In an elevator system comprising a machine room and an elevator car, as the elevator car moves along a hoistway between a plurality of floors, a radio system permits wireless communication between the machine room and the elevator car. As the elevator car moves along the hoistway, the distance between the elevator car and the machine room varies. To effect stable signal transmission and avoid receiver saturation when the elevator car is in close proximity to the machine room, the output of the transmitter or the sensitivity of the receiver is varied in accordance with the distance between the elevator car and the machine room.

In elevator systems, it has heretofore been general practice to provide a traveling cable between an elevator car and a machine room in order to effect signal transmission between the car and the machine room and also to supply electric power from the machine room to the car. However, it may not be possible to use such a traveling cable in outdoor observation elevators or high rise reclined elevators. For this reason, systems in which no traveling cable is employed to effect signal transmission and supply power between the car and the machine room have been proposed and put into practical use. These prior art systems include a first type in which an elevator car with a battery thereon uses power supplied from the battery for illumination inside the car and for activation of a drive unit for opening and closing the door of the car. An inductive radio is employed to effect signal transmission between the elevator car and the machine room. A second type of conventional system employs trolley wires disposed along the hoistway to supply power and signal transmission between the car and the machine room.
These prior art systems suffer, however, from the following disadvantages.
In the first type of conventional system, the battery that is loaded on the elevator car has the disadvantages of heavy weight, troublesome maintenance, short lifetime, and high cost. In addition, the inductive radio that is employed to effect signal transmission between the car and the machine room is practical only when used for transmission of an operating condition signal, such as a signal for calling the car. It is predicted that the error rate of a serial transmitter is in the range of about 1.times.10.sup.-4 to 1.times.10.sup.-9. Accordingly, the inductive radio is not sufficiently reliable for transmission of safety circuit signals, such as an emergency stop signal generated when an emergency situation occurs or a detection signal representing that the car door is open.
Further, since the frequency band for the inductive radio is restricted to several hundred kHz, it is impossible to transmit a video signal (5 to 6 MHz bandwidth) from a camera provided to monitor the inside of the elevator car.
In the abovementioned second system, since transmission of all signals is effected through trolley wires, it is necessary to provide a number of trolley wires commensurate with the number of floors at which the car needs to stop. Because signal lines for a call button, an answering lamp, and a floor display lamp must be provided for each of the floors, an increase in the number of floors requires a correspondingly increased number cf signal lines. Accordingly, this type of conventional system is practical only where the car must stop at a small number of floors, since the number of trolley wires then will be correspondingly small. With a large number of floors, it may be physically impossible to lay out the correspondingly large number of trolley wires along the hoistway.


A vessel and closure assembly for culturing cells wherein a gas permeable membrane is provided in the closure to allow rapid and uniform equilibration of gases between the atmosphere of the vessel and the atmosphere of the incubator. A plug is provided for occluding passage of gases through the gas permeable membrane when the vessel is removed from the controlled atmosphere of the incubator.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for cell culture production, and more particularly to a vessel and closure assembly having means for varying the gas diffusion rate into and out of the vessel.
2. Description of Related Art
Typically, cells are cultured under conditions in which the hydrogen ion concentration (pH, the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration), temperature, humidity, osmolarity and concentration of certain ions are controlled within relatively narrow limits.
Vessels that are used in such tissue culture systems are typically made from plastic and include closures. Such vessels and closures are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,289,248, 4,387,822, 4,770,308 and 5,047,347.
In typical culture systems, pH is maintained near physiologic levels by utilizing a buffering system in the tissue culture fluid, in conjunction with an incubator in which carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) is infused at a rate sufficient to maintain a concentration in the incubator atmosphere of approximately 5 to 7 volume percent. The CO.sub.2 reacts with water to form a weak acid and a carbonic acid, which in turn interacts with the buffering system to maintain the pH near physiologic levels. Entry of CO.sub.2 from the incubator into the tissue culture vessel is generally achieved by utilizing a closure on the vessel such as, a loosely fitting cap, a stopper or a cap with a permeable membrane. Equilibrium in the vessel is maintained by allowing gas exchange with the inside of the vessel and the atmosphere of the incubator while preserving sterility and preventing liquid leakage. A loosely fitting cap or a stopper is partially opened to either to an approximate extent determined by the user or by the closure design.
Removal of the vessel from the controlled atmosphere of the incubator is often required during growth and culturing of cells. The vessels are usually removed for inspection and/or treatment of the cells and culture fluids. It is important that the pH of the cell culture be maintained at the desired physiologic level while the vessel is outside of the incubator.
A special need exists for an improved closure assembly for a culture vessel which (1) provides rapid and uniform equilibration between the vessel atmosphere and the incubator; (2) allows the culture vessel to be removed from the controlled atmosphere of the incubator for reasonably long times without subjecting the cell culture to undesirable changes in the pH of the system; and (3) is reusable.


The present invention relates to a charging apparatus for a robot cleaner and a method for charging the robot cleaner by which the robot cleaner can be accurately induced to a power source supplier to receive a battery charge when a battery power source drops below a predetermined level. The apparatus includes a control unit for controlling an overall operation, a memory which stores a driving program including structures for various rooms for which cleaning operations may be performed, and a driving unit for moving the robot cleaner in forward, reverse, left and right directions according to control signals of the control unit. A travel distance detecting unit is provided for detecting a travel distance covered by the driving unit and a travel direction detecting unit is provided for detecting a travel direction varied by the driving unit. An obstacle detecting unit is also provided for detecting whether or not there is an obstacle with a cleaning area and for detecting a distance to the obstacle from the cleaner. A charged level detecting unit detects a charge voltage level of a battery and an electric power source supplier is provided for charging the battery to above a predetermined level when the charge voltage level of the battery detected by the charge level detecting unit drops below the predetermined level. An electric power source receiving unit is also provided for electrically connecting the electric power source supplier to the battery so that the power source supplied from the electric power source supplier can be applied to charge the battery.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a charging apparatus for a robot cleaner and a method thereof by which the robot cleaner can be accurately induced to a power source supplier for battery charging when a battery power source for supplying an operating energy to the robot cleaner drops below a predetermined level.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional robot cleaner for performing a cleaning operation while its battery power source is being automatically charged is illustrated in FIG. 1, which includes a robot cleaner 1, a battery 10 provided at a left upper surface thereof in order to supply an operating electric power source to the robot cleaner 1, electric power source receiving means 120 disposed at a rear surface of the cleaner 1 and electrically connected to the battery 10 for charging the battery 10 the when the voltage of the battery 10 is consumed thereby to cause the same to drop below a predetermined charge level, and electric power source supplying means 130 mounted at a certain wall surface W through the intermediary of a wiring 135 within a cleaning area in order to supply the power to the power source receiving means 120.
The power source supply means 130 includes a power transmission unit 131 for converting a commercial AC power source to a DC voltage of a predetermined level necessary for charging the battery thereby outputting the same to other units, a light emitting unit 132 for emitting an optical signal to induce the cleaner 1 so that the DC voltage output by the power transmission unit 131 can be supplied to the cleaner 1, and a connection 133 for connecting the power source supply means 130 to the cleaner 1 so that the cleaner 1 can be electrically connected to the power transmission unit 131 when the optical signal is output from the light emitting unit 132.
Furthermore, the power source receiving means 120 includes a light receiving unit 121 for receiving the optical signal emitted from the light emitting unit 132 of the power source supply means 130, an electric power receiving unit 122 for receiving the DC voltage supplied through the power transmission unit 131 of the power supply means 130 when the optical signal is received from the light receiving unit 121, and a contact terminal 123 for being electrically connected to the battery 10 via a wiring 125 so that an end portion of the connection 133 at the power source means 130 can be accepted.
In the case of the conventional robot cleaner thus described, when a power source of the battery 10 for supplying an operating energy to the cleaner 1 is consumed thereby to cause the same to drop below a predetermined level in the midst of the cleaning operation or during completion stage of the same, the cleaner stops the cleaning operation and starts to move by itself toward the power source supply means 130 disposed on a wall surface. A control means (not shown) recognizes information of a present position of the cleaner and a position information of the power source supply means.
At this time, the optical signal emitted from the light emitting unit 132 of the power supply means 130 is detected by a light receiving means 121 of the power receiving means 120 provided at a rear surface of the cleaner 1.
The control means, based on the detected signal, so controls that the cleaner 1 direct the cleaner to the power supply means 130.
When the cleaner 1 reaches a place near the light emitting unit 132 by being induced to the power supply means 130 according to the optical signal emitted by the light emitting unit 132, the light receiving unit 121 detects the optical signal output from the light emitting unit 132, and the cleaner 1 approaches the power supply means 130 and the end portion of the connection 133 at the power supply means 130 is received by the contact terminal 123 of the power receiving means 120.
Accordingly, the power supply means 130 and the power receiving means 120 are electrically connected, so that a power source voltage applied from an AC power source input terminal is converted to a DC voltage by the power transmission unit 131, and input to the power receiving unit 122. The DC voltage input to the power receiving unit 122 is applied to the battery 10 via a wiring, thereby causing the battery 10 to start to be charged.
However, in the induction method of the power supply means 130 of the cleaner 1 thus described, because the cleaner 1 moves to the power supply means 130 according to inherent position information, and because the wheels of the cleaner 1 slip or skid according to material characteristic and condition of a floor surface on which the cleaner 1 moves, the information of the present position of the cleaner 1 inevitably varies.
Consequently, the cleaner 1 cannot reach the power supply means 130 of the cleaner accurately, so that, as illustrated in FIG. 2, there occurs an allowance to the left and right sides of an imaginary center 136 when viewed from above, thereby serving to broaden an error area 137, which cause a phenomenon where the optical signal of the light emitting unit 132 cannot be received by the light receiving unit 121.
Accordingly, a problem occurs in that trial and error adjustments are repeated where the cleaner 1 is moved to the left side or to the right side in order for the light receiving unit 121 to detect the optical signal of the light emitting unit 132, thereby causing an induction time to be delayed.
There is another problem in that, in order to accurately induce the cleaner to the power supply means, a separate sensor for position correction should be installed, thereby increasing manufacturing cost according to additional use of a sensor and to complicate the construction thereof.
Furthermore, there is still another problem in that a power transmission unit of the power supply means and a power receiving unit of the power receiving means in a conventional robot cleaner are exposed to the exterior, so that safety of the devices cannot be guaranteed nor can an external appearance of the cleaner be made stylish.

