A motor vehicle body has a longitudinal beam and a bumper cross member, which is fixed to one end of the longitudinal beam. An end section of the bumper cross member protrudes over the longitudinal beam in the transverse direction. The end section of the bumper cross member is designed as a closed or open hollow profile element. A collision-resistant profile reinforcement is provided at least in some regions in the hollow profile element in the end section of the bumper cross member.

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle body for a motor vehicle, which is designed or optimized for a collision that has a small overlap with the vehicle.
Efforts have recently been made to increase the crash resistance of motor vehicle bodies for the event of a frontal collision with small overlap.
A deflector device for a partially overlapping frontal collision for motor vehicles is known from WO 2007/101285 A2, for example, wherein the deflector device is intended to cause the action of a transverse force on the motor vehicle body or on the vehicle during a collision. The deflector device is composed of an articulated beam construction, which in the event of a collision with small overlap with a collision partner, such as another motor vehicle, ensures that a wheel of the motor vehicle is advantageously pivoted in.
It is now the object of the present invention to create a motor vehicle body that is designed for a collision with small overlap, wherein the body is designed with simple measures such that a transverse force or transverse acceleration acts on the motor vehicle body in the event of a collision with small overlap.
This and other objects are achieved by a motor vehicle body according to the present invention having a longitudinal beam and a bumper cross member, which is fixed to one end of the longitudinal beam. An end section of the bumper cross member protrudes over the longitudinal beam in the transverse direction. The end section of the bumper cross member is designed as a closed or open hollow profile element. A collision-resistant profile reinforcement is provided at least in some regions in the hollow profile element in the end section of the bumper cross member.
"In some regions" in the present context shall be understood to mean that the profile reinforcement does not have to be provided in the entire end section of the bumper cross member. A collision-resistant profile reinforcement within the meaning of the invention withstands a frontal collision, in particular a frontal collision with small overlap. The profile reinforcement at least withstands a front collision up to a predetermined collision energy, or up to a predetermined load level, which is predefined by standardized crash tests, for example.
As a result of the collision-resistant profile reinforcement, which is in particular collision-resistant up to the predetermined collision energy, the end section of the bumper cross member is not compressed during the collision, in particular the frontal collision with small overlap, at least in the region in which the collision-resistant profile reinforcement is disposed or formed. The profile reinforcement is, in particular, not compressed in the collision direction. As a result, a width, which is to say in the driving direction of the motor vehicle body, of the end section of the bumper cross member is maintained, at least in the regions having the profile reinforcement. In other words, the cross-section of the end section of the bumper cross member is substantially maintained at least in the regions having the profile reinforcement. Because the cross-section of the end section of the bumper cross member remains substantially the same and is not compressed, the end section of the bumper cross member brings about a lateral momentum, which is to say a momentum in the transverse motor vehicle body direction, on the motor vehicle body in the event of the frontal collision with small overlap. The transverse momentum reduces an overlap of the collision partners, and therefore a collision energy in the longitudinal motor vehicle body direction.
The profile reinforcement is preferably designed in such a way that a deformation of the cross-section of the end section of the bumper cross member, in particular a compression of the cross-section of the end section of the bumper cross member in the collision direction, is limited or suppressed by the profile reinforcement in the event of a frontal collision, in particular a frontal collision with small overlap.
A "frontal collision with small overlap" within the meaning of the present invention is a frontal collision of the vehicle body with an obstacle. The obstacle can be a fixed, rigid obstacle, or a colliding party, i.e., another motor vehicle. The expression "small overlap" shall mean that the obstacle and the motor vehicle body, or the motor vehicle, do not collide centrally with each other, but collide offset from each other, in particular in such a way that the frontal collision takes place substantially in a region outside the longitudinal beam, which is to say on a side of the longitudinal beam on which a wheel mount is located. A frontal collision with small overlap may denote an overlap of the vehicle body with the obstacle in the transverse vehicle direction of approximately 25% or less.
Moreover, the profile reinforcement can be designed in such a way that it is not, or essentially is not, deformable as a result of the collision with small overlap.
The expression "not deformable" in this context shall be understood to mean the non-deformability under the forces that occur during the frontal collision with small overlap.
According to one aspect of the motor vehicle body, the end section of the bumper cross member is designed in such a way that it can bend or buckle in the event of the frontal collision. The end section of the bumper cross member having the profile reinforcement is designed in such a way that it is directly or indirectly supported on the longitudinal beam in the event of the frontal collision. In other words, the end section of the bumper cross member is bent or buckled to such an extent that the region of the end section of the bumper cross member is supported on the longitudinal beam itself, which is to say directly, or on an element disposed on the longitudinal beam, which is to say indirectly.
The profile reinforcement is particularly advantageous because it prevents the cross-section of the end section of the bumper cross member to be compressed, at least in the area where the profile reinforcement is provided, and therefore a larger transverse momentum acts on the motor vehicle body than if the cross-section were compressed.
In the case of the above-mentioned indirect support, a support element is preferably disposed on the longitudinal beam, wherein the support element protrudes into a space between a wheel mount and the end section of the bumper cross member, and wherein the support element and the end section of the bumper cross member are disposed so as to cooperate with each other such that the end section of the bumper cross member impacts the support element in a frontal collision.
The support element has the advantage that it further intensifies the transverse momentum on the motor vehicle body.
The support element is preferably a cantilever beam. The end section of the bumper cross member deformed by the frontal collision strikes the cantilever beam in the process. The deformed end section of the bumper cross member can particularly advantageously be supported at the end face of the cantilever beam, so that further deformation of the end section of the bumper cross member is prevented.
These features additionally increase the advantageous transverse momentum already mentioned above on the motor vehicle body.
The profile reinforcement is preferably only disposed in the region of the end section of the bumper cross member that strikes the longitudinal beam or the support element in the event of the frontal collision with small overlap.
In this way, the profile reinforcement is provided only in the regions that are particularly effective with respect to the above-described transverse momentum. This saves both material and weight, while achieving a similar effect.
As was already mentioned above, the end section of the bumper cross member and the longitudinal beam (in the case of direct support), or the support element (in the case of indirect support), cooperate with each other during the frontal collision such that a transverse force or a transverse momentum acts on the motor vehicle body.
The transverse force causes the collision partners to be pushed away from each other in the lateral direction, which is to say transversely to the collision direction, whereby the collision energy is reduced.
Advantageously, the cantilever beam, the longitudinal beam and the bumper cross member are located substantially in one plane in the motor vehicle body. This plane is preferably located parallel to the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis of the motor vehicle or of the motor vehicle body.
According to one aspect of the motor vehicle body, the bumper cross member, the longitudinal beam and/or the support element can be made of an aluminum material.
The present invention is overall suitable for bodies allowing for a lightweight construction with lightweight materials and high safety during collisions with small overlap.
A support beam is preferably provided on the motor vehicle body on a side of the wheel mount facing away from the end section of the bumper cross member. The support beam is designed in such a way that a load of the frontal collision transmitted via a wheel can be absorbed by the support beam. The support beam is, in particular, designed in such a way that it supports a movement of the wheel in the transverse direction during the frontal collision.
According to the above-described feature, the wheel can be supported on the support beam during a frontal collision, and additionally the special design of the support beam allows the wheel to be pivoted to the outside, so that it cannot penetrate the vehicle body in the direction of a passenger compartment.
The support beam preferably has a chamfered sliding surface for the wheel, which is designed such that the wheel can slide off in an outward direction. The support beam is preferably fixed to the longitudinal beam.
The support beam can also be fixed to another longitudinal beam, such as a central longitudinal beam.
According to one aspect of the motor vehicle body having the support beam, the support beam is provided with a car jack receiving element.
The profile reinforcement is preferably made of a foamed or non-foamed plastic material.
As an alternative or in addition, the profile reinforcement can be formed of a metallic extruded profile element, the extrusion direction of which forms a main load direction of the collision with small overlap.
In this way, the profile reinforcement can have as light as possible a design, yet offer sufficient strength and non-deformability. For example, a wall thickness of the profile element of the bumper cross member can be selected to be thinner due to the presence of the profile reinforcement, while maintaining strength, so that the bumper cross member is lighter.
The above-described refinements of the present invention can be combined with each other to the extent possible.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Motor vehicle body which is designed for a collision with small overlap

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A device for assisting robotic surgery of soft tissue, that comprises a shell with a flexible sealing rim, instrument ports, and a vacuum port. The flexible sealing rim seals the shell around a surgical area and allows for the application of negative pressure via the vacuum port. The negative pressure manipulates soft tissue to allow a surgeon to perform an incision with a robotic surgery apparatus.

