Methods for determining need for treating a vehicle travel surface include sensing, at a first time, a characteristic of a vehicle travel surface from a mobile sensor. Sensed characteristics include temperature, friction coefficient, material volumetric buildup, e.g., composition, such as an amount or percentage of ice or snow, density, depth, freeze point and chemical concentrations. The sensed characteristic is recorded as a first measurement in a database, and GIS information correlating a location with the first measurement is attached. The characteristic of the vehicle travel surface is sensed at a second time, at the location, and recorded in the database, for example as a second measurement. GIS information correlating the location with the second measurement may be attached, and the first and second measurements compared.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of vehicle travel surface condition monitoring and control systems, and more particularly to a vehicle mounted and/or stationary positioned system for determining characteristics of surface materials related to adverse driving conditions which includes a vehicular mounted weather monitoring subsystem for measuring weather conditions at the vehicle location.
2. Description of the Related Art
Stationary weather stations have weather vanes and wind velocity meters to provide wind direction and speed information (velocity), and sensors to provide relative humidity, air temperature, and precipitation amounts and rates, among other parameters, to local and remote locations. Some aircraft also have been equipped with similar equipment to monitor conditions in thunderstorms and hurricanes. However, such instrumentation has commercially not been installed on motor vehicles.
Road condition service vehicles such as snow plow trucks and surface conditioning vehicles which deposit materials such as sand and chemicals such as salt to travel surfaces depending on the current or predicted road surface conditions do not carry weather analysis equipment on board. Proper surface conditioning materials are optimally applied during the early stages of adverse weather conditions as well as throughout the adverse weather condition. However, the optimal distribution of materials and compositions change dramatically as the storm progresses through a locality. Currently there is no real time weather sensing apparatus available that can be vehicle mounted which determines weather conditions such as wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, precipitation events, water content and rates of deposition, and barometric pressure.
A number of attempts have been made to sense the conditions of roadways, aircraft runways, and other surfaces for vehicular traffic, during changing adverse weather conditions For example, it is known to place conductivity, temperature and other sensors either in the road surface or adjacent the road to monitor the temperature of the road surface, the subsurface temperature and/or monitor whether there is ice forming on the surface. Atmospheric sensors may also be provided adjacent the road. This information can then be fed to a central location for control and dispatch of trucks to apply salt or sand or other deicing mixtures. At airports these types of warning systems are used to inform maintenance crews that the runways need to be treated or alert the staff that deicing procedures need to be implemented. Some conventional systems have a supply of chemicals and pumps beside the roadway or runway to automatically spray the road when triggered by a sensor.
There is also a need for such a warning system on road vehicles such as cars, buses and trucks to detect pending adverse conditions. However, available mobile systems are limited to basic moisture detection and temperature monitoring systems. Some examples of such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,492,952 and 4,678,056. One particular system, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,476, employs an infrared sensor which is mounted on the exterior of the vehicle and sends a signal to a microprocessor which then can display the temperature of the road surface. These systems are simplistic and do not tell the operator the critical information needed under all conditions, such as, what is the composition of and at what temperature will the particular material actually on the road surface freeze? Therefore there is a need for an on board material sensing apparatus and system for determining when an actual liquid on a road surface will freeze in view of current weather conditions at the vehicle location and alerting the operator to such adverse driving situations before they actually occur so that the operator can adjust material spreading techniques and strategies accordingly.
There is also a need for a mobile mounted sensing apparatus and system for use by road crews to evaluate current local weather conditions and determine and evaluate existing materials, if any, on a road surface in order to determine the optimal amount, type and timing of additional material to be applied to the surface in order to reduce the current and future hazardous driving conditions.
There is also a need for an apparatus and system for predicting, displaying and sometimes controlling the distribution of travel surface conditioning materials available on board local road crew trucks based on current and predicted local weather conditions at the travel surface location. Such a system is unavailable today.


An active matrix substrate of an embodiment includes a plurality of TFTs provided in a peripheral circuit region. The plurality of TFTs includes a TFT (10A) in which, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to a substrate (11A), a length in the channel width direction of a source electrode region (15AR) and a length in the channel width direction of a drain electrode region (16AR), WAs and WAd, are each smaller than a length in the channel width direction of the oxide semiconductor layer (14A), WAos, the length in the channel width direction of the oxide semiconductor layer (14A), WAos, is smaller than a length in the channel width direction of a gate electrode (12A), WAg, and a region in which at least one of the source electrode region (15AR) and the drain electrode region (16AR) is in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer(14A) entirely overlaps the gate electrode (12A).

Liquid crystal display panels which include a thin film transistor in each pixel (hereinafter, also referred to as "pixel TFT"), ranging from small-size panels to large-size panels, have been widely used. Also, a liquid crystal display panel in which a peripheral circuit of the liquid crystal display panel (e.g., gate driver and/or source driver) is monolithically formed has been developed.
The present applicant has manufactured a practical liquid crystal display panel which includes TFTs which include an oxide semiconductor layer (hereinafter, also referred to as "oxide semiconductor TFTs") as pixel TFTs. Further, the present applicant has developed a liquid crystal display panel in which monolithically-formed oxide semiconductor TFTs are used as TFTs of a peripheral circuit (hereinafter, also referred to as "peripheral circuit TFTs").
When oxide semiconductor TFTs are used as the peripheral circuit TFTs, a dielectric breakdown occurs at the time when the peripheral circuit TFTs are turned off, although it does not matter in the pixel TFTs, and there is a probability that the current leakage will increase. This is because a higher source-drain voltage is sometimes applied to the peripheral circuit TFT than to the pixel TFTs.
Patent Document 1 discloses the technique of improving the breakdown voltage of a TFT by using an offset configuration which reduces the overlapping area of the gate electrode and the drain electrode. However, in the TFT disclosed in Patent Document 1, the gate electrode and the drain electrode are arranged offset from each other, and therefore, there is a probability that this arrangement will cause reduction of the on-current. Further, an auxiliary gate electrode is necessary, and accordingly, the area of the TFT disadvantageously increases.
In view of the above, the present applicant discloses in Patent Document 2 the technique of improving the breakdown voltage by arranging a connecting region of the source electrode and the oxide semiconductor (referred to as "source connecting region") and a connecting region of the drain electrode and the oxide semiconductor (referred to as "drain connecting region") into an asymmetrical configuration. According to the technique of Patent Document 2, the problem described above as for Patent Document 1 can be avoided.
Patent Document 3 discloses a TFT suitable to electrostatic protection in which, in a direction perpendicular to the channel length direction (referred to as "channel width direction"), the length (width) of the active layer (oxide semiconductor layer) is greater than the length (width) of the source electrode and the drain electrode, so that the breakdown voltage against the static electricity can be improved (see FIG. 4 of Patent Document 3).

Active matrix substrate and liquid crystal display panel comprising same


An electric motor having a stator with a plurality of radially arranged pole shoes between which slots are arranged, a rotor which rotates within the stator and has a rotor shaft which is mounted on both sides of the rotor, isolating stars for covering the end faces of the pole shoes, a stator winding which is situated in the slots and surrounds the end-face isolating stars, and an outer stator casing, in which the stator winding uses the isolating stars to secure the rotor and, at the respective end, encloses the rotor bearings and the rotor in its position in the stator. The isolating stars are formed such that they may firstly accommodate the bearings for the rotor shaft and furthermore also may accommodate bearings for attachment of supports for accommodating the electronic circuits for electronic commutation. An electric motor of this type is distinguished by the capability to operate for long periods continuously, accompanied by high rotational speeds and small dimensions.

The present invention relates to an electric motor having a stator with a plurality of radially arranged pole shoes between which slots are arranged, a rotor which rotates within the stator and has a rotor shaft which is mounted on both sides of the rotor, isolating stars for covering the end faces of the pole shoes, a stator winding which is situated in the slots and surrounds the end-face isolating stars, and an outer stator casing, and also to a method for the production of an electric motor of this type.
Motors which are as small and as powerful as possible are required for continuous operation of relatively small devices, for example hot-air devices and fans, particularly those used in the manufacturing sector and which must operate continuously. Motors known as universal motors are used in existing devices. Natural wear of the brushes and also of the commutator means that the use of these motors in applications involving continuous operation is limited. In this case, it is possible to introduce electronic commutation but, for design reasons, a different, more powerful motor having the same or even smaller dimensions would then have to be chosen. One option is to use an asynchronous motor, but these are relatively complex to produce and in terms of design have a volume which means an asynchronous motor of current dimensions cannot be installed in hand-held devices of the type in question. Therefore, for this application in particular, electric motors having a diameter of well below 100 mm along with the required power would be desirable. In this context, the journal Schweizer Maschinen Markt (SMM) 31/32, issue 8, 2003, states on pages 149 to 154 that no motor with purely electrical excitation, including amongst others asynchronous machines, is suitable for small drives having a diameter of below 100 mm.
The basic principle of the electric motor specified in the introduction has long been known and is described in DE-C-833 978 and DE-C-967 387. In the case of rotors and stators of electric motors, it is also known to provide an isolating star at the two ends of the rotor or stator formed by laminates being placed against one another (cf. DE-38 42 800-C2 for the rotor of a DC motor). EP-0 445 367-A1 describes an electric motor which has a stator having a plurality of radially arranged magnetic pole pieces. Slots, in which windings are arranged, are located between the magnetic pole pieces. A rotor which rotates within the stator has an isolating arrangement for covering the pole pieces and has an isolating cover which engages over part of the end surface of the rotor which rotates within the stator. The stator winding is wound after the rotor has been inserted into a coil former to which the laminated core of the stator is fitted, with the result that the rotor is wound after the winding has been fitted, but without it being borne in the housing (which will be fitted later) and can no longer be removed.
One object of the present invention is to propose an electric motor with electronic commutation which is suitable for continuous operation, in particular of hot-air devices, at high rotational speeds and also has a diameter in the range considerably less than 100 mm. Another object of the invention is also to propose a hot-air welding device having a motor of this type.

