An improved wastegate valve for turbochargers having bifurcated exhaust gas inlets includes a first bypass port communicating with a first portion of the exhaust inlet, a first poppet which engages and seals a seat surrounding the first port, a second bypass port communicating with a second portion of an exhaust inlet, and a second poppet which engages and seals a seat surrounding the second port. Actuation of the poppets is accomplished by a first substantially tubular shaft supported for rotation about an axis and having a central bore and a second substantially tubular shaft extending through the central bore of the first shaft and supported therein for rotation about the axis. The two shafts are concurrently rotated by a lever arm which is connected to the first shaft, at an opposite end to the radial arm, with a weld bead which extends across the end face of the first shaft, the bore, and a coplanar end of the second shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an exhaust gas bypass and wastegate valve arrangement for exhaust gas driven turbochargers. More particularly, the present invention provides dual, coaxial shafts for actuation of dual poppet valves on a wastegate for the divided exhaust gas inlets into the turbine housing of the turbocharger.
2. Description of the Related Art
Turbochargers are employed for boosting the pressure level of the intake air for an internal combustion engine. Engine exhaust is provided through an exhaust gas inlet in the turbocharger to spin a turbine wheel which is interconnected via a common shaft to a compressor rotor producing the pressurized charge air. The speed of rotation of the turbine and compressor are dependent on the speed and load of the engine and at high speed, high load operating ranges over pressurization of the charge air may occur. Excessive boost pressure is avoided in turbochargers through the use of a wastegate valve which opens to bypass some portion of the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas inlet around the turbine and directly to the turbine exhaust outlet.
In turbochargers used on engines which can be divided into two banks of cylinders, it has been found highly effective in improving engine and turbocharger performance to maintain separate exhaust gas inlet paths such that separate impulses of the exhaust gas from the two banks of cylinders will be transmitted separately to the turbine. This approach is commonly implemented through the use of a divided exhaust gas inlet. Wastegating of such a divided inlet requires two bypass ports controlled by a dual wastegate valve mechanism.
Dual wastegate valve designs to overcome problems arising from simultaneous opening and closing requirements for both outlet ports have been provided in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 57-137619, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open Publication No. 62-183033 and U.S. Patent No. 5,046,317, entitled Wastegate Valve for Turbocharger, and having a common assignee with the present application.
It is desirable to provide a wastegate valve mechanism which provides simultaneous opening and closing of dual poppets in an affirmative manner while maintaining the valves in a firmly closed position, when appropriate, to achieve maximum efficiency in transmitting pressure pulses to the turbine. While it is desirable to maintain the individual poppets seated tightly on their respective seats, it is also desirable to accommodate tolerance differences and distortion in the seats, and to absorb pulse loading on the poppets individually to allow reaction as two separate valves.

Dual poppet wastegate with dual coaxial shafts


A supporting element for an object includes a first leg member and a second leg member. The first leg member is axially movable relative to the second leg member for axially extending the supporting element. The first leg member includes a house that is arranged for slidably receiving the second leg member. The house includes a locking element having a locking position for locking the relative axial movement of the first leg member with respect to the second leg member, and having an open position for enabling relative axial movement of the two members. A catch may be provided in the locking element. The catch may be tiltably movable within the house for alternately acquiring the locking position and the open position of the locking element. The catch may include a cavity receiving the second leg, wherein the cavity has a stopping surface engaging at least opposed perimeter parts of the second leg member in a locking position of the locking element.

The invention relates to a supporting element for an object, the supporting element comprising a first leg member and a second leg member, wherein the first leg member is axially movable relative to the second leg member for axially extending the support member.
The invention also relates to an apparatus comprising a frame having at least two legs, each leg comprising a supporting element of the aforementioned kind.

Supporting element for an object and apparatus comprising a supporting element


Provided herein are systems, apparatuses and methods (i.e., utilities) that allow for increasing the bandwidth of a processing complex of a storage controller. The utilities utilize a symmetrical approach where PCIe switches overcome limitations of prior art processor complexes. The symmetrical approach provided by the disclosed utilities as incorporated into a storage controller provides equal access from any host path/channel to any drive path/channel (i.e., storage element). More specifically, a first or a first set of PCIe switches connect front-end PCIe host bus adaptors, which are connectable to host systems, to front-end data paths of a plurality of PCIe memory controllers. A second or second set of PCIe switches connect backend host bus adapters, which are connectable to storage elements, to back-end data paths of the plurality of PCIe memory controllers. The symmetrical architecture provides at least twice the bandwidth of prior art architectures.

High Performance Computing (HPC) systems, sometimes referred to as supercomputers, typically include a plurality of compute nodes each having one or more processing units or cores. More typically, such HPC systems include hundreds or even thousands of cores that may be distributed across a network or placed in a close proximity to one another (e.g., in a computer cluster). Such HPC systems are used for a wide range of computationally intensive applications in various fields, including, without limitation, quantum mechanics, weather forecasting, climate research, oil and gas exploration, molecular modeling and physical simulations.
The multiple compute nodes of a HPC system typically operate independently and periodically output information in a burst output mode. The burst output is typically stored to enterprise level storage architectures. One current storage approach for HPC systems is to provide a storage architecture (e.g., parallel file system) that provides enough bandwidth to sustain a 100% duty cycle burst (i.e., simultaneous burst of all compute nodes). This is to ensure that write bandwidth is available when the compute nodes are ready to dump accumulated computations. This approach provides a brute force solution by using hundreds of, for example, conventional block storage machines behind a parallel file system. One factor requiring the use of such a large number of block storage machines is the limited bandwidth (e.g., maximum data input rate) of the block storage machines. That is, the processor complexes of such storage machines are typically limited to bandwidths of 10 GB/s to 40 GB/s as limited by the current de-facto processor architecture, typically, produced by Intel Corporation. This bandwidth limitation requires large numbers of the storage machines to accommodate the output of an HPC system. The volume of storage machines required to provide the necessary bandwidth causes many infrastructure problems, including management logistics, mean time between failure (MTBF) issues, power infrastructures and cabling.

High bandwidth symmetrical storage controller


A milling machine having a horizontal slide and a vertical slide. The horizontal slide is mounted for movement between a loading station and a milling area. The vertical slide is mounted on the horizontal slide for vertical movement. A chuck is mounted on the vertical slide and has jaws for gripping a workpiece at the loading station. Milling tools in the milling area mill a workpiece held by the chuck when the horizontal slide is moved to the milling area. The milling tools include a face mill, a semi-finish end mill and a finish end mill which are arranged in a straight line along the path of movement of the chuck when the horizontal slide is moved from the loading station to the milling area. All of the milling tools are mounted in a receptacle which is capable of positioning the milling tools offset from the center line of the workpiece.

