An automatic air pump is built into an inflatable body. The automatic air pump includes a pump body, an air inlet and an air outlet. The pump body is automatically restorable and has an air chamber inside. The air outlet is provided on the pump body to introduce air into the inflatable body when the pump body is pressed. The air inlet is provided on the inflatable body to suck air outside the inflatable body into the pump body when the pump body is released.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to an automatic air pump that has merits of low cost and quick inflation.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 1, an automatic air pump (8) of the prior art has a pump body (81) with a spring (82) received inside. The pump body (81) is made of flexible material, such as PVC, and can be flattened.
While operating the air pump (8), the user depresses it to discharge the air inside, through an air outlet (86). The pump body (81) is flattened and the spring (82) is compressed. Then, the user releases the air pump (8), restoring the pump body (81) automatically to its original shape under the action of the spring (82). Also, outside air is sucked into the air pump (8) through an air inlet (85). By repeating the above operations, the air pump (8) can continuously supply air.
Check valves (83) and (84) are necessarily provided in the air inlet (85) and air outlet (86) to control the direction of the airflow. It is understood that various kinds of check valves can be used.
However, a pump body (81) made of flexible material is easily punctured by the spring (82) which is generally made of steel. Furthermore, the air pump (8) cannot readily be packaged for sale and transport.
To solve the foregoing problem, U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,174 discloses an automatic air pump in which foam is received. The foam has many pores itself and is elastic. When the user depresses the air pump, both the foam and the pump body are flattened. The air contained in the pores of the foam is squeezed out, then into an air mattress (i.e. the air mattress is pumped). When the user releases the air pump, the foam regains its original shape due to its own elasticity and absorbs outside air through an air inlet.
In such a case, however, the foam in the air pump cannot contain too much air. Therefore, it takes many pumping operations to fill the air mattress with air. Another similar case is disclosed in Germany Patent DE 4034593 A1.

Air pump for an inflatable body having a safety holding device


According to an aspect of the present invention, an image management apparatus includes: an authentication processing unit which authenticates access according to an authentication request; an information-displayed-on-apparatus receiving unit which receives displayed-on-apparatus information acquired based on information transmitted to and displayed on an image recipient apparatus in association with transmission of the authentication request; a ticket processing unit which generates ticket link information by generating ticket information for identification of the authentication and linking a user identifier of an authenticated user and a device identifier, which is acquired using the displayed-on-apparatus information received in association with the authentication, of the image recipient apparatus to the ticket information; and an image providing unit which, upon receiving an image request from the image recipient apparatus, acquires the device identifier of the image recipient apparatus and checks an authentication status of the user based on the ticket information linked to the device identifier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to image management systems and image management apparatuses and, more particularly, to a technique for enhancing information security in a situation where a portable terminal is used as an interface for an image processing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Increasing electronification of information of recent years makes printers and facsimiles used in outputting electronified information and image processing apparatuses, such as scanners, used in electronifying documents indispensable. Such an image processing apparatus is often constructed into a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having an image capturing function, an image forming function, a communication function, and or the like and therefore usable as a printer, a facsimile, a scanner, and or a copier.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2007-296661 discloses an example of a system including such an image processing apparatus and configured such that the image processing apparatus downloads a data set from data sets deposited in a server and performs printing of the downloaded data set. Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2007-296661 proposes a technique for increasing information security of data transfer of the to-be-printed data.
Meanwhile, functionality improvement of mobile phones over recent years has led to proliferation of smart phones having information processing capability similar to that of PCs and portable information processing devices such as tablet personal computers (PCs). Hereinafter, such smart phones and portable information processing devices are referred to as "portable terminals".
Such a portable terminal typically includes interfaces for a touch panel, a global positioning system (GPS) function, an accelerometer, a wireless communication function, and the like and is usable for various purposes which depend on functions provided by software programs (program applications) installed in the portable terminal. Accordingly, the portable terminal may be used as a display panel for manipulating such an image processing apparatus as described above.
Some type of image processing apparatus includes an operating unit which is formed only of a small liquid crystal display and simple hard keys, for example, and therefore poor in operability. Accordingly, it is worthwhile to use a portable terminal, interfaces of which are configurable using a touch panel and applications, as an operating unit of an image processing apparatus.
Assume a situation where such a system in which a portable terminal is used as an operating unit of an image processing apparatus is linked with another apparatus (server) via a network as in the technique disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2007-296661. With this system, a user needs to be authenticated before the user accesses information stored in the server or utilizes a function provided by the server. Because the portable terminal is used as a user interface, it is necessary to make authentication results consistent among the three devices, which are the image processing apparatus, the server, and the portable terminal.
The above-described necessity will not arise in a configuration in which: an image processing apparatus and a portable terminal are one-to-one communicable; the portable terminal operates in relation only to the image processing apparatus or, in other words, the portable terminal transfers operational information only to and from the image processing apparatus; and the server is accessed only by the image processing apparatus. This is because authentication to access the server is required only between the server and the image processing apparatus.
However, to allow the image processing apparatus to transfer operational information to and from the portable terminal, it is necessary to add a function therefor to the image processing apparatus. However, an image processing apparatus having such a function is generally equipped with ample operating units including a touch panel. Accordingly, using a portable terminal as an operating unit of such an image processing apparatus will be less worthwhile.
Under the circumstances, there is a need for a technique which, in a situation where a terminal controlled independently of an image processing apparatus is used as an operating unit of the image processing apparatus, enhances information security in authentication of another device.
It is an object of the present invention to at least partially solve the problem in the conventional technology.

Image management system and image management apparatus


A consumer appliance or touch panel interface, as provided herein, may include a substrate panel, a flexible capacitance touch circuit, a deformable conductive joint, and a rigid circuit board. The flexible capacitance touch circuit may be joined to the substrate panel. The deformable conductive joint may extend from a first end to a second end. The first end may be bonded to the flexible capacitance touch circuit. The rigid circuit board may be bonded to the deformable conductive joint at the second end, the rigid circuit board being positioned behind the substrate panel along the axial direction.

Appliances, such as washing machine appliances, generally include one or more user interfaces. A user interface is often provided to receive instructions or provide feedback to a user regarding operation of the appliance. For instance, a display or one or more input selectors may be provided as part of a user interface.
In the case of washing machine appliances, a cabinet having a tub for containing wash fluid (e.g., water and detergent, bleach, or other fluid additives) is included. A basket is rotatably mounted within the tub and defines a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing. During operation of such washing machine appliances, wash fluid is directed into the tub and onto articles within the wash chamber of the basket. The basket or an agitation element can rotate at various speeds to, for example, agitate articles within the wash chamber, wring wash fluid from articles within the wash chamber, etc.
A user interface is often provided with one or more input selector components. Such components may display information about the appliance or allow certain operations or wash cycles to be selected by a user. In some cases, the user interface may have a touch panel connected to a flat circuit board, for instance, by a conductive spring or conductive foam pad. The conductive spring or conductive foam pad may help overcome complex (e.g., curved) geometries of the touch panel since, for instance, it is often impractical or impossible to place the flat circuit board in close proximity to a curved touch panel.
Nonetheless, existing user interfaces can become unreliable over time such that changes in capacitance are not detected between the touch panel and the circuit board. For instance, air gaps may form over time between the conductive spring or foam pad and one or more portions of the user interface. These air gaps may lead to input errors and may cause the user interface to become unresponsive. This may be especially true in high-vibration environments, such as on a laundry appliance having a rotating basket or drum. Moreover, although it might be advantageous to assemble some portions of the user interface separately or in advance, current designs make pre-assembly difficult or unfeasible. For instance, movement of a pre-assembled portion of the user interface may increase the potential for air gaps to form.
There is a need, therefore, for a user interface that improves reliability or continued communication between various portions of the user interface, such as between a touch panel and a circuit board.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Consumer appliance and touch panel interface


A plate stabilizing apparatus is provided which comprises a lateral support structure conflgured to adjust plate alignment which engages vertical rails secured to a polishing machine housing. thus effectively stabilizing the polishing plate while allowing vertical movement of the plate assembly. In a preferred embodiment, a plate stabilizing apparatus includes an alignment plate secured to a subcylinder close to and axially aligned with the polishing plate universal joint. Adjustment screws are provided for lateral adjustment of the polishing plate which is secured to a substantially rigid lateral support structure. The lateral support structure rides within vertical rails secured to the inner housing walls of the polishing apparatus thus allowing vertical movement of the polishing plate during operation.

