A microvalve device for controlling fluid flow in a fluid circuit. The microvalve device comprises a body having a cavity formed therein. An electronically controlled automatic transmission, comprising of an input shaft; an output shaft; a plurality of gears providing driving connection between the input shaft and the output shaft; one of a hydraulically operated brake band and a hydraulically operated clutch which is operable to effect a change in the gear reduction provided by the gears between the input shaft and the output shaft; a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid; and a microvalve device selectively operable to control passage of pressurized hydraulic fluid from the source to the one of a hydraulically operated brake band and a hydraulically operated clutch to operate the one of a hydraulically operated brake band and a hydraulically operated clutch.

This invention relates in general to semiconductor electromechanical devices, and in particular to a microvalve device for controlling an automatic transmission.
MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical Systems) is a class of systems that are physically small, having features with sizes in the micrometer range. These systems have both electrical and mechanical components. The term xe2x80x9cmicromachiningxe2x80x9d is commonly understood to mean the production of three-dimensional structures and moving parts of MEMS devices. MEMS originally used modified integrated circuit (computer chip) fabrication techniques (such as chemical etching) and materials (such as silicon semiconductor material) to micromachine these very small mechanical devices. Today there are many more micromachining techniques and materials available. The term xe2x80x9cmicrovalvexe2x80x9d as used in this application means a valve having features with sizes in the micrometer range, and thus by definition is at least partially formed by micromachining. The term xe2x80x9cmicrovalve devicexe2x80x9d as used in this application means a device that includes a microvalve, and that may include other components. It should be noted that if components other than a microvalve are included in the microvalve device, these other components may be micromachined components or standard sized (larger) components.
Various microvalve devices have been proposed for controlling fluid flow within a fluid circuit. A typical microvalve device includes a displaceable member or valve movably supported by a body and operatively coupled to an actuator for movement between a closed position and a fully open position. When placed in the closed position, the valve blocks or closes a first fluid port that is placed in fluid communication with a second fluid port, thereby preventing fluid from flowing between the fluid ports. When the valve moves from the closed position to the fully open position, fluid is increasingly allowed to flow between the fluid ports. Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/532,604, entitled xe2x80x9cPilot Operated Microvalve Devicexe2x80x9d, describes a microvalve device consisting of an electrically operated pilot microvalve and a pilot operated microvalve who position is controlled by the pilot microvalve.
In addition to generating a force sufficient to move the displaced member, the actuator must generate a force capable of overcoming the fluid flow forces acting on the displaceable member that oppose the intended displacement of the displaced member. These fluid flow forces generally increase as the flow rate through the fluid ports increases.
The invention relates to an electronically controlled automatic transmission and a microvalve device suitable for controlling fluid flow in a fluid control circuit of an electronically controlled automatic transmission. The electronically controlled automatic transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, and a plurality of gears providing driving connection between the input shaft and the output shaft. The electronically controlled automatic transmission further includes at least one hydraulically operated component, such as a hydraulically operated brake band, or a hydraulically operated clutch, which is operable to effect a change in the gear reduction provided by the gears between the input shaft and the output shaft. A source of pressurized hydraulic fluid is provided to operate the hydraulically operated components of the electronically controlled automatic transmission. A microvalve device according to the invention is selectively operable to control passage of pressurized hydraulic fluid from the source to the hydraulically operated component. The microvalve device, in a preferred embodiment, includes a pilot-operated valve for controlling and selectively preventing the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulically operated component. The microvalve device also includes an electronically controlled pilot valve for controlling the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the slider valve to control the operation of the slider valve.
Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

Microvalve for electronically controlled transmission


An elliptical exercise device includes a frame having a first pivot axis and a longitudinal axis, at least one foot link and at least one swing arm. The foot link is coupled to the frame and is constrained to move in an orbital path approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis. The swing arm is also coupled to the frame and has a reciprocating movement whereby a natural “stride” movement of the arm of a user is replicated. The swing arm operates independently from the foot link. The natural “stride” movement of the arm of the user grasping the arm link follows a generally concave motion relative to the ground. The length of the movement of the arm of the user is defined by the user. A different resistive load can be applied on the arm apparatus than on the foot links.

The benefits of regular aerobic exercise are well established. However, due to time constraints, inclement weather, and other reasons, many people are prevented from aerobic activities such as walking, jogging, running, and swimming. In response, a variety of exercise equipment has been developed for aerobic activity. It is generally desirable to exercise a large number of different muscles over a significantly large range of motion so as to provide for balanced physical development, to maximize muscle length and flexibility, and to achieve optimum levels of aerobic exercise. It is further advantageous for exercise equipment to provide smooth and natural motion, thus avoiding significant jarring and straining that can damage both muscles and joints.
While various exercise systems are known in the prior art, these systems suffer from a variety of shortcomings that limit their benefits and/or include unnecessary risks and undesirable features. For example, stationary bicycles are a popular exercise system in the prior art; however, these machines employ a sitting position that utilizes only a relatively small number of muscles, through a fairly limited range of motion. Cross-country skiing devices are also utilized to simulate the gliding motion of cross-country skiing. While cross-country skiing devices exercise more muscles than stationary bicycles, the substantially flat shuffling foot motion provided by the ski devices limits the range of motion of some of the muscles being exercised. Another type of exercise device simulates stair climbing. These devices exercise more muscles than stationary bicycles; however, the rather limited range of up-and-down motion utilized does not exercise the user's leg muscles through a large range of motion. Treadmills are still a further type of exercise device in the prior art. Treadmills allow natural walking or jogging motions in a relatively limited area. A drawback of the treadmill, however, is that significant jarring of the hip, knee, ankle and other joints of the body may occur through use of this device.
A further limitation of a majority of exercise systems in the prior art lies in the limits in the types of motions that they can produce. Relatively new classes of exercise devices are capable of producing elliptical motion. Exercise systems create elliptical motion, as referred to herein, when the path traveled by a user's feet while using the exercise system follows an arcuate or ellipse-shaped path of travel. Elliptical motion is much more natural and analogous to running, jogging, walking, etc., than the linear-type, back and forth motions produced by some prior art exercise equipment.
Exercise devices that can provide arm and shoulder motions as well as arcuate foot motions are also desirable. Prior art devices utilize arm and shoulder motions that are linked to foot motions. These linked devices incorporate forced coordinated motion, where the motions of a user's feet are linked to the motions of a user's arms and shoulders. Thus, the user's feet are forced to move in response to the movement of the user's arms and shoulders (in substantially an equal and opposite amount), and vice versa.
One drawback to these linked devices lies in the ability of the user during operation to unintentionally exert little or no force on the arm apparatuses due to the linkage with the foot links. The arm apparatus travels through a given path regardless of whether the user is exerting any force on the arm due to the force being exerted on the foot links. The opposite drawback can also occur where too much force is being exerted on the arm apparatus, thereby diminishing the amount of force required to be exerted on the foot apparatuses. a corollary drawback is the inability to place a different resistive load on the arm apparatus than on the foot links or to vary the load placed on the arm links relative to the load placed on the foot links.
A further drawback is that, in existing machines the arm links travel a full stroke length, in conjunction with the foot links. This can lead to arm movements that are not consistent with the natural movement of the arms, particularly when a user operates the machine at a rapid pace. Also, a person with shorter arms may desire a different arm stroke length than a taller person.
In addition, in the prior art devices where the arm and shoulder motions that are linked to foot motions, the given path through which the arm travels follows a generally convex movement relative to the ground where the forward-most and rearward-most positions of the handles are lower than the mid-travel position of the handle. This generally convex motion is in contrast to the natural motion of the arms during running, which follow a generally concave motion relative to the ground.
What would thus be desirable is an exercise device that provides for smooth natural action, exercises a relatively large number of muscles through a large range of elliptical motion, employs arm, shoulder, and rotational movement, and provides for safety and stability. Such an exercise device would assure that the user exerts a proper or desired amount of arm and shoulder force. Such an exercise device would allow a user to place and vary a different resistive load on the arm apparatus than on the foot links. Such an exercise device would provide a more natural path for the arms. Such an exercise device would provide a full body elliptical exercise experience that allowed for a user to define, and vary as desired, the stroke length of the arm links.

