A telecommunications system is provided to connect a plurality of dissimilar types of subscriber telecommunications devices and to provide integrated telecommunications services. The system is provided with a digital communications link comprising a PCM bus for voice and data and an HDLC coded PCM highway for control signals to create a master slave environment, wherein a central processing board operates as a master processor for a plurality of peripheral processor boards. The peripheral boards are coupled to various subscriber telecommunications devices. The CPU board is provided with hierarchical program control that includes low level program code for driving CPU board components, and mid-level program code for effecting system functions and CPU board functions. The mid-level code can also be used to create data bases relating to system configuration as well as data bases for each port associated with the peripheral boards. The mid-level code is also provided with an interpreter program code for executing a novel high level code to program code that is recognized by the master CPU board. The high level, telecommunications language provides a system user with a programming language to create program modules for processing packets of data. The hierarchical program control levels operate to conceal dissimilarities between the subscriber telecommunications units to facilitate use of the high level programming language.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to digital telecommunications systems, and particularly to time division multiplex switching systems for routing voice and data between a variety of telecommunications devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
The integration of computer technology and distributed data processing with telecommunications networks has brought about the evolution of switching technology from basic central offices to call processors, which are capable of handling voice and data communications between a variety of telecommunications devices, as well as over a variety of links, such as lines, trunks and satellite links. This technological evolution has created a demand for a telecommunications system which can provide central office telephone service as well as services associated with customer or local exchange switches such as private branch exchanges (PBXs). Further, a demand has been created for telecommunications networks which are capable of providing expanded services such as call forwarding and voice mail.
To meet these demands, telecommunications systems should ideally be configurable to expand with the size of a communication network. Further, the system should be operable to accommodate different channel characteristics and limitations in order to support services requiring, for example, different bandwidths per channel, and equipment employing different communications protocols. Also, it is desirable to provide users with some means to modify and control the system configuration to selectively increase or decrease the number of ports available, to configure the switch for use with selected telecommunications devices, and to provide selected services to subscribers through a switch without requiring substantial change to the system hardware and software components.
Telecommunications systems have been developed which provide distributed processing for voice and data transmitted by a variety of telecommunications devices. The systems, however, generally must employ compatible telecommunications devices in order to provide many of their telecommunications services. The systems are therefore not fully integrated telecommunications systems. An additional drawback associated with many existing telecommunications systems relates to the lack of modularity of the hardware and software components in the system, making changes in subscriber services and in the number of ports supported by the system uneconomical.

Modular user programmable telecommunications system with distributed processing


An apparatus and method for determining if a forward voltage of an LED in a pulse oximeter is within a predetermined range. This is accomplished by measuring the current through the LED, and also by knowing the duty cycle of the pulse width modulator (PWM) drive signal to the LED.

The present invention relates to oximeters, and in particular to controlling the LED voltage.
Pulse oximetry is typically used to measure various blood chemistry characteristics including, but not limited to, the blood-oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in arterial blood, the volume of individual blood pulsations supplying the tissue, and the rate of blood pulsations corresponding to each heartbeat of a patient. Measurement of these characteristics has been accomplished by use of a non-invasive sensor which scatters light through a portion of the patient's tissue where blood perfuses the tissue, and photoelectrically senses the absorption of light in such tissue. The amount of light absorbed is then used to calculate the amount of blood constituent being measured.
The light scattered through the tissue is selected to be of one or more wavelengths that are absorbed by the blood in an amount representative of the amount of the blood constituent present in the blood. The amount of transmitted light scattered through the tissue will vary in accordance with the changing amount of blood constituent in the tissue and the related light absorption. For measuring blood oxygen level, such sensors have typically been provided with a light source that is adapted to generate light of at least two different wavelengths, and with photodetectors sensitive to both of those wavelengths, in accordance with known techniques for measuring blood oxygen saturation.
Known non-invasive sensors include devices that are secured to a portion of the body, such as a finger, an ear or the scalp. In animals and humans, the tissue of these body portions is perfused with blood and the tissue surface is readily accessible to the sensor.
The light sources, typically light emitting diodes (LEDs), need to be driven with current to activate them. In order to determine sensor failure, such as an open or shorted LED, the current through the LED can be measured. Typically, this is done with a feedback resistor across which the voltage is measured to determine if any current is flowing. If no current is flowing, there is assumed to be an open connection.

LED forward voltage estimation in pulse oximeter


A method and a strong, light weight, portable apparatus useful for assisting a person to safely practice Yoga using a real tree. The apparatus comprises a plurality of strong, flexible, inelastic, continuous loop slings, predominately of Mountain Climbing Specification Nylon tube webbing, connected to one another in an interlocking fashion. This Yoga multi-sling is dimensioned for attachment in a secure manner to most any tree or strong branch; and is designed to comfortably support the user's body or limbs in such a manner as to alter the orientation of one's body with respect to gravity. This method and apparatus empower the user to employ gravity as the exercising or stretching force through the positioning of the user's own body or limbs to create first, second, and third class levers in order to multiply and focus these forces on targeted muscles or muscle groups, and enhance the flow of one's Yoga practice. The Yoga multi-sling enables a person to use a real tree as a strong stretching partner to practice unique, supported, Yoga postures, or asanas, in order to increase one's balance, strength, and flexibility in an outdoor, natural setting. An advantage of connecting to a living tree while practicing Yoga is the medicinal and therapeutic enhancement of the five senses to produce an overwhelming sensation of peace to one's mind, body, and soul. The inexpensive multi-sling, which fits in a drawstring backpack tote, is adaptable to various body types, reconfigurable, comfortable, and tree friendly.