Charge induction apparatus of robot cleaner and method thereof


The present invention comprises a system and method for correcting for z-slope variations in detector cell outputs represented by data obtained by a scan in a CT system. According to one aspect of the invention, a final error factor, based upon a combination of a correction factor and an initial error factor, is applied to the data. The correction factor having a computational complexity independent of the order of correction desired. The present invention transfers all of the computational complexity of z-slope correction to a calibration process, thereby improving the computational speed and efficiency of producing an accurate image based on the scan data. In another aspect, the present invention improves image quality by providing a correction factor comprising a plurality of channel correction factors, where each of the plurality of channels is the center channel for a corresponding moving segment used to respectively determine each of the channel correction factors.

In at least one known CT system configuration, an x-ray source projects a fan-shaped beam which is collimated to lie within an X-Y plane of a Cartesian coordinate system and generally referred to as the "imaging plane." The x-ray beam passes through the object being imaged, such as a patient. The beam, after being attenuated by the object, impinges upon an array of radiation detectors. The intensity of the attenuated beam radiation received at the detector array is dependent upon the attenuation of the x-ray beam by the object. Each detector element or cell of the array produces a separate electrical signal that is a measurement of the beam attenuation at that detector location. The attenuation measurements from all the detector cells are acquired separately to produce a transmission profile.
In known CT systems, the x-ray source and the detector array are rotated with a gantry within the imaging plane and around the object to be imaged so that the rotational angle at which the x-ray beam intersects the object constantly changes. A group of x-ray attenuation measurements, i.e., projection data, from the detector array at one gantry rotational angle is referred to as a "view." A "scan" of the object comprises a set of views made at different gantry rotational angles, or view angles, during one revolution of the x-ray source and detector. In an axial scan, the projection data is processed to construct an image that corresponds to a two dimensional slice taken through the object. One method for reconstructing an image from a set of projection data is referred to in the art as the filtered back projection technique. This process converts the attenuation measurements from a scan into integers called "CT numbers" or "Hounsfield units," which are used to control the brightness of a corresponding pixel on a cathode ray tube display and hence produce the image.
As mentioned above, the image corresponds to a two-dimensional slice, or cross-section, of an object. In theory, since the image is two-dimensional, it has no thickness and thereby the measurement flux and detector gain in the z-direction are non-existent and thus uniform. In reality, however, the image is constructed from attenuation measurements supplied by a detector having a finite thickness in the z-direction. The finite thickness of the detector allows for the possibility of a non-uniform measurement flux and a non-uniform detector gain. The inherent thickness of the detector presents problems in trying to construct an accurate two-dimensional image because the composition of the object being scanned (and hence, the measurement flux), as well as the gain of the detector, may vary across the thickness of the detector. In other words, if the attenuation measurement at a certain location comprises part bone and part air, then an image constructed based on the actual attenuation measurement will represent a combination of the bone and air. Similarly, if a bone extends across the entire thickness of the detector, but the detector gain varies across the thickness, then the constructed image will not accurately reflect the composition of the bone. Thus, the attenuation measurements from the detector must be corrected to account for any variation in the detector gain and the measurement flux over the thickness of the image.
These problems are even more pronounced in third generation CT systems using detectors generally known as 2-D detectors. 2-D detectors comprise a plurality of columns and rows of detector cells, where detector cells lined up at different x-locations form a row and detector cells lined up at different z-locations form columns. In a CT system having such a 2-D detector, sometimes referred to as a multislice system, an image may be formed by combining the detector measurements of multiple rows and/or columns of detector cells. Summing a column of cells produces a "macro cell," while macro cells in the same plane produce a "macro row." The detector cell measurements are supplied as inputs to a data acquisition system. If the detector cell measurements to be combined are obtained from detector cells having different individual gains and different fluxes, then the combined measurement represents a weighted sum of the individual detector cell measurements where the different detector cell gains and fluxes cause different weighting. The combined error introduced by detector cell gain and flux differences is object-dependent and cannot be removed by a standard calibration.
To more accurately create an image from such data, it is known to estimate the error due to combining the data from x-ray detector cells having different individual gains. Systems for estimating the error are described in "DETECTOR Z-AXIS GAIN NON-UNIFORMITY CORRECTION IN A COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY SYSTEM," U.S. Pat. No. 5,734,691, assigned to the present assignee, and "DETECTOR Z-AXIS GAIN CORRECTION FOR A CT SYSTEM," U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/376,813, filed on Jan. 23, 1995, and assigned to the present assignee. Such correction systems, however, may be improved in a number of respects. Although these systems are able to correct for variations in detector gain measurement flux in the z-direction, the complexity and required computational resources required increase with the order of the correction, i.e. the complexity of the variations in z that must be corrected. This relationship can create conflict between optimizing image quality versus optimizing reconstruction time and cost.
Additionally, these systems comprise a number of z-axis correction factors, where each correction factor depends upon the order of the correction and upon a group of detector segments that the correction is to be applied. Specifically, these systems define a different correction factor for each segment of the detector, where the detector is divided up into a number of segments that overlap in the x-direction. The z-axis correction is then normalized in the x-direction across each segment and the correction for each segment is applied to every detector cell in the segment. The overlapping segments are thereby processed twice, and are smoothed to insure a steady transition from segment to segment. The uniform correction of large segments of the detector, however, tends to skew the correction applied to each individual detector cell or column of cells in the segment. Further, the inclusion of the plurality of overlapping columns requires a duplicative investment in computational time and effort.
Therefore, it would be desirable to more accurately and efficiently create an image from data regardless of the order of the z-axis correction that is required. It further would be desirable to provide such imaging without significantly increasing the cost of the system.

Higher order detector z-slope correction for a multislice computed tomography system


