An OCT tracking system includes an imaging unit operable to generate a fundus image of a patient's eye and a tracking system operable to process the fundus image to determine a location of a surgical instrument inserted into the patient's eye. The OCT tracking system further includes an OCT system including an OCT light source operable to generate an OCT imaging beam and a beam scanner. Based at least in part on the determined location of the surgical instrument, the beam scanner directs the OCT imaging beam to a particular region within the patient's eye, the particular region within the patient's eye including the determined location of the surgical instrument inserted into the patient's eye.

Imaging and visualization techniques for assisting ophthalmic surgeons are becoming increasingly popular, and much research and development is being conducted regarding these techniques. One class of ophthalmic surgeries, the vitreo-retinal procedure, involves vitrectomy, the removal of the vitreous body from the posterior chamber to access the retina. The successful execution of vitrectomy requires an essentially complete removal of the vitreous, including the most challenging regions near the vitreous base. Using imaging techniques and devices can be of substantial help to improve the efficiency of the vitreous removal.
However, assisting vitrectomy with imaging is particularly challenging for several reasons. One of them is that the vitreous is transparent. Another challenge is that visualization of the periphery requires imaging beams with a high angle of obliqueness. Similar visualization issues exist during membrane peeling procedures. At present, typically microscope or video-microscope imaging is used to address the former challenge, and wide angle contact-based or non-contact based lenses are used to address the latter challenge, in each case with limited success.
Improvement of the imaging can be achieved by using optical coherence tomography (OCT), a technique that enables visualization of the target tissue in depth by focusing a laser beam onto the target, collecting the reflected beam, interfering the reflected beam with a reference beam and detecting the interference, and measuring the reflectance signature within the depth of focus of the beam. The result is a line scan in depth, a cross-sectional scan, or a volumetric scan.
Conventional diagnostic ophthalmic OCT systems use retinal tracking to track the motion of the retina. In such system, an initial fundus image may be acquired by a fundus imager and set as a reference. Sequential fundus images may be taken in real-time and compared to the reference fundus image to track the relative motion of the retina, which is then used as a feedback to the OCT scanner so that the OCT system is always tracking and scanning the same area of the retina. However, scanning a fixed and predetermined area does not necessarily provide the useful information surgeons may need as, during surgery, surgeons are often more concerned about those area directly underneath or close to the surgical instrument. Accordingly, certain embodiment of the present disclosure may beneficially provide an OCT system that that facilities increased surgeon control over the scanning location.

Tracking system for surgical optical coherence tomography


A custom image processing system and method automatically verifies the validity of custom images for manufacture of information handling systems by electronically analyzing the custom image to determine its base hardware configuration, to confirm its proper configuration, and to confirm its compatibility with ordered information handling systems. Upon verification of the custom image, an automatically generated production image and customization scripts are provided to a burn rack to manufacture the information handling systems with the custom image and a desired customization level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the field of manufacturing information handling systems, and more particularly to a method and system for manufacturing information handling systems according to custom image orders.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
The large variety of hardware and software configurations available for information handling systems often presents a logistical problem to businesses that use a large number of information handling systems. Information technology administrators often try to reduce the variety of information handling systems by standardizing as much as possible the hardware and software for a business or business unit's information handling systems. One way for information technology administrators to achieve standardization is to place large orders for custom manufactured information handling systems. Hardware standardization is generally realized by placing the order with a single manufacturer and specifying the components used to build the information handling systems. Software standardization is more difficult to realize since software applications often allow users to set up various options during installation. One way for information technology administrators to standardize software configurations is too install desired software onto an information handling system hard disk drive and then send the hard disk drive to the manufacturer to use the image on the hard disk drive for the manufacture of custom ordered information handling systems.
Although information handling system burn racks are able to load images onto manufactured information handling systems, custom images delivered on hard disk drives are not typically capable of direct transfer to a factory work flow process. Generally, custom images received on hard disk drives are manually validated and prepared for use in the factory work flow process. For instance, an engineer typically loads the custom image onto a test information handling system having the custom ordered hardware configuration to verify the validity of the custom image, such as the compatibility of the custom image with the hardware configuration. The manual verification process is time intensive and prone to errors. For instance, the engineer typically must build the test unit to the custom order specification, run tests on the unit to ensure proper operation of the test unit, and alter the software configuration in the event of any detected failures, a process that may take weeks. Errors in the building of the test information handling system, errors or incompleteness in the test verification process and errors in the alteration of the software configuration may delay custom order production or result in the shipment of inoperative units.

Method and system for information handling system custom image manufacture


A motor vehicle roof having at least two laterally adjacent parts with respect to the motor vehicle's longitudinal axis when the parts are in a closed position. The laterally adjacent parts may be moved between the closed position and an open position by moving one or both of the laterally adjacent parts in a translational movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The laterally adjacent parts are retained between and parallel to two side roof frames that are permanently connected to the body. The laterally adjacent parts may be moved to an open position above or below a rear roof panel. The rear roof panel extends across the vehicle in a transverse direction between the side roof frames and is movable in a longitudinal direction to a position above or below the laterally adjacent roof panels. A front roof panel may be provided that may be raised on a back edge to provide a wind deflector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motor vehicle roof that has several movable panels that may be moved independently between a closed position and a variety of open positions.
2. Background Art
Motor vehicle roofs are available that include retractable hard tops, convertible tops, hard tops having sun roofs, and hard tops having removable targa tops.
One example of a hard top motor vehicle roof is disclosed in published German application DE 101 13 427 A1 that has two rigid parts that are disposed next to one another with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle when the roof is closed. The panels are stored in a storage compartment at the back of the vehicle when the roof is open. The position of the parts may be changed by means of a kinematic movement system so that only the A pillars and windshield project above the belt line of the vehicle when the roof is open. No other roof parts are located above the belt line except the windshield and windshield frame.
Another prior art roof system is disclosed in the publication DE 94 06 435 U1 that describes a vehicle roof that is solidly connected to the body of a vehicle and has a roof opening that is directly adjacent to the windshield frame. Two roof parts may be inserted into the opening so that they lie next to one another. The roof may be converted into a targa position by manually removing one of the roof parts from the roof opening. This roof concept does not allow for converting the roof to a convertible position.
Another prior art motor vehicle roof is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,174 that discloses a transparent roof plate which can be moved with a translational motion between a closed position and an open position. The transparent roof plate is moved within the confines of a side roof frame that is permanently fastened to the body. The roof plate is pushed beneath a back roof plate to open the roof.
The present invention is directed to the problem of creating a motor vehicle roof that exposes a large roof opening in an open position and which is movable to a closed position with minimal effort. There is also a need for a roof that can be arranged in a number of different open positions.
These and other problems are addressed by Applicant's invention as summarized below.

Motor vehicle with at least two movable parts


A phase-locked loop (PLL) and a method for controlling the PLL are provided. The PLL includes a phase detector, a charge pump, a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), a feedback frequency divider, and a detector circuit. The phase detector generates a direction signal according to a comparison between phases of a first clock signal and a second clock signal. The charge pump converts the direction signal into a control voltage. The VCO generates a third clock signal. The control voltage controls a frequency of the third clock signal. The feedback frequency divider divides the frequency of the third clock signal to generate the second clock signal. The detector circuit sends a pulse signal to restart the VCO when the control voltage conforms to a preset condition.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a phase-locked loop (PLL) and a method for controlling the PLL, and particularly relates to restarting a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) of the PLL.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a conventional PLL 100. The PLL 100 includes a phase detector 110, a charge pump 120, a low-pass filter 130, a VCO 140, a feedback frequency divider 150, and an output frequency divider 160. Due to the feedback frequency divider 150 and the output frequency divider 160, the PLL 100 is capable of generating an output clock signal CLKB with arbitrary frequency based on an input clock signal CLKA.
The PLL 100 needs a power down signal PD to reset the PLL 100 and starts up the VCO 140 initially in order to avoid a non-oscillating mode of the PLL 100. In the non-oscillating mode, the output of the VCO 140 does not oscillate and therefore the PLL 100 does not work.
It is possible that the PLL 100 enters the non-oscillating mode in runtime after the initial startup. In this situation, the power down signal PD may be sent to restart the charge pump 120, the low-pass filter 130, and the VCO 140 to resume the normal operation of the PLL 100. However, such a restart is slow because several elements of the PLL 100 have to be restarted. In addition, the power down signal PD is an external signal. The power down signal PD is not generated by any internal signal of the PLL 100. Therefore, the power down signal PD is slow in response and cannot restart the oscillation of the PLL 100 in real time.