Electric motor and method for its production


The invention provides a composition comprising two or more of a) genetic material; b) a condensing agent; c) a membrane destabilizing agent; d) a targeting/stabilizing agent, and optionally e) an ionic cross-linking agent. The components of the composition can self-assemble to form particles via electrostatic and/or lipophilic interactions. Methods of making and using the composition are also provided. The compositions can be used, for example, to transfer genetic material to cells in vitro or in vivo.

A variety of materials have been considered for non-viral gene delivery applications. These include a wide range of polyamines and lipids that can electrostatically bind and condense DNA or RNA for delivery to cells. Compared to viral gene delivery systems, these lipid and polyamine systems are generally safer because the genetic cargo is explicitly non-viral and is not integrated into the host genome, thereby avoiding the immunogenic and oncogenic tendencies of some viruses. Lipid and polyamine systems are also comparatively inexpensive and easy to prepare. A disadvantage of non-viral vectors, however, is poor gene delivery efficiency, which is typically orders of magnitude below the gene delivery efficiency of viruses. The inefficiency largely lies with extracelluar and intracellular barriers that exist between the site of administration and the nucleus of target cells. Cellular association, endocytosis, vector escape from the endosomal pathway, disassociation of the non-viral carrier and the plasmid DNA, migration of the plasmid DNA to the nucleus, and finally transcription all stand as obstacles to efficient gene delivery by lipid and polyamine systems.
Considerable effort has been devoted to the rational design of vectors that are able to contend with a small, well-defined subset of the identified extra- and intracellular barriers to gene delivery. For example, polyethyleneglycol (PEG) and other steric shielding materials have been attached to polymers to promote serum stability and sustained in vivo circulation Small molecules, proteins and antibodies have been incorporated into the design to permit receptor-mediated uptake by particular target cells. Polymers and lipids with various pH-sensitive and endosomolytic moieties have been produced to facilitate escape from the endosomal pathway. Nuclear localization signals have also been attached to DNA in attempt to aid nuclear delivery. While these strategies have been successful in tackling various individual barriers, the designs are, in general, too complicated or too molecule-specific to allow them to be used in conjunction with one another. Moreover, changing one aspect of a gene delivery vehicle can have significant implications on other areas of its performance. For these reasons, a single vector that can effectively incorporate several rational design elements into one package that addresses several of the critical barriers mentioned above has yet to be developed.
Self-assembly is a phenomenon in which a disordered system of components forms an organized structure as a consequence of specific, local interactions among the components. Self-assembly allows for the facile generation of a variety of unique molecular assemblies without laborious multistep conjugation chemistry. Instead, simple mixing of different components at different relative ratios is sufficient to produce a variety of structures. These assemblies can then be screened based on a range of parameters, including size, charge, function, and the like, to identify particular formulations that satisfy desired conditions or properties.
Self-assembly has been explored in the delivery of a variety of therapeutic agents, including genetic materials. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,018,609 (Hwang Pun et al.) describes the use of the host-guest interaction between cyclodextrin- and adamantane-modified materials to generate a targeted and stabilized polymer formulation for the delivery of therapeutic agents. However, there is a need in the art for a more effective non-viral delivery system exhibiting properties such as increased efficiency, stability and effective targeting abilities.

Multiplexed supramolecular assemblies for non-viral delivery of genetic material

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois


A flight control system includes a primary flight display having a hover display which facilitates operations in DVE conditions. The hover display includes a radar altitude display, heading drift symbology and lateral drift symbology which assists pilots in the detection of drift, which is common in DVE situations and to provide the pilot with a salient cue pertinent to the approach to hover and landing.

The present invention relates to instrumentation for a rotary wing aircraft, and more particularly to an integrated hover display to provide a pilot with augmented symbology cueing which facilitates approach and landing when visually-restrictive conditions are encountered.
Rotary wing aircraft are routinely required to approach and land at remote sites without navigation guidance or acceptable visual conditions. Often the topography, ground hazards, obstacles and weather in the area are unknown or changing. Upon arrival at the remote site, the pilot must typically make critical judgments based on incomplete or inaccurate data in order to determine the proper procedure to approach and land. If the terrain condition is such that dust, snow, sand, or the like will be stirred by rotor downwash, the rotary wing aircraft may become engulfed in a cloud of visually-restrictive material. This is commonly referred to as a degraded visual environment (DVE) or a "brownout/whiteout."
Research including literature reviews, pilot interviews, and military incident reports indicate that incidents due to DVE conditions often occur because the pilot becomes spatially disoriented due to loss of visual references. During approach to hover and landing, the pilot manipulates the aircraft controls to conduct a constant deceleration of longitudinal velocity while coordinating a rate of descent to the ground in such a way as to arrive at the ground with little or no forward velocity and a low rate of descent. In addition to controlling a rate of descent, the pilot must also compensate for forward, aft, lateral, and heading drift.
Pilots rely on extensive training to compensate for landings in DVE conditions. Pilot workload and cockpit procedures such as cross checks greatly increase during DVE conditions as the pilot must scan multiple flight display instruments to compensate for a lack of visual landing references. Such an increase in workload further complicates tactical situations.
In addition to training pilots to effectively deal with DVE conditions, there exist partial solutions which include conventional hover displays. Conventional hover displays include a rate of descent indicator which utilizes data from pitot static sensors. Pitot static sensors provide information relative to air mass and may be inaccurate at low speed due to the influence of rotor downwash. Because of this, pilots currently estimate rate of closure to the ground through visual references, augmented by relatively crude analog indicators of height above ground as sensed by a radar altimeter. Furthermore, as the terrain itself may be uneven and cloaked due to the DVE condition, the pilots burden of assuring that the landing gear settles without undue lateral rolling of the aircraft at touchdown is further complicated.
Fore, aft, lateral, and heading drift are also components that may increase spatial disorientation in DVE situations. Conventional hover displays fail to provide cuing symbology that effectively displays such drift components.
Although rotary wing aircraft are effectively operated in DVE conditions, conventional displays have, however, heretofore not provided an integrated hover display which significantly minimizes the potential for spatial disorientation in a DVE condition.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an integrated hover display with augmented symbology cueing to facilitate approach, hover, and landing in DVE conditions.

Integrated hover display with augmented approach to hover symbology cueing for degraded visual environmental conditions


A method of managing a selected change to an IT (information technology) system comprises obtaining an inventory of all components available to the IT system, assigning each of the components in the inventory to a component class, identifying relationships between the components in the IT system, defining attributes of the relationships, generating a complete dependency mapping of the components of the IT system based on the relationships, cross-relationships and constraints, simulating the selected change within a processor of the IT system to one or more of the IT components using the dependency mapping to generate a change impact analysis, and automatically updating impacted IT components via at least one authenticating agent executing on the IT system.

Information technology (IT) systems in large organizations can be highly complex and subject to a high frequency of updates and changes. Changes can be made to hardware components such as facilities, computing and network devices, to software including middleware, APIs and user applications, and to configuration data, as examples. Due to the tight integration of the components in an IT system, even minor modifications to a specific layer of the IT system can result in a ramified chain reaction and can affect many other components that are not necessarily in a direct relation (i.e. dependency) with the modified component. Therefore, management of such modifications is an important function for IT support services. Conventionally, change management is a tedious and a semi-manual process. In an illustrative example, a shutdown of a physical server, e.g., for maintenance, can bring virtual servers hosted by the physical server down. Any services hosted by the virtual servers dependent on the inoperative physical server will be rendered inoperative as well.
Another major challenge for the IT change management process is its high dependency on human factors. This dependency is mainly related to the exclusive knowledge about specific relationships between different IT components that are known to specific individuals but not necessarily well known to others in the organization. It is therefore sometimes challenging to ensure that the requisite and rapidly deployable IT knowledge is maintained and applicable when needed to attend to IT problems, rollouts, or other configuration changes as they occur. In general, there is a risk that underestimation of the dependency of the components in an IT system could lead to outages of critical services with severe business impacts.
Additionally, conventional change management processes tend to lack an efficient change impact analysis. For example, accurate analysis of various "what if" scenarios analysis is typically not performed.
It would be useful to provide a process to streamline and optimize IT change management, particularly for organizations that manage a complex IT infrastructure. The present invention addresses these and other needs in the art.

