A windshield-washing system with a wiper rod manufactured from flat strip steel of defined width and thickness that supports, at its free end, a bearing device with a bearing bushing for an articulation pin and oriented perpendicular to the width. For an economical production of such wiper arms with flawless functionality, the bearing device, consisting of a bearing bushing with laterally projecting fastening sleeve, is produced as a plastic part, pushed onto the free end of the wiper rod and locked in place thereon.

Windshield-washing systems for motor vehicles are known in which the wiper blade is moved essentially back and forth parallel to itself (at a an unchanging orientation) over the windshield to be cleaned. In such windshield-washing systems a wiper arm and a guide arm oriented parallel to it are used to form a parallelogram by means of a coupling element, with the wiper blade being suspended on this coupling element. Typically two, spaced apart, bearing bolts are provided on this coupling element, housed in a bearing bushing at the end of the wiper arm or the guide arm, respectively.
In a wiper system of this type known from DE-OS 39 17483, in which the driven wiper arm and the guide arm are constructed identically and have, in each case, a fastening part, a joint part and a wiper rod fastened to this joint part and made of flat strip steel of defined width and thickness, the free end of the wiper rod is broadened by a stamping process. After the stamping process, a housing opening is made in the broadened section of the wiper rod by punching, and finally a bearing bushing with or without an internal bushing is inserted by wobble-riveting or rolling.
Although such a wiper arm can be economical, particularly by combining different machining steps, such as cutting the wiper arm to length from flat strip steel and simultaneous stamping of the broadened arm of the wiper rod, several problems have resulted. Due to cold-forming, the material of the wiper rod becomes much stronger in the broadened area, so that the service lives of the tools for punching the housing opening are relatively short, which in turn leads to a cost increase. Also the insertion of the bearing bushing in the housing opening is complicated.
The present invention overcomes these problems by providing an improved wiper arm which can be produced economically without its functionality suffering.
The invention is based essentially on the consideration that the bearing bushing oriented across the width of the wiper rod is a component of a bearing device produced as a plastic part, with the bearing bushing having an elongated, laterally projecting fastening sleeve with which the bearing device is press-fit onto the free end of the wiper rod and locked in place. Such products can be produced extremely cheaply today as mass-production items, with injection molding being particularly suited of an overall single-piece production of such a plastic part.
The wiper rod itself is likewise very simple to produce. The wiper rod material need only be cut to length from the flat strip steel supplied in meter lengths or as a roll. If an appropriately designed cutting/stamping tool is used, a catch means for the fastening sleeve of the bearing device can be produced on the free end of the wiper rod during the separation process.
The assembly process of the bearing device at the free end of the wiper rod is advantageously simple in a single work step. Moreover, there is the possibility, if desired, of removing the entire bearing device without great effort and replacing it with a new one.
In order to permit a simple and uncomplicated engagement of the bearing device with the attachment sleeve on the free end of the wiper rod, it is recommended that at least one catch element, especially in the form of a catch spring or a flexible tongue, be provided on the attachment sleeve; when pushing the engagement sleeve onto the wiper rod end, it automatically moves into engagement with a corresponding catch element, preferably a pressed-out catch lug on the wiper rod end.
In order to guarantee a proper guidance of the wiper blade, the bearing device should be fastened tightly and as free of play as possible to the wiper rod. Hence, according to an advantageous design, inward-projecting profiles are provided on the inside of the attachment sleeve with a free cross section corresponding essentially to the cross section of the wiper rod, particularly to compensate for tolerances.
If, according to another design of the solution according to the invention, the bearing bushing is constructed in a pot shape, the closed end of the bearing bushing is protected from the ingress of dirt and moisture without the need for any special measures for this purpose. Unlike wiper arms of the prior art, protection is thus guaranteed without having to machine an extra circumferential groove in the outer side of the bearing bushing in which a special plastic cap must then be clipped in.
The bearing bushing of the bearing device fastened to the wiper rod is intended to house an articulation pin, with an axial positional retention of the articulation pin with respect to the bearing bushing, or conversely of the bearing bushing with respect to the articulation pin, required for the secure functioning of the bearing. In contrast to the solution cited as prior art, in which a lock washer arranged in an annular groove of the articulation pin provides an axial position retention, the bearing device is to be locked into place on the articulation pin or on the component supporting the articulation pin, according to one design of the solution according to the invention. To this end the bearing device has corresponding catch elements, which can be brought into engagement with corresponding catch elements on the articulation pin or on the respective component.
Such catch elements can advantageously be segments of an annular lip which are directed radially inwards on the inside of the bearing bushing and can be brought into engagement with a corresponding annular recess in the outer surface of the articulation pin.
Thus, an axially-retained catch connection between bearing bushing and articulation pin can be produced which guarantees the required ability of the articulation pin to be twisted inside the bearing bushing.
According to another advantageous design, the radial yielding of the segments of the annular lip should be guaranteed during the installation of the bearing bushing on the articulation pin, in order to make it easier for the bearing bushing to snap into place on the articulation pin and thus avoid damage, especially to the annular segments. For this purpose, the bearing bushing has segment-shaped relief cuts in the vicinity of the segments of the annular lip and extending from the open end of the pot-shaped bearing busing up to it closed. The segments of the annular lip that act as catch elements are thus located on the inside of wall segments of a hollow cylinder and, upon insertion of the articulation pin, the wall segments are capable of elastic radially outward yielding due to the presence of the relief cuts. This also makes possible a nondestructive disassembly of the bearing connection with sufficiently cautious application of force in the axial direction of the bearing bushing or the articulation pin.
In case a pot-shaped bearing bushing is used, one end of the bearing bushing is already protected from the infiltration of dirt or water which might be detrimental to the smooth running of the friction bearing. In order to ensure such protection for the friction bearing on the open end of the bearing bushing as well, the bearing bushing has an expanded cylindrical opening at its open end. On the wall of this expanded cylindrical opening, an annular sealing lip is provided, preferably molded in one piece onto the inside of this opening. This sealing lip could, of course, also be replaced by a sealing ring inserted into an annular groove. Upon engagement of the bearing bushing on the articulation pin, the sealing lip comes into sealing contact with an expanded cylindrical base component of the articulation pin.
In order that, on the one hand, a sufficient seal is guaranteed, but, on the other hand, an excessive radial contact pressure of the sealing lip does not lead to sluggishness of the friction bearing, it is advantageous if the bearing bushing has a continuous annular groove, axially open and arranged coaxially to the expanded cylindrical opening. This annular groove, which acts as a relief cut, permits an elastic radial yielding of the annular sealing lip. The sealing lip is thus located in a certain sense on the inside of a hollow cylindrical wall that is elastically expandable to a certain extent.
The invention will be described in greater detail below on the basis of an embodiment.

Wiper arm for windshield-washing systems on motor vehicles


A surface-coated cutting tool includes a base material and a coating. A hard layer in the coating includes a plurality of crystal grains having a sodium chloride-type crystal structure. The crystal grain has a layered structure in which a first layer composed of nitride or carbonitride of AlxTi1-x and a second layer composed of nitride or carbonitride of AlyTi1-y are alternately stacked. The total thickness of the first layer and the second layer adjacent to each other is 3 nm or more and 40 nm or less. An angle of intersection between a normal direction to (111) plane that is a crystal plane of the crystal grain and the normal direction to the surface of the base material, an area ratio of the crystal grains having the angle of intersection of 0 degree or more to less than 10 degrees is 40% or more.

Cutting tools formed of cemented carbide have cutting edges exposed to severe environments such as high temperatures and high loads during cutting work, and the cutting edges are often worn or chipped. Coatings that cover the surfaces of base materials such as cemented carbide have been developed for the purpose of improving cutting performance of the cutting tools. Among others, coatings made of compounds of titanium (Ti) and aluminum (Al) with both or one of nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) (hereinafter also referred to as AlTiN, AlTiCN, and the like) can have high hardness, and it is known that increasing the Al content improves oxidation resistance. Improvement in performance of cutting tools is expected by covering the cutting tools with such coatings.
Unfortunately, Ikeda et al. (Non-Patent Document 1) indicates that when an "AlTiN" or "AlTiCN" coating with an atomic ratio of Al exceeding 0.7 is produced by physical vapor deposition (PVD), the layer structure of the coating changes to the wurtzite crystal structure, resulting in reduction of hardness. Setoyama et al. (Non-Patent Document 2) produced a super multilayer film of TiN/AlN by PVD in order to increase an Al content in an "AlTiN" or "AlTiCN" coating. However, it is reported that when an "AlTiN" or "AlTiCN" coating with a thickness exceeding 3 nm per AlN layer is produced, the layer structure changes to the wurtzite crystal structure, resulting in reduction of hardness.
Studies then have been made to increase the Al content by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-193071 (Patent Document 1) discloses a hard coating layer formed by CVD. This hard coating layer includes a composite nitride layer or a composite carbonitride layer represented by (Ti1-xAlx) (CyN1-y), in which the layer includes crystal grains having a cubic structure, and the composition of Ti and Al periodically varies along the normal direction to the surface of the tool base material.

