An accessory system for a vehicle includes a windshield that has a mounting element adhesively attached to its inner surface, an interior rearview mirror assembly, and an accessory support adapted for mounting to and demounting from the mounting element. The accessory support includes an accessory receiving portion configured to receive an accessory. The accessory support may comprise part of the interior rearview mirror assembly or may include a mirror mounting element with the interior rearview mirror assembly adapted for mounting to the mirror mounting element of the accessory support. The accessory comprises an imaging sensor and the accessory receiving portion is configured to receive the imaging sensor in a manner that compensates for the windshield angle of the windshield so that the imaging sensor has a more generally horizontal forward field of view through the windshield when the accessory support is mounted to the mounting element.

It is known in the art to attach an accessory module to an interior surface of a windshield of a vehicle. Often, such modules include a camera that has a forward facing field of view through the windshield. The camera typically has a lens attached thereto, and is mounted to a mounting plate of the module so that the camera has the desired field of view when the module is attached to the windshield. While such accessory modules provide the desired results, they often include multiple components that are often difficult to arrange so that the desired field of view is provided by the camera when the accessory module is attached to the window. Also, the camera and lens are often provided together as a unit, which may be difficult for an electronics supplier, who often prefers to provide the camera or imaging sensor on a printed circuit board.


A variable resistor includes a reduction rotation transmission mechanism including a plurality of gears for transmitting rotation of an operating member, a resistance member including a rotary member for varying resistance, and a rotation transmission member for rotating the rotary member. A plate-shaped clutch is disposed between the rotation transmission member and a geared wheel disposed at a termination end of the reduction rotation transmission mechanism, so that a clutch mechanism is formed. The transmission of the rotation of the rotation transmission member is performed and the rotation of the rotation transmission member is stopped by the clutch mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a variable resistor suitable for use in, for example, detecting a tilt angle of a seat in an automobile.
2. Description of the Related Art
A related variable resistor will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the main portion of the related variable resistor. FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view of the main portion of the related variable resistor. In the structure of the related variable resistor shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a resistance element (not shown) and a resistance substrate 53 to which a terminal 52 is mounted are disposed in a recess of an exterior case 51 formed of an insulating material.
A rotor 55 having a sliding element 54 which slidably contacts the resistance element is mounted in the recess of the exterior case 51. Although not shown, a stopper is disposed between the rotor 55 and the exterior case 51 for stopping the rotation of the rotor 55.
An inner toothed portion 51a is formed on the inner peripheral surface defining the recess of the exterior case 51, and a groove 55a for accommodating a planetary disc 56 formed of rubber is formed in the rotor 55. The circular outer peripheral surface of the planetary disc 56 comes into resilient contact with the inner toothed portion 51a.
An operating member 57 having a cross-shaped driver groove 57a and an externally toothed gear 57b is rotatably mounted to the top portion of the exterior case 51. The externally toothed gear 57b of the operating member 57 is positioned in the groove 55a and resiliently contacts the circular outer peripheral surface of the planetary disc 56, and pushes the planetary disc 56 against the inner toothed portion 51a. This causes the inner toothed portion 51a, the planetary disc 56, and the externally toothed gear 57b to form a reduction rotation transmission mechanism based on a planetary gear mechanism, and a clutch mechanism.
The resistance substrate 53 is secured to the lower portion of the exterior case 51 by filling the lower portion of the exterior case 51 with resin. Accordingly, the related variable resistor is formed.
In the related variable resistor having the aforementioned structure, when the operating member 57 is rotated in the direction of arrow A1 with a driver, the externally toothed gear 57b also rotates in the direction of arrow A1. Therefore, the planetary disc 56 rotates in the direction of arrow A2 by friction between the externally toothed gear 57b and the inner toothed portion 51a.
When the planetary disc 56 rotates in the direction of arrow A2, the rotor 55 is pushed and rotates in the direction of arrow A3. As a result, the sliding element 54 comes into sliding contact with the resistance element, causing the resistance to vary. Continuing the rotation of the operating member 57 causes the rotor 55 to bump into the stopper at the exterior case 51, and to stop rotating. Further continuing the rotation of the operating member 57 causes a slip to occur between the externally toothed gear 57b and the planetary disc 56. (Refer to, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-21214.)
However, the related variable resistor comprises a clutch mechanism using the rubber planetary disc 56. Therefore, when the rotation of the operating member 57 is continued while the rotation of the rotor 55 is stopped, the rotation of the externally toothed gear 57b in resilient contact with the planetary disc 56 causes considerable wearing of the planetary disc 56. As a result, in addition to not being possible to maintain the clutch mechanism and the reduction rotation transmission mechanism over a long period of time, the resistance cannot be finely because the reduction ratio in the planetary gear mechanism using one planetary disc 56 is small.
Since the related variable resistor comprises a clutch mechanism using the rubber planetary disc 56, it has the problem that it is not possible to maintain the clutch mechanism and the reduction rotation transmission mechanism over a long period of time because when the rotation of the operating member 57 is continued while the rotation of the rotor 55 is stopped, the rotation of the externally toothed gear 57b in resilient contact with the planetary disc 56 causes considerable wearing of the planetary disc 56.


A component carrier including a stack with a plurality of electrically insulating layer structures and/or a plurality of electrically conductive layer structures, and a non-uniform magnetic foil integrated in the stack.

In the context of growing product functionalities of component carriers, in particular those equipped with one or more electronic components, and increasing miniaturization as well as a rising demand of functionality of component carriers, increasingly more powerful component carriers are being employed, which have a plurality of contacts or connections, with ever smaller spacing between these contacts. Also an efficient protection against electromagnetic interference (EMI) becomes an increasing issue. At the same time, component carriers shall be mechanically robust and electrically reliable so as to be operable even under harsh conditions. Moreover, an extended functionality of component carriers is demanded by users.

Non-uniform magnetic foil embedded in component carrier

AT&S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Aktiengesellschaft


A combination bullet seating and factory crimp die includes a collet closing die, a crimping collet, a die cap, a seating lock, a bullet depth adjustment screw and a trigger. The crimping collet is inserted into the collet closing die. The trigger is placed in the collet closing die. The bullet depth adjustment screw is threaded into the seating lock. The seating lock is inserted into the die cap. The seating lock includes a sear groove for receiving a C-ring sear. The collet closing die is threaded into the die cap. A bullet seater is retained in the seating lock. In use, a bullet on a mouth of a cartridge case is pushed into the crimping collet. The bullet seater seats the bullet. The trigger pushes the C-ring sear into the sear groove, which allows the mouth of the cartridge to be crimped without moving the bullet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to loading or reloading ammunition cartridge cases and more specifically to a combination bullet seating and factory crimp die that crimps the cartridge case after the bullet has been seated without further motion of the bullet relative to the cartridge case.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
When reloading ammunition, it has become common to use a bullet-seating die that also crimps the bullet in place. A tapered cone within the die forms the crimp. Because a bullet-seating plug and crimping shoulder move as one, the seating plug continues to push the bullet deeper into the case while applying the crimp. Further bullet seating is acceptable, if the bullet has a crimping groove or the bullet is fabricated from soft lead. Adjusting for a firm crimp, while positioning the bullet to the correct depth is difficult for the novice reloader. It is also difficult to form a tight crimp if the bullet has a copper jacket and does not have a crimp groove to accept the crimp. Bullet seating that occurs during crimping is evident in reloading dies from all manufacturers for over 60 years.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,986 to Lee discloses a die for crimping bullets in ammunition cases. The Lee '986 patent crimps the bullet in a separate die after being seated with a standard seating die. A collet applies the crimp. A conical surface within the die wedges the collet to crimp a mouth of a cartridge case inward into the crimp groove of the bullet. The crimping process requires that the collet and bullet move together. The collet and cartridge are moved in unison by the shell holder. The finished crimp closely resembles the crimp applied to factory made ammunition. The Lee invention will form a perfect crimp even if the bullets have no cannular. The Lee crimp die has been well received by the consumer because of the improved accuracy and serviceability of ammunition. Unfortunately, the Lee crimp die requires an extra die and operation in the reloading process.
Combining the bullet seating operation with the collet type crimp is difficult, because bullet seating requires the seating die to be moved in relationship to the cartridge case, while the collet crimp is formed without relative movement between cartridge case and collet. Upward movement of the cartridge case, while being squeezed by the collet would cause the case to bulge below the crimp. U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,546 to Lee discloses cartridge reloading dies. The Lee '546 patent includes an ammunition casing reloading die set. An adjustment screw is adjusted such that, substantially coincident with the seater screw element coming to a stop, the edge of the casing mouth encounters a small conical shoulder that crimps the casing to the bullet.
Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a combination bullet seating and factory crimp die, which crimps the cartridge case after the bullet has been seated to a desired depth without the bullet being forced deeper as with currently available reloading dies.