System and method for determining dynamic dependencies for enterprise it change management, simulation and rollout


A communication apparatus generates plural data representing a modulated analog wave by sequentially reading plural data representing an analog wave from a memory storing plural data, and controlling a sequence of such plural data to be read in accordance with information to be transmitted. Such a configuration is also provided in a switchboard to transmit internal information of the switchboard.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a communication apparatus for transmitting information by modulating carrier waves.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a configurational diagram of a conventional telephone exchange system. In FIG. 1, there are shown a main unit 201', telephone lines 202a' and 202b', extension telephones 203, 204 and 205, a fascimile device (FAX) 207', a conversation fee administrating unit 209' and an interface 210, such as RS232C, Centronix and the like. In this configuration, conversation fees used by the system are summed up in the main unit 201', and output to the conversation fee administrating unit 209'.
In the above-described conventional example, however, the conversation fee administrating unit 209' is always required and is dedicated apparatus.
Furthermore, in the prior art, when data are transmitted by digital modulation to a facsimile, a printer, a personal computer and the like, a modem including a digital signal processsor (DSP) is needed. The DSP is a circuit for outputting carrier waves subjected to digital modulation in accordance with input digital data, and is a very expensive apparatus.

Communication apparatus for providing a modulated analog wave


The invention provides a motion simulating device which provides the user with full freedom of motion. Ideally, the motion is coordinated with the user's senses. The motion simulating device may include a generally spherical capsule supported by a number of rollers, at least one of which is a multi-directional active roller which frictionally engages the spherical capsule. This causes the spherical capsule to rotate in any desired direction. The capsule may have mounted within it an interactive solid, which may take the form of an omni-directional treadmill for supporting the user.

In virtual reality ("VR"), the sensation of motion is coordinated with the senses of sight, sound, and even touch. The "environment" that a person experiences is manufactured and contained in the silicon of computer processors and memory. Flight simulators used for training professional pilots and astronauts are a type of virtual reality system commonly in use today. As technology advances, the applications for "virtual reality" have grown well beyond such expensive, specialized equipment and are anticipated as being increasingly common as home entertainment or learning devices.
Although the hardware and software for generating the audio and visual components of virtual reality systems has been decreasing in cost, motion systems for use with such components to complete a virtual reality system have consistently been prohibitively expensive. Furthermore, the motion systems are either too complex, limited in their freedom of motion, or lack adequate responsiveness.
Various devices have been proposed for generating motion. U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,932, for example, describes a sphere resting on three passive casters, with motion of the sphere being actuated either by the user shifting his weight inside the sphere or by a multi-directional drive wheel. Another device for generating motion is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,574, which discloses a sphere supported by an air stream moving within a large tube where the sphere is rotatable by louvers directing the force of the air around the sphere. Although both U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,489,932 and 4,454,574 describe a sphere rotatable about the three orthogonal axes at the center of the sphere, these devices cannot move the center of the sphere with respect to the external environment, i.e. they are not capable of linear motion. Moreover, these devices described in these patents also lack an interactive system coordinating motion, sight, and sound.
Other patents have proposed simulated motion devices which coordinate motion with audio and visual input. U.S. Pat. No. 3,135,057, for example, shows a capsule disposed within heavy inertial rings offset at 90.degree. from one another. U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,771 shows a system that coordinates motion, video, and sound by using a cockpit situated inside two rings that are offset by 90.degree. where the rings rest on a rotatable base. U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,932 describes a large gyroscope-like device where various means of visual and aural stimulations are provided. Although U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,135,057, 4,856,771, and 5,060,932 describe motion devices that combine motion with audio and visual input, they all are limited in their applicability to virtual reality systems because of their slow response or large expense.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,558 describes a spherical motion simulator mounted on a stationary frame for angular and translational movement along pitch, roll and yaw axes. Magnetic bearing supported by the stationary frame provide three degrees of freedom. Drive means mounted on the stationary frame and connected to the test unit generate three degrees of freedom of movement.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,352 describes a motion platform with limited translational and rotational motion. An arrangement of three linear actuators is combined with an A-frame type restraining mechanism to allow rotation about the pitch and roll axes and along a vertical axis. A multiple-user capsule sits on a rigid frame and users view images and experience sound in coordination with motion.
Current devices for simulating motion are cumbersome and expensive. As a result, the devices have slow response times. Moreover, these devices are limited in their ability to provide linear and rotational motion about three orthogonal axes.
A major limitation in state-of-the art VR is the inability to permit simple walking and running. Navigation is typically experienced as a disembodied center of consciousness which is directed by pointing, other gesture or by manipulation of a joystick, trackball, mouse, or similar device. The actual physical sensation of walking is limited to one of two forms: a) The user is restricted to a confined and immobile surface where tracking and signal generation are well-controlled, and b) the user is confined to device such as a linear treadmill or wheelchair which transduces the user's linear motion to virtual space navigation. The conventional linear treadmill has a movable track which can be upwardly inclined. The track is only movable in one direction which restricts motion of the user to the direction of movement of the track. A monitor, such as a motivational electric display, associated with the track, records the time, speed, and distance accomplished by the user.
Use of a linear treadmill, consisting of one continuous moving track, in conjunction with a monitor permits a user to walk in a straight line. The user cannot step in arbitrary directions as he or she would be able to in real life. This limitation in directionality detracts from the immersive nature of the experience, and requires that the experience take on more of a vehicular nature rather than freely walking and navigating body.

Virtual reality system with enhanced sensory apparatus


An Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) application executes services, such as (Internet Protocol) IP contact center services, accessible over different access channels. An IMS application server includes a service creation layer operable to provide components for creating a hosted service, testing the hosted service and deploying the hosted service into a service execution layer. The service execution layer includes service logic components operable to execute the hosted service, and communication components operable to connect to an external service involved in executing the hosted service.

1. Priority Claim
This application claims the benefit of priority from European Patent Application No. 09 425 146.9, filed Apr. 20, 2009, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
2. Technical Field
This application relates generally to IMS (Internet protocol multimedia subsystem) technologies and in particular to an IMS application server, an IMS network, a computer-implemented method, and a computer program product for executing services accessible over a plurality of different access channels.
3. Related Art
There is a need for telecommunication companies and/or for enterprise companies to continuously improve and innovate their customer care services. At the same time, there is a need to reduce costs and to be more efficient in their operations and services provided.
In today's legacy networks used by such companies to handle and/or manage such services, each access channel (e.g., TDM, IPTV, and Web) needs its own application to manage a user contact. These legacy networks with a separate application for each access channel might also be referred to as vertical technological silos. Therefore, in this scenario, the service logic is replicated on each access channel and, in addition, the service creation may be complicated because the service creation environment may be scattered on multiple systems and/or network nodes.
Hence, there is a need to support the customer care ("caring") process and services and to enhance and enrich customer contact experience both on present and future communication access channels in order to address technical limitations that exist in many networks today.

IMS application for multi-channel services


The invention provides a method for manufacturing a nitride semiconductor substrate capable of reducing a cleavage during slicing of the nitride semiconductor single crystal and capable of improving a yield rate of the nitride semiconductor substrate. The method includes growing a nitride semiconductor single crystal on a seed crystal substrate by vapor phase epitaxy; grinding an outer peripheral surface the grown nitride semiconductor single crystal; and slicing the nitride semiconductor single crystal with its outer peripheral surface ground. A grinding amount of the outer peripheral surface of the nitride semiconductor single crystal in the step of grinding is 1.5 mm or more.

The present application is based on Japanese Patent Applications No. 2011-201491 filed on Sep. 15, 2011, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a nitride semiconductor substrate for manufacturing a plurality of nitride semiconductor substrates from a nitride semiconductor single crystal.
2. Description of Related Art
In order to fabricate a compound semiconductor substrate, there is a method of growing a compound semiconductor crystal (ingot) by a liquid-phase growth or a vapor-phase growth, then slicing an obtained ingot, to thereby fabricate a substrate (wafer).
In a fabrication technique of the compound semiconductor substrate, for example, outer cylindrical grinding for grinding an outer periphery of the ingot is carried out, to remove impurities, etc., that exist on a skin of GaAs single crystal ingot before a wafer is fabricated by slicing the ingot of the GaAs single crystal which is crystal-grown by LEC method (a liquid encapsulating Czochralski method) (for example, see patent document 1).
Further, there is also proposed a method of making a running direction of a wire row inclined to {1-100} plane (M plane) being a cleavage plane which is most easily cleaved, for reducing the generation of a crack when the GaN ingot obtained by vapor phase epitaxy is ground (sliced) using the wire row (for example, see patent document 2).

