The present invention deals with a method and an apparatus for the input call needed in an elevator system by means of a wireless call input device. The call input device may be a device provided with a display and a keypad, designed especially for this use. In a preferred embodiment, the call input device is the user's mobile telephone and the system utilizes technology consistent with the Bluetooth standard. RFID technology or the use of bar codes is also possible. For the user a profile is created which contains the user's name, statistical information regarding the destination floors most frequently selected by the user, and possible additional services. The user can input a call from an elevator lobby before arriving to the elevator. After the system has allocated the most suitable elevator to the user, corresponding information is presented on the display of the call input device. This information can be accompanied by guidance information and information about an estimated waiting time. The destination floor alternatives can also be programmed to the call input device by the user him/herself. Additional services can be provided to the user of the call system and to other parties working in the building by connecting the control system to the Internet e.g. via an embedded mobile telephone.

A passenger using an elevator system has to let the control system of the elevator system know both his/her own arrival floor and the destination floor the passenger wants to reach. Traditionally, the passenger gives this call information by a two-step procedure such that, on the arrival floor the passenger first gives a landing call typically by means of arrow buttons and then, after an elevator has arrived at the customer's departure floor, the customer gives the system his/her destination floor information by pressing a car call button in a control panel in the elevator car. Due to its two-step nature, the traditional system requires the passenger to input two separate calls for one elevator ride, unless the elevator originally happens to be at the passenger's arrival floor or unless another person traveling in the same direction has input a landing call.
The number of calls to be input for one elevator trip can be reduced to one by using a so-called destination call system. Such a system is widely known and a system of this type is described e.g. in U.S. Pat. No. 3,374,864 granted already in 1968. In the destination call system, the passenger gives a destination floor call while still outside the elevator on a landing floor. On the basis of this single call, the elevator system allocates the most suitable elevator to the customer, and when the customer enters the elevator car no separate destination call needs to be given in the car.
Specification U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,324 describes a method and an apparatus for the input of calls to an elevator system via a wireless and portable transmitter. In this system the call is registered in the same way as if the call had been input from a traditional car control panel. The call input device has a keypad with keys that can be used to select a destination floor or give a special command to the elevator system. The receiver and its antenna may be placed in the car call panel if only calls given wirelessly in the elevator car are to be accepted. In the method of specification U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,324, wireless input of calls from outside the car from an elevator lobby is also mentioned. Elevator users have a personal "remote controller", by means of which it is possible to give the destination floor already in the elevator lobby or while approaching the lobby. Placed in the lobby is also a receiver, which in this case transmits the call data to the elevator control system.
Specification U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,160 discloses a portable apparatus that can be used to input a call to an elevator system. The apparatus comprises input equipment, comprising a display and a keypad, that can be fastened e.g. to the user's wrist like a wrist watch. Included in the input equipment is an audio unit, which may comprise a microphone and a loudspeaker. The customer can input a call by vocally naming his/her destination floor, and the input equipment registers this acoustic signal. The received signal is converted into an electromagnetic signal, which can be sent by a separate transmitter. This signal can be received by a destination call terminal which is provided at the landing floor and which can also be used to input traditional destination calls in the same way as in destination control. From the destination call terminal, the call data are transferred further to the elevator control system. Over a wireless link, it is also possible to transmit information in the other direction. In this case, e.g. in elevator systems consisting of multiple elevators, the identifier (e.g. a letter code) of the elevator arriving to the customer can be shown on the display of the wrist device.
A problem with prior-art solutions is that the user interface is identical in all buildings used by the customer. Regardless of the locality where the elevator system is situated, the user has to key in the number of the destination floor via a traditional numeric keypad from zero to nine. Prior-art solutions do not use so-called single-key quick selection for selecting the destination floor because this would make the equipment dependent on the number of floors in the building. Thus, the problem with prior-art solutions is a lack of adaptability to different buildings, and this results in a low level of user friendliness of the call input equipment.


An electric toothbrush has a brush head which is mounted in a movable manner, and a drive for producing an oscillating operating movement in the brush head. The drive includes a cyclically movable drive part and a follower part. The follower part is biased against the drive part so that the follower part follows the drive part's cyclic drive movement. A sensor determines the brush head's contact pressure by sensing the extent of coupling between the follower part and the drive part, and determining the contact pressure of the brush head based on the extent of coupling.

WO 98/01083 discloses a toothbrush with a brush-head carrier and a handle. The brush-head carrier is connected to, and projects out from, the handle. In the interior of the brush-head carrier is a drive shaft for driving the brush head. The drive shaft is mounted in a way that allows it to pivot in a rocking motion relative to the handle. The end of the brush-head carrier that is enclosed by the handle is biased against an eccentric by a spring. The toothbrush's drive motor drives the eccentric. Thus, the brush-head carrier follows the driven movement of the eccentric, making an oscillating rocking motion. As a result, the brush head moves in a reciprocating or picking fashion, thereby better removing impurities on the teeth, e.g., plaque.
Such a picking motion by the brush head, however, can irritate or even damage the gums. This irritation or damage is especially likely to occur when the brush head exerts excessive contact pressure against the teeth. Consequently, it has been proposed to equip the toothbrush with the ability to monitor contact pressure. A pressure sensor senses the contact pressure and indicates to the toothbrush operator whether cleaning is being carried out with the correct contact pressure. For example, WO 92/13499 provides a toothbrush with a drive shaft that can be pivoted out of a rest position, counter to a restoring force, transversely to the center longitudinal axis of the toothbrush. When the appropriate contact pressure has been reached, the toothbrush informs the toothbrush operator by means of acoustic or optical signals.
In other electric toothbrushes, such as those in DE 44 26 446 A1 and EP 0 158 870 B1, a pressure sensor measures the reaction force to the contact pressure. The pressure sensor is located on the brush-head carrier and/or the drive shaft.
The current solutions for sensing contact pressure employ relatively expensive and sensitive pressure sensors. Additionally, they use expensive signal-processing means. Sensing contact pressure in this way is especially difficult in the case of toothbrushes that execute a reciprocating or picking movement. A more simple solution is to sense contact pressure by using contacts that detect a cleaning-force threshold. However, such contacts only detect one cleaning-force threshold. In other words, they are not capable of notifying the operator both when the cleaning force has dropped below a lower limit and when it has exceeded an upper limit.


There is provided a nitride semiconductor light emitting device including an active layer of a multi quantum well structure, the nitride semiconductor light emitting device including: a substrate; and a buffer layer, an n-type nitride semiconductor layer, an active layer and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer sequentially stacked on the substrate, wherein the active layer is formed of a multi quantum well structure where a plurality of barrier layers and a plurality of well layers are arranged alternately with each other, and at least one of the plurality of barrier layers includes a first barrier layer including a p-doped barrier layer doped with a p-dopant and an undoped barrier layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nitride semiconductor device including an active layer of a multi quantum well structure, and more particularly, to a nitride semiconductor light emitting device including an active layer of a multi quantum well structure, in which a barrier layer adjacent to a p-type nitride semiconductor layer is Mg-doped into a p-doped barrier layer to prevent electrons from overflowing and accordingly improve hole injection efficiency, thereby enhancing external quantum efficiency.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, nitride semiconductor devices have been under development and have seen their applications broadened from a mobile phone keypad and a side view light source to general lightings and car headlights.
A light emitting diode (LED) used as a mobile phone utilizes an operating current of 20 mA. However, an LED for use in lightings and car headlights generally requires hundreds of mA of operating current to be supplied thereto. This supplied current of hundreds of mA entails problems which have been unobserved in a low current. A representative problem pertains to the efficiency droop.
In general, efficiency of the LED is represented by external quantum efficiency, which is a value obtained by multiplying photon extraction efficiency by internal quantum efficiency. Under the efficiency droop, the external quantum efficiency is decreased with an increase in the operating current.
In the conventional LED of a multi quantum well structure, efficiency droop occurs at a current density of about 10 A/cm2. That is, external quantum efficiency is gradually decreased at an operating current greater than the current density of 10 A/cm2. The current density is varied according to an area of the LED chip but the current density of 10 A/cm2 can be converted into the operating current of about 20 mA.
That is, as for the LED for use in a mobile phone, in the case of a current of 20 mA or more, a higher operating current leads to less efficiency of the LED. Therefore, the efficiency droop should be necessarily overcome to employ the LED in the lightings and car headlights requiring a high current density.
Specifically, in the conventional LED having a multi quantum well structure, the active layer includes an InGaN layer, i.e., well layer where light is emitted and a GaN layer, i.e., barrier layer. The well layer usually employs an undoped layer and the barrier layer employs an undoped layer or a Si-doped n-GaN layer.
The barrier layer is Si-doped to improve interface characteristics between the well layer and the barrier layer. Also, the Si-doping reduces resistance to decrease an operating voltage at a forward voltage. Moreover, the Si-doping increases concentration of electrons, thereby serving to screen a piezoelectric field caused by stress resulting from differences in lattice constant between the InGaN layer as the well layer and the GaN layer as the barrier layer.
This also reduces blue shift caused by an increase in the operating current. The screening effect ensures a reduction in band bending induced by piezoelectric field and allows for more overlapping of wave functions between the electrons and holes to enhance internal quantum efficiency.
This method has been used mostly to increase LED efficiency at a low current density. However, this does not prevent efficiency droop from occurring at a high current density as required by lightings and car headlights.
Furthermore, due to lower mobility of holes than electrons in general, the holes are injected into the active layer of the LED with low efficiency. On the contrary, the electrons are injected into the active layer well due to small effective mass and subsequently great mobility thereof.
Therefore, the holes are injected poorly while the electrons injected well migrate through the active layer over to the p-type nitride semiconductor layer. This phenomenon is aggravated at a high current density, i.e., by higher concentration of electrically injected carriers. This phenomenon leads to a decline in external quantum efficiency at a higher current density.
To improve this phenomenon, an electron blocking layer formed of AlGaN with great bandgap may be stacked on the active layer. This however does not prevent the electrons from overflowing since the electron block layer cannot serve as a barrier properly due to piezoelectric field arising from differences in lattice constant.
As described above, in the conventional LED having the multi quantum well structure, the holes are injected with low efficiency from a low current density to a high current density. Also, the external quantum efficiency is degraded due to nonradiative Auger recombination resulting from a high carrier concentration at a high current density.

