A fully inorganic boron nitride paste, containing 80 to 94% of a boron nitride paint and 6 to 20% of ceramic fibers, is provided to allow the process of manufacturing boron nitride xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d coatings of 0.0313 to 0.25 inch onto ceramic substrates chosen from a wide range of densities. De-clumping of the ceramic fibers such that fiber lengths are greater than 100 micrometers and clumps are less than {fraction (3/32)} inch improves boron nitride xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d layer uniformity. Boron nitride content of greater than 36 wt. % (or about 50 vol. %) in the boron nitride xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d provides ceramic structures with a matrix of boron nitride that provides long-term nonwetting behavior for molten nonferrous metals.

This invention relates to the field of ceramic layering onto ceramic substrates for improving the resistance to attack from molten nonferrous metals.
Ceramic coatings have been used for many years to change the surface performance of refractory materials with molten nonferrous metals, such as aluminum and its alloys, magnesium and its alloys, and zinc and its alloys. These coatings often contain boron nitride, which has the characteristic of exhibiting nonwetting/non-stick properties with these molten metals and their drosses/slags. Generally, these coatings contain a high-percentage loading of boron nitride (up to 35% in the liquid coating and 62 to 92% in the dried or sintered coating). The coatings are usually applied by standard house painting techniquesxe2x80x94brushing or air-spraying. Sometimes, dipping or roller-coating is used. The general methods provide a layer of mostly boron nitride, bonded with aluminum oxide, magnesium silicate, magnesium-aluminum silicate, aluminum phosphate, or other compatible binder. The thickness of these coatings is typically 0.003 to 0.010 inch (0.08 to 0.25 mm). Boron nitride powder used for these coatings is typically xe2x88x92325 mesh and often below 10 micrometers particle size with a surface area of 10 to 30 square meters/gram. The ceramic substrates that are painted with these coatings can be nearly fully dense refractories, but are often fibrous structuresxe2x80x94such as vacuum-molded materials that are lightweight. The coatings are very versatile in allowing application to substrates of varying density and composition. The main problem with boron nitride coatings is that they are fairly soft materials. This characteristic results in eventual wear and erosion by molten metal moving across the coated surfaces. Coating removal leads to wetting and sticking of the dross and poor flow of the molten metal in troughs, launders and runners. In molds and other areas, the finish slowly worsens as the boron nitride wears away. This situation is remedied by often re-coating the ceramic components to reapply the boron nitride layer. However, recoating is a tedious, time-consuming, and expensive process.
One possible solution to the erosion problem would be to provide a thicker boron nitride coating. Unfortunately, thick coatings require thorough drying between applications or else moisture is retained in the undercoatings. Such residual moisture often leads to delamination or xe2x80x9cpop-offxe2x80x9d of the coatings when used for the first time. Thick coatings are also more susceptible to xe2x80x9cmud-crackingxe2x80x9d on drying which leads to the coating coming off of the substrate in poorly-attached areas. Another problem with thick boron nitride coatings arises from the thermal expansion differences between the substrate and the coating. Stresses arising from these thermal expansion differences become more pronounced with thicker coatings as they go through temperature changes, leading to spalling of the thick coatings. Thick coatings typically have less strength than thin coatings due to microcracking and low cohesive bonding. Additionally, applying a thick coating is time-consuming for the process worker.
Prior references that mention refractories containing boron nitride include U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,580 to Bartsch et al. and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,248,752 and 4,174,331 to Myles. The former patent discloses a xe2x80x9crefractory washxe2x80x9d coating stated as a xe2x80x9cmould coating materialxe2x80x9d that may contain boron nitride hollow spheres preferably, or boron nitride fibers. It is generally known in the field that wash/mold coatings are intended for short-term uses, often one casting use. Neither boron nitride spheres nor fiber additions would lead to a boron nitride xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d coated ceramic as our material. The coating of Bartsch is expected to have problems that occur with a simple thick coating, such as xe2x80x9cmud-cracking,xe2x80x9d xe2x80x9cpop-offxe2x80x9d from moisture or microcracking or thermal expansion differences with the substrate. An erosion-resistant nonwetting layer would not occur with the coating of Bartsch, if the boron nitride were used in the form of spheres or fibers, since erosion of soft boron nitride is the reason for the short lifetimes of boron nitride coatings. Additionally, such spheres or fibers of a soft material like boron nitride would not be expected to improve the strength of his coating material. Bartsch also mentions that spheres/fibers melt and crumble when they come in contact with molten metal, thereby limiting the utility of his coating to short term usage.
The moldable material defined by the patents of Myles was designed for adherence to a steel sub-surface. Also, they contain a necessary ingredient of colloidal silica in the range of 7 to 30%, which is known to be highly reactive with molten nonferrous metals, causing wetting and reaction with the metals. Neither Myles or Bartsch were concerned with a xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d layer formed on top of a ceramic structure, said xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d consisting of a matrix of boron nitride which contains a non-boron nitride fiber. Bartsch, in fact, discourages using fibers of any sort due to the difficulty of getting a uniform, smooth layer when fibers are used. Also, there was no effort to achieve the true nonwetting behavior that is desirable with a layer of boron nitride. Myles teaches a very thick composite structure of 1 to 3 inches thickness.
Other patents that discuss various moldable or pumpable compositions that could also contain boron nitride fibers are U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,362 to Chi et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,031 to Lassiter et al. Chi defines a moldable, clay-like filler that is directed to patching and filling of large holes, typically over 1 inch in thickness, in refractory materialsxe2x80x94to add thermal insulation and thus fix hot spots from furnace liner deterioration. Such a filler is placed into gaps between materials, and thus considerations of delamination, xe2x80x9cpop-off,xe2x80x9d etc. are not a concern with this moldable filler. A necessary ingredient as per Chi is an organic polymer binder, preferably used with chopped fibers and colloidal silica binder. Lassiter et al. describes a pumpable composition, designed for thermal insulation, with the primary distinction of having improved freezing resistance due to the required usage of sodium silicate binder. The pumpable material of Lassiter et al., like the moldable material of Chi et al., is intended for being used to fill xe2x80x9ccavitiesxe2x80x9d in furnace walls etc.xe2x80x94thus again eliminating considerations of delamination, xe2x80x9cpop-off,xe2x80x9d etc. that are required to be addressed with a xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d coating onto a ceramic surface. Also, Lassiter et al. requires a polymer organic component. Thus, the pumpable material of Lassiter would be expected to react readily with molten aluminum, magnesium, and other nonferrous metals due to the presence of sodium silicate binder.
Also, JP 63157747A to Ando et al. utilizes boron nitride as an oxidizing prevention layer on a laminate material with graphite and a ceramic fiber layerxe2x80x94not a matrix of boron nitride which has ceramic fibers added to improve strength and erosion resistance in a boron nitride xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d coated ceramic structure.
It is well known that silicon dioxide, or silica, is reactive with molten aluminum, magnesium, and other nonferrous metals, as noted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,362. Whether in powder form or in colloidal form, such silica additions are the basic cause for corrosion and deterioration of refractories that contact molten nonferrous metals. Also, such binders as alkali silicates, including sodium, potassium, or lithium silicates in particular, are known to allow rapid reaction and deterioration in contact with molten nonferrous metalsxe2x80x94as well as allowing wetting of the refractory surface by these nonferrous metals. Molten nonferrous metals will typically reduce silica in the refractory to silicon, which can then dissolve into the molten metal. Concurrently, the nonferrous metal oxidizes (e.g. transforming it to the corresponding oxide such as alumina, magnesia, or a spinel, depending on the metal) and can attach to, and react further with, the refractory. Boron nitride provides a smooth surface that is not reacted with or wetted by molten nonferrous metals. However, it is quite important to minimize the level of any silicon dioxide containing material that is present along with the boron nitride in order to reduce or prevent any reaction and deterioration that is characteristic of the silicates and silica-containing refractories.
None of these references appreciate the need that exists for a boron nitride xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d coated ceramic structure where the xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d consists of a matrix of boron nitride with a strengthening material/filler being ceramic fibers.
The present invention provides a boron nitride paste composition composed of boron nitride powder dispersed in a fully inorganic, non-silicon dioxide binder into which ceramic fibers are added in order to allow a moderately thick boron nitride xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d layer to be bonded to ceramic substrates of different density, composition, and shapes. The layer thickness of the boron nitride xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d material is typically 0.0313 inch to 0.25 inch (0.8 mm to 6.4 mm), which provides a long-lasting, non-wetting/non-stick boron nitride surface for molten nonferrous metals. The preferred composition of the boron nitride paste contains 91% boron nitride paint and 9% ceramic fibers, where the fibers initially are in the dimensional range of up to 4 inches (10 cm) in length and 2 to 3 micrometers (xcexcm) average diameter but are de-clumped such that the average fiber length is greater than 100 micrometers and the clumps are less than {fraction (3/32)} inch (0.24 cm) in diameter. The concentration of the boron nitride in the dried xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d layer is typically in the range of 36 to 78 wt. %, and preferably in the range of 45 to 70 wt. %, providing the nonwetting performance of the moderately thick surface layer. The fibers provide internal reinforcement of the layer, allowing thorough drying without cracking when the layer is built up onto the ceramic, strengthening the layer, improving erosion resistance with molten nonferrous metals, as well as decreasing the thermal expansion mismatch stresses between substrate and the layer.
The standard methods of applying this boron nitride paste to a ceramic substrate are troweling it onto the substrate or dipping the ceramic material into the boron nitride paste. Then, the layer of paste can be evenly smoothed out with an accurately-spaced blade, a process which can be mechanized depending on part geometry. After drying the layer in air at around 100xc2x0 C., it can be burnished/buffedxe2x80x94densifying it somewhat and smoothing it as well as improving its aesthetics. The dried boron nitride xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d coated ceramic can be placed directly into use-environments that will further densify the ceramic and further bond the boron nitride xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d layer onto the substrate ceramic. The dried boron nitride xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d coated ceramic can also be heated up (fired/sintered) prior to placing in service. The ceramic substrate material can be vacuum molded ceramic fiber shapes in an unsintered or sintered state. Much denser ceramic fiber shapes can similarly be used as a substrate. Also, nonfibrous, porous, or dense unsintered or sintered ceramics can be used as the ceramic substrate. Even ceramic substrates not normally considered for contact with molten nonferrous metals can be used due to the superior nonwetting properties of the boron nitride xe2x80x9cshell.xe2x80x9d The combination of substrate and boron nitride xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d significantly increases the performance and durability in molten nonferrous metal contact application when compared to the substrate alone.