Method for manufacturing a nitride semiconductor substrate


A padded shoe includes a flexible, resilient sole having a substantially outer surface. A shoe upper is adjoined to the sole, the shoe upper having closed-cell foam padding disposed therein. A padded tongue is attached to the shoe upper and includes an inner padded tongue portion and an outer padded tongue portion. Retaining structure retains the shoe on the foot of a wearer. Engagement structure is included for securing the outer padded tongue to cover the inner tongue portion, with the engagement structure located at least partially under the outer padded tongue portion. The outer padded tongue portion substantially covers the engagement structure. The wearer can strike a target with the shoe, and the target and the wearer are protected from injury caused by direct impact with the retaining structure and/or the engagement structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to footwear, and more particularly to a padded shoe designed for use in athletic activities such as kickboxing and other martial arts.
2. Description of the Related Art
The foot can be subjected to stresses during athletic activities. Existing athletic shoes, such as those disclosed by Thais et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,981, Richardson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,960, Onitsuka, U.S. Pat. No. Re. 27,512, and Mitsui, U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,568, are primarily constructed to provide support for the arch and ankles of the wearer while running or jumping. In addition to running and jumping, some sports and fitness activities require the participant to engage in kicking maneuvers, such as martial arts and soccer. The top, sides, sole, and heel of the feet can sustain severe blows during such activities. Additionally, kicks can be landed against another person during certain activities, either inadvertently or, in the case of the martial arts, while sparring. There is a possibility that the impact of knotted shoe laces or other shoe fastening structure can injure the participants during athletic activities such as sparring. It is therefore desirable to provide a shoe which protects both the wearer and the sparring partner or opponent from such injuries during activities such as martial arts and kick boxing. It is particularly desirable to provide such a shoe for use by children who may be learning the martial art.
Prior art sports shoes are generally manufactured using open cell foams. These foams are very soft, and offer a great deal of comfort to the wearer, but because of their softness they do not offer any protection to the wearer from injury sustained in kicking or striking. Typically, where it is desired to offer protection of this sort, the outer fabric of the shoe, which may be leather or a synthetic leather, is reinforced with a rigid or semi-rigid material. The reinforcing material thus receives the force of an impact, while the open cell foam cushions the wearer from the reinforcing material. However, the reinforcing material imparts rigidity to the shoe, and causes greater injury to an opponent than an unreinforced shoe. This type of arrangement is thus not suitable for use in sports such as the martial arts.
Prior art shoes adapted to prevent injury from kicking to both the wearer and an opponent are generally those designed specifically for use in the martial arts. For example, such shoes may not have any way to retain the shoe tightly on the foot of a wearer, such as laces. Additionally, conventional martial arts shoes are generally not suitable for street wear, because they generally do not have a sufficient sole.
Another limitation of conventional shoes for use in activities involving kicking, such as kick boxing and martial arts, involves the padding used throughout the shoe. For example, martial arts shoes disclosed in Oh et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,609, Frederickson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,715, Wren, Jr., et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,970, and Rhee, U.S. Pat. No. 3,379,722 disclose foot protectors which are little more than foam pads strapped to the foot.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,672 to Andujar discloses a protective shoe for use in contact sports such as martial arts. In the Andujar reference, the shoe upper is constructed of foam, and includes additional protective pads on its ankle and top portions. The shoe is secured by a single elastic strap held in place by Velcro® fasteners. This fastening system would not provide a significant amount of support to the ankles of the wearer, and could easily slip and become displaced, causing the wearer to become unbalanced. Collins, U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,613, similarly discloses a padded boot for use in the martial arts. This shoe is also secured by a single elastic strap with Velcro® fasteners.
Rhee, U.S. Pat. No. 3,949,493, discloses a protective shoe constructed of energy absorbing resilient material and a substantially open bottom. The open bottom allows the foot of the wearer to contact the floor or the ground. The shoe designed by Rhee is for use only in a gym or sparring ring, and is obviously unsuitable for everyday wear.
Bottoms, U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,015, discloses a karate and kickboxing protective boot which has an open back and a detachable heel protector portion. This boot is designed strictly for use in a sparring ring.
Ward, U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,928, discloses a slip-on type shoe for use in the martial arts. This shoe is constructed of a lightly padded material. Ward does not disclose the use of heavy padding positioned on the foot so as to absorb the impact of a kick against a kicking bag or opponent.
It would be advantageous to provide a shoe which is adapted for activities involving kicking that can protect a wearer of the shoe and/or a partner from injury, while also providing ankle support to the wearer.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A caller identification device attachable to a telephone line and having a message function includes a line interface coupled to the telephone line, a ring detector for detecting rings of an incoming telephone call, and a line monitor for receiving an incoming telephone call signal from the telephone line in an on-hook state. A caller identification detector is coupled to the line monitor for detecting caller identification information including at least the caller's telephone number when the line monitor receives an incoming telephone call signal. A speech synthesizer generates and transmits speech signals on the telephone line, and a remote detector is coupled to the line monitor for detecting a remote command tone signal. A controller activates the line interface to seize the telephone line when the ring detector detects rings of an incoming telephone call. The controller enables recording of the caller identification information detected by the caller identification detector, and causes the speech synthesizer to generate and transmit to the caller a menu of spoken options prompting the caller to enter a remote command tone signal corresponding to a message when the line interface seizes the telephone line. The message corresponding to the remote command tone signal entered by the caller and detected by the remote detector is recorded. The controller may optionally control dialing of a service such as a pager service, to transmit caller identification information and, if applicable, a message, to the pager service.

The present invention relates generally to caller identification devices, and more particularly, is directed to a caller identification device with a message function.
In conventional work environments, most telephone messages are manually recorded by a secretary on a pre-printed "while you were out" message slip having a format which includes spaces for writing the caller's name, telephone number, and a simple message such as "telephoned", "returned your call", etc. Such pre-printed message slips allow a secretary to quickly transcribe messages with little effort.
With the advent of calling party identification (CPID) services now available, most of the information needed for the "while you were out" message slip is automatically available. Specifically, currently sold devices allow the caller's name and telephone number to be displayed while the telephone rings. If the caller identification device has memory, the names of recent callers can be recalled at a later time.
However, such caller identification devices do not provide any additional information that indicates the caller's intentions. Accordingly, a caller identification device is not sufficient to replace the "while you were out" message slips.
U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 31,789 to Hashimoto discloses a device for displaying a caller's telephone number while the telephone is ringing. Although Hashimoto does disclose providing the device with an electronic printer in order to print out a record of the telephone numbers of calls received while the owner of the device is absent, there is no disclosure of using the device to relay messages from the caller to the owner.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,956 to Doughty discloses a method and apparatus for displaying CPID information at a called telephone station during the silent interval between ringing. Doughty describes an apparatus that can be used to receive alphanumeric messages from a caller, but these messages are not stored. Rather, these messages are only displayed during the silent interval.
Further, various devices have recently been provided for sending the caller's number from a caller identification device to a pager unit. However, again, only the caller's number is known, and additional messages are not provided. One such device is sold by Brother under the trademark "TeleGenie". Another such device is sold by Fans Telecom, Inc. under the trademark "FANS". In the latter device, there is an additional function in which a secretary can press a button to inform the owner of the device, through his or her pager, to call the office. However, there is no provision for a caller to leave a message by means of a caller identification device.

Calling party identification device with message function


A process and an architecture related to a vertical MOSFET device and a capacitor for use in integrated circuits. Generally, the integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor layer with a major surface formed along a plane thereof and further including a first doped region formed in the surface. A second doped region of a different conductivity type than the first doped region is positioned over the first region. A third doped region of a different conductivity type than the second region is positioned over the second region. In one embodiment of the invention, a semiconductor device includes a first layer of semiconductor material and a first field-effect transistor having a first source/drain region formed in the first layer. A channel region of the transistor is formed over the first layer and an associated second source/drain region is formed over the channel region. The integrated circuit further includes a capacitor having a bottom plate, dielectric layer and a top capacitor plate. In an associated method of manufacture, a first device region, selected from the group consisting of the source region and a drain region of a field-effect transistor is formed on a semiconductor layer. A first field-effect transistor gate region is formed over the first device region. A capacitor comprising top and bottom layers with a dielectric layer disposed therebetween, is also formed on the semiconductor layer. In another embodiment, the capacitor layers are formed within a trench or window formed in the semiconductor layer.

Enhancing semiconductor device performance and increasing device density, to increase the number of devices per unit area, continue to be important objectives of the semiconductor fabrication industry. Device density is increased by making individual devices smaller and packing devices more compactly. Also, as the device dimensions (also referred to as feature size or design rules) decrease, the methods for forming devices and their constituent elements must be adapted. For instance, production line feature sizes are currently in the range of 0.25 microns to 0.18 microns, with an inexorable trend toward small dimensions. However, as the device dimensions shrink, certain manufacturing limitations arise, especially with respect to the lithographic processes. In fact, current photolithographic processes are nearing the point where they are unable to accurately manufacture devices at the required minimal sizes demanded by today's device users.
Currently most metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) are formed in a lateral configuration with the current flowing parallel to the plane of the substrate or body surface in which the source and drain regions are formed. As the size of these MOSFET devices decreases to achieve increased device density, the fabrication process becomes increasingly difficult. In particular, the lithographic process for creating the channel is problematic, as the wavelength of the radiation used to delineate an image in the photolithographic pattern approaches the device dimensions. As applied to lateral MOSFETs, the channel length is approaching the point where it cannot be precisely controlled using these photolithographic techniques.
Recent advances in packing density have resulted in several variations of a vertical MOSFET. In particular, the vertical device is described in Takato, H., et al., "Impact of Surrounding Gates Transistor (SGT) for Ultra-High-Density LSI's, IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, Volume 38(3), pp. 573–577 (1991), has been proposed as an alternative to the planar MOSFET devices. Recently, there has been described a MOSFET characterized as a vertical replacement gate transistor. See Hergenrother, et al, "The Vertical-Replacement Gate (VRG) MOSFET: A 50-nm Vertical MOSFET with Lithography-Independent Gate Length," Technical Digest of the International Electron Devices Meeting, p. 75, 1999. Commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,027,975 and 6,197,641, which are hereby incorporated by reference, teach certain techniques for the fabrication of vertical replacement gate (VRG) MOSFETs.
To fabricate operational circuitry on an integrated circuit (IC), it is also necessary to incorporate passive elements into the IC fabrication process. In particular, capacitors are formed as junction capacitors or thin-film capacitors. As is known, the application of a reverse bias voltage across a semiconductor junction forces the mobile carriers to move away from the junction thereby creating a depletion region. The depletion region acts as the dielectric of a parallel-plate capacitor, with the depletion width representing the distance between the plates. Thus the junction capacitance is a function of the depletion width, which is in turn a function of the applied reverse bias and the impurity concentrations in the immediate vicinity of the junction. Thin-film capacitors, which are a direct miniaturization of conventional parallel-plate capacitors, are also fabricated for use on integrated circuits. Like the discrete capacitor, the thin-film capacitor comprises two conductive layers separated by a dielectric. One type of thin-film capacitor is formed as a metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitor, having a highly doped bottom plate, silicon dioxide as the dielectric, and a metal top plate. A thin-film capacitor can also be formed with two metal layers forming the top and bottom plates, separated by a dielectric, such as silicon dioxide or silicon nitride. Silicon nitride is preferred since it offers a higher dielectric constant and can thus provide a higher capacitance per area. The metal-oxide semiconductor capacitor structure is the most common because it is readily compatible with conventional integrated circuit processing technology. The capacitance per unit area of a thin-film capacitor is equal to the ratio of the permittivity and the dielectric thickness. Although thin-film capacitors offer higher capacitance values per unit area and fewer parasitic problems, they can fail by breakdown of the dielectric when the dielectric voltage rating is exceeded.