Nitride semiconductor light emitting device

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology


System (1, 8, 20, 25, 30) for the securing of a roller bearing (2) in axial directions relative to a cylindrical seat (3), the system (1, 8, 20, 25, 30) with at least one first circumferential groove (4) of the seat (3) and with at least one securing ring (7, 19, 21, 22, 23), in which the securing ring (7, 19, 21, 22, 23) adjoins with a disk-form section (26, 27, 28, 29, 31) an axially outer side of a first bearing ring (10) of the roller bearing (2) and in which the securing ring (7, 19, 21, 22, 23) comprises elastically flexible first securing clips (11), projecting from the securing ring (7, 19, 21, 22, 23), which engage the circumferential groove (4).

Such a system is described in EPO 852 299 B1, which system serves for securing a wheel bearing unit in a wheelmount and secures the roller bearing in an axial direction in a seat of the wheelmount. The seat is developed cylindrically and is provided with at least one circumferential groove which is engaged by a securing ring with elastically flexible securing clips developed on a disk-form section of the securing ring. In one axial direction, the outer ring of the roller bearing is in contact with its axially outer side on the disk-form section. Consequently, the securing ring is an axial stop means for the bearing ring. In the other axial direction, the outer ring is axially stayed on a shoulder of the seat projecting radially into the bore of the seat. A seat formed in this way for a roller bearing is relatively elaborate and cost-intensive of production, since the shoulder makes difficult working the seat for the roller bearing.

System for securing a roller bearing in axial directions


The invention provides a method and apparatus for testing a telecommunications network between timed intervals to detect a fault in order to determine an approximate location of a fault. The method comprises measuring a change in capacitance of a line in the network and then determining from a known ratio of capacitance to length of line, a length of line that corresponds to that change. This length will give an approximate location of a fault from a subscriber's equipment located at premises remote from the measuring apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for testing a telecommunications network.
2. Related Art
When describing a public telecommunications network it is usual to subdivide the network into two parts a first part being a core network and the other part being an access network. The access network is that part of the network which extends from a subscriber's equipment to a local telephony exchange. The access network includes telephone poles, drop wires, cables, junction boxes, primary cross connection points and secondary cross-connection points which are familiar features of the urban and rural landscapes. These are the components which are most exposed to the elements and a large number of faults can occur in this part of the network as a consequence. The core network includes the local and trunk exchanges.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,225 describes an apparatus for measuring the capacitance of a telephone cable in order to determine the distance of an open circuit fault from a measurement point.
In the past network operators have relied upon subscribers to report faults. This may take place some time after the fault has occurred because some subscribers only use their equipment infrequently.

Method and apparatus for testing lines in a telecommunications network

British Telecommunications public limited company


The transceiver-integrated antenna includes an antenna element, a ground plate for grounding the antenna element, and a transceiver configured to transmit and receive radio signals through the antenna element. The transceiver is housed in a recess formed in the ground plate. The ground plate serves as not only a plane for grounding the antenna element, but also a radiator for dissipating the heat emitted from the transceiver.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transceiver-integrated antenna including an antenna element, and a transceiver which is integrated to the antenna element and configured to transmit and receive radio signals through the antenna element.
2. Description of Related Art
As described, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-111377, it is known to use an integrated antenna including a plurality of different antenna elements used for different radio communication systems for the purpose of saving antenna installation space. It is also known to use a transceiver-integrated antenna including an antenna element and a transceiver for the purpose of saving antenna installation space, and also reducing transmission loss between the antenna element and the transceiver.
However, conventional transceiver-integrated antennas have a problem in that their production costs are high, because they must have a heat radiating member (or heat radiation fin) for dissipating the heat emitted from the transceiver in addition to a ground plate, which inevitably increases the number of parts.


A secondary electrochemical cell with at least one positive electrode includes an active material and one negative electrode, which are held directly in a hermetically tight housing which has at least one detector element or which is dynamically connected to one such detector element. The detector element is designed or can be set to acquire a predetermined unallowable operating state of the secondary electrochemical cell, and in an unallowable operating state of the secondary electrochemical cell, to actuate at least one switching element which prevents recharging and/or discharging of the secondary electrochemical cell. By making the housing as a hermetically tight protective housing, which is part of an implantable medical device, contamination of surrounding tissue with toxic substances and hazard to the implant wearer by the malfunction of the secondary electrochemical cell can be precluded under all operating conditions with simultaneously great reduction of all dimensions.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an secondary electrochemical cell with at least one positive electrode which comprises an active material and one negative electrode, which are held directly in a housing which has at least one detector element or which is dynamically connected to one such detector element. The latter being designed or can be set to acquire a predetermined unallowable operating state of the secondary electrochemical cell and in an unallowable operating state of the secondary electrochemical cell to actuate at least one switching element which prevents recharging and/or discharging of the secondary electrochemical cell.
2. Description of the Related Art
In secondary electrochemical cells a pressure rise in the interior of the housing of the secondary electrochemical cell can occur, for example, upon excess charging or discharging with an unallowably high current and it leads to deformation of the housing which can become so large that chemicals, especially in gaseous or liquid form, emerge from the housing in large amounts. Various protective mechanisms have been proposed to increase the operating safety of secondary electrochemical cells.
Thus, publication EP-A-0 470 726 discloses a secondary electrochemical cell which has a cylindrical housing with a pressure membrane as the detector element. The housing directly accommodates the electrodes of the secondary electrochemical cell, the pressure membrane as part of the housing being integrated on the face side in the housing and bulging when the pressure rises in the interior of the housing, so that a plate-shaped switching element which is centrally connected to the pressure membrane reversibly or irreversibly interrupts the electrical contact between the electrode and a terminal contact which is provided on the outside of the housing as soon as the pressure within the housing reaches a predetermined value.
EP-A-0 322 112, EP-A-0 360 395 and EP-A-0 370 634 disclose providing electrochemical cells with a switching element which, when a certain still tolerable boundary deformation of the housing is exceeded, preferably irreversibly separates an electrical terminal contact from a pertinent electrochemically active electrode in order to prevent further deformation of the housing. The housing directly accommodates the electrodes and surrounds an electrically conductive cylindrical housing section which is closed on the face side and which makes contact with an electrode, on the end face the plate-shaped switching element being attached centrally by means of an electrically insulating cement from the outside. The electrically, likewise, conductive switching element in its base position, via its outside edge, forms an electrical connection between the housing section and the electrical terminal contact which projects to the outside and which is located in the center of the switching element. When the pressure rises within the housing the face side of the housing section acting as the detector element bulges to the outside, by which the contact between the housing section and the outside edge of the switching element and, thus, between the one electrode and the terminal contact is interrupted. One typical application of these switching elements is standard D cells. The bulging of the face side, starting from which the switching element interrupts electrical contact, in this case is 0.76 mm to 1.8 mm. For bulging of more than 1.8 mm emergence of chemicals from within the housing can ordinarily be expected.
EP-A-0 674 351 discloses a secondary electrochemical cell with a housing which comprises a cutting device which can be actuated by a pressure membrane and which, when a boundary pressure is exceeded within the housing, irreversibly, severs an electrical conductor which connects the terminal contact of the secondary electrochemical cell to an electrochemically active electrode.
Also, when using a switching element which interrupts the electrical connection between the terminal contact and the pertinent electrochemically active electrode when a certain pressure within the housing is exceeded, it is possible for the pressure to continue to rise and ultimately for chemicals to emerge from the housing of the electrochemical cell or for the latter even to explode. For this reason, for example in EP-A-0 364 995, EP-A-0 573 998 or EP-A-0 739 047 it is proposed that a pressure membrane which actuates the switching element and which is integrated into the housing be provided with a bursting area via which after activation of the switching element and a further pressure rise chemicals can emerge from the interior of the housing.


