The present disclosure relates generally to the field of data processing and electronic messaging systems, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for mediating a user's access to a resource to thereby prevent potential security breaches, including phishing and impersonation, malware, and security issues, particularly with respect to websites and electronic communications.

The Internet is the global system of interconnected computer networks, consisting of private, public, academic, business, and government networks of local to global scope, linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless, and optical networking technologies. The Internet carries a vast range of information resources and services, and is a critical part of the communications infrastructure of the world. However, the Internet also represents an insecure channel for exchanging information leading to a high risk of intrusion or fraud. As such, it is important for individual users and enterprises to utilize some form of Internet security in order to decrease the risk of data breaches as a result of such threats.
Existing systems that enable communication of electronic messages include email, instant message, text message, calendar, and audio and video messaging systems. Electronic messages may contain security threats such as attachments with viruses, or phishing attacks with links to web sites that attempt to steal sensitive information or malware. Message recipients are often unable or unwilling to protect themselves sufficiently from these threats. Therefore, electronic message security systems have emerged in the art to provide a degree of protection against some threats embedded in messages. For example, systems that automatically scaFIGn message attachments for viruses are known in the art.
Malicious actors on the Internet often try to fool users into thinking that they are interacting with known, trusted entities. When a malicious actor garners some amount of trust from the user, such trust may be exploited to the detriment of the user. For example, one common threat is a phishing attack, which is a criminal fraud procedure that attempts to obtain personal sensitive information, such as login credentials (i.e., usernames, passwords, PINs, etc.), personal details (i.e., name, address, phone number(s), email address(es), etc.) and payment information (i.e., credit card details, electronic payment information, bank account numbers, etc.) by using electronic communications to disguise as legitimate and trustworthy content.
A phishing attack may commonly involve a fake website or application (i.e., a website or software application constructed to resemble a legitimate and trustworthy website or application) or a communication linking to a fake website or application (e.g., an email, text message, or the like) in an attempt to obtain the trust of a user and prompt the user to enter personal sensitive information. Domain name or certificate impersonation or masquerading is a technique in which a domain name of a trusted entity, which would normally direct to a legitimate and trusted Web page or content, has been altered in such a manner that an internet user can be fooled into believing that the altered domain name is associated with the trusted entity. However, clicking the altered domain name may instead cause downloading of software (or allow other forms of entry) that is of malicious intent, such as phishing, online viruses, Trojan horses, worms, and the like.
For example, a domain name may be altered by one or more characters, but may still visually appear to be associated with the trusted party, thereby tricking an internet user into believing that it is authentic. A user is more likely to click on an altered link if said user believes that the link is associated with a trusted party. For example, the domain name "www.citibank.com" may be altered by one or more characters to form a masquerading domain name, such as "www.cit1bank.com", and may invite trust from a customer of the trusted party (i.e., Citibank), despite the change of the "i" to a "1" in the domain name. Similarly, email falsely purporting to be from Mimecast (the trusted company) will be more believable with a return address of "@mrncast.com", than with a generic "@yahoo.com". Additionally, a masquerading domain name may use the correct characters or word of the trusted domain name, but may include characters or words in a different order or context, such as, for example, "mimecast.nl", which at one time was not registered or associated with the trusted entity Mimecast. The detection of such subtleties in domain names can be especially difficult, thereby presenting a challenge for current security systems.
Attackers may further design a website, application, or communication to have a strikingly similar appearance as a trusted and legitimate website. For example, malicious characters usually construct a fake website utilizing the resources of a legitimate website to carry out their attacks. In particular, the web page resources of a fake website (e.g., styles, images, and links) will be acquired from the trusted and legitimate website, such that the user interface appearance of the fake website is highly similar to the legitimate website, which will likely deceive a user. The attacker will design the fake web site in such a manner so as to direct the user to input and submit personal sensitive information, thereby allowing the phishing attack to occur.
In addition to websites, attackers also rely on electronic messages, including email, instant messaging, text messaging, as well as calendar, audio, and video messaging systems, for phishing attacks. For example, such electronic messages may contain security threats such as attachments with viruses, or phishing attacks with links to web sites or malware that attempt to steal sensitive and/or confidential information or malware (e.g., sensitive information that is personal to an individual and is intended to remain confidential and private and/or, in the instance of an entity, such as a business or the like, sensitive information that the entity wished to remain confidential and private).
Threats in web page links, such as phishing attacks, present a complex challenge. Blocking all links may be impractical. Checking a link prior to sending a message to a recipient provides incomplete protection, since it is possible for a site to become malicious or to be recognized as malicious after the initial check. For improved security there is a need for a system that checks links, and other resources or resource references embedded in electronic messages, at the time the message recipient accesses them. However, this solution presents an additional challenge since message recipients can easily copy and share protected resource references that incorporate security checks. The security checking resources and benefits are therefore made available to anyone. Moreover, security checking resources are consumed on each access to a protected reference; widespread distribution of copies of these protected references can therefore overwhelm security checking system resources such as processor capacity, memory, or network bandwidth. Social media sites and social messaging systems compound this problem because links or other references may be shared instantly with many thousands of users. Ideally the protection offered by a security system should be available only to authorized users of the system.
Existing threat protection systems generally analyze electronic messages using rules or threat signatures configured by administrators or obtained from security firms. For example, administrators may configure lists of websites known to be legitimate or otherwise acceptable (which sometimes have been referred to as "whitelists"), and lists of websites known to be malicious or otherwise unacceptable (which sometimes have been referred to as "blacklists"). This approach is time-consuming and resource intensive. Moreover, rules and signatures are frequently out-of-date, providing inadequate threat protection. There are no known systems that create threat rules and signatures dynamically based on the messages previously received or the contacts added to a messaging system database.
For at least the limitations described above, there is a need for a threat detection and warning system that protects against potential threats or malware in websites, electronic communications, and software applications based, at least in part, on stored data, such as contacts and message archives of a messaging system database.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for mediating access to resources


An integrated modeling environment for creating integration models of computer architecture for executing business processes. The models include components having ports defining standard interfaces. The components can represent business process models for executing business processes. Connection information is stored in a repository so that binding of communication protocols can occur during deployment after creation of the model and can be looked up during runtime.

The present invention relates generally to a graphical object oriented business process modeling environment and more specifically to such an environment in which interacting components representing business processes can be created, manipulated, tested, deployed, and executed in a flexible manner.
It is well known to automate various business systems, such as Customer Relations Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), accounting, inventory control, order processing and the like. Historically, such systems were each handled by dedicated software packages that did not integrate well with each other. Early software programs for automating business systems were designed to run independently, with no interaction between various systems. Such programs were custom built for a specific need being addressed and often utilized proprietary protocols. Dedicated "point to point" connections were developed to permit each such system to communicate with another such system. For example, an inventory control system may exchange data with an accounting system through a customized software interface. However, as the number of systems increases, the quantity and complexity of point to point connections also increase. Further, point to point connections are rather inflexible and do not facilitate reconfigurations of systems to accommodate changing business models.
The concept of "Enterprise Application Integration" (EAI) refers to the sharing of data throughout applications and data sources in an organization. As enterprises grow and require increased flexibility of data sharing throughout various systems, EAI is used to streamline processes and keep all the elements of the enterprise interconnected. EAI can include database linking, application linking, and data warehousing.
Various systems for accomplishing EAI are well known. For example, Service Oriented Architectures (SOA), in which a common set of services are exposed by different layers, are known. Also, Event Oriented Architectures (EOA) in which a publish/subscribe messaging system is used to change the states of activities based on events, is known. Further, standard connectivity protocols and message formats such as Remote Method Invocation (RMI) and eXtensible Markup Language (XML) have been established to facilitate EAI.
The concept of "value chains," i.e., a series of business activities that create value, has become a useful paradigm for analyzing and improving the efficiency of businesses. Such activities include business processes, such as order entry, shipping, invoicing, CRM, and the like. Value chains are dependent on the internal business processes of a company, the business processes of trading partners, such as suppliers, and the relationship between the company and trading partners. It has become popular to experiment with and change value chains to optimize efficiency and profitability. Such change requires reconfiguration of business processes and the integration therebetween. EAI has facilitated such reconfiguration of business systems.
It is also known to provide an object oriented environment for modeling and configuring the above-described integration of various applications in a graphical manner to further facilitate configuration and reconfiguration of business systems. For example, the BusinessWare™ modeling environment sold by Vitria™ Technology, Inc. permits modeling of the integration of applications in a graphical manner by using "business process models," a technique becoming known as "business process management" (BPM).
Of course, a business process must communicate with other business processes to enable end to end integration. Therefore, creation of a business process requires knowledge of the identity of the business process(es) to which it will be connected and what messages can be received from and sent to these processes. In other words, the application designer must be concerned with business processes and the communication therebetween at the same level of abstraction.
Of course, it is known to control various business applications, and to create, deploy, and debug business process models. However, due to the complexities of communication between applications, and components, all of these phases are accomplished at different levels of abstraction by separate software tools. For example Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tools, such as Rational Rose™ and ARIS™, provide analysis and documentation of business processes and the integration thereof. However, the flow charts and other diagrams created by CASE tools are not intended to be directly executed. Separate tools must be used to create executable models and deploy such models. Accordingly, it is difficult to develop, deploy, and debug business process management systems because of a lack of unified tools.

