A network system and communication method of same, a communication system, an information relaying apparatus and method of the same, and an information providing apparatus, which prevent personal information from being revealed when requesting more detailed material from a web page providing apparatus, wherein when a user system views a web page established by a web page carrying computer, if the user clicks a “CALL ME” button for inquiry, an information input screen controlled by a button management computer is displayed; when the user inputs his or her ID and inquiry content etc. from there, this information is transferred to an information relaying system and an identification number that does not enable identification of the user system is attached and transferred as the inquiry information with respect to an information providing system; and, when the information providing system replies to the user, this identification number is converted to the ID for identifying the user by the information relaying system for the response.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a network system for establishing web pages on a network, for example the Internet, to introduce products to users, more particularly relates to a network system enabling a user to inquire about a product without giving his or her own personal information when inquiring about the product and a communication method, a communication system, an information relaying apparatus, and an information providing apparatus relating to the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A general consumer (hereinafter referred to as a user) sometimes communicates with a company selling some sort of product so as to for example inquire about a product. Such an inquiry is usually by telephone.
Recently, however, reflecting the broad spread of the Internet, an increasing number of companies are setting up homepages. Descriptions of products, requests for materials concerning products, and other content can also be given or made by accessing the homepages in many cases.
The system disclosed in JP-A-H11-98136 is well-known, in which a registered user transmits a user ID and a request for products to relaying server so that the relaying server access the server of original information to send the products to the user.
Summarizing the disadvantage to be solved by the invention, such communication between the user and a company is a very good opportunity for the user to quickly obtain the required information and for the company directly contact the user to research market trends and promote its own image so is preferably more effectively utilized for both.
Heretofore, however, such communication has never been actively utilized due to the lack of convenience of the communicating means.
In an inquiry by for example the telephone, sometimes even if the user calls, he or she cannot easily connect. In such a case, the user feels unhappy and, in addition, must just wait while holding the telephone, so wastes time.
Further, even after the call is connected, the call is sometimes transferred or the person responding changed repeatedly until a person who can handle the inquiry is reached.
On the other hand, there are also disadvantages on the company side as well.
First, there is the disadvantage that it is impossible to predict the number of such inquiries and therefore it is difficult to deploy the number of operators capable of fielding all inquiries.
Further, it is difficult to suitably grasp the content of each inquiry and transfer a call to the proper person. Time and trouble are taken. Further, as a result, calls from users are sometimes passed around.
Further, there is also the disadvantage that deploying people able to suitable field various inquiries requires considerable training involving much time, so time and expense are involved.
Further, communication via a homepage tends to be avoided by a user since he or she easily becomes concerned that revealing his or her telephone number or address, mail address, and other personal information might lead to more than the necessary sales pitches of products or canvassing etc. continuing in the future.

Method for providing anonymous browsing by transferring a request from a server to a relaying apparatus in response to the request generated at a client computer


A computer-implemented method for performing cross-document coreference for a corpus of input documents includes determining mentions by parsing the input documents. Each mention includes a first vector for spelling data and a second vector for context data. A hierarchical tree data structure is created by generating several leaf nodes corresponding to respective mentions. Further, for each node, a similarity score is computed based on the first and second vectors of each node. The hierarchical tree is populated iteratively until a root node is created. Each iteration includes merging two nodes that have the highest similarity scores and creating an entity node instead at a hierarchical level that is above the two nodes being merged. Further, each iteration includes computing the similarity score for the entity node. The nodes with the similarity scores above a predetermined value are entities for which coreference has been performed in input documents.

The present invention relates generally to computer technology, and more particularly to a machine learning system configured to automatically agglomerate entity representations for performing cross-document coreference.
Data mining is a step in database knowledge discovery. Data mining generally refers to a process for automatically searching through a large amount of data for information hidden therein that has special relationality. Data mining and data analysis are important research subjects in field of information technology, upon which many sub research subjects exist. Information extraction research in natural language processing technology has provided people with a more powerful information retrieving tool to cope with the severe challenge brought by information explosion. Information extraction technology does not attempt to comprehensively understand the whole document; it simply analyzes the part containing relevant information in the document. Object coreference technology is one type of application in information extraction research, which can confirm coreference relationship in text in some degree.

Encoding entity representations for cross-document coreference

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A one hand push button release mechanism is associated with a supplemental tailgate assembly to affect the release of the supplemental tailgate for deployment from the main tailgate apparatus. One embodiment of the push button mechanism engages a wedge having a cam surface that causes the wedge to move vertically with respect to the push button to pull on a linkage that releases a pivoted catch member. A second embodiment utilizes a laterally slidable push button that depresses into the molding to engage a spacer that is laterally movable with the push button to be movable into an interfering position with respect to the catch member to lock the supplemental tailgate in the stowed position. In both embodiments, a spring is operable to bias the locking mechanism into a locked position when the supplemental tailgate is returned to the stored position.

The present invention relates to vehicle tailgates that include a multifunction assembly extendable therefrom, and, more particularly, to a push button release mechanism to facilitate the utilization of the supplemental tailgate mechanism.
Conventionally, pickup trucks include a tailgate at the back of a bed that closes off a cargo box. Often times, the truck bed is not long enough to hold the cargo, so truck bed extenders have been developed. The truck bed extenders work in conjunction with the tailgate in order to provide additional length to the bed. Some designs for pickup truck bed extenders have flush mounted extenders that are stowed in the tailgate when not in use. Being out of sight when not in use presents a more attractive vehicle, but these designs also require a separate handle to disengage latching mechanisms, which can be very inconvenient for the operator to reach and unnecessarily complicate the tailgate release mechanisms. Other designs for bed extenders mount to the outside of the tailgate, which may be convenient for deployment and avoid concerns with deployment mechanisms, but they tend to interfere with cargo space in the box since the bed extender, when not in use, protrudes into the box. Moreover, it is typical for the vehicle operator to employ the extender only occasionally, so it is undesirable to have the extender exposed at all times, which detracts from the attractiveness of the vehicle.
Another drawback with common bed extenders is that a desirable feature of conventional tailgates may be lost. That is, a conventional tailgate has an ornamental plastic tailgate molding mounted along its top surface. It is meant to provide a surface along which cargo can be slid into the bed without the concern of rusting due to paint being scraped off.
Additionally, it is desirable to have a bed extender that can provide other functions in addition to a bed extender, such as a box extender and an assist step. Such functions may be provided with simple ergonomic operation of the assembly, while still allowing for an attractive appearance for the vehicle when the bed extender is stowed during periods of non-use.
Thus, it is desirable to have a vehicle tailgate with a bed extender that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.