Phase-locked loop and method for controlling the same


An improved rotary valve having a gas bearing which prevents contact between the rotating piston and the cylindrical housing. The same working gas which the rotary valve controls is accumulated in an accumulation chamber. Fluid flow passageways, having a fixed flow resistance along their length, connect the accumulator chamber with a plurality of cavities formed on the cylinder wall of the housing. Pressurized gas is thereby pumped into the clearance gap between the piston wall and the cylinder wall, increasing in pressure where the piston wall comes closer to the cylinder wall, and decreasing in pressure where the clearance gap increases. The net effect is a centering force applied to the piston whenever it varies from an equilibrium position.

In pulse tube cryocoolers of the Gifford-McMahon type, and other devices, rotary valves are used to control the flow of pressurized gas from a pressure source, such as a compressor, into the cryocooler. Rotary valves also control the flow of gas from the cryocooler back to the compressor. Valves of this sort are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,205,668 to Gifford and U.S. Pat. No. 3,625,015 to Chellis. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,335,505 and 5,412,952 to Ohtani et al. disclose Pulse Tube Refrigerators.
Rotary valves have a cylindrical piston which is rotatingly driven within a cylindrical sleeve. Multiple ports on both the piston and the sleeve register with one another at different points in the revolution of the piston. It is during this registration that pressurized gas is directed from one port to another, and therefore from a source to a predetermined destination.
During operation of a rotary valve in a pulse tube cryocooler of the Gifford-McMahon type, the valves rotate at about two revolutions per second. In order to properly seal the valve to prevent pressurized gas from flowing where it should not, the surfaces slide in relatively close proximity to one another causing substantial wear. Some conventional rotary valves have a rotating disc at one longitudinal end which is forced, by the high pressure gas, against the flat surface of the valve's housing. This disc seals the flow of gas, but due to the direct contact of the disc to the housing, substantial wear occurs. Typically, one of the two surfaces is made of a low friction material such as tetrafluoroethylene and the other is made of a hard material such as hardened steel. This type of seal typically wears out within one year of continuous operation.
The need exists for a rotary valve which requires less frequent replacement.


An electrical connector includes a plurality of leadframe assembly, each having a leadframe housing and a plurality of contacts carried by the leadframe housing. The electrical connector includes at least one unassigned electrical contact that includes a resistor.

Electrical connectors provide signal connections between electronic devices using electrically-conductive contacts, or electrical contacts. In some applications, an electrical connector provides a connectable interface between one or more substrates, e.g., printed circuit boards. Such an electrical connector may include a receptacle connector mounted to a first substrate and a complementary header connector mounted to a second substrate. Typically, a first plurality of electrical receptacle contacts in the receptacle connector is adapted to mate with a corresponding plurality of electrical header contacts in the header connector. For instance, the electrical receptacle contacts can receive the electrical header contacts so as to establish an electrical connection between the electrical receptacle contacts and the electrical header contacts.
The electrical contacts typically include a plurality of signal contacts S and ground contacts G. Often, the signal contacts are so closely spaced that undesirable interference, or "cross talk," occurs between adjacent signal contacts. Cross talk occurs when one signal contact, which can be referred to as an aggressor signal contact, induces electrical interference in an adjacent signal contact, which can be referred to as a victim signal contact, due to intermingling electrical fields, thereby compromising signal integrity. With electronic device miniaturization and high speed, high signal integrity electronic communications becoming more prevalent, the reduction of cross talk becomes a significant factor in connector design.

Electrical connector including electrical circuit elements


A “smart antenna” method and system for use in cellular networks where the wireless transmit receive unit and/or the base station utilize multi-user detection (MUD). The interference to and from other users is taken into consideration to maximize the desired signal while eliminating or reducing interfering signals, thereby increasing overall system capacity.

The present invention is related to "smart antenna" systems. More particularly, the invention is directed to a "smart antenna" system for use in cellular networks where the wireless transmit/receive unit and/or the base station utilize multi-user detection (MUD).
A smart-antenna system generally refers to a composition of several transmit and/or receive antenna elements together with a signal processing protocol which utilizes these antennas to improve the quality of signal reception and the capacity of the cellular networks.
Smart antennas have been widely studied and have been shown to have high potential for performance improvement. A major drawback of most current smart antenna technologies, however, is the significant complexity required to provide more than a marginal improvement in performance. This problem is exacerbated in systems that also utilize multi-user detection (MUD) techniques. Further, current smart antenna techniques only maximize the received power at each WTRU and do not deal with interference to and from other users.

Simple smart-antenna system for MUD-enabled cellular networks


Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing techniques for document object model caching and validation. A client identifies a change of a user interface (UI) element that references a node of the DOM hierarchy. The client determines whether the change of the UI element can be applied to the DOM hierarchy by using an update function, for example, a delta renderer. If so, the client finds in the DOM hierarchy the node that is referenced by the UI element and modifies at least one attribute related to the node according to the change by using the update function. Otherwise, the client sets a dirty flag.

The present invention relates to data processing by digital computer, and more particularly to document object model caching and validation.
Computers can communicate through the use of various Internet technologies. For example, a server computer can send "pages" to a client computer. In this specification, pages are also referred to as user interface (UI) pages. Such pages typically include instructions in a markup language (e.g., Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)), and/or in a script language (e.g., JavaScript). The client computer can use a Web browser to interpret the pages and thereby provide screen presentations to a user. The appearance of the screen presentations can change upon the occurrence of various events—e.g., when the user interacts with or navigates through various UI elements of a page, when the user enters data, or when the server computer updates a page.
Ensuring adequate performance of applications that require client-server communication can be challenging because of numerous limitations, including: limitations in communication speed and the bandwidth that is available, the time required for client-server roundtrips, and the time-consuming computations required to provide the screen presentations (rendering) at the client computer in cases where the client computer is responsible the rendering.
Various techniques can be used to alleviate the problems created by such limitations. For example, layout (e.g., arrangement of elements on screen), style (e.g., fonts, colors), and content (e.g., text messages or pictures) can be transmitted to a client separately. A browser can combine the appropriate layout, style, and content at the time of presentation. However, requests from the client to the server for presentation updates may still require client-server communication (in both directions, so-called roundtrips).
Applications that are built according to the model-view-controller (MVC) design methodology provide views that present an application model to a user. The user can interact with the views, causing a corresponding controller to manipulate the model. The model can then update its views as appropriate. A UI page of an application can include multiple views. The structure of a UI page can be described as a UI tree structure, where the root node of the tree represents the UI page, and child nodes represent UI elements included in the page. The UI elements can include one or more views and one or more controls through which a user interacts with, provides input to, and/or controls the application. Some examples of controls are text fields, radio buttons, tables, trays, and drop-down menus. Each node can have further child nodes (for example, to represent nested views).
An application running on a server computer can send a UI page with markup language portions that describe the UI elements of a UI page to a client computer with a browser. The client can parse the markup language portions of the UI page and build a document object model (DOM) of the UI page. The DOM (e.g., HTML DOM) can include nodes in a DOM hierarchy that represent the UI elements of the UI page in the browser. The browser presents a screen presentation of the UI page that corresponds to the DOM.
When a request is triggered (e.g., by a user interaction, or an interaction with another computer system) that results in a change to a UI element (e.g., a new data value or background color for the UI element), typically, the whole UI page is re-rendered. This can cause unpleasant effects for the user. For example, the user may have to wait for the entire DOM to be regenerated, and when the new DOM is finally presented, it can cause the browser screen to flicker.

Document object model caching and validation


A shooting system providing a barrel with an open forward end and a closed rear end and a projectile containing a propellant under pressure located in the barrel. A wad in the bore has a forward holding member allowing the rearward portion of the projectile to be moved rearwardly in the bore and be longitudinally slidably frictionally fitted in the holding member while the holding member is in sealing engagement circumferentially of and between the barrel and the projectile whereby the projectile is in a loaded state. The holding member also allows the projectile to move forwardly out of the holding member in the firing state. The wad also has a rearward sealing portion in circumferential sealing engagement with the barrel and radially spaced from the rearward portion of the projectile whereby the closed rearward end of the bore, the sealing member, and the projectile form a firing chamber. When the valve is actuated, propellant expands into the firing chamber where it is contained by the closed rearward end of the barrel and the sealing member and applies maximum pressure on the projectile to force it out of the holding member and the barrel thereby firing the projectile. An alternative embodiment provides a barrel with a longitudinally expandable goffered rear end portion forming part of the firing chamber whereby in the firing mode and upon release of the expanding propellant into the chamber, the propellant both expands the goffered section longitudinally and forces the projectile out of the barrel.