Integrated business process modeling environment and models created thereby


An apparatus for treatment of acute and chronic renal disease by continuous passive plasma ultrafiltration includes a plasmapheresis element comprising a catheter and a plasmapheresis filter element secured to the end of the catheter for being implanted in a patient's vena cava or jugular vein, a tube secured to the catheter for receiving and directing blood plasma, a one-way valve for preventing fluid flow from the tube to the catheter, and a container for receiving and collecting the blood plasma. The treatment of the patient is performed by implanting the catheter and plasmapheresis filter element in a patient's vena cava, passing of blood plasma containing the toxins to be removed from the patient's blood supply through the filter element and along the catheter, and collecting and discarding the collected blood plasma.

Hemodialysis is well-known and often the prescribed therapy modality for kidney failure, as opposed to kidney transplantation, but has the disadvantage of requiring removing blood from the patient's vasculature, treating the blood ex-vivo by dialysis and/or ultrafiltration to remove the toxins and then return the blood to the patient's body. The substantial disadvantages of hemodialysis, both to the patient and the care giver, include frequent vascular access, coagulation in extracorporeal circuits, susceptibility to infections, hemolyses, "peaks and valleys syndrome", heavy high tech apparatus, patient immobility and extensive required medical supervision and care, as well as the extremely high costs. Although recent advances in acute hemodialysis using renal replacement therapy techniques in which continuous ex-vivo ultrafiltration is emphasized show improvements, the removal of whole blood still has grave disadvantages.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,950,224, 5,152,743 and 5,151,082 there are disclosed methods and apparatus for carrying out in vivo plasmapheresis for separating plasma from other blood components within the body and blood vessels of the patient. The apparatus uses pumping means to motivate the flow of fluid from within the in vitro system, whereby blood plasma is pumped from the patient to a treatment means, such as a dialyzer apparatus in which toxic metabolic waste in the plasma is removed. After the dialysate is treated for removal of the waste products and toxins, the regenerated dialysate, i.e., the treated plasma, is returned and reintroduced to the patient's blood stream. Such methods are referred to as plasma dialysis. The methods and apparatus described in the aforesaid patents are incorporated herein by reference.
As advantageous as plasma dialysis methods are, the treatment and apparatus used are unavailable and/or impractical for patients in third world countries or in less privileged environments which do not have extensive medical support infrastructure for purchasing, using, maintaining or managing such systems and methods of use.

Apparatus and method for the treatment of acute and chronic renal disease by continuous passive plasma ultrafiltration


An electrosurgical pencil with integrated tweezers includes-an elongated housing having an open distal end and an actuator operatively associated therewith. First and second jaw members extend distally through the open distal end of the elongated housing and are transitionable between a closed position and an open position upon actuation of an actuator. One or both of the jaw members is configured to treat tissue with monopolar energy and both jaw members are configured to treat tissue with bipolar energy. One or more switches is operably coupled to a controller disposed in the housing and configured to activate the first and second jaw members to treat tissue with monopolar and bipolar energy.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to electrosurgical instruments and, more particularly, to an electrosurgical pencil configured for both monopolar and bipolar use.
2. Background of Related Art
Electrosurgical instruments have become widely used by surgeons in recent years. By and large, most electrosurgical instruments are hand-held instruments, e.g., an electrosurgical pencil or electrosurgical forceps, which transfer radio-frequency (RF) electrical energy to a tissue site. The electrosurgical energy is returned to the electrosurgical source via a return electrode pad positioned under a patient (i.e., a monopolar system configuration) or a smaller return electrode positionable in bodily contact with or immediately adjacent to the surgical site (i.e., a bipolar system configuration). The waveforms produced by the RF source yield a predetermined electrosurgical effect known generally as electrosurgical cutting and fulguration.
In particular, electrosurgical fulguration includes the application of electric spark to biological tissue, for example, human flesh or the tissue of internal organs, without significant cutting. The spark is produced by bursts of radio-frequency electrical energy generated from an appropriate electrosurgical generator. Coagulation is defined as a process of desiccating tissue wherein the tissue cells are ruptured and dehydrated/dried. Electrosurgical cutting/dissecting, on the other hand, includes applying an electrical spark to tissue in order to produce a cutting, dissecting and/or dividing effect. Blending includes the function of cutting/dissecting combined with the production of a hemostasis effect. Meanwhile, sealing/hemostasis is defined as the process of liquefying the collagen in the tissue so that it forms into a fused mass. Electrosurgical forceps utilize both mechanical clamping action and electrical energy to effect hemostasis by heating the tissue and blood vessels to coagulate, cauterize, seal, cut, desiccate, and/or fulgurate tissue.
The basic purpose of both monopolar and bipolar electrosurgery is to produce heat to achieve the desired tissue/clinical effect. In monopolar electrosurgery, devices use an instrument with a single, active electrode to deliver energy from an electrosurgical generator to tissue, and a patient return electrode (usually a plate positioned on the patient's thigh or back) as the means to complete the electrical circuit between the electrosurgical generator and the patient. In bipolar electrosurgery, the electrosurgical device includes two electrodes that are located in proximity to one another for the application of current between their surfaces. Bipolar electrosurgical current travels from one electrode, through the intervening tissue to the other electrode to complete the electrical circuit.
As used herein the term "electrosurgical pencil" is intended to include instruments which have a handpiece that is attached to an active electrode and which is used to cauterize, coagulate and/or cut tissue. Typically, the electrosurgical pencil may be operated by a handswitch or a foot switch. The active electrode is an electrically conducting element that is usually elongated and may be in the form of a thin flat blade with a pointed or rounded distal end. Alternatively, the active electrode may include an elongated narrow cylindrical needle which is solid or hollow with a flat, rounded, pointed or slanted distal end. Typically electrodes of this sort are known in the art as "blade", "loop" or "snare", "needle" or "ball" electrodes.
As mentioned above, the handpiece of the electrosurgical pencil is connected to a suitable electrosurgical energy source (i.e., generator) which produces the radio-frequency electrical energy necessary for the operation of the electrosurgical pencil. In general, when an operation is performed on a patient with an electrosurgical pencil, electrical energy from the electrosurgical generator is conducted through the active electrode to the tissue at the site of the operation and then through the patient to a return electrode. The return electrode is typically placed at a convenient place on the patient's body and is attached to the generator by a conductive material. Typically, the surgeon activates the controls on the electrosurgical pencil to select the modes/waveforms to achieve a desired surgical effect. Typically, the "modes" relate to the various electrical waveforms, e.g., a cutting waveform has a tendency to cut tissue, a coagulating wave form has a tendency to coagulate tissue and a blend wave form is somewhere between a cut and coagulate wave from.

Monopolar pencil with integrated bipolar/ligasure tweezers


A cable tensioning system for removing s lack from a parking brake cable or the like including a parking brake cable operator having an improved resettable lockout arrangement for retaining an adjuster take-up reel in a spring-biased caged condition until the adjuster reel is connected to a first brake cable component. The first brake cable component is in turn connected to a second cable component which is in turn connected to the vehicle wheel parking brakes. The cable tensioning system provides enhanced efficiency during automotive assembly as well as when making repairs.

Systems for automatically removing slack from a parking brake cable by means of a ratchet and pawl mechanism are well known in the patented art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,942--Boyer et al and U.S. Pat. No. 5,4676,666--Soucie disclose such mechanisms.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,867--Wortmann et al discloses a ratchet and pawl mechanism for automatically removing parking brake cable slack in which the cable take-up reel can be locked into a spring-biased caged condition by various lockout means disclosed therein. Once the parking brake cable is attached to the parking brake control and to the wheel brake assembly, the Wortmann et al lockout devise is released during the first application of the parking brake control by movement of the operating lever from its parking brake released position toward its parking brake applied position. It is necessary in this disclosure to wind the cable take-up reel against the force of the adjuster spring in order to set the lockout device in the locking position. Such winding can be difficult, especially after the parking brake control has been installed in the vehicle in which it is to be operated.
Systems for automatically removing slack from a parking brake cable by means of a spring clutch mechanism are also well known in the patented art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,242--Hass et al and U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,786--Pare et al disclose such structures.

Parking brake operating system having a take-up reel lockout and release mechanism, and method of assembling same


A process for fabricating a circuit board includes: providing a substrate including a first electrically conductive core having a first insulating coating on a first side and a second insulating coating on a second side, forming an opening in the first and second insulating coatings and the first electrically conductive core, exposing an edge of the conductive core within the opening, and electrodepositing a third insulating material on the exposed edge of the first electrically conductive core. A circuit board fabricated using the process is also provided.