Surface-coated cutting tool and method of producing the same


A device transfer method is provided. The device transfer method is disclosed by which, when a laser ablation technique is used to selectively exfoliate devices arranged on a substrate, the energy is transmitted efficiently to transfer the devices with a high degree of accuracy and at a high speed. A laser irradiation apparatus is used which includes a laser light source for generating a laser beam, a reflection section for reflecting the laser beam toward a required direction, and a control section for controlling whether or not the laser beam is to be irradiated in an interlocking relationship with the reflection section. The laser beam is selectively irradiated on a plurality of devices arranged on a transfer source substrate to cause laser ablation such that the selected devices are transferred to a transfer destination substrate by the selective laser ablation.

In recent years, in a system such as a computer system, a liquid crystal display apparatus, a plasma display apparatus, an image display apparatus which uses organic EL (Electroluminescence) devices and so forth have been developed, and development of image display apparatus of a reduced weight and thickness have been and are proceeding remarkably. As one of image display apparatus of a reduced weight and thickness, also a display apparatus whose display screen is formed by arranging a plurality of a light emitting diodes used as light emitting devices has been proposed. In an image display apparatus in which a light emitting diode is used, a plurality of light emitting diodes which individually emit blue light, green light and red light are formed on a semiconductor substrate and then arranged in a matrix on a displaying face. Thereafter, formation of wiring lines for driving the light emitting diodes and so forth are performed. In order to arrange the devices formed on the semiconductor substrate at predetermined positions of the display apparatus, transfer of the light emitting diode devices is performed. In order to perform the transfer, a method of disposing devices at required positions using vacuum absorption is widely used. Further, as a technique for forming wiring lines, a wire bonding technique or the like is used.
Light emitting diodes are fabricated using a semiconductor material of a gallium arsenide (GaAs) type, gallium/indium phosphorus (GaInP) type or gallium nitride (GaN) type which are expensive materials. Therefore, it is desirable to make the size of devices smaller in order to decrease the fabrication cost per one device. However, it is difficult to vacuum absorb fine light emitting diodes to arrange the devices at positions corresponding to a display screen and then form required wiring lines. Further, also it is difficult to enhance the positioning accuracy upon the arrangement of the devices. Therefore, also a method has been proposed wherein fine light emitting diode devices formed in an equally spaced relationship from each other on a substrate are selectively exfoliated and transferred to a different substrate. The method is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-77940 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1).
In the device transfer method disclosed in Patent Document 1, in order to selectively exfoliate fine light emitting diode devices from a substrate, a laser ablation technique is used wherein a laser beam having a small diameter is irradiated those devices which are to be exfoliated so that chemical variation or mechanical variation on an interface between the substrate and the devices is caused to weaken the bond between the devices and the substrate. In the laser ablation technique, in order to selectively irradiate the laser beam on fine devices formed in a crowded relationship on a semiconductor substrate, a laser beam having a reduced diameter must be irradiated on the devices. Therefore, a method is used wherein the laser beam to be irradiated is condensed by an optical member such as a lens.


A scanning apparatus to scan and process one or more papers provided on a paper feeder, the scanning apparatus including a scan job identifier to identify one or more separate scan jobs within the papers provided on the paper feeder; and an image information processor to process image information to be stored in one or more separate respective files according to the one or more separate scan jobs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scanning apparatus, and, more particularly, to a scanning apparatus and method of identifying a plurality of papers constituting a single scan job, and an apparatus and method of detecting dog-ears on each paper.
2. Description of the Related Art
As digital technology advances, many apparatuses for transmitting/receiving image information, other than mere voice information, have been developed. Especially, facsimile apparatuses for transmitting/receiving image information of paper data using a Public Switching Telephone Network (PSTN) are widely used. Facsimile apparatuses have been improved to incorporate printing and scanning apparatuses for transmitting/receiving image information over various kinds of network channels. Furthermore, brand new Office Automation (OA) apparatuses, such as a digital multifunction apparatus incorporating a facsimile apparatus, a printer, and a scanner, are widely used due to rapid advances in personal computers and a rise in diffusion rate.
These OA apparatuses can be shared over a network so that one OA apparatus can be used by a plurality of outer apparatuses (Network Scanning). In addition, OA apparatuses can convert image information acquired from scanned paper into computer files and store them (Scan-to-File), and can attach the image information from a scanner directly into an e-mail and send it.
FIG. 1 depicts a conventional scanner 100. The scanner according to the conventional art includes a paper feeder 110 on which a plurality of papers 120 are supplied, a pickup roller 130 picking up each of the supplied papers, a CCD module 150 detecting image information from each paper conveyed on a conveyor roller, and an exit roller 160 for pushing these papers out. When the scanner 100 supports a duplex mode, the paper whose image information is read by the CCD module 150 can be transferred in a direction [A] so that image information on the other side of the paper can be read, or the paper can be transferred in a direction [B] to be exited. The image information read from the CCD module 150 can be transmitted to a central processor (not shown) to be stored in a computer file or attached to an e-mail.
Image information of a plurality of papers read from the CCD module 150 can be stored as a single file. When image information of a plurality of papers is stored as a single file, a subsequent processing such as attaching to an e-mail is facilitated since image information corresponding to a respective sheet of papers constituting an identical scan job is stored in one file, instead of being processed in separate files. Thus, a user's convenience is enhanced. For example, considering a single scan job including ten pages of paper, the alignment of the respective pages can be changed and some files can be lost during subsequent processing when the image information corresponding to the respective pages is stored in ten respective files. On the other hand, when the image information corresponding to ten pages of paper is stored in a single file, the image information of the respective pages is managed as a whole. The term 'scan job' means scanning of a single document comprising a plurality of pages.
FIGS. 2A and 2B depict the output of processing documents constituting a plurality of scan jobs in a scanner according to the conventional art. Documents in FIG. 2A include a first scan job DOC1 comprising a first page DOC1_PG1 through a fourth page DOC1_PG4, a second scan job DOC2 comprising a first page DOC2_PG1 through a seventh page DOC2_PG7, and a third scan job DOC3 comprising a first page DOC3_PG1 through a ninth page DOC3_PG9. When the first through third scan jobs (DOC1, DOC2, DOC3) are provided on the paper feeder 110 and scanned together at the same time, all papers constituting the first through third scan jobs (DOC1, DOC2, DOC3) are processed as a single scan job and stored in a single file. This single file will include all of the papers placed together on the paper feeder 110. FIG. 2B shows an output file of processing the first through third scan jobs (DOC1, DOC2, DOC3), which are identified as a single scan job. As depicted in FIG. 2B, image information of papers identified as a single scan job is stored in a single file, which has one file header.
In conventional scanners, it is cumbersome to wait until respective scan jobs will be finished and then proceed to subsequent scan jobs since all papers provided on a paper feeder are identified as a single scan job and processed all at a time. Therefore, in the case in which all papers for a plurality of scan jobs are loaded on a paper feeder for efficiency of the scan jobs, a scanner which identifies respective scan jobs, and stores image information of papers constituting respective scan jobs separately, is required. When the scanner can identify respective scan jobs and process the scan jobs separately, efficiency is improved since all papers for a plurality of scan jobs can be provided on the paper feeder at the same time.

Scanning apparatus and method of identifying group of papers constituting single scan job and apparatus and method of detecting dog-ears of papers


A packaging system for transferring data from an external resource to the packaging system is disclosed. The packaging system includes a package and a computer disposed within the package. The package includes a first passage and a substantially closed interior defined by closure of the first passage. The computer includes a power connection and a communication connection. A second passage of the package is dimensioned and disposed for accessing at least one of the power connection and the communication connection with the computer disposed within the package. The computer is responsive to a supply of power from an external power supply to the power connection via the second passage, and to a communication link between the communication connection and the external resource to initiate a powered state of the computer and to transfer data from the external resource to the computer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to packaging, and particularly computer packaging.
2. Description of Background
Before our invention, it is common for computer manufacturers to sell computers, such as point of sale computers for example, to computer resellers who then provide the computers and system implementation services, such as software installation for example, to a customer. The computer resellers can often preload the computers with customized software and/or system settings as specified by the customer. This is a convenience for the customer, as the computer then arrives at a customer site ready for use. However, preloading the customized software and/or system settings requires unpacking the computer from a package (as provided by a manufacturer of the computer system), attaching input and output devices (such as a keyboard and video monitor for example), power, and a communication link with an external resource, such as a server for example, and selecting the appropriate software and/or system settings to transfer from the server. This is a time and labor-intensive process, and has the potential to cause damage to the computer. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a packaging arrangement that overcomes these drawbacks.

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for carrying a semiconductor device includes: (a) providing semiconductor devices each having a main surface, a back surface, and a plurality of external terminals; (b) providing a tray having a front surface, a rear surface, an electronic tag imbedded in the tray, first concaved portions formed on the front surface, second concaved portions formed on the rear surface, the electronic tag constituted by a non-contact recognition type chip having a memory circuit in which recognizable information is stored, a depth of the first concaved portion is deeper than a depth of the second concaved portion; (c) housing the semiconductor devices into the first concaved portions respectively in such a manner that the back surface of the semiconductor device being oppose to a bottom of the first concaved portion; and (d) carrying the tray with the semiconductor devices.

