The present invention provides a boom system, comprising a plurality of joint arms sequentially hinged through a horizontal hinge shaft, and further comprising: mounting two length sensors on each joint arm, wherein one length sensor measures the length of a corresponding joint arm after deformation, and the other length sensor measures the length between it and the distal end of the corresponding joint arm, and there is a preset distance between the two length sensors; mounting a dip angle sensor on each joint arm, and obtaining the angle between the connection line between the two length sensors and a reference plane; a processor which obtains boom system distal end position parameters according to the detection results of the dip angle sensor and the length sensors. The boom system according to the present invention, for a single joint arm, uses a single dip angle sensor and double draw line coders to obtain the distal end position parameters of the joint arm, and can more accurately obtain the boom system distal end position parameters. The present invention also provides an engineering machinery and a boom system distal end position parameter obtaining method.

Multi joint mechanical arms, as fluid material conveying devices, have been widely used in fields such as concrete conveying, high-altitude fire-fighting operation and port refueling due to advantages such as good universality, wide operation range and flexible operation, and have become inevitable high-end technical devices in national construction.
A boom system usually comprises a plurality of joint arms, and the large head end of the first joint arm is hinged with a predetermined chassis through a vertical shaft; the large head ends of the other joint arms are hinged with the small head ends of adjacent joint arms through a horizontal hinge shaft; therefore, a plurality of joint arms are sequentially hinged through the horizontal hinge shaft, and the joint arm at the distal end extends outwards and is called a distal end joint arm, and the outer end of the distal end joint arm forms a boom system distal end; driving mechanisms such as hydraulic cylinders are provided between adjacent joint arms, so that the angles between adjacent joint arms generate a predetermined change, which changes the position of the boom system distal end so as to convey materials or articles to a predetermined position.
As a mechanical arm is affected by dead weight and construction postures, a rigid flexible coupling mechanical arm deforms in a complex way, which seriously affects its distal end positioning precision. To obtain the postures of the mechanical arm and achieve precise positioning of the distal end of the mechanical arm, usually a proper coordinate system is established in a control system, and the coordinate parameters of the coordinate system are used to determine the positions of the hinged points of the joint arms of the mechanical arm, and the deformations of respective joint arms are considered to finally determine the actual distal end position of the mechanical arm, and the coordinate parameters of the distal end position are called position parameters.
In addition, during using the boom system to work, each joint arm bears corresponding load, and generates corresponding deformation; the accumulation of deformations of a plurality of joint arms will result in a large deviation between the position parameters of the boom system distal end and target position parameters.
To reduce the deviation of the position parameters of the boom system distal end rendered by the deformation of the mechanical arm, one manner for obtaining the distal end position parameters in the related art is to use two dip angle sensors to obtain the deformation amounts of corresponding joint arms and then correct the position parameters of the joint arms according to the deformation amounts. Although this manner can improve the accuracy of the boom system distal end position parameters, due to the restriction by the measuring precision of the dip angle sensors, the deviation between the position parameters of the boom system distal end and the target position parameters is still large, and the demands of accurate positioning and control on the boom system distal end cannot be met.
Therefore, how to improve the accuracy of the boom system distal end position parameters is still a technical problem to be solved by one skilled in the art.

Boom system, engineering machinery, and a method for acquiring boom system distal end position parameter

Hunan Sany Intelligent Control Equipment Co., LTD


The invention refers to a hanging control device connected to a unit to be managed, specifically control switches or hanging control panels in order to control hoisting gear, by means of a control line, whereby the control line contains electrical lines (2) to transmit control signals and strain relief, which is supported at the top of the unit to absorb weight and traction forces.

The invention refers to a hanging control device connected to the unit to be managed, specifically control switches or hanging control panels controlling hoisting gear, by means of a control line according to the genus of claim 1.
For example, hanging control devices in the form of hanging control panels are known from EP 0 592 795 A1 and DE-OS 26 03 409, which are used to control the up and down movement of hoisting gear located above an operator. The hanging control panels exhibit housings containing a series of switches. The switch housing's upper end is connected with the hoisting gear via a connecting cable. The connecting cable exhibits a sleeve containing an electrical control line to transmit control signals and strain relief in the form of a steel rope or a metal cable. Strain relief is used to absorb weight and traction forces, and the rope, or cable, is fastened at the top of the hoisting gear. Traction forces are created especially when an operator is pulling transversely on the switch housing in order to move the hoisting gear, which can be moved by means of a carrier. The switch housing may provide a respective handle for this purpose. On the other hand, the sleeve itself may also consist of solid plastic, so that, in addition, the operator may use it as a gripping component.
The disadvantage of known hanging control devices is that their lengths do not extend at all. It is only possible to shorten the cable, which is furthermore complex.
It is often attempted to get by with the chosen length of a connecting cable despite its more complex operability.

Abstract: In order to create a hanging control device for which the length of the control line can be easily changed, we suggest that strain relief be created by means of hose (6), which can be folded flat and has the design of a type of textile hose, and that electrical lines (2) run through the inside of the hose.


A process of manual, semi-automatic and fully-automated integration of discrete components into a container that results in fast, reliable, cost-effective, and scalable production of composite containers is disclosed. The process can be embodied in manufacturing equipment that has a series of stations and may be called an assembly device. The equipment can produce containers, tubs, canisters, cartridges, etc. which are easily separated into different bio-degradable or compostable parts. Other container types are possible and are contemplated.

Packaging used for containing liquids can generate large amounts of waste. In some cases, packaging used for containing liquids can be recycled. Packaging used for containing liquids has been described in PCT publication No. WO 2007/0066090, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Efforts towards creating an environmentally efficient container/package system that is cost effective and readily recyclable while being very usable for dispensing liquids, aggregates or powders and performing as a container for distribution through typical retail logistic chains have been increasing.
Typical bottles are made of a unified volumetric structure, such as blown glass bottles and blow molded plastic bottles. These bottle are created seamless and with an opening for transmission of fluids/powders. For proper function of packages, it is often necessary for different types of materials to be used in a single package. Often, the different materials are attached together in ways to enhance the performance of the container. However, this reduces the ability of the package to be recycled, since most recycling facilities cannot utilize materials that are not separated into their basic material groups. A solution for this problem is to utilize optimum materials for required performance but to restrict the use of non-separable material types.
To promote widespread recycling of materials and to support many producer's and user's desire for more sustainable packaging options, it is necessary to provide a packaging system that is uniquely optimized for end-of-life separation and recycling. This would result in a package in which, at end-of-use, can be easily separated by a user into discrete components comprising only one material type or group (as defined by generally-accepted recycling standards). The resulting package could be considered to be a composite container or package. Composite packages can be created through a process of integrating two or more components into one package that provides required functionality.
Trying to reliably and repeatedly manufacture a composite container such as a two part pulp molded shell that is biodegradable and that holds an inner liner has proven to be a challenge. Molded pulp can be molded into many shapes and the tolerances are improving but the tolerances are not as tight as with other materials. Pulp formed parts can be made in a matched tool process to achieve a certain degree of dimensional part tolerance. Much of the final dimensions of a given part are dependent on the processing. These include processing temperatures, additives to the pulp slurry, the type of fiber used, etc. Hence, there is a need to bring these parts together permanently to achieve an enclosed volume, and to permanently capture the fitment.
Once the outer shells are produced, the shells are typically stacked and moved to the point of assembly. The stacking can deform the parts out of specification and desired tolerances. Parts from the bottom of a shipping stack may be splayed out from top loading, and upper parts can be squeezed together and be smaller than the molded condition. There is a need to control the process where these parts come together. There is a need ensure correct tolerances are met during the bottle assembly process. There is a need to make this assembly process efficient and reliable in order to minimize the cost of assembly and the cost of the final bottle.
Manufacturing the container shell and liner and integrating them together in an efficient and economical manner has proven to be a challenge. In addition, the fact that the shell and liner are biodegradable or compostable further complicates the integration tasks as the shell and liner are not as resilient and tough as previous non recyclable or non compostable shells and/or liners. Thus, different approaches to efficiently and economically integrate biodegradable or compostable shell and liners will be disclosed.

