An apparatus for manufacturing gusseted bulk bag liners having a continuous web of gusseted bulk bag liner material, wherein the continuous web is advanced along a predetermined path, includes four simultaneous cutting and resealing apparatus that engage longitudinally extending fold lines of the continuous web during the movement of the web. The simultaneous cutting and sealing apparatuses are moved transversely to the direction of movement of the web of gusseted bulk bag liner material in accordance with a predetermined program, thereby forming a gusseted bulk bag liner comprising a sidewall, a top wall, a bottom, an inlet chute and discharge chute.

Flexible intermediate bulk containers, commonly referred to as bulk bags, are widely used throughout industry to receive, store, transport and discharge a wide variety of flowable materials. By way of example, bulk bags are commonly used in conjunction with grains and other foodstuffs; fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and other agricultural chemicals; raw and prepared minerals and chemicals used as primary materials and intermediate materials in various industrial applications, etc. Over the years bulk bags have been manufactured from a variety of materials and in numerous shapes and sizes.
At the present time, most bulk bags are manufactured from woven polypropylene fabric, and are generally rectangular in cross-sectional configuration. Woven polypropylene fabric has proven to be desirable in the manufacture of bulk bags for a variety of reasons. These include: (1) woven polypropylene material is easily acquired and relatively economical to use; (2) woven polypropylene material has proven to be a relatively high strength, relatively light weight material for the construction of bulk bags; (3) woven polypropylene material is readily adapted to relatively economical manufacturing processes, including conventional sewing procedures utilizing industrial-type sewing machines and various adhesive joining techniques.
Although the use of woven polypropylene material in the construction of bulk bags has generally been found to be highly advantageous relative to the use of other available materials for such purpose, one drawback has consistently characterized the use of woven polypropylene as the preferred material for the construction of bulk bags. Being woven, woven polypropylene has interstices between the polypropylene strands which are used to weave the material. Also, when bulk bags are constructed by a means of sewing operations, interstices are formed by the stitches of the seams comprising the bulk bag. Due to these interstices, certain materials, for example, talc, tend to sift out of bulk bags. For this reason, it has become common practice to utilize liners within the basic bulk bag construction to prevent material contained therein from sifting through the woven polypropylene fabric comprising the bulk bag, and through the sewn seams which are utilized in constructing the bulk bag.
Over the years, bulk bag liners have been manufactured from a variety of materials and have been provided in a variety of configurations. One very popular type comprises a gusseted liner. A gusseted bulk bag liner comprises a pair of opposed, substantially planar panels which are interconnected by a pair of inwardly folded (gusseted) panels which, when extended, combine with the originally flat panels to provide a cross-sectional configuration which is matched to the interior dimensions of the bulk bag with which the liner will be used. However, since gusseted bulk bag liners are generally uniform in cross-sectional configuration along the entire length thereof, the opposite ends of the liner do not fit properly through the inlet chute and outlet spout of the bulk bag. In some instances, the material of the liner so fills the inlet chute and the outlet spout that the receipt of and subsequent discharge of flowable materials into and out of the bulk bag are hampered.
Heretofore, various attempts have been made to provide bulk bag liners having cross-sectional configurations which are matched to those of the bulk bag with which they will be used. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,472 granted Nov. 1, 1988 to Custom Packaging Systems, Inc. of Manistee, Mich. shows a bulk bag liner which is allegedly matched to the configuration of the bulk bag with which it is used. Notwithstanding this and other attempts to provide bulk bag liners that are matched in cross-sectional configuration to corresponding bulk bags, a need exists for economically providing bulk bag liners which have cross-sectional configurations closely matched to corresponding bulk bags.
The present invention comprises an improved gusseted bulk bag liner and method of manufacture thereof which fulfills the foregoing and other requirements of the bulk bag industry. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, a continuous web of gusseted bulk bag liner material comprising opposed planar panels and opposed inwardly folded (gusseted) panels connected by longitudinally extending sidewall fold lines is advanced along a predetermined path. As the gusseted bulk bag liner material moves along the predetermined path it is engaged by four apparatuses which simultaneously cut and reseal the sidewall folds, thereby forming the gusseted bulk bag liner material into a predetermined cross-sectional configuration which closely matches the cross-sectional configuration of the bulk bag in which the liner will be employed.
More particularly, the particular gusseted bulk bag liner to be formed is characterized by a series of width, length and angular dimensions defining a discharge spout portion, a first transition portion, a main body portion, a second transition portion, and an inlet chute portion of the gusseted bulk bag liner to be formed. Such dimensions comprise a program which is stored in the memory of a central processor unit which is utilized to control the cutting of the gusseted bulk bag liner material as it travels along the predetermined path. The movement of the gusseted bulk bag liner material along the predetermined path is monitored to determine both the speed of movement of the gusseted bulk bag liner material and the amount of material advanced. Four simultaneous cutting and resealing apparatuses are each identified with one of the longitudinally extending sidewall fold lines of the gusseted bulk bag liner material. The cutting and simultaneous resealing apparatuses are moved inwardly and outwardly in accordance with the advance of the material as determined by the stored program. By this means there is formed a preformed gusseted bulk bag liner having the predetermined width, length and angular dimensions which characterize each of the zones of the desired gusseted bulk bag liner.

Gusseted bulk bag liner and method of manufacture


A thin type fuse of the present invention has a structure in which each tip portion of a pair of lead conductors is put out from one side of an insulating substrate film on to the other side thereof so as to keep watertightness, the tip portions of the lead conductors on the other side of the insulating substrate film are connected by a fuse element, and the other side of the insulating substrate film is covered with an insulating covering film which is in contact with the fuse element. The contact of the fuse element with the insulating covering film is surface contact and a flux is filled around said contact surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thin type fuse.
2. Description of the Related Art
Although current fuses and thermal fuses are widely used as members to protect electrical devices, thinning of these fuses is required for mounting space savings.
Therefore, a thin type fuse has been proposed in Examined Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei. 7-95419. As shown in FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B (a diagram of B--B cross section specified in FIG. 4A), and FIG. 4C (an underside view), swollen portions 21' and 21' are formed in the tip portions of a pair of band-like lead conductors 2' and 2' and put out from one side of plastic insulating substrate film 1' on to the other side thereof so as to keep watertightness, the tip portions of the lead conductors on the other side of said insulating substrate film 1' are connected by fuse element 3', which is covered with flux layer 5', and insulating covering film 4' is allowed to adhere to the other side of insulating substrate film 1' with flux layer 5' covered.
This thin type fuse has the following advantages. The introduction of the thin type fuse makes it possible to simplify the manufacturing process because of fewer stages in the process. In addition, the contact surface of the insulating substrate film with the insulating covering film is a flat surface without intervention of other members between these films and both films are bonded to each other at the contact surface by welding or with adhesives to easily keep excellent sealing properties against inner pressure produced by expansion of the flux on fuse-blowing, which makes it possible to protect a mist from flying in all directions.
A current fuse or thermal fuse works when the fuse element reaches its melting point by Joule heat stemming from an overcurrent or by overheating from the outside, thus to fuse. On the other hand, these fuses are required not to work by transient pulse currents developed on on-off switching.
The results of tests carried out by the present inventor indicate, however, that in the above-mentioned thin type fuse, transient pulse current-flow repeated a large number of times causes a change in fusing characteristics or breaking of wire, depending on the distortion of the fuse elements, so that use of this thin type fuse may lead to restriction of service conditions.


In a position determining system that includes a position determining component such as a GPS receiver, and a controller, the system is made geographically dependent by providing a memory with geographic information to which position information from the position determining component is compared to determine whether the system is being used outside the permissible geographic region.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) and the associated receivers are widely used in survey applications. A high precision high accuracy survey system consists of one or more GPS receivers commonly called "rovers" plus an associated set of reference stations that produce additional measurements for use by the rovers. The method of position determination in which the rovers are supplied with and use these measurements in real time, to determine their position relative to a specified reference location is commonly known as the Real-Time-Kinematic method (RTK.) Alternatively, another popular method for high accuracy position determination collects the measurement data from the reference stations and from the rovers and performs a post-measurement process to provide an accurate position relative to the reference location.
A common concern in marketing and sales is the question of price structures. In order to address the different economic strengths of different countries and communities it is desirable to provide for different sales prices. This, however, creates the risk of grey market goods being imported into higher cost regions from low cost regions. The present invention seeks to address this concern.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for restricting the use of position determining devices to defined regions


A system and method has one or more store and forward facilities, (SAFF) each associated with a plurality of subscriber facsimile machines. The SAFF include a computer for controlling operations and mass data storage equipment. A subscriber to the system delivers an outgoing facsimile message to the SAFF with which it is associated, which records the fax message, together with data as to originating facsimile machine and destination facsimile machine. The SAFF then delivers the facsimile message to the intended receiver facsimile machine, either directly or through another SAFF. If unsuccessful on an initial attempt, the SAFF periodically retries to send the facsimile message. The system also provides spooling of all facsimile messages for an intended receiver machine, which are all spooled upon connection with the receiver machine. Subscriber mailboxes are provided as part of the mass storage, which can be accessed by a subscriber to have his messages delivered to any facsimile machine he designates. Secure facsimile transmission is achieved through use of subscriber PIN numbers. Broadcasting redirecting messages and cost accounting can also be achieved by the system and method. After receipt of a message by the subscriber, the system may provide an immediate-reply service, allowing the recipient to immediately send out a message selected from a reply service menu. The system can also be used in cooperation with a paperless facsimile machine which directly displays the facsimile message on a screen and is capable of entering outgoing facsimile messages to the SAFF. The system can convert the received fax message into voice mail message and direct the converted voice message to a voice mailbox as instructed by the message sender or recipient.