End milling machines for certain parts that must be precisely oriented and located in relation to pre-existing features on the workpiece, have previously required hand loading to reliably position the workpiece in a holding chuck. This is especially true of scroll parts. As a result, total production time is slowed and inconsistent due to the hand loading operation.
This invention provides the necessary scroll part positioning combined with self-loading and unloading of the workpiece, utilizing the same horizontal and vertical machine slides that are used for machining moves.
The facilities for the load-unload operation include:
(A) conveyor for conveying multiple pallets carrying oriented workpieces; PA1 (B) A pallet escapement mechanism to pre-position a pallet in the loading station; PA1 (C) Precise positioning of the pallet in the loading station by downward engagement of two chisel pointed splines into two receiving grooves in the pallet; PA1 (D) Firmly seating the workpiece against rest buttons in the part chuck by continuing downward movement against a compliant conveyor bed after the initial rest button contact; PA1 (E) Part jaw clamping of the workpiece with detection of loading errors or improperly machined workpieces; PA1 (F) Further detection of improper projection of the clamped part, by passage of the workpiece across an interference sensing wall, to sense possible workpiece misposition and inhibit further machine motion; and PA1 (G) Finish machined workpieces are returned to their original pallet by the machine slides. The following pallet is then indexed ahead and the next machine cycle begins.
Previously, the scroll workpieces have been chucked in the horizontal attitude, even though they are conveyed to the machine in the vertical attitude. This required a separate loading motion to rotate the workpiece 90.degree. for loading. This invention chucks and mills the scroll workpiece in the same attitude in which it is conveyed.
To precisely mill workpiece size requires an accurate pre-semi-finish operation to remove rough stock and present workpieces (with a uniform amount of stock for removal) to a subsequent finish mill operation. Previously, semi-finish operations were performed in different machines and in different chucks than those for the finish mill operation. Lack of repeatability of position in the first and second chucking causes variation in the stock that must be removed in the finish mill operation. Also, when workpieces are semi-finished in multiple semi-finish machines, a variation in the semi-finish dimensions results between machines. In addition, within just a single semi-finish machine, there are still dimensioned trend changes due to various factors such as tool wear, tool exchange, thermal growth, etc. If these workpieces do not follow in sequence to the finish operation, the finish operation will see abrupt changes in the amount of finish stock to be removed, resulting in inaccuracy.
This invention semi-finish mills and finish mills the workpiece in the same chucking operation. Also workpieces are finish milled in the same sequence in which they were semi-finished. In this way, there is no loss of workpiece position due to rechucking, and the finish operation is not presented with abrupt workpiece size changes due to being processed out of sequence.
The assembly of scroll components into a scroll compressor requires precise location of the relative parts. Scroll features are machined to provide the necessary alignment. Previously, these alignment features were milled in a separate machine. Lack of repeatability of position in the first and second chucking caused machining errors and, subsequently, misalignment of the scroll components.
In accordance with the invention, the alignment features are milled in precise alignment with the scroll by completing the alignment milling without rechucking after the scroll is milled.
In milling, chips must be removed from the cutting area to prevent recutting the chips, which can cause poor finish and inaccuracy. Previously, the workpieces have been milled in the horizontal attitude with the chips tending to lay in the machining cavity of the workpiece.
This invention, with its inverted scroll attitude, provides gravity assistance in removing chips from the machining cavity.
Semi-finishing of the face of the scroll wall has previously been milled using the end of the same end mill as used for milling the sides of the walls. The long path along the scroll requires considerable cycle time and the tool wear which occurs in the long path shortens the usable life of the end mill.
The invention provides an additional machining station, equipped with a large, long-life face mill, to mill the full face of the scroll in one quick short pass and remove wear effect from the semi-finish end mill.
Milling operations generate a heavy coolant mist. Previously, the opening of loading doors has allowed some of this coolant mist to escape and become a hazard to both the operator's health and the machine mechanism.
This invention provides a virtually closed machining area, thus preventing escape of the coolant mist.
In milling of the walls of a scroll workpiece, the side pressure on the end mill causes the end mill to deflect in a cantilever manner resulting in taper of the milled scroll walls. This invention incorporates the invention of copending application of Garnett and Watson (owned by a common assignee), Ser. No. 08/443,011, filed May 17, 1995, to correct wall taper due to end mill side deflection, and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Previously, dimensioned accuracy of the milled workpiece had to be determined in a separate gaging machine, followed by human assessment of how much tool offsets needed to be corrected before milling subsequent parts. These offsets have had to be manually entered in the control.
A machine constructed in accordance with this invention automatically corrects for all inaccuracy, of (A) variations in wall taper, (B) wall position, and (C) variation from the theoretical involute path of the scroll. A gaging station is provided to gage an occasional workpiece and feed back corrections to the tool offset program for subsequently milled workpieces.
Passage of the scroll part over a series of multiple stations requires a long stroke and, to reduce the cycle time needed for the long stroke, a high velocity of travel is needed. To provide precision position control of the slide in critical areas wherein a ball screw is utilized, the ball screw nut must be preloaded resulting in a shortened life of the ball screw and ball nut arrangement. In the workpiece loading and face milling areas, the position control is not as critical and the preload may be reduced to extend the ball screw life. The machine of this invention incorporates variable preloading of the ball screw nut.
To assure precise depth milling of the workpiece, the machine design should direct the milling force vector as nearly as possible to the supporting ways.
The machine of this invention has the rotary axis built into the vertical slide to provide a minimum of rotary axis overhang from the supporting slides for rigid vertical positioning.
End mills used in the milling operation are a perishable item and must be frequently replaced. For convenience, the end mills should be positioned in full view of the machine operator at a convenient height and within easy reach. This invention provides upward facing mills and short reach access.
Spindles used for the milling tools in scroll machining operations are necessarily high rpm spindles and, as such, the bearings have a relatively short life. To reduce machine down time during servicing, this invention provides easy vertical removal and replacement of the spindles.
Since spindles and spindle arrangement requirements vary between scroll manufacturers, this invention provides a spindle containment tub or receptacle for all of the spindles, which can readily be exchanged with an alternate arrangement without affect on the remainder of the machine structure.
Some scroll designs include keyway slots which must be precisely positioned in relation to the scroll contour. This invention provides an additional servo controlled axis to accomplish the keyway machining of keyway slots which are offset from the centerline of the scroll part. Since the keyway is machined in the same chucking as used for the scroll machining, errors caused by rechucking are eliminated. This feature is also useful in machining some scroll features.
In operation of a machine tool, heat is introduced into the machine structure. This, along with variation in the ambient temperature of the factory, causes thermal distortion in the machines and inaccuracy in the machining. Also, forces generated by machining forces within a machine cause elastic deformation and inaccurate machining. To minimize these two effects, it is desirable to closely couple the workpiece holding chuck to the milling tool through a structural path which is as short as possible. This invention provides the desired closely coupled arrangement as compared to other arrangements in which the coupling is remote, requiring extensive auxiliary cooling of the machine structure and providing less resistance to distortion due to machining stresses.
The machine of this invention is self-contained with all facilities mounted on a single pair of skid rails for easy placement on the factory floor and therefore reduces the size of the required and expensive floor space, as compared to a machine with separate electrical control, separate spindle coolant facilities, separate hydraulic supply unit and others.
One object of this invention is to provide a milling machine having the foregoing features and capabilities.
Another object is to provide a milling machine which is rugged and durable in use and is capable of rapidly and accurately semi-finishing the work and then finishing the work to final form, all in a single machine and in a single chucking operation.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, especially when considered with the accompanying drawings.


Training a consumer-oriented application device is based on a plurality of user-presented speech items. A progress measure is reported regarding a training status reached for a particular user person. In particular, the training status is visually represented by an animated character creature which has a plurality of training status representative maturity statuses that are each associated to a corresponding training level.

The invention relates to a method for training a consumer-oriented application device. Such voice-controlled application devices are becoming more and more abundant, such as in the form of Audio sets, Television sets, Settop boxes, and the like. The present invention addresses the feature of having user-dependent speech recognition in such devices, which necessitates a certain amount of training for a particular user. In contradistinction, user-independent recognition will usually come fully trained. However, combining a user independent trained device with the teachings of the present invention to be disclosed herinafter, will improve the functioning of such system as well. Now, a typical state-of-the-art is represented by U.S. 6,324,507 assigned to IBM Corporation. The reference uses colors to highlight certain displayed text items during the training. The present inventor has recognized however that such training operation would benefit from presenting a comprehensive feedback to a user to indicate a general or overall status of the training level attained. In particular, the inventor has recognized that a maturity status of the animated character could immediately be recognized as broadly representing the training level attained.

Method for training a consumer-oriented application device by speech items, whilst reporting progress by an animated character with various maturity statuses each associated to a respective training level, and a device arranged for supporting such method


To obtain a wiring board that allows improving flowability of an underfill to be filled up a clearance between an electronic component and the wiring board. The present invention is a wiring board with a laminated body where one or more layer of each of an insulating layer and a conductor layer are laminated. The wiring board includes a plurality of connecting terminals formed separately from one another on the laminated body, a filling member filled up between the plurality of connecting terminals, and a solder resist layer laminated on the laminated body. The filling member is in contact with at least a part of each side surface of the plurality of connecting terminals. The solder resist layer includes an opening that exposes the plurality of connecting terminals. The filling member has a surface roughness rougher than a surface roughness of a top surface of the solder resist layer.

Usually, a terminal for connection to a semiconductor chip (hereinafter referred to as a connecting terminal) is formed on a principal surface (front face) of a wiring board. Nowadays, the density of the connecting terminals has been becoming high, and therefore the distance (pitch) of the arranged connecting terminals has been narrow. In view of this, a wiring board employing a Non-Solder Mask Defined (NSMD) where a plurality of connecting terminals is disposed in the same opening of a solder resist has been proposed.
However, in the case where the plurality of connecting terminals are disposed in the same opening, a solder coated on the surface of the connecting terminal possibly flows out to an adjacent connecting terminals, resulting in a short circuit between the connecting terminals. Accordingly, to prevent the solder coated on the surface of the connecting terminal from flowing out to the adjacent connecting terminals, there is provided a wiring board with an insulating partition wall disposed between each of the connecting terminals (for example, see Patent Document 1).
However, with the partition wall, this partition wall prevents a flow of underfill to be filled up in a clearance between an electronic component and the wiring board when mounting the electronic component (for example, a semiconductor chip). In view of this, the underfill is not uniformly filled up in the clearance between the electronic component and the wiring board. This may cause a deficiency such as a breakage and corrosion.    Patent Document 1: JP-A-2009-212228


A transmit power control method of a first station in a wireless LAN (WLAN) system includes: receiving path loss information from an (access point) AP, the path loss information containing a maximum value among path losses between the AP and at least one or more stations included in the WLAN system; controlling a transmit power by using the path loss information; and transmitting a frame according to the controlled transmit power. In said controlling the transmit power by using the path loss information, the transmit power is controlled by using a path loss obtained by adding the maximum value and a path loss between the first station and the AP or by using the path loss between the first station and the AP.