In microelectronic circuit packages, circuits and units are prepared in packaging levels of increasing scale. Generally, the smallest scale packaging levels are typically semiconductor chips housing multiple microcircuits and/or other components. Such chips are usually made from ceramics, silicon, and the like. Intermediate package levels (i.e., "chip carriers") comprising multi-layer substrates may have attached thereto a plurality of small-scale chips housing many microelectronic circuits. Likewise, these intermediate package levels themselves can be attached to larger scale circuit cards, motherboards, and the like. The intermediate package levels serve several purposes in the overall circuit assembly including structural support, transitional integration of the smaller scale microcircuits and circuits to larger scale boards, and the dissipation of heat from the circuit assembly. Substrates used in conventional intermediate package levels have included a variety of materials, for example, ceramic, fiberglass reinforced polyepoxides, and polyimides.
Electrical components, for example, resistors, transistors, and capacitors, are commonly mounted on circuit panel structures such as printed circuit boards. Circuit panels ordinarily include a generally flat sheet of dielectric material with electrical conductors disposed on a major, flat surface of the sheet, or on both major surfaces. The conductors are commonly formed from metallic materials such as copper and serve to interconnect the electrical components mounted to the board. Where the conductors are disposed on both major surfaces of the panel, the panel may have via conductors extending through holes (or "through vias") in the dielectric layer so as to interconnect the conductors on opposite surfaces. Multi-layer circuit panel assemblies have been made heretofore which incorporate multiple stacked circuit panels with additional layers of dielectric materials separating the conductors on mutually facing surfaces of adjacent panels in the stack. These multilayer assemblies ordinarily incorporate interconnections extending between the conductors on the various circuit panels in the stack as necessary to provide the required electrical interconnections.
Generally multi-layer panels are made by providing individual, dual sided circuit panels including appropriate conductors. The panels are then laminated one a top the other with one or more layers of uncured or partially cured dielectric material, commonly referred to as "prepregs" disposed between each pair of adjacent panels. Such a stack ordinarily is cured under heat and pressure to form a unitary mass. After curing, holes typically are drilled through the stack at locations where electrical connections between different boards are desired. The resulting holes or "through vias" are then coated or filled with electrically conductive materials usually by plating the interiors of the holes to form a plated through via.
There has been an increasing need for circuit panel structures, which provide high density, complex interconnections.


A computer system (10) and method are presented for performing ECC corrections on data contained in a mass data storage device (20). The computer system (10) has a host computer (12) having a CPU (14) and an associated mass data storage device (20). At least some ECC hardware is associated with the mass data storage device (25). A device driver (18) is associated with the host computer (12), which includes software instructions for execution by the CPU (14) for performing at least some ECC functions or instructions on data read from the mass data storage device (20).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to improvements in electrical computers and digital processing systems of the type having associated mass data storage peripheral memory devices, and more particularly to improvements in error correction coding methods and systems for recording and accessing data in mass data storage peripheral memory devices.
2. Relevant Background
Widely popular computer systems typically employ one or more mass data storage devices, such as hard disk drives, CD-ROM drives, DVD drives, or the like. It should be understood that although references herein for convenience may be made to hard disk drives, a preferred environment in which the invention may be practiced, it is not intended to limit the invention thereto.
Hard disk drives commonly used today have a spinning magnetic medium on which data are written in concentric data tracks, in a well-known manner. Usually the systems in which such hard disk drives are employed use error correction coding (ECC) techniques for maintaining the integrity of the data that is recorded onto and read from the drives. The most commonly used ECC techniques add redundant bits to a block of data to enable the original data to be recovered from a contaminated block. The redundant bits are usually recorded as the data is originally recorded onto the disk drive media. Examples of error codes that may be employed include a widely known parity code, or an error value code that may be derived from a logical exclusive-or of the data bits of the block that is being recorded.
In typical mass data storage device systems, when user data is to be originally stored to the mass data storage device media, the host computer sends the user data to the mass data storage device. The control electronics and firmware of the device processes the user data on the mass data storage device and writes it to the recording media of the device. As the data is written, typically a hardware circuit is used to generate a correction code that is stored with each sector of data. The correction code is then available for subsequent use by the hardware correction circuit.
When the user data is subsequently read from the media of the mass data storage device, the control electronics and firmware of the mass data storage device processes the user data. Usually, both error detection and correction are accomplished as a part of this function. This is usually done by a specific hardware circuit, which is used to check each sector of data that is read from the mass data storage device.
Although some portion of the correction done on typical mass storage devices may also be performed by firmware on the mass data storage device, it will be appreciated that the circuit hardware may be fairly extensive and typically the error detection and correcting circuitry itself is relatively complex.
If an error is found, then another hardware circuit may be used to correct the data, using the correction code that was stored with the user data when it was written, directly in the disk drive memory. The corrected data is then transferred from the disk drive to the host for use. Using this type of ECC technique, therefore, all error correction procedures are handled within the hard disk drive, and the host computer never actually "knows" whether any error correction has occurred. Thus, the host computer only receives good data from the mass data storage device.
In addition, the hardware that is associated with a particular hard disk drive is committed to the particular ECC technique that has been adopted with the particular hard disk drive. Although a large number of the ECC algorithms exist, once a particular ECC algorithm has been associated with the disk drive the algorithm cannot be changed without great difficulty.
What is needed therefore is a method and apparatus for performing ECC processes on data that is written to and read from the data medium of a mass data storage device, that does not require significant hardware to be associated with the mass data storage device, and which is sufficiently flexible to enable different error correction techniques to be easily selected and employed.

ECC in computer system with associated mass storage device, and method for operating same


A new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant characterized by a profusion of off-white blooms. The unusually strong, fragrant exhibition form blooms are held on long stems on a strong plant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant which has been given the international variety recognition designation "Britide", and is to be marketed in this country under the synonym "Tidewater".
2. Plants Related to the Invention
The plant of this invention was originated as a result of a planned breeding program which had as a seed parent "Jennifer" U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,857) also of the miniature rose class. While the pollen parent of "Britide" is not known with certitude it was one of a number of selected miniature varieties from which pollen had been taken for crossing with "Jennifer", in the hope of attaining a new plant having some of the better traits of the seed parent and any one of the pollen parent plants involved in the program. Seeds resulting from such crosses were massed, and caused to germinate. Plants resulting were allowed to develop and the progeny were observed in hope of attaining at least one valuable addition to roses of this market class by expressing desired traits which had not been previously seen. The plant of this disclosure is a selection from the progeny of the stated cross(es), and has been asexually reproduced by the taking and rooting of cuttings derived from the plant stems, as performed at Lawndale, N.C. Clones developed in this manner through succeeding propagation are identical to the parent plant in all distinguishing characteristics and establish that "Britide" is stable.


An apparatus comprises a first and a second input connection for a first (D1) and a second (D2) data stream, and a first and a second polarization former, one for each of said data streams. The apparatus further comprises a first and a second antenna of respective first and second polarizations, and one amplifier each. The apparatus further comprises a first and a second combiner, so that the outputs from the polarization formers may be combined as input to each of the first and second antennas.

In known radio base stations for cellular telephony networks, there is a number of so called radio chains, each radio chain comprising a power amplifier, which may itself be comprised of a number of amplifiers which are connected so as to have a common input port and a common output port. Each radio chain will typically also comprise one or more antenna elements, which may be a part of a larger antenna with more antenna elements, such as an electrically steerable array antenna.
In future radio base stations, it would be an advantage if the stations could support both so called BF-transmission (beam forming), where typically one data stream is transmitted to each user, as well as so called MIMO-transmissions (Multiple Input, Multiple Output), where a plurality of data streams are transmitted to each user.
The antenna requirements for BF-transmissions are quite different from those of MIMO-transmissions, so a conventional way of designing a radio base station which would be capable of both would be to have separate antennas for each case, as well as separate radio chains for each antenna or a switching device between the power amplifier resource and the antennas.
Since MIMO and BF would typically not be used simultaneously, this design would lead to a radio base station with poor usage of power amplification resources, as well as a radio base station with quite voluminous equipment, neither of which is desirable.

Antenna device for a radio base station in a cellular telephony system


A method and apparatus for playing a strategy board game that consists of a game board and a predetermined number of movable game pieces. The playing surface comprises a plurality of regions. Each region is defined laterally by the entire width of the playing surface and longitudinally by one of the adjacent regions and the end of the playing surface. One of the regions is a West region that has a first color and includes a first zone and a second zone. The first zone includes a pair of rows, each row includes a plurality of squares. The plurality of squares is defined by perpendicularly disposed longitudinal and transversal grid lines which extend in longitudinal East-West and transversal North-South directions. Each square has a foreground and a background. The foreground is within the grid lines of the square and has one of a third color and a fourth color. The background at least partially surrounds the grid lines of the square. The background color is determined by the color of the region which the square lies within. The background color is one of a first color and a second color. Each of the rows includes a plurality of squares that has a fourth color foreground and one wall disposed over the adjoining background of four squares within the same zone extending longitudinally two squares in length and disposed transversely one square away from another wall in an adjacent zone.

