A biometric fingerprint device for self-authenticating identification of a user of the device including internal memory and processing within a substrate of the device and digitized tonal output for communicating with a remote tone bank for validation. The digitized tonal output further includes a unique transaction identifier for increased security, particularly with retail transactions made via phone, wireless device, Internet, satellite, or other communication networks.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to biometric identification devices and, more particularly, to a biometric fingerprint device for providing self-authentication of the identity of predetermined user(s).
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Prior art biometric devices commonly employ fingerprint identification and verification as a means for protecting the use of the device for proximity pass, apparatus activation, and access to information. Furthermore, it is known in the prior art to use portable information and transaction processing devices (PITP devices). These devices can be used to perform secure financial transactions, to allow the user access to another apparatus, or to transmit information for various personal reasons. To perform these functions, these devices are able to store data internally and transmit data, including personal user data, over communication lines. PITP devices may also employ biometric verification to ensure the identity of the user. In these devices, biometric verification may include finger, thumb, palm, and voice print, handwriting sample, retinal vascular pattern, and combinations thereof. Additionally, these devices have been constructed to include card readers that read information storage cards. Also, these devices can encrypt information and transmit it via dual-tone multi-frequency, modem, radio frequency, and infrared media. However, none of these devices are free-standing devices, in that they require an external central data storage and processing unit to verify the identity of the PITP device user. Additionally, because the data is stored on a central data storage unit, the security of these devices and information relating to their users may be eventually compromised. In such a case, unauthorized use of the PITP device may occur, allowing unauthorized transactions. A single device has overcome this deficiency by incorporating the storage means of the biometric information within the PITP device. Thus, the device is free-standing and will not emit a signal unless the appropriate user is using the device. However, this device does not also emit tonal signals to confirm authentication of the user via biometric identification means. Therefore, there remains a need for a self-authenticating biometric identification device that can be used in connection with an encoded packet output, e.g., a digitized tonal output also having capacity to be used with portable information and transaction processing devices. Particularly where privacy issues are a significant concern, it is advantageous to provide a biometric device within which the individual fingerprint and other data or information is stored, i.e., there is no requirement for transmitting the fingerprint itself to a remote confirmation bank or source that stores the registered information against which the sensed fingerprint is verified.
More particularly, the following U.S. patent citations provide a basis for establishing the prior art relevant to the present invention:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,476 issued Jan. 18, 2000 to Maes, et al. for Portable information and transaction processing system and method utilizing biometric authorization and digital certificate security. This patent teaches a portable client PDA with touch screen, microphone, and CPU for processing voice commands, and processing biometric data to verify user. Also it has memory for storing personal/financial data, and capability for reading/writing information to various smart cards, magnetic cards, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,967 issued Jul. 4, 2000 to Kennedy, et al. for Radio telecommunication device and method of authenticating a user with a voice authentication token. The user must insert a PIN and utter sounds; the radiotelephone device will activate secure functions only if PIN is correct and uttered sounds are authenticated against stored voice feature information.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,290 issued Nov. 7, 1995 to Hampton, et al. for Confirming identity of telephone caller. Data stored in a processing station corresponds to a signature and caller identification information for users. A second processing station includes speaker verification unit and processor, which receives voice or tone signal representing signature of potential user and processes this. Processor is connected to speaker verification unit and connects to first processing station to test the signature of user against valid signature of user.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,616 issued Apr. 27, 1999 to Kanevsky, et al. for Apparatus and methods for speaker. Provides verification/identification/classification employing non-acoustic and/or acoustic models and databases. Secure method and apparatus for access to service facility employing voice recognition; based on personal information an individual is questioned, a voice sample is obtained and verified. A score is generated based in comparison to spoken answer and voice sample, and access is granted if score is at or above a threshold. Alternatively, a series of questions could be asked and potential matches to the speaker are eliminated after comparison of voice/response analysis.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,040 issued Sep. 8, 1998 to Vensko for Speech controlled telephone credit card verification system. The system connects user to phone network, user enters a card number, a voice verification template is retrieved and contains samples of user's voice stating selected words/phrases/numbers. The user is prompted to state one of these and comparison is made. User is authorized if match is made.
None of the previously issued patents cited in the foregoing provide a biometric device having internal memory and internal controller means while also providing a tonal output for authorizing transactions from the device via modern communication means.
Thus, there remains a need for a biometric identification device, specifically a self-authenticating, biometric fingerprint identification device having internal memory and internal controller, an encoded or encrypted information packet output, e.g., a digitized tonal output, and a unique transaction identifier, which are all provided in the present invention.

Self-authenticating identification substrate with encoded packet output


The present invention discloses a digital rights management (DRM) system and method based on device proximity for controlling what devices can utilize DRM protected content. DRM data and DRM protected content are copied from a first device to a second device such that the DRM protected content on the first device becomes locked out and the copied DRM protected content is not locked out on the second device. The first device periodically performs a proximity check between the first and second devices such that if the first and second devices are determined to be within a short range of one another the DRM lockout of the first device is disabled.

The present invention relates to portable mobile communications devices and systems, and more particularly to a portable mobile communications device, system and method that can manipulate a digital rights management (DRM) lockout based on a proximity to a second device.
Portable mobile communications devices such as mobile phones are becoming more sophisticated and include many new features and capabilities. One such feature is the capability to receive, store, and playback audio and video content such as music and video that is subject to copyright protection. Copyright holders seek to protect unauthorized electronic distribution of their content. One such means for preventing unauthorized electronic distribution of copyrighted content in electronic form is to embed DRM data into the content itself. The DRM data tracks and controls the ability to electronically distribute the content file between or among various playback devices. There are or can be multiple DRM schemes. A key function common to virtually any DRM scheme is the ability to lock and lock out the content to a particular device such that it may only be played on one device at a time.
The convenience factor for having copyrighted electronic content receivable, storable, and playable on a portable mobile communications device is high for mobile users. However, the user is typically constrained to listening or viewing the content on the portable mobile communications device only even if there are one or more secondary devices within short range of the portable mobile communications device. The secondary devices likely possess better playback characteristics than the portable mobile communications device such as, for instance, a stereo system for music or a television for video content.
What is needed is a means for enabling or disabling DRM lockout on a second device when the devices are in relatively close proximity.

Digital rights management based on device proximity


A current-steered DAC has first and second differential outputs for providing an analog output signal under control of a digital input signal. In operational use of the DAC, the output signal has a differential component, which is representative of the digital input signal, and also has a first common-mode component. The DAC has circuitry operative to add an extra common-mode component to both the first and second differential outputs so as to make a sum of the first common-mode component and the extra common-mode component substantially independent of a state change of the digital input signal.

DACs are well known in the art of electronic circuitry. A DAC converts digital input data into an analog output signal. A typical field of application is the processing of audio. Audio data is processed in the digital domain, e.g., as a piece of music stored on a DVD or downloaded from the Internet, but the result needs to be translated to an analog signal in order for a human being to consume it.
A characteristic of a DAC that co-determines its performance is referred to as "linearity". The linearity of a DAC represents the property that for each change in the digital input data the analog output shows a proportionate change.
A typical configuration of a DAC comprises multiple current sources that are selectively switched to an output under control of the digital input. The currents are added at the output, and the value of the summed currents is representative of the digital data at the input.
A current-mode DAC preferably generates a differential current output for producing a differential voltage. In an electrically noisy environment, the noise voltage is usually a component common to both outputs and gets cancelled by taking the difference between the outputs. However, the differential output voltage may contain a contribution that is not proportional to the differential currents. This contribution is commonly referred to as the "common-mode" signal. DACs are designed so as to keep this common-mode signal as small as possible.

DAC with data independent common mode dynamics


The hydraulic control device for rotating the camshaft of an internal combustion engine has a couple member constructed as a piston (25) connected with the sprocket wheel of the camshaft via a spiral toothing and with the camshaft via a straight toothing. A hydraulic body is mounted on at the camshaft and receives a radial piston pump which delivers the pressure medium required for the displacement of the piston. The pressure space is closed by a controllable pressure limiting valve. An electromagnetic valve controls a pressure medium flow to the piston bores of the radial piston pump and the pressure medium is delivered by an external pump. The sprocket wheel and camshaft are rotated relative to one another by the displacement of the piston.