Boron nitride paste composition, boron nitride xe2x80x9cshellxe2x80x9d coated ceramic structure, and process of manufacturing


A tubular fishing float which, in the preferred embodiments, includes at least one extended tubular center section and two end sections which seal the center section to form an air-tight compartment which provides buoyancy. The end sections include devices for attaching the fishing line to the fishing float and, in some embodiments, for providing drag on the fishing line; such devices include one or more circular snap-ins, holes, twists, bends, funnelled holes, resilient ribs, or folds. Also provided are tubular fishing floats with reinforced end sections; baffled tubular fishing floats; baffled tubular fishing floats with spin-welded ends; resilient tubular fishing floats with slits that facilitate quick attachment to a fishing line; tubular fishing floats with pellets therein, for making noise and attracting fish; and tapered tubular fishing floats. Also provided are various devices and methods, including a fully automated method, for fabricating tubular fishing floats.

The present invention relates generally to the field of fishing equipment, and more specifically, to the field of fishing floats attachable to fishing lines.
Fishing floats have been used by fisherman for many years. Fishing floats are most often used to suspend live bait between the top of the water and the water bottom, making the bait more attractive to certain types of fish. Because water depths are not constant and fisherman customarily fish in various locations, fishing floats which are not easily moved to different positions along a fishing line are inconvenient to use.
One very common type of fishing float currently used by fisherman is constructed of plastic in the form of an air-tight sphere with a small retractable cylinder attached. This type of fishing float is often painted red and white. The cylinder is spring loaded and cooperates with a wire to enable the fisherman to attach the fishing line to the top and bottom of the fishing float. If this type of fishing float is dropped onto a very hard surface, it tends to break and is no longer air-tight. Also, the wire and spring may rust after prolonged usage. Thus, strength and durability are a problem with this float. Also, the number of parts used and the relatively large expense involved in manufacturing are disadvantages of this type of fishing float.
There are a wide variety of fishing floats available today, many of which are relatively expensive to manufacture and also suffer from other drawbacks as well. There is, therefore, a need in the art to provide fishing floats which address these and other problems.


A cue tip mounting system. A system for releasably securing a leather cue tip to a cue stick is provided. The system provides a tip mount for permanent mounting in the distal end of a cue stick. The tip mount has a threaded shaft extending outward along central axis for releasable threaded engagement with interior threads provided in a detachable mounting ferrule. The mounting ferrule has, at the tip end thereof, a centrally located nipple with flat distal surface for providing a centering force on a leather tip which is adhesively bonded to the tip end of the mounting ferrule. The tip is provided with a nipple accepting cup adapted to receiving the centering nipple protruding from the in the mounting ferrule. Preferably, the tip mount is provided in brass, and the ferrule in brass or aluminum, for absorbing shock.

Users of cue sticks have for years been faced with the problem of how to simply yet reliably replace the tip of the cue when it begins to wear to an undesirable extent. Over the years, as reproduceable machine parts and advanced adhesives have become available, various cue replacement systems have been devised which enable the user to maintain use of a favorite cue stick by having a worn out cue tip replaced. Some of the systems known to me have been susceptible to undesirable problems, including inadequate strength in various joints. Often, in current designs, there is a tendency to split the cue stick when the stick is used for a shot where high compressive forces are applied to the tip and cue, such as a during break shot. Other systems are sufficiently complicated that it is difficult to provide the parts inexpensively enough to interest large segments of the market for such devices. As a consequence, there is still an unmet need for improvements over the apparatus and methods which have been used heretofore for replacement of cue tips.


Disclosed is a drive assembly (10) for an electrically powered vehicle (12). The assembly includes a transaxle (16) having a two-speed transmission (40) and a drive axle differential (46) disposed in a unitary housing assembly (38), an oil-cooled prime mover or electric motor (14) for driving the transmission input shaft (42), an adapter assembly (24) for supporting the prime mover on the transaxle housing assembly, and a hydraulic system (172) providing pressurized oil flow for cooling and lubricating the electric motor and transaxle and for operating a clutch (84) and a brake (86) in the transmission to shift between the two-speed ratios of the transmission. The adapter assembly allows the prime mover to be supported in several positions on the transaxle housing. The brake is spring-applied and locks the transmission in its low-speed ratio should the hydraulic system fail. The hydraulic system pump is driven by an electric motor (212) independent of the prime mover and transaxle.

It is well-known in the transmission art for motor vehicles to power shift planetary gear set transmissions between ratios with friction devices actuated by pressurized fluid. In general, these transmissions include one or more planetary gear sets having input, output, and reaction members; one or more fluid actuated or applied clutches; and one or more fluid actuated or applied brakes. The gear set (or sets) is shifted between the ratios in response to selective porting of pressurized fluid to the clutches and/or the brakes. In the absence of pressurized fluid, to either the clutches or the brakes, the members of the gear set (or sets) are in a free wheeling state ineffective to transmit torque. These prior art transmissions are intentionally placed in such a state when a vehicle operator places the transmission control in neutral. However, these prior art transmissions are also unintentionally placed in such a state when pressurized fluid is loss due to a malfunction.


A slide valve for use in throttling solids flow, preferably including a pair of opposed discs. The valve discs are in bearing contact with the valve seat and effectively will operate with the valve in almost any position. The internal valve construction and arrangement is unitized which simplifies removal of the internals as a single assembly, and permits quick reassembly as well as adjustment. The discs are retained by guide bars to insure that disc movement is essentially limited to a back and forth motion. The valve discs according to the invention can be centered in the valve so that the discharge is centered in the conduit in which they are mounted, thereby reducing flow impingement on the conduit wall to avoid or minimize erosion, or they can be operated singly and/or independently or in conjunction with each other in order to provide desired flow control. With single disc operation, one disc may be retracted and control achieved by throttling with the other disc against part of the seat. The discs automatically are actuated by suitable operators to provide a variable flow area between them. The load bearing and guide surfaces are protected from erosion by appropriately located hard-surfacing and integrally reinforced refractory.

Slide valves generally are used for three general types of services including the throttling of flue gas containing solid particles, and the throttling and/or blocking of solids flow. This type of valve is used extensively in fluid catalytic cracking units (FCCU.sub.s), fluid coking units (FCU's), fluidized iron ore units (FIOR's) and other fluidized solids units where service conditions may vary between ambient and 1600.degree. F. over long periods of time and as high as 1800.degree. F. for a short time and pressures range from 0 to 250 psig. In these processes, the operating pressure is controlled by throttling the flow. Of course slide valves also have utility in various other processes. Presently, three basic types of valves are used in the type of environment discussed above, including different configurations for vertical and horizontal conduits to account for the orientation of the valve. A conventional slide valve configuration with the disc(s) in a tongue and groove guide arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,726,306. Another prior art disclosure of a tongue and groove construction is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,507.
In the case of fluid solids flow, both blocking and throttling valves are used. Generally, however, blocking of solids flow is accomplished by employing a single disc-type valve which covers an opening provided in a fixed orifice plate. The valve usually offers no restriction to flow when it is fully opened, i.e., the orifice opening is equal to the line diameter. Conventional throttling slide valves operate with a reduced port or opening in order to achieve the desired flow control. The orifice generally is considerably less than the line diameter depending upon the pressure drop required for proper operation. Because the valves are subject to substantially constant (solids) particle flow impingement at elevated temperatures which are high enough to significantly reduce the physical strength and hardness of the valve material, erosion of these valves is likely to occur. Erosion can substantially reduce the operating life of this key piece of equipment, which can present a major problem since the valves are a critical component of process units whose economic success is dependent on long-term uninterrupted operation. Typical prior art valves which have been employed are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,217,834; 2,614,789; 2,636,712; and 3,370,610.
Of these prior art patents, Lubbock, U.S. Pat. No. 2,636,712, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, appears most pertinent in that it discloses a slide valve/internals configuration for the flow control of solids. However, the primary emphasis of Lubbock is to compensate for erosion of valve internals by repositioning the discs relative to the seat. One or a plurality of ports (seats) can be provided in the valve orifice plates. The slides are spaced apart a desired distance to provide the desired orifice flow area. As the slides and/or orifice plates erode in the area of flow, the slide discs are moved (with the distance between maintained) relative to the openings in the orifice plate so that the eroded areas of the valve internals are removed from the flow exposure and different nonworn portions of the valve are exposed to the erosive action of the flow. Neither Lubbock or the other prior art valves have the specific construction details of the present invention or provide for a variable flow area or other advantages afforded thereby.