The present invention relates to robotic surgery of soft tissue and, in particular, to devices for facilitating manipulation of soft tissues during surgical procedures.
Mastectomy, breast reduction, breast reconstruction and breast enhancement procedures have become commonplace. In typical surgical techniques for breast enhancement, a silicone or saline filled implant device is inserted into the breast after an incision in locations such as the inframammary fold, or periareolar area. In such procedures, it is often necessary for the surgeon to manipulate the soft tissue of the breast and hold it in place to allow easier access to the skin for a clean incision and placement of the breast implant. This minimizes scarring, provides better aesthetic appeal, and prevents postsurgical complications.
It is theoretically possible for robotic devices, such as those sold under the daVinci® trademark (Intuitive Surgical, Inc.—Sunnyvale, Calif.), to execute many breast enhancement procedures. However, it is difficult for a surgeon to operate a robotic surgery apparatus, and also to maintain soft tissues, such as breast tissue, in such a manner to provide the best incision as provided above. It would be desirable to have a device that could, in an automated way, allow manipulation of soft tissues in a surgical procedure.

Vacuum shell for robotic surgery of soft tissue


A trenched field effect transistor is provided that includes (a) a semiconductor substrate, (b) a trench extending a predetermined depth into the semiconductor substrate, (c) a pair of doped source junctions, positioned on opposite sides of the trench, (d) a doped heavy body positioned adjacent each source junction on the opposite side of the source junction from the trench, the deepest portion of the heavy body extending less deeply into said semiconductor substrate than the predetermined depth of the trench, and (e) a doped well surrounding the heavy body beneath the heavy body.

The present invention relates to field effect transistors, in particular trench DMOS transistors, and methods of their manufacture.
Power field effect transistors, e.g., MOSFETs (metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors), are well known in the semiconductor industry. One type of MOSFET is a DMOS (double diffused metal oxide semiconductor) transistor. DMOS transistors typically include a substrate on which an epitaxial layer is grown, a doped source junction, a doped heavy body, a doped well of the same (p or n) doping as the heavy body, and a gate electrode. In trenched DMOS transistors the gate electrode is a vertical trench. The heavy body is typically diffused deeper than the bottom of the trench, to minimize electric field at the bottom corners of the trench and thereby prevent avalanche breakdown from damaging the device. The trench is filled with conductive polysilicon, and the polysilicon is generally overetched, to assure that it is completely removed from the surface surrounding the trench. This overetching generally leaves a recess between the top of the polysilicon and the surface of the semiconductor substrate (i.e., the surface of the epitaxial layer). The depth of this recess must be carefully controlled so that it is shallower than the depth of the source junctions. If the recess is deeper than the source junctions the source may miss the gate, resulting in high on-state resistance, high threshold, and potentially a non-functional transistor.
The source and drain junctions can be doped with either p-type or n-type dopants; in either case, the body will be doped with the opposite dopant, e.g., for n-type source and drain the body will be p-type. DMOS transistors in which the source and drain are doped with p-type carriers are referred to as "p-channel". In p-channel DMOS transistors a negative voltage applied to the transistor gate causes current flow from the source region, through a channel region of the body, an accumulation region of the epitaxial layer, and the substrate, to the drain region. Conversely, DMOS transistors, in which the source and drain are doped with n-type carriers, are referred to as "n-channel". In n-channel DMOS transistors a positive voltage applied to the transistor gate causes current to flow from drain to source.
It is desirable that DMOS transistors have low source to drain resistance (Rdson) when turned on and low parasitic capacitance. The transistor structure should also avoid "punchthrough". Punchthrough occurs when, upon application of a high drain to source voltage, depletion into the body region extends to the source region, forming an undesirable conductive path through the body region when the transistor should be off. Finally, the transistor should have good "ruggedness", i.e., a high activation current is needed to turn on the parasitic transistor that inherently exists in DMOS transistors.
Generally a large number of MOSFET cells are connected in parallel forming a single transistor. The cells may be arranged in a "closed cell" configuration, in which the trenches are laid out in a grid pattern and the cells are enclosed on all sides by trench walls. Alternatively, the cells may be arranged in an "open cell" configuration, in which the trenches are laid out in a "stripe" pattern and the cells are only enclosed on two sides by trench walls. Electric field termination techniques are used to terminate junctions (doped regions) at the periphery (edges) of the silicon die on which the transistors are formed. This tends to cause the breakdown voltage to be higher than it would otherwise be if controlled only by the features of the active transistor cells in the central portions of the die.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of manufacturing a trench transistor having a heavy body region


Ash residues produced from solid waste combustion and certain industrial residues which are sometimes contacted with water for dust control, quenched for temperature reduction or subjected to water separation methods, have lead (Pb) and other heavy metals in sufficient solubility to sometimes fail the USEPA TCLP test and other acid leaching tests. Addition of a water-insoluble precipitating agent, such as pulverized phosphate rock or a precipitating agent coated with a water-insoluble film, during waste generation or collection allows the waste to pass TCLP regulatory testing, reduces Pb leaching under acid conditions and provides a water-insoluble stabilizing seed which will remain with the residue throughout water spraying, quenching or wet processing.

The leaching of heavy metal bearing wastes and human and biological exposure to heavy metal content has long been of concern to environmental regulators and waste producers. Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) solid waste is classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as hazardous waste if excessive amounts of heavy metals leach from the waste when tested under the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP). EPA also regulates the land disposal of certain heavy metal bearing wastes depending on the content of the heavy metals regardless of the leaching potential. In addition, several state governments require solid wastes with elevated levels of heavy metals be disposed of as a hazardous waste. Disposal of waste at a hazardous waste landfill is typically more expensive than disposal at non-hazardous waste landfills.
To reduce the expenses associated with the landfill disposal of heavy metal leachable waste, particularly lead bearing waste, various methods to control heavy metal leaching and reduce heavy metals have been developed. These methods include the stabilization of lead bearing waste with, for example, portland cement, silicates, sulfates, water soluble phosphates and combinations thereof as well as acid digestion and subsequent extract metals recovery. However, these methods are often expensive to perform and involve complex handling equipment and operations. Additionally, some of these methods use chemicals, such as high molarity acids, which in the amounts used, are very corrosive to the waste generation and/or treatment process equipment. These methods also alter the nature of the waste which complicates the ability of the waste to be further processed. These methods also use water soluble chemicals which, upon additional wet processing of the waste, are subject to loss due to water solution stripping.
Thus a need exists for means of reducing lead leaching from the lead bearing waste which are less expensive, less damaging to equipment and allows the waste to be further processed and handled after stabilization.

Water insoluble heavy metal stabilization process


A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming devices. Upon the central server determining that a game transfer event has occurred, the central server selects a game played by a first player at a first gaming device to be displayed to a second player at a second, gaming device in the gaming system. The first player at the first gaming device and the second player at the second gaming device are provided any awards for the outcomes generated in association with the game currently played by the first player at the first gaming device.

Gaming machines which provide players awards in primary or base games are well known. Gaming machines generally require the player to place or make a wager to activate the primary or base game. In many of these gaming machines, the award is based on the player obtaining a winning symbol or symbol combination and on the amount of the wager (e.g., the higher the wager, the higher the award). Symbols or symbol combinations which are less likely to occur usually provide higher awards.
Secondary or bonus games are also known in gaming machines. The secondary or bonus games usually provide an additional award to the player. Secondary or bonus games usually do not require an additional wager by the player to be activated. Secondary or bonus games are generally activated or triggered upon an occurrence of a designated triggering symbol or triggering symbol combination in the primary or base game. For instance, a bonus symbol occurring on the payline on the third reel of a three reel slot machine may trigger the secondary bonus game. When a secondary or bonus game is triggered, the gaming machines generally indicates this to the player through one or more visual and/or audio output devices, such as the reels, lights, speakers, video screens, etc. Part of the enjoyment and excitement of playing certain gaming machines is the occurrence or triggering of the secondary or bonus game (even before the player knows how much the bonus award will be).
Certain of these secondary or bonus games include a group gaming aspect. In these secondary or bonus games, a plurality of players at multiple gaming machines participate in a group event for one or more bonus awards. These bonus awards are sometimes displayed on a single display for multiple gaming machines. In certain of these group bonus games, a plurality of players compete for one or more bonus awards. In certain other of these group bonus games, a plurality of players play as a group or team to win such bonus awards.
As hundred of different gaming devices are released each year and many of these gaming device includes more than one type of game, it is difficult for players to have an opportunity to play all of these gaming devices and all of these games. Accordingly, a need exists for enabling certain players to become familiar with the games provided by these gaming devices without requiring the player to visit each of these gaming devices individually.
There is a continuing need to provide new and different gaming machines and gaming systems as well as new and different ways to provide awards to players including bonus awards.