In a first type of shooting system, a cartridge with compressed gas, such as carbon dioxide, is used only as a source of energy for propelling the projectile. In such systems, the compressed gas is released to provide the energy source for acceleration of a separate projectile, such as a bullet, a pellet or the like. U.S. Pat. No. 2,375,314 (Mills) describes a device that uses a cartridge containing a compressed fluid for propelling a projectile. The compressed fluid is released from the cartridge and the pressure of the gas propels the projectile from the barrel. In this device, the cartridge remains in the device after launching of the projectile. The cartridge is held in place by a plate to prevent the cartridge from exiting the barrel during launching of the projectile. Annular gaskets are disposed on the outside of the projectile which, in turn, are snugly positioned within the barrel to contain the released fluid. Such a system does not use the cartridge as a projectile. In systems that use the cartridge only as a source of energy and not as a projectile, the problem of holding the cartridge in the barrel can be solved by bumps or dimples in the barrel as shown in Mills.
These shooting systems require high precision machining and molding for valves, pipes, mechanical parts, and projectiles. In addition, the material contained in the cartridge is not used in the process of shooting and is discarded after exhausting the gas contained in the cartridge.
In a second type of shooting system, a cartridge containing compressed gas is used both as a source of energy and as a part of the projectile. This system has difficulty holding the cartridge in a fixed position in a barrel prior to and during the moment of activation of the cartridge and then allowing the cartridge to move forward after activation. Second, the loss of gas between the bore of the barrel and the outside of the cartridge reduces the efficiency of the shooting system. U.S. Pat. No. 3,417,719 (Nitenson) describes an underwater gun in which a projectile is held in frictional engagement with the barrel by using a shank that holds the projectile in a frictional fit. A special shoulder of the cartridge overcomes the frictional force applied by the shank during activation of the projectile. The underwater gun of Nitenson requires strict dimensional tolerances of the cartridge and the bore of the barrel to reduce the release of gas during firing of the projectile.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,588,184 (Walsh) describes a system that uses inefficient rocket principles for compulsion and the outflowing of gases forbid the launching to occur from the hand of the operator because of the dangerous gases.
Using the cartridge only as a source of energy results in simpler constructions than the underwater guns described above for Nitenson, but these constructions are unusable when the cartridges are both a source of energy and a projectile because the cartridge moves forward after deactivation and the bumps prevent such movement of the cartridge. In fact, such movement of the cartridge is not intended by such systems and the cartridge is intended to be used only as an energy source.
A new approach to the method and devices for shooting using compressed gas is desired.
It is desirable to have a shooting system in which a cartridge containing the source of energy also functions as the projectile, and in such systems the use of the source of energy is increased by reducing the loss of resultant gases from exiting the barrel prior to disengagement of the projectile. It is also desirable to have a simple construction for a shooting system.

System for shooting using compressed gas


A tool for manipulating a transducer assembly. The tool had a shaft to space the transducer assembly from a handle end. The tool rotatably mounts the transducer assembly so that the transducer assembly can transmissively coupled to and follow an arcuate scanning path. The tool includes a guide member for following an edge of a component to be tested.

Non-visible areas of materials, such as the interiors of components, welds and composite materials can be analysed using ultrasonic testing. This type of non-destructive testing utilises the reflection of sound waves to detect faults and features which would otherwise be very difficult to detect without destroying the component in the process. Ultrasonic testing is a common technique in the aerospace sector to test the integrity of materials at manufacture and components during service.
If a component within an assembly, such as an aircraft, is to be tested using non-destructive testing it is in some cases necessary to partially disassemble the assembly to access a specific part of the component. The location of the component and the manner in which it is tested may determine the degree of disassembly required. For example, an aircraft forward engine pylon mounting is a well known component that may be analysed for damage using an ultrasonic testing scanner. Such a mounting generally consists of a number of plate-like lugs positioned in a parallel side by side arrangement, each lug having a hole for receiving a common attachment link by which the engine pylon is coupled to the mounting. In testing, an ultrasound transducer is moved across a major face of one or more of the lugs to detect cracks and the like. However, in order to access a major face of the forward engine pylon mounting it is necessary to remove the engine and pylon, which has an adverse effect on servicing time and complexity.

Tool and method for manipulating a transducer assembly


A parking brake assembly for an air actuated disc brake includes an operating shaft for amplifying a force supplied by an air actuator and transmitting the force to brake pads. The operating shaft is pivotable about an axis between a rest position at which a braking force is not applied and an actuated position at which the braking force is applied. An abutment surface on the operating shaft is selectively engageable by a complementary latch of the assembly to retain the operating shaft in the actuated position and thereby apply the parking brake. The abutment surface has a helical configuration.

The present invention relates generally to a parking brake assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a parking brake assembly for an air actuated disc brake.
Air actuated disc brakes are typically used in heavy vehicle applications, such as for braking trucks or buses. Such brakes typically operate as follows. Pressurised air is introduced behind a diaphragm of an air chamber, which generates a load in a push rod. The push rod in turn applies a force to a pivotably mounted operating shaft, causing it to rotate. By means of an eccentric action, an amplified force is applied to one or more tappet assemblies that advance a brake pad towards a brake rotor. This causes a clamping effect on the brake rotor, thereby retarding rotation of the rotor due to friction generated between the brake pad in contact with the tappet assembly and a further brake pad mounted on an opposite face of the brake rotor.
To comply with safety legislation, when a vehicle fitted with air actuated brakes is parked, the brakes must be applied mechanically without reliance on the pressurised air to overcome the risk of the brake force being removed due to accidental leakage of the air, with obvious consequences.
Conventionally, in air actuated brakes of the type described above, the parking brake function is achieved by the addition of a large spring to the rear of the air chamber that generates a load on the push rod when no pressurised air is present.
The addition of the spring, together with an additional air chamber required to release the parking brake that is mounted behind the air chamber for the application of service brakes, adds to the bulk, weight and expense of the vehicle braking system.
The present invention seeks to overcome, or at least mitigate, the problems of the prior art.

Meritor Heavy Vehicle Braking Systems (UK) Limited


A slide fastener, wherein in the fastener chain openable and closable from both ends thereof, a box pin and the insert pin, which can join with or separate from each other, are provided at least on an end of the fastener chain; and a protrusion facing the insert pin and projecting from an opposing face is provided at a front end of the box pin; the protrusion has slopes inclined in a direction of approaching the insert pin on upper and lower sides of the protrusion; and the lower side of the protrusion makes contact with a diamond of the reverse opening slider, while the upper side of the protrusion can guide the insert pin smoothly when the pin is inserted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a separable bottom end stop for a slide fastener. The separable bottom end stop is formed of a box pin and an insert pin, an upward opening slider and a reverse opening slider are loaded on a fastener chain, and the box pin and the insert pin are improved, thereby achieving a smooth separation and insertion of those pins.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-136309 has disclosed a separable bottom end stop for a slide fastener, as shown in FIG. 9, in which an expanded portion 41′ which allows an insert pin 6′ to retreat is provided on an outer side face at a front end of a box pin 5′, and a projecting portion is provided on a rear face at a corner portion of the front end of the box pin in order to prevent a reverse opening slider 8′ from escaping, so that the projecting portion can make contact with and engage with a front end of a lower plate of the reverse opening slider 8′. The insert pin 6′ has a side face 42′ which can push up a locking pawl 30′ provided on the reverse opening slider 8′ gradually, the side face 42′ provided from a front end of a surface of the insert pin 6′ up to a recess 22′ capable of accommodating the locking pawl 30′.
In a fastener chain having the reverse opening slider 8′ shown in FIG. 9, when the insert pin 6′ is inserted into an upward opening slider 7′ in a condition that the reverse opening slider 8′ and the upward opening slider 7′ loaded on the fastener chain are kept in contact with each other on the box pin 5′ at the bottom end of the fastener chain, the front end of the insert pin 6′ makes contact with the top end of a diamond 28′ of the reverse opening slider 8′, so that the insert pin 6′ can not be inserted or fitted smoothly. Further, the projecting portion is provided on the rear face at the corner of the front end of the box pin 5′, and is formed so as to make contact with and engages with the front end of the lower plate of the reverse opening slider 8′. Therefore, it is difficult to accommodate the box pin 5′ in a body of the slider completely to be hidden, so that an appearance of the slide fastener is not good to see.


The invention relates to a reflector arrangement comprising a reflector and a light guide. It is characterized in that the use of film hinges permits simpler and lower-cost assembly than has heretofore been possible with comparable reflector arrangements.