The electronic transmission of documents by way of facsimile (fax) systems employing public and private switched telephone networks has become both commonplace and, often, an essential component in many business activities. In such a setting, it is very common for the fax terminals (fax machines) to be kept quite busy during a major fraction of the business day. Moreover, where sender and recipient are in different time zones, the "business day" can approach 24 hours, particularly in international activities. It is common for fax users to "broadcast" documents to a number of different recipients, that is, send the same message to several different fax machines. It is also true that the contents of some faxed documents are of such a sensitive nature that the originator or addressee would like to have a measure of control over who might see those documents as they move from the receiving machine to the hands of the actual addressee.
These circumstances present a number of practical problems for a fax user. In order to make a successful fax transmission it is necessary that the receiving machine be available at the time that the transmitting machine attempts to contact it. If the receiving machine is already in use handling another message, the transmitter will receive a "busy" signal. The originator's only recourse is to continue initiating telephone calls until contact can be established. This is a "hit or miss" process at best and can be very wasteful of the originating operator's time.
Some, rather expensive, fax machines have digital memories which will allow them to memorize the document to be transmitted and to be programmed to make multiple redials in an effort to establish contact in an automatic way. However, this is limited to only one or two documents and, more importantly, it ties up the transmitting machine until the effort is successful or abandoned. This is hardly an acceptable solution if that machine has other documents to send or receive.
There are other conditions which can result in a failure to transmit even though a telephone connection has been established. Perhaps the most common of these is the absence of paper in the receiving machine. In such situations, repeated attempts to "redial" will lead to repeated toll charges with each attempt, with no actual success until the receiving machine is serviced (which may be some time if the machine is operating unattended because it is nighttime half-way around the world).
Busy machines which are destined to receive messages are affected by the converse problem. Since they and the prospective transmitting machines must engage in (perhaps, automated) "telephone tag", they are used very inefficiently. When a transmitting machine gets a busy signal, even if it automatically redials, it can only guess at when the receiving machine will be available. Thus, the receiving machine will likely remain idle for some fraction of the time until such an attempt is made.
The practice of broadcasting documents to a number of addressees obviously compounds these problems and adds still others of its own. Even if one does not encounter busy signals or impaired machines, convenient broadcasting demands an expensive memory-type fax machine on the transmitting end. Such machines read in the document once and then proceed to automatically dial the various recipient machines. This process ties up the sending machine and its telephone line and makes them unavailable for incoming calls. This, of course, exacerbates the busy signal problem for those units trying to contact the sending machine.
The security of sensitive documents is still another problem. Once contact is established between two fax machines, the transmission of the document proceeds automatically, irrespective of who may be standing by the receiving machine at the time. In a busy office, the contents of these documents are accessible to the fax operator and anyone else who happens to be in the vicinity.
It is also common for individuals to wish to deliver fax documents to a recipient who is not currently available through a known machine (e.g. a person on a business trip). This is a very inconvenient situation in that it requires that the paper documents be held until the traveler phones in from a remote machine. It further requires that there be someone available at that time who has knowledge of and access to the documents intended for the recipient.
Another concern is related to so-called paperless fax terminals. In recent years, paperless fax techniques allow a computer or a micro-processor equipped with specific software and modem to directly transmit and receive facsimile messages. However, it is also very common that the recipient is not in his or her office (the paperless fax terminal may also be located at home) at the time when fax message is coming. For example, the recipient is out to lunch or otherwise absent from his or her office or home. This requires the sender to retry the communication message delivery again and again if there is no other fax machine available in the office.
Still another concern is adequate accounting control over the billing of calls. Typically, many businesses wish to be able to track the costs of both fax machine use and the associated telephone charges. While telephone charges can be ascertained from telephone company records, in the present environment these must be related to records of the number of pages transmitted per call and so forth, separately maintained by the fax machine or its attendants.

Facsimile telecommunications system and method


Apparatus and method are disclosed for receiving human input by means of a pointing device, typically a strain gauge. Three dimensions of input are received from a resistor bridge by means of four contact points to the strain gauge. A sequence of excitation signals is applied to the bridge and a multiplexer is employed to permit a signal processor to sample sensor outputs. The apparatus processes the sampled outputs and determines the user inputs such as X and Y and Z values of the pointing device.

The invention relates generally to pointing devices and relates more particularly to pointing devices having Z-axis functionality.
With the widespread adoption of graphical user interfaces, it has become very important to provide pointing devices so that users can provide inputs that cause motion of a cursor on a screen. While mice and other rodents are in common use, many users now prefer stick pointers and touch pads, typically integrated into a computer. The typical stick pointer is a button located in the middle of the keyboard, connected mechanically to a strain gauge. Circuitry detects signals developed in the strain gauge to derive X and Y information regarding lateral force applied to the gauge by the user through the button.
The typical strain gauge is essentially a resistor bridge, the resistances of which are affected by forces in the bulk material of the gauge. Assuming that cost, power consumption and physical bulk are no object, then it is a straightforward matter to provide excitation signals to nodes of the bridge and to detect voltages at other nodes of the bridge. The detected voltages can be provided to one or more analog-to-digital convertors of arbitrarily high speed, accuracy and precision for further processing.
A stick pointer sensor is conveniently connected to its electronics by means of a flexible sensor cable, which offers the great advantage that the sensor and the electronics do not need to be close to each other. Such a cable is, however, a significant contributing source of noise and drift in the system, due to its relatively great length (several inches) and, therefore, the ability to pick up noise and RFI (radio frequency interference) from nearby circuitry and from other sources such as cellular telephones.
For the designer of circuitry attached to the gauge, however, there are many competing design goals. It is desired to minimize component count outside of any integrated circuits, to minimize assembly cost. It is desired to have immunity to any of a number of sources of noise and drift. In recent years, as computers have become smaller and lighter in weight, it is important to make the circuitry small and light in weight. The trend toward smaller and lighter computers also prompts the computer designer to minimize battery size and weight, thus forcing the pointing device circuitry designer to try to minimize power consumption Despite all of these constraints it is also desired that the pointing device be very accurate. Approaches for such pointing devices may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,359, issued Jan. 16, 2001, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,938, incorporated herein by reference.
These constraints and goals make the design of the pointing device system very challenging. One skilled in the art may then appreciate that yet another design goal has presented itself in recent yearsxe2x80x94allowing the stick pointer to perform not only as a pointer (provider of X-Y data) but also as a left mouse button (provider of Z data). When this design goal is added to the many goals and constraints discussed above, the design task is extremely challenging.
It is desirable, then, to provide a pointing device having reduced component count, Z-axis functionality, with acceptable noise rejection and signal-to-noise ratio, programmable gain, and high isolation from power supply noise.
Apparatus and method are disclosed for receiving human input by means of a pointing device, typically a strain gauge. Three dimensions of input are received from a resistor bridge by means of four contact points to the strain gauge. A sequence of excitation signals is applied to the bridge and a multiplexer is employed to permit a signal processor to sample sensor outputs. The apparatus processes the sampled outputs and determines the user inputs such as X and Y and Z values of the pointing device.

Pointing device with Z-axis functionality and reduced component count


A convenient easy-to-maneuver assembly provides a user-friendly gardening center, work bench and cart. The assembly can be readily arranged to fit the needs of the user. The preferred assembly features a table with an ergonomic handle, a wheeled base, and strong composite posts comprising metal tubes encased within impact-resistant plastic sleeves. Preferably, the versatile assembly has interchangeable modules or inserts, such as bins, grates and cutting boards, which can be placed on the table and function as shelves between panels or walls that extend between the base and table. For further capacity and versatility, the assembly can have a superstructure comprising a riser shelf that is positioned above the table.