The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a stacked-gate structure in a semiconductor device. The method includes the steps of sequentially forming a gate dielectric layer, a poly-silicon layer, a titanium layer, and a WNX layer on a semiconductor substrate, carrying out a rapid thermal annealing (RTA) in a nitrogen ambient, forming a silicon nitride layer on the tungsten layer, and patterning the multilayer thin-film structure into a predetermined configuration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to methods for manufacturing a stacked gate structure in a semiconductor device. More particular, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a stacked gate structure in a field effect transistor.
2. Description of Related Arts
Chip manufacturers have always tried to achieve higher device operating speed. Reduction of sheet resistance and contact resistance of a gate electrode is an effective way to accomplish the aforementioned goal. Therefore, a poly-Si/WN/W gate is now regarded as a potential structure in DRAM technology beyond 0.18 μm generation. The WN layer is used as a barrier layer which prevents inter-diffusion between silicon atoms in the poly-silicon layer and tungsten atoms in the WN/W layers. The sheet resistance of such gate structure is lower than 10 Ω/□, which is better than that of the conventional poly-Si/WSi structure.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are cross sectional views setting forth a conventional method for manufacturing a poly-Si/WN/W gate structure. To begin, a gate dielectric layer 102, a poly-silicon layer 104, a barrier layer 106, a tungsten (W) layer 108, and a silicon nitride layer 110 are sequentially formed on a semiconductor substrate 100, as shown in FIG. 1A. Thereafter, a lithography process and an etching process are performed and then the silicon nitride layer 110 is patterned to form a predetermined configuration, thereby obtaining a hard mask pattern 110A. Subsequently, the tungsten layer 108, the barrier layer 106, the poly-silicon layer 104 and the gate dielectric layer 102 are patterned to form the predetermined configuration, thereby obtaining a gate structure provided with a patterned gate dielectric layer 102A, a patterned poly-silicon layer 104A, a patterned barrier layer 106A and a patterned tungsten layer 108A, as shown in FIG. 1B.
Conventionally, the method used to form a barrier layer 106 is to form a WNX layer on the poly-silicon layer. Then, a rapid thermal annealing (RTA) process is performed in an N2 ambient so that nitrogen atoms diffuse out from the WNX layer. As a result, the WNX layer is changed into the tungsten layer and a WN/SiN composite barrier layer is formed between the poly-silicon layer and the tungsten layer. However, SiN is an insulating material such that the resistance of the WN/SiN layer is raised.

Methods for manufacturing stacked gate structure and field effect transistor provided with the same


A central transaction server in electronic commerce card authorization system enables the electronic commerce card association to manage and monitor the authentication system. The central transaction server acts as an intermediary for all communications between the access control server used for authentication. If any portion of the authentication system fails, the central transaction server compensates by providing appropriate responses to other portions of the system. The centralized transaction server translates all incoming traffic into a format compatible with the intended recipient, enabling portions of the system to be upgraded without breaking compatibility with the non-upgraded portions. The centralized transaction server also enables the integration of formally separate portions of the authentication system into a single unit. The directory and the authentication history servers can be integrated into the central transaction server, and the central transaction server can initiate charges to the electronic commerce card automatically, bypassing the card acquirer.

Electronic commerce cards are frequently used by consumers to make purchases from merchants over the Internet. Electronic commerce cards include credit cards, debit cards, prepaid purchase cards, travel cards, or any other system that can be used instead of cash to purchase goods or services. One example of an authentication system enables a cardholder to associate a password or other identifying information with an electronic commerce card. To make a purchase online, the consumer must provide the password or other identifying information associated with the electronic commerce card. This ensures that the person possessing the electronic commerce card is actually authorized to use the electronic commerce card.
Once a consumer has been authenticated as an authorized cardholder, the electronic commerce card transaction can be completed by the merchant. Previously, authentication and transaction processing used a decentralized, distributed computing model to communicate messages between merchants, card associations, and authentication servers. In this approach, there is no centralized point for collecting data and monitoring system performance. Instead, each end point in the system, such as merchants, authentication servers, and card issuers, must be asked to collect data and monitor performance of their portion of the overall system.
This decentralized model makes it difficult for the electronic commerce card association, which is responsible for the entire system, to evaluate the system performance as a whole. Additionally, this lack of visibility of the entire system prevents the card association from spotting trends or patterns that would assist in understanding where and how to add new features. Furthermore, the decentralized model makes upgrades and migration difficult, as each end point must be able to communicate with its counterparts, regardless of the features or software versions supported. The decentralized model also increases support and service overhead, and decreases the fault tolerance of the system.
Therefore, it is desirable to have an electronic commerce card authentication and transaction processing system that facilitates monitoring and management, increases overall reliability and fault tolerance, and simplifies system upgrades and migrations.

Centralized electronic commerce card transactions


An intelligent tire monitoring system includes a tire body, a sheet-shaped conductive polymer sensor, a micro control unit, an RF unit, a computer, and an RF circuit. The sheet-shaped conductive polymer sensor is affixed to an inner liner layer at a middle portion of a tire crown. One end of the sheet-shaped conductive polymer sensor is connected to the micro control unit through the RF unit, and the other end of the sheet-shaped conductive polymer sensor is connected to the computer through the RF circuit. The computer includes a power supply module, a communication port, a display screen, an audible alarm, a press-key input module, and a processor. The state of the tire is comprehensively determined by matching or combining a strain amplitude of the tire crown and an operating temperature with a fitting function.

Tires are an indispensable part of the car driving system, and the characteristics of tires directly affect automobile performance such as safety, stability, smooth driving, comfort and transportation efficiency. According to the statistics from the information center of the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China, tire bursting, fatigued driving and speeding are the three leading causes of highway traffic accidents wherein tire bursting is a primary factor one due to the complexity and uncontrollable nature of tire pressure and temperature. Traffic accidents caused by tire failure have caused great losses to society, thus making tire burst prevention a significant research subject in the automotive electronic technology industry. Presently, the tire pressure monitoring system has been used to monitor the air pressure and temperature of tires, however, the causes of dangerous tire conditions do not merely lie in the tire pressure and temperature. Thus, the common tire pressure monitoring system is unable to provide early warning signals of all dangerous tire conditions. In addition, the sensor in the existing tire pressure monitoring system is expensive, which limits the application range thereof.


An apparatus (1) on a sending side sends a first signal (S1) containing encrypted data that was encrypted using conversion constants (Y, Zy′), and a conversion constant (X) to an apparatus (1) on the receiving side; the apparatus (1) on the sending side sends a second signal (S2) containing encrypted data that was encrypted using conversion constants (X, Zy′), and a conversion constant (Y), and pattern-conversion constants (Zy) that correspond to conversion constant (Zy′) to a relay apparatus (2). The relay apparatus (2) transfers a second′ signal (S2′) in which a pattern-conversion constant (Zy) in the second signal (S2) has been converted to a conversion constant (Zy′) to the apparatus (1) on the receiving side. The apparatus (1) on the receiving side reads the encrypted data and conversion constants (X, Y, Zy′) from the first signal (S1) and second′ signal (S2′), then decodes and authenticates the encrypted data.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a data-transmission system, data-transmission method and data-transmission apparatus that together with making it difficult to decode data that leaks during transmission, makes it possible to avoid problems that may occur due to transmission from a third party impersonating the true sender.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, technology has existed in which data to be sent by a sender is encrypted, and that encrypted data and an encryption key for decoding that encrypted data are sent to the recipient using separate lines (for example, a satellite communication line and ground line). (Refer to Japanese Patent No. 3,052,322)
The recipient receives the encrypted data and encryption key, and from these is able to decode the data into the original data. By sending the encrypted data and encryption key using separate lines in this way, it is possible to improve confidentiality of the data transmission.
However, since the recipient receives the data without authenticating the sender of the encryption key and encrypted data, it has not been possible to authenticate the sent data even in the case when sent by a third party that poses as the sender who originally sent the data.
For communication lines such as the Internet, individual-authentication services are available from authentication-service companies that perform individual authentication. However, the individual-authentication services provided by this kind of authentication service company are expensive, and thus have not been suitable for individual use.

