Presented is a heat sink arrangement, incorporating a fluid media, which transfers heat between stationary and movable objects. Included are pump structures which are designed to be or operate integrally with the fluid-filled heat transfer apparatus, and are adapted to provide optimum and unique cooling flow paths for implementing the cooling of electronic devices, such as computer chips or the like, that require active cooling action. The pumps and heat sink arrangements selectively possess either rotating or stationary shafts, various types of impeller and fluid or cooling media circulation structures, which maximize both the convective and conductive cooling of the various components of the electronic devices or equipment by means of the circulating fluid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat sink arrangement comprising a fluid media, which transfers heat between stationary and movable objects. More particularly, the present invention relates to pump structures which are designed to be or operate integrally with the fluid-filled heat transfer apparatus, and are adapted to provide optimum and unique cooling flow paths for implementing the cooling of electronic devices, such as computer chips or the like, that require active cooling action.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
In particular, pursuant the prior art, as represented by Sri-Jayantha, et al, U.S. Patent Publication 2004/0114327 A1, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,876,550 B2, the latter of which issued on that particular patent publication, each illustrate active heat sinks for high power microprocessors, and which incorporate structures possessing both static and dynamic components. Essentially, in each instance, the structure incorporates a thermal interface material (TIM), which facilitates the conduction of heat from a first modular component to a further component, while concurrently absorbing or compensating for thermally induced variations in the clearances that are present between the operative or structural components. In particular, the prior art, as represented hereinabove, discloses the concept of a kinetic heat sink, in which a rigid heat spreader supports a fluid film on one side thereof and provides a conductive path from a computer chip to the heat spreader through a thermal interface material. There is no disclosure of utilizing the fluid film as an asset for convecting heat to the remaining surfaces of the prior art heat sink system.
Various other prior art publications relate to diverse types of structures and systems for transmitting fluids or the like, in order to be able to effectuate the cooling of various electronic devices and components.
Houle, et al., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0068725 A1 disclose a thermal transfer system and method for a self-contained closed-loop microchannel cooling arrangement integrated into a micro-component package. However, the system, as disclosed in this publication, which employs fins for conducting heat from heat-generating components to the surroundings, does not provide for the type of pumping structures analogous with that employed in the present invention for attaining highly efficient flow patterns able to adequately cool the various components.
Lee, et al., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0024830 A1 discloses a liquid-cooled heat sink assembly utilizing an impeller, and which also does not, in any manner, describe nor even suggest the unique pumping structure for cooling media pursuant to the present invention.
Gwin, et al., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0125561 A1, disclose a sealed and pressurized liquid cooling arrangement for a microprocessor which, however, does not provide for an optimized heat transfer in both convection and conduction modes pursuant to the present invention.
Similarly, representing primarily technological background disclosures, Wu, et al, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0052048 A1; Morris, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,580,610 B2; Morris, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,507,492 B2; Gwin, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,890,928 B2, which issued on previously mentioned U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0125561A1; and Morris, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,377,458 B1 are all limited to various types of systems, which are utilized for cooling the operative and heat-generating components of electronic devices or computer chips, but wherein the systems do not incorporate the type of heat transfer apparatus employing pump structures which are integral to the fluid field components of the heat transfer apparatus in order to obtain maximum or optimized degrees of cooling effects due to both the convection and conduction of heat through and away from the confines of the equipment, which is being cooled.

Pump structures integral to a fluid filled heat transfer apparatus

International Business Machines Corporation


An internal combustion engine with at least one combustion chamber, at least one fuel delivery line for the delivery of fuel to at least one combustion chamber, and at least one differential pressure control valve for controlling the pressure in the at least one fuel delivery line. The at least one differential pressure control valve is configured to perform a valve opening or valve closing movement based on a pressure difference between the at least one fuel delivery line and a reference volume having a reference pressure. The internal combustion engine further includes at least one pressure relief valve, separate from the at least one differential pressure control valve, and configured to open to cause a pressure relief in the reference volume and a decrease in the reference pressure if a drop occurs in the power to be performed by the internal combustion engine.

This invention relates to an internal combustion engine.
Internal combustion engines of the generic kind have at least one combustion chamber, at least one fuel delivery line for the delivery of—preferably gaseous—fuel to the at least one combustion chamber, and at least one differential pressure control valve for controlling the pressure in at least one fuel delivery line, wherein the at least one differential pressure control valve is configured to perform a valve opening or valve closing movement on the basis of a pressure difference between the at least one fuel delivery line and a reference volume, in which a reference pressure is present.
The following describes the prior art and the objective of the invention by means of an air charged gas engine. However, the statements made apply to internal combustion engines with a fuel delivery line in general, wherein the pressure in the fuel delivery line is controlled by a differential pressure control valve.
During delivery of charge air and fuel to the combustion chamber, the ratio between pressure in the fuel delivery line and the charge pressure must neither be too high nor too low. Failing this, the ratio of charge air and fuel in the combustion chamber is imbalanced. Especially in case of a load shedding, i.e., a—relatively rapid—reduction in the power to be produced by the internal combustion engine poses challenges to the control of the pressure in the fuel delivery line, because the charge pressure naturally decreases very quickly and consequently will adapt to the reduction in power. So, in most cases, the pressure control in the fuel delivery line reacts more slowly than the charge pressure.
It is to be noted that, as power increases (gradually), also the charge pressure and the pressure in the at least one fuel delivery line increase by a corresponding amount.
Due to the fact that pressure in the fuel delivery line decreases more slowly than the charge pressure, in case of larger load sheddings, the pressure ratio of these two parameters can exceed a limit above which the direct fuel injection valves or port injection valves are no longer able to open, which in turn leads to a suspension of the combustion. This undesired condition can last for several seconds.
A solution for a similar problem is described in EP 3 048 279 A1, although this only advises about measures that directly affect the volume of gas in the fuel delivery line.
Other embodiments known from the prior art can, for example, be found in DE 31 49 839 A1, DE 10 2013 218 690 A1 or EP 1 058 060 A1.


New proteins, termed GAP 31, obtainable from the seeds of Gelonium multiflorum, and DAP 30 and DAP 32, obtainable from the leaves or seeds of Dianthus caryophyllus, or the above proteins produced by recombinant means, are useful for treating HIV infections. In treating HIV infections, the protein is administered alone or in conjunction with other anti-HIV therapeutics. Also provided are processes for purifying the proteins, DNA sequences encoding the proteins, hosts expressing the proteins, recombinant DNA methods for expressing the proteins, and antibodies specific for the proteins.

HIV Infection and AIDS
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the etiological agent for AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), is a member of the lentiviruses, a subfamily of retroviruses. Many retroviruses are well-known carcinogens. HIV per se is not known to cause cancer in humans or other animals, but it does present a formidable challenge to the host. HIV integrates its genetic information into the genome of the host. The viral genome contains many regulatory elements which allow the virus to control its rate of replication in both resting and dividing cells. Most importantly, HIV infects and invades cells of the immune system; it destroys the body's immune system and renders the patient susceptible to opportunistic infections and neoplasms. The immune defect appears to be progressive and irreversible, with a high mortality rate that approaches 100% over several years.
HIV is transmitted by parenteral inoculation and/or intimate sexual contact. It is estimated that about 2 million people in the United States are currently infected with HIV, and 5 to 10 million people are infected worldwide. Recent projections indicate that a majority of those now infected will develop AIDS within a seven year follow-up period. In 1989 alone, over 130,000 cases of AIDS were reported domestically, and more than half of these patients have died. An additional 100,000 cases were diagnosed in the United States by the end of 1990. Reports to the World Health Organization suggested that at least a million new cases of AIDS can be expected within the next five years worldwide. It is apparent that AIDS is an unprecedented threat to global health. The search for effective therapies to treat AIDS is of paramount importance.
HIV-1 is trophic and cytopathic for T4 lymphocytes, cells of the immune system which express the cell surface differentiation antigen CD4 (also known as OKT4, T4 and leu3). The viral tropism is due to the interactions between the viral envelope glycoprotein, gp120, and the cell-surface CD4 molecules (Dalgleish, A. G. et al., Nature 312:763-767 (1984). These interactions not only mediate the infection of susceptible cells by HIV but are also responsible for the virus-induced fusion of infected and uninfected T cells. This cell fusion results in the formation of giant multinucleated syncytia, cell death, and progressive depletion of CD4 cells in AIDS patients. These events result in HIV-induced immunosuppression and its subsequent sequelae, opportunistic infections and neoplasms.
In addition to CD4+ T cells, the host range of HIV includes cells of the mononuclear phagocytic lineage (Dalgleish, A. G. et al., supra), including blood monocytes, tissue macrophages, Langerhans cells of the skin and dendritic reticulum cells within lymph nodes. HIV is also neurotropic, capable of infecting monocytes and macrophages in the central nervous system causing severe neurologic damage. Macrophage/monocytes are a major reservoir of HIV. They may interact and fuse with CD4-bearing T cells, causing T cell depletion and thus contributing to the pathogenesis of AIDS.