This invention pertains to gardening and, more particularly to a cart for use in gardening.
Gardening is very popular throughout North America and the rest of the world. Some gardeners enjoy growing flowers. Other gardeners enjoy raising fruits, vegetables and various plants. Many gardeners carry gardening gloves and hand tools such as hand shovels, hand spades, hand hoes, hand weeders, pruning shears, scissors, snippers, etc. Gardeners often carry bags of potting soil, fertilizer, seed, etc., as well as sprinkling cans. Some gardeners carry cushions or seats.
Carrying all this garden equipment is cumbersome, awkward and bulky. It often requires many trips. In an effort to alleviate this problem, various totes, trays, crates and boxes have been used. Totes, crates, trays and boxes generally have limited capacity, carry few items and have a tendency to break, collapse and wear out. Metal wheelbarrows can be used but have a tendency to tip and spill their contents. Metal red wagons have also been used but with only limited success. Wheelbarrows and metal red wagons can rust and are not practical for long term storage or organization of gardening materials. Wooden carts are usually overly large, bulky, and awkward. Wooden carts can be flimsy and have a tendency to warp and sometimes tip over. Stationary metal shelving units and cabinets can be useful for storing various articles but are not generally portable or transportable nor particularly adapted for gardening tools and materials.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide an improved assembly for carrying gardening equipment and other materials, which overcomes most, if not all, of the preceding problems.


An apparatus includes first and second coupling devices each having a lever end, a gripping end, and an elongated slot: an axle disposed within the elongated slot of each coupling device where the coupling devices may pivot relative to each other about the axle: a threaded shaft operatively attached to both a bushing pivotally disposed at the first coupling device lever end and a threaded seat pivotally disposed at the second coupling device lever end and configured to advance the lever ends toward each other as the threaded shaft is rotated in a first direction; and a pair of latches rotatably attached to a respective gripping end of a respective coupling device, each latch having a distal toe plate configured to engage a circumference of one of a pair of washers, the apparatus configured to tighten or loosen the pair of washers by imparting opposite rotational forces to the washers.

Helical or spiral washers are commonly used in pairs to preload threaded fittings on hydraulic actuators. Each washer has a flat surface, a helical surface, and notches along the outer circumference. The helical faces of the washers allow a preload force to be imparted on the threaded components with which they are assembled. Typically, two washers are installed with their helical faces opposing each other. As the washers are rotated in opposite directions against each other, the outer flat surfaces generate a preload force that prevents backlash during through-zero cyclic loading. This preload must be greater than the load generated by the actuator during test cycles to prevent backlash in the load linkage.
Tightening and loosening spiral washers can be labor intensive and time consuming on tests that use many hydraulic actuators. Specially designed spanner wrenches, one per spiral washer, are typically recommended for tightening or loosening the washers. Often the task has been accomplished using impact devices on the spanner wrenches, often resulting in damage to the washer and or the wrench. Such methods do not allow regulation of the amount of preload force applied to the threaded fasteners by the washers.
Although other techniques exist, all prove ineffective on the shop floor due to the magnitude of the forces required, the lack of a method to apply forces simultaneously to each washer, and the lack of a good way to hold one washer "still" while applying wrench forces on the other.


A method for controlling a medical apparatus includes identifying at least one object and at least one part of a user's body; capturing the position, movement and/or alignment of the identified part of the body and the identified object; and controlling at least one apparatus using a corresponding predetermined command, if predetermined criteria for the identity of the object and/or part of the body and its position, movement and/or alignment are fulfilled. A device for controlling a medical apparatus includes an identifying device which identifies parts of a user's body and objects; a capture device which captures the position, movement and/or alignment of the identified parts of the body and objects; and a control device which controls at least one apparatus using a corresponding predetermined command, if predetermined criteria for the identity of the object and/or part of the body and its position, movement and/or alignment are fulfilled.

In modern surgery, medical equipment is increasingly used to simplify the workflow and activities to be performed, not least in order to improve the success of a treatment. Operating such apparatus is however very complex, and inexperienced staff in particular are often out of their depth operating such apparatus. In the otherwise highly regimented workflow of operations which are to be performed, often under time pressure, this often leads to problems. These problems have hitherto been met by extensively training the medical staff in the equipment used and by using checklists, which however is very time-consuming.

Method and device for controlling apparatus


Provided herein are methods and apparatuses for filling features metal-containing materials. One aspect of the disclosure relates to a method for filling structures with a metal-containing material, the method including: providing a structure to be filled with a metal-containing material, exposing the structure to multiple deposition cycles, with each deposition cycle including exposure to one or more alternating reducing agent (e.g. hydrogen (H2)) dose/inert gas purge pulses pulse followed by exposure to one or more alternating metal precursor dose pulses and inert gas purge pulses. The metal may be tungsten (W) or molybdenum (Mo) in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the structure is a partially fabricated (3-D) NAND structure. Apparatuses to perform the methods are also provided.

Deposition of tungsten-containing materials is an integral part of many semiconductor fabrication processes. These materials may be used for horizontal interconnects, vias between adjacent metal layers, and contacts between metal layers and devices. In a conventional tungsten deposition process, the substrate is heated to the process temperature in a vacuum chamber and a very thin portion of tungsten film that serves as a seed layer (also called a nucleation layer) is deposited. Thereafter, the remainder of the tungsten film (referred to as the bulk layer) is deposited on the nucleation layer by exposing the substrate to two reactants simultaneously in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. The bulk layer is generally deposited more rapidly than the nucleation layer. However, as devices shrink and more complex patterning schemes are utilized in the industry, deposition of thin tungsten films becomes a challenge. Deposition in complex high aspect ratio structures such as 3D NAND structures is particularly challenging.

Method of depositing tungsten and other metals in 3D NAND structures


A slotless motor has a sufficiently small gap between a stator and a rotor, and improves characteristics of the torque and the power factor. Accordingly, the slotless motor comprises stator cores having no slots, coils forming revolving magnetic fields in the stator cores, and rotors having a permanent magnet. The coils are disposed along the stator cores cylindrically and constructed in one layer. Each of the coils forms a part which decreases the distribution of the number of turns in the direction of a diameter of the stator cores, and adjoining coils pile on each other at the part in the direction of the diameter of the stator cores. The distribution changes in response to a predetermined range.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a slotless motor with coils which form revolving magnetic fields in stator cores having no slots.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND
A slotless motor can suppress electromagnetic noise and torque ripples of harmonic magnetic fluxes caused by stator slots. Because of that suppression ability, it is hoped to utilize the slotless motor for apparatuses in which low-noise and low-torque ripples are needed. The slotless motor is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application (Kokai) No. 1-252134 and Japanese Publication Patent Application (Kokoku), No. 57-21932.
By the way, in the slotless motor, a gap between a stator and a rotor has a great influence on the characteristics of the slotless motor. Generally, as leakage fluxes increase in response to the size of the gap, output torque falls and a power factor changes for the worse according to the size of the gap.
Accordingly, it is desirable that the gap be as small as possible.
However, in the slotless motor as described above, it was difficult to make the gap sufficiently small, because the stator coils were constructed in two layers.


A semiconductor structure design and process visualization tool (10). A main menu (30) allows a user to add, edit or delete process steps (16a-f) to create a process flow in process flow window (12). Main menu (30) provides a set of process models to be selected from. The set of process models are simple first-order geometric models that require only physical parameters of a resulting device layer. Specific process conditions are not required. Semiconductor process and wafer representation tool applies the physical parameters to the corresponding process model to quickly create a cross-section (20) in cross-section window (22) corresponding to a selected process step (16d) in process flow window (12).

Visualizing semiconductor structures and processes is a crucial, time-consuming element of successful structure design and process integration. Usually, semiconductor structures are visualized as one or more two dimensional cross-sections of the wafer during various stages of processing. Traditionally, these cross-section were constructed at specific points in the process flow. However, prior art methods of constructing these cross-sections are cumbersome and difficult. Existing methods can be divided into two categories: manual methods and process simulation. Manual methods utilize either hand-drafting tools to create the cross-sections or general computer drawing programs. These methods are very tedious and time-consuming. Any change in structure or process requires lengthy recreations of cross-sections. These approaches have the maximum flexibility, since the engineer can incorporate any phenomena and experimental results with which he is familiar. For example, SEMs of actual isolation structures are often used to accurately create the profiles for LOCOS steps.
On the other extreme, process simulation methods require a detailed description of the process. This detailed description is provided to a process simulator that uses complex models in an attempt to create accurate cross-sections. While process simulators are very important during process development, they have several disadvantages for visualization of semiconductor structure and processes. First, the two dimensional versions that are required for visualization are quite time-consuming to run. Second, since they strive for accuracy, they normally require detailed information about the process before they can be used for simulation. During the initial design phases, where visualization is extremely important, the designer may not have the detailed information needed. Third, typical simulators attempt to accurately predict all steps in the cross-section. This requires extremely complicated models that are not needed for the majority of steps. While software integration attempts have been made to simplify the input requirements on the engineer, these basic disadvantages remain true for simulation based visualization methods.

Semiconductor structure design and process visualization through the use of simple process models and intuitive interfaces


A method of making an acoustic assembly for use in a transducer includes forming a multi-layer assembly. The multi-layer assembly includes a first layer member and a second layer member. Each member includes a center portion, an edge portion and an aperture separating the center portion and the edge portion. The assembly has an assembly stiffness that is greater than the stiffness of either the first or second layer members. A hinge joins the assembled first and second center portions and the first and second edge portions such that the assembled first and second center portions is free to at least partially rotate relative to the assembled first and second edge portions about an axis. A flexible layer member is coupled to the assembly and provides airtight sealing of the passageway.