The present invention relates to semiconductor device carrying, mounting and packing techniques, as well as a technique for re-utilizing receptacles. Particularly, the present invention is concerned with a technique which is effectively applicable to the improvement of dustproofness.
In a carrier used to accommodate semiconductor chips as objects to be accommodated and carry them, plural (five for example) trays each accommodating semiconductor chips are stacked and a cover is applied onto the top tray, then a group of trays thus stacked are united using fixing means such as rubber ring or clip, and the thus-united tray group is carried as a carrier (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).
A carrier tape used for accommodating and carrying electronic components has feed holes formed on one side thereof continuously at equal intervals to carry the carrier tape when mounted on a chip mounting machine. Further, receptacle portions for accommodating electronic components are formed centrally of the carrier tape by drawing, which receptacle portions each have side walls and a bottom (see, for example, Patent Literature 2).
A bar code indicative of an identification number of the carrier is affixed to the carrier, and the type of machine, lot number and wafer number of semiconductor chips, which information pieces are stored in a computer, are managed on the basis of the identification number of the bar code (see, for example, Patent Literature 3).
[Patent Literature 1]
Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 10(1998)-194376 (page 5, FIG. 6)
[Patent Literature 2]
Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. Hei 7(1995)-76390 (page 3, FIG. 1)
[Patent Literature 3]
Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2000-95291 (page 4, FIG. 1)

Method for carrying a semiconductor device


A recording of a subject is covertly generated prior to, and subsequent to an operator answering the call. The recording of the subject prior to the operator answering the call involves recording the subject and/or enabling the operator to listen in on the subject prior to indicating to the subject that the operator is communicating on the line. The subject is connected and a ring tone is generated and played back to the subject while audio received from the subject on the connection is recorded or otherwise monitored. Playback of the ringtone leads the subject to believe a connection has not yet been established. The operator may listen to the audio transmitted by the subject without the subject knowing the operator is covertly ascertaining situational information. The operator may provide a selection or answer the call to begin bi-direction communication with the subject which causes the ring tone to cease playing and lead the subject to believe the connection has just been established.

1. Field of Art
The present disclosure generally relates to the field of undercover operations and more specifically to covertly gathering situational information from a subject.
2. Background of the Invention
Police officers, informants and other agents "operators" oftentimes deal with nefarious subjects during the course of their duties. In many cases, the subjects are encountered during the course of undercover investigations that require the operator to use phones to call or otherwise communicate with the various subjects. Oftentimes, the subjects may ascertain information about the operator or a plan that may endanger the operator. For example, the subjects may discover that an informant is working with the police or discover the identity of an undercover officer. In such cases, the subjects attempt to hide that knowledge from the operator. Accordingly, an operator may subsequently encounter a subject unbeknownst that an assumed identity or plan is compromised.
In other situations, an operator such as a police negotiator may interact with subjects during a hostage crisis or standoff. Oftentimes, important information the operator requires to make decisions in the field relative to the situation can only be provided by the subject. In many cases, subjects are less than truthful and provide the operator with false or misleading information. Decisions based on the misleading information may diminish the safety of an entry team, hostages, and the subject himself.
While these difficulties are discussed with respect to an operator, private individuals (e.g., a business owner) and other entities may face similar difficulties.


A PUF-film includes a circuit structure having a plurality of circuit elements, wherein the circuit structure is evaluable with respect to a plurality of electric capacitance values being arranged between the plurality of circuit elements, and is evaluable with respect to a plurality of electric resistance values of the plurality of circuit components.

The present invention relates to PUF-films and to a method for producing the same. The present invention further relates to a method for producing a capacitive foil array using a dielectric layer effecting a capacitive variation and, at the same time, enables a via-free foil architecture. The present invention further relates to a circuit concept for monitoring a protective housing on a basis of a capacitive PUF-structure with a further possibility for integrity checks. The present invention further relates to a concept for a protective housing on a basis of a capacitive PUF-structure with a possibility for integrity checks including an optional embedding of a security sensor and layout randomization. Security enclosures that are permanently monitored for penetration and tampering are common solutions for providing physical integrity to multiple-chip embedded systems. While known concepts employ battery-backed key-storage and continuous sensing, recent battery-less technologies use enclosures evaluated as Physical Unclonable Functions (PUF).
Locally stored sensitive information in devices such as VPN (virtual private network) end points or in payment systems needs to be well-protected against unauthorized access. In critical applications, the development of physically secured systems is enforced by standards, such as PCI-HSM [1]. Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) can provide this level of security, as the embedded device is fully covered by a physical security enclosure. Security enclosures can be classified into two major types: enclosures are either based on trace resistance monitoring [2] or alternatively on PUFs [3], [4]. The first system verifies the integrity of the enclosure by detecting open and short circuits. This may also be referred to as tamper-sensitive. As a drawback, the battery-backed system is all the time (i.e., during storage and transport) in operation. In contrast, tamper-evident PUF-based enclosures provide inherent security without a battery. These battery-less technologies are based on the repeatable generation of a system-individual cryptographic key from the enclosure's unique physical properties. The key encrypts either the critical security parameters or the entire system. As any intrusion destroys parts of the enclosure, the cryptographic key is permanently lost and the HSM's data cannot be decrypted by the adversary after intrusion. The resistance-based Gore-envelope [2] system is one example for an integrity-only solution. It verifies the enclosure's integrity but does not provide PUF readout. Since its integrity verification method is based on a Wheatstone bridge, it can hardly be integrated into a PUF measurement system as both methods would interfere with each other. Another tamper detection system is the fringe-effect proximity sensor enclosure [3]. Despite employing capacitive sensing for detecting intruding objects, it cannot extract capacitive PUF properties. Several other solutions exist which perform capacitive sensing to measure PUF responses. One example is the Coating-PUF [4] that protects a single-chip system using capacitive sensors integrated into the coated silicon chip. Despite that this circuit concept can extract PUF properties, it is not compatible with a large-scale enclosure and also does not support integrity verification. Similar issues are observed for the BoardPUF [5] which uses a capacitive PUF, implemented in the printed circuit board (PCB) but has no means for integrity verification.
Resistance-based concepts need a conductor to be damaged so as to detect an attack.
Furthermore, protecting embedded devices against physical attacks is a challenging task since the attacker has control of the device in a hostile environment. To address this issue, current countermeasures typically use the named battery-backed tamper-respondent envelope enclosing the entire device to create a trusted compartment. However, the battery affects the system's robustness and weight and also leads to difficulties with the security mechanism while shipping the device.
When referring again to secure communication and data storage for banking or governmental purposes, such secure communication relies on electronic systems that guarantee the integrity and confidentiality of the data. This is enforced by security standards such as FIPS 140-2, PCI-HSM or certain protection profiles of Common Criteria (CC). Compliant devices are needed to implement physical security countermeasures to prevent unauthorized access to Critical Security Parameters (CSPs), such as cryptographic keys. Hence, they need o withstand a wide range of invasive, semi-invasive, and non-invasive attacks to make successful attacks improbable [6], [7]. While single-chip devices such as smartcards can be protected in silicon, multiple-chip embedded systems on Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) can only be secured with an additional physical security boundary that separates the secure and insecure domains of a system. These boundaries can be created from security covers, housings, envelopes, etc., to protect the device against physical attacks, such as drilling, grinding, etching or probing [2], [3].
The current approach is based on an envelope with a mesh that wraps around the Module Under Protection (MUP) [2]. Attempts to penetrate the mesh are very likely to destroy its tracks and result in open circuits. A continuous measurement from inside the system detects these open circuits and triggers an alarm that causes the zeroization of CSPs (i.e., tamper-detection and response). However, a battery is needed for its monitoring mechanism whenever the supplementing carrier system is powered off. Additionally, the CSPs are stored in a volatile Battery-Backed Random-Access Memory (BBRAM) to enable instantaneous zeroization. This approach has significant practical drawbacks: adding a battery to the system increases bulk and weight, it lowers its robustness with regard to the operating temperature range, and prohibits prolonged storage. When the battery is fully discharged, the CSPs are lost and physical integrity can no longer be guaranteed [8]. Moreover, storing CSPs in a BBRAM leaves room for the zeroization circuit to fail. However, storing a key in a non-volatile memory is also not an option, as its contents can be extracted while the system is powered off [9]. Alternatively, Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) can be used [10]. Once the device is running, this security primitive derives a cryptographic key from the device (as inherent manufacturing variations). As long as the device is powered off, extracting these parameter is supposedly difficult.
Since most PUFs are implemented in Integrated Circuits (IC), it is impossible to use them for aftermarket protection of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components. Furthermore, silicon based PUFs typically do not have the property of tamper-evidence [11]. I.e., once powered on, they cannot verify if an attack was executed on the system while powered off. Even worse, they are incapable of detecting online attacks that extract values during runtime [12].
Thus, there is a need for robust and reliable device protection.

PUF-film and method for producing the same

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.