Arrangements of this kind are used to guide light from a light source to a desired location with as little loss as possible and there to couple it out of the light guide in accordance with the application, particularly through a window. Depending on the intended use, the widest variety of light sources are combined with such reflector arrangements. Light-emitting or laser diodes, inter alia, can be employed as light sources.
Reflector arrangements find application as general illuminants or as efficient background lighting for liquid crystal displays (LCDs). In such cases, the light is usually guided from the light source to a window, from which it is extracted as uniformly as possible. The light guide often has a roughened surface at the site of the exit window, to homogenize the exiting light. The light guide is usually made from transparent materials, such as for example polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or epoxy resin. To minimize losses, the reflector surrounds the light guide in subregions. To be able to surround the light guide, the reflector is formed of plural elements that must be assembled around the light guide during the assembly process.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,259,082 B1 discloses an arrangement composed of a reflector and a light guide in which the reflector is constructed of plural elements that surround the light guide. A variety of equipment and tools is needed to fabricate the individual elements. These parts must then be fitted together during the assembly of such an arrangement. Each of the elements is therefore associated with logistical expenditure. More elements generally make for an increased number of work steps, which can additionally create sources of error in the production process. Large numbers of elements are also, on the whole, associated with higher costs.
The object of the invention is to disclose a reflector arrangement of the initially cited kind, which permits an improvement in a cost-effective manner.
The invention achieves this object by means of the features of claim 1. Configurations of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims.
In the present invention, at least one reflector shaped body is fixedly connected to at least one other shaped body of the reflector via a bendable connector, a so-called film hinge. This reduces the expenditure associated with assembly. Assembly expenditure is limited to the following steps: placing the light guide in the reflector; folding the reflector together; securing the movable parts.
An advantageous embodiment of the invention results if the reflector is implemented in one piece with at least one film hinge, disposed between shaped bodies of the reflector and thereto-assigned fastening means. This advantageously reduces the number of individual parts needed overall. The logistical expenditure involved in shipping the parts and keeping them in stock and the assembly expenditure are reduced, since fewer individual parts are needed to make a reflector arrangement.
A further advantageous embodiment of the invention results if the reflector, together with the film hinge(s), is produced in one piece by injection molding or another molding process. Only one mold with one cavity is therefore needed. In addition, limitation to a single injection point on the mold is thereby feasible. This has economic advantages with regard to production.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a film hinge is implemented as at least segmentally continuous along the extension of the axis of the hinge. The axis of the hinge is the axis about which shaped bodies of a reflector rotate or fold. It usually lies on a common edge of different shaped bodies.
A further advantageous embodiment of the invention results if a film hinge is implemented not as continuous, but as locally interrupted.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the reflector arrangement contains an angled light guide.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the assembled reflector surrounds the light guide.
A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that shaped bodies of the reflector that are connected by a film hinge can be secured to one another by means of fasteners.
A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that shaped bodies of the reflector that are connected by a film hinge can be secured to the light guide by means of fasteners.
A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that shaped bodies of the reflector that are connected by a film hinge can be secured both to one another and to the light guide by means of fasteners.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a snap mechanism is provided as fastening means for the reflector arrangement. Assembly thus is reduced to inserting the light guide, folding the molded parts together and engaging the snap. The error rate in assembly is also reduced in this way.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a latch is provided as fastening means for the reflector arrangement. Assembly thus is reduced to inserting the light guide, folding the molded parts together and engaging the latch. The error rate in assembly is also reduced in this way. Latching, in contrast to snapping, permits fastening in a plurality of discrete positions.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, contact surfaces for gluing are provided as fastening means for the reflector arrangement. Assembly thus is reduced to inserting the light guide, folding the molded parts together and gluing the contact surfaces. The error rate in assembly is also reduced in this way.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, contact surfaces for welding are provided as fastening means for the reflector arrangement. Assembly thus is reduced to inserting the light guide, folding the molded parts together and welding the contact surfaces. The error rate in assembly is also reduced in this way.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, contact surfaces for swaging are provided as fastening means for the reflector arrangement. Assembly thus is reduced to inserting the light guide, folding the molded parts together and swaging the contact surfaces. The error rate in assembly is also reduced in this way.
A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the reflector performs a holding function for the light guide. A holding function of the reflector with respect to the light guide can be achieved merely by fitting the reflector exactly to the light guide and having it partially surround the latter. Direct holding modalities are also possible, however. Guide rails, latch lugs or snap lugs may be cited as examples.
In embodiments where a fastener is disposed between the reflector and the light guide, or the reflector at least partially surrounds the light guide in subregions, the reflector can also additionally perform a securing function for the light guide.
A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the reflector comprises one or more light exit windows.
A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the reflector comprises one or more light entrance windows.
The invention will be described below with reference to exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the figures of the drawing. Elements of the same kind have been provided with the same respective reference numerals.


A flexible protection element for reactive protection against shaped charge warheads and kinetic energy projectiles comprises a formable doughy mixture of a powder dispersed within a matrix of plastic explosive and a binder.

Reactive armour has been employed in the art for quite some time to defend against attacks by a variety of anti-tank charges (which are used against all kinds of armoured vehicles) and to reduce the damage done to the vehicle being protected. It is most effective in protecting against shaped charge warheads and kinetic energy penetrators.
An element of explosive reactive armour consists of an explosive layer sheet or slab of high explosive sandwiched between two plates, typically metal ones. When hit by anti-armour threat, either Shaped Charge warheads or Long Rod penetrators, the explosive detonates, forcibly driving the metal plates apart to damage the penetrator. Against a shaped charge, the projected plates disrupt the metallic jet penetrator, effectively providing a greater path-length of material to be penetrated. Against a kinetic energy penetrator, the projected plates serve to deflect and break up the rod.
The disruption is attributed mainly to the following mechanism. Since the plates are angled with respect to the impact direction of shaped charge warheads, as the plates move outwards the impact point, the plates move continuously over time, requiring the jet to cut through additional fresh plate material. This effect actually increases the effective plate thickness during the impact.
A complication to the use of reactive armour is the hazardous risks to the surroundings—dismounted troops or vehicles, due to fragments or moving plates emanating from the explosive detonation. Another complication is that conventional reactive armour is made of flat plates and is not suited to protect non-planar surfaces. It would therefore be highly desirable to provide new reactive armour that reduces the collateral damage effects to the surroundings and which can also be easily applied to non-planar surfaces.


The invention relates to fluoropolymer composites having a fluoropolymer matrix containing a functionalized fluoropolymer composition, and reinforced with fibers. The fibers can be chopped fibers, long fibers, or a mixture thereof, and the fluoropolymer matrix preferably is based on polyvinylidene fluoride. Any type of fibers, sized or unsized may be used with the functionalized fluoropolymer matrix composition to form the fluoropolymer composite.

Fluoropolymers, for example those based on vinylidene fluoride CF2═CH2 (VDF) are known to have excellent mechanical stability properties, very great chemical inertness, low surface energy, electrochemical stability, and good aging resistance. These qualities are exploited in various end-use applications. Unfortunately, due to their inertness, it is difficult to bond to or get good adhesion of fluoropolymers to other materials.
Functional groups have been added to fluoropolymers in order to increase adhesion to other materials, add some level of hydrophilicity and wettability, and provide reactive sites, such as for cross-linking and subsequent chemical modification. Functionality has been added by several means, such as, by direct copolymerization of a functional monomer with the fluoromonomers, and by a post-polymerization grafting mechanism, such as the grafting of maleic anhydride onto a polyvinylidene fluoride homopolymer or copolymer, as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,241,817, to form KYNAR® ADX resins available from Arkema Inc. WO 2013/110740 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,351,498 further describe functionalization of a fluoropolymer by monomer grafting or by copolymerization.
Fibers are known for use as reinforcement in many types of polymer composites. Long fibers can be sized or coated with a polymer or pre-polymer that serves as a binder to hold the fibers together or act to be compatible with or react with the polymer matrix of a long fiber composite. The sized long fibers can then be impregnated with a polymer matrix by a series of different methods to form a tape or sheet. This impregnated sheet or tape is then consolidated into a final article by a series of different methods (compression molding, automatic tape placement, etc) to make a consolidated thermoplastic composite article. Articles made of long fibers generally contain at least 45 weight percent, preferably more than 50 weight percent, and often more than 60 to 70 weight percent of reinforcing fiber.
In a continuous fiber article, the properties of the article are dominated by the properties of the fiber—the polymer acting as a binder/matrix to hold the fibers together.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,883,898 discloses impregnating continuous fibers with a fluoropolymer that has been functionalized, preferably by grafting with maleic anhydride.
Different fiber sizings have been developed for different polymer matrices, to improve compatibility between the sized fibers and the matrix polymer. Unfortunately, current fiber sizings have poor compatibility with fluoropolymer. Without good compatibility, and therefore good distribution and good adhesion between the fibers and a fluoropolymer matrix, the benefits of using fiber reinforcement have not been fully realized.
Surprisingly, it has now been found that the use of a functionalized fluoropolymer matrix, along with fibers that have been treated or sized to contain functionality, results in a chemical interaction of the fibers with the matrix, this interaction improves the adhesion of the fibers to the matrix, which in turn improves tensile and flexural strength of the composite.