Polishing technology has been largely driven by the need for exceptionally smooth and planarized surfaces on high-tech materials and components such as magnetic disks, semiconductors. and the like. In the case of semiconductor wafers, for example, polishling, techniques are employed, not just for polishing and planarizing the bulk wafer, but for planarization of those layers which comprise the active circuitry; e.g., conductor metals. passivation, and interlayer dielectrics.
In a paradigmatic polishing operation, a platen/polishing-pad assembly is employed in conjullction with a slurry, for example a water-based slurry comprising colloidal silica particles. When pressure is applied between the polishing pad (e.g., a polyurethane pad) and the workpiece being polished. mechanical stresses are impaited to the workpiece surface. Abrasive particles within the slurry act to create zones of localized stress. which in turn creates mechanical strain on the chemical bonds comprising the surface being polished. Consequently, microscopic regions are removed from the surface being polished, enhancing planarity of the polished surface.
Furthermore, in a chemical-mechaanical planarization context (CMP), the slurry is used to effect chemical as well as mechanical polishing and planarization. More particularly, the slurry suitably comprises a chemically and mechanically active solution, for example, abrasive particles coupled with chemically reactive agents. Suitable chemically reactive agents include hydroxides but may also include highly basic or highly acidic ions.
See, for example, Arai, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,614, issued March, 1992; Karlsrud, U.S. Pat. No. 5,498.196, issued March, 1996; Arri, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,348, issued February, 1989; Karlsrud et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,732, issued July, 1994; and Karlsrud et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,199, issued March, 1996, for further discussion of presently known lapping and planarization techniques. By this reference. the entire disclosures of the foregoing patents are hereby incorporated herein.
A key variable used to characterize a particular polishing or grinding process is the material removal rate. The material removal rate of a process is simply the rate at which material is removed from the workpiece surface, and is typically expressed as a length prr unit time (e.g.. microns per minute).
Many factors can and do affect material removal rate. For example, the material properties of the polishing surface, the mechanical and chemical properties of the slurry, and the properties of the workpiece surface itself are all important factors. In addition, and more important for the purposes of the present invention, removal rate is a strong function of applied pressure. That is, removal rate increases as the local normal compressive force applied to the workpiece surface increases.
Presently known polishing/grinding techniques are unsatisfactory in several regards. In many polishing configurations, for example, particularly where processing of multiple or large workpieces is performed, material removal rate can vary significantly from workpiece-to-workpiece and across individual workpieces themselves due to plate misalignment. More particularly. even when optimum plate alignment is achieved during initial setup, small changes in polishing machine position and orientation can have a significant impact on plate alignment due to a lack of robustness in presently known stabilization techniques. Such changes might occur, for example, due to movement of the building in which the polishing machine resides, or larger scale changes due to seismic shifts.
Presently known techniques are also unsatisfactory in that, over time, day-to-day operation of a typical polishing machine can also result in plate misalignment. Tllis misalignment can be remedied by repeated realignments pursuant to a preventive maintenance schedule; however, such realignments can be quite frequent, resulting in substantial machine down-time.
Polishing techniques are thus needed which provide improved plate stabilization, thus reducing variations in workpiece pressure during polishing.

Methods and apparatus for polishing using an improved plate stabilizer


A system and method for protecting data transmitted across a private network is disclosed. A secure channel is established so that the client computer can securely transmit a password to the server computer. Once the password has been transmitted, future transmissions use the password to encrypt data by the sending computer and decipher the data at the receiving computer. In one embodiment, passwords expire after a certain amount of time and are thereafter renegotiated. In another embodiment, the password is successively modified by a counter value further preventing unauthorized persons from discovering the password used to encrypt the data. By using passwords rather than public-key encryption methods, less system resources are required to maintain data confidentiality. An information handling system securely transmitting data within a private network as well as a computer program product programmed to perform the encryption processing are further disclosed.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to a method and system for securing private networks. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to an improved method and system encrypting information between server and client computers in a private network.
2. Description of the Related Art
A computer network becomes disproportionately more difficult to manage as it increases in size, complexity and geographic dispersion. Management of the network involves configuration of software available on the machines or for a user in the network, coordination of access to shared resources and implementation of security measures. In addition, communication traffic on the computer network is monitored to ensure that the system is configured appropriately to reduce security risks and to improve efficiency.
Computer network security typically is implemented from the point of view that computer networks external to an enterprise are inherently untrusted and that computer networks internal to an enterprise are inherently trusted. As a result, security tends to be implemented using perimeter, or point of access, security mechanisms where communications from the external network enter into the internal network. One common way to implement connectivity with computers external to the enterprise is by encrypting and authenticating such communications using a protocol such as Secure Socket Layers (SSL). Such a system, however, does not protect against internal security breaches.
One way communications internal to an enterprise could be protected would be by encrypting internal communications using public key encryption such as used in SSL. Public key encryption uses a pair of asymmetric keys for encryption. One of these pairs is referred to as a "public" key and is shared with others, while the other key is a "private" key which is never distributed and is always kept secret. When data is encrypted using the public key, it can only be deciphered using the private key, and vise-versa (i.e., data encrypted using the private key can only be deciphered using the public key). In order to establish the secure link between two computers, one computer initiates a "handshake" with another computer to exchange public keys and establish a secure connection.
Using public key encryption on a private network presents challenges to the enterprise. First, while performing handshakes between every computer on the private network would secure the network, the security processing would result in poor performance on the network as more resources would be devoted to implementing security. A second challenge faced when confronting the first challenge, is determining which connections need to be secure in order to prevent unintentional disclosure of sensitive information. For example, an employee sending medical information to the company's medical department may want the information to be kept secret from others not in the medical department. However, the same employee sending a bulletin intended for all employees probably does not care to encrypt the information.
What is needed, therefore, is a way to seamlessly secure certain communications across a private network without overloading system resources and without making the system too complex to efficiently manage.

System and method for securing data on private networks

International Business Machines Corporation


A scarifier for scarifying an interior surface of a sewer pipe, which includes an elongated frame having spaced apart upstanding frame elements at either end forming a plurality of guide surfaces on each side. A first track extends from one end of the frame to another, reversibly moveable upwardly along a first set of the guide surfaces on a first side of the frame in response to a control signal, which controls a drive system coupled to the track. A nozzle assembly is reversibly moveable along the track from one end of the scarifier to another so that a nozzle, mounted on the nozzle assembly, which emits a jet of fluid towards an interior surface of the sewer pipe, is operative to scarify a swath along the interior surface.

Previously known scarifiers for scarifying the interior of a concrete pipe consisted of a moveable vehicle equipped with rotating nozzles positioned adjacent to the interior surface of pipe which impart high pressure jets against the interior surface to remove contaminated and corroded material. The removal of such material leaves a fresh concrete surface which can then be sealed with polyvinyl chloride to prevent any future deterioration of the interior surface. With a scarifier as disclosed in our U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,016 which has a nozzle assembly at the distal end of an arm which positions the nozzle assembly adjacent the interior surface of the pipe, a swath is cut into the pipe surface as the vehicle moves down the pipe. If the material removed falls into the path of the vehicle then, when the vehicle reverses and retraces its path to scarify a new swath adjacent the previous one, it will rise up and down as it runs over the material previously removed by scarifying and cause the swath to move vertically and leave some areas with contaminated or corroded material. For example, some sewer lines have tile embedded in concrete extending part-way or all the way up the sewer wall. Scarifying each swath of the tile along the length of the pipe results in broken pieces of tile falling down on the sewer floor. Reversing to scarify a new swath requires removal of the pieces of tile from the previous swath in order to prevent generating an uneven swath and, thus, leaving regions of corroded and contaminated material on the wall.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a scarifier of an interior surface of a pipe which is unaffected by the removal of large pieces of material from the interior surface.


An electro-mechanical dual linear drive system for adjustably power moving a watercraft seat along a linear travel path. A pair of elongate extruded hollow aluminum rails are mounted in parallelism to a fixed seat support structure. An elongate extruded aluminum hollow slide is non-rotatably and slidably mounted within each rail and driven in a linear travel path for moving the seat load. A lead screw is rotatably mounted within each slide and rail and a traveling nut on each lead screw moves the associated slide. A gear reduction drive mounted on each rail is driving coupled for rotating the associated lead screw. A single electric motor is rotationally drivingly coupled to both gear drive units for synchronously rotating the lead screws in response to motor rotation. Each rail and slide are non-circular and complementary for restraining relative rotation therebetween. A laterally protruding flange along one side edge of the rail bottom wall provides an exteriorly accessible mounting flange on the rail. Likewise, each slide has a planar mounting platform protruding laterally in offset relation to the associated rail to provide seat load fastening access clearance. At least two glides are fixedly carried adjacent longitudinally opposite ends of each slide and each have a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration generally complemental to that of the slide and rail and generally forming a slide bearing therebetween. Each glide is molded from low friction plastic and has a free-state configuration flex stressed when in assembly on the associated slide and providing peripherally spaced slide bearing zones. A dual rail single lead screw system second embodiment is also disclosed, along with a swivel seat mounting third embodiment.