Process and machinery for integration of discrete parts into composite containers


A V-shaped pallet that is adaptive for reducing the damage of a liquid crystal display panel by minimizing a contact area with the liquid crystal display panel of a liquid crystal display device is discussed. A V-shaped pallet according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main pallet; an auxiliary pallet on which a liquid crystal display device is put for performing a module process for the liquid crystal display device and of which the middle part subsides to have a V-shape as a whole; and a plurality of supporters formed on the main pallet for fixing the auxiliary pallet to the main pallet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pallet, and more particularly to a pallet that transfers a liquid crystal display device in a fabrication process line of the liquid crystal display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a liquid crystal display (hereinafter, referred to as "LCD") device is a representative flat panel display device which controls the transmittance of light beam to correspond to video signals, thereby displaying a picture. Especially, the LCD device is on a trend of its application scope being broadened due to characteristics such as lightness, thinness, lower power consumption drive and the like. According to such a trend, the LCD device is used in office automation devices and the display devices of notebook computers.
FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram representing a liquid crystal display panel of a liquid crystal display device of the related art, and FIG. 2 is a flow chart representing a fabrication process of the liquid crystal display device of the related art.
That is to say, as shown in FIG. 1, a liquid crystal display panel 10 of the liquid crystal display device includes a thin film transistor (hereinafter, referred to as "TFT") substrate 11 for receiving drive signals; a color filter (hereinafter, referred to as "C/F") substrate 12 inclusive of a color filter layer; and a liquid crystal layer 13 interposed between the TFT substrate and the C/F substrate.
The whole fabrication process of the liquid crystal display device inclusive of the liquid crystal display panel 10 described above, as shown in FIG. 2, is divided into a substrate fabrication process S202, a liquid crystal display panel process S204, a liquid crystal display panel inspection process S206 and a module process S208.
First of all, the substrate fabrication process S202 is divided into a process of fabricating the TFT substrate in use of a cleaned glass substrate and a process of fabricating the C/F substrate. The TFT substrate fabrication process is a process of forming signal lines, a plurality of thin film transistors and pixel electrodes on a lower glass substrate. The C/F substrate fabrication process is a process of sequentially forming a black matrix, a color filter layer and a common electrode ITO on an upper glass substrate.
Next, the liquid crystal display panel process S204 is a process of fabricating the liquid crystal display panel by bonding the TFT substrate and the C/F substrate together and by injecting liquid crystal therebetween. Generally, a plurality of liquid crystal display panels are formed in one original plate. The liquid crystal display panel process is made up of many unit processes such as an alignment film forming process, a rubbing process, a cell gap forming process, an assembly process, a cell cutting process, a liquid crystal injecting process, a grinding process and the like.
Next, the liquid crystal display panel inspection process S206 is a process of inspecting whether wires are down and whether there are dot defects and the like for the liquid crystal display panel which have been through the cell cutting process and the grinding process in the liquid crystal panel process. And, the liquid crystal display panel inspection process is confirmed personally by a user's eyes in use of an auto probe AP.
Lastly, the module process S208 is a final process of linking the liquid crystal display panel and a signal process circuit part, and the liquid crystal display device is completed by the module process.
FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram representing a process line of the module process of the related art, and shows the module process S208 in detail. Further, FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram representing a usage state of a flat pallet of the related art, and each process shown in FIG. 3 is performed for the liquid crystal display device put on the flat pallet.
At this moment, each process part shown in the drawings is connected through a conveyor, and each process will be briefly explained as follows.
Firstly, a liquid crystal display panel loading section 31 is for loading the liquid crystal display panel which has been through the liquid crystal display panel inspection process S206.
A TAB process section 32 is a place where a polarizer, a TCP and a PCB are combined with the liquid crystal display panel inputted by the loading section 31, and the polarizer, the TCP and the PCB can be manually combined by a plurality of workers or automatically combined by a robot and the like. At this moment, in order to prevent the damage from impurities, a resin is spread over data pads and gate pads formed on the TFT substrate of the liquid crystal display panel, and the TCP and the PCB are stuck onto the pads in use of an ACF being an anisotropic conductor.
A backlight joining section 33 is a place where the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight unit are joined. The backlight unit is configured to include a cover bottom which is of a plate shape and is formed of a metal or synthetic resin material; a reflector which is placed on the cover bottom, is of a plate shape and is formed of a metal material having a white or silver color; a plurality of lamps arranged in parallel on the reflector; and an optical sheet part placed on the lamps.
A top case combination section 34 is a place where a top case is combined with the upper part of the liquid crystal display panel in a state that the liquid crystal display panel is joined with the back light unit, and screws and the like are combined therewith so as for the top case and the liquid crystal display panel not to be separated.
A protection film adhesion section 35 is a place where a protection film is stuck thereto to protect the surface of the liquid crystal display panel which is combined with the top case, and is for preventing the surface damage of the liquid crystal display panel from being generated during the following process.
A reversal section 36 is a place for turning over the upper surface and the lower surface of the liquid crystal display device to which the protection film is stuck in the liquid crystal display panel in the state that the liquid crystal display panel is combined with the backlight unit. That is to say, the process up to the protection film adhesion section 35 is made in the state that the C/F substrate of the liquid crystal display panel, i.e., the surface of the liquid crystal display panel to which a picture is substantially outputted, faces upward.
A backlight combination section 37 is for completely combining the backlight unit and the liquid crystal display panel with the screws and the like while the upper surface of the backlight unit faces upward by the reversal section 36. And, an operation that the components of the backlight unit and the liquid crystal display panel are put into a support main and the like is simply made in the backlight joining section 33, and the components are completely combined by the backlight combination section 37.
A cable connection section 38 is a place for connecting various electrical cables and the like to the PCB substrates formed in the rear surface of the backlight unit which faces the upper surface.
An aging section 40 is a place for confirming whether there is a defect of the liquid crystal display device made by the processes above, and the liquid crystal display device is operated under a designated condition, e.g., for 4 hours in a space of 50° C., to be checked.
A final inspection section 41 is a place for confirming whether there is a defect of the product which has been through the aging section 40. The liquid crystal display device having been through the process in the final inspection section 41 is packed to be shipped out after finally completing the inspection.
Herein, the processes from the backlight joining section 33 to the backlight combination section 37 are called a pre-process in the assembly process of the related art, and the processes from the cable connection section 38 to the final inspection section 41 are called a post-process.
On the other hand, as described above, each process section is connected through a conveyor and the process in each process section is made in a flat pallet 60, as shown in FIG. 4.
That is to say, in the backlight joining section 33, the top case combination section 34, the protection film adhesion section 351 the reversal section 36, the backlight combination section 37, the cable connection section 38 and the like, as shown in FIG. 4, operators perform a process which is necessary in each process after locating the liquid crystal display device 70 on the flat pallet 60.
At this moment, in the process to the protection film adhesion section 35, the liquid crystal display panel faces upward and each process is performed in a state that the backlight unit is closely adhered to the flat pallet 60. However, in the backlight combination section 37, as shown in FIG. 4, each process is performed in a state that the liquid crystal display panel to which a protection film 71 is stuck is in contact with the flat pallet 60 for the combination of the backlight unit part, the connection of cables and the like.
On the other hand, the process is performed in the state that the liquid crystal display panel is in contact with the flat pallet 60 as described above in the backlight combination section 37, thus there is a problem in that inferior products might be generated because scratches are generated in the liquid crystal display panel by the friction with the flat pallet 60 and particles and the like formed on the flat pallet surface. Accordingly, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem in the related art, the liquid crystal display panel to which the protection film is stuck by the reversal section 36 is made to be in contact with the flat pallet 60, as shown in FIG. 4, after sticking the protection film 71 onto the surface of the liquid crystal display panel by the protection film adhesion section 35.
However, in order to stick the protection film 71, the component of the protection film is additionally required as well as a space like the protection film adhesion section 36 is required in the process, thus there is a problem in that there is a limit in space and a production cost is increased.
Further, there is a problem in that a labor cost is increased because operators for sticking the protection film 71 are additionally required.
Further, in the post-process, the final inspection should be carried out after removing the protection film 71 again, and especially, stains might be generated due to the protection film adhesion for performing the process in the aging section 40 which carries out the process of operating the liquid crystal display device at a high temperature. And, additional operators might be required in accordance with the re-adhesion of the protection film and the additional process due to the problem of there being generated a phenomenon that the protection film comes apart while being in the aging section or during the post-process.

V-shaped pallet comprising a main pallet and an auxiliary pallet having first and second plane sections jointed in a V-shape configured for a liquid crystal display panel


The invention relates to a transport device (1) for conveying a product, comprising a stationary running rail (2) which extends along a longitudinal axis (3); a cart (6) with a height axis (5) which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (3), said cart being guided on the running rail (2); guiding rollers (7) which are arranged on the cart (6), can be rotated about rotational axes (8) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (3), and roll on the running rail (2), wherein the rotational axis (8) of each guiding roller (7) intersects the same straight line (9), which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (3); and a compensating device for compensating for a yaw moment (M) of the cart (6) about the height axis (5), comprising multiple magnetic coils (12) arranged along the running rail (2), at least two ferromagnetic or permanent magnetic counter elements (11) which are arranged on the cart (6) and which are arranged on both sides of the running rail (2), and a control device (18) for controlling the magnetic coils (12) such that the counter elements (11) can be simultaneously pushed away from the running rail (2) in the direction of a transverse axis (4), said transverse axis (4) being defined as perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (3) and perpendicular to the height axis (5).

The present invention relates to a transport device for conveying a product as well as to a method for operating the transport device.
Transport systems for conveying products are, for example, used in conveying applications of packaging machines and are known in different embodiments from the prior art. The German patent publication DE 10 2010 027 925 A1 describes, for example, a transport system in which a movable conveyor cart is moved by means of a linear motor drive device. The conveyor cart is thus designed in an articulated manner in order to be able to pass through smaller curve radii. Situations can, however, arise during the operation in which the conveyor carts yaw about the height axis thereof. In a schematically simplified depiction, FIG. 5 shows how this yaw moment M is stabilized in the prior art. According to FIG. 5, a conventional conveyor cart 106 comprises at least three guiding rollers 107 that are offset to one another. Said guiding rollers 107 roll on a corresponding running rail. The yaw moment M can be stabilized by means of the offset arrangement of the guiding rollers 107. In the arrangement according to the prior art, the three forces F1, F2 and F3 must not align so that the yaw moment M can be absorbed in both directions. As a result, a minimum overall size that is greater than 2 times the diameter of the guiding rollers 107 is necessarily required if an arrangement is desired in a single plane in order to prevent parasitic moments. In addition, the guiding rollers 107 that are arranged offset to one another (on the right side in FIG. 5) cannot execute an ideal rolling motion because the rotational axis thereof does not extend through the center point of the circular path. This leads to a transverse movement of the guiding rollers and thus to a relatively high wear and a premature failure of said rollers. As a result, many particles are unnecessarily abraded which are especially undesirable in the area of food and pharmaceutical products or, respectively, food and pharmaceutical packagings.