A semiconductor wafer analysis system is provided. In an embodiment, the semiconductor wafer analysis system includes a tester to test semiconductor wafers manufactured by at least one manufacturing facility, a wafer map generation module to generate wafer maps on the basis of the test results from the tester, and a wafer analysis module. The wafer analysis module may include a data generation module that divides each wafer map into a plurality of defect analysis regions and generates feature vectors representing the semiconductor wafers, and an operation module that statistically analyzes the feature vectors.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention, disclosed herein, relate to a semiconductor wafer analysis system and a method of controlling the system, and more particularly, to a semiconductor wafer analysis system for analyzing and examining specific data of wafers.
2. Description of the Related Art
A process of manufacturing semiconductors generally includes a pre-process, a post-process, and a test process. The pre-process is also referred to as a fabrication process of forming integrated circuit patterns on a semiconductor wafer made of single crystal silicon, while the post-process is referred to as an assembly process of separating each chip from the semiconductor wafer and of forming integrated circuit packages so that the chip can be electrically connected to an external device.
After the fabrication process (pre-process) is completed, the test process is performed to test whether the chips separated from the semiconductor wafer are normally operable by using a predetermined test apparatus, and then sorting the chips into non-defective chips and defective chips. In this case, defect analysis processes for detecting defects on the entire surface of the semiconductor wafer and sorting the detected defects are performed.
Meanwhile, the semiconductor wafer defects caused by problems or defects of manufacturing facilities may repeatedly occur in the same region or a specific region of the semiconductor wafer. In this case, however, conventional analysis of wafer maps causes a tester to determine that the defects of the semiconductor wafer are caused by the defects of each chip die, that is, the characteristic defects of each chip. Accordingly, it is difficult to clearly determine whether the defects of the semiconductor wafer are caused by the characteristic defects of each chip or the defects of the facilities that process the chips. This uncertainty makes it difficult to remove the cause of the defects. Lacking a determination of the problem, the defects of the semiconductor wafer may repeatedly occur in a specific area of the manufacturing facilities. This causes the yield of semiconductors to deteriorate.


A light irradiation substrate is provided which can cope with cases of emergency and which is capable of optimum irradiation with therapeutic light regardless of the shape or size of affected parts while keeping a lid on cost. The center-to-center distance between two adjacent LED chips (13) facing each other across the boundary between two unit substrates (7) adjacent to each other in an X direction or (a Y direction) and belonging to the respective unit substrates (7) is twice or less as long as the center-to-center distance between two LED chips (13) adjacent to each other in the X direction (or the Y direction) within each of the unit substrates (7). Each of the unit substrates (7) includes a connection section (10) that provides external connection of wires (12). The connection section (10) is provided on a back surface of a flexible substrate (6).

Light irradiation has been utilized for various purposes such as the purpose of treating diseases such as neonatal jaundice, psoriasis, and acne, the purpose of alleviating pain, and esthetic purposes. Specifically, green light and bluish white light have been used for treatment of neonatal jaundice. Ultraviolet light has been used for treatment of psoriasis. Blue Light, red light, and yellow light have been used for treatment of acne. In this way, various types of light source have been used depending on the purposes.
For example, in the case of a light source such as an excimer lamp or an arc lamp, an affected part is placed at a certain distance from a fixed light source and irradiated with therapeutic light. However, in a case where such a lamp type of light source is used, there is concern for various types of side effect on normal sites, as the irradiation area is so large that the therapeutic light strikes other parts as well as the affected part. This makes it necessary to take some sort of shielding measure to prevent the normal sites from being irradiated with the therapeutic light, requiring time and effort for treatment. For example, in the case of treatment of a disease affecting a part of a face, a sleeping mask (blindfold) is needed to protect the eyes, which are normal sites. Furthermore, a mask designed to expose only the affected part of the face is needed to protect the normal sites of the face. Further, the patient is required to keep standing at attention for several tens of minutes while being placed under restraint for treatment. This is certainly not a good experience even for treatment purposes. Further, in the case of an affected part having a bent surface, as in the case of an arm or a leg, a lamp type of irradiation device may force the patient to take an uncomfortable posture, depending on the site such as the front side, the back side, or the lateral side. Further, irradiation intensities vary from position to position of the affected part having a bent portion, depending on the angle and distance of the affected part with respect to the lamp. This may make it difficult to uniformly irradiate the whole affected part with the therapeutic light. Furthermore, a device including such a lamp type of light source comes with many attachments such as a power source and a cooling device and, as is bulky. Such a device requires a large installation space and bears a high price. Therefore, such a device can only be installed in a facility for treatment, making it necessary to attend the facility for treatment.
Meanwhile, irradiation light from a device including a laser as a light, source forms a spotlight whose irradiation area is small. Therefore, irradiation of a large-area affected part as a whole with therapeutic light requires the spotlight to be passed over the affected part. This undesirably makes the device complex and expensive.
Further, a type of device that uses an optical fiber for planar irradiation with therapeutic light is comparatively low in efficiency in the sending of light into the optical fiber and therefore inevitably low in irradiation power. Such a device is only suited for comparatively long-term treatment.
Against this backdrop, there has been a demand for a flexible substrate including a light source that makes it possible to keep a certain distance from an affected part and cover the affected part in conformance with the shape of the affected part. In response to such a demand, several technologies such as those described below have been proposed.
For example, PTL 1 discloses a light irradiation device in which a laser and an LED are disposed as light-emitting light sources on a flexible substrate and which is wound around an affected part for use. PTL 2 discloses a facial light irradiation device in which LEDs are disposed as light-emitting light sources on a flexible substrate and which covers a face for use. PTL 3 discloses a flexible light irradiation device in which a large number of LEDs serving as light-emitting light sources are arranged on a flexible substrate and which is wound around an affected part for light irradiation. PTL 4 discloses a light irradiation device, premised on application to a head, in which an LED serving as a light-emitting light source is disposed inside a hat. PTL 5 discloses a light irradiation device in which a LED serving as a light-emitting light source is disposed on a flexible substrate and which, with a light-transmitting substance interposed between an affected part and the LED, can transmit, to the affected part, light emitted by the LED.
NPL 1 gives a description of a method for treating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infected cutaneous ulcers with near-ultraviolet light. This method of treatment is a therapy by which a part infected with antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus is irradiated with near-ultraviolet light (at a wavelength of about 410 nm) to kill the bacteria. This method of treatment is based on a process by which systemically-administered 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is metabolized and accumulated in protoporphyrin IX (hereinafter referred to as "PpIX") in the bacteria and the bacteria are destructed from within the cells by active oxygen generated when PpIX is degraded by near-ultraviolet light. This method of treatment is a technique that has no side effects on the cells of an affected part per se and makes it possible to kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria without inducing antibiotic contamination. As such, this method of treatment has a broad range of applications and is considered to be very highly promising.
The configurations disclosed in PTLs 1 to 5 are expected to reduce various burdens such as those mentioned above on patients by covering an affected part, for example, with a flexible substrate including an LED and by irradiating the affected part with therapeutic light and to be able to uniformly irradiate even an affected part having a bent portion with therapeutic light. Further, it is conceivable that the configurations disclosed in PTLs 1 to 5 may be used to achieve the method of treatment disclosed in NPL 1.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Light irradiation substrate and light irradiation device


The invention concerns an apparatus for restoring the balance of the human body, consisting essentially of a platform (2) for supporting the subject to be treated and capable of being actuated with an oscillating movement. The invention is characterized in that said platform is power-driven and receives its oscillating movement about a central support axis (6), movement associated with a rotational reciprocating movement, the amplitude and the speed of both the oscillation and the rotation being adjustable and capable of being varied while the apparatus is being used.