Anti-HIV proteins GAP 31, DAP 30 and DAP 32 and therapeutic uses thereof


A garbage disposal installation tool is provided that is adapted to support a garbage disposal from its upper opening and through the sink drain, whereby the disposal unit is supported from above while the installer secures the unit to the sink drain. The device comprises a tool body having an elongated, threaded rod with an upper end and a lower end. The upper end comprises a handle, while the lower end comprises a pivotable garbage disposal support member adapted to support the disposal unit from its upper opening and from the interior thereof. Along the threaded rod is a sink drain bridge element that is adapted to bear against the upper surface of a sink drain and support the tool body and the disposal unit therefrom. The bridge element is threaded to the elongated rod and positionable along its length to elevate the disposal unit by rotating the handle.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to plumbing tools and hand tools for installing sink equipment. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a garbage disposal installation tool in which the garbage disposal can be supported by the tool without requiring the installer to manually support the disposal while connecting the same to the drain.
Garbage disposals were well known devices in the art that grind solid waste entered into a sink drain to allow the waste to be evacuated through the household plumbing. These devices are means of disposing solid, biodegradable food products using the plumbing system and wastewater treatment plants as a means of processing the waste. These devices reduce landfill waste and capitalize on existing treatment of wastewater for processing organic material, and further provide a convenient way for a consumer to remove food waste from their home in immediate fashion, as opposed to storing it in a waste bin that can attract animals and pests, cause undesirable smells, and contaminate waste receptacles.
Garbage disposal units are secured below a sink drain in between the drain and the trap below the sink, providing a means to grind food products into smaller, more fluid particles that can be evacuated through the existing plumbing. Installing these devices involves replacing a standard sink drain with one that is compatible with a disposal unit, connecting the disposal unit to the drain, wiring the unit, and then securing the plumbing thereto. This exercise is well understood in the plumbing arts and astute, do-it-yourself homeowners. It is also well understood that garbage disposals tend to be large, electromechanical devices having a non-negligible weight during installation.
During the process of connecting the upper portion of the garbage disposal unit to the sink drain, the installer is required to lift and support the disposal unit while fastening the same. This may be alleviated via more clever attachment means, however generally the user has to either support the disposal with one hand while securing fasteners with another, or utilize a support stand below the disposal unit during installation. Neither of these alternatives is attractive, as it can be difficult to coordinate the attaching of the unit while holding the same, while also the underside of a sink tends generally to be cluttered, making the use of a support stand not advantageous or even feasible.
The present invention discloses a new tool in the art of garbage disposal units that facilitates installation without consuming space below the sink, and one that can support the disposal unit without interaction by the user while fastening the same to the sink drain. The device comprises a tool body that is positioned through the sink drain, and includes a rotatable garbage disposal support member at the lower end thereof and a drain bridge element along the length thereof. The garbage disposal support member is a rotatable member supporting the garbage disposal by its upper aperture, while the drain bridge element is adapted to bear against the sink drain and span the diameter thereof. The drain bridge element supports the tool body and the disposal unit from the sink drain, allowing the installer to fasten the disposal unit. The relative position of the drain bridge element to the disposal unit controls the position of the disposal unit, while the pressure applied to the sink drain can facilitate sealing of the same if the sink drain is replaced in the installation procedure. The tool of the present invention advances the art and provides a novel means of supporting a garbage disposal unit during installation that reduces strain on the part of the user and does not consume space below the sink.
Description of the Prior Art
Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to garbage disposal unit support devices and installation tools. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications, and generally relate to devices that support disposal units from below, wherein a support is provided that lifts or otherwise supports a disposal unit from beneath the sink. The following is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.
One such device that exemplifies the art is U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,460 to Irwin, which discloses an apparatus for installing and removing a sink mounted garbage disposal, wherein the device supports the garbage disposal from the underside thereof. The device comprises a base that is positioned along the floor underneath the sink, a telescoping post upstanding from the base with means of locking the height thereof, and a disposer support platform assembly at the top of the telescoping post. The support platform assembly supports the disposer from below as the installer connects the upper portion of the disposal to the sink drain.
In a similar fashion as the Irwin device, other garbage disposal support devices and installation tools are presented in the art that support disposal units from the underside thereof and utilize the floor below the sink as a means to support the disposal during installation. These include U.S. Pat. No. 7,024,743 to Heaton, U.S. Pat. No. 7,685,689 to Del Castello, U.S. Pat. No. 7,401,392 to Ramsey, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,631 to Noe. Heaton utilizes an upstanding and extendable threaded rod to position a garbage disposal support adapter in an opportune position during installation. Similarly, Del Castello provides a threaded rod extending upwards from a base, wherein there is further provided a flat top platform and a lever bar that transforms rotation thereof into axial motion of the threaded rod, and thus repositioning of the flat top platform. Ramsey advances the art by introducing a hydraulic jack as a means to extend a garbage disposal from a base, while finally Noe provides a screw jack mechanism and a notched platform that accommodates the electrical wiring of the garbage disposal.
These prior art devices share common drawbacks that limit their use, and simultaneously do not address the needs of supporting a garbage disposal under a sink during installation where the space under the sink is generally limited, cluttered, or occupied by water catch basins. These prior art devices require substantial space below the sink, and are useful only when there is sufficient clearance therein and between the disposal unit and the sink drain. These devices provide a lifting support from below the disposal unit, wherein most comprise stands or jack assemblies that rely on the sink floor as a means of support.
The present invention, by contrast, incorporates a structure that is adapted to support a disposal unit from the sink drain itself, wherein the body of the tool is inserted through the sink drain and the disposal unit is suspended therefrom. This eliminates the need for a minimum space requirement under the sink, as the tool consumes space within the drain and an area thereabove. The tool comprises a sink drain bridge element threadably attached thereto, whereby the bridge element bears against the sink drain and supports a disposal unit to be installed or being removed via a rotatable disposal unit support element engaged through the upper opening of the unit. During installation or removal, the user can rotate the handle of the device, which changes the proportion of the tool body above and below the bridge element, thereby raising or lowering the disposal underneath the sink drain. The user does not have to support both the tool and the disposal unit during operation, and is free to secure or remove the disposal unit when the tool is being deployed.
It is submitted that the present invention is substantially divergent in design elements from the prior art, and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing garbage disposal installation devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.


A fault detection/alarm system includes an oscillator at one end of a signal cable whose clock output is OR'ed with a fault detection signal. A receiving unit receives the OR'ed signal and detects the leading edge of the clock. If the clock signal disappears due to breakage of the signal cable, the appearance of a fault detection signal or other reason, the leading edges are no longer detected, causing the raising of a fault signal which may be an emergency stop signal for the receiving unit.

The present invention relates to a device for use in a fault detection or alarm system, which is capable of reliably performing fault detection or emergency action such as the stoppage of a controlled device, despite loss of electrical communication or other problems. In one exemplitive embodiment, the invention is applied to a numerically controlled machine tool.
To efficiently control a multi-axis machine tool, etc., a numerical control unit includes a numerical operation section and a plurality of servo amplifiers provided for individual axes, which are connected by a signal cable. Signals transferred through this signal cable include command signals and emergency stop signals from the numerical operation section to the servo amplifiers, feedback signals from the servo amplifiers to the numerical operation section, and signals concerned with diagnostics and servo control adjustments.
FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram of a known emergency stop device for a numerical control unit and associated machine tool and FIG. 4 is a timing chart for the circuit diagram shown in FIG. 3.
Referring to FIG. 3, the numeral 1 indicates a numerical operation section. At 2 is a fault detection circuit provided in the numerical operation section 1. An emergency stop signal cable 3 is connected to the fault detection circuit 2, and servo amplifiers 4A to 4C are connected to the emergency stop signal cable 3. Pull-up resistors 5 are provided in the servo amplifiers 4A to 4C and connected to the emergency stop signal cable 3. Emergency stop circuits 6 are provided in each servo amplifier.
In the prior art emergency stop system, applied to a numerical control unit configured as described above, the fault detection circuit 2 in the numerical operation section 1 detects an emergency stop input from outside the numerical control unit in addition to internal faults within the unit. The fault detection circuit 2 transmits a "low" signal to the emergency stop signal cable 3 when the operation is normal, and a "high" signal upon detection of any fault.
When the signal transmitted through the emergency stop signal cable 3 is "low" the emergency stop circuits 6 place the servo amplifiers 4A to 4C in a normal operation state as shown in FIG. 4. When said signal goes "high" at time t1, the emergency stop circuits 6 put the servo amplifiers 4A to 4C into an emergency stop state. That is, either the input of an external emergency stop command or the detection of a fault within the unit results in an emergency stop state.
Breakage of the emergency stop signal cable 3 itself is one of the failures which may occur. In this case, the pull-up resistor 5 switches the input to the emergency stop circuit 6 to "high" to enter the emergency stop state, thereby ensuring fail-safe operation.
The known circuit is designed to detect a signal transmitted from a fault detection circuit 2 over an emergency stop signal cable 3. Therefore, when the emergency stop signal is made "low" due to the accidental contact of the emergency stop signal cable 3 with a common or ground point or the like, or when there is a faulty circuit in any of the servo amplifiers 4A to 4C, the emergency stop state cannot be entered if an attempt is made to effect an emergency stop from the numerical operation section 1, and thus fail-safe operation cannot be achieved.