This invention relates to electric motor lead screw driven linear actuators, and more particularly to such actuators for adjustable seat mechanisms particularly adapted for marine use on recreational watercraft such as cabin cruisers, speed boats, sport boats, fishing skiffs and the like.
The continued development and upgrading of recreational watercraft has seen the introduction of various power driven convenience accessories including power actuated adjustable seats for helmsman, passenger and aft trolling/fishing station use. There also is a continuing need to improve such systems from the standpoint of such parameters as ease of installation on standard marine seating, vertical profile, load carrying capacity, non-binding operation, economy of manufacture, reliability, and service life under adverse marine environmental conditions.
Typically, the gear drive and associated heavy-duty slide and rail used for mounting the seats are provided as separate assemblies, which in turn leads to additional costs both in manufacture and in assembly and installation on the watercraft. In addition, in some prior art the load of the seat is impressed gravitationally on the gear drive and/or motor as well as on the associated dual slides and rails, thereby leading to track and/or carriage binding and even lock-up from stress-induced distortion, excessive wear, premature system failure and seat load limitations. Some systems now incorporate metal to metal contact in the carriage or slide assembly which leads to sticking and jamming from salt water corrosion and dirt. Other systems suffer from excessive play and rattling creating irritating noise when under way in the watercraft as they vibrate harmonically with the engine vibration imparted to the watercraft. Typically, the seat slide assemblies are installed as dual parallel tracking rails and carriage/slides wherein cocking is a problem, particularly when supporting extra-wide dual person side-by-side type seats, leading to drive jamming, motor failure and/or fuse blowing. Prior art assemblies also often require excessive vertical clearance between the seat bottom and the seat mounting area in order to fit the seat slide drive assembly, rendering the unsightly drive unduly visible and less stable in use.
Accordingly, among the objects of the invention are to provide an improved electric seat slide and actuator system that overcomes one or more of the foregoing problems of prior art marine electric seat slide and actuator systems and that is improved from the standpoint of (1) economy of manufacture, (2) versatility and flexibility in design, different travel lengths, thrust capacities and carriage travel speed, (3) overall height as installed, (4) ease of installation on standard marine seating, (5) unitization of gear drive and heavy duty slide and rail, (6) isolation of the weight load of the seat and the passengers sitting on the seats from the gear drive and/or motor for actuating the same, (7) reduction of frictional resistance to seat slide travel, (8) reduction or elimination of excessive play in the seat mounted on the actuator system, (9) dual seat carriage tracking capability along slightly misaligned parallel tracks, (10) ability to handle off-center loading without hang-up and jamming, (11) ease of installation as a complete assembly for mounting of the seat on the actuator system, (12) capability to resist lock-up or racking when a seat is moved against a travel resistance force applied unevenly or to one side only, or when weight-loaded unevenly and off-center as by an occupant sitting on either extreme end of the seat, (13) elimination of the need to cut holes in the mounting seat box on the watercraft in order to accommodate an excessively high system assembly profile, and/or (14) elimination of the need for a special mounting system.


A fiber having a reduced dye rate compared to nylon 6 formed from a block copolymer of 2-30 wt % nylon 6,6 and 70-98 wt % nylon 6 which fiber has a stain resist applied thereto.

A disadvantage of nylon 6 (poly(.epsilon.-caprolactam)) yarns is that they have a high acid dye rate that is further increased when the yarns are dyed in hot dyeing processes. This high dye strike rate makes it difficult to achieve uniform dyeing of substrates comprised of nylon 6 yarns. In many of the continuous dyeing processes used today, such as Kusters, print, spray, and fluid dyeing, the dye is applied directly to the fabric at high concentration and is rapidly fixed. There is little opportunity for dye leveling to occur as it would in a beck process.
A further disadvantage of nylon 6 yarns that results from their high dye strike rate is that they are more readily stained by various foodstuffs containing acid dyes than similar yarns made of nylon 6,6 (poly(hexamethylene adipamide)). This is true whether the yarn has been dyed by conventional dyeing processes or is undyed, e.g., either a "white" yarn or a "producer-colored" yarn which is not dyed, but colored by the addition of colored pigments to the polymer prior to spinning. For this reason, it is more difficult to eliminate staining of both dyed and undyed nylon 6 substrates, such as carpets or other textiles, by the application of stain-resist agents.
The present invention overcomes the above disadvantages by providing a means for producing nylon 6/6,6 melt-blended yarns having reduced acid dye rates, both when the yarn is undyed, but especially after dyeing. In particular a greater than expected reduction in acid dye rate is achieved upon application of a stainblocker to the yarns. This results in both dyed and undyed products comprised of these yarns which have superior stain-resistance as compared to that of products comprised of comparable nylon 6 homopolymer yarns and equivalent at some compositions to nylon 6,6 yarns which have been treated with a stain-resist agent.

Dye-retarded nylon 6/6,6 block copolymer fibers


A method of planarizing the surface of a semiconductor substrate to reduce the occurrence of a dishing phenomenon. A patterned etch stop layer defining a trench region is formed on a substrate. The substrate is etched to form a trench region, and a medium material layer and an oxide layer are subsequently formed on the substrate, filling the trench region. Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is performed on the oxide layer until the medium material layer is exposed. CMP is then performed until the patterned etch stop layer is exposed and a planarized oxide layer is formed. Because the medium material layer has a higher removal rate during CMP than the oxide layer, occurrences of the dishing phenomenon are reduced. A slurry including an anionic surfactant is used to increase the CMP removal ratio of the medium material layer to the oxide layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of semiconductor devices, and more particularly, to a method of planarizing the surface of a semiconductor device and reduce the occurrence of the dishing phenomenon and a semiconductor device manufactured according to the method. The present invention also relates to a method of increasing the removal rate ratio of a medium material layer to an oxide layer during chemical mechanical polishing (CMP).
2. Description of the Related Art
As the density and size of semiconductor devices decrease and the interconnection structure of semiconductor devices are multiplied, the height of the steps on the surfaces of the semiconductor devices have increased. In order to planarize the surface steps, a spin-on glass (SOG) process, an etch back process, or a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process is typically used.
When CMP is used as a wide area planarizing technique, a wafer surface is pressed against a polishing pad while an abrasive slurry flows to a contact area of the wafer and the polishing pad. The wafer surface chemically reacts with the slurry, while the polishing pad and the wafer, which rotate relative to each other, physically planarize irregularities on the wafer surface.
FIGS. 1 and 2 are cross-sectional views illustrating a conventional method of separating an active region, where operations of a semiconductor device occur, from a field region, which is an inactive region, by filling a trench with an oxide layer in a shallow trench isolation (STI) process and planarizing the surface of the oxide layer using CMP.
Referring to FIG. 1, an etch stop layer 12 for CMP (e.g., a silicon nitride layer) is formed on a silicon substrate 10. A photolithography process using a photoresist layer (not shown) is then performed so that an etch stop layer pattern is formed which defines a region where trenches will be located. Next, the silicon substrate 10 is etched using the etch stop layer pattern as an etch mask so that a trench region 14 having a desired depth is formed. A silicon oxide layer 16 is blanket-deposited on the silicon substrate 10 and the trench region 14. As a result, the trench region 14 is filled with an oxide layer having an excellent gap-fill characteristic.
Optionally, a pad oxide layer (not shown) may be formed on the substrate 10 before the etch stop layer 12 (e.g., silicon nitride layer) is formed. In another example, a thermal oxide layer (not shown) or a liner layer (not shown) may be formed on the bottom and the sidewalls of the trench region 14 before the silicon oxide layer 16 is deposited in the trench region 14.
Referring to FIG. 2, CMP is performed on the silicon oxide layer 16 to expose the etch stop layer 12. Thereafter, the etch stop layer 12 is removed so that a field region for isolating devices is formed. In the field region, the trench region 14 in the silicon substrate 10 is filled with a silicon oxide layer 16a.
A plurality of trench regions 14 having various widths can be formed in the silicon substrate 10 depending upon the circuit design. When the width of the trench region 14 is large, a large amount of the silicon oxide layer 16 remains after CMP. As a result, CMP is excessively performed to remove the remaining silicon oxide layer 16. Thus, a large amount of the silicon oxide layer 16 in the trench region 14 (which has a relatively small width) is removed, which results in a dishing phenomenon (e.g., the silicon oxide layer 16 has a concave shape), as is shown in FIG. 2. Because the dishing phenomenon deteriorates the surface planarity of the silicon substrate and causes defects in the semiconductor device, it is desirable to reduce the occurrence of the dishing phenomenon.

Semiconductor device including a planarized surface and method thereof


Disclosed are semiconductor die structures that enable a die having a vertical power device to be packaged in a wafer-level chip scale package where the current-conducting terminals are present at one surface of the die, and where the device has very low on-state resistance. In an exemplary embodiment, a trench and an aperture are formed in a backside of a die, with the aperture contacting a conductive region at the top surface of the die. A conductive layer and/or a conductive body may be disposed on the trench and aperture to electrically couple the backside current-conducting electrode of the device to the conductive region. Also disclosed are packages and systems using a die with a die structure according to the invention, and methods of making dice with a die structure according to the invention.

Currently, power semiconductor devices are packaged in leadframe packages that are relatively large and that include complex arrangements to handle the large currents and heat dissipation in the devices. These devices have a control terminal and a first current-conducting terminal on one surface of the die, and a second current-conducting terminal on the other surface of the die. The control terminal and the first current-conducting terminal are electrically coupled to the leadframe, such as by flip-chip bonding. The leadframe and package are encased by an electrically insulating material. The second current-conducting terminal may be metallized and left bare by the package for electrically coupling to a substrate, or, in more complex arrangements, may be electrically coupled to the leadframe by a die clip.

