In the case of teat rubbers consisting of a shaped tubular member, the outer side of which has formed thereon a holding rim for engaging the edge of a milking cup from above, it may very easily happen that the holding rim of the teat rubber breaks through when subjected to blows or knocks. The teat rubber will then be practically unfit for use. It is now suggested that a recess should be provided in such a teat rubber in the holding rim portion located opposite the milking cup edge portion facing outwards in the longitudinal direction, and that this recess has inserted therein a ring consisting of a material which is different from the material of the teat rubber.

It is nowadays an accepted fact that a soft, flexible and stretchable rubber material, which clings to the teat, is physiologically more suitable for the milking process than respective hard rubbers. Such soft rubber materials permit a gentler massage of the teat and they cause less constrictions at the teat base. Furthermore, such rubber materials are less irritating to the tissue because they adapt themselves better to the tissue. This will also have the effect that teat rubbers consisting of such a material can also be used more universally, since they adapt themselves better to the various shapes and sizes of the teats. Finally, such teat rubbers also fulfil a better support stocking function for the teat, since, in view of the fact that they are better adapted to the teat, they provide higher friction at the skin of the teat thus preventing an undesirable ascent of the teat rubber towards the teat base.
Although teat rubbers consisting of such a soft material show a particularly large number of advantages, they have hitherto been unable to gain acceptance in everyday practice due to serious other disadvantages. An essential reason for this is to be seen in the fact that the notch toughness as well as the resistance to tearing of the rubber material in question will decrease in proportion to an increase in the softness and adaptability of the teat rubber produced from such a rubber material. The main problem arising, when such soft rubber materials are used, is that these materials are very sensitive to blows, which may be caused quite frequently in the course of the normally rough milking procedure. A part which is especially endangered in this respect is the holding rim of the teat rubber, which engages the milking cup from above. This holding rim is not primarily endangered by kicks of the cow nor by blows hitting the head of the teat rubber in the longitudinal direction of the milking cup. The actual danger is caused by knocks or blows hitting the milking cup sideways from above. That such blows occur quite frequently is due to the structural design of the milking equipment, which is constructed such that the four heavy milking cups are attached to very flexible milk collecting hoses, which have a length of approx. 18 cm, and are suspended from a collecting unit. Every slightly faster movement of the collecting unit, which may occur when the milking equipment is being removed, or when it falls off, or during transport, may result in a correspondingly fast movement of the milking cup. However, due to the fact that the milking cup is guided by the flexible milk hose on the underside thereof, blows will occur in most cases, said blows hitting the upper side of the cup sideways from above, when there is some obstacle. As far as such obstacles are concerned a large number of them exists, such as gratings with sharp edges, the concrete floor, the milking stand edge or the milking frame. If a milking cup hits such an obstacle at the side, the head of the teat rubber will swerve to the side, whereas the holding rim engaging the milking cup from above will be subjected to the full blow. This will have the effect that the holding rim, which is pretensioned to a certain degree, will break through and that small, often unnoticed holes will be formed, the injury and the subsequent breaking through taking normally place from inside. In view of the fact that a pulsating vacuum exists in the space between the teat rubber and the milking cup during the milking process, it will frequently happen that wrong air will enter this pulsation space through the holes caused by said blows, and this will result in poor pulsation. Moreover, it will often happen that, during the milking cup cleaning process, water is additionally sucked into the pulsation space through the holes caused by the above-mentioned blows, and this will have the effect that the pulsation paths will partially be blocked during the subsequent milking process and that, on the whole, a pulsation malfunction will occur, which will finally entail very serious mastitis problems. However, the teat rubbers are, in practice, removed from the milking cups only at major intervals of time so that the problems arising due to the holes caused by the above-mentioned blows will often not be noticed for a very long time.
Numerous attempts have already been made to find possibilities of preventing a breaking through of the teat rubbers at the edges of the milking cup. One possibility would be the use of a harder rubber material on the whole. This would, however, mean that precisely the advantages provided by the use of a soft teat rubber material would have to be given up. Another possibility would be the provision of a teat rubber holding rim which is designed in the form of a thicker bead so as to reduce the probability of breaking through. However, this solution would show the disadvantage that the milking cup heads would become comparatively bulky, since, in particular in the case of cows with closely spaced teats, these heads must be positioned in a very closely spaced relationship, i.e. the diameter at the head should only be comparatively small. In the case of such a solution, additional difficulties would arise, if some types of automatic washing machines were used; in the case of such automatic washing machines, the milking cup head portions are inserted into washing reception means, which produce a sealing effect on the outer side thereof and which, consequently, have a standardized internal diameter. An additional disadvantage of such a bead would become evident in the production of such teat rubbers, since the cost of materials would be increased and, in particular, since a longer vulcanization period would be required, whereby the total expenses would be increased still further.
Moreover, it has already been attempted to design the holding rim of the teat rubber in such a way that, at the location where the edge of the milking cup is positioned, a recess is provided in the holding rim so that the holding rim extends in this area at a certain distance from the milking cup edge and contacts said milking cup only at the smooth outer surface thereof. The rubber of the holding rim can thus deflect to a certain degree prior to coming into contact with the edge of the milking cup.
Furthermore, EP-B1-0 043 264 already discloses attempts to protect the head of the teat rubber against breaking through by means of a special, hard outer cap. Such protective caps can either be attached to the metal cup sleeve or they are fixedly connected thereto. In addition to their bulkiness, any type of protective cap solution shows the disadvantage that dirt will accumulate between the flexible rubber and the cap and that, in practice, it will hardly be possible to remove said dirt. This will result not only in a hygienically untolerable situation--since the process in question is a food production process--but also in the development of fungi, which will grow under the cap on dirt and moisture and which will gradually penetrate the rubber and destroy it. Hence, all types of protective caps are of no use as far as the solution of the problem of breaking through is concerned.
Similar problems arise in the case of the milking cup known from U.S. Pat. No. 4 651 676, in the case of which the teat rubber is provided with a very low head whose outer lower end has formed thereon an annular lip, which engages the upper edge of the milking cup from above. For protecting the head of the teat rubber, a protective ring or a protective cup, which fully encloses the upper head of the teat rubber, is additionally formed on the milking cup, the upper edge of said protective ring or protective cup projecting additionally beyond the upper end of the teat head.
In accordance with another attempt, damping ribs were formed on the outer side of the holding rim in the longitudinal or also in the transverse direction of the teat rubber. In addition to the fact that the desired resistance to breaking through could not be achieved by means of this ribs either, additional hygienic problems arose, since the corners of such ribs are particularly difficult to clean and proved to be dust traps.
Normally, the teat rubber holding rims are formed such that they are tensioned upon being attached to the milking cup. This tension of the holding rim will, of course, increase the risk of breaking through or tearing of the teat rubber, when said teat rubber is subjected to blows. However, if the tension is reduced--and this would be a possibility of reducing the probability of breaking through--this will entail the essentially greater disadvantage that the teat rubber as a whole will no longer reliably adhere to the milking cup, and this may result in an ingress of water into the milking cup intermediate space during the cleaning process as well as in a rotary displacement of the teat rubber, i.e. in wringing out of the teat, during the milking process. The resultant risk of mastitis would exceed by far the advantage which could be achieved by the use of a soft rubber.
In the case of teat rubbers having a very low head height, it may also happen that the holding rim breaks through, if the milking cup hits an obstacle with the teat rubber head-first or if it hits said obstacle sideways from in front. The probability of breaking through of the holding rim could be reduced in these cases by using a high, long teat rubber head whose path of deflection would be longer and whose ability to deflect would be greater. However, these heads entail the disadvantage that the teat supporting effect is not so good and that in the case of short teats the suction pipe will perhaps only take hold of the tip of the teat. This will also have the effect that the milking cup may more easily fall off the teat.
An additional possibility of reducing the risk of breaking through of the holding rim could be seen in the measure of enlarging the diameter of the teat rubber head. Upon milking cows with closely spaced teats, this, however, would entail the same problems which are also entailed by the use of thicker beads for the holding rim. In such cases, it may especially happen that independent milking out of the individual teats would no longer be possible because the individual heads would influence and impede one another.
The present invention is based on the task of preventing the breaking through of the holding rim of teat rubbers and especially the breaking through of the holding rim of teat rubbers consisting of a soft material.
In accordance with the present invention, this task is solved by the features that a recess is provided in the holding rim portion located opposite the milking cup edge portion facing outwards in the longitudinal direction, and that a ring, which consists of a material different from the material of the teat rubber, is adapted to be inserted into said recess.
This will definitely prevent a breaking through behaviour of the holding rim.
A structural design which proved to be expedient is a design in the case of which the ring has, at its side facing the milking cup edge, a structural shape which is complementary to said milking cup edge. Although this will result in an optimum distribution of forces and in an optimum absorption of the impact effect, it still possible to provide an arrangement in the case of which the ring has a shape deviating from the shape of the edge of the milking cup and in the case of which said ring abuts on the edge of said milking cup only via an additional material or via an element consisting of the material of the teat rubber.
The advantages which can be achieved can be improved still further by providing the feature that, at its side facing away from the milking cup edge, the ring is provided with an area having, in comparison with the radius of curvature of said milking cup edge, a larger radius of curvature.
Independently of the shape of the ring, it will be particularly advantageous to choose for the ring a material, which is hard in comparison with the material of the teat rubber and which is slightly flexible.
A substantial increase in the resistance to breaking through can also be achieved, when the ring consists of a soft material having, in comparison with the notch toughness of the teat rubber material, a higher notch toughness.
In particular in cases in which the ring was formed into the holding rim, good results were achieved, when the ring consisted of spring steel, plastic material, hard rubber or textile material.
Plastic materials which proved to be particularly suitable for producing the ring are polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride.
The greatest improvements were achieved in cases in which a teat rubber consisting of silicone rubber was used. On the basis of this improvement, it is now finally possible to take into account an unlimited use of silicone rubber in practical everyday processes.


