support the electronic device; and a dampening member fixed to the supporting member in the cover.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to portable apparatuses, and more particularly to a position device for fastening an electronic device to an object.
2. Description of Related Art
Portable electronic devices such as handheld flat screen televisions and portable disc players are widely used because of their small sizes. Users may carry their portable electronic devices when travelling for business or entertainment. However, the users may have to hold the portable electronic devices in their hands or rest on their thighs or on a flat surface of the vehicle they are travelling on. After a period of time, the users' hands or thighs may become tired or the electronic devices may fall off the table when the vehicle turns or due to bumps in the road.
Therefore, a need exits for providing a positioning device that the electronic device can be positioned thereof.

Portable apparatus and positioning device thereof

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


A glucose tolerance analyzer comprising: an accepting section configured to accept inputs of information regarding a type of food or drink ingested by a subject, information regarding an intake amount of the food or drink, and information regarding an amount of glucose in the subject after the ingestion of the food or drink; an output section configured to output an analysis result of glucose tolerance; and a controller configured to: calculate a reference value for analyzing glucose tolerance of the subject based on the accepted information regarding the type of the food or drink ingested by the subject and the information regarding the intake amount of the food or drink, and based on a predetermined index regarding blood glucose increase due to food or drink; analyze the glucose tolerance of the subject based on the accepted information regarding the amount of glucose and based on the calculated reference value; and control the output section to output an obtained analysis result as an analysis result of glucose tolerance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to glucose tolerance analyzers, glucose tolerance analyzing systems, and storage media. More specifically, the present invention relates to glucose tolerance analyzers, glucose tolerance analyzing systems, and storage media that are useful for early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and the like of diabetes.
2. Description of the Related Art
For early detection of diabetes, tests are being performed that detect postprandial hyperglycemia, which is a symptom of early stage diabetes and is caused by abnormal glucose tolerance. As a test that detects postprandial hyperglycemia, for example, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is known. However, an OGTT requires an excessive glucose load, and thus has a disadvantage of posing a great burden to a patient.
Thus, in order to alleviate the burden to a patient, tests for detecting abnormal glucose tolerance are performed based on the amounts of myo-inositol in urine before and after a glucose load is given (for example, see International Publication WO 2003/083133).
However, myo-inositol in urine is a metabolic product of sugar, and is not an index that directly corresponds to a blood glucose level. Therefore, the method described in International Publication WO2003/083133 has a disadvantage that the diagnostic accuracy is not sufficient. Further, since the method requires a glucose load, the method has a problem that it poses a great burden to a patient.
The present invention has been made in view of the above situations. An object of the present invention is to provide a glucose tolerance analyzer, a glucose tolerance analyzing system, and a storage medium that allow alleviation of burden to a patient at the time of glucose tolerance analysis, and that allow simple and highly accurate glucose tolerance analysis.

Glucose tolerance analyzer, glucose tolerance analyzing system, and storage medium