An image pickup apparatus which is capable of optimizing the responsiveness of linear changes in focus to operations of a ring member without sacrificing the operability of the ring member, while using a small-sized, low-cost ring member for manual operations. The rotating operation state of a focus ring 600 is detected by ring rotation sensors 603, 604. A camera microcomputer 116 causes a focus lens 105 to be moved and stopped in an optical axis direction thereof based on results of the detection by the ring rotation sensors 603, 604. The camera microcomputer 116 controls the responsiveness of linear changes in focus to the rotating operation state of the ring member detected by the ring rotation sensors 603, 604 in accordance with at least the depth of focus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus, a control method for the same, and a program for implementing the control method, and in particular to an image pickup apparatus equipped with a function for manually moving a focusing lens, a control method for the same, and a program for implementing the control method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in consumer integrated-lens cameras, inner focus type lens units that can realize cost reductions, system simplifications, and reductions in the size and weight of a lens barrel have become predominant.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the construction of a conventionally used inner focus type lens unit. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 101 designates a fixed first lens group, 102 a second lens group for zooming, 103 a diaphragm, 104 a fixed third lens group, 105 a fourth lens group (hereinafter referred to as the "focus lens") that has a focus adjusting function and a so-called compensating function that compensates movement of a focal plane due to the zooming, and 106 an image pickup surface.
In the lens system constructed as shown in FIG. 10, the focus lens 105 has both the focus adjusting function and the compensating function, so that even when the focal distance does not change, the position of the focus lens 105 for focusing on the image pickup surface 106 differs according to the distance to the subject.
If the position of the focus lens 105 for focusing on the image pickup surface 106 is continuously plotted as the subject distance is changed at respective focal distances, focus loci such as those shown in FIG. 11 are obtained. If one of the focus loci shown in FIG. 11 is selected according to the subject distance and the focus lens 105 is moved according to the selected focus locus, zooming can be carried out with no blurring.
To manually move the zoom lens or the focus lens in this kind of inner focus type lens unit, it is customary to provide an operating member that is disposed concentrically with the lens groups and the lens optical axis but is mechanically disconnected from the focus lens 105, to electrically detect an operation amount of the operating member, and to move the lens by an amount corresponding to the operation amount.
To achieve the same operational feel as a front lens focus type camera or as a professional camera, there has been proposed a method shown in FIGS. 12A to 12D where an encoder formed integrally with a rotating ring engages the lens barrel and the zoom lens or focus lens is moved by electrically detecting the rotational direction and rotational speed of this encoder.
In FIG. 12A, reference numeral 600 designates the rotating ring that is disposed in concentricity with the focus lens 104 and engages the lens barrel, with this rotating ring 600 being formed integrally with the encoder 601 with a comb-shaped structure 602. Here, the rotating ring 600 is shown as an operating member for moving the focus lens 105 without actually contacting the focus lens 105, and will be referred to as a "focus ring" hereinafter.
The comb-shaped structure 602 is provided with two light projecting/receiving elements (hereinafter referred to as the "ring rotation sensors") 603, 604 each having a light projecting section 606 and a light receiving section 607 as shown in FIG. 12B. The comb-shaped structure 602 of the encoder 601 passes through gaps between the respective light projecting sections 606 and light receiving sections 607 of the ring rotation sensors 603, 604.
Accordingly, when a tooth of the comb-shaped structure 602 passes through one of the above-mentioned gaps, light from the light projecting section 606 is blocked and is no longer incident on the light receiving section 607, resulting in a large decrease in the output current of the light receiving section 607. Conversely, when a gap between teeth of the comb-shaped structure 602 passes through one of the above-mentioned gaps, light from the light projecting section 606 becomes incident on the light receiving section 607, so that there is a large increase in the output current of the light receiving section 607.
When the encoder 601 is rotated, the respective output signals of the ring rotation sensors 603, 604 change as shown in FIG. 12C or FIG. 12D. That is, the positional relationship between the ring rotation sensors 603, 604 is determined such that there is a suitable phase difference between the two output signals, and accordingly the rotation amount and/or rotational speed are detected based on the period of changes in the output signals and the rotational direction is detected based on the phase relationship between the two output signals.
It should be noted that the relationship between FIGS. 12C and 12D is such that if FIG. 12C shows output waveforms of the ring rotation sensors 603, 604 when the focus ring 600 is rotated forward, for example, FIG. 12D shows output waveforms of the ring rotation sensors 603, 604 when the focus ring 600 is rotated in reverse.
By providing the encoder 601 shown in FIGS. 12A to 12D and driving a lens actuator such as a stepping motor according to rotating operation of the focus ring 600, it is possible to carry out zooming operations and/or focusing operations using a power zoom and/or power focus while providing the exact same operational feel as a front lens type lens unit even with the inner focus type lens unit (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H10-10405).
However, during a manual operation of the above-described conventional inner focus type lens unit, if the rotational speed of the focus ring 600 is detected based on the output signals of the ring rotation sensors 603, 604 and control is provided to adjust the focus according to the detected rotational speed, the rotational position of the focus ring 600 at which a focused state is achieved will differ according to whether the focus ring 600 is rotated at low speed or at high speed, resulting in the problem of the focus ring 600 having a different operational feel to a focus ring that is mechanically connected to the focus lens.
On the other hand, if the focus movement amount (focus lens movement amount) is linearly varied in accordance with the rotation amount of the focus ring 600, it is possible to make the rotational position of the focus ring 600 that results in the focused state the same regardless of whether the focus ring 600 is rotated at low speed or at high speed, thereby realizing the same operational feel as a focus ring that is mechanically connected to the focus lens.
However, when the relationship between the focus movement amount the rotation amount of the focus ring 600 is made linear as above, it is difficult to obtain the optimal responsiveness of the focus movement amount to the rotation amount of the focus ring 600.
For example, if the responsiveness is set so low that focusing can be obtained by slight movements of the focus ring 600, in operational conditions where high responsiveness is required, such as the case where rack focus is carried out starting from an extremely blurred state, the focus ring 600 has to be rotated many times to rack focus before reaching the focused position.
On the other hand, if responsiveness is given priority such that a large focus movement amount can be obtained via a small rotation amount of the focus ring 600, during focusing operations that finely adjust the focus at close to the focused position, a phenomenon called "hunting" occurs where a small rotation of the focus ring 600 moves the focus beyond the focused position and then small reverse rotation of the focus ring 600 moves the focus back beyond the focused position once again.
To solve this problem, it is necessary to increase the detection accuracy of the rotation amount of the focus ring 600. To increase the detection accuracy of the rotation amount, it would be possible to make the pitch of the teeth of the comb-shaped structure 602 shown in FIGS. 12A to 12D smaller to increase the number of teeth per rotation, but since there is a limit on the mechanical precision with which such teeth can be formed, it becomes necessary to increase the diameter of the focus ring 600, which hinders reductions being made in size and cost.
Also, in recent years, miniaturization and increased pixel density have been progressing for image pickup elements so that the permissible circle of confusion for picked-up images has become smaller. Therefore, even more precise focus control is now required for the functioning of the encoder 601, and even lower responsiveness of the focus movement amount to rotating operation of the focus ring 600 is desired. If the responsiveness is made lower, however, it is necessary to move the focus ring 600 even further when racking focus from a blurred state, leading to an appreciable decrease in operability.
Further, in the case where photography is continuously carried out with a reduced shutter speed (i.e., so-called "slow shutter photography") so as to secure sufficient brightness, such as when photographing a subject in low brightness conditions, picked-up images are displayed on a monitor or the like as intermittent images (for example, images displayed in two frames per second when the shutter speed is ½ sec). Therefore, the photographer can only intermittently check changes in focus occurring in response to operations of the focus ring 600 and that there is a time lag between an operation of the focus ring 600 and the displaying of picked-up images with the changed focus.
Therefore, even if the ring responsiveness is not problematic for normal shutter speeds, at slow shutter speeds, if the photographer tries to change the focus in response to the focusing degree of displayed picked-up images, the photographer himself/herself will activate the servo, which results in hunting of the focus movement and hence in extreme difficulty in focusing.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Image pickup apparatus, control method for the same, and program for implementing the control method


A lift efficiency improvement mechanism is provided for use with a service wedge configured to be removably installed in an access slot of a turbine casing. The lift efficiency improvement mechanism includes a connector element, which is connectable with the turbine casing proximate to the access slot and a manually transportable lift efficiency improvement device, which is supportably coupled to the connector element and movably coupled to the service wedge. The lift efficiency improvement device is configured to urge the service wedge to move relative to the access slot responsive to corresponding operator control movement.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a lift efficiency improvement mechanism for turbine casings and, more particularly, to a lift efficiency mechanism for a turbine casing service wedge.
Gas and steam turbine engines are typically designed with casing/shell splits along the horizontal centerline of the unit. For major maintenance inspections, parts replacements, etc., the upper half casings are normally removed. The disassembly and subsequent re-assembly process is mechanically very involved along with being resource and time intensive. For example, it is necessary to attach the upper half casing to a crane and to remove fastening elements along the entire axial length of both casing/shell splits so that the crane can lift the upper half casing away from the lower half casing.
For small to medium scale inspection, maintenance, cleaning, repair or replacement operations, the ability of the operator to access the interior of casings/shells is often compromised. As such, it may be necessary for the entire removal process to be conducted even for relatively minor operations if internal access to parts is required. This issue can be especially resource and time intensive particularly as compared to the scope of the relatively small scale maintenance, repair or replacement operations.