Total body elliptical exercise device with independent upper and lower body motion


A manufacturing method of a size headwear including a head covering portion put on a head and a size tape member disposed on a lower portion of the head covering portion, the head covering portion has a single circumferential length, includes forming a single set of patterns for forming a single set of pieces of the head covering portion; cutting a fabric into the single set of pieces according to the single set of patterns; sewing the cut pieces with each other and connecting the size tape member along a circumferential direction on a lower portion of the sewed pieces to form a raw size headwear; and putting a raw size headwear on a plurality of thermoforming apparatuses to thermoform a size headwear, wherein the thermoforming apparatuses have the respective different sizes. The size headwear thermoformed in this manner may be inexpensively and easily produced and maintain a predetermined stereoscopic shape due to stiffness so that it may improve an esthetic sense without doing the ironing.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a headwear that has a single circumferential length for all respective sizes thereof (hereinafter, referred to as a size headwear) and a manufacturing method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a size headwear and a manufacturing method thereof capable of being easily manufactured by a thermoforming method of an elastic fabric, in which the elastic fabric is woven or knitted to contain a thermoforming thread.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Generally, a headwear includes a head covering portion put on the head and a visor portion connected to at least part of a lower portion of the head covering portion to block sunlight etc.
Further, the headwear includes a sweat absorbing member provided between the head covering portion and the visor portion such that it can absorb sweat discharged from the forehead.
In addition, such a headwear includes a size adjusting member at the rear portion thereof so that the headwear may be adjusted to various sizes by the size adjusting member. However, recently a size headwear has been widely used, in which the headwear has no size adjusting member and it has various different sizes of circumferential length so that a wearer may wear an appropriate size thereof.
It is convenient to put on and off because the size headwear does not have any complicated members, such as the size adjusting member. In addition, the wearer does not need for the size adjusting member to adjust a size in correspondence to the circumferential length. That is, the wearer has only to select a headwear corresponding to his/her size. Moreover, it can provide a lighter and slimmer design.
In addition, the size headwear has merits in that it can save the expense and labor of additionally manufacturing the size adjusting member and connecting the same to the headwear and in that it can prevent the headwear from being blown off or put off since the size headwear is selected in correspondence with the wearer's size.
For example, the size headwear may be formed by at least five knitted fabric panels, and the size headwear may be classified into 8 to 12 sizes.
When 8 to 12 types of headwear are to be manufactured according to such 8 to 12 classified sizes, 8 to 12 types of patterns for forming the at least five knitted fabric panels are required, 8 to 12 types of the at least five knitted fabric panels must be cut according to the 8 to 12 types of patterns, and the respective sets of 8 to 12 types of the at least five knitted fabric panels must be independently managed and sewed together to provide each different sizes.
Thus, since the respective sets of patterns are separately managed and also the respective sets of fabric panel are separately sorted according to the respective sizes, there are many problems, such as size errors. This is very critical for producing a size headwear.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Size headwear and manufacturing method thereof


A tissue prosthesis insertion system (80) includes a first assembly (10) comprising a plurality of nested tubes (12), one of the tubes being a carrier tube (14) which, in use, receives a component (16) of a tissue prosthesis at a distal end of the carrier tube (14). A magnetic mount (44) is carried at a proximal end of the first assembly (10). A second assembly (82) is removably attachable to the first assembly (10). An attachment device (92) is carried at a distal end of the second assembly (92), the attachment device (92) being responsive to the magnetic mount (44) of the first assembly (10), the magnetic mount (44) and the attachment device (92) carrying complementary engaging formations to facilitate hermetic sealing between the magnetic mount (44) and the attachment device (92).

In the delivery of a prosthesis in a minimally invasive manner, use is made of a working cannula which is inserted through an incision in a patient's skin to the site to facilitate percutaneous delivery of the prosthesis to the site. A delivery mechanism is inserted into a lumen of the cannula for delivery of the prosthesis to the site. Generally, the cannula and the delivery mechanism are mounted on some form of structure such as a control device, a dispensing arrangement, or the like, For example, the cannula which helps dock the delivery system to the patient, in turn, can be docked to another fixed structure like the operating table using clamps so as to free the hands of the operator and to also provide stability while performing the device delivery. In addition, the cannula and the delivery mechanism are made as thin as possible so that the incision is made as small as possible.
In the case of a tissue prosthesis such as an intervertebral disc nucleus prosthesis, there is a need to perform an annulotomy on the annulus of the disc to gain access to an interior of the disc. The working cannula, after being inserted percutaneously, needs to be aligned with the opening formed in the annulus and retained in such alignment. It would therefore be advantageous to disturb the position of the cannula and the delivery device as little as possible and to keep the assembly as stable as possible,

Tissue prosthesis insertion system and method


A PC card of standard width and thickness (e.g. 54 mm and 5 mm) is constructed to receive a chip card of smaller width and thickness (e.g. 18 mm and 0.8 mm) so the PC card can used to connect contact pads of the chip card to an electronic device such as laptop computer into which the PC card is inserted. The PC card includes a sheet metal cover with a top cover portion (13) having a flat region that is deep drawn to form a ramp (30) that extends downwardly to an aperture (31). A chip card can be slid down along the ramp and through the aperture, and along an internal path portion in the card to engage contacts on a circuit board. Guides on opposite sides of the internal path portion can be formed by tabs (36, 37) partially punched out of the cover portion, parts fastened to the underside of the top sheet metal cover portion, and/or parts or components mounted on the circuit board.

PC cards are usually constructed in accordance with standards of PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card Industry Association) which specifies a card width of 54 mm and a card maximum thickness of 5 mm for the most popular type which is a Type II (Type I has a maximum thickness of 3.3 mm while Type III has a maximum thickness of 10.5 mm). It is noted that the standards can change somewhat. Such a card is designed to be inserted into a slot of an electronic device where a card front connector mates with a connector of the electronic device. It is sometimes useful to provide a PC card that serves as an adapter for a much smaller card such as a SIM card which has a width about one-third that of the PC card (a width of about 18 mm, length of about 28 mm, and thickness of 0.8 mm). Such small cards, which can be referred to as chip cards, are commonly used as credit or authorization cards, as to authorize mobile telephone use. The much smaller and rugged chip cards are of widespread use, and an adapter that enables them to be read and written into by an electronic device such as a laptop computer that can only receive a PC card. A PC card which could receive a much smaller chip card, where the PC card was of simple and rugged design, would be of value.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a PC card is provided which is adapted to receive a chip card of much smaller width, thickness, and length than the PC card, and which is of simple construction. Contacts that are terminated to traces on a circuit board that lies within a sheet cover of the PC card, have pad-engaging ends. A planar top portion of the sheet metal cover, is formed with a ramp, and with an aperture at the bottom of the ramp, to guide a card that is inserted along the ramp and through the aperture into a space adjacent to the contacts to engage the contacts.
The ramp is preferably formed by deep drawing of the planar sheet metal to form largely vertical sides at opposite sides of the ramp. Guides at opposite sides of the internal path portion that the card moves along after passing through the aperture, can be formed by tabs punched into the cover sheet metal, separate parts or electronic components mounted on the circuit board, or separate parts mounted to the underside of the sheet metal. A stop limits the length of insertion of the chip card beyond the aperture, so that a portion of the chip card lies on the ramp. The chip card portion on the ramp can be removed by friction applied to it by a finger to slide it up the ramp.
The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