Push button release mechanism for supplemental tailgates


A die incorporating vertical conductors, or vias, extending from active and passive devices on the active die side to the back side thereof. The vias are preferably formed in the die material matrix by introduction of a conductive material as known in the art. Such die may be employed in singulated fashion on a carrier substrate as an alternative to so-called "flip chip" die, or in vertically-stacked fashion to form a sealed multi-chip module the same size as the die from which it is formed. Certain vias of the various dice in the stack may be vertically aligned or superimposed to provide common access from each die level to a terminal such as a bond pad or C4 or other connection on the back side of the lowermost die contacting the carrier, while other stacked vias are employed for individual access from each die level to the carrier through the back side of the lowermost die. Vertical or horizontal fuse elements may be employed at some or all die levels to permit different circuit configurations on otherwise identical dice and to isolate devices at certain die levels from selected vias. Vias may be placed at any location within the periphery of a die and are preferably placed in superimposition or immediate lateral proximity to the devices on the various dice to minimize horizontal conductors whenever possible and thus employ more die surface area for device fabrication.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices and associated integrated circuit configurations, and more particularly, to bare die configurations and stacked multi-chip (bare die) assemblies with chip-integral vertical connection circuitry and a method of fabricating such die and assemblies.
2. State of the Art
As computers and other microprocessor-dependent electronics become physically more compact and operate at ever-faster speeds, the amount of "real estate" available on circuit boards and other component-supporting substrates becomes ever-smaller. Various die packaging schemes have evolved to promote greater component density, one of the most recently prevalent being surface mount technology (SMT). In an SMT package, "footprint" size is reduced by use of small leads placed at a fine pitch, sometimes in combination with staggered rows of terminal bond pads about substantially the entire exterior of a circuit package. The SMT pads or lead ends generally extend immediately below the package and not first laterally, as in most prior art dual-in-line (DIP) and small-outline J-lead packages (SOJ). Another attempt to increase component density by vertical component orientation has resulted in the so-called zig-zag inline package (ZIP).
Multi-chip modules (MCM's), wherein several chips or dice for the same or different functions are mounted in a common package, generally mount all dice in the module on a supporting substrate in the same horizontal plane, such as is the case in a single in-line memory module (SIMM) including a plurality of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) dice.
It has, however, been recognized that it may be desirable in certain applications to enhance component density by laterally stacking vertically-oriented die or die support substrates on a transversely-oriented carrier substrate to which electrical access is secured via edge connect structures on the die or die support substrates. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,266,833; 4,983,533; and 4,764,846 are exemplary of state of the art lateral die stacking approaches. Such structures, while increasing component density, obviously require conductors extending to at least one side of the stacked die or die support substrate, which may effectively limit the number of connections to the carrier substrate. If terminals are placed on more than one edge of a die (see the '833 patent), the die support substrate or other bus structure becomes somewhat complex. Further, edge-accessing die or die support substrates dictates that all inter-die or inter-die support electrical connections must be effected through the carrier substrate without the potential for direct die-to-die connection.
It has also, however, been recognized that it may be desirable in certain applications to vertically stack horizontally-disposed dice in two or more layers. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,481,134; 5,481,133; 5,468,997; 5,455,445; 5,434,745; and 5,128,831 are exemplary of state of the art vertical die stacking approaches. Also illustrative of the state of the art in that regard is "Laminated Memory: A new 3-Dimensional Packaging Technology for MCM's", Proceedings of 1994 IEEE Multi-Chip Module Conference, pp. 58-63. Further examples of such structures are the commercially available Micro SMT Packages from Micro SMT, Inc., depicted and described in a Micro SMT, Inc. brochure bearing a 1993 copyright. Existing vertical stack MCM's, while increasing component density, usually laterally offset active and passive devices in a given plane or layer of a stack from the vertical, interlayer conductors, necessitating the use of horizontal circuit traces extending from the devices to the edge of each die or at the very least to a peripheral area of the die. Such offsets increase the lateral size or footprint of the stack and are somewhat limiting with respect to the number of devices per layer, even if the vertical conductors are formed as contact holes or vias in the silicon die material itself, which is not common practice. It has also been suggested in the art to employ diffused metal pillars connected to horizontally offset active devices of the die by laterally extending circuit traces.
Therefore, it would be extremely advantageous to form passive and active devices and vertical conductors, hereinafter generally referred to herein as vias, respectively on and within dice, and in vertically superimposed relationship to the extent possible. Such an approach would permit electrical connection of a die to other dice or a supporting substrate such as a printed circuit board (PCB) through the back side of the die, using that heretofore unused or underemployed die side in lieu of the so-called "active" or top side. It would also be highly beneficial to minimize the number of vias when stacking dice by accessing a single, commonly-required via within the die perimeter for (by way of example for a DRAM die) CAS, RAS, I/O, power, and ground from each level or plane in the die stack, thus requiring dedicated vias to each level only for the chip-select function. Finally, it would simplify and expedite fabrication of such die structures to employ via formation techniques which do not involve forming and filling holes extending vertically through the die.

Surface mount IC using silicon vias in an area array format or same size as die array


Burner assemblies and methods for operating burner assemblies are provided. A method includes outputting a maximum gaseous fuel supply to a first burner and no gaseous fuel supply to a second burner when a burner assembly knob is in a first position, outputting a minimum gaseous fuel supply to the first burner and no gaseous fuel supply to the second burner when the knob is in a second position, outputting a minimum gaseous fuel supply to the first burner and a maximum gaseous fuel supply to the second burner when the knob is in a third position, and outputting a minimum gaseous fuel supply to the first burner and a minimum gaseous fuel supply to the second burner when the knob is in a fourth position.

Cooktop appliances generally include burners for heating, for example, food items. Gas cooktop appliances ignite gaseous fuel, such as propane or natural gas, to produce such heat. A cooking utensil, such as a pot or pan, containing, for example, a foot item, is placed on the burner for heating. Typical burners for cooktop appliances have generally circular shapes. Recently, however, elongated burners have been utilized to heat large or elongated containers, such as griddles. Many known elongated burners have oval-like shapes, with for example opposing long straight sides and opposing short curved sides.
Due to customer concerns regarding the utility of such elongated burners, attempts have been made to increase the versatility of such burners. In one arrangement, the burner was manufactured such that various portions of the elongated burner could be individually used. However, controls for this arrangement were discovered to be difficult to manipulate, and none of the individual portions were designed for use with circular cooking utensils.
In another arrangement, a cooking utensil was placed in the center of the elongated burner, and either burner could be utilized depending on the application. However, difficulties with this design have presented themselves. For example, such design does not provide sufficient secondary air to the circular burner. Further, users of such design have experienced excess heat generation issues, with the overall temperature from the circular burner and elongated burner being beyond that temperatures that can be withstood by, for example, non-stick coatings of certain containers.
Accordingly, improved burners and operating methods for cooktop appliances are desired in the art. In particular, methods and burner assemblies which allow, for example, griddle use while preventing excess heat generation issues and decreasing air supply issues would be advantageous.

Burner assembly for cooktop appliance and method for operating same


A bridge includes a bridge element which has a basic bridge body; a folding ramp situated at opposite sloped end faces of the bridge body; a hinge connection pivotally attaching each folding ramp to the bridge body; and a locking device supported by the bridge body for locking the folding ramp to the bridge body in the downfolded position of the ramp in which the ramp forms a common access ramp with the respective sloped end face of the bridge body. The locking device includes a locking pin and an actuating device for moving the locking pin into a locking position or into a withdrawn position. In the locking position the locking pin extends into a locking pin-receiving opening of the folding ramp if the folding ramp is in its downfolded position or into a locking pin-receiving opening of an adjoining basic bridge body in the upfolded position of the folding ramp. The hinge connection includes a double-jointed lever connected to the bridge body and the respective folding ramp by pivotal joints. The distance between the pivotal joints is such that pivotal motion of the folding ramp is effected with a play relative to the bridge body. Each folding ramp and the bridge body have pressure surfaces being pressed to one another by pressure forces in the upfolded position of the folding ramps.

The present invention relates to a bridge composed of at least one bridge element comprising a basic bridge body having sloped end faces that terminate at mid height of the basic bridge body. The end faces are provided with a hinge connection at which a folding ramp is mounted to be pivotal in such a way that it rests on the sloped surface or--if folded down and fixed to the basic bridge body by means of a locking arrangement--it forms a common access ramp together with the sloped surface of the basic bridge body.
Such bridges are known as floating bridges (disclosed, for example, in German Offenlegungsschrift 19 63 393) as well as "fixed bridges" that are deployable on solid ground (disclosed, for example, in published European Patent Application 0,407,274 to which corresponds U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,145). Depending on the width of the obstacle to be spanned, the bridges may be composed of a single bridge element or a plurality of identical bridge elements. In a bridge composed of a single bridge element, both folding ramps are folded down and locked to the basic bridge body. In a bridge composed of two bridge elements, the folding ramps are folded down at their ends facing away from one another and are locked to the basic bridge body while at the mutually facing ends the folding ramps rest on the sloped surfaces of the basic bridge bodies. In that state they form an essentially vertical end with the basic bridge bodies. Both such ends of the bridge elements are locked at the bottom to the basic bridge bodies and, if necessary, at the top to the folding ramps in order to form a load-carrying bridge. For bridges composed of more than two bridge elements, both folding ramps of the bridge elements disposed between the outer bridge elements lie on the basic bridge body and are thus in an upfolded position. In each instance--independently of the number of bridge elements involved--the bridge elements are all identical and are universally employable as a center section, a ramp section or as an element that in itself forms a bridge.
The basic bridge bodies form a roadway on their top surface and the folding ramps form a roadway on their top and bottom surfaces. If the folding ramps are placed on the sloped surfaces of the basic bridge bodies, the basic bridge body and the folding ramp together form a continuous roadway. The basic bridge body and the folding ramps may extend over the entire width of the roadway, or they may constitute only the width of one track (lane) and may be connected in a known manner by means of transverse supports.
While the German patent document 19 63 393 discloses no structural details, in the bridge elements disclosed in European Patent Application 0,407,274 the locking arrangement is composed of a hook coupling which, however, is able to transmit only tensile forces. For transmitting transverse forces, additional convex and corresponding concave shaped elements are provided which, however, represent additional weight thus reducing the load carrying capability of the bridge. It is another disadvantage of this prior art construction that if the bridge has been soiled by use, the hook couplings may not operate reliably and thus increased expenditures are involved in verifying the operational reliability of the bridge to be deployed.
In a bridge center section in which the folding ramps rest on the basic bridge body, as in the bridge disclosed in the earlier-noted European patent application, the pressure forces acting on the folding ramp in the longitudinal direction of the bridge are transmitted to the basic bridge body essentially by way of a hinge connection. In the downfolded state for forming a ramp section or an individual bridge, the hinge joint lies at the height of the roadway so that it is subjected to wear from heavy vehicles, particularly track-laying vehicles, that drive over it.