The present invention relates to a hydraulic control device for rotating a camshaft of an internal combustion engine.
More particularly, it relates to a hydraulic control device for rotating a camshaft of an internal combustion engine, which has a longitudinally displaceable couple member acted upon by pressure and having a first outer toothing engaging with an inner toothing of a sprocket wheel driven by the internal combustion engine and a second toothing engaging a toothing of the camshaft, wherein the pressure medium delivered by a pump is directed via an electromagnetic valve.
Hydraulic control devices of the above mentioned general type are known in the art. One of such hydraulic control devices is disclosed in the German reference DE-OS 32 47 916.
In such a known control device in particular the pump and the electromagnetic valve are arranged externally, which is relatively complicated, requires a large amount of space, and is very cumbersome in view of the necessary pressure medium connections.


A system, apparatus and method for automatically limiting the thrust force applied to a drill string during an underground boring process, in order to prevent the deformation or collapse to the drill rods due to reaching the yield point of the rods. One or more drill string characteristics that have an impact on the yield point of the drill string, or portions of the drill string, are determined. The yield point of the drill string or portion is computed, where the yield point is computed as a function of the drill string characteristics. The thrust force imparted to the drill string is adjusted in response to the computed yield point.

This invention relates in general to underground drilling/boring systems and methods, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for automatically controlling the thrust force incident on one or more drill rods forming the drill string of the underground boring system.
Utility lines for water, electricity, gas, telephone, cable television, digital communication and computer connections are among the many types of physical lines or cables often run underground. Generally, it is desirable to bury these lines for reasons of safety and aesthetics. In many situations, the underground utilities can be buried in a trench, which is subsequently back-filled. Although useful in areas of new construction, the burial of utilities in a trench has certain disadvantages. In areas supporting existing construction, a trench can cause serious disturbance to structures or roadways. Further, there is a high probability that digging a trench may damage previously buried utilities, and that structures or roadways disturbed by digging the trench are rarely restored to their original condition. Also, the trench poses a danger of injury to workers and passersby.
The general technique of boring a horizontal underground hole has been developed to overcome the disadvantages described above, as well as others unaddressed when employing conventional trenching techniques. In accordance with such a general horizontal boring technique, also known as microtunnelling or trenchless underground boring, a boring system is positioned on the ground surface. The boring system is arranged to drill a hole into the ground at an oblique angle with respect to the ground surface. Fluid is flowed through the drill string, over the boring tool, and back up the borehole in order to remove cuttings and dirt. After the boring tool reaches the desired depth, the tool is then directed along a substantially horizontal path to create a horizontal borehole. After the desired length of borehole has been obtained, the tool is then directed upwards to break through to the surface. A reamer is then attached to the drill string which is pulled back through the borehole, thus reaming out the borehole to a larger diameter. It is common to attach a utility line or conduit to the reaming tool so that it is dragged through the borehole along with the reamer.
The length of a desired bore may be substantial. In order to create a drill string of sufficient length to create the desired bore, many fixed lengths of drill rods may be attached end-to-end. More particularly, a first drill rod is placed on the machine rack and forced into the ground. A subsequent length of drill rod is placed on the machine and coupled to the first length, generally via threads on each drill rod. The combined length is then further forced into the ground. In order to form a complete bore, numerous drill rods are added in this fashion during the boring operation. As rods are added, the drill string length and the resulting bore length increases.
An operator of a conventional underground boring tool typically modifies the rate of boring tool advancement. The thrusting force can be manually varied by the operator based on many parameters including the desired speed of drill string advancement and soil conditions. However, in an effort to maximize drilling speed, an operator may apply more thrust force than can safely be applied to one or more of the drill rods without its becoming damaged or destroyed. The operator will be unaware of how much thrust force can be applied without causing such damage. Therefore, the operator may apply too little thrust force which results in drilling inefficiencies, or may alternatively apply too much force and damage the drill string.
There is a need in the underground boring industry to minimize such problems and assist drilling operators in carrying out drilling processes. Additionally, there continues to be a need for an improved underground boring machine that provides for high boring efficiency through varying ground conditions, yet minimizing delays and costs associated with drill string damage, without depending on human intervention. The present invention fulfills these and other needs, and provides additional advantages over the prior art.
To overcome limitations in the prior art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention generally discloses a system, apparatus and method for automatically limiting the thrust force applied to a drill string during an underground boring process, in order to prevent the deformation or collapse to the drill rods due to reaching the xe2x80x9cyieldxe2x80x9d point of the rods.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for controlling the underground transit of a drill string. One or more drill string characteristics that influence the yield point of the drill string, or portions of the drill string, are determined. The yield point of the drill string or portion is computed, where the yield point is computed as a function of the drill string characteristics. The thrust force imparted to the drill string is adjusted in response to the computed yield point.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for controlling the subterranean advancement of one or more drill rods forming a drill string. An unsupported (or relatively little-supported) length of the drill string is measured. For example, one or more drill rods forming the drill string that has an unsupported portion may be measured. The yield point of the drill string portion is calculated as a function of the unsupported length of the drill string. The thrust force imparted to the drill string is limited to a maximum allowable thrust force such that the yield point will not be reached.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for controlling the movement of a drill string, where the drill string is moved along an underground path. A bend radius is determined for at least a portion of the drill string along the underground path. The yield point of the drill string portion is computed as a function of the bend radius. The thrust force imparted to the drill string is adjusted in response to the computed yield point.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a system for controlling the underground transit of a drill string is provided. The system includes a thrust engine to generate a thrust force for advancing the drill string. At least one drill string sensor is provided to sense drill string characteristics impacting a yield point the drill string or drill string portion. A controller is coupled to the drill string sensors and the thrust engine. The controller calculates the yield point of the drill string portion as a function of the drill string characteristics, and generates a thrust force adjustment signal based on the calculated yield point. The magnitude of the thrust force is dependent on the thrust force adjustment signal.
In still another embodiment, a horizontal drilling machine for directionally drilling a drill string into the ground is provided. The drill string includes a plurality of elongated rods threaded together in an end-to-end fashion. The machine includes a track, a rotational driver for rotating the drill string about a longitudinal axis of the drill string, and a thrust mechanism for propelling the rotational driver along the track. Also included is a thrust limiter that prevents the thrust mechanism from applying a thrust load to the drill string that exceeds a thrust load limit established at least in part by a buckle point of a drill string portion. The thrust load limit is less than a maximum thrust load that can otherwise be generated by the thrust mechanism.
These and various other advantages and features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and described specific examples of an apparatus in accordance with the invention.

Directional drilling machine and method of directional drilling


In a case where an AC power is supplied from an AC power source to an AC circuit unit, the AC circuit unit and an DC circuit are connected to each other, a DC power is supplied from the AC circuit unit to the DC circuit unit, the DC power is converted to a required working voltage, and on the other hand, in a case where a DC power is supplied from a DC power source to the DC circuit unit, the DC power is converted to a required working voltage, and the DC power obtained as described above is used as a charging power for charging the secondary battery.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram schematically showing a conventional type of charging apparatus disclosed, for instance, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI 5-38058. The charging apparatus shown in FIG. 12 comprises an AC circuit unit 102 and a DC circuit unit 105 with a connector 109 provided therein, and connects the AC circuit unit 102 to the connector 109 of the DC circuit unit 105 for electrical connection between the circuit units.
The AC circuit unit 102 comprises an AC adaptor circuit 103 for converting an AC power supplied from an AC input receptacle 101 to a DC power, and a charging circuit 104 for controlling a charging operation of the DC circuit unit 105.
The DC circuit unit 105 comprises the connector 109 for electrical connection to the AC circuit unit 102, a battery pack 108 which is a secondary battery to be charged, switches SW1 and SW2 each for controlling charging and power supply, a DC--DC converter 106 for converting a DC power supplied from the battery pack 108 or an AC adaptor circuit of the AC circuit unit 102 to a required working voltage, and a logic circuit 107 for receiving a DC power and driving the DC circuit unit 105.
Next description is made for operations. In the charging apparatus shown in FIG. 12, when the AC circuit unit 102 and the DC circuit unit 105 are connected to each other with the connector 109, a DC power is supplied from the AC adaptor circuit 103 via the AC input receptacle 101 to the charging circuit 104 inside the AC circuit unit 102 and then to the DC circuit unit 105 as an external device.
When the AC circuit unit 102 is connected to the connector 109, the switch SW2 is automatically turned OFF, so that the battery pack 108 is electrically disconnected from other circuits in the DC circuit unit 105. Upon power supply from the AC adaptor circuit 103, the charging circuit 104 starts charging to the battery pack 108.
In this step, when the switch SW1 is turned ON, the AC adaptor circuit 103 and the DC--DC converter 106 are electrically connected to each other, and the DC power outputted from the AC adaptor circuit 103 is supplied also to the DC--DC converter 106. As a result the charging apparatus drives the logic circuit 107 charging the battery pack 108.
After charging is complete, in a case where the AC circuit unit 102 is separated from the connector 109, the switch SW 2 is automatically turned ON, so that each circuit in the DC circuit unit 105 is electrically connected to the battery pack 108. In this case, the DC circuit unit 105 runs using the battery pack 108 as a main power source.
With the charging apparatus based on the conventional technology as described above, after the AC circuit unit 102 comprising the AC adaptor circuit 103 is connected to the DC circuit unit 105 comprising the DC--DC converter 106, an operation for charging the battery pack 108 in the DC circuit unit 105 is started according to the charging control by the charging circuit 104 in the AC circuit unit 102, so that, for the purpose of an application for charging the battery pack 108 with an input power from the AC input receptacle 101, combination of the AC circuit unit 102 and the DC circuit unit 105 is available for the same purpose.
Thus as combination of the AC circuit unit 102 and DC circuit unit 105 is applicable only to the limited applications as described above, it is impossible to use each circuit unit as a single body, and also if a purpose of charging is different, a different charging apparatus must be prepared according to the use, and in that case a number of charging apparatuses according to a number of uses are required.