Structure and fabrication method for capacitors integratible with vertical replacement gate transistors


A steel beam is reinforced by an attachment which creates a moment to counteract loads placed on the beam when it is incorporated into a structure. The attachment includes a transmitting member which is secured to the underside of the beam and a tensioned cable which is carried, in a tensioned state, by the transmitting member. The tensioned cable compresses the transmitting member creating an upward moment which is transmitted to the beam.

This invention relates to reinforced steel beams used in the construction of buildings and bridges.
Buildings and bridges are commonly made of steel beams and girders upon which a floor or road surface is laid. The beams and girders are selected from standard rolled sections. Or, they are designed to have enough material in the compression and tension flanges to resist the stress of the load (bending) moment, with an acceptable amount of deflection in the beam at the location of the maximum moment. When a load is placed upon the floor or road surface, the load creates a downward or bending moment which bends the steel beams downwardly. The downward moment places the top of the beam in compression and the bottom of the beam under tension. This load may ultimately cause the beams to fail at some point in the future. By compressing the bottom of the beam, the designer is able to counter-act and reduce the bending effect of the load moment, which will also reduce the horizontal shear in a loaded beam or girder. Counter-acting the load (bending) moment may also aid in the beam's ability to resist the effects of, for example, an earthquake. The life of the beams and the load they can carry can thus be increased by reinforcing the beam so as to produce an upward, or counter, moment in the beam, to counteract the downward moment created by the load placed on the beam.
Various methods have been used to reinforce steel beams. One method of reinforcing beams, such as I-beams or T-beams, involves securing steel plates to the beam. This provides the extra strength to the beam; however, it increases the weight of the beam. The steel content of a building is one of its most costly components. Thus, the extra steel used in the construction of buildings using this method drastically increases the cost of the building.
Mauquoy U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,523 describes a method of pre-stressing a steel beam that avoids the use of plating the beam. Mauquoy secures a plurality of varying length transmission elements to the bottom of the beam. Guides and wires are then secured to the transmission elements. The wires extend around the guides. The wires are then stressed to provide an upward moment to the beam to counteract the load. However, before the wires are stressed, supports are placed above and below the beam to compress the beam, to induce an upward moment in the beam. The wires are then tensioned, and the wires, transmission elements, and guides are then encased in concrete to hold the tension in the wires. Mauquoy's method requires special machinery to provide the upward moment to the beam. The beams cannot, thus, be reinforced on the building site. Further, the concrete adds a great amount of weight to the beam. This, again, significantly increases the ultimate weight of the building, and significantly adds to its construction cost.
Kandall U.S. Pat. No. 3,427,773 discloses a method of pre-stressing a beam which does not use concrete. Kandall teaches pre-stressing the beam by securing stiffener plates to the vertical web of the beam and then anchoring a cable or tendon to the beam along its vertical web. Kandall secures the cable to the beam at several locations so the cable lies along a polygonal line. Kandall's construction requires extra steel to produce the stiffeners. Further, because the stiffeners extend the length of the beam's vertical web, holes must be drilled therethrough to allow the cable to pass from one end of the beam to the other. This reinforcing system also causes substantial interference with the framing of other beams into the beam being reinforced. Kandall's method further adds significant weight to the beam and is complex and costly to use.


An LED package structure for increasing light-emitting efficiency includes a heat-dissipating unit, an insulating unit, a light-emitting unit and a conductive unit. The heat-dissipating unit has a heat-dissipating substrate. The insulating unit has an insulating layer formed on the heat-dissipating substrate and at least one receiving groove passing through the insulating layer and formed above the heat-dissipating substrate. The insulating layer has a top surface on a top side thereof and an inner surface, and the inner surface of the insulating layer is an annular inclined surface in the receiving groove. The light-emitting unit has at least one light-emitting element received in the receiving groove and disposed on the heat-dissipating substrate. The conductive unit has at least two conductive structures disposed on the insulating layer and separated from each other, and the light-emitting element has two electrodes respectively electrically connected to the two conductive structures via two conductive wires.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an LED package structure, and more particularly, to an LED package structure for increasing light-emitting efficiency.
2. Description of Related Art
The invention of the lamp greatly changed the style of building construction and the living style of human beings, allowing people to work during the night. Without the invention of the lamp, we may stay in the living conditions of ancient civilizations.
Various lamps such as incandescent bulbs, fluorescent bulbs, power-saving bulbs and etc. have been intensively used for indoor illumination. These lamps commonly have the disadvantages of quick attenuation, high power consumption, high heat generation, short working life, high fragility, and being not recyclable. Hence, LED package structure is created in order to solve the above-mentioned questions of the prior lamp.
Referring to FIG. 1, the prior art provides a first type of an LED package structure including a heat-dissipating substrate 10a, an insulating layer 20a, a light-emitting element 40a and two conductive layers 50a. The insulating layer 20a is formed on the heat-dissipating substrate 10a and around the light-emitting element 40a. The light-emitting element 40a is disposed on the heat-dissipating substrate 10a and is electrically connected between the two conductive layers 50a via two conductive wires W. However, lateral light beams L generated by the light-emitting element 40a cannot be reflected effectively by the inner surface of the insulating layer 20a, so that the lateral light beams L cannot be used effectively. Hence, the light-emitting efficiency of the first type of the LED package structure cannot be increased.
Referring to FIG. 2, the prior art provides a second type of an LED package structure including a heat-dissipating substrate 10b, an insulating layer 20b, a light-emitting element 40b and two conductive layers 50b. The heat-dissipating substrate 10b has a receiving groove 100b that is formed by a cutting tool. The insulating layer 20b is formed on the heat-dissipating substrate 10b and around the light-emitting element 40b. The light-emitting element 40b is disposed in the receiving groove 100b of the heat-dissipating substrate 10b and is electrically connected between the two conductive layers 50b via two conductive wires W. However, although lateral light beams L generated by the light-emitting element 40b can be reflected effectively by the inclined surface in the receiving groove 100b of the heat-dissipating substrate 10b, the manufacturing cost and time of the second type of the LED package structure is increased due to the process of slowly forming the receiving groove 100b by the cutting tool. Hence, the production efficiency of the second type of the LED package structure cannot be increased.


A bilateral hearing instrument incorporates first and second units which could, for example, be worn by an individual having hearing deficiencies in both ears. One unit includes an audio input transducer coupled to a transceiver. The second unit includes a second audio input transducer coupled to a second transceiver which is coupled, wirelessly, to the first transceiver. An output of the second transceiver is coupled to an input port of a signal processor. A second input to the signal processor comes from the second audio input transducer. One output from the signal processor Is transmitted Tirelessly to the first unit for presentation to one ear of the user. The other output of the processor is coupled to an output transducer for the user's second ear. A single signal processor generates representations of audio output signals for both of the user's ears.

Hearing aids have long been recognized as being useful and effective in attempting to minimize the effects of hearing deficiencies. Often times a user will wear only a single hearing prosthesis. There are times however where users will wear a prosthesis in each ear due to that user's particular hearing deficiencies.
In an individual with normal hearing, processing of the audible, received signals takes place in the user's brain. Hence, such an individual receives processed information and cues from both ears which enable the individual to perceive the direction of signal source. In addition, signals from two different sources, separated in azimuth will be processed in a way that the user receives information and cues as to the relative location of each of the sources using inputs from both sources that are impinging on both ears simultaneously. This capability helps the individual to separate a desired signal from an undesired signal or noise.
It would be desirable to impart processing functionality for a user wherein dual prostheses are being used simultaneously with one located in or at each ear. Preferably, such processing will contribute to enhanced directionality, cancellation of off-axis noise or spatial separation of the received signals beyond that which is present with two independent prosthesis.