Emergency circuit for, e.g., numerical control unit


A shock-absorbing safety apparatus for a vehicle, such as a truck or tanker. The apparatus includes inflatable containers attached to the exterior sides of the vehicle, a plurality of overturning sensors, a controller, and inflation sources corresponding to each inflatable container. The overturning sensors provide a signal indicating an incipient overturning condition to the controller which, upon determination that an overturn is incipient, induces the inflation sources to inflate at least those inflatable Containers disposed on the downward side of the vehicle. The overturning sensors can include pressure sensors detecting pressure between wheels of the vehicle and the road surface as well as tilt or angle sensors detecting the angular orientation of the vehicle with resect to the road. The inflation sources provide gas, which may be a fire-retardant gas. The containers preferably are made of a strong, abrasion resistant material and present a relatively high coefficient of friction.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a safety arrangement for a vehicle or part of a vehicle, in particular, a motor vehicle such as a truck, tanker, tailer or bus.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known that vehicles for various reasons, e.g. travelling at an excessive speed through turns, violent maneuvers to avoid collisions, or collisions with fixed structures or other vehicles, may be induced to overturn For many vehicles, the cargo or contents, such as in trucks and tankers, has a significant influence on the overturning tendency of the vehicle. For example, stored liquid can shift within a container upon sudden maneuvers of the tankers. This moving liquid can cause an impelling force contributing to overturning of the vehicle. In general, these so-called unpackaged tankers have a relatively higher chance of overturning than other vehicles.
Unpackaged tankers are often filled with chemical or petrochemical material. An undesirable result of the tanker overturning can be a crack or rupture in the tank leading to spillage of the material stored within. This has many undesirable effects including risk of fire, contamination of the environment with the contents of the tanker, and explosion.
It will be understood from the foregoing that there is a need for protecting motor vehicles, such as tankers, from damage in case of an overturning condition.
The above-mentioned needs are addressed by the invention which, in one aspect, is a shock absorbing apparatus which can be applied to an outside of a vehicle wherein the apparatus will expand or enlarge in volume upon initial overturning of the vehicle such that the apparatus deploys shock absorbing elements between the road and the overturning vehicle such that damage to the vehicle and/or the road is reduced The safety apparatus also reduces the risks of materials contained within the tanker from escaping the same. According to one aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes inflatable flexible containers applied to relevant sides of the vehicle and a control system which will measure and react to an overturning of the vehicle and activate an inflation system for inflating the containers.
In other aspects, the safety arrangement includes a control system provided with sensors which continuously indicate pressures upon the wheels of the vehicle and the position of the wheel shafts of the vehicle with respect to the road surface, In the event of a lack of a predefined wheel pressure with respect to the road caused by, e.g., loss of contact with one or more of the wheels with the road and or a detection of an excessive degree of vehicle tilt, the start of an overturn condition is registered by the system and inflation of the relevant containers is initiated on the overturning, downward side of the vehicle. Impact between the vehicle and the road is absorbed by the inflated containers so as to reduce damage to the vehicle, possibly other adjacent vehicles, and the road as well as protecting the surrounding environment from deleterious effects which could be caused by rupture of the tanker. In another aspect, the amount of wheel pressure and/or the relative position of the wheel shafts of the vehicle with respect to the road will determine activation of the inflation system for the relevant containers. This aspect of the invention inhibits unnecessary inflation of the relevant containers in the event of a short interruption of contact between one or more wheels and the road without other indication of an incipient overturn of the vehicle.
The inflatable containers can be filled with a gas which is normally maintained either as a solid or liquid or as a gas stored at high pressure which is released into the container to inflate the same. In certain aspects, the gas may be a fire inhibiting gas, such as a halogen gas, and/or a reactive material acting to reduce undesirable chemical effects of a spilled or leaked material within the vehicle.
Another aspect of the invention is that the safety apparatus is configured as substantially flat and elongate elements extending lengthwise along the sides of the vehicle, and, in certain aspects thereof, may substantially follow the contour of the vehicle such that the aerodynamic resistance of the vehicle provided with the safety apparatus is affected to a reduced extent However, as previously mentioned the safety apparatus includes inflatable containers which would extend outwards from the sides of the vehicle to provide protection in case of an overturn condition. An additional advantageous aspect of the invention is that placement of the safety apparatus along the sides of the vehicle provides an insulative layer to the vehicle which may include tanks.
Yet another aspect of the invention is that the inflatable containers may be made of a durable material, such as a synthetic material, provided with abrasion resistant ridge protrusions such that the material of the contains provides an increased coefficient of friction with the road. This aspect of the invention provides the advantage that an overturned vehicle in sliding motion with the road will benefit from the increased coefficient of friction of the inflatable containers and thus the sliding momentum of the vehicle will be arrested in a reduced distance thereby reducing opportunities for collisions with other vehicles or obstacles.
These and further objects and advantages of the invention will be explained in greater detail in the detailed description as follows with reference being made to the drawings.

Arrangement for a vehicle or part of a vehicle


A collapsible stroller includes a stroller frame moveable between a deployed position and a collapsed position and a latch mechanism. The stroller frame includes a first leg, a second leg and a handle support member. The handle support member is pivotable with respect to the first leg or the second leg. The latch mechanism includes a latch body and a catch. The latch body is positioned internally of the second leg. When the stroller is in the deployed position, the latch body is blocked from view by the second leg when the stroller frame is viewed in a side elevation view. The catch is provided on or connected with the first leg or the handle support member. The latch body cooperates with the catch to selectively connect the latch body with the catch when the stroller is in the collapsed position.

The present disclosure is generally related to collapsible strollers. Many strollers collapse, i.e., move between a deployed position and a collapsed position, by folding about a hinge mechanism connecting a handle of the stroller to a leg of the stroller.
Strollers that move between a deployed position and a collapsed position often include some sort of latch mechanism to maintain the stroller in the collapsed position. The latch mechanism often connects a leg of the stroller frame to a handle support. These latch mechanisms are often very noticeable when the stroller is in the deployed position, which can be unattractive


A reduced pin count connection system for an insertable operational systems card having a plurality of input and output signals to a host device having operational circuits responsive to the input and output signals of the card includes a master serial data link in the card for communicating at least a portion of the plurality of input and output signals of the card. A slave serial data link is operably interconnected to the master serial data link through a connector having a second plurality contacts less than the plurality of input and output signals and communicates the input and output signals to the operational circuits in the host device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of internal device interconnection and more particularly to the use of a serial data link for connection of a miniaturized form factor communications card to a mobile information device for reducing the pin count in the connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
Connection of removable elements in an electronic device such mobile information devices is typically accomplished using multiple connection blade, pin, ball or multipad elastomeric connectors. For elements which will regularly be inserted and removed from the mobile information device, particularly by end users, the greater the number of inputs connected through the connector the higher the likelihood of failure of the connector due to breakage or contamination. For devices such as a wireless communications system as disclosed for a miniaturized form factor card in copending application Ser. No. 11/308,221 filed on Mar. 13, 2006 entitled MINIATURIZED FORM FACTOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS CARD FOR GENERIC MOBILE INFORMATION DEVICES a large number of communication and system interface functions must be accommodated and a typical embodiment employs either a 70 or a 49 pin connector depending on the level of integration in the miniaturized form factor card. A reduction in pin count of the connector would simplify the connector itself and reduce cost while simultaneously reducing the potential for damage to the connector elements on the card or in the mobile information device.
It is therefore desirable to provide a system with reduced pin count connection for a card insertable in a mobile information device to reduce the potential for damage.
It is also desirable to provide a system with reduced pin count connection for a card insertable in a mobile information device to reduce connector complexity and cost.
It is further desirable to increase the functionality of an insertable card without requiring additional pin count for the added functions.

Method and apparatus for reducing pin count for connection of a miniaturized form factor card in a mobile information device


Contrast preparation based on Modified Driven Equilibrium Fourier Transfer generates T1 weighted images for assessment of the myocardial perfusion with contrast agent first-pass kinetics. The preparation scheme produces T1 contrast with insensitivity to arrhythmias in prospectively triggered sequential imaging thereby eliminating one of the major sources of problems in potential patient studies with previously employed contrast preparations schemes.