Transport device and method for operating the transport device


We have discovered a method of improving step coverage of a copper seed layer deposited over a semiconductor feature surface which is particularly useful for small size features having a high aspect ratio. We have demonstrated that it is possible to increase the copper seed layer coverage simultaneously at the bottom of a high aspect ratio contact via and on the walls of the via by increasing the percentage of the depositing copper species which are ions. The percentage of species ionization which is necessary to obtain sufficient step coverage for the copper seed layer is a function of the aspect ratio of the feature. An increase in the percentage of copper species which are ionized can be achieved using techniques known in the art, including but not limited to applicants"" preferred technique, an inductively coupled RF ion metal plasma.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a method for depositing a copper seed layer having improved step coverage over a feature surface, and to the improved feature structure which is obtained using the method.
2. Brief Description of the Background Art
Due to the difficulty in etching a copper film to provide a desired semiconductor interconnect pattern, one of the preferred methods of providing copper interconnects is the damascene process, which requires the filling of embedded trenches and/or vias.
A typical damascene process for producing a multilevel structure having feature sizes in the range of 0.5 micron (xcexc) or less would include: blanket deposition of a dielectric material over a semiconductor surface; patterning of the dielectric material to form openings; deposition of a conductive material over the surface of the dielectric material in sufficient amount to fill the openings; and removal of excessive conductive material from the substrate surface using a chemical reactant-based process, mechanical method, or combined chemical-mechanical polishing techniques. Due to problems with copper diffusion into underlying structures, a barrier layer is frequently used between the dielectric material and the copper fill material. In addition, to improve the adhesion of the copper fill to the barrier layer, a seed layer of copper is deposited over the barrier layer prior to deposition of the bulk copper fill material.
A major problem encountered during the copper fill of a feature is the entrapment of void spaces within the copper fill. For example, during copper fill of a feature such as a trench or via using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) there is a tendency to create voids within the filled opening; this is particularly true with regard to high aspect ratio features. Other disadvantages of a CVD process are the contaminants from the CVD reactant deposition source which may be found in the deposited conductive material and the costs associated with use of this technology. Filling of the copper feature with evaporated or sputtered copper is a cleaner process; however, the tendency to form voids still exists. Further, evaporative deposition is a relatively slow process, decreasing production rates. Sputtered copper may be used to provide copper fill, if used in combination with a reflow of the copper. However, the reflow process is typically also a time consuming process.
A typical sputtering technique for filling of high aspect ratio features of less than about 0.5 xcexcm includes cold (typically below about 150xc2x0 C.) deposition of sputtered copper over the feature surface, followed by an annealing process (without deposition) at temperatures in excess of about 400xc2x0 C., to reflow the copper and obtain filling of the trench or via. However, such a reflow process presently is limited to aspect ratios of about 2:1 or less and typically requires more than a half hour of processing time.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,885 to Braren et al., issued Sep. 21, 1993, describes the problems listed above, and proposes the use of a laser ablation system for the filling of high aspect ratio features. Alloys, graded layers, and pure metals are deposited by ablating targets comprising more than one material using a beam of energy to strike the target at a particular angle. The ablated material is said to create a plasma composed primarily of ions of the ablated material, where the plasma is translated with high directionality toward a surface on which the material is to be deposited.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,509 of Rudolph Eschbach, issued May 17, 1974, discloses a manufacturing system for low temperature chemical vapor deposition of high purity metals. In particular, a semiconductor substrate including etched patterns is plasma cleaned; subsequently, the substrate is coated with adhesion and nucleation seed layers. A reactor connected to the process chamber containing the substrate sublimes a precursor of the metal to be deposited, which is then transported to the substrate. The heated chuck on which the substrate sits heats the substrate above the dissociation temperature of the precursor, releasing the metal from the precursor onto the substrate to nucleate the metal species onto the seed layer on the substrate. Although an adhesion barrier layer and a seed layer (if required) are said to be deposited using sputter deposition, the copper layer is applied solely by CVD deposition, to avoid the sidewall voiding which is said to occur if sputtering is used for the copper deposition.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,712 to Ho et al., issued Oct. 11, 1994, describes a method for forming interconnect structures for integrated circuits. Preferably, a barrier layer of a conductive material which forms a seed layer for metal deposition is provided selectively on the side-walls and bottom of interconnect trenches defined in a dielectric layer. Subsequently, a conformal layer of metal is selectively deposited on the barrier layer within the interconnect trench.
Despite all of the above-described development efforts, there remained a need for a method of producing copper interconnect features which did not require the use of particularly complex equipment; which provided good step coverage for small, high aspect ratio features; which could be carried out at temperatures below about 450xc2x0 C.; and, which produced an interconnect structure which is essentially void-free.
Very recently, copper filled semiconductor features were produced using electroplating techniques employing particularly clean plating solutions. This method for depositing copper works well when a continuous, conformal copper seed layer is in place on the surface of the feature at the time of initiation of electroplating. However, if there are any discontinuities in the copper seed layer, voids are created within the copper fill where there are discontinuities in the seed layer. This makes it critically important to have a continuous copper seed layer over the entire feature surface. When the feature size is small (below 0.25 xcexcm), and the aspect ratio is high (greater than about 3:1), for example, obtaining a continuous seed layer of copper over the feature surface becomes particularly difficult. FIG. 1A shows a schematic of a cross-sectional view of a copper-filled semiconductor contact via having a bottom diameter of 0.17 xcexcm and an aspect ratio of about 7:1, where the step coverage of the copper seed layer is inadequate and the copper fill contains numerous voids. To meet the challenge of filling features having aspect ratios of greater than about 3:1, improvements in step coverage, especially sidewall coverage are required.
We have discovered a method of improving step coverage of a copper seed layer deposited over a semiconductor feature surface which is particularly useful for small size features having a high aspect ratio. Using a contact via as an example of a high aspect ratio feature, we have demonstrated that despite previously-held views, it is possible to increase the copper seed layer coverage simultaneously at the bottom of the via and on the wall of the via by increasing the percentage of the depositing copper species which are ions. Further, the coverage can be optimized by adjusting the bias voltage of (attractive forces on) the semiconductor substrate surface, as a function of the feature dimensions.
The percentage of species ionization which is necessary to obtain sufficient step coverage for the copper seed layer is a function of the aspect ratio of the feature. Although the present invention contemplates the use of deposition species of which at least 30% are ions at the time they contact the substrate, for features having a 0.25 xcexcm or smaller feature size, an aspect ratio of about 3:1 requires that about 50% or more of the copper species be ions at the time of deposition on the substrate. As the aspect ratio increases to about 4:1, the percentage of species which are ions is preferably increased to between about 60% and 70%. When the aspect ratio is about 5:1 or greater, the percentage of species which are ions is preferably increased to greater than 80%. Although it is possible to approach 100% of ionized species, typically the deposition rate decrease makes operation under the required conditions impractical. As a result, for many of the device features contemplated herein, the preferred percentage of ionization ranges between about 50% and about 90%.
This increase in the percentage of copper species which are ionized can be achieved using techniques known in the art, based on laser ablation of the copper target, electron cyclotron resonance, hollow cathode, and applicants"" preferred technique, inductively coupled RF plasma. The use of an inductively coupled RF plasma is described in detail herein.
We have discovered that when an inductively coupled plasma is used to increase ionization, an increase in RF power to the ionization source is not enough to obtain the desired percentage of ions in many cases. It is also necessary to increase the plasma gas pressure. Typically, the plasma gas is argon, although other inert gases such as krypton and xenon can be used as well. In fact, the higher mass gases such as krypton or xenon may be very effective in ionizing copper atoms, although argon is preferred due to its availability and lower cost. The plasma gas pressure in the copper seed layer deposition chamber is increased to fall within the range of about 20 mTorr to about 100 mTorr, preferably between about 30 mTorr and 70 mTorr, to achieve the desired percentage of ions in the plasma.

Method of depositing a copper seed layer which promotes improved feature surface coverage


A wiper blade includes a wiper lever assembly with a tournament structure. The wiper lever assembly includes a main lever and a pair of movable covers. The two length direction sides of the main lever and the movable covers are respectively formed with fin surfaces each having a downward gradient on progression toward a vehicle front side, and main housing compartments and movable housing compartments that are open toward a wiping surface. A pair of yoke levers are respectively housed spanning inside the main housing compartments and inside the movable housing compartments, and are coupled so as to be capable of pivoting to the main lever and to the movable covers. The main housing compartments, the movable housing compartments, and the yoke levers each has a greater height dimension at a rear side than at a front side.