Lift efficiency improvement mechanism for turbine casing service wedge


A powder composition of iron-based powder particles to which is bonded a polymeric material is prepared by making a dry admixture of the iron-based particles and particles of the polymer, wetting the admixture with a solvent for the polymeric material, and removing the solvent to leave a flowable powder composition. The powder compositions can be compression molded, generally at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the polymer, to form magnetic core components.

Iron-based particles have long been used as a base material in the manufacture of structural components by powder metallurgical methods. The iron-based particles are first molded in a die under high pressures in order to produce the desired shape. After the molding step, the structural component usually undergoes a sintering step to impart the necessary strength to the component.
Magnetic core components have also been manufactured by such power metallurgical methods, but the iron-based particles used in these methods are generally coated with a circumferential layer of insulating material.
Two important characteristics of an iron core component are its magnetic permeability and core loss characteristics. The magnetic permeability of a material is an indication of its ability to become magnetized, or its ability to carry a magnetic flux. Permeability is defined as the ratio of the induced magnetic flux to the magnetizing force or field intensity. When a magnetic material is exposed to a rapidly varying field, the total energy of the core is reduced by the occurrence of hysteresis losses and/or eddy current losses. The hysteresis loss is brought about by the necessary expenditure of energy to overcome the retained magnetic forces within the iron core component. The eddy current loss is brought about by the production of electric currents in the iron core component due to the changing flux caused by alternating current conditions.
Early magnetic core components were made from laminated sheet steel, but these components were difficult to manufacture and experienced large core losses at higher frequencies. Application of these lamination-based cores is also limited by the necessity to carry magnetic flux only in the plane of the sheet in order to avoid excessive eddy current losses. Sintered metal powders have been used to replace the laminated steel as the material for the magnetic core component, but these sintered parts also have high core losses and are restricted primarily to direct current operations.
Research in the powder metallurgical manufacture of magnetic core components using coated iron-based powders has been directed to the development of iron powder compositions that enhance certain physical and magnetic properties without detrimentally affecting other properties. Desired properties include a high permeability through an extended frequency range, high pressed strength, low core losses, and suitability for compression molding techniques.
When molding a core component for AC power applications, it is generally required that the iron particles have an electrically insulating coating to decrease core losses. The use of a plastic coating over the iron particles (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,340 to Yamaguchi) and the use of doubly-coated iron particles (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,765 to Soileau et al.) have been employed to insulate the iron particles and therefore reduce eddy current losses.
Recently, it has been found that the insulating polymeric material need not be present in the powder composition as a full coating of the individual iron particles, but rather can be present in the form of discrete particles that are integrally admixed with the iron particles. The present invention is directed to a method of forming this admixture in a manner that ensures homogeneity and thereby leads to improved magnetic properties of pressed parts made with the powder composition. The invention eliminates the need to provide the iron-based particles with a circumferential coating of the polymeric material, which coating generally required the use of more expensive fluidized bed processes.

Method of making an iron/polymer powder composition


Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for shutting down and restarting a computer system. A processor interrupt may be generated in response to the activation of a mechanical switch on a removable processor board. The processor may be switched from a first operating mode to a second operating mode in response, and the cause of the processor interrupt may be determined. The processor may then be switched from the second operating mode back to the first operating mode, and a software component executing within the first operating mode may be notified to shut down. According to another aspect of the invention, performance information may be periodically stored in a memory. A processor interrupt may be generated in response to a system anomaly, and the operating mode of the processor may be switched from a first mode to a second mode. Based on the performance information, the system may be restarted, or, alternatively, a component within the system may be restarted or replaced.

A computer system generally consists of several basic components, including a central processor, volatile and non-volatile memory, and various peripheral devices, including graphics controller(s), mass storage devices, network interface device(s), input/output devices, etc. The computer typically executes an operating system and one or more application programs. Starting the computer from a powered-down state is as simple as actuating a switch. The operating system usually loads automatically (during the "boot-up" process), and, afterwards, application programs may then be launched by the operating system or by the user. Shutting down a computer system generally entails exiting from all currently executing application programs and commanding the operating system to shut down. In most operating systems, a specific command to shut down the system is provided. Other computer systems may respond to the operation of a switch, or to a remote command received over a network. The shut down process is automatic, and, when each component of the computer system is functioning normally, application and operating system data contained within volatile memory (i.e., e.g., L1/L2/L3 caches, system RAM, etc.) may be transferred to non-volatile memory (i.e., e.g., FLASH RAM, a hard disk, etc.) as part of the process.
However, when a computer system component behaves in an anomalous manner, the shut down process may be interrupted and the system may fail to shut down, resulting in the ubiquitous "hung" computer. For example, when an application program is commanded to exit and fails to do so, the operating system may not be able to regain control of the processor. Consequently, the operating system may not be able to conclude the shut down process. Typically, the only recourse available to the user is to power down the system and attempt to restart the system from the powered-down state. Importantly, data that has not been saved from volatile memory to non-volatile memory will be permanently lost when the switch is flipped and power is removed. In other situations, an application or operating system component may "crash" or shut down "illegally," causing the computer system to halt. Some operating systems display an information screen first before halting; in these systems, the only recourse is to power down the system, or operate a processor reset button. In any case, information that was stored in volatile memory is lost.
In some computer systems, one or more removable processor boards may be housed within a system chassis. In these systems, each processor board nay have one or more processors, along with supporting circuitry, and may function either independently of, or cooperatively with, one another. However, in many systems, a processor board may be removed from the chassis without powering down the entire system. And, in many instances, the processor board is removed without first shutting down the application software and operating system executing on the processor. Or, a processor board may be removed because the processor is "hung." In either case, data that has not been saved from volatile memory on the processor board to non-volatile memory on the processor board, or, more generally, to global system memory, will be lost when the processor board is removed from the chassis.
Restarting the computer system after an interrupted shut down process may not be successful. For example, the operating system may become corrupted, i.e., critical information maintained by the operating system may not be correctly transferred from volatile memory to non-volatile memory. In this case, the operating system may fail to successfully instantiate during the subsequent start up process, thereby rendering the computer system, or processor board, inoperable. Similarly, critical, yet transient, application data may be lost, thereby corrupting other data maintained on permanent storage devices and preventing the application from subsequently restarting. However, if information relating to the cause of the malfunction, e.g., hardware, software, etc., is available during the restart process, a faster, and more confident, restart of the computer system may be facilitated.

Method and system for shutting down and restarting a computer system


A thermostatic valve includes a valve body, first and second elastic members, a valve seat assembly, a valve core, and a thermal actuator. The thermostatic valve includes six ports, four valve port portions each having a valve port, and a first cavity and a second cavity which are isolated from each other. One of the third port, the fourth port and the sixth port is in communication with the second cavity, and the other two of the third port, the fourth port and the sixth port are configured to be in communication with the second cavity through valve ports; and one of the first port, the second port and the fifth port is in communication with the first cavity, and the other two of the first port, the second port and the fifth port are configured to be in communication with the first cavity through valve ports.

During running of a vehicle, its various components need to be lubricated timely by lubricating oil, so as to ensure the normal running of the vehicle. If the lubricating property of the lubricating oil, such as gearbox oil, is not good enough, the service life of the vehicle will be adversely affected. The temperature of the gearbox oil is generally adjusted by a temperature-controlled flow path constituted by a thermostatic valve and a heat exchanger for external cooling. When the temperature of the gearbox oil line increases, the heat-sensitive material of a thermal actuator expands due to heat, the passage for the gearbox oil to directly flow back to the gearbox is blocked, or the flow rate of the passage decreases, therefore the high temperature oil enters the heat exchanger for external cooling to be cooled and then flows back to the gearbox. Conversely, when the oil temperature is too low, the heat-sensitive material of the thermal actuator begins to solidify and contract, a push rod is reset and the passage for the gearbox oil to directly flow back to the gearbox is open. During flowing, the oil in the gearbox oil line exchanges heat with heat generating elements of the gearbox, to control the temperature of the oil to be within a proper range. With the development of vehicle technology, sometimes the temperature of the gearbox oil may be adjusted by heat exchange with a cooling fluid first, in which case the temperature control assembly or the thermostatic valve for temperature control need to be constructed in different ways.

Thermostatic valve and thermal management assembly having same

Zhejiang Sanhua Automotive Components Co., Ltd.