Various magnetic resonance imaging techniques in conjunction with administration of exogenous contrast agent (CA) bolus (e.g., see references 1-8 below) have been employed in assessment of myocardial perfusion. One such magnetic resonance imaging technique is a prospectively triggered, fast, repetitive imaging with Inversion Recovery prepared Ultra fast Gradient Recalled Echo (IR-uGRE) sequences. Such an application, however, is sensitive to cardiac arrhythmias which are common, especially when cardiac disorders are present. T1-weighted images are used to monitor the contrast agent. During consecutive T1-weighted image acquisition to monitor the first-pass through of the contrast agent through the myocardium, the magnetization sampled by the IR-uGRE sequence depends upon the extent of T1 relaxation which occurs following acquisition of the image data in the previous cardiac cycle. For a constant heart rate, the extent of T1 relaxation between images is constant. During arrhythmia, however, the change in R--R interval allows a different amount of T1 relaxation to occur between images. As a consequence, the signal intensity and contrast detected as a function of time is modulated by sources other than the passage of the CA. In other words, an arrhythmia of the heart is a source other than the passage of the CA that modulates the amount of T1 relaxation. Since a relatively good time resolution is desired, especially with perfusion imaging where the brief passage of the CA through the myocardium is monitored, the problem encountered by the arrhythmias cannot be solved by retrospective gating without loss of information.
Prospectively triggered, magnetization prepared fast imaging sequences (e.g. Ultra fast gradient recalled echo, EPI, Spiral etc.) are increasingly employed for cardiac imaging. When magnetization preparation has to be repeated rapidly in consecutive acquisitions as encountered in anatomical imaging of the heart acquired with k-space segmentation or in assessment of myocardial perfusion in conjunction with administration of exogenous contrast agent (CA) bolus, the image signal intensity becomes sensitive to cardiac arrhythmias which are common especially when cardiac disorders are present. During prospectively triggered consecutive data acquisitions, the magnetization sampled depends upon the extent of T1 relaxation which occurs following acquisition of the previous imaging data. This is independent of whether the contrast is based on T1, T2 or T2*. For a constant heart rate, the extent of T1 relaxation between images is constant. During arrhythmia, however, the change in R--R interval allows a different amount of T1 relaxation to occur between images. Consequently, the signal intensity and contrast detected as a function of time is modulated.
Therefore, there is a need for a magnetic resonance imaging process for use on myocardial regions of interest in which T1 relaxation is not affected by arrhythmias of the heart. There is also a need for a process which is not dependent on former readings from the heart. Yet another need is a process for producing myocardial perfusion images which are not affected by arrhythmias of the heart. If such a process were available the images signal intensity and contrast detected would not be modulated. The result would be more accurate and consistent magnetic resonance images that could be used to provide for a more accurate representation of the perfusion of the heart under study with MRI.

Fast MRI for assessment of myocardial perfusion with arrythmia insensitive magnetization preparation


A particulate filter (41) which traps particulate matter in the exhaust gas of a diesel engine (1), regenerates when a controller (31) performs an exhaust gas increase operation which includes decreasing the opening of an intake throttle (42). The controller (31), during regeneration of the filter (41), determines whether or not the required load of the diesel engine (1) is increasing from an accelerator pedal depression sensor (32) or a fuel injection amount (S3), and prevents output decrease of the diesel engine (1) by interrupting the exhaust gas temperature increase operation when the required load is increasing (S5).

Regarding the diesel particulate filter (hereafter, DPF) which traps particulate matter contained in the exhaust gas of a vehicle diesel engine, JP2002-155726A published by the Japan Patent Office in 2002 discloses a regeneration method which eliminates the particulate matter which has built up on the DPF by combustion control of the air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine.
Specifically, when the engine is required to produce an acceleration, the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture supplied to the engine is enriched by throttling the intake throttle, and the temperature of the DPF is increased to burn the particulate matter deposited on the DPF by increasing the combustion temperature of the air-fuel mixture.

Regeneration of diesel particulate filter


The invention discloses a method for monolithic integration of active devices within passive semiconductor waveguides and the application of this method for use in InP-based planar wavelength division multiplexing components of optical communication systems. The epitaxial device is grown in a single run and comprises a number of layers, such that the lower part of the structure acts as a single mode passive waveguide while the upper part of the structure contains a planar PIN diode. The PIN structure is present only in the active waveguide portion and absent in all the passive waveguide portions. The active and passive waveguide portions have substantially similar guiding properties with the exception of a mode tail above a top surface of the passive waveguide portion within the active waveguide portion. As a result, an optical signal portion penetrates the I-layer of the PIN structure and interacts with semiconductor material therein for actively affecting an intensity of the optical signal with no substantial changes in guiding properties of the semiconductor waveguide. Embodiments of invention in the form of monolithically integrated waveguide photodetector, electro-absorptive attenuator and semiconductor optical amplifier are disclosed in terms of detailed epitaxial structure, layout and performance characteristics of the device.

In many WDM components of optical communication systems, such as optical power (channel) monitors or dynamic gain (channel) equalizers, the incoming multi-wavelength signal is first spectrally dispersed, then detected and/or processed on a per wavelength basis, and, optionally, multiplexed back into the multi-wavelength outgoing signal. A common method of achieving the required functionality typically relies on hybrid integration of discrete passive devices, such as optical spectral analyzer, and active devices, such as photodetectors,; attenuators, or amplifiers. Examples of this approach are found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,075 by Ishii, issued 4 Dec. 2001 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,945 by Roberts, issued 31 Jul. 2001. While simple engineering solutions resulting in hybrid components are functionally attractive for some applications, they may be prohibitively cumbersome and costly for others. The search for more compact and cost efficient solutions has naturally resulted the development of integrated planar waveguide components, e.g. those reported by C. Cremer et al, in "Grating Spectrograph Integrated with Photodiode Array in InGaAsP/InGaAs/InP", IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett, Vol. 4, P. 108, 1992; by J. B. Soole et al, in "Integrated Grating Demultiplexer and pin array for High-Density Wavelength Division Multiplexed Detection at 1.55 μm", Electron. Lett., Vol. 29, P. 558, 1993; by M. R. Amersfoort et al, in "Low-Loss Phased Array Based 4-channel Wavelength Demultiplexer Integrated with Photodetectors", IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett, Vol. 6, P. 162, 1994; by M. Zirngibl et al, in "WDM Receiver by Monolithic Integration of an Optical Preamplifier, Waveguide Grating Router and Photodetector Array", Electron. Lett., Vol. 31, P. 581, 1995; by C. R. Doerr et al, in "Dynamic Wavelength Equalizer in Silica Using the Single-Filtered-Arm Interferometer", IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett., Vol. 11, P. 581, 1999; by P. M. J. Schiffer et al, in "Smart Dynamic Wavelength Equalizer with On-Chip Spectrum Analyzer", IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett., Vol. 12, P. 1019, 2000. In these components, the optical spectral analyzer most commonly used is either an echelle waveguide grating or an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) and the active devices are integrated within the passive ridge waveguides, physically separating the individual wavelength channels. As a result, a compact and inexpensive integrated component for use in WDM systems is produced, provided a method for monolithic integration of active and passive waveguides is found that is feasible given existing production techniques as well as being cost efficient.
It is not at all trivial to combine passive waveguides used in optical spectral analyzers with active waveguide devices, such as WPDs, EAAs or SOAs, within the same semiconductor structure. This is because the passive and active semiconductor optical components typically have different bandgaps relative to their operating photon energy. One having skill in the art of designing active waveguide devices will be aware that the operating photon energy should be above the bandgap in a photodetector, close to the bandgap in an amplifier and well below the bandgap in a passive waveguide. Various methods for monolithic integration of active and passive semiconductor waveguides, which resolve this fundamental problem have been proposed, most of them involving one or both of the following major techniques: butt-coupling and evanescent-field coupling, as described in a review paper by R. J. Deri, "Monolithic Integration of Optical Waveguide Circuitry with III–V Photodetectors for Advanced Lightwave Receivers", IEEE J. Lightwave Technol., Vol. 11, P. 1296, 1993. The former is straightforward but expensive and unreliable due to its difficulty in implementation, since it requires complex epitaxial growth techniques such as etch and re-growth, e.g. reported by S. Lourdudoss et al, in "Uniqueness of Hydride Vapour Phase Epitaxy in Optoelectronic Device Fabrocation", Int. Conf. Indium Phosphide and Related Materials, May 11–15 May 1998, Tsukuba, Japan, P. 785, or selective area growth, e.g. reported by D. Jahan et al, "Photonic Integration Technology without Semiconductor Etching" Int. Conf. Indium Phosphide and Related Materials, 16–20 May 1999, Davos, Switzerland, P. 28. The latter uses simple single-step epitaxial growth, but has problems with coupling efficiency between passive and active waveguides, when the active waveguide is grown on top of the passive one. In attempts to achieve good and wavelength-independent coupling efficiency for two vertically integrated waveguides, various sophisticated techniques have been proposed, e.g. such as those disclosed by B. Mersali et al, in "Optical-Mode Transformer: A III–V Circuit Integration Enabler", IEEE J. Selected Topics in Quantum Electron., Vol. 3, P. 1321, 1997; by P. V. Studenkov et al, "Efficient Coupling in Integrated Twin-Waveguide Lasers Using Waveguide Tapers", IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett., Vol. 11, P. 1096, 1999; or by S. S. Saini et al, "Passive-Active Resonant Coupler (PARC) Platform with Mode Expander", IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett., Vol. 12, P. 1025, 2000. However, none of them are both simple to implement and cost efficient at present and hence these approaches also do not solve the problem of developing reliable and inexpensive integrated devices for sale and distribution in the very near term.