This invention relates generally to a game method and apparatus, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a game method and apparatus having a game board with a plurality of regions, zones, squares having foreground and background colors and having game pieces that change value at different locations.
An example of a game board using game pieces with various ranks that attack opponent game pieces with the outcome that the lower ranking game piece is captured and put out of play is disclosed in the game called Strategy, .COPYRGT. 1986 by Milton Bradley Co. under Berne & Universal Copyright Conventions. U.S. Pat. No. 695,583. Each army consists of 1 Marshal rank 1, 1 General rank 2, 2 Colonels rank 3, 3 Majors rank 4, 4 Captains rank 5, 4 Lieutenants rank 6, 4 Sergeants rank 7, 5 Miners rank 8, 8 Scouts rank 9, and 1 Spy rank S that are moveable pieces and 6 bombs and 1 flag that are unmoveable pieces. The lower rank number indicates a higher game piece rank. The object of game is to be the first to capture the enemy flag.
Another example is disclosed in Smith U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,201. The game board apparatus consists of a game board having a playing surface and a predetermined number of movable game pieces. Boundary markings coincident with selected grid lines are used for dividing the playing surface into a plurality of subset areas of the playing surface. One of the subset areas is a perimeter subset area, a second subset area is an intermediate subset area and a third subset area is a center subset area. A movement value to each of the subset areas is assigned such that each subset area has a different movement value. Movable game pieces are initially positioned on designated starter squares located in the perimeter subset area. A player may move selected game pieces a selected distances along the game board in one of the first direction, the second direction and a diagonal direction, the selected distance traveled being determined by the value of the subset area in which the game piece is located prior to being moved in order to attain one of a first winning goal and a second winning goal. The first winning goal is the capture of a majority of an opponent's game pieces by moving a game piece by coterminous moves to land on a square occupied by an opponent's game piece which results in capture of the opponent's game piece. The second winning goal is to be the first to position game pieces in one of an aligned first direction row, an aligned second direction row and an aligned diagonal row in the third subset area by coterminous moves of one's game pieces.
Although, in general, these games have been satisfactory, those type of games have not been found to be entirely suitable in game applications where a major requirement is for a game piece having multiple values, that changes value as the game piece changes location on the board, and a game piece that is to the same degree more powerful in one zone as it is less powerful in another zone. The desired benefit is to make all of a player's pieces useful and actively played in contrast to games similar to Strategy, in which the lower rankling pieces with no special ability having a rank of 5, 6, & 7 and comprising 16 of the 40 pieces are of not, much use unless the higher rankling pieces are lost.
Nor have those type of games been found to be entirely suitable in game applications where a major requirement is for a game piece having a face designed for a player to easily decode a piece's multiple values and to evaluate it by making a direct visual assessment of the piece instead of making an intermediate numerical calculation.
A new and improved game board layout is desired that creates interesting scenarios by spreading out the play of the game both laterally and longitudinally in contrast to other games in which the action often consists of the two sides grinding away at each other along the middle axis of the board.

Strategy board game method and apparatus


A network apparatus includes a plurality of transceivers (110) each of which has a frequency variable characteristic and communicates on an allocated channel, a channel allocation unit (154) which allocates channels of standby transceivers that are not connected to a network and are set to a standby state, among the plurality of transceivers (110) so that the channels are different from each other, a tuning unit (158) which tunes the standby transceivers to the frequencies of the allocated channels by changing respective parameters, and a selection unit (156) which preferentially selects and uses a transceiver having a short channel setting time among the standby transceivers, when a path is newly set in the network.

In optical communication networks, multi-channel support using a Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology which enables high-capacity connections of Point-to-Point (P2P) and an Optical Cross Connect (OXC) using a frequency selection switch (Wavelength Select Switch (WSS)) having a multi (three or more) direction or degree switching function have been introduced, for the speeding-up of a network which will be accompanied by increase in communication amount and diversification of services in the future. The introduction of the OXC enables networks to be optimally reconstructed according to use states of the networks.
Further, as described in Non-Patent Document 1, a transceiver aggregator, in which a plurality of optical transceivers, a WSS, and the like are installed, is installed between an optical communication network and a client device, so the sharing of optical transceivers is in progress. Thus, the number of the installed optical transceivers can be reduced and Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) can be decreased. A method of sharing the optical transceivers has a variety of forms including a method in which each fiber direction or degree shares the optical transceivers and a method in which a plurality of fiber directions or degrees in bulk share the optical transceivers.
In addition, network update automation is in progress by the optical transceivers and the WSS within the network apparatus being controlled by a computer. An example of a network management system is disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-161501). The network management system of Patent Document 1 dynamically changes the configuration of a network depending on the use state in order to reduce power consumption of the entire network.
Prior to the automation, workers are required to go to each node station and to change network apparatuses at the time of update. However, due to the automation of the network update, the workers are not required to change the apparatuses, and Operating Expense (OPEX) also can be decreased. In addition, as described in Patent Document 1, the network can be dynamically optimized depending on the use state of the network.
Due to development of the network technology, it is expected that a plurality of unused optical transceivers are installed in each network apparatus and are dynamically set to an in-use state or a not in-use state depending on the use state of the network.
The unused optical transceivers are on standby in a state where the optical output is zero so that the light does not leak to the normal network. At this time, backup optical transceivers are on standby in a state where the backup optical transceivers are shared among the fiber directions or degrees of one or more and are activated to be connected to a network, when a new optical path is connected or a failure is recovered. It is desirable that the optical path setting time may be serviced instantly. Particularly, rapid optical path setting is required for restoration (network switching) at the time of failure recovery to minimize the impact of failures.
Optical transmission and reception devices are present as analog devices in the optical transceivers. With the introduction of DWDM technology in recent years, devices such as frequency tunable lasers and frequency tunable filters capable of controlling frequencies are used as the optical transmission and reception devices.
Although various types of frequency tunable lasers and filters exist, tuning parameters such as a refractive index, an electric voltage, an electric current or a temperature of a medium such as a semiconductor, a dielectric, a liquid crystal, or the like, are controlled in an analog manner at high precision for setting the frequency of these devices. Since these frequency control delay mechanisms have no significant difference therebetween, they will be described using a frequency tunable laser described in Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent No. 4596181).
Patent Document 2 is a patent relating to a frequency tunable laser of an external resonator type. The frequency tunable laser described in Patent Document 2 has a configuration in which an external resonator is disposed between a semiconductor optical amplifier and an external mirror and at least a frequency selection filter and a frequency tunable filter are disposed in the inside thereof. The frequency selection filter is a periodic transparent filter with a transparent peak only in channels defined for use in communication applications, and a solid etalon filter is generally used therefor.
As illustrated in FIG. 2 of Non-Patent Document 2, one frequency is selected by a frequency tunable filter from a plurality of peak frequencies of the frequency selection filter, and laser is oscillated in any frequency. In other words, the number of frequency tuning parameters of the frequency tunable laser described in Patent Document 2 is one and the peak frequency of the frequency tunable filter is tuned, thereby allowing the frequency variable characteristic to be achieved. The frequency tunable filter described in Patent Document 2 uses a liquid crystal-based frequency tunable mirror, and the frequency tuning parameter is an alternating voltage value to be applied to the liquid crystal. The refractive index of the liquid crystal is changed by changing the alternating voltage value so as to control the frequency, and thus the greater the voltage changes, the greater the frequency changes.
Channel setting in the frequency tunable laser described in Patent Document 2 is as follows. The alternating voltage value of the frequency tunable filter is first changed, and a coarse adjustment is performed on the peak frequency. Moreover, a fine adjustment combined with the stable operation of the laser beam is performed in the frequency tunable laser. This fine adjustment includes a constant light output control by a dither control, a frequency control for matching an oscillation frequency to an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) channel with high precision, and a phase control for operating a laser light at low noise.
In addition, as described in Non-Patent Document 5, various types such as a type which has two frequency tuning parameters exist as frequency tunable filters.
Patent Document 3 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-249053) discloses a frequency tunable laser used as a local oscillator for frequency selection.

Network system, network apparatus, and method of controlling network


The purpose of a system for measuring the location and orientation of an ect is to align one object with another by simultaneously measuring the six degrees of freedom of the objects. The system accomplishes the purpose by employing a linear optical detector array sensor on the first object and a pre-selected target pattern on a second object to measure the six degrees of freedom and converting them to six position measurement via a microprocessor which has suitable algorithms residing in it. The six position measurements (azimuth, elevation, range, pitch, yaw and roll) are displayed for viewing by the operator who, then, manipulates the objects until pre-determined desired values of the six position measurements are obtained, indicating a complete alignment between the objects.