1. Field of the Invention
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a transmit power control method and apparatus in a wireless LAN (WLAN) system; and, more particularly, to a transmit power control method and apparatus which controls a transmit power by using a path loss between a station and an access point (AP) in a WLAN system.
2. Description of Related Art
In a wireless communication device, a transmission terminal requires 2-2.5 times larger power consumption than a reception terminal, and the power consumption required by the transmission terminal depends significantly on the magnitude of transmit power. In general, a commercial wireless LAN device focuses on the transmission performance rather than the power consumption. Therefore, when transmitting a frame, the commercial wireless LAN device sets a transmit power to the maximum transmit power.
When a portable device uses the maximum transmit power, the power consumption efficiency of a wireless station may become a problem. A dynamic transmit power control function of the wireless communication system for the power consumption efficiency may not only reduce battery consumption, but also improve the immunity to interference.
Conventionally, research has been conducted on a transmit power control method between a station and an AP or between a station and a station. However, an algorithm combined with transmit rate control is required in terms of link control, and a transmit power control scheme is required in which a hidden node problem and a basic service set (BSS) network unit are simultaneously considered.
The hidden node problem occurs when a signal transmitted from a specific station within a basic service set suffers from a path loss caused by a channel and does not approach the receive sensitivity of another station. In this case, when a station occupies a channel, another station may not recognize the occupation. Furthermore, as another station attempts to transmit a signal, signal collision may occur. In order to minimize the hidden node problem, ready-to-send (RTS) and clear-to-send (CTS) frames are used. After the RTS and CTS frames are transmitted at the maximum power, a station may occupy a channel and acquire a transmit opportunity. In this case, the station may transmit data at a proper transmit power during the acquired transmit opportunity.
During frequent data communication processes, the exchange of RTS and CTS frames using the maximum transmit power may serve as a main factor which reduces the throughput efficiency and power consumption efficiency of a wireless station. Furthermore, the performance of a station included in the radio range of an AP belonging to different BSSs may be reduced, and the performance of another station may be reduced by a station belonging to an overlapping basic service set (OBBS). In a case of the next-generation WLAN system, the bandwidth may be widened, and a multi-mode and multi-user scheme may be used. Therefore, it is expected that the interference problem will be serious in the next-generation WLAN system.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for controlling transmission power in WLAN system

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


The present invention relates to a device, system and method for determining a vital sign of a person. To improve accuracy and reliability of vital sign determination, the device comprises an input unit (20) for obtaining a vital sign related signal of at least a body part of the person, from which a vital sign can be derived, a body part position determining unit (21) for determining if said body part of the person is in contact with a support or not and generating a contact signal indicating if said body part is in contact with the support or not, a quality metric setting unit (22) for setting, based on said contact signal, a quality metric for use in the determination of a vital sign of the person, and a vital sign deriving unit (23) for deriving a vital sign from the obtained vital sign related signal, wherein the set quality metric is used in the derivation of the vital sign and/or in a judgment of the reliability of a derived vital.

Vital signs of a person, for example the heart rate (HR), the respiration rate (RR) or the arterial blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), serve as indicators of the current health state of a person and as powerful predictors of serious medical events. For this reason, vital signs are extensively monitored in inpatient and outpatient care settings, at home or in further health, leisure and fitness settings. However, also in other scenarios acquisition of vital signs is useful, e.g. to monitor the health state of a driver in a vehicle (e.g. a car, truck, train, ship, airplane, helicopter, etc.). In such scenarios the person is usually sitting in a seat having a head-rest.
One way of measuring vital signs is plethysmography. Plethysmography generally refers to the measurement of volume changes of an organ or a body part and in particular to the detection of volume changes due to a cardio-vascular pulse wave traveling through the body of a subject with every heartbeat.
Photoplethysmography (PPG) is an optical measurement technique that evaluates a time-variant change of light reflectance or transmission of an area or volume of interest. PPG is based on the principle that blood absorbs light more than surrounding tissue, so variations in blood volume with every heart beat affect transmission or reflectance correspondingly. Besides information about the heart rate, a PPG waveform can comprise information attributable to further physiological phenomena such as the respiration. By evaluating the transmittance and/or reflectivity at different wavelengths (typically red and infrared), the blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) can be determined. Different kinds of such contact sensors (also called wearable devices) are commonly known and used, including contact finger pulse oximeters, contact forehead pulse oximeter sensors, contact pulse sensors, etc.
Recently, non-contact, remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) devices (also called camera-based PPG devices) for unobtrusive measurements have been described in many publications, e.g. in Verkruysse et al., "Remote plethysmographic imaging using ambient light", Optics Express, 16(26), 22 Dec. 2008, pp. 21434-21445, which demonstrates that photoplethysmographic signals can be measured remotely using ambient light and a conventional consumer level video camera, using red, green and blue color channels.
Remote PPG utilizes light sources or, in general radiation sources, arranged remotely from the subject of interest. Similarly, also a detector, e.g., a camera or a photo detector, can be arranged remotely from the subject of interest, i.e. without contact to the subject. Therefore, remote photoplethysmographic systems and devices are considered unobtrusive and well suited for medical as well as non-medical everyday applications.
Using unobtrusive systems like camera based systems, another way of measuring vital signs is by measuring the motion of chest and head to determine respiration and heart rate, respectively.
Further, another way of measuring vital signs is by using wearable sensors for measuring the respiration and heart rate from movement of the body part to which the sensor is attached to, such as chest, arm, head, etc., or by using conventional PPG in an optical contact sensor.
However, for practical application like e.g. a car environment, the SNR (signal to noise ration) is not at a level that a sufficiently high quality vital sign calculation can be guaranteed. In general, remote PPG systems will produce an output at all times, which can result in vital sign values which are wrong and meaningless, for instance when the person (e.g. the driver of a car) is moving a lot and/or when there are undesirable lighting conditions. Is it possible to only provide an output when the signal meets certain criteria e.g. sufficient applitude but this can result in periods of no output. It is desirable to produce a reliable output.

Device, system and method for determining a vital sign of a person


Compounds, compositions, and methods that employ an eremophilane sesguiterpene are presented for controlling an arthropod pest population. The compounds have minimal adverse or toxic effects on humans, non-human animals, and the natural environment. The compounds may be isolated from natural sources, semi-synthesized from naturally occurring compounds, or completely synthesized. The compounds may be applied directly to a pest or the locus of a pest, and function as topical or ingestible toxins. Eremophilane sesguiterpenes 13-hydroxy-valencene, valencene-11,12-epoxide, valencene-13-aldehyde, and nootkatone-1,10-11,12-diepoxide are exemplary compounds.

Pests such as insects, arachnids, and acarines are detrimental to humans. Pests include pathogenic organisms that infest mammals and plants, such as those that infest or feed upon plants and livestock, thus causing economic loss or diminishment of plant crops, plant products, and livestock. For example, the glassy-winged sharpshooter is a pest that feeds on grape vines, thus diminishing the crop available for wine production. Other pests may infest structures such as dwellings, residences, hospitals, and commercial establishments, such as restaurants and retail stores. These pests may be detrimental to the structure, such as termites feeding on wooden beams, or simply be a nuisance to people who visit or live in infested buildings. Additionally, some pests are vectors for certain diseases that harm humans and non-human animals, including pets and livestock.
The transmission of vector-born diseases through pests is a problem throughout the world and is best controlled through the control of those vectors. For example, the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) may transmit Lyme disease to a host when feeding on the host's blood by passing an infectious microbe (Borrelia burgdorferi), which lives in the tick's gut, into the host's bloodstream. A mosquito (Aedes aegypti), prevalent throughout many tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world, may transmit Dengue Fever, Yellow Fever, or encephalitis viruses to a host on which it feeds. The rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis) is a vector for the microbe (Yersinia pestis) that causes the Plague.
Pest control is often difficult to achieve. Many pesticides are toxic to humans and animals and may pollute the environment. Hence, a number of commonly used pesticides, such as organophosphates, have been restricted or made commercially unavailable. Biopesticides derived from natural sources, such as plants, fungi, or other natural products, offer a safer alternative to chemically synthesized pesticides. Biopesticides generally have fewer health effects and can be better for the environment, but many biopesticides offer substantially weaker control of pests, or control only a limited spectrum of pests, while other biopesticides may be environmentally toxic. For example, pyrethrins—pesticides made from the extract of the chyrsanthemum plant—control a wide variety of pests, but are very toxic to fish, such as bluegill and lake trout. Additionally, pests may become resistant to certain compounds after continued use; for example, insect resistance to pyrethrins already has been observed. Thus, new pest control agents offer an alternative for commonly used pesticides.
Therefore, a need exists for an effective pesticide capable of controlling a variety of pests, for example vectors of disease, that is relatively safe for humans, animals, plants, and the environment.

Compounds for pest control and methods for their use

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services


The present invention provides an image processing apparatus comprising: a first camera obtaining a true-color image by capturing a subject; a second camera spaced apart from the first camera and obtaining an infrared image by capturing the subject; and a control unit connected to the first camera and the second camera, wherein the control unit matches the true-color image and the infrared image and obtains three-dimensional information of the subject by using the matched infrared image in a region corresponding to the matched true-color image and a valid pixel.