Apparatus for measuring wafer support pedestal temperature in a semiconductor wafer processing system. The apparatus measures infrared energy emitted by the bottom of the pedestal via a tube having one end inserted in a bore through the underside of the cathode pedestal base. The distal end of the tube is coupled to a temperature sensor. Both the tube and temperature sensor are fitted with insulating sleeve adapters to suppress unwanted RF signals from coupling to the sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to instrumentation used to measure operating conditions inside a semiconductor wafer processing chamber and, more specifically, to an apparatus for measuring pedestal temperatures by detecting infrared wavelength energy emissions from the pedestal.
2. Description of the Background Art
The materials and processes used to process a semiconductor wafer in a semiconductor wafer processing system are extremely temperature sensitive. Should these materials be exposed to excessive temperatures resulting from poor heat stabilization or transfer, yield or performance of the end product wafer may be compromised. Additionally, if process temperatures are not properly controlled, the boiling points of the metals and alloys used to create the desired circuit pathways on the wafer may be exceeded. As a result, the wafer and circuitry thereupon can be damaged. Since the pedestal is in intimate contact with the wafer and serves both as a heat sink and wafer support, measuring the temperature of the pedestal provides a good indication of the wafer temperature.
Most pedestals are cooled by conduction to a water cooled cathode base where a constant flow of water removes excess heat. Having established that the pedestal temperature is a good measure of the wafer temperature during processing, different means to measure the pedestal temperature have been used in the prior art. One method of determining pedestal temperature is to measure the temperature of the cooling water at the outlet of the cathode base. Unfortunately, this method is limited in that the temperature measured is neither an accurate nor timely measure of the pedestal temperature. The water temperature in the cathode base is measured after the heat has passed through several interfaces, conduits, and heat sinks. With unreliable, delayed data determining the proper feedback control system parameters, temperature stabilization is difficult using this technique to measure wafer temperature.
A second technique attempts to measure the pedestal temperature directly during wafer processing by placing thermocouple probes in contact with the pedestal. However, thermocouple probes placed in direct contact with the pedestal are unfortunately subjected to RF interference from a plasma used to process the wafer. As such, it is not possible to obtain an accurate temperature measurement by this approach either.
A third technique uses a temperature sensitive phosphor sensor. The sensor is mounted inside the chamber with a fiber optic cable attached to the sensor. The phosphor emits a fluorescent glow dependent upon the temperature of the phosphor. This "signal", is then transmitted by the fiber optic cable for monitoring purposes.
A fourth technique involves diffused reflectance spectroscopy. One wavelength of light reflected from the wafer surface is chosen for monitoring. A spectrometer measures the level of backscattering of the chosen wavelength (with specific energy and related temperature characteristics) to derive a wafer temperature. However, both the third and fourth techniques use extremely expensive equipment that is prone to damage in the harsh environments of a wafer processing chamber. As such, existing devices cannot provide an accurate and stable measurement of pedestal temperature that is necessary and desirable for processing semiconductor wafers.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for an apparatus that can provide an accurate, real-time measurement of pedestal temperature with a relatively simple and rugged design to withstand a processing chamber environment.

Apparatus for measuring pedestal temperature in a semiconductor wafer processing system


The invention is a light protective cosmetic or dermatological preparation, comprising    (a) PEG-30 dipolyhydroxystearate,    (b) 2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3-diphenylacrylate,    (c) at least one dibenzoylmethane derivative and    (d) at least 2% by weight of titanium dioxide particles, based on the total weight of the preparation,            and is free from water-soluble UV-A filter substances.