1. Field
The field of this invention relates to a method and a portable apparatus for practicing Yoga outdoors, specifically, practicing Yoga using the apparatus attached to a strong tree. Class 482 Exercise Devices
2. Background
It is a well-established fact that proper exercise is a component of good health. Tens-of-thousands of games, toys, recreational activities, and exercising devices have been created to enhance the pleasure and even overcome the pain of exercising. Not only does the present invention method and apparatus offer an extremely effective, efficient, and motivating way to enhance physical conditioning, but it also addresses several other key aspects of a healthy and enjoyable life style, namely: balance, strength, flexibility, and a connection with nature. The strong trend in the United States toward improved mental and physical health through Eastern exercise practices like Yoga have positively impacted our society's holistic approach to health.
Over the past few decades, our modern society has transitioned from an active, outdoor society to a sedentary, indoor society. We spend an ever increasing percentage of our daily lives indoors: attending school, working in office environments, working on computers, watching television, and playing video games. We have even transitioned many of our normal outside activities such as walking, running, or biking to indoor activities such as running on a treadmill or riding a stationary exercise bicycle. Many group classes like aerobics, Pilates, and Yoga are conducted indoors in gyms and in Pilates and Yoga studios.
When people experience what our parents referred to as "cabin fever" they suffer from an increase in anxiety and mild depression, but it seems like we have exchanged the simple solution of 'going outside' with taking ever increasing amounts of 'anti-anxiety and antidepressant' medications. Not only are we not spending time outdoors, we are losing our connection with the natural world of trees, flowers, clouds, wildlife, rain, and wind. We have substituted our personal experience in nature with a vicarious experience about nature through TV programs such as The Discovery Channel or Animal Planet. The problem has become so prevalent that it now has been given a name: 'nature deficit disorder'. This disorder has serious implications and is characterized with many symptoms ranging from childhood obesity, teenage depression, and lethargic adults. It is the intention of the current invention's method and apparatus to help mitigate some of these negative symptoms by encouraging, and providing a means for, enjoyable, meaningful, and playful outdoor stretching and exercising activities.
Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods—Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder shares with us on page 34 and 35:                Nature-Deficit Disorder describes the human costs of alienation from nature, among them: diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, and higher rates of physical and emotional illnesses. The disorder can be detected in individuals, families, and communities. Nature deficit can even change human behavior in cities, which could ultimately affect their design, since long-standing studies show a relationship between the absence, or inaccessibility, of parks and open space with high crime rates, depression, and other urban maladies. Nature Deficit Disorder can be recognized and reversed, individually and culturally. But deficit is only one side of the coin. The other is natural abundance. By weighing the consequences of the disorder, we also can become more aware of how blessed our children can be—biologically, cognitively, and spiritually—through positive physical connection to nature.        Indeed, the new research focuses not so much on what is lost when nature fades, but on what is gained in the presence of the natural world.
There have been many people throughout history that have eloquently stated the intense need for this connection between mankind and nature—the following are a few examples:
John Burroughs, Naturalist & Essayist said: "I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order."
E. M. Forester, Novelist & Humanitarian asks: "What is the good of your stars and trees, your sunrise and the wind, if they do not enter into our daily lives?"
Walt Whitman, Poet, wrote: "Why are there trees I never walk under but large and melodious thoughts descend upon me?"
Robert Louis Stevenson, Novelist & Poet, shares: "It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit."
John Muir, Naturalist & Writer, said: "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul."
John Muir also wrote: "I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out until sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in."
Henry David Thoreau wrote: "Nature is but another name for health"
Saint Bernard, Theologian, announced: "You will find something more in woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters."
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant #0216560 funded the following cited work. The NSF is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense . . . ." With an annual budget of about $6.06 billion (statistic from NSF website updated June, 2008), the NSF is the funding source for approximately 20 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by America's colleges and universities.
The following are excerpts of National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant #0216560: Evidence for a fundamental and pervasive shift away from nature-based recreation "Is love of nature in the US becoming love of electronic media?"
16-year downtrend in national park visits explained by watching movies, playing video games, interne use, and oil prices. By: Oliver R. W. Pergams and Patricia A. Zaradic
Department of Biological Sciences (MC 066),
University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 W. Taylor St., Chicago, Ill. 60607, USA
Stroud Water Research Center, 970 Spencer Road, Avondale, Pa. 19311, USA
Edited by Gretchen C. Daily, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., and approved Dec. 17, 2007 (received for review Oct. 17, 2007)
Abstract                After 50 years of steady increase, per capita visits to U.S. National Parks have declined since 1987. To evaluate whether we are seeing a fundamental shift away from people's interest in nature, we tested . . . four classes of nature participation variables:        (i) visitation to various types of public lands in the U.S. and National Parks in Japan and Spain,        (ii) number of various types of U.S. game licenses issued,        (iii) indicators of time spent camping, and        (iv) indicators of time spent backpacking or hiking.        The four variables with the greatest per capita participation were visits to Japanese National Parks, U.S. State Parks, U.S. National Parks, and U.S. National Forests, with an average individual participating 0.74-2.75 times per year.        The longest and most complete time series tested suggest that typical declines in per capita nature recreation began between 1981 and 1991, are proceeding at rates of −1.0% to −1.3% per year, and total to date −18% to −25%.        In conclusion, all major lines of evidence point to an ongoing and fundamental shift away from nature-based recreation.
In the book: 'Healing Gardens: Therapeutic Benefits and Design Recommendations' (Wiley, 1999) by Clare Cooper Marcus and Marni Barnes pages 1 and 2 states:                Over the centuries, the connection between healing and nature was gradually superseded by increasingly technical approaches—surgery, medicines, drugs, and X-rays. A separation occurred between attention to body and spirit, and increasingly, different parts of the body (eyes, heart, digestive tract, etc.) and different afflictions (cancer, arthritis, etc.) were treated by specialists. The idea that access to nature could assist in healing was all but lost.        Research exists to support the notion of nature as healer. Studies have been conducted that confirm the clearly positive benefits to patients, staff, and visitors of hospital outdoor space. Specifically designated "healing gardens" have begun to appear in hospitals. Certain relatively new categories of medical settings that specialize in the care (rather than cure) of their patients—for example, the hospice and facilities for Alzheimer's patients—have enthusiastically embraced the importance of a garden along with a homelike interior. Books have appeared that urge readers to consider their own gardens as a healing or sanctuary space (Minter, 1993; McDowell and Clark-McDowell, 1998; Jay, 1998). The organization that accredits 85 percent of U.S. acute care hospitals now requires that for certain patient groups (pediatrics, long-term care) and those experiencing long stays, the hospital provide access to the outdoors through appropriate use of hospital grounds, nearby parks and playgrounds, and adjacent countryside. (The Center for Health Design, 1998)        Clearly, ancient knowledge about the restorative power of nature is not completely lost. The time is ripe to present what we currently know from research and what we can learn from best practice in landscape design to promote the reintegration of nature and the healing process.Background for Addressing the Need and Developing a Solution:
Yoga is an incredible way to exercise and has withstood the test of time—it has literally been practiced continuously for thousands of years. Many Eastern Yoga masters and instructors conduct Yoga outdoors; however, as Yoga made its way to the Western cultures, for the most part, it has been moved indoors and has lost some of its inherent value. I was introduced to this invaluable form of exercise through an indoor Yoga studio. I later started conducting some of my Yoga sessions outdoors during my daily run with my dogs.
The idea of doing Yoga 'with a tree' was born in my experience. Early one morning, facing the sun as it broke over the horizon; I was doing my Yoga breathing and stretching exercises near the East entrance of the University of Texas, Dallas campus. Captivated by the peaceful experience of this ancient form of exercise, I became acutely aware of the beauty of the nearby Live Oak Trees.
I had spent much of my early childhood climbing and swinging from trees and in tree houses that my father had built for us. Since my recently deceased father had fostered in us a love and appreciation for trees by planting literally tens-of-thousands of trees, the idea of continuing my Yoga exercises from up in the tree had no longer crossed my mind, than I found myself taking my next breath from up among the branches.
Joining the tree in this early morning praise was an experience that was natural, enchanting, exciting, and calming—all at the same time. The thought of adding some form of 'Tarzan rope' for stabilization was the next logical step.
This idea materialized into the recently, world-wide flourishing—TreeYoga Multi-Sling (TYMS). Numerous experienced Yoga instructors readily and curiously embraced performing Yoga in a tree using this multiple sling apparatus. Yogis (men) and Yoginis (women) alike have helped transform this idea of doing TreeYoga into a reality, enriching their Yoga experience together in nature, both in and around the trees.
My experiences while serving as a U.S. Marine Reconnaissance Officer, as well as my training with Army Airborne and Ranger Units, Navy Seals, and Navy Underwater Demolition Teams, caused me to work with numerous forms of parachuting, mountain climbing, and rappelling harnesses and webbing. These experiences also caused me to have a life-long commitment to remaining in top physical condition through hiking, cycling, marathon running, and now Yoga in trees. This incredible, ancient method of exercising combined with this renewed connection with nature has helped me develop significantly in areas of: balance, strength, and flexibility.
Class 482 Exercise Devices: 482/91; 482/95; 482/96; 482/143
Field of Search: 482/91; 482/95; 482/96; 482/126; 482/131; 482/142; 482/143; 482/144; 910

Method and apparatus for practicing yoga in and around trees


A system and method for reducing jitter during an optical navigation operation operates to automatically switch the current resolution based on jitter-resolution correlation data.

Optical navigation systems operate to estimate movements between the optical navigation systems and target surfaces to perform tracking operations. An optical navigation system uses a light source, such as a light-emitting diode (LED) or a laser diode, to illuminate a region of a target surface and an image sensor to receive the light reflected from the target surface to successively capture frames of image data of the target surface. The optical navigation system compares the successive image frames and estimates the relative movements between the optical navigation system and the target surface based on the comparison between the current image frame and a previous image frame. The comparison is based on detecting and computing displacements of features in the captured frames of image data.
Optical navigation systems are commonly used in optical computer mice to track the movements of the mice relative to the surfaces on which the mice are manually manipulated. The movements of a computer mouse are used to control a cursor on a monitor of a computer system. The accuracy of an optical computer mouse with respect to the positioning of the cursor mostly depends on the resolution of the mouse. Higher resolution means that a user can more accurately position the cursor at specific locations on the monitor.
A concern with a conventional optical computer mouse is that tracking errors in the optical navigation system may cause jitter movements of the cursor being controlled by the optical computer mouse. These jitter movements can even occur when the optical computer mouse is stationary. Jitter movements are particular annoying to gamers since gamers manipulate the cursor for longer durations than other optical mouse users.
In view of this concern, there is need for a system and method for reducing jitter during an optical navigation operation.

System and method for reducing jitter during an optical navigation operation

Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


Two arbitrary points belonging to a single object in an image captured by an camera installed in a vehicle body are extracted as evaluation points, the absolute value representing the difference between the coordinate values of the extracted two points, which are taken in reference to an arbitrary coordinate axis set on the image, is calculated and a time differential value of the absolute value representing the difference between the coordinate values of the two points is determined. Based upon the absolute value representing the difference between the coordinate values and the time differential value, the length of time to elapse before the object containing the two extracted points contacts the vehicle body is calculated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a contact time calculation apparatus that calculates the length of time to elapse before an obstacle in an image captured with a camera contacts a body moving relative to itself, an obstacle detection apparatus that detects the obstacle based upon the length of time to elapse before the contact, which has been calculated by the contact time calculation apparatus, a contact time calculation method and an obstacle detection method.
2. Description of Related Art
There is a technology known in the related art through which the length of time to elapse before the obstacle detected based upon an image photographed with an on-vehicle camera comes into contact with the subject vehicle is calculated (see Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. H11-353565). In the technology in the related art, the contact time is calculated by setting a coordinate system, the origin point of which is a vanishing point on the image and determining the optical flow of a specific characteristic point in the coordinate system having been set.