PC card that receives and guides chip card


An arrangement for transferring information between the secondary and primary circuit of a transformer wherein control information is transferred to the primary circuit of a power transformer by means of auxiliary windings in the same transformer. The auxiliary windings are arranged in pairs in the transformer core branches in such a manner that the magnetic fluxes ("PHgr"c) do not induce a voltage in the energy-transferring windings (pw1, pw2), and the voltages induced in the auxiliary windings by the magnetic flux ("PHgr"p) corresponding to the energy transfer are opposite both in the primary-side winding pair (cw1a, cw1b) and in the secondary-side winding pair (cw2a, cw2b). Thus the transfer of a control signal and the transfer of energy will not disturb one another. The transformer may be implemented as a planar structure on a printed circuit board.

The invention relates to an arrangement for transferring information between the secondary and the primary circuit of a transformer. The arrangement finds particular utility in transferring control information needed in voltage stabilization across a transformer used in a switched-mode supply.
Switched-mode circuit solutions for providing supply voltage to electronic circuits are very popular because of their relatively good efficiency. A switched-mode circuit always needs an inductive component, usually a transformer, to store energy in a magnetic field and to transfer it further to the load. The primary winding of the transformer is connected to the feeding source of energy and the secondary winding to the load. The energy supplied to the transformer by the primary winding must be controlled according to the load. This requires that the voltage of the load be monitored and a signal dependent of said voltage be transferred to the primary side of the transformer to control the current in the primary winding. In order to minimize the occurrence of malfunctions and to improve electrical safety, galvanic isolation is provided between the secondary and the primary circuits of the feedback.
Arrangements are known from the prior art that include a separate component or unit for the galvanic isolation mentioned above. One such known structure is depicted in FIG. 1. It comprises a power transformer 10, switch unit 101, secondary circuit 102, control unit 103 and an isolating unit 104. The transformer 10 comprises a primary winding w1, secondary winding w2 and a ferromagnetic core depicted in FIG. 1 by vertical lines drawn between the windings. The primary winding w1 belongs to a circuit that further includes said switch k and a source of energy which has a certain source voltage Vi. The switch k is used to xe2x80x9cchopxe2x80x9d the current il in the primary winding. When the switch is closed, energy is stored in the magnetic field of the transformer. When the switch is open, energy is discharged from the magnetic field of the transformer to the secondary circuit 102. In the simplified structure of FIG. 1 the secondary circuit comprises a rectifier diode D followed by a filter capacitor C and a load connected to the terminals of said filter capacitor. Load voltage Vo is sensed by the control unit 103 the output of which is connected to the input of the isolating unit 104. The output signal vc of the isolating unit is directed to the switch unit 101 controlled by it. The feedback is arranged such that the load voltage Vo follows relatively faithfully a reference voltage generated at the control unit.
The input and output sides of the isolating unit 104 are galvanically isolated from each other. The method of isolation is not specified in FIG. 1. The isolation may be realized optically, for example, in which case the isolating unit comprises light emitting and receiving components, among other things. The drawback of this solution is that the feedback is relatively slow, which may result in stability problems in voltage regulation. Inductive isolation is also known, in which case the isolating unit comprises a transformer for that purpose. The drawback of this solution is that a separate isolating transformer results in a considerable increase in production costs.
An object of the invention is to reduce said disadvantages associated with the prior art. A structure according to the invention is characterized by what is specified in the independent claim 1. Some advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the other claims.
The basic idea of the invention is as follows: Control information is transferred to the primary circuit of a power transformer by means of auxiliary windings in the same transformer. The auxiliary windings are arranged in pairs in the transformer core branches in such a manner that the magnetic fluxes corresponding to the control signal will not induce a voltage in the energy-transferring windings, and the voltages induced by the magnetic flux corresponding to the energy transfer are opposite both in the primary and secondary-side winding pairs. Thus the transfer of control signal and the transfer of energy will not disturb each other. The transformer may be advantageously realized as a planar structure on a printed circuit board.
An advantage of the invention is that it facilitates an arrangement of the transfer of control information to the primary circuit of a power transformer at relatively low production costs. This is made possible by the fact that the necessary auxiliary windings have a small number of turns and can be arranged without an additional stage in the production process. Another advantage of the invention is that it facilitates fast feedback for a switched-mode structure, for example. A further advantage of the invention is that the arrangement according to it is functionally reliable.

Arrangement for transferring a control signal in a transformer


A sensor bearing unit includes a bearing having a first ring and a second ring, and an impulse ring provided with a target holder, with a target mounted on the target holder, and with a sleeve secured to the first ring. The target holder having a mounting portion secured to the first ring of the bearing. The target holder has at least anti-rotation feature axially spaced apart from a free end of the mounting portion and cooperating with a complementary anti-rotation feature of the first ring so as to prevent angular movement of the impulse ring relative to the first ring. The anti-rotation feature of the target holder extends into the complementary anti-rotation feature of the first ring.

Today, sensor bearing units are commonly used in a wide range of technical fields, for example in automotive industry and aeronautics. These units provide high quality signals and transmissions, while allowing integration in simpler and more compact apparatus.
Such a sensor bearing unit generally comprises a bearing, an impulse ring, and detection means facing the impulse ring. For example, the impulse ring is provided with a target holder and with a magnetized target fixed to the target holder beyond the outer ring of the bearing.
The magnetic target includes alternating North and South poles, whose number depends on bearing size, detection precision and particular application. The detection means may be fixed to the outer ring of the bearing or to a fixed casing. The magnetic target is attached to an outer tubular portion of the target holder.
Generally, the target holder is also provided with an inner tubular portion secured into an annular groove made in the bore of the inner ring in order to prevent the rotation of the impulse ring relative to the inner ring. To this end, the target holder is radially crimped into the annular groove of the inner ring.
It is essential that the impulse ring is fixedly connected in rotation with the bearing ring to which it is attached.
In some cases, due to high speeds, thermal dilatation or high mechanical loads, there is a significant risk that the angular mechanic connection between the impulse ring and the bearing ring holding it becomes partially or totally loose, permanently or randomly. Should such a failure occur, the signal measured by the detection means would not correspond to the real position or speed or acceleration of one of the two bearing rings with respect to the other.
One aim of the present invention is to provide a sensor bearing unit with improved angular connection between the impulse ring and the associated ring.


A method, apparatus, and computer program product for building at least a portion of a motion picture on a computer system first monitors memory in the computer system for the creation of a frame of the motion picture. It consequently sets a flag in the computer system when it detects that the frame has been stored in the memory. Once the flag is set, the rendered frame is directed to a motion picture builder. Each frame in the portion of the motion picture being built is processed in this manner until the motion picture portion is formed.