Vertical integration of active devices within passive semiconductor waveguides


A multi-stage automatic transmission comprises a drive input shaft (AN), a drive output shaft (AB), three planetary gearwheel assemblies (RS1, RS2, RS3) arranged next to one another in series and five shift control elements (A to E). A sun gearwheel (SO3) of the third planetary gearwheel assembly (RS3) can be fixed relative to a transmission housing (GG) by the first shift control element (A). The drive input shaft (AN) is connected to a sun gearwheel (SO2) of the second planetary gearwheel assembly (RS2) and can be connected via the second shift control element (B) to a sun gearwheel (SO1) of the first planetary gearwheel assembly (RS1) and/or via the fifth shift control element (E) to a web (ST1) of the first planetary gearwheel assembly (RS1).

Various automatic transmissions with several gears that can be engaged without range-change are known. For example, DE 199 12 480 A1 describes an automatic transmission of this type with three single-web planetary gearwheel assemblies and three brakes and two clutches for the engagement of six forward gears and one reverse gear, which is characterized by transmission ratios which are very appropriate for motor vehicles, with a high overall spread and suitable gear progressions and a high starting ratio in the forward direction. The individual gears are engaged by the selective closing in each case of two of the six shift control elements, so that to shift from one gear to the next gear up or down, in each case only one of the shift control elements currently actuated is opened and another shift control element is closed.
In this case a drive input shaft of the automatic transmission is permanently connected with a sun gearwheel of the second planetary gearwheel assembly. Furthermore, the drive input shaft can be connected via the first clutch to a sun gearwheel of the first planetary gearwheel assembly and/or via the second clutch to a web of the first planetary gearwheel assembly. In addition or alternatively, the sun wheel of the first planetary gearwheel assembly can be connected via the first brake to a housing of the automatic transmission and/or the web of the first planetary gearwheel assembly via the second brake to the housing and/or a sun gearwheel of the third planetary gearwheel assembly via the third brake to the housing.
For the kinematic clutch of the individual planetary gearwheel assemblies to one another, DE 199 12 480 A1 discloses two different versions. In the first version it is provided that a drive output shaft of the automatic transmission is permanently connected with a web of the third planetary gearwheel assembly and an annular gearwheel of the first planetary gearwheel assembly, and that the web of the first planetary gearwheel assembly is permanently connected with an annular gearwheel of the second planetary gearwheel assembly and a web of the second planetary gearwheel assembly is permanently connected with an annular gearwheel of the third planetary gearwheel assembly. The drive input and output shafts in this case can either be arranged coaxially with one another on opposite sides of the transmission housing, or axis-parallel to one another on the same side thereof. In the second version it is provided that the drive output shaft is connected permanently with the web of the second planetary gearwheel assembly and the annular gearwheel of the first planetary gearwheel assembly, the web of the first planetary gearwheel assembly is connected permanently with the annular gearwheel of the third planetary gearwheel assembly and the annular gearwheel of the second planetary gearwheel assembly is connected permanently with the web of the third planetary gearwheel assembly. Such a structure is particularly suitable for a coaxial arrangement of the drive input and output shafts.
In relation to the spatial arrangement of the planetary gearwheel assemblies, DE 199 12 480 A1 proposes to arrange the three planetary gearwheel assemblies coaxially in series next to one another, with the second planetary gearwheel assembly axially between the first and third planetary gearwheel assemblies. As regards the spatial arrangement of the individual shift control elements relative to one another and relative to the planetary gearwheel assemblies, DE 199 12 480 A1 proposes always to arrange the first and second brakes next to one another, such that the second brake is always directly axially adjacent to the first planetary gearwheel assembly, and the third brake always on the side of the third planetary gearwheel assembly facing away from the first planetary gearwheel assembly, and the two clutches are always directly next to one another. In a first arrangement variant both clutches are arranged on the side of the first planetary gearwheel assembly facing away from the third planetary gearwheel assembly, with the first clutch directly axially adjacent to the first brake and closer to the first planetary gearwheel assembly than the second clutch. In combination with a non-coaxial position of the drive input and output shafts, in a second arrangement variant it is proposed that both clutches are arranged on the side of the third planetary gearwheel assembly facing away from the first planetary gearwheel assembly, with the second clutch closer to the third planetary gearwheel assembly than the first clutch and axially adjacent to a drive output spur gearwheel which is in active connection with the output shaft, this in turn being arranged on the side of the third brake facing away from the third planetary gearwheel assembly.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide component arrangements alternative to those of the automatic transmission known from the prior art of DE 199 12 480 A1, with the most compact possible transmission structure. Preferably, the automatic transmission should be able to be used in a motor vehicle with drive input and output shafts not arranged coaxially with one another, but, with comparatively simple modifications, possibly also when the input and output shafts are coaxial.
According to the invention this objective is achieved by a multi-stage automatic transmission having the characteristics of claim 1. Advantageous features and further developments of the invention emerge from the subordinate claims.

Multi-stage automatic transmission with three planetary gearwheel assemblies


A process for cleaning a transport belt of a machine to manufacture a material web, in particular a paper or cardboard web, is provided so that the transport belt is cleaned with varying intensity across its width.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for cleaning a transport belt of a machine to manufacture a material web, in particular a paper or cardboard web, and a device for cleaning a transport belt of a machine to manufacture a material web.
2. Discussion of Background Information
Numerous transport belts, in particular fiber web belts, are used in machines to manufacture a material web. These belts are contaminated during the operation of the machine, for example by the fibers of the material web, adhesives, or other aggregates that clog the pores of the mesh and pores of the transport belt. The transport belts are cleaned with the aid of a cleaning device in order to ensure an uninterrupted production sequence. Cleaning devices are known that consist of a nozzle that can be actuated using a pressurized cleaning material. The nozzle is able to be placed perpendicular to the run direction of the transport belt and applies the cleaning material evenly to the transport belt surface. Furthermore, cleaning devices are known that consist of a nozzle cross-rail, running perpendicular to the run direction of the transport belt, on which several nozzles are mounted, so that a cleaning material can be applied to the transport belt. It has been demonstrated that the transport belts, viewed perpendicular to the run direction, are highly contaminated in an uneven manner, i.e. the transport belt can, for example, be contaminated to a particularly high degree along the edge sections, while only slight contamination occurs in the center of the transport belt. The even cleaning effect of the known cleaning devices can not achieve satisfactory cleaning results in such cases, leading to interruptions of the production sequence and, in particular, to sacrifices in the quality of the product.
It is therefore the task of the invention to create a process and a device that does not exhibit the foregoing disadvantages.


A filter for electric signals has a substrate, a vibrating body capable of vibrating with at least two antipodes deflected in phase opposition relative to the substrate and has electrodes connected to a signal input and a signal output for electric excitation and for detection of the vibration of the vibrating body. The electrodes for detecting the vibration, each assigned to antipodes deflected in phase opposition, are connected to two separate terminals of the signal output.