The harmful effect of the ultraviolet part of solar radiation on the skin is generally known. Depending on their particular wavelength, the rays have different effects on the skin as an organ:
The so-called UV-C radiation with a wavelength between 100 and 280 nm is absorbed by the ozone layer in the Earth's atmosphere and accordingly is not found in the solar spectrum. It is therefore of no physiological importance during sunbathing.
The so-called UV-B region is between 290 nm and 320 nm. UV-B rays are essentially responsible for the long-lasting tanning of the skin, but can at the same time cause an erythema, simple sunburn or even burns of greater or lesser severity. Chronic photodamage, photodermatoses and Herpes solaris can also be caused by UV-B radiation.
It has for a long time been incorrectly assumed that long-wave UV-A radiation with a wavelength between 320 nm and 400 nm only has a negligible biological effect and that, correspondingly, the UV-B rays are responsible for most photodamage to the human skin. However, in the meantime, numerous studies have demonstrated that UV-A radiation is much more hazardous than UV-B radiation with regard to the triggering of photodynamic, specifically phototoxic reactions and chronic changes in the skin. The harmful influence of UV-B radiation can also be further intensified by UV-A radiation.
Thus, it has, inter alia, been found that even UV-A radiation suffices under very normal everyday conditions to harm, within a short time, the collagen and elastin fibers which are of essential importance for the structure and strength of the skin. The consequences are chronic photo-induced changes in the skin—the skin "ages" prematurely. The clinical appearance of skin aged by light includes, for example, wrinkles and lines, and also an irregular, furrowed relief. In addition, the areas affected by photo-induced skin ageing can have irregular pigmentation. The formation of brown spots, keratoses and even carcinomas or malignant melanomas is also possible. Skin aged prematurely by everyday UV exposure is, moreover, characterized by lower activity of the Langerhans cells and slight, chronic inflammation.
Approximately 90% of the ultraviolet radiation which reaches the Earth consists of UV-A rays. While UV-B radiation varies widely depending on numerous factors (e.g. time of year and time of day or degree of latitude), UV-A radiation remains relatively constant day to day irrespective of the time of year and time of day or geographical factors. At the same time, the majority of UV-A radiation penetrates into the living epidermis, while approximately 70% of UV-B rays are retained by the horny layer.
The relatively recent findings concerning the effect of UV-A rays on the skin have led to increased attention now being devoted to protective measures for this ray range. In practice, no sunscreen product is complete any more without an effective UV-A filter effect, and pure UV-B filter preparations are rare.
When applying a sunscreen to the skin, the ultraviolet rays can be weakened through two effects: firstly, by reflection and scattering of the rays at the surface of pulverulent solids (physical light protection) and, secondly, by absorption on chemical substances (chemical light protection). Depending on which wavelength region is absorbed, a distinction is made between UV-B filters (absorption range 280 to 320 nm), UV-A filters (absorption range 320 to 400 nm) and broadband filters (absorption range 290 to about 380 nm).
To protect against UV-B radiation, numerous compounds are known, the absorption maximum of which should be around 308 nm as far as possible since this is the highest erythema effectiveness of solar radiation. Typical UV-B filters are, for example, derivatives of 3-benzylidenecamphor, of 4-aminobenzoic acid, of cinnamic acid, of salicylic acid, of benzophenone, and also of 2-phenylbenzimidazole.
Some compounds are also known for protecting against UV-A radiation, such as, in particular, dibenzoylmethane derivatives. However, dibenzoylmethane derivatives are generally not photostable, as a result of which cosmetic or dermatological preparations with a content of this substance should also comprise certain UV stabilizers.
Besides the pure UV-A or UV-B filters, there are substances which cover both regions. This group of broadband filters includes, for example, asymmetrically substituted s-triazine compounds, such as, for example, 2,4-bis{[4-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-2-hydroxyl]phenyl}-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine (INCI: BisEthylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine), certain benzophenones, such as, for example, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (INCI: Benzophenone 3) or 2,2′-methylenebis(6-(2H-benzotriazole-2-yl)-4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol) (INCI: Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylenebutylphenol).
In general, the light absorption behavior of light protection filter substances is very well known and documented, especially as there are positive lists for the use of such substances in most industrialized countries, which impose very strict standards on the documentation. Since, in order to characterize a filter substance, not only is the position of the absorption maximum important, but primarily the absorption range, absorption spectra are recorded for each substance. However, the absorbance values can at best be a guide for the concentration of the substances in the finished formulations since interactions with ingredients of the skin or of the surface of the skin itself may give rise to imponderables. In addition, it is usually difficult to estimate beforehand how uniformly and thickly the filter substance is distributed in and on the horny layer of the skin.
To test the UV-A protection performance, use is usually made of the IPD method (IPD≡immediate pigment darkening). Similarly to the determination of the sun protection factor, this method gives a value which indicates how much longer the skin protected with the light protection composition can be irradiated with UV-A radiation until the pigmentation which occurs is the same as for the unprotected skin.
The use concentration of known light protection filter substances which exhibit a high filter effect particularly also in the UV-A region is, however, often limited—especially in combination with other substances to be dissolved. In order, for example, to be able to use large amounts of oil-soluble UV filter substances, a very large oil phase (>about 35% by weight) would be required. However, the hydrophobic phase of an emulsion—for example of a W/O emulsion—could not be chosen to be arbitrarily large since the size of the phases also decisively influences the stability of an emulsion. If a large oil phase (of more than about 35% by weight) is desired, according to the prior art, stabilizers such as waxes or further emulsifiers have to be used in order to obtain an emulsion with a long-term stability of several years. However, a disadvantage of this procedure is that the emulsions become relatively solid as a result and can no longer be distributed as well—particularly on hairy skin.
A further method known according to the prior art for preparing light protection preparations with very high light protection factors (LPF greater than 25) consists in combining UV filter substances such that the entire amount of UV filter is not in the oil phase of the emulsion, which is of course only possible if water-soluble UV filter substances are also used. A disadvantage of such emulsions which comprise water-soluble UV filter substances is that these are usually only water-resistant to a limited extent.
The water resistance of light protection formulations is, however, attributed particular importance since most sunscreen compositions are applied in the vicinity of water or during sporting activity (sweating). A water-resistant sunscreen composition protects the user not only after bathing, but also protects him against sunburn during bathing. It is a widespread misconception that water offers good or even adequate protection against ultraviolet radiation. Rather, investigations have shown that even 1 m below the surface of the water, the transmittance for UV-B rays is about 50%. It is therefore advisable for those who participate in water sports, who, for example, swim, surf or snorkel, and in particular children, who often play for hours at or in the water, to also protect the skin against overly intense and excessive solar irradiation with a sun product which adheres well and can only be rinsed off with difficulty by (salt) water and perspiration.
For the purposes of optimum water resistance, the omission of water-soluble UV filters would therefore be desirable.

Cosmetic and dermatological light protection formulations


Securely roaming private data from one client computer to another in a network. A home client application generates a first key in response to a password, and encrypts designated private data as a function of the first key. A server receives and stores the encrypted private data. A roaming client application generates the first key in response to the password, and decrypts encrypted private data transferred from the server to obtain the private data. The invention further provides users the ability to retrieve encrypted private from the server even when the user cannot remember the password associated with the first key. Also, the server has no knowledge of the private data or the keys.

Web services such as Internet sites very often provide information, products, services, and the like to their users. But a major concern to users and web services alike has been the security of the Internet, especially when transmitting sensitive information. Information security is often provided to users and/or web services through an encryption process. For example, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Public-Key Cryptosystems are known Key Management services for communication security. These services are usually available only on a single computer as the private keys must be stored securely to retain privacy. It is desirable therefore to be able to roam, backup and recover private keys.
Existing private-key roaming protocols fail to address end-to-end security concerns and the recovery of data when a user cannot remember a primary password. Accordingly, a system for roaming private user data, while addressing the confidentiality, privacy, integrity, and authenticity of user data and user communications is desired.

Method and system for recovering password protected private data via a communication network without exposing the private data


Versatile cleaning composition that has tremendous cleaning power, yet is compatible with many surfaces. For example, the cleaning composition easily cleans oil, grease, tar, and rubber from soiled surfaces, but does not damage metals, vehicle paints, concrete, plastics such as polycarbonate, MYLAR polyester and silicone sealants, wood, ceramic, and the like. The cleaning composition includes an oil solubilizing amount of a degreaser, a rubber solubilizing amount of a rubber solvent, and a polar, organic diluent. In preferred embodiments, the degreaser comprises a glycol ether, the rubber solvent comprises an nonaromatic naphtha, and the diluent comprises an alcohol.