The invention is directed to the use of at least one peptide of formula: X-(Xaa1)n-Pro*-(Xaa2)m-Y (I) With: −n=0, or 2; −m=0 or 1 and if m=0 then n≠0−Xaa is: —An hydrophobic aminoacid; —A polar aminoacid; or —Glycine (Gly, G); When n=2 the two aminoacids Xaa1 can be the same or different; —Xaa2 is: —An hydrophobic amino acid; —A basic aminoacid; —Glycine (Gly, G) or Serine (Ser, S); —At the N terminal end of the peptide, X is selected from H, —CO—R1 and —SO2—R1; —At the C terminal end of the peptide, Y is selected from OH, OR1, NH2, NHR1 or NR1R2, —R1 and R2 being independently from each other, selected from an alkyle, aryle, aralkyle, alkylaryl, alkoxy and aryloxy group; —Pro* Excluding the peptides where X=H and Y=OH, for a non therapeutical cosmetic pro-pigmenting treatment of skin.

Dihydroxyacetone, also known as DHA or 1,3-dihydroxy-2-propanone, is a well known pro-pigmenting active. In cosmetics, tanning agents called TYR-OL™ and TYR-EXCEL™ proposed by Sederma and described respectively in FR2702766 and WO03/017966 based on Oleyl Tyrosine are also known.
EP2049074 describes the use of a rice protein hydrolyzate as a pigmenting active. The hydrolyzate is characterized in that it comprises a mixture of peptides in which at least 50% have a molecular weight preferably between 300 and 3500 Da, that is to say, from 3 to about 30 amino acids. Almost all naturally occurring amino acids are found in the hydrolyzate.
Besides, many peptides are disclosed for anti-age or anti-aging activity by stimulating the proteins of dermal extracellular matrix. For example, FR 2788777 patent describes PR-OH and Pal-PR-OH peptides in anti-aging cosmetic compositions.


Disclosed are substantially non-crosslinked anhydride-modified, saturated ethylene polymers and a process for making them which comprises mixing together in the absence of solvent:. (a) maleic anhydride; PA1 (b) a free radical initiator; PA1 (c) a saturated ethylene polymer; and PA1 (d) a polyamide. at a temperature at which the saturated ethylene polymer and polyamide undergo deformation and are converted to a molten or fluid state.

This invention relates to non-crosslinked, saturated ethylene polymers having maleic anhydride grafted thereto and a process for preparing such polymers.
The reaction of maleic anhydride with polymers is well known in the art. The thermal "ene" reaction between an unsaturated polymer and maleic anhydride has been widely used. U.S. Pat. No. 2,973,344, issued Feb. 28, 1961 to Fasce, discloses the preparation of modified polyolefins by heating low pressure polyalkene polymers which possess non-terminal unsaturation with maleic anhydride, in the presence or absence of either an inert hydrocarbon solvent and/or a peroxide catalyst. U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,882, issued May 20, 1975 to Caywood, Jr., discloses the preparation of adducts of maleic anhydride and unsaturated elastomeric ethylene-propylene-unconjugated diene terpolymer by reaction at elevated temperatures in the absence of a radical catalyst, e.g., an organic peroxide. The presence of a radical catalyst results in the crosslinking of the elastomer.
The grafting of maleic anhydride onto saturated polymers in the presence of free radicals, either generated by shearing or by heating free radical precursors such as organic peroxides, is also well known in the art. However, reaction in the absence of a solvent results in crosslinking in, e.g., polyethylene or ethylene-propylene copolymers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,236,917, issued Feb. 22, 1966 to Natta et al., discloses that the grafting of maleic anhydride onto saturated copolymers of ethylene and an .alpha.-olefin, in the presence of a radical initiator at elevated temperatures and in the absence of a solvent, results in the grafting of maleic anhydride onto two chains, thereby crosslinking the copolymers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,862,265, issued Jan. 21, 1975 to Steinkamp et al., discloses the controlled degradation of polyolefins in an extruder in the presence of a radical catalyst, and the concurrent grafting of maleic anhydride onto the base polymer.
Gabara and Parejko (Journal of Polymer Science, A-1, 5, 1547 (1967)) reported that when maleic anhydride is grafted onto low density polyethylene film suspended in an acetic anhydride solution containing a free radical catalyst, the film becomes crosslinked. However, reaction in a solvent such as xylene results in appendage of maleic anhydride without crosslinking the polyethylene (S. Parejko, W. Gabara and J. Kulesza, Journal of Polymer Science, A-1, 5, 1563 (1967)), U.S. Pat. No. 3,873,643, issued Mar. 25, 1975 to Wu et al., discloses that after mixing high density polyethylene with maleic anhydride in the presence of a radical catalyst in a Brabender Plasticorder at elevated temperatures, the melt index of the polymer is significantly reduced.
Attempts have been made to prevent or avoid crosslinking during the reaction of maleic anhydride with polymers. For example, solvents have been used to prevent crosslinking of the polymer during this reaction, but the use of solvents requires the use of equipment for solution reactions, and the separation and recovery of the solvent as well as the polymer.
When the reaction is conducted in the absence of solvent, the reaction results in very high levels of crosslinking. Such crosslinked products are particularly troublesome because these products do not have good flow properties and are, therefore, not useful in extrusion applications. On the other hand, grafted products are preferably prepared in an extruder in order to achieve higher product quality as well as to minimize costs. However, extruder reactions are by necessity done in the absence of large amounts of solvent. (A small amount of solvent may be used to introduce, e.g., a catalyst into the extruder, though.) Thus lies the heart of the problem. In order to obtain the benefits of the products prepared in an extruder, it is necessary to avoid the use of solvents; on the other hand, the absence of solvents results in levels of crosslinking which render the product unacceptable for extruder applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,056, issued Mar. 19, 1985 to Gaylord, discloses a process for preparing carboxyl-containing polymers which involves mixing together maleic anhydride, a free radical initiator, an additive which inhibits the homopolymerization of maleic anhydride but not that of methyl methacrylate below about 100.degree. C., and a polymer, above its melting point, in the absence of solvent. Examples of the additive are various nitrogen-, phosphorous- and sulfur-containing compounds. While the use of such additives results in products with little or no crosslinking, the presence of these additives in the resulting grafted polymers can cause odor problems, lead to discoloration of the polymer, provide undesirable polymer degradation mechanisms, and can result in toxicity problems, especially where the product polymer is used in food packaging.
A particularly useful copolymer that finds application in foodwraps, etc. is a copolymer of ethylene and methyl acrylate. When grafted with a grafting agent such as maleic anhydride, the resulting product has enhanced adhesion properties which not only allows it to be bound to aluminum, but additionally allows for printing to be done on its surface.
In view of the above, it is apparent that there is a need to develop a process which can prepare substantially non-crosslinked grafted ethylene polymers, such as ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymers, in the absence of solvent and without the additives used in the prior art.
It has now been discovered that crosslinking can be decreased during the free radical initiated reaction, in the absence of solvent, of saturated ethylene polymers and maleic anhydride if the reaction is conducted in the presence of a polyamide.

Substantially non-crosslinked maleic anhydride-modified ethylene polymers and process for preparing same


A method being performed by a processor includes, acquiring data of patterns of a plurality of cells that include an identified pattern for which an evaluation value of an optical image falls outside a first allowable range among patterns in which each a pattern being single cell alone, creating the pattern of a mask by arranging the patterns of the plurality of cells that include the identified pattern, and evaluating an optical image of the identified pattern in the created pattern of the mask.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for evaluating an optical image of a pattern, a recording medium, and an information processing apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
An exposure apparatus is used in an exposure process during a process for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The exposure apparatus illuminates a mask (reticle) with a circuit pattern of the semiconductor device formed thereon by an illumination optical system using light from a light source, and transfers the pattern of the mask onto a wafer via a projection optical system or the like.
In recent years, further miniaturization of the pattern of the semiconductor device has been advancing, and a super-resolution technique, such as Off-Axis Illumination of the illumination optical system and an optical proximity effect correction (OPC) of the pattern of the mask, has started to be used in the exposure process.
The pattern corrected by the OPC is input into an optical image simulator, and an optical image of the pattern is calculated and then evaluated to confirm that this OPC has a desired correction effect. This is called lithography verification. The lithography verification can be carried out while the OPC is being performed or after the OPC is completed to determine whether a result of the correction is sufficiently excellent. When this lithography verification is carried out over an entire surface of a device chip (an entire surface of the mask), several days may be spent as a processing time, and it takes an enormous calculation time, since a data amount of the pattern is massive. Further, the miniaturization of the pattern has led to a further increase in the data amount of the pattern, and thus an increase in the time required for the lithography verification according thereto.
There is known a technique that conducts a rule-based check over an entire surface of a chip according to geometric design rules in advance, determines a pattern difficult to be resolved, and carries out the lithography verification on a region limited based on a result of this determination (U.S. Pat. No. 7,886,243).
The lithography verification discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,886,243 can reduce a region for which an optical image of a pattern is evaluated, and therefore can bring about a certain effect in a reduction in the calculation processing time. However, since this technique checks the entire surface of the mask according to the geometric design rules before the lithography verification, it takes a while to determine a critical pattern (a lithography hotspot). Further, a determination about a complicated graphic uses the geometric design rules therefor to also become complicated, which raises such a possibility that an oversight may occur in extraction of the critical pattern. This possibility cannot be ignored.