Humans are capable of seeing things three-dimensionally based on disparity between the two eyes. In recent years, a stereo vision camera that calculates distance information with two cameras according to such a principle has been widely used.
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a conventional stereo vision camera.
The stereo vision camera may include two cameras 101 and 102 spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance d1. The stereo vision camera may capture a subject 300 that exists in an area 500 captured by the two cameras, and calculate disparity between images captured by the two cameras, and obtain a distance d2 from the cameras 101 and 102 to the subject 300.
To measure the distance to the subject based on the disparity, epipolar geometry, which is a well-known technique, may be employed.
However, since the conventional stereo vision camera matches two images based on the same camera, it is difficult to overcome limitations from the use of a single camera type (single band).
For example, stereo vision based on red, green, and blue (RGB) cameras has a problem in visibility at night, and stereo vision based on infrared cameras has a problem in color recognition.
Therefore, a dual-band stereo vision system has been introduced. The dual-band stereo vision system is a stereo vision system that includes both the stereo vision based on RGB cameras and the stereo vision based on infrared cameras.
However, the dual-band stereo vision system has disadvantages in that an image processing apparatus has a large volume and weight, high cost is required, and it is difficult to match images acquired in each band.

Non-same camera based image processing apparatus


A fishing reel of a double bearing type includes a clutch member having an engaging portion which, during the movement of the clutch member between its rotation force transmission position and rotation force cut-off position, is caused to move along the inner peripheral surface of a bearing, wherein the engaging portion of the clutch member is structured such that, during the above movement, it is situated in the range of the inner peripheral surface of the bearing in a direction extending along the rotation axis of the spool shaft, and further wherein a clutch engaged portion engaged with the engaging portion is also structured such that it is situated in the range of the inner peripheral surface of the bearing in the direction extending along the rotation axis of the spool shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fishing reel of a double bearing type and, in particular, to such fishing reel including a clutch member which is rotatably supported on a reel main body by the bearing, is so held by a bearing as to be movable along the axis of rotation of a spool rotatably supported between a pair of side plates of the reel main body, is so arranged as to receive a rotation force from a handle, and is movable along the spool rotation axis selectively between a rotational force transmission position for transmitting the rotational force to a spool shaft and a rotation force cut-off position for cutting off the transmission of the rotation force.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, as a double-bearing type fishing reel of the above-mentioned type, for example, there is known a fishing reel which is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Unexamined Publication No. 4-129771 of Heisei. According to the conventional double-bearing type of fishing reel disclosed in the present publication, in a spool shaft rotatably supported between a pair of side plates included in a reel main body, as a clutch member, there is provided a pinion which is disposed in one of the above pair of side plates in such a manner that it is concentric with one end portion projectingly provided in one of the above pair of side plates and to which a rotation force from a handle can be input. The pinion is rotatably supported by a pair of bearings in one of the two side plates and is free to move in a direction along the axis of rotation of the spool shaft; and, in particular, the pinion can be moved selectively between a rotation force transmission position, in which the pinion approaches a spool along the above axis of rotation and is engaged with an engaging projection provided on the above one end portion, and a rotation force cut-off position in which the pinion moves away from the rotation force transmission position with respect to the spool and is removed from the engagement with the engaging projection.
Further, when turning the spool into its freely rotatable condition in order to play out a fishing line from the spool, by operating a clutch operation lever which is provided on and projected from the reel main body, the pinion is moved from the rotation force transmission position to the rotation force cut-off position. When transmitting the rotation force from the handle to the spool in order to take up the fishing line onto the spool, with the rotation of the handle in a given fishing line take-up direction, the pinion is moved from the rotation force cut-off position to the rotation force transmission position by a clutch opening and removing mechanism.
In the above-mentioned conventional fishing reel of a double bearing type, the engaging projection on the one end portion of the spool shaft is situated between the bearing for the pinion and the spool. For this reason, the length of the engaging projection is longer in a direction to extend along the rotation axis of the spool shaft in the above-mentioned one of the pair of side plates of the reel main body than in the other direction, and therefore, together with the handle also disposed in the above-mentioned one side plate, the imbalance between the right and left dimensions and weights of the real main body around the rod mounting portion of the fishing reel of a double bearing type is increased.
This worsens the operation feeling of a fishing rod with the above-mentioned conventional fishing reel of a double bearing type mounted thereon. This also worsens the portability of the above-mentioned conventional fishing reel of a double bearing type.
Further, in the above-mentioned conventional fishing reel of a double bearing type, for example, while something in the water or big fish is being caught on a hook connected to a fishing line, in order to take up the fishing line suddenly onto the spool, if the handle is rotated suddenly in the given fishing line take-up direction, then a large rotation force is suddenly applied not only to the engaging projection provided on one end portion of the spool shaft but also to an engaging recess formed in the pinion in engagement with the engaging projection of the spool shaft, the portion of the pinion adjacent to the engaging recess is slightly deformed in the tangential direction due to such sudden and large rotation force. In addition, if such slight deformation is repeated and the diameter of such engaging portion is thereby increased slightly, then there is required a large force to achieve the movement of the engaging portion with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the bearing in the direction extending along the rotation axis of the spool shaft, especially, the movement of the engaging portion from the rotation force cut-off position to the rotation force transmission position. Also, the use of such large force raises another problem that the operation of the clutch mechanism using the above-mentioned pinion can be disabled.
The above-mentioned movement of the pinion in the direction extending along the rotation axis of the spool shaft further suffers from the resistance that is produced by foreign substances such as dust and the like attached not only to the inner peripheral surface of the bearing but also to the engaging portion of the pinion.
Moreover, the possibility of occurrence of these problems is increased by enhancing the dimensional precision of the composing members of the clutch mechanism in order to make smooth the operation of the clutch mechanism using the above-mentioned pinion.

Double bearing type of a fishing reel having a rotatable and slidable clutch member supported by a bearing


An authentication device comprises a processor having a reset input, a trigger source coupled to the reset input of the processor, and interface circuitry for outputting codes generated by the processor. The trigger source may comprise, for example, a trigger button having an associated switch that when actuated supplies a reset to the reset input. The processor is configured to analyze a given reset applied to the reset input to determine if the reset is an inadvertent reset or a reset generated by the trigger source. The processor generates a code responsive to the reset if the reset is determined to be a reset generated by the trigger source. The code may be supplied to a host device which communicates the code to an authentication server for authentication.

User authentication tokens are typically implemented as small, hand-held devices that display a series of passwords over time. These passwords, which may be one-time passwords, are more generally referred to herein as tokencodes. A user equipped with such an authentication token reads the currently displayed password and enters it into a computer or other element of an authentication system as part of an authentication operation. This type of dynamic password arrangement offers a significant security improvement over authentication based on a static password.
Conventional authentication tokens include both time-based tokens and event-based tokens. The latter are also referred to herein as event-triggered tokens. In a typical time-based token, the displayed passwords are based on a secret value and the time of day. A verifier with access to the secret value and a time of day clock can verify that a given presented password is valid. Event-based tokens generate passwords in response to a designated event, such as a user pressing a button on the token. Each time the button is pressed, a new password is generated based on a secret value and an event counter. A verifier with access to the secret value and the current event count can verify that a given presented password is valid.
Passwords can be communicated directly from the authentication token to a computer or other element of an authentication system, instead of being displayed to the user. For example, a wired connection such as a universal serial bus (USB) interface may be used for this purpose. Wireless authentication tokens are also known in such tokens, the passwords are wirelessly communicated to a computer or other element of an authentication system. These wired or wireless arrangements save the user the trouble of reading the password from the display and manually entering it into the computer.
Additional details of exemplary conventional authentication tokens can be found in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,860, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Positively Identifying an Individual," U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,520, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Personal Identification," and U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,062, entitled "Personal Security System," all of which are incorporated by reference herein.
It is generally desirable in authentication tokens and other hand-held devices to minimize power consumption so as to conserve battery power. To this end, a processor within a given such device may be kept in a low-power "sleep" mode when not being used to generate passwords. A problem that arises for a device of this type is that the device can be susceptible to inadvertent resets, for example, resets triggered by various external sources such as electrostatic discharge, electromagnetic interference, background radiation, etc. These and other inadvertent resets can take the processor out of its low-power sleep mode even when the processor does not need to generate passwords, thereby wasting battery power. Moreover, such resets can cause unpredictable behavior in both device hardware and firmware.
Accordingly, techniques are needed for reducing the susceptibility of authentication tokens and other authentication devices to inadvertent resets.


A semiconductor memory device to be used as a mask ROM having: a MOS transistor array having MOS transistors disposed in a matrix of rows and columns, the drain-source circuits of the MOS transistors in each row being serially connected; a row selecting decoder for selecting one of the rows; first and second column lines alternately disposed in the row direction, each first column line being connected to one end of the drain-source circuit of each of the MOS transistors disposed in one column, and each second column line being connected to the other end of the drain-source circuit of each of the MOS transistors disposed in the one column; a data reading circuit for reading data stored in the MOS transistor array; a first switching circuit for selectively connecting one of the first column lines to the data reading circuit; a second switching circuit for selectively connecting one of the second column lines to a ground potential; and a column selecting circuit for selecting one of the columns of the MOS transistors, the column selecting circuit including a plurality of column select lines provided to the MOS transistor columns, respectively, wherein when one of the column select lines is activated, the first and second switching circuits connected to the first and second column lines connected to the MOS transistors in the corresponding column are made conductive at the same time.