Japanese National Phase Publication No. 2006-513928 discloses a flat type wiper blade that does not employ a tournament structure wiper lever assembly of plural levers coupled together in a tournament arrangement. In this wiper blade, a plate spring support element (backing) imparts rigidity and elasticity to a wiper strip (blade rubber). The wiper blade further includes a window deflector strip fixed to the support element using first and second claws. An upper face of the window deflector strip is formed with a fin face to convert travel-induced wind into a pressing force toward a wiping surface.
International Publication (WO) No. 2010/035794 discloses a wiper blade provided with a lever member (wiper lever assembly) with a tournament structure, a blade rubber, and two movable covers. The lever member includes a main lever detachably coupled to a wiper arm at a length direction central portion, and two yoke levers coupled so as to be capable of pivoting to the two length direction end portions of the main lever. The respective movable covers are coupled so as to be capable of pivoting to the respective yoke levers, and the blade rubber is gripped by the respective yoke levers and movable covers. Upper faces of the main lever and the respective movable covers are formed with fin faces to convert travel-induced wind into a pressing force toward a wiping surface.


Disclosed is a heat-resistant Ti alloy material excellent in high-temperature corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance, which comprises a base made of a heat-resistant Ti alloy and a surface layer formed on the surface of the base. The surface layer has a multilayer structure including an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer has three coexistent phases consisting of a β phase, a γ phase and a Laves phase in the phase diagram of a Ti—Al—Cr based alloy, and the outer layer is made of an Al—Ti—Cr based alloy having an Al concentration of 50 atomic % or more. The heat-resistant Ti alloy material is produced by subjecting a substrate made of a heat-resistant Ti alloy to a Cr diffusion treatment at a temperature within a β single-phase region in the phase diagram of a Ti—Al—Cr based alloy, precipitating a γ phase and a Laves phase from the β phase during a cooling process to form the inner layer with three coexistent phases consisting of the β, γ and Laves phases, and then subjecting the obtained product to an Al diffusion treatment to form the outer layer. The heat-resistant Ti alloy material can prevent the diffusion of Al from the outer layer to the base and the diffusion of elements of the base to the outer layer while forming a protective Al2O3 film in a self-repairing manner, to provide excellent high-temperature corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance to the heat-resistant Ti alloy base.

A structural material for use in turbochargers, jet engines, gas turbines, space planes or the like, which is to be exposed to high-temperature atmospheres, includes heat-resistant Ti alloys, such as TiAl based intermetallic compounds [Ti3Al (α2 phase) and TiAl (γ phase)] and high-temperature titanium alloys [α+β type: Ti-6Al-4V alloy, Ti-6Al-4Mo-4Cr (incl. Zn, Sn) alloy; near α type: Ti-6Al-4Zr-2.8Sn alloy; near β type: Ti-5Al-3Mo-3Cr-4Zr-2Sn alloy]; superalloys, such as Ni-based, Co-based and Fe-based heat-resistant alloys; other heat-resistant alloys, such as Nb-based, Ir-based and Re-based heat-resistant alloys; carbon materials; and other various intermetallic compounds.
It is often the case that a high-temperature atmosphere in contact with the heat-resistant alloy material contains an oxidative or corrosive substance, such as oxygen or water vapor. If the heat-resistant alloy material is exposed to a corrosive high-temperature atmosphere, the reaction between the alloy material and the corrosive substance in the atmosphere will be liable to cause accelerated oxidation and/or high-temperature corrosion in the alloy material. It is also likely that O, N, S, Cl and/or C diffusing from the atmosphere into the heat-resistant alloy material causes internal corrosion in the surface of the heat-resistant alloy material, which leads to deterioration in material strength.
Such high-temperature corrosion can be prevented by covering the surface of the heat-resistant alloy material with a protective film excellent in environment blocking performance. The protective film is typically made of Al2O3, SiO2 or Cr2O3, and formed by diffusing Al, Si or Cr from a base to a surface layer of a heat-resistant alloy material in an oxidizing atmosphere (see, for example, the following Patent Publications 1 to 3 and Non-Patent Publication 1) or by depositing Al2O3, SiO2 or Cr2O3 on the surface of a heat-resistant alloy material through a CVD process, a thermal spraying process, a reactive sputtering process or the like. The Al2O3, SiO2 or Cr2O3 film can suppress the reaction between the oxidative substance in the atmosphere and the metal elements of the heat-resistant alloy material to maintain excellent high-temperature characteristics inherent in the heat-resistant alloy.
Patent Publication 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 05-156423 (U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,004)
Patent Publication 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 06-093412 (U.S. Pat. No. 2,922,346)
Patent Publication 3: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 09-324256
Non-Patent Publication 1: C. Zhou, H. Xu, S. Gong, Y Yang and K.-Y. Kim; Surface and Coating Technology 132 (2000), p. 117.

Heat-resistant Ti alloy material excellent in resistance to corrosion at high temperature and to oxidation


In a tool for picking up and carrying dog dung that includes a container longitudinally swingably supported at the tip of a shaft part and a cover placed on the container to swing in a direction opposing the container. When an opening part of the container is covered with the cover, the container is upward positioned roughly perpendicularly to the shaft part When the dung is discharged, the container and the cover are opened to incline on one side of the shaft part, so that a tool washable by brushing because of the small number of support and operation members existing around the container. A shaft includes one shaft supporting unit at one end of the shaft part, the shaft supporting unit having a swing axis parallel to a cover swing axis. The container is longitudinally swingably supported so that its container supported part formed on one side of the rear outer wall near the opening part and having the same axis as the cover swing axis is supported on the shaft supporting unit. The operating member includes an operation unit retained on the shaft part. The container swings about the swing axis of the shaft supporting unit while the cover swings about the cover swing axis in a direction opposing the container.

The tool disclosed in PCT/JP2004/018687 published on Jun. 30, 2005 includes a container swingably supported at the tip of a grip part, in which when a cover is put on the container, the container is upward positioned roughly perpendicularly to the grip part, and the container is largely opened roughly in parallel with the grip part when dog dung is discharged, so that at an intermediate opening position, the container is inclined in a direction suitable for catching the dung. The tool can be roughly divided into two kinds. One includes the container and the cover swinging in directions opposing each other about support points arranged at both lateral ends of the opening of the container so as to open/close the opening of the container. The other includes the container and the cover swinging in a sector form in directions opposing each other about each support point arranged at one end of the opening of the container so as to open/close the opening.
It is especially important for a tool for picking up and carrying dog dung to be easily cleaned for always maintaining the tool clean, so that it is preferable that no support member and no operation member exist around the container and the cover so that the container and the cover are completely exposed. The existence of the support member around the container and the cover may obstruct the cleaning and the picking up the dung, and furthermore, it may entangle weeds to be remained therein.
One of embodiments of the above-mentioned PCT/JP2004/018687 requires an operation link intersecting in the longitudinal direction with a lateral arm part for supporting a swing fulcrum of the container and the cover, so that it is difficult to clean the circumference of the container by brushing. In another embodiment, the dung in the container can be scraped out only with the cover, so that the tool has a disadvantage that the dung adheres to the container to be remained.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool for picking up and carrying dog dung in that the outside of a container can be easily cleaned by brushing when washing it with water because of the small number of supporting and operation members existing around the container.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a tool for picking up and carrying dog dung in that the container and a cover can be more largely opened in a more appropriate direction when picking up and discharging the dung, and when picking up the dung, the container is accessible to under the afterpart of a dog from the lateral back side of the dog without being obstructed by a support member and so forth.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a tool for picking up and carrying dog dung in that the container and the cover are compact because their support point is separated so that the tool is simple in structure and is easily manufactured, and furthermore the dung in the container can be scraped out with the cover.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a tool for picking up and carrying dog dung in that the container and the cover can be swung in a direction opposing each other in operatively associated with one operation unit so as to close the container and to pickup and discharge the dung while the handling is easy such that by independently operating the container and the cover, the container can be closed and the dung can be picked up and discharged.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a tool for picking up and carrying dog dung in that when the dung is discharged, the dung can be efficiently scraped out while the container can be closed and opened with light operations.


A method for measuring residual protein in a cellular specimen including obtaining a low magnification image of a candidate object of interest, filtering the candidate object of interest pixels with a low pass filter, morphologically processing the candidate object of interest pixels to identify artifact pixels, identifying the candidate object of interest by eliminating artifact pixels, acquiring a higher magnification image of the subsample for the candidate object of interest, transforming pixels of the higher magnification image in a first color space to a second color space to differentiate higher magnification candidate object of interest pixels from background pixels, identifying an object of interest from the candidate object of interest pixels in the second color space, and determining the optical density of the protein in a cell contained in a subsample, wherein the optical density is indicative of the residual component of a cellular protein.

