A joint detector that improves the performance of receiving a downlink control channel signal for a near-end mobile terminal in the presence of a stronger control channel signal addressed to a far-end mobile terminal sharing the same OVSF, or channelization, code through the use of orthogonal signature sequences. Depending on the specific embodiment, the joint detector may produce the desired bits for the control signal of interest, or may produce detected bits for all control signals sharing the same OVSF code. The joint detector despreads and combines the received code-multiplexed signal, utilizing knowledge of the cross correlations of the set of signature sequences and time-varying channel coefficients to alleviate performance degradation caused by interference from other signals. In various embodiments, the joint detector may be implemented as a modified decorrelating detector, a modified MMSE detector, a modified LS estimator detector, a successive interference-canceling detector, or a jointly hypothesized detector.

The present invention relates to spread-spectrum, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication systems. More particularly, and not by way of limitation, the present invention is directed to a joint detector for receiving an Orthogonal Variable Spreading Factor (OVSF) code-sharing, low-rate, code-multiplexed channel. The OVSF code, often referred to as the channelization code or spreading code, is used to spread a lower data rate signal to the transmission baud (chip) rate, which may be 3.84 mega-baud (or chip) per second according to the Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) standard, or 1.2288 mega-baud (or chip) per second according to the IS-95 and cdma2000 standards.
In WCDMA, an enhancement known as Enhanced Uplink is contemplated for reducing delays, improving uplink high-data-rate coverage, and increasing capacity. A key enabler for meeting these objectives is Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) with fast retransmission and soft combining. To support uplink HARQ operations, Enhanced HARQ Indication Channels (E-HICHs) are needed in the downlink for the base station to signal Ack or Nack messages. HARQ is of critical importance in reducing round-trip delays and improving uplink high-data-rate coverage and capacity. Therefore it is highly desirable to have reliable E-HICH reception.
In order to avoid scheduling delay, the current concept of Enhanced Uplink allows a mobile terminal to transmit in the uplink direction without a scheduling grant as long as the transmission data rate is not exceedingly high. As a result, many mobile terminals may simultaneously transmit in the uplink direction using the HARQ protocol. In response, the base station must provide many E-HICHs in a transmission time interval (TTI). To avoid having E-HICHs consume too many OVSF codes, an OVSF-code sharing, code-division multiplexed (CDM) architecture has been introduced for E-HICHs. According to this CDM approach, a number of E-HICHs share a common OVSF (channelization) code. A 1-bit Ack/Nack message of each E-HICH is modulated (spread) by a user-specific signature sequence before OVSF spreading. With this approach, the signals transmitted on the code-sharing E-HICH are mutually orthogonal through the use of mutually orthogonal Hadamard sequences as the signature sequences. According to the CDM architecture, the duration of the signature sequence is one slot. For clarity in the following description, the term "OVSF code" or "channelization code" means the spreading sequence that spreads an input signal to the WCDMA chip rate (3.84 Mcps), and the term "signature sequence" means the spreading sequence applied to the 1-bit Ack/Nack information.
FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram illustrating the generation of E-HICHs according to the preexisting CDM architecture. As shown, E-HICHs for users 1-K share a common OVSF (channelization) code channel. Prior to the normal OVSF spreading at 11, signature sequences are employed at 121 through 12K to separate the E-HICHs sharing the same OVSF code. According to the CDM architecture in WCDMA, the common OVSF code has a spreading factor of 128, giving rise to 20 symbols in a slot. The signature sequence is thus based on length-40 Hadamard sequences and QPSK modulation mapping every two bits of the Hadamard sequence to one QPSK symbol. In this case, the different transmitted CDM E-HICHs are mutually orthogonal when the signal is integrated over a slot.
At the receiver, the orthogonality also holds if the fading channel is non-dispersive and constant within a slot. With multipath, the orthogonality remains high as long as the channel is constant within a slot due to the large processing gain (2560) against the inter-chip interference. Orthogonality, however, is very much compromised in high Doppler channels in which multipath fading varies noticeably in the slot interval. Conventionally, the received signal is first RAKE processed (i.e., despread and combined using the common OVSF code), and the RAKE receiver output is correlated with the Hadamard sequence associated with the E-HICH of interest. In a time-varying channel, the orthogonality between the various E-HICHs sharing the same OVSF code cannot be preserved when simply correlating with the signature sequence of interest. Loss of orthogonality results in co-channel interference.
FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram illustrating the transmission of E-HICHs to two mobile terminals 15 and 16 in a near-far scenario. Loss of orthogonality may result in severe performance degradation when the base station 17 uses a relatively weak transmit power to transmit a signal 18 to the near-end mobile terminal 15 and a much stronger transmit power to transmit a signal 19 to the far-end mobile terminal 16. In this case, the E-HICH signal intended for the far-end mobile terminal can cause significant interference at the near-end mobile terminal's receiver, resulting in significant degradation to the near-end mobile terminal's E-HICH performance.

Joint detector in a code division multiple access radio receiver


A method for monitoring payments, payment authorizations, and payable events in an inventor recognition program for a company. The present invention comprises an Award Reminder Program (ARP), an Award Status Program (ASP), and an Award Monitoring Program (AMP). The ARP monitors the award tracking database associated with the present invention and sends the inventor's manager an email requesting authorization of payment when required. If the manager does not authorize payment, the ARP sends the manager a reminder email. If the manager still does not authorize payment, the ARP proceeds up the company's organizational chart until payment is authorized. The ASP monitors the award tracking database and updates the status of each docket in the award tracking database. The AMP allows a user to view the award tracking database, print a payment report, print a payable events report, or send a reminder email to the inventor's manager.

Inventor recognition programs, also known as patent tracking systems, are used by many companies to reward and encourage inventors who conceive of patentable ideas and inventions. While inventor recognition programs are as diverse as companies themselves, there are many aspects of inventor recognition programs which are common to almost every company. For example, an inventor is usually given a financial bonus upon the occurrence of an award event such as the filing of the patent application and issuance of the patent. The inventor may be rewarded when the patent application is published as well. The inventor is also rewarded financially when the company obtains a certain amount of royalties from the patent. These royalty awards are commonly referred to as plateau awards. One example of the royalty levels for plateau awards is a 0.5% commission on the amount of royalty when the total royalty reaches $10,000, $100,000, $1,000,000, and $10,000,000. Persons of ordinary skill in the art are aware of other events which trigger award payments in an inventor recognition program.
One of the problems associated with inventor recognition programs is that the occurrence of award triggering events, authorization of award payments, and actual award payments are difficult to track and update. Tracking these events becomes even more problematic as more inventors, patent applications, patents, and royalties are added to the company's intellectual property portfolio. The existing solutions to the problem have addressed the issue of tracking the patent prosecution and royalties, not the award triggering events, payment authorizations, or payments. Therefore, a need exists for a method of tracking the occurrence of events which trigger an award, the authorization of payment of awards, and the actual payment of awards in a company's inventor recognition system.
Another problem specific to incentive programs like inventor recognition programs is the need to authorize payment of the award. Because it is desirable to have the inventor's manager or supervisor review and approve disbursement of an award payment from payroll, the payment authorization step cannot be removed from the award process. However, there is currently no prior art solution which allows an inventor to check the status of award authorization and, if necessary, send a reminder to the inventor's manager. Therefore, a need exists in the art for a system which allows an inventor to view the status of award triggering events, authorization of award payments, and payment of awards. The need extends to a system which automatically reminds the manager to authorize award payment and also allows the inventor to manually remind his manager to authorize the award payment.
The prior art has previously addressed some of the needs identified above. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,362 (the '362 patent) entitled "National Customer Recognition System and Method" discloses a customer award tracking system for casinos. The '362 patent tracks the customers' gambling activity at various casinos and grants awards to the customers based on the gambling activity. However, the '362 patent is limited in that it does not disclose a system for tracking payment authorizations or allowing the customers actively participate in the award tracking process.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,244 (the '244 patent) entitled "Computerized Incentive Program with Plateau Pricing and Remote Award Redemption" discloses an award tracking system for customers. The '244 patent offers a plurality of products obtainable by redeeming award points. The products are offered at various plateau levels. However, the '244 patent is limited in that it does not disclose a method for tracking the authorization of award payments. The '244 patent also does not disclose a method for allowing the customers to actively participate in the award tracking process.
Consequently, what is needed beyond the prior art is a method and system for tracking award triggering events, award payment authorizations, and award payments. The need extends to a method and system for automatically reminding managers of the need to authorize payment of the awards. Finally, the need includes a method and a system for allowing the inventor to monitor the award triggering events, award payment authorizations, and award payments which also reminds the manager of the need to authorize an award payment.