A reversible ratchet wrench includes a ring-shaped head with first teeth defined in an inner periphery thereof and an engaging ring is rotatably received in the head. A pawl is movably engaged with a surface defined in an outer periphery of the engaging ring and has second teeth for being engaged with the first teeth in the head. A control disk is connected to the pawl and rotatably located on a second surface of the head. A fixing ring is engaged with a neck extending from the engaging ring to position the control disk in position. The pawl is shifted by rotating the control disk.

The present invention relates to a reversible ratchet wrench which has a engaging ring received in the head of the tool and a pawl located on an outer periphery of the engaging ring and plural teeth of the pawl are engaged with the teeth in the inside of the head.
A conventional reversible ratchet wrench known to applicant is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,751 with the title of xe2x80x9creversible ratchet wrench and reversible ratchet mechanism thereofxe2x80x9d to Lee. The patent ""751 discloses a ring member in which a pawl is pivotally engaged with an inner periphery thereof so as to be engaged with the teeth defined in an inner periphery of the head of the tool. An inherent shortcoming of this type of mechanism is that only few teeth are used to engage with the teeth of the head so that when an large torque output is applied, the few teeth cannot afford it and the tool could be damaged.
Another reversible ratchet wrench known to applicant is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,339 with a title of xe2x80x9cone-way drive mechanism and corresponding ratchet toolxe2x80x9d to Dumont. Although the pawl of the wrench disclosed in patent ""339 has plural teeth to be engaged with the teeth of the head, the member received in the head is a solid member so that only an engaging rod extends from the member in the head to be engaged with sockets or the like. In other words, the member in the head is not a ring-like member so that the sockets or the objects have to be connected to the engaging rod and this prolongs the length from the head to the object to be rotated.
Yet another reversible ratchet wrench known to applicant is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,044,731 with a title of xe2x80x9cdouble-reversible ratchet wrenchxe2x80x9d to Hsieh. The wrench disclosed in patent ""731 has a recess defined in an inner periphery of the head of the tool so as to receive a pawl therein and the ring member in the head has outer teeth for being engaged with the pawl. This type of wrench has a large head so that there is a space for receiving the pawl. The large head is not convenient for insertion of the head in a narrow space to rotate an object.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reversible ratchet wrench which comprises a ring-shaped head with first teeth defined in an inner periphery of the head and an engaging ring is rotatable received in the head. A surface is defined in an outer periphery of the engaging ring for a pawl to be engaged therewith. A neck extends from a first end of the engaging ring and a flange extends radially outward from a second end of the engaging ring so as to engage a first surface of the head. The pawl has second teeth which are engaged with the first teeth in the head. A control disk is connected to the pawl and rotatably located on a second surface of the head. A fixing ring is engaged with the neck of the engaging ring.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a reversible ratchet tool that has a ring-shaped head and plural teeth are engaged between the head and the pawl.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.


The present invention is directed to a fiber composition comprising a fiber forming polymer and a phase change material integrally incorporated throughout the fiber forming polymer which is either a polyalkylene oxide, polyalkylene ether or mixture of various polyolefins. The phase change material has a melting temperature between about 15.degree. C. and about 65.degree. C. The fiber composition can be used as a loose fill insulating material for use in clothing or bedding articles or can be formed into a fabric for the same uses.

The present invention relates to a fiber composition containing a phase change material integrally incorporated into the structure of a fiber forming polymer. The fiber composition is then useful in textile materials, in general, and in clothing, in particular.
Phase change materials may be repeatedly converted between solid and liquid phases to utilize their latent heat of fusion to absorb, store and release heat or cool during such phase conversions. These latent heats of fusion are greater than the sensible heat capacities of the materials. For example, in phase change materials, the amount of energy absorbed upon melting or released upon freezing is much greater than the amount of energy absorbed or released upon increasing or decreasing the temperature of the material over an increment of 10.degree. C.
Upon melting and freezing, a phase change material absorbs and releases substantially more energy per unit weight than a sensible heat storage material that is heated or cooled over the same temperature range. In contrast to a sensible heat storage material which absorbs and releases energy essentially uniformly over a broad temperature range, a phase change material absorbs and releases a large quantity of energy in the vicinity of its melting/freezing point.
Phase change materials have been used in a variety of applications. They have been included in wall and floor boards to store heat to provide a room with a comfortable ambient temperature. They have also been incorporated into cups, glasses and tableware to keep foods and beverages at a desired eating temperature for extended periods of time.
Phase change materials have also been used to keep clothing at a comfortable temperature. One application requires the use of alkyl hydrocarbons mixed with silicon dry powders contained in plastic film pouches which are placed between layers of clothing. See e.g. Salyer, U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,949 issued May 18, 1993 and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. The pouches are bulky and only provide a benefit to those areas of the article of clothing in which the pouch is used. The shape of these pouches makes it difficult to secure them throughout a garment. Phase change materials have also been microencapsulated for use in clothing applications. However, the microcapsules do not have the structural integrity to withstand the force exerted on the microcapsule when the encapsulated phase change material is extruded to form fibers. Others have attempted to coat a phase change material onto textile fibers but this application does not permit the use of a sufficient amount of the phase change material to provide effective phase change properties in the article of clothing formed from these coated fibers.
Thus, a need has arisen in the art for a fiber which successfully incorporates a phase change material to provide an article of clothing or bedding having comfortable properties produced by the phase change materials.

Phase change materials incorporated throughout the structure of polymer fibers


A robot control method of controlling a robot that has a flexible module including ‘n’ first nodes participating in pan motion and ‘n’ second nodes participating in tilt motion may include: measuring a translational motion distance, a pan motion angle, and a tilt motion angle of the flexible module; calculating state vectors of the ‘n’ first nodes and the ‘n’ second nodes using the measured translational motion distance; calculating operating angle distribution rates of the ‘n’ first nodes and operating angle distribution rates of the ‘n’ second nodes using the calculated state vectors of the ‘n’ first nodes and the calculated state vectors of the ‘n’ second nodes; and/or calculating operating angles of the ‘n’ first nodes and operating angles of the ‘n’ second nodes using the calculated operating angle distribution rates and the measured pan motion angle and tilt motion angle.

1. Field
Some example embodiments may relate to robot control methods of controlling flexible modules having variable degrees of freedom (DOF) and/or variably constrained operating angles.
2. Description of Related Art
Research on flexible mechanisms in various fields including rescue robots to search for survivors in a disaster area, medical robots, such as an endoscope and an active catheter, and military robots is underway due to operation and shape characteristics of the flexible mechanisms.
Such a flexible mechanism may have many constraints in indefinite and unspecific working environments. Thereby, the DOF of the flexible mechanism is greatly changed and, thus, the flexible mechanism may not be effectively controlled or limited using a conventional robot control method.