Gaming system and method for providing play of local first game and remote second game


A memory in a computer system includes a visible portion and a hidden portion. The visible portion of the memory is addressable by a processor and the operating system operating within the computer system. Addressability by either the processor or the operating system is excluded to the hidden portion of the memory. The hidden portion of the memory is used for storing data transmitted by either the processor or the operating system. A communications area, located in the visible portion of memory receives requests for data access from either the processor or the operating system. A hidden server which addresses both the visible portion of memory and the hidden portion of memory receives requests for data access from the communications area and initiates data access from the hidden memory.

When a process is running on a computer system, the process uses designated portions of memory to store and retrieve data. Other processes may also have access to those designated portions of memory.
When a first process running on a computer system is stopped and later resumed, a second process running on the computer system while the first process was stopped may have access to the portion of memory previously used by the first process. If, while the first process is stopped, the second process overwrites data values which have been stored in the memory by the first process, then when the first process resumes, the data values which it had stored in memory before it had been stopped may no longer be available. This may create errors.
In addition, if several processes are running simultaneously in a computer system, one process may store data in a portion of memory being used by another process. Thus, prior to a process retrieving the data it had stored, that data may be corrupted.
It is also typical that a computer system may be subjected to a system restart. Such a computer system may have a software application running which provides data buffers whose contents are not erased as part of a system restart. This may be found, for example, in a software package known as Transaction Processing Facility (TPF) which is a product of IBM Corporation, Armonk, N.Y. In TPF, if there is a system restart, the contents of certain data buffers are not erased. After the restart is complete, when TPF continues running at the point it was at prior to the system restart, it is desirable that the contents of the non-erased data buffers remain the same. However, these data buffers are accessible to any application running on the system. These data buffers could therefore be corrupted by errors in either the operating system or the applications running on the operating system.

Method and apparatus for protecting portions of memory by providing access requests to a communications area for processing by a hidden server

International Business Machines Corporation


A printer capable of producing simplex and duplex copies includes a tri-roller inverter that employs a passive deflector gate downstream from input and output nips of the tri-roller inverter. A sheet driven by the input nip into a reversing chute of the inverter deflects the passive deflector gate to an open position that allows the sheet to enter the inversion chute and after the sheet is past the gate it returns to close deposition, thus allowing the sheet to be driven past it in reverse by a reversing roller. Once the lead edge of the reversed sheet passes the passive deflector gate, a second sheet enters the input nip resulting in two sheets being in the inverter at the same time.

The present invention relates to an improved sheet inverting system, and more particularly to an inverter adapted to be placed within the normal paper path of a copier while providing improved handling of variable sized sheets, as well as, curled sheets within the inverter.
As xerographic and other copiers increase in speed, and become more automatic, it is increasingly important to provide higher speed yet more economical, reliable and more automatic handling of both the copy sheets being made by the copier and the original document sheets being copied. It is desired to accommodate sheets which may vary widely in size, weight, thickness, material, condition, humidity, age, etc. These variations change the beam strength of flexural resistance and other characteristics of the sheets. Yet, the desire for automatic and high speed handling of such sheets without jams, misfeeds, uneven feeding times, or other interruptions increases the need for reliability of all sheet handling components. A sheet inverter is one such sheet handling component with particular reliability problems and sheet handling size and capability limitations.
Although a sheet inverter is referred to in the copier art as an `inverter`, its function is not necessary to immediately turn the sheet over (i.e., exchange one face for the other). Its function is to effectively reverse the sheet orientation in its direction of motion. That is, to reverse the lead edge and trail edge orientation of the sheet. Typically in inverter devices, the sheet is driven or fed by feed rollers or other suitable sheet driving mechanisms into a sheet reversing chute. By then reversing the motion of the sheet within the chute and feeding it back out from the chute, the desired reversal of the leading and trailing edges of the sheet in the sheet path is accomplished. Depending on the location and orientation of the inverter in a particular sheet path, this may, or may not, also accomplish the inversion (turning over) of the sheet. In some applications, for example, where the `inverter` is located at the corner of a 90.degree. to 180.degree. inherent bend in the copy sheet path, the inverter may be used to actually prevent inverting of a sheet at that point, i.e., to maintain the same side of the sheet face-up before and after this bend in the sheet path. On the other hand, if the entering and departing path of the sheet, to and from the inverter, is in substantially the same plane, the sheet will be inverted by the inverter. Thus, inverters have numerous applications in the handling of either original documents or copy sheets to either maintain, or change, the sheet orientation.
Inverters are particularly useful in various systems of pre or post collation copying, for inverting the original documents, or for maintaining proper collation of the sheets. The facial orientation of the copy sheet determines whether it may be stacked in forward or reversed serial order to maintain collation. Generally, the inverter is associated with a by-pass sheet path and gate so that a sheet may selectively by-pass the inverter, to provide a choice of inversion or non-inversion.
Typically in a reversing chute type inverter, the sheet is fed in and then wholly or partially released from a positive feeding grip or nip into the inverter chute, and then reacquired by a different feeding nip to exit the inverter chute. Such a temporary loss of positive gripping of the sheet by any feed mechanism during the inversion increases the reliability problems of such inverters.
As noted above, many inverters, particularly those utilizing only gravity, have reliability problems in the positive output or return of the sheet at a consistent time after the sheet is released in the inverter chute. Those inverters which use chute drive rollers or other drive mechanisms of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,416,791, have a more positive return movement of the sheet, but this normally requires a movement actuator (clutch or solenoid) for the drive and either a sensor or a timing mechanism to determine the proper time to initiate the actuation of this drive mechanism so that it does not interfere with the input movement of the sheet, and only thereafter acts on the sheet to return it to the exit nip or other feed-out areas. Further, inverter reliability problems are aggravated by variations in the condition or size of the sheet. For example, a pre-set curl in the sheet can cause the sheet to assume an undesirable configuration within the chute when it is released therein, and interfere with feed-out.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,176 discloses a tri-roll inverter that is used in a copier for producing simplex and duplex copies and includes a corrugation roll-on-roll return force applicator located downstream of and off-line an input nip of the inverter. A sheet driven by the input into the inverter is corrugated as it penetrates the roll-on-roll return force applicator nip. When the last position of the sheet is driven into the return force applicator nip, the friction return force will cause the sheet to drive into a foam roll which delivers the sheet to an output nip. The inverter is capable of handling two sheets simultaneously. However, none of the above-mentioned devices are capable of handling the demonstrated need for duplexing A3 and 11.times.17" sheets.

Inverter apparatus capable of inverting A3 or 11.times.17" sheets


Integrated circuit devices and methods of forming the same are provided. The devices may include a substrate including a cell region and an extension region and conductive layers stacked on the cell region in a vertical direction. The conductive layers may extend onto the extension region and may have a stair-step structure on the extension region. The devices may also include vertical structures on the substrate. Each of the vertical structures may extend in the vertical direction, and the vertical structures may include a first vertical structure on the cell region and a second vertical structure on the extension region. The first vertical structure may extend through the conductive layers and may include a first channel layer, the second vertical structure may be in the stair-step structure and may include a second channel layer, and the second channel layer may be spaced apart from the substrate in the vertical direction.

The present disclosure relates to the field of electronics and, more particularly, to a semiconductor device.
Integration density of semiconductor devices has increased for high performance and low manufacturing cost of semiconductor devices. Since integration density of the semiconductor devices may be one of the major factors in determining price, increasing integration density may be beneficial. Integration density of two-dimensional or planar semiconductor memory devices may heavily depend on the area occupied by a unit memory cell, such that integration density may be influenced by the level of technology for forming fine patterns.
Expensive equipment may be used to form fine patterns, and thus three-dimensional semiconductor memory devices have been developed to overcome limitations of two-dimensional semiconductor memory devices.

Three-dimensional semiconductor memory devices and methods of fabricating the same


There is described a method and apparatus for processing a card. A card that is processed can have a corresponding card holder. In one embodiment, a card reader can be provided for reading information of a card. A card reader in one embodiment can be configured to sense a level of degradation of a card. A card reader in one embodiment can be in communication with a remote processor system.

Identification cards issued by government agencies have grown in sophistication. Many state driver's licenses now have multiple dataforms which operate to redundantly encode personal information of the person identified by the card. New York State driver's licenses now include a text field including characters encoding personal information of the card owner, a linear bar code for encoding personal information of the card holder, and a 2D bar code symbol encoding personal information of the card holder. In spite of identification cards' increasing sophistication there have been few attempts to improve the reading and processing of identification cards. Identification cards continue to be altered without detection for criminal purposes including illegal purchasing of alcoholic beverages.
There is a need for improved processing of identification cards.