There are tasks, such as assembly, which, for their successful completion, require position measurement and alignment of one object relative to another object. An example is the alignment of two space crafts for docking. Current alignment methods consist of various combinations of visual and telescopic sighting approaches and special purpose sensors which measure only some of the six degrees of freedom (DOF) of relative motion. Using these methods, therefore, the operator has to sequence laboriously through several steps with various devices, each of the devices providing only part of the required information. In addition, considerable training and skill is necessary to use these methods because, as vision-based methods, they depend heavily on the operator's human judgment. It is possible to measure all six degrees of freedom (azimuth, elevation, range, pitch, yaw and roll) using a video camera with a special target but the cost of the sensor and the complex electronic processing required to convert the video image into position data is high.

System for measuring the location and orientation of an object

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


Size reduction and high integration of each of the laminated substrates are achieved, while forming an excellent wiring which electrically connects the substrates to each other. A conductive ink, i.e., an ink, containing a conductive material is used, and in a state where a voltage is applied between a print head and a substrate unit, an ink droplet of the conductive ink is discharged from the print head, while relatively shifting the substrate unit and the print head substantially parallel to at least the upper surface of the substrate. Thus, a conductive layer which electrically connects electrodes to each other between the substrates is formed.

Over recent years, to respond to the needs of the realization of miniaturization and high integration of electronic parts, the development of a method for mounting semiconductor chips three-dimensionally is advancing. As such a method, a method via wire bonding is known in which for example, a plurality of semiconductor chip electrodes laminated are electrically connected together using wires.
However, in this method, the length limitation of wires themselves limits the shape of semiconductor chips and the position of electrodes. Further, it is necessary to ensure a space mainly in the height direction as an area for wiring.
Therefore, instead of wire bonding, some methods for forming a conductive layer in a wiring manner have been proposed in which conductive ink droplets are ejected from an ink-jet head between electrodes to connect the electrodes (for example, refer to Patent Documents 1-3). Any of these methods makes it possible to eliminate the above shape limitation using wires.


The present application discloses methods, devices, and systems for information processing based on distributed buses. A server may receive processing request packets from one or more client terminals and enter the processing request packets into a single input information queue. After determining a number of idle information processing threads, the server may use the idle information processing threads to process the selected processing request packets to obtain response data packets. Each information processing thread is configured to use a respective output information queue to store response data packets generated by the information processing thread. The server may then transmit the response data packets within a respective output information queue to a corresponding client terminal. The current method, as well as the devices and systems associated with the method, may be used to facilitate information processing, improve efficiency, and prevent excessive burden and data loss.

With the process of network technologies, more and more network applications have been developed. In the network applications, the client terminals usually send service requests to a remote server through a Remote Procedure Call Protocol (RPC).
The RPC is a protocol for requesting a remote computer program for a service through a network. The process of requesting service through the RPC by a client terminal generally includes the following steps: after the client terminal establishes a connection with the server, the client terminal calls an RPC interface function to send processing request information carrying process parameters to the server; the client terminal waits for an response message; the server, after receiving the processing request information through a corresponding server interface function, obtains the process parameters from the processing request information; the server then calls a process to execute an operation and returns the operation result as an response message to the client terminal, thereby finishing the communication.
During the implementation of the present application, the inventors find that the existing technology at least has the following problems:
The server usually starts to process the request information immediately upon receiving the request. When an enormous number of users are accessing the server, the data that require processing become excessive compared to the limited capability of the server. Such an approach increases the burden on the server, reduces the work capability of the system, and at the mean time causes possible loss of request information.
Accordingly, it is necessary and desirable to provide a new technology, so as to resolve the technical problem and improve the above-mentioned approach.

Method, device, and system for information processing based on distributed buses

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


To facilitate a change in network authentication key (Ki) for use by a smart card (SIM) during authentication on a cellular telecommunications network, there is provided a smart card management scheme that combines key derivation with over the air (OTA) provisioning. This scheme ensures both that the Ki is never transmitted OTA and that the Ki is stored in two locations only: on the SIM and at an authentication center (AuC).

SIM cards (also referred to as Universal Integrated Circuit Cards, UICCs) are a ubiquitous form of smart card. Wireless telecommunications network standards mandate that authentication of networked devices is facilitated though SIM cards (in fact the term SIM card is often used collectively to encompass true SIM cards and USIM cards). These cards securely store essential components of the network authentication procedure: secret keys (including the network authentication key (Ki)), "over the air" (OTA) transport keys and parameters for one or more operator encryption algorithms.
Each SIM card is specific to the customer and, in addition to authentication information, carries information particular to that customer such as the customer's International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI).
SIM cards are used to provide the relevant identification (e.g. IMSI) and authentication information for each terminal. In certain applications, for instance telematics applications, the SIM may not be provided on a card per se but on an integrated circuit implanted or integrated into the device. This may, for example, take the form of a VQFN8 package for standardised installation.
Existing SIM cards are typically personalized for a single MNO: in other words, they store secret keys that are only valid on the network of one MNO. Each SIM will thus be specific to a particular network (the "home" network) —that is, it will have been issued under the control of the operator of that network and will be for use within that network.
Changing MNO requires the physical exchange of removable SIM cards. This exchange of card is impracticable some cases—the terminals where SIMs need to be swapped may be widely distributed or embedded (and consequently unswappable).
It is an essential security requirement of cellular telecommunications systems that the network authentication key (Ki) of the SIM is only ever stored at two points of the network, i.e. on the SIM and at the authentication centre (AuC). Additionally, the Ki is never transmitted in any sense, whatsoever. In fact, the removal or transmission of the Ki from the SIM at any point after manufacture is illegal in some territories.
In a conventional telecommunications system, the Ki is paired with the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) of the SIM at the point of manufacture. Only the IMSI and hence its intrinsically coupled Ki, dictates which network a device can connect to natively. It is not presently feasible for a SIM to connect natively to, or inherit the footprint of, a variety of networks because the Ki, as mentioned above, is not transmittable, transferable or programmable.
The conventional SIM and network arrangement is less than satisfactory. If a terminal with its associated SIM card is in use within a product and functioning within a particular operating company's network, problems will arise if the terminal's owner wishes to avail himself of the services of a rival network operator (perhaps because the terminals is to be moved permanently into a geographical region not covered by the original network with which it is registered).
Switching the SIM has associated logistical difficulties, and, additionally, could have the result that useful information placed on the previous SIM card would be lost. Moreover, in certain applications, where the SIM is not stored in the form of a removable smart card but on an integrated circuit implanted into a device, a SIM replacement would not be possible.
Previous attempts to design a SIM capable of registering and re-registering on multiple networks have been based on the principle of producing multiple instances of a single SIM within one 'super SIM' which is then able to pick an IMSI-Ki pair to be used in each situation, i.e. when registering and re-registering on multiple networks. An example of this is described in International Patent publication WO 03/013174 where such a smart card is described. As a general solution to the problem of switching operator without switching the SIM card itself, this has a number of inherent disadvantages.
Firstly, as the SIM is effectively multiple SIMs placed within the same physical SIM card/UICC, there is an inherent ambiguity as to who would be the owner of the 'super SIM'. Each IMSI-Ki pair would be considered the property of a network in each territory or the organisation responsible for the issuance of each IMSI-Ki pair.
Secondly, using this mechanism entails a change in operator logistics so that an operator only learns its "Ki" after the assignment to that operator is complete, rather than being able to pre-order (Ki, IMSI, ICCID)s and pre-load to a home location register, HLR. Alternatively, it might be possible for each MNO to receive, in advance, one of the pre-loaded (IMSI, Ki, ICCID) values, but then there must be just as many Kis on each "super SIM" as there are MNOs in the entire system (hundreds globally), and the vast majority of these keys will never be used. Still, MNOs would incur costs for keeping all the unused keys in their HLRs.
An alternative solution is presented in US20080276090: here a global, intermediate key Kint is used with a key derivation algorithm on the card. A pseudo-random generator in a personalisation module generates a respective random number RND for each final identity number IMSI sent. Then, the personalisation module determines a final authentication key Ki, not yet assigned to any card, for each IMSI number sent. The authentication key Ki is determined by an algorithm AD, which has been loaded in the card, according to the generated intermediate authentication key Kint and the generated random number RND associated with the IMSI number. Thereafter the card uses the final authentication key Ki. In ensuring that the same Ki is derived on each possible card, the same Kint value needs to be loaded to multiple cards,
Alternative mechanisms to send a "Ki" Over-The-Air involve a risk of the Ki being discovered in transit; they also incur a risk where a Ki is sent to a writable file on the card, which can then allow further writes (including partial overwrites). Such writes, especially partial overwrites, could compromise the secrecy of the Ki and/or associated parameters. A further danger is "lock in" whereby an MNO is forced to use the original vendor of the card (or a party chosen by that vendor) to send its Ki Over-The-Air. Alternatively, an MNO may be forced to use a keyset or algorithm that it does not design and does not entirely trust.