Motion pictures typically are produced by serially positioning a large number of still pictures (i.e., "frames") on a medium, such as film, and then utilizing the medium to successively display a set number of the frames during a set time interval. Objects in the frames appear to move because each frame shows a stage of object movement that is slightly changed from that in the immediately preceding frame. Since at least twenty-four frames per second should be displayed to produce satisfactory motion picture quality, a one hour motion picture of satisfactory quality requires about 86,400 separate frames. Accordingly, production of one minute of an animated motion picture (described below) often takes a team of animators between one and three days.
Frames in a motion picture may be created by many known processes. Animation is one known frame creation process in which an animator draws the objects that are displayed in the frame. The objects may be drawn by hand, or by means of computer software on a computer system. Current animation techniques commonly utilize computer software to draw photo-realistic objects that once rendered and used in a motion picture, appear to exist and move in three dimensions (commonly referred to as "3-D animation").
FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing an exemplary process for constructing at least a portion (e.g., one minute) of an animated motion picture on a computer system. The process begins at step 100 in which models of the objects to be animated are constructed on the computer system. This typically is done with known graphical drawing software programs such as, for example, 3D Studio Max.TM. for Windows NT.TM., distributed by Autodesk, Inc. of San Francisco, Calif. Once constructed, the movements of the objects are choreographed, thus producing the geometry data necessary for rendering the moving object (step 102). The process then continues to step 104 in which environmental factors (e.g., spectral effects, coloring, texture, and fog) are added and adjusted with preview-quality rendering equipment. The display quality of preview equipment is relatively poor and thus, used for adjusting environmental factors only. Similar to step 102, step 104 produces additional data (i.e., "environmental data") that is to be used for creating, the individual frames.
The process continues to step 106 in which the environmental data and geometry data are directed to a motion picture production system that produces the motion picture. Among other things, the motion picture production system typically includes a rendering system for rending each of the frames in the motion picture, and a motion picture builder for constructing the motion picture from the rendered frames.
FIG. 2 shows an exemplary process used by the motion picture production system for producing the motion picture. The process begins at step 200 in which the frame data (i.e., the geometry data and the environmental data) is received by the rendering system. The rendering system then utilizes the frame data for rendering each of the frames represented by the received frame data (step 202). Once constructed, each rendered frame is stored in a storage device (discussed below) and identified with a number indicating where the frame is to be positioned in the motion picture (also step 202).
The mathematical computations required to render each frame can be relatively intensive, however, thus causing the rendering step to be very time consuming. For example, it typically takes between about ten minutes and one hour to render a single frame of an animated motion picture. The art has responded to this problem by dividing the processing required by the rendering step between a plurality of separate rendering units that each have an independent processor. This frame rendering technique commonly is referred to as "distributive frame rendering." Accordingly, the rendering units each are assigned a certain number of frames for processing, therefore decreasing the total time required to render each of the frames in the motion picture.
Once the frames are rendered, an animator (or other person) must manually locate each rendered frame in the storage device (step 204). Since the storage device can include numerous disk drives, directories, and additional externally connected storage devices, this step also can be quite time consuming. At step 206, each frame must be manually moved by the animator into a single directory in the storage device for access by the motion picture builder application program. Once in the single directory, the motion picture builder may arrange the frames in a preconfigured order to form the motion picture (step 208).
Although necessary, each of the above noted manual steps is very time consuming, thus delaying the production of the motion picture and increasing its ultimate production cost. Moreover, the noted prior art processes does not enable the motion picture builder to build the motion picture until each of the frames in the motion picture are rendered. A delay by a single frame therefore can delay the production of the entire motion picture.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a method and apparatus that eliminates the prior noted inefficiencies in the motion picture production process.


A pivot rod connection interface cover for covering the connection interface of a sun visor pivot rod which protects occupants from head impact injury in the event of a crash, yet allows the sun visor to both pivot and rotate in a fully normal and familiar manner. The pivot rod connection interface cover is composed of a base member and a cover member rotatively connected thereto. The base member is affixed to the roof of the vehicle and preferably serves as a pivot rod support which allows rotation of the pivot rod with respect to the roof. The cover member has a preferably hemispherical dome shape that snappingly engages the base member so as to be rotatable therewith and receives therewithin the pivot rod connection interface (ie.,including the elbow). Preferably, but not necessarily, internal to the cover member are left and right guide walls which serve as crush features, as well as assistance to guiding the pivot rod therewithin. A visor pivot rod may be integrally connected to the connection interface cover.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to automotive sun visors which are rotatively and pivotally mounted above the windshield. More particularly, the present invention relates to pivot rods upon which sun visors are pivotally mounted, wherein the pivot rod has a connection interface (conventionally including an elbow) which is rotatively connected to the roof of the vehicle. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a head impact energy absorbing pivot rod connection interface cover.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Federal motor vehicle standards are being continuously updated. One area of current concern is occupant safety in the event of a crash. Occupants are typically violently moved in relation to the vehicle due to the inertial forces involved in a crash. Most vulnerable is the head of the occupants. Accordingly, FMVSS 201 has recently been upgraded to include a head injury criterion (HIC). In order for vehicle manufacturers to meet the HIC, additional padding of the interior trim must be provided.
One area of the interior of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle that is particularly dangerous in the event of a head impact is the elbow of a sun visor pivot rod. The pivot rod elbow is quite rigid, of a small cross-section rod stock which is sometimes plastic covered, and the angle is a sharp ninety degrees. An occupant whose head untowardly strikes the pivot rod elbow is likely to be injured because the energy of the impact will be delivered to a small surface area of the skull.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an example of a conventional sun visor 10 is shown. The sun visor 10 is pivotally mounted to the main portion 12b of a pivot rod 12. As best shown at FIG. 2, the pivot rod 12 includes a connection interface that conventionally has ninety degree elbow 14, wherein an end portion 12a of the pivot rod 12 is rotatably mounted to the metallic roof 16 via a cap 18 which is fastened by screws 20. As an example of mounting, the end portion 12a of the pivot rod 12 is rotatably attached to a cap 18 in a spring loaded manner via a compression spring 22. The spring 22 provides frictional resistance as the elbow 14 is rotated with respect to the cap 18. There is a sun visor mounted, as described, at each of the left and right sides of the windshield 24 (only the driver-side sun visor being shown for simplification).
As can be seen at FIG. 1, the pivot rod enables an occupant of the front seat to pivot the sun visor 10 to a storage location A adjacent the headliner 28 to a deployed location B so as to selectively occlude the windshield 24 along arrow P, which pivoting may well exceed ninety degrees. Further, the rotation afforded the elbow 14 allows the pivot rod 12 with its associated sun visor 10 to be rotated from a location adjacent the windshield 24 to an auxiliary location C adjacent the adjoining side door window 26 via a rotation along arrow R, a rotation which may exceed ninety degrees.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is coverage of the pivot rod connection interface which will protect occupants from head impact injury in the event of a crash, yet allows the sun visor to both pivot and rotate in a fully normal and familiar manner.
The present invention is a pivot rod connection interface cover for covering the connection interface (ie., the elbow) of a sun visor pivot rod with respect to a vehicle roof so as to protect occupants from head impact injury in the event of a crash, and yet allow the sun visor to both pivot and rotate in a fully normal and familiar manner.
The pivot rod connection interface cover according to the present invention is composed of a base member and a cover member. The base member is affixed to the roof of the vehicle and preferably serves as a pivot rod support which allows rotation of the pivot rod with respect to the roof. The cover member snappingly engages the base member so as to be rotatable therewith and receives therewithin the pivot rod connection interface with the vehicle roof. The cover member has an exterior surface which provides head impact energy absorbance over an area much larger than that which would otherwise be the case with respect to a conventionally exposed pivot rod elbow.
The base member is provided, in a preferred form, with a central aperture and a plurality of mounting holes (eg., two screw holes). The base member further has a perimeter and, in a preferred form, a plurality of resilient upstanding tabs situated at the perimeter. Each tab curvably follows the curvature of the adjoining perimeter, and is characterized by a lower chamfer, and upper chamfer and a apex therebetween, wherein the apex is disposed radially outward in relation to the perimeter.
The cover member has, in a preferred form, an internal annular slot for receiving therein the upper and lower chamfers of the tabs, wherein the apex slidably abuts the slot sidewall. In this regard, the resiliency of the tabs, coupled with the upper chamfer allow the cover member to snap lockingly onto the tabs and the tabs to be slidingly movable all along the annular slot.
The cover member may be a single component or may be a plurality of components. The cover member serves to cover the pivot rod connection interface, as for example by receiving a connection interface including a pivot rod elbow of an independent pivot rod or receiving a connection interface of an integrally incorporated visor pivot rod. For example, the cover member may be composed of an inner cover component which is rotatably connected with the base member, and of an outer cover component which is connected with the inner cover component, wherein a visor pivot rod is connected integrally with the inner cover component and the outer cover component covers the connection interface of the pivot rod.
The cover member, in one form thereof, has an exterior surface of a generally hemispherical dome shape, having a portal which may or may not be defined by a flat-faced portal arch; and in another form thereof, has an exterior surface of a generally curvaceous shape with a flat-faced portal. Internally, the cover member has an interior hollow space defined by an interior surface. Preferably, but not necessarily, the interior surface is provided with left and right guide walls which are mutually parallel and straddlingly intersect the portal. Preferably, too, is provided a concave guide wall which extends between the left and right guide walls, and is located centrally relative to the annular slot. The left and right guide walls serve not only as an optionally included extra guidance for the pivot rod (pivot rod guidance is primarily by the portal and concave guide wall, if present), they serve as crush features which aid impact energy absorbance in cases where the impact causes deformation of the cover wall of the cover member.
Operation of a preferred form of the present invention for interfacing with a conventional pivot rod will now be discussed.
The base member is attached rotatably to the end portion of a pivot rod elbow at the central aperture, and the pivot rod is captured at the portal of the cover member. Screws then secure the base member to the roof of a vehicle. Next, the cover member is snapped onto the base member, wherein the end portion of the pivot rod elbow abuts the concave guide wall and is located centrally with respect to the annular sidewall of the cover member and the perimeter of the base member. The pivot rod side of the pivot rod elbow is guided between the left and right guide walls and exits at the portal.
An occupant can now pivot the sun visor on the pivot rod in the normal manner. Further, the occupant can rotate the sun visor to the adjoining side door window, in that while the base portion cannot move, the cover portion is rotatable with the pivot rod elbow as the sun visor is rotated in the normal manner.
In the unfortunate event of a crash, should the occupant be thrown forwardly in a collision course toward the pivot rod connection interface (ie., the elbow), the cover member will absorb the energy of the head impact over a sufficiently large area to limit the likelihood of head impact injury. In the event of the head impact that is so great as to deform or crush the cover member, the left and right guide walls will serve as crush features that absorb impact energy.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a head impact energy absorbing connection interface cover for a pivot rod of a sun visor.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a head impact energy absorbing connection interface cover for a pivot rod elbow of a sun visor, wherein the sun visor is both pivotable and rotatable.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pivot rod connection interface cover in which the pivot rod is integrated therewith.
These, and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification.