Alkaline phosphatase concentrations usually increase in blood neutrophils of normal pregnant women. However, the maternal neutrophil alkaline phosphatase (NAP) in Down's syndrome pregnancies (women with trisomy 21 fetuses) differs from NAP found in normal pregnancies. NAP from women with Down's syndrome pregnancies is characterized by: (1) an increase in NAP enzyme activity over that found in normal pregnancies, (2) NAP thermal stability, (2) NAP stability in urea, (3) a significant decrease in reactivity with anti-liver-type alkaline phosphatase (AP); (4) low reactivity with anti-placental-type AP or anti-intestinal-type AP antibodies; (5) altered response to AP enzyme inhibitors; and (6) marked dispersion of NAP lead citrate reaction products or anti-NAP antibody colloidal gold-labeling in neutrophil cytoplasm, as detected by electron microscopy. These characteristics suggest that neutrophils of a woman with a trisomy 21 fetus contain two AP isoenzymes: the liver/bone type AP and an a typical AP that is related to the early placental form. Thus, the non-specific alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme can be an "enzyme marker" to diagnose Down's syndrome pregnancies.
The histochemical measurement of maternal NAP has a high detection rate for the prenatal detection of Down's syndrome pregnancies. However, because the histochemical method is laborious and subjective to use, the method has not gained widespread acceptance in prenatal screening programs.
Some automated methods have been developed. Tafas et al. have developed an image analysis method for the measurement of neutrophil alkaline phosphatase (NAP) and established a correlation of urea-resistant fraction of NAP (URNAP)/NAP scoring between the manual and automated methods for prenatal screening of Down's syndrome (U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,613 to Tafas et al.; Tafas et al., Fetal Diagn. Ther. 11(4):254-259, 1996). Measurements ("scores") obtained by manual and automated methods correlate, but the automated scoring is threefold faster. However, a less laborious and subjective automated image analysis method could have benefits in the medical arts.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Automated method for image analysis of residual protein


A portable golf putt practice device for guiding a golfer to putt a golf ball toward a hole aids the golfer in swinging the putter along a straight line and hitting the ball along a desired path to the hole. Additionally, the golf putt practice device guides and conditions the golfer with respect to the putter and its movement and elevation along the device and is so formed that the improper elevation of the putter engages a portion of the device to emphasize the incorrect elevation and/or position of the putter immediately prior to hitting a golf ball adjacent thereto. The golf putt practice device comprises a lightweight relatively small portable device consisting of an elongated straight cross-sectionally round rod and a pair of shorter cross sectionally round rods positioned transversely of one end of the elongated rod and secured to said one end thereof in slightly elevated relation to the upper surface of the elongated rod. If the head of the putter is too low for proper engagement with a golf ball when the head is slid along the straight elongated rod during a putting stroke, the slightly raised transversely positioned pair of rods will provide a small bump which is telegraphed to the golfer's hands to indicate the undesirable non-elevated soled position of the putter head.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to golf putting training apparatus and devices that guide and train a golfer in achieving a desirable golf putting stroke with a putter so as to achieve a straight line properly elevated putter position with respect to its engagement with a golf ball.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior apparatus and devices of this type have employed track-like guides in which a putter and/or its shaft are engaged in a device movable along a track or similar guide such as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,084,901 to Eisenberg and 2,203,736 to Hall.
Other training devices in which a putter head or its shaft is provided with guiding members or tracks are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,343,842 to Woerner, 4,437,669 to Pelz, and 4,620,708 to Meyer, et al.
In the Eisenberg patent, parallel spaced arcuate tracks movably position a carriage in which a putter head and shaft are positioned. In the Hall patent, an elongated bar has a spool-like member slidable therealong to form parallel flanges between which the shaft of a putter is positioned. The Woerner patent provides an elongated transversely flat guide bar 10 having a straight edge 12 and means for supporting the same in elevated relation to the supporting surface. A putter shaft is moved along the straight edge of the bar to guide the putter. The Pelz patent has a pair of parallel arcuate guides between which the head of a putter is positioned for movement relative thereto and the Meyer, et al. patent has a pair of parallel straight guide rails and a pair of spaced flexible cords extending outwardly from the ends thereof to form a guide for the head of a putter.


A cell image analysis apparatus includes a threshold value storage unit storing a cell nucleus threshold value, a fragmented cell nucleus threshold value, and a cell nucleus area threshold value in advance, an image input unit inputting a cell image captured from a cell stained with a fluorescent substance, a cell nucleus region extraction unit extracting, from the input cell image, a region having an area equal to or larger than the cell nucleus area threshold value from among regions having a luminance value equal to or larger than the cell nucleus threshold value as a cell nucleus region, and a fragmented cell nucleus region extraction unit extracting, from the cell nucleus region, a region having a luminance value equal to or larger than the fragmented cell nucleus threshold value as a fragmented cell nucleus region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cell image analysis apparatus, a cell image analysis method, and a program for analyzing a cell image in which a cell nucleus is stained with a fluorescent substance.
This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-326108 filed on Dec. 22, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Background Art
A technique is known which captures an image of a cell stained with a fluorescent substance by a microscope and analyzes the captured cell image (see Japanese Patent No. 3576491). When a cell is stained with a fluorescent substance, only a cell nucleus is stained, and other portions (cytoplasm) of the cell are hardly stained. For this reason, in the captured cell image, only the cell nucleus has high luminance. Thus, in the known technique, a portion with high luminance in the cell image is recognized as the cell nucleus.