A lead frame conveying apparatus comprises a driving force converting unit for transmitting to a frame receiving arm a horizontal reciprocating linear motion of an elliptic motion of a timing belt place over two timing pulleys between the centers of the timing pulleys and converting semicircular motions at both ends of the horizontal reciprocating linear motion into vertical reciprocating linear motions by employing rolling contact for absorbing the horizontal component thereof and transmitting the vertical reciprocating linear motion to the frame receiving arm so as to put the frame receiving arm into a rectangular motion. The apparatus thus requires only one induction motor as a driving device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lead frame conveying apparatus for conveying a lead frame between guide rails which are extended parallel. The present invention also includes a transverse conveying mechanism used in the lead frame conveying apparatus and a method of converting an elliptic motion performed in the transverse conveying mechanism into a rectangular motion.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional apparatus for conveying a lead frame. In the drawing, a lead frame 1 is transferred between two guide rails 2 and 3 by a frame receiving arm 4. For example, when the lead frame 1 is transferred from the guide rail 2 to the guide rail 3, the frame receiving arm 4 is moved in the order of A--B--C--D shown by arrows in the drawing. The guide rails 2 and 3 comprise two rails 2a, 2b and 3a, 3b, respectively, which are extended parallel. A linear guide bearing 11a is slidably mounted on a liner guide rail 11 on a base block 21, a bearing block 20 being fixed to the linear guide bearing 11a through a holder 5. A shaft 6 is passed through a bearing hole (not shown) in the bearing block 20 so as to connect the frame receiving arm 4 and a plate 7 and is fitted in the bearing hole so as to be axially slidable. The shaft 6 is provided at either side of the linear guide rail 11. The plate 7 has a lower end member 8 which is downwardly extended and on which a rolling bearing 9 is provided. An extension coil spring 10 interposed between the bearing block 20 and the plate 7 produces the force to upwardly move a portion comprising the frame receiving arm 4, the shafts 6, the plate 7, the member 8 and the rolling bearing 9. A guide plate 13 is attached to two linear guide bearings 12a, 12b which are vertically slidable and which are provided on the base block 21 so that the guide plate 13 contacts with the rolling bearing 9 which is upwardly moved by the coil spring 10. Extension coil springs 10a, 10b are respectively provided between the guide plate 13 and the base block 21 at both ends of the guide plate 13 so as to constantly generate the force to upwardly move the guide plate 12 (the coil spring 10a is not shown in FIG. 5). A rolling bearing 13a in rolling contact with a vertically moving cam 14 is provided at the center on the side of the guide plate 13, which is opposite to the side thereof engaged with the linear guide bearings 12a, 12b. The vertically moving cam 14 is eccentrically provided on the rotational shaft of a motor 16. A timing belt 18 placed over timing pulleys 19a, 19b is driven by a pulse motor 17. The connecting member 20a provided on the bearing block 20 holds the timing belt 8 therein so as to connect the bearing block 20 and the timing belt 18. The base block 21 is fixed to a base plate 22. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the basic operation of the frame receiving arm 4 of the conventional frame conveying apparatus in the case where the lead frame 1 is transferred from the guide rail 2 to the guide rail 3. When the lead frame 1 is conveyed to the guide rail 2 by an external apparatus (not shown), the frame receiving arm 4 positioned below the guide rail 2 is upwardly moved for scooping up the lead frame 1. The frame receiving arm 4 is transversely moved from a position above the guide rail 2 to a position above the guide rail 3 while holding the lead frame 1. The frame receiving arm 4 is downwardly moved for placing the lead frame 1 on the guide rail 3. The frame receiving arm 4 is then transversely moved from a position below the guide rail 3 to a position below the guide rail 2. The frame receiving arm 4 performs such a one-cycle motion. Each of the guide rails 2 and 3 is partially cut off to form a space which allows the frame receiving arm 4 to scoop up the lead frame 1 on the guide rail and place the lead frame on the guide rail, as shown in FIG. 5.
The operation of the conventional apparatus for conveying a lead frame is described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The frame receiving arm 4 waits for the lead frame 1 at point A. When the lead frame 1 is fed to the guide rail 2, the motor 16 is driven, and the vertically moving cam 14 eccentrically provided on the rotational shaft of the motor 16 is thus rotated. The rolling bearing 13a provided on the guide plate 13 is vertically moved while making rolling contact with the periphery of the vertically moving cam 14 by virtue of the coil springs 10, 10a, 10b in accordance with the distance between the portion of contact with the periphery of the vertically moving cam 14 and the rotational shaft. This causes the whole guide plate 13 to be vertically moved. When the motor is driven, and when the guide plate 13 is upwardly moved according to the rotation of the vertically moving cam 14, a portion comprising the rolling bearing 9, the lower end member 8 and the plate 7 is upwardly moved. The frame receiving arm 4 connected to the plate 7 by the shaft 6 is thus upwardly moved to point B so as to scoop up the lead frame 1 from the guide rail 2. The motor 16 is stopped at half rotation. A predetermined number of pulses are then applied to the pulse motor 17 from an external pulse generator (pulse motor driver) according to the distance between the guide rails 2 and 3 so that the pulse motor 17 is driven. When the timing pulleys 19a, 19b are rotated by driving the pulse motor 17, the timing belt 18 is rotated following the rotation of the pulleys 19a, 19b. The rotation of the timing belt 18 is converted into a transverse horizontal linear motion of the bearing block 20 through the connecting member 20a. The portion comprising the frame receiving arm 4, the bearing block 20, the connecting member 20a, the shaft 6, the plate 7, the lower end member 8 and the rolling bearing 9 is thus horizontally moved from point B to point C in the transverse direction. When the motor 16 for driving the vertically moving cam 14 is then half rotated, the guide plate 13 is downwardly pushed by the vertically moving cam 14, and at the same time, the rolling bearing 9 is also downwardly pushed. The frame receiving arm 14 is consequently downwardly moved to point D so as to place the lead frame 1 on the guide rail 3. When the pulse motor 17 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction, the frame receiving arm 4 is returned to point A to complete one cycle.
In the conventional apparatus for conveying a lead frame configured as described above, since the frame receiving arm must be horizontally positioned with high accuracy according to the positions of the guide rails, the pulse motor is used. However, the pulse motor driver is required as an external apparatus for driving the pulse motor. The conventional apparatus thus has the problem that the need for two motors for vertical and horizontal motion increases the cost of the apparatus.

Method for converting elliptical to rectangular motion


An adapter for pressure sensors for monitoring long-term cylinder pressures in internal combustion engines comprises a housing with a gas duct, a connection to a cylinder cover of an internal combustion engine, a rear opening of the gas duct from the housing with an apparatus for closing this rear opening in a gastight manner, and a connection for inserting a pressure sensor with a sensor membrane. The transition line of the opening in the gas duct, which is reached by the sensor membrane in the inserted state in order to be exposed to the gas pressure in the gas duct, is on a plane. The transition line forms the transition from the contour of the gas duct to the connection to the sensor. There is a continuous transition from the sensor membrane to the contour of the gas duct.

Adapters for mounting pressure sensors at internal combustion engines are for example used on large diesel engines, such as marine vessel diesel engines, for carrying out long-term pressure monitoring. Such adapters are attached on cylinder covers with a connection provided for this purpose, said adapters themselves having an opening towards the cylinder. The adapters comprise a housing as well as a gas duct which in the mounted state can exchange gas with the gas in the cylinder and, thus, is in particular exposed to the gas pressure within the cylinder.
Furthermore, such adapters have a connection for inserting a pressure sensor with a sensor membrane wherein the sensor membrane in the inserted state reaches the gas duct and is exposed to the gas pressure within the gas duct.
Conventional adapters have recesses, necks and/or pockets at sites close to the sensor at which deposits accumulate after extended operation periods that affect the measurement results. In the lubricating oil operation of marine vessel diesel engines these deposits comprise for example lubricating oil residues as well as scale and soot.
To ensure good measurement results it is necessary to dismount the sensor and to clean the adapter nearly every other day. This means an enormous maintenance effort because for this purpose the operation of the engine, for example the marine vessel diesel engine, must be shut off during the cleaning operation.

Adapter for pressure sensors for carrying out long-term cylinder pressure monitoring on internal combustion engines


To measure characteristics of a non-Newtonian fluid, preferably blood, a non-magnetic container is provided for receiving the fluid. A magnetic body is contained in the container, and a winding is provided around the container. An AC current supplying device is connected to the winding for supplying input AC current of different amplitudes thereto to generate magnetic fields of different strengths in the container to cause the magnetic body to oscillate at different shear rates in the fluid. A measuring device is provided for measuring amplitude and/or phase of the oscillations of the magnetic body and a shear rate determining device is provided for determining the shear rates by measuring differences between the amplitude and/or phase of the oscillations of the magnetic body and the amplitude and phase of the input AC currents. The amplitude difference at a specific shear rate is proportional to the viscosity of the fluid, and the phase difference at a specific shear rate is proportional to the viscoelasticity of the fluid.