Head impact energy absorbing sun visor pivot rod connection interface cover


Embodiments of the disclosure provided herein generally include a system and a method of configuring and/or controlling one or more electronic devices using a portable electronic device based on the interaction of the portable electronic device with a beacon signal generating system that is disposed at a desired location. Embodiments of the disclosure may include a system and a method of collecting and analyzing useful information received by the portable electronic device based on the receipt of a beacon signal. The portable electronic device may then perform one or more desirable functions or processes based the portable electronic device's interaction with the beacon signal generating system. Some aspects of the invention may include an apparatus, method and/or one or more computing device software applications that are configured to more easily setup, configure and/or reliably control an additional electronic device based on the interaction of the portable electronic device with the beacon signal generating system.

Field of the Invention
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to methods and electronic devices used to enable the configuration and/or control of one or more electronic devices using a separate electronic device.
Description of the Related Art
The popularity of portable electronics, such as smartphones, touch pads, PDAs, portable computers and portable music players, has increased dramatically in the past decade. As the number of electronic devices and the reliance on these electronic devices has increased, a need for these devices to interact and interface with each other has increased. One issue with the large increase in the use of electronic devices has been the complexity of the setup of these devices so that they can seamlessly provide the user with useful information and easily communicate with each other without taking a large amount of the user's time to set up.
Video conferencing has also become more popular in recent years, thanks in large part to proliferation of high speed Internet and price reductions in camera equipment. For example, dedicated video conferencing locations exist where rooms and technological resources are dedicated solely to the task of video conferencing. Typically, video conferencing locations include fixed video conferencing hardware that include multiple camera devices and one or more video servers that are capable of controlling the transfer of video conferencing data between the various video conferencing sites.
While video conferencing technology is rapidly improving, it remains challenging to provide sophisticated video conferencing systems that can be easily set up so that they can rapidly and easily interact and transmit information electronically between multiple users at many different locations. While dedicated video conferencing environments provide many sophisticated features, such functionality currently comes at a substantial cost and complexity, in large part due to these sophisticated setups requiring many different types of computer hardware that must interact with each other.
Therefore, there is need for methods and electronic devices that can be used to rapidly and easily setup, configure and/or control one or more electronic devices. There is also a need for a method and electronic device that will automatically and seamlessly provide desirable information to the user. There is also a need for a software application and a control method that allows a portable electronic device to easily setup and/or one or more electronic devices, such as video conferencing system hardware, audio devices, computing devices, home automation devices or other similar electronic devices.

Method and apparatus for facilitating setup, discovery of capabilites and interaction of electronic devices


A packaging system for a meal kit that includes multiple, pre-packaged food items, optionally including a relatively massive component such as a beverage container. The packaging system generally comprises an outer container having two parts, a lid part and a tray part, separably joined together with a separable hinge portion and with a removable tear strip that leaves corners of the container parts reinforced so as to retain an enhanced stacking strength. Preferably, food items are supported by both the lid part and the tray part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to packaging systems for food products such as meal kits. In particular, the invention relates to a packaging system which, when opened, provides multiple food preparation modules.
2. Description of the Related Art
Meal kits, pre-packaged and ready for immediate serving, heating or cooling, have increased in popularity. Generally, meal kits contain a variety of ready-to-eat food items chosen to provide an essentially complete meal. The various food items may comprise a complete food serving, a side dish, condiments or spices provided either in a separate form or in sauces or dips. The food servings may include meat, meat products, cheese, beverage and dessert items.
In the prior art, arrangements have been provided for assembling a variety of different items in a pre-arranged kit form. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,167,181 provides for the packaging of various dealer-aid advertising newspaper mats on a common backer member folded to resemble a portfolio. Double-faced tape is used to secure the mats to the backer. U.S. Pat. No. 3,323,643 discloses packages for first-aid and survival kits in which individual articles are arranged in a container according to a pre-determined pattern. Several items are disposed on the lid flaps of the package and are secured thereto with pressure-sensitive adhesive. U.S. Pat. No. 3,389,784 provides a sheet of backing material to which a plurality of different survival kit items are secured, using adhesive. The sheet is folded and stored in an outer container. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,352 a variety of emergency kit items are disposed in a metalized foil pouch. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,378 a sanitary disposable baby change kit is provided. Elements of the kit are secured to a plastic backer which is folded into the form of a pouch for ready transport.
The above-mentioned arrangements are generally unsuitable for use with meal kit packaging systems. For example, a need arises in packaging meal kits for separating relatively heavy items from food items which are fragile. Further, the above arrangements do not provide self-supporting container means needed to preserve the food quality and attractiveness unique to meal kit systems. While various paperboard cartons have been made available, such s those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,240,419; 3,310,222; 4,083,455 and Reissue Patent No. Re. 26,471, the need remains for a commercially effective packaging systems especially adapted to the requirements of meal kit systems.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention relates in general to the field of voice and data communications, and in particular, to a novel system for providing interoperable on-demand communications and services across otherwise incompatible narrowband voice and broadband systems. The system is also based on sponsored or universal communications services supported by interactive communications between sponsors and service providers and their respective databases of business rules.