Method for evaluating optical image of pattern, recording medium, and information processing apparatus


A method includes: receiving, by a first terminal device, a first downlink control channel on a third time-frequency resource; and based on the first downlink control channel and on a first time-frequency resource, sending, by the first terminal device, a first uplink message or receiving a first downlink message, where transmission directions of the first uplink message and a second downlink message are different, and the second downlink message is a message that the network device schedules a second terminal device to receive on a second time-frequency resource; transmission directions of the first downlink message and a second uplink message are different, and the second uplink message is a message that the network device schedules the second terminal device to send on the second time-frequency resource; and the first time-frequency resource and the second time-frequency resource include a same time domain resource and a same frequency domain resource.

Currently, based on a requirement of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on a future communications system, an air interface in the future communications system needs to support various services such as an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) service, an ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC) service, and a massive machine type communications (Massive MTC) service.
The different services have different requirements on a communications system. Some services have a relatively high latency requirement, and some services have a relatively low latency requirement. In an LTE communications system, a network device may send a downlink control channel to a terminal device, to schedule the terminal device to send an uplink message for a current service on the terminal device or receive a downlink message for a current service on the terminal device on a time-frequency resource indicated by the downlink control channel.
However, how the network device schedules, after scheduling a terminal device whose current service has a relatively low latency requirement to send or receive a message, a terminal device whose current service has a relatively high latency requirement to send or receive a message is a problem that needs to be urgently resolved.

Communication method, terminal device, and network device


An improved wind turbine 10 is described having a swivel head 18 mounted at an upper end of a support tower 12 for pivoting about a substantially vertical axis Y. A radial blade rotor assembly 48 is mounted to the swivel head 18 for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis X that is offset and spaced downwind of the vertical axis Y. The rotor assembly 48 has a rotor shaft 50 that rotates about a rotor axis Z that is spaced from the horizontal pivot axis X. The rotor assembly has a plurality of airfoil blades 64 that are attached to and extend radially outward from the rotor axis. The blades 64 rotate with a shallow inward conical path about the rotor axis Z in the blades 64 extending radially outward at an inclined angle from perpendicular of between 0 and 5 degrees. An electrical alternator 80 is connected to the rotor shaft 50 for generating electrical power directly from the rotor assembly 48.

This invention represents significant improvements to the wind turbine generally shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,889 granted May 22, 1984 to Ralph A. Belden.
The wind turbine described in the Belden patent represents a very significant step forward in the art of wind turbines to harness energy from wind having a wide range of velocities particularly at rather low velocities. It additionally has the ability to automatically adjust the effective rotor area to rapid changes in wind velocity and to automatically adjust the direction of rotor to changes in wind direction.
This invention provides improvements to make the wind turbine more responsive to rapid changes in wind velocity to obtain improved power efficiencies at lower wind velocities and to provide a more constant power output over a wider range of wind velocities. Additionally the present invention provides additional provisions for preventing the wind turbine from "overspeeding" even in high hurricane wind conditions. Further, the present invention is more responsive to rapid changes in wind direction to provide a more constant or even power output.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment.


A clamping assembly for securing a transmission operating control valve body to a transmission case. The clamping assembly utilizes at least one biasing member having a hub portion. The hub portion has a generally centrally disposed aperture with a plurality of spring arms extending radially outwardly from the hub portion. Each spring arm has a distal end that is adapted to engage the valve body. A spacer is interposed between the hub portion and the valve body. A fastener is receivable through the aperture and through the valve body to be anchored in the transmission case, thereby securing the valve body in position. In the exemplary form of the invention shown and described each spring arm is provided with a preformed offset commensurate with the length of the spring arm, its cross-sectional configuration and the modulus of elasticity thereof such that when the hub portion of the biasing member is tightened against the spacer, the resulting deflection of the distal end of each said spring arm will provide a predetermined load against the valve body. The spacer may constitute a supplemental biasing member, in which case it will be provided with a spacer hub, and supplemental spring arms will extend outwardly from the spacer hub. Support posts may be carried on the supplemental spring arms to engage said valve body.

Sophisticated automatic transmissions for vehicles are typically operated by complex hydraulic systems. Hydraulic systems for vehicular transmissions require a source of hydraulic fluid, a pump to pressurize that fluid and some means, such as a pressure regulator, to control the "line pressure" output to the transmission. One of the primary functions of the pressurized hydraulic fluid is to operate numerous torque transfer devices--i.e., clutch and brake assemblies--which determine the drive gear ratios by which the torque generated by the vehicle engine is transmitted to the wheels or the like. Some of the pressurized fluid may also be employed to lubricate the transmission and the associated mechanism.
Even the most routine movement of the transmission selector lever by the vehicle operator actuates a "manual valve" which directs the pressurized hydraulic fluid to at least one or more specific torque transfer devices which exhaust the pressurized fluid from one or more of the other torque transfer devices. The state of the several torque transfer devices utilized by the transmission--i.e., whether they are pressurized or depressurized--determines the gear ratio provided by the transmission.
Assuming that the operator has positioned the selector lever, such that the manual valve effects a transmission output which moves the vehicle forwardly, as the vehicle accelerates, a succession of shifts will automatically be effected to shift the transmission through a succession of drive ratios. The signal which evidences the vehicle speed is often supplied by a governor assembly that generally includes a regulating valve to supply a governor output signal pressure, the magnitude of which is reflected by the speed at which the transmission output shaft is rotating. The output signal pressure from the governor may, in turn, be directed to another valve which controls the shift by directing pressurized hydraulic fluid to or from those torque transfer devices which effect the shift to the next successive gear ratio. Each gear ratio requires actuation of its own combination of torque transfer devices, and some provision is generally required to deactivate certain other torque transfer devices in order to accomplish the desired shift.
Sophisticated transmission controls also include a provision to alter the vehicular speed at which any given shift is effected. The transmission controls which incorporate speed response as one of the contributing factors in determining when a shift is to be accomplished generally employ a modulator valve. The modulator valve provides a signal pressure to the required shift valves in response to engine vacuum. The modulator valve is generally operated by engine vacuum or throttle position.
The foregoing brief resume is presented to emphasize the complexity of hydraulic systems employed to control vehicular transmissions. The more subtle the reaction required by the transmission in response to operation of the vehicle, the more complex the hydraulic control system becomes. Even so, the complex valving, together with the required maze of passages, are generally contained within a single valve assembly that is secured, for example, to a supporting surface provided on the transmission case.
One face of a typical prior art oil pump and transmission control valve body 10 is depicted in FIG. 1. Both faces of the valve body 10 are generally of comparable complexity, and the depicted face 11 is, therefore, representative of that complexity. Specifically, face 11 is provided with a maze of surface passages, generally referred to as wormtracks 12 which provide the required communication along the opposite faces of the valve body in order to achieve communication with the components contained within the valve body 10. A supporting surface (not shown in FIG. 1) to which the valve body 10 may be secured is generally provided on the transmission case. The supporting surface, as well as the cover plate (also not shown), which matingly engage the opposite faces of the valve body 10, are similarly provided with wormtracks that cooperatively interact with the wormtracks recessed into the faces of the valve body 10. Passageways may penetrate the valve body 10, as required, to effect communication between appropriate wormtracks recessed within the opposite faces of the valve body 10.
Various chambers and bores are disposed between and generally in parallel relation with the opposite faces of the valve body 10 to house the several valve members and the associated components that are received within the transmission control valve body 10. FIG. 1 depicts, in exploded plan, a representative sampling of the components that are operatively received within the various chambers and bores that extend within the valve body 10. Starting at the one o'clock position on FIG. 1, one can observe the throttle valve member 13, the throttle valve spring 14, the throttle valve plunger 15 and the throttle valve plunger bushing 16 which are received within a laterally extending bore (not shown) that penetrates the right side 18 of the valve body 10. A retainer pin 19 secures those components within that bore. Continuing clockwise on FIG. 1, the next bore (also not shown) that penetrates the right side 18 of the valve body 10 receives a pressure regulator valve 20, a pressure regulator valve spring 21, a pressure regulator isolator spring 22, a reverse boost valve 23, a pressure regulator and reverse boost valve bushing 24, a boost valve 25, an isolator valve bore plug 26 and a valve retainer ring 28, all of which are secured by the retainer pin 29.
The 3-2 shift control valve 30, its biasing spring 31 and a spring retainer sleeve 32 are received within an independent bore (not shown) that penetrates the lower portion on the right side 18 of the valve body 10. The Lo blow-off ball 33, its biasing spring 34 and a retainer plug 35 are received in another bore (not shown) which penetrates the lower side 36 of the valve body 10, also as viewed in FIG. 1.
A bore also penetrates the lower portion on the left side 38 of the valve body 10, to receive a 1-2 shift valve 40, a 1-2 throttle valve 41, a 1-2 throttle valve spring 42 and a 1-2 throttle valve bushing 43, all of which are maintained within that bore by a retainer pin 44. Another bore (not shown) also penetrates the lower portion on the left side 38 of the valve body 10 to receive a 2-3 shift valve 45, a 2-3 throttle valve 46, a 2-3 throttle valve spring 48 and a 2-3 throttle valve bushing 49, all of which are secured within that bore by a retainer pin 50.
A first bore (also not shown) penetrates the middle portion on the left side 36 of the valve body 10 to receive a 1-2 accumulator valve 51, a 1-2 accumulator bushing 52, a 1-2 accumulator spring 53, a valve bore plug 54 and a retainer pin 55. A second bore penetrates the middle portion on the left side 38 of the valve body 10 to receive a pressure relief ball 56, a pressure relief biasing spring 58 and a spring retainer sleeve 59. In addition, a third bore penetrates the middle portion on the left side 38 of the valve body 10 to receive a T.V. shift valve 60, a T.V. shift spring 61, a valve bore plug 62 and a retainer pin 63.
A pressure regulator bore plug 64 and an associated retainer 65 close the bore that extends through the upper portion on the left side 38 of the valve body 10. Finally, a line boost valve 66, a line boost valve plug 68 and a retainer pin 69 are received within a bore that penetrates the top surface 70 of the valve body 10.
Most important to the present invention is the fact that the prior art transmission valve bodies, as well as the cover plates employed therewith, must accommodate a considerable number of bolts, such as the seventeen bolts 75A through 75Q depicted, required effectively to secure the valve body 10 and its cover plate to the supporting structure on which they are mounted. It should be appreciated that each mounting bolt 75 must penetrate the valve body 10 with sufficient clearance from adjacent valve chambers and bores (not shown), as well as the wormtracks 12, to permit the bolts 75 to secure the valve body 10 to its supporting surface without distorting or damaging the valve body 10 itself as well as to assure that the wormtracks 12 will be effectively sealed from adjacent wormtracks as well as from the environment in which the transmission is operated.
As previewed above, and in the detailed description which follows, a particular structural member, component or arrangement may be employed at more than one location. When referring generally to that type of structural member, component or arrangement, a common numerical designation shall be employed. However, when one of the structural members, components or arrangements so identified is to be individually identified, it shall be referenced by virtue of a letter suffix employed in combination with the numerical designation employed for general identification of that structural member, component or arrangement. Thus, there are a plurality of bolts which are generally identified by the numeral 75, but the specific individual bolts are, therefore, identified as 75A, 75B, 75C, etc., in the specification and on the drawings. This same suffix convention shall be employed throughout the specification.