A heat-developable photosensitive material comprising a support, providing thereon, an organic silver salt, silver halide, a binder and a reducing agent, wherein a value of Rz(E)/Rz(B) is from 0.1 to 0.7 in which Rz(E) is the ten-point average roughness of the outermost surface of the image forming layer side and Rz(B) is the ten-point average roughness of the outermost surface of the side of the support opposite to the side of the image forming layer.

Hitherto, in the field of medicine and presswork, the waste liquid accompanied with the wet processing causes a problem on the working efficiency. Furthermore, it is strongly demanded to reduce the amount of the waste liquid from the view point of the environment protection and the space saving. Consequently, the heat-developable photosensitive material has been put to practical use and has been rapidly spread in the forgoing fields.
The heat-developable photosensitive material has been proposed a long time ago, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,152,904 and 3,457,075.
The heat-developable photosensitive material is usually treated by a thermally developing processing apparatus, so-called a heat developing processor, for forming an image by stably providing heat to the heat-developable photosensitive material. As above-mentioned, a lot of the thermally developing processor is supplied to the market accompanied with the rapidly spreading in recent years. However, a problem is caused that the insufficient conveying of the photosensitive material and the unevenness of image density are caused by the variation of the slipping property between the heat-developable photosensitive material and the conveying roller or the treating member of the thermally developing processor depending on the thermal and humidity condition on the occasion of the thermally developing treatment. Moreover, a problem is posed that the image density of the heat-developable photosensitive material is varied accompanying with passing of the storage time. It has been found that such the problems are considerably posed in the heat-developable photosensitive material which is thermally developed to forming an image after imagewise exposure by laser light.
It has been recently demanded to make compact the laser imager and to make rapid the processing. For obtaining the sufficient image density of the heat-developable photosensitive material by applying a rapid processing, it is effective to use silver halide having a small average diameter to increase the number of color forming point so as to raise the covering power as described, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public inspection, hereinafter referred to as Tokkai, Nos. 11-295844 and 11-352627, or to apply a highly active reducing agent having a secondary or tertiary alkyl group or a development accelerator such as a phenol compound, hydrazine compound and vinyl compound.
Recently, it is further demanded to make compact the laser imager, to raise the precise of image and to prevent the increasing of fogging during storage. For example, Tokkai No. 2000-305213 discloses a technique in which no spectral sensitizing dye is used for preventing the fogging during the storage and the exposure is carried out by ultraviolet or blue laser light. Furthermore, Tokkai No. 2003-91053 discloses a technique in which exposure is carried out by laser light having an emission peak within the range of from 350 nm to 450 nm for miniaturizing the apparatus. However, the problem of occurrence of the default of conveying on the occasion of thermal development and the unevenness of image density is posed when the compact apparatus is employed or the rapid processing is applied even when the above techniques are applied. The improvement on the fogging during the storage is also insufficient.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Heat-developable photosensitive material and an image forming method


The present invention is a low-energy detonator for high-density secondary-explosive materials initiated by a semiconductor bridge igniter that comprises a pair of electrically conductive lands connected by a semiconductor bridge. The semiconductor bridge is in operational or direct contact with the explosive material, whereby current flowing through the semiconductor bridge causes initiation of the explosive material. Header wires connected to the electrically-conductive lands and electrical feed-throughs of the header posts of explosive devices, are substantially coaxial to the direction of current flow through the SCB, i.e., substantially coaxial to the SCB length.

The present invention relates generally to detonators. More specifically, the present invention relates to a semiconductor bridge ("SCB") initiated detonators for explosive materials.
Most electro-explosive (e.g., bridge wire or metal foil) devices contain a small metal bridge wire heated by a current pulse from a firing set with nominal output voltages ranging from one to several tens of volts. In order to obtain environmental tolerance along with acceptable shelf-life, electro-explosive devices are usually designed with hermetically sealed housings with electrical feed-throughs. Additionally, thermally-initiated devices must be able to withstand reasonable, unintended currents without firing because relatively-low energies are required to cause firing of the devices. Any current will produce some heating of the bridge wire and most designs of thermally-initiated devices have limited capability to transport this heat away from the thermally-sensitive explosive material. Heat transport from the bridge wire to an exoergic material next to the wire is a thermally-conductive process that produces an explosive output, typically a few milliseconds after the start of the current pulse. "No fire" (the maximum current that can be applied to the bridge wire for a specified period of time without causing ignition) and all-fire (the minimum current level required for reliable ignition) current levels are dependent upon the exoergic material and the physical configuration of the explosive device.
The inexpensive and reliable ignition of explosive materials is a desirable goal for both economic and safety reasons. U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,060, Semiconductor Bridge (SCB) Igniter, of Bickes, Jr. et al. depicts a semiconductor bridge ("SCB") igniter that satisfies this goal. The SCB igniter comprises a small, doped polysilicon or silicon layer formed on a non-conducting substrate (e.g., silicon or sapphire). The heavily doped, approximately one ohm, SCB is formed between two spaced conductive lands (e.g., metal such as aluminum) and in contact with an explosive material. The length of the SCB is determined by the spacing of the conductive lands; SCBs are nominally 100 .mu.m long and 380 .mu.m wide and the doped layer is typically two .mu.m thick. The conductive lands provide a low ohmic contact to the underlying doped layer. SCB resistance at ambient conditions is typically one ohm. Header wires are bonded to the conductive lands and the electrical feed-throughs on the explosive header posts to permit a current pulse to flow from land-to-land along the current flow axis of the SCB.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,200, A Tungsten Bridge for the Low Energy Ignition of Explosive and Energetic Materials , of Benson et al., depicts a tungsten SCB that includes a substrate covered by a layer of an insulating material such as silicon dioxide, a semiconductor bridge on the surface of the layer of the insulating material, and a pair of conductive lands deposited over the semiconductor bridge. The semiconductor bridge includes a first layer of an insulating material, which comprises silicon, in contact with the substrate and a second layer, which includes tungsten, selectively deposited only over the entire first layer. A pair of electrical conductors are each connected to one of the lands and a power source is connected to the electrical conductor for supplying current to the lands.
The SCB is easily designed to not fire when a "no fire" current is applied, but to fire when a higher "fire" current is applied. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,060, application of a 15 amps, 15 .mu.s current pulse through the SCB produces a plasma discharge that ignites the explosive material at a relatively slow rate. Such ignition is suitable for actuators, gas generators, and rocket motors, but is not fast enough for other applications.
In some applications, high-explosive powders are initiated, as opposed to ignited, by the direct output from a bridge wire or metal foil (see for example, exploding bridge wire ("EBW") devices). These devices can often use more stable explosive materials, which is an important safety consideration.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,803, Integrated Silicon Secondary Explosive Detonator, of Nerheim et al. depicts a detonator device for primary or secondary explosive materials comprising an integrated circuit consisting of a silicon wafer substrate on which an epitaxial layer of a desired thickness is first grown, followed by a covering insulating oxide layer. U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,803 claims back-etching the silicon wafer to define a barrel for a flyer plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,122, Integrated Silicon Plasma Switch, of Nerheim depicts a switch device for use in detonation systems and for one-time use in conducting very high currents. The switch device comprises a silicon substrate on which is deposited an amorphous silicon or polysilicon strip extending as a bridge between first and second lands deposited on the silicon substrate. Also deposited on the same substrate on opposite sides of the bridge and spaced from it are a set of high-voltage contacts. Unlike the present invention, U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,122 depicts the use of an extra pair of electrodes. When a high voltage is applied across the contacts, no current flows until a trigger current is made to flow through and vaporize the bridge.
Statutory Invention Reg. No. H 1,366, SCB Initiator, of Bickes, Jr., et al. depicts a detonator device for high-explosive materials initiated by mechanical impact of a flying plate, the detonator device includes a cylindrical barrel, a layer of flyer material mechanically covering the barrel at one end, and a SCB igniter that includes a pair of electrically-conductive pads connected by a SCB. The SCB is in operational contact with the layer through the barrel to detonate the explosive material. Unlike the present invention, the detonator device described in Statutory Invention Reg. No. H 1,366 does not teach the necessary header wire orientation, which is critical to the operation of the detonator.
The present invention uses a high-current pulse to cause a SCB to function similar to an EBW detonator. The present invention provides a low-inductance firing system to discharge into a SCB to initiate it, similar to an EBW detonator. Also, the present invention uses a SCB for direct and very prompt initiation of a high-explosive material. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a laser to arm an undoped SCB for direct initiation. The embodiments disclosed herein have a current conduction scheme, e.g., header wires connecting the SCB lands to the header posts of explosive devices, that is substantially parallel to the direction of current flow through the SCB.