Combination bullet seating and factory crimp die


Web pages that share a common layout and/or functionality are associated with at least one master page and at least one endpoint page. Each master page specifies a common layout and/or functionality that are intended to be shared between the web pages. The master pages also include content place holders that identify content segments that are intended to be replaced by content that is obtained from the at least one endpoint page. When a client system requests one of the web pages, the server system merges the appropriate master page and endpoint page into a resulting page that can be rendered as the requested web page by the client system. This enables web pages sharing common features to be created automatically, in real-time, and transparently to the client system, and without having to redundantly store duplicative content for each of the web pages at the server system.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to methods and systems for creating web pages and, more particularly, to methods and systems for creating web pages that share a common layout and/or functionality.
2. Background and Relevant Art
As the use of the Internet continues to grow, so does the need to develop web pages that are capable of providing desired Internet content. It has been realized that the layout and functionality of a web page can be customized to accommodate various needs and preferences. Nevertheless, it is sometimes desirable to create a variety of different web pages that share a common layout, functionality, or content. For example, it may be desirable for a family of web pages that are hosted by a single party to share a common layout so that each of the web pages includes a common menu bar, header, footer, or other content segments.
Providing a common layout and functionality between related web pages can be useful to facilitate navigation through the web pages and to generally provide a common 'look' and 'feel' that a visitor can easily grow accustomed to. Propagating the content and functionality between multiple web pages can also reduce the time and effort that is required to develop related web pages because the developer does not have to entirely 'reinvent the wheel' for each web page that is developed.
Notwithstanding the aforementioned benefits, however, there are certain inefficiencies and consequences that are also associated with sharing a common layout between multiple web pages. In particular, it can require the developer to redundantly program shared content and functionality into each of the web pages that are created. Accordingly, even though the layout and corresponding programming code that are used by the developer do not have to be 'reinvented', they still have to be redundantly copied into each of the corresponding web pages. Additionally, if problems are later discovered in the web pages, it is often necessary for a programmer to individually and redundantly fix the problems that were copied into each of the web pages.
Yet another problem that can be associated with the duplicating of code and content between multiple web pages is that the storage limits of the host system can be filled-up unnecessarily with duplicative content. In other words, a large segment of content or code can undesirably strain the storage capacity of the host when the content segment is redundantly and simultaneously stored for each related web page.

Utilizing common layout and functionality of multiple web pages


A robust sensor that incorporates the necessary physical structure and thermal characteristics is capable of measuring fluid flow and properties under harsh environmental conditions. The sensor die is made of a material with thermal conductivity tailored to provide the thermal transmission characteristics necessary to avoid saturation of the sensor, thus enabling the measurement of high mass flux airflow and liquid properties under high pressure and often harsh environments not previously available for silicon based sensors. The robust sensor further has internal vias for back-side electrical connection, thus avoiding electrical and mechanical interference with the measurements. All of these features come together to provide a microsensor which is capable of reliable, i.e. stable, wide dynamic range and rapid-response operation under harsh environments.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to thermal sensors of fluids, such as fluid flow sensors implemented in microstructure form. For convenience sake the term "flow sensor" will be used generically hereinafter for such thermal sensors. The reader will appreciate that such sensors may be utilized to measure primary properties such as temperature, thermal conductivity and specific heat; and that the heat transfers may be generated through forced or natural convection. The invention relates more specifically to a sensor of the Microbrick™ or microfill type having a central heating element and surrounding sensor arrays which are structurally robust and capable of operating in harsh environments. These Microbrick™ or microfill sensors include through-the-wafer interconnects thus providing very low susceptibility to environmental damage or contamination. The material of the sensor support structure is of thermal conductivity tailored to the application thus producing a more useful and versatile sensor, such as needed for high sensitivity or high mass flux fluid flow measurement or measurements in harsh environments.
2. Description of Related Art
Open microbridge structures such as detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,155, to Higashi et al., are well suited for measurements of clean gases, with or without large pressure fluctuations, since the microbridge structure is burst-proof. However, due to the open nature of the microbridge structure, condensates from vapor can be uncontrollably retained in the microbridge structure leading to uncontrolled changes in its thermal response, or output, making the structure susceptible to output error and poor stability.
The typical microbridge structure has a silicon die wire bonded at the top surface to a header, or substrate, carrying further electrical leads and/or electronics. Typically, such wire for the wire bonds would be a one mil gold wire. This wire has a tendency to retain particles suspended in the fluid, retain liquid condensates, increase undesirable turbulence, and shift flow response. Due to its thinness, the wire is also susceptible to damage in a high mass flux environment, such as high rate liquid flow, and upon attempts to clean the sensor.
Membrane-based sensors overcome some of the problems of the microbridge structure because there is no opening exposed to the fluid. More specifically, there is no opening allowing the fluid to enter the underlying structure. However, because the membrane is sealed over an isolation air space and subject to differential pressure induced stress signal errors, membrane based sensors have limited application in high pressure applications. Due to the physical configuration of the membrane, it can deform or burst as pressure differences (on either side of the membrane) increase above 100 PSI (pressure levels that are very possible in high mass flux environments). The heating/sensing elements on the top surface of the membrane sensors are also typically wire bonded to other components, leaving the problems of the wire in the flow path accumulating debris and possibly breaking during cleaning attempts.
While many different materials may be used to make a fluid flow sensor, the choice of material can drastically affect the sensor's performance. A preferable material making up the sensor substrate would have a relatively low thermal conductivity among other characteristics. This low thermal conductivity is necessary to maintain the sensitivity for the sensor. With this relatively low thermal conductivity, all heating/cooling effects presented to the various sensing elements are caused predominatly by the fluid to be sensed. Stated alternatively, it is important to ensure that heat is not transmitted through the substrate excessively, resulting in signal shorts.
The micromembrane structure discussed above provides a design approach that enables accurate thermal measurements to be made in harsh environments (condensing vapors, with suspended particles, etc.). Specifically, the mass of silicon immediately below the heater/sensing elements is greatly reduced or eliminated, thus limiting potential heat losses. Even in this structure, however, the selection of materials is critical—low thermal conductivity and appropriate material strength continue to be very important. A disadvantage of this structure is its sensitivity to differential pressure (across its membrane) which induces a stress in the sensing elements and results in uncontrolled output signal changes or errors.
In addition to the above referenced thermal characteristics, it is highly desirable for the overall flow sensor to be chemically inert, corrosion resistant, highly temperature stable, electrically isolated, and bio-compatible. Obviously, many of these characteristics are achieved by proper selection of materials. Further, these desired characteristics are necessary in light of the sensors' operating environment. The materials chosen must provide for a sensor which is capable of operating in harsh environments.
It would therefore be desirable to develop a flow sensor which is not susceptible to the above referenced problems. Specifically, the sensor would not be affected by vapor accumulation beneath the microbridge, and would not have exposed bonding wire near the heating and sensing elements. The desirable sensor would be structurally robust and thus capable of operating in harsh environments. Further, it would be desirable to develop a flow sensor which is not affected by signal shorts, thus capable of sensing high mass airflows and liquid flows. To accomplish this a desired flow sensor would include a robust substrate or die with relatively low thermal conductivity, high temperature stability, high electrical isolation, corrosion resistance, chemical inertness, and biocompatability. The design of such a structure would enable flow rate and thermal property sensing over wide ranges at high pressure. Further, this capability would provide trouble free operation in hostile environments at a reasonable cost.

Robust fluid flow and property microsensor made of optimal material


A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor layer; a second semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer; a third semiconductor layer on the second semiconductor layer; a fourth semiconductor layer in a part of the third semiconductor layer; a trench penetrating the fourth semiconductor layer and the third semiconductor layer and reaching the second semiconductor layer; a gate insulation film on an inner wall of the trench; a gate electrode on the gate insulation film in the trench; a first electrode; and a second electrode. The trench includes a bottom with a curved surface having a curvature radius equal to or smaller than 0.5 μm.