Krupp Industrietechnik Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung


A flexible appendage for use as a robot arm, controllable medical instrument, or simply a toy, has flexibly coupled segments defining an open lumen, and flanges protruding laterally of the axis. The flanges have passages for control lines spaced laterally from the axis. Each control line is fixed to a segment and can be pulled through the other segments from the proximal end. The control lines shorten a lateral side of the appendage to controllably bend it. Resilient couplings between the segments, leave open the lumen for passage of conduits or tools. The couplings can be helical springs wound with turns which abut at rest, such that the couplings elongate on the outside of a bend but do not compress on the inside, thereby maintaining the overall length of the appendage. The control lines are distributed around the axis, and can be arranged in ranks for controlling groups of the segments at different distances from the proximal end. The springs coupling proximal segments are more rigid than for distal segments, and the segments can be smaller and/or longitudinally shorter approaching the distal end.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of elongated flexible structures having longitudinally operable tension or extension mechanisms spaced laterally of a central axis such that the flexible structures can be moved into a curved configuration by applying relatively more longitudinal tension or extension on one side of the axis than the other. More particularly, the invention concerns such a structure wherein a plurality of rigid segments, which are preferably coupled by closed helical springs that space flanged ends of the segments, are provided with control lines for exerting tension between a proximal end of the structure and at least one segment spaced from the proximal end.
2. Prior Art
Controllably bendable resilient structures are known, with segments coupled to define a longitudinal extension, and control lines passing through the segments at points spaced laterally of a central axis. An example is a toy snake which can be curved by shortening one of three laterally spaced control lines as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,241,576--Barton. The segments must be structured or connected to allow adjacent segments to tilt relative to one another along the axis. In Barton the segments have convex end surfaces which rest against one another at a point. The control lines extend freely through the segments from manually engageable finger rings (at the tail of the snake). The control lines can be pulled through the segments relative to their terminus at the last segment (the head) remote from the rings. By exerting unequal tension on the three laterally spaced control lines it is possible to cause the snake to bend, e.g., to rear its head. In so doing, the point at which adjacent segments contact one another moves laterally toward the inside of the curve. The segments are not connected mechanically to one another except by virtue of being strung like beads on the control lines.
Variations of the idea of curved segments and lateral control lines are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,393,728 and 4,494,417--both to Larson et al, in connection with a robot painting arm. U.S. Pat. No. 3,266,059--Stelle discloses a similar curved abutting surface in an articulated elbow joint between rigid members of a robot arm.
A variably flexible tether is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,546,961--Marton. A control cable passes through adjacent segments having concave and convex abutting surfaces. When tension is applied, the segments are pulled against one another and the device becomes relatively more rigid. When tension is released the device is flaccid. The convex/concave abutment between adjacent segments defines the degree of freedom of bending between the segments.
With non-compressible segments abutting at curved surfaces, such devices curve by tension on a control line at the lateral inside of the curve but do not become foreshortened longitudinally. This is because facing parts of the adjacent non-compressible segments remain in contact. The extent of possible bending is defined by the particular structure of the adjacent segments, i.e., by the extent of tilting available until portions of the segments spaced transversely from the longitudinal axis come into contact on the inside of the curve.
Arrangements which have compressible segments or a compressible element between non-compressible segments are relatively foreshortened when tension is applied and elongated when tension is released. Examples are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,060,972--Sheldon and 4,551,061--Olenick. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,969--Kimura, an extensible-retractable arm is provided wherein individually driven expansion-contraction elements are provided between each of the segments.
An important objective in a robot arm or similar controllable appendage is to accurately control the position of the distal end. A welding tool, spray head, grasping apparatus, video camera or any of various other structures can be mounted on the arm, and oriented or manipulated (e.g., applied to a workpiece) in a programmed manner. However, an arm comprising non-compressible segments with curved abutting faces is difficult to control accurately and to keep suitably stiff because there is no real connection between the adjacent segments. On the other hand, the longitudinal expansion and contraction inherent in resiliently coupled segments, which varies as tension is applied or changed to achieve a particular curve, makes accurate position programming difficult or impossible.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,497,083--Anderson et al and 4,566,843--Iwatsuka et al, segments are coupled by universal joints between adjacent segments, defined by pivot axes oriented at right angles. These joints are non-compressible, but are heavy, complicated and expensive. Additionally, the joint structures eliminate the potential of an open lumen along the central axis of the arm, for passage of fluid lines and/or electrical lines, or at least substantially occlude the available space for such lines.
Assuming the flexible structure is applied to a device for positioning a free distal end, for example carrying a tool, the load to be borne by segments disposed closer to the proximal end is greater than the load for segments at the distal end because the proximal segments must carry the weight of the distal segments. Anderson and Iwatsuka use progressively smaller segments or groups of segments proceeding toward the distal end. Each also provides separate control lines for the different segments or groups. The control lines for the larger, proximal segments are more laterally spaced than those for the smaller, distal segments, which enables greater leverage to be applied to generate a proximal curve.
In Anderson and Iwatsuka the maximum limit of the curve available between adjacent segments (i.e., the minimum radius of curvature) is reached when the segments abut one another at contact points located at a lateral space from the center of the universal joint along the longitudinal axis. The universal joint defines a secure, if heavy, means for fixing the alignment of adjacent segments. This security of alignment, however, has the unfavorable result that when first applying tension to a control line, only the endmost segment attached to the control line, generally the closest proximal segment, becomes tilted relative to the next adjacent segment. This adjacent segment is not urged to tilt until the more proximal segment curves to reach the contact point defining its limit. With increasing tension, the curve of the arm as a whole begins with tilting of segments exclusively at the base or proximal area, and proceeds outwardly, segment by segment, as each of the segments in turn is curved to its limit.
It would be advantageous to provide a flexible positioning appendage which has good flexibility and bends in a continuous manner along its length, but which has sufficient structural integrity to support itself, plus a load on the free or distal end. The appendage should be controllably bendable at any area (or even individual joint) along its length, independent of curves at other areas. Preferably, this should be achieved in a device which defines a passageway for fluid or electrical lines and the like, and does not necessarily contract or elongate when tension is applied and released. Generally, it is desirable to provide for progressively greater stiffness and support proceeding towards the proximal end, however, a given application may require the capability of a pronounced bend at a certain point along the appendage. This is provided according to the invention by certain arrangements of resilient couplings and resilient segments, facilitating an appropriate selection of rigidity vs. flexibility which is apt for a number of applications as discussed in detail hereinafter.


A sign for highway use or advertising comprises a sign stand 100 and a replaceable stretch sleeve 401. The sign stand comprises a base 120 and two vertical columns 106, 107 having receiving surfaces 106D, 108D comprising recesses 106F, 108F and raised portions 106E, 108E. The sleeve is stretched over the vertical surfaces and is retained in the recesses of the vertical surfaces by the raised portions. The sleeve is made of polyethylene film and contains indicia 407. The stretchable sleeve provides a means to easily replace the indicia of the signs. The sleeve is reusable and recyclable.

The present invention relates to signs and, more particularly, to signs with replaceable indicia.
There are numerous uses for signs including advertising, directing traffic and warning of hazards. The need for signs in road and building construction has increased dramatically due to increased development, maintenance of ever expanding highway systems, and increased awareness of liability issues. Highway markers such as the familiar fluorescent plastic cones have provided a simple and effective marker. Another example of a highway warning marker is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,375. The marker has a pyramidal shape and a brightly colored and reflective fabric cover. U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,792 discloses a collapsible cone shaped marker having a conical spring frame. However, these markers lack the flexibility to be used in many applications where specific information must be conveyed to the public.
Display signs with indicia convey additional information to drivers and pedestrians. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,319 discloses a collapsible sign. The sign utilizes a frame comprising two vertical legs and a cross member. A rectangular web comprises casings along three edges of the web. The casings enclose the framing members. Tubular connectors are used to engage the ends of the frame members. Indicia may be placed on the front and back of the web. The frame must be disassembled and the web changed to change indicia.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,302 discloses a collapsible display sign having a frame which has a folded and extended mode. A stretchable elastic fabric is used to secure the frame members in an open position. Sign boards may be mounted on the fabric. The web must have high strength since it provides the biasing means to maintain the frame in the open position. Changing the fabric requires disassembly of the frame. If separate sign boards are used for indicia, two boards are required for viewing from opposite directions.
A need exists for a display sign which overcomes the disadvantages of currently used signs.