The invention relates generally to measurement of characteristics of a non-Newtonian fluid and more specifically to a method and an arrangement for measuring viscoelasticity of a non-Newtonian fluid, particularly blood.
Blood viscosity and viscoelasticity are missing or at least overlooked factors in health care. One of the leading causes of death in the western world is formation of blood clot (thrombus) in a blood vessel. The more viscous the human blood is, the greater the risk is of developing vessel damage that can lead to a heart attack or a stroke. Mounting evidence indicates that the blood viscosity is elevated among patients with essential hypertension and that blood stickiness is an early development of atherosclerosis. Viscoelasticity of blood is associated with pathologies such as peripheral vascular disease and diabetes.
Blood viscosity and viscoelasticity are low at high shear rates. However, low shear rates arise at sites of atherogenesis, thrombogenesis, and ischaemia, promoting local hyperviscosity. This suggests that abnormalities in haemorheological factors be involved in the complication of hypertension and determination of blood pressure.
Blood is a suspension of mostly elastic particles, i.e. cells, in a Newtonian fluid, i.e. plasma, which results in non-Newtonian characteristics in that whole blood viscosity and viscoelasticity are dependent upon the shear rate the blood experiences.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,021 discloses a method and apparatus for measuring the viscosity of biological fluids, e.g. blood, by means of a rotating cylinder immersed in the fluid in a tube and on the basis of a torque applied to the cylinder and the speed of rotation of the cylinder. The cylinder is rotated by a rotating electromagnetic field produced by an induction winding that coaxially surrounds the tube and the cylinder and that is powered with current at an adjustable intensity.
The method disclosed in the above U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,021, utilizing a rotating cylinder, is not sensitive enough for measuring deformation of red blood cells and, consequently, it is not possible to measure viscoelasticity of e.g. blood by means of that method.
The object of the invention is to bring about a simple and inexpensive method and arrangement enabling measurement of viscosity and viscoelasticity of non-Newtonian fluids, particularly blood.
This is attained by the method according to the invention in that the fluid is received in a non-magnetic container containing a magnetic body, a winding is provided around the container, input AC currents of different amplitudes are supplied to the winding to generate magnetic fields of different strengths in the container to cause the magnetic body to oscillate at different shear rates in the fluid, amplitude and/or phase of the oscillations of the magnetic body are measured, and the shear rates are determined by measuring differences between the amplitude and/or phase of the oscillations of the magnetic body and the amplitude and phase of the input AC currents, the amplitude difference at a specific shear rate being proportional to the viscosity of the fluid, and the phase difference at a specific shear rate being proportional to the viscoelasticity of the fluid.
The object is also attained by means of the arrangement according to the invention, comprising a non-magnetic container for receiving the fluid, a magnetic body being contained in the container, a winding being provided around the container, an AC current supplying device being connected to the winding for supplying input AC current of different amplitudes thereto to generate magnetic fields of different strengths in the container to cause the magnetic body to oscillate at different shear rates in the fluid, a measuring device being provided for measuring amplitude and/or phase of the oscillations of the magnetic body, and a shear rate determining device being provided for determining the shear rates by measuring differences between the amplitude and/or phase of the oscillations of the magnetic body and the amplitude and/or phase of the input AC currents, the amplitude difference at a specific shear rate being proportional to the viscosity of the fluid, and the phase difference at a specific shear rate being proportional to the viscoelasticity of the fluid.
By means of the method and the arrangement according to the invention, e.g. clinical measurements of blood viscoelasticity will be possible, simply using a single blood sample.

