A changeover valve (13) connected to a shift valve unit (12) via four oil passages L3-L6, and two pressure regulating valves (14.sub.1, 14.sub.2) are provided. At speed changing when the changeover valve (13) is in a first (right) position, an off-going hydraulic clutch is connected to oil passage L3 to control its pressure drop by the pressure regulating valve (14.sub.1) and an on-coming hydraulic clutch is connected to L5 to control its pressure rise by the pressure regulating valve (14.sub.2). After completion of the speed changing, the changeover valve (13) is switched to a second (left) position. At speed changing when the changeover valve (13) is in the second position, an on-coming hydraulic clutch is connected to L4 to control its pressure rise by the pressure regulating valve (14.sub.1) and an off-going hydraulic clutch is connected to the L6 to control its pressure drop by the pressure regulating valve (14). After completion of the speed changing, the changeover valve (13) is switched to the first position. After completion of the speed changing, oil at line pressure is supplied to the on-coming hydraulic clutch from the line pressure oil passage L2 without passing through the pressure regulating valves, and oil is discharged from the off-going hydraulic clutch without passing through the pressure regulating valves.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control apparatus for a hydraulically-operated vehicular transmission having hydraulic engaging elements, mainly for use in an automatic transmission for a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
As this kind of control apparatus, there is known the following in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 168471/1991. Namely, a pair of first and second pressure regulating valves are provided. The first pressure regulating valve is used exclusively for supplying hydraulic oil and the second pressure regulating valve is used exclusively for discharging hydraulic oil. Pressure rise (or pressure boosting) characteristics of a hydraulic engaging element on an engaging side to be engaged in carrying out speed changing are controlled by the first pressure regulating valve. Pressure drop (or pressure decrease) characteristics of a hydraulic engaging element on a disengaging side to be disengaged in carrying out speed changing are controlled by the second pressure regulating valve. Thus, there is an attempt to improve driver "feel" at the time of speed changing.
The pressure regulating valves of the above-described conventional control apparatus are, generally speaking, electronically-controlled with solenoid valves. Therefore, the regulating valves sometimes do not function normally due to a failure in an electronic control system.
In case the second pressure regulating valve does not function normally with the result that a hydraulic pressure (or a hydraulic oil pressure) of the hydraulic engaging element on the disengaging side is maintained at a high pressure, there will occur locking of the transmission due to simultaneous engagement of unintended gears. As a solution, in the above-described conventional control apparatus, the hydraulic oil is discharged from the hydraulic engaging element on the disengaging side without passing through the second pressure regulating valve at a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of speed changing, whereby the hydraulic pressure in the above-described hydraulic engaging element is forcibly decreased.
However, in the above-described conventional control apparatus, the hydraulic oil is supplied to a hydraulic engaging element on the engaging side through the first pressure regulating valve not only at the time of speed changing but also after the speed changing has been completed. Therefore, in case the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic engaging element on the engaging side cannot be increased or boosted due to a functional abnormality in the first pressure regulating valve, the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic engaging element on the engaging side cannot be boosted or increased and, therefore, the transmission will revert to a neutral condition.
Further, in the above-described conventional control apparatus, the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic engaging element on the engaging side must be boosted by the first pressure regulating valve up to a line pressure. Therefore, the range of hydraulic pressure to be controlled becomes wider, and a delicate control of the hydraulic pressure in a transient region of engagement at a relatively low pressure becomes difficult.
In view of the above-described disadvantages, the present invention has an object of providing a control apparatus for a hydraulically operated vehicular transmission in which the transmission will not revert to a neutral condition even when a functional abnormality occurs in the pressure regulating valves, in which locking of the transmission due to simultaneous engagement of unintended gears can be prevented, and in which a delicate control of the hydraulic pressure in a transient region of engagement can be provided with a higher accuracy.

Control apparatus for hydraulically operated vehicular transmission


An electronic shunt resistor assembly comprises a planar shunt resistor and an electronic monitoring unit. The planar shunt resistor has a resistance element and first and second terminal bars at opposite ends of the resistance element. The electronic measuring unit has a circuit board that is supported on the planar shunt resistor and that includes input contacts for electronic components carried by the circuit board arranged along one edge of the circuit board and input/output contacts for the electronic components arranged along a opposite edge of the circuit board. A first plurality of electrical connectors connect the first terminal bar to the input contacts and a second plurality of electrical connectors connect the second terminal bar to the output contacts of the circuit board. The electrical connectors are attached to the terminal bars and the contacts solderlessly.

The low resistance value of a shunt resistor results in very small voltage measurements as low as 3 μV. To minimize the measurement error from parasitic voltages developed by dissimilar metals and temperature gradients, the conductor materials used in connection with a shunt resistor shall be the same metallic elements. The parasitic voltages can also be minimized by eliminating the temperature differences between the various parts of the circuit as these temperatures can contribute to measurement error in the application.
Current solutions accomplish the connection between the shunt resistor and the substrate supporting the electronic components by soldering as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,787,935 granted to Andreus Heim Sep. 7, 2004, or by using scythe-type lines bent upward by 90 degrees of the transmission connections. Alternatively, the connection between the shunt resistor and the substrate can be accomplished by soldering S-shaped copper interconnects as shown in the prior art assembly of FIG. 1 which is described in more detail below. This latter connection method provides stress relief to allow for mismatch between the expansion rates of the substrate and the shunt material.
The weakness of these connection methods is that the soldered interfaces induce voltage measurement error. Moreover the connection methods are difficult to process because significant energy is required to heat the large copper slug sufficiently to reflow solder. The voltages induced by the various metals involved in the connection are increased by the thermal differences between the metals. Since the voltages that are to be measured across the shunt resistor are very small (as low as 3 μV), the induced voltages can significantly affect the accuracy of the shunt voltage measurement.


Electrical faults are detected in electrical distribution systems (EDS) by detection and location of radio frequency (RF) emissions generated by the fault with multiple time-synchronized radio frequency monitors (RFM) distributed about the EDS. The RFMs are coupled to a self-learning, electrical fault monitor (EFM) that characterizes and/or locates electrical faults based on operating state (OS) patterns learned from transmission of test signals generated within the EDS. RF emissions data samples are characterized as safe operation (SO) states or potential electrical faults by accessing a base of stored knowledge concerning fault emission characteristics and/or synchronized time of arrival at each RFM. Information in the base of stored knowledge is updated to include new EDS operating states (OS). Confidence level associations, location of new radio frequency emission patterns and whether those patterns are indicative of safe operating (SO) conditions or electrical faults are stored in the base of stored knowledge.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to electrical fault detection in electrical distribution systems (EDS) by detection and location of radio frequency (RF) emissions generated by the fault. More particularly the invention relates to self-learning radio frequency electrical fault monitor (EFM) systems and methods, having time synchronized distributed radio frequency monitors, wherein the monitoring system is trained to characterize and/or locate electrical faults based on operating state (OS) patterns learned from transmission of test signals generated within the distributions system. During operation, radio frequency emissions from the EDS are evaluated by multiple radio frequency monitors (RFM) as safe operation (SO) or potential electrical faults by accessing a base of stored knowledge concerning fault emission characteristics and/or synchronized time of arrival at each monitor. During evaluation the EFM system establishes one or more levels of confidence factors whether the monitored RF emission characteristics are indicative of electrical distribution system safe operation (SO) condition or an electrical fault its likely location within the EDS. Information in the base of stored knowledge is updated to include new operating states (OS) of the electrical distribution system. Confidence level associations, location of new radio frequency emission patterns and whether those patterns are indicative of safe operating (SO) conditions or electrical faults are stored in the base of stored knowledge.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electrical conductors produce an electric field with the application of an electrical current. The electrical field profile can be affected by a variety of characteristics of the conductor. One characteristic that can affect the field is cracking in the conductor causing small electrical fault arcs to jump across the crack. Additionally variations in the field may also be caused by imperfections in the insulation that can allow partial electrical fault discharges consisting of very small mini-arcs on the surface of the insulation. An electrical fault arc produces a burst of broad spectrum radio frequency energy as the arc is made and again as it is broken. This applies to various types and severity of electrical fault partial discharge, discharges across bearing oil films due to shaft grounding or pedestal insulation problems, cracks in conductors, or any other kind of arcing. The signature characteristics of the RF emission will be different depending on the source.
Currently, there are several commercially available devices that monitor RF emission activity, specifically for power plant electrical generators. Partial discharge detectors monitor RF activity on the main conductors that carry electricity away from the generator (phase buses) and are typically located between the generator and the main transformer within the power plant electrical distribution system (EDS). They can consist of single sensors or multiple sensors on each phase. The use of multiple sensors can determine if an RF pulse is emanating from the generator or outside the generator by determining the direction the pulse is traveling. An existing known radio frequency monitor (RFM) available from Siemens Energy Inc., detects RF activity at a single point on the generator neutral ground. This approach is lower cost than others are, and will detect electrical fault and other RF activity from other pieces of electrical equipment in the power plant electrical distribution system (EDS), because all the equipment is typically tied to a common EDS ground or earthed phase at some plant location. However, the RFM does not determine the location of the equipment that is causing the RF emission activity: only its existence. Various manual tests and inspections must be made to locate specifically the source of the RF emission anomaly. The fault locating Utility customers find the process cumbersome and do not want the additional burden of finding the source of the problem. Typical plant maintenance practice indicates that the source of such problems become known eventually, usually when the electrical equipment in the EDS fails.
RFM's and other detection systems, such as partial discharge monitors, utilize either bus couplers or other means of voltage isolation so they can directly measure voltage waveforms of power plant equipment. The RFM output is typically observed as a series of RF spikes with quieter periods of lesser activity in between.
Existing electrical fault detection systems and methods do not efficiently isolate location of RF emissions in power plant electrical distribution systems. Those systems do not efficiently characterize whether an RF emission is an indicia of an existing or incipient electrical fault or whether the RF emission is merely part of an EDS operating state that does not negatively impact its safe operation (SO). If the latter, the detected RF emission OS can be discounted as a SO that is acceptable for power plant EDS.