As described in "Design of CMOS Ultra LSI" by Takuo SUGANO, Baifukan, pp. 168 to 169, conventional methods of writing programs in a mask ROM include a diffusion layer programming method, an ion implantation programming method, a contact hole programming method, and the like. The mask ROM is divided into a NAND type and an OR type depending upon the layout of memory cells. Generally, a NAND type ROM can reduce the size of memory cell array more than a NOR type ROM, and the diffusion layer programming method and ion implantation programming method for a mask ROM can reduce the size of memory cell array more than the contact hole programming method.
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a conventional NAND type ROM using the ion implantation programming method. In this circuit of the NAND type ROM, the direction of the channel of a MOS transistor 72 constituting a memory cell is aligned in the direction of a bit line 54. In an ordinary case, the threshold voltage (hereinafter abbreviated as Vth) of each MOS transistor 72 is set to a value corresponding to the enhancement type, and only the selected MOS transistors 72 are changed to have a value of Vth corresponding to the depletion type, to thereby write a desired program. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 62 represents a row decoder, and reference numeral 64 represents a column decoder. Transistors 42 are turned on during the memory read standby state to ground and discharge all word lines. Mask ROMs of this kind are disclosed, for example, in JP-A-62-195,786.
In reading data from a memory cell, first all the word lines 52 are set to an "H" level. Thereafter, the selected word line 52 is set to an "L" level and the selected bit line 54 is set to the "H" level. If Vth of the selected memory cell corresponds to the depletion type, a current flowing through the selected bit line 54 continues to flow even if the word line 52 is set to the "L" level. On the other hand, if the Vth corresponds to the enhancement type, a current flowing through the selected bit line 54 is cut off. In this manner, data in the memory cell can be read.
FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a conventional NOR type ROM using the ion implantation programming method. In this circuit of the NOR type ROM, a bit line 56, a MOS transistor 72, and a bit line 58 are repetitively disposed in this order in the row direction. The drain and source of each of the MOS transistor 72 disposed in the column direction are connected to the bit lines 56 and 58. The gates of the MOS transistors 72 disposed in the row direction are connected in common to a word line 52. All the bit lines 56 are electrically grounded, and the bit lines 58 are used for selecting a desired column.
In this circuit, Vth of each MOS transistor 72 is set to a value corresponding to the enhancement type allowing the MOS transistor to turn on when the word line 52 takes the "H" level. Only the selected memory cells are changed to have a value of Vth not allowing the memory cells to turn on when the word line 52 takes the "H" level. In this manner, a desired program is written in the mask ROM. In reading data from a memory cell, first all the word lines 52 are set to the "L" level or made open and all the bit lines are also made open. Thereafter, only the selected word line 52 is set to the "H" level and a pair of bit lines 56 and 58 connected to the memory cell are selected. If Vth of the selected memory cell has a value not allowing the memory cell to turn on when the word line 52 takes the "H" level, then the bit line 56 is grounded and the other bit line 58 is connected via a select transistor 74 to an operational amplifier 66. Data is read by checking the electrical conductivity of each selected memory cell as described above.
In the case of a NAND type ROM, as the number of memory cells disposed in a column direction increases, the total on-resistance of the cell transistors becomes larger, resulting in a smaller current flowing through the bit line and a slower access speed. For this reason, the number of memory cells in a column direction is limited.
In the case of a NOR type ROM, although it is free from the above disadvantages of the NAND type ROM, two bit lines are required for the memory cells in each column so that the structure of a decoder system becomes complicated. Therefore, the area of a memory cell array of a NOR type ROM becomes larger than that of a NAND type ROM.


The present disclosure relates to a tourniquet 1 comprising a tension sensor 8 and loop portion 4 ensuring that an intended pressure has been achieved on a body part on which the tourniquet is applied. The tension sensor comprises a plurality of cuts 20 arranged in a predetermined pattern. The present disclosure also relates to a dispenser comprising a plurality of such tourniquets, and a kit comprising a tourniquet.

Intravenous (IV) access is the most common invasive procedure in health care. Its purpose is to supply medication or to retrieve blood samples for laboratory tests. Despite being such a high frequency procedure, first access attempts often fail. There have been reports showing that up to every third attempt at insertion of peripheral vein catheters fail, and blood sampling attempts are likewise subject to failure, although less frequently. Failures can cause pain and increased risk of infection in patients, increase time until medication can be administered, can cause stress to both patient and clinician, expose clinicians to disease and cause significant loss of time and resources.
A tourniquet is used for example for restricting venous flow when attempting to gain intravenous access. The tourniquet is wrapped and tightened around an arm (or another limb) of a human or animal patient in order to distend the veins. This helps to facilitate the retrieval and puncture of a vein with a needle for extracting a sample of blood or effecting intravenous injection.
Various types of tourniquets are previously known. The perhaps most simple one is a rubber band simply tied around a body member. Others comprise a strip made of an elastic material and held in place by a fastener, such as a clamp. These tourniquets are generally configured to be reusable. Reusable tourniquets can spread microorganisms between patients and therefore pose a risk for infections being passed from one patient to another.
The problem associated with reusable tourniquets can of course be overcome by the use of disposable tourniquets. However, it is essential that the production cost for a disposable tourniquet is very low in order to be able to compete with the reusable tourniquets. Examples of disposable tourniquets can be found in EP 1,796,556 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,356 A.
FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a disposable tourniquet 100 according to prior art. The tourniquet 100 consists of a strip having a head portion 2 at a first longitudinal end of the strip, and a tail portion 3 at the opposing longitudinal end portion. The longitudinal central axis of the strip is denominated A in FIG. 1. The strip further comprises a loop portion 4 between the head portion 2 and the tail portion 3. The loop portion 4 is intended to be wrapped around a limb such as to encircle the limb. The strip further comprises an intermediate portion 5 with a greater width than the width of the loop portion 4 and the tail portion 3. The intermediate portion 5 is arranged between the head portion 2 and the loop portion. The intermediate portion 5 comprises a transverse cut 6 forming an opening through which the tail portion and possibly a part of the loop portion may pass. The strip further comprises an adhesive 7 on a part of the loop portion 4 adjacent the intermediate portion 5.
When the tourniquet 100 is to be used, the loop portion is arranged such as to encircle the limb of the patient, and the tail portion is threaded through the opening formed by the cut 6. Then the head portion and tail portion are pulled in opposite directions such as to tighten the tourniquet around the limb and thereby apply a compression force to the limb. Thereafter the tail portion, or a part of the loop portion, which has passed through the cut 6, is fastened to the loop portion in an overlapping manner by means of the adhesive 7 such that the compression force is maintained.
Many previously known tourniquets, such as the one shown in FIG. 1, suffers from the drawback of not providing means for knowing the pressure applied and/or not consistently providing the correct pressure to produce adequate distension of the veins to permit easy and accurate insertion of a needle. This leads to many unnecessary failed attempts of gaining intravenous access.
Attempts to solve the above-mentioned problems have been made. For example, US 2016/0287262 A1 discloses a venous tourniquet comprising a strap that can be placed around a body part. The strap comprises a tension indicator, with the use of which the tensile force in the strap, in the vicinity of or near the tension loop wrapped around the body part, can be detected by a user. The tension indicator is constructed by an element arranged over an elastic portion of the strap such that when not in use, the element is provided in a loop-shape. When the elastic portion is stretched to a defined length, the loop-shaped element limits further elongation of the strap and thereby provides information to the user that sufficient pressure has been achieved. This tourniquet however has the disadvantage of not compensating for different limb radii, resulting in the same force being applied to all limbs, regardless of physiology. Further, it relies on the necessary use of two materials having different properties and which need to be appropriately fastened to each other, which in turn may increase the cost of manufacturing the tourniquet.
US 2013/0304113 A1 discloses a disposable tourniquet in the form of a band of a thin, non-stretchable material arranged to be wrapped around a patient's limb, tightened and locked in place. The tourniquet also comprises means for controlling the amount of tension applied to the band when it is tightened about the limb of the patient. Said means comprises two flexible legs connecting a tab to be gripped by a user with the rest of the tourniquet. The flexible legs are adapted to be straightened out when the tab is pulled by the user, thereby moving an indicator (extending from the tab) in relation to a static portion, thereby indicating the amount of tension. This tourniquet also suffers from lack of compensation for limb circumference, and may also be sensitive to the direction of applied force as well as the skill of the user, thereby risking not providing consistent results.