An automated data processing system includes a relational database engine, storage devices having a database table, registry and binary large objects created and updated by the relational database engine and a user defined function engine retrieving data elements stored in the binary large objects. The registry includes data element classifications. The database table includes relational information of the data elements, the data element classifications and pointers to the binary large objects, and the relational database engine creates and updates the binary large objects based on the database table and the registry.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to databases and more particularly to a relational database which utilizes binary large objects and an object registry table in lieu of conventional data columns.
2. Description of the Related Art
Databases are highly useful for organizing many types of information. For example, production items can be tested and the test information stored in a database. The semiconductor manufacturing environment is characterized by numerous part numbers running in the fabricator at the same time. While all of these parts typically belong to the same product technology group, they all differ in some way. This leads to the need for different test requirements for all products.
Conventional systems have different test requirements that translate into different storage requirements for a database system. More specifically, one product may test N parameters while another tests M parameters. The situation becomes more complex when the contents of N are not the same as the contents of M. If one parameter is different, then there are M+1 different parameters that need to be accounted for in the database. Taking this progression out to K parts, there could be M*K different parameters that require storage.
In a classical relational model, this would require tables with M*K columns. This quickly becomes unmanageable and extends beyond the capabilities of conventional relational database management systems.
An additional problem of conventional relational database systems is the utilization factor associated with each row of the data table. If a row is only using {fraction (1/10)} of the columns defined, then that row has a utilization factor of 0.1(M*K). There is a 90% waste of space in this row. This problem becomes severe as products mature and testing is reduced. The tables cannot change and thus the utilization factor goes down and the waste goes up.
This problem has been addressed before through different approaches. The 100% object oriented approach uses an object oriented database technology, where the collections of test values are stored as objects. In this system each test measurement is treated as an object. Measurement objects inherit from chip objects, which inherit from wafer objects, which inherit from lot objects. This creates an object inheritance structure where the lot is at the top and the test measurement is at the bottom. In such a conventional system all information about the measurement is carried down from the lot class, which creates a large amount of storage overhead for each test measurement.
Another conventional approach is the 100% relational approach which uses relational database technology and stores collections of data values as columns in tables. This technique uses meta-data tables to describe the columns in the data tables, which have generic names.
However, there are several problems with the conventional relational approach. First, the database is difficult to change, for example, if the nature of the incoming data exceeds the capabilities of the tables. Secondly, such a conventional system is very inefficient. A table that has 100 columns must use all 100 columns to be space efficient. If rows are created that do not use all data columns, as is typical in the semiconductor environment, then space is being wasted. The conventional relational approach also does not have any capability to distribute the data across multiple databases on multiple physical systems.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a structure and method for storing chip data in database (e.g., DB2) tables as Binary Large Objects (BLOB""s) and maintaining descriptive information of the BLOB (meta-data) in separated tables in the database. The meta-data describes the sequence of test parameters in a BLOB for a particular collection of tests performed on a particular device tested.
More specifically, the invention comprises an automated data processing system including a relational database engine storage devices having a database table, registry and binary large objects created and updated by the relational database engine and a user defined function engine retrieving data elements stored in the binary large objects. The registry includes data element classifications. The database table includes relational information of the data elements, the data element classifications and pointers to the binary large objects, and the relational database engine creates and updates the binary large objects based on the database table and the registry.
The binary large objects may comprise aggregate objects having a plurality of similar data elements or composite objects having a plurality of dissimilar data elements. The binary large objects have distinctive sizes based on corresponding ones of the data elements and the data element classification includes these distinctive sizes.
The database table has a current structure and the system is dynamically extended by defining additional data element classifications or by expanding a size of at least one of the binary large objects and maintaining the current structure of the database table.
The processing system may be a distributed network and the storage device would then be a plurality of network servers. Such a distributed network could include a data director for routing data elements and user requests.
The invention also includes a manual and computer implemented method of organizing data elements in a relational database, comprising storing relational information about the data elements and data element classification in a database table, defining the classification information in a registry, storing the data elements separate from the database table and the registry in objects; and including pointers to the objects in the database table.
In another embodiment, the invention comprises a relational database management system having objects storing data elements, a database table storing relational information of the data elements and pointers pointing to the objects (the database table does not include the data elements), and a registry having information about data element classification and data element location.
The invention supports multiple collections of test data, maintains descriptive information for data collections and does not use table columns to store test data. For example, the invention stores chip data in DB2 tables as Binary Large Objects (BLOB""s) and maintains descriptive information (meta-data) in separate tables in the database. Additionally, the invention includes a small database footprint and is dynamically extendable without any database table structure changes. With the invention, the database maintenance is reduced while storage is optimized. Any data type, including those beyond the scope of data base management systems (DBMS), can be stored and retrieved with the invention and the database table cardinality is reduced.
The invention is especially useful in environments which involve a large number of diverse products. The invention permits rapid deployment in new areas without having to change the structure of the database.

Mapping binary objects in extended relational database management systems with relational registry

International Business Machines Corporation


A liquid crystal operation device including a pair of substrates opposed to each other; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the substrates; and a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes which are at least partially opposed to each other with an insulating film interposed therebetween. The first electrodes are provided on one of the substrates. The liquid crystal operation device further includes a third electrode provided on a surface of the other substrate to be opposed to the second electrodes; and a photosensitive section bridging the second electrodes and a signal line provided in the vicinity of the second electrodes. The photosensitive section is formed of a photoconductive material. A first capacitance is generated between the first electrodes and the second electrodes, a second capacitance is generated between the second electrodes and the third electrode. The second electrodes are controllably connected to and separated from the signal line by the photosensitive section. An image processing system includes such a liquid crystal operation device; and a spatial light modulator for optically transferring an image to the liquid crystal operation device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal operation device and an image processing system using the same for wide use in industrial products capable of image processing and diagram processing and products for factory automation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Introduction of computer technologies in recent years brought about remarkable developments in image processing technologies in the fields of medical equipment, remote sensing, robotic vision, and the like. Today, digital image processing technologies are rapidly improved in combination with the advanced LSI technologies for wide use in consumer products including audiovisual appliances and office automation equipment.
The digital image processing technologies realize the following through operations using pixels (addition, subtraction, etc.), data conversion, histogram preparation, marginal distribution preparation, logic operation (contraction, expansion, outline extraction, etc.), and labeling.
(1) Visualization of X-ray images, temperature distribution images, etc.,
(2) Clarification of images by noise removal and brightness compensation,
(3) Extraction and measurement of features of images, and
(4) Image recognition and image understanding.
FIG. 10 illustrates general image processing steps for image recognition. An image data (analog signal) obtained by a TV camera 81 is converted into a digital signal by an A-D converter 82, and the digital signal is stored in an image memory 83. Based on the stored signal, an external operation device 84 performs image processing and image measurement, thereby performing image recognition. The image data processed in such a system has the following features.
(1) Two-dimensional,
(2) Large in amount; for example, approximately 256KB to IMB per a plane, and
(3) Gradation (number of bits) per an image is diversified.
In order to perform high speed digital processing of an image data having such features, the data stored in the image memory 83 should be processed at a high speed. For improving the processing speed in the image memory 83, various systems including the following representative ones have been proposed.
(1) Complete parallel processing system. Basic operation modules each corresponding to a pixel holding a two-dimensional image data are two-dimensionally provided, and the modules are simultaneously operated in parallel. In this system, real-time image processing is realized.
(2) Local parallel processing system. Access to data and operation are performed in parallel in a local area having 3.times.3 to 15.times.15 pixels. Such local processing is sequentially performed for all the pixels.
(3) Pipeline processing system. Image data are sequentially sent to processing modules connected to one another as a pipe line, and the processing results are sequentially obtained after a certain delay time.
However, none of these systems have sufficient processing capability at present. These systems have inconveniences such that it takes a long time to process a huge amount of image data and also to transfer data between an external memory device and a main memory device (image memory). The complete parallel processing system has other inconveniences because of an enlarged circuit scale and a higher manufacturing cost thereof.
Under the circumstances, an image processing system which processes a huge amount of image data at a high speed and simultaneously recognizes the image has been demanded.
To answer this demand, application of a liquid crystal device to image processing has been proposed (The Transactions of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers of Japan, C-II, Vol.-J73-C-II, No. 11, pp. 703 to 712, 1990).
FIG. 11 illustrates an image operation system 90 which is proposed in the above-mentioned literature. The image operation system 90 includes a light source 97 emitting red, blue and green light beams. The light beams are transmitted sequentially through a color polarizing plate 91, a liquid crystal display device (referred to as the LCD device, hereinafter) 92, a color polarizing plate 93, an LCD device 94, and a color polarizing plate 95. The LCD devices 92 and 94 are, for example, of an active matrix type and perform black and white display. The light outgoing from the color polarizing plate 95 indicates the operation result. The color polarizing plates 91, 93 and 95 linearly polarize a light beam having a specified wavelength, but transmits a light beam having any other wavelength without such polarization.
FIGS. 12a through 12c illustrate a performance of the image operation system 90. In these figures, the hatched areas are rotation regions which transmit light while rotating the light, and blank areas are transmission regions which transmit light without rotation. FIG. 12a concerns an image operation system 90a for obtaining an AND (G1.multidot.G2) of images G1 and G2 displayed in the LCD devices 92 and 94. In this operation, the color polarizing plates 91, 93 and 95 linearly polarize all the light beams having a wavelength of .lambda..sub.1 in an identical direction. In this construction, light beams which are linearly polarized by the color polarizing plate 91 are rotated at a specified angle by a rotation region of the LCD device 92 but are transmitted as linearly polarized light beams through a transmission region of the LCD device 92. The light beams transmitted through the transmission region are transmitted through the color polarizing plate 93 as they are, and then are rotated by a rotation region of the LCD device 94 but are transmitted through a transmission region of the LCD device 94 as they are. The light beams rotated by the LCD device 94 are shielded by the color polarizing plate 95, but the light beams transmitted through the LCD device 94 without rotation are transmitted through the color polarizing plate 95. The light beams rotated by the LCD device 92 are shielded by the color polarizing plate 93. As a result, a semicircular image is displayed as an AND operation result on a display plane 96.
FIG. 12b concerns an image operation system 90b for obtaining an OR (G1+G2) of the images G1 and G2. Light beams having wavelengths of .lambda..sub.2 and .lambda..sub.3 are used. The color polarizing plate 91 linearly polarizes light beams having a wavelength of .lambda..sub.2. The color polarizing plate 93 linearly polarizes light beams having wavelengths of .lambda..sub.2 and .lambda..sub.3. The color polarizing plate 95 linearly polarizes light beams having a wavelength of .lambda..sub.3. In this construction, light beams having a wavelength of .lambda..sub.2 are linearly polarized by the color polarizing plate 91, but light beams having a wavelength of .lambda..sub.3 are transmitted through the color polarizing plate 91 without such polarization. Among the light beams linearly polarized by the color polarizing plate 91, only the light beams transmitted through the circular transmission region of the LCD device 92 are transmitted through the color polarizing plate 93 based on the above-mentioned principle. Then, the light beams are transmitted through the transmission region of the LCD device 94 without rotation but are rotated by the rotation region of the LCD device 94. However, since all the light beams having a wavelength of .lambda..sub.2 are transmitted through the color polarizing plate 95, a circular image is obtained on the display plane 96.
The light beams having a wavelength of .lambda..sub.3 are linearly polarized by the color polarizing plate 93 for the first time. Among the light beams linearly polarized by the color polarizing plate 93, only the light beams transmitted through the rectangular transmission region of the LCD device 94 are transmitted through the color polarizing plate 95, whereby a rectangular image is obtained on the display plane 96. As a result, an image made of the circular image G1 and the rectangular image G2 is obtained as the OR operation result on the display plane 96.
FIG. 12c concerns an image operation system 90c for obtaining an inverted image of an EXCLUSIVE-OR (G1 EXOR G2) of the images G1 and G2. A monochromatic light having a wavelength of .lambda..sub.4 is used. The color polarizing plates 91 and 95 linearly polarize light beams having a wavelength of .lambda..sub.4. The color polarizing plate 93, which transmits such light beams without polarization, may be eliminated or formed of a transparent glass. In this construction, light beams having a wavelength of .lambda..sub.4 are linearly polarized by the color polarizing plate 91. The light beams are transmitted through the transmission region of the LCD device 92 without rotation but are rotated at a specified angle by the rotation region of the LCD device 92. Among the light beams rotated by the LCD device 92, the light beams transmitted through the rotation region of the LCD device 94 are further rotated, thereby becoming parallel to the polarizing direction of the color polarizing plate 95. The light beams rotated either by the LCD device 92 or 94 are shielded by the color polarizing plate 95. The light beams transmitted through the transmission region of the LCD device 92 and then the transmission region of the LCD device 94 reach the display plane 96. As a result, an inverted image of the XOR of the images G1 and G2 is obtained as the operation result on the display plane 96.
In the above-mentioned system 90, fundamentally two LCD devices are used for an optical operation. Such a construction requires precise positional alignment of these LCD devices, which is troublesome. Moreover, formation of an image in each LCD device requires data transfer from an image generator. The data transfer takes a long time, which prolongs the processing.
In sequential image processing operations performed by the conventional system 90, light from an object as a reference is received by an imaging device such as a CCD and is converted to an electric signal. Then, such electric signals are sequentially sent to the LCD device 94, and the processed image is displayed therein. An image for operation is displayed on the LCD device 92 by another electric signal, and then a desired light is transmitted through the system for operation. In this case also, photoelectric conversion is necessary in an optical path of either one of the two LCD devices 92 and 94. Therefore, parallel processing cannot be stably performed, which spoils the efficiency of optical processing.
In the system using an LSI as is shown in FIG. 10, complete parallel processing is most desirable, but enlarges the circuit scale. Further, the chip area is enlarged, and the manufacturing cost is significantly high.