Self learning radio frequency monitoring system for identifying and locating faults in electrical distribution systems


An apparatus for dispensing liquids directly from a vertically oriented inverted container comprises a body to secure to the mouth of the container. The body defines a pair of first and second chambers that communicate with a pair of first and second passageways. A pair of valves is adapted to selectively open and close the first and second chambers. Finally, a valve control mechanism is operative linked to the valves and sequentially opens the second valve and the first valve.

One of the common complaints of individuals or entities about group events where beverages are served from bottles such as the one and two liter soft drink bottles to a large number of guests or patrons is the time involved in serving each individual. Unless the server uses expensive beverage serving equipment, for example, pump or pressure driven devices such as often found in taverns or the like, considerable time is involved in identifying the appropriate container, pouring the beverage in a suitable receptacle, and serving the beverage. Spillage often occurs and is particularly exacerbated if the user is a child trying to cope with the relative large size of the bottle. Additionally, attendant waste is likely to occur since frequently more bottles than necessary are opened. Even where bottles containing carbonated beverages only partially consumed are recapped, the remaining liquids become less effervescent due to escape of the constituent gas into the now larger ullage volume of the bottles. Thus, it is very desirable that the opened bottles be consumed in close time proximity of opening and that other bottles be kept in reserve until actually needed.
There have been numerous attempts to cope with this nettlesome problem through the use of beverage dispensers that dispense the beverage selectively and maintain a seal on the container to preserve the freshness of the liquid during the selective dispensing operation. One example is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,463 issued Feb. 2, 1988 to Anderson. The Anderson patent describes an apparatus containing a spring biased plug element that has an annular groove with a significant axial length. The plug element is axially movable through the manual manipulation of a lever. The groove communicates with both the interior of the bottle and a spout mechanism when a lever cams the plug into an open position. The spout mechanism is used to divert and direct the flow of a liquid into an awaiting receptacle such as a glass. Release of the lever causes the plug to return to its closed position under the bias exerted by the spring, taking the annular groove out of communication with the spout. The beverage in the bottle is caused to change direction several times while flowing under gravity from the container to the spout. For example, the beverage must flow from the bottle into the groove, out of the groove into the spout, and then into the glass. Carbonated beverages, however, are adversely affected when the downward moving liquid impacts various internal barriers to the flow, causing it to release its carbonation. Due to the small diameter and volume of the passageways within the prior art dispenser, considerable build up in the gas pressure can occur quickly causing a rapid expulsion of the gas and a concomitant noise. If the venting passageways cannot accommodate quickly enough the gaseous equilibration between the ullage volume of the container and the atmosphere, the liquid itself may be expelled through the liquid passageways under pressure causing splatter and undesirable quantities of foam.
Still another example is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,516 issued Dec. 29, 1987 to Salvail. This patent recognizes the desirability to allow the gas in the ullage volume of the bottle to equilibrate prior to allowing the liquid to flow out of the bottle. The sequence is accomplished through the use of valves opening and closing the passageways between the bottle and the spout egress from the dispensing apparatus to the awaiting beverage receptacle. Each valve is separately spring biased into the closed position and are opened sequentially by a lever camming against the bottom of the valve stems. The valve stem of the vent passageway is longer than the valve stem of the liquid passageway and is contacted by the lever prior to contact with the liquid valve stem, thus allowing the pressure in the ullage volume to equilibrate prior to the liquid being allowed to egress. It should be noted, however, that the structure of the Salvail device, like that of the Anderson dispensing device, requires the liquid to abruptly change direction at least twice as it flows toward the spout. Again, the abrupt change in direction of the liquid caused by the impact thereof against various internal members results in the constituent gas in the unstable carbonated liquid to be undesirable released prior to consumption, giving rise to excess foam and flat tasting beverages. Salvail further is typical of prior art devices in which the liquid and air mix at a point somewhere in the device, causing carbonated liquids to cavitate and prematurely release its carbonation.
Salvail also describes a stand, typical of other prior art stands, that is connected to the bottle about its neck. It is noted that the stand is subjected to considerable torque due to the displacement of the center of gravity from the point of contact with the stand. This represents a possible unstable condition as the stand and bottle can easily be tipped over by outside forces. Additionally, it may be difficult to accommodate bottles of different dimensions.
It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide for a beverage dispensing apparatus for the rapid flow of beverage from bottle to receptacle without undue creation of foam or causing the beverage to taste "flat".
It is still another object of the present invention to provide for a beverage dispenser for the sequential, unimpeded equilibration of the ullage volume of a container and the unimpeded dispensing of the liquid therein in a direct unimpeded vertical flow to the receptacle.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a beverage dispenser that is compact and provides for liquid and venting chambers large enough to ensure that the pressure in the ullage volume is fully dissipated before the liquid is permitted to flow to the receptacle.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide for a beverage dispenser capable of accommodating and dispensing liquid from an open and inverted beverage bottle that is vertically positioned above a receptacle.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide for a combination stand and beverage dispenser in which the stand directly supports a dispenser that is sealed to the opening of an inverted bottle containing a beverage.

Beverage dispenser and stand therefore for use with beverage containing bottles


In a call center, a plurality of agents comprises at least a first group associated with a first skill and a second group associated with a second skill. The second group may have a substantially larger number of agents than the first group, and accordingly the first and second groups may be referred to as small and large groups, respectively, and the first and second skills may be referred to as small and large skills, respectively. In one embodiment, if a service level target for the small skill is being met, and a number of available agents in the small group exceeds a specified minimum available agent requirement, at least one of the available agents in the small group is selected and designated as eligible for handling a communication involving the large skill, without assigning that agent to the large group or removing that agent from the small group.

Call centers distribute calls and other types of communications to available service agents in accordance with various criteria. Call center agents are often grouped based on the skills of those agents in handling communications. Depending upon the needs associated with the particular skill, there may be a large number of agents in the skill group, or a small number of agents in the skill group. The latter are called small skill groups, and their associated agents are called small group agents. Such small skill groups may each typically contain on the order of two to ten agents, although other numbers are possible. As expected, a given large skill group typically comprises a substantially larger number of agents than a given small skill group, but the actual number in a particular group can vary depending upon factors such as the total number of agents in the call center. For example, in a call center with thousands of agents, a given small skill group may comprise a larger number of agents than a similar small skill group in a call center with only twenty agents. Thus, the terms "small group" and "large group" as used herein should be understood as relative terms, with the small group comprising a substantially lower number of agents than the large group. Of course, there may be multiple small groups and multiple large groups in a given call center, and a given agent can be a member of one or more small groups as well as one or more large groups.
A problem that arises in call centers with small skill groups is that the small group agents are often either underutilized or overutilized. Underutilization occurs when there are unduly restrictive barriers to using the small group agents to handle large group calls. Underutilization results in low occupancy and low productivity for the small group agents, and thus a higher cost per transaction for these small group agents. Overutilization occurs when the barriers to using the small group agents to handle large group calls are too easy to overcome. Overutilization results in high occupancy for the small group agents and poor service levels for the kinds of contacts that only the small group agents handle.
Conventional techniques for dealing with this situation may involve, for example, conditional queuing checks, multi-queuing, reserve agents, skill preference levels, and manual changing of agent skill settings. However, these and other conventional techniques fail to provide optimum usage of small group agents while avoiding any significant impact to service level targets or other performance objectives of the call center. More particularly, these existing solutions would generally cause either an overutilization or an underutilization of small agent groups, gaining productivity at the cost of poor service levels, or producing required service levels with poor productivity.
Accordingly, it is apparent that a need exists for improved techniques for handling small group agents in a call center.

Utilizing small group call center agents to improve productivity without impacting service level targets


A device and method for supplying a display, such as a liquid crystal display, for example a bistable ChLCD, with drive voltages for extremely low power operation. The method and the device implementing the method provides an energy storage device and a voltage converter being utilized to store energy in the storage device, such that a display can be driven during an inactive, powered-down phase of the converter by using the stored energy to drive the display.