Semiconductor die structures for wafer-level chipscale packaging of power devices, packages and systems for using the same, and methods of making the same


Call admission methods for admitting connections into ATM/IP networks having a plurality of communication channels are disclosed. An overbooking technique is utilized which distinguishes among the different service classes. Each service class is assigned an overbooking factor. The call admission is determined based on the overbooking factor assigned to the class and the effective bandwidth for that service class. In addition, methods are disclosed for performing appropriate bookkeeping, i.e., updating and maintaining information concerning the state of the system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to communication systems, and more particularly to call admission control for controlling access to ATM networks or IP networks with support of differentiates services.
2. Description of the Related Art
An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network is one method for realizing a flexible and cost-effective network for handling a wide variety of communications. In an ATM network, various types of data that have various transmission rates and traffic characteristics, are multiplexed. Therefore, the multiplexed traffic load fluctuates heavily and rapidly, especially when high speed calls are multiplexed.
Call admission control (CAC) is an important element of ATM traffic management. CAC provides access by regulating the number and types of connections that can be allowed at any given time for a given amount of resources. In an ATM multi-service network, the resource demand of each connection has to be estimated as a function of several variables, including the cell-level traffic descriptions, the required quality-of-service (QOS), the states of the network resources, and the traffic-stream class of priority. When a call request is made, the ATM network determines whether the quality of service would be suitable in all connections, including connections which are already established when the call request is accepted, and determines propriety of the acceptance according to the available services. To make this determination, it is recommended that each terminal issuing a call request should declare parameters, such as an average rate (an average bandwidth) and a peak rate (a peak bandwidth), as source traffic characteristics, and the call admission control be performed using the declared parameters.
ATM admission control can be based on either of two approaches: a direct performance-evaluation approach or an inverse resource-requirement-estimation approach. In the direct approach, the estimated cell-level performance resulting from the admission of a new connection (or call) is calculated. In the inverse approach, an EBR ("equivalent bit rate," often called the "equivalent bandwidth" or "effective bandwidth") of the new arrival is determined by some artifice or another. The connection is accepted if the remaining unassigned capacity of the route is not less than the calculated EBR. The EBR for a connection which traverses several links may vary from the link to link and would be based on the source's traffic descriptors, the cell-level performance objectives, the speed of the link under consideration, and the buffer size.
Thus, in the inverse approach, call admission criteria can be expressed as follows:BWup-cbr+BWup-rtvbr+BWup-nrtvbr≦Cp  (1A)BWdown-cbr+BWdown-rtvbr+BWdown-nrtvbr≦Cp  (1B)where BWup-crb, BWup-rtvbr, and BWup-nrvbr are the aggregate effective bandwidth for Constant Bit Rate (CBR), real time Variable Bit Rate (rtVBR) and non-real time Variable Bit Rate (nrtVBR) upstream traffic classes and BWdown-cbr, BWdown-rtvbr, and BWdown-nrtvbr are the aggregate effective bandwidth for CRB, rtVBR and nrtVBR downstream traffic classes, respectively, and Cp is the port bandwidth. When a new connection request, which belongs to a particular class, comes in, it is necessary to recompute the effective bandwidth for that class and then determine if the above criteria in Equations (1A) and (1B) are met.
There are problems, however, with conventional call admission control. For example, in conventional call admission control systems, there is no perfect call admission control or effective bandwidth computation, as the systems generally make approximation of the traffic models. Accordingly, the systems do not have the capacity for maintaining the communication quality or for efficiently utilizing resources of the network when the systems are supplied with calls which have many different traffic characteristics, making precision traffic control difficult to achieve.

Call admission control with overbooking support and cell loss ratio and cell delay variation guarantee


A system and method of instant messaging is provided. A plurality of messaging clients capable of transmitting instant messages to one another are each configured to share presence information with one another via a network. A determination is made, with respect to each of the messaging clients, as to whether the messaging client is in a state in which it is receptive to receiving presence information from the other messaging clients, and if so, then the presence information is provided to the messaging client. The presence information may be provided directly between the messaging clients, or it may be provided through one or more centralized proxy servers that store and propagate the presence information. A special state is provided, referred to herein as the unknown state, which when entered by a particular messaging client will cause the system to cease further transmissions of presence information to that client and/or transmissions about that client. Upon changing to a communicative state, the system resumes providing presence information to/about the messaging client.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of instant messaging. More particularly, the invention provides a system and method of instant messaging to and from wireless devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known Instant Messaging (IM) techniques typically send short messages and maintain presence information. One technique for maintaining presence information is the "buddy list." In a "buddy list," users keep a list of correspondents that they regularly communicate with. Correspondents in a "buddy list" typically poll each other for presence information, such as correspondent active, disconnected, etc. The users can glance through the "buddy list" to see if anyone is available to communicate with.
One known IM technique that uses a "buddy list" is ICQ. In ICQ, each correspondent in the "buddy list" sends a message to the user if the correspondent's presence information changes, e.g., if a correspondent disconnects or reconnects to a network. The traditional IM presence information in ICQ is defined using states such as "connected," "chatty," "away," "extended away," "occupied," "do not disturb (DND)," "invisible," and "offline."
Traditional IM techniques may use frequent network traffic communications that may exceed typical wireless network capacity. This occurs because in traditional IM techniques, such as ICQ, presence information is transmitted between stations even in situations where the stations are not presently communicating with one another. This continuous transmission of presence information, regardless of the state of the stations, can result in increased network traffic and a reduction in station battery life, particularly when the station is a wireless mobile communication device.
Furthermore, traditional IM techniques may assume that the users are not always activated and always connected to the network—which may not always be the case with certain wireless network users that maintain constant connectivity.

System and method of wireless instant messaging


A fluid pulsator for a compressed gun (10) or water gun (30) is provided having a housing (404) with a fluid inlet (409) and a fluid outlet (410), an internal tube (405) reciprocally mounted within the housing, and a sealing member (406) reciprocally mounted to the internal tube. The housing and internal tube define a rearward fluid pressure chamber (412) and a forward fluid pressure chamber (413). The pulsator also has a variable flow fluid control valve which varies the flow of fluid passing into the forward fluid pressure chamber to regulate the action of the pulsator. The sealing member has a sealing head (431) having a first portion (432) sized and shaped to overlap the housing about the fluid outlet and a second portion sized and shaped to be received within the fluid outlet.

Toy guns which shoot or launch projectiles have been very popular for many years. These guns have been designed to launch projectiles in a number of ways. A common method of launching has been by the compression of a spring which propels the projectile upon its decompression or release, as, for example, with BB guns and dart guns. These guns however usually do not generate enough force to launch projectiles with great velocity.
Toy guns have also been designed which use compressed air to launch projectiles such as foam darts. These types of guns use a reciprocating air pump to pressurize air within a pressure tank. In use, a single dart is loaded and the pump is typically reciprocated several times with each firing of the gun. Therefore, the gun must be loaded and pumped with each firing as it is not capable of firing several darts in rapid sequence. The rapid firing of a gun may be desired for those playing a mock war or other type of competition.
Toy guns have also been designed which produce a stream of water and hence are commonly referred to as water guns. Most water guns shoot a steady or continuous stream of water. This however does not replicate a realistic look of a machine gun. Some water guns have been designed which produce an interrupted stream of water to simulate the appearance or action of a machine gun. These water guns typically produce the interrupted stream by temporarily blocking a continuous stream of water. This method of breaking a continuous stream however is inefficient and does not truly give the appearance of individual bursts of water.
Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for a toy air gun which may be rapidly fired in sequence and for a toy water gun which may produce a rapid sequence of water bursts. It is to the provision of such therefore that the present invention is primarily directed.

Johnson Research & Development Company, Inc.


A system and method that provide dynamic reconfiguration of communication resources in a multi-transceiver configuration. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise communicating a first portion of a first communication using a plurality of transceivers. A determination may be made to reallocate at least one of the plurality of transceivers for a second communication. A second portion of the first communication may be communicated using the plurality of transceivers less the reallocated transceiver(s), and the second communication may be communicated using at least the reallocated transceiver(s). Various aspects of the present invention may also comprise communicating a first communication utilizing a first transceiver and a second communication utilizing a second transceiver. A determination may be made to utilize the first and second transceivers in a MIMO configuration to communicate next information. The next information may then be communicated utilizing the first and second transceivers in a MIMO configuration.