The present invention is a gas detector and method for using the gas detector for detecting and identifying volatile organic and/or volatile inorganic substances present in unknown vapors in an environment. The gas detector comprises a sensing means and a detecting means for detecting electrical capacitance variance of the sensing means and for further identifying the volatile organic and volatile inorganic substances. The sensing means comprises at least one sensing unit and a sensing material allocated therein the sensing unit. The sensing material is an ionic liquid which is exposed to the environment and is capable of dissolving a quantity of said volatile substance upon exposure thereto. The sensing means constitutes an electrochemical capacitor and the detecting means is in electrical communication with the sensing means.

Detecting low concentration levels of vapors in a particular atmosphere can be critical to the health of workers, the occupants of the eco-system, or the completion of an industrial or research process. Often times, a quick, sensitive and portable gas detector is needed. In many circumstances, a gas detector or detection system capable of detecting mixtures of vapors is required.
Although a variety of methods and devices for chemical gas sensing have been developed, including cantilever-based sensors and calorimetric-based sensors, the needs have not been fully met. The existing cantilever-based and calorimetric-based gas detectors are generally bulky and difficult to make them portable without sacrificing sensitivity. The existing capacitance-based gas detectors, though less bulky, are also low in sensitivity, especially with less expensive units. The existing capacitance detectors are generally derived from the conventional dielectric capacitors with polymers as the electrolytes. When the polymer is exposed to an organic vapor/analyte, the analyte becomes physisorbed in the polymer, which changes its dielectric coefficient, and in turn, alters the capacitance of the detector and signals the presence of an analyte. Polymer-based dielectric capacitors have been developed that are quite small (on the order of a few hundred microns) and which use inter-digitated electrodes separated by 1–2 μm with a polymer layer of approximately 5 μm. At this size, these capacitors generally exhibit nominal capacitance values in the picofarad range. Furthermore, since the capacitance variances are triggered by changes in the dielectric coefficient of a polymer upon absorption of volatile organic compounds, these variances are expected to be small and typically fall in the attofarad range. Consequently, the dielectric capacitance detectors require sophisticated, highly sensitive and expensive measuring devices to measure these small capacitance variances. In addition to the necessity for sophisticated measuring devices, the small capacitance variances can essentially impose a constraint on the detection limit of the device. Polymer-based capacitive sensors that have a detection limit of approximately 5 ppm for ethyl alcohol have been reported in the literature. The existing dielectric capacitance-based gas detectors further suffer from a slow analyte diffusion rate through the conductive polymer, which prolongs the chemical detection response and the recovery process.
Therefore, a need exists for a gas detector that can quickly and reliably detect a change in capacitance caused by an analyte contacting a sensing material, and further needed, is a gas detector or detection system that can detect the presence of and analyze the concentrations of multiple vapors in an environment, particularly hazardous vapors.

Method and apparatus for detection of chemical vapors


A switching power supply includes an active device for pulling out a part of a control signal from a control terminal of the switching device in an RCC, and a control signal generation circuit that applies adjustment voltage as ON/OFF time control voltage to a control terminal of the active device. The active device pulls out the control signal so as to decrease or increase an OFF time of the switching device while fixing the ON time of the switching device when the adjustment voltage is decreased or increased in the active region of the active device, respectively. An element of a timing circuit in the RCC pulls out the control signal so as to increase or decrease an ON time of the switching device while fixing the OFF time of the switching device when the adjustment voltage is decreased or increased in the cut-off region of the active device, respectively.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H08-289542 issued Nov. 1, 1996 discloses an RCC type switching power supply capable of narrowing a wide oscillation frequency range brought about in response to load variation. This power supply is provided with a detection circuit and a control circuit in addition to a switching device, a transformer, etc. constituting the RCC. The detection circuit detects output voltage of the RCC. The control circuit determines ON times of the switching device so as to stabilize output voltage of the RCC based on a signal from the detection circuit. The control circuit also lengthens a minimum OFF time of the switching device as output voltage of the RCC is higher. That is, the control circuit includes an ON time setting circuit and an OFF time setting circuit.
In this power supply, ON and OFF times of the switching device can be also adjusted by changing a signal obtained from the output of the RCC in case load impedance is constant, but the ON time setting circuit and the OFF time setting circuit are required.


After silicon nitride films have been formed on wafers by a film forming process in a reaction vessel, the reaction vessel is processed by a purging process specified by a purging recipe and compatible with the film forming process to suppress production of gases and particles by removing surface parts of films deposited on the inside surface of the reaction vessel and causative of production of gases and particles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a film forming method including a purging process for purging a reaction vessel with a purging gas after completing a film forming process for forming, for example, a silicon nitride film on a surface of a substrate, a film forming system for carrying out the film forming method, and a recording medium storing programs to be executed by a computer to carry out the film forming method.
2. Description of the Related Art
A semiconductor device fabricating process includes a film forming process for forming a silicon nitride film, namely, a film of Si3N4 (hereinafter referred to as "SiN film") on a substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer (hereinafter, referred to as "wafer") W. The SiN film is formed on each of wafers W by a chemical vapor deposition method (CVD method) using a batch type thermal processing system. The SiN film is formed a surface of each of the wafers W by carrying a wafer holder holding the wafers W in layers into a vertical reaction vessel of quartz, keeping the interior of the reaction vessel at a predetermined pressure and supplying process gases for depositing the SiN film into the reaction vessel.
A main product and by-products of a film forming reaction deposit in films on the inside surface of the reaction vessel and the wafer holder after the thermal processing system has repeated the film forming process for forming the SiN film. The deposited films grow gradually as the number of cycles of the film forming process increases. After the thickness of the deposited films has increased to a predetermined thickness, the deposited films produce gases, the deposited films are cracked or the deposited films come off the surfaces in particles when the reaction vessel is heated for the next cycle of the film forming process.
To avoid such troubles, a cleaning gas is supplied into the reaction vessel to remove the deposited film deposited on the reaction vessel completely by the etching effect of the cleaning gas after the film forming process has been repeated by a predetermined number of cycles. If the reaction vessel is cleaned by etching after every cycle of the film forming process, the reaction vessel of quartz is deteriorated and it takes a considerably long time to remove the cleaning gas completely from the reaction vessel. Therefore, a purging process is executed after the completion of every cycle of the film forming process.
The purging process is carried out after the wafer holder holding the processed wafers W has been unloaded from the reaction vessel and before the wafer holder holding unprocessed wafers W is loaded into the reaction vessel. In the purging process, an empty wafer holder not holding any wafers W is carried into the reaction vessel, the interior of the reaction vessel is kept at a predetermined pressure and at a predetermined temperature, a purging gas, such as nitrogen gas (N2) is supplied into the reaction vessel, the reaction vessel is cooled rapidly, is evacuated and heated to remove surface layers of the films adhering to the inner surface of the reaction vessel positively by the purging process to suppress the generation of gasses and the production of particles. The purging process thus removes the surface layers of the deposited films are about to come off the reaction vessel. Removal of the surface layers of the deposited film is effective in suppressing the production of gasses and particles in the film forming process to be executed subsequently to the purging process.
The purging process is controlled on the basis of a fixed purging recipe regardless of the type of the film forming process carried out in the reaction vessel and the thickness of the film formed of films successively deposited on the inside surface of the reaction vessel. Time necessary to complete the purging recipe is on the order of 50 min. The purging recipe is designed for the strongest purging process for removing a very thick deposited film or a film of the type that is difficult to remove. Therefore, the production of gases and particles from most deposited films can be suppressed without continuing the purging process for such a long time specified by the purging recipe and hence some part of the purging process is unnecessary. The time spent for the unnecessary part of the purging process is a downtime of the film forming system. Increase in the downtime decreases the throughput of the film forming system. The purging process includes the steps of cooling the interior of the reaction vessel at a predetermined temperature, heating the interior of the reaction vessel and evacuating the reaction vessel. Thus the unnecessary purging process increases the processing cost.
Such a problem may be solved by modifying the purging recipe for each cycle of the film forming process taking into consideration the estimated amount of particles that may be produced in the reaction vessel. However, much time is needed for the analysis of the causes of particle production and, consequently, time necessary for the purging process increases.
A technique for reducing the amount of particles adhering to the wafers W is proposed in Patent document 1. This previously proposed technique cracks the deposited films adhering to the inside surface of a reaction furnace by varying the temperature in the reaction furnace and makes a purging gas carry particles produced when the deposited films are cracked outside the reaction furnace. However, this previously proposed technique uses the same purging recipe regardless of the type of the film forming process and hence cannot solve the foregoing problem.
Patent document 1: JP 200-306904 A

Film forming method, film forming system and recording medium

Abstract: A wafer boat 25 holding a plurality of wafers W is loaded into a reaction vessel 2, and the wafers W are processed by a film forming process specified by a film forming recipe 1 specifying, for example, Si2Cl2 gas and NH3 gas as film forming gases. Subsequently, a purging recipe 1 specifying a purging process compatible to the film forming process is selected automatically, and the reaction vessel 2 is processed by the purging process specified by the purging recipe 1. A purging recipe is selected automatically from a plurality of purging recipes specifying purging processes respectively compatible with film forming processes. Unnecessary extension of purging time is suppressed and the reaction vessel 2 can be processed by an appropriate purging process compatible with the film forming process.