A semiconductor device provided with an ESD circuit including an active region defined on a semiconductor substrate, the active region having a plurality of uniformly spaced protrusions extending from upper and lower ends thereof, a plurality of contact regions defined on the semiconductor substrate within each protrusion of the active region, and a plurality of uniformly spaced gates formed on the semiconductor substrate in portions of the active region except for the protrusions while extending in the same directions, respectively, each gate being arranged between adjacent protrusions while being spaced from the protrusions. It is possible to obtain a maximum space between the contact regions and associated gates overlapping the active region by forming protrusions extending from the upper and lower ends of the active region and forming the contact regions on the protrusions. Accordingly, the area of the active region is greatly reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device provided with an ESD circuit, and more particularly to a semiconductor device provided with an ESD circuit which is structured to achieve a high integration of the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Semiconductor devices may be exposed to high voltage for various reasons. Where a semiconductor device, in particular, a MOS device, is exposed to high voltage, a gate break phenomenon or a junction spiking phenomenon may occur, thereby resulting in a complete break of the device. Although the device itself may only be slightly damaged due to the exposure to high voltage, its reliability is greatly reduced.
In order to avoid such a problem, a high voltage electrostatic discharge (ESD) circuit has recently been proposed.
The ESD circuit should have a space of 5 .mu.m or more between the gate of its data input/output pull-up/down transistor and its contact arranged adjacent to the gate.
Such an ESD circuit will now be described in conjunction with FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 illustrates the layout of a conventional ESD circuit fabricated on a semiconductor substrate.
As shown in FIG. 1, the ESD circuit includes an active region 1 defined on a semiconductor substrate (not shown). Although not shown, data input/output pull-up/down transistors are formed on a portion of the semiconductor substrate corresponding to the active region 1. A plurality of uniformly spaced contact regions 2 are also defined on the semiconductor substrate within the active region 1. The contact regions 2 are arranged in spaced lines.
Gates 3 of the transistors are also formed on portions of the semiconductor substrate between adjacent lines of the contact regions 2 within the active region 1. That is, the gates 3 are arranged in an alternating manner with respect to the contact regions 2.
As mentioned above, the space between adjacent gate 3 and contact region 2 should be 5 .parallel.m or more. Due to such a space, the elements 2 and 3 occupy a large portion of the semiconductor substrate. In other words, the conventional ESD circuit has a large area where its layout is designed in such a manner that the space of the gate and contact overlapping the active region is 5 .mu.m or more. As a result, problem arises because the chip size increases.

Semiconductor device provided with an ESD protection circuit

Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.


A plug connector may comprise an expanding ring, a plug contact element, a first connector housing stop, and a locking ring. The plug contact element may comprise a coil spring with a first end and a second end, where the second end of the coil spring may be coupled to the expanding ring. The first connector housing stop may be configured to absorb a pressure in a first rotational direction and block the first end of the coil spring from rotating in the first rotation direction. The locking ring may be configured to absorb a pressure in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. The locking ring may be configured to block the expanding ring when the plug connector is in an open state and unblock the expanding ring when the plug connector is in a closed state.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,440,333 describes a coil spring that blocks itself in an open state so it is expanded. When strands are pushed into the coil spring and strike against a stop at the end of the coil spring, the blocked state may be lifted and the coil spring may contract. Due to the triangular shape of the wire of which the coil spring is made, the coil spring may dig into the strands and may provide high extraction forces.
But U.S. Pat. No. 3,440,333 has a variety of drawbacks. The strands placed into the coil spring may not be stable enough to reliably trigger the closing mechanism and may potentially fan out under the pressure. The triangular cross-section of the wire of which the coil spring is made may result in convolution impressions on the strands. The surface of the strands may therefore be damaged, which may result in an increased tendency toward corrosion. Moreover, the coil spring may slide away in the housing and not be opened any longer once it has been closed.


A wind-powered, fluid cushioned platform adapted to float on a body of liquid. The platform includes a deck having upper and lower surfaces and a lower peripheral member extending around the outer perimeter of the deck. A pump having a pump outlet is supported by the deck. A fill pipe has a first end connected to the pump outlet and a second end in communication with the lower surface of the deck. The pump is adapted to pump a fluid through the fill pipe to a blow tank formed beneath the deck between the surface of the liquid and the deck within the area circumscribed by the lower peripheral member. A plurality of vanes and/or sails are preferably coupled to the deck to catch the wind and use the power of the wind to rotate the floating platform. In one embodiment, apparatus is provided for the purpose of generating electricity as the platform rotates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to platforms and more particularly relates to floating, rotatable platforms powered by wind.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 1,046,026 for "Wind Motive Apparatus," issued to Salisbury, discloses a central wheel and a plurality of radially extending arms having a plurality of downwardly extending annular air chambers secured to the arms. The annular air chambers are formed by a pair of plates which extend downwardly into a fluid. The air chambers are received in individual fluid channels containing the fluid. An air pump and pipes are provided to force air under pressure into the annular air chambers. In operation, wind pressure on sails turns the arms which are operatively connected with a shaft. The arms and parts thereon are supported by the annular air chambers which are buoyed up by air pressure trapped between the chamber plates and the fluid.
It is desired to have a rotatable platform that can be rotated with a minimal amount of energy, preferably wind energy. It is also desired to have a wind-powered rotatable platform that floats on a body of liquid. It is desired to have a floating, wind-powered, rotatable platform that is air cushioned.

Wind-powered, air cushioned rotatable platform


The present invention is directed to a deinking agent with which a high-quality pulp sheet having a low Eric number can be obtained.. The deinking agent for wastepaper reclamation comprises (a) an alkylene oxide adduct of an ester prepared from a dimer acid and/or polymer acid obtained from an unsaturated fatty acid having a specific number of carbon atoms, and an alcohol having a specific number of carbon atoms at a specific molar ratio, and (b) a higher fatty acid and/or higher fatty acid soap having a specific number of carbon atoms, provided that the (a)/(b) weight ratio is 95/5 to 60/40.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a deinking agent for use in reclaiming wastepapers such as newspapers, magazines, leaflets and office automation wastepapers. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a deinking agent where deinked pulp having a low Eric number (residual ink fines) can be obtained at a high removal rate of residual ink fines during the flotation step.
2. Background of the Invention
Although newspapers, magazines, office automation wastepapers, etc. have been recycled, effective utilization of wastepapers has recently become increasingly important in connection with global environmental problems such as protection of forest resources and refuse disposal. Utilization of wastepapers has also increasingly been made for deinked pulp, including use of pulp where a medium-duty paper is made from newspapers. Recently, from the standpoint of deinking in keeping with changes in printing techniques, printing methods, printing ink components, etc., wastepapers have been getting into more and more severe circumstances. In view of this, improvements in equipment have been made for the purpose of promoting deinking. Conventional chemicals which have been used in order to separate and remove ink and other impurities from wastepapers include, alkali agents such as sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate, sodium carbonate, and sodium phosphate; bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide, hyposulfites, and hypochlorites; sequestering agents such as EDTA and DTPA; and deinking agents, examples of which include anionic surfactants such as salts of alkylbenzenesulfonic acids, salts of higher alcohol sulfates, salts of .alpha.-olefinsulfonic acids and dialkylsulfosuccinate and nonionic surfactants such as higher alcohols, ethylene oxide adducts of alkylphenols and fatty acids, and alkanolamides, which may be used either alone or in the form of a blend of two or more thereof.
Among conventional deinking agents, however, those capable of providing overall performances for all deinked pulp have not been found out yet. For example, although higher fatty acids have been known as deinking agents having high ink-collecting performance, use of any higher fatty acid alone lets a large amount of unstripped ink and sticky matter remain in deinked pulp. Further, most of higher fatty acids become so solid at ordinary temperature that any solidified fatty acid and its salt such as its Ca salt, in particular, if left in a large amount in deinked pulp, become nuclei in the course of papermaking to give rise to scale contamination on a paper machine. The resulting paper is so slippery it causes problems in windup after treatment with a dryer, and the like. On the other hand, alkylene oxide adducts such as ethylene oxide or propylene oxide adducts have been found out to be so effective in improving the whiteness of deinked pulp that they are widely used as deinking agents even today. Since a difficulty in stripping ink has recently been increased in keeping with improvements in printing techniques, however, further improvements with respect to whiteness and removal of gray areas are desired.
In the foregoing background, various investigations have been made with the aim of obtaining deinked pulp having a higher whiteness and containing little residual ink. For example, JP-A 3-24126 discloses that deinked pulp having high whiteness can be obtained using an alkylene oxide adduct of a dimer acid or trimer acid having 20 to 36 carbon atoms. On the other hand, JP-A 3-152284 discloses that deinked pulp having high whiteness and containing little residual ink can be obtained using an alkylene oxide adduct of a specific dicarboxylic acid having a cyclic structure or a monoester of such a dicarboxylic acid. Further, JP-A 3-193986 discloses that deinked pulp having high whiteness and containing little residual ink can be obtained using an adduct of a partial ester prepared from a dimer acid and/or polymer acid of a higher unsaturated fatty acid having 16 to 20 carbon atoms and an alcohol having 1 to 18 carbon atoms with at most 300 mol of an alkylene oxide.
However, deinked pulp having a sufficiently low Eric number (residual ink fines) cannot easily be obtained even using any one of the deinking agents as disclosed in the above-mentioned publications. Thus, a further improvement in this respect is desired. The Eric number, which indicates the amount of ink fines remaining in deinked pulp, is an index for evaluation of removal of gray areas of deinked pulp. With the same whiteness, deinked pulp having a lower Eric number can be said to be deinked pulp of better quality with less color. Use of any one of deinking agents as disclosed in the above-mentioned publications, though able to improve the whiteness of deinked pulp, cannot lower the Eric number of deinked pulp, whereby the quality of the resulting deinked pulp is not satisfactory.