Various communication systems may have a single antenna and utilize single transmission path communications for communicating information. In various scenarios, multiple transmission path communications may be preferable to single transmission path communications. Such scenarios may comprise any of a large variety of factors that may, separately or in aggregate, cause multiple transmission path communications to be preferable.
Various communication systems may have multiple antennas and utilize multiple transmission path communications for communicating information. In various scenarios, single transmission path communications may be preferable to multiple transmission path communications. Such scenarios may comprise any of a large variety of factors that may, separately or in aggregate, cause single transmission path communications to be preferable.
In various communication systems, particularly communication systems with time-varying communication conditions (e.g., natural or man-made conditions), the communication conditions may vary across various communications and also within single communications. Present communication systems (e.g., current multi-transceiver systems) do not adequately adapt to compensate for varying communication conditions.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Dynamic reconfiguration of communication resources in a multi-transceiver configuration


A shift register includes a plurality of shift register circuits. Each of the shift register circuits includes a first switch, an input circuit, a pull-down circuit and a ripple reduction circuit. The first switch is used to output a scanning signal of the shift register circuit according to voltage levels of a node and a clock signal. The input circuit is used to pull up the voltage level of the node according to a scanning signal of a previous shift register circuit. The pull-down circuit is used to pull down the voltage levels of the node and the scanning signal of the shift register circuit according to a scanning signal of a following shift register circuit. The ripple reduction circuit is used to suppress ripples on the voltage levels of the node and the scanning signal caused by the coupling effect of the clock signal.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a shift register, and more particularly, to a shift register that is able to suppress ripples.
2. Background of the Disclosure
Generally, a display panel includes a plurality of pixels, a gate driving circuit, and a source driving circuit. The gate driving circuit includes a plurality of stages of shift register circuit and is used to provide a plurality of gate driving signals for turning on and off the pixels. The source driving circuit is used to write the data signal into the turned-on pixels. The shift register is a circuit commonly used for implementing the function of the gate driving circuit. The shift register can include a plurality of stages of shift register circuit and each stage of shift register circuit is used to provide the scan signal for turning on and off a row of pixels according to the corresponding clock signal.
FIG. 1 shows a shift register circuit 100 according to related art. Each the shift register circuit 100 includes a first switch T1 for outputting the scan signal GN. The first switch has a first terminal for receiving the clock signal CK, a second terminal for outputting the scan signal GN of the shift register circuit 100, and a control terminal for receiving an internal reference voltage VQ, wherein the second terminal is also connected to next one shift register circuit (or namely neighbor shift register circuit) 100. When the internal reference voltage VQ and the clock signal are of high voltage level, the shift register circuit 100 can output the scan signal GN with high voltage level correspondingly. However, since the clock signal CK switches between high voltage level and low voltage level periodically, the shift register circuit 100 may induce ripples on the internal reference voltage VQ due to the coupling effect on the first switch T1 caused by the clock signal CK when the clock signal changes from low voltage level to high voltage level even when the internal reference voltage VQ should be of low voltage level, which may further cause wrong operations of the scan signal and wrong charging of the display panel.
As the resolution of the display panel becomes higher and higher, the time for the source driver to transmit a bit of pixel information is also shortened. Therefore, how to reduce the ripples caused by the clock signal on the shift register circuit instantly and effectively has become a critical issue to be solved.


In some embodiments an apparatus includes an amplifier, a first inverter having an input coupled to an output of the amplifier, and a second inverter having an input coupled to an output of the first inverter and an output, where the output of the second inverter is fed back to an input of the amplifier. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Conventional wide band amplifiers such as CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) amplifiers have a difference in gain between low and high frequencies. This causes a condition referred to as inter-symbol interference (ISI), which causes a frequency dependent loss. Traditional receiver equalization schemes using analog or DSP (Digital Signal Processing) techniques are very complex, use a large number of transistors, and consume a large amount of power.


A user-authentication system includes an authorized user device (AUD) for transmission of dtmf tones to a user-verification system (UVS) over a telephone network, where user-verification is performed and authorized users are granted access to a desired service. In a memory module of the AUD, a plurality of passphrases and identifying data are stored for subsequent transmission to the UVS. The UVS includes a memory module for receiving and storing the passphrases and identifying data, and a processor for determining whether user-stated passphrases correspond to the stored passphrases, and for prompting the user with knowledge-based questions and determining whether the identifying data corresponds to answers given by a user in response to the knowledge-based questions. The UVS further includes security safeguards such a transmitter transmitting a signal relating to time while a user is stating a passphrase, to determine whether a user-stated passphrase comprises a previously recorded passphrase, and an analyzer device determining whether the access number used to reach the user-verification system are appropriate for the specific user-device.

Telephone transactions are often used by consumers to obtain extensions of credit, make payment of debts, perform fund transfers, and order products from catalogs. Typically such transactions are carried out by a user with a touch-tone telephone, who enters a telephone number to access a service and enters numbers relating to the service such as credit card numbers or menu selections, from the telephone keypad after obtaining access.
Touch tones are the dual tone multi-frequency signals ("DTMF" tones), generated as the user enters numbers from the keypad. In accordance with the DTMF technique used to generate touch tone signals, a touch tone signal is produced by generating two tones, one tone being selected from a high frequency band group and the other being selected from a low frequency band group. Each of the low frequency tones corresponds to one of the four rows of keys on a standard telephone keypad, while each one of the four high frequency tones corresponds to one of the four columns of keys on a standard extended telephone keypad. A standard telephone keypad typically has three columns, but can be extended, as the tones generated by a fourth column are recognized by most central office receivers. In telephone transactions, the touch tones typically represent a number or character that corresponds to user-information (e.g., entering numbers that represent a credit card number, entering letters that represent a surname) or service selections (e.g., entering a "1" to choose a list of products offered, versus entering a "0" to order products).
Although telephone transactions afford convenience to those who use them, they are often wrought with security problems. For example, a person viewing or overhearing the initiation of a telephone transaction can record a credit card number entered through the telephone keypad or spoken into the handset microphone. The recorded credit card number is later, and often undetectably, used to carry out fraudulent transactions by unauthorized individuals. Similarly, a person overhearing or viewing another entering a personal identification number (`pin`) can use the pin to access, and often deplete or use, such accounts as one's bank account or telephone calling card account, with the account holder discovering the theft only after the damage has been done.
While portable electronic information cards have attempted to solve the problem by providing a system that can be acoustically coupled to a telephone system, the data transmission errors and security problems inherent in such cards has inhibited widespread acceptance and use of them. Security problems such as pin detection remain common, particularly when one uses the card with a cellular phone. Moreover, errors associated with such cards are often due to the necessary acoustic couplings associated therewith. Also common are errors due to temperature variations affecting battery voltages, amplification levels applied to DTMF signals, speaker proximity to a telephone handset's microphone, distortions introduced by the microphone receiving DTMF tones, and ambient noise. Although promising a measure of convenience and privacy, the implementation of electronic information cards has brought about a host of new problems without significantly alleviating or solving many existing security problems associated with telephone transactions.
As the accuracy and security associated with telephone transactions is often compromised, there exists a need for a system capable of maintaining the flexibility and convenience inherent in telephone transactions, while not comprising the privacy and security necessary to prevent the occurrence of fraudulent transactions.
The present invention provides a user-authentication system that avoids the above-noted problems, while improving signal transmission, signal routing, and system security.

Method and system for the secure communication of data


Provided is a method for defining and organizing computer breakpoints for use during a debugging operation of a software application. The claimed subject matter provides flexible breakpoints that are called depending upon the condition of the corresponding call-stack or, in other words, depending upon a specific calling sequence through which the module containing the breakpoint was reached. A novel type of breakpoint is provided that, rather than causing a halt in execution of a module, changes the state of one or more other breakpoints. In an alternative embodiment, a breakpoint is provided that determines whether or not to execute based upon an examination of the call-stack.

As computers have become faster and available memory has increased, software has also become more and more complex. Today, a typical software application may contain millions of lines of code. With the increased complexity of software applications, the issues associated with writing the code, a task often undertaken by large groups of programmers working concurrently, have become more numerous and difficult to resolve. Correcting mistakes in computer code during development, or "debugging," has become particularly difficult as code complexity has increased.
When debugging an application, it is common to encounter a block of code that needs to be inspected. Typically, a programmer inserts a special instruction called a breakpoint into the block of code. A breakpoint is a special instruction inserted into code by a programmer and a software complier that halts a program during execution so that the programmer can, by means of a debugging program, examine the state of the executing code and computing system and, perhaps, determine the source of a software bug. Some blocks of code need to be inspected under certain calling scenarios and not others. Current debugging techniques only enable the developer to specify specific calling scenarios under very limited conditions. In other words, in the current state of the art, breakpoints cannot be made dependant upon a designated execution path. This limitation is particularly a problem in object-oriented programming system in which code reuse is prevalent.
For example, if "M" is a module reused by a number of other modules, "B" is a breakpoint within M and "O" is a breakpoint within a module "N" outside of module M that calls M, a user can enable breakpoint B during the halt in execution caused by breakpoint O. Of course, this procedure is awkward, could benefit from automation and does not address the issue of disabling breakpoint B once module N has finished executing.
Another available debugging technique is the use of conditional breakpoints. A conditional breakpoint is one in which the corresponding module is halted only if certain conditions are met. For example, a breakpoint "C' may be activated only if a certain variable exceeds a predefined value. In current technology, conditional breakpoints can only depend upon conditions within the scope of the module in which the breakpoint is located.
What is needed is a system of breakpoints that can be made dependant upon the calling sequence. In other words, it would be advantageous if a particular breakpoint could be called or not depending upon the specific modules through which the breakpoint is reached.

