A computer executes a suspicious software sample directly on its CPU in order to detect if the software sample is malicious. The software sample does not execute within a sandbox or virtual machine. Before the sample executes, a memory state of the computer is saved and a virtual disk file is created to bootstrap the computer at a later time. Malicious behavior of the software sample is collected while it executes and a report is generated. Hard disk access requests are redirected to a virtual disk file. The software sample does not detect that it is being analyzed. After execution of the sample, the computer is reverts to a clean state by bootstrapping the computer from the saved virtual disk file and then restoring the computer's volatile and non-volatile virtual memory from the saved memory state. A new software sample may then be executed and analyzed on the clean computer.

Attacks upon computer systems are increasingly becoming more sophisticated and targeted. One particular type of threat, known as an advanced persistent threat (APT), refers to targeted attacks that aggressively pursue and compromise chosen targets, and is commonly associated with a government or other entity that has the resources to maintain such an attack. Often, such a long-term pattern of attacks is aimed at other governments or companies. Individuals are usually not referred to as being an advanced persistent threat because they rarely have the resources to launch a sophisticated attack or to be persistent. An advanced persistent threat is characterized by: targeting a specific organization or individual; accessing the target network; deploying additional tools; and covering tracks in order to maintain future access.
A sandbox is a security mechanism for separating programs on a computer and is often used to detect advanced persistent threats, as well as other malware. A sandbox typically provides a tightly controlled set of resources for guest programs to run in, such as scratch space on disk and memory. Network access, the ability to inspect the host system or the ability to read from input devices is usually disallowed or heavily restricted. Sandboxes include virtual machines that emulate a complete host computer on which a conventional guest operating system may boot and run as if on actual hardware. The guest operating system runs "in a sandbox" in the sense that it does not execute natively on the host computer and can only access host resources through the virtual machine. Sandboxes are used by antivirus service providers to analyze malware behavior; by creating an environment that mimics an actual computer, researchers can determine how malware infects and compromises a computer.
Traditionally, anti-APT software is deployed on a gateway computer where the software executes malware and collects its behavior within a sandbox such as the Multi-Vector Virtual Execution (MVX) product available from FireEye, Inc. Unfortunately, APT malware is becoming more sophisticated and now includes sandbox evasion technology that allows the malware to avoid exhibiting malicious behavior when in a traditional sandbox environment. For example, some APT malware now use technology that can detect traces of a virtual machine environment. Once the malware detects a virtual machine, it ceases exhibiting its malicious behavior, or simply exits, so that the sandbox cannot collect any information. For example, the malware checks for the existence of system files, registry keys, services, BIOS configurations, CLSID or even backdoor instructions associated with a virtual machine. Even more advanced, the malware can compare the difference in instruction block CPU execution cycles between a virtual machine and the host operating system. Malware can usually always detect a sandbox implemented using a virtual machine.
Other types of sandboxes can also be detected by APT malware. For example, in a sandbox, many hardware devices are emulated by software. Because of this emulation, the performance of the sandbox system will see a drop in performance due to the overhead of emulation and the accumulation of trace and trap handling during execution of malware samples. APT malware can often detect this performance drop.
Accordingly, because of the advanced evasion technology used by APT malware, new techniques are desirable that can collect behavior of and detect APT malware.

Detection of advanced persistent threat having evasion technology


An adjustable optical signal delay module which adjusts power of an amplified spontaneous emission generated by a semiconductor optical amplifier and feeds the adjusted amplified spontaneous emission back to the semiconductor optical amplifier in a direction opposite to an optical signal being amplified by the semiconductor optical amplifier is provided. The feedback of the adjusted amplified spontaneous emission varies a group refractive index of the semiconductor optical amplifier and delays the transmission of an optical signal through the semiconductor optical amplifier. By that arrangement, the adjustable optical delay module obviates the need for the pump laser conventionally required by a coherent population oscillation mechanism. The feedback optical loop includes a variable optical attenuator, an optical filter, and optical circulators. A user can control the delay timing of optical signals via adjusting optical power in the feedback optical loop.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical signal delay module and a method thereof, particularly to a module and method, which reversely feedbacks an amplified spontaneous emission generated by an optical amplifier to the optical amplifier through a loop to modify the group refractive index of the amplifier. By varying the group refractive index of the optical amplifier, the transmission of optical signals can be delayed.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fiber-optic communication is a communication method based on light and optical fibers. Light can be used to carry information after being modulated where it features a superior transmission capacity and a high information security. Since 1980s, the fiber-optic communication system plays a very important role in the digital world. In principle, the outgoing information is transferred from the sender side to the transmitter, and the signal modulates the carrier wave, which functions as the transmission medium of information, and then the modulated carrier wave is sent to the recipient side in a distant place, and the receiver demodulates the modulated carrier wave to obtain the original information.
A single optical fiber can simultaneously transfer several groups of signals having different wavelengths, such as the signals of telephone, the Internet, and cable TV. Optical fiber outperforms copper wire in signal impairment and signal interference, and the advantages are especially obvious in long-distance massive data transmission. After different-wavelength optical signals are coupled and sent into the incident side, the different-wavelength optical signals will have different phase delays inside the waveguide because different-path signals have different timings. Thus, the data traffic may exceed the processing capability of the recipient side. Therefore, the optical fiber network needs technologies to delay optical signals and guarantee that data traffic is within the processing capability of the recipient side to prevent data loss. The current optical signal delay technologies are usually based on controlling optical signal paths. However, such a design has to reserve extra optical signal paths in the optical network topology, it also requires a plurality of optoelectronic switches or mechanical switches and a complex control system, which consumes a lot of space and higher installation cost. Please refer to FIG. 1 for a proposed experimental setup by H. Su, and S. L. Chuang in Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 88, Art. No. 061102, 2006: an external pump laser is counterclockwise injected into a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) via an optical circulator, and the delay of optical signals can be controlled by varying the power of the pump laser. However, such a technology needs an external high-power and high-stability pump laser which is high in cost.
To overcome the abovementioned problem, the present invention proposes an optical signal delay module, which adjusts power of amplified spontaneous emission generated by a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and reversely feeds the adjusted ASE back to the SOA. Thereby, the present invention can vary the group refractive index of the optical amplifier to achieve optical signal delay. Thus, the present invention, can replace the conventional pump laser required by a coherent population oscillation mechanism which greatly reduce the cost of establishing an optical network.

Adjustable optical signal delay module and method thereof


A disposable dental marking product comprising a elongated shaft having a first end representing a gripping area for a user's fingers and a second end directly covered with a composition of marking chemicals representing a writing area.

The present invention relates to a marking product. More particularly it relates to a marking product used by dentists and orthodontists.
Dentists and orthodontists often require in their practice, a product capable of marking teeth, braces, other orthodontic apparatuses, dentures, partial dentures, bridges or restorations. For instance, when removing braces from a patient, it is often necessary for the orthodontist to leave reference marks on the wires to ensure accurate cutting or bending for adjustments. Further, it is also often necessary for dentists to place reference marks on dentures, partial dentures and various other dental appliances for adjustment procedures. Thus, it is common practice for dentists and orthodontists to use a marking product.
There are numerous types of marking apparatuses used by dentists and orthodontists presently. For instance, products such as "China Markers" or wax pencils are frequently utilized by dentists and orthodontists today. A China Marker is a type of pencil which comprises a colored wax circumferentially wrapped by a helically wound strand of paper. When the colored wax is depleted, the paper is unwrapped to expose a new surface of wax. Thus, one China Marker could last a fairly long time. However, this prior marker has the disadvantage in that it is not orally hygienic. For example, one marker is often used on numerous patients containing various infections. The current fear of many patients of contacting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, makes a more hygienic product particularly desirable. Due to the cost of manufacturing such a prior marker, it would be economically disadvantageous to discard the marker after a single use.
Thus there appears to be a need for a dental marking product which is more orally hygienic than prior art markers.


A construction element for a plant for capture of an acidic gas using an aqueous amine absorbent, wherein at least a part of a surface of said element comprises a polyolefin, and a hydrolytically stable antioxidant, is described. Additionally, a liner comprising said polyolefin and the hydrolytically stable antioxidant, is described. The construction element may be a column, a pipe, an insert, like a column packing element or a tray. An apparatus for capturing CO2 using the construction elements, is also described.