Hearing aid technology has progressed rapidly in recent years. Technological advancements in this field have improved the reception, wearing-comfort, life-span, and power efficiency of hearing aids. Still, achieving further increases in the performance of ear-worn acoustic devices places ever increasing demands upon improving the inherent performance of the miniature acoustic transducers that are utilized.
There are several different hearing aid styles widely known in the hearing aid industry: Behind-The-Ear (BTE), In-The-Ear or All In-The-Ear (ITE), In-The-Canal (ITC), and Completely-In-The-Canal (CIC). Generally speaking, a listening device, such as a hearing aid or the like, includes a microphone assembly, an amplification assembly and a receiver (speaker) assembly. The microphone assembly receives acoustic sound waves and creates an electronic signal representative of these sound waves. The amplification assembly accepts the electronic signal, modifies the electronic signal, and communicates the modified electronic signal (e.g. processed signal) to the receiver assembly. The receiver assembly, in turn, converts the increased electronic signal into acoustic energy for transmission to a user.
Conventionally, the receiver utilizes moving parts (e.g. armature, acoustic assembly, etc) to generate acoustic energy in the ear canal of the hearing aid wearer. The diaphragm assembly disposed within the housing of the receiver is placed parallel to and in close proximity to the inner surface of the cover. The diaphragm assembly, attached to a thin film, is secured to the inner surface of the housing by any suitable method of attachment. The motion of the acoustic assembly and hence its performance, is dependent on the materials used to make the diaphragm assembly and its resulting stiffness. Furthermore, the materials used to make the diaphragm assembly and thin film determine the thickness of the acoustic assembly.
There are a number of competing design factors. It is desirable to reduce the height of the receiver; however, the acoustic assembly may require a relatively thick diaphragm assembly to ensure adequate stiffness. The resulting receiver, one with a thin housing but thick diaphragm may be limited to very small diaphragm movement, limiting its suitability for certain applications.
The drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be to scale.

Method of making an acoustic assembly for a transducer


Thermoplastic elastomer compositions including at least one elastomeric component and at least one semi-crystalline polymer are provided. In particular, thermoplastic elastomer composition characterized by an SRI less than or equal to 1.6 at 10000 Pa s, and less than 4.5 at 1000 Pa s for compositions with TMA at 1000 μm greater than 85° C. are provided. Also provided are articles made from the thermoplastic elastomeric compositions.

Gaskets are used in a variety of applications, for example in appliances, such as refrigerators and freezers, each requiring a flexible gasket for sealing the area between the door and appliance body. One of the most commonly used materials for the production of gaskets is polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC gaskets become brittle at low temperatures and cracking becomes a problem, and installation at lower temperatures is also difficult. Also, an unpleasant odor is present during compounding and extrusion of PVC, and when the finished gaskets are removed from packaging prior to installation. Moreover, PVC is not considered an environmentally friendly material because it involves the use of the following: vinyl chloride monomer production, phthalate plasticizers, heat stabilizers, and processing lubricants that may contain heavy metals. In addition, PVC-based gaskets, or other products, may give rise to disposal concerns as well as potential release of toxic materials in the event of incineration. Therefore, there is a need for a material to replace PVC-based profiles, particularly those used in large home appliances such as refrigerator and freezer gaskets, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers, and which satisfies the required specifications, and has improved processability and environmental friendliness. Other applications of such polymeric materials could include, for example, molded articles, overmolded articles, and tubing.
Profiles made of thermoplastics, manufactured by the profile extrusion process, are known. The design of compositions of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) used for profiles demands that several properties be balanced. These include low viscosity at processing shear rates, ability to freeze quickly as the profile leaves the die so dimensional stability can be maintained, a certain compression set for elastic recovery under transportation and use conditions, ability to heat weld, and a certain softness for better sealing properties. Production of TPEs for profile applications has required rheological modification steps, such as peroxide modification of the thermoplastic elastomer or dynamic vulcanization, or use of expensive ingredients such as styrene block copolymer (SBC)-rich compounds, in order to balance the required end-use properties. Therefore, there remains a need for a TPE for profile use that meets all of the specifications to replace PVC-based profiles, while simplifying production and design of the TPEs.

Thermoplastic elastomer for cold and wet applications


A process for manufacturing an unsaturated mononitrile selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile comprising reacting an olefin selected from the group consisting of propylene and isobutylene, ammonia and oxygen in a reactor zone in the presence of a catalyst to produce a reactor effluent containing the corresponding unsaturated mononitrile, transferring the reactor effluent containing the unsaturated mononitrile to a quench column wherein the reactor effluent containing the unsaturated mononitrile is contacted with at least a first aqueous stream to cool the reactor effluent, transferring the cooled reactor effluent containing the unsaturated mononitrile to an absorption column wherein the reactor effluent containing unsaturated mononitrile is contacted with at least a second aqueous stream to separate and remove the unsaturated mononitrile as a bottom stream from the absorption column, transferring the bottom stream containing the unsaturated mononitrile to a recovery and purification section where the unsaturated mononitrile is recovered and purified, and recycling at least one aqueous process stream to improve the efficiency of the process wherein the improvement comprises treating at least one aqueous stream before recycling into the process stream to reduce the pH thereby reducing the amount of trace impurities present in the aqueous recycle stream.

Field of the Invention
Product acrylonitrile must meet extremely rigid specifications. This is because acrylonitrile is used as a monomer in a large number of polymerization reactions and contamination with certain impurities is an extremely undesirable characteristic in that it jeopardizes the polymerization reaction. Such impurities include various nitrites, peroxides and precursors thereof. The specification for product acrylonitrile requires that the concentration of compounds which give a positive iodometric test be less than two-tenths of any one part per million (0.2 ppm). Calibration for the test is done against a known quantity of hydrogen peroxide. It will be apparent that compounds in such trace concentrations are difficult to identify and even more difficult to isolate and destroy. Destruction of the trace impurity is further complicated by two factors, (a) the necessity of deciding precisely at what point in the process of manufacturing unsaturated nitriles said impurity should be destroyed, and (b) the importance of destroying said impurity without introducing new contaminants into the desired product. Impurities are generally introduced in the reaction stage of manufacture of the .alpha.,.beta. monoolefinically unsaturated nitrile, in the reactors. However, it is quite likely that deleterious impurities are introduced by other steps in the process, namely, neutralization with dilute acid, extraction with water, etc., especially when it is borne in mind that these impurities may be present in a concentration range which does not exceed a few parts per million.
Processes and catalysts for the manufacture of acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile by the ammoxidation of propylene and isobutylene, respectively, have been described in numerous U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,481,826, 2,904,580, 3,044,966, 3,050,546, 3,197,419, 3,198,750, 3,200,084, 3,230,246 and 3,248,340.
When an olefin, propylene or isobutylene, for example, is reacted with ammonia and molecular oxygen to produce the corresponding unsaturated nitrile, such as acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile, there are also produced relatively small quantities of various compounds such as hydrogen cyanide, saturated aliphatic nitrites, such as acetonitrile, carbonyl compounds of relatively low molecular weight, such as acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, acrolein, methacrolein, etc., and trace quantities or other compounds which may be described generally as nitrites, peroxides and precursors thereof. The desired products of reaction are recovered by absorption in a suitable solvent such as water, during which step additional heavy, organic compounds may be formed. More preferably, the products of reaction are recovered by first quenching with a dilute acid, such as sulfuric acid, which serves to neutralize excess ammonia present in the reactor effluent, and then by absorption in water.
The products of reaction in the ammoxidation of propylene are separated from "rich" absorber water in an extractive distillation column (called the recovery column). Overhead from the recovery column is an azeotrope of acrylonitrile and water, and the bottoms is an aqueous stream containing acetonitrile which is removed in another distillation column (called the stripper column). In a plant for the manufacture of methacrylonitrile, the nitrile recovered will be methacrylonitrile and the by-products recovered will be the corresponding compounds formed from isobutylene.
Processes for the recovery and purification of the desired monoolefinically unsaturated nitrile, such as acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile, are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,352,764; 2,904,580; 3,044,966 and 3,198,750.
A discussion of the problems involved in separating mixtures comprising acrylonitrile, acetone and water, as well as a means for accomplishing the separation by distillation in the presence of gross amounts of added water is given in U.S. Pat. No. 2,681,306.
A discussion of the problems involved in the separation of similar mixtures from small amounts of various saturated carbonyl compounds is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,149,055.
A process for the production of substantially pure, unsaturated aliphatic nitriles from an impure mixture containing the desired unsaturated nitrile together with the corresponding unsaturated aliphatic aldehyde and hydrogen cyanide as impurities, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,836,614.
Still another process for the separation of an unsaturated nitrite such as acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile, from small amounts of saturated carbonyl compounds is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,185,636.
It is preferred that any compound added to the nitrite-containing nitrite should be added prior to purification of the nitrite in the product column so that the reaction product of the trace impurity and the added compound may be readily separated and discharged from the product stream. The added compound is also called a "scavenger," and any water soluble alkaline compound will act as an effective scavenger. Logical places to add the scavenger would be either in the absorber, the stripper column, or in the recovery column or in more than one column simultaneously. A preferred location for addition of the scavenger is as a relatively dilute aqueous solution, as described hereinafter, in the overhead of the recovery column. As the desired nitrite is distilled overhead as an azeotrope with water in the recovery column, it is possible to extract into the aqueous phase a water-soluble reaction product of the undesirable impurity and the scavenger to remove said impurity from the product.
The product unsaturated aliphatic nitrile such as acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile is cooled in a quench tower with an acidified water stream by countercurrent contact. Gases from the quench tower are led into the bottom of an absorber where acrylonitrile, acetonitrile and other relatively soluble gases are absorbed. The non-absorbed gases are led to a stack and disposed of.
Conventionally, the stream from the bottom of the absorber, known as the rich water stream, is led into a recovery column where it is extractively distilled. The recovery column may be any suitable contacting means in which liquid and vapor are countercurrently contacted in a multiplicity of communicating zones or stages. The overhead vapors from the recovery column are enriched in acrylonitrile, other components being chiefly water and hydrogen cyanide, and contaminated with undesirable impurities such as nitrites, compounds which have characteristics of nitrites, and precursors thereof. The overhead vapors are condensed and collected in a decanter, the liquid undergoes liquid--liquid phase separation, the less dense layer being an organic phase, the denser lower layer being an aqueous phase. The organic phase being chiefly acrylonitrile contaminated with water and hydrogen cyanide, is withdrawn for further purification. The aqueous phase is refluxed to the upper section of the recovery column.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 3,442,771 disclosed a process for removal of trace impurities (e.g. nitrites, peroxides and precursors thereof) from unsaturated mononitriles (e.g. acrylonitrile) contaminated with water. The process disclosed in the '771 Patent requires the addition of an alkaline solution to the partially condensed azeotrope of the unsaturated nitrile and water where the azeotrope has been obtained as an overhead stream obtained from an extractive distillation column, in particular, the recovery column. The effect of the alkaline solution is to extract the reaction product of the trace impurities into the aqueous phase of the azeotrope leaving the organic phase relatively impurity-free. The azeotrope is then transferred into a decanter where liquid--liquid phase separation occurs. The organic phase containing crude acrylonitrile is then removed for further purification while the aqueous phase containing the reaction products is recycled to the recovery column. The present invention is directed to an improved process for the recovery and purification of acrylonitrile wherein trace impurities such as oxidants are removed from the recycle aqueous acrylonitrile process streams.