Over the years, worldwide consideration has been given to two problems. The first is the universal service problem—the desirability of providing telephone or other communication service to those who cannot afford to pay and maintain telephone or other communications service. The second problem is that of immediate and interoperable public safety communications.
Networks are significantly more valuable as more users are able to use the network. However, the lack of universal service is a barrier to economic participation by those lacking service. Societal benefits of having even the poorest people on the public telecommunications network are so significant that the U.S. Telecommunications Act of 1996 makes special provisions for universal service as part of the Act, including mechanisms to implement subsidized activities. In addition to the Act, many states have life-line services which subsidize telecommunications services for users who meet certain low income tests. Emergency 911 services and prospective on-demand broadband 911 services desire free participation of callers into networks that might otherwise require fees.
In the case of public safety communications, emergency service authorities continue to face the problem of interoperable voice communications as different radio communications spectrum is used to support different public safety voice systems. Different units of government and other public entities often have difficulty communicating with each other by voice within one local jurisdiction, e.g., a county, as well as with peers in adjoining counties, states, across a country, or beyond national boundaries.
At the time of this filing, many of these same public safety radios do not interoperably support data or video. The interoperability problem has been continually addressed by organizations such as the National Task Force on Interoperability of the United States, an association with members that include: the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International City/County Management Association, the National Associations of Counties, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers, the National Association of State Telecommunications Directors, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Criminal Justice Association, the Emergency Management Association, the National Governors Association, the National League of Cities, the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council, the National Sheriffs' Association, the Council of State Governments, and the United States Conference of Mayors.
There are two primary interoperability problems. The first problem is when users of various wireless narrowband radio systems need to speak to others using another wireless narrowband radio of another frequency. The second problem is when users of a wireless narrowband radio system need to communicate with a user that does not have access to that same system, but does have access to another form of communication such as broadband, another incompatible narrowband system, or a traditional phone system.
In many emergency services scenarios, a crisis may develop that was not anticipated. If communications are to be effective in resolving the crises, they need to be timely and often immediate. Further, the communications must be interoperable between all of these parties, even among those who could not be anticipated as needing to be included in the network. Typically, these unanticipated participants do not have the time to procure and deploy additional equipment. Thus, a method to connect users of disparate systems is desired.
Since many users may be added during the crisis, it may be difficult to arrange for payments of funds or the establishment of credit necessary for the users to participate in these emergency services and networks in a timely manner. In some cases, the users may not be able to pay at all, even though it may be in the best interest of the community. Failing to provide for the immediate participation of unanticipated parties without the timely ability to prove their means to pay for the services can have very serious consequences.
Internationally, there are continued universal service problems as nations such as the Philippines, China, and the republics of the former Soviet Union try to entice investment in their respective telecommunications infrastructures. In these emerging markets, the number of telecommunications lines per capita is much smaller. Because market-based solutions to the universal service problem in these markets are lacking, capital for network infrastructure is limited. Providing emergency services in these environments is even more difficult and all the more necessary. Linking the economic and social benefits of sponsors and users by these means can provide more than just incremental service to users. This linkage can provide substantial infrastructure as well as services to users since it provides substantial services and benefits to sponsors who are then motivated to provide infrastructure and services for users who can not afford to pay for those benefits. Service providers, projecting the involvement of sponsors, can make it possible for new infrastructure and services to be deployed that would not otherwise be justified by user demand and user ability to pay.
History is replete with stories of radio systems that cannot communicate with each other. What initially seem like simple solutions fail in the field. For example, during Desert Storm in the early 1990s, the some countries used radios that were incompatible with those of other military services despite expectations of cooperation. Some European troops were not only unable to communicate with others, they interfered with US radio systems. Police, fire, and EMS personnel often have difficulties communicating in the field.
Many efforts have been made to develop common standards for interoperability of radio systems in recent decades. Unfortunately, these approaches provide limited utility, very limited capability for external system interconnection, and are generally not backward compatible with older analog radio systems. The interoperability standards also do not address integration of radio systems with a wide variety of voice communication system not based on the use of radio. What is needed is an automated system that supports on-demand interconnection between many forms of voice communication systems regardless of their technology.
Many radio systems are now based on digital technology. Digitization has greatly aided the application of security features and improved system immunity to radio frequency interference. However, the integration of unlike radio systems has become much more complex. Converting protocols from one system's syntax to the other is not always possible. Multiple conversions from one protocol to another can degrade signal and voice quality. Furthermore, sharing security keys can present insurmountable management problems. Another problem of integrating systems is the current requirement for human intervention. To interconnect two systems normally requires someone to perform a "patch" whereby the signals of two systems are interconnected, assuming there are no other technical difficulties. This process places a burden on the operators of those systems that can be unacceptably disruptive. The manual process is also limited to a simple connection with conferencing capability limited to the number of successfully manually patched base stations participating at the same time.

System and method for providing interoperable and on-demand telecommunications service


A bone screw that is a low-profile, uniplanar bone screw is provided. The bone screw is for adjusting a position of a rod. The bone screw includes a main body, a rocker and a rod-securing element. The main body has a shaft with a threaded part. The rocker is coupled to and moveable relative to the main body. The rocker is configured to at least partially receive the rod. The rod-securing element is configured to secure the rod between the rocker and the rod-securing element and relative to the main body. The rod-securing element includes a fulcrum serving as an axis of rotation about which the rod rotates.