The continually increasing combustion of fossil fuel, such as coal, natural gas, and oil, has resulted in a dramatic increase in the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. There is overwhelming evidence that the greenhouse effect is at least partly caused by this increased CO2 concentration and that this has already contributed to the climate changes that have occurred over the last decades. According to simulation models, it is suspected to cause further and potentially more dramatic changes in the climate in the future.
As a result, scientists, environmentalists and politicians throughout the world are driving initiatives to reduce the amount of CO2 discharged into the atmosphere by combustion of fossil fuel. One approach being adopted is to capture CO2 (i.e. prevent the release of CO2) from the exhaust gases, e.g. from thermal power plants, before they are released to the atmosphere. The captured CO2 may be injected into subterranean formations such as aquifers, oil wells for enhanced oil recovery or in depleted oil and gas wells for deposition since tests indicate that CO2 remains in the subterranean formation for thousands of years and is not released back into the atmosphere.
The most common CO2 capture processes are based on the CO2-containing gas mixture being introduced, in counter flow, to an aqueous absorbent in an absorber column. The gas leaving the absorber column is CO2 depleted. The CO2 leaves the absorber column together with the absorbent. Typically the absorbent is subsequently regenerated in a regenerator column and returned to the absorber column. The CO2 separated from the absorbent is sent for storage, e.g. in a subterranean formation.
Several types of aqueous absorbents are utilised in carbon capture processes including amines, carbonates and amino acid salts.
The currently preferred absorbents for use in these processes are, however, aqueous solutions of different amines. The amines used for the CO2 capture, and also the fluids used for emission control and flue gas treatment, however, interact with several of the materials most commonly used in the construction of equipment that is used in the CO2 capture process. For instance the amines may cause corrosion or degradation of the equipment material, particularly the columns, its inserts and piping where the amines are present in significant amounts and at relatively high temperatures.
Polyolefin materials, e.g. polypropylene and polyethylene, are generally very resistant against amines at low and moderate temperatures, and may be used in contact with amines either alone or as liners on less resistant substrates of e.g. steel, concrete, or composite materials. For application in CO2 capture plants, the required service lifetime of a liner is more than 30 years at temperatures up to 80° C. and in amine solution (e.g. 30% monoethanolamine (MEA) in water or similar concentrations of other amines or mixtures of amines).
EP 0657684 A (KERAMCHEMIE GMBH) 14 Jun. 1995 describes construction part for chemical plants where a liner is provided at metal surfaces as corrosion coating, where the liner has a layered structure comprising an inner resin layer fastened to a supporting metal body, and where the inner layer is protected by one or more outer layers, of which the outer layer is a non-diffusive rubber layer.
DE 2105859 A (FRACTIONATION RESEARCH LTD) 7 Oct. 1971 relates to building elements for chemical process plants made of high temperature polypropylene without any metal organic compounds at least in the surface layer. Said building elements are said to be resistant to water and many chemicals.
DE 3820434 A (LINDE AG) 21 Dec. 1989 relates to an absorption column having a packing comprising packing elements made of polymers such as polypropylene or polyethylene. Nothing is said about the nature of the polymers, or their use as a liner.
DE 102009013757 A (LINDE AG) 29 Sep. 2010 describes an absorption column for CO2 capture including a packing of synthetic material, such as plastic. Nothing is discovered about the nature of the synthetic material.
US 2006/0156923 A (BASF AG) 20 Jul. 2006 discloses the idea of using a polypropylene liner in an inert scrubbing column for deacidifying acid gases. Additionally, MOSER, Peter, et al. Material Testing for Future Commercial Post-Combustion Capture Plants. Energy Procedia. September 2011, vol.4, p.1317-1322. tests the performance of a concrete module lined with polypropylene in a flow line returning absorbent to an absorption column. No details about the nature of the polypropylene are, however, revealed in either publication.
MÜLLER, Werner W., et al. Antioxidant depletion and oit values of high impact PP strands. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science. 2009, vol. 27, no. 3, p. 435-445. relates to a study of depletion of different antioxidants in polypropylene (PP) during immersion in water, and inversion of water combined with air oven aging. There is, however, no mentioning of the effects of aqueous solutions as such, or more specifically aqueous amine solutions used as CO2 absorbents on the antioxidants, or on the PP including the antioxidants.
The requirements for the lifetime, or service life, of the construction elements in contact with aqueous amine solutions in a plant for CO2 capture, such as columns, tanks, piping, packing etc, is 30 years. Depletion of antioxidants used to stabilize polyolefins under exposure for the operating conditions the building element comprising a polyolefin will be exposed to, is an indication on the lifetime for the polyolefin. Testing under temperatures higher than the expected operating temperature until degradation or mechanical breakdown of the polyolefin material, is an accepted accelerated test, that can give a better indication on the lifetime.
The tests described by Müller et al, see table 3, indicates that antioxidants as Irganox 1010 and Irganox 1330 are depleted within 120 days in water bath at 90° C., and 301 days at 90° C. Even though it is indicated that for the antioxidant Irganox 1330, OIT values during aging changed slower than the reduction of antioxidant concentration in the polymer, the lifetime for a polyolefin stabilized with Irganox 1330 assumed from the data provided by Müller et al, is far shorter than 30 years. The skilled person reading Müller et al would conclude that other antioxidants different from Irganox 1330 had to be used to provide the required lifetime.
Candidate material, beta (b)-PP BE60-7032 from Borealis AS and, sold by Steuler, as a corrosion resistant polymer, was subjected to long term testing under conditions representative for the conditions in a CO2 absorption column. It was found not to have the required long term resistance to the absorbent. This testing is shown in the examples section.
Hence, there is a need to develop more resistant materials for long term operation for constructing equipment for use in CO2 capture plants. Further goals for the present invention will be apparent for the skilled person in reading the description.


A computer-implemented method for processing virtual 3-D data efficiently is described. An object image data is generated from a scan of an object. Object polygon model data and object texture map data is generated from the object image data. The object polygon model data is saved in a first object file. The object texture map data is encoded. The encoded object texture map data is saved in a second object file. The data format of the second object file is different than the data format of the first object file.

The use of computer systems and computer-related technologies continues to increase at a rapid pace. This increased use of computer systems has influenced the advances made to computer-related technologies. Indeed, computer systems have increasingly become an integral part of the business world and the activities of individual consumers. For example, computers have opened up an entire industry of internet shopping. In many ways, online shopping has changed the way consumers purchase products. For example, a consumer may want to know what they will look like in and/or with a product on the screen of their computer in a virtual sense. A virtual three-dimensional (3-D) scene may be rendered to improve the online shopping experience. Rendering a 3-D scene may involve processing relatively large amounts of data and computationally complex algorithms. Thus, current systems may introduce considerable delays processing a virtual 3-D scene.

Systems and methods for efficiently processing virtual 3-D data


A squatdown axle and suspension system for vehicles used to haul cargo provides a frame, a cargo bed attached to the frame, at least two wheels, and an adjustable suspension system for suspending the frame on the wheels between a transport position in which the frame and cargo bed are generally parallel to the road surface and a load position in which the cargo bed is lowered to the road surface. In one embodiment the suspension system includes at least one air bag which can be alternately inflated or deflated to adjust the position of the cargo bed and frame with respect to the road surface. A removable pulley for use with a winch and cable and an adjustable axle assembly are also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of suspension systems, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a squatdown axle and suspension system for vehicles used to haul cargo. The squatdown suspension system includes an adjustable squatdown axle so that the cargo bed can be lowered to the loading surface to achieve a load angle of as little as 3 degrees.
2. Discussion
In the past, tow trucks utilized tow bars, dollies, or slings to tow vehicles from one location to another. The tow truck of the past has been replaced by a truck capable of hauling the vehicle instead of towing the vehicle. The improved design, referred to herein as a rollback design, includes a cargo bed which rolls back on a frame from a transport position to a load position. In the load position, the rear of the cargo bed is lowered to the road surface while the front of the cargo bed remains elevated. The rollback design includes a winch (with cable) attached to the front of the frame. The cable is attached to the vehicle which is to be hauled, the winch pulls the vehicle into position on the cargo bed, and the vehicle and rollback cargo bed are then pulled forward to a level hauling position. Tie downs, chains, and the like are used to secure the transported vehicle to the cargo bed.
The rollback design discussed above, while an improvement over prior tow truck designs, includes several limitations. Rolling the cargo bed back to permit loading of a vehicle extends the overall length of the truck plus cargo bed so that some locations are inaccessible. Hauled vehicles having a low suspension, frame, or body are susceptible to damage from the cable due to the angle formed between the cargo bed and the loading surface when the cargo bed is in the load position. In the transport position, the cargo bed is typically a minimum of forty to forty-eight inches above the road surface, thus producing a high center of gravity during transport.
Conventional rental trucks and trailers used to haul household goods likewise require a raised dock or a ramp to permit loading of heavy items. U-Haul rental trucks, for example, are normally equipped with a slide-out ramp. Refrigerators, washers, dryers, and the like are typically loaded onto a hand truck, and the hand truck is pushed from the loading surface, up the ramp, into the cargo area of the rental truck. The slide-out ramp, like the rollback cargo bed, imposes space restrictions on the loading process. The process of moving heavy objects up the ramp introduces a risk of injury both to the items being moved and to personnel responsible for loading the heavy objects.
Some rental trucks, freight delivery trucks, and trailers are equipped with power lifts designed to lift heavy objects from the loading surface to the level of the cargo area. While the power lifts eliminate the need for moving personnel to push heavy objects up a ramp, the small size of the power lift creates additional safety concerns when personnel attempt to move heavy objects from the power lift into the cargo area.
Conventional livestock trailers used to haul horses, cattle, swine, and sheep face similar limitations. Livestock trailers may include a back door which can be lowered to form a loading ramp. The presence of livestock on the loading ramp can cause the trailer to become unstable during loading. With or without a loading ramp, the risk of injury to livestock and wranglers is greatest during loading operations. Trailers which are not equipped with loading ramps carry an increased risk of injury.
Available trucks and trailers for hauling cargo do not provide a suspension which permits the cargo bed to drop to the ground to permit loading of cargo, including automobiles, furniture, and other heavy objects, without use of ramps or docks.