Liquid crystal operation device and an image system using the same


A digital magazine server determines a dominant color present in an image using a clustering algorithm. Color components of each pixel in the image are identified used to generate vectors associated with each pixel. Based on the vectors associated with the pixels, clusters including one or more pixels are generated using a clustering algorithm (e.g., k-means). The digital magazine server generates a characteristic vector for each cluster based on the vectors included in the cluster and selects a set of clusters based on their characteristic vectors. A centroid identifying the dominant color of the image is determined from the characteristic vectors of clusters in the set.

This invention relates generally to image analysis, and more specifically to determining a dominant color of an image.
A digital magazine server provides digital content to its users via a digital magazine having various pages that each includes content items and information describing positioning of content items relative to each other. Digital content included in a digital magazine frequently includes images. To enhance user interaction with content items presented in a page of the digital magazine, the digital magazine server often includes text providing additional information about an image in the image itself. Additionally, including text in an image may allow the digital magazine server to reduce an image's size by using the text to describe content associated with the image, which may increase the number of content items presented in a page of the digital magazine. However, conventional methods for including text in an image often result in the text being illegible or obscured based on colors of the image.

Determining a dominant color of an image based on pixel components


A catheter system with a proximal end and a distal end means at the proximal end to actuate a device at the distal end of the system, and an actuator element that runs the length of the system, from the actuator means to the device and actuates the device by transmitting a physical force from the proximal end to the distal end and characterized by a pre-tensioner near the distal end of the system, that can be set in a pre-tensioning disposition prior to actuation of the device, the pre-tensioner thereby reducing the magnitude of the said physical force that must be transmitted from the proximal end when actuation of the device is required.

The archetypal catheter-type system to release a self-expanding stent into a bodily lumen takes the form of a catheter shaft extending between a proximal end of the system that remains outside the body and a distal end of the system that carries the stent. The proximal end is manipulated, to release the stent. This manipulation involves pulling on one component of the system, at the proximal end, in order to pull back proximally a sheath that radially confines the stent.
Since the scent is exerting radially outward force on the sheath, up to the time that the stent is released from the sheath, the stent will tend to be carried with the sheath, whenever the sheath is pulled proximally, relative to the shaft of the catheter system. Thus, that shaft needs to engage with a surface portion of the stent and restrain the stent as the sheath retracts proximally, relative to the stent. This restraining of the stent naturally imposes on the catheter shaft an endwise compressive stress, as that shaft "pushes" on the stent during proximal withdrawal of the sheath.
Thus, the shaft of the catheter system inherently includes components that are sliding over each other, throughout the length of the system, which length can be rather large, typically between 100 cm and 150 cm.
As experience grows, self-expanding stents can be delivered to ever more demanding locations in the body, with the delivery system advancing along ever more tortuous and confined lumens. Today, there is vigorous demand for delivery systems that can keep to an overall diameter of 6 F or smaller (6 F equals 2 mm, with the unit of "1 French" corresponding to ⅓ mm). As the diameter is continually brought down, so the pressure on the system designer increases, to minimise the forces of friction that arise with sliding contact along the shaft length.
Further, with greater radial force, greater axial length, and with ever more sophisticated coverings on the stent strut matrix the "drag" of the stent on the proximally-moving sheath gets bigger. This, in turn, raises the tension required in the stent release means. It can well be imagined that a need therefore exists to hold down the absolute values of endwise tensile stress, to values that the system can tolerate without kinking or buckling and without failure of any one of the very long, very thin components involved.


The invention provides a microscope for measuring the surface profile of an object, including (1) an illumination module which directs illumination radiation with different wavelengths to different surface portions of the object in such a way that a predetermined object intersection length range is illuminated for every portion, and (2) a detection module which detects sample radiation of every portion successively in time. Wherein the detection module directs the sample radiation into a detection beam path via a scanner and confocally images another wavelength of the sample radiation in a plane for every intersection length to be detected. The detection module also detects the intensity of the confocally imaged sample radiation in a wavelength-dependent manner and derives therefrom the position of the corresponding surface portion of the object. Wherein the detection module has a color module arranged between the scanner and the plane, through which the sample radiation passes.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a microscope and to a microscopy method for measuring the surface profile of an object. The measurement of the surface profile can be carried out conventionally, e.g., by a laser scanning microscope, by executing and evaluating a sequence of confocal slices (Z-stack). The rate of image acquisition and the quantity of Z-slices determines the detectable topological dynamic.
2. Description of Related Art
DE 44 19 940 A1 discloses the use of an objective lens with a strong chromatic aberration in a confocal optical microscope and the spectral splitting and analysis of the confocally detected light so that different depths of the object can be acquired simultaneously. The disadvantage consists in that a special objective lens must be provided and standard objective lenses cannot be used.