Method and arrangement for measuring characteristics of a non-newtonian fluid


The present invention utilizes multiple and split pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape stratums for carrier tape packaging systems to receive, retain and release small components in automated assembly processing. A carrier tape includes many small apertures which extend through the thickness of the carrier tape. Each aperture is designed to carry a small component. The present invention utilizes a pair of parallel lengths of pressure sensitive tape which are separated by a gap to retain each component within its respective aperture.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of automated packaging systems. Specifically, the present invention relates to carrier tape packaging systems utilizing pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape. More particularly, the present invention refers to the usage of multiple and split PSA tape stratums for a carrier tape packaging system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The present invention relates to a carrier tape packaging system for small components utilizing pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape stratums.
Small components such as integrated circuit (IC) devices, are particularly susceptible to damage by mechanical forces and by electro-static discharge. Mechanical stress to the surface of the IC can cause structural damage to internal locations at points within the IC which are particularly susceptible to physical distortion. Therefore, it would be a significant advantage if small components such as ICs could be packaged and removed from the package in a manner which reduces the mechanical stress applied to the IC and, simultaneously, eliminates the source of much electro-static charge buildup during automatic handling.
Carrier tape packaging systems are known in the prior art. Existing carrier tape packaging systems typically comprise an elongated, double sided and flexible carrier tape made of paper or plastic with a multiplicity of punched cavities utilized for retaining small electronic components, typically surface mount devices known as SMDs. Generally, heat sealed cover tapes, one on each side of the punched carrier tape, are used to retain components within the cavities.
Another existing system for retaining small components within the carrier tape is to use an embossed plastic carrier, a.k.a. blister tape. Small tub-like cavities are thermoformed into a strip of plastic. Small components are placed into the cavities, and the cavities are covered with a heat sealed cover tape. The heat sealed cover tape encloses the cavities which contain the small components. Carrier tapes which include these thermoformed cavities are known as embossed carrier tapes or blister tapes.
The inherent characteristics of both punched and embossed conventional carrier tapes provide that the small components are loose in the punched or embossed cavity. While they are retained within the recess of the cavity, the small components can move in all directions (x, y and theta). When the top cover tape is removed by peel back, vibrations are induced which can cause the small components to move out of their required orientation or jump out of the cavity. In addition, very small components can and will adhere to the cover tape because of static electric charge buildups generated during cover tape peel back and thereby not be available for automatic retrieval from their pockets. In addition, these static electric charges, however slight, can damage or destroy active electronic components through electro-static discharge (ESD).
A classic problem with conventional carrier tapes is that the peel-back of cover tape creates adverse vibrations on the carrier tape. These vibrations are particularly troublesome with extremely small, lightweight components, the position of which can be disturbed by these vibrations. Another problem is that it is impossible to heat seal the carrier tapes with total uniformity. This irregular seal causes `spikes` during peel back which result in vibration and component disorientation. Force vibrations of as little as 0.05 newton have been known to cause components to jump out of their cavities or assume positions whereby retrieval using vacuum probe nozzles is not possible. In addition, when the cover tape is peeled back, it is possible that the small component could be vibrated or pulled out of the aperture or out of its orientation. Still another problem with the cover tape is that static charges can build up on the cover tape and during the peel back they can be released as a sudden flood of charges applied to an individual small active component or to several of the small components which are highly susceptible to electrostatic discharge. Electrostatic discharge applied to small components such as integrated circuits can cause reliability concerns and catastrophic failure.
Another existing means for housing the small components is to use a punched paper carrier tape, as opposed to a plastic, both used in conjunction with top and bottom cover tapes. In addition to the problems discussed above resulting from the usage of cover tape, the paper carrier tape creates problems due to dust and paper particles which are generated when the cover tape is pulled off the carrier tape surface. In addition, the paper carrier tape can delaminate when the top cover tape is pulled off, resulting in sudden separation of a length of cover tape from the carrier with subsequent component spillage.
In another existing system, the carrier tape has a multiplicity of apertures and has a single length of pressure sensitive tape at the bottom and no cover tape. Small components are individually placed into the aperture of the carrier tape on the adhesive. When the components are removed from the adhesive surface, a vacuum tip is usually employed to remove and carry the component. Excessive adhesive strength in the component to adhesive bond can make separation of the component from the adhesive surface difficult. A poke-up needle is sometimes used to release the component from the adhesive in coordination with the action of the vacuum tip. It is often awkward to use the poke-up needles to release the small components because components and they sometimes exert unbalanced mechanical force to the small component as they push through the adhesive bottom. In addition, adhesive may adhere to the IC or other small component after it is removed from the carrier tape and the adhered adhesive causes problems when the component is placed on a printed circuit board or other mounting surface. Finally, with a film backing of pressure sensitive tape to contend with, a poke-up needle encounters considerable resistance as it tries to penetrate the adhesive and push the IC or other small component out of the carrier tape. Fine pointed needles are required to penetrate the film backing of the pressure sensitive tape; these fine points expose components to physical damage, and frequently break during repeated use, resulting in production downtime and increased probability of adhesive retention on the component.
Instead of using an aperture with a closed bottom surface, the present invention uses at least two split PSA tape stratums, instead of one, on the bottom side o the embossed carrier tape. Adjusting the gap between the two PSA tape stratums provides precise adjustment of the firmness of the adhesion between the small component and the two PSA tape stratums. The usage of multiple PSA tape stratums in small component carrier tape packaging systems provides two major advantages. First, it provides a fine adjustment of the amount of adhesive exposed to the component to achieve adhesive bond and second, it provides clearance for the poke-up needles if poke-up needles are utilized.
In many existing automated handling processes, carrier tape packaging systems are used for retaining a multiplicity of small, light and fragile electronic, mechanical or other types of components, such as integrated circuit (IC) chips. A carrier tape packaging system typically comprises an elongated, double sided and flexible carrier tape having a thickness at least equal to and preferably greater than the thickness of the small components. The elongated carrier tape comprises a multiplicity of apertures along its length for accommodating a multiplicity of small, light and fragile components. An elongated flexible thin PSA tape stratum is adhered to one side of the double sided carrier tape, such that each one of the multiplicity of apertures of the embossed carrier tape has a closed adhesive bottom constituted by a portion of the elongated PSA tape stratum. Therefore each of the multiplicity of small components can be securely retained within one of the multiplicity of apertures respectively.
A small component is subsequently released from its aperture and adhesive surface for further assembly. To remove the small components from the adhesive surface of the aperture, a vacuum tip is usually employed to remove and carry the component. Excessive adhesive strength in the component to adhesive surface bond makes separation of the component from the adhesive surface difficult and the separation is often physically stressful to the small component. Residue adhesive on the component creates further problems when the component is placed on a printed circuit board.
One common method of releasing the multiplicity of small components from the elongated carrier tape is touse reciprocating or "poke-up" needles. To remove a small component from the elongated carrier tape, a poke-up needle is positioned underneath the PSA tape stratum and aligned with the aperture containing the small component. The poke-up needle action is performed synchronously with the action of the vacuum tip. While the vacuum tip is in intimate contact with the surface of the small component, the upward movement of the poke-up needle can force the small component away from the PSA tape stratum and into the exclusive possession of the vacuum tip for carrying to subsequent assembly processing.
One problem with the conventional carrier tape having PSA tape over the bottom of the carrier aperture is that it is not very effective to use the poke needles to release the small components because the poke-up needles cannot directly engage with the small components. Instead of directly engaging, the poke-up needles poke through the PSA tape stratum, and the strength of the PSA tape stratum somewhat negates the poke-up forces. This awkward set of forces on the small component can have consequences which disrupt the normal flow of manufacturing. Unless a wide range of pressure sensitive tapes with varied adhesive characteristics is employed, it is impossible to adjust the adhesiveness of the PSA tape stratum to be strong enough to hold the small components securely, yet not excessively which would make removal of the small components difficult. The absence of control over the forces needed to remove the small component from the PSA tape stratum contribute to the overall stress which is imposed on the small component and often result in failure to retrieve components from the tape for automatic placement--a condition which seriously reduces machine throughputs and increases need for assembly rework.
The novel feature of the present invention is to use two split PSA tape stratums, instead of one, on the bottom side of the embossed carrier tape. A very precise gap is maintained between the two split PSA stratums along the centers of the multiplicity of apertures of the carrier tape. This very precise gap serves two purposes: first, it provides an accurate means for adjusting how firmly the small components are attached to the PSA tape stratum, and second, it provides a clearance for the poke-up needles to directly engage the small components.
When a small component is retained within an aperture, it is adhered to the two split PSA tape stratums. A portion of the bottom surface of the small components is not adhered to either PSA tape stratums because of the gap between the two PSA tape stratums. Adjusting the gap between the two PSA tape stratums provides precise adjustment of the firmness of the adhesion between the small component and the two PSA tape stratums.
Multiple PSA tape stratums provide the capability of a micrometer-like adjustment of the adhesive strength of the small component to PSA tape bond. In varying the surface area exposed to the small component by adjusting the gap width between the two tapes, removal of the small component is thereby made more controlled with improved reliability in automated component retrieval and placement. By adjusting the gap distance of the tape, the surface area of the tape overlying the small component is thereby controlled, resulting in a micrometer-like adjustment of the adhesive suitable for high speed automated processing.
The adhesive strength of the tape-to-component bond is constrained by two extremes. The adhesive strength should be at least as great as that which is required to hold the small component in place securely while the component is moving during processing and the adhesive strength should be less than that which could impede or prevent removal of the small component during high speed automated processing.
Another significant benefit of utilizing multiple PSA tape stratums in conjunction with carrier tape, is that the gap region spacing between the PSA tapes provide clearance for the poke-up needles, when the poke-up needles are used to assist removal of the small component, thereby avoiding: the force needed by the poke-up needle to protrude through a solid PSA tape bottom; and the possibility of the retention of any adhesive on the removed component. The clearance for the poke-up needle, provided by the two PSA tapes, will be present even if the gap between the two tapes is set to zero. It is particularly significant that a blunt or flat pointed poke-up needle may be employed because of gap spacing between the PSA tapes. When a heretofore single strand of PSA tape has been utilized, the point of the poke-up needle must be sharp in order to penetrate the film backing of the PSA tape. Sharp points on poke-up needles break off frequently during usage, resulting in production downtime for replacement and increased probability of transfer of adhesive residue to components when broken point poke-up needles are unnoticed and not replaced.
The following twelve patents are the closest prior art of which the inventor is aware.
1. U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,245 issued to Dudley et al. (hereafter the "Dudley Patent") on May 6, 1975 for "Mounting Electrical Components on Thick Film Printed Circuit Elements".
2. U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,995 issued to Tabuchi et al. (hereafter the "Tabuchi Patent") on Mar. 18, 1986 for "Automatic Producing Apparatus of Chip-Form Electronic Parts Aggregate".
3. U.S. Pat. No. 2,885,849 issued to Wohlman, Jr. (hereafter the "Wohlman Patent") on May 12, 1959 for "Semiconductor Taping Apparatus".
4. U.S. Pat. No. 3,177,629 issued to Anspach (hereafter the "Anspach Patent") on Apr. 13, 1965 for "Apparatus for Loading Components".
5. U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,774 issued to Nilsson et al. (hereafter the "Nilsson Patent") on Jul. 20, 1982 for "Device for Mounting Circuit Components on a Circuit Board".
6. U.S. Pat. No. 3,691,436 issued to Maijers et al. (hereafter the "Maijers Patent") on Sept. 12, 1972 for "Electrical Circuit Element having a Diagonal Abutment Strip and Method of Manufacturing the Same".
7. U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,193 issued to Tardiff et al. (hereafter the "Tardiff Patent") on Jul. 27, 1976 for "Machines for Sequencing Diverse Components".
8. U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,954 issued to Sillner (hereafter the "Sillner Patent") on Feb. 16, 1988 for "System for Conveying and Guiding Components, in Particular Electrical Construction Elements Which are Held on a Belt in a Radially or Quasi-Radially Belted Manner".
9. U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,207 issued Higuchi et al. (hereafter the "Higuchi Patent") on Sep. 4, 1990 for "Apparatus for Automatically Taping Electronic Components".
10. U.S. Pat. No. 3,608,711 issued to Wiesler et al. (hereafter the "First Wiesler Patent") on Sept. 28, 1971 for "Package for Electronic Devices and the Like".
11. U.S. Pat. No. 3,785,507 issued to Wiesler et al. (hereafter the "Second Wiesler Patent") on Sept. 28, 1971 for "Die Sorting System".
12. U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,120 issued to Kaneko (hereafter the "Kaneko Patent") on Nov. 3, 1981 for "Chip-Like Electronic Component Series and Method for Supplying Chip-Like Electronic Components".
The first wiesler patent discloses a package for electronic devices and the like, which utilizes a tape 12 with a plurality of openings 14 in the tape 12 to receive a device 10. The device 10 is held in place by an adhesive tape, applied from the back, which is exposed at the opening and serves as a tape stratum 16 for holding the device 10 in place.
In contrast, the present invention is a combination of a carrier tape with apertures, used with a double PSA tape, set onto the underneath surface of the carrier tape, so that the device can be placed onto the two surfaces of tape. The gap between the two surfaces of tape can be set with a micrometer type accuracy so the device can be easily extracted from this arrangement. The gap provides a clearance for the poke-up needle which pushes the device out of the tape arrangement so it may be handled by the vacuum tip of a pick and place machine.
The Tabuchi patent discloses an automatic producing apparatus of chip-form electronic parts aggregate. In FIG. 4 of the Tabuchi patent, there is a tape-like housing body formed by the automatic producing apparatus of the Tabuchi disclosure. The tape-like housing body has a feed hole along the side and a frame type housing hole with a specific pitch between the housing holes.
In the Tabuchi patent, there is once again a tape covering which essentially covers the entire portion of the carrying tape which thereby introduces all of the problems that have been addressed in the prior art. In the present invention this is overcome by a set of two tapes which have variably set gap distances to facilitate efficient retention of the small components and adjustable adhesive strength of the tapes. In utilizing the multiple PSA tape stratums, the small components are affixed in such a way that provides clearance for the poke-up needles so the small component can be easily removed and by permitting the gap width between the tapes to be adjustable, the strength of the tape to component bond can, in such a manner, be finely controlled.
The second Wiesler patent discloses a die sorting system which uses a strip 140 comprised of a relatively narrow strip formed with indexing holes 142 along one edge, and storage holes 144 near the outer edge of the strip. On the bottom side, a thin pressure sensitive adhesive tape 146 is laminated to the strip 140 and provides an adhesive floor, to hold the die 100, at the bottom of the storage holes.
The Kaneko patent discloses a chip-like electronic component series and method for supplying chip-like electronic components, comprising a tape-like member formed with a plurality of apertures with upper and lower cover sheets that contain small chip-like electronic components. FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate the upper tape 72 and lower tape 74 relation to the receiving concavity 70.
The Anspach patent discloses an apparatus for loading components. These components are primarily larger components than what the present invention envisions and are primarily leaded diodes. The present invention is intended for use primarily with leadless electronic components or surface-mounted devices (SMDs). Referring to FIG. 5, there is a gap in the carrier where the heads of the transistors are placed but the transistors themselves are carried by having the lead sandwiched between the carrier tape and an adhesive tape.
The Higuchi patent discloses an apparatus for automatically taping electronic components. The electronic pitch and an adhesive tape is applied to fix the electronic components in position. One of the main points of the Higuchi patent is that the electronic component is placed on an elongated first tape and by applying a second tape, the component is fixed between the two tapes.
The Dudley patent discloses a device for mounting electrical components on thick film printed circuit elements. Two metal strips 15 and 16 are attached to printed areas 14, adhered by electrical resistance welding for contacting electrodes.
The Wohlman patent discloses a semiconductor taping apparatus. The semiconductors are taped at lateral ends by a pair of tapes 73, and another pair of tapes 74 where the adhesives in tapes 73 face the adhesive side of the tapes in the second pair of tapes 74.
The Nilsson patent discloses a device for mounting circuit components on a circuit board which include apertures in the plate designed to hold by means of a friction fit.
The Maijers patent discloses an electrical circuit element having a diagonal abutment strip and method of manufacturing the same. In the Maijers patent, small discrete components are interconnected by means of a strip of tape.
The Tardiff patent discloses machines for sequencing diverse components. In the Tardiff patent, small electrical components are sequenced and interconnected with tape at opposite ends of their lead portions.
The Sillner patent discloses a system for conveying and guiding components, in particular electrical construction elements which are held on a belt in a radially or quasi radially belted manner. The components in the Sillner patent are also held by tape at the ends of their leads.
Therefore, none of the prior art have combined the concept of having an invention which utilizes multiple PSA tape stratums as an integral part of a small component packaging system, which: provides a micrometer-like adjustment of the adhesive strength of the small component to PSA tape by adjusting the gap width between the tapes, facilitating removal and further processing; and provides a clearance so the poke-up needles can push up through the gap of the tapes, thereby assisting in the removal of the small component from the carrier tape and PSA tape arrangement.