An uplock assembly for an outboard motor tilt mechanism has a pair of brackets pivotally connected with an overcenter hinge. The uplock assembly has a lever that an operator uses to force the brackets into an in-line, end-to-end overcenter configuration in which a lower bracket supports against a horizontal support axle attached to the tilt mechanism and an upper bracket pushes against a swivel bracket of the tilt mechanism. The upper and lower brackets are sized so that the swivel bracket is pushed beyond its normal full up trailering position into a tight configuration in which the swivel bracket and motor are restrained from bouncing even under excessively rough transportation conditions. Preferably, the uplock assembly includes a lever guide member having a catch mechanism that secures the lever in a fixed position when the uplock assembly is engaged to support the outboard motor.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,331,430, 4,472,148, 4,826,459, and 4,925,410, all of which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention, describe mechanisms for providing a variety of outboard motor tilt positions. The tilt positions typically include a series of lower trim positions, including one or more shallow water drive positions, and a full up trailering position.
In general, these patents describe tilt mechanisms having a transom bracket that is attached to the transom of a boat, and a swivel bracket that is pivotally mounted to the transom bracket. An outboard motor is rotatably mounted to the swivel bracket. The tilt mechanism allows the operator to change trim positions simply by pushing down on the motor tiller handle and tilting the motor up. A ratchet mechanism allows stepwise movement of a trim pin on the swivel bracket among serially arranged position notches in the transom bracket. This allows the motor to be tilted from the original down position to any higher position, including the full up position. Normally, a tilt strap or the like connects the swivel bracket to the transom bracket to prevent the motor from falling forward of the transom into the boat when the motor is in the full up position. To bring the motor back down to the lower drive position, the motor is tilted up to and slightly beyond the uppermost shallow water drive position, or slightly beyond the full up position, and released. Upon release, the trim pin follows a return path in a closed circuit cam track that returns the trim pin and motor to the down trim position as the motor tilts down.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,410 discloses a tilt mechanism lock which is manually operated to selectively lock the motor in the full up position so that the motor does not inadvertently dislodge from bouncing or jarring when the boat is transported. The lock mechanism disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,410 operates satisfactorily under most conditions, however, under extremely rough conditions, the bouncing or jarring can cause damage to the lock mechanism or to other structure of the tilt mechanism (e.g. swivel bracket or trim pin). One example of this problem occurs in boating applications where a small outboard motor is used as an auxiliary drive. When a main drive is propelling the boat and the auxiliary drive is stowed in the full up position, pounding from heavy seas or high wave action can cause excessive bouncing and jarring. The excessive bouncing and jarring can damage the structure of the tilt mechanism for the auxiliary drive. Likewise, when an outboard motor is being trailered over the road in the full up position, excessive jarring can damage the structure of the tilt mechanism.
Under most conditions, tilt mechanisms are not damaged and do not break when transported in the full up position. However, some boat owners abuse the tilt mechanism by exposing it to excessive bouncing and jarring when the motor is in the full up position, thereby creating excessive stresses on the tilt mechanism. For these boat owners, it is desirable to provide a way to reduce movement and stresses in the tilt mechanism under excessively rough conditions.

Overcenter uplock assembly for an outboard motor


A snowmobile includes a seat for the rider behind an engine and an air cleaner, and an elongate fuel tank below the seat. The height of the ceiling of the fuel tank at a location corresponding to the rider seating position is lower than the height of the ceiling of the fuel tank at other portions thereof. A raised ceiling portion is provided in the fuel tank by raising upwards the front side of the fuel tank. A fuel pump is provided in the raised ceiling portion of the fuel tank. The fuel pump is attached to the ceiling of the fuel tank, and a fuel supply pipe for supplying fuel from the fuel tank resides between the fuel pump and the front side of the fuel tank. The snowmobile having such fuel tank stabilizes vehicle body during operation, enhances the seating comfort, and easily incorporates a fuel pump therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a snowmobile comprising a fuel pump disposed inside a fuel tank, the fuel tank provided below a rider's seat.
2. Description of the Background Art
Conventionally, in a known snowmobile the structure and layout of the fuel tank have been redesigned so as to place the seating position of the rider closer to the engine. This configuration is disclosed, for example, in US Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0020573A1 to Fournier et al. By positioning the rider close to the engine, the snowmobile body is more stable during operation, and ride comfort is improved.
Also with respect to known snowmobiles, in recent years, engines provided with an injector for injecting a fuel have come to be adopted. Fuel injectors require a supply of high pressure fuel. To provide the required pressure to the fuel supply, it is necessary to incorporate a fuel pump in the fuel tank. Since the fuel pump is comparatively large in size, the fuel tank disclosed by Fournier et al. is insufficient in height, making it difficult to lay out the fuel pump therein.

Snowmobile with improved fuel tank structure


A method is provided for operating a proximity sensing unit for controlling an accessory device of a vehicle. A plurality of proximity sensors is disposed in a sequential pattern within a sensing unit whereby the proximity sensors are responsive to a manual activation. At least two activation signals are received from at least two proximity sensors in response to the manual activation. An activation sequence of at least two activation signals is determined. One of a plurality of control actions associated with the activation sequence is selected. A control action is initiated for controlling an operation of the accessory device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a proximity sensor switch for operating a vehicle accessory, and more specifically, to a proximity sensor slide switch which uses nonmoving parts to operate a vehicle accessory.
2. Description of the Related Art
Vehicle accessory input controls typically consist of devices which require rotating a control knob, depressing a control button, or sliding a mechanical or electro-mechanical control switch to operate or adjust a vehicle accessory device. An exterior casing or oversize buttons and knobs are used to dress up and conceal the gaps between the bezel and the movable components of the input control devices. Despite the addition of these facial coverings to make the appearance presentable and visually appealing, the plurality of interlocking components leaves way for dirt and debris to lodge in the gaps and crevices between these interlocking components. This creates difficulty not only with respect to cleaning in these areas, but the potential exists to cause an interference condition. Covers, sealers, or boots may be used to seal and deter contaminants from entering these openings but these protector are require an additional cost to the vehicle manufactures which may be quite costly when multiple control input devices requires some type of protection device. Devices such as appliances have been known to use switches under the surface of a fascia of the appliance to create a sealed environment, however, these devices have been limited to a physical press and release operation, and furthermore, to increment or decrement a setting, the switch must be pressed and depressed multiple times or depressed and held for a certain duration of time.
Control input devices are typically manufactured from a plurality of cooperating subcomponents such as levers, rotating dials, and mechanical switches. As the number of interworking subcomponents increase for the assembly of a component, so do the potential failure modes and cost of the devices. This is the case for components that are moveable with respect to one another.

Vehicle accessory proximity sensor slide switch


A table unit particularly adapted for use in a correctional environment includes a base prepared to be filled with ballast. The base has a hollow core member that fits into an inner space of an outer shell member. A sidewall of the core member is spaced inward from a sidewall of the shell member to form a first ballast holding space therebetween. An inner space of the core member defines a second ballast holding space. For use the first holding space or both ballast holding spaces first are filled with ballast such as sand or gravel. Then, a table top is attached to an upper end of the outer shell member to form a completed work table unit. Ballast in the first holding space reinforces the sidewall of the outer shell member while weight of the ballast inhibits unauthorized movement or upsetting of the unit.

1. Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to furniture for penal-type institutions and more particularly to a table unit having a base that may be selectively filled with ballast that reinforces a base of the unit against physical abuse and weights the unit to inhibit unauthorized movement of such.
2. Prior Art
A furniture piece commonly known as a table has been in use for many centuries. Tables are available in limitless sizes, configurations, and styles. The actual table form depends to a large degree upon its intended end use, and such uses are infinite. While most all tables include a table top which provides a flat, horizontal surface for support or other like use, means to carry the table top will vary. Many tables have a set of spaced apart legs to support the table top. Like table use means of table top support also are infinite.
For example, recently issued U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,802 discloses a table top supported by a centrally located column. this table includes a base having a top surface formed with a circular groove which includes a set of inwardly extending notches. A bottom end of the column fits into this base groove; a top end of the column then fits into a like groove in a bottom surface of the table top. The column is formed by joining two semi-circular portions. Flanges on ends of each column portion abut and then fit respectively in the notches of the base and table top grooves.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 300,468 sets out another table having a recessed work surface especially adapted for garden related work. The work surface of this table is supported by a pair of large, spaced apart legs. Each leg has a rectangular shape and seemingly is made of concrete studded with field stone.
Still further means of support is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,929,021. While the ornamental support section shown is adapted for a stool, this section could be modified for table top support. The section includes a lower base element joined to an upper support casing by an elongated metal rod having ends threaded respectively to each. Positioned about the rod is a tubular member. In a further embodiment the tubular member is translucent for visual display of ball elements that then may be illuminated by a florescent tube that replaces the metal rod.