The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for restoring the balance of the human body.
Such balance-restoring, required for many reasons, entails the performing of corrective and rehabilitation operations that could be classified as xe2x80x9cgeneral biomechanicsxe2x80x9d. Such operations are needed, in particular, in the case of immobility of the pelvic girdle, the shoulder girdle and the entire spinal column. They have also to be performed when the sacrum is being pushed back into place with respect to the iliac bones, following direct trauma or trauma induced by the lower limbs or gravitational microtraumas accompanying and aggravating old age.
Aside from these xe2x80x9cgeneral biomechanicsxe2x80x9d operations, it is also appropriate to be able to restore the postural balance of the body following dizzy spells, operations and gravitational imbalances of various origins and to completely reprogramme the proprioceptive loading patterns of the ankles and knees.
To restore the balance in such a way, recourse is also had to Western and Asian traditional natural methods for obtaining a good balance of the human skeleton, these methods being based on alternate rotations, extensions and flexions from the feet up to the head; such methods are, however, accessible only to the healthy, and are therefore essentially preventive methods, and have to be performed on a conscientious and long-term basis.
Aside from these methods, it has long been proposed that apparatuses for automatically performing the rehabilitation movements be produced.
Thus, as emerges from FR-A-2,561,911, apparatuses for stretching out the spinal column of an individual using the weight of his body have been proposed, the solution described in that document relating to a type of rocking table which allows the patient to be installed in an antalgic position.
A solution of this kind allows the treatment of patients whose intervertebral discs exhibit a compressive pathology, and also allows the stretching of arthritic hips.
It cannot therefore be used in instances where there is the desire also to perform rotational movements, particularly of the pelvis. Furthermore, a rocking table of this kind is tricky to operate and very uncomfortable for the user.
For maintaining pelvic mobility, it has been proposed, as is apparent from FR-A-2,608,057, to produce an armchair comprising a seat part which pivots in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis while the backrest remains fixed with respect to the said seat part.
An assembly of this kind therefore allows the pelvis to be pivoted in one direction or the other with respect to the fixed trunk, it being possible for the amplitude of the pivoting movement to be altered according to the treatment. Furthermore, with such an assembly it is possible to immobilize the seat part and work the joints (ankles, knees) by moving sliding blocks on which the user rests his feet.
While such an installation allows the mobility of the pelvis and of the joints to be maintained, it is not, however, suited to true restoration of balance, which entails mobilizing the skeleton in all three directions in space, with X, Y and Z coordinates.
Swiss patent 328,968, for its part, describes an apparatus comprising two devices for securing the seat of a patient, these devices being mounted on a plate which can move about a horizontal mean position. A first transmission device imparts to the plate a movement of oscillation about its axis and a second device imparts to the plate a movement of oscillation in a surface which is at least approximately in a vertical plane, and does so in such a way that the plate is given a movement which is the resultant of the two oscillatory movements.
An apparatus of this kind is therefore able to impart to a patient""s pelvis a combined movement of oscillation both in a horizontal plane and in a vertical plane, the amplitude of the oscillations of the plate in the vertical plane being adjustable prior to use.
Here again, it is not possible to truly restore the balance of the body and what is more, the concrete solution described in that document envisages means which are incompatible with a treatment of restoring the balance of the body. This is because the patient""s feet are fixed in xe2x80x9cblocksxe2x80x9d, which may endanger the knees unless the movement imparted to them is infinitely small. The presence of a pelvic strap prevents sacro-iliac mobility. Finally, the corset holding the ribcage may hamper breathing and does not allow the torso to be worked in torsion. What is more, in no way does the apparatus allow treatment in a seated position to be envisaged.
Outside the technical field of rehabilitation proper, it has also been proposed, more specifically for sports training purposes, to produce oscillating plates, which may or may not be motorized, as is apparent in particular from U.S. Pat. No. 2,827,894 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,601, it being possible for the amplitude of oscillation to be adjusted prior to use in the former of these documents, and the amplitude of oscillation being preset in the latter.
In the realm of the training of sportsmen, there have also been proposed, as is apparent from U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,603, apparatuses comprising a platform on which the user stands and which can have an alternating rotational movement in a horizontal plane imparted to them, which movement is obtained by means actuated directly by the user.
As with the documents examined hereinabove, the solutions described in these last two documents are also unable to allow the skeleton to be mobilized in all three planes in space, whether this be in a standing, seated or other position, which conditions are essential for truly restoring the balance of the body.
Now, there has been found, and this is what is the subject of the present invention, a new type of mobile platform on which the patient can be held in an upright position, a seated position or some other position, which is of a simple design, easy to operate, multi-functional, and which not only allows the mobility of the pelvis and of the joints to be maintained but also allows balance to be truly restored to the body in that it imposes mobilization in all three planes in space with X, Y and Z coordinates, allowing alternating and rhythmic compression-decompression sequences, adjustable in respect of all parameters, to be performed, such an apparatus being able fundamentally to correct imbalances in the centre of gravity of the human body located in the pelvis.
This imbalance which worsens progressively with age, because of lack of maintenance thereof, leads to the slower hesitant gaits and then the falls which ageing human skeletons experience.
The apparatus according to the invention allows all the operations that the restoring of balance to the entire skeleton entails, namely mobilization of the sacro-iliac joints, of the lumbar spine, of the thoraco-scapulo-cervical complex to be performed effectively.
This is achieved according to the invention by mobilizing the barycenters of regions of the body of seated, standing, bent, three-quarters, etc. subjects in all three planes in space with Z, X and Y coordinates. Such mobilization is achieved by a combination of lateral oscillations, pivoting across the diagonal of the girdles, alternating pelvis/trunk rotations and anterior-posterior oscillations.
All of this muscle/joint activity is brought about automatically by controlled motorization, within the physiological range of movement of the skeleton, and without any intervention on the part of the patient.
If necessary, active work may be done against some resistance in order to improve muscle dynamics.
This apparatus also allows a complete proprioceptive reprogramming of the work patterns of the ankle and knee joints.
It also allows the ankles to be rehabilitated and full range of movement restored. Furthermore, the apparatus according to the invention can be used regardless of the build of the individual.
In general, the apparatus according to the invention, and which allows balance to be restored to the human body, consists of a platform intended to support the subject to be treated and which can have an oscillatory movement imparted to it, and it is characterized in that the said platform is motorized and its oscillatory movement is imparted to it about a central support axis, this movement being combined with a reciprocating rotational movement, the amplitude and speed both of the oscillation and of the rotation being adjustable and capable of being varied during use.
The possibility of adjustment on the one hand allows the user to position himself on the platform while the platform is in a horizontal position and on the other hand allows the amplitude and speed both of the oscillation and of the rotation to be altered according to the treatment that is to be performed, it being possible for these factors to vary in a programmed way during use according to the treatment that is to be performed.
Furthermore, the structure of the apparatus according to the invention also allows the platform to be used in a horizontal plane, the oscillatory movement then being cancelled, and just the rotational movement remaining.
According to one embodiment which allows a wide variety of treatments to be performed, means are associated with this basic platform which allow at least the spinal column of the patient to be kept in a vertical position on the mobile platform.
Furthermore, hand rests are advantageously provided, it being possible for these rests to be arranged, with respect to the patient, either to the side and/or facing him and/or above him, in this last case forming a traction bar.
The hand rests will preferably be adjustable for height. Furthermore, in the case of lateral rests, they may also have a reciprocating horizontal sliding movement imparted to them.
Finally, the apparatus according to the invention is also and preferably associated with means which allow traction to be exerted along the axis of the body if necessary, particularly when the subject is held in a vertical position standing up.
In such a case, these means consist, for example, of a stationary upright in the form of a bracket supporting an element consisting of a chinstrap which allows the subject to be kept in a vertical position while at the same time allowing traction to be exerted along the axis of the body; in such a case, the chinstrap is advantageously fixed to the end of a cable subjected to an adjustable traction force, this force being exerted, for example, using a counterweight which can slide in the vertical support post or any other equivalent means.
By virtue of such an apparatus, it is therefore possible to position the patient on the platform in any configuration, whether this be standing up, crouched down, or even seated.
When the subject is treated in a seated position, a seat is mounted directly on the mobile platform. In such a case, the seat has no backrest and is in the form of a seat of the stool type on which the patient can be positioned either normally, with his legs square in front of him or with his legs to each side, as if he were sitting on a saddle. Such a seat can preferably be orientated by 90xc2x0 on each side in a horizontal plane and inclined up and down on a vertical axis, it being possible for the amount of inclination to vary, but this inclination advantageously being between 5 and 30xc2x0.

Apparatus for restoring the balance of the human body


An apparatus and method for reading an identifying label on an information record where the label consists of alternating regions of the record surface having different surface effects. The apparatus comprises a light source, collimating optics, focusing optics to focus a portion of the light beam scattered from the record surface on a multi-element light detector whose elements are successively read out to form a serial electrical signal representative of the label, and electrical means for reading out the detected light signal. The apparatus has sufficient sensitivity and accuracy to read out a black-on-black label.

An information record may be, for example, a record blank in which information may be recorded, an optical video disc where information is recorded by ablation of a coating thereon or by embossing a relief pattern into the disc surface or it may be a capacitance type video disc wherein variations in capacitance between an electrode incorporated in a groove riding stylus and a conductive property of the disc are sensed to reproduce the stored information. A capacitance type video disc system has been disclosed by Clemens, U.S. Pat. No. 3,842,194 issued Oct. 15, 1974. An optical video disc system has been disclosed by Spong in U.S. Pat. No. 4,097,895 issued June 27, 1978.
For such information records, it is often beneficial to enclose the information record in a protective caddy to provide a dust free environment for the record and to deter indiscriminate access to the record. Coleman et al have disclosed a protective caddy and video disc record combination in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 98,412 filed Nov. 28, 1979. In the Coleman system the user does not remove, or is at least discouraged from removing, the information record from the caddy. Information with respect to program material on one side of the disc vis-a-vis the other side is generally printed on the outside surfaces of the caddy and the information record is not in general removed from the caddy by the user outside of the information record playing apparatus. Since the user does not remove the information record from the caddy there is no need to provide a user readable label on the information record. However, it is desirable to encode the information record so that the information record and caddy may be matched during the manufacturing process without playback of the information record to determine the information stored thereon.
One of the primary purposes of the protective caddy is to provide a clean environment for the information record stored therein. Thus, it is not desirable to use a label of some foreign material such as paper or paint which may flake off inside the protective caddy thereby producing debris on the surface of the information record.
Roach in an application entitled "Grooved Label For Video Disc," Ser. No. 142,852, filed Apr. 21, 1980, and incorporated herein by reference, has disclosed a label for video disc records wherein a surface of the disc is provided with a surface affect which is readable by optical means and which is stamped into the disc surface during the stamping operation, thus eliminating any additional manufacturing steps or cost for labeling the record.