This application relates generally to a method and device for saving power. More specifically, this application relates to a method and device for using dc-to-dc conversion circuitry in driving a liquid crystal display in a manner that reduced power consumption.
Bistable liquid crystal displays, and in particular, cholesteric liquid crystal displays (ChLCDs), have great potential for use in battery operated devices. The bi-stable property of ChLCDs permits an image to be placed on the display and maintained indefinitely without refresh. Thus, power is consumed only to change the image content, not to maintain it. This can result in significant power savings versus STN or TN displays, especially for relatively static image content.
However, recent application opportunities for ChLCD require even more aggressive power management than afforded by the bi-stability alone. For example, small devices powered by coin cell batteries, such as watches, for example, must achieve the maximum possible number of display updates from a single battery. Typically, it is a design goal to minimize the size (and thus typically reducing the capacity) of the battery as well. A key design challenge for such small displays is generating the ChLCD drive voltages (˜35V) with the efficiency required to produce the desired battery lifetime. This is made difficult by the very small current draw of the display relative to the relatively larger quiescent currents of the dc/dc conversion circuitry.
Accordingly, it would be useful to save power in the operation of the dc-to-dc conversion circuitry. Furthermore, it would be even more useful if such a method would utilize off-the-shelf dc-to-dc converters or circuits that incorporate them.

Power management method and device for low-power displays


A method of producing an image display device used for an LCD projector by providing a periodic structure of pixels arranged in a matrix and a substrate supporting the pixels, modulating light entering from an entrance surface in pixel units, and emitting the same from an exit surface. A phase shift structure for randomly changing the phase of the light is formed on a surface of the substrate. The phase shift structure has a relief structure formed, for example, by etching the surface of the substrate through which light passes to random depths. Therefore, occurrence of high-order diffracted light caused by the periodic structure of very fine pixels is prevented, and accordingly the amount of 0th order light inherently required is increased.

In past LCD projectors and other image display apparatuses, the size of a pixel (pixel pitch) in the LCD panel or other image display device was usually 10 odd μm or more. In recent years, however, progress has been made in reducing the size and increasing the definition of LCD panels and ones with pixel pitches of 10 μm or less have started to appear in the market.
Along with increasing fineness of pixel pitch, the following problems have been encountered.
The first problem is that a beam of light striking the LCD panel is diffracted by the pixel periodic structure and generates unnecessary high-order diffracted light, particularly "1st order diffracted light with a non-negligible reduction of diffraction efficiency. This not only becomes a cause of stray light (flare) in an LCD projector, but also reduces the luminance, since an amount of 0th order light (non-diffracted light) inherently required is decreased and leads to a reduction in the luminance.
The second problem is the drop in the area ratio of the region through which light can pass to the area of a pixel as a whole, that is, the drop in the aperture ratio. A pixel is formed not only by the pixel electrode forming the aperture, but also a thin film transistor or other switching device and a holding capacitor. As the pixel pitch becomes finer, the area occupied by the switching device and holding capacitor increases relatively. The area of the aperture is sacrificed (becomes smaller) by that amount and a decline in the aperture ratio is caused.
The first problem will be explained. Even in a conventional 10 odd μm pitch LCD panel, in theory, diffracted light occurred due to the pixel periodic structure. Expressing the diffraction phenomenon by an equation, Sin(θ)=(λ/p) is obtained. Here, λ represents the wavelength, p the pixel pitch, and θ the diffraction angle. In the past, the pixel pitch was large, so the diffraction angle θ given by the above equation was small and the 0th order light and high-order diffracted light ("1st order, "2nd order light) were not separated much at all, so the above problem did not conspicuously appear. However, due to the increasing fineness of pixel pitch in recent years, the diffraction angle θ given by the above equation has become large and the above problem can no longer be ignored. This problem is, for example, explained in David Armitage, "Resolution issues in reflective microdisplays", SPIE, vol. 3634, 10 (1999).
Next, the second problem will be explained. In this type of image display device, in particular a projection type image display device, the circuit pattern of the switching device and holding capacitor for modulating a light beam passing through each pixel is located adjacent to the pixel electrode. Along with the increasing fineness of pixel pitch, however, the ratio of area occupied by the circuit pattern increases. As a result, the problem arises that the aperture ratio falls and the efficiency of utilization of light falls. As a means for solving this problem, the method of providing a micro-lens array comprised of a large number of micro-lenses arranged at the incidence sides of the pixels and using the micro-lens array to focus the light beams striking the pixels is disclosed in for example Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 3-236987. However, the micro-lenses are arranged corresponding to the pixels. Therefore, the micro-lens array itself has a periodic structure similar to the pixel array and diffracted light again arose. This has become a problem even more non-negligible when superposed with the diffraction due to the pixel periodic structure.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of producing image display device and image projector apparatus


An apparatus including a capacitor formed between metallization layers on a circuit, the capacitor including a bottom electrode coupled to a metal layer and a top electrode coupled to a metal via wherein the capacitor has a corrugated sidewall profile. A method including forming an interlayer dielectric including alternating layers of dissimilar dielectric materials in a multilayer stack over a metal layer of a device structure; forming a via having a corrugated sidewall; and forming a decoupling capacitor stack in the via that conforms to the sidewall of the via.

1. Field
An integrated circuit decoupling capacitor and more specifically, an on-chip decoupling capacitor.
2. Background
The operation of low power, high speed integrated circuits can be affected by the electrical noise generated by the continuous switching of the transistors located in the circuit. It is well known that the inductive noise of an integrated circuit can be reduced by connecting decoupling capacitors to the circuit. Decoupling capacitors placed on power-consuming circuits are able to smooth out voltage variations with the stored charge on the decoupling capacitor. The stored charge is used as a local power supply to device inputs during signal switching stages, allowing the decoupling capacitor to mitigate the effects of voltage noise induced into the system by parasitic inductance.
Typically, a decoupling capacitor is placed in the same package as the chip. Unfortunately, this arrangement is costly to manufacturer, and the long lead lines from the power-consuming circuit to the capacitor electrodes contributes a substantial inductance. Such off-chip decoupling capacitors, however, are not sufficient for very high speed microprocessor applications. The voltage drop across an inductor may be described by the relationship L di/dt, where L is inductance and di/dt represents the change in current through a circuit over a period of time. Implicit in the di/dt is a frequency component (omega), so as frequency goes up, inductance becomes more and more a factor for power distribution. The frequency dependent L di/dt voltage drop makes the off-chip capacitors generally unusable with gigahertz switching circuits unlike low frequencies for which voltage drops are dominated by resistance.
Some efforts have been made to integrate decoupling capacitors as part of the gate dielectric processing step. A portion of the active silicon area is used to deposit the gate dielectric for use as a decoupling capacitor. An advantage to this is that there are no additional processing steps involved with it. Disadvantages include the decoupling capacitor takes up high-value real estate on the chip as the capacitors compete for valuable chip area that could be used for building additional circuits. Also the capacitor made with a gate oxide designed for very high transistor performance generally has a great deal of leakage. These gate decoupling capacitors also generally have associated parasitic resistance from the relatively low silicon conductivity that entails an additional resistance-capacitance (RC) time constant for charge extraction. Although it is possible to integrate gate capacitors within the chip's circuit elements, due to the limited area in which to build these capacitors, the overall capacitive decoupling that they provide is also limited.
Another approach to decoupling capacitor fabrication is a decoupling capacitor that may be fabricated between metal layers in an integrated circuit. In a representative chip architecture having seven metal layers, for example, the capacitor may be fabricated between metal six (n−1) layer and metal seven (n) layer. Advantages to this embodiment include that there is little no additional real estate (area) on the chip consumed for fabrication of the decoupling capacitor, and the decoupling capacitor directly bridges the on-chip power grid being representatively up to 10 microns, according to current technologies, from the integrated circuit element it is supporting with a very low inductance per unit length due to the tight spacing of the power and ground lines. One problem with locating the decoupling capacitor between metal layers is that, in the example given, approximately 30 percent of the metal six layer is devoted to power supply. This limits the total amount of decoupling capacitance that can be provided on-chip per layer, because total capacitance available is generally a function of the total area dedicated to capacitor plates.

Enhanced on-chip decoupling capacitors and method of making same


A non-destructive method to inverse-calculate a fiber probe aperture size, and a prediction method of the simulation and fabrication profile of near field photolithography are provided. The error between an experimental result of the photolithography and a simulation result of the theoretical model of near field photolithography is set as an objective function to inverse-calculate a fiber probe aperture size that can match with the photolithography experiment and the theoretical model of near field photolithography. Finally, by comparing the fabrication profile of the photolithography experiment and that of the simulation result of the inverse-calculated fiber probe aperture size, it is verified that the inverse-calculated fiber probe aperture size is reasonable and acceptable. By combining with other parameter control of near field photolithography, the present invention also proposes a prediction method of the fabrication profile of near field photolithography by means of inversely calculating the fiber probe aperture size.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a prediction method of near field photolithography fabrication. More particularly, the present invention relates to a non-destructive method for inverse-calculating a fiber probe aperture size and a prediction method of the fabrication profile of near field photolithography.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently, if it is required to confirm the fiber probe aperture size, an electron microscope is generally used for measurement, which, however, may cause the fiber probe to be damaged and cannot be used again. Therefore, when developing the technique of near field photolithography fabrication, the largest bottleneck lies that, it is impossible to confirm the fiber probe aperture size through a non-destructive method. Meanwhile, no relevant document on the inverse-calculation of the fiber probe aperture size by a non-destructive method has been applied.