A Light Emitting Diode (LED) package and a method of manufacturing the same. The LED package includes a substrate. The substrate defines therein a cavity having a tapered shape, a stepped portion formed on the upper end of the cavity, and a through hole formed in the bottom of the cavity. A conductive film fills the through-hole and is formed on the bottom and the side surfaces of the cavity. An LED has a fluorescent layer thereon, and is flip-chip bonded onto the conductive film. An encapsulant encapsulates the cavity. A Zener diode or a rectifier is provided on the silicon substrate.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a light-emitting diode package and a method of fabricating the same, and more particularly, to a light-emitting diode package and a method of fabricating the same, in which a Zener diode or a rectifier is provided on a silicon substrate so that heat can be easily dissipated without an additional device, thereby reducing manufacturing cost and making miniaturization possible.
2. Discussion of the Background
A Light Emitting Diode (LED) is a light-emitting semiconductor device that converts electricity into light. Red LEDs, which use a GaAsP compound semiconductor, and green LEDs, which use a GaP:N semiconductor, have been used as light sources for the display of electronic devices, such as information communication devices.
The wavelengths of light emitted from the LED vary depending on the band gaps of semiconductor materials, which indicate the energy difference between valance band electrons and conduction band electrons. Gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor can be combined with other elements, such as indium (In) and aluminum (Al), to produce semiconductor layers that emit green, blue, and white light. Thanks to its high thermal stability and wide band gap (0.8 to 6.2 eV), the GaN semiconductor is being utilized for the development of high power electronic devices.
The LED is a device having weak voltage resistance characteristics, meaning that its lifetime is disadvantageously reduced by static electricity or voltage surges, which occurs when measurement or packaging is performed. In order to improve the voltage resistance characteristics, a Zener diode is used.
In addition, in the case in which a high-voltage Alternating Current (AC) power source is used, the LED is required to be provided with a rectifier circuit such as a bridge. For this, the LED of the related art is provided with a separate rectifier circuit, and both the LED and the rectifier circuit are provided as a single package.
In addition, thanks to the characteristics of a semiconductor layer, which forms a light-emitting layer, the LED dissipates energy that is not converted into light in the form of heat. In order to minimize the heat, methods of providing a heat sink or using a material that can easily dissipate heat have been proposed.
The LED package of the related art employs a structure in which lead frames are covered with Poly Phthal Amide (PPA) resin, a structure in which lead frames are provided with a metal heat sink, a structure in which a ceramic material is used, or the like.
In particular, in fields in which a high input voltage is used and good heat-dissipation characteristics are required, an LED package made of a ceramic material, in which a metal heat sink is mounted, is widely used.
The LED package of the related art exhibits excellent heat dissipation, since a package body is provided in such a manner that it surrounds a heat sink. However, the addition of the heat sink makes it difficult to manufacture a small product. In addition, moisture may penetrate through the interface between the heat sink and the package body, thereby disadvantageously lowering reliability.
In addition, the ceramic package exhibits excellent heat dissipation and product reliability. However, in the case in which an additional device is separately provided or integrally formed in order to satisfy the object of the LED package, there are problems in that processing is complicated and it is difficult to manufacture a product at low cost.

Light-emitting diode package and method of fabricating the same


A joint structure includes a splice plate and a gusset plate, which can prevent out-of-plane buckling of the gusset plate without the necessity of welding a stiffening rib plate thereon. The joint structure includes a gusset plate and at least one splice plate connected to the gusset plate. Each of the splice plates is constructed from section steel having a non-rectangular cross-section. The joint structure can be used in a building during assembly of the building or for reinforcement of the building.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a joint structure including a gusset plate and at least one splice plate and a building using the joint structure. The present invention also relates to a method of assembling or reinforcing a building using the joint structure.
2. Description of Background Art
Truss structures for buildings include a column-beam joining part and/or a panel point part. At the location of the column-beam joining part and/or the panel point part, a diagonal member is connected via a gusset plate to an axial force member. The diagonal member can be a structural member or a vibration-damping brace, for example. The axial force member intersects with the diagonal member at a predetermined angle. The gusset plate used in such a joint structure is designed not to cause out-of-plane buckling and/or out-of-plane deformation when a compression force is applied to the diagonal member. Out-of-plane buckling and out-of-plane deformation refer to the plane formed by a smooth side surface of the gusset plate 21, where a splice plate 22 is to be connected as shown in FIG. 2 of the present invention. The plane being referred to is not an inclined joining end edge 30 of the gusset plate 21.
Referring to FIGS. 7A-7D and 8A-8D below, examples of the above joint structure will be described. FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a first example according to the background art. FIGS. 7C and 7D illustrated a second example according to the background art. FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrated a third example according to the background art. FIGS. 8C and 8C illustrated a fourth example according to the background art. Each of the above-mentioned figures illustrates a joint structure including a joining end part 4 of a diagonal member 3, such as a structural member or a vibration damping brace, joined with a gusset plate 1 by using a splice plate 2. The end part 4 has a cross-section, which is cruciform in shape, i.e., cross-shaped in cross-section.
In example 1 of the background art illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a vertical joining plate 5 is fixed on a vertical edge of the gusset plate 1. The vertical joining plate 5 is connectable to a structural member such as a column or one of the axial force members of a truss structure (not shown). The vertical edge of the gusset plate 1 makes a right angle with a bottom horizontal edge of the gusset plate 1. In addition, a horizontal joining plate 6 is fixed on the horizontal edge of the gusset plate 1. The horizontal joining plate 6 is connectable to a structural member such as a beam or the other of the axial force members of the truss structure (not shown). A top horizontal edge 7 extends from the top end of the vertical edge of the gusset plate 1 and a vertical up-right edge 8 extends upward from an end of the bottom horizontal edge of the gusset plate 1 opposite to where the vertical joining plate 5 is fixed. The top horizontal edge 7 and the vertical up-right edge 8 are connected via an inclined joining end edge 10.
A stiffening rib plate 11 is welded at weld 12 on opposite sides of the gusset plate 1 to form a stiffening part with the gusset plate 1. Therefore, the stiffening part has a cross-section, which is cruciform in shape, i.e., cross-shaped in cross-section. The joining end part 4 of the diagonal member 3, which also has a cruciform cross-section, is abutted against the inclined joining end edge 10 of the gusset plate 1. The end edge 10 of the gusset plate 1 is located on the end edge of the stiffening part having a cruciform cross-section. As mentioned above, the diagonal member 3 is, for example, a structural member or a vibration-damping brace.
A splice plate 2 according to the background art is in the form of a rectangular flat plate having a rectangular cross-section. Referring to FIGS. 7B, 7D, 8B and 8D, a portion of each of four splice plates 2 is secured by bolts 13 to each side of the four wings forming the cruciform, i.e., both of the stiffening rib plates 11 and 11 and two portions of gusset plate 1. Each of the splice plates 2 is located on opposite sides of the rib plate 11. The remaining portion of each of the splice plates 2 is secured to each side of the four wings of the joining end part 4 of the diagonal member 3 in the same way as described above.
In example 1 according to the background art, the joining end part 4 of the diagonal member 3 is joined to the gusset plate 1 through the splice plates 2 in the construction described above.
In example 2 according to the background art, as illustrated in FIGS. 7C and 7D, stiffening ribs 14 and 15 are welded to the top horizontal edge 7 and the vertical up-right edge 8 of the gusset plate 1, respectively. In addition, the stiffening rib plate 11 is welded to the gusset plate 1 as described above in the construction according to example 1 of the background art. The stiffening ribs 14 and 15 are used to further prevent out-of-plane buckling or deformation of the gusset plate 1.
FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate example 3 according to the background art and FIGS. 8C and 8D illustrate example 4 according to the background art. In example 3 illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the construction is the same as example 1, except that the stiffening rib plate 11 welded to opposite sides of the gusset plate 1 does not extend below a bottom edge of the splice plates 2. In example 4 illustrated in FIGS. 8C and 8D, the construction is the same as example 1, except that the stiffening rib plate 11 welded to opposite sides of the gusset plate 1 extends to the vertical joining plate 5.
In examples 1-4 according to the background art, the stiffening rib plates 11 are welded to opposite sides of the gusset plate 1 so that the gusset plate 1 does not experience out-of-plane buckling and/or out-of-plane deformation when a compression force is applied to the diagonal member 3. However the welding operation takes time, which leads to an increase in the cost of the joint structure and therefore the building in which the joint structure is used.
In addition, if a gusset plate according to the background art is reinforced with a stiffening rib for increasing earthquake resistance, the stiffening rib has to be fixed by welding. Furthermore, if the stiffening rib is welded on site, (1) it leads to an increase in cost, (2) it is subject to the weather, and (3) it may require upward-welding, which results in a low quality weld.
It is necessary to weld the stiffening rib 11 to the gusset plate 1 to compensate for a lack of strength, since the splice plate 2 is in the form of a rectangular flat plate having a rectangular cross-section. The present inventors have determined that a rectangular flat plate does not contribute to a sufficient increase in the buckling strength of the gusset plate 1 to avoid out-of-plane buckling.
The stiffening ribs 14 and 15 welded to the top horizontal edge 7 and the vertical up-right edge 8, respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 7C can increase the buckling strength of the gusset plate 1. However, it is necessary to weld the stiffening ribs 14 and 15 to the gusset plate 1. Accordingly, example 2 of the background art has the same welding problems mentioned above.
As shown in FIG. 8A, if the length of the splice plate 2 contacting the gusset plate 1 on the side surface of the gusset plate 1 is decreased in length, the strength of the joint structure decreases. Accordingly the possibility of out-of-plane buckling and/or deformation increases. As shown in FIG. 8C, if the stiffening rib plate 11 extends to the lower end of the gusset plate 1 to reach the vertical joining plate 5, the strength of the joint structure increases. Accordingly, the possibility of out-of-plane buckling and/or deformation is improved. However, the stiffening rib plate must be welded to the gusset plate 1. Accordingly, the same welding problems described above still remain.
Thus problems in the background art are summarized as follows:
(1). If the stiffening rib plate. 11 for preventing out-of-plane buckling is not fixed to the gusset plate 1, the gusset plate experiences out-of-plane buckling when a compression force is applied to the diagonal member 3. Therefore the stiffening rib plate 11 must be welded to the gusset plate 1 to prevent out-of-plane buckling and/or out-of-plane deformation in the background art.
(2). In the gusset plate 1 with the stiffening rib plate 11, which forms a cruciform cross-section with the gusset plate 1, if the length of the stiffening rib plate 1 fixed to the gusset plate is short, out-of-plane buckling and/or deformation occurs.
(3). A stiffening rib plate 11 welded to the gusset plate 1 is inevitable in the examples according to the background art. The stiffening rib plate must be welded to the gusset plate 1, thereby increasing the cost of the joint structure. Also, if the gusset plate 1 according to the background art is reinforced with a stiffening rib for increasing earthquake resistance, the stiffening rib has to be fixed by welding. Furthermore, if the stiffening rib is welded on site, (1) it leads to an increase in cost, (2) it is subject to the weather, and (3) it may require upward-welding, which results in a low quality weld.