Oxidant reduction by manipulation and/or treatment of aqueous acrylonitrile process streams


A preset animal trap comprising at least one side wall defining a chamber closed off on the top by a removable top end wall and on the bottom by a bottom end wall. The side wall forms an entrance hole larger than the size of the animal to be trapped. A resilient trap door is secured to the inside surface of the side wall and conforms to said inside surface such that, in a closed position, it is flush against the inside surface of the side wall and completely covers the entrance hole. The open end of the trap door is surrounded by a frame member secured to the inside surface of the side wall to inhibit the trap door from being opened from inside the chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an animal trap, such as a mouse or rat trap, which is sanitarily disposable without touching the bait or captured rodent and is not susceptible to tripping by or injury to children, cats, dogs and the like. The animal trap of this invention is a closed container having a resilient trap door secured to an inside surface of the side wall of the container and conforming to the inside surface of the side wall such that, in a closed position, it completely covers the entrance hole through which the animal to be trapped enters the container. Means for preventing the animal from opening the trap door from within the container are also provided.
2. Description of Prior Art
Widely used rodent traps having dangerously exposed spring action mechanisms are well known. Disadvantages of these traps include their danger to children, cats and dogs, as well as their unsightly, insanitary, and generally unpleasant appearance, especially when occupied. Various attempts have been made to provide enclosed animal traps which overcome the above disadvantages and, in some cases, to provide a closed container for sanitary disposal.
Such an animal trap is disclosed by my own U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,766 which teaches an animal trap in the form of a closed container having a door opening and a mating inwardly opening door hingedly mounted to the side wall of the container with a bias spring urging the door to a normally closed position to provide a closed trap.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,336 teaches a disposable animal trap in the form of a thin-walled closed container of resilient plastic having a door flap formed in the surrounding wall by slits with a portion of the wall adjacent the wall being integrally attached to the door flaps so that the resiliency of the plastic allows the door to be bent inwardly to an animal admitting condition but which is normally biased to a closed condition in which it is flush with the surrounding wall. This patent further teaches that the slits can be formed in a molding process or can be cut after the enclosure is removed from a mold. This patent also teaches various shapes of such trap door.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,376 teaches an enclosed insect trap having a lightweight base and a lightweight cover formed of a flexible sheet material. The cover is affixed along portions of the base's continuous edge and includes flap portions folded between the cover and base. The cover is affixed to the base such that the fold between each flap portion and the cover is arched upwardly away from the base to create a downward biasing force on each flap portion. This biasing force returns the flap portion into contact with the base once an insect has lifted the flap to enter the trap.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,883 teaches a mouse trap in the form of a closed container having a hinged door which is spring loaded to maintain the door in a closed position. Magnetic or spring means are provided for holding the door in the closed position. U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,271 teaches a grated trap door which is attachable to a receptacle, such as a glass jar, which operates in a vertical direction, pivoting between the open and closed positions. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,936 teaches a disposable trap for animals such as mice having a cap assembly which is adapted to fit over one end of a receptacle, such as a beverage can. The cap assembly includes a flanged end plate having an entrance opening in a lower portion thereof and an opening cover. The opening cover has a lower portion which covers the opening in the end plate and overlaps the end plate around the opening to form a one-way door. A narrow elongate upper portion functions as a leaf spring to urge the lower portion to cover the end plate opening after the animal has entered the trap.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,382 teaches an animal trap in the form of a cage having a weight activated mechanism for trapping the animal within the cage.


A charge storage device, such as an integrated circuit memory, including a dielectric comprising a barium-strontium-niobium oxide. A liquid precursor including the metals barium, strontium, and niobium is prepared and applied to a platinum electrode. The precursor is baked and annealed to form a dielectric having the formula Ba.sub.x Sr.sub.y Nb.sub.z O.sub.30, where x=1.3 to 3.5, y=1.5 to 3.7, and z =10. A top platinum electrode is then formed to provide a memory cell capacitor. Optimum results to date have been obtained with Ba.sub.2 Sr.sub.3 Nb.sub.10 O.sub.30, which yields a memory cell dielectric with dielectric constant over 1000 and a leakage current of less than 10.sup.-5 amperes per square centimeter for voltages up to 5 volts.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention in general relates to high dielectric constant materials for use in integrated circuits, and more particularly to integrated circuits incorporating thin films of barium-strontium-niobium oxides.
2. Statement of the Problem
It is well-known that there is a need for a high dielectric constant material suitable for use in integrated circuits. The most commonly used dielectric material in integrated circuits is silicon dioxide, which has a dielectric constant of about 4. Capacitors using such a material must have a large area in order to provide the capacitive values required in state-of-the-art integrated circuits. These large areas make it difficult to reach high densities of capacitive components in an integrated circuit. However, the use of other materials to provide the dielectric in integrated circuits has been hindered by the fact that materials with high dielectric constants usually have many problems such as: leakage of the dielectrics in the integrated circuit environment, degradation and breakdown of the materials caused by the stresses of fabrication and use over long time periods, and incompatibility of the materials with other common integrated circuit materials. For example, lead-zirconate-titanate, usually called PZT, a well-known material used in ferroelectric integrated circuits has a dielectric constant of about 800, but also contains lead, which tends, over time, to migrate to the silicon semiconducting portions of the integrated circuits, causing alteration of their semiconducting properties. Thus, the presence of lead in combination with conventional integrated circuit materials significantly reduces the long-term reliability of the integrated circuit. Barium strontium titanate has also been successfully used in an integrated circuit, but its dielectric constant is not as high as PZT. Titanium also has a large number of oxidation states which can, under certain conditions lead to defects in the crystal structure that can degrade the electrical performance of the material. As integrated circuits become smaller, it becomes more and more important to find a dielectric material that has a dielectric constant of 500 or more, but does not contain problematic elements. The lack of such a material is considered to be one of the serious roadblocks to higher density integrated circuit memories.
3. Solution to the Problem
The present invention solves the above problem by providing an integrated circuit incorporating an oxide of barium, strontium and niobium. Preferably the barium-strontium-niobium oxide is Ba.sub.2 Sr.sub.3 Nb.sub.10 O.sub.30. Not only is the dielectric constant very high, but the leakage current is very low, indicating that it will perform well in a charge storage device, such as an integrated circuit memory, and as an insulator between conductive elements of the integrated circuit. Other formulations of BSN, such as Ba.sub.1.3 Sr.sub.3.7 Nb.sub.10 O.sub.30, have also been found to have a high-dielectric constant and good electronic properties. Thus, there is a range of proportions of barium and strontium that provides high dielectric constant and good electronic properties. In this disclosure, we shall refer to the foregoing materials, and any metal oxide in which the metals are primarily barium, strontium, and niobium, as BSN. BSN is intended to include materials that are doped with smaller amounts of other elements; that is, the molecular amount of the dopant element is less than the molecular amount of either barium, strontium, or niobium in the BSN.
The preferred BSN material according to the invention has a dielectric constant of over 500 for all frequencies and nearly 1300 at low frequencies. In addition, it has a leakage current of less than 10.sup.-5 amps per square centimeter for a film thickness of about 1600 angstroms and voltages of up to five volts. It does not include any materials that are known to be incompatible with conventional integrated circuit materials or which have properties that can degrade the performance of the material. While the excellent properties of the material and the ability to make very thin films of the material that retain those properties make the invention of particular importance for integrated circuits. However, it also is of importance for any type of charge storage device. Numerous other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Process for making an integrated circuit with high dielectric constant barium-strontium-niobium oxide