A feed arm (10) for use with a debarking and delimbing machine (100). The arm is constructed of a first section (12) and a second section (14) which are slidably connected together using an insert (16). The first section is securely mounted on the lower frame (114) of the machine adjacent the end opening (108) at the infeed side opening (110). The feed arm acts to move and guide the trees (150) to be debarked and delimbed into the flailing station (102) of the machine.

(1). Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a feed arm for use with an open ended delimbing and debarking machine. In particular, the present invention relates to a feed arm which is mounted on the infeed side of the delimbing and debarking machine adjacent the end opening and which is angled such as to guide the trees inward and downward toward the end opening and the flailing station of the machine.
(2). Description of the Related Art
Debarking and delimbing machines having end openings or side openings are known in the art. Illustrative are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,787,431 to Demlow and 4,989,655 to Peterson et al. Demlow shows an open ended and open sided debarking and delimbing machine having upper and lower flail drums.
Peterson et al describes a flail type apparatus for debarking/delimbing tree stems. The apparatus includes lower and upper flails. The upper flails are mounted on an upper rotating shaft which is mounted on a floating head. The side wall of the housing of the apparatus is provided with a slotted opening to permit lateral sliding of a stem bundle into the flails.
Peterson et al also describes a pivotal ramp mounted to the side of a fixed ramp on the debarking/delimbing apparatus. In the raised position, the pivotal ramp is adapted to receive a stem bundle maneuvered by a boom mounted grapple. In the lowered position, the pivotal ramp cooperates with the fixed ramp for receiving a stem bundle maneuvered by a shredder mounted grapple. An upper guide cooperates with either the pivotal or fixed ramp to guide the bundles into the opening.
There remains the need for a feed arm for use with a debarking and delimbing machine which guides the trees down and into the flailing station of the machine and which is collapsible such as to allow easier transportation of the machine.


The methods described herein are configured to obtain a first record pattern associated with the unidentified entity and select a second record pattern associated with an entity identifier of a known entity. Based on the first record pattern matching the second record pattern, the entity identifier of the known entity is associated to the unidentified entity to indicate that the unidentified entity and the known entity are the same. Determining the entity identifier of the unidentified entity enables the linking of separate identifier systems of data structures to facilitate communication and/or interaction between the data structures.

Data structures and databases use identifier systems to create identifiers for stored records that uniquely identify the records and/or specific aspects of the records. Entities (e.g., users, companies, service providers, etc.) with which the records are associated also have unique identifiers assigned within the data structures. However, separate data structures use different identifier systems to create and assign identifiers, such that an entity identifier in one data structure does not match with an identifier for the same entity in a different data structure. In some cases, multiple data structures owned and/or managed by different entities store the same or similar records associated with different entity identifiers. It is sometimes necessary for the entities managing the data structures to communicate regarding the stored records, and synchronizing or matching the entity identifiers of the respective records is paramount to clear, effective communication.
Matching and "fuzzy matching" of data associated with the records may be used; data points of the records are compared with other similar known data points to try to identify an overlap. For instance, location data from a social media application may be compared to location data from a record to determine if the social media user matches the customer of the record. In another example, a company name associated with one record may be compared to a company name on another record to determine if the records are associated with the same company. While these techniques can provide accurate matching in some situations, there are many situations where a match between records and/or identifiers cannot be verified or where a false positive match is provided. In the above example, a false positive match may be provided when records associated with two different companies with similar names are matched. Accurate communication between entities with respect to shared records demands accurate, efficient matching and/or synchronizing of entity identifiers between the multiple data structures storing the records.

Entity identification based on a record pattern


The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for covering the scent of a human in order to avoid detection by wild game. The invention teaches use of scent covering material comprising ground sweet corn meal. A dispensing means is taught for containing the would comprise a storage compartment of resilient material and a dispensing nozzle releasably secured thereto such that upon exertion of pressure on the resilient storage compartment, a quantity of scent covering material is expelled. The scent cover may also include deer musk to further attract the wild game. Additionally, the method may include spraying a quantity of said scent cover on the pants leg of an individual; on surrounding trees and shrubs so as to attract deer and other wild game; and/or into the air in order to check the direction of the wind. Finally a material is taught for attracting and feeding the animals.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to a scent cover and wild game feed. More specifically, it relates to providing a sweet corn meal based feed and scent cover in both powder form and in block form. Additionally, cube and pellet form may be utilized as well as a coating for encapsulating wild bird and wild life feed.
The natural sweet corn powder used in the disclosed embodiments is highly attractive to deer, birds, squirrels, horses and other wild life enhancing its utility as both a scent cover and an attractant and feed for wild game. The methods disclosed by the present invention teach use of the attractant/scent cover in several modes. For example, the powder can be sprayed on the pants leg to cover the scent of the hunter. Additionally, the powder can be sprayed on trees, plants, and the like to attract deer or other wild game.
Whereas reference is made throughout the specification to wild game or wild life, the methods and feed described herein may equally well to more domesticated animals such as dogs, horses and the like. As a feed, it can be formed into solid blocks of various shapes and placed in various environments for consumption. The present invention contemplates mixing various additional ingredients such as sunflower seeds, millet, bird seed and the like, prior to forming the feed block.
Whereas the term "meal" is used throughout the specification, this term is meant to refer to any ground dry mature sweet corn ranging in consistency from wheat flour to coarse crumbles or chopped corn.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hunters has been devising ways to disguise their presence and attract wild game since the beginning of time. Consequently, numerous decoy scents and mechanisms have been developed. No doubt many of these techniques are effective. However, many suffer the drawback of complexity or cost.
One such prior art is the Milligan Brand FOGGER sweet corn essence with deer musk. While this product is effective, it is quite expensive. Additionally, since it is in liquid form, it is not useful in some ancillary roles such as to check wind direction.
Another prior art example of an attractant is the MIGHTY DEER.RTM. LICK--POCKET BLOCK.RTM.. This product is a lick block comprised of various ingredients including sweet corn. However, the block is comprised primarily of salt (93-98%) with Calcium and Phosphorus comprising another 1%. The remaining 1-6% comprising the remaining ingredients including sweet corn. Therefore, at most, a very small percentage of the MIGHTY DEER deer lick comprises sweet corn. This percentage is not dry mature sweet corn.
Consequently, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide an attractant/scent cover apparatus and method comprised substantially entirely of dry mature sweet corn meal.
An additional objective of the present invention is to provide an attractant/scent cover apparatus and method comprising sweet corn meal which may be sprayed on the pants leg to cover human scent.
An additional objective of the present invention is to provide an attractant/scent cover apparatus and method comprising sweet corn meal which may be sprayed on trees, plants and the like to cover human scent and attract the wild game.
An additional objective is to provide a feed comprised substantially of sweet corn meal which can be formed into a variety of shapes for use in a variety of environments.
An additional objective is to provide a feed comprised substantially of sweet corn with added ingredients such as sunflower seeds, millet, peanut bits, thistle seeds and the like.
An additional objective is to provide a method of feeding wild game including the wild game feed of the present invention.
An additional objective is to provide a feed according to the teachings of the present invention which may be utilized as horse treats in the form of cubes, blocks, pellets, powder and the like.
An additional objective of the present invention is to provide an attractant/scent cover apparatus and method comprising a sufficiently economical material, such as sweet corn meal, which may be sprayed into the air in order to determine wind direction.


A suture anchor is described. The suture anchor includes an elongate anchor body having a proximal end and a distal end, at least one suture secured within the anchor body, and at least one piercing structure secured within the body extending proximally out of the proximal end of the body, wherein the at least one piercing structure is engaged with the at least one suture. A method of attaching soft tissue to bone in a subject is also described. The method includes the steps of securing an anchor device into a bore formed in the bone, the anchor device comprising an anchor body and at least one pre-loaded piercing structure with at least one suture attached to both the anchor body and the piercing structure, piercing a soft tissue by forcing the at least one piercing structure through the soft tissue, such that at least a portion of the at least one suture passes through the soft tissue, and tying the at least one suture against the soft tissue to secure the soft tissue to the bone.