A method and apparatus for sharing a single storage device among an arbitrarily large number of parallel processes with typically no wasted memory space and continued operations even when an error or interrupt occurs is disclosed. In a networked computer system having a communication network connecting a primary storage device between one or more computer devices and a secondary storage device, when some type of interrupt is generated or an error condition occurs or is otherwise indicated, a transfer of data from primary to secondary storage is indicated. A state indicator having at least a non-backup and a backup state may be set to the backup state to indicate that a data transfer from the primary storage device to the secondary storage device should occur. Alternatively, the transfer from the primary to the secondary storage device can begin without the use of a state indicator.. When the state indicator is in the backup state, a predetermined maximum number of processes will work on transferring data from the primary storage device to the secondary storage device. Other processes will transfer data from the computer to the primary storage device. The process which completes the transfer of data from the primary storage device to the secondary storage device then resets the state indicator to its normal state. Preferably, other processes which are already executing at the time when the state indicator is set to the backup state continue to execute to completion.

A computer or a network of computers may be connected to one or more backup storage devices to provide greater amounts of low cost storage onto which the computers can create archival or backup copies of their files for later recovery if the original files are lost or corrupted. Typically, data is copied from a computer first to a primary storage device and subsequently copied from the primary storage device to a lower cost, higher density secondary storage device such as a magnetic tape or an optical disk. Typically, the secondary storage device is slower than the primary storage device. The transfer of data from the primary storage device to the secondary storage device typically begins when the amount of used storage space on the primary storage device equals or exceeds a predetermined amount or percentage, known as a "high water mark".
The purpose of using a "high water mark" is to reduce the chance that substantially all of the memory on the primary storage device will be used up, thereby causing the primary storage device to become inoperative. The high water mark is set to a value which is based upon the rate of data coming into the primary storage device and the rate of data transfer from the primary storage device to the secondary storage device. Since the rate of incoming data to the primary storage device usually exceeds the rate of data transferred from that device to a secondary storage device, the high water mark, in effect, creates a buffer so that the memory of the primary storage device is not used up, causing that device to become inoperative.
Even with this buffer area, if the rate of data being written to the primary storage device exceeds the rate of data being transferred from that device to the secondary storage device, the primary storage device will become inoperative. Moreover, setting a low "high water mark" may reduce the chance that this will occur, at the expense of wasting storage resources on the primary storage device. However, even a low "high water mark" can not guarantee that the primary storage device will not fill up.
Additional problems arise when high water marks are used in a parallel processing computer system. Since the number of parallel processes is directly related to the rate of incoming data to the primary storage device, i.e. the more processes the faster the rate. The high water mark should be recalculated and adjusted as the number of parallel processes changes. These recalculations can be quite cumbersome and time-consuming and could still ultimately be inadequate.
On the other hand, not recalculating the high water mark when the number of processes changes can produce other problems. If the high water mark is not recalculated when the number of processes increases, then the rate of incoming data to the primary storage device may exceed the rate of data transfer from the primary device to the secondary device, because more processes are writing to the storage device. Similarly, when the number of processes decreases, not recalculating the high water mark may lead to wasted space, because the high water mark is set too low, creating a buffer having a larger size than necessary.

Method and apparatus for data transfer and storage in a highly parallel computer network environment


A p− type semiconductor substrate 20 has a first principal surface 20a and a second principal surface 20b opposed to each other and includes a photosensitive region 21. The photosensitive region 21 is composed of an n+ type impurity region 23, a p+ type impurity region 25, and a region to be depleted with application of a bias voltage in the p− type semiconductor substrate 20. An irregular asperity 10 is formed in the second principal surface 20b of the p− type semiconductor substrate 20. An accumulation layer 37 is formed on the second principal surface 20b side of the p− type semiconductor substrate 20 and a region in the accumulation layer 37 opposed to the photosensitive region 21 is optically exposed.

A photodiode using compound semiconductors is known as a photodiode with a high spectral sensitivity characteristic in the near-infrared wavelength band (e.g., cf. Patent Literature 1). The photodiode described in Patent Literature 1 is provided with a first light receiving layer comprised of one of InGaAsN, InGaAsNSb, and InGaAsNP, and a second light receiving layer having an absorption edge at a longer wavelength than that of the first light receiving layer and comprised of a quantum well structure.


A powder dispenser includes a resilient container for storing a powder and a volume of air therein. The powder has properties which enable a portion of the volume of air to fluidize a portion of the powder when the resilient container is sufficiently deformed. The dispenser has a substantially rigid conduit connected to its discharge end. The conduit provides the only fluid communication between the inside of the container and an ambient outside environment. The dispenser also has a resilient flat member connected to the outer end of the conduit. The flat member has a slit that is normally closed such that the container is substantially sealed in a fluid-tight manner until the container is sufficiently deformed to generate a pressure in the volume of air. When a pressure differential exists that is greater than a threshold value, the pressure differential causes the slit to open to discharge a portion of the powder mixed with a portion of the volume of air. The dispenser may also have an apertured member in the conduit that has at least one aperture therethrough having a total cross-sectional area smaller than a cross-sectional area of the conduit. The at least one aperture provides increased air velocity and turbulence to improve mixing of powder and air.

Powder dispensing is not as well understood as liquid dispensing because powder dispensing involves a two-phase fluid containing a compressible gas and solid particles. Even powders dispensed by gravity or by shaking a canister have air mixed with the solid particles. Flowability of a powder is believed to be influenced by multiple factors, including the size and shape of the particles, the tendency for particles to stick to each other, the density of particles, and the volume of air between particles. Particles may stick to each other due to electrostatic attraction as well as adhesive forces. Moisture absorbent powders in particular are prone to caking and resist flow when moisture is sufficiently absorbed. Therefore, moisture absorbing powders are typically contained in relatively air-tight dispensers so that they remain flowable for dispensing after being stored for extended periods in the presence of moist ambient air, such as often exists in a bathroom.
Moisture absorbent powders are useful in maintaining body surfaces dry and feeling soft. Where body surfaces are substantially smooth and upward facing, it is relatively easy to shake a powder from a canister onto the surface and distribute the powder evenly by using one's fingers. However, delivering powder to a body surface having hair or which faces substantially horizontal or downward is benefited by a delivery system which effectively squirts a pattern of powder onto the surface without the need for finger distribution of the powder. Spray type dispensers are generally preferred for such applications.
Squeeze type powder sprayers are known in the art. In one version a resilient bulb is squeezed to cause a burst of air to flow past a container of powder. The powder is drawn into and mixed with the airstream, presumably because the movement of the air generates a low pressure zone adjacent the powder surface. Bulb type powder dispensers are typically limited to very low powder doses.
Squeezebottles which contain powder and have an air headspace are another version, wherein powder is discharged by squeezing the bottle to cause headspace air to push a portion of powder and air out of the bottle. Air pressure may force the powder out an open orifice as in U.S. Pat. No. 2,450,205 to Rose or U.S. Pat. No. 2,840,277 to Bach. One disadvantage of these prior art dispensers is that their discharge orifices are always open, thereby exposing contained powder to moisture. Prior art references show removable closures for powder dispensers, but such closures may not be replaced after spraying, and therefore are not fool-proof In the liquid dispensing art there are found references having squeezebottle dispensers with resilient self-sealing valves. An example is U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,108 to Dornsbusch et al. Dornsbusch et al. show a normally concave-shaped resilient slit valve which inverts under sufficient internally developed pressure. Because this slit valve is intended to seal the container from liquid dripping, the slit must close tightly. Valve inversion causes the slit to close more tightly until it finally opens. Thus, a liquid head in a downward pointing bottle would not result in valve leakage. However, the need for the valve to invert generally requires that a high internal pressure be developed. If such a valve were used with powder instead of liquid, a virtual explosion of powder would occur once the valve opened because compressed air would burst through with the powder. Where targeted delivery of a fine powder is desired, such an explosion is disadvantageous because it results in a significant "cloud of dust" or wasted, non-targeted powder.
Other references, such as publication WO 90/14893, dealing with compressible fluid spray nozzles other than for squeezebottle dispensers, show resilient flat valves, which operate at much higher pressures than inverting valves. If such a valve could be applied to a squeezebottle powder dispenser, both self-sealing and targeted powder delivery could possibly be achieved.
Diptubes are used with squeezebottle powder dispensers intended for upright dispensing. Although powder flowing through a diptube adds to the internal air pressure needed to be developed in a squeezebottle to initiate powder dispensing, the diptube is necessary to provide a path for powder to flow upward to the discharge opening. Without a diptube, air compressed in the squeezebottle headspace would merely exit without carrying powder with it. However, diptubes provide an opportunity for powder plugging if a powder should become compacted in the diptube. The ideal powder has the ability to easily mix with air and flow through the diptube without compacting for proper functioning.
The hereinbefore mentioned Bach reference has a diptube leading from the bottom of the bottle to a mixing chamber just ahead of a discharge orifice. The mixing chamber has a separate opening for a portion of the headspace air to enter the mixing chamber. Although a mixing chamber is advantageous for obtaining a uniform distribution of powder in air, a separate opening to the mixing chamber is believed disadvantageous because it enables headspace air to exit the dispenser without first pushing powder up the diptube. Substantial variation in powder volume dispensed may result from each squeeze actuation of the dispenser if headspace air can escape other than through the bulk of the powder in the bottle.