Payment control to inventors in patent tracking system

International Business Machines Corporation


A pitching training device comprises a typical baseball with raised pitching training structure on top of the stitches on the seam. The pitching training structure is able to be an additional layer of stitches on top of the typical stitches of a baseball. The pitching training structure provides a finger rest area allowing a user to spin the baseball more easily at a breaking ball pitching release.

Various baseball pitches are able to be performed by varying the grip and the throwing motion of the ball, which results in different ball trajectories, speeds, and movements. Common pitches include a two-seam fastball, a four-seam fastball, a slider, a fork ball (split finger), a sinker, a cutter, a curveball, a screwball, a changeup, and a knuckle ball, among others. Learning how to master various pitches is the goal of many aspiring athletes, but the task can be difficult because there are many details to learn and practice, including pitch-specific grips and pitch-specific throwing dynamics.


A wireless automation system includes a plurality of devices that forms a hive. Each device includes: a wireless transceiver; having a means to intercommunicate wirelessly with any of the plurality of devices; a microprocessor to process data from at least one input element to generate output for performing actions; a first means for operation without needing to transmit or receive a request, with each device able to operate standalone or connected to at least one third-party device; a second means for initiating a transmission request to other devices, including requests for the other devices to perform an action or a plurality of actions as specified in the transmission request; and a third means for receiving the transmission request from a transmitting device within the plurality of devices and performing at least an action or plurality of actions as requested by the transmitting device.

There are many known lighting and automation systems described in prior art that remotely control lighting and electrical apparatuses using a handheld remote or tablet, in tandem with centralized controller, and either wired, wireless, or via power line carrier communication system. Many of these prior arts systems use a centralized control system and are focused to be expandable with an emphasis on mobility and compatibility. The prior art attempts to provide competent control of increasingly sophisticated functions, including anticipated future functions provided by modern appliances, or anticipating possible customer requirements. In pursuing these goals, many of the prior art systems became complicated and expensive with lots of built in redundancy.
The unnecessary redundancy and complexity make these systems difficult to understand, and thus make the installation of the system very difficult, costly, and hard to maintain. In other words, the prior art inventions, from a business standpoint, are neither practical nor economically viable to customers most of the time.
Besides needing a central control unit, U.S. Pat. No. 6,567,032 to Mullaly et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,086 to Ivie et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,297,746 to Nakazawa et al. require a customized receiver control unit to be built-in or retrofitted into every electrical appliance that users want to control. This is neither practical nor economically feasible.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,838,226 to Houggy et al. teaches a centralized automated lighting control system via RF two-way communication protocol with plurality of repeaters. As RF signals are received by every lighting switch in the group, thus, each lighting switch must have a unique device identification number. Similarly, for power line communication system. Thus, with so many IDs, a complex handheld control unit is required to control these lightings.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,113,508 B2 to Wendt et al, U.S. Pat. No. 8,731,690 B2 to Yianni et al, U.S. Pat. No. 7,502,034 B2 Chemel et al, require extraordinary skills, complexity and equipment to setup these systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,686,664 B2 Herbst et al, U.S. Pat. No. 8,686,665 B2 Horbst et al are meant for very large regional lighting control that include a network control center.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,979,097 Elam et al teaches modular ambient lighting system providing 3 interchangeable modules so that any lamp can be easily configured to different form of illumination. What is lacking here is that clients will still have to change their existing lighting fixture to this specific fixture to benefit, retrofitting to clients' existing light fixture will be troublesome.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,322,376A1 to Peter Francis Couse teaches a blue tooth pairing that is quite convoluted wherein requiring pairing information against a user profile, logging into a user personal device by entering an extension number or username and password, initiating a pairing process and selecting from a displayed list of available wireless devices that is within range to the personal use device, and entering a passcode of said wireless device on said personal use device, after which the unique identifier and the passcode is then stored into a database as pairing information stored against a user profile to complete the pairing sequence.
Similarly, complexity is also seen in the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 8,340,007B2 Lu et al whose pairing method needs information such as MAC (Media Access Control) address, PMN (Pairing Magic Numbers) and pairing indices to be exchanged between devices, not to mention register mode, enrollee mode and frame exchanging such as join pairing frame, wait pairing frame, pairing accept frame for any pairing or unpairing to be successful.
Also seen in the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 9,420,446 B2 Brown et al is a complex hive network prompting plurality of users to register with a capabilities aware hive network, said plurality of users providing information of their individual capabilities, compiling all said individual capabilities from said plurality of users, obtaining data on the occurrence of an event and identifying and prioritizing individual capabilities to response to said event and user-providing specific instructions to the plurality of users to perform individual user actions on how to response to said event.
What the prior art fails to consider for lighting control and automation is simplicity. Easy to install by retrofitting and easy to configure. In the prior art described above, it is not economically feasible to do lighting control and automation at a small scale, nor do they provide the flexibility to upsize it later without spending a fortune upfront.

Wireless system for lighting and automation


A method, logic and system are provided for generating data representing all possible materials that may be present when monitoring a region or space for a radioisotope of interest. All possible materials with which a radioisotope material may interact are grouped or categorized into one of a plurality of material groups. Each material group is further subdivided into a plurality of subgroups based on atomic number of a material. First data is stored for each of the subgroups of each of the plurality of material groups, where the first data represents an interaction between a representative material for a corresponding subgroup and radiation at a plurality of energy levels. Second data is stored representing spectral characteristics of each radioisotope of interest at the plurality of energy levels. For a radioisotope of interest, a computation is made to produce spectrum data resulting from an interaction between of the radioisotope of interest using the second data with the first data for each of the plurality of subgroups in each material group. The spectrum data is then stored in a library for later use in the field with the output from a detector. Spectrum data is stored for the particular detector to be used in the field, and to this end, such detector-specific spectrum library data may be adjusted to account for a detector's quantum efficiency and resolution characteristics.

Efforts are underway to develop technologies capable of detecting the presence of materials that may be placed inside a container for purposes of transporting the material to a destination. Examples of harmful materials that may be most important to identify are radioactive, explosive, biological, and/or chemical agents.
Current radioisotopic identification is based upon peak-finding and pattern-matching algorithms. These techniques may be sufficient in the laboratory and in some industrial applications (e.g., in commercial nuclear power reactors), but they fall short in attempts to detect shielded radioisotopes, largely because current algorithms do not sufficiently account for the interaction between the emitted radiation and the surrounding matter.
The aforementioned co-pending application presents a system and method for modeling the interaction of radioisotope materials with any shielding material in order to rapidly analyze output of a detector to determine whether a radioisotope material of interest is present in a field of view of the detector. There is room for improving on those techniques, and in particular, for building a reliable library of data representing interactions between radioisotopes of interest and possible materials in any combination.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Library generation for detection and identification of shielded radioisotopes