A trench gate type semiconductor device such as an insulated gate bipolar transistor (i.e., IGBT) and a MOS field effect transistor (i.e., MOSFET) is well known. For example, a trench gate type IGBT is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,737,705. The IGBT has a cell skipping structure. Specifically, some cell regions are periodically skipped to arrange in the IGBT so that an on-state voltage is reduced. Here, in general IGBT, multiple cell regions are serially arranged in the IGBT. Each cell region functions as an element.
In the IGBT having the cell skipping structure, the thickness of a gate insulation film in a trench is uniform, i.e., homogeneous. Further, a bottom of the trench has a large curvature radius in order to reduce electric field concentration at the bottom of the trench. When a voltage is applied to a collector by a switching operation, the electric field may be concentrated at the bottom of the trench. By increasing the curvature radius of the bottom of the trench, the electric field concentration is prevented or reduced.
Further, it is required for the IGBT to reduce a switching loss when a switch of the IGBT is turned on or when the switch is turned off so that efficiency of a device is improved. Therefore, regarding reduction of switching loss when the switch is turned off, it is considered that a gate resistance is reduced so that a cutoff speed di/dt of current becomes larger. However, when this method is used for the IGBT, the following problems occur. Specifically, when the IGBT is used for switching with large current such as 400 Ampere in order to drive an inductance load, the problems occur.
When the IGBT switches off, a voltage surge is occurred in the voltage waveform, which is different from a general IGBT voltage waveform. Therefore, a collector voltage is increased up to a maximum voltage, which is larger than a power source voltage. After that, the collector voltage is reduced, and becomes constant, which is the same as the power source voltage.
The surge voltage becomes large as the cutoff speed of the current becomes larger. Therefore, in a case where the cutoff voltage of the current in the IGBT becomes large in order to reduce the switching loss when the IGBT switches off, the surge voltage becomes larger. Further, when the surge voltage exceeds a yielding voltage of the device, and when the absorbed energy of the device exceeds a breakdown energy, the device may be damaged.
Here, this breakdown is occurred when the trench gate type IGBT has the cell skipping structure. Further, the breakdown may be occurred when an IGBT has a general construction without having the cell skipping structure. Furthermore, the breakdown may be occurred in a trench gate type MOSFET.


A toner printing machine includes an image forming device forming a toner image on a workpiece, and a heating member from which a heat energy is supplied to the toner image to be fixed to the workpiece, wherein the heating energy is supplied to the toner image while preventing a contact heat energy transmission between the heating member and the toner image.

The present invention relates to a toner printing machine comprising an image forming device forming a toner image on a workpiece, and a heating member from which a heat energy is transmitted to the toner image to be fixed to the workpiece.
In a toner printing machine disclosed by U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/768,330 filed Dec. 17, 1996, a workpiece is moved intermittently in a workpiece transfer direction, and a toner image formation proceeds in a direction perpendicular to the workpiece transfer direction when the workpiece is stationary, so that a toner image is formed intermittently on the workpiece in the workpiece transfer direction. The toner image formed on the workpiece is fixed to the workpiece by being heated and pressed against the workpiece by a roller contacting the toner image.

Toner printing machine and method for fixing toner image

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The CPU of a mail server accepts input of electronic mail. The CPU judges whether or not the mail has an attached file of a data capacity larger than a predetermined threshold value. If the mail is judged to have such an oversized attached file, the CPU generates key information (or a URL and a password). Then, the CPU writes the key information in association with a name of the attached file to a file ID table in a storage device. The CPU replaces the attached file with the key information. And, the CPU increments by 1 a counter value (N) representative of the number of times an attached file storage service has been used (N=N+1) The CPU outputs the attached file to a user-wise attached file storage area for storage therein. When the mail is not judged to have any oversized attached file or when the attached file is stored in the user-wise attached file storage, the CPU sends the electronic mail to a destination mail server.

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, an information management system, and a program storage medium. More particularly, the invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, an information management system, and a program storage medium adapted advantageously to the sending and receiving of electronic mail together with an attached file of a large capacity illustratively by use of PDAs (Personal Digital (Data) Assistants), cellular phones and other data terminals equipped with a limited storage capacity each.
Where data other than characters (data, image data or audio data generated by a specific application program) are to be sent by use of electronic mail, it is customary to transmit such data as a file attached to the mail. It is also common practice to store in advance large quantities of data in a server accessible over a network so that a receiving party, given authentication key information or a password, may gain access to the data in the appropriate server on the network.
A difficulty has been experienced when small, portable data terminals such as PDAs or cellular phones are used to exchange data as attachments to electronic mail. Because these terminals have only a limited storage capacity, it is difficult for them to receive electronic mail together with its attached file of a large capacity.
Where a data provider places data beforehand in a server for data exchanges over the network, the data provider must go through complicated procedures: offered data are first stored in the appropriate server, and then authentication key information or a password is generated and passed on to a receiving party in advance by electronic mail or other suitable means so that the receiving party may legitimately gain access to the server and to the data therein. If there are multiple receiving parties, the data provider must generate an authentication key or a password to each of the parties involved.
It is possible alternatively to store data in the server in such a manner that the data may be accessed by anyone. Although this option eliminates chores involved in authentication key management, security is bound to be lax because everyone can gain access to the data.

Information processing apparatus for controlling transmission and reception of electronic mail when an attachment exceeds a predetermined size


A cooking grill is provided with a tubular compartment positioned within a fuel container. The tubular compartment has a removable tray upon which food items may be placed. Heat is evenly distributed within the tubular compartment by burning charcoal or the like to provide an even, uniform cooking temperature throughout. Additionally a grill cooking basket is provided which is well suited to positioning over the grill's fuel container. The grill basket includes a transverse member which rides upon a ledge within the fuel container of the grill. When rotated, the transverse member forces the grill basket upwardly away from the burning fuel in order to prevent the grill basket from inadvertently contacting the burning fuel. V-shaped forks hold each grill basket in place on the fuel container at the front and rear.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to grills, specifically outdoor food grills and cooking baskets which may be used therewith.
2. Description of the Prior Art and Objectives of the Invention
Outdoor grilling is amongst the nation's most favorite pastimes. Recognizing this, numerous grills have proliferated on the market to satisfy the urges of the increasing numbers of outdoor chefs. Some have been adapted for gas use and may even be used indoors. Other grills have been produced which are round, square, spherical, and almost any shape imaginable. People cook everything from hot dogs, hamburgers, and steaks to potatoes and mushrooms on their grills.
While functional and convenient, conventional grills create problems flipping items placed on the grill's wire mesh or other cooking surface. For example, hamburgers may crumble or stick to the wire mesh and cause difficulty as a user attempts to insert a spatula between the hamburger and the wire mesh during cooking. A potato wrapped in aluminum foil may be irregularly shaped and thus difficult to turn with a spatula or tongs as the irregularities cause the potato to "tip over" from its desired positioning. Another problem arises when the wire mesh is so crowded that it is difficult to position the spatula under a selected item, resulting in time wasted repositioning items while the selected item burns.
Additionally, repeated use of standard grills often causes the bottom to "burn out" as charcoal ash and fat can mix to form a caustic solution which rusts and corrodes the bottom of the grill.
Thus, with the above problems and limitations in mind, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a wire mesh cooking basket which readily and securely receives items to be cooked and also facilitates rotation of said items while cooking.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a grill which includes a tubular compartment which is proximate the cooking coals, below the basket, and which evenly distributes heat within for an additional cooking area.
It is yet a further objective of the present invention to provide a grill which is well suited for use in combination with the above mentioned cooking basket.
It is still a further objective of the present invention to provide a grill which is easily adapted for use with gas, charcoal, wood or other fuels.
It is another objective to provide a set of easily replaceable metal pans which line the grill bottom to prevent rusting.
It is yet another objective to provide a grill which holds a cooking basket.
It is still another objective to provide a grill which may be closed to smother a fire or reduce smoke.
These and other objectives and advantages will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following detailed description and appended claims.


A variable point generation craps game includes a random indicator generator providing only members of a predetermined set of indicators, at least two point value selectors and a bet. Each of the indicators designates a point value selector, each of which has an initial state providing all possible point values obtainable, and with the same probability, from a single roll of a standard pair of dice. The point value selectors yield at least one point for the craps game upon designation by the random indicator generator. The bet depends upon at least one point value selected by at least one of the point value selectors. In a variation, a single point value selector is used and the random indicator generator designates an integer that determines a predetermined operation to be performed upon the point value selector to yield at least one point for the craps game.