High strength polyvinylidene fluoride composite


A waterproof laminate panel is disclosed. The panel includes a decorative layer and a backing layer. The backing layer is composed of at least one resin impregnated layer bound to a waterproofing layer which substantially prevents the penetration and release of moisture from the panel so as to maintain a constant moisture content within the decorative panel. The resin impregnated layer faces the decorative layer and the waterproofing layer is exposed to an external environment.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to waterproof laminates. More particularly, the invention relates to waterproof laminated panel products which are not susceptible to environmental conditions. Flooring panels are referred to through out the following disclosure in an exemplary manner, and those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the present laminates may be used in a wide variety of applications.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Decorative laminates have found wide use as the ability to replicate natural materials has substantially improved over the years. For example, decorative laminates have replaced natural materials in the construction of furniture, cabinets, and countertops. In each of these applications, a decorative surface is applied to a substrate, namely, plywood, particle board, chipboard, medium density fiberboard, etc. Typically, a backing layer is secured to the opposite side of the substrate. Since furniture, cabinets and countertops, as well as other applications in which decorative laminates are employed, generally do not encounter destructive environmental forces, the moisture response characteristics of the decorative laminates are not a primary concern.
However, not all decorative laminates are used in environments where their exposure to moisture may be readily controlled and monitored. For example, flooring panels are constantly exposed to dual competing environments which may damage the floor. Specifically, all flooring panels are exposed to an "A environment" above the flooring panel (that is, the controlled environment commonly found in a home or office) and a "B environment" below the flooring panel (that is, the environment existing in the floor boards, concrete, crawl spaces, etc. located below the flooring panel). Most prior art flooring panels are, however, not designed to exist between the competing A and B environments. Where prior art flooring panels are designed with the competing A and B environments in mind, the prior art flooring panels employ costly and/or bulky constructions in confronting the dual environments.
Flooring panels 10 are commonly manufactured with a decorative layer 12, a substrate 13 and a backing layer 14 as shown in FIG. 1. The decorative layer 12 is commonly exposed to the A environment, which typically does not present the wealth of problems that the B environment presents to the backing layer 14, which may subsequently affect the substrate 13. The decorative layer 12 commonly consists of two layers of phenolic resin impregnated kraft paper 16, 18, a pattern layer 20, and a melamine overlay layer 22 incorporating AlO.sub.2 for wear resistance. The backing layer 14, from bottom up, is commonly composed of melamine impregnated paper 24 and two layers of phenolic resin impregnated kraft paper 26, 28. As discussed above, the substrate 13 may be chosen from a variety of materials, namely, plywood, particle board, chipboard, medium density fiberboard etc.
As those of ordinary skill in the art will certainly appreciate, the decorative and backing layers discussed above are purely exemplary. Decorative and backing layers may take various forms and employ laminate layers in a variety of combinations.
While melamine impregnated paper acts as a barrier for water, the melamine layer reacts adversely when exposed to water vapor, or relative humidity (commonly found when water attempts to escape from moist floor boards or concrete). Similarly, the phenolic layers, and even most substrates, tend to expand substantially when exposed to moisture.
In view of the panel construction commonly employed, the decorative layer, substrate and backing layer react to the difference between the two environments when the A and B environments compete. As in most circumstances where an object is pulled in opposite directions by multiple forces, a flooring panel sitting between two distinct and different environments will often fail to remain flat. For example, where excess moisture exists in the B environment, the flooring panel will generally expand along its bottom surface causing the flooring panel to warp with its lateral edges pointing upwardly (positive warping). Such warping is highly aesthetically and functionally undesirable.
Negative warping (that is, expansion of the top layer causes the edges to the panel to bow downwardly) is less common with flooring panels since the upper surface of the flooring panels are generally not exposed to the environmental conditions which could result in the expansion of the upper surface of the flooring panels. Specifically, the A environment is well controlled through the use of heating systems, air conditioners, general cleaning, and the like. For example, where water is spilled on a floor, the water will generally be wiped up or evaporate into the atmosphere before it negatively affects the top layers of the flooring panel. Similarly, relative humidity and temperature are generally controlled by those people living in the specific environment.
If moisture does enter the flooring panel from the A environment and causes the decorative layer of the flooring panel to expand and negatively warp, the warping may be easily corrected by controlling the A environment, over which people have ready control. When the A environment is controlled, excess moisture held therein is released and the flooring panel generally returns to original shape.
In addition, negative warping is generally less noticeable than positive warping. Where the center of a panel bows upwardly (negative warping), most consumers will not notice the slight roll in the flooring panel. However, the upwardly extending edges found in positively warped panels are very noticeable.
The prior art has previously attempted to remedy the problems associated with warping flooring panels by either attempting to balance the layers employed in the construction of the panels or employing strong backings which resist the warping forces created by the presence of moisture. Neither remedy has been met with total success.
While balancing is highly successful where both sides of a laminate are exposed to the same environmental conditions, balancing does not produce similar results where the top and bottom surfaces of a laminate are exposed to very different environments, and this is where warpage becomes noticeable.
The approach taken in designing backing layers when confronting moisture problems in the B environment is compounded by the testing procedures currently used throughout the industry. These testing procedures do not consider the differences between the A and B environments, but rather concentrate on the attempts to balance the expansion and contraction of the layers on opposite sides of the panel.
Specifically, conventional testing procedures suggest that the panel should be exposed to humidity levels ranging from 30% to 90% over an extended period of time. While such testing may be appropriate where the panel is to be exposed to the same environment on opposite sides, this is not the case for flooring panels. As discussed above, flooring panels are constantly exposed to two very different environments; the environment above the flooring panel (the A environment) and the environment below the flooring panel (the B environment). The prior testing procedures fail to consider the differences and, therefore, fail to properly evaluate the appropriateness of the flooring panels for actual use.
As such, a need exists for a flooring panel which is not susceptible to the harm presented by exposure to moisture. In addition, a need exits for a waterproof laminate which may be used in a wide range of applications. A need further exists for a laminate product which accounts for different environments encountered on opposite sides of the laminate product.


The present invention relates generally to a packaging system for preserving a nonoxygenated hemoglobin based oxygen therapeutic agent. More specifically, the present invention relates to a transparent overwrap packaging system comprising a primary product contacting package, a secondary package comprising a multilayer high barrier oxygen overwrap.

There is an ever increasing number of therapeutic intravenous (IV) fluids being developed for delivery that are susceptible to gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, and thus need to be packaged properly to avoid degradation. These therapeutic fluids must be preserved and protected from contact by such gases to maintain the efficacy of the therapeutic fluid.
For example, hemoglobin solutions are known to lose their ability to function as oxygen therapeutic agents during storage. A hemoglobin solution loses its ability to function as a oxygen therapeutic agent because of spontaneous transformation of oxyhemoglobin in the solution to methemoglobin, a physiologically inactive form of hemoglobin that does not function as a oxygen therapeutic agent by releasing oxygen into a patient's bloodstream. To improve shelf life, oxygen therapeutic agents can be refrigerated, frozen or deoxygenated in efforts to control the oxygenation state of the hemoglobin within the solution.
A common storage container for a hemoglobin solution is a flexible container made of plastic polymer film, most notably an intravenous (IV) bag. Further, the container for a hemoglobin solution should be made from a material that complies with U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) Class VI classification (physical, chemical and biocompatibility) and that is non-pyrogenic. Unlike IV bags for many other solutions, IV bags used specifically for hemoglobin solutions stored in a deoxygenated state must also provide a sufficient barrier to the passage of moisture vapor and other gases to preserve the deoxygenated state of the hemoglobin solution contained therein. Specifically, it is typically desirable for such containers to possess high oxygen barrier properties to enable deoxygenated hemoglobin solutions to be stored for weeks or months at room temperature. For example, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) is known to provide a high barrier to the ingress of oxygen.
Containers used for storing hemoglobin solutions are often fabricated from single-ply or multilayer materials. Multilayer foils can be produced via coextrusion and/or lamination. In principle, multilayer-packaging foils and packaging materials for sensitive goods are composed of a thin gas-barrier core layer, which may have been bonded by way of an adhesion-promoter layer or a lamination-adhesive layer to outer layers. For example, a multilayer package of ethylene vinyl acetate/ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVA/EVOH) has previously been used as a primary packaging bag to minimize gas permeability and avoid the formation of inactive methemoglobin. For secondary protection of blood products, it has also previously been known that a metal foil laminate overwrap can be used to protect against potential air leakage and to maintain the product in a deoxygenated state. However, there is a potential drawback of pin holes occurring in these overwrap packages that compromises its air tightness and makes the product unstable. In particular, in the past, clear silicon containing laminates with high oxygen and moisture barrier properties have not been useful in automated packaging equipment because the stress on the material causes it to crack or otherwise lose the desired barrier properties.
Accordingly, there is a need in the field for a packaging system for storing a nonoxygenated hemoglobin solution that possesses superior oxygen barrier properties to prevent the oxidation of hemoglobin and thereby maintain the nonoxygenated hemoglobin solution in a nonoxygenated state until administration.