The attachment of soft tissue to bone remains an important part of the practice of orthopedic surgery. The surgeon's armamentarium for attaching ligaments, tendons, or other tissues to bone includes pullout suture techniques, keyhole techniques, smooth or barbed soft tissue staples, and fixation with screws and washers. Each of these devices and techniques has advantages and disadvantages, depending on the surgical situation and the clinical application. The development of suture anchors, which has revolutionized soft tissue fixation to bone, has paralleled the development of arthroscopic surgical techniques. Suture anchors have been used successfully for rotator cuff repairs, shoulder reconstructions for instability, the repair of biceps anchor lesions (e.g., superior labrum anterior posterior (SLAP) lesions), and biceps tenodesis. The continuing evolution of suture anchors has produced a variety of types, such as absorbable, non-absorbable, screw-in, hooked, and knotless anchors and tacks, as well as those that lock into the bone on insertion.
Traditionally, the suture attachment to the soft tissue is secured via a knot made in the suture. In order to convey this type of procedure, a number of steps are required to complete this process. This process is as follows; 1) the bone is bored out and the suture anchor is deployed and secured in to the bone; 2) a surgical instrument or device such as a lasso is inserted through a second surgical port and pierces through the soft tissue; 3) a looped end wire is pushed out of the tip of the surgical instrument or device; 4) the looped end wire is then pulled out of the first suture anchor insertion port using a grasper; 5) one of the sutures is passed through the looped end wire out of the first suture anchor insertion port; 6) the looped end wire is then pulled back out of the second surgical port and sequentially pulls the suture out of the second surgical port; 7) a grasper is then inserted through the first suture anchor insertion port and pulls the suture back out of the first suture anchor insertion port; and 8) the two suture ends are then tied out of the first suture anchor insertion port and pushed down to secure the soft tissue to bone.
However, there is a clinical need for reducing the number of steps and operating time in soft tissue fixation to bone. Unfortunately, existing designs require too many steps, have relatively long operating times, and require a surgical instrument or device such as a lasso to pass a suture end through soft tissue.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,950 describes a method and apparatus for facilitating use of a threaded suture anchor in combination with a cannulated anchor driver. The device enables a suture anchor to be preassembled with a suture so that a user need not assemble a suture anchor with suture immediately prior to use. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,459 describes a method and suture anchor installation system that includes a suture anchor, a loading unit, and a suture anchor installation tool. However, these methods require the use of an external instrument to pass the suture through tissue.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,875,042 describes a suture anchor loader comprises a housing with a port. On the other hand, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0268274 describes a suture anchor member manual loading device that may include a body comprising first and second portions preventing the operator contact with a tip of a needle. In addition, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0071551 describes a soft tissue repair system that includes a sheath, and an actuator. However, all these methods still require the use of an external instrument to pass the suture through tissue. This greatly increases the time, complexity, and risk during the fixation procedure.
Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved device and method for attachment of soft tissue to bone, which reduces the number of steps required for effective fixation. The present invention satisfies this unmet need.

Apparatus and method for securing tissue to bone using suture anchors with a pre-loaded piercing structure and sutures


A pulse width measurement system is provided with components in an FPGA so that pulse widths can be measured that are smaller than the frequency limits of the FPGA system clock. For the measurement, an incoming pulse is fed into the FPGA to many (e.g. 32) I/O inputs in parallel. Each parallel input is then provided to a programmable delay device with each delay configured to a different ascending delay value. The input transition time is then detected by converting the outputs from the delay devices into data indicating the timing information. In one embodiment the outputs of the delay devices address data stored in BRAMs for later processing in the FPGA to determine the timing information.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a configuration of circuit components in an integrated circuit (IC) to enable use of the IC to measure pulse width relative to the frequency of the system clock in the IC. More particularly, the present invention relates to measuring time delay from transmission until receipt of a signal.
2. Related Art
A simple method to measure pulse width in an IC is to use a free running counter connected to the IC system clock. Circuitry is connected to the counter that detects the beginning transition of the pulse to start the counter, and then to detect the next transition of the pulse to stop the counter. The count then gives an accurate measurement of the pulse width.
A problem using a counter and system clock to measure a pulse width occurs when the delay is small and approaches the limits of the system clock frequency. In a typical IC, such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), it is difficult to have a clock speed exceeding 1 GHz, leading to measurement resolution accuracy limits when pulses are on the order of 10 nanosecond or less.
A number of systems require measurement of pulses less than 10 ns. An example of such a system is a collision avoidance system for automobiles. Measurement of pulses to the order of 100 picoseconds enables measuring the distance to close-by objects with a resolution on the order of centimeters. A typical collision avoidance system can measure small distances on the order of centimeters to keep a safe distance from cars that a host vehicle is following in traffic.
Two different types of collision avoidance sensing systems are typically used as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,590,495 entitled "Automobile Distance Warning and Alarm System." A first type system uses a rangefinder that includes a laser pulsed-echo sensor. The laser operates at a high frequency and can generate short pulses enabling measurement of short distances easily, such as when following another automobile in traffic. The laser sensor is also relatively compact and can be concealed, such as in the grill area of a car. The laser device has some deficiencies such as penetrating fog or operating over longer distances. A second type system is a radar system that uses lower frequency radar components to form a rangefinder. The lower frequency radar signals still typically operate with a frequency range on the order of 1 GHz and higher, but work well over a longer distance and better through fog than laser rangefinders. The lower frequency radar antennas, however, typically require large horn antennas that are not easily mounted or concealed in a vehicle. With a limit on system clock frequencies in ICs, a standard IC chip like an FPGA used to measure distance will only marginally determine distances for a radar system, and will likely be unusable for some pulse-laser systems that require measurement resolution of better than 10 ns.
FIG. 1 illustrates components of a typical automobile distance warning system that uses a pulsed-laser range finder for distance measurement. The components include a range finder 102, a time measuring circuit 104 and a microcontroller 106. The range finder 102 illustrated is a laser pulse-echo device that can be mounted on the front of a car to detect vehicles or objects to be avoided. The time measuring circuit 104 includes a transmitter 114 that sends signals to cause the pulsed infrared laser diode 110 to send out pulses. The infrared photo transistor 112 receives reflected pulses and provides them to receiver 116. Illustratively, the transmitter 114 operates at a pulse repetition rate of 10 MHz so that one pulse is emitted every 100 nanoseconds.
With the transmitted and reflected laser pulses provided, a digital clock 117 and a counter 118 are used to determine the time interval between the initiation of the transmitted pulse and the return of the reflected pulse. In particular, a signal from a transmitter 114 in time measurement circuit 104 causes counter 118 to begin counting clock pulses when an infrared pulse is emitted by the laser diode 110; and a signal from receiver 116 causes counter 118 to stop counting when the reflected infrared pulse is received by receiver 116. The count in counter 118 is proportional to the separation distance from the host vehicle to the detected object. Time measuring circuit 104 provides the count from counter 118 to microcontroller for calculation of the separation distance from the host vehicle to the object detected. The microcontroller 106 then functions to control the vehicle speed or alert the operator of a possible collision.
With collision avoidance systems, as well as other systems that require pulse width measurement, it may be desirable to measure pulse separations of 10 ns or less. It is thus desirable to provide a system in an IC having a maximum clock speed that can provide for measurement of pulse separations less than measurable directly from the available clock count in the IC.

Measuring pulse edge delay value relative to a clock using multiple delay devices to address a memory to access the delay value


The present invention provides a portable telephone with camera including a casing provided with an auxiliary light window 23 adjacent to a camera window 22, and an auxiliary light source 8 disposed in the rear of the auxiliary light window 23 and emitting light in photographing with a camera 7. A main optical cover 4 is mounted on the casing for covering the camera window 22 and the auxiliary light window 23. The main optical cover 4 has an opening 43 formed at a position opposed to the auxiliary light window 23. An auxiliary optical cover 5 is fitted around the opening 43. A flange 53 projects from an outer periphery portion of the auxiliary optical cover 5. The flange 53 is held between a flange portion 25 surrounding the auxiliary light window 23 and formed on the casing, and an edge portion 43a defining the opening 43 and formed on the main optical cover 4.

In recent years portable telephones with camera have been in wide use. For example, a portable telephone with camera shown in FIG. 9 comprises an upper half case 20 and lower half case 30 which are connected by a hinge mechanism 104 to provide a foldable portable telephone. An auxiliary display 101 and a camera window 102 are disposed on an outer surface of the upper half case 20. A CCD camera (not shown) is provided in the rear of the camera window 102. Furthermore, arranged in a side portion of the camera window 102 on an outer surface of the upper half case 20 is a mirror member 103 for projecting the user's self image thereon to thereby adjust the direction of the camera when the user is to photograph the user's self image.
However, the conventional portable telephone with camera has the problem that when a picture is taken with the CCD camera in the dim light, natural light does not provide sufficient brightness to make the taken image unclear. An auxiliary light source is arranged on the portable telephone with camera for making up for the brightness in photographing.
The portable telephones have become increasingly made compact. When such a compact portable telephone has arranged thereon the CCD camera and the auxiliary light source, the CCD camera and the auxiliary light source need to be mounted in the close proximity. Accordingly it is necessary to provide a main optical cover for covering the CCD camera and an auxiliary optical cover for covering the auxiliary light source which are in contact with one another. In this case the main optical cover and the auxiliary optical cover need to be mounted on the casing in a compact structure and with a sufficient strength. Furthermore it is necessary that the two optical covers be mounted on the casing with ease.
An object of the present invention is to provide a portable telephone with camera wherein the main optical cover and the auxiliary optical cover are mountable on the casing in a compact structure and with a sufficient strength, and the two optical covers are further mountable on the casing with ease.