A lithium ion secondary battery in which at least one step portion is formed on an upper surface of a cap plate, and at least one step portion is formed on a lower or first surface of a battery part opposite to the upper or first surface of the cap plate so that the at least two step portions are complementary. The complementary step portions of the cap plate of the bare cell and the battery part provided at an upper part of the cap plate result in easy coupling of the battery part to the bare cell and stable maintenance of the coupling between the battery part and the bare cell. The coupling structure results in greater ease in performing subsequent manufacturing processes and protects the bare cells coupled to the battery part from dislodging.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate to a lithium ion secondary battery, and more particularly, to a lithium ion secondary battery in which a separate battery part is coupled to an upper or first part of a cap plate of a bare cell.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, primary batteries are not rechargeable, and secondary batteries are rechargeable. In recent years, for example, nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries, lithium (Li) batteries, and lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries have been mainly used as the secondary batteries.
The lithium ion batteries are manufactured in various shapes. For example, the shapes of the lithium ion batteries may be classified into cylindrical, square prismatic, or pouch shapes according to the type of case used in manufacturing.
In the lithium ion battery, a carbon-based electrode is generally used as a cathode in order to reduce the risk of combustion or explosion. However, special emphasis is placed on the safety of the lithium ion battery in the manufacturing process due to the high energy density of lithium and the possibility of combustion reactions occurring with a non-aqueous electrolyte.
In order to improve the safety, the lithium ion battery generally includes a bare cell having a basic structure for charge or discharge and a protective circuit or a protective device for preventing overcharge, overdischarge, overheating, and overcurrent. The protective circuit or the protective device may be physically and electrically connected to the bare cell in the form of a printed circuit board and may be displaced on the side, the upper surface, or the lower surface of the bare cell.
In the cylindrical can battery, a cap assembly of a bare cell serves to prevent overheating and overcurrent. However, in the prismatic can battery, a cap assembly does not have such a safety feature. Therefore, in the prismatic can battery, particularly, a separate safety device should be coupled to the bare cell. In recent years, in many cases, the safety device of the prismatic can battery, such as a protective circuit board, is coupled to the upper surface of a cap plate.
Meanwhile, in a pack battery having a plurality of bare cells connected to one another, a battery part, such as a cap cover, may be coupled to an upper part of a cap plate in order for series/parallel connection of the bare cells in the pack or connection between the bare cells and a protective circuit.
An example of the cap cover will be described below. A peripheral portion or a body of the cap cover is generally formed of an insulating resin material, and forms a coupling part that is supported by a cap assembly of a bare cell while physically contacting the bare cell. A metal plate terminal that has a relatively narrow width and is connected to an electrode terminal of the bare cell is formed at the center of the lower surface of the cap cover. The narrow metal plate terminal is exposed through a hole formed in the center of the body of the cap cover. A wide metal plate terminal connected to a protective circuit terminal outside the bare cell may be provided in the vicinity of the hole on the upper surface of the cap cover. In addition, a conductive connecting part for connecting these metal plate terminals is provided.
However, in the cap assembly at the upper part of the bare cell, an electrode terminal protrudes from the surface of the cap plate and is insulated therefrom. Therefore, it is difficult to stably couple a battery part, such as a cap cover, to an upper part of the cap assembly. Further, it is difficult to stably couple the battery part to the bare cell by, for example, welding.
As a member for guiding the battery part to an accurate position with respect to the cell is not formed in the peripheral portion of the cap assembly, it is difficult to accurately couple the battery part to the upper part of the cap assembly. When the battery part is not accurately coupled to the cap assembly, it is difficult to achieve stable electrical connection between the battery part and the bare cell, which may cause defects in the electrical connection.
For example, when the cap cover is used for a pack battery, the cap cover should be fixed to the upper part of the cap plate. However, it is difficult to easily fix the cap cover to the cap plate, which may frustrate the manufacture of the pack battery.


A non-aqueous solvent is provided that includes ethylene carbonate in a range from 5% or more to less than 60%, propylene carbonate of 40% or less, and diethyl carbonate of 40% or more, as mass ratios. The non-aqueous electrolyte compositions are formed by further adding an electrolytic salt and, if necessary, unsaturated cyclic carbonic ester and a high molecular compound into the non-aqueous solvent. A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is formed by using the non-aqueous electrolyte compositions.

The present disclosure relates to a non-aqueous solvent, electrolyte compositions using the non-aqueous solvent, and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a non-aqueous solvent containing ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, and diethyl carbonate, non-aqueous electrolyte compositions containing the non-aqueous solvent and an electrolytic salt, and a lithium ion non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery using the non-aqueous electrolyte compositions.
In recent years, many portable electronic apparatuses such as camera-integrated type VTR (video tape recorder), digital camera, cellular phone, personal digital assistant, notebook-sized computer, and the like have been put into the market. Miniaturization and a light weight of such a portable electronic apparatus have been realized. As portable power sources for such electronic apparatuses, studies and development to improve an energy density are vigorously being progressed with respect to batteries, particularly, secondary batteries.
Among them, a lithium ion secondary battery in which carbon is used for an anode active material, a lithium-transition metal composite oxide is used for a cathode active material, and a carbonic ester mixture is used for an electrolytic solution has widely been put into practical use because a large energy density can be obtained as compared with a lead battery and a nickel cadmium battery as non-aqueous system electrolytic solution secondary batteries in the related art (for example, refer to JP-A-1992(Heisei 4)-332479).
Particularly, as for a laminate battery using an aluminum laminate film for a sheathing, an energy density is large because the laminate battery is light (for example, refer to the Official Gazette of Japanese Patent No. 3482591).
In such a laminate battery, if a polymer swelled by an electrolytic solution is used, since a deformation of the battery can be suppressed, a laminate polymer battery is also widely used (for example, refer to JP-A-2000-133215).
However, since a density of an electrode active materials provided for each of electrodes is increasing and a gap between them is decreasing in association with the recent realization of a high capacitance of a battery, in an electrolytic solution in the related art, conductivity is insufficient and lithium ions are difficult to move between the electrode.
There is, consequently, such a problem that battery performance deteriorates largely and a discharge capacitance maintaining ratio at the time of the repetitive charge and discharge decreases.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide a non-aqueous solvent which can improve a discharge capacitance maintaining ratio at the time of the repetitive charge and discharge, electrolyte compositions using such a non-aqueous solvent, and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery.

Non-aqueous solvent, non-aqueous electrolyte compositions, and non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery


A vehicle seat includes a seat back is coupled to a seat base for movement between an upright position and a folded-forward position when a vehicle seat recliner is in an open configuration. The vehicle seat includes a recliner hold-open mechanism that locks the recliner in the open configuration even after a user releases a handle or otherwise disengages an actuator of the recliner. The seat back is thus free to move between the upright and folded-forward positions without the user being required to hold the actuator in any particular position during the movement. The hold-open mechanism may be configured to cooperate with a seat-base motion controller to free the vehicle seat for movement along a foundation frame while the seat back is between the upright and folded-forward positions.

Vehicle seats may be equipped with recliners that allow adjustment of the angle of the seat back with respect to the seat bottom. Some recliners include multiple locking zones, with free rotation of the seat back limited to positions within a single locking zone. Where it may be desired to fold the seat back so that it is flat relative to the vehicle floor, such recliners require a user to hold the recliner in a particular position to allow rotation of the seat back to the end of one of the locking zones, where the free rotation is halted. Then the user must operate the recliner again to move the recliner past the end of the locking zone and into the next locking zone for any additional free movement necessary to place the seat back in the flat position.

Recliner hold-open mechanism for a vehicle seat


A main thyristor (1) has a recovery protection which is integrated into a drive thyristor (2) whose n-doped emitter (25) is electrically connected to a main thyristor control terminal (140). Moreover, the p-doped emitter (28) of the drive thyristor (2) is electrically connected to the p-doped emitter (18) of the main thyristor (1). Various optional measures for realizing a recovery protection are provided in this case. A method for producing a thyristor system having a main thyristor and a drive thyristor, the drive thyristor (2) having anode short circuits (211) involves introducing particles (230) into a target region (225) of the semiconductor body (200) of the drive thyristor (2), the distance between the target region (225) and a front side (201) of the semiconductor body (200) opposite to the rear side (202) being less than or equal to the distance between the p-doped emitter (28) and the front side (201).