The present invention relates to a filter for electric signals, having a substrate, a body that vibrates relative to the substrate, and electrodes connected to a signal input and/or output for electric excitation and/or detection of vibration of the body.
The filter effect of the mechanical transmission response of a weekly attenuated vibrating structure has long been known. Mainly surface wave filters are used today in electronic communications processing. This type of filter is usually made of a piezoelectric material at whose surface are mounted electrodes that intermesh like combs, producing at the surface electric fields with polarities that alternate in the longitudinal direction of the comb structures. These fields induce a piezoelectric deformation of the material, which thus induces surface waves at a suitable frequency of a voltage applied between the electrodes. Since these filters use a piezoelectric substrate material, they are not suitable for monolithic integration into semiconductor structures.
Therefore, work has already been underway for several years on micromechanical structures that can be produced from a semiconductor material and, when operated as resonators, have an electromechanical filter response. Such a filter is described, for example, by Kun Wang, Yinglei Yu, Ark-Chew Wong and Clark T. C. Nguyen, xe2x80x9cFree-Free Beam High-Q Micromechanical Resonators.xe2x80x9d
One problem with these known micromechanical resonators is the parasitic overcoupling, i.e., signal paths created by parasitic capacitance between the signal input and output of the resonator, through which the input signal crosses over directly to the filter output and is thus overlaid on the filter response, sometimes massively.
To counteract this problem, filters with a compensating capacitance or differential capacitor arrangements with downstream formation of the difference have been developed. The effect of these arrangements is based on the fact that a signal with a 180xc2x0 phase shift is passed through a capacitance similar to the parasitic capacitance to thereby obtain a signal simulating the parasitic signal but with the opposite polarity; this signal can then be superimposed additively on the filter output signal to eliminate the effect of the parasitic capacitance. For example, a dummy resonator structure can be constructed for this purpose to simulate the electric response of the resonator except for the resonance.
In the case of a differential capacitor arrangement, an electrode is mounted above and below the vibrating body, for example. When the body swings upward, the distance from the upper electrode becomes smaller and thus the capacitance between the upper electrode and the vibrating body becomes greater, while at the same time the capacitance between the lower electrode and the body becomes smaller. With a suitable design, the parasitic capacitances for both electrodes will be the same. By forming the difference between the signals from the upper and lower electrodes, the influence of parasitic capacitance can be largely eliminated.
Neither approach for eliminating the problem of parasitic capacitance is completely satisfactory. When using compensating capacitances, for example, knowledge of the exact parasitic capacitance and its frequency response allows construction of a suitable dummy resonator. This involves extremely complicated development work, and a dummy resonator structure developed for a given resonator structure cannot readily be applied to a newly designed resonator.
Using the differential capacitance requires that electrodes be mounted in different planes above and below the vibrating body. Such a design is simpler to develop, but the need for electrodes arranged at different levels makes production of such a resonator more complicated and expensive.
The filter according to the present invention for electric signals has the advantage of being insensitive to parasitic capacitances, requiring little development effort and being inexpensive to manufacture in comparison with the known technology.
The idea on which the present invention is based is that the electrodes for detecting the vibration which are assigned to antipodes that are deflected in phase opposition are connected to two separate terminals of the signal output. This makes it possible to mount each electrode on the substrate on one side of the vibrating body while nevertheless varying the capacitance between the electrodes and the vibrating body in phase opposition.
Vibration of the movable body in question here is antisymmetrical, i.e., changing polarity as the body moves to either side of an axis of symmetry, and the electrodes are arranged symmetrically with respect to this plane of symmetry of vibration. This guarantees that the amplitude of motion of the vibrating body will be the same in the area of the electrodes.
In the simplest case, which is the preferred case, the vibration is the first harmonic of the fundamental mode of the bending vibration of the body.
According to a preferred further embodiment of the filter, a control electrode is mounted in allocation to an area between two antipodes of the vibration, and a control potential can be applied to this control electrode for tuning the resonant frequency of the body. With the help of such an electrode, the resonant frequency of the filter, which would otherwise be predetermined in a fixed manner by the manufacturer, can be adapted to prevailing needs. With the help of such a control electrode, the resonant frequency of the vibrating body can be manipulated even after manufacturing the filter; for example, a filter installed in a circuit can be fine tuned with the help of a potential applied to the control electrode.
Because of the higher symmetry in excitation and detection of the vibration, it is preferable to have an electrode connected to the signal input arranged in the area of one antipode of the vibrating body to excite the vibration and an electrode connected to the terminal of the signal output to detect the vibration.
As an alternative, one electrode may be arranged in the area of each antipode, connectable by time division multiplexing to a terminal of the signal input for exciting the vibration and to a terminal of the signal output for detecting the vibration. This design results in a highly effective capacitive decoupling of the chronological separation of excitation and detection of the vibration.
In one embodiment of the filter which is preferred because of its simplicity, the movable body includes at least one bar fixedly connected to the substrate at its longitudinal ends.
As an alternative, the vibrating body may have at least one bar connected to the substrate by arms acting on nodes of vibration.
Especially good decoupling of input and output signals can also be achieved by providing the electrodes for excitation on one of these partial bodies and the electrodes for detecting the vibration on the other partial body. The resulting spatial separation of excitation and detection electrodes effectively limits capacitive signal overcoupling from the excitation electrode to the detection electrode.
The two partial bodies are preferably mechanically connected by an arm arranged in the area of one node of vibration. This connection offers an important advantage. It acts on the partial body at the center between the excitation electrodes, i.e., exactly at the point where the voltage drop is compensated by material-induced ohmic resistance in the partial body and also where electrostatic leakage fields are mutually minimized, thus also minimizing a charge flow which might be induced between the partial bodies due to the excitation, so that maximum suppression of the overcoupling from the excitation electrodes to the detection electrodes by way of the vibrating body is achieved.
The coupling between the two partial bodies is preferably not rigid, but instead the two are loosely connected. Thus with the help of a control electrode which can receive a control potential and is mounted on each partial body in an area between two antipodes of the vibration, it is possible to tune the resonant frequencies of the partial bodies independently within certain limits. This results in an increase in resonant width of the entire filter. In other words, not only the position but also the width of the feed-through window of the filter can be influenced by the applied control voltage. This effect can also be additionally utilized to compensate for temperature-induced attenuation properties of the vibratory motion which affect filter quality.
Since the filter according to the present invention may be made of a semiconductor material, circuits for pre- and/or postprocessing of the signal to be filtered can be integrated into the same substrate in an expedient manner.


A method for detecting scene cuts and similar pictures in a video sequence, including receiving pictures in a video sequence, extracting a set of features from two temporally consecutive pictures, computing a sum of square errors for the set of features with respect to the features of the previous picture, determining whether the error exceeds a predefined threshold and in response to the error exceeding the predefined threshold, detecting a scene change, and determining whether the error is less than a certain threshold thus detecting a similar picture has been found.

Implementations of the claimed invention generally may relate to video processing and, more particularly, to detecting scene cuts.
In certain applications, video coding and processing takes advantage of similarity from one picture (frame or field) to the next in a video sequence (scene, or shot). For example, most objects remain the same, and small differences are due to motion. However, video coding and processing algorithms may break or degrade in the presence of scene changes or cuts. For example, in video coding, a new group of pictures (some of which are predicted from prior ones within the group) must be started if a scene changes. Video processing involving motion detection may not work if there is a fast, drastic change of scene and image content. A detection mechanism whose output may be used as a control signal for such algorithms is desirable.

Method and algorithm for detection of scene cuts or similar images in video images


A faceplate having a set of skid steer receiver attachment points to permit an all-purpose agricultural tractor with a three-point hitch or front end loader to operably connect to off-the-shelf skid steer attachments so that the agricultural tractor can utilize off-the-shelf skid steer attachments with the faceplate containing a cylindrical housing to permit rotation of a tool mounted therein without removing the tool from the faceplate and one embodiment including a notched chain bar having notches extending generally normal to the hitch faceplate and a further embodiment including a universal tractor mount.

Skid steer machines are known and widely used for many tasks. The skid steer machines are compact and lack any steerable wheels. In contrast to machines that have steerable wheels the skid steer maneuvers by stopping or slowing the rotation of one set of side wheels while allowing the other set of side wheels to rotate. The skid steer machines are extremely popular for use in special operations. As a result, a number of different attachments have been created to allow the skid steer machine to perform different tasks. For example, in one application a bucket is attached to the front of the skid steer machine and in another application a blade and in still other applications forks can be attached to allow the skid steer machine to be used as a fork loader.
One of the disadvantages of the skid steer machines is that the skid steer machines are relatively expensive and the equipment used with the skid steer machines is specialized. Consequently, the use of skid steer machines and attachments to skid steer machines is limited to specific industries. Since some skid steer activities are of a one time usage there has developed a market for rental of attachments for skid steer loaders.
A common source of power on a farm is a tractor which has a rear three-point hitch for attachment of farm equipment thereto. Agricultural tractors are well known and can be used as a source of power for various agricultural equipment. The three-point hitch on the tractors are suitable for attaching farm equipment thereto. Unfortunately, the farm tractors are not suitable for use with skid steer attachments. From time to time an owner of an agricultural tractor may need to perform a specific task which could be performed with an available attachment for a skid steer loader. The present invention provides a three-point hitch faceplate that mounts to the three-point tractor mounts to enable an operator to engage and operate any of the skid steer attachments using the tractor as a source of power.


A supporting apparatus for supporting a drill in an elevated position, the drill including a drill chuck having an axis of rotation, the drill being supported by the supporting apparatus such that the axis of rotation of the drill chuck is orientated substantially vertically, the supporting apparatus including an elongated column, an actuating lever pivotally connected to the column at a pivot point and extending outward from the pivot point in two diametrically opposed directions to thereby form two lever arms, an attachment mechanism formed on a first of the two lever arms for attaching the first lever arm to a portion of the drill, a manual grip portion formed on a second of the two lever arms, a guide link pivotally connected to both the column and to the drill adjacent the drill chuck, the pivotal connection of the guide link to the column being disposed vertically above the pivot point pivotally connecting the actuating lever to the column, and an extended plate member connected to an upper portion of the column, the extended plate member extending at substantially a right angle to the axis of the column.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of supports for hand tools, particularly portable drills.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,442,905 relates to a portable jig assembly for supporting a power drill that includes a carriage mounted on a post and having a first tubular portion that surrounds the post and a second tubular portion that is positioned away from the post, the drill being attached to a rod that slides vertically within the second tubular portion, and the drill and rod being moved vertically by a lever and linkage mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,579 relates to a power drill attachment that forms a lever arrangement which provides a mechanical advantage in urging the bit of the drill into the workpiece.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,943 relates to an apparatus for supporting, guiding, and advancing a power drill into a workpiece, the apparatus including a support frame that clamps to the workpiece, a guide mechanism for guiding the advance of the drill, and a manual power screw for feeding the drill bit into the workpiece.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,234,977 relates to a power drilling device that has a generally rectangular box frame within which a drill carriage rides on rack and pinion gearing provided with respect to the sides of the rectangular frame.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,405,110 relates to an adjustable strut drill that includes a telescoping pole having a drill mounted on the top thereof and a mechanical lever arrangement for expanding the length of the telescoping pole.

Apparatus for supporting a drill in an elevated position


After completion of an arbitrary device process, an apparatus for micro-sample extraction extracts a part of a wafer as a micro-sample of a size equal to or larger than a repetition pattern with a probe and places the extracted micro-sample to a micro-sample storage, and the micro-sample storage is stored into an apparatus for micro-sample storage. The wafer is subjected to a post process and an observation desired position is determined in response to a failure analysis requirement. After that, the micro-sample is unloaded from the micro-sample storage by an apparatus for additional processing of the micro-sample and is placed onto an observation sample holder. By performing an additional process in the observation desired position, a failure analysis sample is prepared, and analysis information obtained by an apparatus for failure analysis is output.