Cell image analysis apparatus, cell image analysis method, and program


The recording tape cartridge includes a case body formed by joining together an upper half and a lower half and a tape reel around which a recording tape is wound. The cartridge further includes a lid covering a front side of the case body, and a reel lock member which has a braking claw to be engaged with an engagement tooth provided on a flange of the tape reel and which is adapted to slide with rotation of the lid. Ribs nip the reel lock member so as to perform positional regulation, and a sliding reel lock member urging device urges the reel lock member so as to engage the braking claw with the engagement tooth. A reel lock releasing member urges the reel lock member with rotation of the lid so as to release the engagement.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording tape cartridge such as a magnetic tape cartridge, for example, a digital data storage (DDS) and a digital video cassette or a digital video cartridge (DVC).
More specifically, the present invention relates to a recording tape cartridge which helps to reduce the component assembly man-hours at the time of assembly and to save the trouble of separation at the time of disposal, thus reducing the load to the environment.
Still more specifically, the present invention relates to a recording tape cartridge in which it is easy to assemble and mount members forming a lock mechanism for a tape reel accommodated in a case body and which is advantageous in terms of separated recovery of the resin material at the time of disposal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recording media cartridges conventionally used as recording media for external storage devices such as computers are roughly classified into two types: ones using magnetic disks or magneto-optical disks as the recording media (magnetic or magneto-optical disk cartridges, etc.), and ones using magnetic recording tapes such as recording tapes or magnetic tapes (recording tape cartridges such as magnetic tape cartridges). A magnetic tape cartridge is used as a large-capacity recording medium for data backup in the above-mentioned external storage device; it has a case body (also referred to as case housing) composed of upper and lower halves and rotatably accommodating a tape reel around which a magnetic tape is wound. The magnetic tape cartridge includes a cartridge of the type in which a magnetic tape is wound around a single tape reel (the so-called one-reel type magnetic tape cartridge), and a cartridge of the type in which a magnetic tape is wound around two tape reels (the so-called two-reel type magnetic tape cartridge or magnetic tape cassette).
Such magnetic or magneto-optical disk cartridge, the magnetic tape cartridge, or the magnetic tape cassette (hereinafter collectively referred to as "magnetic tape cartridge" or "recording tape cartridge") is used to store data in computers or the like; since important information is recorded therein, it is provided with various protective mechanisms in order to prevent damage to the magnetic or magneto-optical disk, generation of jamming in the magnetic tape or the recording tape, or inadvertent drawing out of the magnetic tape.
Specifically, to protect the magnetic tape when the magnetic tape cartridge is not loaded to the recording/reproducing apparatus (deck), that is, when the magnetic tape cartridge is stored or being carried about, there are provided a lid covering the front side of the magnetic tape cartridge, and a reel lock mechanism for preventing (locking) rotation of the tape reel (hereinafter simply referred to as the reel) for preventing slackening of the magnetic tape. These will be described below.
First, an ordinary conventional two-reel type magnetic tape cartridge provided with a reel lock member as a reel lock mechanism will be described.
FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of an ordinary conventional magnetic tape cartridge.
As shown in FIG. 16, the case body of a magnetic tape cartridge 100 is formed by joining together an upper half 102 and a lower half 104, and between them (i.e., in the case body), there is accommodated a magnetic tape 108 wound around a supply reel 106a and a take-up reel 106b.
To the front side of the upper half 102, there is mounted a lid (front cover) 110 for covering the magnetic tape 108 when the magnetic tape cartridge 100 is not being used so as to be rotatable around a pin (not shown).
To prevent slackening of the magnetic tape 108 wound around the supply reel 106a and the take-up reel 106b when the magnetic tape cartridge is not being used, there are arranged reel lock (brake) members 112a and 112b in a condition in which they are urged by springs.
Further, provided on the lower half 104 is a lock mechanism (lid lock mechanism described in detail below) which locks the lid 110 so as to prevent it from opening when the magnetic tape cartridge is not being used and which is formed by a lid lock member 124, etc. The lid lock mechanism is usually only provided for one end of the lid 110.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of one end portion (the end portion provided with the lid lock mechanism as described below), which is the right end portion in the example shown. As shown in FIG. 17, a shaft (lid pin) 114 is provided on the inner side of a side surface of the lid 110. Then, the lid 110 is mounted to the upper half 102 so as to be rotatable around the shaft 114 as indicated by the arrow A.
Further, the shaft 114 is provided with a reel lock releasing key 116 in the form of a protrusion. Further, in the side surface of the lid 110, there is provided a hole (lid lock hole) 118 for receiving a component (lid lock key 128 described in detail below) for locking the lid 110 to prevent it from inadvertently opening when the magnetic tape cartridge is not being used.
FIG. 18 is an enlarged perspective view of a reel lock member 112b and components around the same.
As shown in FIG. 18, the central portion of the reel lock member 112b is fitted onto a pin 120 and supported so as to be rotatable around the pin 120; one end portion of it is formed by a wall-like member 113a, and the other end portion thereof is formed by a claw-like member (braking claw) 113b; the braking claw 113b is engaged with an engagement tooth 107 provided in the flange peripheral edge of the reel 106b to thereby regulate the rotation of the reel 106b and prevent the magnetic tape from slackening.
Normally, the reel lock member 112b is urged by a coil spring 122 toward a position where the braking claw 113b is engaged with the engagement tooth 107.
Further, in the vicinity of the reel lock member 112b, a lid lock member 124 is arranged. One end portion 124a of the lid lock member 124 is fitted onto a pin 126 and is thereby anchored. The lid lock member 124 is rotatable around the pin 126, and on the other end portion 124b thereof, there is provided a lid lock key 128 in the form of a protrusion. As shown in FIG. 16, this lid lock key 128 protrudes outwardly through a hole 104a provided in the side wall of the lower half 104, and is engaged with a lid lock hole 118 provided in the side wall of the lid 110 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 to regulate (lock) the lid 110 so as to prevent it from rotating.
As shown in FIG. 18, normally (when the magnetic tape cartridge is not being used), the lid lock member 124 is urged by (the other) end portion of the coil spring 122 urging the reel lock member 112b, and the lid lock key 128 is engaged with the lid lock hole 118 of the lid 110 to thereby lock (brake) the lid 110 so as to prevent it from rotating.
When the magnetic tape cartridge 100 has been loaded to the recording/reproducing apparatus (deck, not shown), a member on the deck side pressurizes the lower portion of the end portion 124b of the lid lock member 124 in the direction indicated by the arrow B of FIG. 18, whereby the end portion 124b of the lid lock member 124 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow C of FIG. 18. This causes the lid lock key 128 to be released from the engagement with the lid lock hole 118 of the lid 110, making the lid 110 rotatable in the direction of the arrow A of FIG. 19.
When the lid 110 thus rotates in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 19, the shaft 114 also rotates in the direction of the arrow A as shown in FIG. 19, whereby the reel lock releasing key 116 provided on the shaft 114 urges a wall-like portion 113a of the reel lock member 112b in the direction of the arrow D. As a result, the reel lock member 112b rotates around the pin 120, and the braking claw 113b provided at one end thereof moves in the direction indicated by the arrow E in FIG. 18, whereby the engagement of the reel 106b with the engagement tooth 107 is released, thereby making the reel 106b rotatable.
Next, a conventional ordinary one-reel type magnetic tape cartridge provided with a reel lock (braking) member as a reel lock mechanism will be described.
FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional magnetic tape cartridge.
A magnetic tape cartridge 204 shown in FIG. 20 includes a case body formed by joining together an upper half 200 and a lower half 202; a magnetic tape 214 is wound around a tape reel (reel) 212 comprised of a reel hub 206 and an upper flange 208 and a lower flange 210 provided on top of and beneath the reel hub 206, and this reel 212 is rotatably accommodated in the case body.
In the outer peripheral edge of the upper flange 208, there are provided engagement teeth 219 adapted to be engaged with braking claws 218a and 218b of reel lock members 216a and 216b arranged on the inner surface of the upper half to regulate the rotation of the reel 212 and prevent slackening of the magnetic tape when the magnetic tape cartridge 204 is not being used. As an example of the reel lock members, the reel lock member 216a will be described. As shown in FIG. 21, it has a cylindrical fitting shaft portion 224 rotatably fitted onto a center rod 222 provided on the inner surface 220 of the upper half 200, and an engagement arm portion 226 and a releasing arm portion 228 extending radially outwards from the outer peripheral surface of the fitting shaft portion 224.
The engagement arm portion 226 is arranged so as to extend along the outer periphery of the upper flange 208 of the reel 212, and the releasing arm portion 228 is arranged so as to face an opening 232 formed in a side wall 230 of the upper half 200. Then, at the forward end of the engagement arm portion 228, there are formed braking claws 218a to be engaged with engagement teeth 219 formed in the outer peripheral edge of the upper flange 208.
In the reel lock member 216a, the braking claws 218a of the engagement arm portion 226 are urged toward the center axis of the upper flange 208 by a torsion spring 236 which is fitted onto the lower portion of the center rod 222 and whose leg portions 234a and 234b respectively abut the side wall 230 of the upper half 200 and the engagement arm portion 226. Due to this arrangement, the braking claws 218a of the reel lock member 216a are urged such that they are normally engaged with engagement teeth of the upper flange 208, whereby rotation of the reel 212 is regulated when the magnetic tape cartridge 204 is not being used, thereby preventing slackening of the magnetic tape.
As to the releasing arm portion 228, when the magnetic tape cartridge 204 is loaded to a recording/reproducing apparatus, a releasing means of this apparatus enters the case body through the opening 232 to pressurize the releasing arm portion 228, and causes the reel lock member 216a to rotate in the direction of the arrow X around the center rod 222, whereby the engagement of the braking claws 218a with the engagement teeth 219 is released.
When the magnetic tape cartridge 204 is extracted from the recording/reproducing apparatus, the pressurization of the releasing arm portion 228 by the above-mentioned releasing means is released, and the reel lock member 216a is rotated around the center rod 222 by the torsion spring 236, whereby the braking claws 218a are engaged with engagement teeth 219, and the rotation of the reel 212 is regulated (braked), thereby preventing slackening of the magnetic tape.
While the reel lock member 216a has been described as an example, the reel lock member 216b also has a similar construction and operations in a similar manner.
Next, a conventional ordinary two-reel type magnetic tape cartridge provided with a reel lock member as a reel lock mechanism of a construction different from that of the magnetic tape cartridge shown in FIG. 16 will be described.
FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of the construction of a conventional ordinary magnetic tape cartridge.
A magnetic tape cartridge 310 shown in FIG. 22 includes a case body which is formed by joining together an upper half 320 and a lower half 322 each having a bottom plate and a peripheral plate; accommodated between them (i.e., in the case body) is a magnetic tape 326 wound around supply and take-up tape reels (reels) 324.
Planar shifting of the reels 324 is regulated by a plurality of regulating ribs provided on the bottom plate 322a of the lower half 322 so as to be along the outer peripheries of the reels. Further, in the bottom plate of the upper half 320, there is provided an opening making it possible to check the winding amount of the magnetic tape 326 on the reels 324, and a transparent window (inspection window) 320a is provided so as to close this opening.
Further, on the inner surface of the upper half 320 (the lower surface in the drawing), a pair of reel urging plate springs (reel presser springs) 338 are provided respectively for the reels. The reel presser springs 338 are fastened to the inner surface of the upper half 320 in a cantilever-like fashion by welding, caulking, screwing, etc., and urge the reels 324 toward the lower half 322.
Mounted to the front surface (the left-hand side in the drawing) of the upper half 320 is a lid for covering and protecting the magnetic tape 326 when the magnetic tape cartridge 310 is not being used. As described below, this lid is composed of three members: an outer lid 330, an upper lid 332, and an inner lid 334, each being mounted so as to be capable of opening and closing an opening 328 of the magnetic tape cartridge.
Tape guides 346 are provided on protrusions 340 on either side of the opening 328 on the front end side (front side in the figure) of the lower half 322. The tape guides 346 guide the magnetic tape 326 fed from one reel 324 and taken up by the other reel 324 and cause the magnetic tape 326 to pass a predetermined position in the opening 328.
Further, mounted to the rear end (the back side in the drawing) of the lower half 322 is a reel lock member (also referred to as the tape reel lock member) having tape reel anchoring arms (hereinafter simply referred to as the anchoring arms) 336a and a slide body portion 336b. The slide body portion 336b is slidably held by a pair of guide ribs provided on the bottom plate 322a of the lower half 322. As described below, this reel lock member 336 is urged by a compression coil spring 342, whereby the anchoring arms 336a are engaged with engagement teeth 324a formed in the outer peripheries of the lower flanges of the reels 324, thereby preventing inadvertent rotation of the reels 324. This helps to prevent slackening, etc. of the magnetic tape 326.
Of the outer lid 330, the upper lid 332, and the inner lid 334 mounted to the upper half 320, the outer lid 330 has a flat portion and a side plate, on the inner side of which there is provided a lock pin 348. Then, a lid lock member 344 for anchoring the lock pin 348 of the outer lid 330 in the closed state is rotatably mounted to a side wall portion 322c which is a part of the peripheral wall of the lower half 322. This lid lock member 344 is urged so as to anchor the lock pin 348 by a lid lock spring (not shown) that is also mounted to the lower half 322.
Further, mounted to the lower half 322 is an erroneous erasure preventing plug 352 for preventing the data recorded on the magnetic tape 326 from being erroneously erased. On one side surface (back side surface in the figure) of the erroneous erasure preventing plug 352, there is provided a claw portion, which, when mounted to the lower half 322, protrudes outwards through an opening provided in the peripheral wall of the upper half 320.
Then, by operating this claw portion from outside, it is possible to move the erroneous erasure preventing plug 352 along a guide rib standing upright on the bottom plate 322a of the lower half 322. With the bottom surface of this erroneous erasure preventing plug 352, it is possible to close and open an inspection hole provided in the bottom plate of the lower half 322; an apparatus, such as a recording apparatus, can read the condition of this inspection hole, making a judgment as to whether it is possible to write new data to the magnetic tape 326.
The lower half 322 has a rectangular bottom plate 322a, which rotatably supports the pair of reels 324 around which the magnetic tape 326 is wound, and which has reel spindle insertion holes 322b for inserting reel spindles (not shown) of the recording/reproducing apparatus into the reels 324 to rotate the reels 324 when the magnetic tape cartridge 310 is loaded to the recording/reproducing apparatus.
Further, the bottom plate 322a has protrusions 340 extending forwardly from the right and left ends; on the right and left protrusions 340, there are provided column-like tape guides 346 which extend vertically from the bottom plate 322a and which guide the magnetic tape 326 stretched between the reels 324 to the front side of the case body (cartridge case) by way of a predetermined route. Between the protrusions 340, the lower half 322 has no bottom plate 322a, forming an opening 328 of the case body.
The upper and lower halves 320 and 322, the outer lid 330, the upper lid 332, the inner lid 334, the upper and lower flanges of the tape reels 324, etc. are formed by injection molding. Apart from these, components formed by injection molding are used in the magnetic tape cartridge 310 as appropriate.
As described above, in the conventional magnetic tape cartridge 100 shown in FIGS. 16 through 19, the same spring (the coil spring 122) is used both as the reel lock spring for urging the reel lock member 112b and as the lid lock spring for urging the lid lock member 124; although this is advantageous from the viewpoint of reducing the number of parts, it involves more work compared with the case where the same spring is used both as the reel lock spring and as the lid lock spring when the assembly of the parts and the separated recovery thereof are taken into account. When the assembly takes a lot of work, the production efficiency deteriorates and the production cost increases. Further, the separated recovery of the parts is a bother, and it is likely that the components are recovered without being re-utilized; they will be destroyed before being disposed of, thus adversely affecting the environment.
Also, in the magnetic tape cartridge 204 having the reel lock mechanism as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, its assembly requires the following complicated operations: the torsion spring 236 is previously fitted onto the center rod 222 with the inner surface of the upper half 200 facing upwards; further, the fitting shaft portion 224 of the reel lock member 216a or 216b is fitted onto the center rod 222, and the leg portions 234a and 234b of the torsion spring 236 are made to respectively abut the side wall 230 of the upper half 200 and the engagement arm portion 226 and, further, the braking claws 218a and 218b are engaged with the engagement teeth 219. Thus, the assembly is by no means easy.
Further, generally speaking, the magnetic tape cartridge is formed as a composite structure in which various metal components and resin components are combined in accordance with the requisite performance and configuration for the components or members. Examples of the synthetic resin used include: (1) resin molding of POM (polyacetal) for components of which wear resistance is required, (2) resin molding of PS (polystyrene) with Si (silicon) added in consideration of cost/performance, and (3) ABS (acrylic-nitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin in consideration of strength, ABS resin with PC (polycarbonate) added thereto, PC, PC with glass fiber added for reinforcement, etc.
For the spring members, etc., various metal materials are used in accordance with the requisite properties for the components. Also, regarding the members or components forming the reel lock mechanism, the reel lock members 216a and 216b, the center rod 222, etc. are formed of a resin material, such as POM, PAR (polyarylate), PC, or ABS resin, whereas the torsion spring 236 is formed of a spring metal material such as SUS (stainless steel). As for the other members, they are formed of synthetic resin, metal, or a composite material of metal and synthetic resin.
Thus, when the conventional magnetic tape cartridge is disassembled after use, and the components are divided into resin materials and metal materials for separate recovery, a rather complicated operation requiring considerable work and cost is involved to effect separate recovery for recycling for each material.
Recently, with increasing environmental awareness, attention has come to be focused on the influence of various wastes such as plastics or composite materials, and it is becoming increasingly important to involve little waste or not to cause contamination of the air, water, and earth even with the disposal, that is, to impose little load on the environment. In view of this, industrial products are required to be of a construction that allows application of recycling system.
In the case of the magnetic tape cartridges as shown in FIGS. 16 through 19 and FIG. 22, most of the components including the case body are formed of plastic, and metal material is only used where relatively large strength is required or where resiliency is required. Specifically, in these magnetic tape cartridges, the urging springs of the reel lock mechanism and the lid lock mechanism, that is, the reel lock springs and the lid lock springs, are formed of metal from the viewpoint of durability.
However, when disposing of such a magnetic tape cartridge after use, it is necessary to disassemble the magnetic tape cartridge and to extract the metal springs; this operation requires manpower.