When a thyristor is turned off, its semiconductor body still contains a relatively high number of free charge carriers which are not dissipated until within a so-called recovery time to the extent where the thyristor finally effects blocking reliably.
However, if the thyristor is subjected to a pulsed voltage loading within the recovery time, then an uncontrolled triggering of the thyristor may occur on account of a still excessively high number of free charge carriers in the semiconductor body. In this case, current filaments may form which have such a high current density that the thyristor may be destroyed.
Therefore, it is generally attempted to construct thyristors in such a way that they are insensitive to voltage surges which occur in the forward direction within the recovery time.
DE 199 47 028 A1 discloses an asymmetrically blocking thyristor with a driver stage. The driver stage comprises an n-doped auxiliary emitter, which makes contact with a metallization of the driver stage. Three variants are provided for improving the recovery protection in this case.
In a first variant, the transistor gain factor of a transistor formed from the n-doped auxiliary emitter, the p-doped base and the n-doped base below the metallization of the driver stage is greater than the transistor gain factor of a transistor formed from the n-doped emitter, the p-doped base and the n-doped base below the cathode of the thyristor.
In a second variant, the transistor gain factor of a transistor formed from the p-doped base, the n-doped base and the p-doped emitter below the metallization of the at least one driver stage is greater than the transistor gain factor of a transistor formed from the p-doped base, the n-doped base and the p-doped emitter below the cathode of the thyristor.
A third variant provides anode short circuits which connect the n-doped base and the anode electrode of the thyristor to one another and the electrical conductivity of which is smaller below the metallization of at least one driver stage than below the cathode electrode.
H. J. Schulze et al.: "Thyristor with Integrated Forward Recovery Protection" Proc. ISPSD 2001 firstly discloses, in the case of a symmetrically blocking thyristor with a triggering stage structure, setting the charge carrier lifetime such that it is significantly higher in the region of the triggering stage structure than in the region of the main cathode.
Secondly, the disclosure of said document shows n-doped islands incorporated into the p-doped emitter. Said n-doped islands act as local transistors which make additional free charge carriers available during the blocking phase of the thyristor.


A system and method are described for increasing performance of operations implemented in a storage system utilizing fibre channel, such as by enabling full duplex opens when a JBOD/bridge is involved. In an aspect of the present invention, a method of performing a full duplex open in a fibre channel network having an initiator and a bridge may include initiating an open by the initiator with the bridge. The bridge has a primary physical address and an alias physical address. The alias physical address represents a target device communicatively coupled to the bridge, wherein the open is initiated utilizing the primary physical address. The initiator communicates with the target device.

The storage of electronic data is one of the most important aspects in modem business practice as businesses increasingly rely on efficient and reliable access to necessary data. Because of the importance of this data, a variety of methods and systems have been developed to provide redundant and efficient data access to ensure the availability of the data.
However, businesses are confronted with balancing service quality, such as access speed in writing and retrieving data, robustness of the storage devices, and the like, with cost of maintaining and purchasing data storage systems. Although the cost of storage devices continues to decrease, the amount of data needed to be stored has increased, which in some instances has outstripped potential cost savings as customers need larger amounts of storage and quicker access to data. Further, the costs of maintaining data storage has increased as larger and more complex systems require better trained and greater number of IT personnel.
Fibre channel is a computer communications protocol which offers increased information transfer capabilities over pre-existing protocols. Thus, fibre channel has greatly benefited electronic storage. However, fibre channel devices are generally more expensive than legacy devices and require adapter cards and the like for connectivity utilizing legacy devices.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system and method for increasing performance of devices utilizing fibre channel.

Communications method within an arbitrated loop fibre channel network


Vehicles and engines are provided. The engine, for example, may include a first engine component configured to be ohmically coupled to a common ground, a second engine component configured to be coupled to the first engine component, the second engine component comprising an insulative materially ohmically isolating the second engine component from the first engine component, the second engine component including an inclusion having a predetermined depth along a surface of the second engine component configured to be coupled to the first engine component, a third engine component configured to be coupled to the second engine component, and a spring clip configured to be ohmically coupled to the third engine component, wherein the spring clip is further configured to be disposed within the inclusion of the second engine component and to have a deflectable surface having an undeflected depth greater than the predetermined depth of the inclusion.

Fuel rails are used to deliver fuel to individual fuel injectors on internal combustion engines. Fuel rails for, for example, port fuel injection (PFI) engines are often coupled to an intake manifold. Fuel rails are designed to have a pocket or seat for each injector as well as an inlet for a fuel supply. Some fuel rails also incorporate an attached fuel pressure regulator. Fuel rails are used on engines with multi-point fuel injection systems, although some multi-point systems use a fuel distributor with individual pipes or tubes to feed each injector. Fuel rails are generally coupled to an intake manifold, which is the part of an engine that supplies the fuel/air mixture to the cylinders. Fuel rails need to be grounded. However, intake manifolds are generally made of plastic, which electrically isolates the fuel rail from a common vehicle ground.
Traditionally, a bolt is used to couple the intake manifold to a grounded cylinder head. A ground plate, which is ohmically connected to the fuel rail, is generally secured by the bolt to the intake manifold. Accordingly, the bolt ohmically couples the cylinder head to the ground plate. However, the ground plate can interfere with the secure coupling of the bolt, potentially causing the intake manifold to loosen from the cylinder head and causing the fuel rail to again become electrically isolated from the vehicle common ground.
Accordingly, it is desirable to securely ground the fuel rail while securely coupling the intake manifold to the cylinder head. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.


A polarization-mode selective semiconductor laser includes a semiconductor laser structure including an active layer for generating gain spectra for the first and second different polarization modes and a diffraction grating formed with a uniform pitch over the laser structure. The laser structure includes a first DFB reflector portion with a first channel stripe and a second DFB reflector portion with a second channel stripe connected to the first stripe channel. The first DFB reflector portion and the second DFB reflector portion is serially arranged in a cavity direction of the laser. The first and second stripe channels are bent relative to each other such that a Bragg wavelength for the first polarization mode is coincident with a gain peak wavelength for the first polarization mode in the first DFB reflector portion, to make the first polarization mode dominant in the first DFB reflector portion, and that a Bragg wavelength for the second polarization mode is coincident with a gain peak wavelength for the second polarization mode in the second DFB reflector portion, to make the second polarization mode dominant in the second DFB reflector portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polarization-mode changeable or selective semiconductor laser whose polarization mode of output light can be changed between different polarization modes (typically, a transverse electric (TE) mode and a transverse magnetic (TM) mode) by an external control, an apparatus including the semiconductor laser, and so forth.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 2-159781 discloses an example of a distributed feedback (DFB) laser whose polarization mode of output light can be varied by an external control. In the DFB semiconductor laser, carriers are injected to perform phase adjustment and effect population inversion, and by this means the phase of internal propagating light is varied. Thus, light oscillation occurs in either the TE mode or the TM mode, whichever has a lower threshold gain in accordance with the phase condition.
In the structure of that DFB semiconductor laser, an active layer is formed of a bulk material such that the difference in gain between those different polarization modes is reduced, and the pitch of its diffraction grating is precisely set such that its Bragg wavelength is coincident with the gain peak wavelength. As a result, oscillation competition between those polarization modes can be achieved in the semiconductor laser by controlling amounts of carriers injected into its front and rear regions. In this structure, however, a desired competitive condition between those polarization modes can not be attained unless the pitch of the diffraction grating is accurately and precisely set, and hence yield of the polarization-mode selective device is likely to be undesirably low.
Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 7-235718 discloses another conventional device in which there are serially arranged a plurality of DFB regions whose dominant polarization modes are respectively the TE mode and the TM mode. In this structure, there is arranged an active layer (typically, a quantum well structure) which exhibits different gain spectra for the two different polarization modes, and pitches of the diffraction gratings are independently set in those TE and TM regions such that the Bragg wavelengths for those two polarization modes are respectively accorded to gain peak wavelengths for those two polarization modes in those TE and TM regions. However, its fabrication process is complicated since the different pitches are separately set in those two regions, and accordingly its yield is likely to be too low as well.
Furthermore, although the waveguide structure and the active layer may be formed differently as between the two regions to form the above-discussed TE and TM regions with the pitches of their diffraction gratings being the same, this requires more complicated epitaxial growth and processing than the above process of forming the different pitches. Thus, it is hard to obtain favorable polarization-mode switching characteristics with good reproducibility.