Packaging system for preserving a nonoxygenated hemoglobin based oxygen therapeutic product


Quantizers included in an analog-to-digital converter each compare an input analog voltage with a reference voltage to convert the analog voltage to digital data and output a voltage representative of a difference between the analog voltage and a voltage corresponding to the digital data. In each quantizer includes a comparator comparing the analog voltage with the reference voltage to output a result of comparison. An amplifier amplifies a voltage representative of a difference of the analog voltage from the reference voltage. Another amplifier inverts the voltage representative of the difference of the analog voltage from the reference voltage and amplifies the inverted voltage. A couple of switches are respectively connected to the one and the other amplifier for selecting either one of the output voltages of the amplifiers in accordance with the result of comparison. An exclusive-NOR gate develops the digital data in accordance with the result of comparison and digital data output from the preceding-stage quantizer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an analog-to-digital (AD) converter for converting an analog voltage to digital data.
2. Description of the Background Art
A conventional serial-parallel type of AD converter includes a plurality of parallel ADCs (Analog-to-Digital Converters). Specifically, an analog input signal is input to an M-bit ADC on the input terminal of the AD converter and converted to M bits of digital data by one of the parallel ADCs. A DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) included in the AD converter converts the digital data to a corresponding analog voltage. A differential circuit included in the AD converter produces a difference between the analog voltage produced by the DAC and the analog input voltage. An amplifier included in the AD converter amplifies the difference and feeds the amplified difference to an N-bit ADC, which is another of the parallel ADCs.
An N-bit shifter also included in the AD converter raises the digital data output from the M-bit ADC by N bit positions toward its most significant bit position. An adder also included in the AD converter adds both of the digital data output from the N-bit ADC and the N-bit shifter to each other to thereby output the (M+N) bits of digital data from the output terminal of the AD converter.
A problem with the conventional AD converter described above is that the DAC must convert the digital data to which the analog input voltage was converted to a further analog voltage, thus incurring some time delay in the entire AD conversion. Another problem is that the inclusion of the differential circuit and the amplifier, which handle the analog voltages, possibly aggravates errors. The conventional AD converter is therefore likely to cause the conversion to be delayed and deteriorate the accuracy in AD conversion.
It Is an object of the present invention to provide an AD converter in which the delay and errors are minimized in AD conversion.
In accordance with the present invention, an analog-to-digital conversion circuit includes a series of quantizers each for comparing an input analog voltage with a reference voltage to convert the analog voltage to digital data and outputting a voltage representative of a difference of the input voltage from a voltage corresponding to the digital data. Each quantizer includes a comparator for comparing the analog voltage with the reference voltage to output the result of comparison. A first amplifier amplifies a voltage representative of a difference of the analog voltage from the reference voltage. A second amplifier inverts the voltage representative of the difference of the analog voltage from the reference voltage and amplifies the inverted voltage. A first and a second switch are respectively connected to the first and second amplifiers for selecting either one of the output voltages of the first and second amplifiers in accordance with the result of comparison output from the comparator. A data output circuit develops and outputs the digital data in accordance with the result of comparison and digital data fed from the preceding quantizer.

Analog-to-digital converter including a series of quantizers interconnected in cascade


A method of forming a plurality of contact holes of varying pitch and density in a contact layer of an integrated circuit device is provided. The plurality of contact holes can include a plurality of regularly spaced contact holes having a first pitch along a first direction and a plurality of semi-isolated contact holes having a second pitch along a second direction. A double-dipole illumination source can transmit light energy through a mask having a pattern corresponding to a desired contact hole pattern. The double-dipole illumination source can include a first dipole aperture, which is oriented and optimized for patterning the regularly spaced contact holes, and a second dipole aperture, which is oriented substantially orthogonal to the first dipole aperture and optimized for patterning the plurality of semi-isolated contact holes. The contact layer can be etched using the patterned photoresist layer.

Optical lithography or photolithography has been widely used in the semiconductor industry in connection with the formation of a wide range of structures present in integrated circuit (IC) devices. The photolithography process generally begins with the formation of a photoresist layer on or over the top surface of a semiconductor substrate or wafer (or some intermediate layer). A reticle or mask having fully light non-transmissive opaque regions, which are often formed of chrome, and fully light transmissive clear regions, which are often formed of quartz, is then positioned over the photoresist coated wafer.
The mask is placed between a radiation or light source which produces light of a pre-selected wavelength (e.g., ultraviolet light) and geometry, and an optical lens system, which may form part of a stepper apparatus. When the light from the light source is directed onto the mask, the light is focused to generate a reduced mask image on the wafer, typically using the optical lens system, which contains one or several lenses, filters, and/or mirrors. The light passes through the clear regions of the mask to expose the underlying photoresist layer and is blocked by the opaque regions of the mask, leaving that underlying portion of the photoresist layer unexposed. The exposed photoresist layer is then developed, typically through chemical removal of the exposed or unexposed regions of the photoresist layer. The end result is a semiconductor wafer coated with a photoresist layer exhibiting a desired pattern, which defines geometries, features, lines and shapes of that layer. This pattern can then be used for etching underlying regions of the wafer.
There is a pervasive trend in the art of IC device design and fabrication to increase the density with which various structures are arranged. For example, a flash memory device can include a core region containing one or more arrays of densely-packed double-bit memory cells. The manufacture of such a device can include patterning a contact layer to include regular arrays of densely-packed contact holes (e.g., source/drain contact holes) on a minimum pitch along a first direction as well as a plurality of semi-isolated contact holes (e.g., Vss contact holes). Once formed, these contact holes can be filled with a conductive material, such as a metal, a metal-containing compound or a semiconductor, to form conductive vias for electrically connecting structures disposed above and below the contact layer.
One conventional method of forming contact holes includes performing a double exposure technique using two different illumination sources to expose two different masks (or one mask rotated into two different orientations) for patterning one contact layer. With such a technique, each mask/illumination pair can be optimized to deliver maximum resolution for a given class of structures, while minimizing the impact on the structures defined or otherwise patterned by the other exposure. However, as with any double exposure technique, the effects of misalignment must be taken into account, which can be difficult, time-consuming, and expensive. Otherwise, printing defects may occur.
While various mask types and aggressive illumination strategies have been employed for the imaging of sub-resolution features, including contact holes, each illumination type has certain tradeoffs (e.g., improved contrast at the expense of depth of focus). In addition, each mask type can exhibit varying performance dependent on the pattern to be imaged.
Accordingly, a need exists for an improved system and method for fabricating contact holes of varying pitch and density.