Multiple and split pressure sensitive adhesive stratums for carrier tape packaging system


A hands-free hair dryer mounting apparatus adapted for holding a hair dryer in an oscillating universal hair dryer holder assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes a wall mountable housing that is removably affixed to a wall mounting plate adapted for secure attachment to a wall or other supporting surface. A universal hair dryer holder, adapted for receiving and holding any type, size, or style of handheld hair dryer, projects outward from the housing. The hair dryer holder is connected to an oscillating arm via a horizontal pivot connection that allows for manual angular adjustment and affixation of the hair dryer about a generally horizontal pivot axis. The oscillating arm extends into the base and is connected to an electric motor by mechanical linkage such that angularly adjustable side-to-side oscillation is enabled. Angular adjustment is accomplished by providing the oscillating arm with an elongated longitudinal slot that receivably engages an eccentric motor driven axel, and by providing a manual adjustment lever that permits the user to selectively position the eccentric motor driven axel at various positions within the longitudinal slot thereby adjusting the angular displacement of the oscillating arm. The mounting base further includes a plurality of electrical outlets in electrical communication with the power source for providing power to the hair dryer as well as optional accessory devices, such as a curling iron.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus for use with hand-held hair dryers, and more particularly to a hair dryer mounting apparatus having an adjustable oscillating hair dryer holder that provides the user with a hands free hair drying accessory.
2. Description of Related Art
A hair dryer, also frequently called a blow dryer, is an electromechanical device designed to blow cool or hot air over wet or damp hair, in order to accelerate the evaporation of water particles and dry the hair. When using the hair dryer the user typically holds the hair dryer in one hand and a styling brush or hair spray in the other. By requiring the user to hold the hair dryer this method of use significantly limits the user's range of motion while the limitation of the remaining hand limits the user's hair styling options.
As a result of the limitations and disadvantages present with the use of a conventional handheld hair dryer, the background art reveals a number of attempts directed to providing mounting systems for handheld hair dryers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,077,370, issued to Lin et al. discloses a hair dryer stand for a handheld hair dryer that includes a base and a holder pivotally mounted to the base. The stand is adapted for mounting on a horizontal or vertical supporting surface and functions to simply hold the hair dyer in place. U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,805, issued to Pena, discloses a self supporting adjustable support stand for a portable hair dryer. The stand includes a base and a telescopically adjustable extension assembly for selective height adjustment, and elongated flexible connection, and a ring shaped holder for holding the hair dryer. U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,983, issued to Hofmann et al., discloses a hair dryer positioning system having a base and a bendable, shape retaining, dryer positioning arm terminating in a dryer cradle member.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,923, issued to Case, discloses a hair dryer holder for holding a hair dryer having a base and an adjustably extendable and retractable extension member attached to the base. The extension member terminates in a holding bracket comprising a generally horizontally disposed U-shaped member having a flexible strap extending across the open end thereof to hold the hair dryer with the aid of hook and loop fastening material. The device disclosed by Case, merely functions to hold the hair dryer in a fixed position, and thus exemplifies basic hair dryer mount/holder technology. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,695, issued to Sennott et al., discloses a hair dryer mount having a wall bracket extension arms, and a support that includes a strap which fits around the hair dryer. Other basic mounts and static hair dryer holders are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. No. 6,52,0467, issued to Holder, for a Hair Dryer Holder; U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,447, issued to Strecker, for a Blow Dryer Holding Device; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,090, issued to Hamilton, for a Hair Dryer Holder; Des. U.S. Pat. No. 313,341, issued to Gaboriault et al., for a Hair Dryer Holder. The references listed above are primarily designed to hold a hair dryer in a fixed position. This limitation has resulted in the commercial success and widespread use of such devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,313, issued to Gettleman, discloses a hands free hair dryer holder for holding a hair dryer while in use that may include a mechanism that automatically swings the hair dryer up and down while in use to prevent excessive heat at one spot on the hair.
Automatically swinging the hair dryer up and down, however, causes warm air to be directed up and down the user's body thereby making the user hot and/or uncomfortable.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a hair dyer holding apparatus adapted for holding hair dryers of various shapes and further adapted to selectively oscillate the hair dryer as desired by the user.

Hair dryer mount with oscillating holder for use with a hand-held hair dryer


A high voltage tolerant CMOS output driver circuit and high voltage tolerant CMOS input receiver circuit, through the use of shield transistors and the redefinition of the substrate of the PFET devices, is provided. The invention may be incorporated for protection in integrated circuits operating with a lower power supply voltage than externally interfaced devices operating with a higher power supply voltage.

Advanced Integrated Circuits (IC) fabrication processes, in their quest for integration density, high performance, reliable circuits, and low power, have recently taken a step to lower the voltage of the power supply needed to run the IC chips. Lowering this voltage allows the fabrication process to have smaller geometries and better performance without compromising the reliability or the quality of the integrated circuits.
One consequence of using the lower power supply voltage is the susceptibility of input and output pads to damage from external voltages higher than the power supply of the IC. This situation often occurs when an external device, which operates at a higher power supply voltage and which is electrically coupled to the input/output pad, drives the pad to a greater voltage than the power supply of the IC. The situation can also occur from transient spikes on the power supply of the IC. Damage results if excessive voltages occur across any two of the three terminals of the transistor (Gate, Source, Drain).
In addition, damage results to the gate oxide of a transistor due to hot carrier injection if it is allowed to draw large amounts of current from its drain to its source. Excessive voltages introduced across the source and drain of the transistor when the transistor is on allows excessive current to flow and results in permanent damage to the transistor.
A contextual example of the above situation may be seen in the migration of integrated circuits from 5 volts to 3.3 volts. As this migration takes place, applications are being built that have both 5 volts and 3.3 volts driving the same bus. This is possible since the logic levels driving and received by 5 volt and 3.3 volt chips are usually the same. For example, both 5 volt and 3.3 volt chips consider a logic "1" to be any voltage above 2.4 volts, while a logic "0" is any voltage below 0.4 volts. As a result of mixed IC applications, however, ICs powered by 3.3 volt sources need to be tolerant to the 5 volt signals. Since these signals can also be very high speed signals, the 3.3 volt chips must also be tolerant of the increased transmission line spikes and reflections caused by the increased speed.

High voltage tolerant CMOS input/output pad circuits


The present disclosure relates to multi-layer X-ray sources having decreased hydrogen within the layer stack and/or tungsten carbide inter-layers between the primary layers of X-ray generating and thermally-conductive materials. The resulting multi-layer target structures allow increased X-ray production, which may facilitate faster scan times for inspection or examination procedures.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
A variety of medical diagnostic, laboratory, security screening, and industrial quality control imaging systems, along with certain other types of systems (e.g., radiation-based treatment systems), utilize X-ray tubes as a source of radiation during operation. Typically, the X-ray tube includes a cathode and an anode. An electron beam emitter within the cathode emits a stream of electrons toward an anode that includes a target that is impacted by the electrons.
A large portion of the energy deposited into the target by the electron beam produces heat within the target, with another portion of the energy resulting in the production of X-ray radiation. Indeed, only about 1% of the energy from the electron beam X-ray target interaction is responsible for X-ray generation, with the remaining 99% resulting in heating of the target. The X-ray flux is, therefore, highly dependent upon the amount of energy that can be deposited into the source target by the electron beam within a given period of time. However, the relatively large amount of heat produced during operation, if not mitigated, can damage the X-ray source (e.g., melt the target). Accordingly, conventional X-ray sources are typically cooled by either rotating or actively cooling the target. However, when rotation is the means of avoiding overheating, the amount of deposited heat along with the associated X-ray flux is limited by the rotation speed (RPM), target heat storage capacity, radiation and conduction cooling capability, and the thermal limit of the supporting bearings. Tubes with rotating targets also tend to be larger and heavier than stationary target tubes. When the target is actively cooled, such cooling generally occurs relatively far from the electron beam impact area, which in turn significantly limits the electron beam power that can be applied to the target. In both situations, the restricted heat removal ability of the cooling methods markedly lowers the overall flux of X-rays that are generated by the X-ray tube.
With this in mind, certain approaches may employ a layered X-ray source configuration, where layers of X-ray generating material are interleaved with layers of heat-conductive material to facilitate heat dissipation. One example may be a multi-layer diamond tungsten structure, where the tungsten generates X-rays when impacted by an electron beam and the diamond conducts heat away. Such a multilayer tungsten-diamond target structure is capable of producing high X-ray flux density due suitable heat dissipation, and is consequently able to withstand higher electron-beam irradiation than a conventional target structure. However, such a multi-layer structure may suffer from delamination of the layers in an operational setting. For example, adhesion between the X-ray generating and heat conducting layers may be inadequate during operation due to insufficient interfacial chemical bonding between layers.