Some environments generate a tough combination of dirt, grime, soil, and debris that is very difficult to clean effectively with only one cleaner. One example of such an extreme environment is the vehicle race track, e.g., auto speedway, truck speedway, or the like. In the course of a race, windshields are splattered both with oils (e.g., motor oils and gear oils) and with rubber bits thrown from race tires that erode during racing. Dirty windshields obscure the driver's visibility, impairing the safety of all race participants. Accordingly, it is common practice to try and clean race vehicle windshields during pit stops.
Cleaning a race vehicle windshield at a pit stop is not a simple matter, because this use imposes many stringent demands on a cleaner. In addition to being able to remove oils and rubber and other soil on the windshield, the cleaning agent must act to remove this grime very fast, i.e., within the time constraints of the pit stop. The cleaner also must be easy to remove quickly from the surface. Desirably, therefore, the cleaner must not only act fast, but also evaporate at a quick enough rate so that the time spent wiping the windshield with a clean cloth, squeegee, or the like, will be at a minimum. While quick cleaning action is important, this must also be balanced against residence time. The cleaner components must evaporate at a slow enough rate so that the cleaner has a long enough contact time with the soiled surface to remove the soils. Ideally, the cleaner also should go on and come off without requiring any rinsing with water or any other rinse agent.
Besides being fast and simple to use, the cleaner must be compatible with the race vehicle itself. Importantly, the cleaner must leave no residue behind that might obscure visibility through the windshield. The cleaner also must not damage the LEXAN polycarbonate material that forms the windshield or the silicone sealant around the edge of the windshield. The cleaner must also be compatible with MYLAR polyester, because a clear plastic sheet, often made of MYLAR polyester and called a "tear-away", often is used to cover the windshield. The "tear-away" is used to dampen impacts from particulate matter during the race and can be removed quickly during a pit stop when the sheet becomes so damaged that it obscures the race vehicle driver's view. Cleaners splashed across a windshield inevitably will contact the race vehicle body, too. Therefore, the cleaner must not damage the race vehicle's body paint. The cleaner also should provide good cleaning performance over a wide temperature range. For example, it would be very desirable to have a cleaner that provides good cleaning performance at temperatures ranging from 25° F. (−4° C.) to 140° F. (60° C.).
Race vehicle bodies and the walls at racetracks need to be cleaned, too. These surfaces also are splattered with the same soils as the windshield, including oils and rubber. Also, race vehicle bodies and/or racetrack walls may be smeared with rubber from the tires of other race vehicles that sideswipe such surfaces during races. For these surfaces, in addition to being able to remove oils and rubber under the stringent conditions described above, the cleaning agent must not unduly damage the inks or the backings of the promotional decals or other graphics that are affixed to the vehicle's body or the racetrack walls.
The racetrack, of course, is just one example of an environment in which oils and rubber collectively challenge a cleaner. There are many others, too. For example, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, and the like also get splattered with oils, tar, rubber, bugs, and the like during the course of ordinary street driving. Industrial equipment, industrial floors which have been traversed and marked by tires, engines, motors, railways, railway cars, and the like may also suffer from such grime.
With the growth of industry, a significant amount of hazardous waste products and products formerly regarded as useful but now recognized as hazardous have entered the environment. These hazardous materials are frequently present as contaminants on surfaces of equipment, installations of all kinds, civil works, soil, and the like.
For example, a significant amount of radioactive waste, in the form of radionuclides, is present in nuclear power plants, nuclear weapons production plants, mining and milling equipment used for uranium mining, and in apparatus in the medical area where radioactive isotopes are used. The presence of these radionuclides, which contaminate equipment including pumps, pipelines, valves, concrete foundations, and all other equipment and structures with which the radionuclides have come into contact, now pose a serious health problem since their radioactivity is known to be carcinogenic. To qualify as a decontaminated facility, depending upon the type of radioactivity, the NRC requires that the level of radioactivity from radionuclides be reduced to less than 5,000 disintegrations per minute (DPM) in some cases and other lower levels in other cases.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were once widely used industrial chemicals, especially as insulating or hydraulic fluids in electrical capacitors, transformers, vacuum pumps, gas-transmission turbines, machinery, and various other devices and products. Their chemical stability and non-flammability contributed to their commercial usefulness. However, it has since been found that PCBs are carcinogens and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently lists PCBs and any surfaces or equipment containing PCBs as hazardous. Consequently, these chemicals are no longer recommended or used in new applications. However, a large amount of existing capital equipment, installed before the listing of PCBs as hazardous, contains PCBs. These installations pose a hazard whenever a spillage of PCBs occurs thereby contaminating the surrounding area or whenever routine repairs expose workers or the environment to PCBs.
While it is desirable to remove PCBs and dispose of these in a suitable hazardous waste facility, PCBs are not easily removed from apparatus or spilled areas because of their capability to enter into the tiniest of pores and microscopic voids and spaces in surfaces with which they come into contact. For example, in transformers which frequently contain wood, paper, metal joints, and electrical components with minute crevices, the PCBs soak into pores and microscopic voids in the steel and concrete and fill the tiniest of microscopic spaces such as pores and microscopic voids, and the like, in metals. When PCBs have spilled onto a surface, such as a concrete surface, the PCBs over time will soak into pores and microscopic voids in the concrete and contaminate the concrete to well below the exposed surface and into the underlying substrate. Current techniques that merely clean the surface of concrete that has been exposed to the PCBs for a long period of time are not able to adequately clean the surface and do not reach PCBs held in the substrate below the surface in the pores and microscopic voids. Moreover, once surface cleaning has been completed, PCBs leach from the pores and microscopic voids to the surface over time due to the effect of a concentration gradient. Thus, the surface becomes recontaminated and further cleaning is necessitated. Likewise, while the bulk of the PCBs can be readily drained from some PCB-containing equipment, the residual PCB contaminant in pores, microscopic voids, crevices, and joints is not easily removed. It is found that upon refilling the drained apparatus with a replacement fluid for PCBs, PCBs will continue to leach from surfaces of the apparatus into the replacement fluid thereby contaminating it and rendering it hazardous.
Likewise, heavy metals have been identified as hazardous to human health and the EPA requires their removal from environments where they pose a health hazard. Like PCBs and radionuclides, heavy metals have the capability to migrate into pores, joints, crevices, and microscopic voids in interior and exterior surfaces and thereby cause contamination in the substrate to well below the apparent surface of any apparatus, device, or ground surface with which they come into contact. Mere surface cleaning is therefore ineffective to remove heavy metals contamination from substrates.
Certain pesticides and herbicides are also now known to be hazardous to human health. These compositions contaminate surfaces and substrates, such as concrete, but more especially particulate surfaces, such as soil, clay, gravel, and the like.
There is a need for methods and cleaning compositions for the removal of contaminants including radionuclides, PCBs, herbicides, pesticides, and heavy metals from porous and non-porous interior and exterior surfaces, particulate surfaces, and surfaces having minute spaces, crevices, pores, or microscopic voids into which these contaminants migrate and from which they are not readily extractable. Further, the method and cleaning compositions should desirably not only extract these contaminants from well below the surface to be cleaned, but should extract these to such a level that any remaining contaminants do not pose a hazard, i.e., a surface and its underlying substrate cleaned of PCBs would meet EPA regulations for reclassification from a hazardous to a non-hazardous material; a surface and its substrate cleaned of heavy metals, herbicides, or pesticides, would meet the EPA's TCLP standard setting the upper limit for their concentration; and a surface and its substrate cleaned of radionuclides would test at less than 5,000 DPM. The method and cleaning compositions should also desirably extract these contaminants without significant surface damage or scarring. Further, the method and cleaning compositions should desirably extract these contaminants with a minimum amount of hazardous waste byproduct which must be disposed of and, in the case of radionuclides, the byproduct waste should preferably be water soluble to assist in ease of disposal. Finally, cleaning compositions should desirably not be flammable.
What is needed is a cleaner that has the power to clean oil, tar, rubber, bug residue, and other soils over a wide temperature range, yet will not damage metal, many paints, many inks, ceramic, wood, concrete, many plastics and/or the like.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Universal cleaner that cleans tough oil, grease and rubber grime and that is compatible with many surfaces including plastics


In embodiments, methods and systems for implementing payment interface services using a payment platform are provided. Multiple payments types are integrated into the payment platform to support customer payments for merchants. The payment platform identifies payment types that are relevant to a customer based on receiving an indication to personalize payment types for the customer, and on customer data resources that are accessed. One or more relevant payment types are determined based on the information of the customer. The payment types for the customer are determined from a plurality of payment types supported via the payment platform that supports customer payment type personalization. A payment type from the one or more payment types relevant to the customer is automatically chosen or explicitly chosen by the customer, such that a corresponding payment type provider authenticates the customer in order to complete the transaction.

Online merchants seek to optimize the conversion of their checkout pages. In particular, merchants want to increase the percentage of customers who, having arrived at the checkout page, complete a purchase. Several factors improve conversion rates, including that the checkout page is consistent with the rest of the merchant's website, and that there is a minimum amount of clutter, confusing interface, or unnecessary input on the checkout page. Deficiencies on a merchant's checkout page increase a likelihood that a customer will drop off without completing a purchase. As merchants increase their presence globally and as payment types proliferate, merchants are faced with supporting an increasing number of payment types in order to offer the most preferred payment types of each customer. In particular, merchants must integrate and manage each of these payment types for their merchant platforms. Integrating and managing these different payment types can present challenges for merchants because of the varied technical requirements of each of the payment type systems when interfacing with the merchants' platforms. Merchants further do not systematically utilize the interface with payment systems in any way, leverage existing customer relationships with payment type providers, or access customer data resources to determine payment types relevant to the customer. Conventional methods for providing support for multiple payment types (e.g., checkout pages with manually selectable options for payment types, electronic wallets that operate as funnels for payment types, and save-and-auto-fill features on online platforms) fall short of significant improvement to conversion on checkout pages or an improved technical implementation of integrating payment type systems and merchant platforms. As such, a solution for addressing the above-described issues would improve the operation of merchant systems, payment type provider systems, and customer online experiences.

Methods and systems for providing payment interface services using a payment platform


Techniques for quickly and efficiently performing handover are described. A user equipment (UE) may maintain a link with a serving cell and may communicate with this cell via the established link. The UE may have a candidate set of non-serving cells that are candidates for handover. The UE may maintain uplink synchronization with one or more non-serving cells in the candidate set, without having to maintain links with any of the non-serving cells. The UE may update uplink synchronization with the non-serving cells via an access procedure, e.g., send access probes to the non-serving cells and receive timing adjustments from these cells. One non-serving cell with which the UE has maintained uplink synchronization may be selected as a target cell for handover. The UE may then perform handover from the serving cell to the target cell, without performing uplink synchronization during the handover, which may improve handover latency and success rate.

I. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to communication, and more specifically to techniques for supporting mobility for wireless communication.
II. Background
Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide various communication services such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, etc. A wireless communication network may include many cells that support communication for many user equipments (UEs). Each UE may communicate with a cell designated to serve that UE. This cell is often referred to as a serving cell.
A UE may be mobile and may move throughout a wireless network. The UE may be handed over from a serving cell to a new cell, e.g., if the signal quality of the new cell is good and the signal quality of the serving cell is poor. The handover may be achieved by performing a handover procedure between the UE, the serving cell, and the new cell. It is desirable to perform the handover procedure as quickly as possible since the signal quality of the serving cell may be deteriorating rapidly, and the UE may lose communication with the wireless network if the handover procedure is not completed quickly enough.
There is therefore a need in the art for techniques to quickly and efficiently perform handover.