Creating software debug breakpoints activated by specific call patterns


Real-time vehicle driver performance monitoring uses a plurality of sensors operated in a vehicle, each generating a real-time data stream comprising data corresponding to operation of the vehicle by the vehicle's driver. A computing device (such as an in-vehicle computer) processes the generated data stream from each of the plurality of sensors to determine whether the operation of the vehicle triggers any of a plurality of predetermined operational alert triggers. The predetermined operational alert triggers may correspond to detecting characteristics of an improper magnitude and/or an improper linearity of a delta in data detected by one of the sensors. When an alert is triggered, a corresponding alert message is generated and sent to at least one recipient (e.g., to the vehicle's driver, to nearby driver(s), to authorities, etc.). Examples of monitored characteristics include speed, steering, braking, use of turn indicators by the driver, and mobile phone usage.

The present invention relates to computer programming, and deals more particularly with using computing devices for performing real-time monitoring of vehicle driver performance (for example, for enhancing the driving safety of vehicles).
Automotive safety is a perennial human safety and well-being requirement, and the need for enhancing safety is ongoing.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A system for fastening the end of a gas turbine engine shaft engaged inside a sleeve supported by a bearing is disclosed. The system includes a nut that is screwed at one end inside the sleeve, and is connected by a split annular ring with the shaft at the other end.

The present invention relates to a gas turbine engine, in particular in the aeronautical field, and is aimed at mounting a rotor shaft inside the engine.
The operations of mounting and demounting a turbine engine are complicated owing to the number of parts which constitute it and of the small clearances between them even though their dimensions may be large. The cost of carrying out work on the engine which comprises such operations is consequently always high. It is therefore constantly sought to simplify them. In a twin-spool, front turbofan engine, such as the cfm56 engine, access to the support bearing of the high-pressure compressor shaft is particularly difficult since it is mounted, at the level of the intermediate casing, to the rear of the fan and of the two first bearings supporting the low-pressure compressor shaft and the fan shaft, respectively. The intermediate casing is that part of the machine casing which particularly supports the front bearings of the rotors. To avoid demounting the entire front part of the engine and of the fan in particular, the elements of this bearing are currently arranged is such a way as to allow mounting from the rear. Such a solution, although advantageous, still has a number of drawbacks which it would be desirable to eliminate.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a solution corresponding to the teaching of the prior art is reviewed. The engine assembly is not represented, only the immediate surroundings of the bearing being visible. The front and rear are defined with respect to the forward travel direction of the engine. Part of the fixed structure of the intermediate casing 2 is shown, with the ball bearing 3 of the HP compressor shaft being supported by its outer race in this fixed structure. The bearing rotationally supports the front end of the HP compressor shaft 4, of which the journal 4′ and a rotor disk 4″ can be seen. The bearing supports at its front a bevel gear 5 which drives the gear 5′ connected to a radial shaft, forming the inlet gearbox (IGB) used to drive the auxiliary equipment: pumps, electrical current generators or the like. The bevel gear meshes, for this purpose, with the gear of the radial transmission shaft which is housed in one of the radial arms of the intermediate casing so as to drive the gears of the accessory gearbox (AGB). The bevel gear is fixedly connected to the cylindrical sleeve supported by the bearing.
To maintain the shaft 4 in the bearing 3, a nut 6 is provided according to the prior art and is retained inside the gear 5, at the upstream end, by a segment or snap ring 6′. The nut comprises a thread on its external surface by means of which it is screwed inside the upstream end of the shaft 4, this end being provided with a suitable thread. A nut retainer 6″, which is secured against rotation by axial splines in the shaft 4 and has flexible tabs which lock into a circular groove in the shaft 4, prevents the nut from accidentally loosening. Furthermore, axial splines on the internal wall of the sleeve of the gear 5 cooperate with splines on the external surface of the shaft 4 to prevent any rotation of one with respect to the other. This mounting incorporates the auto-extraction function of the HP compressor. The function is provided by the segment which axially secures the bearing nut to the bevel wheel. Thus, by screwing the nut into the thread of the HP compressor shaft, the compressor is mated with the bearing; conversely, by unscrewing the nut, the compressor is pushed away rearwardly since the nut is blocked axially by the segment.
FIG. 2 shows the bearing before the shaft 4 is mounted. The nut, arranged in front of the bearing, is mounted beforehand on the gear before any mounting of the elements from the rear of the intermediate casing. To prepare for the mounting of the shaft 4, the bearing 3 is heated at C in order to expand it and minimize the shrinkage forces. To avoid heating the nut 6 and minimize the friction in the thread when tightening it on the shaft 4, a thermal protection P is placed around the nut. However, this protection is complicated to implement. It cannot be installed effectively.

System for connecting an engine shaft with a retractable nut


The present invention provides a novel method to produce grade road base material using recycled oilfield waste, called “oil and gas waste,” more specifically, drilling waste and aggregate and a novel road base material. Hydration and mixing of the waste materials along with a binder, will achieve an irreversible pozzolanic chemical reaction necessary for stabilization into a road base. An asphalt emulsifier may be included in the binder to manufacture asphalt stabilized road base. The entire method is a cold batch process.

Because of their importance in all aspects of both business and private life, the construction of roads has historically been of prime importance to a society. That importance remains today. However, it has also become more apparent in recent years that most resources are not infinite but rather, are depletable. Additionally, disposing of waste materials is becoming harder and harder due both to space limitations and liability resulting from waste materials entering the environment.
Thus, there is a need for developing methods to recycle waste products into new, usable products. If the components of roadbeds can be obtained from the waste products of other products and processes, then both waste product production is decreased and new product consumption is decreased. Further, it is advantageous to recycle waste products due to the economic advantage of using recycling materials and thus compounding return on the original costs of the products.

Method for making a road base material using treated oil and gas waste material


A method is provided for segmenting an image of interest of a left ventricle. The method includes determining a myocardium contour according to a graph cut of candidate endocardium contours, and a spline fitting to candidate epicardium contours in the absence of shape propagation. The method further includes applying a plurality of shape constraints to candidate endocardium contours and candidate epicardium contours to determine the myocardium contour, wherein a template is determined by shape propagation of a plurality of images in a sequence including the image of interest in the presence of shape propagation.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to medical imaging, and more particularly to extracting the myocardium from four-dimensional image data (two-dimensional images over time and space).
2. Discussion of Related Art
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Mortality has been declining over the years as lifestyle has changed, but the decline is also due to the development of new technologies to diagnose disease. One of these techniques is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which provides time-varying three-dimensional imagery of the heart. To help in the diagnosis of disease, physicians are interested in identifying heart chambers, the endocardium and epicardium, and measuring changes in ventricular blood volume (ejection fraction) and wall thickening properties over a cardiac cycle. The left ventricle is of particular interest since it pumps oxygenated blood out to distant tissue in the entire body.
There has been a large amount of research on the analysis of medical images. Segmentation of these images has been particularly challenging. In the early nineties, researchers realized that tracking the cardiac wall motion in MR images could be used to characterize meaningful functional changes. A system proposed by S. R. Fleagle, D. R. Thedens, J. C. Ehrhardt, T. D. Scholz, and D. J. Skorton, "Automated identification of left ventricular borders from spin-echo resonance images", Investigative Radiology, 26:295-303, 1991, delineates the border of the myocardium using a minimum cost path graph search method after a user indicates the center of the left ventricular cavity and an area of interest, for example, with a mouse. D. Geiger, A. Gupta, L. A. Costa, and J. Vlontzos, "Dynamic programming for detecting, tracking, and matching deformable contours", IEEE Trans. PAMI, 17(3):294-302, 1995, used a dynamic programming approach to refine the contours specified by the user. A. Goshtasby and D. A. Turner, "Segmentation of cardiac cine MR images for extraction of right and left ventricular chambers", IEEE Trans. Medical Imaging, 14(1):56-64, 1995, proposed a two step method combining intensity thresholding to recover blood from an image and a local gradient to outline strong edges using elastic curves. J. Weng, A. Singh, and M. Y. Chiu, "Learning-based ventricle detection from cardiac MR and CT images", IEEE Trans. Medical Imaging, 16(4):378-391, 1997, applied a threshold to an image based on parameters estimated during a learning phase to approximate the segmentation.
However, no known system or method exists for providing an adaptive technique of analyzing cardiac images. Therefore, a need exists for a method of cardiac segmentation combining edge, region and shape information in a deformable template.

System and method for segmenting the left ventricle in a cardiac image


Disclosed are personal care compositions, especially hair styling compositions, containing silicone microemulsions, and corresponding applications of such compositions. The disclosed invention further relates to stable, hair styling compositions containing a silicone microemulsion and lower monohydric alcohol. A preferred personal care composition comprises from about 0.01% to about 20% of a non-silicone containing polymer suitable for hair styling; an organopolysiloxane microemulsion comprising an organopolysiloxane dispersed as particles in the microemulsion having an average particle size of less than about 80 nanometers, and a surfactant system which is compatible with the hair styling polymer; and a carrier comprising from about 3% to about 99% of a first solvent selected from the group consisting of water; water soluble organic solvents; organic solvents which are strongly to moderately strong in hydrogen-bonding parameter; and mixtures thereof; wherein the first solvent is other than C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 monohydric alcohol, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 ketone and C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 ether, and optionally, from about 0% to about 55% of a second solvent selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 monohydric alcohols, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 ketones, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 ethers, and mixtures thereof.