Many variations of the dice game known as craps have been developed, each attempting to add some novel feature designed to interest the gambling public. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2,003/0,032,471, for Darder is directed to an apparatus for simulating games of chance with cards. In simulating a craps game, cards are used in place of dice. The cards can be special, in that all possible variations of dice outcomes are represented. Wild cards, such as jokers, can also be included. Multiple sets of cards along with multiple shufflers can also be used.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,161 issued to Skratulia, discloses a method of playing an improved version of the game of pai gow poker. Here a set of three special dice are provided which include representation of the numbers 0, 1, 2 and 4 such that when rolled, the total numeric value of the three dice would be one of the numbers 1 through 8, with each number being equally probable. Further, a revised 56-card playing deck is provided, including a 52-card standard deck plus four jokers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,838, issued to Aharonian discloses a family financial board game. Here the game apparatus includes a pair of special dice where one die has an X on three of its faces and is blank on the other three faces, and the other die has an X on two of its faces, a Y on another two of its faces, and the remaining two faces are blank. Each would yield a combination of an X and a Y, an X and an X, and the casting of a blank provides a third outcome.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,395 issued to Astaneha is directed to a combination dice, card and roulette gambling game. In the gambling game that includes a throw of special dice, each die has a plurality of faces with a color and number on it. A plurality of cards is provided, each card having a number and a color on it. A rotatable wheel is provided that has indications for segmented areas thereon to allow a variety of creative gambling games to be played.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,337 issued to Somma et al. is directed to a betting game apparatus and method of play. The casino card game utilizes a single 41-card deck of playing cards consisting of a standard four suit playing card deck from which all face cards have been removed and a single joker card has been added.
While other variations exist, the above-described variations of card and dice games are typical of those encountered in the prior art. It is an objective of the present invention to provide a variation of a traditional dice crap game by utilizing special card decks designed to provide the numerical combinations available in a standard pair of dice. It is a further objective to provide such combinations in multiple decks of cards. It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a means to randomly select the deck of cards from which a card will be drawn to indicate a "point" for a craps game. It is yet a further objective to provide for the instantaneous reshuffling of a card deck after a card has been drawn and returned to the deck from which it was drawn to maintain the odds of drawing any particular point. It is also an objective to provide a means for playing a craps game utilizing a single special card deck and counting down through that deck to a card to be used as a point for the game based upon a number generated by a pair of dice or other random integer generator. Finally, it is an objective to provide a craps-type game in which the odds of drawing any particular point may change with the removal of cards from the decks.
While some of the objectives of the present invention are disclosed in the prior art, none of the inventions found include all of the requirements identified.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A probe head includes analog amplifier inputs, a ground plane, and hundreds of probe leads between the inputs and the pins of a circuit under test. The customer defines the grounded pins of the circuit under test. Non-active probe leads, i.e. leads corresponding to the grounded pins are connected to the ground plane, maximizing the connections between the grounds of the probe and the circuit under test and minimizing unequal ground potentials. The probe circuit is on a probe circuit board, while the connections between the ground plane and the leads are fusible elements on a separate ground personality board. The probe is placed on a simulated circuit under test, the grounded pins on the circuit under test are protected by an insulating cap, and a voltage is placed on the remainder of the pins to fuse the elements corresponding the active probe leads.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention in general relates to voltage probes for passing a test signal from an electronic circuit element to be tested to an oscilloscope or other electronic measurement device, and more particularly to such a probe that has multiple leads densely packed into a small area, certain of which leads are grounded. The invention also relates to a method of making such a probe with grounded leads.
2. Description of the Related Art
Voltage probes are commonly used to pass analog test signals from a circuit under test to an oscilloscope or other electrical or electronic test instrument. Such an electronic probe must be capable of passing an electrical signal on a node or pin of the circuit under test to the test instrument without distorting it, i.e. with high signal integrity. Further, it should not apply any voltage or current to the circuit under test. Present-day electronic circuits operate over frequencies from DC to several gigahertz. Thus, test probes capable of being used with a wide variety of circuits must be able to provide high signal integrity over a wide band width of frequencies.
Integrated and hybrid circuits are becoming both more complex and smaller, leading to ever higher numbers of package leads crowded into less and less space, that is, the leads are becoming extremely dense with very tight pitches. The parent application referred to above has essentially the same high density of circuitry as state-of-the-art integrated and hybrid circuits. The closeness of the individual leads in such high density circuits generally results in coupling between the leads and associated noise, distortion, etc. which is unacceptable in voltage probes. Thus, a probe that has a high density of leads yet in which the noise and coupling is virtually eliminated.
As will become evident below, the present invention solves the above problem in part by grounding all the leads of the probe that are connected to the pins of the circuit under test that are grounded. This usually results in a large number of grounded leads. Since the leads that are grounded are determined by the application of the probe, that is the particular chip to which a probe is applied this also results in a probe that is, in part, custom manufactured for its end application. It would be highly desirable to have a simple yet effective method of manufacturing probes with such customized grounded leads.
Voltage probes are sophisticated electronic instruments and thus are not inexpensive. Thus, it would also be highly desirable to have a voltage probe, the leads of which could be customizably grounded for its specific application, and, at the same time, could be still be used in many applications with little additional expense.

Multiple lead voltage probe and method of making same


Leakage current in semiconductor logic can be minimized using the present systems and techniques. For example, a CMOS circuit for low leakage battery operation can connect a real time clock to the power supply when available or to a low leakage source when the power supply is not available.

The present application teaches a circuit for use in reducing power consumption of a real time clock in a computer system.
When a personal computer is turned off, an on-board battery, e.g. a 3-volt lithium battery, may still power certain circuits in the computer. For example, a real time clock often still maintains the time using battery power when the primary computer power supply goes offline.
The smaller transistors that are now used to make such circuits in order to fit more transistors on a substrate, often have higher leakage currents. These transistors consume undesired current when they are biased to the "off" state. This increases the DC load that is placed on the battery, when the computer power supply is off due to off state current, which can cause the battery to deplete more quickly.

Method and apparatus for minimizing leakage current in semiconductor logic


Control migration of a state machine using a dependency graph interface by: analyzing a state machine to determine objects and dependencies between the objects; generating a dependency graph that represents the objects and the dependencies between the objects, wherein the objects are represented by selectable icons; displaying the dependency graph on a display device; in response to a selection of a particular selectable icon, providing a migration option for an object represented by the selectable icon, wherein the migration option includes at least a selection between either a deep copy or a shallow copy for the object represented by the selectable icon; accepting and storing a selection of the migration option for the object represented by the particular selectable icon; and migrating the state machine to a target environment based at least in part on performing the migration option for the object represented by the particular selectable icon.

Analytic systems have a complex network of objects that define the "state" of the system. The objects may be interconnected in particular orders and given particular configurations to form compute pipelines. These compute pipelines allow the system to deliver practical functional outcomes from data inputs.
From time to time, it may be desirable to export a compute pipeline or objects from a source computing system and import the same objects into a target computing system. But, the objects in a given compute pipeline may have dependencies from other objects in the analytic system that are not necessarily part of the compute pipeline. The potential number of objects and dependencies that represent the full state of the compute pipeline can be very high. The dependencies among these objects (and with other objects of the analytic system) are not necessarily evident and are intertwined in complex ways. These objects and dependencies are not readily tracked by humans.
Despite the complex intertwining of dependencies, existing tools do not allow a user to select a desired granularity of objects or higher order compute pipeline while the tool automatically handles the dependencies associated with the objects or pipelines. Existing tools also lack visual audit and generated documentation to validate migration of objects.
Thus, capturing a complete snapshot of the state-machine for the compute pipeline and replicating it in another environment presents many challenges. At present, migrating select pipelines is a heavily manual process. Current tools for transfer are black-box solutions that generate an archive image that can be restored through an import process of the archive dump. Following import of the archive dump, there is often extensive human intervention in the restored image, testing every object for validity and testing end-to-end executions of the migrated pipelines. Multiple review and approval processes must be followed to reduce risk of errors.
Today, much of the migration is from a local source environment maintained by a business enterprise to a cloud target environment maintained by the business enterprise or by a third party. The shift to the cloud deployment of the pipeline comes with an expectation of a high degree of automation, and is constrained by limited human access to backend systems and object repository. Coupled with the fact that migration of a compute pipeline that encompasses complex domain functionality with its many objects and dependencies requires extensive testing and validation before the target environment can be up and running for production use, the traditional model of manual pipeline migration does not work for cloud migrations.

Dependency graph-controlled object and compute pipeline migration

Oracle Financial Services Software Limited


An apparatus and method for providing heated hair rollers wherein the rollers are suspended vertically in a heating chamber of a housing, an amount of water is introduced into the chamber and heated to generate steam which surrounds the rollers and condenses thereon heating and moistening the rollers which may then be removed and applied to a person's hair. The rollers are suspended by a horizontal plate within the housing which defines a steam chamber between the plate and the bottom of the housing. The plate has a plurality of holes sized to allow passage of the rollers. Each hair roller has a head portion which is larger in diameter than the respective hole whereby the rollers are suspended from the plate within the steam chamber such that the head portion of each roller remains outside of the heating chamber to provide a relatively cool handle for easy manipulation of the heated and moistened rollers. Heating may be achieved by an electric heater in the housing but it is preferred that the apparatus be constructed out of microwave transparent materials and that heating of the water be carried out by placing the apparatus in an operating microwave oven.