Data transmission system, data transmission method, and device


A personal defense accessory for interaction with a mobile communications device includes a main housing. A pair of electrodes are disposed in the main housing. A controller is disposed with the main housing and connected to the pair of electrodes to deliver a stun rated shock.

This invention relates in general to personal defense and mobile communication devices.
One kind of known personal defense device is the electroshock weapon. Generally, an electroshock weapon is a device that incapacitates a person by administering electric shock. One type of electroshock weapon includes projectiles tethered by thin flexible wire that deliver a shock from a power source disposed in a main housing. Another type of electroshock weapon includes electrodes disposed in the housing for shock by direct contact. Examples of such weapons include stun guns and stun batons.
Generally, however, most people do not carry a weapon on their person at all times while away from home. If an armed attacker confronts such a person, the person may be at a serious disadvantage.
A large number of people do, however, often carry a mobile communications device, such a mobile phone or cellular phone, a smart phone, PDA or other portable personal communications device. These devices generally allow a user free mobility while using the device. When not in use, a user typically keeps the device in his or her pocket, handbag, or holster. This way, the device may be readily available should the individual need to use the device.
While useful for keeping in contact with people, or other communication, while not at home, a mobile communication device is not especially advantageous for defending oneself if the situation should arise. In such a situation, such a device may principally be used to contact help. However, this generally requires that the potential victim to ward off his or her attacker long enough to initiate such contact with the device.

Personal defense accessory for a mobile communications device


An oscillator and a method of fabricating the oscillator are described. The oscillator includes a resonator with a plurality of transmission lines. An oscillation frequency of the oscillator is independent of at least one dimension of the plurality of transmission lines. The oscillator also includes a negative resistance circuit coupled to the resonator that cancels internal loss resistance of the resonator.

The present invention relates to a transmission line resonator, and more specifically, to a speed of light referenced frequency oscillator.
The generation of signals having frequencies with wavelengths on the order of millimeters (mm-waves) is challenged by the lack of low phase-noise oscillators that work at the carrier frequency and have a large tuning range. On-chip complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) variable capacitances (varactors) have low quality factors (Qs) (e.g., less than 10). As a result, a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) based on integrated varactors may have a high phase noise and a limited tuning range. Currently available high-Q on-chip resonators are not only bulky but also have no means to tune their frequency characteristics. Alternative devices use a phase-locked loop (PLL) working at lower frequencies and frequency multipliers (e.g., doublers, triplers) to generate a mm-wave carrier. These multiplying devices need active devices and passive devices such as inductor and capacitors. Moreover, these multipliers have poor efficiency. As a result, there is a power penalty and area penalty to generate the higher frequencies. In addition, the generated signals at mm-waves need amplifiers and buffers to drive the up/down conversion mixers.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Speed of light based oscillator frequency


A method of preventing wheel spin or wheel locking on an electric traction vehicle whose traction transmission includes servo controlling of one or more control parameters of the motor(s) of the traction transmission to an input reference value. The method is such that the control parameter(s) obtained at the output from the servo control are permanently limited by ideal values for the control parameter(s), which ideal values are such as to make it possible to obtain an input reference value for the speed of rotation of the motor(s) equal to the real travel speed of the vehicle, referred to as the reference speed, in such a manner as to stabilize the torque transmitted by the motor(s) in the event of wheel spin or wheel locking.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to controlling the traction motors of a road or rail vehicle having electric traction or electric transmission (as applies to diesel-electric vehicles).
2. Description of the Related Art
At present, electric traction devices are servo-controlled to torque or to current, i.e. the control system seeks permanently to cause the electric motor(s) under its control to provide a torque or to take a current equal to a reference value given to the control system. If the reference value produces a force which is greater than that which can be transmitted to the ground by the mechanical transmission (as happens with reduced adhesion or "grip", e.g. due to bad weather conditions), then wheelspin occurs if traction is being applied, or wheellocking occurs if braking is being applied. At present, in order to overcome these phenomena, an antispin or an antilock system is added to the control system to correct the reference value as provided by a human or an automatic driver so that the control system for the traction device is always given a reference value that is no greater than the torque which the adhesion allows to be transmitted.
This antispin or antilock system which may be implemented in analog electronic form or as software in a microprocessor system, requires the following to be known:
the speeds of the wheels driven by the transmission under consideration;
a reference speed representative of the real speed at which the vehicle is moving and which may either be measured using a wheel on an axle which is under-motorized or not motorized (and which therefore runs no risk of spinning) or which is underbraked or not braked (and which therefore runs no risk of locking), or which is measured by some other device, e.g. using the Doppler effect, or else which is calculated (as described in French patent No. 2 512 556, for example) from the speeds of all of the wheels of the vehicle (integrating a plausible mean acceleration for the vehicle up to a maximum set by the smallest wheel speed in traction or down to a minimum set by the greatest wheel speed in braking). On the basis of this information, the antispin or antilocking system calculates and filters the difference of each speed relative to the reference speed, the acceleration of each wheel, and optionally the derivatives of these accelerations, and it generates a spin or lock signal on the basis of all these magnitudes, which signal is used to correct the reference given by the driver. This correction is performed as follows, as shown in FIG. 1 which shows the input reference CI and the corrected reference CI' as a function of time:
in traction, as soon as the beginning of the wheelspin is detected, i.e. at an instant marked t.sub.0 in FIG. 1, the reference CI.sub.0 that was present at the instant spin appeared is suddenly and considerably reduced, thereby enabling wheels that have lost adhesion to regain it (stage marked T.sub.1 in FIG. 1), and is then raised again quickly to a value which is slightly lower than that which it had at the instant when spinning appeared (stage T.sub.2). Thereafter the applied reference is then further increased slowly up to the value it had when spin appeared (stage T.sub.3), and finally it is increased very slowly until it catches up with the reference value now being input (stage T.sub.4). Naturally this entire procedure is reinitialized each time spinning is detected.
In braking, the reference value is corrected so that the slip of each wheel always limited to a certain value, generally in the range 10% to 20% of the reference speed.
This antispin or antilock technique suffers from the following drawbacks:
It is relatively complex. The processing performed which is described above merely in simplified form, is complicated which means that if performed by analog electronics it requires a large number of circuits thus giving rise to equipment which is voluminous and expensive, and if performed by software integrated in electronic microprocessor control means, then the software is long which may require the size of the memory in the electronic card containing it to be increased, and above all which occupies execution time that can constitute a heavy penalty in a "real time" system.
It requires the speeds of all of the wheels and of all of the axles driven by the traction device to be measured accurately.
It gives rise to severe mechanical stresses on the device mechanics, particularly during traction, because of its repeated, rapid, and major actions taken on the generated torque.
It is a function of the response time of the servo control of the traction system which is downstream therefrom and which responds more or less quickly, thereby requiring numerous adjustments and fine tuning of the system on the vehicle itself.
In traction, by virtue of the theory as described above, it does not guarantee maximum utilization of the available adhesion CI.sub.0, as can be seen from FIG. 2 which also shows the applied reference value CI and the corrected reference value CI' as a function of time:
because of the "holes" in the reference value (shaded zones in FIG. 2) for enabling the wheels to recover adhesion; and
because of the slowness with which the corrected reference value returns to the input reference value after adhesion has become good again (e.g. on entering a tunnel after a zone in the rain).

Antispin and antilock methods for an electric traction vehicle


A cross groove variety of constant velocity universal joint includes an inner race having a plurality of grooves formed in an outer surface thereof and an outer race having a plurality of grooves formed in an inner surface thereof. For each pair of associated inner and outer race grooves, the inner race groove is inclined in one direction relative to the rotational axis of the joint, while the outer race groove is inclined in the opposite direction. A ball is disposed in each of the associated inner and outer race grooves for providing a driving connection between the inner and outer races. A cage is provided with openings for retaining the balls in the grooves. The cage openings are formed having angled side walls which open up toward the center of the joint. The angled side walls are effective to position the point of contact between the balls and the angled side walls away from a lower edge surface of the cage. Consequently, an inner bore radius of the cage can be increased to allow greater angular motion and axial movement of the joint. Also, the balls are pinched against the angled side walls during operation of the joint to prevent the cage from chattering.