Contact time calculation apparatus, obstacle detection apparatus, contact time calculation method, and obstacle detection method


A micro electronic component structure includes an insulating body, at least one conductive through hole, at least one conductive material, and at least one micro terminal. The insulating body has a top surface and a bottom surface. The conductive through hole penetrates the top surface and the bottom surface. The conductive material is formed in the conductive through hole. The micro terminal is disposed above the conductive material.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to an electrical connection interface and, more particularly, to an electronic component structure of composite multi-factor deformation characteristics formed by a micro terminal made of an elastic material and a bonding material with an elastic effect.
2. Description of Related Arts
Currently, the most common hot-plug interface of a computer in the market is the universal serial bus (USB), and most of external devices are connected with the computer with USB 2.0 plugs. With the development in science and technology, the signal transmission specification of USB is developed from USB 2.0 to USB 3.0. Compared with the transfer rate of 480 Mbps for USB 2.0, the transfer rate of 5 Gbps for USB 3.0 greatly improves the data transfer rate.
The transmission interface of USB 3.0 for an electronic device has two different types of pins. Currently, in manufacture, a substrate is first provided, and a pin module including all single-pins is manufactured independently. After the pin module is manufactured, it is jointed to the substrate to form a transmission interface compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. However, if the pin module with two different types of pins is needed, compared with a common planar pin module, the manufacture process is more complex and more materials are needed due to greater structural variation and height difference. Further, after the conventional USB pin is pulled and plugged repeatedly, electrical contact may become poor due to improper force and collision deformation or due to elastic fatigue of the pin.


A sensor arrangement includes a switchable voltage source having a source output for alternatively providing a first and a second excitation voltage, an integrator having an integrator input and an integrator output, a sensor resistor having a first terminal coupled to the source output, a reference resistor having a first terminal coupled to a second terminal of the sensor resistor and a second terminal coupled to the integrator input, and a comparator having a first comparator input coupled to the integrator output.

This disclosure is related to a sensor arrangement and to a method for sensor measurement.
A sensor often comprises a sensor resistor, whereas a resistance value of the sensor resistor depends on a parameter to be measured. A temperature sensor may comprise a sensor resistor having a resistance value depending on the temperature. Such a sensor resistor may comprise e.g. platinum as a temperature sensitive material. Also a gas sensor may comprise a sensor resistor, wherein the resistance value of the sensor resistor depends on a concentration of a gas. An example of such a sensor resistor is a metal oxide semiconductor resistor comprising SnO2 or ZnO as a gas sensitive material. The resistance value of the sensor resistor may obtain a high value depending on the gas concentration to be measured. There may be a leakage current from or to terminals of the sensor resistor resulting in an error of the gas sensor measurement.

Sensor arrangement and method for sensor measurement


An electric motor has a stator and a rotor. The stator has a housing with inlets and outlets. The rotor has a shaft, a rotor core and a commutator. A fan is fixed to the rotor. An end cap is fitted to the housing to close a first end of the housing and support electrical components, including brush gear. The brush gear includes two brush assemblies, each comprising a brush for making sliding electrical contact with the commutator and a brush guidance mechanism for resiliently urging the brush into contact with the commutator. The brush assemblies are accommodated in compartments of the end cap. Each compartment has vents on an axially facing side thereof and openings in a transverse wall thereof. An air guide guides a part of the airflow generated by the fan exiting from at least one of the outlets of the housing to flow into the compartments via the openings and exit the compartments via the vents to cool the brushes.

A mechanically commutated motor has a wound rotor and a commutator which provides power to the rotor winding by brushes which make sliding electrical contact with the commutator. Heat is generated within the motor by the electric current flowing through the windings, through magnetic eddy currents in the steel of the rotor core, by friction between the brushes and the commutator, electrical erosion or sparking between the commutator and the brushes and by direct heating of the brushes by the current passing through each brush. This heat needs to be dissipated or removed from the motor or risk serious damage to the motor. Usually, a fan removes this heat by inducing a flow of air drawn into the motor housing and across the commutator or across the rotor core and windings. However, the brushes are not specifically cooled and under heavy load conditions the brushes may heat up sufficiently to reduce the working life of the brushes. This is especially a problem for guided brushes, such as those used with brush cages and even for rail guided brushes as the cage and/or end cap or brush card to which the brush guiding system is fitted restricts air flow about the brush, even in a relatively open brush gear arrangement.
As such, there is a desired for an improved electric motor which can solve the above-mentioned problem or at least provide a useful alternative.


An item data management server having the capability to transfer information and records via a physical item data record of an item data management server. The physical item data record transfer and/or cloning facilitates ready maintenance and upkeep of the inventory of physical items to other users to facilitate community/trade, and also provides a feature for providing information relating to the physical items to third-party service providers, such as insurers, and to governmental authorities, such as in the event of theft, to aid in the recovery of the physical items, et cetera.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to server systems accessible by user terminals, and more particularly to server systems providing physical item database services to users over a network.
2. Related Art
Historically, collectors, business owners, and others have kept written listings and/or ledgers that identify their physical items, whether they are collectibles, household possessions, business equipment, product inventory, or other physical items. The written listings/ledgers typically included additional information regarding the physical items, for example, quantity, value, physical characteristics, model number, serial number, et cetera. Generation of these listings/ledgers was difficult. Further, when the status of the physical items represented in the written listing/ledger changed, it was very difficult to alter the written listings/ledgers to represent the change in status.
As technology advanced, computer based inventory programs replaced written listings/ledgers. While the computer based programs moved the record keeping from a hand-written to an electronic format, the burdensome data entry and organizational requirements for interacting with the computer based inventory programs remained with the user. Data entry for dissimilar physical items still necessitated repeating the input process multiple times, even when using a computer-based program.
Often, collectors, business owners, and others required information relating to their physical items. In obtaining this information, these persons accessed the Internet, particularly looking to ecommerce sites for such information. Ecommerce sites, however, had generated information that was limited to specific search terms selected by a user, and not based upon the items in the user's control. That is, information returned in a search tool is limited to the capability of the user to generate a sufficient search string—that is, to have the requisite "knowledge to know what they do not know." As a result, time and energy was needlessly expended refining a search that in the end may not render a suitable result for the user.
Once the inventory database was established, however, the number of physical items in the inventory increased, as did the burden to maintain the itemized inventory, location, and identification of the physical items, particularly with the entry of multiple items sharing the same or similar attributes, and maintaining the database with the transfer of items through sale, trade and/or barter. As the inventory lapsed into disuse due to the effort to maintain the database, the ability to recreate the inventory became very difficult when faced with filing claims with governmental authorities and/or insurers upon the loss or destruction of items. Accordingly, a need exists for reducing the maintenance burden of an inventory of physical items in a transactional environment, and to simplify the process to provide the physical items and/or updated inventory listings to third party service providers.

Transferring information and records via a data structure for a physical item in the control of a user


Embodiments relate to a computer implemented process, system and program product for identification of a root method for a thread. In one aspect of the embodiment the process includes instrumenting code to form instrumented code and creating stack sample data. It also includes creating method stack sample data in a case that the stack sample data exceeds a stack sample data threshold. It also includes, determining whether a root method is identified, the determining based on using the method stack sample data; and reporting any root method identified for a respective thread.

This disclosure relates generally to program runtime in a data processing system and more specifically to identification of a root method associated with a thread in a data processing system.
Some types of programs drive the bulk of their respective execution tasks from a single root method or a small set of root methods, even perhaps different root methods on different threads. For example, a transaction processing application typically has a method in which incoming work is detected, examined, and dispatched accordingly to an appropriate handler. This type of root method can potentially optimize resources by providing better profiling but is difficult to find.
In order to find root methods, some techniques are being provided but none of them techniques work very well for identification purposes. One reason may be that root methods are not invoked too often and thus rarely reach the threshold required (or only reach that threshold after a relatively long time) to trigger identification. The other problem is that because root methods frequently do not consume significant processor resources (although tasks called from the root method do), they rarely accumulate very many samples to allow identification.
Speculation and guesses are utilized but they do not always provide correct predictions mainly because design patterns evolve and change over time. In addition, root methods can change over time requiring updates to an application to remain synchronized. Consequently, not all applications follow established design patterns and programmers may not know which method is the root method. In addition, the methodology often only works in applications modified to communicate root methods.

Programmatic identification of root method

International Business Machines Corporation


A negative electrode active material for an electric device, including an alloy having a composition formula SixZnyAlz, where x++y=100 , 26≦x≦47, 18≦y≦44, and 22≦z≦46 are satisfied.