Polarization-mode selective semiconductor laser with a bending channel stripe, apparatus including the same and optical communication system using the same


A connector (10) comprises a base (20), a cover (30), a protecting mechanism (35) and an actuator (40). The base defines a plurality of through holes (21) therein for receiving a plurality of contacts. The cover movably mounted on the base defines a plurality of passages in alignment with the through holes of the base. The protecting mechanism in the cover defines a hole extending therethrough, two stop members (341,342) are formed in inner surface of the hole. The actuator that can actuate the cover slide on the base, is rotatably assembled with the base and the protecting mechanism. The actuator has a protrusion thereon abuttable against either of the stop members during operation of the actuator, and is departed completely from the cover by the protecting mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zero-insertion-force (hereafter ZIF) connector.
2. Description of Related Art
Central processing unit (CPU) sockets are widely used in personal computer (PC) systems to electrically connect integrated circuit (IC) chips with printed circuit boards (PCBs), pins in the IC chips increase accordingly. To mount a CPU socket with so many pins to a connector needs a very large inserting force. Such a large inserting force will cause a difficulty to mount/dismount the CPU socket or contacts of the CPU sockets if there is a deviation of positional precision of the pins or the contacts. Thus, a ZIF connector is developed, when it is at an open position the pins of the IC chip can be freely inserted into the CPU socket without engagement with the contacts, when it is at an closed position the pins of the IC chip can engage with the contacts so that an electrical connection is achieved between the IC chip and the PCB. The ZIF connector is motivated by an actuator thereof to a closed position thereby moving the pins to engage with the contacts.
The conventional ZIF connector comprises a plastic base, a plastic cover slidably mounted onto the base, a plurality of electrical contacts received in the base, and a metallic actuator. The plastic cover is actuated to slide on the plastic base by rotating of the metallic actuator, thereby causing pins of integrated circuit chip mounted on the cover to engage/disengage with the contacts in the plastic base. The plastic cover defines a circular-shaped recess in one side thereof. Two stop walls are formed in the inner surface of the circular-shaped recess. The metallic actuator comprises a lateral protruding protrusion. The protrusion of the actuator is rotatable in the circular-shaped recess. Rotation of the actuator causes the plastic cover to slide on the plastic base, mating or unmating the pins of the integrated circuit chip on the cover with the contacts of the plastic base.
However, when the protrusion of the actuator rotates between two limit positions defined by the stop walls and abuts against one of the stop walls, the large force exerted by the protrusion may tend to damage the stop walls during operation because the metallic material has a higher strength than the plastic material, thereby causing malfunction of the ZIF connector. Further, the plastic cover tends to be worn out by the rotation of the metallic actuator therein, resulting in a shortened life thereof, and in turn a shortened life of the connector. The disadvantages as above of this type of connector is existed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,146,178, which can not escape from the risk of damaging the plastic cover of the connector.
Hence, an improved ZIF connector is desired to overcome the disadvantages and problems of the prior art.


A method and apparatus are disclosed for removing a pellicle frame (52) from a photomask plate (50) where the pellicle frame (52) is adhered to a surface of the photomask plate (50) by an adhesive material (54). Tension is applied to the adhesive material (54) by applying force to separate the pellicle frame (52) and the photomask plate (50). A second surface of the photomask plate (50), opposite from the surface to which the pellicle frame (52) is adhered, is heated to raise the temperature of the adhesive material (54) and to raise the temperature of the photomask plate (50) greater than the temperature of the pellicle frame (52). The tension on the adhesive material (54) is then maintained until the adhesive material (54) releases the pellicle frame (52) from the photomask plate (50).

Photomasks are widely used in the semiconductor industry during photolithography steps of semiconductor processing technologies. Photomask plates generally comprise a quartz blank having a patterned metal layer on one surface. Both surfaces of photomask plates are often protected from dust particles through the use of pellicle films. Typically, the pellicle films are stretched across a pellicle frame which is adhered to the surface of the photomask plate. The pellicle film can then keep dust away from the photomask plate surface without affecting the function of the photomask plate. During use, pellicle films can degrade, be punctured or otherwise be damaged while the photomask plate remains usable. Because it is expensive to replace photomask plates, it is desirable to remove the pellicle frame from the photomask plate and attach a new pellicle frame (this is sometimes referred to as re-pelling the photomask plate).
A wide variety of adhesive materials can be used to adhere a pellicle frame to a photomask plate. However, pellicle frames are increasingly adhered to photomask plates using a solid adhesive gasket (SAG) adhesive material. The solid adhesive gasket is glue-like material that hardens at ambient temperatures but melts when heated to higher temperature levels, for example above 95.degree. F. Generally, the larger the size of the photomask plate, the more adhesive material is required for adhering the pellicle frame.
One method for removing pellicle frames is by using a small pry bar to pry the pellicle frame from the surface of the photomask plate. The pry bar has a curved end. The elbow of the curve rests on the surface of the photomask plate, and the end of the pry bar engages de-mount holes on the outside of the pellicle frame. The other end of the pry bar can then by used to apply force to the pellicle frame. This method works well with pellicle frames adhered with double-sided adhesive gasket tape. This method does not work well with pellicle frames attached using the solid adhesive gasket (SAG) material. Rather than crisply separating, as with traditional gasket tapes, the SAG material stretches and elastically snaps back. Thus, the pry bar removal is generally inadequate for use with SAG. Further, use of the pry bar provides an obvious opportunity to scratch or mar the surface of the photomask plate.
Another conventional method for removing pellicle frames is to heat the entire assembly, both the photomask plate and the pellicle frame, in a warm bath. This causes the adhesive material to melt and allow removal of the pellicle frame. However, when the pellicle frame is removed, the melted SAG material will often stream across the surface of the photomask plate. Any material remaining on the surface of the photomask plate clearly can destroy the usefulness of the photomask. Thus, while the bath method works to remove the pellicle frames, it is a relatively unclean and often leaves adhesive material across the plate surface.
A further method is to heat the pellicle frame through a device that engages the de-mount holes of the pellicle frame. This is somewhat better than the bath method, but the melted SAG material typically first releases from the warmer of two surfaces. By heating the pellicle frame, the pellicle frame is at a higher temperature than the photomask plate. Thus, when the pellicle frame is separated from the photomask plate, the SAG material remains on the photomask plate. Again, this is problematic because the photomask plate needs to remain clean and unblemished to be useful.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a way to remove pellicle frames adhered using SAG and other adhesive materials that cleanly removes the pellicle frame without damaging the surface of the photomask plate or leaving adhesive material residue.

Method and apparatus for removing a pellicle frame from a photomask plate


A manufacturing process for a thermally enhanced package is disclosed. First, a substrate strip including at least a substrate is provided. Next, at least a chip is disposed on an upper surface of the substrate, and the chip is electrically connected to the substrate. Then, a prepreg and a heat dissipating metal layer are provided, and the heat dissipating metal layer is disposed on a first surface of the prepreg and a second surface of the prepreg faces toward the chip. Finally, the prepreg covers the chip by laminating the prepreg and the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a manufacturing process of a package, and particularly relates to a manufacturing process of a thermally enhanced package.
2. Description of Related Art
In a conventional package process, it is required to perform a molding process to seal and protect a chip. However, such a process not only increases the costs for equipment and molds but also involves complicated technology. The high costs and complicated technology do not certainly guarantee the quality of the products. Hence, they are considered uneconomic.

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.