Joint structure using a gusset plate, a building using the joint structure and a method of assembling or reinforcing a building


A device for retaining a supra pubic catheter having a moveable retainer axially moveable along the catheter.

Whether due to disease, stroke or Alzheimer's, a percentage of the population cannot urinate through their urethras. Such patients may be catheterized with a urinary catheter where the catheter is passed through the urethral of the patient until a distal end of the catheter is located in the patient's bladder. Thereafter, an expandable balloon is expanded to lodge the distal end of the catheter in the bladder. During catheterization, with a urinary catheter, urine drains from the bladder through the catheter, and through a drainage tube attached to a proximal end of the catheter to a drainage bag for collection therein.
Another system comprises the use of supra pubic catheters where the catheter passes through the abdomen wall of the patient until the distal end of the catheter is located in the bladder. This technique bypasses the urethra all together, and the bladder is connected to the outside of the body in the pelvic region. A surgical procedure is conducted where a stoma tunnel made of body tissue leads from the bladder to the outside of the abdomen.
Such supra pubic catheters have been used to drain urine by placing a urethral catheter through the tunnel or stoma. A balloon at one end, namely the distal end, is inflated with sterile water or saline inside the patient's bladder in order to keep the catheter in place. Thus, fluid from the bladder exits through the hollow passageway of the catheter to the exterior of the patient's body. Examples of such prior art devices and procedures are disclosed in U.S. Publication No. U.S. 2003/0009079, U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,745 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,651.
Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,000 discloses a supra pubic catheter inserted by way of a cannula which is positioned using a trocar, the trocar being withdrawn to leave the cannula in position through the wall of the bladder, allowing passage of the supra pubic catheter, the cannula being provided with means for subsequent removal from the catheter.
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,636 teaches a device for flushing the urinary bladder.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 6,350,255 illustrates a pad for use with a continent ostomy port which includes a body portion having a internal wall defining an aperture appropriately sized placed around a stoma, the body portion of the pad being sized and shaped for placement against the user's skin beneath a face place of an ostomy port. The pad is formed of a soft, flexible material to thereby cushion and protect the skin from contact with the ostomy port face plate.
One of the difficulties with the current technique and prior art devices resides in the fact that the inflated balloon does not stay in place, either due to patient's movement or the play in migration inwards and outwards of the catheter which breaks the seal. Furthermore, the weight of the saline filled balloon may cause leaking of air and fluid. Ideally, the fluid or urine drains from the bladder with the use of the relatively higher pressure in the bladder when compared to the atmosphere pressure in the drainage bag or the like, as well as due to the gravity. In those circumstances, where there is no seal, drainage relies on gravity alone.
In addition, when a good seal is not maintained, urinary leakage occurs. The patient is wet and in addition the weight of the patient in bed and the pressure on the skin increases a patient's risk of infection, skin breakdown and formation of decubitus ulcers. There is a general concern for decubitus ulcers in the sacrum and bilateral hips which manifest itself as Ishial tuberosities. If a patient already has decubitus ulcers in these areas with urine leakage on such dressing affects the effectiveness of the dressing and the medication under the dressing, which ultimately leads to various complications.
Moreover, leakage of air and fluid around catheter provides an avenue for infection. If air and or fluid can leak out, organisms can be introduced through this access. The catheter outside the skin and any organisms on this catheter will be deposited in the bladder by the migration and play of the catheter.
Moreover, it has been documented that, without properly securing the urethral catheter, the stoma over time, becomes larger and eventually causing insertion of a larger catheter. This causes the patient more trauma and discomfort. Much of the existing difficulties may stem from the fact that urethral catheters are used in supra pubic catheter applications.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved apparatus and method as well as system for a supra public catheter.
Retention bolsters for gastrostomy and other ostomy tubes have been disclosed as illustrated in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,714. Moreover, retention bolster for percutaneous catheters which have a convexly curved exterior surface which contacts the epidermal surface of the patient are shown on U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,420.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 3,976,080 teaches an endotracheal tube holder.
There is a need for an improved apparatus, method and system for supra pubic catheters.


A diagnostic system and method for operating the same includes a pressure monitoring module generating a diagnostic pressure signal and a camshaft driven engine component correction module generating an engine component oil pressure correction signal and generating a corrected diagnostic pressure signal based on the diagnostic pressure signal and the engine component oil pressure signal. The system further includes a diagnostic module generating a failed variable valve lift mechanism signal based on the corrected diagnostic pressure signal.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Vehicles include an internal combustion engine that generates drive torque. More specifically, an intake valve is selectively opened to draw air into the cylinders of the engine. The air is mixed with fuel to form a combustion mixture. The combustion mixture is compressed within the cylinders and is combusted to drive pistons within the cylinders. An exhaust valve selectively opens to allow the exhaust gas to exit from the cylinders after combustion.
A rotating cam shaft regulates the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves. The camshaft includes a plurality of cam lobes that rotate with the camshaft. The profile of the cam lobe determines the valve lift schedule. More specifically, the valve lift schedule includes the amount of time the valve is open (duration) and the magnitude or degree to which the valve opens (lift).
Variable valve actuation (VVA) technology improves fuel economy, engine efficiency, and/or performance by modifying a valve lift event, timing, and duration as a function of engine operating conditions. Two-step VVA systems include variable valve assemblies such as hydraulically controlled switchable roller finger followers (SRFFs). SRFFs enable two discrete valve states (e.g. a low lift state or a high lift state) on the intake and/or exhaust valves.
Referring to FIG. 1, a hydraulic lift mechanism (i.e. a SRFF mechanism) 10 is shown in more detail. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that the SRFF mechanism 10 is merely exemplary in nature. The SRFF mechanism 10 is pivotally mounted on a hydraulic lash adjuster 12 and contacts the valve stem 14 of an inlet valve 16 that selectively open s and closes an inlet passage 18 to a cylinder 20. The engine inlet valve 16 is selectively lifted and lowered in response to rotation of an inlet camshaft 22 on which multiple cam lobes (e.g. low lift cam lobe 24 and high lift cam lobe 26) are mounted. The inlet camshaft 22 rotates about an inlet camshaft axis 28. Although the exemplary embodiment describes the SRFF mechanism 10 operating on the engine inlet valve 16, those skilled in the art can appreciate that a SRFF mechanism may operate similarly on an exhaust valve 30.
A control module transitions a SRFF mechanism from a low lift state to a high lift state and vice versa based on demanded engine speed and load. For example, an internal combustion engine operating at an elevated engine speed such as 4,000 revolutions per minute (RPMs) typically requires the SRFF mechanism to operate in a high lift state to avoid potential hardware damage to the internal combustion engine.
Diagnostics of the cam lift mechanism is important. The force required to open a valve is manifested in the phaser oil pressure. When the SRFF mechanism fails, it is desirable to provide remedial actions to prevent further engine damage. For example, reducing the engine speed may be performed as a remedial action.
One way to monitor the variable lift hardware includes monitoring the pressure waveform within the camshaft phaser. The pressure waveform has a characteristic signature that varies in amplitude and duration consistent with the lift and duration of the valve operating event. The phaser pressure waveform is a direct result of the mechanical torque required to rotate the driven camshaft. Any loads associated with the camshaft may modify the oil pressure signature. One type of load on a camshaft may be a high-pressure fuel pump. Fuel pumps often include a piston having a mass that has a torque that is required to move the high-pressure fuel pump piston mass against a return spring and/or pressurized fuel.