The present invention provides a hair curling system wherein hair rollers are heatable by the circulating action of steam within an enclosed chamber so as to provide moist heat for curling and setting one's hair. The apparatus preferably comprises a housing having a heating chamber within which the rollers are suspended and side compartments for holding roller clips and the like. Within the heating chamber is a removable roller support plate which supports the rollers within the housing. This plate may also have dividers to separate groups of rollers. A slidable lid is provided so that only a select number of rollers are exposed at a time. Moist heat is provided to the rollers by means of steam generated from water or other liquids introduced into the heating chamber and caused to boil by the application of microwave energy from a standard home microwave oven or by an electric heating element. The housing also functions as a storage caddy for the rollers and clips.
Heretofore, most commercially available hair curling systems using a plurality of rollers have been heated by placing the various size rollers on metal posts in a housing and directly heating the posts by electric current, for example, the Clairol units as represented by U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,029 to Walter. The rollers usually include heat retention means which may be a metal sleeve or core or an oil filled space which adds weight to each roller. In addition, the heat is applied to the entire roller, including the ends, which makes them difficult to handle.
A further drawback to these prior systems is that the heat is a dry heat which is damaging to the hair. Attempts to apply moisture or steam to the outside of these rollers have involved the combination of the above mentioned heating posts with steam generation as in Walter, U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,029, or enclosed drawers containing the rollers and confining them within a steam chamber as in Volosin, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,646,316. Another method of providing heated and moistened rollers involves heating the rollers in a pan of hot or boiling water as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,480,019 to Popeil. The difficulties and dangers involved in handling the thus heated rollers, particularly in their removal from the hot water, are obvious.
The present invention allows one to quickly, comfortably and safely curl dry hair using heated moistened rollers. Because moisture is transferred to the hair simultaneously while heating, the natural moisture and oils of the hair are not removed. In contrast, dry setting with electrically heated rollers and irons evaporates this natural moisture leaving the hair dull, lifeless and often with split ends. Permanently waved, colored or bleached hair becomes very drab and brittle with the hot-dry set method and requires frequent conditioning. The apparatus and method presented herein also provides speed and convenience as well as increased comfort since the rollers are lighter in weight than prior conventional electrically heated rollers and, even after heating, have a head portion which is relatively cool to the touch. The rollers are therefor easier to wind and clamp. Furthermore, heating a full set of rollers in a microwave oven, as is preferred in the primary embodiment, is faster than the prior methods and the design of the apparatus is such that heat and moisture are retained by the rollers through a normal setting period without the requirement of a heat retentive core. Finally, the preferred embodiment of the apparatus includes a safety factor in that the water or other liquid used to generate the moistening steam or vapor is heated by the application of microwave energy to the water molecules, thus there is no need for an electrical element to be employed within the roller housing in contact with the water or other liquid. Furthermore, the design of the apparatus is such that when steam is generated, a partial seal or resistance results between the lid and the housing further reducing the risk of spillage of the hot water in the event the unit is dropped.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus and method for curling a person's hair using rollers that are heated and moistened by steam.
It is a further object to provide an apparatus and method whereby lightweight hair rollers may be heated and moistened by steam in a manner so as to retain heat and moisture during a time period in which they are placed in a person's hair.
It is an even further object to provide an apparatus and method whereby heated rollers may be safely and comfortably transported and handled.
It is yet another object to provide an apparatus and method whereby rollers that are heated and moistened have a portion which remains relatively cool to the touch.
It is yet another object to provide an apparatus and method whereby rollers are positioned in a housing in such a manner that the portion which remains cooler is maintained apart from a main heating chamber in which the roller body is suspended.
It is a still further object to provide an apparatus and method whereby hair rollers may be heated and moistened by steam produced within an enclosed chamber by the action of microwave energy.
Further objects and advantages will be evident from the following drawings and description setting forth the best mode of practicing the present invention.

Apparatus and method for heating and moistening hair rollers using steam and hair rollers for use therewith


A distension/compression device for assisting breathing in a subject according to one embodiment includes a first tube having a flexible and elastic material that forms a first tube lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the first tube. Longitudinal expansion of the first tube is restricted less than radial expansion of the first tube. A connection element including a first air supply port is in fluid communication with an open proximal end of the first tube lumen and attached to a proximal end of the first tube. A method for assisting breathing of a patient and a method for assisting the clearing of secretions is also included.

Newborn babies, especially those born prematurely, can experience a range of breathing issues immediately after being born. Premature infants with respiratory distress have stiff lungs and a compliant chest wall. The soft rib cage and compliant chest wall in neonates can result in the chest wall readily collapsing during spontaneous respiration. Further, neonates often have to do extra work in breathing to overcome the chest wall retraction, and the lack of chest wall rigidity allows the lung to collapse. A collapsed lung is more difficult for the neonate to inflate. Therefore, premature infants often require assistance to maintain adequate lung volumes. This is achieved by providing mechanical ventilation or continuous distending pressure.
A number of methods and devices for assisting neonatal breathing are known in the art. For example, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can be an effective method for assisting breathing, preventing chest wall collapse, and providing distending pressure. However, CPAP can have major side-effects, such as airway drying and obstruction of nasal passages, and the erosion of the nasal septum from pressure necrosis. Even when positive distending pressure is applied non-invasively, i.e., without endotracheal intubation, it fails to support spontaneous respiration in 30-50% of preterm infants with respiratory distress. These infants are then intubated, given surfactant and mechanically ventilated. Mechanical ventilation via an endotracheal tube is associated with injury to the lung and chronic lung disease. Further, chronic lung disease is associated with neurodevelopmental impairment. Accordingly, clinicians caring for preterm infants with respiratory distress prefer to support spontaneous respiration without the need for intubation and mechanical ventilation. In addition, the cost of surfactant is prohibitive in some countries. Therefore, non-invasive ventilation of a neonate, for example the application of negative distending pressure, is preferred over intubation and positive pressure ventilation.
Methods and devices for applying negative distending pressure known in the art include the neonatal chest brace described by Palmer et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,739). While the chest brace in Palmer represents a notable advancement in the field, it is not suitable for certain applications, because it requires a rigid brace that can interfere with the delicate condition of most neonates, especially those born prematurely. Specifically, in certain applications the rigid brace is not sufficiently flexible for applying delicate adjustments to the negative distending pressure in a neonate. The infants that fail non-invasive ventilation with CPAP are typically the smallest and most immature, for example those weighing less than 1000 grams. The chest brace in Palmer is not suitable for these infants, who require a more delicate means of negative distension. The chest brace is also mechanically complicated and is not easily applied. Further, the chest brace does not permit active ventilation of the neonate and it does not permit oscillation of the chest wall.
In addition, the surface of the chest on a newborn can be very contoured as the ribcage buckles inward and the infant struggles to breathe. Thus, conventional devices that are rigid or otherwise utilize planar surfaces are at a disadvantages, since the rigid or planar surfaces will not easily mate with the contoured surface of the infant's chest. Thus, if the device can only contact the patient at a limited number of points, the forces at those limited number of points will experience higher stress versus a device that can contact the body over a larger surface area. Still further, newborns are born of different shapes and sizes, and it would be beneficial to have a device that is easily adaptable to fit the shape and size of the patient.
In addition to pulmonary insufficiency in newborns, there are other conditions in children and adults that could benefit from an improved device for assisting the patient's breathing. For example, infants in the first year of life have chest wall retractions when they present with a viral chest infection like bronchiolitis. In another example, in an acute respiratory failure or CPR scenario, emergency medical professionals could benefit from an improved device that is easy to position on the patient and immediately assists with the patient's breathing. Other medical circumstances or conditions that could benefit from an improved device include any condition causing muscle weakness, post-surgery anesthesia recovery, asthma, opioid overdose (or any condition with respiratory depression) and cardiac failure.
Thus, what is needed in the art is a minimally or non-invasive device for respiratory support. The device should maximize surface area contact, include the front and sides of the chest wall, and should be easily adaptable to patients having a variety of body surface contours, shapes and sizes. Further, the device should be adaptable for children and adults that require or could benefit from mechanically assisted breathing.

Device and method for assisting breathing in a subject


Embodiments include a sharpening fixture adapted to mount to the nose of a chainsaw guide bar. When mounted, the operator may direct a force towards the guide bar thereby causing a linear directed actuator to move a sharpening element into engagement with cutters of a saw chain to sharpen a cutting edge of the cutters. In various embodiments, the actuator is biased such that when the force is no longer applied, the actuator pulls the sharpening element out of engagement with the cutters.