This invention relates in general to universal joints and in particular to an improved structure for a constant velocity type of universal joint.
A universal joint is a mechanical coupling device which provides a rotational driving connection between two rotatable shafts, while permitting such shafts to be oriented at an angle relative to one another. Universal joints are commonly used in the drive train systems of vehicles. For example, a universal joint is commonly used to provide a rotational driving connection between a drive shaft rotatably driven by a vehicle engine and an input shaft connected to the vehicle axle assembly. This is because the drive shaft and the axle assembly input shaft are rarely co-axially aligned. To accommodate this non-alignment, while still providing a rotational driving connection, a universal joint is utilized therebetween.
Universal joints are commonly classified by their operating characteristics. One important operating characteristic relates to the relative angular velocities of the two shafts connected thereby. In a constant velocity type of universal joint, the instantaneous angular velocities of the two shafts are always equal, regardless of the angular orientation of the shafts. In a non-constant velocity type of universal joint, the instantaneous angular velocities of the two shafts vary with the angular orientation of the shafts (although the average angular velocities for a complete revolution are equal).
A typical constant velocity universal joint includes a cylindrical inner race connected to one of the shafts and a hollow cylindrical outer race connected to the other of the shafts. The outer surface of the inner race and the inner surface of the outer race have respective pluralities of grooves formed therein. The grooves extend linearly, having generally semi-circular cross sectional shapes. Each groove formed in the outer surface of the inner race is associated with a corresponding groove formed in the inner surface of the outer race. A ball is disposed in each of the associated pairs of grooves. The balls provide a driving connection between the inner and outer races. A generally hollow cylindrical cage is typically provided between the inner and outer races for retaining the balls in the grooves. The cage has circumferentially extending inner and outer surfaces and a plurality of openings formed therethrough for receiving and retaining the balls.
In one known type of constant velocity joint, the grooves formed in the outer surface of the inner race are oriented so as to be alternately inclined relative to the rotational axis of the joint. Similarly, the grooves formed in the inner surface of the outer race are also alternately inclined relative to the rotational axis of the joint. For each pair of associated inner and outer race grooves, the inner race groove is inclined in one direction relative to the rotational axis of the joint, while the outer race groove is inclined in the opposite direction. Thus, this type of joint is commonly referred to as a cross groove constant velocity joint or, more simply, a cross groove joint.
Most cross groove joints permit the inner race and its associated shaft to move axially relative to the outer race and its associated shaft. Thus, the center point of the inner race (i.e., the point defined by the intersection of the axis of rotation of the inner race with a perpendicular plane bisecting the inner race) can be axially displaced from center point of the outer race. This axial displacement is desirable because it permits the two shafts to move axially relative to one another during operation.
However, it has been found that the ability of the cross groove joint to accommodate angular movement between the two shafts is inversely related to the ability of the joint to accommodate axial movement therebetween. In other words, as the center points of the two races are displaced at a greater distance, the joint can accommodate a lesser amount of relative angular movement therebetween. For example, a typical joint may accommodate an angular orientation of 18.0.degree. between the two shafts when the center points of the inner and outer races are displaced by 14.7 mm. The same joint will accommodate only an angular orientation of 6.0.degree. when such center points are displaced by 24.0 mm.
This inverse relationship between the angular movement and axial displacement of the inner and outer races is a result of the internal structure of the cross groove joint. Specifically, it has been found that when the center point of the inner race is axially displaced from the center point of the outer race, angular movement of the inner race causes the center point thereof to move laterally with respect to the center point of the outer race. As a result, the center point of the inner race moves out of alignment with the axis of rotation of the outer race. Consequently, angular movement of the inner race causes the outer surface thereof to engage the inner surface of the cage, preventing further angular movement. The ratio of this lateral movement of the center point of the inner race to the amount of angular movement increases with the amount of axial displacement of the center points of the inner and outer races. Thus, as the center points of the inner and outer races are displaced at a greater distance, the joint can accommodate a lesser amount of relative angular movement therebetween.
It is known to design cross groove joints to meet the specific angular movement and axial displacement requirements of a particular application. This is usually accomplished by enlarging the entire joint structure to accommodate both greater angular movements and axial displacements than would otherwise be available. However, it would be desirable to provide an improved structure for a cross groove joint which can accommodate both greater angular movements and axial displacements than previously attainable without increasing the overall size thereof.

Cross groove constant velocity joint cage having angled ball retanining windows


Disclosed is a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material having a support containing a filler and/or an undercoat layer containing a clay compound coated with an organic substance between the support and an emulsion layer or between the support and a back layer. The silver halide photographic light-sensitive material shows good dimensional stability in a processing system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, in particular, a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material used for a photomechanical process and a photographic light-sensitive material used for IC printed boards.
2. Description of the Background
It is the integrated circuits (ICs) that support the today's highly information-oriented society from the aspect of hardware. It can be said that ICs are used because of their characteristics such as high processing speed, high reliability, low power consumption, low price, high functionality, light weight and small size. Meanwhile, for photographic light-sensitive materials, for example, light-sensitive materials for making printing plates, especially those used for IC printed boards, high reliability is required, and they play an important role. For example, a circuit pattern is prepared with the aid of computer-aided design (CAD), and a photographic light-sensitive material is exposed in this pattern in a full scale or reduced scale, developed and fixed to prepare a negative. A copper plate (or copper foil) applied with a resist is exposed using this negative as a mask by contact exposure or projection exposure in a reduced size usually using a mercury lamp as a light source so that the resist should be chemically denatured by ultraviolet rays emitted by the mercury lamp. There are a negative type resist and a positive type resist. In the former type, a portion irradiated with ultraviolet rays is not dissolved and remains in the subsequent development step, and a portion not irradiated with ultraviolet rays is dissolved in a developer. The reverse is applied to the positive type resist. In the both cases, for use of a negative of photographic light-sensitive material as a mask in contact exposure or projection exposure in a reduced size on a copper plate (or copper foil) applied with a resist, reproducibility of the negative image on the photographic light-sensitive material (stability for the development) and dimensional stability of the light-sensitive material during passage of time after the production of the negative image are important.
In photomechanical processes used in the field of graphic arts, used is a method in which photographic images of continuous tone are converted into so-called dot images in which variable image density is represented by sizes of dot areas, and such images are combined with photographed images of characters or line originals to produce printing plates. For silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials used for such a purpose, ultrahigh contrast photographic characteristic enabling clear distinction between image portions and non-image portions has been required in order to obtain favorable reproducibility of characters, line originals and dot images. Silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials having such an ultrahigh photographic characteristic have a characteristic that they shows higher density (higher practice density) compared with low contrast materials even when laser exposure is performed with exposure giving the same half tone percentage. Therefore, for use in IC printed boards, suitability of resist for exposure is markedly improved.
As a system responding to such a requirement, there has been known the so-called lithographic development method, in which a silver halide light-sensitive material comprising silver chlorobromide is treated with a hydroquinone developer having an extremely low effective concentration of sulfite ions to form images of high contrast. However, in this method, the developer is extremely unstable against oxidation by air since the sulfite ion concentration in the developer is extremely low, and therefore a lot of developer must be replenished in order to stably maintain the developer activity.
As image forming systems in which the instability of the image formation according to the lithographic development method is eliminated and light-sensitive materials are processed with a developer showing good storage stability to obtain ultrahigh contrast photographic characteristic, there can be mentioned, for example, those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,166,742, 4,168,977, 4,221,857, 4,224,401, 4,243,739, 4,269,922, 4,272,606, 4,311,781, 4,332,878, 4,618,574, 4,634,661, 4,681,836, 5,650,746 and so forth. These are systems in which a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material of surface latent image type containing a hydrazine derivative is processed with a developer containing hydropuinone/metol or hydroquinone/phenidone as main developing agents and 0.15 mol/l or more of sulfite preservative and having pH of 11.0 to 12.3 to form ultrahigh contrast negative images having a gamma of 10 or higher. According to these systems, photographic characteristics of ultrahigh contrast and high practice density can be obtained, and because sulfite can be added to the developer at a high concentration, stability of the developer to air oxidation is markedly improved compared with conventional lithographic developers.
In order to form sufficiently ultrahigh contrast images with use of a hydrazine derivative, it is necessary to perform processing with a developer having pH of 11 or higher, usually 11.5 or higher. Although it has become possible to increase the stability of the developer by use of a sulfite preservative at a high concentration, it is necessary to use such a developer of high pH as described above in order to obtain ultrahigh contrast photographic images, and the developer is likely to suffer from air oxidation and hence instable even with the presence of the preservative. Therefore, various attempts have been made in order to realize ultrahigh contrast images with a lower pH to further improve stability of the developer.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,269,929 (Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication (Kokai, henceforth referred to as "JP-A") No. 61-267759), U.S. Pat. No. 4,737,452 (JP-A-60-179734), U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,104,769, 4,798,780, JP-A-1-179939, JP-A-1-179940, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,998,604, 4,994,365 and JP-A-8-272023 disclose methods of using a highly active hydrazine derivative and a nucleation accelerator in order to obtain ultrahigh contrast images of high practice density by using a developer having pH of less than 11.0. However, silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials used for such image-forming systems have a problem concerning processing stability such as fluctuation of sensitivity caused by change of activities of the hydrazine derivative and the nucleation accelerator due to exhaustion of processing solutions, and therefore a stable image formation system providing high practice density has been desired, especially for photographic light-sensitive materials for IC printed boards.
Meanwhile, silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials are generally produced by applying at least one photographic light-sensitive layer on a plastic film support consisting of a fibrous material type polymer, of which typical example is triacetyl cellulose, or a polyester type polymer, of which typical example is polyethylene terephthalate. Since the polyethylene terephthalate films have or show superior mechanical properties, dimensional stability and high productivity, they are considered to be able to replace triacetyl cellulose, and they are used for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials for use in bright rooms, scanners, facsimiles, IC printed boards and so forth. However, lengths of polyethylene terephthalate films change due to moisture absorption or dehydration caused depending on the environmental humidity, and thus their dimensional stability is insufficient. As a technique for improving this problem, JP-A-63-304249 and so forth disclose a technique of providing a polyvinyl chloride barrier layer in order to reduce the dimensional change caused by moisture absorption of a support. However, when the chlorine-containing layer is provided on a support, there arise problems, that is, dechlorination gradually advances during storage for a long period of time and thereby images cause yellowing, dimensional change is caused during a further longer period of time, and so forth. Therefore, a technique for suppressing dimensional change due to humidity change has been desired.
In view of these problems of the conventional techniques, an object of the present invention is to provide a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material that shows good dimensional stability in a stable processing system.