Recording tape cartridge with reel lock member


The image data corresponding to an image is separated into areas corresponding to contents of the image. The image data in each of the area is subjected to an image processing specific to the content of the image. The image types are, for example, a character, a photograph, color, and presence of halftone. The image processing are, for example, gamma correction, color conversion, and gradation processing. The processed image data is then transferred to an external device via network.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology for transmitting image data from an image reading device, such as a scanner, to an information processing terminal, such as a personal computer.
2) Description of the Related Art
It is now common to connect the image processing apparatuses to a network and use the image processing apparatuses from a computer (hereinafter, "PC") connected to a network. For example, some multifunction devices (devices that include the functions of copying machine, printer, scanner etc.), have a function to distribute image data read by a scanner to a PC connected to the multifunction device via the network.
This function is generally called a scanner distribution function and is disclosed in detail in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-333026. In the scanner distribution function, scanning conditions are set via a copying machine or a PC, scanning is performed based on the set conditions, the image data obtained by the scanning is processed, and the image data processed is sent to the PC. This application discloses to send RGB (Red-Green-Blue) data in a scan box so that the PC can access the data in the scan box and display the RGB data.
Until the destination is a computer, display of the RGB data is possible. However, if the destination is other than the computer, say, printer, YMCK (Yellow-Magenta-Cian-blacK) data is required. This has been disclosed in detail in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-333026.
It is also common to send image data from a scanner to a PC. In that case, a processing shown in FIG. 23 is performed. Namely, the image data is subjected to scanner y correction, standard RGB (hereinafter, "sRGB") conversion, and finally converted into a format suitable to the destination, such as a PC.
Thus, conventionally, when sending the image data to the destination, the image data is processed or converted into a format suitable to the destination.

Image processing apparatus for transmitting image data to an external device


A method/system for controlling helicopter vibrations is provided that includes a vibration canceling force generator for actively generating a vibration canceling force. The system includes a resonant actuator having a natural resonant frequency and a resonant actuator electronic control system. The resonant actuator electronic control system provides an electrical drive current to the resonant actuator to drive the resonant actuator about the resonant frequency when commanded by a received command signal. The resonant actuator has a feedback output with the feedback output fed back into the resonant actuator electronic control system wherein the resonant actuator electronic control system adjusts the electrical drive current based on the resonant actuator feedback output to generate the vibration canceling force.

Helicopter vibrations are particularly troublesome in that they can cause fatigue and wear on the equipment and occupants in the aircraft. In vehicles such as helicopters, vibrations are particularly problematic in that they can damage the actual structure and components that make up the vehicle in addition to the contents of the vehicle.
There is a need for a system and method of accurately and economically canceling vehicle vibrations. There is a need for a system and method of accurately and economically controlling vibrations. There is a need for an economically feasible method of controlling vibrations in a helicopter so that the vibrations are efficiently cancelled and minimized. There is a need for a robust system of controlling vibrations in a helicopter so that the vibrations are efficiently cancelled and minimized. There is a need for an economic method/system for controlling problematic helicopter vibrations.

Method and system for controlling helicopter vibrations


A hand exercising device with selectively adjustable strength includes a first and second handle pivotably coupled with a spring biased between them, the spring pivotably coupled to the first handle, and a spring positioner coupled to an end of the spring configured to be selectively positioned among a plurality of grooves within the second handle.

The present disclosure is related to hand exercisers. More specifically, the present disclosure is related to adjustable strength hand exercisers.
A hand exercising device, or hand exerciser, is a type of exercise equipment that may be used to strengthen the muscles involved in a hand grip, such as muscles in the hand, wrist, or forearm. The hand exercising device may be used to train muscle strength by the repetitive closure of the device against a resistive force, such as a spring. For example, a hand exercise device may comprise a pair of handles coupled with a compressible spring biased between them. The spring provides a resistive force which is compressed by squeezing the handles, and the spring is relaxed by releasing the handles. Thus, a user may apply a force to overcome the resilient force of the spring and exercise the hand. However, many hand exerciser devices provide a single strength and are not selectively adjustable, or provide adjusting mechanisms that have ambiguous strength levels or are difficult to use.