Microscope and microscope microexamination procedure method for the measurement of the surface profile of an object


A method of recording information in an optical recording medium, which comprises two steps. In the first step, a coherent light pulse train which resonates with a transition between the first and third energy levels and coherent light which resonates with a transition between the second and third energy levels or a transition between the first and second energy levels are applied to the optical recording medium, thereby causing the light pulse train to pass through the optical recording medium. In the second step, an intensity change of an external field is supplied to the medium, while the light pulse train is passing through the optical recording medium, thereby fixing sites in a thickness direction of the medium, at which the absorption spectrum of the medium is changed.

The present invention relates an optical recording medium, a method of recording information, a method of reproducing information, an apparatus for recording information, and an apparatus for reproducing information.
On the conventional optical recording medium, information is recorded in a two-dimensional fashion, that is, in a data-recording surface. It is proposed that information be recorded not only in the data-recording surface but also in the thickness direction of the medium at a density similar to the in-plane recording density. In other words, bits of information should be recorded in the thickness direction, at intervals as short as the wavelength of the light beam applied to record the information. If this is achieved, the recording capacity of the medium will increase remarkably.
Kawada, Microoptics News, Vol. 14, No. 1 (1996) discloses a method of recording information in the thickness direction of a medium. In this method, a lens is driven, moving the focal point in the depth direction of the medium, thereby recording information bits at positions in the medium which are aligned in the depth direction. The method can record information in the thickness direction, at a density of about 30 bits for 0.3 mm.
Each information bit is recorded by virtue of the absorption of light occurring at the point where the light beam is focused by moving the lens. The efficiency of light absorption and the distance the lens is moved limit the thickness of that part of the medium which serves the depth-direction recording. Further, the speed of recording information cannot be increased so much since the lens must be moved to record information bits in the depth direction of the medium.
No conventional method is available that is relatively simple and can yet record information bits in the thickness direction of a medium at a density substantially equal to the reciprocal of the wavelength of the light beam applied to the medium. Moreover, no conventional method can record information in the depth direction of a medium at a sufficiently high speed.

Optical recording medium, method of recording information, method of reproducing information, apparatus for recording information, and apparatus for reproducing information


The present invention discloses a device and method that allows the installation of construction materials, such as drywall, by a single person. The device comprises an extension (or hoist) section coupled at one end to a support which can receive and support a piece of drywall during installation. The extension section is further coupled to a base portion at the end opposite to the support. The base portion includes a pivot feature that serves to lift the drywall once it has been positioned on the support. The extension is adjustable to install drywall on a stud wall at various heights. Advantageously, the device is lightweight, easily transportable and easy to use. The device's convenient design enables its utilization immediately upon reaching a construction site.

Drywall (also commonly referred to as or wallboard or sheetrock) is commonly installed on studs to form the basis for finished interior walls of residential and commercial buildings. While drywall is produced in many sizes, the typical sizes for installation are in sheets four feet wide and eight or twelve feet in length.
Standard pieces or sheets of drywall are heavy and difficult to install by one person alone. Accordingly, at least two people are commonly needed to hold and install these drywall sheets. In construction, time is of the essence as it relates to profitability. Use of multiple people reduces efficiency and, therefore, adds to the cost of construction.
A particular problem associated with drywall or wallboard installation relates to hanging the drywall on upper portions of a stud wall. It is particularly difficult to hold drywall at elevated positions on the stud wall for installation. It is also difficult to hold the drywall so that it remains properly aligned with the stud wall, the ceiling, etc. before being secured in place.
A variety of installation devices exhibiting different levels of complexity are known in the art. For example, the following patents and patent applications describe lifters that generally resemble the letter "T", with the drywall or other construction material placed at the top and hoisted into position either through a cranking mechanism, screwing device, spring or telescopic means that are arranged on the vertical portion of the device: U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,645 (Anderson); U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,484 (Zimmer); U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,028 (Hunter); U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,844 (Molloy); U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,916 (Molloy); U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,774 (Balseiro et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,854 (Lundgren et al); U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,945 (Jeffries et al); U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,448 (Stewart); U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,084 (Butler); International Patent Application No. PCT/AU95/00382 (WO 96/01353); and UK Patent Application GB 2,260,559. These devices, while useful for their intended purpose, can be bulky and in many cases do not lend themselves to use by a single person.
The following patents describe lifting or positioning devices that rely on the use of a foot to hoist construction materials a few inches from ground level: U.S. Pat. No. 2,692,753 (Masterson); U.S. Pat. No. 2,989,286 (Gillespie); U.S. Pat. No. 3,268,209 (Humbyrd); U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,771 (Donnelly et al); U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,561 (Wulff); U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,842 (Muldoon et al); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,399 (Nelson). While suitable for certain types of construction projects, these devices do not permit materials to be positioned at the higher reaches of a wall.
Some of the more complicated devices for lifting drywall and other construction materials are represented by the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 3,828,942 (Young); U.S. Pat. No. 4,339,219 (Lay); U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,934 (Elliott); U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,348 (Pettit); U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,826 (Hurilla); U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,299 (Jesswein); U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,063 (Warin); U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,810 (Reyes); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,492 (Kerns, III et al). In many cases, these devices require assembly before use. In addition, these devices can be bulky and heavy, including such features as tripods and scaffolding. They are consequently better suited for use in commercial construction projects than in home renovations, for example.
An example of a more current lifting device is described in United States Patent Application Publication Number US 2001/0029715 A1 (Bradley et al). This publication describes a drywall installation apparatus that includes a support for holding the drywall to be installed, an extension to adjust the length of the drywall installation apparatus, and a base to which a lifting mechanism may be coupled to raise the drywall installation apparatus holding the drywall into a desired position for installation on a stud wall. The drywall installation apparatus includes an alignment member to assist in orienting the piece of drywall to be installed on the stud wall. This alignment member (or "stud guide") is U-shaped and serves to maintain the drywall installation apparatus in a desired position when a sheet of drywall is being raised or lowered relative to a stud wall. This installation apparatus, while suitable for certain types of walls, such as the stud walls having metal brackets that are favored in many parts of North America, is less convenient for use on other types of wall surfaces.
There is a need, therefore, for a device for holding and positioning construction materials that is simple to use and lightweight, yet sturdy enough to support the weight charge of most construction materials. There is a further need to provide an installation device and method that will allow a single person to hold and install a construction material on a wall, such as drywall, particularly at upper reaches of the wall.
The present invention seeks to meet these needs.

Device for holding and positioning construction materials


An operator interface apparatus and associated methods may allow an operator to select and verify various operating parameters for an image correlation type of displacement transducer. A subset of pixels from a detector array or camera may be defined to participate in an image correlation displacement measurement operations.

This invention is directed to correlation displacement transducers. In particular, this invention is directed to a user interface apparatus for a correlation displacement transducer having a selectable detector area.
Various known measurement transducers may use images acquired by a sensor array, and correlation between such images, to determine deformations and/or displacements. For example, one class of such devices may be based on acquiring a speckle image generated by illuminating an optically rough surface with a light source. The light source may be a coherent light source, such as a laser-generating light source. After the optically rough surface is illuminated by the light source, the light scattered from the optically rough surface may be imaged onto an optical sensor. The optical sensor may be a charge-coupled device (CCD), a semiconductor image sensor array, such as a CMOS image sensor array, or the like.
Prior to displacing or deforming the optically rough surface, a first initial speckle image, sometimes called a reference image, may be captured and stored. Then, after displacing the optically rough surface, a second or subsequent speckle image, sometimes called a current image, may be captured and stored. Conventionally, as much of the first and second speckle images as possible are then correlated or compared on a pixel-by-pixel basis. In general, a plurality of comparisons are performed. In each comparison, the first and second speckle images may be offset, or "synthetically" spatially translated, as by shifting the images electronically, relative to each other. Between each comparison, the amount of offset, or synthetic spatial translation, may be increased by a known amount, such as one image element, or pixel, or an integer number of image elements or pixels.
In each correlation or comparison, the image value of a particular pixel in the reference image may be multiplied by, subtracted from, or otherwise mathematically used in a function with, the image value of the corresponding second image pixel, where the corresponding second image pixel is determined based on the amount of offset. The value resulting from each pixel-by-pixel operation may be accumulated with values resulting from the operation performed on every other pixel of the images to determine a correlation value for that comparison between the first and second images. That correlation value may then be, in effect, plotted against the offset amount, or synthetic spatial translation position, for that comparison, to determine a correlation function value point. The offset amount, or spatial translation position, having the strongest correlation between the reference and first images may generate an extremum, that is, a peak, or a trough, depending on how the pixel-by-pixel comparison is performed, in the plot of correlation function value points. The offset amount, or spatial translation position, corresponding to the peak or trough may represent the amount of relative displacement or deformation between the first and second speckle images.
Similarly, conventional images may be used in image correlation displacement sensing system systems. For such applications, the light source may be an incoherent source, such as a light emitting diode (LED), and the scale or surface to be imaged may be located at an object-side focal plane of imaging optics used to image a pattern of the scale or surface onto an optical sensor of a correlation displacement transducer.