In recent years, in order to address atmospheric pollution and global warming, there has been a strong demand for reduction of a carbon dioxide amount. In the automobile industry, there are high expectations that the reduction of carbon dioxide amount can be attained by introduction of an electric vehicle (EV) and a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), and an electric device such as a secondary battery for driving a motor, which is the key to the practical realization of these vehicles, has actively been developed.
The motor-driving secondary battery is required to have a considerably high output property and high energy as compared to a consumer lithium ion secondary battery used in a mobile phone or a laptop personal computer. Therefore, a lithium ion secondary battery having the highest theoretical energy among all types of batteries has attracted attention and is being rapidly developed at present.
The lithium ion secondary battery generally has a structure in which a positive electrode obtained by coating a positive electrode active material and the like on both surfaces of a positive electrode current collector by using a binder and a negative electrode obtained by coating a negative electrode active material and the like on both surfaces of a negative electrode current collector by using a binder are connected to each other via an electrolyte layer and housed in a battery casing.
A carbon/graphite material which is advantageous in charge-discharge cycle life and cost has heretofore been used for the negative electrode of the lithium ion secondary battery. However, since the charge-discharge is performed by occlusion/release of lithium ions into/from a graphite crystal with the carbon/graphite negative electrode material, there is a drawback that it is difficult to attain a charge-discharge capacity of 372 mAh/g or more which is the theoretical capacity obtainable from LiC6 which is the largest-amount-lithium intercalation compound. Therefore, it is difficult to attain capacity and energy density which are satisfactory for the practical use in vehicles with the use of the carbon/graphite negative electrode material.
On the other hand, since a battery in which a material to be alloyed with Li is used for a negative electrode is expected as a negative electrode material for use in vehicles since the battery is improved in energy density as compared to the conventional carbon/graphite negative electrode material. For example, one mole of a Si material occludes and releases 4.4 mol of lithium ions as shown in a reaction formula (I), and a theoretical capacity of Li22Si5 (=Li4.4Si) is 2100 mAh/g. Further, in the case of calculation per weight of Si, an initial capacity of 3200 mAh/g (see Sample 10 of Example 1) is attained.[Formula 1]Si+4.4Li++e−Li4.4Si  (1)
However, in the lithium ion secondary battery using the material alloyed with Li for the negative electrode, expansion-shrinkage in charge-discharge is large in the negative electrode. For example, a volumetric expansion of a graphite material in the case of occluding Li ions is about 1.2 times, while the Si material has a problem of reducing a cycle life of an electrode due to a large volumetric change (about 4 times) which is caused by transition from an amorphous state to a crystal state in the alloying between Si and Li. Also, since a capacity and cycle durability have a trade-off relationship in the case of the Si negative electrode active material, there has been a problem that it is difficult to improve high cycle durability while maintaining a high capacity.
In order to solve the problems, a negative electrode active material for lithium ion secondary battery, which contains an amorphous alloy having a formula of SixMyAlz, has been proposed (see Patent Document 1, for example). In the formula, each of x, y, and z represents an atomic percent, x+y+z=100, x≧55, y<22, z>0, and M is a metal formed of at least one of Mn, Mo, Nb, W, Ta, Fe, Cu, Ti, V, Cr, Ni, Co, Zr, and Y. In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is the description in the paragraph [0018] that good cycle life is exhibited in addition to a high capacity by minimizing the content of the metal M.

Si alloy negative electrode active material for electric device


A top state controller controls a bus adapter to a selected master or slave top state in response to a command on a local or system bus during a dispatch state of the bus adapter. The bus adapter remains in the selected top state until the command is completed or suspended, whereupon it returns to the dispatch state. The top state controller sets a first flag upon a change from a master top state to the dispatch state in response to suspension of a command by a data handling device, and sets a second flag upon a change from a slave top state to the dispatch state upon completion of a command. The top state controller is responsive to the first or second flag to operate the bus adapter to that master top state from which the bus adapter changed to set the first flag and is responsive to the completion of the suspended command to clear the first and said second flags. The controlled bus adapter and top state controller permit resolution of deadlock conditions and establish priorities between the local and system buses, and permit suspension of the master states to respond to slave commands.

The present invention relates to bus adapter architectures which provide an interface between two different types of data communication buses.
Bus adapters function to bridge together two different types of data communication buses, such as a local bus used to communicate to devices within a single module and an external or system bus used to communicate to other modules in a system. Previous bus adapters included distributed control mechanisms by which each interface or major operation category included a separate control section. Unique interfaces between the multiple control sections implemented common resource allocation, operation prioritization, and deadlock recovery functions. Previous bus adapters selected the functions to be performed and resolved each uniquely on a case by case basis. Previous bus adapters lacked definition for combinations of functions and timing relationships between the multiple control sections and were thus difficult to simulate and validate. Consequently, previous bus adapters were prone to latent faults.

Generalized hierarchical architecture for bus adapters


Precordial electrode strip for use on the torso of patients of different sizes comprising an elongate strip of flexible insulating material. A plurality of precordial electrodes are disposed in longitudinally spaced apart positions on the strip. A plurality of precordial leads are carried by the strip. At least one lead is connected to each of said precordial electrodes. A single connector is connected to said precordial leads for making connection to each of said precordial electrodes.

In the past, in making electrocardiographic (ECG) measurements in humans it typically has been necessary to individually position six precordial electrodes across the upper chest of the patient and to also place electrodes on the right, arm, left arm, right leg and left leg, for a total of at least ten electrodes, all connected by leads to a conventional ECG apparatus. Errors often occur in connecting these ten electrodes to the ECG apparatus. There is therefore a need for a new and improved apparatus and method for overcoming these disadvantages.

Precordial electrode strip and apparatus and method using the same


Embodiments of the invention relate generally to increasing adult height in individuals with no light perception (NLP).

The incidence of abnormal circadian rhythms is greater in blind individuals with no light perception (NLP) compared with those with some light perception (LP). Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Rhythm Disorder (Non-24) is a chronic circadian rhythm disorder, common in the blind, in which the sleep-wake cycle of affected individuals is in cyclic misalignment (i.e., not synchronized or entrained).
Previous studies have reported that blind people have a reduced height and that those with NPL are shorter than those with some LP. These studies have not, however, examined whether height is related to non-24-hour rhythms or Non-24. Applicant conducted a study to investigate this issue.
It is noted that the drawings of the invention are not to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention.


While the manufacturing of integrated circuits (IC) has become a mostly automated process, the loading of the ICs into storage and shipping tubes 105 still requires a large amount of human interaction. A major stumbling block to the automation is the removal and insertion of retention pins 115 in the tubes. The present invention uses pressurized air 406 to hold a partially extracted retention pin 115 in position while the tube 105 is loaded. Once loaded, the retention pin 115 is reinserted. By not fully extracting the retention pin 115, alignment is maintained, simplifying the reinsertion step.

The manufacturing of integrated circuits (ICs) is a very highly researched area and as a result, has become a very efficient and automated process with relatively little human interaction. This automation has led to lower costs for the manufacturer and better quality products for the consumer. Automation results in lower costs because machines typically work faster and with fewer errors when compared to humans. Additionally, machines can work longer and with fewer needed breaks.
Unfortunately, not all tasks involved in the manufacturing process have been amenable to being automated. For example, once the ICs have been packaged and tested, the ICs are commonly placed into plastic tubes for storage and shipping purposes. Machines have been designed to perform such packing operations, but they tend to be complex and are slow and sensitive to becoming misaligned. Human packing of the ICs, on the other hand, is tedious and slow. Finally, combining humans and large machinery can lead to serious operator injuries.
One proposed solution involves the combination of both machines and humans. The human operators load the plastic tubes into the machines and the machines, through large pinchers, remove a pin used to hold the ICs in the plastic tubes. The pin is sometimes referred to as a retention pin. With the pin removed, the ICs are loaded into the plastic tubes and the machine replaces the pin. Once the pin is replaced, the human operator removes the plastic tubes filled with ICs. The pinchers used to remove the pins are large pneumatic mechanisms that tend to become misaligned quite easily, resulting in incorrect re-placement of the pins and possible damage to the plastic tubes and the ICs. Whenever a problem arises, the machine has to be shut down and the problem cleared through human intervention. This can greatly reduce the efficiency of the entire process. Additionally, the large size of the pneumatic pinchers poses a real danger to the human operators when the operators are loading and removing the plastic tubes from the machines.
A need has therefore arisen for machinery that can maximize automation of the IC packing process and at the same time minimize the threat of physical injury to their human operators.

Method and apparatus for integrated circuit storage tube retention pin removal and insertion


A sterilized laminated mat for growing vegetation comprising a biodegradable base fabric, a plurality of seeds adhered to the base fabric, a sterilized hydrating medium secured to the base fabric, and a cover fabric secured to the hydrating medium to maintain structural integrity of the device. The device may also comprise fertilizer added as discrete units, or as a uniform layer, to the base fabric or incorporated into the hydrating medium. The seeds, hydrating medium and cover fabric are all secured with biodegradable, water soluble organic adhesives. Preferably, all components of the device are sterilized, with the exception of the seeds if such sterilization would have deleterious effects on germination.