Chain saws are typically used to fell trees, trim branches, and cut a variety of materials, among other tasks. They generally include an engine enclosed within a housing, a guide bar extending from the housing, and an endless saw chain loop that may include various links such as, but not limited to, cutter links, center links, side links, tie straps, and drive links. Through use, the cutting surfaces of various links may become dulled and worn. As the cutting surfaces experience wear, an increased amount of force is required to produce a desired cut, which is inefficient and consumes energy. Therefore, cutter links of saw chains are periodically sharpened to maintain efficiency in a cutting operation.
One method of sharpening cutter links includes positioning a sharpening element (e.g. an abrasive stone) within the housing of the chain saw. The sharpening element may be positioned so as to contact the various saw chain links as they traverse a drive sprocket, typically at high speeds. These systems, however, have drawbacks. For example, one or more grooves may be worn into the surface of the sharpening element from the repeated contact of the various saw chain links. Additionally, because the sharpening element is continually present during cutting operations, damage may occur through debris impacting the sharpening element or chain throw, where the saw chain unintentionally impacts the sharpening element. Any defect in the sharpening element may cause the cutting edge to become deformed during the sharpening process or otherwise negatively impact the ability to maintain a proper cutting edge. This may ultimately impact the ability of the chain saw to cut various materials.
Some nose mounted sharpening devices have been used over the years. One example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,178. This device includes a long sleeve that is positioned over the nose and extends a good distance along the guide bar. A rotary actuator is positioned at the end of the sleeve to allow an operator to turn the dial to incrementally advance the sharpening stone towards the cutters of the chain. These devices are cumbersome and dangerous, as they require unnecessary operator actuation, and they can tend to over sharpen and cause premature wear and fatigue on the cutters. Another device, such as those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,258, includes nose mounted sharpeners that have a pivoting sharpening element. These are deficient for many reasons as well. For example, they do not result in an even engagement of the cutters as they traverse the guide bar nose and they do not provide for adequate lateral support of the cutting stone.


A product serving apparatus includes an apportioning scoop, a product separation assembly for separating the product from the scoop, a hand operated actuator assembly for driving the product separation assembly, and an integral handle and support assembly affixed to the scoop. The handle assembly provides a substantially smooth exterior which is impermeable to soil or food product. The handle assembly provides a crevice-free exterior extending over the entire distance between its ends.

Scoop devices, commonly known as dishers, are used for serving predetermined portions of a product. Dishers are well known in the prior art and are often used in food service environments where the server wishes to serve consistent predetermined portions of a food product. For instance, employees in a cafeteria may use dishers to serve consistent helpings of a food such as mashed potatoes.
A typical prior art disher includes a bowl or scoop affixed to a mounting boss. A stem is generally affixed to this boss and includes a threaded end located distally from the scoop onto which a handle is attached. A thin, metal sweep is pivotally mounted in the bowl and attached to a shaft which is rotated by a spring loaded thumb rack moved transversely to the handle. The rotating shaft is typically supported by a metal tab depending from the stem and having an aperture through which an end of the shaft extends. This tab is often captively held between the handle and a flange on the stem when the handle is turned onto the threaded end. The thumb rack is pivotably mounted on a pin which is affixed to the stem. All of the various inter-part attachment points of prior art dishers establish crevices and gaps in which the product being served or other matter collects. This collected product is difficult to wash away and usually remains trapped from one use to the next. If the product is a food product, bacteria and other microorganisms propagate throughout the crevices and gaps making the disher unsanitary for future use.
Dishers are commonly used in the commercial food service industry so that they are often used daily in the service of food. This fact makes it all the more important that dishers be substantially free from the cracks and crevices in which food or soil can collect and microorganisms can develop. The NSF International (NSF) has established guidelines to which dishers must adhere before they are stamped as NSF Certified.
NSF is concerned that there be a minimum of food or soil collection points, particularly in the areas closest to the bowl considered the food zone area. Some manufacturers of prior art dishers fill the cracks and crevices present in inter-part joint areas with epoxy or other types of fillers to eliminate soil collection points in order to gain NSF approval. However, some fillers, such as epoxies, are brittle and break off or begin to flake away as the disher is repeatedly used. Thus, although the disher may have obtained NSF approval when manufactured, unsanitary conditions may develop over time.
It would be advantageous to have a serving device in which many of these unsanitary product collection points were eliminated. In particular, it would be advantageous to eliminate not only the collection points close to the bowl but also the collection
From a manufacturer's viewpoint, NSF certification is important not only for sanitary reasons but also for marketing reasons. Many commercial buyers require that the dishers they purchase meet or exceed the NSF standards. Consequently, the NSF standards play an important role in the design of dishers making it extremely desirable to minimize unsanitary collection points.
NSF standards also require that the various components of a disher be removable for cleaning without requiring the use of tools. Typically, in disassembling prior art dishers, the handle is unscrewed from the stem allowing the tab which supports the shaft to be removed. The sweep can then be snapped loose from the bowl and removed as a unit with the shaft. After the shaft is removed, the thumb rack and spring are easily removed. Over time, this prior art arrangement can present problems since the tab supporting the shaft is not affixed to the stem. When the disher is reassembled the aperture in the tab is not always properly aligned. This can, in turn, misalign the shaft with respect to the bowl leading to binding, difficulty in movement of the thumb rack, and excessive wear on the various components. The problem is accentuated as the components are repeatedly disassembled and reassembled for various cleanings. The fit of the tab between the stem and the handle becomes looser and less accurately alignable with the gradual wear incurred from the repeated disassemblies and reassemblies. It would be advantageous to have a disher with a rigidly affixed tab to which the shaft could be mounted so that alignment problems would not develop over the useful life of the disher while still allowing easy disassembly of the components.
Dishers are preferably color-coded according to bowl size. There are nine standard sizes of bowls used by the industry and each bowl is matched with a single industry standard color. Typically, the handle or a portion of the handle includes this color so that a user may quickly and easily know the bowl size. When the dishers are used for commercial food service, it is important that the proper bowl size is used so that accurate predetermined portions of the product may be served. This ensures the desired level of profitability per helping served.
Problems occur with removable handles during disassembly and reassembly of the dishers for cleaning or servicing since the color-coded handles may be attached to different stems than the ones from which they were removed. In this event, the color-coded handle no longer properly designates the size of the bowl being used Mixing the handles and bowls leads to the service of inaccurate portions of product, and possibly leads to lower profitability. It would be advantageous to have a unitary handle presenting a substantially smooth exterior which could not be removed from the bowl so that a user can be assured that the color-coding on the handle accurately indicates the bowl size. Additionally, it would be advantageous to have a color-coded handle which extended into proximity with the bowl so that even while the disher was being handled by a user, a supervisor could easily determine from a distance, by the exposed color, whether the user serving the product was using the appropriately sized bowl.
An example of a prior art disher is the Crestware 18-8 Stainless Steel Ice Cream Disher manufactured by Crest Manufacturing Inc. This disher has a boss attached to a bowl, a stem attached to the boss of a proximate end, and a handle which is screwed onto the distal end of the stem, thereby pinching a shaft support tab between the stem and handle. A thumb rack support piece is stamped in the tab and helps support the thumb rack as it is moved transversely to the handle to operate the shaft and move the sweep within the bowl. All of these extensions and inter-part attachment loci provide potential areas for product accumulation which, in the case of food, can create unsanitary conditions. In this prior art disher, the joints in proximity to the bowl are coated with a filler material. However, as discussed above, many filler materials, such as epoxy, can chip away, facilitating unsanitary food and soil collection.
Nothing in the prior art suggests the use of a unitary, non-removable handle assembly which eliminates unsanitary product collection regions and prevents improperly matching removable color-coded handles with bowls of predetermined sizes.


The present invention provides a radiation-tolerant-solid-state-relay without radiation-hardened parts. A p-channel MOSFET provides power-switching functionality. In further detail, the solid-state-relay comprises a bias section, a control section, and a power-switch section. The bias section provides a voltage bias to the control section, the control section provides a control voltage to the power switch section as a function of the voltage bias, and the power switch section provides a switching voltage to the P-channel MOSFET as a function of the control voltage.

Solid-state relays perform functions similar to electromagnetic relays, but are more reliable, since there are no moving parts. Since the turn on and turn off times of a solid-state relay are controllable, the solid-state relay also minimizes the generation of switching transients.
A preferred semiconductor device for power control in a solid-state relay is the insulated gate FET (Field Effect Transistor) because of its high power gain. FETs used for power switching use are usually enhancement mode types. This means that they are normally non-conducting. When a gate voltage above a threshold is applied, the FET becomes conducting. FETs are available in two gate polarities; N channel and P channel.
In an FET, current flows along a semiconductor path called the channel. At one end of the channel, there is a source electrode, and at the other end, a drain electrode. The physical diameter of the channel is fixed, but its effective electrical diameter is changed by applying voltage to a gate electrode. The conductivity of the FET depends, at any given time, on the electrical diameter of the channel. A small change in gate voltage can cause a large variation in current from the source to the drain. In this way, the FET switches current on or off.
Typically, FETs used for power switching are enhancement mode types, that is, they are normally non-conducting. When a gate voltage above a certain threshold is applied, the FET becomes conducting. Such FETs are used to control current flow and are available in two gate polarities; N channel and P channel.
Among many applications, solid-state relays are used in spacecraft, satellites and in high energy physics instrumentation where they are subjected to many forms of radiation damage. When electrical components are exposed to radiation, they behave differently. For example, when an N channel FET is exposed to relatively low radiation levels, the gate threshold voltage ultimately falls close to zero. In this condition, the FET conducts current with little or no applied gate voltage. In other words, the FET is uncontrollable because the current running through the channel cannot be shut off.
Solid-state relays designed for general purpose use are typically constructed with N channel FETs because, for any given die size transistor, the N channel FET has a lower on resistance than a correspondingly sized P channel FET.
To use electrical components in high radiation environments, they are radiation-hardened to withstand the damage caused by radiation. The radiation hardening process usually involves removing or adding some specific element or ions to the materials used for making the components. Being radiation hardened, the gate threshold voltage experiences minimal change after exposure to radiation. One method for chemically radiation hardening electronic components is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,836,836 to Cowett, Jr. (Cowett).
Radiation hardened components, however, have limited sources, are expensive and take a long time to produce, creating higher prices and longer delivery times for the radiation tolerant circuits that incorporate the hardened materials. It is desireable, therefore, to provide electrical components with ordinary (non-hardened) materials that can function when exposed to radiation.