Operator interface apparatus and method for displacement transducer with selectable detector area


An improved inverted motion base with left, right, and rear supports, a carriage to travel along a length of the rear support. The inverted motion base includes a first cable connected to the carriage and wound about a first drum to raise and lower the carriage, and left and right load carrying arms, each connected to a respective left and right ends of a transverse support member. The inverted motion base further includes a second cable connected to the right load carrying arm to raise and lower the right load carrying arm, and a third cable connected to the left load carrying arm to raise and lower the second end of the left load carrying arm. One or more rows of seats are positioned between and suspended from the right and left load carrying arms, each row of seats being parallel to the other row of seats.

For thousands of years, theaters have existed for the presentation of live action. A classic example is the Roman Coliseum, construction of which began in 70 AD. Theaters for the presentation of projected movie films (i.e., prerecorded material) are a more modern construction. Purpose built movie theaters (or alternatively buildings, such as stores, modified into movie theaters) probably began their existence in the late 1800 to early 1900's. Today, many types (e.g., digital, 3D, IMAX™, etc.) of movie theaters exist. Both flat and curved screens are used as projection surfaces for the projected movies. Projection onto the screen can come from either the front or back of the screen. Other innovations in projection system technologies have further changed the way that audiences view films. The most unique projection systems often find their way into specialty venues, such as museums and theme parks.
While projection systems have changed, theater seating has largely remained unchanged. Rows of seats, sometimes straight, sometimes curved, face a screen. The rows of seats may be on a flat floor. With flat floor seating, unless the bottom of the projection screen is sufficiently elevated from the floor, an unlucky viewer can have his or her line of sight to the screen obscured by the heads or hats of other patrons seated between the screen and the unlucky viewer. This problem is exacerbated the further the viewer is from the screen. Alternative, the rows of seats may be placed on a sloped or stepped floor. This helps to obviate the above-mentioned problem of obscured views. Nevertheless, most theater seats, whether on a flat, sloped, or stepped floor, are fixed to the floor.
However, fixing seats to the floor limits a viewer's experience to only viewing the motion on the screen. Therefore, even if a viewer is facing an immense screen, the viewer can only imagine the physical sensation of dropping, climbing, or tipping when the corresponding action appears on the screen.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,954 (the '954 patent) seeks to add some sensation of physical motion to a patron's theater experience. However, the structure described in the '954 patent can cause a patron to have an adverse reaction. The complex mechanical design of the seat hangers results in the real, not imagined, reduction in the spacing between each pair of rows of seats. The forward movement of the seats as they are being lifted may remind, intentionally, a patron that he is being immersed into a fantasy of taking off and flying in a hang glider, however, the mechanical construction may adversely give the patron a feeling that he is about to crash into the hang glider (row of seats) in front of him. Additionally, although the '954 patent provides for the pitch (nose-up/nose-down) motion of each row of seats, many patrons become afraid that they will pitch forward too much and slip from their seats. Additionally, passengers are loaded onto the rows of seats of the '954 patent from a loading position on a flat floor. The complex mechanical structure of the '954 patent apparatus makes it impossible to provide a "pre-take-off" movie experience to patrons as all but the first row of patrons will have an unobstructed view facing forward. Even their view is obstructed above by the overhanging "glider wing."
U.S. Pat. No. 8,225,555 (the '555 patent) also seeks to add some sensation of physical motion to a patron's theater experience. Like the '954 patent, the rows of seats of the '555 patent are positioned one behind the other on a flat floor. The '555 patent purports to teach the desirability of having a pre-show to entertain patrons as they wait for the main show. Indeed, the '555 patent's concept is to fool the audience into believing that the preshow is the main event. Regardless of its purpose, the '555 patent concept has the same limitations faced by prior art theaters with rows of seats all positioned on the same level on a single flat floor. Namely, viewers that are unlucky enough to sit behind a taller person will have their view of the screen obscured by the taller person's head or hat. Of course, the '555 patent's ultimate "ride" for the patrons is to lift them vertically up from the floor of the preview theater into the central space of the main theater. The patrons then hang from cables in their rows of seats to watch the main presentation.

Inverted motion base with suspended seating


The Adapter is coupled to a keyboard, and one or multiple video game control devices, including widely available directional game pads and joysticks designed for other video game platforms. The Adapter is in turn coupled to the keyboard port of a personal computer. During the Function mode, button presses or other input decision actions observed at the video game controller result in a key scan code being sent to the personal computer's keyboard port based on a user-defined association list. During the Program mode, the association list is reconfigured in one of three ways, two of which are achieved automatically through a reconfiguration program running on the computer. The third way of reconfiguring the Adapter involves the user manually associating one or multiple keyboard key presses to a particular button press or other input decision action at the video game controller. Keyboard key press to button press or other input decision action associations are stored in either non-volatile memory, or in volatile memory.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to the use of personal computers as a platform for running video game software programs, more specifically to a new device that facilitates gameplay by allowing the use of widely available, specially designed video game controllers.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Typically, video games platforms have been classified into two distinct areas: dedicated video game platforms and personal computers configurable to run video game programs. For those dedicated type video game platforms, input from one or more game players is handled via dedicated hand-held input controllers, numbering usually one controller per player. Such hand-held controllers typically include a directional pad, commonly referred to as a d-pad, or joystick mechanism that allows the player to input a desired directional input. Also included are any number of buttons or switches that allow the player to initiate any action within the video game that has been associated with a specific button press or switch closure.
Personal computers, which have the ability to run the same or similar video game programs as do dedicated platform systems, do not typically have the same built in controller interface hardware that dedicated platforms systems have. This prevents a game controller, such as a joystick or directional pad type controller, to be used as input for one or multiple players playing a video game without specialized controller interface hardware first being installed.
There have been two widely accepted and implemented solutions that provide video game players the ability to input game playing decisions to a personal computer. These are using the computer's keyboard for input, and using a game interface card and compatible joystick or other game controller device to provide input via the computer's industry standard game port. Using the keyboard for discrete signal input has the disadvantages of being clumsy and awkward when rapid, dexterous button press input is required from the player. This fact usually excludes the keyboard from being used for anything more than typed, textual input while playing video games unless it is the only suitable means of input available. An exception to this is when a multiple player video game relegates the input responsibilities for one player to the keyboard, and another player to a joystick or other input device that sends input to the computer via the industry standard game port. The inherent disadvantages of two video game players having to compete in a non-equitable fashion are clear, and have in part prevented multiple player video games that have seen tremendous popularity on other dedicated video game platform systems, from becoming as popular on personal computer systems.
If a joystick or other video game controller that is designed to send input to a game port is used, it is usually necessary to install a game interface card into the computer to allow access to such a port. The industry standard game port that is found in IBM personal computers and compatibles is the most common game port supported. This particular game port allows a limited number of discrete signal inputs, that is four on/off binary signals, and a limited number of variable signal inputs, that is, four variable voltage signals common to potentiometer output. The game port can support input from one joystick with up to four analog signal inputs and four discrete signal inputs, or two joysticks with two analog signal inputs and two discrete signal inputs each. Only one game card can be used with this game port, and thus input via this port is limited.
As video games that require more input from the player or from multiple players become more popular, the inherent input limitations of the industry standard game port, when using a personal computer as a video game platform, has become apparent. For example, such popular fighting type video games as Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, and others where one player competes against another player or against a computer opponent have become increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to seem more real. Players now have the option to attack the opponent in numerous ways, each attack typically being assigned to a separate button. A fighting game that allows the player to initiate three types of kicks and three types of punches would require each player to use a video game controller that accommodates six discrete signal input buttons plus four directional inputs per player Directional inputs are usually discrete signal inputs as well. This number far exceeds the industry standard game port's maximum of two discrete signal inputs per player when using two joysticks. Two popular dedicated video game platforms, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and the Sega Genesis, both allow each player to use a directional pad controller with up to eight discrete signal input buttons plus four directional discrete signal inputs, for a total of twelve per controller per player. Coin operated arcade versions of fighting video games such as Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter also have numerous buttons facilitating player input and use a discrete signal input system for both button press and directional input.
Attempting to remedy the deficiencies encountered when using the personal computer to play video games that require multiple input decisions from multiple players, video game programmers have typically delegated one player's input tasks to the computer's keyboard, while the second player's input is by means of a joystick or other type of controller that is attached to the industry standard game port. By only using one joystick for input via the game port, all four discrete signal inputs can be assigned to one joystick, thus increasing the number of input decision inputs available to that one player. This arrangement has the obvious shortcoming of not allowing both players to compete in an equitable manner, since one player uses a joystick and the other a keyboard. While the game port does support two joystick devices, using two joysticks, or one joystick per person, limits each joystick and thus each player to only two buttons apiece. Since there are relatively few games that have ever been programmed that require each player to use only two or fewer buttons when competing against one another, the two joystick solution has never been widely implemented. Thus, video game players and video game programmers who wish to use the personal computer for game play are limited in available player controller options. The result is that games which allow player to player competition, such as personal computer versions of Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, are much less entertaining than arcade and dedicated video game platform versions of the same.
Prior art examples of devices that emulate video game controller interface hardware are few, yet there are many examples of devices that utilize technology that can recreate key scan codes for communications with a personal computer via the keyboard port. One such example is found as one of the components of the RECONFIGURABLE VIDEO GAME SYSTEM, U.S. Pat. No.: 5,396,267, Date of Patent: Mar. 7, 1995. This reconfigurable video game system has the ability to send key scan codes to a personal computer via the keyboard port. Further, this system allows the user to configure a joystick or throttle controller to send specific key scan codes when specific button presses are made on any attached controller. These configurations are stored in non-volatile type memory. This prior art example, however, has no ability to communicate with any other type of non-standard type video controller designed to be used with specialized interface hardware and software. Only joysticks and other game controllers specifically designed for use with this system can be used. There is no provision in the design to use multiple identical controllers, as for use with head to head, fighting type video games.
A second relevant prior art example of technology that recreates key scan codes for communications with a personal computer via the keyboard port is the SUNCOM SFX PC JOYPAD WITH KEYBOARD EMULATION OPTION. This directional pad type video game controller device uses standard keyboard emulation technology, allowing the user to send input to the computer via the keyboard port or industry standard game port. When functioning in keyboard emulation mode, the device can be configured to send user specified key scan codes to the computer's keyboard port. These configurations are stored in non-volatile type memory. Like other keyboard emulation type video game controllers, this device lacks any special hardware that would allow it to interface and communicate with non-standard video game controllers, or other type controllers that are designed to work with other video game platform hardware. Additionally, the joypad is designed to operate alone, as a single controller. When multiple joypads are used together, or one joypad is used while the keyboard is also being used simultaneously, communications errors between the keyboard, joypad, and keyboard port can occur. This prohibits the use of two or more joypads for multiple player games where multiple controllers are required.
While the two mentioned prior art examples demonstrate the common implementation and use of keyboard emulation technology, there has yet been no such implementation which includes the additional technology required for such a device to communicate with non-standard video game controllers such as those designed for use with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, the Sega Genesis Video Entertainment System, and others.