Apparatus and method for reading an identifying label on an information record


An optical connection sleeve 1 for optically connecting an optical fiber 41 and an optical device 51 is constituted by a resin sleeve 15 including an end portion 10 in which a ferrule 40 is inserted and a metal sleeve 16 including an end portion 12 on which the optical device 51 is disposed, the metal sleeve 16 being insert-molded in the resin sleeve 15 to be fixed thereto. With such a constitution, occurrence of positional deviation between the sleeve 1 and an optical device unit 50 is prevented, and the optical fiber 41 and the optical device 51 can be optically connected surely. Furthermore, it is prevented that the sleeve portion extending cylindrically functions as an antenna for electromagnetic noises. Accordingly, the optical connection sleeve in which the optical fiber and an optical component as the optical device are optically connected with high accuracy, and influences of the electromagnetic noises are fully reduced, an optical module and an optical communication module using the optical connection sleeve are realized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical connection sleeve used for an optical connection between an optical fiber and an optical component, an optical module using the same, and an optical communication module.
2. Related Background of the Invention
In an optical communication system such as an optical data link and an optical LAN using light as an information transmission medium, information is transmitted by transmitting a light signal through an optical transmission path such as an optical fiber transmission path. In such an optical communication system, an optical communication module having an optical device for converting one of optical and electrical signals to the other is used in order to receive/send the light signal to be transmitted.
In an optical module such as the above described optical communication module, an optical connection sleeve is provided in order to optically connect an optical fiber used in the optical transmission path and an optical component such as an optical device provided in the optical module. In an optical module having the optical connection sleeve, the optical component such as the optical device is ordinarily positioned to the sleeve and fixed thereto. Then, a ferrule provided in a tip end of the optical fiber that is an optical connection object is inserted in the sleeve, whereby the optical fiber and the optical device are optically connected.

Optical connection sleeve, optical module and optical communication module


A dust suction drill includes: a drill tip with cutting edge portions; a shaft joined to the drill tip and configured to rotate about an axis; and a dust suction passage that is generated when the cutting edge portions rotate, the dust suction passage being formed inside the shaft. The cutting edge portions are provided on a distal end surface of the drill tip and spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction. Cutting edges, each of which is formed by a joint ridge between a rake face and a relief face of a corresponding one of the cutting edge portions, are arranged radially, and at a center of the drill tip, form a chisel point, which is a pointed end. A dust suction hole, which communicates with the dust suction passage, is formed in the rake face or the relief face closely to the chisel point.

Conventionally, there are often cases where a pilot hole called an "anchor bolt hole" is drilled in concrete or stone in advance of embedding a metal anchor bolt in the concrete or stone. In order to realize great pull-out resisting strength of the anchor bolt embedded in the pilot hole, it is necessary to remove dust, such as swarf, from the inside of the pilot hole in advance of embedding the anchor bolt in the pilot hole. It is also required that the work environment be considered when performing the work of drilling a hole in concrete or stone so that powder dust will not be scattered to the surroundings.
In view of the above, conventionally, a dust suction drill that removes dust at the same time as drilling a hole has been proposed (see Patent Literature 1). The dust suction drill is formed as follows: as shown in FIG. 16, two slits 29 are formed in a distal end surface 3a of a drill shaft 3, which rotates about an axis line L; and plate-shaped cutting edges 21 are inserted in the respective slits 29. The distal end surface of each cutting edge 21 is inclined to form an upward slope toward the radius center of the drill shaft 3. A dust suction hole 24 or dust suction holes 24 intended for sucking dust is/are formed in the distal end surface of the drill shaft 3, such that the dust suction hole(s) 24 is/are positioned at the side of the slits 29. A dust suction device (not shown) is connected to the dust suction hole(s) 24. When the drill shaft 3 rotates about the axis line L and the cutting edges 21 drill a hole in a drilling object, dust is generated, and the generated dust is sucked by the dust suction device through the dust suction hole(s) 24.

Dust suction drill and dust suction unit


A device for producing an optical delay in an optical signal having variable optical frequency, the optical delay varying with the optical frequency, comprises a chirped Bragg reflector formed in an optical fiber and a directional coupler for separating the reflected signal from the input signal. One application of the device is for chromatic dispersion equalization. Various methods of manufacturing the chirped Bragg reflector are described.

This invention relates to optical fibre transmission systems and in particular, but not exclusively, to overcoming chromatic dispersion problems therein.
Chromatic dispersion in optical fibre presents serious problems when using light sources whose spectrum is non-ideal, for example broad or multi-spectral-line. This problem has previously been resolved, at least partially, in two ways. Firstly, by operating at or close to the optical frequency at which the chromatic dispersion is a minimum, for example at a wavelength of 1.3 micron in conventional silica fiber. The frequency does not generally correspond with the frequency of minimum transmission loss and attempts to modify the fibre to shift its frequency of minimum chromatic dispersion usually result in some loss penalty. The second way of overcoming the problem is to use a source with a near ideal spectrum.


A detuned resonant mechanism is employed in a laser cavity to modulate in frequency the mode-locking mechanism to achieve high frequency tuning rates, exceeding MHz. The configuration of the laser is compatible with working at sweeping rates close to multiples of the cavity resonance frequency as well as with buffering for increased tuning speeds.

The method mostly accepted today for optical coherence tomography (OCT) is based on sweeping the frequency of a narrow band laser, usually termed as a swept source. Several principles of sweeping the laser emission have been developed. The most common principle employed is that of a spectral filter in a closed loop, where the tunable laser apparatus uses a Fabry-Perot filter, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,538,748 B1), a polygon filter, as disclosed in Patent Document 2 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,489,713 B2), or a micro electrical mechanical scanning (MEMS) filter, as disclosed in Patent Document 3 (U.S. Pat. No. 8,275,008 B2). Commercial vendors exist, such as Axsun and Santec, companies using MEMS filters. Such filters limit the tuning to several hundreds of kHz. In Non-Patent Document 1 (R. H. Huber et al, "Fourier domain mode-locking (FDML): A new laser operating regime and applications for optical coherence tomography", Optics Express 14(8), 3225-3237 (2006)), a large tuning frequency has been reported using Fabry-Perot filters and principles of Fourier domain mode-locking (FDML) that allowed sweeping rates exceeding several MHz. However, the reliability of Fabry-Perot and the complexity of buffering limit the applicability of such principles. The filters mentioned above are based on mechanical movement of parts which limits their reliability. Therefore, there is an interest in akinetic laser sources that achieve tuning with no mechanical movement of parts. On the other hand, in modern applications of OCT there is an increasing demand in three dimensional imaging at high speed, with increased axial range.
An akinetic solution, based on the principle of dispersion tuning, is illustrated in the Non-Patent Document 2 (S. Yamashita, M. Asano, "Wide and fast wavelength-tunable mode-locked fiber laser based on dispersion tuning", Optics Express 14(20), 9399-9306 (2006)). This method has limited tunability, due to the significant decrease in output power when driving it at high frequency repetition rates.
In Patent Document 5 (U.S. Pat. No. 8,605,768 B2), a solution to the previous problem is presented, which includes a positive dispersion region, a negative dispersion region and two modulators in a ring resonator, assembly which brings the amount of wavelength dispersion to approximately zero. This solution relies though only on externally driven modulation units, like acousto-optic or electro-optic modulators, for example.
In Non-Patent Document 3 (Y. Takubo, S. Yamashita, "High-speed dispersion-tuned wavelength-swept fiber laser using a reflective SOA and a chirped FBG", Optics Express Vol. 21, No. 4, 5130-5139 (2013)), a wavelength swept fiber laser apparatus using a chirped fiber Bragg grating as dispersive medium is presented. Although the tuning wavelength range obtained is broad, the OCT imaging speed achieved was only up to 250 kHz, which is below the values demanded by modern swept source OCT applications.
In Non-Patent Document 4 (R. Stancu et. al, "Versatile Swept Source With Adjustable Coherence Length", IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, Vol. 26, Issue 16, 1629-1632 (2014)), it is shown how the laser linewidth can be varied by driving the SOA in a dispersive laser cavity at different mode-locking frequencies. The sweeping frequency could not exceed a few tens of kHz.
Therefore, there is an interest in developing akinetic swept lasers that can address the disadvantages of the solutions presented above, first in providing much larger tuning speeds.
To make distinction between our invention and prior art, it is essential to note that the akinetic solutions presented above present the following characteristics. There are multiple values of the RF carriers that can be used, and the RF signal is tuned around such carrier values, differing by the inverse of the roundtrip. Around each such RF carrier, there is a tuning bandwidth and solutions presented above consist in tuning the RF signal within a single such band.
In the present invention, the RF tuning is practised over many such bands. More specifically, two resonant modulation effects are applied. A first modulation that induces mode-locking is imposed by driving the optical gain medium at a high radio frequency value. A second modulation is applied, inspired from the practice of Fourier domain mode-locking applied to Fabry-Perot lasers, where sweeping is performed at a rate close to the inverse roundtrip of the wave in the cavity. In opposition to the prior art where the sweeping has to be performed at the exact inverse of the roundtrip, the method disclosed here essentially uses a detuning of the excitation from the inverse of the roundtrip. Let us refer from now on to the inverse of the roundtrip as to the resonance frequency in the cavity, fR.
Essential for the operation of the akinetic laser according to the invention are two characteristics: (i) the frequency of the signal, fm, applied to mode-lock the laser is a large multiple N of fR and is deviated over a large tuning band, covering as many as b multiples of fR and (ii) the rate at which fS is tuned (the second modulation) is slightly detuned from the multiple M of the resonant frequency fR, where M is a small number, 1, 2, . . . 10. Due to the large deviation of fS, the characteristic (i), makes the invention different from the technology presented in the Non-Patent Document 2 (S. Yamashita, M. Asano), in the Non-Patent Document 3 (Y. Takubo, S. Yamashita) and in the Non-patent documents 4 (R. Stancu, David A. Jackson, Adrian Podoleanu) mentioned above. The characteristic (ii), due to the slight detuning from MfR, makes the invention different from the technology protected by Patent Document 1 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,538,748 B1), Patent Document 2 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,489,713 B2), and Patent Document 3 (U.S. Pat. No. 8,275,008 B2). By doing so, the driving method described in this invention can improve the scanning speed of an akinetic laser apparatus based on a dispersive cavity from hundreds of kHz to over several MHz.