High temperature annealing in X-ray source fabrication


A semiconductor device with test interface, as well as to a method for operating a semiconductor device is disclosed. In one embodiment, in a test operating mode, the semiconductor device is, via a first pin, supplied with a work cycle signal synchronized with a test environment and, via at least one second pin, with test data. In accordance with a first embodiment it is suggested, so as to reduce the number of pins, that the work cycle signal is simultaneously used as test data clock signal.

The invention provides a semiconductor device with a test interface, and to a method for operating a semiconductor device.
Semiconductor devices may include several ten millions of transistors and a software program of a size of several MB. In particular may the devices (e.g. micro controllers or micro processor systems) may include at least one central control or processing unit, Central Processing Units or CPU "cores". These may be connected with at least one memory device for storing a software program or data to be processed, for instance, a program or data memory.
Semiconductor devices, for instance, integrated (analog or digital) computing circuits, in particular micro processors, are subject to comprehensive tests during and after their manufacturing.
Tests are, on the one hand, carried out by the manufacturers of the devices to detect defective devices and to be able to interfere correspondingly during manufacturing, if necessary, or to check and test the software program stored on the semiconductor device.
On the other hand, the users test such semiconductor devices for their exact functionality.
From prior art, several hard and software systems are known for the simulation and emulation of such semiconductor devices by means of which semiconductor devices can be tested for defects and their functionality. During the checking of a semiconductor device, test interface means are primarily used to test or evaluate the functionality of the software of the semiconductor device in cooperation with its environment.
To this end, semiconductor devices frequently include a JTAG (Joint Test Action Group) module—defined in IEEE standard 1149—for carrying out a—standardized—test procedure. In accordance with this standard, every input and every output pin within the semiconductor device is provided with a simple additional circuit, a Boundary Scan Cell (BSC), by means of which a state at a pin can be read or set, so that the signals to be processed by the semiconductor device need not actually be applied to the pins, but can be signalized via the JTAG module at the pins.
In accordance with the above-mentioned standard, a JTAG module—provided on the corresponding semiconductor device—includes a test access port (TAP) that is connected with four or—optionally—five test pins by means of which a test clock signal TCK (TCK=Test Clock), a test mode select signal TMS (TMS=Test Mode Select), a data input signal TDI (TDI=Test Data In), a data output signal TDO (TDO=Test Data Out), and—optionally—a test reset signal TRST (TRST=Test Reset) can be input into/output from the device to be tested.
It is of disadvantage that conventional devices with JTAG module include a relatively high number of—additional—pins (namely the above-mentioned four to five JTAG test pins).
It has therefore been suggested to "multiplex" JTAG test pins and conventional function pins, so that one and the same pin—depending on whether the corresponding device is operated in a test mode or in a normal operating mode—may be used either as JTAG test pin or as function pin.
Here, it is of disadvantage that the function of the function pin—used as JTAG test pin in the test mode—cannot be tested as such, or with great effort only.
It has, in general, been a permanent object of development to restrict the number of pins of a semiconductor device to those that are necessary for normal operation. At the same time, a possibility of testing such a device in a test mode with supplied test data also has to be given.
For these and other reasons, there is a need for the present invention.

Semiconductor device with test interface


Disclosed is an arcuately molded lens for use in active eyewear, having along the bottom edge of each right and left lens regions at least one downwardly concave indented area. The indented area may extend across the entire bottom edge of each lens region or it may only extend along a portion of the lens region. Where there is only one concavity per lens region, it may be placed anywhere along the bottom edge of the lens, near the midpoint, center or periphery. The lens may also have multiple concave indentations along its bottom edge.

This invention relates generally to lenses used in eyewear suitable for active sports, and more particularly, to functional improvements attributable to the shape of the bottom edge of such lenses.
Eyewear typically worn during active sports such as hiking, skiing and bicycle racing is commonly designed to conform closely to the front and sides of the wearer's head. It is advantageous in such low profile eyewear to use arcuately molded lenses. Notwithstanding certain advantages attributable to the close fit, such as peripheral light interception and aerodynamic efficiency, sufficient ventilation may be impaired, resulting in the wearer being uncomfortable and possibly having impaired vision from fogging of the eyewear lenses. Prior efforts to alleviate this problem have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,859,048 and 4,867,550, but they are by no means exclusive. The present invention offers an additional means to achieve the desired goals of providing comfort and optimum visibility without diminishing the advantages attendant in arcuately formed eyewear used for participation in active sports.


A multiple beam antenna system may be constructed for reducing a spillover loss n efficiency, improving beam crossover, and reducing undesired sidelobes by the addition of three dielectric lenses between a feed horn cluster connected to a beam forming network and an objective collimator. The system includes a beam forming network including a plurality of feed horns in a feed horn cluster, an objective, and an imaging lens having a lateral magnification less than unity for focusing a reduced image of the feed horn cluster at a predetermined point in space. A field lens is positioned at that predetermined point in space, and an amplitude shaping lens is positioned between the field lens and the objective. The amplitude shaping lens redirects the rays of the image transmitted by the field lens to be denser in the central region of the objective, and reduce the sidelobes of the far field pattern of the transmitted beams.

The present invention relates to multiple beam antenna (MBA) systems, such as are useful for communication satellites. Specifically, the present invention provides a microwave multiple beam antenna system that simultaneously achieves closely spaced beams (high crossover levels) and high aperture efficiency (low spillover loss) with a relatively simple beam forming network.
Conventional MBA designs, typically for communication satellites, place the feed horn cluster of the antenna at the focal point of an offset reflector collimator, as shown in FIG. 1. The feed horns are designed to be relatively small for close packaging in the cluster to give reasonably high crossover levels (i.e., closely spaced beams). A small feed horn, however, produces a broad radiation pattern for illuminating the offset reflector. This results in much of the energy not being intercepted by the reflector, and gives rise to high spillover loss. On the other hand, if the feed horns are designed for more directive beams to reduce the spillover loss, the feed horns become larger, yielding wider beam separation, and thus lower crossover levels. The result s "holes" in the pattern coverage.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional multiple beam antenna configuration. A beam forming network (BFN) 11 supplies signals to a feed horn cluster 13. which illuminates an offset paraboloid reflector 15. If the feed horns 19 are made relatively small for close packaging and reasonably high crossover levels 17 (as shown in FIG. 2), a significant portion of the beam misses the reflector, becoming spillover loss 21. Alternative feed horns that produce more directive beams to reduce the spillover loss, produce low beam crossover levels 23 in the beams reflected from the offset paraboloid reflector, as shown in FIG. 3.
A partial solution to the spillover loss problem is described by the inventor in Wokurka, A Feed Cluster Image Reduction System, Digest, IEEE AP-S Symposium, Blacksburg, Virginia, Jun. 1987, pages 199-202. In the system there described, an "imaging" lens is used to produce an optically reduced image of a large feed horn cluster. The reduced image of the feed horns is then used to illuminate the collimating reflector or dielectric lens. A field lens is placed between the imaging lens and the objective lens to efficiently refract the energy from each feed horn onto the objective lens, thereby maintaining low spillover loss for each beam at the objective lens.
Another system that has been suggested is to form overlapping feed horn subclusters with a more complex beam forming network. With this approach, energy to be radiated in a beam is divided in the BFN and applied to several adjacent horns. This approach increases the feed aperture size, and narrows the feed radiation pattern, to more efficiently illuminate the reflector. Adjacent beams are produced by overlapping these clustered feed horns. However, this approach complicates the feed network greatly, particularly for millimeter wave length signals and/or systems using a large number of beams. This approach also adds significantly to waveguide or transmission line losses. Such increased complexity and losses are particularly pronounced at higher millimeter wave frequencies, where they are least tolerable.
Another proposed solution to the spillover loss problem is to build several antennas, each of which produces widely spaced beams that are a portion of the total required. The beams from the separate antennas are then interlaced in space to create the full coverage complement. Clearly, this approach adds much unnecessary weight and volume to the antenna system by adding more antennas.