Configurable keyboard to personal computer video game controller adapter


A magneto-optical recording medium includes at least a reproduction layer and a memory layer on a substrate on which a groove and a land is formed. Information is reproduced from the magneto-optical recording medium by transferring magnetization information recorded in the memory layer to the reproduction layer by magnetostatic coupling. Prior to recording of information, the magneto-optical recording medium is initialized such that a magnetization of the memory layer on the land is aligned in one direction and a magnetization of the memory layer on the groove is aligned in a direction opposite to the one direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magneto-optical recording medium on and from which information is optically recorded and reproduced using a light beam, and a method of recording information on the medium.
2. Related Background Art
As conventional media used for optically recording/reproducing information, a ROM (read-only) type medium, a WORM (write once, read many) type medium, an R/W (rewritable) type medium, and the like are known. These media use a transparent material, such as glass or polycarbonate, as a substrate, and are distinguished from each other depending on the material used to form a coating or a film on the substrate. That is, when a substance such as Al having high reflectance and thermal stability is used on the substrate, a ROM type medium is obtained. When a material, such as an organic dye that causes an irreversible reaction due to heat is used, a WORM type medium is obtained. Also, when a material such as a magnetic material or a phase change material (which can assume both crystalline and amorphous states), which can thermally or magnetically cause a reversible reaction, is used, an R/W type medium is obtained.
On the other hand, when optical information recording media are classified in terms of their shapes, they can be roughly classified into a disc type medium, a card type medium, and a tape type medium. These media have respective features and are selectively used depending on application. Of these types of media, the disc type medium is most popular since it can realize high-speed information transfer.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a magneto-optical recording medium as a conventional R/W type optical disc. The medium mainly comprises a first magnetic layer 3 (to be referred to as a reproduction layer hereinafter), an intermediate layer 2, and a second magnetic layer 5 (to be referred to as a memory layer hereinafter). The memory layer 5 is a film such as TbFeCo, DyFeCo, or the like having a large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, and recording information is held by forming magnetic domains depending on whether the direction of magnetization of this film is upward or downward with respect to the film surface. The reproduction layer 3 is a film, such as GdFeCo, having a small coercive force and a high Curie temperature. The intermediate layer 4 consists of a dielectric, such as SiN, and is arranged to magnetostatically couple the memory layer 5 and the reproduction layer 3. Information reproduction is attained by detecting magnetic domains transferred from the memory layer 5 to the reproduction layer 3 by the magnetostatic coupling force using a reading laser beam. Even when the reproduction layer and the intermediate layer are omitted (the memory layer alone), information may be recorded/reproduced. However, in this case, high recording sensitivity and high signal quality are hardly accomplished at the same time. More specifically, in the above-mentioned prior art, a material that allows information recording with low power is selected for the memory layer 5, and a material that allows information reproduction with a high CNR is selected for the reproduction layer 3.
However, in the above-mentioned prior art, when the memory layer and the reproduction layer are magnetostatically coupled to each other, different magnetostatic forces are generated depending on the sizes of recording marks. This problem will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C.
FIG. 2C shows the calculation results of the magnitudes, H.sub.st, of static magnetic fields generated by a circular magnetic domain and a rectangular magnetic domain. A graph (a) represents the strength of the static magnetic field 30 nm above a cylindrical magnetic domain having a diameter of 0.4 .mu.m, a thickness of 30 nm, and a saturation magnetization of 200 emu/cc. As can be seen from the graph (a), a static magnetic field of about 300 Oe is present near the center of the magnetic domain although it has a peak near the magnetic wall. In contrast to this, in the case of a rectangular parallelopiped magnetic domain having a size of 1.6.times.0.8 .mu.m, a thickness of 30 nm, and a saturation magnetization of 200 emu/cc, as shown in a graph (b), the static magnetic field generated is weak as a whole and only a static magnetic field as low as about 100 Oe acts near the center of the magnetic domain. For this reason, the transfer characteristics of magnetic domains from the memory layer to the reproduction layer are impaired, and stability against an external magnetic field is low.

Magneto-optical recording medium utilizing magnetostatic coupling, and method of recording information on the medium


The present invention relates to a microtome (10) for cutting thin sections, including a sample holder (12), a cutting unit (16), and a drive unit (16) for producing a feed movement between the sample holder (12) and the cutting unit (16) for setting the thickness of the sample sections. The drive unit (22) includes a piezoelectric linear actuator (50) for producing the feed movement.

In order to perform the microtoming operation, the samples (e.g., tissue samples) are clamped in the sample holder, which is caused by a cutting motion drive unit to perform a reciprocating movement relative to the cutting unit, thereby cutting the sample. After such a reciprocating movement; i.e., after a thin section is cut from the sample, the distance between the sample holder and the cutting unit must be reduced by the thickness of the next thin section. This generally horizontal movement is referred to as "feed movement." The feed movement and the reciprocating movement are in particular orthogonal to each other, the reciprocating movement being vertical and the feed movement being horizontal.
Microtomes are known where the feed movement is produced purely mechanically via free-wheeling lever and/or screw and nut systems. Also known are microtomes where the feed is accomplished electromechanically using stepper motor and screw and nut systems. A microtome including a linear motor for moving the sample holder and the cutting unit relative to each other is known from document DE 10 2008 016165 B5.
The disadvantage of the known microtomes is that the resolution; i.e, the minimum adjustable thickness of the thin sections, is limited by the screw pitch of the screw and nut systems and the minimum step resolution of the stepper motor. To be able to achieve very small steps, and thus very thin sections, it is necessary, in particular, to use very complex designs with expensive screw and nut components. Such designs also require complex, cost-intensive bearing arrangements and are associated with high space requirements and high weight. Moreover, such expensive designs having high-resolution screw and nut components and corresponding motors have the disadvantage that they do not allow rapid movement of the sample holder relative to the cutting unit and, therefore, the feed can be effected only very slowly during sample change in the so-called coarse feed mode of the microtome.
Patent Publications DE 38 20 085 C1, DD 33 313 A1, DE 19 22 739 U, U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,404 A, U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,958 A and DE 10 2009 006 386 B4 describe microtomes in which the object holder is rigidly connected to piezoelectric elements, and the feed movement of the object holder is produced by a change in length of the piezoelectric elements.
Further microtomes are known from documents DE 199 11 163 C1, DE 10 2010 046 498 B3, DE 102 18 927 C1, DE 102 10 408 B4, DE 101 54 843 A1 and DE 36 03 278 C1.

Microtome having a piezoelectric linear actuator