Akinetic swept laser apparatus and method for fast sweeping of the same


A turbine nozzle element including an inner annular platform sector, an outer annular platform sector, and at least one vane extending between the platform sectors and connected to both of them. The nozzle element includes a single piece of composite material including fiber reinforcement densified by a matrix that is at least partially ceramic, and the fiber reinforcement includes a fiber structure that is woven by three-dimensional or multi-layer weaving, and that presents continuity throughout the volume of the nozzle element and throughout the periphery of the vane.

The invention relates to a turbine nozzle made of composite material having a ceramic matrix or a matrix that is at least partially ceramic, and referred to below as CMC material.
The field of application of the invention is more particularly that of gas turbines for aviation or industry.
Improving the performance of gas turbines and reducing their polluting emissions is leading to ever-higher combustion temperatures being envisaged.
For the hot portions of a gas turbine, proposals have therefore been made to use CMC materials because of their remarkable thermostructural properties, i.e. because they associate mechanical properties that make them suitable for constituting structural elements with a capacity to conserve those mechanical properties at high temperatures. CMC materials are typically formed using fiber reinforcement made of refractory fibers, such as carbon fibers or ceramic fibers, and densified with a matrix that is ceramic or at least partially ceramic. As is well known, an interphase may be present between the fibers and the matrix in order to perform an embrittlement-release function for the composite material by deflecting cracks that reach the interphase. Such an interphase may be made of pyrolytic carbon (PyC), boron nitride (BN), or boron-doped carbon (BC). Embrittlement-release interphases of the same type may also be incorporated within the matrix, between phases of ceramic matrix. In any event, at least the outer phase of the matrix is ceramic.
Document EP 0 399 879 discloses a CMC turbine nozzle made up of a plurality of assembled-together portions, namely a hub carrying vanes and toothed rings that engage tenons formed at the radial ends of the vanes. The component parts of the turbine nozzle are obtained by machining solid CMC parts, thereby giving rise to large losses of material and leading to multiple ruptures of the fibers in the fiber reinforcement in the CMC.
Document EP 1 087 103 discloses a turbine nozzle element having a plurality of vanes extending between an inner annular platform sector and an outer annular platform sector. Each vane is made up of two portions: a CMC portion with braided fiber reinforcement beside the leading edge, and a solid ceramic portion beside the trailing edge. The platform sectors are made of CMC with fiber reinforcement built up from superposed plies. The braided reinforcement of the CMC portion of each vane extends beyond the longitudinal ends of the vane in order to be inserted between the fiber reinforcing plies of the platform sectors. The nozzle element is thus made in part only out of CMC and the fiber reinforcement is made up of a plurality of separate portions that need to be assembled together.
Document JP 2003-148 105 likewise discloses a nozzle element made of a single piece of ceramic matrix composite material. The fiber reinforcement is obtained in part from a woven blank in the form of a strip having a tubular central portion for forming a vane preform that is extended at each of its ends by flaps that face each other. The flaps are unfolded on either side of the central portion and they are stitched to separately-obtained fiber plies so as to form inner and outer platform preforms. The fiber structure occupying the entire volume of the nozzle element is thus made up of a plurality of separate portions that need to be assembled to one another.
Document WO 91/15357 discloses a turbine nozzle element made as a single piece out of ceramic matrix composite material. The fiber reinforcement is obtained from a blank in the form of a strip that may be woven, but that is preferably knitted. The strip is folded in half in order to obtain a fiber preform for the nozzle element. In the portion corresponding to a vane, the folding is performed in such a manner that the two edges of a segment of the strip take up juxtaposed positions and are connected together by stitching. There is thus discontinuity in the woven or knitted fiber reinforcement at the periphery of each vane along a line that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vane. Such a discontinuity is penalizing from a mechanical point of view.
Document EP 0 466 602 also discloses a single-piece nozzle element made of CMC obtained by densifying a fiber preform. The preform is obtained by shaping superposed plies or a three-dimensional woven texture. The nozzle element includes a vane with asymmetrical root portions and not with inner and outer platforms that extend on either side of the zone where they are connected to the vane.

Turbine distributor element made of CMC, method for making same, distributor and gas turbine including same


A static type circuit breaker in which a transistor is arranged in the current path by which electrical power is supplied to a load from a power source. If short circuit trouble occurs, the fault current flowing in the load circuit is detected so that a luminous diode in a detector circuit is made to cease emitting light. A phototransistor photocoupled to this luminous diode and arranged in the base circuit of the transistor is made non-conductive and produces a short circuit between the base and the emitter of the transistor, whereby the transistor is made non-conductive so that the fault current is cut off.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a static type circuit breaker which cuts off a fault current flowing in a current path, and in particular it relates to a static type circuit breaker in which a transistor is used as a switch element.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When short circuit trouble or the like occurs in a load circuit in the current path by which electrical power is supplied to the load, a fault current which is several times to several dozen times greater than the rated current flows in the load circuit, and there is a danger that this may cause electrical and thermal damage.
Circuit breakers which detect and cut off this fault current and provide protection for the current path have hitherto been provided with mechanical circuit breaker units in most cases.
Circuit breakers having mechanical circuit breaker units are provided with at least one pair of contact members, adapted to be separated from one another, for each phase, and to cut off the fault current by the mechanical opening and closing of these contact members. For this reason their life is short, and faults are frequent, because of the wear and deterioration of the mechanically movable parts.
Also, when the circuit is broken an arc occurs between the contact members and therefore the breaking time is long and the breaking capacity is small, and for extinguishing this arc, arc extinguishing apparatus has to be added to this circuit breaker unit, and the unit becomes bulky.
On the other hand, static type circuit breakers in which thyristors are used as circuit breaker units have been introduced, but the greatest defect of these is that, in order to cut off the fault current at high speed, commutation circuits are needed for producing a current directed oppositely to the forward direction flow to the thyristors and making their current less than the holding current. The commutation circuits call for not less than 30% of the cost and space of the whole apparatus, and they are therefore disadvantagious as regards both economy and dimensions. Also, in cases in which repeated circuit breaking is carried out, time is required for charging the condensers of the commutation circuits, and therefore there is the disadvantage that high speed repeated circuit breaking cannot be carried out.

Tokyo Shibaura Electric Company, Limited


A scan driving circuit and a display panel are disclosed. A scan driving unit includes a pull-up control circuit configured for receiving a stage transmission signal of the previous two stages to charge a pull-up control signal node. A first reset circuit receives an input signal, a first clock signal and a second clock signal to reset the pull-up control signal node, wherein the input signal is a DC voltage. A pull-down holding circuit receives a low frequency clock signal and a second low frequency clock signal to hold the electric potential of the pull-up control signal node. A pull-down circuit receives a scan driving signal of the next two stages to pull down the electric potential of the pull-up control signal node. A pull-up circuit receives the first clock signal to output a stage transmission signal and a scan driving signal of the current stage.

The GOA (Gate Driver On Array or Gate On Array) circuit is a technology using the existing TFT-LCD array process to manufacture the gate scan driving signal circuit on the array substrate to achieve the driving method to progressively scan the gate line. Compared with the transitional COF and COG process, it not only saves the cost but also reduce the gate direction bonding process. It is extremely beneficial to improve productivity and increase the integrity of the display device. As the technology of low temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) in thin-film transistor (TFT) advances and the characteristic of ultra-high carrier mobility of the LTPS semiconductor, the corresponding peripheral integrated circuit of the panel has drawn much attention. However, shown as FIG. 1, the scan driving circuit of the conventional display panel resets a pull-up control signal node Q(N) by a reset signal Reset or a trigger signal STV received a reset thin film transistor Tr. When the circuit is operated, the highest electric potential of the pull-up control signal node Q(N) reaches twice of the voltage VGH, and the voltage received by the gate, drain, and source of the reset thin film transistor Tr is higher (illustrated as FIG. 2). So, the reset thin film transistor Tr easily occurs current leakage, and more worse under a long operating time, so as to lead the reliability of the circuit poor.

SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


In a multi-layered dielectric mirror the higher refractive index layers comprise ZnS and the lower refractive index layers comprise a composite of approximately 95%MgF.sub.2 and 5%CaF.sub.2 by mole fraction. In one embodiment, the fluoride layers are e-beam deposited from an essentially eutectic melt of the two fluorides. In another embodiment, the semiconductor surface on which the mirror is formed is protected by an aluminum borosilicate glass layer. Application of the invention to the design and fabrication of VCSELs is also described.