An external key (24) on a connector (12), the key being adapted with multiple slots (35) in a clip (25), rails (36) in the slots (35) being shorter in length than the slots (35), projecting posts (38) on the connector (12) received in the slots (35), projecting latches (40) on the connector (12), and the clip (25) being slidable to move the rails (36) into channels (39) of the posts (38), and to latch the clip (25) against the latches (40).

According to an electrical connector assembly, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,949, electrical cable connectors are connected to respective groups of electrical wires. The connectors are adapted for mating connection with a header. The connectors are adapted with electrical contacts connected to the wires to connect the wires to an array of conductive pins projecting through a bottom of the header.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,992, a cable connector comprises, respective groups of electrical wires terminated with electrical contacts in multiple housing blocks. The housing blocks are nested together in a housing.
Removable keys on a connector are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,881. The keys are joined to the connector by weakened areas. Each of the weakened areas can be broken to remove a selected key from the connector.


A method includes conditioning a set of multicomponent seismic data and sensor orientation data, the multicomponent seismic data including pressure data and particle motion data, acquired in a towed array, marine seismic survey; digital group forming the conditioned pressure data, a vertical particle motion component of the conditioned particle motion data, and the conditioned sensor orientation data; and summing the digitally group formed pressure data and the digitally group formed vertical particle motion component.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to multicomponent, towed-array, marine seismic surveys, and, more particularly, to a technique for collecting and processing data acquired in such a survey.
II. Description of the Related Art
Seismic exploration involves surveying subterranean geological formations for hydrocarbon deposits. A survey typically involves deploying acoustic source(s) and acoustic sensors at predetermined locations. The sources impart acoustic waves into the geological formations. The acoustic waves are sometime also referred to as "pressure waves" because of the way they propagate. Features of the geological formation reflect the pressure waves to the sensors. The sensors receive the reflected waves, which are detected, conditioned, and processed to generate seismic data. Analysis of the seismic data can then indicate the presence or absence of probable locations of hydrocarbon deposits.
Some surveys are known as "marine" surveys because they are conducted in marine environments. Note that marine surveys may be conducted not only in saltwater environments, but also in fresh and brackish waters. Marine surveys come in at least two types. In a first, an array of streamers and sources is towed behind a survey vessel. In a second type, an array of seismic cables, each of which includes multiple sensors, is laid on the ocean floor, or sea bottom, and a source is towed from a survey vessel.
Historically, towed array, marine seismic surveys only employed pressure waves and the receivers detected any passing wavefront. This includes two types of wavefronts. The first are those reflected upward to the receivers from the geological formation. The second are those that are reflected from the surface of the water. The upward traveling wavefronts contain desirable, useful information and the downward traveling wavefronts do not. This sometimes leads to difficulties in processing.
The art has therefore recently begun moving to "multicomponent" surveys in which, for example, not only is the passing of a wavefront detected, but also the direction in which it is propagating. Knowledge of the direction of travel permits determination, for example, of which wavefronts are traveling upward and will yield useful information and which are traveling downwards and will yield undesirable information if confused with upwards traveling waves. Multicomponent towed-array surveys include a plurality of receivers that detect not only the pressure wave, but also the velocity, or time derivatives (i.e., acceleration) thereof, of the passing wavefront. These receivers will hereafter be referred to as "particle motion sensors" because they measure the velocity or acceleration of displaced particles. The pressure sensor is typically a hydrophone, and the particle motion sensors are typically geophones or accelerometers.
The technology is currently immature, however, in many respects. Attention has largely been focused on the equipment and acquisition. However, little attention has been given to the processing. More particularly, the seismic data resulting from this kind of acquisition is useful in conventional types of processing such as group forming, stacking, velocity analysis, moveout correction, etc., by which analysis is typically performed. Nevertheless, this type of acquisition presents unique challenges in pre-processing such data that have not been addressed by the art because the challenges have not previously been presented by conventional acquisition techniques.
The present invention is directed to resolving, or at least reducing, one or all of the problems mentioned above.

Workflow for processing streamer seismic data


New parameters (Down Force, Up Force, Balance Force, and Average Friction) are defined for evaluating important “stroke characteristics” of individual key actions of one or more pianos or keyboards, describing exactly how these parameters are to be tested, measured and determined. The new parameters are designed to replace the prior art parameters of Down Weight, Up Weight, Balance Weight and Friction. Various methods, means and apparatus are disclosed for accurately testing, measuring and determining these new parameters, with the capability of performing thousands of measurements—on thousands of different key mechanisms—in a short amount of time.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to piano key mechanisms, and more specifically to improvements in measuring the performance characteristics of key mechanisms of a piano or keyboard.
2. Background Art
As an aid to the following prior art discussion, a brief description of the two basic piano actions follows.
FIGS. 1, 1A, 2 and 2A demonstrate operation of a prior art grand piano action 100. For the purpose of better understanding, with reference to these figures, the following components remain stationary with respect to the piano during a sequence of key depression through hammer strike and return: hammershank flange 134, hammershank flange center pin 136, repetition support center pin 112, key fulcrum 104, key pin 106, drop regulation screw 196, jack let-off button 170 and string 140. With respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, the "back" of the key or action is to the left in the figures. The "front" of the key or action is to the right. Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 1A, the prior art grand piano action 100 is shown in the "at rest" position. Wooden key 102, approximately 15 inches long, is mounted to pivot on felt-covered, wooden fulcrum 104 and brass pin 106 extending through a vertical slot (not visible in the figures) in key 102. Wippen 110 is mounted for rotation about metal center pin (a fixed pivot point) 112. Two levers are mounted to rotate independently within the repetition assembly: an L-shaped jack 120 mounted to rotate about center pin 121, and repetition lever 123 mounted to rotate about center pin 114. Felt hammer 130 is fixedly mounted at the free end of wooden shank 132, and wooden shank 132 is mounted to rotate about center pin 136, held stationary by flange 134. As the hammer 130 is rotated upwardly, it strikes tensioned piano string 140 to create vibration and sound. Affixed to hammershank 132, between hammer 130 and center pin 136, is buckskin covered cylindrical knuckle 150, engaged upon the top end surface 128 of the upper arm 122 of the jack 120. The jack 120 is maintained in the "at rest" position shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A by action of a lower end of return spring 160, which bears against the rear surface 129 of the jack, thus urging it to rotate backward (counter-clockwise in the drawings), about center pin 121, until the felt regulating button 162 (mounted on the upper jack arm 128) is brought into contact with the rigid metal spoon 164 (mounted to wippen 110). The upper end of return spring 160 biases the forward end of repetition lever 123 to rotate upwardly, about center pin 114, until the pad 166, mounted at the front end of repetition lever 123 is brought into contact with the wippen 110.
Also shown in FIG. 1, but left out of FIG. 2 for clarity, is the damper assembly 198. The damper assembly of a piano provides additional resistance to the stroke unless the sustain pedal is depressed. Pressing the pedal disengages the damper lever entirely from the key. All of the Up Weight and Down Weight measurements are done with the damper lever disengaged. All new methods by the present author, designed to replace these old parameters, are also done with no dampers involved.
We refer next to FIGS. 2 and 2A (in which the position of the action 100 in the "at rest" position of FIG. 1A is indicated in dashed line for ease of reference). Upon depression of the key 102 (indicated by arrow 180), wippen 110 is moved upwardly, to rotate (arrow 182) around center pin 112, thereby actuating the various interengaged elements of the repetition assembly (i.e. wippen 110, jack 120, repetition lever 123, spring 160, regulating button 162 and spoon 164) and moving the hammer 130 towards striking engagement with the piano string 140. In particular, movement of the jack 120 urges the knuckle 150 upward and to the left (in the drawings), causing the hammershank 132 to rotate about center pin 136, driving the hammer 130, at the free end of the hammershank, upward and to the left, toward the piano string 140 (arrow 184). During movement of the knuckle 150 upward and to the left, the engagement of the knuckle surface with the top end surface 128 of the jack 120 creates excessive friction, which has the recognized consequence of requiring a pianist to apply additional force in order to achieve the desired key depression. Approximately midway through full depression of the key 102, the outer end of the lower arm 126 of jack 120 is brought into engagement with stationary let off button 170. At this point, a significant "let-off" resistance is encountered, but this is of little consequence when it comes to evaluating the Down Weight and Up Weight of a piano action. When the key nears the bottom of its stroke, the felt pad at the front rail is compressed between the key bottom and the keybed, eventually ending the downstroke.
FIGS. 3 and 4 represent a side view of a typical upright piano action. The majority of a piano key 1 is not shown, along with the fulcrum upon which the key pivots. A downward movement of the piano key 1 causes a capstan screw 22 mounted on key 1 to raise upwardly and engage a cushion 23 of a wippen 24 mounted for pivotal movement about a center pin 25. This causes wippen 24 to be raised, thereby also imparting a corresponding raising of a jack 2, the latter in turn causing a simultaneous thrust of a hammer 3 in the direction of a piano string 4. As key 1 is depressed, string 4 is freed from a damper 5 by the action of a spoon 6, so that once the hammer 3 hits the string 4, the latter will be free to vibrate. A sustain pedal (not shown) independently rotates the damper about its pivot 32, preventing contact from occurring with the spoon 6. An escapement is realized immediately prior to hammer 3 hitting string 4 because a toe 7 of the lower end of jack 2 engages a regulating button 8. This causes jack 2 to rotate clockwise, and a tip 13 at the upper end of jack 2 disengages from a butt 11 of hammer 3, thereby permitting hammer 3 to freely pursue its movement. Once escapement is triggered, key 1 also continues its downward movement independent of hammer 3, until the key bottoms out on the key bed (not shown). When hammer 3 strikes string 4 and is propelled rearwardly, key 1 remains fully depressed and a butt heel 10 mounted on an arm 18 of hammer 3 engages a back check 9 which remains in a raised position. As also shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, damper 5 includes a felt 26 for engaging string 4 and an associated drum block 27 and set screw 28. Damper 5 is mounted on a lever 29 which in turn is mounted to a lever flange 31 for pivotal movement about a center pin 32. Hammer rest 12 includes a felt 34 for engagement by hammer 3 and an associated half blow rest rail 35 and a rest rail 36. Butt heel 10 is provided with an associated butt heel leather 37 and a bridle wire 39. Jack 2 is mounted to wippen 24 by a flange 21 for pivotal movement about a center pin 20. Pivotal movement of jack 2 is biased by a spring 40. Regulating button 8 is mounted to a regulating rail 41 and there is provided a main action rail 42.