An attachment including a timepiece having a function of a stop watch is attached onto the top of a ski stick in order to allow a skier to learn the current time, elapsed time and other time information while skiing, thus more enjoying skiing. By incorporating a thermometer, a barometer, and/or a speed meter in the attachment, the safety of skiing can be heightened.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an attachment to a ski stick, capable of more enhancing enjoyment of skiing and playing safe skiing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various skiing accessories have been so far to expand the pleasure of skiing all the more. Skiing can also be enjoyed visually by looking at showily designed ski suits which skiers wear. Though a beginner of skiing occasionally tends to ski in a senior ski course, he is in danger of colliding with another skier when a ski slope is crowded.
When doing a time trial race to find more delight in skiing, a ski player cannot easily look at his wrist watch and surely operate the switches of the wrist watch because he wears gloves. Even if the ski player has a stop watch hanging from his neck, it will be difficult for him to turn on and off the switch of the stop watch, and an accurate measurement of elapsed time in skiing cannot be taken because the ski player must operate the stop watch by himself, resulting in time lags in switching on the stop watch when making a start and switching off the stop watch when reaching the goal in skiing. Furthermore, the stop watch hanging from the neck of the ski player disadvantageously swings and hinders the ski player in skiing. Although the measurement of the elapsed time in skiing can be taken by depending on a timekeeper other than the ski player, it will be awkward that the ski player cannot independently measure the elapsed time by himself without anyone. Thus, the pleasure of the time trial race will be diminished.
The skier is apt to forget time during skiing, as a consequence of which he possibly fails to catch the last ski lift or ropeway at times, for example. If the skier sometimes attempts getting a look at his wrist watch in order for remedying such trouble, he finds difficulty in looking at the wrist watch owing to the ski suit which he wears. Similarly, the skier participating in cross-country skiing will suffer a disadvantage such that he cannot easily consult his wrist watch to learn the time every a certain fixed time while skiing.
In the meantime, there is no measure of effectively preventing skiers from colliding with each other on a ski slope, excepting arousing skiers' attention verbally. However, the way of verbally calling the skiers' attention is not sufficient to completely obviate the danger of collision. In alpine skiing, it is disadvantageous in that mountains frequently undergo an abrupt change in weather and the inclemency of the weather cannot be forecasted with ease.


A method of confirming the identity of a user includes processing biometric credentials, generating a user configurable policy including identities of a plurality of authenticating entities, storing the user configurable policy in a device, presenting the device to an authenticating entity at an authentication station, and requesting biometric and personal data of the user from the device data. The biometric data corresponds to at least one biometric feature desired for authenticating the user and the requesting operation is performed by a workstation of the authenticating entity. Moreover, the method includes consulting the user configurable policy in response to the requesting operation to determine whether the requested biometric data is permitted to be released from the device data, and releasing the requested biometric and personal data from the device data to the authenticating entity when the default rule associated with the one authenticating entity permits releasing the requested biometric and personal data.

This invention relates generally to authenticating individuals using identity credentials, and more particularly, to a method and system for confirming the identity of a user in possession of a device.
Governments and private sector entities have been known to issue several different types of credentials. Generally, credentials are physical objects that include data stored therein that is used to prove the identity of an individual. For example, Governments have been known to issue primary identity credentials such as electronic-passports (e-passports), national identification (ID) cards, driver licenses, and entitlement cards that each contains biometric identity data. Private sector entities such as employers, airports authorities, and banks have been known to issue credentials such as employee identity cards, registered traveler cards, and banking cards, respectively, that each contain biometric identity data.
Individuals have been known to simultaneously carry several different biometric identity credentials such as e-passports, driver's licenses, entitlement cards, employee identity cards and physical access cards as separate individual biometric identity credentials. Moreover, several different versions of an individual's biometric data may be created and authorized by different independent entities because governments and private sector entities use different systems to create their own separate biometric identity credentials. Furthermore, these systems are generally not configured to communicate with each other or with credentials issued by a different system. As a result, the biometric identity data of one issuing entity's system is generally not recognizable by another entity's system. Thus, a credential issued by one entity may not be used by another entity to confirm the identity of the bearer of the credential.
Known methods and systems for issuing biometric identity credentials typically require that each issuing entity separately collect enrollment biometric data, use the data to perform large-scale identification (1:N) background searches across multiple databases, and issue a biometric identity credential that is compatible with the issuing entity's system. Thus, known methods may be costly due to significant investment in identity system infrastructure and continuing costs due to issuing, re-issuing and revoking credentials. Moreover, according to known methods, private sector entities duplicate government investment and effort when capturing and analyzing biometric data.

Method and system for confirming the identity of a user


The invention concerns a process for preparing a tertiary alkyl ether product. The process comprises reacting the isoolefins of an olefinic hydrocarbon feedstock in a reaction zone (1-3) with an alkanol to form a reaction mixture, which is subjected to distillation in a first distillation zone (4). The bottoms product of the first distillation contains the ether(s), whereas the overhead stream contains unreacted alkanol and a mixture of light hydrocarbons. The overhead stream is subjected to a second distillation in a second distillation zone (15). The overhead product of the second distillation mainly contains the lightest hydrocarbons and a small amount of alkanol, and the bottoms product contains an essentially oxygenate-free hydrocarbon stream which can be used as such for alkylation. In order to increase the conversion of the process, a side drawoff is withdrawn from the second distillation zone (15) and recirculated to the reaction zone (1-3).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the preparation of tertiary alkyl ethers. In particular, the invention concerns a novel process for preparing such ethers, wherein isoolefms, in particular C.sub.4 -C.sub.7 isoolefins of an olefinic hydrocarbon feedstock are reacted with a suitable alkanol to prepare the corresponding ethers. These ethers are recovered and, if necessary, further processed in order to prepare, e.g, a motor fuel component or a petrochemical feedstock. A hydrocarbon stream of unreacted hydrocarbons emanating from the etherification reaction is subjected to alkanol recovery and oxygenate-removal enabling direct use of hydrocarbon effluent for another process, such as alkylation.
2. Description of Related Art
Tertiary alkyl ethers improve the anti-knocking characteristics of motor fuels and reduce the concentration of detrimental components in the exhaust gases. Of the alkyl tert-alkyl ethers used as components of motor fuels, the following can be mentioned: methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE), ethyl t-butyl ether (ETBE), t-amyl methyl ether (TAME), t-amyl ethyl ether (TAEE) and t-hexyl methyl ether (THME). These ethers are produced by etherification of an isoolefm with a monovalent aliphatic alcohol (in the following also called an "alkanol"). The isoolefin feedstock can comprise pure C.sub.4 or C.sub.5 components or a mixed hydrocarbon feedstock containing a range of C.sub.3 -C.sub.7 and heavier hydrocarbons. Typically ion exchange resins are used as etherification catalysts.
In the conventional etherification processes, ethers are produced in a series of reactors to which a mixture of isoolefrns and an alkanol are fed. The ether product is separated from the reaction mixture by ordinary distillation. The bottom product of the distillation process comprises the ether(s) and, depending on the process, also some of the unreacted heavier hydrocarbons. The overhead stream consists of an unreacted alkanol together with some lighter hydrocarbons, dialkyl ethers and, possibly, water.
Before the unreacted hydrocarbons in the overhead stream can be used for chemical processing by, say, alkylation, it has to be freed from oxygenates and other contaminants. Thus, the concentration of alkanols and other oxygenated hydrocarbons, such as dialkyl ethers, has to be reduced to below 100 ppm, preferably below 50 ppm. According to conventional technology, this separation and decontamination operation requires rather complex process steps. To take MTBE production as an example, it can be noted that the overhead from the reaction product distillation, containing methanol-rich C.sub.4 's, is first washed in a countercurrent liquid-liquid extraction column with water to form a methanol-water solution. This solution is recovered from the bottom of the extraction column and fed into a fractionation tower, wherein methanol is recovered. The C.sub.4 raffinate from the extraction column is then fed into another fractionation tower, called the oxygenate removal unit, in order to separate the light oxygenates such as dialkyl ethers, trace alkanol and water from the C.sub.4 raffinate. Thus, one extraction column and two distillation columns are required to recover the methanol and to produce an essentially oxygenate-free C.sub.4 raffinate. Moreover, the purification of the unreacted hydrocarbons in the overhead stream typically requires the use of an oxygenated compound, water, which just after introduction must be carefully removed from the raffinate.
Alternatively, a specific molecular sieve system may be employed for oxygenates removal.
It is known in the art of TAME production (PCT Patent Application No. WO 93/1903) that the amount of alkanol in the overhead stream can be minimized by operating the fractioning in such a way that most, and preferably practically (nearly) all, of the alkanol in the distillate is bound to C.sub.4 hydrocarbons, forming an azeotrope with them. Such a product can be blended with fuels often without any additional purification steps. However, because the amount of alkanols in the overhead stream depends on the amount of unreacted C.sub.4 's of the reaction mixture, the overhead stream obtained from etherification of an isobutylene feed according to the above art will contain too much alkanol for most of the downstream processes, in particular alkylation.