A sensor detects the presence or the absence of an obstacle by radiating a laser beam to the outside of a casing through a light projecting mirror and by letting the reflected light from an obstacle enter a light receiving element through a light receiving mirror. A light projecting window with a light projecting mirror positioned and a light receiving window with a light receiving mirror are positioned in the casing with a space therebetween to prevent reflected light from directly entering the light projecting window. The mirrors are attached to a rotation shaft of a motor, or rotation shafts of motors, synchronously rotatable provided between both mirrors. The optical axis of light radiated to the outside of the casing is set to face in a higher direction than horizontal to radiate in a cone-shaped form. By comparing a received light signal from a light receiving circuit to an output signal from a circuit for a previously set threshold, which has a correlation between detected distance and light intensity, a light receiving trigger is output. The distance is calculated when a signal is greater than the threshold. The presence or the absence of an obstacle is determined by the detection of reflected light intensity. This laser obstacle detection method and sensor, which can be used on an automated guided vehicle (AGV), will not misdetect rainfall as an obstacle.

The present invention relates to a laser obstacle detection method and sensor, and particularly to a laser obstacle detection method and sensor which can effectively prevent misdetection of an object which is not essentially an obstacle, such as raindrops, snowfall, or the like, as an obstacle, when equipped on a vehicle for detecting an obstacle in a traveling area.
Generally, an electromagnetic induction automated guided vehicle automatically traveling on a specified traveling road along an induction line by detecting an induction signal outputted from an induction line previously laid on the road surface (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4-67641), and an automatic driving system for vehicles driving a guided vehicle based on an amount of relative displacement between a white line laid on a road and the guided vehicle which is detected by a CCD camera (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 4-27331) are known to be used as an automatic driving system of an automated guided vehicle.
Since laying an induction line on the entire traveling reference line is restricted by cost and has many inconveniences, such as trouble of a broken line and so on caused by vehicles and so on traveling on the induction line, a system is proposed which travels and is induced by bodies as detecting signs consisting of magnets which are embedded at specified intervals on the traveling reference line (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 3-177905). A traveling route in which a magnet is embedded with a specified interval provided is formed and a sensor for calculating displacement by detecting magnetism of each magnet is attached on a vehicle body. An azimuth sensor is provided on the vehicle body, and by calculating the deviation from azimuth information previously set between adjacent magnets, the vehicle automatically travels along the route to its goal.
Incidentally, for an automatically traveling automated guided vehicle, when moving along the traveling route prescribed in the above, it is important to take a measure such as an automatic halt and so on when the existence of an obstacle is recognized on a traveling route, and to this end, an obstacle detection sensor is provided. As sensors of this kind, a method for radiating a ultrasonic wave and a method for radiating a millimeter wave are conventionally known, however they have disadvantages of low responsiveness resulting in detecting an obstacle at only one point and being unable to detect human beings, of low sensitivity in rainfall and snowfall, and of catching noise and so on. Therefore, recently there has been a tendency to use an obstacle detection sensor using a laser beam for reasons of having high resolution at a long distance with high directivity and surely detecting human beings. Such a laser sensor radiates a laser beam projected from the light source in a side direction of the vehicle, then detects the reflected light from an obstacle in the range of a traveling route and calculates the distance to determine when to halt the vehicle and so on in accordance with the extent of the distance to the obstacle. The conventional laser obstacle detection sensors are provided with a light sending and receiving window at the casing for projecting a laser beam from the window to the outside through a light projecting mirror, and for detecting the reflected light from the same window through a half mirror. The reflected light is input to a photoelectric element, and the time from the radiation to the reception of the reflected light is calculated to calculate the distance. In order that precipitation such as raindrops are not detected as an obstacle, a method for detecting reflected light intensity is adopted, and generally only a signal with a reflection intensity greater than a specified threshold is detected as an obstacle.
However, in the conventional laser obstacle detection sensor, there is a disadvantage of being unable to surely prevent misdetection of raindrops as a ghost obstacle at rainfall, though a method for detecting an obstacle only when reflected light with intensity more than a specified level is detected especially from a viewpoint that reflected light intensity from raindrops is small. On the window forming the laser beam projecting portion and receiving portion, a light transmittable protective plate such as acrylic resin or the like is attached and there are disadvantages of detecting the vehicle itself equipped with the sensor being detected as an obstacle and of mistakenly recognizing reflected light from contacting water drops which are directly received when raindrops and so on contact this protective plate. Further, in an automated guided vehicle or the like requiring a sensor of this kind, the inclination of a vehicle body caused by partial loading, or the detection of the ground surface as an obstacle due to the vibration during traveling occur, and these things empirically occur especially in rainfalls.

Laser obstacle detection method and sensor

Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.


The inventive cable comprises a plurality of axially-spaced flexible metal conductors which are each disposed within a layer of insulation and a jacket. A solid webbing interconnects the jackets, and, preferably, is integral with the jackets. The webbing has a thickness that is substantially less than the minor dimension of the cable, and the webbing and conductors preferably lie in a common plane. A polarity wing is provided that extends a predetermined distance from the jacket of one of the end conductors, and is preferably integral with the jacket. The polarity wing preferably has a thickness that is substantially less than the minor dimension of the cable. The polarity wing and webbing extend diametrically opposite of the end conductor so that the polarity wing lies in the same plane as the conductors and webbing. The polarity wing provides a key-like effect to ensure that the cable is properly meshed with the connector. In this regard, the polarity of the various conductors are preselected depending upon the system requirements so that the polarity can be readily determined based on the relative locations of the conductors.

Various types of cables adapted to provide electrical energy, i.e. power cables, are heretofore known. Such cables may be flexible, semirigid or rigid. It has also been known to construct flat power cables, which increase flexibility. An advantage in using flexible cables is that such cables are easier to install if they are intended to extend through walls, floors and ceilings.
Other types of cables are used in connection with communicating data in computer systems. This is the type of cable which we are concerned with. In view of the wide range of modern applications of computer systems, it often is necessary to install such cables not only through walls, floor, and ceilings, but also through equipment and machinery. Most modern heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, for example, are computerized and it is necessary to install such cables through plenum areas. The type of cables conventionally used with such systems are round cables, which are difficult to work with because tools are required for making various connections, including an insulation displacement connector (IDC), and because the round cables are difficult to install where there are clearance constraints. Another disadvantage in using round cables is that conductors within the cables must always be color-coded so the identification of each conductor can be determined.
It is an object of this invention to provide a flat cable for use with computer and data control systems.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a cable that is flat and can effect connectorization without the need for tools.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a flat cable where prior removal of the outer most jacket is not required for connectorization.
It is further still an object of this invention to provide such a cable that can be used in plenum areas.


The proposed LC structure is comprised of a flexible insulative layer folded back on itself about a predetermined foldline, said insulative layer having on one surface an electrically conductive layer configured to form first and second alike planar multi-turn spirals which, in a like folded superposition, counter turn against each other (if viewed from the same side) alinged face-to-face, and turn by turn, spaced by said folded flexible insulative layer. At least first and second substantially two-dimensionally shaped conductive layer portions connect to said first and second multi-turn spirals on opposite sides of said foldline, thereby juxtaposing each other and having sandwiched therebetween at least said dielectric layer, and leaving between each other an elongated region in which said conductive layer is predominantly absent, for thus opposing any tendency of said layers to fold along any line other than said predetermined foldline.