Apparatus and method for actuating keyboard mechanisms and evaluating their mechanical properties and stroke characteristics


A method of integrating bone and implant material includes drilling a hole in either one of the bone and the implant material through to a junction of the bone and the implant material by applying a laser beam to either one of the bone and the implant material and integrating the bone and the implant material by applying a laser beam to the junction through the hole drilled at the drilling.

Recently, a technology (e.g., a surgical apparatus) for integrating bone (bone tissue) and implant material made of biomedical material such as ceramics or composite material is being increasingly developed. When integrating the implant material and the bone, if even a slight change occurs in relative positions of the implant material and the bone during integration with each other, completion of the integration takes an extremely long time. Besides, if such a slight change is not detected and when the integration between the implant material and the bone is continued, the integration is finished while displacement is remained. Conventionally, to prevent occurrence of the slight change in the relative positions, a junction is fixed by a fixture that is rigid and heavy. Therefore, operation for integrating the implant material and the bone has been complicated and time-consuming.
Furthermore, to increase the strength of the integration between the implant material and the bone, the implant material and the bone are completely integrated with each other by using a metal bonding bolt, and thereafter, the bolt is removed. Accordingly, the integration between the implant material and the bone takes a long time, so that medical treatment for an affected area also takes a long time. Thus, a demand for integrating the bone and the implant material shortly and easily is growing.
Conventionally, to stabilize a relative position of implant material (surgical grafting material) to bone through promotion of bone bonding, the implant material is formed to have a textured surface so that bone tissue and the implant material can be integrated in a short time. For example, in an artificial hip composed of a femoral-sub-assembly to be fixed inside a femur of a patient and an acetabular-sub-assembly to be fixed inside an acetabulum of a patient, the femoral-sub-assembly includes an artificial stem having a textured surface or the like while the acetabular-sub-assembly includes an artificial cup having a textured surface or the like.
While the textured surface is formed to promote bone growth, because processes of (1) positioning, (2) immobilization with a cast, and (3) bone growth are necessary for integrating bone and implant material, a time as long as several months is sometimes necessary to achieve fixation (integration) as a complete recovery.
More particularly, Patent Document 1 discloses a laser processing method of providing a surface having undercut and mutual bonding recesses for making "scratch engagement" between implant material and bone easy, so that a time required for integrating the implant material and the bone is shortened with stabilized integration.
Furthermore, Paten Document 2 discloses a laser processing method of cutting dental tissue by applying a laser beam having a wavelength that can be intensively absorbed by hydroxylapatite. Moreover, Patent Document 3 discloses a laser processing method of removing mineralized physiological tissue including dental enamel, dentine, and bone by applying a laser beam having a wavelength that can be intensively absorbed by hydroxylapatite.
Furthermore, Patent Document 4 discloses a laser processing method of removing dental enamel and dentine by using a laser light having a wavelength of 2.0 μm to 3.0 μm. Moreover, Patent Document 5 discloses a laser processing method in which bone material, dental hard material, and arteriosclerotic deposit are peeled off by applying a laser having an emission wavelength of 9.6 μm.
Meanwhile, as a part of researches about implant material that can be easily and strongly integrated with bone, a technology for stabilizing a relative position of the implant material to bone by promoting bone bonding has been being developed. More particularly, a technology for porous biomedical material is expected to achieve preferable cell infiltration characteristic and being more increasingly studied.
The conventional research about the porous biomedical material includes a research about a spongelike structure that cannot retain inherent hardness of ceramics and a research about integration of a porous layer on base material, which leads to complicated fabricating process and variation in quality. The conventional research further includes a research about thermal spraying of apatite particles, which makes it difficult to control size of each hole to be formed, and a research about generation of texture only on the surface of ceramics without examining its internal structure. In addition, in the conventional laser processing methods, while a process for removing implant material or the like is performed, examination about surface modification has not been made at all.
More particularly, Patent Document 6 discloses a technology for setting carbonate apatite to be spongelike porous or spongelike super-porous and then compositing the carbonate apatite to collagen. Moreover, Patent Document 7 discloses a technology for using sponge containing hydroxylapatite and gel-like collagen as bone substitute in plastic surgery.
Furthermore, Patent Document 10 discloses a technology in which dense substrate and porous substrate are formed in separate processes, and then they are dried and sintered while being in contact with each other. Moreover, Patent Document 11 discloses a technology in which apatite particles are mixed dispersed in a glass layer, and after being baking, air holes are exposed by etching. Furthermore, Patent Document 12 discloses a technology for welding hydroxylapatite or tricalcium phosphate on the surface of base material by using plasma arc.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-301091
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H4-53550
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H4-300535
Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H2-504478
Patent Document 5: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. S62-502170
Patent Document 6: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-169845
Patent Document 7: U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,436 Specification
Patent Document 8: U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,193 Specification
Patent Document 9: U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,047 Specification
Patent Document 10: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. S64-37475
Patent Document 11: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H6-7425
Patent Document 12: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. S64-52471

Laser processing apparatus, osseointegration method, implant material, and implant-material fabrication method