Enhanced mobility support for wireless communication


An interconnect circuit is described which provides automatic three-way connection between a single base telephone line and any telephone destination, while under control of a caller from a remote location. The device may be used to make long distance calls or local calls, automatically connecting the lines to the remote caller, while telephone charges are billed to the single base telephone account. The invention device incorporates a programmable microprocessor that operates the circuit according to a program and will also accept instructions from the remote caller to program the calls in any given sequence or combination. Circuit components are operated low in stress, at low power and are few in number. Thus the circuit has high reliability and the device is low cost.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to devices for providing automatic interconnection between a remotely located telephone and one or more lines, and more particularly to providing a means whereby a person can remotely access his home telephone and have his home single telephone line automatically connected with any requested telephone location.
2. Background
It has long been an expressed desire of business men and women, particularly self-employed professionals such as medical doctors and lawyers, to be able to remotely call their office telephone and have their office telephone place long distance or local calls, charging the calls to the office telephone. In response, a number of systems have been devised and marketed over past three decades. A typical prior art system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,438 issued to D. W. Kahn et al on Apr. 28, 1978. Kahn et al describe a system for automatically providing interconnection among a plurality of telephone lines serving a subscriber station, all under the control of a remotely located caller. While some of the prior art devices use single phone lines, the Kahn et al device advantages over the prior art depend on its complex use of multiple telephone lines. The Kahn et al device itself is exceedingly complex in circuitry, having many components and requiring a significant input power and heat dissipation.
Other telephone interconnection systems such as that described In U.S. Pat. No. 3,689,702 issued to T. E. McCay on Sep. 5, 1972, are able to utilize a telephone subscriber, calling it remotely, and making repeated calls without the caller having to hang up. However, the McCay device can not accept remote caller instruction to make more than one type of phone call. The McCay device is thus limited to essentially a two-way operation, connecting its remote caller to a long distance phone destination.
There is therefore a need for an interconnect device that can automatically provide a three-way interconnection line between a single telephone line, any telephone destination and a remote caller, while under the remote caller's control and which is small in size, high in reliability and low in cost.

Single phone line device for automatic interconnection from a remote location


A fuse for an integrated circuit is constituted by a shallow NP junction, covered with a metal contact, the semiconductor region being not excessively doped. For the blowing of the fuse, the junction is forward biased with a current sufficient to enable a diffusion of metal up to the junction. This short-circuits the junction. The detection is done also by the forward biasing of the junction, but with a low current or a low voltage. The detection can also be done with reverse biasing.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to integrated circuits and, more specifically, it relates to the making of irreversible locking elements that can be used to permanently modify the functions of certain parts of the circuit or access to these parts.
The standard term "fuse" shall be used hereinafter to designate these locking elements, it being understood nevertheless that this is a figure of speech referring to a function and that the structure of these elements does not necessarily implement a physical fusing operation.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A common application of fuses in the field of integrated circuits relates to chip cards: it is often sought to prohibit access to memory zones or to certain functions, the prohibition being applied progressively as these cards go through the stages of being manufactured and marketed.
A typical example is the following one: the card manufactured by a card manufacturer must initially have all its points of access authorized and all its functions authorized if only for testing purposes. Then, certain confidential data elements have to be made inaccessible: for example, the card manufacturer does not wish the programs of the operating system (which are in the read-only memory in the chip) to be accessible in read mode. One or more fuses are blown to prohibit this hitherto possible reading operation. The card may then be delivered, for example to a provider of a service (a bank, telephone company, etc.). The provider of the service will place other programs and confidential data in the card (in a programmable memory), and may wish to physically prohibit read and write access to these programs and data elements. Other fuses could be blown at this point in time.
Fuses presently used in this type of application include, for example:
polycrystalline silicon fuses in which a breakdown current is applied to a very thin layer of polycrystalline silicon, which gets heated and evaporates, opening the circuit in which it is placed. This type of fuse has problems of reliability related to poor evaporation and the risk that the conductor will be reconstituted over a period of time. PA1 oxide breakdown EEPROM type electrically programmable memory cells in which the blank state of the cell is likened to an intact state of the fuse and the programmed state is likened to a blown state. This type of lock is very reliable if an external programming voltage of sufficient energy is used, but it is far less reliable if the voltage used is a voltage internal to the integrated circuit chip. The use of an external voltage has several drawbacks. For example, greater cost due to an additional supply terminal, which is also troublesome for the user who has to plan for this voltage. Furthermore, the breakdown occurs through the application of a series of voltage pulses, but if the breakdown is not successful at the first attempt it becomes progressively more difficult; PA1 blank EEPROM memory cells with a zener diode on source or drain, which can be erased once but never again reprogrammed. A high voltage is necessary for breakdown with the conventional drawbacks that this entails. The drawbacks include the need for an external voltage with a specific access pad or an internal voltage, but an internal voltage is less reliable and requires providing a voltage pull-up circuit on the chip. PA1 either a comparator with a very low threshold capable of distinguishing between an intact fuse exhibiting a voltage drop of 0.6 to 0.7 volts and a blown fuse exhibiting a voltage drop of 0.1 to 0.2 volts; PA1 or another system of precise detection capable of identifying a difference between the current flowing through a forward biased junction and the current flowing through a junction short-circuited by diffusion of aluminum.
One general aim of the invention is to provide a particularly simple type of fuse that can work at very low voltage. Other aims of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description.

Physical fuse for semiconductor integrated circuit


An emergency escape device for a building wall includes an emergency door mechanism and a control assembly. The emergency door mechanism includes a door panel, a ladder, a rigid support arm and a driving assembly. The door panel is mounted pivotally on the wall and is movable relative to the wall between a closed position, wherein the door panel is flush with the wall, and an open position, wherein the door panel is perpendicular to the wall. The ladder has an upper end which is connected pivotally to the upper end of the door panel and a lower end which extends to the ground surface when the door panel is located in the open position. The support arm is mounted pivotally on the wall below the lower end of the door panel at one end and is connected pivotally to the ladder at the other end thereof so as to prevent swaying of the ladder when the door panel is in the open position. The driving assembly is operable to move the door panel between the closed and open positions. The control assembly is connected electrically to the driving assembly and is operable to activate the driving assembly.

1. Field of The Invention
This invention relates to an emergency escape device for a building, more particularly to an emergency escape device which permits the escape of people from a building during emergency conditions.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a building is provided with conventional fire-fighting facilities such as fire alarms, sprinklers, emergency exits, etc., so that the people in the building can escape therefrom via the emergency exits when the building is on fire. Sometimes, the doors of the emergency exits are blocked and thus, people in the building cannot escape until the firemen arrive. Furthermore, it is common for some people to panic and escape from the building by jumping out of a window, thereby increasing the number of casualties in a fire.


Disclosed are an information processing apparatus and a server for communicating with this information processing apparatus. The apparatus, which is for communicating with a peripheral device, includes acquisition means for acquiring one item of identification information that specifies a peripheral device, the identification information being output by the peripheral device in response to connection of the peripheral device or activation thereof; management means for managing a plurality of drivers, which correspond to the one item of identification information that specifies the peripheral device, together with information indicative of a set of drivers; input means for inputting information indicative of a set of drivers to be installed or updated; and recognition means for recognizing a driver to be installed or updated among the plurality of drivers managed by the management means, based upon the identification information acquired by the acquisition means and the information indicative of the set of drivers input by the input means.