Process for preparing alkyl ethers and mixtures thereof


High performance acid activated clays suitable for bleaching oil are produced by contacting an intercalating clay mineral with a strong acid in a polar organic liquid.

Fats and fatty oils, commonly called triglycerides, are constituted of triesters of glycerol, and include minor amounts of fatty acids. At ambient temperatures, usually in the range of about 20.degree. to about 25.degree. C., fats are solids, whereas fatty oils are liquids.
Triglycerides are widely distributed in nature. Some triglycerides are edible while others are not. Many are derived directly from vegetable, animal, and marine sources. Others are obtained, as by-products, in the production of fiber from vegetable matter, and in the production of protein from vegetable, animal or marine matter.
Edible vegetable oils include canola, coconut, corn germ, cottonseed, olive, palm, peanut, rapeseed, safflower, sesame seed, soybean, and sunflower oils. Examples of nonedible vegetable oils are jojoba oil, linseed oil and castor oil.
Illustrative sources of edible animal-derived oil include lard and tallow. Examples of nonedible animal-derived oil are low grade tallow and neat's-foot oils.
Some of these oils may have the color that is objectionable to a consumer. Thus, the oil needs to be bleached to improve its color quality. To this end, a great many oils are commonly treated with bleaching clays to reduce oil color values by adsorptive purification. Bleaching clays generally improve oil color quality by adsorbing color impurities that are present. Color impurities typically present in oils include, for example, carotenoids, xanthophylls, xanthophyll esters, chlorophyll, tocopherols, as well as oxidized fatty acids and fatty acid polymers.
It is also desirable to remove color impurities from a nonedible oil to obtain a desirable color.
Natural clays, e.g., Fuller's earth and the bentonites, have commonly been used as bleaching clays to remove both the naturally-occurring and the otherwise-present, e.g., the thermally-induced, color impurities from edible and nonedible oils. It has been suggested that clays containing a zeolite can be used for such a purpose as well.
Kaolin clays, on the other hand, have proven to be poor bleaching clays under various conditions. This is due, in part, to the fact that kaolin clays are considered non-intercalating, with the exception of halloysite which occurs in nature as a very unstable hydrate. See, e.g., van Olphen, H., An Introduction to Clay Colloid Chemistry, 2nd ed., Wiley-Interscience Publication (1977); p. 186.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,934,504 to Talvenheimo discloses the use of kaolin clays as catalysts for the cracking of hydrocarbons. In every example Talvenheimo teaches a treatment method which subjects the kaolin clay to drying conditions of four hours at 1350.degree. F. (732.degree. C.). The teaching of this drying treatment exemplifies the great differences between bleaching activity, the object of the present invention, and catalytic activity, the object of the Telvenheimo patent.
Acid-activated clays have been used for bleaching oils. Such clays generally remove a relatively wider spectrum of color impurities.
A conventional process for producing acid-activated bleaching clays utilizes calcium bentonite clays and sulfuric acid. The calcium bentonites used in the acid activation process typically are neutral to mildly basic. The acidic salts formed during activation and residual acid can be washed off and separated by filtration from the product clay, if desired. However it is not necessary to do so.
Another type of naturally-occurring clay, frequently classified as palygorskite clays, requires heat to impart bleaching activity. Mineralogically, the palygorskite clays are distinguishable from the bentonites (smectites or montmorillonites).


A flow compensator valve for use in a hydraulic system which includes a cylindrical body having inlet and outlet ports, and a slidable, spring-biased hollow piston insert disposed within a center bore of the body, which insert has a plurality of ports for flow control depending on the position of the insert as it reciprocates axially within the center bore of the valve body. In a preferred embodiment, the valve is used in connection with a hydraulically actuated lift which is particularly useful for assistance of handicap persons for vans and mass transit vehicles. The axially-reciprocable, spring-biased flow rate controlling insert has a small central axial bore for slow lift movement in the loaded condition and at least one larger transverse bore, which when exposed, permits flow therethrough for faster movement of the lift in the unloaded condition.

Hydraulic vehicle lifts have been in use for over 30 years. Examples of lifts are tailgate type lifts and handicap lifts. Many of these lifts are designed to be "gravity-down" which means that the valving is arranged such that there is no hydraulic pump activated in the cycle to pump hydraulic fluid into or out of the hydraulic cylinder during the descent portion of the use cycle. That is, the lift may descend from the vehicle floor (transfer) level to the ground in its loaded or unloaded condition by means of gravity, and not under the hydraulic pressure produced by the pump.
In a typical use cycle, taking a handicap lift-equipped vehicle for example, the vehicle will draw up to the user's stop. The vehicle doors will open, and the lift is deployed from the interior of the vehicle. In some instances, the lift platform may be stowed vertically, either inside the vehicle or externally of the vehicle. The internal vertical stowage is the current preferred system.
The lift platform first rotates downwardly to the horizontal from its vertical stowed position. The lift platform is then at the vehicle floor level, also called the transfer level. The lift is then permitted to descend by gravity to the ground. The total time of descent from transfer level to ground, unloaded and not under pump pressure takes typically 12-15 seconds with a conventional "monarch" valve. During both the deployment from stowed to transfer level and the subsequent descent to the ground level, the lift platform is normally unloaded for the case where passengers embark (enter) the vehicle. That is, there is no load weight being carried by the platform. Once the lift platform contacts the ground and any stop barriers are released, the handicap user may roll onto the lift platform. The lift is then powered by hydraulic pressure to raise the user up to the vehicle transfer level, the user rolls off the lift into the vehicle, and the platform is then stowed (raised) into its vertical position. The user-loaded lift from ground to transfer, and vice versa, must be slow, on the order of 20-30 seconds for safety and to be sure the passenger remains calm. The vehicle doors are closed and the vehicle then proceeds on its route or trip.
The problem is that during the unloaded descent phase the lift descends very slowly, not only from the initial vertical deployment to the transfer level but also and primarily from the transfer level to the ground level since there is no weight to create a driving force on the platform. A descent of 30-40 inches, which is typical for a lift employed with a van or transit bus, takes anywhere from 10-15 seconds at 65.degree. F. for the unloaded descent, a rate on the order of 3 inches per second. In colder weather, the hydraulic oil or fluid thickens and results in noticeably slower descent times, on the order of 2 to 3 times longer.
In the case of transit vehicles, a slow, unloaded gravity-down descent constitutes a very substantial delay in boarding passengers. Since that delay occurs frequently but unpredictably during each trip, transit schedules are thrown off, and the number of trips that a given transit vehicle is capable of operating during any given shift or day is both unpredictable and substantially reduced. The only solution is to purchase additional vehicles, which may be an unaffordable expense for transit systems.
A safe speed for the loaded descent is on the order of 4-6 inches per second with 6" per second being the permitted maximum. The typical descent time for a conventional Monarch valve is 9.2 seconds at 60.degree. F. with a load of from 400-600 lbs. While the unloaded descent cycle could theoretically be speeded up by providing larger flow valves, then the loaded descent, with a handicap person loaded on the platform on his or her wheelchair, would be frighteningly fast. In addition, a faster descent, which theoretically might be acceptable for certain handicap persons, others of differing age or frailty may not be able to cope with such a rapid descent. Since the lift must be universal, that type of a theoretical solution does not appear feasible.
Accordingly, there is a vital need in the art for improvement in lift cycles having varying speeds of lift ascent and descent: controlled, slow, loaded descent under power or by gravity (no power); controlled, slow, loaded, ascent; and unloaded fast descent, particularly for mass transit uses where a piece of highly expensive equipment (the transit vehicle) becomes captive to the rate of operation of just a small part of the equipment (the lift).