An improved filtering bag combination having an increased area of filtering and a longer life of use. The improved structure includes a filtering member with multiple folds to cover a support formed of a plurality of rods. The rods of the support have a plurality of bracing members to support the filtering member, two ends of the support are mounted with two shaping pieces, and an upper and lower lid for fixing and sealing. The bracing members are all serrated members, and are provided on the outside with numerous equidistantly separated crests and corresponding hollows and on the inner side with a connecting base. The crests each have a clamping notch for placing a rod, so that the bracing members can be transversely arranged within a circle formed by encircling the rods of the support.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an improved structure of filtering bag combination, and especially to an improved structure of filtering bag combination having a good filtering effect, an increased area of filtering and a longer life of use, it suits filtering equipments for various industrial dust collecting systems.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Air pollution can have the polluting materials divided into granular and gas type materials, while the methods for controlling air-polluting materials can also be divided into three kinds of modes. The first mode is the conventional mode; it increases the height of a chimney or renders a factory to move away from an area where population of people is large. Such mode can only solve the problem of air pollution of the area near the factory; this is because that the gross amount of the polluting materials discharged to the atmosphere is unchanged. Particularly the gas SO2, it always is delivered to areas thousand kilometers away and then generates the problem of precipitation of sour rains. The second mode is to add a control equipment before gas is discharged from a pollution source to remove a part of polluted materials before discharging the gas. The concentration of the discharged polluted materials shall meet the statutory standard of discharging in order not to influence the standard of quality of the air in the atmosphere; the removed polluted materials can be recycled for using sometimes. The third mode is the most effective way, this is to change the method and the process of production to inhibit generation of air polluting materials or to lower the concentration of the air polluting materials to a degree to render them unnecessary to be processed before discharging; however, this mode shall consider the problem of the cost of production.
Generally, by the fact that the cost of production and the efficiency of removing the polluting materials shall be both in consideration, people in the art are more often to adopt the second mode; while control equipments can be divided into treatment equipments for granular and gas type materials. Equipments for removing granular materials take advantages of one or some of the following actions: gravity, inertia, centrifugal force, diffusion, filtering, acoustic wave or stationery electric force; they separate and collect particles in the gas, and then discard or reuse them. Taking a usual bag type dust collector as an example, it mainly renders the particles such as of dust etc. to be isolated outside the filtering member after the polluted gas passing the filtering member provided on the dust collector, and cleaner air can be obtained. Usual dust collecting filtering bags can be divided into elongate and cylindrical shape in pursuance of the types of the dust collectors.
By virtue that filtering members are very important in processes of filtering, conventional dust collecting filtering bags can be divided into two kinds, namely a fixed type and a soft type. A bag of the fixed type is made of ventilating molded foam, the structure of the bag is stiff and abrasion durable and can be spray washed, thereby it has a long life of use, a good filtering effect, but it is very expensive; while a filtering bag of the soft type is cheaper, the filtering member it uses is just paper or ventilating cloth; in designing filtering bags, paper or non-woven fabric is used to make an elongate cylinder or a normal cylinder which is slipped over a support; and in practicing, dirt air will pass the cylinder to screen off the particles and dust. However, such filtering mode has a fixed area of filtering, its filtering effect and life of use are extremely limited; therefore, conventional techniques all make the filtering members folded to surround and envelop a support in order to increase the surface area of the filtering members.
However, the conventional filtering bags still have the following flaws:    1. Conventional filtering members can increase the surface area of filtering by folding, however relatively, the papers are thinner and are not so durable for abrasion; and in practicing, they are connected with air exhausting and absorption devices with strong powers, the filtering members are subject to abrasion and damage during exhausting and absorption to thereby shorten the lives of use of them.    2. The filtering members all have folded angles after folding, the folded areas form serrated crests and hollows, they are unable to be unfolded and thereby become dead corners of filtering, dust and particles will be attached to these folded areas and are hard to be removed by tapping; the filtering members are subject to being blocked in use and thereby have their lives of use affected, further by nonstop abrasion of the dust and particles against the dead corners during air exhausting and absorption, this can speedy damage and further shorten the lives of use of the filtering members.    3. Generally, durability against abrasion of non-woven fabric is better than that of paper, but non-woven fabric is softer and thicker, it can not have a fixed shape after folding and even after folding, it is still loose; hence conventional filtering bags made of non-woven fabric can only be made into cylindrical shape rather than being pleated into multiple folds, their filtering areas are too small, they need to be changed often, otherwise, a dust collector shall be enlarged to meet the required filtering area of the filtering bag when in manufacturing the dust collector.


A wheelchair system includes a wheelchair including a plurality of force sensors including at least three force sensors. A rigid seat pan is placed in contact with each the plurality of force sensors at a different position on the rigid seat pan so that the rigid seat pan does not contact the frame and forces on the rigid seat pan are transferred to the plurality of force sensors. Each of the plurality of force sensors is in communicative connection with a processor system. A memory system is in communicative connection and an interface system is in connection with the processor system and a user interface system in communicative connection with the processor system. Instructions stored on the memory system are executable by the processor system to determine a value of a variable related to a distribution of force on the rigid seat pan over time.

The following information is provided to assist the reader in understanding technologies disclosed below and the environment in which such technologies may typically be used. The terms used herein are not intended to be limited to any particular narrow interpretation unless clearly stated otherwise in this document. References set forth herein may facilitate understanding of the technologies or the background thereof. The disclosure of all references cited herein are incorporated by reference.
Proper training in use of wheelchairs has been identified as an important factor which may facilitate use in communities, and improve safety, user acceptance, and user satisfaction. However, training to perform pressure relief or dynamic repositioning is usually provided in a clinic with oral instructions with minimal practice because of limited interaction time. Furthermore, novice wheelchair users must learn how to operate and maintain their wheelchair, how to safely propel their chair, and how to perform pressure relief and repositioning sufficient to reduce risk of injury. The challenges of learning to manage seated pressure can be overwhelming for some individuals and requires frequent reinforcement.
Re-positioning for pressure relief is one important approach to reducing the risk of occurrence of pressure ulcers. However, with numerous activities and tasks happening every day, it is very easy to lose track of time and forget to perform pressure reliefs even when an individual is aware of the importance of pressure ulcer prevention. Wheelchair users may choose to ignore the need to perform pressure relief and stay in a fixed or static position for prolonged periods to accomplish tasks, trading potential health consequences for greater short-term participation. People tend to prefer options that are easy to process and bring instant outcomes.
People who are active sitters (that is, change their seated posture frequently) and/or who perform regular pressure relief (that is, lifting the buttocks off of the seat or significantly changing posture—by, for example, lying on the thighs) tend to be at lower risk for developing pressure ulcers. Educational tools (for example, user guides, oral instruction, web-sites, apps) have proven very effective in increasing the knowledge among manual wheelchair users of the risk of pressure ulcers but do little to improve compliance. Current reminders based on timers or simple pressure or contact switches have only proved modestly effective. Although there have been developments in studies for increasing compliance among electric powered wheelchair users who use power seat functions, there has been little research to develop technology interventions to promote positive behavioral changes among manual wheelchair users or users of powered wheelchairs without power seat functions to promote active sitting and regular pressure relief.