This invention relates to a novel vegetable growing mat particularly adapted for growing herbs, vegetables, flowers, mushrooms and the like. As used herein, "vegetable" refers to the generic term applied to vegetation grown for consumption as food or medicine, for ornamental display, or for any other known purpose, and includes, inter alia, mushrooms. The novel mat requires no thinning and is weed, insect and disease resistant.
Vegetation mats are well known in the art. Mats have been prepared having food vegetable seeds, flower seeds, and the like incorporated into a mulch and fertilizer substrate to provide "ready-made" flower or food gardens. Such devices may incorporate herbicides or weed barriers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,776 to Ball discloses a seed layer applied to a paper backing, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,282 to Milstein discloses a laminated member for propagation of sod.
Therefore, while it is known to incorporate vegetable seeds into a structure having a growing medium, fertilizer, etc. there is a need for a vegetable mat having the capability of permitting downward growth of desired plants while preventing upward growth of undesired plants from beneath the mat.


A system controls the pressure at which conditioned is to be provided to one or more zones to be heated or cooled by the conditioned air. The system actively computes a setpoint for the pressure with a location in a duct system upstream of where any of the conditioned air is to be provided to the zones. The setpoint is computed as a function of the positional statuses of dampers within the duct system that regulate the flow of the conditioned air to the respective zones. The actively computed setpoint is compared with a sensed pressure in the duct system in order to determine whether the pressure in the duct system needs to be changed.

This invention relates to controlling the movement of conditioned air to individual zones of a variable air volume system. In particular, this invention relates to the control of a fan which moves the conditioned air through the ducts of a variable air volume system.
The air supply fan within a variable air volume system, hereinafter referred to as a "VAV system" moves conditioned air down a supply duct to individual zones which are to be heated or cooled by the conditioned air. In order to move the air to these zones, the supply fan must generate sufficient pressure in the supply duct to overcome frictional losses experienced in moving the air to the zones. These frictional losses will vary depending on the level of demand for conditioned air by the individual zones.
To ensure that sufficient pressure is available at all times, a maximum fan discharge pressure requirement is typically established for the supply fan of a variable air volume system. This fan discharge pressure requirement is premised on the fan producing enough pressure in the supply duct to meet the maximum individual air flow requirements of the respective zones. The thus established fan discharge pressure requirement is generally known as a "static pressure set point" for the VAV system. This static pressure set point may be used to, for instance, control the speed of the supply fan. In this regard, a controller for the fan typically requires a variable speed fan motor to either speed up or slow down so as to meet the static pressure set point. It is to be understood that other types of fan control may also be used to meet the required static pressure setpoint.
It is to be appreciated that the supply fan need not always be required to generate the fan discharge pressure defined by the aforementioned static pressure set point. In this regard, there are many air flow or load conditions within the individual zones that do not require maximum air flow. When this occurs, the dampers within the VAV system must modulate the amount of air flow to the respective zones. This produces an increased pressure drop within the supply duct of the VAV system in order to achieve these modulated air flow rates. Conversely, the friction losses within the VAV system decrease exponentially as these individual VAV dampers throttle down the amount of air flow to the individual zones. These frictional and damper pressure drop losses impact the efficiency of the VAV system. It is therefore to be appreciated that under any condition other than full load for the system, the fan will be supplying an excessive amount of pressure which must be offset by closing dampers in order to reduce the air flow to the respective zones.
It is an object of the invention to provide a fan control for a VAV system which does not always require that discharge duct pressure be maintained at an artificially high static pressure set point.
It is another object of the invention to provide a fan control which can adjust the fan discharge pressure to an appropriate level dictated by any load condition of the VAV system.


Herein described is a system for injecting and extracting gas for a fluid rotating machine of the type comprising at least one stator case, one first stage which receives the gas flowing into the machine, one final stage, downstream of which the gas is discharged from the machine, and one or more intermediate stages arranged between the first stage and the final stage. Each stage is made up of a single centrifugal rotor and a fixed ducting, associated to such centrifugal rotor and made on the single stator case. The system comprises at least one first worm screw for extracting gas from the machine and at least one second worm screw for injecting gas into the machine. Both worm screws for extracting gas and for injecting gas are operatively connected to at least one stage of the machine.

1. Field of the Invention
The embodiments of the present invention refer to a reversible system for injecting and extracting gas for a fluid rotating machine, in particular for a centrifugal compressor.
2. Description of Related Art
As known, a compressor is a machine capable of raising the pressure of a compressible fluid (gas) by using mechanical energy. Among the various types of compressors used in the industrial field process systems there are the so-called centrifugal compressors, wherein the energy to the gas is provided in form of centrifugal acceleration due to the rotation, generally driven by a driver (electric motor, vapor turbine or gas turbine), of a member referred to as rotor made up of one or more wheels or centrifugal rotors.
Centrifugal compressors may be provided with only one rotor, in the so-called single stage configuration, or several rotors arranged in series, thus referred to as multistage compressors. More precisely, each of the stages of a centrifugal compressor is usually made up of a pipe for suctioning the gas to be compressed, by a rotor, which is capable of providing kinetic energy to the gas, and a ducting for connecting a rotor to the following one, whose task is that of converting the kinetic energy of the gas discharging from the rotor into pressure energy. In particular, these ducts are made up of a first pipe portion for discharging from a rotor, referred to as a diffuser, a substantially U-shaped fitting referred to as "cross-over", and a second pipe portion for introduction into the subsequent rotor, referred to as return channel.
Modern multistage centrifugal compressors used in the petrochemical industry may be designed with systems for injecting and/or extracting gas on intermediate stages, also referred to as side streams. Some typical applications of these compressors are represented by machines used in refrigerators cycles, which use high molecular weight gases, such as propane and propylene, which are injected or extracted on intermediate stages depending on the process requirements. Extraction or injection of the gas is usually performed by means of worm screws or volutes made in the stator parts of the compressor, between two consecutive stages, in connection with an external flange.
Generally, the worm screw is substantially shaped to form a "spiral", which is extended circumferentially around the axis of the machine and which has a section suitably shaped to reduce the fluid dynamic loss to the maximum.
Given that efficiency and, generally, proper operation of a compressor depend on the aerodynamic losses in the stator parts, the injection and extraction worm screws must be designed to optimize in the geometry thereof to allow the correct flow of the gas both from inside the compressor to an external flange, for extraction systems, and from an external flange into the compressor, for the injection systems.
Up to date, centrifugal compressors provided with worm screws and respective systems for injecting and extracting gas on intermediate stages do not allow optimizing the gas stream, both when injecting and extracting, when such systems are installed on a single multistage compressor case. This is mainly due to the fact that traditional systems for injecting and extracting gas on intermediate stages provide for the use of a worm screw for each stage, leading to high loss of head when the gas is made to flow into the components of the system in the direction opposite to that provided for according to the design. In other words, the high velocities of the gas inside a compressor are such to create high loss of head should an extraction worm screw be used for injecting gas and vice versa.
An optimized operation in both modes is thus possible only if the centrifugal compressor is provided with a plurality of distinct cases operatively connected to each other by means of pipes that connect the outlet flange of a compressor case to the suction flange of the subsequent case. In other words, when a reversible system for injecting and extracting gas on intermediate stages with good efficiency is required, it is necessary to interrupt the compression with machines separated, executing and connecting the side stream outside the machine directly on the process pipe. This however implies increasing costs (for manufacturing the machine, laying the foundations, etc.) and lower reliability (higher number of auxiliary devices, connection pipes, etc.).

Reversible system for injecting and extracting gas for fluid rotary machines


A circuit with a voltage-controlled variable resistance comprises a MOS transistor (2), one of the main electrodes (S) of which is connected to a common terminal (B), a control voltage (VC) being applied between its control electrode (G) and the common terminal. This circuit comprises a voltage dividing bridge (R1, R2) switched between a first terminal (A) and a common terminal (B) and a follower (6, 4), the input of which receives the output (5) of the divider (R1, R2) and the output (8) is connected to the other main electrode (D) of the MOS transistor; whereby the resistance between the first terminal (A) and the common terminal (B) varies as a function of the control voltage (VC).