A MEMS check valve chip is described. The chip comprises a first side and an opposing second side, an outlet port extending from the first side to the second side, and a flexible outlet membrane anchored to the first side to overlie the outlet port. The flexible outlet membrane includes an outlet aperture and a sealing portion, and the sealing portion is movable between a closed position inhibiting fluid flow through the outlet aperture and an open position wherein the sealing portion displaces into the outlet port to permit fluid flow through the outlet aperture.

The present disclosure relates generally to valves and associated systems and methods. In some instances, embodiments of the present disclosure are configured to be part of an intraocular pressure (IOP) control system for use in ophthalmic treatments.
Glaucoma, a group of eye diseases affecting the retina and optic nerve, is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Most forms of glaucoma result when the IOP increases to pressures above normal for prolonged periods of time. IOP can increase due to high resistance to the drainage of the aqueous humor relative to its production. Left untreated, an elevated IOP causes irreversible damage to the optic nerve and retinal fibers resulting in a progressive, permanent loss of vision.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of the front portion of an eye that helps to explain the processes of glaucoma. In FIG. 1, representations of the lens 110, cornea 120, iris 130, ciliary body 140, trabecular meshwork 150, and Schlemm's canal 160 are pictured. Anatomically, the anterior segment of the eye includes the structures that cause elevated IOP which may lead to glaucoma. Aqueous humor fluid is produced by the ciliary body 140 that lies beneath the iris 130 and adjacent to the lens 110 in the anterior segment of the eye. This aqueous humor washes over the lens 110 and iris 130 and flows to the drainage system located in the angle of the anterior chamber 170. The angle of the anterior chamber 170, which extends circumferentially around the eye, contains structures that allow the aqueous humor to drain. The trabecular meshwork 150 is commonly implicated in glaucoma. The trabecular meshwork 150 extends circumferentially around the anterior chamber. The trabecular meshwork 150 seems to act as a filter, limiting the outflow of aqueous humor and providing a back pressure that directly relates to IOP. Schlemm's canal 160 is located beyond the trabecular meshwork 150. Schlemm's canal 160 is fluidically coupled to collector channels (not shown) allowing aqueous humor to flow out of the anterior chamber. The two arrows in the anterior segment of FIG. 1 show the flow of aqueous humor from the ciliary bodies 140, over the lens 110, over the iris 130, through the trabecular meshwork 150, and into Schlemm's canal 160 and its collector channels.
One method of treating glaucoma includes implanting a drainage device in a patient's eye. The drainage device allows fluid to flow from the anterior chamber of the eye to a drainage site, relieving pressure in the eye and thus lowering IOP. In order to provide desired treatments to patients, it may be important to regulate the flow of aqueous humor through the drainage device. Drainage devices with flow regulation devices, however, may be large and unwieldy when implanted in the eye. Such devices may present various complications, including, without limitation, discomfort to the patient and tissue irritation. Therefore, it may be desirable to provide flow regulation devices in a smaller package more suitable for implantation in the eye.
The system and methods disclosed herein overcome one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art.


Techniques for displaying interactive topic-based summarization are provided. A text to be summarized is segmented. Discrete keyword, key-phrase, n-gram, sentence and other sentence constituent based summaries are generated based on statistical measures for each text segment. Interactive topic-based summaries are displayed with human sensible omitted text indicators such as alternate colors, fonts, sounds, tactile elements or other human sensible display characteristics useful in indicating omitted text. Individual and/or combinations of discrete keyword, key-phrase, n-gram, sentence, noun phrase and sentence constituent based summaries are dynamically displayed to provide an overview of topic and subtopic development within a text. A hierarchical and interactive display of texts based on the use of discrete sentence constituent based summaries which associates expansible and contractible displayed text to provide contextualized access to an interactive topic-based text summary and to an original text.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to the display of interactive topic-based summaries of text information.
2. Description of Related Art
In some conventional text summarization systems, statistically significant but disjoint portions of a text are selected for display. Many conventional text summarizers operating on English language texts select initial-introductory text portions or final-conclusory text portions from a text. The text portions are then used as representatives of the complete text and displayed to users seeking an indication of the information content of the complete text. The conventional text summaries generated by these text summarization systems do not provide an indication of the topics discussed within a single text.
A few conventional systems attempt to create informative summaries that represent or possibly replace the original text. These summaries tend to be longer than an informative summary and contain more factual detail. For example, Strzalkowski et al., in "A Robust Practical Text Summarizer" in Advances in Automatic Text Summarization, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass., 1999, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discusses creating "longer informative digest that can serve as surrogates for the full text" by extracting a paragraph representative of a "Discourse Macro Structure". This, conventional, known, two- part structure of "Background+What-Is-The-News" summarizes the two main parts of news articles.
Barzilay et al. developed a system that summarizes parts of documents using lexical chains to identify topics. Summaries are created by selecting a representative sentence from the strongest lexical chain. See for example, Barzilay et al., "Using Lexical Chains for Text Summarization", in Advances in Automatic Text Summarization, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass. 1999, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. However, the summaries generated by these conventional systems are disjointed and difficult to read. These conventional systems do not provide an easily reviewed interactive display of discrete sentence constituent based topic-based summaries.

Systems and methods for displaying interactive topic-based text summaries


A cannister-based, high solids, low and non-VOC aerosol adhesive and canister based system. The aerosol adhesive typically includes a high solids polymeric base, a hexane or cyclohexane and acetone solvent mixture and a compressed gas dissolved within the solvent. The compressed gas typically includes carbon dioxide, nitrogen, nitrous oxide and air. The aerosol adhesive is adapted to be filled into a cannister including a hose connected to the canister and a spray gun connected to the hose. The system typically includes high solids with a high viscosity. Thus the canister typically maintains high pressures up to 350 psi, but typically at 260 psi while maintaining 325 psi at 130° F., to deliver effective spray patterns.