A method and apparatus are provided for preparing ad-books over a communications network. The method includes preparing an advertisement at a user terminal connected to the communications network. The method further includes processing the advertisement at a server connected to the communications network for placing the advertisement in an ad-book.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to advertisement books, and more particularly, to computerized/automated preparation, production, publishing and management of ad-books and related print publishing frequently used by charities for fund raising.
2. Related Art
Advertisement books (used herein as "ad-books") are fundraising vehicles whereby members and supporters of an organization pay the organization to place an advertisement (used herein as "ad") or message in an organization's publication for the dual purpose of advertising and contributing to the group. Organizations that may use ad-books include charities, schools, teams, associations, clubs, professional organizations, lodges, unions, boards, fraternities, sisterhoods, causes, hospitals, homes, condo-boards, synagogues, events, community groups, and political party candidates. Typically, an organization will solicit members and supporters to buy an ad in their ad-book and either sell or give away the ad-books as a fundraising tool. As a fundraising tool, ad-books (and related publications) are similar to group flndraisers such as award dinners, car washes, bake-sales, raffles, auctions, golf-outings, or similar events. Each such event offers members and supporters an excuse or opportunity to contribute and help the organization raise money. Further, ad-books are often produced along with or in the form of dinner-programs, group directories, group calendars, raffles, yearbooks, newsletter, or along with other simple content or events.
Although ad-book ads are viewed by advertisers as a deductible business expense, the "advertiser's" primary economic motivation is to make a contribution to the organization as opposed to receiving quality or value for a purchase. In this sense, this type of ad is based on the advertiser's desire to support the organization (or be seen among his/her peers as supporting). Often ad-books are a part of the social fabric of the charitable community and allow donors to be recognized for their contributions. For example, a large and generous donor may be recognized in a prominent full-page, gold-leaf ad, while smaller donors may be acknowledged in smaller ads. Thus, the ad-book may be seen as a roll of givers that acts as a directory, establishes a pecking-order, and may even pressure others to donate. In this sense, ad-books give the advertiser the opportunity to be known as a benefactor.
The process of putting together an ad-book includes gathering advertisers, creating ads, collating ads, collecting money, issuing receipts, performing layout of content and graphics, and printing and distributing ad-books. Organizations that use ad-books as a fundraising vehicle usually perform these tasks by organizing committees of volunteers. Many of these tasks may be performed by the organization or sent to local businesses to assist with the production of the ad-books. In either case, the process is quite time consuming and very labor intensive for the organizations that use ad-books as a fundraising vehicle. Further, since organizations generally do not collaborate or co-fundraise, the economic benefit that arises from producing ad-books in large quantities for many different organizations is unavailable. Thus, a number of alternative fundraising ways are known and preferred to using ad-books.
In the field of pure charity, we know of at least one known reference describes a method of and device for streamlining, simplifying and inducing the giving of contribution or gift commitments by contributors or prospective gift givers that involves dispersing through a crowd of prospective contributors or gift givers a plurality of keyless, electronic contributions or gifts management devices for immediate entry of consecutive data comprising the identities of the contributors or gift givers making the monetary contribution commitments or monetary gift commitments.
Another known "charity" reference describes a method of capturing monetary donations or monetary gifts made by donors or gift givers at points in time and space in which said donors or gift givers are optimally motivated to make said donations or gifts, said donations or gifts being the donation or gift preferences of respective donors or gift givers. The method comprises inputting a multiplicity of sequences of data comprised of monetary donations or monetary gifts. The monetary donations or monetary gifts are made by a plurality of said respective donors or gift givers consecutively free of input of information unrelated to said respective monetary donations or monetary gifts at a multiplicity of distinct sites where said donations and gifts are being received.
Another known "non-ad" reference describes a central office that correlates charitable contributions made at vending stations in food service establishments which issue information carriers in return for charitable contributions which are receipts for the contribution and entitle the donor to a beverage dispensed from a machine responding to the information carrier. Yet another known reference describes a multiplicity of charitable collection stations with selectors for choosing the charity to which a contribution is destined, a change maker for issuing change if desired, a display for displaying information with respect to premiums available and contributions made, and a modem or other telecommunicator for two-way communications with a central station.
However, none of these known ways streamlines the creation, publishing, and development of ads, ad-books or related print-jobs. Accordingly, a new method and system for creating ad-books is needed.

Method and system for creating advertisement books


An improved ratchet wheel structure of a ratcheting wrench, having a restricting base at the bottom of the ratchet wheel, wherein the external diameter of the restricting base is slightly smaller than the diameter of the bottom hole on the fixing base of the ratchet wheel, and it extends to the intersection point of the ratchets of the ratchet wheel to form a serrated disk, and the ratchets aligned in parallel with the axial direction in the middle section of the ratchet wheel, and it extends to the intersection point of the positioning area such that the tip of the ratchets is corresponsive to the external diameter of the ratchet wheel, and a latching groove being disposed around an appropriate position in the positioning area such that a C-shaped buckle being latched into the latching groove for positioning. The ratchet wheel is embedded into the fixing groove of the ratchet wheel, and the serrated disk of the ratchet wheel and the restricting base just fit into the accommodating groove of the cross base and the restricting hole for the positioning, and the C-shape buckle will then be embedded into the inner edge of the hole in the accommodating groove such that the ratchet wheel in the accommodating groove will not fall off. Since the ratchets of the ratchet wheel are relatively of the same size as the external diameter of the ratchet wheel, the ratchets can keep its minimum external diameter for the ratchet wheel, and allow maximum effective ratchet diameter for the pawls of the blocking member for the engagement of the ratchets in order to strengthen the ratchets and avoid them from being cracked. In addition, the ratchet wheel and the ratchets are formed integrally to accomplish the effect of easy manufacture and quality inspection.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved ratchet wheel structure of a ratcheting wrench, more particularly to a ratchet wheel structure using the external diameter of its axial ratchets corresponsive to the external diameter of the ratchet wheel for its production to improve the strength of the pawls of the blocking member which is for latching the ratchets of the ratchet wheel, and to avoid the ratchets from being cracked. The axial ratchet extends directly to the intersection point of the serrated disk of the ratchet wheel and allows an integral formation of the ratchet wheel structure for an easier manufacture and quality inspection.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The traditional ratcheting wrench such as the one described in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,695. For simplicity, such invention is depicted and disclosed in FIG. 1. In order to accomplish a smaller volume of the fixing base for the ratchet wheel, the ratchet A1 is disposed in the concession area B in the ratchet wheel A, and its external diameter is smaller than the external diameter of the ratchet wheel so that the ratchet formed is decreased with respect to the width of its wall, and it will reduce its strength. Furthermore, since the ratchets are deep inside the concession of the ratchet wheel, it has stricter accuracy requirement for its manufacture, and is more difficult to manufacture. In the mean time, since the ratchets are designed as an inwardly concave structure, therefore we are unable to inspect the quality of the ratchets by simple non-destructive instrument such as an overhead projector, and such shortcoming makes the inspection more difficult.
Further, please refer to FIG. 2. It shows another embodiment of the U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,695, which tries to solve the above-mentioned problem regarding the thickness of the wall by making the ratchets inside the concession area B as a straight serration A1xe2x80x2 instead of the inwardly concave one, and provides higher accuracy to the manufacturing. Since it just fills up the concession of the ratchets as shown in FIG. 1, the external diameter of the ratchet is smaller than the external diameter of the ratchet wheel. What has been accomplished is just better than the strength of the structure as shown in FIG. 1. Since the ratchets are still deep inside the concession area B, we still cannot perform the quality inspection easily.
In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, which are the subjects of improvements for a long time, hence the inventor of the present invention based on years of experience accumulated from the engagement in the related industry conducted extensive research to resolve the foregoing shortcomings and invented the present invention.
Therefore, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved ratchet wheel structure of a ratcheting wrench, wherein the external diameter of the ratchet wheel is slightly smaller than the hole diameter of the insert hole of the fixing base, and a restricting base is disposed at the bottom of the ratchet wheel. The external diameter of the ratchets is slightly smaller than the diameter of the insert hole on the fixing base, and a restricting base is disposed at the bottom, and the external diameter of the restricting base is slightly smaller than the diameter of the hole at the bottom of the fixing base, and it extends to the intersection point of the ratchets of the ratchet wheel to form a serrated disk. The ratchets are aligned parallel to the axial direction at the middle section of the positioning area and it extends to the intersection point of the positioning area such that the tip of the ratchet is corresponsive to the external diameter of the ratchet wheel. Furthermore, a latching groove is disposed at an appropriate position around the fixing area for latching the C-shape buckle into the latching groove in position, and the ratchet wheel is embedded into the fixing groove of the ratchet wheel such that the serrated disk of the ratchet wheel and the restricting base just fall into the cross base and the restricting hole of accommodating groove for the positioning. The C-shape buckle is then embedded into the inner edge of the insert hole of the accommodating groove such that the ratchet wheel in the accommodating groove will not fall out. Therefore, the ratchet of the ratchet wheel is corresponsive to the external diameter of the ratchet wheel such that the ratchet can keep the minimum external diameter of the ratchet wheel and obtain the maximum effective diameter of the ratchet. When the pawls of the blocking member are engaged with the ratchets, it strengthens the ratchets and avoids them from being cracked.
The secondary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved ratchet wheel structure for a ratcheting wrench, wherein the axial ratchets are disposed at the intersection position of the fixing area and the ratchets, and directly reach the serrated disk such that the ratchet wheel and the ratchets can be formed to allow easy manufacturing. Due to its semi-opened design, it does not need destructive examinations for the quality inspection and it makes the job of quality control easier.
To make it easier for our examiner to understand the objective of the invention, structure, innovative features, and performance, we use a preferred embodiment together with the attached drawings for the detailed description of the invention.