An optical amplification device is disclosed that performs feedback control to maintain an amplification gain to be a constant based on measured power of input light and power of output light. The device includes a feedback control coefficient switching unit configured to, when performing the feedback control on a difference from an object amplification gain, distinguish a state of increasing or decreasing the number of frequencies of the input light and a steady state by making comparison and determination whether an amplitude of at least one of the power of the input light and the power of the output light is in a predetermined range, and switch the feedback control coefficient. Therefore, it is possible to reduce variation of the power of the output light caused by noise in the steady state without affecting operations of increasing and decreasing a number of frequencies of a light signal.

In an optical communication system, optical amplifiers are provided at each preset distance in the optical transmission path to realize long-distance optical transmission. For example, in the optical transmission path across the Pacific Ocean, several tens to several hundreds of optical amplifiers are provided. For example, one of the optical amplifiers is an optical fiber doped with rare-earth ions.
In the meantime, along with increasingly wide use of the Internet, capacity of data transmitted via networks drastically increases, and it is required that the transmission capacity of optical communication systems be increased further. One of the techniques for increasing the transmission capacity of an optical transmission system is wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), and a WDM transmission system has been put into practical use.
In the WDM transmission system, plural signals having different wavelengths are multiplexed, and transmitted through one optical fiber. Hence, in the WDM transmission system, it is required that the optical amplifier be able to amplify the plural signals at one time. Meanwhile, the so-called ADM (Add Drop Multiplexer) device, which increases and decreases the number of frequencies of individual light signals, and in which power of the light signals transmitted by the optical fiber is not constant, has been put into practical use. Even when the number of frequencies of signals varies, it is expected that power of the output light at a specified frequency can be controlled to be constant by controlling the gain of optical amplifiers. This control is referred to as AGC (Automatic Gain Control).
However, in the WDM transmission system, when the distance between optical amplifiers is long, signal attenuation in the transmission path increases; thus amplifiers of high gains are required, but this causes various noises.
The reasons for the noises in optical amplifiers probably include external noise, noise from optical elements, and ASE (Amplified Spontaneous Emission) noise due to natural light emission.
FIG. 1 shows signal spectra from an optical amplifier using an erbium doped fiber (EDF).
As illustrated in FIG. 1, comparing the spectra before and after amplification, it is found that there is a spectrum in a broad band added to the amplified signal after amplification. This additional broad band spectrum is called ASE noise, which is generated when a portion of natural light emission is coupled with the basic mode of an optical fiber, and is amplified due to induced emission.
When the number of frequencies of a light signal is small, the portion of these noises relative to the total power of the signal is not negligible any longer when executing AGC.
For example, Japanese Laid Open Patent Application No. 9-200145 and Japanese Laid Open Patent Application No. 7-221737 (below, referred to as "reference 1" and "reference 2") disclose techniques of controlling an amplification gain to be constant in optical amplifiers capable of fast response. In reference 1, a fiber is inserted between an input light monitor and an optical amplifier to delay a light signal. In reference 2, adjustment light, which is used for making adjustment, is input to cancel out variation of an input light, thereby, obtaining a constant gain.
The technique disclosed in reference 1 provides a margin in control time, thus enabling fast response, but the excessive optical fiber causes degradation of performance, and the optical amplifier becomes large.
The technique disclosed in reference 2 is able to narrow the range of the power of the input light to be adjusted, and thus facilitates realization of fast response, but it becomes necessary to control the adjustment light at a high speed, and power consumption and temperature increase due to additional output of the adjustment light.
In AGC of the related art, both the noise component and the signal component are amplified if the influence of noise on the input light is large, and this causes variation of the power of the output light.
During operations of increasing or decreasing the number of frequencies of light signals, the variation of power of output light caused by noise is not a severe problem, because this variation of the power is small compared to the variation of the power of the output light caused by the operations of increasing or decreasing the number of frequencies. However, in a steady state, that is, without the operations of increasing or decreasing the number of frequencies, the variation of the power of the output light caused by noise is dominant, and it constitutes the variation of the power of the output light. Therefore, it is required to reduce amplification of the noise.
To reduce amplification of the noise in input signals, it is sufficient to just reduce a feedback control coefficient. However, if the feedback control coefficient is maintained to be small constantly, tracking due to AGC is delayed during operations of increasing or decreasing the number of frequencies of light signals, and the variation of the power of the output light increases. To solve this problem, if it is set to switch the feedback control coefficient during operations of increasing or decreasing the number of light signal frequencies and in the steady state, it is necessary to devise a method of determining the switching, and to reduce the variation of the power of the output light caused by changing of the coefficients during the switching. In the related art, these factors are not taken into consideration.
In addition, concerning the ASE noise, the influence thereof increases when the number of light signal frequencies is small. If assuming the power of the input light to an optical amplifier is In, the power of the output light from the optical amplifier is Out, and an object gain is G, the gain error (GE) of AGC control can be calculated by using the following formula.GE=In×G−Out,
Here, considering an ASE noise ASEnoise is input to the optical amplifier, then
                    GE        =                              (                          In              +              ASEnoise                        )                    ×          G                                -                              Out                                        =                              (                          1              +                              ASEnoise                                                  /                                                In                                      )                    ×          In          ×          G                                -                                          Out            .
If the power of the input light In decreases due to decrease of the number of light signal frequencies, the gain error (GE) of the AGC control increases, and this causes output ripples (variation of the power). For this reason, it is necessary to monitor the power of the input light and make compensations. However, compensations for the AGC control are not performed in the related art.


For the purpose of providing a bicycle speed change operation assembly capable of ensuring stable handlebar operation and immediate braking operation as well as remarkably improved riding safety during the speed change operation, the following technical means are provided: A bicycle speed change operation assembly according to the present invention comprises a cylindrical operation member (11) rotatably supported around a grip end portion of a handlebar (3), a speed change operation mechanism (12) provided in proximity of that grip end portion of the handlebar (3) and capable of winding and unwinding a speed control cable, and a transmission mechanism (13) provided between the cylindrical operation member (11) and the speed change operation mechanism (12) for driving this speed change operation mechanism (12) in response to the rotation of the cylindrical operation member (11), wherein the speed change operation mechanism (12) functions to wind or unwind the control cable in response to rotational reciprocation of said cylindrical operation member in one direction from a neutral rotational position.

A bicycle speed change assembly for sports type bicycles such as racing bikes has been commonly mounted on a bicycle frame member such as a down tube or a top tube. This location unavoidably requires that a cyclist must unhand, i.e., release the handlebar to achieve a speed change operation. It is only natural, therefore, that during a speed change operation a cyclist has no immediate access to a braking apparatus. In addition, the single-handed cycling unavoidably leads to an unstable handlebar operation.
On the other hand speed change operation is required in general when there is a change in road condition, for example, from a flat road to a slope, or vice versa. In such occasions, however, brake operation is also often called for since such change in road condition often leads to less stable riding.
To alleviate this problem a conventional speed change operation assembly has been mounted, for example, on a handle grip portion or in proximity with a brake lever in an attempt that the handlebar or the brake may be accessed as quickly as possible from the speed change operation lever. Indeed this has been the only way to improve riding safety during a speed changing operation.
No matter how close the speed change operation lever is located to the brake lever or handlebar grip portion, the speed change operation does require the cyclist's hand to leave the handlebar or the brake lever, and as a result single-handed cycling is unavoidable. Disturbed access to a brake is likewise unavoidable.
In an attempt to solve this problem a proposal has been made for example as in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei-2-147487 which discloses a speed change operation assembly wherein a speed change operation lever extends out of a brake bracket.
However, the speed change operation assembly disclosed thereinabove has a problem of limited application; it is only applicable to what is known as a drop-type handlebar, and therefore bicycles mounted with other types of handlebars are out of the scope of application.
Furthermore, that particular speed change operation assembly disclosed thereinabove requires that for speed change operation either a thumb or a forefinger must be released from a handlebar grip. Therefore, it does not provide a cyclist with immediate access to a braking apparatus, or it does not solve, either, the problem of disturbed handling stability.