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY


The present invention aims at providing a lighting apparatus which is to be installed in a color camera, which is capable of providing the stable quantity of light from a light source such as an LED, and which is capable of stabilizing color tones of an image captured with the color camera. In order to attain this object, in the lighting apparatus according to the present invention, the temperature control for the camera is also simultaneously carried out using a thermal transfer member for enhancing heat transfer between a Peltier element used for the temperature control for an LED case with built-in LEDs, and the LED case.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a lighting apparatus constituted by light emitting elements such as light emitting diodes. In particular, the present invention relates to a lighting apparatus which has such a simple construction as to be easily detached from and attached to a camera or the like, and which is capable of providing a stable luminous intensity independently of a change in temperature of light emitting elements.
2. Related Background Art
For example, there is known an inspection apparatus for photographing an object of inspection using a camera to carry out the quality control of the object based on the photography results. In such an inspection apparatus, in order to make an image of the object clearer, a lighting apparatus for lighting up an object is also simultaneously used. For this lighting apparatus, there is used one having a plurality of light emitting diodes (hereinafter referred to as "LEDs" for short when applicable) used therein because the LED has essentially the high directivity and hence does not require a reflecting plate or the like, and is miniature and has a low power consumption, and so forth.
However, the LED has the characteristics that a temperature thereof changes in correspondence to the use situation, and the quality of light thereof also changes in correspondence to the change in temperature. More specifically, the LED has a problem that when the temperature thereof rises, the quantity of light thereof decreases, and, for example, after the quantity of light becomes temporarily stable after the LED has been turned ON, the temperature rises with a lapse of the lighting time to decrease the quantity of light. For this reason, in the usual way, those LEDs are used while their temperatures are controlled by a temperature measurement device and a cooling device such as a Peltier element which are disposed in the vicinities of the LEDs. Exemplifications of such a construction are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-101274, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-043728 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-337967, for example.
Examples of the above-mentioned inspection apparatus include an apparatus for visual inspection of semiconductor products (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-206237, for example) and an apparatus for recognizing a shape of an article (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-312450, for example). In such an apparatus, light having high directivity is applied to an object to photograph the object which is made clear by reflection of the light, and the inspection results, the shape recognition results, or the like are obtained based on the photography results. Possible objects of photography include one in which chips or the like are mounted on a circuit board. In the photography of such an object, in order to cope with the miniaturization of chips, the promotion of high density of a mounting state, and the like, in recent years, there is required a combination of a light source which can have higher directivity and provide the stable quantity of light, and a camera having high sensitivity or a camera with which color photography can be carried out.
In an inspection apparatus used in an inspection process for high density mounting electronic components obtained through the multikind and small-quantity production process, it is necessary to photograph clear images of various kinds of boards and mounting chips which are different in height, size, reflectivity, color tone, and the like, combinations thereof, and the like. Even when such a lighting apparatus changes in lighting state for an object, the quantity of change in lighting state has not become a problem in the normal photographing conditions up to this day, or the photography or the like has been carried out under a condition in which the quantity of change does not become a problem. However, for example, in the case where an electronic component is inspected for mounting state, when the electronic component, the mounting board, and the like are further miniaturized, and also the color tones or the like in their materials become close to each other, the above-mentioned change in lighting state may become unable to be disregarded.
For this reason, it is required that focal points of a lighting apparatus and a camera be readily and speedily changed, and lighting rays be applied to an object of the photography with the nearly equal quantities of rays and from nearly equal directions to obtain an image. It is conceivable that such a request will become more and more severe in the future along with the miniaturization and promotion of high performance of the electronic components. In addition, it is also supposed that when the camera and the lighting apparatus are miniaturized and the camera and the lighting apparatus are then tried to be easily detached from and attached to each other, the disposition itself of a temperature measurement device within the lighting apparatus becomes difficult.
In addition, in order to photograph and analyze an object of the photography which is more difficult in resolution, there is also used a camera for capturing an image in the color style. In the usual way, in such a camera, colors of an image are extracted based on a difference in radiation temperature between an object and the black body. For this reason, when a temperature of a camera itself rises due to the heat conduction from the LEDs or the radiation heat from the LEDs, there is a possibility that although there is a single object of the photography, the color of the resultant image differs from part to part of the image. Even if this color change does not become a problem in the current use situation, when an object of the photography is miniaturized and complicated, it is required to construct a photography system which takes that color change into consideration.
In the usual way, a focal point of a camera can be readily adjusted by driving a built-in lens of the camera. However, when a lighting apparatus constituted by a plurality of LEDs each having high directivity is used as a light source, it is normally difficult to move a focal point of the lighting apparatus. In addition, when it is required to change a luminescent color of an LED, normally, a filter or the like is forced to be disposed in front of the LED to cope with that request. Examples of a normally conceivable coping method include a method involving: preparing in advance a plurality of kinds of lighting apparatuses having different focal lengths; and fixing any one of these lighting apparatuses to a camera in correspondence to an application. Examples of the construction of the lighting apparatus include ones disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-043728 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-337967.
As described above, however, in order to obtain the stable quantity of light from an LED, the LED needs to be used under the environmental conditions having a fixed temperature. For this reason, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-043728 etc., the lighting apparatus needs to be provided with a thermometer, a Peltier element as a cooling device, and a control system for the thermometer and the Peltier element. Hence, it is judged that in actual, this lighting apparatus will require a complicated wiring and the like. Consequently, when any one of the lighting apparatuses disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Documents is tried to be installed in an actual camera, it is judged to be difficult to carry out an operation for the installation readily and speedily.
In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-101274 mentioned above discloses a construction in which an LED, a Peltier element, and a heat radiating plate are provided integrally with one another. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-101274 also discloses the contents in which for the maintenance or the like, those constituent elements can be separated from one another. However, the construction disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-101274 permits the constituent elements to be separated from one another only for the maintenance. Thus, for example, it is judged that this construction is not suitable for a situation in which an LED is frequently exchanged for another one. In addition, with the constructions disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Documents, it is judged to be difficult to reduce a change in temperature which is generated in a camera or the like having the LEDs fixed thereto due to the fixing of the LEDs or the like.


Provided is a high-speed optical interconnection device. The high-speed optical interconnection device includes a first semiconductor chip, light emitters, optical detectors, and a second semiconductor chip, which are disposed on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. The light emitters receive electrical signals from the first semiconductor chip to output optical signals. The optical detectors detect the optical signals to convert the optical signals into electrical signals. The second semiconductor chip receives the electrical signals converted by the optical detectors.

The present invention disclosed herein relates to a high-speed optical interconnection device, and more particularly, to a high-speed optical interconnection device with high reliability that includes multi-channels.
In line with the development of fabrication technology of a semiconductor device having a sub-micron linewidth, many chips with a very high clock rate of 1 GHz or more have been developed. However, each device on ultra large scale integration (ULSI) chips has a limited operating speed due to a delay in a data transmission rate at interconnections between the devices. The delay in the transmission rate due to the interconnections become more and more serious as a data connection distance between apparatuses, between boards, or between chips gets farther and farther. In particular, according to an increase in the integration degree of a system on chip (SoC) and an increase in a chip size, a contact resistance between a semiconductor and a metal interconnection increases exponentially, and a metal interconnection's own resistance, an inductance, and a signal interference between the interconnections also increases. This has an adverse effect on transmission time delays inside an IC chip of several tens of GHz or more and between the chips, and also brings about a signal distortion. Therefore, it is necessary to convert an electrical signal into an optical signal and transmit the converted optical signal.
Accordingly, studies are recently being conducted on a technology of using an optical interconnection instead of a metal interconnection as an interconnection between devices. An optical interconnection device including devices connected through the optical interconnection provides several advantages such as high bandwidth for data transmission, low crosstalk between channels, low electromagnetic interference (EMI), good parallel processing function, high interconnection density, fan-in and fan-out of many channels, low device power, small signal delay, and low noise current through grounding.

High-speed optical interconnection device

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


In a semiconductor device in which a second semiconductor chip is layered on a first semiconductor chip mounted on a substrate, a mounting-use bonding layer being formed on a reverse surface of the second semiconductor chip with respect to a circuit formation thereof, the mounting-use bonding layer functions as a bonding agent and as a supporting member for supporting protruded part of the second semiconductor chip, which is protruded from an outer edge of the first semiconductor chip. In this semiconductor device, it is possible to bond the second semiconductor chip and the substrate stably by wire bonding.

Recent miniaturization and weight reduction of portable devices requires reduction in mounting area for semiconductor devices for use in the portable devices. In view of this, suggested are semiconductor devices of high density, which is achieved by packing a plurality of semiconductor chips are packed in one semiconductor device. Most popular kinds among such semiconductor devices are semiconductor devices in which respective semiconductor chips and a substrate are electrically connected by wire bonding method after the semiconductor chips are layered on the substrate. There are various combinations in chips to be layered because of variety in the chip sizes and methods for mounting the chips on the substrate.
In case of the semiconductor devices in which the semiconductor chips are layered as such, however, there is a case where part (protruded part) of a (upper) semiconductor chip layered on a semiconductor chip mounted on a (lower) circuit substrate is protruded out from the lower semiconductor chip. In this case, the upper semiconductor chip is vibrated by weight applied in wire bonding an electrode terminal provided in the protruded part of the upper semiconductor chip. This makes it difficult to perform the wire bonding stably. This phenomenon more severely affects a semiconductor device having a thinner upper semiconductor chip. If the upper semiconductor chip has too thin thickness, there is a possibility that the upper semiconductor chip may be broken.
In order to solve this problem, there disclosed a semiconductor device which is stabilized by having a spacer or filling a resin or paste in a gap under protruded part of an upper semiconductor chip (for example, Japanese Publication of Unexamined Patent Application "Tokukaihei No. 11-204720" (published on Jul. 30, 1999); corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,594, No. 6,352,879, and No. 6,229,217 (Co-pending US Reissue applications)). Moreover, there disclosed a semiconductor device 110, as shown in FIG. 8 (for example, Japanese Publication of Unexamined Patent Application "Tokukai No. 2000-269407, " (published on Sep. 29, 2000)). In the semiconductor device 110 disclosed in this publication, a first semiconductor chip 102 and a second semiconductor chip 103 are layered on a circuit substrate 101 via a bonding layer 104, the first semiconductor chip 102 and the second semiconductor chip 103 being electrically connected with the substrate 101 through a gold wire 106 wherein a supporter 108 is formed in a gap below protruded part of the second semiconductor chip 103, which is on the first semiconductor chip 102, the supporter 108 having the same thickness as the first semiconductor chip 102, which is located under the second semiconductor chip 103. The two semiconductor devices discussed above are characterized in that the supporter is formed in the gap under the protruded part of the upper semiconductor chip, the protruded part being protruded from an outer edge of the lower semiconductor chip, and the supporter having the same size as the protruded part and the same thickness as the lower semiconductor chip.
Moreover, there disclosed a semiconductor device in which a bonding agent used in bonding a lower semiconductor chip with a substrate by flip chip bonding is extruded out and the extruded bonding agent is used a supporter (for example, Japanese Publication of Unexamined Patent Application "Tokukai No. 2000-299431" (published on Oct. 24, 2000); corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,353,263).
In the arts disclosed in Japanese Publication of Unexamined Patent Application "Tokukaihei No. 11-204720" and Japanese Publication of Unexamined Patent Application "Tokukai No. 2000-269407", it is necessary to form, for example as shown in FIG. 8, the supporter 108 that has the same size as the protruded part of the second semiconductor chip, the protruded part being protruded from the outer edge of the first semiconductor chip 102, and to carry out positioning of the supporter 108 thus formed. This process is, however, very difficult and increases a number of members and steps, thereby leading to cost increase.
In the art disclosed in Japanese Publication of Unexamined Patent Application "Tokukai No. 2000-299431", it is a problem that it is difficult to control an amount of the bonding agent to be extruded. That is, for example, in case the amount of the bonding agent to be extruded is insufficient, the protruded part of the upper semiconductor chip cannot be surely supported wholly. Further, this arrangement is applicable only in the case where the lower semiconductor chip is bonded by the flip chip bonding. Thus, this arrangement is poor in versatility.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of same