Ratchet wheel structure of ratcheting wrench

No. 6, Nan Dih Lane, Sec. 1, Tan Shing Road, Tantzu Hsiang


The invention relates to a lock device, having a first connecting module and a second connecting module. The first connecting module can here be arranged in a closing direction on the second connecting module and is mechanically catch-lockingly engaged in a closing position with the second connecting module, and the first connecting module can be detached from the second connecting module by a movement of the first connecting module or of a part of the first connecting module in an opening direction, which differs from the closing direction. Here, a locking device (7; 9, 9a-f) is provided to prevent a movement of the first connecting module (1) or of the part (1a) of the first connecting module (1) in the opening direction (Y), when the first connecting module (1) and the second connecting module (2) are positioned in the closing position, wherein the locking device (7, 9, 9a-f; 100, 101, 102; 206, 207) can be unlocked to move the first connecting module (1) or the part (1a) of the first connecting module (1) in the opening direction (Y).

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a lock device.
Description of Related Art
Such a lock device has a first connecting module and a second connecting module, of which the first connecting module can be arranged in a closing direction on the second connecting module and is then mechanically catch-lockingly engaged in a closing position with the second connecting module.
The lock device can be opened in that the first connecting module can be detached from the second connecting module by terminating the catch locking engagement by a movement of the first connecting module, or of a part of the first connecting module serving as actuating element, in an opening direction, which differs from the closing direction.
In a lock device known from WO 2008/006357 A2 a first connecting module and a second connecting module each have for example one or multiple magnets which attractingly act between the first connecting module and the second connecting module in such a way that the first connecting module catch-lockingly engages with the second connecting module. Locking the lock takes place here in a closing direction which is directed essentially perpendicular to the planes of extension of the first connecting module and the second connecting module. As the first connecting module or an actuating element of the first connecting module is turned or shifted relative to the second connecting module, the catch locking elements of the first connecting module and of the second connecting module come out of engagement, wherein by the movement at the same time the magnetic attracting force between the first connecting module and the second connecting module—caused by a movement of the magnets relative to each other—is weakened, so that the first connecting module can be detached from the second connecting module. As, to support the closing movement, magnets are provided whose effect weakens upon opening, both the closing process and the opening process can take place in an easy and haptically pleasant manner.
In a lock device known from WO 2009/010049 A2, in which a first connecting module and a second connecting module can, magnetically supported, be catch-lockingly brought into engagement with each other, releasing the catch locking engagement takes place by a shifting or turning movement of the first connecting module, or of a part of the first connecting module, relative to the second connecting module, wherein by the shifting or turning movement a catch locking element of the one connecting module runs up onto a slope of the other connecting module and is thereby pushed out of engagement with an allocated catch locking element of the other connecting module, so that the catch locking engagement of the first connecting module and the second connecting module is terminated.
The lock devices of WO 2008/006 357 A2 and of WO 2009/01 00 49 A2 have in common that the catch-locking locking of the first connecting module with the second connecting module can be released in the closing position by a movement of the first connecting module, or of a part of the first connecting module (in the form of an actuating element), relative to the second connecting module in an opening direction, which differs from the closing direction to establish the locking. As a user in a suitable manner actuates the first connecting module, or an actuating element provided on said connecting module, by moving it in the opening direction, the first connecting module is detached from the second connecting module. Thereby, releasing the locking can take place essentially unobstructed and free by suitable actuation of the first connecting module or of the part of the first connecting module (in the form of an actuating element).
It is desirable that releasing the lock device can only take place when this is also intended. In particular, it can also be desirable, to make possible a release only under specific circumstances and by specific persons, for example to provide an anti-theft protection.

Mechanical closure having a locking device


This invention provides a system and method for capturing, detecting and extracting features of an ID, such as a 1D barcode, that employs an efficient processing system based upon a CPU-controlled vision system on a chip (VSoC) architecture, which illustratively provides a linear array processor (LAP) constructed with a single instruction multiple data (SIMD) architecture in which each pixel of the rows of the pixel array are directed to individual processors in a similarly wide array. The pixel data are processed in a front end (FE) process that performs rough finding and tracking of regions of interest (ROIs) that potentially contain ID-like features. The ROI-finding process occurs in two parts so as to optimize the efficiency of the LAP in neighborhood operations—a row-processing step that occurs during image pixel readout from the pixel array and an image-processing step that occurs typically after readout occurs. The relative motion of the ID-containing ROI with respect to the pixel array is tracked and predicted. An optional back end (BE) process employs the predicted ROI to perform feature-extraction after image capture. The feature extraction derives candidate ID features that are verified by a verification step that confirms the ID, creates a refined ROI, angle of orientation and feature set. These are transmitted to a decoding processor or other device.