Wheelchair pressure ulcer risk management coaching system and methodology

University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education

The United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Aftairs


In a person identification apparatus, a normalized face image is used to identify a person. When the face image of the person is input, a face area extraction section extracts the face area from the face image. A feature point extraction section extracts a plurality of candidates of feature points from the face area using a separation filter. A feature point set selection section selects sets of the candidates from the plurality of candidates of feature points according to face structure information. A feature point decision section extracts neighboring patterns of each candidate from the face area for the set of candidates, calculates a similarity value between the neighboring patterns of each candidate and the template pattern, and selects a subset of the candidates having the highest similarity values. A normalization section generates a normalized face image of the face area according to the selected subset of the candidates. A recognition section compares the normalized face image with the registered image to identify the person.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a person identification apparatus and method. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for extracting feature points from a face image to identify a person.
2. Description of the Related Art
Systems for automatically identifying people have many uses, including enhancing security. Basic processing of a personal identification system of the prior art is as follows.
1. Extraction of the face area from a face image of a person PA0 2. Extraction of feature points such as eyes, nose, or mouth from the face area and PA0 3. Discrimination processing
Discrimination processing falls into one of two categories. In the first method, a feature vector is generated according to the position, shape, and size of a feature point and a similarity value between the feature vector and a plurality of previously registered dictionary vectors. The plurality of dictionary vectors correspond to the object persons to be confirmed. Accordingly, the person who corresponds to the face image is identified as the object person having the highest similarity value.
In the second method, the position and size of the feature points in the face image are normalized by two-dimensional affine conversion. This normalized image is compared with a dictionary normalized image which corresponds to the object person. Like the first method, the person who corresponds to the face image is identified as the object person having the highest similarity value.
In the two above-mentioned methods, the similarity value is calculated as a statistical distance such as a relative value between images or the Euclidean distance in characteristic space. In discriminative processing, various kinds of pattern recognition theories are used for character identification. In this case, a critical factor for achieving quality discrimination is the ability to extract the feature points. In the first method, the effect of extracting the feature points is large because the position, shape and size of each feature point is used as an element of the feature vector. In the second method, the effect of extracting the feature points is also large because the quality of discrimination depends on minuteness of the normalized image, and the dictionary image in the case of calculating the similarity value.
A conventional method for extracting the feature points is based on edge information in the image. By using an edge operator, the edge in the face area is extracted and eyes, nose, and mouth are detected according to an edge model. Because the shape of the face image is three-dimensionally transformed, it is difficult to detect a clear edge from the face image. Therefore, this method is only applied in cases where lighting conditions are good.
Using a template to extract feature points is another method used. In this method, the feature points are extracted by using a template (e.g., a dictionary pattern) to match a previously registered eye, nose, or mouth. Only patterns of areas such as the eyes, nose, or mouth are used for matching. Therefore, it is difficult to discriminate one area from another similar area. To process many different positions and sizes of the eyes, nose, or mouth, numerous templates and data associated with each are needed to provide an adequate sample for comparison with features of the face under analysis. Therefore, when using this method the number of calculations required greatly increases as the scope of the search area for recognizable faces increases.
A problem with this second method of extracting feature points concerns proper extraction of the feature points using the location information taken from the face area. For example, a method to extract a feature point by connecting each feature point using a virtual spring assumes that the eyes, nose, and mouth are located on the face in a normal distribution. However, in this method, it is difficult to distinguish partial errors because the connected shape of the virtual spring may represent an entire facial feature. Mistaking the edge of an eyebrow for a black eye is an example of a partial error.
In yet another method, feature points are correctly extracted by minimizing the value of an evaluation function. A problem associated with this method, is setting the weight of the evaluation function. This method requires repeated calculations for processing the minimization.

Person identification apparatus and method using concentric templates and feature point candidates


Systems and methods for utilizing a back channel as a feedback system to regulate the quality of broadcast. A signal source transmits a signal corresponding to the broadcast to one or more home entertainment systems. The displaying, recording or utilization of the broadcast is tracked at the individual home entertainment systems. The tracked information is transmitted in either real time or on a deferred basis from home entertainment systems as feedback across a back channel. The quality of the broadcast is regulated and/or optimized as a result of the feedback. As such, the broadcast can be dynamically restructured by modifying the bandwidth of the broadcast, by changing the modulation of the broadcast, by changing the encoding scheme of the broadcast, by varying parameters of the encoding scheme of the broadcast, by redistributing satellite channels to take full advantage of transponders available in a satellite television system, etc. The feedback also informs the operators and broadcasters as to when a disruption can be made on the broadcast so that the effect of the disruption is minimized.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods for utilizing a back channel as a feedback system to regulate the quality of a broadcast. More specifically, the present invention is directed to tracking user behavior information at home entertainment systems corresponding to the broadcast, transmitting the tracked information as feedback across a back channel, and modifying the quality of the broadcast as a result of the feedback. While the systems and methods of the present invention are applicable to any broadcast system, they are particularly useful for high volume digital television systems that currently exist worldwide via cable and satellite television.
2. Background and Related Art
Historically, television has been a source of entertainment for the general public and a medium through which an enormous number of individuals can be reached. However, operators of digital television (i.e. cable television, satellite television, etc.) are limited by current transmission capacities and thus seek ways to optimize the available bandwidth. The current method for maximizing the bandwidth includes a broadcast center controlling the amount of bandwidth allocated to each channel according to the likelihood of viewer participation. As a marketing decision, greater portions of the bandwidth and, as a result, greater image quality, are reserved for the channels that are more likely to be watched by the general public. For example, a channel that broadcasts an international soccer match would be allocated less bandwidth in the United States than a channel that broadcasts a professional football game because of the potential to obtain a greater television audience.
Current methods used to gather information on viewer participation are extremely limited as to the amount and type of information that is gathered. By way of example, members of the viewing public are paid by businesses to record in logbooks the television channels they watch during a sample period of time and then mail the logbooks to a central location after the completion of the sample period. At the central location, the information from the logbooks is manually entered into a database. This method limits the amount of data that is gathered because viewers are generally not willing to invest large portions of time to register information in logbooks. Furthermore, inaccuracies are introduced into the gathered data due to the viewers' desires to quickly complete the registering of information and the existence of human error in the manual registering process.
Another method includes installing devices in the homes of viewers to monitor and record the channels tuned during a sample period. Each viewer of a household is assigned a symbol recognizable to the device and is responsible to select the symbol to indicate that he or she is watching the television. From time to time the device flashes a red light to remind the viewers to select their corresponding symbol. The viewing information recorded by the device includes the channels tuned and the viewing date and time. Later, the viewing information is converted into usable data by identifying the corresponding television programs that were scheduled for the identified channel at the recorded viewing date and time.
The conversion process is performed at a central location and inaccuracies result in the converted data when, for example, last minute changes are made in the programming schedule, cable companies place network stations in different places in the channel lineup, programs are aired at different times in different locations, and viewers receive a signal that is broadcast from a different time zone. Moreover, the conversion process can involve a significant amount of data processing because the television programming that is broadcast on a given channel at a specified time can vary from locality to locality. Furthermore, this method relies on a broadcaster encoding each program for detection by the device and is therefore inappropriate for tracking less popular, locally produced, or exclusively cable-based programming.
Bandwidth for video today is a scarce commodity, and therefore expensive. Indeed the great value of using a broadcast medium for video is the greatly lower bandwidth requirement. But viewer demand for higher quality video (e.g., HDTV) and additional applications like video-on-demand ("VOD") and interactive enhancements continues to grow. The lack of meaningful and reliable data as to actual viewer participation forces digital television operators to allocate greater portions of bandwidth based on a likelihood or hunch of where the greater viewer participation will exist. (A broadcast center, such as a cable headend, often supplies the broadcast feeds to as few as a few hundred households.) However, because viewer participation varies from state-to-state, city-to-city, and neighborhood-to-neighborhood, the basis on which bandwidth is allocated is vastly inefficient compared to usage requirements.

Regulating the quality of a broadcast based on monitored viewing behavior information


A calibration system for a food processing machine has a conveyor for conveying a workpiece, scanning system for scanning the workpiece and creating a digital image of the workpiece, and a cutting device downstream from the scanning system for cutting the workpiece. A calibration object is conveyed through the food processing machine by the conveyor and scanned. A controller, with a memory, is in communication with the cutting device and the conveyor such that the controller can track position of the cutting device as the cutting device is moved into alignment with the calibration object and store calibration values on the memory corresponding to the movement of the cutting device into alignment with the calibration object. The controller is configured to calibrate movement of the cutting device relative to the workpiece based on the digital image of the workpiece and the calibration values to thereafter accurately cut the workpiece.

The following U.S. patent and U.S. Patent Application Publication are incorporated herein by reference in entirety.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0217044 discloses a portioning system that includes a scanner for scanning work products being carried on the conveyor. A cutter system includes an array or manifold cutter and single cutter for cutting the work products into desired sized end pieces. The cutter assemblies and are carried on respective carriages and to move the cutters as required along predetermined cutting paths as controlled by a control system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,056 discloses an actuator apparatus with a transverse support structure for guiding a transverse carriage therealong. The carriage is powered by a remotely located rotational actuator through an endless belt secured to the carriage. A second carriage moves along a longitudinal support structure cantilevered transversely from the carriage. The second carriage is powered by a remotely located second rotational actuator acting through a second endless belt. A working tool is mounted on the second carriage for high-speed bi-directional movement.