A fan holder, for attaching a fan to a heat sink, includes a base, fasteners, and clamping arms. The fasteners extend from the base. Each of the fasteners defines an arc-shaped locking portion engaging with the fan. The clamping arms extend from the base opposite to the fasteners, and engage with the heat sink to thereby attach the fan to the heat sink.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a holder, and particularly to a fan holder which can conveniently install a fan to a heat sink and make the fan being conveniently removed from.
2. Related Art
As computer technology continues to advance, electronic components such as central processing units (CPUs) of computers are being made to provide faster operational speeds and greater functional capabilities. When a CPU operates at high speed in a computer enclosure, its temperature can increase greatly. It is desirable to dissipate the generated heat quickly, for example by using a heat sink attached to the CPU in the enclosure. This allows the CPU and other electronic components in the enclosure to function within ranges of their normal operating temperature, thereby assuring the quality of data management, storage and transfer. A heat dissipation device is often attached to a top surface of a CPU, to remove heat there from.
A conventional heat dissipation device comprises a heat sink and a fan defining four through holes in four corners thereof. The heat sink comprises a base, and a plurality of parallel fins extending upwardly from the base. A plurality of screw threads is formed in two outmost fins at each side of the heat sink. Four screws are received through the through holes and engaged with the screw threads. The structure can mount the fan to the heat sink, but a problem is that it is complex to install when mounting the fan to the heat sink by threads. Operation between the fan and the heat sink is difficult and efficiency is also poor.
Another conventional holder is to fasten a fan to a heat sink by a spring member. The fan defines a groove therein. The spring member usually comprises a hook engaging in the groove of the fan. The holder can conveniently to install the fan to the heat sink by the hook of the spring member engaging in the groove of the fan. However, the spring member causes a self-locking phenomenon when the hook engages in the groove of the fan. As a result, it is difficult to remove the spring member from the groove of the fan. So it is not convenient to remove the holder from the fan.


A network apparatus connected with a first clock source and at least one second clock source is provided. The network apparatus includes a system clock, a slave port connected to the first clock source, at least one passive port connected to the at least one second clock source, and a processor that controls synchronization of the system clock. The processor determines, from the slave port, a first clock offset between the system clock and a clock of the first clock source. The processor determines, from the at least one passive port, at least one second clock offset between the system clock and at least one clock of the at least one second clock source. The processor determines a true clock offset based on the first clock offset and the at least one second clock offset and synchronizes the system clock using the true clock offset.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to the technical field of Internet, in particular to a network apparatus and a clock synchronization method.
With the development of science and technology, the application of Internet has become more and more extensive. The Internet may include a plurality of network apparatuses connected through a network, and the network apparatuses may communicate through the network. In order to ensure normal communication between the network apparatuses, it is generally necessary to ensure synchronization of the system clocks of two or more network apparatuses.
A network apparatus may be provided with a plurality of ports and connected with other network apparatuses serving as clock sources through the ports. The network apparatus can determine a slave port from the plurality of ports through a clock source selection algorithm, and then the system clock of the network apparatus can be synchronized based on the system clock of the clock source connected through the slave port.
However, when the network condition of the slave port fluctuates, the clock offset between the network apparatus and the clock source will also be disturbed, thus causing large deviation when synchronizing the system clock of the network apparatus and low stability and reliability of clock synchronization.

Network apparatus and clock synchronization method


A patella clamping device includes a handle portion and a clamp portion. The clamp comprises at least two jaw members that are pivotally joined to one another in a scissors-like orientation. A ratchet mechanism is associated with the device to ensure locking of the clamp in the closed position. A guide mechanism is also provided with the device to ensure a vertical, coaxial closing action of the clamp element.

The invention relates to a clamping device to facilitate affixation of a prosthetic patella component to the natural patella during knee arthroplasty procedures.
Knee arthroplasty procedures require the resection of the natural articulation surface of the patella and replacement thereof with a prosthetic patella component. Subsequently, through known procedures, the resected surface of the patella is reamed to form a cavity that can accept the patella prosthesis. The cavity is filled with bone cement and the patella prosthesis is inserted within the cavity. Thereafter, the natural patella and the prosthesis must be held together firmly until the cement cures. Typically a special clamping device is used to hold and apply pressure to these components.
A number of clamping devices are known to exist. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,284,482; 5,129,908; and 4,706,660 all disclose various patella clamping devices. These patents describe clamp devices that require two hand operation: one hand closes the clamp while the other uses a thumb screw or a similar device to lock the clamp in the closed position. The design of the disclosed clamps is such that the closing motion of the clamp is non-linear.
Patella clamping devices generally include two jaw elements that close together to engage and hold firmly the prosthetic patella component and the natural patella. It is desirable for the jaws to close together in a consistent manner with a linear application of force so that the components are not drawn out of alignment while the load is applied. Once the jaws are closed to apply the load to the two components, the jaws must be held together firmly with a constant application of pressure. To accomplish this, it is often necessary to lock the jaws in place.
Many patella clamps have locking devices to maintain the jaws of the clamp in the closed, load applying position. Known clamp designs, such as those described in the references noted above, usually require the surgeon to maintain pressure on the clamping jaws with one hand while using the other hand to actuate the locking mechanism. The necessity for the surgeon to use two hands during the locking procedure can be inconvenient. It would thus be advantageous to provide a clamping device that enables the linear application of load and which enables locking of the device using only one hand.
Many patella clamps also do not permit the clamping members to close with a vertical or linear application of load. A non-linear closing motion of a clamp could result in the application of forces which cause misalignment of the patella components while the clamping load is applied.
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a patella clamping device that enables the linear application of clamping load and the ability to lock the clamping jaws in place using only one hand. It is also an object of the invention to provide a patella clamp that can be used with greater ease and accuracy. Further objects will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art on reading the disclosure that follows.


A method for generating or refining an OPC model for use in wafer fabrication. A predetermined feature layout is used to prepare a mask for use in, for example, a photolithographic process. The mask is used to create structures corresponding to mask features on a semiconductor wafer using the mask. Measurements of the actual mask features and wafer features may then be assessed and correlated, and the results used to generate an OPC model or refine an existing one. In addition, the OPC may be used to simulate a fabrication operation by applying the OPC tool to a predetermined layout to produce a mask image and a wafer image, and then comparing the predetermined layout to the simulated wafer image to determine at least one fitness value.

Semiconductor chips are used in a wide variety of electronic devices. A semiconductor chip is a small, often very small piece of a semiconductor material upon which various electric components have been fabricated and connected together to form integrated circuits. These circuits perform a variety of functions, such as memory or processing, in support of the semiconductor chip's role in the electronic device.
To form these circuits, the fabrication process typically begins with providing a substrate formed, for example, of silicon. The substrate material is usually sliced into a round, flat shape often called a wafer. A number of chips will typically be fabricated onto a single wafer. The surface of the wafer substrate is selectively treated with boron or phosphorus ions to impart the semiconductor characteristics. Insulating and conducting materials of various types are then layered onto the surface and formed into various shapes, for example by etching, to build small electrical such as transistors and capacitors and to connect those components to, or isolate them from each other.
These small components are frequently built in a series of steps, each of which deals with one or more of the layered materials referred to above and shapes them into one or more features. In a given step, however, many features are formed on the wafer surface, each feature being a part of one (or perhaps more) of the electrical components. These features are often arranged in an orderly fashion on the wafer surface, this arrangement being referred to as a layout. The layout takes into account the number of such features that will be required as well as how the components they are part of will eventually interconnect in order to function together. The designed layout, of course, attempts to make the most efficient use possible of the wafer surface. Millions of electronic components are formed on the wafer, which is typically cut up into a number of dice. Each die is then configured with appropriate external leads and encapsulated in a plastic package for use.
As mentioned above, a great number of features may be formed simultaneously on the wafer surface, although forming these features may itself require a number of process steps. One such process involves photolithography, and the subsequent selective etching of the wafer surface. (Note that as used herein, 'wafer surface' includes the topmost (outer) layer, or sometimes layers of the wafer involved in the fabrication. This may be but is not necessarily the surface of the substrate itself.) Lithography involves depositing a layer of material called photoresist (or simply 'resist') onto the wafer surface. When exposed to light, this resist changes properties, becoming either easier or harder to remove (depending on the type of resist used) in a subsequent solvent wash step. This is a useful process, because patterns of resist may be created by selective exposure to some form of light energy.
To create patterns on the resist layer that has been deposited onto the wafer surface, certain selected portions of it are exposed to light energy. To control the exposure, a mask is used. A mask is a typically flat plate forming a number of openings or transparent or translucent portions through which light may pass. Note that as used herein, the term 'mask' is intended to include a reticle or portions of a mask that illuminate only a portion of the wafer surface at any given time. Once the wafer surface has been selectively exposed using the mask, a solvent wash is used to remove unwanted portions of the resist and leave behind a pattern of resist structures.
An inspection may be performed at this stage to ensure that the resist structures have been properly formed. In any case, after the resist is patterned, a dry or wet etch step may then be used to remove portions of the wafer surface not protected by the resist, forming a recess or leaving a structure of the desired configuration. Some lateral etching of the walls of a recess to extend it somewhat may also occur, and this phenomenon may in fact be intended. The extent of the material etched away may be controlled by the type of etching agent used and the amount of time the wafer surface is exposed to it. If the photoresist structures are not needed for a subsequent step, for example further ion implantation, or following such a step, they are removed using an appropriate solvent. The desired features remain and the fabrication process continues.
Technological advances have permitted the formation of ever smaller electrical components, placed closer and closer together on the wafer surface. This can be of great commercial advantage because it permits the chips to be used in very capable devices that are nevertheless quite small. This trend has enabled, for example, the development of convenient personal computers, laptops, cell phones, and portable digital music players. The continuing demand for new and better devices has created industry pressure to fabricate even smaller and more powerful devices. This means that the electronic components formed on the wafer surface must get even smaller in size and be situated even more closely together.
This drive to smaller components and more dense layouts poses challenges for photolithography. As the size of the desired features becomes closer to the wavelength of the light used for exposure, optical effects such as diffraction may cause deformation of the surface structures. The increased density of the layout may also lead to the occurrence of proximity effects for similar reasons. Line shortening and corner rounding are examples of such deformation. Where such imperfections may not have had as significant impact on larger features, the performance of very small features may degrade unacceptably.
To counter these problems, various resolution enhancement techniques (RETs) have been developed. One of these techniques is optical proximity correction (OPC). OPC takes into account the proposed layout for electrical components on the wafer and determines how the mask might be altered to created the desired features. In other words, the mask is altered to ameliorate or eliminate the optical effects due to small component size or increased density. The size and shape of the mask openings may be, for example, adjusted, or sub-resolution assist features (SRAFs) strategically added. An SRAF is a mask opening that is too small to result in the creation of a corresponding feature on the surface, given the wavelength of light being used, but large enough alter the optical effects mentioned above, resulting in features that are more-properly formed.
The OPC process described above may vary, and the process is somewhat successful. Nevertheless, the persistent pressure for layouts with smaller components in more dense applications means that there remains a need for refinements in mask design and OPC enhancement techniques. The present invention provides just such a solution.