A waterproof type electronic device is composed of a disc lid 13 capable of opening and closing an opening portion (17) of a camera apparatus body (2), a buckle (12) capable of detachably fastening the disc lid (13) to the camera apparatus body (2) and a sealing member (24) provided on at least one of the buckle (12) and the camera apparatus body (2) to hermetically seal the buckle 12 and the camera apparatus body (2). When the disc lid (13) is fastened to the camera apparatus body (2) by the buckle (12), the camera apparatus body (2) is hermetically sealed at least at its part of the portion covered with the buckle (12). In this kind of related-art waterproof type electronic device, operation buttons are not formed so as to have waterproof structures and water and water component can therefore enter this waterproof type electronic device relatively easily. If the operation buttons are formed so as to have waterproof structures, then such waterproof structures are increased in space from a structure standpoint and hence the overall arrangement of the apparatus may not be made compact in size.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a waterproof type electronic device having a sealing member closely attached to a buckle and an electronic device body to achieve a waterproof function or a water-resistant function by which the electronic device body can be hermetically closed at least at its part covered with the buckle when the buckle is closed.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cited Patent Reference 1, for example, has described this kind of a waterproof type electronic device so far. The Cited Patent Reference 1 has described a disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus which the assignee of the present application has previously proposed as the patent application. This disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a disc loading portion to which a disc-like recording medium is loaded detachably and this disc loading potion can be opened and closed freely by an openable and closable lid.
The disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus on this Cited Patent Reference 1 is characterized by a player main body having an openable and closable lid to freely open and close a disc loading potion to which a disc-like recording medium is detachably loaded and a buckle which can hold the opening and closing lid, the opening and closing lid being locked by the buckle.
According to the disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus having the above-mentioned arrangement, there can be achieved the effect in which since the buckle is not opened by a certain strong force, when the openable and closable lid is held firmly, the openable and closable lid may not be inadvertently opened with slight touch. Thus, the openable and closable lid is held with strong fastening force and hence it can be made difficult to open with ease.
Cited Patent Reference 2 shows another example of this kind of waterproof type electronic device according to the related art. Cited Patent Reference 2 has described a camera which the assignee of the present application has previously proposed as the patent application.
A camera described in this Cited Patent Reference 2 includes an oblong case having a width and a thickness and a length larger than these width and thickness, a camera lens provided at the front surface of the case located at one of thickness direction, an image pickup element provided within the case to detect an object image shot through the camera lens to thereby output an image pickup signal and a display panel facing the upper portion of the back surface of the case located on the other of the thickness direction to display a picture of the object image based on the image pickup signal outputted from the image pickup element. In this camera, the display panel is constructed such that the vertical direction of the picture screen is inclined relative to the length direction of the case with a predetermined angle.
According to the camera having the above-mentioned arrangement, it is possible to provide the camera in which loads on cameraman's hand and shoulder can be decreased when cameraman holds this camera with one hand and in which camera-shock can be prevented from occurring when the cameraman presses the shutter release button.
However, both in the above-mentioned Cited Patent References 1 and 2, the respective operation buttons are not constructed so as to have waterproof structures and water and moisture can easily enter the respective operation buttons. Although it is considered to take a countermeasure to meet with the present situation so that the respective operation buttons should be constructed so as to have waterproof structures, if the operations buttons are formed as waterproof type operation buttons, it is unavoidable that the camera will become large in size in response to the number of operation buttons from a structure and space standpoints. As a result, the whole of the apparatus becomes large in size and there is a problem in which an object of miniaturizing the apparatus may not be attained.
Also, although it is customary that a lock structure of a lid which opens and closes a disc compartment portion needs overstroke, in the structure in which a packing is provided at the peripheral edge of the lid which opens and closes the disc compartment portion and in which the lid is urged against the camera body through the packing by a buckle type fastening device, it was difficult to apply uniform pressure to the packing. Therefore, it is not easy to increase properties in which the lid is closely contacted with the camera body and there is a problem in which the waterproof structure is unstable.
Further, in this kind of waterproof type electronic device, it has been customary to dry the inside of the camera body by only natural drying. Thus, when moisture is produced within the closed camera body having the waterproof structure, it takes a plenty of time to remove the moisture. Also, there exists a camera apparatus having a function to stop shooting operation, playback operation and the like after a constant time period since moisture has been produced within the camera body. Accordingly, in the case of such electronic device, there is a problem in which the electronic device is unable to resume shooting operation and the like after a constant time was passed.
Cited Patent Reference 1:
Official Gazette of Japanese laid-open patent application No. 2003-85957
Cited Patent Reference 2:
Official Gazette of Japanese laid-open patent application No. 2004-179850
The problems encountered with the related art will be described below. In this kind of waterproof type electronic device, since the respective operation buttons are not formed with the waterproof structures so that water and moisture will enter the operation buttons relatively easily, if the respective operation buttons are constructed with the waterproof structures, then such waterproof type electronic device becomes large in size from structure and space standpoints and it is not possible to miniaturize the whole of the apparatus. Further, since the lock structure of the disc lid requires the overstroke, it is difficult to increase close-contact property of the disc lid. Furthermore, since water and moisture within the camera body are removed by natural drying, it takes a lot of time to remove moisture produced within space closed by the waterproof structure.


There is provided a system and method for authentication and making payment when carrying out on-demand manufacturing. The system and method ensures that payment can be conveniently made by users and subsequently, appropriate payments are made to parties for their role in the on-demand manufacturing.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
The prevalence of data networks has led to a change in how modern businesses operate. The data networks enable connectivity between machines, work pieces and systems, thus creating networks along an entire business value chain that can interface with each other.
On-demand manufacturing, such as, for example, additive manufacturing (commonly known as 3D printing), is becoming increasingly popular as a manufacturing process for goods. Additive manufacturing, such as additive layer manufacturing, facilitates decentralised manufacturing with a possibility to customise goods within a particular batch of goods. It is even possible for "home" manufacturing to take place as consumer-level additive layer printers become more prevalent. This leads to convenience for end users, savings in time and shipping charges since the additive layer manufacturing can be carried out at a geographically nearer location to the end user.
However, there are currently major issues with regard to enhancing convenience of providing access to on-demand manufacturing services. For example, there are limitations with regard to preventing the counterfeiting of proprietary goods, dilution of a value of a branded product due to ease of replication of the branded product, and so forth.
This is undesirable.

System and method for authentication and making payment when carrying out on-demand manufacturing


The invention relates to a method for determining a loading of a soot filter with soot particles from an exhaust gas mass flow of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, a control device for an internal combustion engine having a soot filter, and a computer program product for carrying out the method. In the first step 100 of the method a characteristic curve for the relationship between the exhaust gas mass flow, exhaust gas temperature, ambient pressure, and pressure drop across the soot filter without loading is determined; in the second step 200 a second exhaust gas mass flow and a second pressure drop that occurs during loading of the soot filter are determined; in the third step 300, from the characteristic curve the first pressure drop is determined for which the first and second exhaust gas mass flows have the same value; in the fourth step 400 an estimated value for the loading of the soot filter is computed via a real-time parameter estimation, preferably by use of the gradient method, based on the previously determined parameters. The method allows a reliable determination of the instantaneous loading of a particulate filter, regardless of the type of measuring signals used in each case for characterizing the loading behavior of the soot filter.