The present invention relates to variable resistor circuits, the resistance of which is controlled by an electric signal, more particularly a voltage.
A variable resistor circuit is generally constituted by a dipole, the resistance or impedance of which takes a determined value as a function of an electric variable, for example a voltage, applied across the terminals of the circuit.
Variable resistor circuits are frequently used in many electronic devices. They are used, for example, for controlling a current or a voltage, for setting a gain or attenuation, or for adjusting filter parameters.
A variable resistor circuit can be formed by using a MOS-type transistor. In a MOS transistor, the resistance between the two main electrodes varies as a function of the voltage applied to the control electrode. In other words, the resistance between the drain and source of a MOS transistor varies as a function of the voltage applied between the gate and the source. Therefore, a simple MOS transistor is liable to constitute a satisfactory voltage-controlled variable resistance. Such a variable resistor circuit properly operates only if the MOS transistor constantly remains in the linear area of the drain-source current voltage characteristic. If the drain-source voltage exceeds a determined value, depending on the physical characteristics of the MOS transistor, the circuit is no longer in the linear area of its characteristic but enters the saturation area wherein the drain-source current does not proportionally varies with the drain-source voltage. Hence, a MOS transistor can be used for constituting a voltage-controlled resistor only if the maximum voltage liable to be applied across the terminals of the variable resistor, that is, between the drain and source, remains lower than the voltage corresponding to the start of the MOS transistor saturation.
However, in many conventional electronic circuits, a large number of different functions is implemented in a single integrated circuit. Particularly, it is presently possible to interconnect in a same chip bipolar transistors and MOS transistors. In some applications, bipolar transistors are to withstand high voltages, for example about 50 volts, and MOS transistors are to withstand substantially lower voltages, for example about 5 volts. It will be easily understood that in such an integrated circuit it will not be possible to use a MOS transistor for constituting a variable resistor if the latter is designed to be connected to a portion of the circuit constituted by bipolar transistors liable to supply substantially higher voltages.
One of the aims of the invention is to solve this problem.

Circuit with a voltage-controlled resistance


A germicidal water cleansing apparatus having an ellipsoid chamber which contains UV lamps along the major axis of the ellipsoid. Each of the ends of the ellipsoid has an opening to allow the entry and exit of a liquid. The chamber is formed from an ultraviolet reflective material such as spun aluminum to allow uniform dispersion of the ultraviolet radiation throughout the chamber. The liquid is drawn through the chamber at a rate to assure a high kill rate of microorganisms present in the liquid.

Bacteria or other microorganisms permeate the air we breath and the water we drink. Much effort has gone into trying to limit or destroy atmospheric or water-borne pathogens. It has long been recognized that pathogens can be destroyed if they are irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light of a wavelength of 253.7 nanometers. In order for the UV light to kill microorganisms, and particularly pathogens, the rays must directly strike them.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,870 discloses a fluorescent lamp emitting germicidal ultraviolet radiation for use in a water purifying apparatus. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,358 to Woodward, discloses the use of a UV fixture for germicidal purposes in a water purifier and dispenser. U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,401 discloses the use of a UV lamp in a water treatment system for swimming pools and portable water, wherein the water passes through a stainless steel chamber having a UV light source located within the chamber. The chamber is cylindrical in formation having transverse ends. There is no effort to shape the stainless steel chamber to assure that there is even distribution of the ultraviolet radiation throughout the chamber. Stainless steel itself is of relatively low reflectivity for UV light and, thus, would not, by its nature, act to ensure uniformity of the UV radiation throughout the chamber or the maintenance of a high level.

Apparatus for germicidal cleansing of water


Methods, systems, and media for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device are provided. In accordance with some implementations, methods for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device are provided, the methods comprising: detecting, using a light sensor, light levels in the light sensor's surroundings; generating a signal representing the light levels; detecting, using a hardware processor, at least one variation in light levels indicative of a presentation of a video scene based on the signal; detecting at least one variation in light levels indicative of a scene change subsequent to the video scene based on the signal; and determining that media content is being presented on a display device in response to detecting the variation in light levels indicative of the presentation of the video scene and the variation in light levels indicative of the scene change.

While watching media content (e.g., a television program, movie, etc.), a user is often interested in information relating to the media content. For example, the user may want to browse additional information about a topic that is shown in the media content. Additionally, the user may be interested in interacting with an application running on a mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone) to control the playback of the media content, to perform searches through the Internet, and/or to perform other tasks. To experience these interactive features using conventional approaches, a user may have to manually activate an application on a mobile device and/or input program information about the media content being watched by the user. However, manually activating an application and/or inputting information about the media content being watched by the user can be inconvenient.
Accordingly, new mechanisms for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device are desirable.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


There is provided an integrated semiconductor processing apparatus which produces less dust. The apparatus comprises a reaction chamber, a boat means, a motor, and a sealing mechanism. The sealing mechanism includes a movable sealing means which serves as a non-contact seal when a wafer is being rotated and which serves as a contact seal when the wafer is static. The movable sealing means is an expandable elastic seal comprising an expandable elastic member. By increasing the pressure inside the expandable elastic seal, the surface of the elastic seal is put in contact with a rotating shaft to achieve perfect sealing. The internal pressure of the expandable elastic seal can be adjusted to control the contact and non-contact state of the seal. The apparatus according to the invention suppresses generation of dust in all steps of etching to improve production yield.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing semiconductor wafers and, more particularly, to an apparatus for etching semiconductor wafers.
2. Description of Related Art
Methods referred to as "dry etching" and "wet etching" are known as methods for etching a silicon oxide film on a semiconductor wafer. Dry etching is a method wherein a semiconductor wafer is etched by exposing it in an atmosphere of an etching gas such as HF or HF/H.sub.2 O. On the other hand, wet etching is a method wherein a semiconductor wafer is etched by immersing it in, for example, a water solution of HF for a predetermined period of time. Recently, due to increasing demand for highly integrated devices, dry etching that provides higher etching efficiency has been the mainstream art.
However, dry etching also has a problem in that by-products of etching remain on the surface of a wafer. The dry-wet-dray etching system has been conceived taking such a situation into consideration. The dry-wet-dray etching is a method in which the surface of a wafer is sufficiently cleaned by pure water or the like after dry etching as described above and is dried by evaporating moisture thereon. This method eliminates the possibility of contamination by by-products after dry etching.
However, in order to implement the dry-wet-dry scheme, a dry etching apparatus, a cleansing apparatus, and drying apparatus must be prepared separately, which has resulted in a problem associated with the space for such apparatuses and a problem of contamination during transportation of wafers between those apparatuses.
Conventional apparatuses had another problem in that magnetic seals which produce less dust can not be used as sealing members at the step of dry-etching for reasons with respect to corrosion resistance.
While the spin drying system in which a wafer is rotated to scatter water droplets with a centrifugal force is generally utilized as drying method at the step of drying, there has been a possibility of contamination of a wafer due to dust produced by friction at rotating portions during the step.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an integrated semiconductor processing apparatus in which the above-described dry-wet-dry etching scheme can be easily implement at a time.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a sealing mechanism which prevents dust from rotating portions or from the outside of a reaction chamber from contaminating a semiconductor wafer during executing all steps of dry-wet-dry etching.


The invention relates to a combination food and beverage cooler. The cooler includes a bottom wall, a plurality of attached side walls, and a top opening defined by the side walls. The bottom wall and side walls substantially enclose a compartment area formed therein. A beverage compartment is positioned in the compartment area and adjacent the bottom wall for storing an otherwise non-contained beverage. The beverage compartment is relatively flat and extends over a relatively large surface area of the compartment area in relation to its volume. A food compartment in the compartment area stores items such as canned goods, canned drinks and other solid food items. A cooler pack in the compartment area is positioned between the food compartment and the beverage compartment for cooling the food compartment and the beverage compartment. The cooler pack extends over a relatively large surface area of the beverage compartment and the food compartment.

This invention relates to a combination food and beverage cooler with divided food and beverage compartment areas. The respective compartment areas are designed for separately containing a liquid beverage which can be dispensed directly from the compartment into a glass or cup, and items such as fruit, canned goods, canned drinks, and the like in a single portable cooler unit. The compartment areas are divided by a partition wall which has a recessed dish for housing a refreezable and detachable ice pack or "cooler pack." A tray insert is placed above the partition wall and over the cooler pack for holding the cooler pack relatively stable, and for separating the cooler pack from the items stored in the food compartment. The beverage compartment is defined by the area directly beneath the partition wall, and includes a drain/fill plug and dispenser tap.
Prior art coolers such as that disclosed by the Dungan Patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,395,550, are inadequate for separately containing both food items and a non-contained beverage. The Dungan cooler has separate compartment areas located on either side of the cooler, as opposed to the top and bottom. Ice is placed in the side compartment area adjacent to the side beverage compartment, and within the same compartment as the food storage area. As is evident, this design presents a stability problem when the cooler is lifted and moved, since the weight distribution is extremely uneven. Additionally, a cooler of this type is not practical because of the limited food storage space above the ice needed to cool the beverage compartment.
Other conventional coolers, such as that manufactured by Coleman or Igloo, have commonly been used for containing only an otherwise non-contained beverage such as punch, cool-aid, etc. However, several problems exist in the use of these type coolers for this purpose. Ice used to chill the beverage usually melts over a relatively short period of time, and consequently acts to dilute and otherwise lessen the flavor of the beverage. Additionally, there are obvious problems of filling and dispensing the beverage from the cooler. Generally, one has to turn the entire cooler on its side in order to fill his/her cup. The cooler of the present invention provides an easy manner of filling and draining the beverage compartment area, and a tap dispenser for easily dispensing the beverage into a cup.
When a conventional cooler is packed with ice, canned drinks, and food, the food can become damp or soggy because of melted ice and improper food wrapping. A cooler according to the present invention eliminates this problem by providing a storage space for a self-contained, removable cooler pack. The cooler pack chills the cooler and remains in a relatively fixed positioned without melting over and dampening the cooler contents. Moreover, the cooler pack is refreezable, thus saving the expense of buying ice every time the cooler is used.
The size of the cooler, according to this invention, can be very large to separately accommodate food and beverage for numerous people, or quite small. Presently, industry workers, school children, and others who typically bring their lunch to work or school must carry both a thermos container and a lunch box for their drink and sandwich. This can be awkward and clumsy. Moreover, the conventional lunch box does not include a means for cooling the food compartment, nor does the thermos include a means for continuously chilling the beverage. This invention eliminates the need for individual containers by providing separate, cooled compartment areas for both food and beverage within the same, portable cooler.