MLMs are commonly employed in optical devices to obtain high reflectivity at a free-space operating wavelength .lambda.. In VCSELs, for example MLMs may comprise dielectric (i.e., non-semiconductor) materials as shown in FIG. 1, or one MLM may comprise dielectric materials and the other semiconductor materials as shown in FIG. 2. In either case, an MLM comprises a plurality of pairs of quarter-wavelength thick layers, each pair comprising a relatively high refractive index (n.sub.H) layer adjacent a relatively lower refractive index (n.sub.L ) layer. Depending on the refractive index difference between these layers, just a few pairs of layers can yield reflectivities greater than 90% over a wavelength range .DELTA..lambda. of several hundred nanometers. The reflectivity, R, and the spectral width, .DELTA..lambda./.lambda., of the MLM are given by equations (1) and (2), respectively: EQU R=tan h.sup.2 [0.5 ln (n.sub.B /n.sub.M)+N ln (n.sub.H /n.sub.L)] (1) EQU .DELTA..lambda./.lambda.=(4/.pi.) sin.sup.-1 [(n.sub.H -n.sub.L)/(n.sub.H +n.sub.L)] (2)
where N is the number of pairs of layers in the MLM. In addition, the MLM is assumed to be disposed between a body having a refractive index n.sub.B and a medium having a refractive index n.sub.M. Illustratively, the medium is air, an index-matching epoxy or an optical fiber. into which the output beam of the VCSEL is coupled. Equations (1) and (2) also assume that inequality (3) is satisfied: EQU n.sub.B.gtoreq.n.sub.H >n.sub.L.gtoreq.n.sub.M (3)
and that the order of the pairs is such that the lower index layer of the first pair contacts the body and the higher index layer of the last pair contacts the medium. The set of equations for other cases can readily be derived from the above by those skilled in the art.
Several combinations of dielectric mirrors are well known for use in MLMs, with the choice for a particular application often being based on one or more of the following criteria: (1) ease and uniformity of deposition, (2) environmental safety, (3) reflectivity and spectral width, and (4) reproducibility. One combination of materials known in the prior art utilizes ZnS as the higher refractive index layer (n.sub.H =2.30) and a fluoride (e.g. CaF.sub.2 or MgF.sub.2) as the lower refractive index material (n.sub.L =1.38). Theoretically an MLM made of only six to eight pairs of these layers could produce extremely high reflectivities of 99.5% to 99.9% at .lambda.=0.7-1.5 .mu.m, making such MLMs very attractive for use with many VCSELs; e.g., GaAs/AlGaAs VCSELs as well as InGaAs/GaAs VCSELs. In practice, however, we have found that several problems are encountered with either ZnS/MgF.sub.2 or ZnS/CaF.sub.2 MLMs: high light-scattering losses or serious patterning difficulties.
Light scattering is attributable to non-smooth layer surfaces or to small amounts of crystallization in the otherwise amorphous dielectric materials. Just a fraction of a percent loss of reflectivity due to such scattering may be intolerable in some VCSEL designs, and cannot be compensated by including additional pairs of layers in the MLM. On the other hand, patterning difficulties arise because the fluorides and ZnS have different chemical properties, making it difficult to etch the MLMs controllably. Of course, MLMs which cannot be controllably patterned are impractical for optical devices such as VCSELs because they would inhibit or prevent the formation of electrical contacts to the underlying material of the laser (e.g., the semiconductor material of a VCSEL).

Optical devices having ZNS/CA-MG-fluoride multi-layered mirrors


An electrophotographic apparatus which includes a rotating photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic charge latent image is formed; a developing device for developing the latent image with toners to form a toner image on the drum; a transfer roller for transferring the toner image onto a record paper and arranged movably with respect to the drum; and a record paper detector for detecting a paper jamming to produce a paper jam signal. The rotation of the drum is stopped and the transfer roller is moved away from the photosensitive drum in response to the paper jam signal so as to make it easy to remove the jammed paper, and the transfer roller is moved into an initial operative position after the ddrum has rotated by such an angle that residual toners and electrostatic charge on the drum pass through the transfer roller.

This invention relates generally to an electrophotography, and more particularly, to an electrophotographic apparatus comprising a transfer member for transferring a toner or charge image onto a record paper.
Heretofore there have been developed various kinds of electrophotographic apparatuses in which plain papers are used as record papers. In such plain paper copying (PPC) machines an electrostatic charge latent image corresponding to a document image is formed on a photosensitive member, the latent image is developed with toners and the toned image is transferred onto a plain paper so as to obtain a copy after fixing the toner image.
There have been proposed various kinds of multiple copying machines in which a plurality of copies of a document are formed from the same and single electrostatic charge latent image once formed on a photosensitive body by repeatedly effecting developing and transferring steps for the same electrostatic charge latent image.
The present invention is particularly useful for such a multiple copying apparatus. In particular the present invention can be advantageously applied to a multiple copying machine in which the toned image is transferred onto a plain paper by means of a transferring roller to which is applied a suitable transferring bias voltage.
In the electrophotographic apparatus comprising the transfer roller attention should be paid to prevent toner particles disposed on the photosensitive member from being adhered or transferred to the transfer roller. That is to say it is necessary to avoid an off-set development of residual toners onto the transfer roller. To this end various measures have been developed. For instance, the transfer roller is urged against the photosensitive body only when the record paper is existent between the transfer roller and the photosensitive body. In this case it is also proposed to cut off the supply of the transferring bias to the transfer roller when the roller is separated from the photosensitive body. It is further proposed to discharge or erase the electrostatic charge on the photosensitive body as soon as the transfer roller is separated from the body. It is also known that upon the detection of nonexistence of the record paper at the transferring section a polarity of the transferring bias voltage is made reversed.
In the known copying machine comprising the transfer roller the roller is always made in contact with the photosensitive body under a given pressure as long as the record paper exists between the transfer roller and the photosensitive body. Therefore when a paper jam occurs at the transfer section, the jammed paper is retained between the transfer roller and the photosensitive body and thus it is quite difficult to remove the jammed paper without damaging or injuring the very expensive photosensitive body. That is to say since the transfer roller clamps the jammed paper between the roller and photosensitive member under a substantial pressure the jammed paper has to be pulled forcedly against the clamping force of the roller. Therefore the jammed paper rubs strongly the photosensitive body and roller and as the result the photosensitive body and roller are injured seriously.
When the transfer roller is remained in contact with the photosensitive member even after the jammed paper has been removed, the residual part of the toned image on the photosensitive member is transferred to the transfer roller upon starting again the duplicating operation. In order to avoid such inconvenience the polarity of the transfer bias voltage may be reversed after removing the jammed paper. But in this case the toner image of high density which has been transferred neither to the transfer roller nor to the record paper has to be cleaned by a cleaning device such as a rotating cleaning brush. Therefore the cleaning device is liable to be overloaded and could not sufficiently brush off the residual toners on the photosensitive body, and thus the photosensitive body still retains a substantial amount of toner particles. When the duplication is started again, a uniform charging has to be effected through the residual toners and the uniform charging level could not be obtained. Therefore decrease and fluctuation in a copy density and overdevelopment might occur and an image quality of the duplicated copy is extremely deteriorated.
The uniform charging level on the photosensitive member is the most important factor in the above mentioned multiple copying machine, because it determines an amount of charge of the latent image and then this amount determines the maximum number of times of repeatedly effected duplication, i.e. the maximum obtainable copy number. Therefore if the charging level deviates from a given value due to the residual toners on the photosensitive member, the image quality of copies gradually decreases in accordance with the successive duplications and thus an ability of making the multiple copies from the single latent image is extremely limited. The above mentioned problem may also occur in an electrophotographic apparatus comprising a transfer belt instead of the transfer roller.
In another type of the electrophotographic apparatus use is made of a transferring corona charger for applying to a rear surface of the record paper an electrostatic charge having an opposite polarity as that of the latent image. In such an apparatus a possibility of damaging the photosensitive member during the removal of the jammed paper from the transfer section will be smaller than the case of using the transfer roller. However a fine corona wire of the transfer corona charger might be cut off by the jammed paper. Further in an extreme case the corona wire and the photosensitive member might be shortcircuited by the jammed paper and thus the photosensitive member might be damaged to a great extent.
In another type of electrophotographic apparatus an electrostatic charge latent image formed on a photosensitive body or an insulating member is transferred onto a record paper and then the transferred latent image is developed with toners. There has been also proposed still another type of electrophotographic apparatus in which a primary electrostatic charge latent image is formed on a photosensitive screen and then a secondary latent image is formed on a record paper by means of a corona ion stream modulated with the primary latent image. In the former type copying machine the record paper has to be urged against the photosensitive or insulating member by means of a back plate serving as a transferring member. Therefore if a paper jam occurs at this transfer position, the photosensitive or insulating member might be damaged by the jammed paper during the removal thereof. In the later case when a jammed paper exists at the secondary image forming portion, the screen member and a back plate serving as a transferring member might be shortcircuited by means of the jammed paper and thus the screen member might be injured seriously.