Computer processing capability has improved remarkably in recent years and computers can run an operating system that employs a graphical user interface (GUI). In addition, installation of the driver programs that control peripheral devices is now much simpler in comparison with systems that rely upon a character user interface (CUI).
For example, consider an operating system such as Windows 98, which is provided by Microsoft Corporation. Such a system comes equipped with a plurality of drivers as standard equipment and also has a plug-and-play capability that automatically detects the model of a peripheral connected to the computer and automatically installs the driver that conforms to the model.
With regard to installation in a plug-and-play environment, the computer receives the device ID from the peripheral and installs the device driver (referred to simply as a "driver" below) that corresponds to this device ID.
A multifunction peripheral has a plurality of functions, such as a printing function, facsimile function and scanning function. In such case a printer driver, fax driver and scanner driver corresponding to these functions exist with respect to a single device ID. Consequently, when plug and play is attempted, the fact that a plurality of drivers correspond to a single device ID means that a driver cannot be specified merely by the device ID received from the peripheral.
In addition, there are cases where the version of an already existing driver is upgraded to a driver for a peripheral that has been newly developed. In order to install or update a new driver, it is required that the user input the storage location of the new driver to the system. Making this input is difficult for a user who is not accustomed to this task.
There are also instances where a peripheral has two or more interfaces, such as an interface that does not support plug and play with regard to the computer to which it is connected, and an interface that does support such plug and play. When the driver of such a peripheral is installed, two installer programs are available, namely a driver installer program for installation by the plug-and-play function, and a driver installer program for installation without using the plug-and-play function. This means that the user is required to perform the installation while referring to a manual or the like.
A driver is one type of computer program and the functionality thereof often is enhanced. In other words, there are instances where the driver provided by the manufacturer of a peripheral is superior, in terms of performance and user friendliness, to a driver with which the operating system comes equipped.
Thus, conventional methods of installation impose a complicated or hard-to-understand task upon the user and therefore are an impediment to easy operation.

Information processing apparatus and method, computer program therefor, and computer-readable storage medium


A system for detecting when a vehicle occupant exits the vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a sensor device is configured to measure an acceleration of the vehicle along one direction or accelerations of the vehicle along several directions and to make available a time-dependent signal(s) that represents the acceleration(s). The system also includes an evaluation device configured to evaluate the time-dependent signal(s) in a way to ascertain whether the signal(s) contains a sequence of acceleration values characteristic of the occupant exiting the vehicle.

Although the present disclosure can be advantageously utilized in various types of vehicles, the problem to be solved with the present disclosure is elucidated below using the example of a motor vehicle in the form of an automobile with an electric parking brake.
In vehicles with an electric parking brake such as an electromechanical or electrohydraulic parking brake, a control element to be actuated by the driver of the vehicle such as a switch or button may be provided in the interior of the vehicle, wherein said control element is actuated by the driver when the vehicle is parked in order to activate the parking brake and to thusly prevent the vehicle from rolling away, for example, if it is parked on an incline.
In this context, it may be desirable to assist the driver of the vehicle to the effect that suitable measures are taken in case the driver forgets to activate the electric parking brake when exiting the vehicle, particularly in order to prevent the vehicle from rolling away.
For example, DE 103 23 976 A1 describes a method for activating or deactivating at least one function in a motor vehicle, in which the position of at least one identification transmitter is determined independently of a triggering event and at least one function of the motor vehicle is activated or deactivated in dependence on at least the determined position of the identification transmitter. If a) only one identification transmitter is detected and it is furthermore determined that this identification transmitter currently exits the vehicle or if b) it is determined that the driver's seat is not occupied and it is determined in addition to a) or b) that the vehicle has a speed other than zero, DE 103 23 976 A1 proposes to activate one or more of the following functions: decelerating the vehicle, shifting an automatic transmission into the parking position, engaging a gear in an automated gear box and/or engaging the electric parking brake.

System for detecting when a vehicle occupant exits the vehicle, system for activating or deactivating a function in a vehicle and corresponding vehicle


A strain gauge includes a flexible substrate; a resistor formed of material including at least one from among chromium and nickel, on or above the substrate; and electrodes electrically coupled to the resistor. Each electrode includes a terminal section extending from a corresponding end portion from among end portions of the resistor; a first metallic layer formed of copper, a copper alloy, nickel, or a nickel alloy, on or above the terminal section; and a second metallic layer formed of material having better solder wettability than the first metallic layer, on or above the first metallic layer.

A strain gauge is known to be attached to a measured object to detect strain on the measured object. The strain gauge includes a resistor that detects strain, and as resistor material, for example material including Cr (chromium) or Ni (nickel) is used. For example, both ends of the resistor are used as electrodes, and a lead wire for an external connection, or the like is jointed with solder, between the electrodes (see, for example, Patent document 1).


Novel dipeptide derivatives, such as N-3,3-dimethylbutyl-.alpha.-L-aspartyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester and N-3,3-dimethylbutyl-.alpha.-L-aspartyl-.alpha.-methyl-L-tyrosine methyl ester, and sweetening agents comprising, as the active ingredient, anyone of the derivatives and their salts, being low-calorie sweetening agents which are excellent in stability, safety and degree of sweetness, are provided. The products to have been sweetened, comprising such above sweetening agents are also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel dipeptide derivatives and the salts thereof, sweetening agents comprising any of them as the active ingredient, and the products to have been sweetened, which comprise any of the sweetening agents.
2. Description of the Related Art
1. Actual State of the Sweetening Agents
With advanced eating habits in these days, obesity to be caused by over-intake of sugar and its related various diseases have become problematic. Therefore, the development of low-calorie sweetening agents that replace sugar has been desired. At present, aspartame is one popular sweetening agent which is excellent in safety and quality of sweetness. However, it involves a probleme in its stability. Recently, it has been found that the alkylation of the amino group of dipeptide derivatives such as aspartame is effective in greatly increasing the degree of sweetness of the resulting derivatives, for example, as in French Patent Nos. 2,697,844 and 2,719,592, and Japanese Patent Kouhyou Publication JP-A-8-503206. However, those alkylated dipeptide derivatives are still unsatisfactory in their stability.
2. Object of the Invention
In the course of the present invention, such above problems have been also found.
The object of the present invention is to provide novel dipeptide derivatives and their salts using .alpha.-alkyl-amino acid components, which are highly stable, highly safe and can be easily obtained, and also to provide low-calorie sweetening agents containing them as the active ingredients.

Dipeptide derivatives and sweetening agents


A floor mat system that includes a mat having a decoratively shaped first portion that allows light to transmit therethrough and is surrounded by a second portion that does not allow light to transmit therethrough. A light source is positioned beneath at least the first portion of the mat. When activated, the light source shines through the first portion and thereby illuminates and draws attention to the decorative image. The light source is coated in a polycarbonate resin film to protect and strengthen the same against damage as people walk over the mat. A non-transparent coating may be applied to selective regions of the protective film to create the same decorative transparent image therein and to thereby allow light to only be emitted from a particular region of the light source. The mat may be made from a flow-through material, a non-flow-through material with a gripping upper surface and wells; or a combination of flow-through and non-flow-through material. The mat also includes a transformer housing and channels to protect a transformer and electrical wiring from being damaged as people walk over the mat.

1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to floor mats. Specifically, the invention relates to a floor mat having a substantially transparent or translucent portion in its upper surface which allows light to pass therethrough and therefore makes a decorative image visible and which further includes a light source disposed beneath the decorative image. The light source illuminates the decorative image drawing attention to the same.
2. Background Information
Recessed floor mat systems or stand-alone mats are frequently positioned in the entrances of malls, stores and businesses to ensure that particulate matter and water are removed from peoples' shoes as they enter the premises. The mats are fairly typically manufactured from vinyl or a variety of fibrous materials that scrape and wipe the matter off the shoes. Such mats may be of a flow-through type, where particulate matter and water droplets drop through apertures in the surface and are directed to a collection area of some type. This substantially prevents the matter and droplets from accumulating on the upper surface of the mat and then being tracked into the premises by others at a later time. Alternatively, the mats may by solid mats that include wells which retain the collected particulate matter and water.
In either event, these entryway mats form part of the initial impression that a consumer or client may have of a business. There is therefore an opportunity in the art for the provision of a mat that enhances the initial impression of a business instead of fading into the general background of the company and leaving no lasting impression of the same.