Aerosols have a variety of uses in modern society. Consumers typically use aerosols in convenient size aerosol dispensers. There are also industrial applications that use larger aerosol dispensers, on the order of five gallons, that use hose and gun configurations to dispense the aerosols. In particular, aerosol adhesives are used in large dispensers in order to apply adhesive to bond various surfaces. Adhesives can come in various forms such as natural, organic, vegetable and synthetic. There are several classes of polymeric based synthetic adhesives such as thermosetting adhesives, thermoplastic resins and elastomeric adhesives to name a few. Typically aerosols and aerosol adhesives emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during their use.
In many localities, VOCs are regulated. VOC regulations govern both the solvent which the polymer is dissolved and the propellant. Most organic solvents are VOCs. Since aerosol adhesives emit VOCs in their use, aerosol adhesives can fall within these regulations. Regulations can differ depending on the locality, the compounds used and the size of the dispensing container. The compounds typically of concern are the propellants that are primarily contain hydrocarbons and dimethyl ether. The hydrocarbons typically include propane, butane and isobutane, which are all typically flammable. These propellant gases are widely used in aerosols. These hydrocarbons also typically act as a solvent when compressed because they become liquids. They are referred to as liquified gases. Other propellants, which are also liquified gases include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). A variety of other compressible gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, nitrogen and air may be used as propellants. These gases are referred to as compressible gases because at normal working pressures for aerosol formulators they do not form liquids.
As mentioned, the regulations can differ. For example, in California, there are two levels for regulating VOC emissions. One level is the State of California, and the other is the local air districts. Many of the local air districts do not classify aerosol containers as aerosol if they weigh more than one pound, rather, they classify them as bulk or liquid contact adhesives. The VOC regulations for bulk or liquid contact adhesives are typically much more stringent than the VOC regulations for aerosols. Therefore, many manufacturers have gone to manufacturing water based products because they can not manufacture compliant adhesive formulation.
Finally, a typical formula for aerosol adhesives is:
28 lb. of adhesive (30 percent solids—12 percent SIS rubber and 18 percent resin)
12 lb. of hydrocarbon propellant (50 percent propane and 50 percent isobutane)
The solvent system typically used to dissolve the rubber and resin can include methylene chloride. In this formulation, typically, the adhesive concentrate is prepared by the 28 lbs of the rubber resin mixture being dissolved in a solvent, which is then pumped into a large aerosol cylinder. In addition, 12 pounds of propellant (a blend of propane and isobutane) is typically added. This adhesive has the desired characteristics but, however, it is high in VOC due to the propellent. Furthermore, it has toxicity problems due to the large amount of chlorinated solvent also typically included. Typically, in aerosol adhesives the solvent chosen from dissolving the adhesive is a chlorinated solvent. The solvent must dissolve all of the components of the adhesive. One necessary ability of the solvent is the ability to dissolve the polymer and the resin. Another necessary property of the solvent is that it should evaporate quickly. These properties allow the end user to adhere the surfaces as quickly as possible. Typically, the chlorinated solvents are methylene chloride and bromo-propane. Although these compounds can be used, there are certain health hazards associated with them.
Furthermore, in general, can-based systems cannot maintain high pressures. Can-based systems typically maintain 50 psi. In additions, typical regulations require that cans maintain a pressure of 200 psi at a temperature of 130° F. Therefore, high solids and high viscosity formulations and blends typically cannot be effectively sprayed from cans having such low pressures.

Aerosol adhesive and canister-based aerosol adhesive system


A multilayered article is disclosed, which includes, in sequence: (1) a substrate (S), e.g., of thermoplastic polycarbonate; (2) a scratch-resistant layer (SR); and (3) a top layer (T). The scratch-resistant layer is prepared by curing a scratch-resistant coating composition comprising a polycondensate prepared from at least one silane, said polycondensate being prepared by a sol-gel process. The top layer is prepared by curing a top layer coating composition prepared by hydrolyzing a composition which includes:                at lest one compound represented by general formula I,M(R′)m   (I)        wherein M is an element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ti, Zr, Sn, Ce, Al, B, VO, In and Zn, R′ represents a hydrolysable radical, and m is an integer from 2 to 4; and optionally at least one compound represented by general formula II,RbSiR′a,   (II)        wherein the radicals R′ and R are the same or different, R′ is as defined for general formula (I), R represents a group selected from an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an aryl group, a hydrocarbon group with at least one halogen group, an epoxide group, a glycidyloxy group, an amino group, a mercapto group, a methacryloxy group and a cyano group, and a and b independently of one another have a value from 1 to 3, provided that the sum of a and b is four.

With the aid of a sol-gel process it is possible to prepare inorganic-organic hybrid materials by controlled hydrolysis and condensation of alkoxides, of in particular silicon, aluminium, titanium and zirconium.
An inorganic network is built up by a sol-gel process. Organic groups can additionally be incorporated via correspondingly derivatized silicates, and can be utilized on the one hand for functionalization and on the other hand for the formation of defined organic polymer systems. Because of the large number of possible combinations both of the organic and of the inorganic components and because of the high capacity for influencing of the product properties by the preparation process, networks resulting from sol-gel processes typically offer a very wide range of variation. In particular, coating systems can be obtained by means of a sol-gel process and tailor-made to the most diverse profiles of requirements.
Compared with inorganic materials, the layers obtained by sol-gel processes are relatively soft. Even though the inorganic contents of the system provide a high level of crosslinking, the reason for the reduced layer hardness is believed to be due to the small size of the inorganic materials in the system, which reduces the mechanical properties (e.g., hardness and abrasion resistance) of the layers. By the use of filler-containing polymers, the favourable mechanical properties of the inorganic contents can be more fully utilized, since in this case the filler provides inorganic particles having sizes of several micrometers. However, the transparency of the materials is typically lost, and optical uses are typically not possible. The use of small particles of SiO2 (e.g., Aerosils® particles) for the preparation of transparent layers having increased abrasion resistance is possible, but at the low concentrations that are typically employed the abrasion resistance of the layers is unfortunately similar to those of the above-mentioned system. The upper limit of the amount of filler is determined in part by the high surface reactivity of the small particles, which results undesirably in the formation of agglomerations or in increases in viscosity.
DE 199 52 040 A1 discloses substrates with an abrasion-resistant diffusion barrier layer system, wherein the diffusion barrier layer system comprises a hard base layer based on hydrolysable epoxysilanes and a top layer arranged on top. The top layer is obtained by application of a coating sol of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and glycidyloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane (GPTS) and curing thereof at a temperature of <110° C. The coating sol is prepared by subjecting TEOS to pre-hydrolysis and condensation with ethanol as the solvent in HCl-acid aqueous solution. GPTS is then stirred into the TEOS prehydrolyzed in this way and the sol is stirred for 5 hours at 50° C. A disadvantage of the coating sol described in this publication is its low storage stability (pot life), as a consequence of which the coating sol must be further processed within a few days after its preparation. A disadvantage of the diffusion barrier layer systems described in this publication is furthermore that these have according to the Taber abrasion test which are unsatisfactory for use in automobile glazing.

Multilayered article and a process for its preparation

Abstract: The multilayered articles are distinguished by possessing outstanding scratch and abrasion resistance.


An inrush current controller for a device has a connector for hot-plugging the device into a source of energization. An impedance has a current input coupled to a first contact of the connector and a current output coupled to the device. The impedance has an impedance control input. An impedance control circuit has a logic input coupling to a second contact of the connector. The impedance control circuit has an impedance control output connected to the impedance control input. The impedance control output forces the impedance OFF during a first time interval after hot-plugging. The logic input triggers a limited inrush at the current input after the first time interval.

Various kinds of computer systems are arranged to provide for physical insertion and removal of one or more disc drives while the computer system is energized and running. When the computer system power supply contacts mate with the disc drive power supply contacts there can be a current surge that adversely affects the operation of the computer system, the disc drive or both.
Various types of circuits are known to reduce these current surges. However, these known circuits tend to be complex, expensive or unpredictable. A method and apparatus are needed that will provide a low cost, predictable startup with a limited inrush of current.
Embodiments of the present invention provide solutions to these and other problems, and offer other advantages over the prior art.


An electrical connector comprises an elongate insulative housing having a plurality of cavities extending in side-by-side relation along the longitudinal housing direction. Each of the cavities is nominally spaced for fine pitch applications to be on the order of 0.050 inch. A wire contact assembly which is snapped into the connector housing and resiliently held therein by a releasable latch, comprises an insulation crimping portion that is formed during the crimping process to be of oval configuration. The oval configuration allows the use of wires at least as large as 28 AWG in such fine pitch spacings and permits installation of each wire contact assembly into the connector in the same orientation.