1. Field of Embodiments
The present embodiments relate generally to orthopedic devices. More specifically, the present embodiments relate to screws for orthopedic devices that are typically placed within or adjacent to vertebrae (e.g., pedicles). It should be noted, however, that the screws disclosed herein may also be used in other orthopedic applications. For example, the screws may be used for repositioning fractured bones relative to one another, or used in an external fixator for trauma patients.
2. Description of Related Art
During spinal fusion surgery, bone screws may be fixed to adjacent vertebrae and interconnected with rods that span the screws to stabilize the spine during the healing process. The screw heads typically include a slot that is intended to receive a rod. The rod may be at least partially secured within the slot by a cap or set screw. The rods interconnecting the bone screws may span one or more vertebral levels (e.g., one to two vertebral levels for a spinal fusion of a degenerative condition, eight to twelve vertebral levels for scoliosis, etc.).
During an orthopedic surgical procedure, a number of factors can impact bone screw placement and alignment. These factors include, but are not limited to, spinal curvatures, variations in patient anatomy, and small imprecisions in screw placement by the surgeon. It is generally desirable for bone screws to be configured to be adjustable in order to achieve a desired alignment. However, with conventional bone screws, greater adjustability of the bone screw typically means the screw is relatively bulky (e.g., relative to its less adjustable counterparts). Bulky bone screws can cause pain and irritation to some patients.
Bone screws can be classified as monoaxial, polyaxial or uniplanar based on their adjustability.
Monoaxial bone screws are the most simplistic and not particularly useful for accommodating screw placement and alignment. The screw head of a monoaxial screw allows adjustment to the rod only in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the screw. When the rod is secured in the slot of the bone screw, the longitudinal axis of the rod is substantially perpendicular to (i.e., at a 90° angle to) to the longitudinal axis of the bone screw.
Polyaxial screws are commonly used to overcome the variations in screw placement and alignment. The relationship between the screw axis and the rod axis can be variable but still be locked solidly in place (e.g., the screw head of a polyaxial screw may be configured to swivel approximately 20° off the screw axis). This adjustability allows rods to be connected to multiple screws that may be placed medial or lateral to one another and to provide for lordotic and kyphotic spinal alignments. Conventional polyaxial screws are larger and bulkier than monoaxial screws (e.g., because of the structures that provide for the screw head of a polyaxial screw to swivel).
Uniplanar screws have screw heads that may deviate from the screw axis but only in the plane of the slot for the rod; they typically do not adjust to medial or lateral rod positions (like polyaxial screws). This type of screw is more commonly used in scoliosis surgery where there may be a degree of cranial or caudal angulation (such as the sagittal plane of the spine), but there is little medial lateral screw placement deviation and the surgeon additionally needs rigid control of the screw to manipulate it in the coronal and axial plane of the spine. Similar to polyaxial screws, conventional uniplanar screws are large and bulky because of the configuration of their single plane swivel mechanism.
Because many scoliosis patients are children or smaller-sized adults and because many scoliosis fusions are performed in the kyphotic thoracic spine with less soft tissue coverage, the larger, bulkier polyaxial and uniplanar screws are often prominent and may cause pain and irritation to the patient. In some cases, the pain and irritation may rise to the level where a second surgery to remove the screws and rods is necessary.
A need exists for improved uniplanar bone screws, including bone screws that may address one or more of the above described disadvantages.


A cuvette comprising a housing having a passage therethrough and being adapted to receive blood. The housing has a wall with an outer face. An optical window leads from the outer face to the passage and the optical window is transmissive to an optical signal so that a parameter of blood in the passage can be measured. A magnet is carried by the wall and spaced from the optical window for use in providing information about the cuvette. The cuvette is releasably attachable to an optical head. The optical head includes a plurality of Hall effect transducers which respond to the position of the magnet on the housing so that the position of the magnet can be used to provide information about the cuvette.

It is often necessary or desirable to measure various blood parameters, such as blood gases, pH, hematocrit, oxygen saturation, etc. This can be accomplished in real time by passing blood through a cuvette and directing one or more appropriate optical signals through an optical window toward the blood in the cuvette. An optical signal is provided by the blood parameter of interest which can be used to measure this blood parameter in accordance with known techniques. Specific examples of a cuvette for measuring blood oxygen saturation and hematocrit are shown in Heinemann U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,498 and Karkar et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,279, respectively.
In the case of measuring hematocrit or blood oxygen saturation, the cuvette is coupled to an instrument which provides light at appropriate wavelengths for directing through the optical window and into the blood in the passage of the cuvette. The blood returns a portion of this light in the form of an optical signal back to the instrument where it is appropriately processed to determine hematocrit and/or oxygen saturation.
In order that accurate data is obtained, it is essential that the cuvette be properly optically coupled to the instrument. Without proper optical coupling, there may be a loss of optical signal which would yield an inaccurate measurement of hematocrit or oxygen saturation. For example, the cuvette may be nearly, but not completely, coupled to the instrument in such a way that it would appear to the attendant that proper coupling was achieved. This, however, would provide inaccurate measurements due to signal loss and/or admission of ambient light into the signal path.
Another factor which, by way of example, might provide for a degradation in accuracy results from the use of unauthorized cuvettes. An unauthorized cuvette may not properly mate with the instrument or optical head or its optical path may have different characteristics that may introduce error into the calculations.
It would also be desirable to be able to automatically provide information about the cuvette to the instrument. Although this could be provided manually by an attendant, doing so automatically eliminates the possibility of attendant error. One example of this would be to provide information to the instrument as to the diameter or cross-sectional area of the passage through the cuvette so that the instrument would know, for example, if the cuvette were 3/8 or 1/2 inch in diameter. With this information, the instrument could then utilize the appropriate algorithm and/or terms in an algorithm to properly calculate hematocrit and/or blood oxygen saturation.

Cuvette for use in making a measurement of a blood parameter and assembly utilizing the same


An image display apparatus including a rear plate and a face plate facing the rear plate; wherein the rear plate includes an electron-emitting device; and the face plate includes a light-emitting body for emitting light through irradiation of electrons from the electron-emitting device, and a metal back arranged between the electron-emitting device and the light-emitting body. The light-emitting body includes a first region in which a luminance with respect to a maximum value of a luminance in the light-emitting body is greater than or equal to 50% and a second region in which the luminance is less than 50%; and an arithmetic mean deviation of the profile (Ra) of the metal back in the second region is larger than the arithmetic mean deviation of the profile (Ra) of the metal back in the first region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image display apparatus, in particular, to a configuration of a metal back arranged on a face plate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Field Emission Display (FED) and Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display (SED) are known as flat display apparatuses based on a light emission principle similar to the cathode ray tube. In such flat display apparatuses, electron beam having high energy is irradiated to phosphors and the phosphors emit light, whereby a desired image is obtained.
A general phosphor screen configuration used in such flat display apparatus is shown in FIG. 6. A light shielding layer 21 and a bank layer 22 are arranged on a face plate 120. A light-emitting body 24 that emits one of the three colors of red, green, or blue is formed in an opening 23 of the light shielding layer 21. The light-emitting bodies 24 are covered by a metal back 125. As shown in FIG. 7, when irradiating the electron beam to each light-emitting body 24R, 24G, 24B of red, green, and blue, the electron beam 27 is irradiated to a central region of each light-emitting body 24R, 24G, 24B and the irradiation amount to the peripheral region is small.
The light shielding layer 21 is made of black substance that lowers reflectance by absorbing outside light, thereby preventing reflection of outside light and enhancing blackness of the screen. The bank layer 22 is a wall that divides each light-emitting body 24 so that the light-emitting body 24 is accommodated at a predetermined position, and normally has a film thickness of about the same extent as the light-emitting body 24. The bank layer 22 is not an essential configuration, and is not used in some configurations.
Normally, the opening 23 is orderly arrayed in dot form vertically and horizontally, and forms a filling section of each light-emitting body 24. The light-emitting body 24 is made of phosphor particles 31 filled so as to cover the opening 23, and performs the desired light emission through irradiation of electron beam. The metal back 125 reflects the light emitted towards the rear plate side from the phosphor particles 31 towards the front side of the display apparatus, thereby enhancing the light emission intensity.
FIG. 8 shows a cross section of a conventional face plate.