A magnetic tape recording with a new signal encoding format, apparatus for recording this format and reproducing apparatus for reproducing signals from this format. A standard VHS signal is recorded as a first set of parallel slant tracks having a predetermined spacing between each slant track. A high definition television signal is recorded in pairs of slant tracks of a second type that flank a slant track of the first type and are narrower in width than the slant track of the first type they flank. Additionally, the azimuth angle of the tracks of the first type alternates between different predetermined values for successive tracks, and the azimuth angle of the tracks of the second type differ both from the azimuth angle of the tracks of the first type which they flank, and from the azimuth angle of the tracks of the second type which are positioned next to them in the space between tracks of the first type. This format allows one tape to record both a high definition television signal and a standard VHS signal, which standard VHS signal can be played back using ordinary tape machines. Accordingly, this format provides a way to avoid the problem of having to carry a dual inventory of tapes in a tape sales or rental business.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic tape recording/reproducing format and apparatus in accordance therewith, and more particularly, to an HDTV recording/reproducing magnetic tape format and apparatus which has backward compatibility to another format, such as the standard VHS television signal recording format.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,991 issued to Honjo on Oct. 16, 1990 discloses a tape recording format and recorder apparatus which allows recording/reproduction of television signals in both a narrow bandwidth format, such as a conventional NTSC signal having a bandwidth of approximately 4 mHz, and a wide bandwidth format, such as a high definition television signal (HDTV) having a bandwidth of 8-20 mHz. This is accomplished by recording only one of the narrow bandwidth or wide bandwidth signals on the tape at a time. When wide bandwidth signals are recorded, instead of increasing the speed of the recording tape, two smaller heads are used for digitally recording time-expanded channels of the wide bandwidth signal, and the speed of the rotating drum in which the recording heads are mounted is correspondingly increased. Thus, tape speed is the same for both formats. However, since only one format at a time is recorded on the tape, video tape players not equipped to play the television signal which was selected for recording on the tape will not be able to use these tapes.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,055 issued on Jul. 10, 1990 to Fujimoto discloses a format for magnetic recording on a video floppy disk a wide band video signal which is divided into two signals; one, a low frequency component in the frequency range below 4 mHz, and the other in the high frequency range, 4-6 mHz. The low frequency component is recorded in a plurality of main slant tracks having spaces therebetween, and the high frequency component is recorded in the guard band between the main tracks and at an azimuth angle which is different from the main track in order to minimize pick-up of the adjacent track during head mistracking. (The azimuth angles of heads on headwheels used for helically scanning a magnetic tape are customarily measured with respect to a line perpendicular to headwheel rotation, and the azimuth angles of recorded tracks refer back to these heads used in recording them in a magnetic tape surface; these customs are followed in this specification and its accompanying drawings.) Although two track recording is disclosed, only one television signal format is recorded/reproduced. Thus, there is no simultaneous compatibility with another television signal recording format, which would increase the desirability and user demand for such tapes when pre-recorded with multiple television signal formats. Furthermore, since the total frequency content of a single signal is split among two channels and two recording/pick-up heads, it is the belief of the present inventors that time-base errors will necessarily exist between the reproduced signals which will be impossible to correct with even the best time base correctors, thereby resulting in unacceptable HDTV performance.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,485 issued to Reitmeier on Jun. 27, 1989 discloses a recording format and recording/reproducing apparatus in accordance therewith which simultaneously provides for recording/reproducing one of either a wide bandwidth (studio quality) signal or a narrow bandwidth (portable quality) television signal on a magnetic tape. Here, the tape is longitudinally divided into upper and lower halves. Each half receives digital recording of one half of the signal components of the wide bandwidth signal, so that pick-up of only one longitudinal track results in reproduction of a low quality signal, while pick-up of both tracks simultaneously results in a high quality signal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,186 issued to Matsamoto et al. on May 22, 1990 discloses a tape recording format and recording/reproducing apparatus in accordance therewith which records a video signal on the main tracks of a video floppy disk, and also records additional information (audio) in the guard band space which exists between the main tracks. An additional aspect of this patent is that the guard band signal should be recorded with an electromotive force which is only 40-80% of the electromotive force used in the main tracks, in order to minimize deterioration of the main tracks during recording of the guard band tracks.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic media recording format which allows recording of two different signals in two different formats on one media, and selective reproduction of signals from either one of the two recorded formats.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a recording format in which it is relatively simple to record and then reproduce signals therefrom.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the accompanying drawings and the claims.

Backward compatible HDTV recording/reproducing system


An indicator apparatus for a receptacle comprises a first indicator and a second indicator, the first indicator and the second indicator mounted to the receptacle in an adjacent relationship. Each one of the indicators is rotatable between an up position and a down position. At least one of the indicators comprises urging element for urging one or both of the indicators between the respective positions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an indicator for a container. More specifically, the present invention relates to an indicator for a mailbox.
2. Description of the Related Art
Postal mailboxes, and the like, typically include at least one means for indicating that outgoing mail is contained within the mailbox, which is advantageous for pick-up of outgoing mail by mail carriers even when the sender has no in-coming or arriving mail. Usually, means for indicating such outgoing mail is in the form of a rotatable flag or arm.
There have been many attempts and improvements of mailboxes, including the use of additional flags or arms for indicating the arrival of in-coming mail. The use of indicator means for communicating to the addressee that in-coming mail is present in the mailbox is particularly advantageous for those that do not want to go out into inclement weather to check the mailbox, to those that are injured or may be elderly that may be experiencing difficulty in moving from one point to another.
References considered related and relevant to the present invention include disclosures concerning in-coming mail indicator flags utilized in combination with the mailbox door, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,461 (to Rivers), U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,386 (to Tabacco), U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,834 (to Saba), U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,740 (to Whitley et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,147,292 (to Fisher). Of particular relevance is Rivers, which discloses a two flag system utilizing a handle assembly (50) and a control member (52) to flip the out-going mail indicator (18) to a horizontal position and to urge the in-coming mail indicator (16) to a vertical position. However, Rivers fails to disclose a two-indicator system as described herein.
Other references considered related in disclosing multiple flags include U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,170 (to Goss) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,223 (to Taniguchi). Goss discloses the addition of a second flag non-communicative with the main flag. Taniguchi discloses a two-flag indicator system with the two flags mounted on opposite sides of the mailbox structure.
At present, most attempts in this art have provided convoluted mechanical devices that are unsightly and require too much deviation from the standard practice utilized by addressees and mail carriers alike. The present invention takes into consideration the convenience and ease of operating the mailbox or receptacle in the traditional manner while offering greater features and benefits to the users. The present invention fulfills a need in the art in furnishing an apparatus and/or system having multiple indicator means on a receptacle designating the contents within the receptacle as out-going and/or in-coming in a manner that is simple to assemble and simple to use.


A recording head where an actuator, a cavity portion and a flexible flat cable are placed one on another is provided in a head holder of a carriage. A drive IC chip is mounted on the flexible flat cable. A bottom plate portion of a first heat sink is in contact with the drive IC chip so as to be thermally conductable, and a side plate portion thereof is disposed in a standing condition. A base end of a second heat sink is in contact, so as to be thermally conductable, with a wiring pattern formed portion of the flexible flat cable between the drive IC chip and the actuator, and a heat dissipating portion of the second heat sink is extended below the bottom plate portion, and a part of the heat dissipating portion is exposed to the outside of the head holder.

The present invention relates to a recording device having a flexible flat cable on which a drive IC chip is mounted.
As an example of an inkjet recording device, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-291342 discloses a structure in which a head unit including a cavity unit having a plurality of nozzles (recording elements) that jet ink and an actuator (piezoelectric actuator) that causes ink to be jetted from the nozzles by selectively causing a pressure in a plurality of pressure chambers provided so as to be associated with the nozzles is attached to the bottom of a head holder (carriage), and ink cartridges are detachably housed on the upper side. This head holder (carriage) reciprocates in the main scanning direction within the housing of the recording device.
According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-291342, a wiring pattern connected to electrodes is formed on a flexible circuit board provided with a driver element (drive IC chip) that drives the actuator. One end of the circuit board is joined to the upper surface of the actuator so as to be electrically connected thereto. A drive pulse signal from a control circuit on the side of the device body is converted into a parallel signal corresponding to the electrodes of the actuator and is also converted into a predetermined voltage value to be outputted to the electrodes through the wiring pattern.
Moreover, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-291342 discloses a structure in which the horizontal side of a heat sink disposed on the lower surface side of the head holder is in contact with the driver element on the circuit board so as to be thermally conductable, thereby discharging (dissipating) the heat generated by the driver element to the outside of the head holder.


Techniques are provided for implementing data management policies for various components of an Internet of Things (IoT) system. An exemplary method performed by an IoT component comprises: obtaining sensor data; obtaining a data management policy that specifies a data transmission policy, a data retention policy, a data retirement policy and/or a data processing policy for a processing of the sensor data by a plurality of IoT components; and processing the sensor data based on the obtained data management policy. Data policy operators are optionally provided to (i) adjust a resolution of the sensor data; (ii) aggregate the sensor data; and/or (iii) apply a learning algorithm to the sensor data, based on the data management policy.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of distributed physical devices, such as vehicles and sensors, that exchange data over the network. With the proliferation of IoT networks, sensor data comprises information regarding a number of diverse physical variables. Such information is useful for a wide range of applications, such as surveillance and other law enforcement applications, medical monitoring, transportation monitoring, habitat monitoring, factory control, and pipeline integrity.
A number of IoT management frameworks exist for managing devices that generate and process sensor data. As society grows increasingly dependent on such sensor data, however, the proper management of the gathered sensor data itself also becomes critical. A need therefore exists for techniques for implementing policies for managing the sensor data.