A connector connects sound-conduction tubing from a hearing aid to sound-conduction bore in an earmold. The connector is an elbow-shaped member with one end receiving an end of the sound-conduction tubing while the other end has latching means that latchably mate with a seating member disposed in an entry section of the sound-conduction bore. The inside diameter of the sound-conduction tubing, the diameter of the sound-conduction tubular passage in the elbow-shaped member and the diameter of the sound-conduction bore are the same therealong thereby defining a continuous-flow sound-conduction path from the hearing aid to the end of a canal of the earmold. A filter can be disposed in the one end of the connector with the sound-conduction tubing engaging the filter.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,830 discloses a continuous flow earmold tubing connector or continuous flow adapted (CFA) that connects sound conduction tubing from an ear hook of a hearing aid to an earmold that fits within a person's ear. The important feature of the invention disclosed in the patent is the diameter of the sound conduction passage in the connector or adaptor is the same as the internal diameter of the sound conduction tubing. This provides a smooth and continuous path along the sound-conduction tubing and the connector from the hearing aid to the earmold whereby the acoustical characteristics of amplified sound emanating from the hearing aid and traveling along the smooth and continuous path into the ear is not changed thereby resulting in improved amplified sound reaching the ear.
Whereas the CFA improves the amplified sound reaching the ear from the hearing aid, it is desirable to better shape the output and increase the gain from the hearing aid to achieve desired electroacoustic effects for persons wearing the hearing aids.

Seating member for connecting a continuous-flow earmold tubing connector to an earmold


A laser system capable of high speed silicon wafer dicing is disclosed. A laser with high average power, high repetition rate, ultra-short pulsewidth, and excellent beam quality is described. This is achieved by the use of high power diodes used to uniformly pump an improved Nd:YAlO.sub.3 crystal, resulting in a beam with excellent quality. In addition, a beta-barium borate (BBO) crystal, used in conjunction with drift step recovery diodes (DSRDs), forms a high speed optical switch which can be used to cavity dump the laser.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a laser system capable of high precision cutting, suitable for silicon wafer dicing. The laser system uses a diode pumped laser with a short pulsewidth and high pulse repetition frequency. The laser system is also suitable for other purposes, such as surface processing and milling.
2. Description of Related Art
Dicing is a cutting operation that is used to separate integrated circuits (ICs) from their parent wafers. The dicing of IC patterned silicon wafers currently relies on a technology initially developed in the early 1970's. The dicing step is performed by a two-and-one-half inch diameter diamond-impregnated circular saw blade running at extremely high rpms, lubricated by large amounts of water. Material removal occurs through the creation of micro-cracks at the point of contact between the diamond particles and the substrate. As micro-cracks intersect, debris is generated and cutting takes place.
This method of dicing introduces variables that are disadvantageous to the cutting process. The use of diamond embedded blades requires the use of water for lubrication, cooling, and washing away silicon particles. Water in contact with the processed wafer surface creates substantial contamination problems for the ICs and waste water disposal issues, as well as reduces throughput due to the time necessary to dry the wafers. The problem of blade wear requires frequent dressing and changing of the blades, resulting in down time of equipment, and the increased possibility for reproducibility problems.
Current dicing equipment is restricted to uni-directional cutting because the cutting head must be fixed, with movement provided by the substrate positioning stage. The circular blade also restricts the flexibility of cutting geometry to straight lines and 90 degree corners. In addition, the width of the blade restricts the kerf, or cut width, to approximately 25-37.5 microns. The ability of future dicing blade technology to reduce this kerf, and thus increase IC population per wafer, is limited.
The depth of damage and the size of the kerf depend on many different variables, some relating to the properties of the silicon and others to the capabilities of the circular cutting device. A short list of the variables includes the chemical properties of the silicon, blade parameters such as vibration, relative motion of the blade and workpiece, up or down cutting, and the chemistry and delivery of lubricants. The level of damage to the silicon wafer is characterized by the length and distribution of micro-cracks, and the penetration of dislocations. Most importantly, the length and distribution of micro-cracks can influence the future reliability of the IC.
Currently, dicing saw technology allows for a maximum speed of travel across the silicon wafer of approximately 50-75 mm/s. The processing speed of silicon wafers is of extreme importance because it directly translates to higher throughput of the processed substrate. Unfortunately, cut quality is difficult to maintain at high processing speeds due to increased chipping of the substrate and reproducibility problems relating to increased blade wear. In general, attempts to increase the throughput of the process by increasing the cutting speed have resulted in either inferior cut quality, unacceptable blade wear, or both.
The requirement for high cut quality and speed demands the inclusion of many expensive internal components in the current generation of dicing equipment. A large expense relates to the need for very low vibration of the 60,000 rpm blade. Due to the brittle nature of the silicon substrate, the slightest vibration can induce fractures. To minimize vibrational perturbations, the blades are mounted on ultra-expensive air-bearing spindles. Also, the electric inverter needed to operate a motor at high and precise rpms is expensive.
Since the infancy of dicing technology, various academic and industrial labs have attempted to use laser devices to dice silicon wafers. Unfortunately, the results have been less than favorable. In the 1970's, laser dicing of silicon wafers was tried and repudiated. The primary shortcomings were cut quality (surface smoothness) and re-solidified material on the wafer surface. The primary culprit was the pulsewidth of the irradiated energy: a microsecond was far too long a period to prevent destructive heat dissipation into a significant portion of the area immediately surrounding the cut. The difficulty with these longer pulsewidths (actually 1 nanosecond and longer) is that the pulse interacts with the material for too long a time, and the heat affected zone penetrates deep into the substrate.
Recently, one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of dicing saws analyzed the comparative results of conventional blade dicing and laser dicing. The study found that the depth of damage was greater for the laser diced wafers resulting in a lower fracture strength of the silicon substrate. The report stated that the increased damage created by the laser was a result of thermally induced stresses.
These stresses result from excessive heat deposition into the wafer causing collateral damage to the areas of the wafer proximal to the cut. This collateral damage is characterized by micro-cracking and spatter, both entirely unacceptable attributes. The individual silicon chips, or die, that are produced by the dicing of the wafer cannot have micro-cracks exceeding 1 micron in length. Longer cracks are potential future failure sites, as these cracks might eventually propagate due to thermal cycling or vibrations encountered in the field.
Near infra-red (IR) lasers are used for high speed applications due to their ability to generate greater power than their ultra-violet (UV) counterparts. Unfortunately, near IR wavelengths propagate deep into silicon substrates before being absorbed because silicon is semi-transparent at these wavelengths. This results in excess energy deposition deep into the substrate. UV lasers have been used in the past to alleviate this problem, because silicon is highly absorptive to UV wavelengths. However, UV lasers can not develop sufficient power to process silicon at high speeds.
Recently, researchers have found that the deep absorption depth problem associated with near-IR lasers in silicon can be solved using ultra-short pulse widths. Ultra-short pulse widths produce the formation of a near solid density plasma, which acts as a highly energy absorptive layer. The absorbing properties of the plasma prevent the transmission of excess energy deep into the substrate.
Ultra-short pulses alone will not make a feasible laser silicon dicing system. Pulse repetition frequency (PRF), pulse energy and beam quality are very important parameters. Advantages of high pulse repetition frequency include smoother and higher quality cuts, as well as the linear relationship between PRF and processing speed.
It is highly desirable in the semiconductor manufacturing industry to increase the speed of the wafer dicing process, as this results in a significant cost benefit due to higher throughput. However, it is imperative that the quality of the cuts not be compromised by an increase in speed. The current dicing method has not allowed an increase in cutting speed without an unacceptable loss in cut quality.
There is a need for a laser with high average power, short pulsewidth, and high pulse repetition frequency suitable for silicon wafer dicing. There is a need for a laser suitable for silicon wafer dicing with high cutting speeds.

Short pulsewidth, high pulse repetition frequency laser system