The desire to have the hair retain a particular style or shape is widely held. The most common methodology for accomplishing this is by spraying a composition, typically from a mechanical pump spray device or from a pressurized aerosol canister, to the hair. Other means of providing style or shaping to the hair are mousses, gels, lotions and the like. Such compositions provide temporary setting benefits and can usually be removed by water or by shampooing. The materials used in these types of hair styling compositions are generally resins, gums, and adhesive polymers which are capable of imparting style or shape to the hair. Many of these products also contain lower alcohols in order to obtain good films of the polymer in a short period of time.
Many people desire a high level of style retention, or hold, from a styling product. Unfortunately, most current hair styling products having good hold characteristics suffer from the disadvantages of being either too stiff, not smooth or too sticky upon drying. Stiff compositions tend to be brittle and break down under common stresses such as wind, brushing, combing. Stiff compositions also tend to feel and look unnatural. Sticky compositions overcome many of the foregoing disadvantages of stiff compositions, because sticky compositions tend to be more forgiving, i.e., flexible, under stress and allow for restyling of the hair. However, sticky compositions have the disadvantage of leaving the hair with a heavy, coated feel and with a limp and unattractive appearance. Also, sticky compositions cause the hair to quickly become soiled from common contaminant sources such as dust, dirt, lint, sebum, etc.
One approach to minimizing stiffness and roughness of a hair styling composition is the incorporation of silicones, including silicone emulsions and microemulsions, in such compositions. Silicones tend to provide a desirably smooth or soft hair feel. Unfortunately, silicone emulsions tend to be difficult to formulate in hair styling compositions. Hair styling compositions tend to be complex, requiring a number of ingredients for different purposes, with potential for incompatibilities. For example, silicone emulsions tend to be unstable in compositions containing lower alcohols, resulting in phase separation of the composition. Other incompatibilities in the system, e.g., polymer-polymer or polymer-surfactant interactions, can also result in phase separation. This phase separation is not only undesirable for visual esthetic reasons, but for performance reasons as well. When the product phase separates, hold and/or hair feel properties of the product tend to be negatively impacted.
Therefore, a need exists for hair styling compositions providing good style retention without the disadvantages of stiff or sticky compositions. There is a particular need for hair styling compositions containing lower alcohols providing good style retention without the disadvantages of stiff or sticky compositions.
It has surprisingly been found that stable hair styling compositions providing these benefits and containing up to about 55% monohydric alcohol can be provided by employing a combination of a (i) non-silicone containing hair styling polymer, (ii) a silicone microemulsion substantially free of a combination of amino groups and hydroxyl groups and having a specific particle size, namely less than about 80 nm, and (iii) certain solvent systems for the hair styling polymer.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide stable hair styling compositions containing silicone microemulsions, especially compositions which also contain lower alcohols.
It is another object of this invention to provide hair styling compositions that provide good style retention without unacceptable stiffness or stickiness. Another object of this invention is to provide hair styling compositions that both look and feel natural.
It is another object of this invention to provide methods for styling and holding hair.
These and other objects will become readily apparent from the detailed description which follows.


A mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) communicates between a source node and destination node and includes a plurality of intermediate nodes. A main communication path is established between the source node through intermediate nodes to the destination node based on an underlying routing protocol. Alternative communication paths are established among neighboring nodes as standby nodes that are positioned an “n” hop distance from nodes of the main communication paths to form a tube of multiple communication paths from the source node to the destination node. The main communication path reconfigured within the tube of multiple communication paths to an alternative communication path using at least one standby node when the main communication path is broken.

Mobile ad-hoc networks (MANET's) are becoming increasingly popular because they operate as self-configuring networks of mobile routers or associated hosts connected by wireless links to form an arbitrary topology. The routers, such as wireless mobile units, can move randomly and organize themselves arbitrarily as nodes in a network, similar to a packet radio network. The individual units require minimum configuration and their quick deployment can make ad-hoc networks suitable for emergency situations. For example, many MANET's are designed for military systems such as the JTRS (Joint Tactical Radio System) and other similar peer-to-peer or Independent Basic Service Set Systems (IBSS).
TDMA technology is becoming more popular for use in these mobile ad-hoc network systems. In a TDMA ad-hoc network, channel access scheduling is a core platform of the network structure. Some problems, however, are encountered with distributed channel scheduling used in a multi-hop broadcast networks. As known to those skilled in the art, the optimum channel scheduling problem is equivalent to the graph coloring problem, which is a well known NP-complete problem, cited in numerous sources. Many prior art systems assume that the network topology is known and is not topology transparent.
There is a changing topology in a TDMA ad-hoc network. Before the network is formed, the topology cannot be learned. Without knowing the network topology, the nodes in the network should still find a way to communicate. Once the nodes learn about the transmit and receive schedules among neighboring nodes, these neighboring nodes may have moved away, disappeared, or new nodes may have moved in. The rate of resolving the scheduling must be fast and bandwidth efficient such that the network can be stabilized.
In a dynamic ad-hoc network system, fault tolerance and load balancing is important because radio links in the path can break. In such cases, broken links should be detected and new paths set-up, This overhead could disrupt the voice or data steams. In some cases, the network may be busy and cannot set up new paths and bring down the old paths, leaving no time or capacity for the actual data delivery.
The radio link stability is also a factor in path maintenance or overhead. Fault tolerance, for example, could help maintain the data path in service much longer and better. Load balancing would help increase the overall data throughput, or equivalently, reduce the traffic burden on certain links.
There are some current solutions, however, that reduce these problems. In a hop-to-hop system, a data packet is transmitted based on local hop-to-hop routing decisions. In this system, there is usually no obligation for the nodes to guarantee the delivery of a data packet to the next hop. Sending duplicates over multiple links (locally decided), however, could be used. This is considered a solution for the fault tolerance. But the drawback is that the same data packet must be sent over many branches, eventually leading to partial or complete flooding of the packet in the network, causing unnecessary duplicates of the packet.
A path local repairs system can be a solution to the above hop-to-hop flooding problem. In this system, a path is established for the data delivery, but in the wireless networks, the topologies change and the established path may not be valid any more over time because the links may be gone. To fix the problem, a locally initiated repair mechanism (local repair) can be used to rescue the path. This is an adequate solution, but has some drawbacks because it takes time to detect the broken links and find a reroute path to the downstream of the path.
A multiple path, fully disjoint (FD), or partial disjoint (PD) solution is another system. The multiple paths used for the duplicated data packets can be created for redundancies in delivery. The paths, however, still need to be maintained. Also, some bandwidth is wasted because of path redundancies. In the PD system, the data traffics are merged at the critical region of the data paths. A critical region is the part that the nodes or the link share among the data paths. There could also be an extra burden of traffic in the critical regions.

Mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) and method for implementing multiple paths for fault tolerance


A buckle has a cover rotatably connected to an end of one of bands, a middle plate rotatably connected to the cover, and a bottom plate rotatably connected to the middle plate and rotatably connected to the other band. A guide housing is secured to an underside of the cover, and a pair of push plates are slidably mounted in the guide housing. A spring is provided between the push plates for outwardly urging the push plates respectively. A slant is formed on an engaging projection of the push plate. A pair of lugs are formed on the bottom plate. Each of the lugs has an engaging hole and is arranged such that the lug is engaged with the slant so as to inwardly move the push plate, and that the engaging hole engages with engaging projection of the push plate, thereby coupling the buckle. A leaf spring is provided for urging the cover in a disengaging direction.

The present invention relates to a triple-fold type buckle for watch bands.
Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-open No. 3-101211 discloses a triple-fold type buckle. The buckle comprises a cover connected to one of the watch bands, a middle plate connected to the cover by a lateral pin, and a bottom plate connected to the middle plate by a lateral pin and to the other band. A casing having a pair of push plates is secured to the underside of the cover. The push plates are slidably mounted in the casing and a spring is provided between the push plates so as to urge the push plates outwardly. Each push plate has a manipulating portion projected from the cover through the casing, and a hook portion formed on an inner portion thereof so as to be projected from the casing. The middle plate has a pair of holes formed, corresponding to the hook portions of the push plates. The bottom plate has a pair of engaging projections to be engaged with the hook portions.
In order to couple the buckle, the cover and the middle plate are folded on the bottom plate so that the hook portions of the push plates are engaged with the engaging projections of the bottom plate through the holes of the middle plate. Thus, the cover is locked to the bottom plate. When disengaging the buckle, the manipulating portions of the push plates are pushed against the elastic force of the spring so that the hook portions are disengaged from the engaging projections.
However, when pushing the push plates in order to disengage the buckle, the user can not know whether the hook portions are entirely disengaged from the engaging projections. Accordingly, if the fingers pushing the push plates are released from the manipulating portions despite incomplete disengagement, the hook portions may be re-engaged with the engaging projections. Therefore, the cover must be forcibly opened by a finger under the condition that the push plates are pressed by other fingers.
Since the hook portions are projected from the underside of the cover to be engaged with engaging projections of the bottom plate and abutted on the middle plate when coupling, the thickness of the buckle is large.
Furthermore, since the holes must be formed on the middle plate, manufacturing process of the parts is complicated.