Non-destructive method for inverse-calculating fiber probe aperture size and prediction method of fabrication profile of near field photolithography

National TAiwan University of Science and Technology


A system and method is provided that ranks and sorts websites, apps, email, or VR environment content in real-time to increase engagement, CTR, conversions, and revenue. A client applies attributes to sections of the digital content. A server system tracks end user inputs and generates optimized layouts for the digital content, such as a webpage. The document layout is ordered or reorganized before or after the document is delivered to the end user.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the general field of network delivered digital content, and more specifically toward a system and method that ranks and sorts mobile, web, and email content in real-time to increase customer engagement, click-through rate (CTR), and/or conversions. A client applies attributes to sections of the digital content. A server system tracks end user inputs and generates optimized layouts for the digital content, such as a webpage. The document layout is ordered or reorganized before or after the document is delivered to the end user.
Just as brick and mortar stores optimize their shelf space and floor-sets to increase conversions and order size, the digital world can also optimize the real estate of their websites, apps, emails, or virtual reality (VR) environment to maximize engagement, CTR, conversions, and revenue. Today, mobile, web, and email optimization are primarily done through data analysis, and AB or multivariate testing. The problem is that these optimizations are manual, non-scalable, and prone to errors.
Manual A/B testing or analytics is how web content optimization has occurred in the past. Analytics, A/B testing, and recommendation platforms can aid developers in optimizing page layout; however, none of these automate the optimization of the user interface. Furthermore, none of these enable real-time layout optimization based upon end-user behavior characteristics.
Thus there has existed a need for a system and method that ranks and sorts mobile, web, and email content in real-time to increase customer engagement, CTR, and/or conversions. Additionally, there is a need for a system that ranks and sorts content in virtual reality platforms, where the layout of a virtual environment can be optimized based on what a user views and interacts with.

System and method for optimizing electronic document layouts


An ECU selects a power supply mode which controls a power supply to an inverter apparatus, in a case where a fuel cell vehicle is instructed to start-up by an ignition switch and it is detected that a power supply inlet and a power supply connector are fitted together based on voltage of CONNECT signal, and selects a driving mode which controls the driving of the fuel cell vehicle, in a case where the fuel cell vehicle is instructed to start-up by the ignition switch and it is detected that the power supply inlet and the power supply connector are not fitted together based on voltage of CONNECT signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control apparatus for an electric vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
In the related art, a vehicle is known, in which, for example, in a case where a charging cable is connected to the vehicle, a pilot signal is output from the charging cable to a control apparatus of the vehicle, the control apparatus of the vehicle which obtains the pilot signal recognizes which operation is required to be performed between charging the vehicle from an external apparatus and power supplying to the external apparatus from the vehicle, and either charging or a power generation operation is performed according to a recognized result (for example, refer to PCT International Publication No. WO 2011-125214).


Fullerenes are generated by vaporizing carbon with a laser beam and maintaining the vaporized carbon at conditions selected to promote fullerene growth and formation. This method of fullerene generation may be used to form new compounds including fullerenes surrounding one or more metal atoms, and fullerenes wherein one or more carbon atoms have been substituted with boron or nitrogen.

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to molecular forms of carbon known as fullerenes wherein the fullerene cage encloses one or more metal atoms and to the process for making the fullerenes. A fullerene is a third form of pure carbon and is different from graphite and diamond, the only two forms known before 1985, see "Fullerenes," Curl, R. F. and Smalley, R. E., Scientific American, October, 1991, pp. 54-63, incorporated herein by reference, and references cited therein.
A fullerene structure is characterized in that each carbon atom is bonded to three other carbon atoms. The carbon atoms so joined curve around to form a molecule with a cage-like structure and aromatic properties. A fullerene molecule with 60 carbon atoms, referred to as "buckminsterfullerene," resembles the familiar shape of a soccer ball. A structural diagram representing C.sub.60 is shown in FIG. 1. Fullerenes may contain even numbers of carbon atoms totalling from 20 to 500 or more. FIG. 2 shows the structure of a C.sub.70 fullerene and FIG. 3 shows the structure of a C.sub.84 fullerene. Fullerenes are not necessarily spherical. They may take the form of long tubular structures with hemispherical caps at each end of the tube. Hyperfullerene structures also exist wherein one structure is contained within a second larger structure. For generally spherical molecular structures, these hyperfullerenes resemble an onion layered structure. Tubular structures within larger structures are also possible. Fullerenes are more fully described in the literature cited above.
II. Description of the Prior Art
The molecular structure for buckminsterfullerene was first identified in 1985, see NATURE, C.sub.60. "Buckminsterfullerene", Kroto, H. W., Heath, J. R., O'Brien, S. C., Curl, R. F. and Smalley, R. E., Vol. 318, No. 6042, pp. 162-163, Nov. 14, 1985. The process described therein for making fullerenes involves vaporizing the carbon from a rotating solid disk of graphite into a high-density helium flow using a focused pulsed laser. That process did not utilize a temperature controlled zone for the growth and annealing of fullerene molecules from the carbon vapor formed by the laser blast. Only microscopic quantities of fullerenes were produced by this process.
Another method of making fullerenes was described in THE JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY, "Characterization of the Soluble All-Carbon Molecules C.sub.60 and C.sub.70," Ajie et. al, Vol. 94, Nov. 24, 1990, pp. 8630-8633. The fullerenes are described as being formed when a carbon rod is evaporated by resistive heating under a partial helium atmosphere. The resistive heating of the carbon rod is said to cause the rod to emit a faint gray-white plume. Soot-like material comprising fullerenes is said to collect on glass shields that surround the carbon rod.
Another method of forming fullerenes in greater amounts is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,038 filed Oct. 4, 1991 wherein carbon is vaporized in an electrical arc and the carbon vapor condenses into fullerenes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,038 is incorporated herein by reference.
One disadvantage of the prior art is the low yield of fullerenes containing metal atoms. Another disadvantage of the prior art is the inability to produce fullerenes containing two or more metal atoms inside the fullerene cage. These and other disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention which provides a method of producing fullerenes in macroscopic quantities, some containing metal atoms inside the fullerene cage. Atoms of elements other than carbon may also be incorporated in the fullerene cage network. The present invention also provides a composition comprising fullerenes with two or more metal atoms inside the fullerene cage and a method for making such a composition.

Process for making fullerenes by the laser evaporation of carbon


An electrical contact device (X1) includes a first contactor with contact portions (C1, C2) and a second contactor with contact portions (C3, C4). The device (X1) also includes an electrical circuit having a branch path (YA) provided by the contact portions (C1, C3) and a branch path (YB) provided by the contact portions (C2, C4). When closed, the branch path (YA) has a smaller resistance, and the branch path (YB) a greater resistance. In a closing operation, the first and second contactors approach each other. Then the contact portion (C1) and the contact portion (C3) contact with each other after the contact portion (C2) and the contact portion (C4) contact with each other. In an opening operation, the first and second contactors separate from each other. Then the contact portion (C1) and the contact portion (C3) separate after the contact portion (C2) and the contact portion (C4) separate.