Packaging for telecommunications, computers and electronic systems has continued to decrease in overall size while increasing in functionality. This has resulted in an increase in the density of input/output (I/O) interconnects, creating a demand for fine pitch (0.050 inch spacings and less) connectors to meet limited space constraints.
A variety of interface standards exist today in an effort to maintain compatibility and uniformity when interconnecting computers to printers, drives, and other peripheral devices. Due to the need for increased signal speeds, controlled impedance, and electrical shielding, and while reducing overall size and weight, a new generation of 0.050 inch pitch connectors are beginning to replace the RS-232 type D subminiature connectors which have traditionally been used in these applications. The Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) specification has been developed which controls the electrical characteristics of the connecting cable and outlines the mating face of the interconnects. The contact pin layout is shown in FIG. 1, which is defined by two rows, spaced 0.100 inch apart with a contact pitch of 0.050 inch. In order to maintain this fine pitch, certain connector designs have utilized discrete wire insulation displacement contact (IDC) technology.
IDC technology has been an efficient, cost effective method for mass-termination of cables to connectors for many years. The advantage stems, in part, from the ribbon cable design. Orientation of the cable conductors in a uniform row provides strain relief through support from adjacent conductors, typically yielding good electrical performance. When using IDC technology with discrete wire cable applications, some of these advantages are lost. Conductors must be individually terminated, thus eliminating the inherent strain relief. Unless individual contacts have integral strain relief, excessive wire movement can cause large changes in contact resistance or even result in open circuits caused by a loss of the gas tight IDC termination. It thus becomes difficult in fine pitch applications to include an integral strain relief for IDC type contacts.
Crimping discrete wire conductors to contact terminals has also been a cost effective method for high reliable interconnects for years. This technology is advantageous in providing integral contact strain relief, gas tight termination and low installed cost. Because of these advantages, crimp style contact designs are widely used in a variety of cable applications, generally having contact spacings of 0.090 inch and greater. Providing a crimp contact design on 0.050 pitch which adheres to the layout dimensions shown in FIG. 1, has resulted in design difficulties.
Such design difficulties result from a desire to have a contact crimp geometry which would provide a reliable electrical integrity for a range of wire sizes, while adhering to the tight contact spacing requirements. Contradicting this approach is the need to maintain sufficient wall thicknesses in the electrical connector insulative housing of sufficient size and strength to enable mold processability, dielectric strength and overall mechanical stability.

Fine pitch discrete wire cable connector


A system and method are disclosed for separating and recovering short bars from full length bars in a rolling mill. The bars are initially conveyed on a run-out roller table from a shear to a transfer station where they are accumulated in a layer. The layer is transferred laterally from the transfer station onto a separation roller table at a separation station. An elevator lifts the tail ends of the full length bars off of the separation roller table, and the separation roller table then conveys the short bars to a recovery station. The remaining full length bars are then returned to the transfer station, from where they are sent on to a bundling station.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to rolling mills in which bars of a predetermined length are gathered into bundles, and is concerned in particular with a system and method for separating and recovering unacceptably short bars in advance of the bundling operation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
During the process of rolling bars in a bar mill, merchant mill, or section mill, short bars are invariably produced in the course of producing full length bars (known as commercial order lengths). The bar products can be ribbed reinforcing bars, plain rounds, squares, hexagonals, flats, angles, channels or even in some cases special shapes. Mill operators employ various methods to separate the short bars from the full length bars. These include optimization of billet length, optimization of rolled product length, cropping/chopping off of the short length arisings at mill shears or at the cold shear after the cooling bed. Each of these methods results in some form of cost added to end product.
The principal objective of the present invention is to provide a system and method for minimizing such added costs by separating and recovering short bars in a manner that improves upon the yield of the mill without adversely affecting the mill's throughput.

Short bar separation and recovery system and method


Systems and processes for activating a screen reading program are disclosed. One process can include receiving a request to activate the screen reading program and prompting the user to perform an action to confirm the request. The action can include a making swiping gesture, shaking the device, covering a proximity sensor, tapping a display, or the like. In some examples, the confirming action must be received within a time limit or the input can be ignored. In response to receipt of the confirmation (e.g., within the time limit), the screen reading program can be activated. The time limit can be identified using audible notifications at the start and end of the time limit. In another example, a device can detect an event associated with a request to activate a screen reading program. The event can be detected at any time to cause the device to activate the screen reading program.

The use of computing devices, such as laptops, mobile phones, tablet computers, portable media players, and the like, has increased significantly in recent years. As the use of these computing devices has increased, the need for increased accessibility for people with impaired vision has also increased. For example, low-vision users, blind users, dyslexic users or others with learning disabilities, or even sighted users who simply want or need to use a device without looking at the device during operation can benefit from screen reading programs that audibly read text or describe items being displayed on the device.
Traditional techniques for starting a screen reading program typically rely on using a physical or virtual button. However, there are times when it is advantageous to employ alternative techniques for starting the screen reading program, for example, when there are no physical buttons on the device.


An apparatus for making packages including groups of products wrapped with stretch film includes a transporting surface for conveying groups of products in a feed direction. A first pair of film feed stations are located on opposite sides of the transporting surface, and a first selection carriage includes at least two units for forming a respective tubular length of film fed by the respective stations. The apparatus also includes means for driving the first carriage to and fro in a direction transverse to the feed direction in such manner as to cyclically perform the following operations: forming the tubular length of film on a first unit outside the transporting surface, and at the same time positioning the other unit with the respective tubular length of film on it in a stretched configuration at the transporting surface to form a part of the latter so as to enable feeding of the group of products into the tubular length of film and releasing of the tubular length of film over the group of products to form a wrapped package.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for making packages of products wrapped with stretch plastic film.
In the current packaging industry, one of the uses of stretch plastic film is to wrap groups of products such as bottles with bases of different shapes—for example, circular, square or rectangular—or even containers made of metal or glass (and including parallelepiped shaped containers).
Machinery for wrapping groups of products with stretch film rather than heat shrink film or other materials has developed over the years because it has been found to be more economical to run and to have a simpler structure, while providing equally good wrapping quality.
In one prior art solution that uses stretch film, described in European patent application N.01830521.9 by the same Applicant as the present, the machine that implements a wrapping method based on stretch film essentially comprises:                a feed table on which the groups of products presenting a front face and a longitudinal dimension are formed;        a first station for making the packages, located on and forming part of the feed table, and being equipped with first means for unwinding the stretch film and forming a length of the stretch film wound around first means for preforming the package located on the feed table and mobile between several working positions where the tubular length of film is stretched open wide, the group of products fed into it, and the wrapped package fed back out onto the feed line once the stretch film has shrunk back to its original size.
This first station may be followed, further downstream, by a structurally similar station, preceded by a station for turning the package through ninety degrees, to wrap the package with a second tubular length of film.
A machine of this type, although reliable and fulfilling its purpose, has inherent speed limitations which make it unable to fully meet the requirements of modern packaging houses, where wrapping speed is of the utmost importance.
The present invention therefore has for an aim to provide an apparatus for making packages of products wrapped with stretch plastic film that is at once extremely flexible and capable of achieving high production speeds without reducing wrapping quality and reliability.

Apparatus for making packages of products wrapped with stretch plastic film


Access terminals are adapted to facilitate discontinuous transmission (DTX) employable during active transmissions. According to one example, an access terminal may be actively transmitting a plurality of frames on a reverse link channel. The access terminal can autonomously implement a DTX operation during the active reverse link transmissions, in which a transmitter circuit is powered down for periods of time less than a duration of one frame. As a result, reverse link transmissions are punctured during the powered down periods. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included.

Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be accessed by various types of devices adapted to facilitate wireless communications, where multiple devices share the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such wireless communications systems include code-division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time-division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency-division multiple access (FDMA) systems and orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) systems.
Multiple types of devices are adapted to utilize such wireless communications systems. These devices may be generally referred to as access terminals. Access terminals are becoming increasingly popular, with consumers often using power-hungry applications that run on such access terminals. Access terminals are typically battery-powered and the amount of power a battery can provide between charges is generally limited. Accordingly, features may be desirable to improve the battery life between charges in access terminals.

Devices and methods for facilitating autonomous discontinuous transmission in access terminals


A call is placed to a communications device. A response to the call is received from a call recipient associated with the communications device. The received response is processed based on a set of parameters. Based on processing the received response, a determination is made whether the call recipient is a human or an answering machine. If the call recipient is determined to be a human, the call is handled in a first manner. If the call recipient is determined to be an answering machine, the call is handled in a second manner that is different from the first manner.

Some voice solutions service providers offer outbound calling services to their clients. In outbound calling services, calls are placed connecting a client voice site to call recipients. In some cases, the call recipient may be human. In other cases, the call recipient may be a machine, e.g., an answering machine.

GENESYS TELECOMMUNICATIONS LABORATORIES, INC.