Clamping assembly for vehicular transmission operating control valves


There are provided a power factor correction device and a method for controlling power factor correction using the same. The power factor correction device includes a power factor correction circuit and a control circuit. The power factor correction circuit includes first and second inductors connected to an input power source stage and first and second main switches performing a switching operation on the first and second inductors, respectively. The control circuit may provide control signals to the first and second main switches, respectively, and when phase currents flowing in the respective first and second inductors are unbalanced, the control circuit may change a phase of at least one of the first and second main switches to correct an imbalance of the phases.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power factor correction apparatus capable of correcting a power factor of a power source device, and a method for controlling a power factor using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, national governments around the world have urged the effective use of energy in conformity with energy efficiency policies, and in particular, effective use of energy in electronic products or home appliances is widely recommended.
Thus, according to such recommendations, a remedial circuit for effectively using energy has been applied to power supply devices supplying power to electronic products, home appliances, and the like.
The remedial circuit may be, for example, a power factor correction circuit. A power factor correction circuit is a circuit for switching input power to adjust a phase difference (power factor) between a current and a voltage of the input power to effectively transfer power to a rear stage.
Among power factor correction circuits, a boost power factor correction circuit has been generally used, but it have relatively low efficiency, a high internal current, voltage ripples, electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise, and the like, and thus, so its application to a middle or large-scale power source device is not easy.
In order to solve these problems, in case of a related art interleaved boost power factor correction (PFC) circuit configured by connecting boost PFC circuits in parallel, the respective boost PFCs connected in parallel are equally operated with a time difference during a switching period with respect to overall output power, to thereby simultaneously reduce ripples of an input current and those of an output voltage. Accordingly, a size of an input EMI filter can be reduced.
However, the interleaved boost PFC circuit has a limitation in that degradation of a power factor due to a phase difference between inductors connected in parallel cannot be compensated. In other words, a phase difference between inductors cannot be compensated.
The related art mentioned below relates to a power factor correction circuit, which, however, has the foregoing limitations.

Power factor correction apparatus and method for correcting power factor using the same


A process for making cabergoline uses silyl-protecting agents to protect the indole nitrogen atom.

The present invention relates to a process for making the pharmaceutically active agent cabergoline and to intermediates useful in said process.
Cabergoline, chemically 1-[(6-allylergolin-8-β-yl)-carbonyl]-1-[3-(dimethylamino)-propyl]-3-ethylurea of the formula (1)
is a dopamine receptor agonist. It is a pharmaceutically useful compound that is indicated for the treatment of hyperprolactinemia and for the treatment of Parkinson disease. Cabergoline has been disclosed in GB 2074566 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,892.
A conventional process for making cabergoline was disclosed in GB 2103603 and comprises a reaction of the ergoline amide compound of formula (2) with ethyl isocyanate in an inert solvent (dioxane, benzene, toluene, cyclohexane).
The process disclosed in GB 2103603 requires the use of a large excess of the isocyanate (up to 36 molar equivalents), high temperatures (70–120° C.) and long reaction times (24–72 hours). Despite these drastic conditions, the reaction results in equilibrium, i.e. the conversion is incomplete and is accompanied with serious side reactions on the indole nitrogen, which decreases the yield and complicates product purification.
The above process was improved in a later patent EPB 593692 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,669). The reaction of ethyl isocyanate with the compound (2) proceeds in the presence of a metal catalyst chosen from Ib and IIb metal group salts, preferably copper salts (CuCl, CuCl2, CuBr and CuI) and of a phosphine of the formula PR6R7R8 in which R6, R7 and R8 are each, independently, an alkyl or aryl group optionally substituted by one or more substituents chosen from Cl, F, methyl and methoxy (preferably triphenylphosphine or tri-p-tolylphosphine) or of an alkyl phosphite, in a suitable solvent at a temperature 0–80° C., preferably 35–60° C. The amidic nitrogen is activated by the action of the copper catalyst. However the other nitrogen atoms, and particularly the indole nitrogen, may also be activated as well. The purpose of the phosphine/phosphite compound is to modulate the reaction, particularly to suppress the side reaction of the indole nitrogen atom. The large excess of the toxic and harmful ethyl isocyanate required by the earlier process may be decreased to 2–3 equivalents and the reaction proceeds in much milder conditions.
Despite this improvement, the process has serious drawbacks in low conversion rate (about 80%) and insufficient purity of the product; the latter being not much different from the uncatalyzed reaction (see the discussion in J. Org. Chem., 67, 7147 (2002)). The present inventors also confirm that the resulting cabergoline is contaminated with impurities and remainder of the starting material due to the incomplete conversion and low selectivity.
WO 2002/085902 relates to a further improvement of the production process. The amidic nitrogen of the starting ergoline-8.β-carboxamide (2) is first silylated by a silylation agent of general formula Y—Si (R6)(R7)(R8), preferably with trimethylsilyl triflate, under presence of an organic amine. The so obtained silylated intermediate compound then reacts with the ethyl isocyanate without the need of any activating catalyst and finally the silylated cabergoline is deprotected:

However, the cited document does not teach whether and/or how the silylated intermediates may be isolated and purified. Moreover, while the silylating agent activates the amidic nitrogen, it is not able to suppress the reactivity of the indole nitrogen. In fact, when repeating the process, the present inventors found that the silylated intermediate is very unstable (it is even not stable at ordinary conditions of TLC analysis, so that the reaction process cannot be monitored). Under disclosed conditions, the reaction was found incomplete and the product was accompanied with contaminants.
Ashford et al. (J. Org. Chem. 2002, 67, 7147–7150) studied the possibility of protecting the indole nitrogen in a variant process for making cabergoline. This scheme starts with the compound of formula (2), however it avoids the use of ethyl isocyanate. Instead, the compound (2), after its indole nitrogen has been protected by a tert.butoxycarbonyl group, reacts with phenylchloroformate to produce the compound (7)
which is then converted into cabergoline by a reaction with ethyl amine, followed by deprotection. Ashford et al. also studied the possibility to protect the indole nitrogen in the compound (2) within the above process by a silylation agent, such as TMS or TIPS. However they found out that these protective groups are too unstable in the subsequent steps.
In conclusion, there is a need to develop an alternate and/or improved process for making cabergoline from the ergoline amide of formula (2), which process can have, inter alia, improved conversion and less potential for side reactions on the indole nitrogen.


The swaddling blanket is preferably fabricated from a soft material. The blanket includes a double-layered back portion having a reinforced head area. A pocket member is attached to the front layer of the back portion to accommodate the infant's legs. Double-layered, tapered tie members are attached to the back portion. The tie members are utilized to secure the infant in the blanket.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to infant care products. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to a swaddling blanket for an infant.
2. Description of the Related Art
Providing bands of cloth to wrap infants is known as swaddling. Traditionally, this, centuries old, art entails laying an infant onto a blanket fabricated from soft material and wrapping the infant therein by means of a series of blanket folds, wraps and tucks. The traditional swaddle blanket has proven to be less than desired in that it presents a somewhat bulky package and fails to provide adequate head and neck support for the infant. Furthermore, the infant is often able to kick out of the traditional swaddle. The swaddling art would certainly welcome an improved blanket that would alleviate bulk and provide neck and head support.
Thus, a swaddling blanket solving the aforementioned problems is desired.