An electrical contact is an element for electric circuitry for mechanically closing and opening an electric path by mechanical open/close operation of a pair of contact points. The electrical contact is utilized in switches, relays and so on. Switches and relays which make use of the electrical contact have an advantage that it can provide an excellent open state having a very large electric resistance since the two electrical contact points are mechanically spaced from each other under the open state. For this reason, such mechanical switches and relays are widely used in all fields including information equipment, industrial machinery, automobiles and home electric appliances, as switching means for opening and closing electric circuits composed of power sources, actuators, sensors, and so on.
FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 show a conventional, mechanically opened/closed electrical contact device X3. The electrical contact device X3 includes a mover 71 and a stator 72.
The mover 71 includes a conductor strip 73, a contact 74 provided at an end of the conductor strip 73 and a socket 75 attached to the conductor strip 73. A single conductor strip 73 is provided with a single contact 74. The contact 74 is made of a conductor. The socket 75 is made of resin. The conductor strip 73 has another end to which a lead 76 made of braided copper wire for example is attached mechanically and electrically. The lead 76 is electrically connected with an unillustrated circuit. A pin 77 is inserted through the socket 75, and the mover 71 can swing around the pin 77. The pin 77 is fixed to a predetermined case (not illustrated) which encloses the electrical contact device X3. Pivotal movement of the mover 71 is achieved by a predetermined drive mechanism (not illustrated) which includes an exciting coil for example.
The stator 72 includes the conductor strip 78 and a contact 79 which is made of a conductor. The conductor strip 78 is electrically connected with an unillustrated circuit. The contact 79 is placed on a pivotal path of the contact 73 in the pivotal movement of the mover 71.
In the electrical contact device X3 constructed as the above, assume that a predetermined voltage is applied between the contact 74 and the contact 79. When the mover 71 pivots toward the stator 72 as shown in FIG. 13, bringing the contact 74 into contact with the contact 79, the electric current flows, for example, from the conductor strip 78 through the contact 79, the contact 74, and the conductor strip 73, to the lead 76. Thereafter, when the mover 71 pivots away from the stator 72 as shown in FIG. 12, moving the contact 74 away from the contact 79, the current flow stops. In this way, the electrical contact device X3 connects and disconnects the electric path.
In the field of electrical contact technology, it is known that arcing occurs between a pair of contacts if the contacts are operated into an open state while an electric current is flowing through the closed contacts at a rate exceeding a threshold value (minimum discharge current), or while an electric potential difference is present between the contacts at a rate exceeding a threshold value (minimum discharge voltage). Assume for example, that a closed pair of contacts is to be opened while an electric current which exceeds the threshold value is flowing. As the contacts are being opened, the touching area of the contacts decreases gradually, causing the current to pass through the contacts in an increasingly concentrated manner. As the concentration of the current increases, the temperature of the contacts increases, and surfaces of the contacts melt. Because of this, even after the contacts have been opened, the molten contact material keeps the contacts connected with each other for a period of time while the distance between the two contacts are not large enough. In other words, a bridge is formed between the contacts. From the bridge comes out vapor of the metal, which serves as a medium for arc discharge. The arc discharge develops into a phase where arcing is transmitted by ambient gas, and eventually ceases when the contacts have been spaced from each other by a sufficient distance. This is how arc discharge develops when contacts are opened. A similar mechanism may cause arc discharge when electrical contacts are being closed, because the electrical contacts repeat an intermittent open/close action (bounce) as they are being closed.
FIG. 14 is a graph as an example, which shows dependency of arc discharge probability on electric current between contacts. The graph plots arc discharge probability values when a pair of gold contacts were contacted with each other under a predetermined pressure (10 mN, 100 mN, or 200 mN) and the contacts were opened while a 36 volts was applied between the two. The electrical contacts were connected with a 36-volt constant-voltage power source, with a resistor placed in series. By varying the resistance of the resistor, the electric current flowing through the contacts was varied. The substantial area of contact between the two contacts was believed to be not greater than a few tens of square micrometers. The graph's horizontal axis represents the current which flew through the contacts whereas the vertical axis represents arc discharge probability. Under any closing pressure, arc discharge probability shows about 100% once the applied current reaches or exceeds 0.6 A. On the other hand, when the applied current is 0.1 A or less, arc discharge probability is generally 0%. More details about this graph can be obtained from Yu. Yonezawa, et al. (Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Japanese Society of Applied Physics, July 2002, Vol. 41, Part 1, No. 7A, pp4760–4765).
From the graph in FIG. 14, it is understood that a minimum discharge current (minimum arc current) Imin which triggers arc discharge is somewhere between 0.1 A and 0.6 A. The minimum discharge current Imin is known to be dependent upon the material species. Likewise, there is a minimum voltage (minimum arc voltage) Vmin necessary for causing arc discharge, which is also known to be dependent upon the material species. For gold contacts, it is reported that the minimum discharge current Imin is 0.38 A, and the minimum discharge voltage Vmin is 15V. It must be understood however, that Imin and Vmin values obtained from actual measurements are not always the same due to influences from the state of electric charge in the space, conditions of the contact surfaces and so on.
When the electrical contact device X3 is closed, all of the electric current needed by the load circuit (an unillustrated circuit which draws the current) flows through the contact 74 and the contact 79. Therefore, if the current drawn by the load circuit exceeds the minimum discharge current, arc discharge is inevitable between the contact 74 and the contact 79 when the contacts are opened. It is not uncommon that the current drawn by the load circuit exceeds the minimum discharge current of the electrical contact device X3.
Every cycle of arc discharge causes melting, evaporation and re-solidification of the material which constitutes the contacts 74, 79, resulting in erosion and transfer of the contact material as well as alteration of contact resistance between the contact 74 and the contact 79. For this reason, reliability and lifetime of the electrical contact device X3 tends to decrease with the number of arc discharges occurring between the contact 74 and contact 79. Reduction in reliability and shortening of lifetime are significant when a large current has to be handled by the electrical contact device X3.
In a conventional electrical contact device X3, it is common that in order to achieve sufficiently small contact resistance in the closed state, the contacts 74, 79 are made of low-resistance metals. Typically, a copper base-material is coated with a low-resistance, corrosion-resistant metal (e.g. Au, Ag, Pd and Pt). However, these low-resistance metals have a relatively low melting point, which means that they easily become molten in the heat generated by arc discharge, and erode or transfer. Metals which are not easily melted in the heat generated by arc discharge have a relatively large electric resistance. In the conventional electrical contact device X3 in which lowering the contact resistance is an important goal, it is practically difficult to use metals which have a high melting point.


An electrostatic discharge protection circuit having a low impedance conduction path connecting all of a particular device's input/output paths to ground potential via switchable devices exhibiting low resistance when power is not applied to the device and very high resistance when power is applied to the device.

Electro-static charge is a stationary electric charge which can accumulate on various surfaces. An electro-static discharge (ESD) occurs when the electro-static charge becomes substantial enough to overcome the dielectric material between any charge and another surface of lower electrical potential.
Electro-static discharge in the field of electronics can be devastating to microelectronic devices. A sharp, inadvertent voltage spike caused by an electro-static discharge can rupture the thin gate oxide of field effect transistors (FET's), or degrade a transistor's p-n junctions, effectively destroying proper integrated circuit (IC) operation.
The two most common sources of ESD stress are user handling of IC packages and machine handling of IC packages. The human body can be modeled as a 150 pF capacitor capable of storing approximately 2.0 kV, connected in series to a resistance of approximately 1.5 k.OMEGA.. When the pins of the IC package are touched, a peak current equal to approximately 1.5 amperes is passed through a device which makes up the IC. With IC's having metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) devices having 1 .mu.m or smaller geometries, discharges of approximately 1.5 amperes may damage or even destroy the gate oxides of the MOS devices if adequate ESD protection is not provided.
A machine can be modeled in the same way as the human body, except a resistance of 0 ohms is assumed. In practical applications, machine resistance is on the order of 20-40 .OMEGA.. Under the machine model, a device that can withstand approximately 400 volts of electro-static charge is considered acceptable by industry standards.
A third method of modeling ESD stress caused by machine handling of devices, is referred to as the charged device model. The charged device model is used to simulate the ESD failure mechanism associated with machine handling during the packaging and testing of semiconductor devices. According to this model, an IC package is charged to a potential of between 100V-2000V. Then, the device is discharged to ground via another device pin. The charging is normally done via the substrate pin while discharging is initiated by touching a device pin with a grounded inductance probe.
The charged device model simulates an ESD event during machine handling of packaged semiconductor devices. ESD damage from machine handling is becoming more significant than ESD damage from human handling because, while attention has been focused on minimizing human ESD damage, relatively little work has been done on minimizing the effects of ESD damage caused by machines.
One current method of preventing ESD damage is to insert a diode, a field effect transistor, or bipolar transistor between the device to be protected and a connecting pin to divert the ESD spike.
A drawback with using conventional bipolar transistors is that the bipolar transistor must first be turned on to provide ESD protection. Thus, a device has no ESD protection during its manufacturing stage.
Another drawback with conventional ESD protection devices and methods is that they do not provide protection for electrostatic charge present on the surface of an IC device.
Yet another drawback with conventional ESD protection devices and methods is that they only protect integrated circuit inputs, not the actual devices fabricated on an integrated circuit. As device features become smaller and smaller, the gate oxide thickness of devices is reduced and oxide breakdown becomes more likely in non-operating devices.
Thus, there is a need to provide ESD protection for semiconductor devices in both low power, and non-operating states.

Switchable ESD protective shunting circuit for semiconductor devices


A flexible stump sock member is arranged to receive an amputated leg portion therewithin for cushioning the leg portion when positioned within an artificial limb cavity.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to stump sock structure, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved stump sock arrangement wherein the same is arranged for affording cushioning and protection to an individual's leg portion directed within an artificial leg assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Stump socks of various types have been utilized in the prior art and exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,600,717 and 4,840,635.
The instant invention addresses deficiencies of the prior art by providing means for securely mounting the stump sock arrangement relative to an amputated limb of an individual and securing same by means of a support strap structure.


A plate type heat exchanger includes a plurality of laminated plates 11 each having a resin-covered gasket 15 mounted in a gasket groove 13 therein surrounding a heat transfer surface 12. The resin-covered gasket includes a core 15a of elastic material whose liquid-contacted side surface is covered with a corrosion-resistant resin cover 15b. In this plate type heat exchanger, the liquid-noncontacted side of the core 15a is integrally formed with a fixing element 16, while the outer peripheral surface of the plate 11 is formed with a recess 14 adapted to fit on the fixing element 16. Thus, the resin-covered gasket 15 can be mounted in the gasket groove 13 without using any adhesive agent.