An electrochemical cell for use in an implantable medical device is presented. The electrochemical cell includes a cover having a first surface and a second surface separated by an outer edge. The electrochemical cell also includes a case having a planar bottom, a side extending upwardly from the planar bottom, and an open top for receiving the cover.

Implantable medical devices (IMDs) treat patients suffering from a variety of conditions. Examples of implantable medical devices are implantable pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), which are electronic medical devices that monitor the electrical activity of the heart and provide electrical stimulation to one or more of the heart chambers, when necessary. For example, a pacemaker senses an arrhythmia, i.e., a disturbance in heart rhythm, and provides appropriate electrical stimulation pulses, at a controlled rate, to selected chambers of the heart in order to correct the arrhythmia and restore the proper heart rhythm.
IMDs are designed with shapes that are easily accepted by the patient's body while minimizing patient discomfort.

Electrochemical cell for implantable medical devices


Embodiments include sets of nestable containers with each container having a cover comprises a fold. The covers are disposable between two of the nestable containers when the containers are nested with each other. Uses of the containers include, for example, food, craft, and home storage.

Food storage containers are popularly used to store food that is left over after a meal. The food is packed into the storage container, sealed, and placed into a refrigerator. Such food containers may be reusable and made of plastic and have a lid. The lid seats snugly on the container to help preserve the food and isolate it from the environment. A plastic used for a food storage container is carefully selected for its properties in contact with food.

Nestable containers with coverings having a fold


A light amount adjusting device includes: a cover plate having a light-passing hole; a first separator being sheet-shaped and having a hole; a second separator being elastically deformable and sheet-shaped, positioned on a side opposite to the cover plate with the first separator therebetween, and having a hole; a first light amount adjusting blade movable between the cover plate and the first separator; a second light amount adjusting blade being movable between the first separator and the second separator; a base body to which the cover plate, the first separator, and the second separator are mounted, having a throughhole and mounting grooves, the throughhole being formed to have a diameter larger than a diameter of the hole of the second separator, the mounting grooves allowing the second separator to be mounted therein and being opened toward the throughhole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to technical fields of light amount adjusting device and image capture apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Image capture apparatuses are provided with alight amount adjusting device for adjusting an amount of light captured via lens groups.
In one such light amount adjusting device, two light amount adjusting blades, i.e., a shutter blade and a filter blade, are incorporated, such that the shutter blade is arranged between a base body formed from a resin material and one of separators, whereas the filter blade is arranged between the one separator and the other separator (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP 2005-173133, Patent Reference 1).

Light amount adjusting device and image capture apparatus


A compact engine start device of a combustion engine rotary-type carburetor overrides normal operation of a rotary throttle valve to provide a richer mixture of fuel-and-air to start a cold engine. Rotation of a start lever of the start device activates a releasable camming interface coupler causing the throttle lever to rotate about a rotary axis and axially lift partially out of the carburetor at prescribed angular and axial distances. This provides the engine, through a fuel-and-air mixing passage, with a controlled and enriched ratio and volume of a fuel-and-air mixture. Preferably, the start lever has a projecting rod that inserts into a hole in the carburetor body for rotation about an axis orientated substantially parallel to the rotary axis. An outward surface of the start lever is in rotational sliding contact with a low-profile, preferably cantilevered, retention arm preferably formed unitarily to a metering fuel pump cover engaged removably to the body of the carburetor, thus allowing rotational movement but preventing axial movement of the start lever. Because the start lever does not move axially to displace the rotary throttle valve, the height of the start lever is favorably minimized. Moreover, the start lever preferably has a knob for user interface at a distal end of the lever that conforms generally about the retention arm thus maximizing knob size yet not contributing to an increase in carburetor size.

Known rotary-type carburetors have a fuel-and-air mixing passage orientated through a body for flowing a controlled ratio and volume of a fuel-and-air mixture to a combustion engine. This control is generally provided by a throttle valve rotatably and axially movable in a cylindrical cavity transverse to the mixing passage. A cylindrical portion of the throttle valve located in the cavity carries a through-bore that when rotated generally aligns adjustably to the mixing passage generally controlling the mixture flow rate. The cylindrical portion also supports a needle orientated concentrically to a rotary axis of the throttle valve and projecting into the through-bore for receipt into an open end of an axially confronting fuel feed tube supported by the carburetor body. A cylindrical wall of the feed tube carries an orifice opening into the through-bore for the flow of liquid fuel into the mixing passage and from a fuel metering chamber communicating with the feed tube. Axial movement of the rotary throttle valve shifts the needle axially with respect to the feed tube thus adjustably obstructing the orifice thereby controlling fuel flow into the through-bore and mixing passage.
Generally, a cammed interface between the cylindrical portion of the throttle valve and the carburetor body acts to move the throttle valve axially in response to rotational movement of the same. Rotational movement is achieved through operator intervention generally placed upon a throttle lever disposed outside of the carburetor body and typically engaged to the cylindrical portion via a rotatable valve shaft.
Such rotary-type carburetors are known to have engine start devices that act to supply an enriched fuel-and-air mixture to a cold engine for starting. These start devices typically carry cam surfaces required to cause axial movement of the throttle valve. Unfortunately, known start devices have numerous parts and the known cam surfaces require structure that projects further outward from the carburetor body than does the throttle lever at its furthest axial withdrawn (wide open) state thus considerably enlarging the carburetor size. Moreover, known start levers having a handle or knob at a distal end for leverage that must also project a considerable distance from the carburetor body hindering a desirable compact carburetor design.

Engine start device of a rotary valve carburetor


A collapsible golf bag attachment providing a stand and wheeled dolly for accessible carrying of golf clubs and transport by the golfer, comprised of saddles and a frame fastened to the golf bag and a pair of wheeled legs contollably locked in a deployed mode by a manipulator with a retractile ground engageable post to assist deployment.

This invention relates to the game of golf which is characterized by a compliment of golf clubs necessary to conduct the games and which must be carried throughout the game. Included in golfing is an assortment of paraphernalia including golf balls and tees etc., and all to the end that a golf bag of clubs and sundry items weighs considerably and draws upon the physical stamina of a golfer. Consequently, there are golf carts and caddies that reduce the strain on the golfer. However, there are situations where the golfer prefers to be self sufficient, and/or to provide assistance to the caddy a wheeled cart or stroller is to be desired in order to conveniently carry the golf bag. Heretofore, wheeled golf bag apparatus has been characteristically complicated, heavy and cumbersome, leaving much to be desired. And accordingly therefore, it is a general object of this invention to provide a simple, light weight and convenient stand and stroller for golf bags, and which is economical and inherently reliable and durable.
A primary object of this invention is to provide a carriage that is easily adapted either temporarily or permanently to a golf bag of usual size and configuration, golf bag and club access being standardized and the carriage of this apparatus being coextensive with said bags. In practice, a tubular frame is employed with injection molded plastic members secured to the top and bottom ends of the bag. Also, an injection molded plastic support member is fixed to the tubular frame to mount wheeled legs that are retractile.
It is an object of this invention to deploy and collapse a wheeled support of the apparatus, extensible for maximum stability and retractile for the convenience of shoulder strap carrying and for storage. In practice, a simple leg and strut support is provided, there being mirror opposite right and left leg wheeled support, the legs and struts of which are divergent at an included angle of approximately 90.degree. and deploying wide tread wheels with a track spread of about 24 inches. A single manually shiftable and weight assisted actuator positions the struts so as to extend and retract the wheeled legs.
It is an object of this invention to controllably manipulate the deployment and collapse of the wheeled support, and to this end there is a manipulator tube that is reciprocatable relative to the tubular frame, and is also rotatable to lock the wheeled support in its deployed mode, and to un-lock and release the same. In practice, the manipulator tube is rotatably secured to the shiftable actuator that shifts the support struts, and is slidably guided through the aforesaid top saddle and the support affixed to the tubular frame. A feature of this invention is that the manipulator tube is both manually and ground operable, and by gravity, to assist deployment of the wheeled support.
An object of this invention is to provide means by which the weight of the golf bag and its contents enables gravity to be used in deploying the wheeled legs into the stand and strolling modes. The wheeled legs are initially spring biased and automatically extended to the deployed positions, partially at least as shown in FIG. 4.
It is an object of this invention to assist collapse of the apparatus, whereby the wheeled support is completely retracted and yieldingly held under spring pressure in that mode. To this end, tension means is provided to yieldingly urge the support legs inwardly as they swing downwardly into a collapsed position closely adjacent to the tubular frame (see FIG. 3).
It is also an object of this invention to inherently hold the apparatus in its deployed condition, by limiting the position of the wheeled legs and by anchoring them in the deployed positions fowardly from a vertical line of support from the tubular frame (see FIG. 1). That is, the manipulator tube can be lowered from the position shown in FIG. 1 so as to position the legs vertically, but no further without collapse. In practice, a pistol grip is provided to push-pull and rotate the manipulator tube, all as circumstances require.
It is another object of this invention to releasably lock the apparatus in its deployed condition, simply by rotating the manipulator tube to engage a key-slot in the uppermost saddle member. Accordingly, the manipulator tube and actuator member shifted thereby can be locked whereby indiscriminate handling of the apparatus is made possible, without inadvertent collapse thereof.
And, it is an object of this invention to reduce the parts and members of this apparatus to a bare minimum, thereby reducing the the cost of manufacture and providing an extremely simple and practical product that is reliable and not subject to malfunction.