A new poinsettia plant particularly distinguished by a medium early flowering season, medium vigor, with medium to large bracts, thick and upright v-shaped stems and a brilliant bract color is disclosed.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of poinsettia plant, botanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima (Willd.) and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'NPCW08153'. The new cultivar is the result of a natural pollination between the female parent poinsettia plant 'NPCW04097' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,870) and an unnamed male poinsettia plant conducted in December 2004 in Kenya.
The new cultivar has been asexually reproduced over six generations by vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany starting in April 2007. The cultivar has proved to be stable and uniform. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.
Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied for in Canada on Dec. 10, 2007. 'NPCW08153' has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to filing of this application.


A power-on-reset circuit includes a plurality of MOS transistors and a first depletion type N-channel MOS transistor connected in series to an input terminal of a current mirror circuit. A capacitor is connected between the input terminal and a voltage supply terminal. A second depletion type N-channel MOS transistor having a low current driving capacity is connected to an output terminal of the current mirror circuit. The degree of integration can be increased by constituting an integrating circuit with depletion type N-channel MOS transistors in place of a resistor. In addition, the voltage supply voltage is compared to the sum of the threshold voltage of the plurality of MOS transistors. This makes it possible to initialize the internal circuit positively even if the rise time of the voltage supply voltage becomes larger than the time constant of the integrating circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power-on-reset circuit, and more specifically to a power-on-reset circuit which can particularly used in a CMOS integrated circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
As the power-on-reset circuit of the prior art, for example, the circuit having a structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. Sho 61-296817 has been well known. The power-on-reset circuit shown in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. Sho 61-296817 is so constituted that an integrating circuit constituted of a resistor and a capacitor is connected in series between a voltage supply terminal and the ground, and an inverter circuit is connected at its input to a node between the resistor and the capacitor and at its output to an output terminal.
Now, an operation of the power-on-reset circuit of the prior art will be described.
Before a voltage is applied to the voltage supply terminal, the output of the inverter circuit is at a low level.
When a voltage is applied to the voltage supply terminal in this condition, the voltage at the node between the resistor and the capacitor rises up at a speed determined by a time constant expressed by the product of the resistance value and the capacitance value of the integrating circuit constituted of the resistor and the capacitor, respectively. In addition, if the potential at the node exceeds a threshold of the inverter circuit, the inverter circuit effects a reverse operation. Thus, the potential of the output terminal brought into a high level from the moment of a powering-on, only for a period determined by a time constant of the integrating circuit, and therefore, a reset signal is outputted only for this period.
As mentioned above, the conventional power-on-reset circuit outputs the reset signal only for a period determined by a time constant of the integrating circuit constituted of a resistor and a capacitor. Therefore, if it is desired to prolong the reset signal output period, it is necessary to use a large resistor having a high resistance value and a large capacitor having a high capacitance value. Thus, a high-integration of the CMOS circuit has been difficult.
Further, a rise time of the supply voltage may be larger than a time constant of the integrating circuit. In this case, the potential at the node is always equal to the supply voltage. Therefore, the output of the inverter circuit is always at a low level, and so, a reset signal is not outputted at the output terminal.


In a multifunction electronic connector, spring loaded contacts are eliminated in favor of conductive bonds or terminations using solder, conductive adhesive, conductive epoxy or the like. Electronic components, which may comprise capacitors, resistors, inductors, varistor components or other passive or active components or combinations thereof, are disposed within cavities in an insulating housing so that terminals at first ends thereof are in direct contact with and are conductively bonded to a plurality of contacts disposed within apertures in the housing. At the same time, terminals at the opposite ends of the components also make direct contact with and are conductively bonded to a terminal member mounted at the bottom of the body. Where the circuit configurations of the connector require, the ends of the contacts are formed into contact tails which extend into contact with and are conductively bonded to other portions of the terminal member. The terminal member may comprise a planar substrate which is generally parallel with the contacts, and the portion thereof in contact with the lower terminals of the electronic components may comprise an electrical grounding member. Alternatively, the grounding member may comprise a separate ground plane soldered or otherwise conductively bonded to the substrate and having compliant beams extending upwardly therefrom and into contact with the lower terminals of the electronic components.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly to connectors in which electronic components such as chip capacitors are coupled in circuit with a plurality of contacts so as to provide the connector with capacitive filters or the like.
2. History of the Prior Art
Electronic connectors are well known and are widely used in a variety of different electrical connection applications. Typically, such connectors include an insulative body which mounts a plurality of contacts in conjunction with electrical components such as capacitors or other such components. Where capacitors are used, such components which may comprise electronic chip capacitors are coupled in circuit with the contacts to form capacitive filters. The connector may be assembled within a plug cover together with a plug assembly having a plurality of spring contacts to form an integral plug connector for various electrical and electronic connection applications.
In electronic connectors of the type described, electrical interconnections of the capacitors or other electronic components with the contacts of the connector are typically accomplished using resilient spring contacts or other interconnections. The components may be connected by leads extending from the component to the associated contact and to an adjacent ground plane or other ground member on a substrate. The chips may be assembled onto individual contacts to form contact subassemblies, with the subassemblies then being inserted into connector assemblies with internal or integral ground planes. Alternatively, contacts may be installed perpendicularly into one or more substrate capacitors to make a contact/substrate assembly which is installed and grounded into a connector shell.
Electronic connectors of this type enjoy various advantages over connectors of earlier and more rudimentary design. Such advantages derive from features such as the relocation of the electronic components from the system boards of prior arrangements into the connector envelope. Unwanted electrical signals are more effectively controlled at the connector interface rather than within the system, and this reduces or eliminates the need for redundant protective components. Such connector arrangements permit the use of different components to achieve different functions. Typically, such connectors utilize an insulative housing or body, the outside surface of which may be metallized to improve protection from radiated EMI/RFI. In some cases, the designs may allow for fully automated assembly, testing, packaging and integration with a customer's system.
Examples of prior art electronic connectors are provided by U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,054 of Briones et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,250 of Briones, U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,342 of Briones, U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,699 of Pfeifer, U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,041 of Yu et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,253 of Swift, U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,522 of Kojima, U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,482 of Tan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,354 of Crane et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,743 of Farrar et al. These patents show that it is well known to incorporate an electronic component, such as a chip filter capacitor, between a contact and a ground plane within a connector. The patents illustrate the many different approaches that have been taken to implement electronic connectors of this type. However, with a few exceptions, such connector arrangements rely on spring-loaded elements to make electrical contact between the component and the associated electrical contact or ground plane.
Typical of the prior art electronic connector arrangements requiring spring-loaded or resilient elements to achieve electrical interconnection is the '054 patent of Briones et al. In the described arrangement, the electronic components require spring biasing force from tabs on the ground spring to maintain electrical contact with the connector contacts and with the ground spring. The ground springs are on outer surfaces of an insulator housing, and the ground path for all components is through the ground springs to flanges at each end of the connector. The ground path varies according to component location. A shell is provided by the ground springs or other separate conductive components. The contacts and the ground plane or ground springs are terminated in separate operations. The ground spring flanges are sandwiched between an insulator housing flange and a mating connector or other electrical device. The insulator housing is comprised of two or more components, and accommodates a single electronic component in each cavity therein. Consequently, the connector assembly has five components, plus contacts, and the electronic components.
Principally due to the need for resilient or spring-loaded contacts in many prior art connector arrangements, such as that exemplified by the '054 patent of Briones et al., such connector arrangements tend to be complex, difficult to assemble, and expensive overall. For example, contacts which are resilient or spring-loaded are typically more expensive to manufacture than are non-resilient contact members. Moreover, the use of spring-loaded or resilient interconnections increases the number of component parts required in the connector assembly. This adds to the expense and the difficulty of assembly of the connector. Moreover, the lack of direct contact between basic components such as the terminals of the electronic components and the contacts and the ground planes or other conductive members often produces certain electrical problems which may require compensation, at added complexity and expense.
Consequently, it would be desirable to provide an improved electronic connector of relatively simple, reliable and inexpensive design. It would further be desirable to provide a connector having fewer parts than the typical connector arrangements of the prior art, and one in which relatively inexpensive non-resilient members may be used. Still further advantages could be derived from an improved electronic connector in which the nature of the interconnection of the component parts thereof provides for increased reliability and more consistent performance.


Systems and methods for generating calm or quiet routes are provided. When a user requests navigation directions and indicates a preference for a calm route, a plurality of routes between the origin location and the destination location requested by the user may be identified. Historical sensor data (e.g., including heart rate data, exterior vehicle noise level data, accelerometer data) and traffic data associated with route segments of each of the routes may be analyzed to identify indications of calmness associated with each route segment. Current traffic data associated with the route segments may be analyzed to assign a traffic score representing a level of congestion along the segment and corresponding to a level of insurance risk associated with traversing the segment. Based at least in part upon the indications of calmness and the traffic score associated with each route segment, a route may be selected and presented to the user.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in the background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
While current navigation applications may generate vehicle routes that provide the fastest or shortest drive between an origin location and a destination location, current navigation applications typically do not account for driver stress level when generating a route. However, certain vehicle routes may be particularly stressful for some drivers. For example, certain routes, such as, e.g., loud routes, congested routes, routes with large numbers of lanes, routes including uneven terrain, etc., may be stressful for certain drivers. However, as a driver's stress level rises, he or she may be more likely to get into a vehicle accident.