Diagnostic system for valve actuation camshaft driven component compensation


A light-guide plate includes an incident surface receiving light, an upper surface extended from a first side of the incident surface, a lower surface opposed to the upper surface and a plurality of first prisms protruding from the upper surface and spaced apart by a separation distance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light-guide plate, a backlight assembly having the light-guide plate and a display device having the backlight assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a light-guide plate capable of improving image display quality, a backlight assembly having the light-guide plate and a display device having the backlight assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Development of information-processing devices has included various architectures, functions and faster information processing speed. The information-processing devices process information in an electrical signal format. In order to output the results processed by information-processing devices, a display device interfaces between the information-processing devices and users.
A liquid crystal display (LCD) of the display devices is lighter and smaller, displays high-resolution images and consumes less power compared to the cathode ray tube (CRT) that has been used for a long time as display device.
In general, LCD device includes a LCD panel that displays images using optical transmittance of a liquid crystal and a backlight assembly that is disposed under the LCD panel and supplies light to the LCD panel. The backlight assembly may be classified into either a direct illumination type or an edge illumination type, based on a location of a light source.
In the direct illumination type, the backlight assembly includes a plurality of light sources arranged in a parallel with each other under the LCD panel and directly supplies light generated from the light source to the LCD panel.
In the edge illumination type, the backlight assembly includes a light source, a light-guide plate that is disposed adjacent to the light source and guides the light generated from the light source into the LCD panel and a reflecting plate that is disposed under the light-guide plate to reflect leaked light advancing toward the lower portion of the light-guide plate.
In the edge illumination type, the backlight assembly may further include a prism sheet disposed on the light-guide plate to improve luminance of the light exiting from the light-guide plate. The prism sheet may include a plurality of prisms that refracts the light to enhance a front-view luminance. In order to remove the need for a prism sheet, a developed backlight assembly includes a light-guide plate having the prisms.
When the prisms are compactly disposed, the light-guide plate having the prisms emits more light through a central portion than in an edge portion. Therefore, luminance-uniformity is lowered and image display quality is deteriorated.

Light-guide plate, backlight assembly having the light-guide plate and display device having the backlight assembly


A semiconductor device includes a gate insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate; a floating gate formed on the gate insulating film; a control gate formed on the floating gate and has a side coplanar with a side of the floating gate; a tunnel diffusion layer facing a portion of the floating gate; and a tunnel window formed in a portion of the gate insulating film between the floating gate and the tunnel diffusion layer, the tunnel window being formed to be thinner than a remaining peripheral portion of the gate insulating film.

A FLOTOX (Floating Gate Tunnel Oxide) type EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM) is a semiconductor memory including a nonvolatile memory cell constituted by a stacked-gate type memory cell transistor and a select transistor connected in series to the cell transistor. Such type of EEPROM has a tunnel window which is formed in a portion serving as an electron passage during write/erase operation of data in a gate insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, and is thinner than a peripheral gate insulating film. A floating gate is formed on the tunnel window and a select gate is formed at a portion spaced from the tunnel window in the gate insulating film.
In the semiconductor device of related art, a plurality of element forming regions is formed on a front surface of a base substrate (wafer) made of silicon and a gate oxide film is formed by oxidizing each of the element forming regions. Subsequently, a tunnel oxide film having a reduced thickness is formed by partially etching the gate oxide film in a predetermined element forming region. In addition, a channel is formed by injecting ions into the base substrate and first and second memory cell diffusion layers of n− type are formed. Subsequently, a polysilicon layer is formed on the gate oxide film. Then, the polysilicon layer is masked by a resist pattern and is etched into a predetermined pattern of polysilicon layer. Thus, a floating gate and a select gate constituted by the remaining polysilicon layer are simultaneously formed on the gate oxide film. Thereafter, an insulating ONO (Oxide-Nitride-Oxide) film is formed on front and side surfaces of the floating gate and a control gate is further formed on the ONO film to cover the front and side surfaces of the floating gate.
However, in the semiconductor device of the related art, since the control gate covers both of the front and side surfaces of the floating gate, there is a need of an extra space on the semiconductor substrate by a thickness of the control gate covering the side surfaces, which has a limit on cell miniaturization. If the side surfaces of the control gate are coplanar with the side surfaces of the floating gate, the miniaturization problem may be overcome. However, no matter how high the alignment accuracy, it is very difficult to form the control gate having the same shape as the patterned floating gate. Therefore, there is a problem of a positional deviation between the floating gate and the control gate which causes a variation in a threshold voltage.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


A control device for a moving body such as a focusing lens or the like is arranged to vary time intervals at which a speed control action is performed on a motor according to a driving amount required for moving the moving body to a target position by means of the motor. The arrangement enables the device to prevent an adverse effect of vibrations, etc. and to accurately accomplish position control.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for driving a moving body to a given position with a motor and more particularly to a device suited for driving a lens to a given position in adjusting the focus of a camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
A DC motor is often employed for lens driving in an automatic focusing device which is provided within a camera for automatic focal length adjustment. For this purpose, the motor is arranged to give a high degree of torque by means of a reduction gear despite of the compact size thereof. Meanwhile, a vibratory-wave motor which is capable of giving a high torque without recourse to a reduction gear and has a high degree of responsivity has recently appeared to be used for driving a focusing lens in place of the DC motor.
A servo device such as the above stated lens driving device for focus adjustment is generally arranged to perform closed loop control on the basis of information fed back by using an electronic control device of the kind using a computer (hereinafter may be called a microcomputer). Therefore, the lens driving device is arranged to detect a change in the rotating speed of a motor-driven lens system, etc.; to have a detected degree of control fed back to be reflected upon a change in a voltage applied to the motor. Meanwhile, the device using the vibratory-wave motor is generally arranged to have the detected degree of control fed back to be reflected upon a change in the frequency of a power supply to the motor.
In case where the driving control over the lens system of a camera is to be changed by an electronic control device using a microcomputer, the degree of the change is determined in the designing state according to the kind, required performance, etc. of the camera. Generally, however, the device is designed to permit selection of rotational frequency (rotation speed) from among 16 to 128 steps of values.
The lens driving device such as the above stated automatic focusing device or the like is to be used for forming the image of a photographing object on a film surface (or on a CCD or the like) in a focused state during a photo taking operation. Therefore, the device is not only required to permit accurate focusing for a sharp picture but also is preferably arranged to permit the photo taking operation to be carried out without being affected by any vibrations.
In the case of the above stated lens system driving device using a DC motor, the actual rotational frequency of the motor does not change immediately upon the instructions of the microcomputer for changes in the rotational frequency so that the driving control can be smoothly accomplished. On the other hand, however, the performance of the driving device of this kind is inferior in accurately bringing the lens system to a stop in a given position.
Meanwhile, the lens driving device of the kind using the above stated vibratory-wave motor is advantageous in that the device has a relatively easy operability for rotation speed control and yet has a high degree of responsivity to speed control. While the device has the advantage of, for example, accurately stopping the lens system in a given position by virtue of its high degree of responsivity to the instruction of the microcomputer for changing the rotational frequency of the motor, a disadvantage of the device lies in that: The high degree of responsivity tends to bring about vibrations as a result of its rapid response to the instructions of the microcomputer to change the rotational frequency. The lens driving device of this kind, therefore, presents a problem in driving control for a smooth change in the rotation speed.
The problem of the lens system driving device using the vibratory-wave motor becomes more pronsonced in case where a power-focusing lens system driving device is arranged in combination with the above stated automatic focusing device. Since this device has the high degree of responsivity and is advantageous as a driving device of a camera for focus adjustment or the like, a solution of this problem is highly desirable.

Device for controlling moving body participating in photographing operation


Embodiments of the invention are related to implantable devices including movement sensors and related methods for measuring cardiac performance, amongst other things. In an embodiment, the invention includes an implantable electrical stimulation lead. The electrical stimulation lead can include a lead body having a proximal end and a distal end and a sheath defining a central lumen. The lead body can further include an electrical conductor disposed within the central lumen of the sheath. The stimulation lead can further include a stimulation electrode positioned at the distal end of the lead body, the stimulation electrode in electrical communication with the electrical conductor. The electrical stimulation lead can include an flexion sensor coupled to the lead body, the movement sensor configured to generate a signal in response to movement of the lead body. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method of monitoring the condition of a heart failure patient. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method of treating unstable arrhythmia in a patient. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Cardiopulmonary diseases afflict millions of people each year. In particular, diseases of the heart remain the leading cause of death in the United States. Monitoring patients' physiological state is an important aspect in the diagnosis, management and treatment of various diseases and disorders, including cardiopulmonary diseases. For this reason, significant efforts have been directed at improving monitoring and detection technologies. In specific, significant efforts have been directed at improving monitoring and detection technologies for cardiopulmonary diseases and related diseases that affect cardiopulmonary parameters.
Implantable medical devices can be advantageous as monitoring devices because the monitoring can be performed as desired, without regard to the physical location of the patient. In addition, the use of implantable medical devices for patient monitoring eliminates problems associated with patient compliance. However, many existing techniques for monitoring patients' physiological state fail to adequately assess all of the parameters desired. For example, cardiac output and related measures such as stroke volume are clinically important but difficult to accurately assess with current implantable systems.
For at least these reasons, a need remains for implantable devices and methods for measuring cardiac performance.

Measurement of cardiac performance with movement sensors and related methods