The present invention relates to compositions comprising nucleobases and/or sources of nucleobases and polysaccharides from extracts of fungi, yeasts or bacteria. Preferably, the compositions include Nucleoforce® or Nucleoforce® Dogs and AHCC®. Said compositions are useful in the treatment and prevention of immunosuppression, of the toxicity derived from chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment, of diseases of the immune system, of cancer or an infection; and are also useful to stimulate the immune function in a mammal, including a human.

It is a known fact that nutritional interventions (enteral or parenteral nutritional support) in critical patients enable the reversion of catabolic conditions and anabolism stimulation, leading to improved recovery and survival rate.
A patient in a critical condition is one who, for example, is subjected to chemotherapy, who suffers generalised septicaemia, viral infection, surgery, burns, trauma, cancer, immunosuppressive treatment, malnutrition or generally any who require long periods of hospitalisation. All these clinical situations have a negative effect on the capacity of the immune response, increasing the risk of opportunistic infections, post-surgical complications and certain associated toxicities, for example, those resulting from chemotherapy or radiotherapy, delaying recovery and reducing the chance of survival.
The immune response is not only compromised in critical patients but also in humans and animals under stress, especially at early ages. In these cases the risk of oportunistic infections increases, especially those related to the respiratory and digestive systems. A clear example of the infections related to stress at early ages comes from animal production. In animals reared under commercial conditions these infections are especially relevant. For example, in calves, the first peak of respiratory diseases often emerges at four weeks of age, causing substantial economic losses due to medication and growth depression (H. J. Postema et al., Tijdschr Diergeneeskd. 1, 112(11), 665-671 (1987); H. J. van der Fels-Klerx et al., Preventive Veterinary Medicine 51(1-2), 75-94 (2001); O. Angen et al., Veterinary Microbiology 137(1-2), 28, 165-171 (2009); T. Autio et al., Veterinary Microbiology 119(2-4), 31, 256-265 (2007)).
In addition there is an increasing concern about the overuse of antimicrobials to threat opportunistic infections due to the appearance of antimicrobial resistance (A. G. Mathew et al., Foodborne Pathog. Dis. 4(2), 115-133 (2007)).
Nucleotides are low-weight intercellular compounds that play a role in almost all biochemical processes. They occur naturally in foodstuffs, although in limited quantities (<400 mg/100 g). Tissues with high rates of cellular proliferation, such as those of the immune and gastrointestinal systems, are not able to meet the need for nucleotides by through novo synthesis alone, meaning the preferential route is recovery of nucleotides from diet. In situations where stress affects the immune system (patients in critical situation) dietary supplementation with nucleotide formulations is essential to maintain the humoral and cellular response of the immune system (A. Gil, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 56 suppl 3, S1-S4 (2002)). It has been specifically shown that exogenous nucleotide supplements stimulate proliferation of lymphoid cells and the lymphoproliferative response to alloantigens and mitogens. This supplementation also contributes to T-lymphocyte response, increases delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity response, increases graft rejection, reverts immunosuppression associated to malnutrition, increases resistance to certain infections, regulates the number of natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages, and promotes the synthesis of immunoglobulin (J. Maldonado et al, Early Human Development, 65 Suppl., S69-S74 (2001)).
Supplementation with nucleotides has been studied in randomised clinical studies (RCS) conducted in critical patients. A meta-analysis of 13 studies concluded that supplementation has no effect on mortality, but does significantly reduce the incidence of infections and the duration of hospitalisation (R. J. Beale et al., Crit. Care Med., 27, 799-805 (1999)).
On the other hand, some studies have shown that dietary supplementation with certain polysaccharides from extracts of fungi, yeast or bacteria (especially α-glucans and β-glucans) has a positive effect on the immune response.
β-glucans are a heterogeneous group of glucose polymers that have been studied during recent years because of their biological effects on mammals. It has been described that β-glucans act as activators of the immune system and cellular response modifiers. The binding of β-glucans to their specific intestinal receptors leads to modulation in the expression of cytokines, transcription and growth factors that regulate the immune response. This regulation has demonstrated benefits for palliating immunosuppression and for preventing the haematopoiesis associated to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Additionally, it has been shown that β-glucans confer certain anticarcinogen activity, preventing oncogenesis and metastatis (D. Akramienė et al., Medicina (Kaunas), 43(8), 597-606 (2007)).
α-glucans are a group of glucose polymers, bound by links α(1-4) and/or α(1-6). An example for obtaining these compounds from an extract of Lentinus edodes, a basidiomycete fungus, is described in patent documents EP 733647 (see also U.S. Pat. No. 5,756,318), U.S. Pat. No. 6,831,067 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,169,762. Researches carried out during the last ten years in humans and animals have shown that oral supplementation with these polysaccharides has an immunomodulatory effect. In animal model an increase in TNFα levels has been described, which significantly reduces the size of metastatic tumours in rats. At the same time, they prevent the hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride and they protect rats treated with cytosine arabinoside (used in chemotherapy). Studies carried out in humans have demonstrated that oral supplementation with polysaccharides reduces the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma and in general, the side effects associated to chemotherapy (E. L. Spierings et al., J Nutr Sci Vitaminol, 53, 536-539 (2007)).
There are documents that describe the use of a combination of nucleotides with other nutrients to palliate immunosuppression in critical patients. For example, in patent application EP 367724 (see also U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,085), a combination of nucleotides with arginine and polyunsaturated fatty acids to improve the immune response in humans has been described.
Although nucleotides and extracts rich in polysaccharides from fungi, yeasts and bacteria administered alone can lead to a certain level of immunostimulation or reduction of immunosuppression associated with the critical condition, to date, it has neither been described nor suggested the combination of a nucleobase or a source of nucleobases (for example, nucleotides, nucleosides, RNA or DNA) with a polysaccharide from an extract of fungi, yeast or bacteria. The effect of this combination on the immune response has neither been described.

Immunostimulant compositions comprising a nucleobase and a polysaccharide obtainable from fungi, yeast or bacteria


An apparatus for reprocessing thermoplastic synthetic plastic material has a receptacle (1) for accomodating the synthetic plastic material, in which receptacle (1) has a rotating tool (4) is provided which presses the synthetic plastic material out of the receptacle (1) into the inlet opening (11) in the side wall of the screw housing (12) of a screw (13). The screw housing (12) of the screw (13) has a pocket-like enlargement (22) in the area of the inlet opening (11), which enlargement (22) provides an additional space for the synthetic plastic material being pressed in. On that edge of the inlet opening (11) on which the direction of rotation of the screw (13) is directed towards the receptacle (1), this enlargement (22) is confined by an adjustable wall piece (23). The enlargement (22) gives way in an area of the screw housing (12) adjoining it to grooves (28), which are of a depth which decreases to the screw diameter and which are separated from each by the rigid ribs (29) projecting toward the screw (13) from the wall of the enlargement (22). Each of these grooves (28) forms a space for the synthetic plastic material, the longitudinal direction of which space runs essentially in the axial direction of the screw (13).

The invention refers to an apparatus for reprocessing thermoplastic synthetic plastic material, comprising a receptacle for the synthetic plastic material to be processed, which receptacle has a device with at least one rotating tool which conveys the synthetic plastic material through a discharge opening of the receptacle such that a component of stuffing force is exerted on the synthetic plastic material in the axial direction of this discharge opening and transmitted thereto always by the synthetic plastic material subsequently being pressed in, which discharge opening leads to an inlet opening for the synthetic plastic material arranged in the side wall of the screw housing, whereby the interior surface of the housing of the screw in the area of the inlet opening has a pocket-like enlargement which provides an additional space to accomodate synthetic plastic material and which is bound by an adjustable wall piece on that edge of the inlet opening on which the direction of rotation of the screw is directed towards the receptacle, which wall piece allows the enlargement to be at least partially closed off from the receptacle.
A device of this kind is the subject matter of an older, not previously published construction by the present applicants. This construction has the advantage that even synthetic plastic materials possessing different properties can be reliably engaged by the screw since the stuffing action of the rotating tool continuously ensures that sufficient synthetic plastic material is pressed from the side between the individual flights of the screw rotating around its longitudinal axis. Although this in itself poses the risk that the conveying efficiency of the screw becomes too great and causes overloading of the screw drive, this risk can be avoided by drawing back the adjustable wall piece in relation to the screw such that part of the synthetic plastic material engaged by the screw is returned to the receptacle. In this way it is possible to adjust the conveying efficiency of the screw to the prevailing conditions.

Device for preparing thermoplastic material