Devices, methods and systems provide improved performance for voltage converters and enable more efficient operations by reducing energy loss in a head switch of the voltage converter. These improvements are achieved in-part by reducing one or both of an ohmic conduction loss and a switching loss of the head switch. One example floating head switch includes an n-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor, a capacitor, one or more drivers and an active low switch. The capacitor ends are connected to the supply voltages of the drivers and the active low switch is coupled to, and controlled by, the output of the one or more drivers and turns on or off in response to a change in the input voltage.

The Internet of things (IoT) is the network of physical devices that can include appliances, vehicles and other devices that have embedded electronics, software, and network connectivity to enable these physical devices to connect and exchange data. Each physical device of the IoT can be uniquely identifiable through its embedded computing system and is able to communicate with other devices using the existing infrastructure of the Internet. While not limited to IOT, the small form factor, ultra-low power consumption, and low cost requirements make power consumption and physical footprint of the associated circuitry critically important in IoT and many other applications since they directly impact the battery lifetime, cost and efficiency of such systems.
Many battery powered electronic devices include a battery that produces one voltage that is different from one or more voltages required by the electronics in the battery powered device. The voltage(s) required by the device are produced by one or more DC-DC converters. The power efficiency of these converters has a direct impact on the battery life. Therefore, there is a need for power management and regulation circuits that can efficiently provide multiple voltage values.

High performance switch devices and methods for operating the same


A stage includes a plate having a top surface on which a substrate is to be placed and a bottom surface; a plurality of first tubes each extending toward different regions of the bottom surface and providing opening ends facing the bottom surface; a partition wall defining a plurality of spaces surrounding the respective first tubes, the spaces forming a plurality of flow passages through which a heat exchange medium discharged from the first tubes flows; and a plurality of second tubes connected to the partition wall to communicate with the respective flow passages. The stage further includes a plurality of adjusting mechanisms provided in the respective flow passages. Each of the adjusting mechanisms is configured to be deformed depending on the temperature of the heat exchange medium in the corresponding flow passage to adjust the conductance of the flow passage in accordance with the temperature.

A substrate processing apparatus includes a stage for supporting a substrate in an evacuable processing chamber. The stage may have a function of controlling a temperature of a substrate. An example of the stage is disclosed in Patent Document 1.
Patent Document 1 discloses therein a temperature control device including a mounting table, a chiller unit, a heating unit, a flow path switching unit, and a controller. The mounting table has a first coolant passageway extending along a circumferential direction of the mounting table at a central region of the mounting table and a second, coolant passageway extending along the circumferential direction of the mounting table at a peripheral region of the mounting table. The chiller unit has an output port and a return port. The output port is connected to an inlet of the first coolant passageway through a first flow line. The return port of the chiller unit is connected to an outlet of the second coolant passageway through a second flow line.
A heating unit for heating a coolant flowing through the first flow line is connected to the first flow line. The flow path switching unit is connected to the second flow lines. The flow path switching unit has a plurality of valves for switching connection relation between the first coolant passageway and the second coolant passageway. In this device, a temperature of the coolant supplied to the first and the second coolant passageway is individually adjusted by controlling opening/closing of the valves of the flow path switching unit and the operation of the heating unit.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication Mo. 2006-286733
In the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a temperature of a substrate is deviated from a target temperature by an external factor such as heat input from a plasma, temperature variation of the substrate can be corrected by individually controlling a temperature of the coolant supplied to the first and the second coolant passageway. However, in this device, the heating unit for heating the temperature is installed at the outside of the mounting table and, thus, there is a difference between operation timing of the heating unit and timing of supplying the coolant of a controlled temperature to the mounting table. Accordingly, in the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a long period of time may be required until the temperature variation caused by the external factor is corrected.

Stage and substrate processing apparatus


A bumper installation for a sensor gate that detects and prevents shoplifting includes a cushion adhered to an interior side of a rigid casing. The cushion has a cavity formed therein which has a shape complementary to an external configuration of the sensor gate. Once installed on the sensor gate, the bumper installation deflects and absorbs the impact of objects colliding with the bumper, thereby protecting the sensor gate from damage and preventing the impacting objects from adversely effecting the calibration of the sensor gate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a bumper installation for protecting sensor gates, such as those utilized to prevent shoplifting, from impacting objects that can damage the sensor gates and/or adversely effect their calibration.
2. Description of the Related Art
Sensor gates are currently in widespread use in retail and other types of stores for detecting and preventing shoplifting. These gates are normally positioned at the exits of the store and are utilized in conjunction with detection tags which are attached to retail items and are removed at a checkout station with a special tool or apparatus. However, if a shoplifter attempts to steal a retail item having a detection tag attached thereto, or if a shopper inadvertently attempts to leave the retail store without paying for the retail item and having the detection tag removed, the detection tag will be detected by the sensor gate as the retail item passes through the sensor gate with the detection tag attached thereto. At that time, an alarm or some other type of indicator will be activated so that the shoplifter, or inattentive shopper, can be detected and prevented from leaving the store without paying for the retail item.
Because sensor gates are ordinarily positioned at the exit areas of retail stores, which experience the greatest amount of pedestrian traffic, the sensor gates are subject to being bumped or impacted by a wide variety of objects, including shopping carts, shopping bags, wheelchairs, dollies, and people, including children. Of course, the collision of these objects or persons with the sensor gates can result in damage to the sensor gates, and commonly results in a degradation of the calibration of sensitive electronic equipment contained within the sensor gate.
Once the calibration of the sensor gate has been adversely affected, the sensor gate may indicate that a customer exiting through the gate is attempting to shoplift a retail item when in fact, no attempted theft has occurred. This can result in substantial embarrassment for the customer, as well as substantial ill will for the retail store. On the other hand, the calibration of the sensor gate could be adversely effected by an impacting object such that the sensor gate does not detect the passing of a detection tag through the sensor gate as a shoplifter leaves the store without paying for the retail item to which the detection tag is attached. This poses an equally serious, if not more serious, problem for the retail establishment.
What is needed is a device for sheltering and protecting the sensor gate from the impact of objects and persons which inevitably results in high traffic areas. Preferably, such a device would be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, relatively easy to install, and extremely effective at protecting the sensor gate and maintaining the calibration of sensitive electronic equipment contained therein.


Techniques are provided for adaptive routing of authentication packets in a network, such as a wireless mesh network. At an authenticated device in the network, an authentication packet is received over the network from a device that is seeking authentication. The authentication packet is encapsulated for transmission in Layer 3 packets over an Internet Protocol (IP) tunnel to an authenticator device associated in the network. Similarly, for an authentication packet encapsulated in Layer 3 packets from the authenticator device over the IP tunnel, the authentication packet is decapsulated from the Layer 3 packets and transmitted over the network to the device seeking authentication.

Low-Power Lossy Networks (LLNs) may be used in a variety of applications, including intelligent power distribution networks, so called "Smart Grid" applications. Due to the embedded nature of LLNs, they are typically deployed in public and uncontrolled environments. For this reason, implementing strong security in LLNs is an application requirement.
The IEEE 802.1X standard provides a method for network access control. An IEEE 802.1X authentication involves three entities:
Supplicant: a device that wishes to join a network.
Authenticator: a network device (i.e., switch or access point) that a Supplicant communicates with to gain access to the network.
Authentication Server: a device that the Authenticator communicates with to validate the credentials of a Supplicant.
In traditional networks, the Supplicant and Authenticator are in direct link-layer communication. For example, in Ethernet switched networks, the access switch (regardless of whether it is running as a Layer 2 or Layer 3 switch) terminates the authentication exchange with the end host. In 802.11 (WiFi) wireless networks the access point terminates the authentication exchange when running in autonomous mode.

Adapting extensible authentication protocol for layer 3 mesh networks


A network includes an administrative update station and an audio update station that are connected to a computer network, in particular, the World Wide Web. One or more IVR systems and one or more audio servers are likewise connected to the World Wide Web. The audio server holds the master address URL for the audio files. The IVRs access the Web in order to download updates of audio files. The audio files are administered through the Web by the administrative site and are updated through the Web by the audio update site.

Interactive voice recognition (IVR) systems are used by many telephone companies and other organizations for receiving and routing general calls. A typical IVR system presents the caller with audio announcements, typically for a menu of choices, and then asks the caller to select one of the menu choices. Over time the menu choices may change and so the operator of the IVR needs a system for updating audio announcements. At present, most IVR systems are proprietary systems and the methods for updating audio announcements are likewise proprietary.
For example, in order to change an audio file on an IVR server, local automated processes are developed to push the file from an administrative station to the multiple IVR servers. Such an updating operation entails multiple dial-up sessions between the administrative station and the IVR servers. These dial-up sessions are accompanied by automated file transfer protocol (FTP) processes that are also proprietary to the local implementation of the solutions. These solutions do not allow for universal access to the voice files.
More specifically, consider the ACMS/NAV application provided by Northern Telecom Limited. An update administrator uses an MAC based program called VDS to maintain the voice files. The program can add, delete and modify those voice files. The administrator dials up each ACMS/NAV node operations controller (OC) to transfer audio files. The administrator then establishes a Telnet session with the UNIX based OC processor and starts an update program. That program updates all the audio files for OCs connected to the local area network. The update administrator dials up multiple OCs when the ACMS/NAV applications span a large network. An alternative to this procedure is to provide the update transactions on a digital tape format that is installed manually on each OC. Both local alternatives are either time-consuming or inefficient, or both. Accordingly, there is a long-standing need for a system that will automatically maintain audio files on IVR systems.

Universal access to audio maintenance for IVR systems using internet technology