Generally, the plate type heat exchanger comprises a plurality of plates laminated through gaskets to form a plurality of passages defined between said plates, wherein two different fluids are passed through said passages to effect heat exchange between said fluids through the plates.
The plate 1 used in the plate type heat exchanger, as shown in FIG. 21, comprises a rectangular flat plate having a heat transmitting surface formed with a suitable uneven pattern (not shown), fluid passage holes 3 formed at the four corners, a gasket groove 4 formed in the periphery of the heat transmitting surface and in a region which surrounds the fluid passage holes 3, and a gasket 5 fitted in said gasket groove.
In this connection, in the case of a plate type heat exchanger handling organic solvents in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, use is made of a resin-covered gasket 5, as shown in FIG. 22, which comprises an elastic core 5a of elastic material, such as synthetic rubber, whose side which comes in contact with the liquid is covered with a corrosion-resistant resin cover 5b of U-shaped cross section.
Conventionally, the mounting of said resin-covered gasket 5 on the plate 1 is effected by bonding it to the flat region of the gasket groove 4 by an adhesive agent 6, such as a synthetic rubber type adhesive agent or viscous tape.
However, if the resin-covered gasket 5 is mounted on the plate 1 by the adhesive agent 6, long-term use results in permeation of the organic solvent or the like into the bonded surface of the resin-covered gasket 5, dissolving and deteriorating the adhesive agent 6, mixing impurities into the liquid, leading to the disadvantage of lowering the quality of the treating liquid.
Further, if the sealing property lowers due to the dissolution and deterioration of the adhesive agent, the liquid seeps through the flat region of the gasket groove 4 into the core 5a which lacks resistant to corrosion, thus corroding and decomposing the core 5a, leading to another problem that the sealing property is further degraded.
Further, when the resin-covered gasket 5 is to have its cover renewed, it is necessary that in order to fully retain the sealing property, the old adhesive agent 6 adhering to the flat region of the gasket groove 4 be completely removed with the utmost care; thus, much labor is involved and the operating efficiency in maintenance is very low.


A hand holdable computer mouse has a base, a top and a body. The base rests on a work surface and the body is vertically disposed above the base. The body has an external contour which substantially conforms to the mean of the contour of the palm side of the hand when the hand is in a relaxed, neutral condition, with the palm surface of the hand vertically oriented. The mouse is operated with the hand in a cupped, vertically oriented condition, with the wrist in a neutral condition with respect to radial and ulnar deviation, and with the forearm in a neutral condition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to manually controlled devices for generating multi-dimensional data for input to a microprocessor or computer. In particular, the present invention relates to a computer mouse and/or shell therefore which is normally operated with the upper extremity of the person operating the computer or microprocessor to which the device is connected, by holding and controlling the device while maintaining the upper extremity in a neutral attitude, without pronation-supination of the forearm or radial-ulnar deviation of the wrist or hand.
2. Prior Art
A computer mouse is a common device used in conjunction with a computer, for example, for multi-dimensional control of cursor movement on the screen or CRT of a monitor of a computer. A computer mouse usually includes a captured ball or sphere, a portion of which extends from the interior of the mouse. The mouse is moved over a surface, with the ball in contact with the surface so that the ball rolls over the surface defining the direction of movement of the mouse across the surface. The movement of the ball generates a two-dimensional data input for computer cursor control, which is visible on the screen or monitor of the computer. Two coordinate wheels are supported internally in the mouse which are driven by the ball as the ball rolls across the surface of a pad, for example, in accordance with the vector movement of the mouse.
A computer mouse also carries one or more buttons or switches which are operated by the person operating the mouse, for providing signals to the computer to perform one or another function, often related with the location or position of the cursor on the screen. Most computer mice currently carry one button or switch which provides a signal to the computer which is coordinated with the location of the cursor on the screen and a second button or switch which provides a signal to the computer which is independent of the cursor.
A conventional computer mouse is horizontally oriented and normally controlled by the hand and arm of an individual working on or with the computer to which the mouse is connected.
An alternative to a computer mouse is a device called a trackball. The trackball serves the same function as a mouse, relative to the computer. The trackball is essentially a stationary device with a ball mounted for full rotational movement within the mounting base. A portion of the ball is exposed so that the ball may be rotated, as desired, within its mounting, by the thumb, fingers or part of the palm of the hand, for example.
Where the mouse device is moved across a surface, for rolling the ball mounted in the mouse, across such surface, the trackball device is maintained stationary while the ball mounted in the trackball is rolled within its mounting by the thumb or fingers, for example, driving the ball. In some computer environments the devices are competitive, in other computer environments the devices are noncompetitive.
Of the two devices, the computer mouse has been designed into the "Dove Bar" mouse design, a design that is particularly suited for hand operation across the surface of a plane. The Dove Bar computer mouse is horizontally oriented and is operated normally with the hand, with the palm of the hand facing downward, over the top of the Dove Bar mouse, grasping the mouse and moving the Dove Bar mouse across the surface of a desk, for example. The Dove Bar mouse is moved by using the arm and shoulder muscles. However, when one uses the Dove Bar mouse, the forearm of the person operating the mouse is twisted into a nonneutral position, the palm or flat of the hand rotated for covering and holding the horizontally disposed Dove Bar mouse. The article "MICE VS. TRACKBALLS" by Lorraine Rice, published in PC Magazine, August 1990 edition, at pages 216-217 points out some differences between the Dove Bar design mouse and the Trackball used in conjunction with computers. The article discusses each device and describes how each is held and operated but fails to consider that, in the case of the mouse, the extremity of the person holding and/or operating the mouse is twisted into a nonneutral position, i.e., the open hand is rotated, approximating a substantially horizontal plane, with the palm of the hand facing downward. When operating the trackball, the ball of the trackball is rotated directly by finger and/or thumb manipulation. Operation of both these devices is accomplished in strained and nonneutral positions of the extremity and are overly taxing and tiresome. The present invention, an ergonomic computer mouse, overcomes this problem.