In the course of efforts to improve air quality, all industrialized countries have enacted standards in the form of limit or target values, in particular also particulate limits, for the emission of pollutants. In view of the increasing volume of traffic worldwide, exhaust aftertreatment for the motor vehicles, which are operated predominantly with internal combustion engines, is therefore of great importance. The soot particles which result during operation of diesel engines and recent gasoline engines with direct injection are therefore retained and collected in soot filters or particulate filters. For this purpose, the soot filters used are equipped with porous inner walls made of ceramic, for example, through which the exhaust gas flow is led, and the soot particles deposit on or in the porous walls. The deposition of the particles on or in the porous inner walls increases the flow resistance of the filter, and thus, the differential pressure across the soot filter produced by the exhaust gas volumetric flow, which in turn results in higher fuel consumption. To prevent plugging of the filter, the deposited soot particle layer is removed when a predefined loading limit of the soot filter is reached. Since soot particles are composed primarily of combustible components, this regeneration operation takes place by combusting the soot deposits in the soot filter at approximately 600° C., with conversion to carbon dioxide.
The loading of the soot filter is generally determined by measuring the differential pressure across the soot filter and monitoring by the engine control unit, which triggers a regeneration of the soot filter when a predefined loading limit is reached and controls same, taking into account the additional dependency of the differential pressure on the engine load and engine speed. The time when a soot filter in a motor vehicle requires regeneration thus depends on the specific type of driving behavior. Thus, the loading of a soot filter with soot particles is significantly lower in a motor vehicle during extended expressway driving, while it is higher in city traffic. If a regeneration of the soot filter is triggered too late or does not take place at all, the soot filter may become clogged, resulting in undesirably high exhaust back pressure, which entails undesirably high additional fuel consumption until the engine is stopped. If burnoff takes place too early, the soot particulate filter is damaged due to the excessively high temperature. Reliable recognition of the loading of a soot filter in a motor vehicle is therefore an important safety feature which additionally contributes to lower fuel consumption, and thus as a whole increases the contribution of a particulate filter to air quality.
Various methods for recognizing loading in particulate filters in motor vehicles are known from the prior art, in which a differential pressure across the filter is measured.
Cited as an example is published unexamined German Patent Application DE 199 33 988 A1, in which a determination of a loading c of a particulate filter, based on the differential pressure ΔP between the inlet and the outlet of the filter, and a quantity of gas A flowing through the particulate filter as a function of the quantity of fresh air Mair and the quantity of fuel Mc supplied to the engine, is given by the following formula:
      Δ                          P    =                    c        ·        A            +      b        =                  c        ·                  (                                    (                                                M                  air                                +                                  M                  c                                            )                        ·                          T              P                        ·            N                    )                    +      b      where b: constant, T: temperature of the exhaust gas upstream from the filter, P: pressure of the exhaust gas upstream from the filter, N: engine speed.
The loading is hereby regarded as a proportionality factor in an equation, wherein a deviation in the differential pressure sensor used is computed, based on at least two separate measuring points. The determination of the loading may take place over a fairly large number of measuring points, for example by linear regression. The properties (parameters) of a linear function (slope, offset) may be estimated in a known manner by means of linear regression.
Thus, although the indicated loading model allows sensor-related deviations or a sensor offset to be taken into account, a linear dependency on the pressure difference and the volumetric flow is assumed. This means that in order to determine the loading, the exhaust gas volumetric flow must be known; i.e., solely a relationship between loading and the exhaust gas volumetric flow is taken into account, and the determination cannot be based on arbitrary relationships or characteristic curves.
Further loading models based on a differential pressure measurement are disclosed in DE 10 2014 201 589 B3, EP 1 854 971 A1, EP 2 261 474 A1, WO 92/06284 A1, and WO 2008/09299 A2.
With the present invention, the aim is to provide a method that is suitable for overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art, and that allows a reliable determination of the instantaneous degree of loading of a soot filter with soot particles from an exhaust gas mass flow of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, in particular regardless of the type of measuring signals used in each case for characterizing the loading behavior of the soot filter.

Method for determining the loading of a soot filter


A system for inspecting a test article incorporates a diagnostic imaging system for a test article. A command controller receives two dimensional (2D) images from the diagnostic imaging system. A three dimensional (3D) computer aided design (CAD) model visualization system and an alignment system for determining local 3D coordinates are connected to the command controller. Computer software modules incorporated in the command controller are employed, in aligning, the 2D images and 3D CAD model responsive to the local 3D coordinates. The 2D images and 3D CAD model are displayed with reciprocal registration. The alignment system is then directed to selected coordinates in the 2D images or 3D CAD model.

1. Field
Embodiments of the disclosure relate generally to the field of non-destructive testing and more particularly to embodiments for an apparatus and method for measurement and viewing with a local positioning system (LPS) and two dimensional (2D) images of non-destructive inspection (NDI) scans of a test article remotely with three dimensional (3D) Computer Aided Design (CAD) model presentations in combination with 2D images of NDI scan results for enhanced visualization.
2. Background
Non-destructive testing and results analysis of manufactured articles such as aircraft requires participation by specially trained NDI experts. Prior processes required NDI experts to be on-site with the test article (airplane) and NDI scanning hardware to obtain the necessary testing results. In addition, since the scanning hardware was not aligned with the local coordinate system of the test article, manual/subjective alignment was used to determine the local position and orientation of the scan relative to the target. Also, field measurements of positions of interest on the test article were usually made with processes such as using location inference and distances were measured from nearby landmarks using tape measures. These methods do not provide desired measurement precision for accurate analysis of test results. Additionally, the NDI data obtained required manual association with actual relative position of the structure of the test article for interpretation and analysis.
It is therefore desirable to provide a system allowing accurate placement of NDI scanning equipment and integrated visualization of NDI results with 3D CAD models of structure of the test article for enhanced analytical capability and accuracy with reduced cost.

Advanced remote nondestructive inspection system and process


The present invention discloses a process for hydrogenating a latex of a low molecular weight functionalized, unsaturated elastomer to produce a latex of a hydrogenated, low molecular weight, low gel, functionalized elastomer, said process comprising hydrogenating the low molecular weight, functionalized, unsaturated elastomer in the presence of (1) an oxidant selected from the group consisting of oxygen and hydroperoxides, (2) a reducing agent selected from the group consisting of hydrazine and hydrazine hydrates, and (3) a metal ion activator, wherein a hydroxylamine is added to the latex of the low molecular weight, functionalized, unsaturated elastomer or to the latex of the hydrogenated, low molecular weight, functionalized elastomer prior, during, or subsequent to the hydrogenation to produce the latex of the hydrogenated low molecular weight, low gel, functionalized elastomer.