The present invention relates to a failure analysis technique for analyzing a failure of an electronic device or the like.
In fabrication of electronic devices such as a semiconductor memory typified by a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a microprocessor, a semiconductor device such as a semiconductor laser, and a magnetic head, a high production yield is demanded.
Reduction in the product yield due to occurrence of a failure causes deterioration in profitability. Consequently, it is a big task to find a defect, a foreign matter, and poor processing as causes of a failure early and to take a countermeasure early. For example, at a manufacturing site of a semiconductor device, energies are put into early finding of a failure by a careful inspection and analysis of the cause of the failure. In a process of manufacturing actual electron devices using a wafer, a wafer in a process is inspected, the cause of an abnormal part such as a defect in a circuit pattern or a foreign matter is pursued, and a countermeasure is examined.
Usually, a high-resolution scanning electron microscope (hereinbelow, abbreviated as SEM) is used for observing a fine structure of a sample. As the packing density of a semiconductor increases, it is becoming impossible to observe an object with the resolution of the SEM, and a transmission electron microscope (hereinbelow, abbreviated as TEM) having a higher observation resolution is used in place of the SEM.
Preparation of a conventional sample for TEM accompanies a work of extracting a small piece from a sample substrate by cleavage, cutting, or the like. In the case where a sample substrate is a wafer, in most cases, the wafer has to be cut.
Recently, there is an example of using a processing method of irradiating a sample substrate with an ion beam and applying the action that particles constructing the sample substrate are discharged from the sample substrate by a sputtering action, that is, a focused ion beam (hereinbelow, abbreviated as FIB) process.
According to the method, first, a rectangular-shaped pellet having a thickness of sub-millimeters including an area to be observed is cut out from a sample substrate such as a wafer by using a dicer or the like. Subsequently, a part of the rectangular-shaped pellet is processed with an FIB into a thin film form, thereby obtaining a TEM sample. The feature of the FIB-processed sample for TEM observation is that a part of a sample piece is processed to a thin film having a thickness of about 100 nm so as to be observed by the TEM. Although the method enables a desired observation part to be positioned with precision of a micrometer level and observed, the wafer still has to be cut.
As described above, although the advantage of monitoring a result of a process during fabrication of a semiconductor device or the like is big from the viewpoint of yield management, a wafer is cut for preparing a sample and pieces of the wafer do not go to the following process but are discarded. Particularly, in recent years, the diameter of a wafer is increasing in order to lower the unit price of fabricating a semiconductor device. To be specific, the number of semiconductor devices which can be fabricated from one wafer is increased, thereby reducing the unit price. However, in other words, the price of a wafer increases and the number of semiconductor devices which are lost by discarding a wafer also increases. Therefore, the conventional inspection method including cutting of a wafer is very uneconomical.
Addressing the problem, there is a method capable of obtaining a sample without cutting a wafer. The method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 05-52721 (prior art 1).
According to the method, as shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(g), the posture of a specimen substrate 202 is kept so that the surface of the specimen substrate 202 is irradiated with an FIB 201 at the right angle, and a rectangular area in the surface of the specimen substrate 202 is scanned with the FIB 201, thereby forming a rectangular hole 207 having a required depth in the surface of the sample (FIG. 2(a)). After that, the specimen substrate 202 is tilted and a bottom hole 208 is formed. The tilt angle of the specimen substrate 202 is changed by a specimen stage (not shown) (FIG. 2(b)). The posture of the specimen substrate 202 is changed to set the specimen substrate 202 so that the surface of the specimen substrate 202 becomes perpendicular to the FIB 201 again, and a trench 209 is formed (FIG. 2(c)). A manipulator (not shown) is driven to make the tip of a probe 203 at the end of the manipulator come into contact with a part to be extracted from the specimen substrate 202 (FIG. 2(d)). Subsequently, while supplying a deposition gas 205 from a gas nozzle 210, an area including the tip portion of the probe 203 is locally irradiated with the FIB 201, thereby forming an ion beam gas assisted deposition film 204. The separation part in the specimen substrate 202 and the tip of the probe 203 which are in contact with each other are connected by the ion beam assisted deposition layer 204 (FIG. 2(e)). The remaining part is cut with the FIB 201 (FIG. 2(f)) and a micro-sample 206 as an extracted sample is cut out from the specimen substrate 202. The cut-out micro-sample 206 is supported by the probe 203 connected (FIG. 2(g)).
The micro sample 206 is processed with the FIB 201 and an area to be observed is thinned, thereby obtaining a TEM sample (not shown). By introducing the micro-sample separated by the method into any of various analyzers, analysis can be conducted.
The above method is an example of extracting a micro-sample by a sample preparing apparatus and there is also a method of processing the shape of a sectional sample thin film, taking a specimen substrate from the sample preparing apparatus, and a sectional sample thin film is extracted by another mechanism in atmosphere. For example, a method is disclosed in "Material Research Society, Symposium Proceedings", vol. 480, 1997, pp. 19 to 27 (prior art 2). Similarly, a method is disclosed in "Proceedings of the 22nd International Symposium for Testing and Failure Analysis, 18-22 Nov. 1996", pp. 199 to 205 (prior art 3).
As shown in FIG. 3(a), a section sample membrane 307 is formed while processing both sides of a target position on a wafer 308 in a stair shape with an FIB 301. Subsequently, by tilting a sample stage, the angle formed between the FIB 301 and the surface of the specimen is changed and the specimen substrate is irradiated with the FIB 301. As shown in FIG. 3(b), the peripheral portion of the sample membrane 307 is cut away by using the FIB 301 and the sample membrane 307 is separated from the wafer 308. The wafer 308 is taken out from an FIB apparatus, a glass stick is allowed to approach the process portion in the atmosphere, by using static electricity, the sample membrane 307 is absorbed by the glass stick and taken out from the wafer. The glass stick is moved to a mesh 309 and is either adsorbed by the mesh 309 by static electricity or disposed so that a surface to be processed faces a transparent adhesion member. In such a manner, without taking out the processed sample membrane in the system, even when most of the outer shape of the sample membrane is processed with an ion beam, by introducing the separated sample membrane into a TEM, analysis can be made.
A device manufacturing method in which a method similar to the prior art 1 for process management is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-156393 (prior art 4).
According to the method, process management is performed by a flow as shown in FIG. 4. A lot 401 is subjected to a process m1. After completion of the process m1, a predetermined number of wafers are selected as wafers 402 for inspection from the lot 401 and the other wafers 403 enter a standby mode. An area 404 for inspection in the selected wafer 402 for inspection is extracted as a micro-sample 405. The wafer 402 for inspection from which the micro-sample 405 is extracted is put together with the other wafers 403 again and the wafers as a lot 401A are subjected to the following process m2. The micro-sample 405 is processed so as to be used in one of analysis apparatus 406 and is transmitted to the analysis apparatus 406 where a target area in the micro-sample 405 is analyzed. A result of analysis is sent to a computer 407 and stored as a data base. The stored data base is transmitted as necessary via a communication path "h" to the process m1 or m2 and an instruction of a change in the process conditions or the like is given.
It is a big feature that a wafer is passed through paths a, b, c, and d from the process m1 to the process m2 and, during the paths, a micro sample for analysis is extracted. The number of sample substrates does not decrease for the inspection. The number of wafers in the lot 401 subjected to the process m1 and the number of wafers in the lot 401 subjected to the process m2 are the same. Consequently, there are no semiconductor devices which are lost due to cutting of the wafer. The total manufacture yield of semiconductor devices is increased and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
In a failure analysis, when a failure mode is found by another tester such as a probe tester or an EB tester, a process causing the failure is clarified. The main target of the failure analysis in the invention is not only a failure existing only in a specific position in a wafer but also a failure existing in an entire face of a wafer or in an area of a certain range due to a process as a basic cause.
When a desired area is determined after a failure is detected by a test and a sample of observation and analysis is prepared by using means as employed in the prior arts 1, 2, and 3 in a procedure for failure analysis, the following problems remain.
Even if an abnormal part can be found in the observation sample prepared after device formation, there is a case that the process as a cause cannot be found in some cases. An example of the case will be described by referring to FIGS. 5(a) to 5(d).
FIG. 5(a) shows a cross section of a device on which a wiring process has been completed. In this example, formation of a metal line by a dual damascene process is shown. A metal line 501 is formed in a hole area for a line opened in an insulator layer 502. At this time point, the metal line 501 is normally formed. In the following process of forming a cap layer 503, heat treatment of about 300 to 400° C. is performed. In some cases, as shown in FIG. 5(b), a defect area 504 is formed in a connection hole part in the metal line 501 due to the heat treatment. Even in the case where no failure occurs in FIG. 5(b), there is a case that the defect area 504 occurs due to heat treatment of 400 to 500° C. at the time of forming an insulator layer 505 shown in FIG. 5(c).
However, in the case where after completion of a final process, for example, breaking of wire or a high-resistance part is found by a probe test, an area to be observed is determined, a section is formed by a method as described in the prior arts 1 to 3, and a wiring process is examined, although the defect area 504 as shown in FIG. 5(d) is observed, it is very difficult to clarify a process as a direct cause of the defect. Consequently, it is very important to clarify the cause from information which does not exert an influence by a later process.
An area to be monitored is preliminarily determined in the prior art 4, so that it is very effective for a process monitor for processing the area into a thin film or cross section to be observed. However, in order to use the area for failure analysis, the following problems occur.
In the failure analysis, an area for observation and analysis cannot be preliminarily specified. Consequently, if a micro-sample is extracted after completion of each process or a plurality of processes, and preliminarily processed as a TEM sample or the like, in the case where an area to be observed is determined in a later inspection and the area is different from the position of the prepared TEM sample, the possibility that the desired area has disappeared already is high, and the desired area cannot be observed. In the case of failure analysis, not only the position but also the direction of a face which is desired to be observed are also important. For example, in the case of a DRAM, there can be directions of sections parallel to and perpendicular to a word line, a face parallel to the surface of a specimen, and the like. In consideration of combinations of the positions and directions, the possibility that the position of the prepared TEM specimen (or position of other cross sections for observation and analysis) coincides with the desired area of failure analysis is very low. Consequently, in the failure analysis, it is necessary to process the area for observation and analysis which is determined on the basis of failure data obtained after an inspection.