A surgical stapler for effecting simultaneous cutting and stapling of tissue includes a frame and a staple cartridge positionable in the frame. The stapler includes a knife blade mounted for movement distally of the staple cartridge, the knife blade having a retraction lock feature including a locking portion for abutment to a roof member of a spacer carried on the frame in a locked position, to prevent movement of the knife blade, unless the stapler is fitted with a fresh, unused staple cartridge. The locking portion is spring loaded by a leaf spring into the locked position. The knife blade includes a spring notch which coacts with the leaf spring to mechanically lift and pivotally thrust the knife blade to the locked position when the knife blade is retracted after use. The lift or thrust feature clears out tissue accumulation which enhances the ability of the knife to restore to its full elevated return position.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,570, hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a surgical stapler configured for applying rows of staples in lieu of suturing tissue. This type of surgical device greatly facilitates surgical procedures, and desirably reduces the time otherwise required for suturing tissue.
The surgical stapler disclosed in the above-referenced patent is configured to employ a removable staple cartridge, which typically includes a plurality of rows of staples. Attendant to each use of the surgical stapler, a fresh, unused staple cartridge is inserted into a frame of the stapler, with the device then positioned for use for suturing tissue. The stapler includes one or more firing wedges which can be advanced through the staple cartridge, and which cooperate in a cam-like manner with drivers within the cartridge to fire the staples, driving them through tissue and against an associated anvil of the stapler for closing the staples. For reuse, the firing wedges are retracted, the used staple cartridge removed, and an unused staple cartridge inserted into the device.
While some staplers are configured to perform the sole function of stapling, one particularly useful configuration of a surgical stapler effects simultaneous cutting and stapling (i.e., suturing) of tissue. Such devices, sometimes referred to as linear cutters, include a knife blade which is advanced together with the firing wedges of the surgical stapler during use. In this manner, cutting of tissue is effected simultaneously with stapling, greatly facilitating efficiency in surgical procedures.
In order to preclude inadvertent use of a stapler with a used staple cartridge, thereby avoiding inadvertent cutting of tissue without simultaneous application of staples, surgical staplers are ordinarily provided with locking mechanisms which prevent actuation of the device unless fitted with a fresh, unused staple cartridge. U.S. Pat. No. Re. 34,519, to Fox et al., hereby incorporated by reference, discloses various embodiments of such locking mechanisms, with the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,570 disclosing further embodiments of such locking mechanisms.
In the locking mechanisms disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,570, the knife blade of the illustrated surgical stapler is configured to cooperate with a member provided on an unused staple cartridge for permitting advancement of the knife blade, and actuation of the stapler, when fitted with the unused cartridge. In particular, the knife blade is mounted for limited vertical movement in opposition to a biasing spring, which spring ordinarily urges the knife blade into a locked position in association with a roof member of the stapler. Insertion of an unused staple cartridge into the device acts to displace the knife blade, in opposition to the biasing spring, into alignment with a slot defined by the roof member. This permits advancement of the knife blade and the associated firing wedges of the stapler, thus permitting simultaneous cutting and stapling of tissue. During advancement of the knife blade, the cooperating member on the staple cartridge is displaced. As a consequence, upon retraction of the knife blade and firing wedges, the knife blade is urged by the biasing spring into engagement with the roof member and out of alignment with the slot therein, thus preventing reuse of the device until fitted with an unused staple cartridge.
In particular, current commercial embodiments of surgical staplers in accordance with the above-referenced patent include a rotatable member mounted on the staple cartridge for cooperation with the associated knife blade. This rotatable member (sometimes referred to as a swing tab) is configured to interferringly engage the body of the staple cartridge as the member is rotated by the knife blade, thus providing a snap-over like action to maintain the rotatable member in an out-of-the-way disposition. This prevents the knife blade from engaging the rotatable member and returning to its original position as the blade is retracted.
In U.S. application Ser. No. 08/611,161 filed Mar. 5, 1996 by the same inventor as the present application, a surgical stapler includes a staple cartridge having a rotatable member which is initially positioned to coact with a knife blade of the surgical stapler to position the knife blade for distal movement in the device, thus permitting actuation for simultaneous cutting and stapling of tissue. Notably, the rotatable member is specifically configured to move to an out-of-the-way position during actuation of the device without application of undue force to the rotatable member. Convenient and efficient use is facilitated by the resultant reduction in "force to fire" of the stapler.
The surgical stapler disclosed in the aforementioned application includes a frame, and a staple cartridge positionable in the frame. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body containing at least one row of staples, with the cartridge defining an elongated knife slot. At least one firing wedge is carried by the frame of the surgical stapler for movement longitudinally of the stapler. Such longitudinal movement, distally of the stapler, effects sequential driving of the staples from the staple cartridge through tissue and against an associated anvil of the stapler.
A knife blade travels across a spacer which is mounted into the frame of the stapler for movement through the elongated knife slot defined by the staple cartridge. The knife blade is also vertically movable between a first, locked position wherein the knife blade is substantially prevented from moving through the knife slot, and a second, unlocked position wherein the knife blade is movable through the slot in the staple cartridge.
The staple cartridge includes a rotatable member which is movable from a first position to a second position. In its first position, the rotatable member is engagable with the knife blade as the staple cartridge is positioned in the frame of the stapler. This engagement acts to move the knife blade from its first, locked position to its second, unlocked position.
During actuation of the stapler, the rotatable member on the cartridge is moved to the second position thereof by the knife blade as the knife blade is advanced in forward or distal direction through the knife slot. Simultaneous cutting and stapling of tissue is effected during distal advancement of the knife blade.
The rotatable member on the staple cartridge includes a resiliently flexible portion which is yieldably engagable with the body of the staple cartridge as the rotatable member is moved from its first position to its second position. After such movement, the flexible portion on the rotatable member is engagable with the cartridge body to maintain the rotatable member in the second position thereof. Upon retraction of the knife blade, the blade returns to its first, locked position wherein it is substantially prevented from movement through the knife slot (i.e., its position prior to insertion of an unused staple cartridge). This takes place since the rotatable member on the staple cartridge has been moved to its second position, and thus is no longer engagable with the knife blade. Reuse of the stapler is effected by removal of the spent cartridge, and insertion of a fresh, unused staple-filled cartridge.
A first end portion of the rotatable member is pivotally mounted on the cartridge body of the staple cartridge. The resiliently flexible portion of the member comprises a cantilevered arm at this first end portion, which arm is engagable with the cartridge body as the rotatable member is moved from its first to its second position. Additionally, the rotatable member includes a cam projection engagable by the knife blade of the stapler as the knife blade is advanced distally through the knife slot. The cam projection facilitates movement of the rotatable member to the second position thereof. The cam projection is provided generally at a second end portion of the rotatable member, spaced from the first end portion thereof.
The device described provides an effective arrangement for preventing inadvertent use of the surgical stapler with a used staple cartridge. It is, however, possible that a build up or accumulation of tissue around the locking mechanism could inhibit the knife blade from efficiently seating against the roof member in the retracted condition.
Additionally, the retraction of the knife during multiple return strokes may cause a portion of the knife blade to embed into the roof member of the locking mechanism. This embedding, plus the tissue buildup can possibly cause an occasional inhibition of the knife to be efficiently restored to its full upright position, locked behind the roof member.

Surgical stapler with improved locking mechanism


A wound dressing for application to a protruding part of a joint of the body, in particular the heel. The dressing includes an elongated first part for placing on one side of the protruding joint part, and a second part for placing on another side of the joint, and two ear parts extending laterally from the second part. At least the central parts of the first part, the second part and the ear parts of the dressing are covered with an absorbent element. A portion of each laterally extending ear part between its outermost lateral point and a longitudinal tip of the second part is concave to facilitate wrapping of the ear parts around the heel without overlapping of the absorbent element.

Wounds on protruding parts of the body are due to the anatomical complexity of the area very difficult to secure a dressing or bandage to. Efforts have been made to achieve better conformity, often by providing such dressings with irregular outlines.
To ensure good quality of life for a patient with a heel wound it is important that the dressing is pleasant to wear and also can be used when the patient is active, e.g. walking, and together with shoes. This requires a dressing being flexible, pliable and safely secured to the foot. Too bulky dressings or dressings with folds, flaps or sharp edges may give rise to discomfort or pressure points leading to pressure sores which are highly undesired. Furthermore, it is desirable if the dressing is capable of fitting a variety of shapes and sizes of the body parts and wounds without the necessarity of adaptation of the dressing e.g. by cutting.
Every time a wound dressing is changed, both the wound and the skin surrounding the wound is exposed to severe stress. It is therefore desired that the dressing is allowed to stay on the patient for as long as possible. This requires a dressing with good absorbency and an excellent fit to the anatomy of the body part.
The dressings may often comprise hydrocolloid as absorbent material, which has a limited absorption. When used on medium or highly exuding wounds, this leads to a more frequent change of dressing as well as the risk of maceration, leakage, detachment and contamination of the wound is increased.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,213 (Jensen) is disclosed a planar dressing comprising an absorbent adhesive, such as hydrocolloid. The dressing comprises a central portion and a border portion surrounding the central portion. The border portion is having a thickness substantially less than the central portion. The dressing comprises at least one triangular gusset part extending from the border portion of the dressing and into the central portion. The gusset comprises an inwardly-extending fold line by use of which the dressing may be folded to a three-dimensional structure before application to the heel. It is only possible to apply the dressing in one way, and the folded gussets may give rise to uncomfort by sticking to the clothes or to pressure sores.
Heel ulcers are usually located on the plantar or on the side or dorsum of the foot. A wound dressing being flexible enough to cover different parts or all the mentioned parts of the foot may be preferred.
Various dressings for protruding body parts are known:
U.S. Pat. No. 2,440,235 (Solomon) discloses a T-shaped finger dressing. The stem of the T is covered by a substantially rectangular absorbent pad.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,253,108 (Casey) discloses a finger dressing with a central absorbent pad. The dressing is slitted in the length direction in order to achieve folding around the finger tip.
In CH Patent No. 321 693 (Conrads) is disclosed a wound dressing for the finger tip. The dressing comprises a first and a second part with an elongated absorbent pad extending from the first to the second part. An adhesive flange is extending from the absorbent pad of the second part. Incisions between the first and the second part renders it possible to avoid bulks when the dressing is folded around a finger tip.
However the structure of the three above mentioned dressings, when applied to the finger tip, is essentially two-dimensional and will not be suitable for application to a joint, such as the heel or the elbow.
European Patent No. 552 271 (Smith & Nephew) discloses a three-dimensional wound dressing of an absorbent material such as foam. The dressing is welded together to develop the form of an envelope to enclose the heel. It is not possible to adjust the size of the dressing to the heel resulting in discomfort. Thus it will only fit a limited range of sizes of body parts and a secondary dressing may further be needed to secure the dressing to the patient. The welded line may give rise to pressure sores as well as the absorption at this line may be limited.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,578 (Johansen) discloses a wound dressing comprising a central part and a plurality of adhesive flaps extending radially from the central part. The flaps are capable of moving and bending independently of each others. The dressing is most suitable for minor wounds, as it will be bulky if enlarged. Further, the adhesive may cold-flow and hereby connect the adhesive flaps in an undesired manner.
Thus, there is still a need for a conformable dressing with high absorbency, and an ability to fit different wound sites on protruding parts of a joint of the body, without wrinkling or appearing bulky. It has surprisingly been found that it is possible to achieve such a dressing by a dressing according to the present invention.