An improved sheet metal clip is interconnected in a collated stack of clips with a plastic rope inserted within side slots on each side edge of each clip. Each clip is generally U-shaped having a crown portion with a pair of parallel spaced leg portions depending from the crown portion. The rope is inserted within the side slots formed in the side edges of each clip. The preferred embodiment of the improved clip includes crown slots which are inwardly extending from each side edge of the crown portion. The rope can be retained within the slots by deflecting tabs on each lateral side edge of the crown portion to enclose the rope within the side slots. The collated stack of clips interconnected with the plastic rope of the present invention provides the needed flexibility and tensile strength for use in manufacturing applications and does not detrimentally affect the operation of the clip in clamping wires and springs together.

This invention relates to an improved sheet metal clip. More particularly, it relates to an improved stack of sheet metal clips in which the clips are collated or interconnected for storage or for use in a clinching tool.
It is well known in the mattress and bedding industries to join wire and spring elements together with a sheet metal clip. A typical clip for use in such applications is generally U-shaped having an arcuate crown portion and oppositely spaced leg portions depending from the crown portion. Such a U-shaped clip is clamped onto wires or bedsprings by a clinching tool. A typical clinching tool for use with U-shaped clips includes a generally J-shaped jaw into which the leading clip in a stack of clips is indexed. The clinching tool has a blade which upon actuation thrusts downwardly to shear off the leading clip from the stack of clips and thereby clamp the leading clip around a pair of wires positioned within the J-shaped jaw. A typical clinching tool of the type described is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,574,811.
The sheet metal clips are collated and aligned in a stack configuration such that each clip is similarly oriented and in abutting relationship with the adjacent clip. The clips are maintained in the stacked configuration for both storage and for use with the clinching tool. For storage, the stack of clips is typically wound under tension upon a cylindrical core member to provide a compact spool of interconnected clips. For use, the stack of clips is unwound under tension beginning with the free end of the stack, which is inserted into the clinching tool for use in clamping a plurality of wires together.
The clips must be interconnected in the stacked configuration so that they are sufficiently flexible to be wound onto a spool and also be interconnected with sufficient strength to withstand the high tensile forces associated with the winding and unwinding of the stack of clips upon the spool. However, the method of joining the clips in a stack configuration, while possessing the requisite strength and flexibility, cannot interfere with the operation of existing clinching tools. Likewise, the structure used to interconnect the sheet metal clips in a stack configuration must not detrimentally affect the ultimate clamping of the clip on a plurality of wires.
One prior solution for interconnecting clips in such a manner is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,670 in which a clip assembly utilizes an elongated strand of plastic filament along each lateral edge of the stack. The plastic filament is inserted into pre-formed notches on each side edge of each clip of the stack. However, the plastic filament is held in the notches only by frictional forces. Therefore, any pulling force or tension applied to the stack of clips, such as the forces applied while winding or unwinding the clip stack or indexing the clip stack into a clinching tool, would act to dislodge the filament from the notches of individual clips and thereby misalign or separate those clips from the clip assembly. The plastic filament interconnection as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,670, being merely frictionally engaged within the side notches of each clip, does not sufficiently interconnect the clips for use in an industrial application.
Another prior solution to the above-described problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,220 in which the individual U-shaped clips of a clip stack are interconnected by a small diameter flexible metal wire which is welded or otherwise secured to the crown portion of the clips by a metal to metal bond. While such an interconnection may provide the adequate strength and flexibility required of a stack of clips, a problem with the arrangement as disclosed in this patent is that when the leading clip is severed from the remainder of the stack, the severed interconnecting wire welded to the crown portion of each clip presents a sharp, abrasive edge which is a source of injury to workers and which may cut or tear the fabric placed over an innerspring mattress constructed using such a clip.
As evidenced by the above background, there still exists a need for an improved sheet metal clip and a method for interconnecting such clips to form a stack which overcomes these identified shortcomings while still providing a strong and flexible interconnection which does not inhibit the effective clamping of wires as applied with a clinching tool.


Embodiments relate to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. According to embodiments, the method may include forming a first and a second insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate of which an active area and an isolation region are defined, forming a first and a second insulating layer pattern by selectively removing the first and the second insulating layer to expose the isolation region of the semiconductor substrate, forming a trench having a prescribed depth by selectively removing the semiconductor substrate by using the first and the second insulating layer pattern as a mask, forming an isolation layer as a third insulating layer in the trench, removing a prescribed thickness of the isolation layer from the surface portion through etching the whole semiconductor substrate while remaining at the side portions of the first and second insulating layer pattern and the active area as a side wall shape, removing the first and the second insulating layer pattern, and removing a prescribed thickness of the isolation layer from the surface portion to protrude the active area of the semiconductor substrate.

As semiconductor devices become more highly integrated, it may be necessary to decrease a size of a transistor. There may be limitations, however, as to how shallow a junction depth of a source/drain may be formed.
As a channel length decreases from a long channel to a short channel of 0.5 μm or less, a depletion region of the source/drain region may penetrate into the channel to decrease the effective channel length and may decrease the threshold voltage. This may generate a short channel effect of losing a gate controlling function at a MOS transistor.
To prevent the short channel effect, a thickness of the gate insulating layer may be decreased, a channel between the source/drain (e.g. a maximum width of depletion region below the gate) may be decreased, and/or the impurity concentration within the semiconductor substrate may be decreased.
Forming a shallow junction may also be beneficial. To this end, an ion implantation apparatus and a subsequently implemented thermal treatment process to achieve a method for forming the shallow junction during forming semiconductor devices may be beneficial.
A MOS transistor may be a representative of a lightly doped drain (LDD) structure. A MOS transistor may generally be used for a memory semiconductor device (such as a DRAM). A MOS transistor may be a flat type transistor, and may include a gate insulating layer formed on a silicon substrate and a conductive pattern formed on the gate insulating layer.
As a level of integration of a semiconductor device increases, however, a line width of a gate pattern may decrease and a length and width of a channel may also decrease. This may increase a negative effect of the transistor operation such as a short channel effect or a narrow channel effect.
In addition, a drive current of an MOS transistor may flow through a substrate channel below a gate electrode of each cell. As the level of integration of a semiconductor device increases, a size of the device may gradually decrease, and the drive current may flow through a extremely limited depth and width near the gate electrode. Accordingly, an amount of drive current may be extremely limited, and may deteriorate operational characteristics of the transistor.
To address the short channel effect and the drive current limitation problem in the MOS transistor, a pin-type MOS transistor may be used. In a pin-type MOS transistor, an area of the substrate contacting the gate electrode having a shallow junction structure may be enlarged, which may increase the drive current.
A related art transistor of a semiconductor device will be described referring to attached drawings.
FIG. 1 is an example schematic diagram of a related art pin-type MOS transistor and FIG. 2 is an example cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I of the pin-type MOS transistor illustrated in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a related art pin-type MOS transistor may include isolation layer 101 formed at an isolation region of semiconductor substrate 100. It may further include active area 105 that may protrude above an upper surface of isolation layer 101 and be formed along one direction. It may further include gate electrode 106 formed along a direction crossing the protruding active area 105, and may have gate insulating layer 130 between them. It may further include source/drain impurity regions formed in active area 105 at sides of gate electrode 106.
Source/drain impurity regions may be formed at active area 105 under gate electrode 106 with a channel region between them.
Gate electrode 106 may cover protruded active area 105, and therefore may be formed on three surfaces of active area 105. Accordingly, a width of gate electrode 106 may increase in an amount approximately equal to a height of the protruded area. This may increase the amount of the drive current when compared to a flat structured MOS transistor.
The related art transistor of the semiconductor device may have various problems.
Referring to FIG. 2, for example, due to divot A that may be generated at a bottom portion of the pin during formation of the related art pin-type MOS transistor, an implementation of subsequent processes, for example, the formation of a uniform gate insulating layer, may be difficult. In addition, because of the thinning phenomenon of the gate insulating layer of portion A, device characteristics may be degraded and a short of the gate insulating layer may occur, which may reduce a reliability of the device.

Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device


An improved coupling method and device for an ocular prosthesis to a porous polyethylene implant is provided. According to the invention, a small surgical screws having a domed head is inserted into a porous plastic implant after the implant has been implanted into an enucleated orbit allowed to vascularize. The domed head projects from the anterior surface of the implant which is covered by conjunctive tissue and is received by a complementary cavity on the rear surface of the ocular prosthesis.

After enucleation or evisceration of an eye, surgeons will routinely fill the void with an implant material to prevent the eye socket and surrounding tissue from collapsing and to provide support for a natural looking prosthesis. Over the years a wide variety of materials have been employed as orbital implants including gold, silver, vitallium, platinum, aluminum, cartilage, bone, fat, fascia, lata, sponge, wool, cork, rubber, silk , catgut, peat, agar, asbestos, ivory, paraffin and cellulose. More recently, surgeons have usually replaced the orbital contents of an enucleated eye with either glass, metal, silicone, methylmethacrylate, autogenous tissue or hydroxyapatite. Although each of these materials satisfactorily filled the orbit cavity and thereby supported the neighboring tissues, many of the materials available in the prior art had disadvantages. Prior art materials and methods designed to meet these objectives and criteria were plagued with problems including loss of eye movement, migration (implant drifting), extrusion (Implant rejection), poor movement of the prosthesis and drooping of the lower eyelid. Sterile hydroxyapatite, which can be obtained from coral or by synthetic means, has been a relatively successful material and was approved by the FDA for such surgeries in the 1980's.
After an eye is removed because of trauma, disease, pain, cosmesis or tumor, it is desirable to reconstruct the orbital area and replace the ocular area with a natural looking prosthesis to simulate the look of the eye. The custom external prosthesis, typically made from methylmethacrylate, are designed by ocularists who fit the prosthesis to the patient and decorate the external surface to realistically match the remaining healthy eye of the patient. In order for the prosthesis to appear realistic it is desirable to have the prosthesis track the movement of the remaining lateral or real eye. In this regard, some success has been achieved in attachment of the extraocular muscles which control movement of the eye to the implant which fills the orbit. After attachment of the muscles the orbital implant will mimic the motion of the remaining functional eye. In order to better translate the movement of the orbital implant to the prosthesis, the components can be coupled or linked together.
In addition to the motility function, the orbital implant supports the surrounding tissues and allows for placement of a natural looking prosthetic for the eye. One problem with prior ocular implants is that the eye socket would often appear to recede or sink back. The condition, characterized by an implant having a sunken appearance caused by the shrinking or sinking back of the eye socket, is referred to as enophthalmos. Efforts directed at mitigating enophthalmos of the anophthalmic socket have often resulted in limiting the motility of the implant and increasing pressure on the lower eyelid.
In connection with hydroxyapatite implants, one manner disclosed in the prior art to couple and secure the prosthesis to the orbital ocular implant involves providing the orbital implant with a post or projection on which the prosthesis is received by a complementary opposite depression or cavity provided thereon. The use of a ball and socket or peg coupling mechanism also helps to support the ocular prosthesis and thus can relieve pressure on the lower eyelid by supporting some of the weight of the prosthesis. In this regard some patients have been able to rectify a problem by a drooping lower lid using a direct coupling method. The post or peg is inserted into a bore hole which is drilled into the anterior surface of the orbital implant after it has been implanted and allowed to significantly vascularize. The post is retained within the bore hole by frictional engagement and eventually tissue grows along the sidewalls of the bore hole adjacent to the peg. The opposite end of the post, which extends outwardly from the anterior surface of the implant, is received in an opposite bore hole or cavity provided on the rear of the in the ocular prosthesis. The prior art also discloses inserting a cylinder having threads on the exterior surface of the cylinder and a smooth bore hole which can receive a peg or post. The prior art further discloses additional manners in which to couple implants with ocular prosthesis which are made from other materials. For example, some involve providing integral projections on either the orbital implant or the ocular implant which can be received by an opposite cavity and intended to be permanently secured. Others have taught the use of magnetic couplings between the prosthesis and the orbital implant. Due to excessive infection and extrusion rates, the use of such coupling systems have been, by in large, abandoned. The introduction of porous hydroxyapatite implants effectively mitigated many of the problems involving infection, extrusion and migration. The introduction of porous implants provided the opportunity for the ocular implant to allow for the ingrowth of vascular tissues into the porous surface of the implant. These materials have diffuse and small pores which allow the blood vessels and tissue to grow into them making them an integral part of the body. Vascularization of the implant minimizes the problems of migration and extrusion. Because non-porous implants have a higher incidence of failure due to infection and complications, porous implants are favored. Although hydroxyapatite is resistant to infection, under experimental conditions it has been established that the material interfered with normal host tissue response and led to chronic mild inflammation that did not completely resolve. Some additional drawbacks to the hydroxyapatite material are that it is abrasive, relatively heavy and must be carved from its natural state to conform to the shape and size of the orbital void. Furthermore, hydroxyapatite is relatively brittle and fragile and due to these inherent mechanical properties it was difficult to mechanically attach ocular muscles to the implant and provide a linkage to the prosthesis. The manners in which to couple the orbital implant to the prosthesis were limited to the post system described above.
Integration of the coupling link from the implant to prosthesis requires the patient to undergo a second operation after the orbital implant has been implanted, healed and become vascularized. During the second operation a hole is drilled at a location determined to align with the center of the eye. In order to minimize trauma to the conjunctiva which has grown over the implant surface, it is best to use a drill bit with the cutting portion limited to the ends of the bit and not up the sides is used. In the prior art, a post having a diameter of 2.5 mm was fitted within a 3 mm diameter hole. According to prior art methodology, a hole was drilled into the implant which required drilling into the brittle implant material to a depth of approximately 14 mm. This operation created drilling fragments and powder which was then removed. After the bore hole is formed, tissue is provided to line the interior confines of the bore hole. In the alternative, since the exterior region of the implant is invested with blood vessels and fibrous tissues which will support epithelial growth, epithelial tissue will grow down the sides of the drilled hole during a second healing process.
Although the results of this prior art procedures have generally been favorable, there have been reports of granulation tissue growth occurring within the central hole which pushes out the motility peg. Such growth, when it occurs, can be prolific requiring repeated excisions and repositioning of the peg. Because the motility peg is not secured to the implant, it is possible to lose the motility peg during cleaning of the prosthesis. Further, the method involves imposing significant additional trauma to the tissues which have grown into the orbital implant. In view of the complications which were raised, in some cases, integration of the prosthesis and implant was avoided.
Although the use of porous hydroxyapatite provided a number of advantages over the prior art materials used for orbital implants problems as described above continued to exist. During the 1980's porous plastic implants of a surgical grade polyethylene were developed which had a number of advantages over hydroxyapatite. These implants have superior strength, were light weight, and have proven to be effective in many of the applications which had been previously performed by hydroxyapatite materials. Porex Surgical of College Park, Ga. manufactures such implant materials under the trademark MEDPOR.RTM. and markets products designed for implantation into the anophthalmic socket identified as MEDPOR.RTM. spheres and the MEDPOR.RTM. CVA (conical volume augmentation) ocular implant. Porous polyethylene is an inert material which has the same advantages afforded by the porous surfaces provided by naturally occurring hydroxyapatite. The plastic is inert, stable and easily can be sterilized. Because the implant is synthetic, an uninterrupted supply of the material is readily available. Further, the material can be easily molded and shaped to appropriately fit an orbital void which requires an implant. Lastly, because the porous material is flexible and pliable, it enabled surgeons to employ new coupling methods between the implant and the ocular prosthesis and between the implant and the extraocular muscles. While hydroxyapatite may be brittle and can crack at the interface between a screw and the implant material, porous polyethylene can be compressed.

Coupling for porous resin orbital implant and ocular prosthesis