Data management policies for internet of things components


The invention relates to apparatus and method for ultrasonically stimulating cartilage growth. The apparatus includes at least one ergonomically constructed ultrasonic transducer configured to cooperate with a placement module or strip for placement in proximity to an area where cartilage growth is desired. The apparatus also utilizes a portable, ergonomically constructed main operating unit constructed to fit within a pouch worn by the patient. In operation, at least one ultrasonic transducer positioned in proximity to an osteochondral site is excited for a predetermined period of time. To ensure that at least one ultrasonic transducer is properly positioned, and to insure compliance with a treatment protocol, a safety interlock is provided to prevent inadvertent excitation of the at least one ultrasonic transducer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for therapeutically treating injuries using ultrasound. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus which utilize an ergonomically constructed ultrasonic transducer assembly configured to cooperate with a placement module for placement in proximity to a cartilage and/or osteochondral injury and/or defect to stimulate cartilage growth.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of ultrasound to therapeutically treat and evaluate bone injuries is known. Impinging ultrasonic pulses having appropriate parameters, e.g., frequency, pulse repetition, and amplitude, for suitable periods of time and at a proper external location adjacent to a bone injury has been determined to accelerate the natural healing of, for example, bone breaks and fractures.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,360 to Duarte describes a basic non-invasive therapeutic technique and apparatus for applying ultrasonic pulses from an operative surface placed on the skin at a location adjacent a bone injury. To apply the ultrasound pulses during treatment an operator must manually hold the applicator in place until the treatment is complete.
The Duarte patent as well as U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,612 to Winder et al. describe ranges of RF signal for creating the ultrasound, ultrasound power density levels, ranges of duration for each ultrasonic pulse, and ranges of ultrasonic pulse frequencies.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,965 to Talish et al. relates to an ultrasonic body treatment system having a body-applicator unit connected to a remote control unit by sheathed fiber optic lines. The signal controlling the duration of ultrasonic pulses and the pulse repetition frequency are generated apart from the body-applicator unit. Talish et al. also describes a mounting fixture for attaching the body-applicator unit to a patient so that the operative surface is adjacent the skin location.
While the systems described in these patents relate to therapeutic methods and apparatus for ultrasonic treatment of hard and soft tissue injuries and defects, there is a need for ergonomically configured signal generators and transducers for the treatment of cartilage and/or osteochondral injuries and/or defects. Further, a need exists for an apparatus which optimizes the treatment of cartilage and/or osteochondral injuries and/or defects.
A cartilage and/or osteochondral injury and/or defect typically involves damage to the cartilage which lines articulating bones (articular cartilage), such as the bones of the knee, elbow, shoulder and ankle. Osteochondral injuries can be treated by chondral and/or osteochondral drilling causing blood flow at the site. The aim of chondral drilling is to stimulate cartilage regeneration as part of the healing process. However, the resulting nonhyaline or fibrocartilage produced is biomechanically inferior to articular cartilage, does not have comparable proteoglycan content, and may consist primarily of a thin unorganized layer of collagen. Further, it has been observed that degeneration of the new tissue generally occurs over time, requiring the need for additional reconstructive surgical treatment.
Other methods of treatment include: the transplantation of non-weight bearing cartilage to the injury and/or defect site; inducing a fracture at the injury and/or defect site; placing a carbon fiber matrix to induce cartilage formation; and autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI). ACI entails removing chondrocytes capable of regenerating hyaline-like cartilage from the body and culturing them for several weeks. During the culture process, the number of cells increases approximately 0.15 times that of the original tissue sample. The cultured cells are then transplanted through an arthrotomy. A small piece of periosteum, the skin covering a bone, is taken from the patient's tibia. The periosteum is then sutured over the defect to provide a protective cover for the cultured cells. The cultured cells are injected under the periosteum into the defect where they will continue to multiply and produce a durable repair tissue. However, ACI increases the healing time since the chondrocytes need to be cultured before they are transplanted to the patient.
Therefore, there is a further need for a method and apparatus to stimulate cartilage regeneration which produces fibrocartilage which is biomechanically equal or superior to articular cartilage, has comparable proteoglycan content, and consists of a thick organized layer of collagen. Further still, a need also exists for an apparatus which stimulates cartilage regeneration and where the regenerated cartilage does not degenerate over time requiring additional treatment or reconstructive surgery. Further, there is a need for an apparatus which stimulates cartilage regeneration and significantly reduces the healing time.

Method and apparatus for cartilage growth stimulation


A quartz heater tube consists of a tube body whose two ends being respectively sealed with a plug, and each plug is provided with a built-in electrode. The inner cavity of the tube body is filled with an inertia gas after being evacuated, and the inner surface thereof is coated with a layer of electrical film which being electrically in connection with the two electrodes. By this construction, when the quartz heater tube is in operation, the electrical film is able to avoid oxidation owing to protection of the inertia gas which serves to isolate the electrical film from the outside air thereby prolonging the lifespan of the quartz heater tube.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a quartz heater tube, and more particularly, to a quartz heater tube which is strongly resistive to oxidation so as to prolong its lifespan.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a traditional quartz heater tube is composed of a tube body having electrode formed at each of the two ends, and a layer of electrical film coated on the surface of the tube body, both electrodes are electrically connected to the electrical film so as to apply a voltage between the two electrodes thereby actuating the quartz heater tube to generate heat by the current flowing therein.
However, in a traditional quartz heater tube, the electrical film coated on the surface of the tube is soon to deteriorate due to oxidation under high heating temperature, as a result, the function of quartz heater tube is reduced and its lifespan is greatly shortened.


A video editing system includes dragging and dropping video segments within a graphical user interface. These actions are used to create a compiled video from the video segments, and are optionally performed using a touch sensitive display. Some embodiments include a filter that can be dragged across a video during presentation of the video. As the filter is dragged, a first part of the displayed video is seen with the filter applied while a second part of the displayed video is seen without application of the filter. The boundary between the first part and the second part is optionally responsive to a pointing device, such as a touch sensitive display. The video editing system may be included in a mobile device that is also configured to record the video using a camera.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is in the field of image editing, for example editing a sequence of images within a video.
2. Related Art
Digital editing of video allows for the cutting and splicing of video content. Image editing software is used to apply filters to images. These filters can be applied at a pixel level or at an image level through parametric editing. In pixel level editing, the characteristics of individual pixels are changed. Pixel level editing occurs one image at a time, e.g., an image is opened, modified, and then modified pixel data is saved. The modification of the pixel can be destructive if the original data is not saved. In parametric editing instructions or parameters are created, which define how pixels of an image are interpreted. Because parametric editing involves a change in interpretation, it is non-destructive. Parametric editing is easily applied to batches of images, such as video.


A semiconductor substrate has an element portion and a termination portion located on an outer side of the element portion. A first electrode layer is provided on a first surface of the semiconductor substrate. A second electrode layer is provided on a second surface of the semiconductor substrate in an upper portion of the element portion. An interlayer insulation film is provided on the second surface of the semiconductor substrate. The interlayer insulation film has: an element insulation portion that provides insulation between a part of the element portion of the semiconductor substrate and the second electrode layer; and a termination insulation portion covering a termination portion of the semiconductor substrate. The termination insulation portion includes a high dielectric constant film that is higher in dielectric constant than the element insulation portion.

As compared with silicon semiconductors currently most widely used, a semiconductor layer itself that is made of a wide band gap semiconductor can withstand a significantly Mai electric field. Meanwhile, application of a relatively high electric field is more likely to cause, irrespective of the type of the semiconductor material, creeping discharge resulting from electric field concentration at the termination portion surrounding element portion on a semiconductor substrate. Therefore, countermeasures against creeping discharge are particularly required when a wide band gap semiconductor is used. Creeping discharge can be suppressed by increasing a dielectric constant of an interlayer insulation film. For example, Japanese Patent No. 4796665 (PTD 1) discloses that the relative dielectric constant of the interlayer insulation film is set at 20 or more.