System and method for fabricating contact holes


An initiator assembly includes an SMI assembly board onto which at least a first and a second initiator are surface mounted. The first and second initiators each include a respective surface mount initiator board with which a respective igniter element is respectively mounted. Corresponding multi-initiator assemblies for automotive airbag inflator devices as well as automotive airbag inflator device combinations are also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to initiators and, more particularly, to design, fabrication and processing of initiators such as described more fully below, such as sometimes herein as "surface mountable" or "surface mounted."
2. Discussion of Related Art
Initiators find common usage in a variety of applications. One prominent use of initiators is in motor vehicle occupant safety restraint systems.
It is well known to protect a vehicle occupant using a cushion or bag, e.g., an "airbag," that is inflated or expanded with gas when the vehicle encounters sudden deceleration, such as in a collision. In such systems, the airbag cushion is normally housed in an uninflated and folded condition to minimize space requirements. Upon actuation of the system, the cushion begins being inflated in a matter of no more than a few milliseconds with gas produced or supplied by a device commonly referred to as an "inflator."
Various types of inflator devices have been disclosed in the art for the inflation of an airbag such as used in inflatable restraint systems.
One type of known inflator device derives inflation gas from a combustible pyrotechnic gas generating material which, upon ignition, generates a quantity of gas sufficient to inflate the airbag. Such inflator devices often include a gas generant material stored within the inflator device housing and an initiator in combination with the housing that actuates the gas generant material. The initiator typically includes a reactive charge in combination with electrical connectors. A signal sent through the electrical connector(s) actuates the reactive charge, which produces reaction products that actuate the gas generant material.
In view of possibly varying operating conditions and, in turn, possibly varying desired performance characteristics, inflatable safety restraint technology has led to the development of what has been termed "adaptive" or "Smart" inflator devices and corresponding inflatable restraint systems. With an adaptive inflator device, output parameters such as one or more of the quantity, supply, and rate of supply of inflation gas, for example, can be selectively and appropriately varied dependent on selected operating conditions such as one or more of ambient temperature, occupant presence, seat belt usage and rate of deceleration of the motor vehicle, for example.
Pyrotechnic inflators typically may have one or more chambers containing gas generant. Adaptive pyrotechnic inflators having gas generant material in two chambers, which are independently ignited via respective initiators or igniters, have been referred to as "dual stage" inflators. In practice, each such gas generant material-containing chamber is oftentimes referred to as a "combustion chamber" as the gas generant material therein contained is burned or otherwise reacted to produce or form gas such as may be used to inflate an associated inflatable restraint airbag cushion.
Dual stage inflators typically may have several contemplated actuation or firing scenarios. In a first such scenario, only the gas generant material in a first or primary chamber and associate initiator device is actuated whereby a fixed quantity of inflation gas is produced thereby. In a second possible scenario, the first or primary initiator is first actuated whereby gas generant material in a first chamber is first reacted to start to produce or form inflation gas and after a predetermined or preselected delay, a secondary initiator is then actuated whereby gas generant material in the second chamber is reacted to also produce or form inflation gas. In a third possible scenario, both the primary and the secondary initiators are actuated whereby a gas generant material in a first chamber and a gas generant material in a second chamber are actuated simultaneously to produce or form inflation gas from the gas generant material in each of the chambers.
Through the selection and use of an appropriate such actuation or firing scenario, inflator output parameters such as one or more of the quantity, supply, and rate of supply of inflation gas, for example, can be selectively and appropriately varied dependent on selected operating conditions such as one or more of ambient temperature, occupant presence, seat belt usage and rate of deceleration of the motor vehicle, for example.
Current state of the art automotive airbag technology oftentimes employs dual stage inflators (smart inflators) in an effort to achieve desired or necessary performance requirements.
FIG. 1 shows a n example of a dual stage inflator assembly, generally designated by the reference numeral 110, and shown in a static state or condition, e.g., prior to actuation.
The inflator assembly 110 includes a housing construction 112 having a generally cylindrical external outline and such as formed of two structural components, i.e., a lower shell or base portion 114 and an upper shell or diffuser cap portion 116. The diffuser cap portion 116 is in the general form of an inverted bowl and includes a top wall 120 and a cylindrical sidewall 122, which includes a plurality of spaced, preferably, generally uniformly spaced gas exit ports 124.
The base portion 114 includes first and second mounting openings, designated by the reference numerals 126 and 130, respectively. The base portion 114 also includes a peripheral bracket 132 that extends radially outward from the housing 112 and such as may serve to form an interface attachment which is used to attach the inflator assembly 110 to a vehicle.
The housing 112 is configured to define a central first chamber 134. The first chamber 134 contains or houses a supply of a first gas generant material, such as typically in the form of a pyrotechnic, not here shown to facilitate illustration and comprehension.
Within the first chamber 134, such as in surrounding relation with the first gas generant material therein contained, is a filter assembly 140. Such a filter assembly may include one or more of a combustion screen or filter such as formed of multiple layers or wraps of a metal screen, a filter damper pad or the like.
The inflator assembly 110 also includes a retainer 144 such as may serve as a construction expedient to retain the inflator assembly components in proper relative arrangement and prevent undesired flow passage through the assembly.
A first igniter assembly, generally designated by the reference numeral 154, is mounted to the housing 112 in a location within the first chamber 134 via the first mounting opening 126. The first igniter assembly 154 may take the form of a known pyrotechnic initiator device such as includes, as is known in the art, an igniter or ignition booster cup 156 wherein is housed a canister 158, such as contains an igniter material, not here shown to facilitate illustration and comprehension. The first igniter assembly also includes a first igniter device or squib 162 in conjunction with an initiator pyrotechnic output composition (not shown), a pyrotechnic output composition containment cup and electrical isolation sleeve 163, such as made of metal, and a squib adapter or holder 164 whereby the igniter assembly 154 is mounted to or mated with the housing 112. As shown, the igniter cup 156 can take the form of a generally concave member with a cap 170 and a cylindrical sidewall 172 forming an interior 174. The igniter cup 156 can be formed of a gas-impermeable material, such as metal, with the cylindrical sidewall 172 including a plurality of positioned and spaced gas exit orifices (not shown) that are normally (e.g., when the inflator is in a static or prior to actuation state) covered and the passage of material therethrough prevented by means of a pressure sensitive covering or barrier (not shown), such as by means of an adhesive-backed foil seal wrap or the like as is well known in the art. As is known, such covering can be selected to open or rupture upon the application of a predetermined pressure thereagainst from the interior of the igniter cup 156.
When actuated, the squib 162 discharges or otherwise results in the rupture or opening of the ignition material canister 158 and, in turn, ignition of the igniter material normally contained and subsequently the gas generant material contained within the first chamber 134.
In practice, the igniter assembly 154 is connected or joined to the housing 112 such as by welding the holder 164 to the base portion 114 at the mounting opening 126.
The first chamber 134 also houses or contains a second chamber 182. The second chamber 182 includes a generant cup 184, a lid closure 185, a second igniter device or squib 190 in conjunction with an initiator pyrotechnic output composition (not shown), a pyrotechnic output composition containment cup and electrical isolation sleeve 191, such as made of metal, and a second squib adapter or holder 192 whereby the second igniter device 190 and the associated second chamber 182 are mounted or mated with the housing 112 such as via the second mounting opening 130.
The generant cup 184 and the lid closure 185 cooperate to form a generant cup interior 196 wherein is desirably placed a selected quantity of a second gas generant material such as typically in the form of a pyrotechnic as described above and not here shown to facilitate illustration and comprehension. The second gas generant material may typically be in the form of a pyrotechnic material and may be either the same or different in composition, shape, size or form, as compared to the first gas generant material.
The generant cup 184 and the lid closure 185 further desirably cooperate and function in a manner such as to permit the combustion products formed by reaction of the gas generant material contained within the second chamber 182, when properly and desirably actuated, to pass from the second chamber 182 out into the first chamber 134, through the filter assembly 140 and the exit ports 124 out from the inflator assembly 110 and into an associated airbag cushion (not shown). Zone Name: A2,AMD
As will be appreciated, there is a need and demand for improvements in multiple initiator-containing devices and associated assemblies. Previous initiator and inflator devices include those described and/or claimed in EP 0 879 739 B1 (having the counterpart U.S. Pat. No. 6,068, 291, issued 30 May 2000 to Lebaudy et al.); EP 1 160 533 B1 (having the counterpart US 2002/0002924 A1, published 10 Jan. 2002); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,841, issued 30 Sep. 1997 to Monk et al.
In view of the numerous and/or varied uses and applications for initiators, improvements in the design, manufacture, operation and/or processing of initiators, such as whereby significant cost reductions can be realized, are highly sought, pursued and valued.


An electronic still camera using a memory card as a picture recording medium, and a memory card applicable thereto and implemented by an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). A picture signal generated by a CCD array and representative of a picture is routed through an amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter to a signal processing circuit. The picture signal is subjected to interpolation and other similar processing by the signal processing circuit, coded by a compressing circuit, and then written to a buffer memory. These steps proceed on a real time basis. The buffer memory is constituted by a storage device having a reading speed and a writing speed which are different from each other. A memory card controller reads data out of the buffer memory and writes them in the memory card at a low speed matching the memory card.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic still camera of the type recording picture data in a recording medium implemented as a memory card, and a memory card applicable to such a camera and using an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory).
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is a common practice with an electronic still camera to record picture data representative of a picture and generated by a CCD (Charged Coupled Device) array or similar solid-state image pick-up device in a recording medium, e.g., a memory card. Since the amount of data representative of, among others, a picture is great, they are compressed by, for example, orthogonal transform coding and then written to a recording medium.
A memory card for use with the above-described type of electronic still camera has customarily been implemented by an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) capable of writing and reading data at a high speed. The problem with an SRAM is that it is volatile and, therefore, needs a back-up battery. Moreover, an SRAM capable of recording a great amount of data, e.g., picture data is expensive, increasing the cost of the memory card.
In light of the above, a memory card using an EEPROM is now under investigation. An EEPROM is a semiconductor memory which is inexpensive and nonvolatile and, therefore, does not need a back-up battery. However, since the writing speed available with an EEPROM is lower than the writing speed of an SRAM, and EEPROM limits the speed at which an electronic still camera can operate in a continuous shoot mode.

Electronic still camera including an EEPROM memory card and having a continuous shoot mode


A sunshade for use with a cap is made from a thin, tinted, resilient plastic sheet which is attached to the underside of a cap's visor by means of a duck-bill or semi-moon shaped support. The sunshade has an elongated minor segment and an elongated major segment with a seam or crease dividing the two segments. The major segment can be flipped downwardly to protect the eyes of the cap's wearer from the sun's rays. The seam or crease acts as a hinge between the minor and major segments.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to removable sun shades for hats and caps, in general, and baseball caps, in particular.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have been numerous prior art methods for attaching a sun shade to the peripheral rim of a hat or to the visor of a baseball cap in order to obstruct or prevent the rays of the sun from striking the eyes of a wearer of the hat or cap. Many of these methods involved the use of plastic as a sunshade or sunglasses which is attached to the rim or visor by some mechanical means such as with metal hinges or clips or by sewing a part of the sun shade into the hat or cap itself. The prior art device disclosed by Jung in U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,718 provides openings in the underside of a thickened cap visor which openings register with slots therein whereby connector tabs on a peripheral edge of a semi-flexible sunglasses can be inserted into the slots for retaining the sunglasses to the visor. Once the sunglasses have been retained in this manner the major portion of the sunglasses can be flipped downwardly so as to protect the eyes of the wearer from the sun's rays. However, none of these prior art methods or sunglass devices provides a simple structure and method of attaching a removable sunshade or sunglasses to a hat or cap.