Calibration apparatuses and methods for food processing machines


A helicopter strike wire cutting apparatus extending from the fuselage of the helicopter to the rotor blades for cutting wires that strike the helicopter during flight. The cutting apparatus includes cutting edges along the rotor control rods and can be arranged to direct a strike wire toward the midpoint of the rod. A second embodiment having cutting edges on a drum rotating with the rotor is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in wire cutting apparatus for helicopters and more specifically, to cutting apparatus intermediate the rotor and the helicopter fuselage for cutting wires which may become engaged in this area before the wire causes a severe crash.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Present wire cutters on helicopters for protecting that area between the rotor and the fuselage consist of a fixed V-shaped cutter facing in the forward direction on the top of the helicopter fuselage in front of the rotor mast. Cutters of this type are effective when the wire struck by the helicopter is at a ninety degree angle to the path of travel of the helicopter. When this type of fixed V-shaped cutter strikes a wire at other than a ninety degree angle, the torque exerted on the cutter will cause it to collapse, rendering the cutter ineffective and resulting in a possible crash of the helicopter.
To provide effective protection to the helicopter, regardless of the direction of wire strike, cutting means vertically spanning the space between the fuselage and the rotor is provided which rotates with the rotor and which has cutting edges thereon adapted to engage and direct the wire toward the vertical midpoint of the cutter and cut the wire. This cutting means can be multiple cutting edges on the pitch control rods for the rotor blades extending lengthwise thereof and skewed relative to the longitudinal axis of each pitch control rod. Alternatively, if the pitch control rods do not span the entire space between the fuselage and rotor, a cylindrical drum may be provided surrounding the pitch control rods and carried by the rotor mast so that it rotates with the rotors. Cutting blades skewed in such a manner relative to the axis of the drum to drive any engaged wire toward the middle of the drum are mounted on the peripheral surface of the drum and serve to cut the engaged wire. The cutting blades on the drum preferably are arranged in a herringbone pattern with the ends of the blades adjacent the top and bottom of the drum being in advance of midportion of the blades in the direction of rotation of the drum.
From the above, it can be seen that the primary object of the present invention is to provide effective wire cutting means to protect a helicopter from a wire strike intermediate the rotor and the fuselage.
A further object of the present invention is to provide novel wire cutting means which will not add appreciably to the weight of the helicopter and may be installed quickly and efficiently.
Other objects will be apparent from the description of the invention.


In a method of producing a glass gob by continuously dropping a molten glass 9 from a nozzle 2 in a dropping direction, a gas flow 20 is caused to continuously flow in the dropping direction along an outer peripheral surface of the nozzle 2 at a predetermined flow rate. The gas flow 20 applies a wind pressure to the molten glass 9 appearing from a nozzle end 2a of the nozzle 2 to drop the molten glass 9.

This invention relates to a method of producing a glass gob to be subjected to press molding, a method of producing a glass molded product by pressing the glass gob, and an apparatus for producing the glass gob.
In order to produce an optical glass component, use has widely been made of a technique of press-molding a glass by the use of a die or a mold. Such technique includes a direct press method of directly pressing a molten glass gob and a reheating/pressing (RP) method of reheating and pressing a preform which has a shape approximate to that of a final or an end product.
Traditionally, the above-mentioned preform is prepared in the following manner. The molten glass is made to flow down from an outlet pipe and cut by a cutting tool such as a shear blade to obtain a molten glass gob having a predetermined weight. The molten glass gob is cooled into a glass gob to be directly used as the preform. Alternatively, the glass gob thus obtained is subjected to polishing before it is used as the preform. In the existing method of obtaining the glass gob by flowing down the molten glass from the outlet pipe, the weight of the glass gob is controlled by changing the diameter of a nozzle attached to an end of the outlet pipe. This means that the nozzle must be exchanged to another nozzle in order to produce the glass gob having a different weight. Furthermore, in order to reuse the nozzle once removed, a residual glass cooled and solidified in the nozzle must be eliminated.
In order to overcome the above-mentioned problem, the present applicant has already developed a method of blowing a gas to the molten glass before spontaneous falling of the molten glass from the nozzle, thereby forcibly drop down, as a molten glass drop, the molten glass having a particular weight as a dropping weight (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H10-194752 (JP 10-194752 A, which will hereinafter be referred to as an earlier publication). In this method, the dropping weight of the molten glass drop is controlled by adjusting the timing of blowing the gas. By changing the timing, it is possible to continuously change the dropping weight from one to another. For example, if the gas is blown at a shorter time interval, the weight of the glass gob to be obtained is reduced. In the above-mentioned method, it is unnecessary to exchange the nozzle every time when a desirable dropping weight of the molten glass is changed from one to another. Upon press molding a video camera lens, a compact disk pickup lens, and so on, a small glass gob to be used as a preform is required. Such a small glass gob can be produced by this method.
The method disclosed in the earlier publication is excellent and useful as mentioned above. However, it is difficult to produce an extremely small or minute glass gob, which is further smaller in weight, with high weight accuracy. In the method disclosed in the earlier publication, the gas blown to the molten glass is guided to a nozzle portion by an air blow pipe. The air blow pipe is extended from an exterior of a heater through a lower opening of the heater to a nozzle end within the heater. Therefore, the gas blown to the molten glass has a temperature extremely lower than that of the molten glass.
The gas is intermittently blown to the molten glass at a predetermined timing corresponding to the dropping weight. Alternatively, in order to prevent the molten glass from wicking or wetting upwards along an outer peripheral surface of the nozzle (due to a capillary phenomenon or a flowing up movement caused by a gas flow), the gas is continuously blown relatively weakly at a relatively low pressure and, at a desired drop timing, the gas is blown relatively intensely at a relatively high pressure to forcibly drop the molten glass. In either event, the molten glass is dropped by relatively intensely blowing the gas at a controlled timing.
The present inventors have found out that, in order to obtain a glass gob having an extremely small weight with high weight accuracy by dropping the molten glass, it is important to keep a constant flow rate of the gas blown to the molten glass and to continuously flow the gas in a laminar flow condition. It has also been found out that, even upon occurrence of some fluctuation in flow rate of the gas, the influence of the fluctuation upon the weight accuracy of the glass gob is minimized under a particular condition. Furthermore, the present inventors have found out a method of setting the particular condition.
It is an object of this invention to provide a method of producing a glass gob with high weight accuracy.
It is a specific object of this invention to provide a method of producing an extremely small glass gob with high weight accuracy.
It is another object of this invention to provide a method of producing a glass molded product by the use of the above-mentioned glass gob.
It is still another object of this invention to provide an apparatus for producing the above-mentioned glass gob.
According to a first aspect of this invention, there is provided a method of producing a glass gob by successively dropping or dripping as molten glass drops a molten glass from a nozzle in a dropping direction, the method comprising the step of generating a gas flow continuously flowing in the dropping direction along an outer peripheral surface of the nozzle at a predetermined flow rate to apply a wind pressure or a blow/flow pressure upon the molten glass appearing from an end of the nozzle, thereby dropping the molten glass.
According to a second aspect of this invention, there is provided a method of producing a glass molded product, the method comprising the steps of preparing a glass gob by the use of the above-mentioned method in the first aspect, reheating the glass gob, and press-molding the glass gob to obtain the glass molded product.
According to a third aspect of this invention, there is provided an apparatus for producing a glass gob by dropping a molten glass as a molten glass drop, receiving the molten glass drop in a molding die, and molding the molten glass drop to produce the glass gob, the apparatus comprising a nozzle for flowing out the molten glass, a molding die for receiving the molten glass drop dropping down from the nozzle and molding the molten glass drop into the glass gob, a nozzle cover covering and surrounding an outer periphery of the nozzle to define a gas flow path between the nozzle cover and the nozzle and to define a nozzle cover opening between a nozzle cover end of the nozzle cover and a nozzle end of the nozzle, and gas supplying means for continuously supplying a gas of a predetermined flow rate or a predetermined quantity into the interior of the nozzle cover. The gas supplied into the interior of the nozzle cover passes through the gas flow path defined between the nozzle and the nozzle cover to be blown out through the nozzle cover opening towards the nozzle end so that a wind pressure of the gas blown out through the nozzle cover opening is applied to the molten glass appearing from the nozzle end protruding from the nozzle cover opening, thereby dropping the molten glass.

Method of producing a glass gob, method of producing a glass molded product, and apparatus for producing a glass gob


An automatic focusing device of an optical disk apparatus with a capability of automatically focusing a light beam at an optimal position relative to the surface of a track of an optical disk by a selection of an optimal value of an offset voltage is disclosed. A focusing servo of the device keeps a focal point of the light beam at a relative position to the surface of the track, which is adapted to shift the relative position by applying an offset voltage. A tracking error detector generates a tracking error signal with peaks same in number as the number of tracks having been traversed by the focal point. A comparator generates a comparison pulse each time when the peak is higher than a predetermined threshold level. A counter counts the number of the pulses in the tracking error signal. After repeating the generation, the comparison and the counting for a plurality of times, each time with the application of a different value of the offset volatge, a judging circuit adopts the value of the offset voltage corresponding to the maximum number among the counted numbers as the optimal value of the offset voltage to be applied in a seek mode of the optical disk apparatus to directly transfer the focal point to a desired track.