A water ski handle 10 is provided which exhibits a high level of rigidity and strength such that the water ski handle 10 does not deform significantly even when experiencing high loads during use. The water ski handle 10 includes a rigid frame 20 of generally triangular construction. The frame 20 includes an apex bend 22 to which a ski rope R is attached and a left bend 24 and right bend 26. A base section 30 extends between the left bend 24 and right bend 26 and provides a region for grasping by a hand H of a skier. A left section 34 and right section 37 extend rigidly forward from the base section 30 at opposite ends thereof to the apex bend 22. The frame 20 is constructed with a low density polymeric foam core 60 with longitudinal fibers 70 surrounding the foam core 60 and helical fibers 80 and perpendicular fibers 86 surrounding the longitudinal fibers 70 with all of the fibers 70, 80, 86 embedded within an epoxy resin matrix 90.

Water skiing involves a boat or water craft which pulls a skier over the surface of the water. The skier is typically pulled behind the boat by a tow rope with one end attached to the boat and the other end with a handle for the skier to grasp. In recent years, the sport has benefited from the use of a rigid boom which projects from the side of the boat. The skier may ski next to the boat holding on to the boom or with a short length of rope and handle tied to the end of the boom. Using a boom permits the skier to ski on water undisturbed by the boat wake and allows for easier communication between the skier and the boat.
Water skiing generally involves the use of various types of equipment including a water ski or other device which the skier rides across the surface of the water, a personal flotation device, wet suit or ski gloves. In some instances the skier rides across the surface of the water on their feet or body, a sport which is generally known as barefoot water skiing. For most water skiing, the skier uses a tow rope with a handle at the end of the rope. In some instances, skiers release one or both hands from the handle when skiing, most often while performing tricks or maneuvers.
Water ski tow ropes come in a variety of lengths and are made from various materials. The most common ropes are made of a plastic material such as polypropylene, polyethylene or Kevlar. Ropes with less elongation are preferred because they allow the skier better control. One end of the rope usually has a loop for attachment to a secure part of the boat. The other end of the rope typically has a handle which is grasped by the skier. The loads on water ski ropes and handles can be quite significant when used by high performance slalom water skiers, barefoot water skiers, and those engaged in competition.
Typical prior art water ski handles include a single cylindrical linear bar which has a rope passing through the center or with rope attachments at either end, with both ends of the rope tied together before attaching to the remainder of the ski line. The bar is typically a hollow tube of aluminum or similar material. In some cases, the ropes that attach to the handle are covered with some type of flotation device to prevent the handle from sinking in the water and to protect the skier from injury. These rope segments which attach to the handle are generally quite flexible.
Prior art water ski handles suffer from a variety of drawbacks including rope stretch, handle deformation, distortion, breakage, excessive weight and limited flotation. Skiers generally prefer that the ski rope and handle be as inelastic as possible under tension loads and when grasping or releasing the handle during use. Minimizing these drawbacks enhances the skier's ability to perform in an optimal manner. Accordingly, a need exists for a rigid, lightweight ski handle which eliminates the handle ropes, strengthens other portions of the handle and floats.


A Bingo game apparatus with variable payout capability has a server apparatus and multiple player terminals. The server apparatus runs a Bingo game program with variable payout capability. The Bingo game program with variable payout capability has acts of: accepting to be selected pay rules, accepting to be bought Bingo cards, starting draw balls and resetting judgement. In the act of the accepting to be selected pay rules, the server apparatus generates a multiple pay rules table and sends the multiple pay rules table having multiple pay rules settings to the player terminals. A preferred pay rules setting is selected at the player terminal so increasing enjoyment by allowing players to select their pay-rules.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a Bingo game apparatus, and more particularly to a Bingo game apparatus with variable payout capability.
2. Description of the Related Art
Bingo is a well known game. Players purchase at least one Bingo card which presents a 5×5 matrix (may also be a 3×3, 3×5 or the like matrix) to join in the game. Take the 5×5 matrix as example, columns of each Bingo card are respectively identified by letters B, I, N, G and O. A number is provided or printed in each coordinate (a position of the matrix of each Bingo card) in the matrix. Often, the center coordinate in the matrix leaves blank or is marked "Free" rather than having an assigned number. After each player has purchased a card, means are provided to randomly select numbers identified by the column letter and a number. For instance, O62 is denoted for a number "62" on column "O". The printed numbers on the card correspond to the following arrangement: 1 to 15 in the B column; 16 to 30 in the I column; 31 to 45 in the N column; 46 to 60 in the G column and 61 to 75 in the O column. Typically, one number is provided by drawing a ball from a cage, a mixer or an electrical drawing machine, wherein multiple balls are contained inside the cage or the mixer and each ball is printed an independent number thereon.
The selection of balls continues until one player has a card marked (corresponding numbers have been drawn) in a winning pattern. This winning pattern might be designated before the game, such like a row, a column, two columns, four corners, an X-pattern, a cover all (all numbers on the Bingo card are covered) or the like.
However, to play the game a number of players are required to provide a number of Bingo cards with different numbers so that a single or few winners can be declared. Hence, the requirement of having a number of players perhaps hundreds of players is necessary for conventional Bingo game that is inflexible. Especially, payout rules of conventional Bingo game are also limited and discourage players since prizes of the game are fixed regardless of the number of players. Furthermore, players participate in the game under fixed pay rules and only have chances to win a fixed payout when one of the Bingo cards is Bingo. Two players have to share the prize when they have Bingo at the same time.
The present invention provides a Bingo game apparatus with variable payout capability and method of implementing the same to obviate or mitigate the shortcomings of the conventional electronic Bingo game apparatus.


A support stand for a flat-panel display monitor includes a mounting base, a connecting base, and two link shafts. Each link shaft has a first end rotatably connected to the mounting base and a second end rotatably connected to the connecting base. The support stand further includes a restricting pole fixed to the mounting base and positioned between the two link shafts, the restricting pole abuts against the two link shafts, thus restricting a rotary range of the two link shafts.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to support stands, particularly, to a support stand for a flat-panel display monitor.
2. Description of Related Art
Flat-panel display monitors, such as liquid crystal display monitors, offer advantages over cathode ray tubes such as reduced size, smaller weight, and better image quality. A viewing angle and a height of the flat-panel display monitor can be adjusted without moving a support stand because of its small weight.
A typical support stand generally includes a bracket to attach to the flat-panel display monitor, a rotatable bracket fixed to the bracket, an elevating mechanism, a support member, and a base member to mount the support member. A first end of the elevating mechanism is rotatably connected to the rotatable bracket and a second end of the elevating mechanism is supported by the support member.
The elevating mechanism includes a link bracket defining a curved retaining groove. The support member includes an inner side portion and a retaining piece formed at the inner side portion corresponding to the curved retaining groove. The retaining piece of the support member engages in the curved retaining groove of the link bracket to restrict an adjusting range of the height of the flat-panel display monitor. However, the retaining piece may be easily abraded and damaged by an exterior force. As a result, the support member may have a low impact resistance and an unsatisfactory limiting effect. In addition, it is inconvenient to machine the curved retaining groove in the link bracket, thus making the production of the typical support stand complicated.
What is needed, therefore, is a new support stand for a flat-panel display monitor that overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages.

Support stand for flat-panel display monitor

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.