Hardware tester and burn-in tools are emulated by providing a user-specified nested sequence of counters, logical combination of the counter outputs and generation of corresponding vectors for application to exercise an integrated circuit device. The vectors are generated in accordance with user-specified parameters and stored in static random access memory until called for application to the integrated circuit. The parameters, preferably specified through use of a graphic user interface, provide an extremely compressed representation of the vectors themselves. Provision is made to accommodate any of a plurality of waveform conventions directly in the vector. An interface table is preferably used to arbitrarily allocate bits of the vector to pins of the integrated circuit device and any of a plurality of clock signals and phases can be provided to any pin. Sequences of vectors may also be generated for each combination of counter output states in accordance with desired memory functions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to digital signal pattern generators and, more particularly, to signal pattern generators for stressing memory and logic devices during burn-in.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, the increased speed and functionality, improved performance and economy of manufacture available from increased integration density in integrated circuits has led to increased numbers of designs of memory and logic circuits. Further, improvements in lithographic techniques and innovations of designs for electronic elements, such as transistors and capacitors, has led to integrated circuit designs which exploit them. At the same time, however, product specifications for integrated circuits have become more stringent and inherent variability of manufacturing processes has increased the need for careful testing of integrated circuit designs and individual devices. At the same time, testing has become far more complex due to the increased numbers of electronic elements contained in an integrated circuit package or module.
Unavoidable manufacturing process variability, in particular, presents substantial difficulty and expense in delivering product having tight tolerances within the product specification. Not only must the product be within specified operational tolerances as manufactured but the manufacturer must assure that the operating tolerances of the product will remain within those tolerances over its useful lifetime. Accordingly, it has become the common practice to provide testing of the individual devices both before and after an extended process called "burn-in" during which the devices are electrically and thermally stressed.
The complexity of integrated circuits at the present state of the art has made exhaustive testing impractical and led to the development of test signal patterns which have an increased likelihood of revealing particular types of defects or decreased operating margins. Even these signal patterns may require substantial periods of time to execute on hardware testers. Since such hardware testers can test only one or a very few devices at a time, throughput is low. Further, the tester must provide signal patterns which are specific to a particular integrated circuit design and programming of a tester for any particular integrated circuit design is difficult and arduous, particularly in development of the testing algorithm and changing the algorithm on the tester when a different design is to be tested.
On the other hand, signal patterns applied to a device for burn-in must be more exhaustive and lengthy to execute but, nevertheless, specific to each design in much the same manner as test patterns but for different reasons. For example, a particular memory design exercising particular groups of memory cells in particular areas of the chip may result in a desired electrical and/or thermal pattern across the chip. Periodic testing is generally included in the burn-in process (although generally at a lower level than the testing described above) so that devices which do not stabilize their operational characteristics within tight tolerances during burn-in can be discarded. Throughput of burn-in apparatus, also referred to as stress systems, is maintained through the fact that the signal patterns can be applied simultaneously to a large number (e.g. several hundreds or thousands) of devices.
Stress systems have become developed into two distinct types intended for use with logic and memory devices, respectively. Each of these two types of stress systems provides a certain degree of hardware economy specific to either logic or memory systems. However, both are difficult to program for a particular integrated circuit device. Further, neither type of stress system can be used with integrated circuit devices other than the type for which the tester is intended.
Specifically, for logic devices, a stress system generally includes a pattern of signals stored in an extensive memory (e.g. vector length (256, 512, etc.).times.1 Megabits to 4 Megabits) which is cycled through in a scanning fashion by counters. In this way, multi-bit signal patterns, sometimes referred to as vectors, are obtained and can be applied to the pins of a logic device. Since the signals are simply combinations of logic bits, any bit in the combination could, in theory, be applied to any pin of the device. However, to achieve the desired burn-in function, the bits of each vector are programmed into memory, generally a static random access memory for high reading rate, in accordance with the pin of the logic device to which it is to be applied. By the same token, there are generally only limited provisions for applying timing related signals (e.g. pulses needed to properly synchronize the logic device) to the device. While the signal patterns can be overwritten by downloading new pattern data into the tester's memory, logic stress testers generally do not have the ability to change the stored patterns dynamically (e.g. "on the fly") during normal operations.
In the case of stress systems adapted for memories, the hardware vector generator must provide both an address and data in a synchronized fashion as well as at least one clock phase. An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) synchronized to a clock phase generally provides an address and data pattern to be applied to the device or module. Since separate address and data vectors and a clock function, which has different signal rise and fall timing compared to the address and data signals, must be provided, each channel (each carrying a respective bit of the address and data vectors or a clock signal) is specific and dedicated to particular pins of the memory, reducing the flexibility of the stress system to accommodate different designs and pin-out arrangements. As with logic testers, programming of the arithmetic logic units is difficult and time-consuming and no provision is generally made for modification of the programmed functions of the ALU's to generate address and data vectors modified from the original vector programming.
It should also be noted in regard to either type of tester or stress system described above that digital circuits may be arranged to operate in response to any of a number of signal waveforms conveying a particular, arbitrary signal pattern. Well-known forms of such signal waveforms are so-called non-return to zero (NRZ), return to zero (RZ), return to one (RO) and return to complement (RC), among others. While it is generally the case that a single digital circuit device will use only one of these waveform conventions and digital signal patterns can be produced in accordance with any of these conventions fairly simply with level shifters, pulse choppers and the like, the number of channels required (e.g. 256, 512, etc.) for testing or stressing current digital circuits requires a substantial amount of circuit hardware to be provided. Further, even in current circuits it could be considered, for example, that clocked circuits responding to a positive or negative transition of a signal require signals according to more than one of these conventions: NRZ for data and RC for the clock in this example. Therefore, it is possible or even likely that new digital circuit designs could exploit use of different signal waveform conventions on different arbitrary pins. Such a facility is not generally provided in known testers or stress systems, even on a basic hardware level and the provision of selectivity of waveforms on a channel-by-channel basis would clearly involve substantial complexity and hardware overhead even to accommodate a relatively few signal waveform conventions. In testers in which such a facility is provided, the facility is obtained at only by a substantial additional level of complexity.
Additionally, modern memory circuits have provided arrangements by which more than one memory access can be achieved in a single memory operational cycle, such as a so-called "write-before-read" function and the like. Additionally a further memory access in a single memory access cycle can be provided by providing a further row and column address through a multiplexer in an operation known as "muxing". Since the muxing operation involves increased numbers of switching operations and digital transistor circuits dissipate heat largely during the transition time of a signal between logic states, electrical and thermal stress can be most readily applied to a memory circuit utilizing the muxing operation. However, known logic stress systems do not generally provide such a facility and, if provided, such muxing is achieved only by the connection of further external hardware pattern generators to the stress system and usually over only a relatively small number of channels.
From the above differences in requirements for driving or exercising each of logic devices and memory devices, it can be readily understood that development of a stress or test system usable with both, particularly where the memory device is embedded within the logic device, would involve substantial hardware unused or other complications engendered when the tester or stress system is applied to either type of device. For example, provision of muxing operations is of substantial complexity even when channels are dedicated to particular device pins but would not generally be used with logic devices. Conversely, in memories where address and data vectors must be separately applied, dedication of pins provides substantial simplification of hardware even allowing for substantial loss of flexibility since assuring that each necessary pin would be driven cannot be otherwise assured within the capabilities of known testers and stress systems. Therefore, the need for different types of testers and stress systems for logic and memory devices as well as different arrangements of testers and stress systems for memories having different pin-out arrangements has required substantial hardware costs in the integrated circuit industry.
Further, known tester and stress systems utilize a fixed sequence of signal patterns which may be repeated. This may or may not be optimal for either testing or burn-in. For example, a binary sequence of signal patterns will develop radically different switching rates and, hence, power dissipation patterns in, for example, an array of switching transistors to which the bits of the pattern are respectively applied. While some hardware arrangements for generating, for example, pseudo-random signal sequences which may statistically provide more equalized average switching rates among transistors, the number of channels necessary in a tester or stress system would make application of such arrangements prohibitively expensive in a tester or stress system capable of exercising modern digital circuits. Further, any such arrangement must also provide for assurance that the sequence of signal patterns provided will be suitably exhaustive for burn-in or to serve the purposes of a particular test sequence.

International Business Machines Corporation