The present invention relates to a focus control device of an optical disk apparatus, and more particularly relates to a focus control device having an automatic setting function of an optimal offset signal of an optical magnetic disk.
In order to read and write data precisely in an optical magnetic disk apparatus, it is necessary to reduce the focal error into the range of focal depth of an objective lens. Therefore, focus servo control is conducted in the apparatus. One typical focal error detecting system used for an optical disk apparatus is the astigmatic method in which cylindrical lenses causing astigmatism are utilized. According to this method, the focus error signal is represented by an S-shaped curve shown in FIG. 3 with regard to the focal error in the servo block range. Therefore, in an ideal condition, the voltage of the focus error signal becomes 0V (which is the same as ground) at a correctly focused point. When the device is designed, the target control value is 0V (ground), and feedback control is conducted so that the level of the focus error signal can converge to the ground level.
However, in a practical device, depending upon the error caused in the manufacturing process of the optical disk, the characteristic error of the optical system, the characteristic error of the circuit, and changes of the characteristics caused by changes of the environment, the actual correctly focused point (referred to hereon as an actual focus point) is shifted from the ground, and offset V.sub.off exists in the position shown in FIG. 3. Therefore, in order to make the servo control target value (the convergence point) coincide with the actual focus point, the following method has been conventionally taken in the manufacturing process: a semi-fixed resistance is adjusted in order to impress the offset voltage upon the control section of the focus drive mechanism.
The conventional method in which a predetermined offset signal is previously given in the manufacturing process, cannot follow the change of the optical system caused by environmental change or deterioration with age, and further the conventional method cannot follow the very small change of the actual focus point which is caused by the offset of the circuit. Accordingly, when high accuracy is required, reliability is lowered.
According to the results of the investigation conducted by the inventors, the conventional adjusting method has the following problem in the case where the disk is changed: especially when a seeking operation is conducted, in other words, when a reading-out beam is rapidly moved to the target track, the accuracy of the track position detection signal is deteriorated, so that the beam cannot be correctly stopped at the target track; and further the actual focus point in the case of a playback/write-in operation is different from that in the case of a seeking operation.

Focus control device of an optical disk apparatus


An adjustable tray table having a tabletop, a tabletop support connected to the tabletop, and a base assembly attached to the tabletop support and configured to allow the tabletop to move from a substantially vertical orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation. The base support includes a spring-biased squeezable latch, which has a squeezed position and a released position. The latch is configured to engage an engagement opening in the tabletop support, which fixes the tabletop support in a desired orientation corresponding to the engagement opening. The latch is also configured to disengage from the engagement opening and to slide along a slot in the tabletop support until it reaches a different engagement opening corresponding to a different orientation.

Tray tables are useful due to their small size and portability. Additionally, they have a wide variety of uses, including, for example, as a table for computer monitors, as a reading desk, as a dinner table, etc. One problem encountered by users of tray tables is that they may are sometimes not readily storable and also the angle of the tabletop is often fixed. What is needed, therefore, is tray table that facilitates easy storage and in which the tabletop may be easily and quickly changed according to a user's particular needs.


A method for enhancing downhole telemetry performance comprising enhancing a signal in order to offset signal-to-noise ratio reduction with increasing measured depth, wherein the signal is modified at specified measured depths which are inferred from acoustic wave velocity determination.

There are numerous methods, techniques and innovations designed to improve the oil and gas drilling process. Many of these involve feedback of various measured downhole parameters that are communicated to the surface to enable the driller to more efficiently, safely or economically drill the well. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,968,909 to Aldred et al. teaches a control system that combines measurement of downhole conditions with certain aspects of the operation of the drillstring. These downhole measurements are conveyed to the surface by well-known standard telemetry methods where they are used to update a surface equipment control system that then changes operation parameters. Closed loop two-way communication techniques like this, however, rely on the adequate detection at the surface of the telemetered parameters.
It is standard in the drilling industry to control certain parameters of the downhole telemetry transmitter by downlinking appropriate commands from the surface. For example, changing the downhole drilling fluid pressure in a prescribed manner by changing the flow rate of the drilling fluid and subsequently monitoring this by a downhole pressure gauge is a common technique. Problems associated with this and similar downlinking techniques include false detection, slowing of the drilling process and the need to include human intervention in the process.
There are at present two standard telemetry techniques in common use—data conveyed via pressure waves in the drilling fluid and data conveyed via very low frequency electromagnetic waves, both originating at a downhole transmitter. Another telemetry technique beginning to emerge in the drilling arena is to convey the data via acoustic waves travelling along the drillpipe within certain bands of frequencies (or passbands). All three technologies suffer from noise associated with the drilling operation, and all three similarly suffer signal attenuation at the surface as the well bore increases in length.
The design of acoustic systems for static production wells has been reasonably successful, as each system can be modified within economic constraints to suit these relatively long-lived applications. The application of acoustic telemetry for data transfer from downhole to an acoustic receiver rig at the surface in real-time drilling situations, however, is less widespread. Acoustic telemetry is an emerging technology and has as-yet unresolved problems related to the increased in-band noise due to certain drilling operations, and unwanted acoustic wave reflections associated with downhole components such as the bottom-hole assembly (or "BHA"), typically attached to the end of the drillstring. The problem of communication through drillpipe is further complicated by the fact that drillpipe has heavier tool joints than production tubing, resulting in broader stopbands; this entails relatively less available acoustic passband spectrum, making the problems of noise and signal distortion even more severe. As the well is drilled and the amount of drillpipe increases there is a general degradation of the available acoustic passband properties, primarily through two effects: the non-identical dimensions of the drillpipes due to manufacturing tolerances and recuts of tool joints (these will narrow and distort the acoustic passband); the acoustic signal attenuation increases directly with the number of drillpipes. The amount of drillpipe is directly related to the 'measured depth' (MD), in contrast to the 'true vertical depth' (TVD). TVD is the vertical depth used to calculate hydrostatic pressure.
Attenuation is also a function of the amount of wall contact with the drillpipe because this contact provides a means of extracting energy from acoustic waves travelling along the pipe. Typical attenuation values may range from 12 dB to 35 dB per kilometre.
Noise from many sources must also be dealt with. For example, the drill bit, mud motor and the BHA and pipe all create acoustic noise, particularly when drilling. The downhole noise amplitude generally increases as rotation speed of the drillpipe and/or the drilling rate of penetration increases. On the surface, noise originates from virtually all moving parts of the rig. Dominant noise sources include diesel generators, rotary tables, top drives, pumps and centrifuges.
Thus, it is evident that channel issues and noise problems will increase with the measured depth, drilling rate and rotary speed.
In summary, the challenges to be met for acoustic telemetry in drilling wells include:                Restricted channel bandwidth due to the drillstring passband structure        Channel centre shifts        Dynamically changing channel properties        Downhole noise due to drillpipe movements        Downhole noise due to mud motor and/or drill bit activity        Surface noise due to rig components such as diesel generators, rotating tables, and top drives

Telemetry transmitter optimization using time domain reflectometry


The present invention relates to a composite comprising (1) a bottom layer comprising expanded thermoplastic elastomer particles; and (2) a surface layer on the bottom layer, and the use of such composites in flooring surfaces sports, sports hall floorings, swimming pool hall floorings, running tracks, sports facilities, playgrounds, kindergartens, park walkway and pavements.

Polyurethanes are nowadays used in many applications because of their broad property profile. Polyurethanes can be used both in compact form and in foamed form. Polyurethanes can, for example, be present in the form of thermosetting elastomers, thermoplastic elastomers, microcellular elastomers, integral foams, flexible foams, rigid foams or semi rigid foams. Further details on this subject may be found in "Kunststoffhandbuch, Volume 7, Polyurethane", Carl Hanser Verlag, 3rd Edition 1993, Chapters 5 to 8 and 10-12.
US2010/0047550A1 discloses the use of a hybrid material comprising a matrix of polyurethane and foamed particles of thermoplastic polyurethane comprised therein as floor covering, bicycle saddles, upholstery and shoe soles.
US2015/0237823A1 describes a stall floorcovering comprising a foam mat comprising expanded thermoplastic polyurethane-bead foam for animals.
It is well known that the dynamic interaction between the athlete and the sports flooring is significant to the performance and safety of the athlete. Therefore, the ability of the surface to reduce force (i.e. force reduction) is important.
It was therefore an object of the present invention to provide floorings having improved force reduction. It was found by the present inventors that the inclusion of expanded thermoplastic elastomer (E-TPE), especially expanded thermoplastic polyurethanes in the floorings is capable to improve the force reduction of floorings.

Floorings prepared from composites comprising expanded thermoplastic elastomer particles