A disk for holding, centrifuging and microscopically viewing fluid samples is provided. The disk includes a plurality of reaction wells radiating outwardly and includes a barrier to restrain particles during centrifugation. This disk is used in the disclosed apparatus and method for blood typing and related procedures. The apparatus comprises sample loading, mixing, centrifuging, incubating, viewing and sterilizing stations. Additionally, a photomicrograph of the sample is taken, digitized, displayed, stored and printed along with corresponding test results and interpretation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to hemo-analysis. More particularly, the invention relates to a testing disk for handling and carrying samples and also to a method and apparatus for analyzing, storing, displaying and printing data from blood typing and other related procedures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Blood grouping is a routine procedure for categorizing human blood into one of four classifications: A, B, AB or O. Currently, blood grouping is accomplished by inducing agglutination, i.e., clumping, in red blood cell suspensions. To perform this procedure ,a patient's blood sample is clotted and then centrifuged to separate the red blood cells from the blood serum. A small amount of red blood cells is mixed with a diluent and a portion of this test solution is introduced into a test tube. The test tube also contains either anti-A-serum, anti-B-serum or anti-AB-serum. At various stages of the procedure, reagents facilitating and enhancing immunological reactions are added to the test solution and the resulting solution is incubated, centrifuged and agitated. A sample is then removed from the solution and visually analyzed under a microscope to determine whether cell agglutination has occurred.
A sample which agglutinates in the presence of anti-A reagent, but does not agglutinate with the presence of anti-B reagent is identified as blood type A. Similarly, a sample which agglutinates with anti-B reagent but does not agglutinate with anti-A reagent is classified as blood type B. A sample which agglutinates with both anti-A and anti-B reagents is classified as blood type AB, and a sample which does not respond to either reagent is classified as blood type O.
Presently, a variety of factors combine to make blood grouping procedures costly, error prone, slow to complete and potentially dangerous to technicians completing the procedures. For example, blood grouping procedures are usually performed manually by a trained technician. The technician subjectively evaluates the procedure's results and, consequently, blood grouping procedures are slow, labor intensive and error prone. Because of the subjective nature of sample evaluation, results from these tests are far from uniform. Such factors as the technician's experience, training and fatigue strongly influence the technician's evaluation of the sample. Unfortunately, the consequences of an error can be fatal.
Blood grouping procedures also require the use of a variety of glass objects, including microscope slides, cover slips and pipettes. These glass objects are nonreusable, must be discarded after use and are hazardous if cracked or shattered. Furthermore, the glass objects are contaminated with potentially dangerous human blood and special care must be exercised for props and safe disposal. Glass object disposal and replacement results in unwanted and unnecessary expense for performing blood grouping procedures.
Additionally, the biological fluid to be tested is usually mixed with other fluids, incubated, centrifuged and microscopically examined. During all stages of the immuno-analyses procedure the technician is routinely exposed to human blood potentially carrying infectious and possibly lethal diseases. In order to minimize handling and reduce exposure to fragile glass objects, it is desirable to perform the entire analyses using only one sample holder.
Currently, several models of sample holders attempt to reduce blood sample handling during blood grouping and other related procedures. In general, current sample holders are designed to facilitate blood sample centrifuging and separations. Generally, such sample holders are disk-shaped and employ contoured chambers and passages to promote sample mixing and separation. Biological fluids placed within these disks are mixed and separated by being centrifugally forced over chamber walls or through a variety of passages. These disk designs generally do not allow sample testing or microscopic analysis while the sample is held in the disk. Consequently, a need exists for a sample holder to aid sample preparation, handling and microscopic analysis.
Additionally, as discussed above, blood grouping and other immunological tests are generally labor-intensive and error-prone. In order to reduce manual sample handling and increase testing reliability, it is desirable to integrate a sample holder into a fully-automated analysis system. Current analysis systems generally perform immuno-analyses in one of two ways.
The first type of analysis system examines physical characteristics of mounted and stained blood specimens. In general, the specimens are mounted on glass slides and stained with compounds which enhance identification of cells or physical objects within the cells based upon recognizable physicals characteristics. These physical characteristics may then be measured, enhanced and tentatively identified. Many of these systems create digitized images of the examined cells and objects, store and manipulate the acquired data and then print a permanent record of testing and analyses results.
The second type of analysis system determines the presence of immunological responses within the specimen. In general, blood samples are mixed and reacted with other substances within the analysis system. If the particles within the sample agglutinate, the solution generally becomes turbid and the specimen's optical density increases and may be measured photometrically. The degree of turbidity depends upon the degree of agglutination and is measured photometrically. The measured data is then processed to determine the extent of agglutination in the sample. In contrast to the first type of analysis systems, this type of analysis system cannot create digitized images of cells or cell features.
Thus, the prior art has been described with reference to blood grouping. However, the same limitations of utilizing manual procedures evident with blood grouping apply to other blood analysis procedures such as, for example, Rh typing, anti-body screening, anti-body identification and donor/recipient compatibility cross matching.
As is evident from the above discussion, the analysis systems which microscopically examine physical characteristics of specimen cells do not analyze immunological reactions. In contrast, analysis systems which focus on immunological reactions do not microscopically examine physical characteristics of specimen cells. As a result, a need exists for an automated system integrating a useful sample holder which also analyzes immunological reactions including creating, storing and printing digitized images of immunological responses.


The invention is a method and apparatus for continuously monitoring the application of a coupling to a pipe. The invention operates in several modes. In the position mode, the apparatus rotates the coupling to a desired final position. In the program mode, the apparatus determines the actual location of the hand-tight plane and continuously monitors the torque applied and the number of turns of rotation of the coupling from the hand-tight plane to the desired final position. In either of these modes, the torque applied is monitored and rotation of the coupling is discontinued if a preset maximum torque value is exceeded. If the coupling is rotated to the desired final position without reaching a minimum torque, the pipe and coupling are rejected. An image processing system is employed to locate several critical make-up parameters.

This invention relates to application of a coupling onto the end of a threaded pipe and, more particularly, to an improved method and apparatus for automatically locating critical coupling parameters and for real-time monitoring of the coupling application.
Pipe sections used in the oil industry for line pipe, well casing, etc. usually have tapered exteriorly threaded ends. These pipe are joined together using couplings in the form of collars which have interior tapered threads extending inwardly from each end. In order to form a leak tight joint between pipe sections, a thread compound is applied to the coupling threads, the coupling is threaded onto one end of a pipe, and a second pipe is threaded into the coupling. Since the pipes must be joined in the field, the pipes are usually ordered from manufacturers with a coupling attached to one end. Due to the high internal pressures which such pipe must withstand in service, each pipe and coupling is manufactured and inspected to rigorous standards and each coupling must be installed according to rigid industry and customer specifications.
There are two major factors which determine whether or not a coupling has been applied to a pipe in an acceptable manner. The first is the length of engagement of the threads of the coupling with those of the pipe. The second is the amount of torque required to screw-on the coupling to the specified final position. The thread dimensions, final coupling position and other coupling parameters are the subject of specifications issued by the American Petroleum Institute ("API") for the various pipe types and sizes.
API's Specification for Threading, Gaging, and Thread Inspection of Casing, Tubing and Line Pipe Threads, API Specification STD 5B, 13th Edition, May 31, 1988, sets forth the required basic dimensions of pipe and coupling threads, as well as hand-tight and power-tight positions on page 7, FIG. 2.1. One such dimension, L.sub.4 is the measurement of the total length of the threaded portion of each end of the pipe from the end of the pipe to the point that the threads vanish. This length varies according to the pipe diameter. Each coupling is required to have a particular length of threads from the applied bearing face for proper mating with the pipe threads. This coupling thread length also changes with pipe diameter and thread type.
As observable in FIG. 2.1 of API STD 5B, a 3/8 inch high equilateral triangle is die-stamped onto the pipe surface to indicate the desired final position of the applied face of the coupling after power tightening. The location of this triangle stamp depends on the thread type. For buttress thread, API requires the triangle to be at L.sub.4 plus 0.300 inches for pipe sizes 133/8 inches in diameter and smaller and at L.sub.4 plus 0.200 inches for pipe sizes 16 inches in diameter and larger. For 16, 185/8 and 20 inch diameter 8-round thread casing in Grades H40, J55 and K55, API requires the triangle to be at L.sub.4 plus 1/16 inch (0.0625 inch). Although API does not require a triangle stamp for some pipe sizes and thread types, the preferred standard practice is to place a triangle stamp at L.sub.4 plus 1/16 inch for all pipe except buttress, with buttress stamped at L.sub.4 plus 0.200/0.300 inches as indicated above.
A coupling is usually installed to one end of each pipe in a two step process as follows. The coupling is threaded on to the "hand-tight" position, which corresponds to the position at which the threads of the pipe and the coupling are engaged to such an extent that any further threading would cause interference between the pipe and coupling threads. Since the final desired position, known as the "power-tight" position, of the coupling face is known and the thread pitch is known, the number of turns of the coupling required to reach the final position from the hand-tight position can be determined. While the pipe is held stationary, the coupling is rotated the number of turns so determined and the torque being applied is measured. If a specified maximum torque value is reached before the coupling reaches the desired final position, the pipe is rejected. Also, should the coupling be screwed on to the final position without reaching a minimum torque value, the pipe is rejected. Therefore, there is an allowable window of make-up torque for acceptability of each pipe and coupling.
In order to confirm that a pipe or coupling is joined in an acceptable manner, it is critical to determine the actual hand-tight position or reference point as the coupling is being screwed on. In some prior art coupling systems, a pre-determined value is assigned as the reference torque and the hand-tight position is presumed to be the position of the coupling when the level of applied torque reaches this level. Whenever an irregularity in the pipe or coupling threads or in the state of out-of-roundness of the pipe or the coupling causes a spike in the torque measurement which exceeds the reference torque value, this system provides an erroneous reading of the hand-tight position, resulting in a failure to accurately determine the final make-up conditions of the pipe joint.
In the present invention, a computer analysis of a combination of known pipe and coupling dimensions, position measurements obtained through image analysis, counting of turns of coupling rotation and torque measurements is used to determine the precise hand-tight position and to map the turns and torque values during rotation of the coupling from the hand-tight position to the final power-tight position. In this manner, a coupling can be automatically installed on pipe to the required specifications and the make-up parameter data stored for analysis.