Functionalized hydrogenated elastomers offer the advantage of higher mechanical strength and higher levels of adhesion to a variety of substrates. Hydrogenated carboxylated nitrile rubber is an example of a functionalized elastomer that has been extensively studied using conventional noble metal-catalyzed hydrogenation processes, but very few studies have been conducted using the diimide reduction process.
The diimide reduction process comprises reacting an ethylenically unsaturated polymer in latex form with a reducing agent, an oxidant, and a metal catalyst. The diimide reduction process for unsaturated elastomers has been studied by chemists for more than 20 years. It was originally developed by Lawson G. Wideman at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and was first described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,950. The diimide reduction process offers a number of advantages compared to conventional metal-catalyzed hydrogenation processes. For example, the diimide reduction can selectively hydrogenate double bonds without reducing functional groups, such as carboxyl groups, hydroxyl groups, epoxy groups, amide groups, and active halide functional groups, which makes it possible to produce different functionalized hydrogenated polymers. This process also has an advantage over metal-catalyzed hydrogenation, in that high-pressure reactors are not needed, and the desired hydrogenation reactions can be conducted at atmosphere pressure.
However, the diimide reduction process described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,950 has some deficiencies that excludes the used of elastomers hydrogenated using it in some applications. The most serious of these deficiencies is the result of a cross-linking reaction that occurs during the hydrogenation process. This cross-linking severely limits the number and types of applications in which hydrogenated elastomers made using the diimide reduction technique can be employed. This problem is compounded by the fact that further cross-linking occurs during subsequent coagulation steps which often renders the hydrogenated elastomer unsuitable for use in many applications. In view of these deficiencies, a great deal of research has been conducted over the years in an attempt to develop a technique to limit gel formation in elastomers that are hydrogenated using the diimide reduction process.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,737 reveals a process for treating hydrogenated lattices made utilizing the diimide reduction technique with ozone to reduce the level of gelled (crosslinked) polymer and to reduce the level of residual hydrazine present. U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,737 more specifically discloses a process for treating an emulsion of a crosslinked elastomeric polymer containing residual hydrazine to obtain a latex of soluble (uncrosslinked) elastomeric polymer having a reduced concentration of residual hydrazine therein, said process comprising the addition of ozone to said emulsion in an amount and under conditions which are sufficient for the ozone to react with the crosslinked elastomeric polymer and the residual hydrazine to produce a latex of soluble (essentially uncrosslinked) elastomeric polymer having a reduced level of residual hydrazine therein. However, this ozone treatment process is extremely difficult to implement and control in commercial applications. Additionally, the ozonolysis breaks double bonds in the polymer and results in treated polymer having terminal aldehyde end groups. In any case, it changes the polymer structure and some microgel still typically persists. Thus, this ozone treatment technique is not universally suitable in commercial applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,356, U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,007, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,009 disclose a technique for addressing the shortfalls associated with the ozone treatment process. This technique involves treating the ozonated latex with hydroxylamine in an amount and under conditions which are sufficient to convert the aldehyde end groups of the elastomeric polymer in the latex to oxime end groups. This results in the formation of an oximated polymer latex. Unfortunately, this process changes the structure of the polymer and microgel still continues to persist after treatment. Accordingly, this process is again not commercially viable in most applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,694 describes using a boron type catalyst in the diimide reduction process. The process described by U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,694 utilizes (1) a reducing agent selected from hydrazines and hydrazine-releasing compounds, (2) an oxidising compound, and (3) a catalyst, wherein the catalyst contains an element from group 13 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, such as boron. It is preferred for the catalyst to be chosen from the group consisting of borates, peroxiborates and boric acid (H3BO3). More preferably, the catalyst is boric acid. It is most preferred that boric acid is used in combination with a polyvinyl alcohol. Crosslinking and resulting gel formation are problems that also occur in cases where this type of catalyst system is implemented. Thus, the technique of U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,694 has limited commercial applicability.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,552,132 discloses a process for the hydrogenation of a polymer composed of diene monomer units and nitrile group containing monomer units, in which the hydrogenation in the form of an aqueous dispersion is carried out in the presence of hydrazine and an oxidizing compound, comprising breaking crosslinks formed as a result of the hydrogenation by adding after the hydrogenation a compound that satisfies formula I or by adding before, during or after the hydrogenation a compound that satisfies formula
where
R1 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or cycloalkyl group with 1-30 carbon atoms, or an aromatic group with 6-30 carbon atoms and
R2 is an alkyl or cycloalkyl group with 1-30 carbon atoms, or an aromatic group with 6-30 carbon atoms,
X is selected from the group consisting of —R3, —OR4, —SR4, and —NR5R6, where
R3, R4, and R5 are a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or cycloalkyl group with 1-30 carbon atoms, or an aromatic group with 6-30 carbon atoms and
R6 is an alkyl or cycloalkyl group with 1-30 carbon atoms, or an aromatic group with 6-30 carbon atoms,
Y is selected from the group consisting of —R7, —OR8, —SR8, —NR9R10, and —N═CR11R12, where
R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, and R12 are a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or cycloalkyl group with 1-30 carbon atoms, or an aromatic group with 6-30 carbon atoms,
and wherein R3-R12 optionally contain one or more heteroatoms from the groups 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17 from the Periodic System of the Elements, and whereby the process is carrying out without using ozonolysis to break the crosslinks. However, the compounds used in this patent have limited effectiveness.
There is a continuing need for a technique to make hydrogenated lattices of elastomeric polymers without causing gel formation or changing the attributes of the polymer, such as by introducing unwanted functionality. There is a particular need for hydrogenated lattices of low molecular weight functionalized elastomers. For instance, functionalized hydrogenated rubber latex is of value in making resorcinol formaldehyde latex and fiber composites. It also can be coagulated and dried for utilization as a reactive functionalized liquid polymer for coatings, adhesives and polymer additives.

Process for preventing gel formation in lattices of hydrogenated, low molecular weight, functionalized elastomers


A door lock for a motor vehicle door formed integrally with a door hinge and including a locking element having a plurality of detent points, with the locking element being formed as a substantially circular track concentric with respect to the hinge pin axis and securable to one of the two hinge halves without possibility of rotation relative to the one to hinge halves, a plurality of brake and locking members arrangeable concentrically with respect to the hinge pin radially outwardly of the hinge pin and operationally connectable with the hinge pin, and a spring-biased carrier for receiving the brake and locking members and arrangeable approximately congruently with the locking element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention related to a door lock formed integrally with a door hinge having two hinge halves attachable, respectively, to the motor vehicle door and a respective motor vehicle door pillar, and a hinge pin for connecting the first and second hinge halves and supported in one of the two hinge halves with a running fit and removably secured in another of the two hinge halves without a possibility of rotation with respect to the another of the hinge halves, with the door lock including a locking element having at least one detente point and at least one brake and locking member cooperating with the locking element, with the locking element being formed as a circular track concentric with respect to the hinge pin axis and secured to the one of the first and second hinge halves for joint rotation therewith, and with the brake and locking member being operationally connected with the hinge pin and arranged radially outwardly of the hinge pin.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a door lock which is formed integrally with a door hinge and in which the locking element is connected for joint rotation with a hinge half, in which the hinge pin is supported with a running fit, and is formed as a circular track concentric with the hinge pin axis and having indentations defining the detent points, the brake and locking members are formed as rolling bodies and are supported on axles which extend transverse to the hinge pin axis. The brake and locking members cooperate, when biased against the locking element by a loading spring supported against a collar or similar means provided at the free end of the hinge pin, with the detent points provided on the track. Such a door lock permits to advantageously reduce the dimensions of the door hinge-door lock assembly which results in less space required for such an assembly. Additional advantages of such a door lock consists in that the door lock construction permits to reduce substantially the manufacturing costs and insures a noiseless operation of the assembly. The drawbacks of such door hinge-door lock assembly consist in that the loading spring is formed by a stack of spring washers and acts on a middle region of the carrier of the brake and locking members, which surrounds the hinge pin. As a result, with unfavorable tolerance pairings, retaining the door in the predetermined opening positions of the door is not always possible, and/or the braking and retaining force applied to the door in a predetermined position is not always adequate.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to so improve the door lock for a motor vehicle door, which is formed integrally with a demountable door hinge, that it insures an exact locking of the door in a predetermined braking and locking position of the door and a most possible noiseless operation of the door lock, independent of possible tolerance deviations.

Door lock for a motor vehicle door formed integrally with a door hinge


A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for parsing a message received from a requesting computer to identify an indication of a transaction, an entity identifier, and an identifier of a first evaluation system. The entity identifier is evaluated based on historical data and/or eligibility data to determine an alternative evaluation procedure. The alternative evaluation procedure is preformed to obtain response information regarding the transaction, that may differ from response information otherwise obtained via the first evaluation system. A response to the message is constructed that includes the response information and is transmitted to the requesting computer.

Electronic messages are frequently originated, then transmitted and routed according to an evaluation system identified by the message. A processing system may therefore route the message to the indicated evaluation system, await a response, and forward or route the response message to the message originator or requestor. However, in some examples, the original electronic message does not include the information needed to obtain the best response or most accurate response to the message, nor does the message originator have the ability to determine which evaluation system may provide the best response or most accurate response to the message.

Method, apparatus, and computer program product for performing an alternative evaluation procedure in response to an electronic message


A system and method for enabling users of wireless devices to increase wireless communication bandwidth may include a server in communication with multiple wireless access points. The server may execute software configured to enable a wireless device to communicate with multiple wireless access points of a network during a communications session. The software, in response to determining that the wireless device attempts to communicate with a wireless access point of the network, determines whether the user of the wireless device has a subscription to communicate with multiple wireless access points to aggregate bandwidth from the wireless access points, and enables the wireless device to access the network and communicate with the wireless access points if the user has the subscription agreement.

Wireless communications have become pervasive in recent years. At first, telecommunications provided cordless handsets to enable consumers to use a home telephone without being restricted by a telephone cord. Mobile telephones further provided freedom to consumers by enabling them to use a telephone while away from home. Finally, computers that were once attached to a wall socket to communicate over the Internet became wireless through the use of wireless routers and other wireless access points.
While wireless routers have enabled computer users to access the Internet with unprecedented freedom, bandwidth of these routers are relatively slow. Today's technology provides users with 50 megabit (MB) per second communications. However, these speeds are relatively slow when downloading large amounts of content, such as a movie.
A number of bandwidth expansion products have been developed to increase bandwidth to subscribers. One such product provides a subscriber with a device to aggregate bandwidth from local wireless routers. Essentially, communication with each local wireless router is performed in parallel.
One situation that has developed by wireless routers becoming so pervasive is non-subscribers accessing wireless routers and services being paid by neighbors. This situation arises when a subscriber does not password protect access to the wireless router. In the case of a non-subscriber accessing a subscriber's wireless router, this act is considered theft of wireless communications services. In the case where the subscriber knowingly allows for other non-subscribers to access the wireless router, such an act is generally prohibited by the service agreement between the service provider and the subscriber. The act of bandwidth pooling by non-resellers, such as residential consumers, is also generally considered a violation of the service agreement because non-subscribers or users other than the subscriber who owns the wireless router are provided access to the wireless routers and telecommunications services without paying a telecommunications carrier.

System and method for providing aggregated wireless communications services