A system for venting noxious fumes from a toilet. A toilet seat weight-sensing switch operatively connects to a fan and activates when the seat of the toilet is sat upon. A toilet flush handle switch activates when the flush handle of the toilet activates. A timer circuit activates when the toilet flush handle switch is activated. A logic gate operatively connects to the toilet seat weight-sensing switch, the timer circuit, and the fan. When the seat of the toilet is sat upon, the toilet seat weight-sensing switch generates a pulse turning on the logic gate which generates a pulse which turns on the fan. When the flush handle of the toilet activates, the toilet flush handle switch generates a pulse turning on the timer circuit which after a predetermined time generates a pulse which turns off the logic gate which turns off the fan.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toilet, more particularly, the present invention relates to a system for venting noxious fumes from a toilet.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous innovations for vented toilets have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention.
A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 2,997,935 to Baither teaches a ventilated toilet comprising a bowl having a water basin therein and a drainpipe below the basin and communicating therewith, means for creating a suction in the bowl above the water basin including an electric motor and a fan, a protecting housing for the motor and fan entirely enclosing the same and constituting a foul odor receiving chamber, means connecting the interior of the housing with the bowl, the inlet of the fan communicating with the interior of the housing, a reservoir and trap chamber arranged above the drainpipe and the bottom of the bowl, means connecting the outlet of the fan with the reservoir and trap chamber above the normal water level therein, and means connecting the drain of the toilet with the water reservoir and trap chamber above the normal water level therein.
A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 2,949,615 to Farrell teaches a water closet ventilator comprising a bowl and associated flush tank, a over on the flush tank provided with passageways therein communicating the interior and exterior of the flush tank and valve means in each of the passageways adapted to permit selective entry of a gas through a first passage into the interior of the flush task and selective exit of a gas through a second passage from the flush tank.
A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,691,568 to Martz teaches a ventilator attachment for bathrooms and the like which is adapted for use with the ventilator disclosed in application Ser. No. 882,815 so that the ventilator disclosed in the application may be employed with water tanks in which, for example, the overflow channel or pipe is integral with a wall of the tank. This attachment employs a tube having one end fitting into the inlet of the ventilator hood and the other end fitting into the overflow pipe of the tank. An elbow pipe having one end attached to the tube and having the other end positioned below the water line of the tank is provided to drain any excess water into the overflow pipe. Another embodiment of this device employs a T-type coupling for connecting the ventilator pipe to the water pipe leading to the toilet bowl in flush-type toilets. This T-type connection is provided with a baffle inside thereof to deflect the water flow therethrough and keep it from flowing into the ventilator pipe.
A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,703,010 to Russell teaches an improved ventilator means for a toilet. The ventilator mens includes a suction means having a regulating valve to reduce suction in the toilet flush tank when the toilet is flushed.
A FIFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 3,763,505 to Zimmerman teaches a toilet having a toilet bowl and a flush tank on the bowl in which an overflow pipe discharges overflow water into the toilet bowl and conducts obnoxious air and gases and odors from the toilet bowl into an air space above the water level in the tank, a ventilator casing which fits over the open top of the flush tank and bottom of the ventilator casing being substantially in the same proportions as the usual lid for the flush tank and it has an intake hole therethrough. A suitable blower or fan mounted on the bottom is located inside the casing. The walls of the casing are closed all around but are provided with charcoal filters for deodorizing and cleaning the air passing through the filters. The fan is driven by an electric motor from a suitable battery contained in the casing, and is controlled by a time switch so that the fan draws the air from the air space on the top of the tank and exhausts it through the filters. In a modified form a perforated hollow exhaust tube is placed either on the open top of the toilet bowl or on the toilet bowl cover with perforations in its inner periphery and is provided with a flexible connection into the casing of the ventilator capable of being set on the floor for directly drawing the air from the bowl and under the toilet seat into the casing and purifying it through the the filters. This separately located unit is also provided on one of its walls with compartments for magazines or the like.
A SIXTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,406 to Beeghly et al. teaches a system for ventilating the toilet bowl of a water closet of the type having a standpipe in the flush tank thereof and wherein the lower end of the standpipe is connected to the conduit which extends between the flush tank and the flush ring in the toilet bowl and the upper end of the standpipe extends above the normal level of the water in the flush tank. The inlet of a suction fan communicates with the space above the level of the water in the flush tank and the outlet of the fan is connected to a suitable point of discharge for gases withdrawn from the toilet bowl. A vent passage extends from the exterior of the flush tank to the space above the level of the water in the flush tank, and a normally closed flapper valve, which is connected by linkage to a float that floats on the surface of the water in the flush tank, moves to an open position to prevent a vacuum from developing in the space above the level of the water in the flush tank when the tank is flushing the toilet bowl and the water level in the tank drops.
A SEVENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,780 to Hoskins et al. teaches an outdoor toilet constructed of precast concrete having integral color incorporated therein with the external surfaces being simulative of wood or the like and provided with a vault with a vent stack extending upwardly along one wall of the toilet and communicating with the vault and with a vent cap on the roof of the toilet to provide an offset passageway for venting the vault by using the chimney effect of the vent stack and vent cap. The vent stack includes an access opening in the exterior wall thereof provided with a closure to enable pump out of the vault from a point externally of the toilet. The toilet includes a toilet riser, handrail, toilet tissue holder, window and louver vents and an access door associated with an entrance slab and screen panels along two edges of the entrance slab to prevent direct observation into the interior of the toilet when the door is open. The entrance slab is supported by cantilever arms integral with the vault at one end edge thereof.
AN EIGHTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,346 to Fernald, Sr. teaches a system for venting odors from a toilet having a bowl with a plurality of openings disposed about its rim and a tank to store water with a bowl fill tube interconnected with the openings. A vent is positioned above the level of maximum water storage in the tank. A low pressure region within the vent is established bias air flow through bowl rim openings in the toilet and also through a bowl fill tube in the toilet tank and into the vent. Finally, an exhaust outlet is located at a remote point from the toilet in order to output the air flow from the toilet. To improve venting of air flow between the vent and the fill tube, the tank lid may include a seal positioned between the lid and the tank. The system may also include a valve with dampers that allow air flow to enter the tank during flushing and allow air flow to exit the tank during venting, but that limits air flow when the system is inoperative.
A NINTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,569 to Poirier et al. teaches an air venting apparatus to be mounted into the water tank of a water closet for evacuating to the outside of the room where the water closet is located the stale air escaping from the toilet bowl. The apparatus comprises a main, generally closed air chamber; a powered fan member, anchored into the air chamber for developing negative pressure therein; a support for supporting the air chamber at the top portion of the water tank whereby the fan remains constantly above water level. A siphon assembly is provided for fluidingly interconnecting in substantially air tight fashion the discharge pipe to an upstream section of the air chamber, whereby the siphon assembly is adaptable to fit discharge pipes of variable locations within the water tank; and a nozzle assembly is provided for fluidingly interconnecting a downstream end of the air chamber to the outside of the room. No modification of the water tank nor the water tank lid is required for the installation of this apparatus.
A TENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0002735 A1 to Moon teaches a toilet bowl including a body in which feces are contained and a seat plate on which bottoms of a user directly touch, wherein the apparatus comprises: a plurality of suction inlets formed underneath the seat plate for sucking in air within the body; a suction passage formed along a margin of the seat plate for collecting the air sucked in through the plurality of suction inlets to discharge same thereafter; a blower mounted in communication with the suction passage; and a drain passage communicating with a discharge outlet of the blower, such that stench generated while a user relieves himself or herself is eliminated to be discharged through a drain pipe such that displeasure in and out of the toilet room can be removed.
It is apparent that numerous innovations for vented toilet have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

System for venting noxious fumes from a toilet


In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a method for monitoring a content delivery network includes obtaining data from devices within the network, organizing the data into hierarchically accessible tiers, and displaying at least part of the data at one of the hierarchal tiers, wherein the hierarchical tiers include a) a site tier including a map comprising ones of the devices that are potential content sources in the network, b) a service tier including a map comprising content-based relationships between the devices, and c) an operations tier including a map comprising characteristics of the devices and characteristics of relationships between the devices and content in the network.

Inktomi Corporation, Cisco Systems Inc., and CacheFlow (now Blue Coat Systems, Inc.) have manufactured various solutions for use in Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), including cache devices and Content Distribution Managers (CDMs), with accompanying software. Some of these solutions provide a management tool for homogeneous caches. U.S. Pat. No. 6,442,651 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,263,371 assigned to CacheFlow, U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,623 assigned to Inktomi Corporation, U.S. Pat. No. 6,449,647 assigned to Cisco Systems Inc., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,726 assigned to Akamai Technologies Inc. describe various aspects of data networks and are hereby incorporated by reference.
These solutions do not manage heterogeneous equipment, such as equipment from different manufacturers, all running in the same environment, and don't present a complete, logical management model to an administrator.

Method and apparatus for monitoring a network

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.