A baseline set of graph information associated with a predefined execution environment of a program may be obtained, the baseline set associated with a baseline time interval. The predefined execution environment includes predefined environment objects, at least a portion of which are dynamically mutatable. A second set of graph information associated with the predefined execution environment may be obtained, the second set associated with a second time interval that is later in time than the baseline time interval. The baseline set and the second set may be compared to detect virtualization activity associated with a dynamic runtime.

Developers and users of applications such as web applications may rely on execution environments to ensure that their applications execute in accordance with user expectations. Dynamic execution environments such as JAVASCRIPT execution environments may define reflection interfaces that allow applications to dynamically introspect and modify core system objects. However, this may lead to virtualization events, in which, for example, a virtualizing enclosing environment may present an application with an ostensibly unmodified execution environment (e.g., a JAVASCRIPT runtime); however, the execution environment may have been modified by the virtualizing enclosing environment, which may cause the application to experience unexpected results (or to potentially experience undesirable interference from the virtualizing enclosing environment).


Recombinant HMPV (rHMPV) and related immunogenic compositions and methods are provided. The rHMPVs, including chimeric and chimeric HMPV vectors viruses, provided according to the current disclosure are infectious and attenuated in permissive mammalian subjects, including humans. The rHMPVs are useful in immunogenic compositions for eliciting an immune response against HPIV, against one or more non-HMPV pathogens, or against a HMPV and a non-HMPV pathogen. Also provided are isolated polynucleotide molecules and vectors incorporating a recombinant HMPV genome or antigenome.

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a virus that was first recovered in the Netherlands from infants and children experiencing acute respiratory tract disease (van den Hoogen et al. Nat. Med. 7:719-724, 2001; De Jong et al. WO 02/057/302 A2).
HMPV is worldwide in prevalence and resembles human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV or HRSV) with regard to disease signs and the ability to infect and cause disease in the young infant as well as individuals of all ages (for a review, see Heikkinen and Jarvinen, Lancet 361:51-59, 2003).
HMPV is characterized as an enveloped virus with a genome that is a single negative strand of RNA of approximately 13 kb. The virus has been classified presumptively in the Metapneumovirus genus, Pneumovirus subfamily, Paramyxovirus family of the Order Mononegavirales, comprising the nonsegmented negative strand RNA viruses or mononegaviruses. Mononegaviruses also are called nonsegmented negative strand RNA viruses. The Paramyxovirus family has two subfamilies, Paramyxovirinae and Pneumovirinae (also referred to as paramyxoviruses and pneumoviruses, respectively).
Several other mononegaviruses are important agents of respiratory tract disease in pediatric and other populations, for example, RSV and human parainfluenza virus types 1, 2 and 3 (HPIV1, HPIV2 and HPIV3). Although these viruses have some similarities with HMPV, their sequences are different from the HMPV viruses disclosed herein.
Since HMPV was described only recently, there is little documented experience with its propagation, manipulation and stability, and there are no well established or widely available reference strains, mutant strains, reported vaccine candidates, or reference virus-specific antibodies or comparable reagents or systems or experimental animals models to facilitate characterization. Because HMPV is associated with severe respiratory tract disease, there is a need to develop methods to engineer sale and effective vaccines to alleviate the serious health problems attributable to this pathogen, particularly among young infants.

Recombinant human metapneumovirus and its use

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services


A system and method for maintaining a plasma in a plasma region by supplying RF power at a fundamental frequency to the plasma region together with a gas in order to create an RF electromagnetic field which interacts with the gas to create a plasma that contains electromagnetic energy components at frequencies that are harmonics of the fundamental frequency. The components at frequencies that are harmonics of the fundamental frequency are reduced by placing RF energy absorbing resistive loads in energy receiving communication with the plasma, the resistive loads having a frequency dependent attenuation characteristic such that the resistive loads attenuate electrical energy at frequencies higher than the fundamental frequency more strongly than energy at the fundamental frequency.

In the past, various techniques have been proposed for selective attenuation of harmonic frequencies created in plasma processing systems. These techniques utilize either a low-pass filter or a trap circuit. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,882 entitled "LOW-PASS FILTER FOR PLASMA DISCHARGE" discloses such techniques.
In the plasma processing industry, capacitively coupled plasma sources are widely used for dry etching and plasma enhanced chemical deposition. Dry etching is a process for removing a layer of material from a wafer surface. This removal is a result of combined mechanical and chemical effects of high-energy plasma ions striking the substrate surface In plasma enhanced chemical deposition, a layer of a material is deposited on the substrate surface. This material is introduced into the plasma either by sputtering a target made of the material or by supplying a gas which contains the material or from which the material is produced by a chemical reaction. The material may be ionized by the plasma and can then be attracted to the substrate by an electric field.
Plasma processing is commonly used in the semiconductor fabrication industry. The trend in the semiconductor fabrication industry has been toward integrated circuits having smaller elemental features. As a result, etch and deposition rate uniformity over the wafer surface has become more important, particularly when a layer is being etched or deposited according to a pattern. At the same time, recent developments in plasma source technology have led to the increased use of very high frequency RF excitation, e.g., from 60 to 300 MHz, and possibly even higher, to initiate and sustain the plasma.
The use of these very high excitation frequencies provides a benefit in the form of increased power coupling to the plasma, and thus excitation efficiency, that is likely caused by an increase of plasma electron temperature. This increase of RF power coupling affects the plasma density and the harmonic generation in the plasma. However, maintaining high etching and deposition rate uniformity levels at these very high excitation frequencies and with strong harmonics present has proven to be a difficult feat, for a number of reasons.
For example, as the plasma RF excitation frequency is increased, the wavelength of the RF wave decreases. Thus, RF electromagnetic field spatial variations are more pronounced at these higher frequencies and this adversely affects process uniformity. In addition, another trend in the industry is to process larger wafers, 300 mm diameter wafer technology presently being implemented. Of course, as wafer diameter increases, the wavelength-to-wafer-diameter ratio decreases.
Plasma acts as a nonlinear RF circuit element and thus acts as a source of harmonics of the fundamental excitation frequency. These harmonics, due to their higher frequencies, have an even higher power coupling efficiency to the plasma than the fundamental. Therefore, harmonics, even if present at very low power levels, can significantly affect process uniformity due to their very unfavorable wavelength-to-wafer-diameter ratio.
Since harmonics of the RF fundamental excitation frequency have comparatively short wavelengths, they are far more likely to set up resonances in various places in the process chamber, RF transmission lines, cavities, etc., since their half-wavelengths are comparable to the dimensions of these places.
The situation is further worsened by the use of components made of high permittivity (ε) and/or permeability (μ) materials, or by the presence of RF transmission structural features that have significant series inductance (L) and/or shunt capacitance (C). Both of these effects reduce the wavelength of the propagating electromagnetic wave in a structure, the former by directly changing the wave propagation velocity, the latter by creating a "slow-wave" structure. This wavelength reduction allows harmonics to resonate in places where they normally would not.
It can thus be seen that reduction of the power content of the harmonics of the RF excitation frequency would improve etch or deposition uniformity.

Method and device for removing harmonics in semiconductor plasma processing systems