The invention concerns an LC structure useful as an RF interrogatable transponder means in electronic security systems for alarming the presence of said LC structure in an RF electromagnetic field within a security zone.
LC structures of the aforementioned type have become known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,219, issued Oct. 21, 1975 ("Planar Circuit Fabrication Process", Inventor LICHTBLAU). Said Patent describes a planar circuit comprising a flexible dielectric sheet having an inductively reacting conductive spiral path bonded to one side thereof. Said spiral path terminates, at either ends, into first and second conductive areas which are mutually aligned and spaced by said dielectric sheet, thus forming a lumped capacitor. Said capacitor and said conductive spiral cooperate to form an LC resonant structure. Similar LC structures are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,863,244, 3,967,161, and 4,021,705. All of these LC structures exhibit four essential characteristics. (1) The inductor configures as a single conductive spiral. (2) First conductive material is arranged to react inductively only. (3) Second conductive material is arranged to react capacitively only. (4) An electrical through-contact must be provided through said flexible dielectric sheet. Attempts to make these LC structures small in size detrimentally affect their detectability within security systems, from the following reasons. Wasting on the LC structure's area first metal for reacting inductively only and second metal for reacting capacitively only leads to a highly progressive metal coverage of the LC structure's real estate, the more structure size is reduced, provided said dielectric sheet cannot undergo a certain thickness. The thus high metal coverage of the LC structure's real estate disperforms manifoldly: Firstly, all portions of the conductive spiral path themselves form infinitesimal short circuit loops, resulting in an inherent decrease of inductor's inductance considerably below the maximum inductance attainable with inductor paths configured like the spring of a watch. Consequently, such planar spiral inductor's inductance and Q are detrimentally reduced versus reduction of planar spiral size. Secondly, exactly that metal provided to desirably form a capacitor only, and that are the capacitor plates, in the manner of a much wider short circuit loop effects a deleterious reduction of inductance, too. Hence, larger capacitor plates are required for a resonance at a predetermined frequency, which larger conductive plates even more reduce the structure inductance, and progressively so on. It is understood, that the efficiency of the metal input for attaining a desired resonance and detectability performance output is getting worse versus a decrease of LC structure's size, in a highly progressive manner. Thirdly, the more metal is arranged on a planar LC structure's real estate, the more eddy current counter induction takes place, resulting in an undesired distortion effect on an interrogating RF magnetic field to thus have it bypass the LC structure, rather than guiding an utmost number of field lines through the interior thereof to thereby maximize the effect on an interrogating security system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,557, issued Jan. 25, 1983 ("Process for Fabricating Resonant Tag Circuit Constructions", Inventor VANDEBULT) describes an LC structure which overcomes the need for an electrical contact through an insulative sheet. This LC structure also comprises an inductor and a lumped capacitor. The inductor is formed of two conductive spiral paths bonded to one face of a continuous and flexible dielectric sheet, one spiral path juxtaposed and in electrical communication to the other. The non-juxtaposing ends of said spiral paths terminate in first and second capacitor plates on same face of said dielectric sheet. Said sheet is folded towards itself so that first and second capacitor plates superpose each other in alignment, spaced by the double thickness of said dielectric sheet, the latter thereby also insulating one from another first and second turns of said conductive spiral paths to thus form a continuous dual layer coil of uniform turn direction. Respective inductor portions, i.e. respective turns of first and second spiral paths are substantially misaligned with respect to one another, whereby capacitive coupling between said first and second inductor portions through the double layered dielectric sheet is minimized. The capacitor plates and the double layer of said dielectric sheet are laminated together to thereby form a defined lumped resonance capacitance. A minimized capacitance between inductor turns is attained by that the inductor turn region is not laminated. This is, since turn-to-turn leakage capacitances to result are subject to deviations in response to the degree of mutual misalignment of inductor turns. Thus, the higher the lumped capacitance between lumped capacitor plates is made, the closer tolerances of a resonant frequency can be attained, and vice versa. Hence, in view of the abovementioned distortion effect on a scanning RF electromagnetic field this building scheme comes even shorter since a practically folding dielectric sheet cannot undergo the thickness as known from the Lichtblau construction, however, becomes effective with its double thickness between capacitor plates, which leads to an even higher progressive metallization of a small LC structure's real estate and thus to a lowered inductance and considerable limitations and restrictions of such LC structure in its practical use.
It is understood that when such constructions are required in large quantities, the production costs are of essential significance.

LC structure useful in radio frequency security systems


A semiconductor device produced by a TAB method is provided which comprises a carrier tape section having a device hole, a first wiring layer formed on one surface of a tape section to be used for assembling the semiconductor device, a semiconductor chip retained in the device-hole electrically connected the first wiring layer, and a second wiring layer formed on the other surface of the tape section for electrically connecting the first wiring layer of the semiconductor device to the first wiring layer of a semiconductor device adjacently disposed thereto before being cut. By clamping the tape section on the widthwise sides with an electroconductive member pair electrically connected to each other, the first and second wiring layers are electrically connected. By disposing the electroconductive member pair in such a manner that is shown above to each of a plurality of semiconductor devices formed on the tape, these semiconductor devices can be electrically connected to the second wiring layer. By applying an electric signal for testing through the second wiring layer to the plurality of semiconductor devices, these devices can be test under such a state that is being formed on the carrier tape. It is preferable to electrically connect the first wiring layer to second wiring layer through through-holes formed in the tape.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor device produced by a tape automated bonding (TAB) method and its testing method and an apparatus to be used therefor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional semiconductor device produced by the TAB method (hereinafter called TAB semiconductor device) is illustrated in FIG. 1, which shows the state a before separation of a plurality of semiconductor elements formed on a carrier tape.
In FIG. 1, a carrier tape 21 of a synthetic resin film has a plurality of sprocket holes 22 perforated serially at the edges and along the the length thereof. The sprocket holes 22 are engaged by sprocket teeth which run the tape 21. The tape 21 also has a plurality of device-holes 23 disposed at a predetermined spaced intervals centrally in the lengthwise direction thereof. Each of the holes 23 has a semiconductor chip 24 disposed therein. On the surface of the tape 21, a wiring layer forming four sets of wiring lines 25A, 25B, 25C and 25D and four sets of external terminals 26A, 26B, 26C and 26D are patterned for each of the device holes 23. The semiconductor chip 24 is electrically connected to each set of the wiring lines 25A, 25B, 25C and 25D via inner-leads respectively provided on these wiring lines, and retained into the device-hole 23. Each set of the wiring lines 25A, 25B, 25C and 25D consists of five lines.
A conventional semiconductor element B is formed by cutting the carrier tape 21 in a unit including the device hole 23, the semiconductor chip 24 in each device hole 23, four sets of the wiring lines 25A, 25B, 25C and 25D and four sets of the external terminals 26A, 26B, 26C and 26D which are patterned around each of the device holes 23. The TAB method produces this type of semiconductor element B is produced continuously on the carrier tape 21. Namely, the carrier tape 21 having a plurality of sprocket holes 22, a plurality of device holes 23, a plurality of sets of wiring lines 25A, 25B, 25C and 25D and a plurality of sets of external terminals 26A, 26B, 26C and 26D repeats a stop and run process for successively bonding the semiconductor chip 24 to the inner-leads of each four sets of wiring lines 25A, 25B, 25C and 25D. As a result, the semiconductor chip 24 and the wiring lines 25A, 25B, 25C and 25D are electrically and mechanically connected to each other simultaneously. At the time when the bonding process is finished, a plurality of semiconductor elements B having the same structure are provided in parallel on the carrier tape 21 at predeterminedly spatially entervals along the length of the tape 21. The wiring lines 25A, 25B, 25C and 25D of each semiconductor element B are independent of those of the adjacent one, which means that the semiconductor elements B thus formed are electrically isolated from each other. The tape 21 thus having a plurality of semiconductor elements B is cut to provide separate device-hole unit.
The selection of the semiconductor elements formed on the carrier tape 21 is carried out as follows. First, the semiconductor elements B are electrically tested as a first selection process. This electrical test advantageously utilizes the continuity of devices as a feature of the TAB method in that it is carried out before the carrier tape 21 is cut, or while the tape is still joined.
Next, in order to screen initial defects, a burn-in test is carried out. This test is performed so that the carrier tape 21 is cut for separating the semiconductor elements B. The semiconductor elements B, thus separated, are individually inserted into sockets. This is based on the fact that a source voltage or input pulse for the testing purpose (hereinafter called "electric signal for testing") can not be applied simultaneously to all of the elements B because they are electrically isolated from each other.
Thereafter, the electrical test is carried out again for the semiconductor elements B thus burn-in tested as a second selection process. This test is carried out individually for each of the separated elements.
As explained above, the burn-in test is carried out conventionally after the carrier tape 21 has been cut to separating the elements. Thus, it is not possible to test the continuity of the elements as a feature of the TAB production method or, to give such an advantage that a plurality of semiconductor elements B can be continuously formed on a carrier tape. As a result, there arises such a problem that the TAB method is inferior in mass-productivity to the other methods.
This invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problem, and an object of this invention is to provide a TAB semiconductor device capable of improving mass-productivity by the TAB method by reducing the number of a steps to be carried out in the selection process and the other processes thereafter.
Another object of this invention is to provide a testing method of TAB semiconductor device and an apparatus to be used therefor, which is capable of improving mass-productivity by the TAB method.

Means for and methods of testing automated tape bonded semiconductor devices