Method for failure analysis and system for failure analysis


A golf ball dispenser which attaches to the exterior surface of a golf bag that is upright, rectangular, and capable of holding a plurality of golf balls, is herein disclosed. The dispenser is made of a durable yet flexible plastic material. Stored balls are added through the top of the dispenser through an upper opening. The balls can either be inserted one (1) at a time or in “as-purchased” quantities. In use, to remove a golf ball, the lowest ball is forced upward through a flexible retaining tab, thus releasing the ball through a bottom aperture. The dispenser is attachable to a golf bag with a fastening means.

The game of golf has become one (1) of the most popular sports in the world. Golfers of all skill levels are constantly looking for ways to improve their games and make a day on the course more enjoyable and thus, golf accessory manufacturers are always looking for ways to satisfy this desire. One (1) of the most common and important golf accessories is the golf ball. During a regular game of golf, balls are easily lost or damaged and regularly need to be replaced.
For many casual golfers, a good day on the course is directly related to how many golf balls they loose or find. Additionally, many golfers prefer to use cheaper balls when teeing off, around water hazards, or for other shots where the likely hood of loosing the golf ball is increased; keeping the better golf balls for situations where precision and accuracy is of the utmost importance, such as chip shots and putting. This practice usually requires a golfer to fumble through a golf bag searching for the ball of choice or keeping multiple balls in their pockets during the game, which is inconvenient and uncomfortable.
A variety of attempts have been made to overcome these disadvantages and provide a means to contain and dispense a plurality of golf balls in a convenient and efficient manner. These attempts include various tubular golf ball holders where the golf balls are vertically stacked and dispensed one at a time from a golf ball holder housing during game play, practice, or the like when a ball needs to be replaced. The attempts typically encounter various disadvantages including: inconvenient and restrictive methods of mounting or carrying the holder, cumbersome mechanisms used to retain and dispense the balls, dispensing mechanisms that oppose the force being exerted by the stacking of balls within the holder often causing the dispensing means to malfunction, the inability to determine how many if any balls are actually stored within the holder, or multiple components that require a user to assembly the holder to manipulate parts when a golf ball is to be inserted or removed. Among the typical relevant attempts are several U.S. Patents.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,754,495, issued in the name of Anderson, describes a golf ball holder comprising an elongated hollow container suited to carry a plurality of golf balls, an open end, an open end closure cap, and a carrying strap.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,829,093, issued in the name of Hollins, describes a golf bag and attachment therefore comprising an elongated tubular pocket that is attachable to an inside portion of golf bag beside the club storage space that holds a column of golf balls.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,281,013, issued in the name of Motard, describes a golf ball dispenser comprising a hollow tubular magazine suitably sized to receive a golf ball that is open on both ends having a dispensing unit at one (1) of the open ends. The dispensing unit comprises two (2) offset arcuate gate members that positioned such that when the dispensing unit is engaged one (1) gate member leaves the lower end of the tubular magazine open thus dispensing the lower ball while the other gate member obstructs the path of the superjacent ball. When the dispensing unit is disengaged a spring returns it to the original position allowing the remaining balls within the magazine to be displaced into a lowered dispensing position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,209, issued in the name of Sanders, describes a golf ball holder comprising a cylindrical housing having an upper retaining chamber and lower dispensing chamber, a dispensing opening on the lower end of the housing suitably sized to allow a golf ball to pass through, and a retaining finger that prevents the golf balls from fully dropping into the dispensing chamber. Golf balls are laterally moved within the chamber to a lower and dispensing position when the retaining finger is depressed.
Additionally, ornamental designs for golf ball holders and dispensers exist, particularly, U.S. Pat. Nos. D 277,709; D 300,447; D 321,921; D 353,180 and D 362,037. However, none of these designs are similar to the present invention.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffers from one (1) or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. Accordingly, to satisfy the equipment needs of the golfing public, manufacturers are constantly looking for new and improved golf equipment designed to not only improve one's score but the enjoyment of the game as a whole. The development of the invention herein described substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need.


An apparatus and method for unloading a load support, particularly a tray, which can be loaded with at least one packing unit, particularly with a pallet layer of packing units, includes a roller array comprising a plurality of driven rollers, and having a size which corresponds substantially to a size of a loading area of the load support; and a lifting mechanism lifting the roller array or lowering the load support such that the rollers engage through holes within the loading area of the load support, in order to remove from the loading area a packing unit, preferably in a desired manner, by driving the rollers.

Hereinafter, the term "load support" is to be understood as a carrier dedicated to packing units such as pallets, containers, trays and the like. Load supports are used for generating load units and storage units, respectively. In this context, it is distinguished, in dependence on its function, between: load supports having a carrying function, such as pallets or workpiece carriers; load supports having carrying and enclosing functions, such as wire-mesh pallets or trays; as well as load supports having a carrying, enclosing, and closing function, such as a freight container.
For example, trays are employed in order to singularize packing units, which are stored in huge numbers on pallets within a high-bay warehouse, onto trays in a suitable manner, and these trays are then transported to a so-called tray warehouse, where they are provided on call for processing order-picking orders. In the international logistics, a packing unit, if a piece good is provided, is also called "Kollo" (plural "Kolli"; derived from the Italian "collo"). A packing unit is the smallest unit of a shipment of goods or an order-picking order. A package including twelve milk bags being welded to each other by a film exemplarily represents a packing unit.
In logistics, piece good designates everything which can be transported in one piece, such as boxes, loaded pallets, beverage boxes, nutrition batches, housewares, etc. Liquid loadings or gases which are pumped into, for example, a transporting vehicle without their own container are not piece goods. Sand, coal, corn and comparable solids are bulk cargo or soaking goods.
The present invention is applicable to piece goods.
The German patent application DE 103 13 576 A1 (which is the priority basis of EP 1 462 394 A2) discloses an order-picking system. In the order-picking systems pallets from a pallet warehouse are singularized automatically in a known manner by means of a depalletizing means by grabbing and soaking means into single packing units. Packing units singularized in this manner are subsequently stored in a tray warehouse which serves as buffer. These trays are generally formed flat and tray-like, and preferably have a surrounding rim. The trays have holes or openings in bottoms thereof which allow passage of a lifting device for lifting an article loaded on the tray. Lifting pins of the lifting device engage with the article through the openings in the tray from beneath, and lift the article in this manner out of the tray. Consequently, a rake takes the article and pushes the article onto a horizontal loading board. Then, the lift pins can be lowered again so that the emptied tray can be transported back into the tray warehouse.
In the prior art, such rakes are also designated pushers. A pusher allows movements by which articles are transported away. As soon as an article to be pushed or transported away has reached its predetermined position, a pusher, i.e. the rake, is actuated which pushes the article towards an unloading direction.
For pushing-off the article from a conveyer track so called rotating-arm sorters are known as well.
With the known rakes and pushers a problem arises in that a tray can always only be unloaded completely. Thus, for example, it is not possible to merely push single packing units or articles off the tray. Besides that, it is not possible to transport away only particular packing units from the tray, particularly if these particular packing units are surrounded by other packing units. For this reason, all packing units are typically placed on single trays individually, which in turn represents a high performance requirement for the warehouse system.
The German laid-open patent application DE 101 27 778 A1 shows a transporting device dedicated to circuit boards which are sometimes only 35 μm thick. In order to allow the circuit boards to be transported safely, the circuit boards are put into receiving containers which are similar to a tray. These trays comprise openings allowing rollers to engage therethrough, which in turn can be lifted and lowered. The circuit boards are either transported onto the trays or from the trays by means of the rollers. Each tray serves for receiving a circuit board. One roller can be driven. Several or all rollers can be driven.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,675,801 discloses an apparatus for conveying, handling, loading, and unloading of palletized materials.

Apparatus and method for unloading trays having a pallet layer loaded

SSI Schäfer Noell GmbH Lager- und Systemtechnik