Image display apparatus having first and second regions with respective luminances


A method for forming a MOS transistor having LDD structure by a simple and a few number of processes and a structure thereof are described. In accordance with the present invention, a low concentration of an impurity region can be formed in a semiconductor film part between an end of gate electrode and source or drain, by forming an ordinary gate insulating film extending beyond the gate electrode in the direction along the source and drain, in place of a spacer in the side of gate electrode which has been required for a preparation of conventional TFT having LDD structure, and further by forming a thinner insulating film than the gate insulating film in the side thereof, and by utilizing the thickness difference between the gate insulating film part excepting the gate electrode and the thin insulating film in the side thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a thin-film transistor which is used mainly in a liquid crystal display of an active matrix driving system, an image sensor, a thermal head and the like, and relates to a thin-film transistor obtained by this preparing method. The present invention can be also applicable to MOS transistor to be used for LSI.
2. Description of the Related Art
Up to this time, a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as TFT) has been used for a liquid crystal display of a small television set and a computer system, an image sensor used for a facsimile machine, and a thermal head. At present, an amorphous silicon TFT is being most popularly developed, on account of its feature that it can be prepared by a comparatively easy method and it is easy to be formed on a large area substrate. The amorphous silicon TFT, however, has a drawback that the mobility of its electron and hole is very small such as in the order of 1 cm.sup.2 /V.multidot.S and 0.1 cm.sup.2 /V.multidot.S respectively. This drawback causes an insufficient performance especially in switching speed in order to construct a driving circuit on the same substrate, though it does not pose a big problem in switching of e.g., each one pixel of a liquid crystal display or each bit of an image sensor.
On the other hand, a polycrystal silicon TFT being used in a small type liquid crystal television or an image sensor, has about 10 cm.sup.2 /V.multidot.S or more of both mobilities of electron and hole, and the product actually constructed with the driving circuit has been on sale. This polycrystal silicon TFT usually has a coplanar type structure, namely; the structure that each electrode of gate, source, and drain is all positioned opposite the substrate toward a silicon channel part.
In case of such TFT as the above structure, an impurity introduction into a semiconductor film of source and drain part will be usually carried out by such method as ion implantation, ion doping, and plasma doping, using a self-alignment with the mask of gate electrode. Further, an activation of impurity will be effected by heat-annealing or laser-annealing at the temperature of 600.degree. C. or more, and after that, TFT will be finally prepared by forming an interlayer insulating film and a metal wiring and so on.
Such prepared coplanar type TFT has a structure in which an impurity region is provided in a positioning relation as shown in FIG. 2(a). In this structure, high-density doping layers 20 and 21 are provided just beside a gate electrode 22/a gate insulating film layer 23, or one part thereof is provided overlapping with the gate electrode. For that reason, when such TFT is operated, an electric field is concentrated in the vicinity of the drain 20 to generate so-called hot carriers. This causes degradation of linearity of mutual conductance (Gm) and inconvenience that the reliability is lowered by degradation of a device characteristic such as degradation of mutual conductance (Gm) in a long period use. Furthermore, there occurs a degradation that an electric current will be easily leaked through a center area level of band gaps existing in the neighborhood of the drain 20.
As a solving means for the above-mentioned inconveniences, LDD (Light doped drain) structure has been adopted in LSI, and also it has been investigated in TFT recently and adopted partly. A preparing method for TFT of such structure takes the following steps;
(1) Firstly, a gate silicon oxide film 23 and a silicon film 22 doped with an impurity in a high concentration will be formed on a silicon which is patterned in an island state. Then, a gate electrode and a gate silicon oxide film will be formed by pattering these films. After an impurity is introduced into an island state silicon part (source 21, drain 20 part), where is not covered with the gate electrode 22, in a low concentration of 10.sup.17 to 10.sup.19 atoms/cm.sup.3, a silicon oxide film 24 will be formed using a film-forming method with a good step-coverage, thereby obtaining the state of FIG. 2(b). At this time, in the side wall of the gate part, silicon oxide film will be accumulated thickly.
(2) Then, by etching this silicon oxide film 24 using such high anisotropic etching method as RIE (Reactive Ion Etching), the silicon oxide film 25 will be remained in the neighborhood of side area of the gate electrode 22. In this way, the state of FIG. 2(c) will be obtained. The thick film part on side area of this gate electrode will be used as a spacer for the later doping.
(3) Next, using the above prepared silicon oxide film 25 (Spacer for doping) neighboring the gate electrode 22 as a mask, an ion implantation of impurity will be executed in a high concentration (10.sup.20 to 10.sup.21 atoms/cm.sup.3). After that, source 28 and drain 27 will be completed by activating the impurity, and also LDD part 26 where the impurity is introduced in a low concentration will be completed, under the silicon film 25 nearby the gate electrode 22, thus obtaining the state of FIG. 2(d). In this way LDD structure can be formed. The above (1) to (3) processes, however, will be added in comparison with the case of preparation for the conventional transistor as shown in FIG. 2(a), the result being that it is disadvantageous in the point of yielding and cost.

Method for forming a MOS transistor and structure thereof

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


An electric control apparatus for an ice making machine mounted on an ice storage bin to store therein ice cubes formed at its ice making cycle of operation and released at its defrost cycle of operation, the ice storage bin having an ice detection switch of the normaly open type arranged to issue an electric signal therefrom when closed by engagement with the ice cubes fully stored in the ice storage bin. The electric control apparatus is designed to maintain the ice making machine inoperative when applied with the electric signal from the ice detection switch immediately after connected to an electric power source and to activate the ice making machine after lapse of a predetermined time when the ice detection switch is opened in a condition where the ice making machine is maintained inoperative.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric control apparatus for an ice making machine in which ice making and defrost cycle of operations are automatically repeated to store an amount of ice cubes in an ice storage bin.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 63-140272 is an electric control apparatus for an ice making machine mounted on an ice storage bin to store therein ice cubes formed at its ice making cycle and released at its defrost cycle, wherein an ice detection switch of the normally open type is mounted within the ice storage bin to issue an electric signal therefrom when closed by engagement with the ice cubes fully stored in the storage bin, and wherein the electric control apparatus is designed to deactivate the ice making machine after one cycle of ice making and defrost operations when applied with the electric signal from the ice detection switch.
In the case that the ice making machine is transported to a user, the ice detection switch is pressed toward a side wall of the storage bin and retained in place by an adhesive tape attached thereto so that it is retained in its closed position to be protected from shocks during transport of the ice making machine. When the ice making machine is installed with the ice storage bin at the user's side, the attachment adhesive tape is usually removed by a serviceman so that the ice detection switch is returned to its open position for effecting normal operation of the ice making machine. If in such installment the ice making machine is connected to an electric power source in a condition where the ice detection switch is retained in its closed position without removing the attachment adhesive tape, the ice making machine is activated for at least one cycle of ice making and defrost operations in an incomplete condition. Although the serviceman returns usually after confirmed operation of the ice making machine, the attachment adhesive tape will be remained without removal from the ice detection switch if he confuses such one cycle of ice making and defrost operations with a normal operation of the ice making machine. This causes inconvenience to the user.

Start-up control apparatus for ice making machine


An in-wall type multi-functional television set being embedded in the wall of home, accommodated and withdrawn from the wall. The in-wall type multi-functional television set includes a main body having an accommodating part provided at a front side of the main body, an input part with a plurality of input keys provided at a side of the main body, a television signal receiving circuit for receiving and outputting a broadcast television signal, speakers for outputting an audio signal received from the television signal receiving circuit, and a controller for controlling the in-wall type multi-functional television set, a monitor, accommodated in and withdrawn from the accommodating part of the main body, for displaying the video signal received from the television signal receiving circuit, and a connecting part having an end portion connected to the accommodating part and the other end portion connected to the monitor.

Rapid development of industry causes modern people to consider a house not only as a residential space, and technologies are proposed to provide convenience to residents at home. Generally, a television set is placed in a living room where the residents spend a lot of time. However, the majority of modern daily family life is spent in a kitchen where meals are had. Particularly, housewives, who spend most of their daily working time in the kitchen, are interested in technologies that can make their work in the kitchen more convenient. Television sets and audio sets attachable to wall cabinets in kitchens have been developed so that housewives or housekeepers can view broadcast programs and listen to music through the television sets and the audio sets even when they are working in the kitchen.

In-wall type multi-functional television set