Machine vision systems use image acquisition devices that include camera sensors to deliver information related to a viewed subject. The system then interprets this information according to a variety of algorithms to perform a programmed decision-making and/or identification function.
Generally, symbology (also termed "ID") reading entails the aiming of an image acquisition sensor (CMOS camera, CCD, etc.) at a location on an object that contains a symbol (a "barcode"), and acquiring an image of that symbol. The symbol contains a set of predetermined patterns that represent an ordered group of characters or shapes from which an attached data processor (for example, a microcomputer) can derive useful information about the object (e.g. its serial number, type, model, price, etc.). Symbols/barcodes are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. One of the most commonly employed symbol types used in marking and identifying objects are the so-called one-dimensional or "linear" barcode, one common for of which comprises a series of vertical stripes of varying width and spacing. While an image sensor that acquires pixels representative of the scene containing the barcode is described generally herein, other techniques and device for acquiring barcode information, including well-known laser scanners have also been used to acquire barcode information.
By way of background FIG. 1 shows an exemplary scanning system 100 adapted for handheld operation. An exemplary handheld scanning appliance in the form of a handpiece 102 is provided. It includes a grip section 104 and a body section 106. An image formation and processing system 151, shown in phantom, can be controlled and can direct image data to an onboard embedded processor and associated memory 109 that controls illumination image capture and other system processes. This processor 109 can also include, or be operatively connected to, an ID decoding application or sub-processor 113 by image data is interpreted into usable information (for example, alphanumeric strings derived from the symbols (such as the depicted one-dimensional (1D) barcode image 195) placed on the surface of an object. The decoded information can be directed via a cable 111 or wireless link to a PC or other data storage device 112 having (for example) a display 114, keyboard 116 and mouse 118, where it can be stored and further manipulated using an appropriate application 121. The application 121 can also include various interface components that allow the embedded processor 109 to be programmed with appropriate vision tools 130 needed for the particular ID identification and decoding task. In addition, the interface application can be used to diagnose scanner problems and/or determine other status items with respect to the scanner. A USB (2.0) or wireless interface allows for temporary connection of the scanning appliance 102 with respect to the PC 112. The precise arrangement of the handheld scanning appliance with respect to its embedded processor, ID decoding application, computer interface and/or other processors and processes is highly variable.
The scanning process can be adapted to respond to inputs from the scanning appliance 102. For example, when the operator toggles a trigger 122 on the hand held scanning appliance 102, an internal camera image sensor (within the image formation system 151) captures an image of a field of view 131 on an object 105. Within the field of view resides an exemplary region of interest (ROI), which includes the exemplary one-dimensional (1D) symbol 195 that can be used to identify the nature and quality of the underlying object 105. One or more visual indicators 141 on the scanning appliance 102 can be illuminated or otherwise addressed (e.g. an LCD alphanumeric display) by signals from the processor 109 to indicate a successful read and decode of the symbol 195. Audible indicators can also be activated to denote associated events.
One desirable feature for a scanning appliance is the ability to self-trigger the scanning process when an ID (i.e. symbol 195) is detected within the ROI. Image-based (i.e. employing an image sensor and vision system) symbology/ID scanners generally require a trigger to indicate when an ID (barcode) is in the field of view in order to begin the ID-finding and decoding process. Likewise, the ID finding process can be part of the trigger. That is, the trigger occurs in response to the finding of an ID within the field of view of the scanner. For many applications, it may be difficult to provide such a trigger because (a) it may not be known by an outside source (i.e. the potential trigger generator) when the barcode is in the field of view (b) it may be impossible to generate a reliable trigger given the mechanics of the operation. The difficulty increases when the barcode moves in a fashion that is not completely controlled in motion, position, and/or direction relative to the imaging system. More, generally, the number of image-capture and image-decoding events per second inherent to the system limits the ability to adequately scan an ID. Thus, rapid movement of the scanning appliance, and/or orienting the appliance at a steep angle with respect to the ID, can render most or all of the limited number of capture events inadequate to detect or decode the ID.
Moreover, it is recognized that certain aspects of the code itself can make it difficult to detect or decode it within a limited number of capture events—and a moving scanner typically results in a more limited group of usable image-captures. In particular, certain codes that have low contrast (e.g. printing on a brown cardboard box) may require the imaging system to perform adjustments to capture settings (such as gain or exposure) during the capture process. In such cases, the initial capture settings may be inadequate and there may be latency until the final, more-sufficient capture settings are adjusted. The number of captures available after this initial capture and adjustment latency may be quite small and make the detection and/or decoding of an ID difficult.
Alternatively, a user can employ a laser scanner to enable self-triggering and overcoming some motion in the barcode relative to the scanning device. However, laser scanners employ mechanical parts, such as moving mirrors that may become a maintenance burden. In addition, laser scanners perform more poorly than image-based ID scanners for difficult-to-read codes due to poor contrast, damage to the code print, etc.
Another alternative scanning approach is to employ a line-scan camera-based scanning appliance to capture images of the ID on an underlying object. Using line-camera, the entire field of view is continually imaged and processed, searching for ID-like features within the field off view and processing these features as they are detected. However, a disadvantage of line scan cameras is that they typically require careful control of the line scan rate, rendering them difficult or impossible to use in situations where the motion between the ID and the camera cannot be reliably or accurately measured and/or controlled.
A variety of currently available scanning appliances employ a digital signal processor (DSP) to accomplish the various functions needed to detect and decode an ID. Such DSPs, thus, include the vision system elements along with a conventional or customized ID-decoding application or process. This tends to limit processing speed as image pixels are captured, compared in neighborhood operations for appropriate regions of interest containing ID-like features, such features are extracted and then acted upon by the decoder in a step-by-step manner. When the ID and scanning appliance pixel array are moving relatively quickly with respect to each other—for example as a user rapidly passes the scanner over the ID, the capture rate of conventional image sensors/pixel arrays (often no greater than about 60 frames per second), combined with the processing throughput of conventional DSPs, is often insufficient to provide enough readable frames to decode the ID. Even given 60 frames per second, only a fraction of those frames will capture the complete ID, and several of those frames may be utilized exclusively to change the pixel array's imaging parameters (for lighting and contrast change, etc.), thus rendering them unusable for the decoding process. Hence, the final number of usable images for decoding can quickly approach zero in a conventional implementation.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide a system and method for capturing, detecting and identifying symbology/ID features, which allows for a wide range of rate motion and uncontrolled position/direction of the scanning appliance with respect to the object and associated ID (such as a 1D barcode). This system and method should enable the scanning appliance's imaging system to operate for tasks that were previously challenging or unachievable, such as those involving barcode reading in point-of-sale swipe scan systems. In addition it is desirable to provide a system and method that effectively reduces or eliminates the need for a trigger in an image-based scanning appliance, thereby allowing the scanner's imaging system to compete with laser scanners in environments where a trigger is difficult or impossible to configure. More generally, the system and method should facilitate a higher number of image capture and read events per second so as to increase the likelihood of one or more successful decoding events.

System and method for capturing and detecting symbology features and parameters


An apparatus and/or systems related to a case for a mobile device. A protective case may include a stand portion which slides out to an open position for propping up the mobile device at a predetermined angle for viewing by a user. As the user switches the viewing orientation of the mobile device (e.g., by physically rotating the mobile device 90 degrees), the stand portion continues to prop up the mobile device at the predetermined angle.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and/or systems related to a protective case or shell for a mobile device. The case may include a stand portion for propping up the mobile device for viewing by a user.
2. Description of Related Art
Mobile devices such as smartphones, tablet computers and the like are gaining widespread popularity. For example, millions of the Apple® iPhone® and the Apple® iPad® have been sold to date. The success of other major competitors such as Motorola®, Samsung®, HTC®, etc. only further confirms that consumers have adopted mobile devices. Consumers wish to protect and enhance the functionality of their products. Accordingly, manufacturers have produced different cases and other accessories to help the consumer keep their mobile devices safe.
However, certain of these cases do not allow a user to prop up the mobile device for hands-free viewing at a comfortable angle. Other cases which allow the user to prop up the mobile device are overly-complicated or unstable and require the user to test the various angles provided to determine a suitable angle which is both time consuming and requires significant effort on the part of the user. Other cases which allow the user to prop up the mobile device at a pre-defined, desired angle do not maintain the angle when the user switches orientation of the mobile device (e.g., changing the view from a "portrait-style" to a "landscape-style" by simply rotating the mobile device).


Methods for detecting flavivirus nucleic acids. Particularly described are methods for detecting West Nile virus nucleic acids in the 3′ non-coding region.

West Nile virus (WNV) is an RNA virus that primarily infects birds and culex mosquitos, with humans and horses serving as incidental hosts. Amplification of virus in a bird-mosquito-bird cycle begins when adult mosquitos emerge in early spring and continues until fall. This timing coincides with the incidence of disease in humans, which peaks in late summer and early fall. Since it was first detected in New York during 1999, the virus has spread rapidly throughout most of the United States.
Indeed, during the first nine months of 2002, a total of more than 2,500 human cases with laboratory evidence of recent WNV infection were reported in 32 states and the District of Columbia. A total of more than 120 human deaths were reported, with the median age of decedents being 79 years. Additionally, there were reports of nearly 5,000 dead crows and nearly 4,000 other dead birds with WNV infection in the United States. Of more than 3,000 mammals detected with WNV infection, greater than 99% were horses. There were also nearly 3,400 WNV-positive mosquito pools reported.
Most human infections with the virus are not clinically apparent. Overall, only 1 in 150 infections results in severe neurologic illness such as meningitis (inflammation of the spinal cord) or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Milder symptoms, which generally last 3 to 6 days and are more commonly reported in connection with WNV infection, include a fever of sudden onset, often accompanied by malaise, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, eye pain, headache, myalgia, rash, and lymphadenopathy. The incubation period of WNV, although not precisely known, probably ranges from 3 to 14 days. An analysis of attack rates per million persons during the 1999 New York City outbreak showed that the incidence of severe neurologic disease was more than 40 times higher in those at least 80 years of age when compared with persons up to 19 years of age. Thus, advanced age is an important risk factor for more severe neurologic disease.
In addition to transmission from mosquitoes, transmission has been linked to blood transfusion and organ transplantation. For example, four recipients of transplanted organs from single donor in the U.S. became infected with West Nile virus in mid-2002. Three of the recipients developed encephalitis, with one of the three dying as a result. The fourth recipient developed mild symptoms of viral infection without encephalitis, but also tested positive for the virus. The organ donor, who was injured in an automobile accident, received numerous transfusions of blood products before dying. She was not known to have been ill before the accident, and a sample of her blood taken before any of the transfusions showed no evidence of West Nile virus. In a separate instance, a nursing mother whose breast milk contained WNV and a male liver transplant patient both received transfused blood from a common donor, and both developed West Nile virus infections. A stored blood sample from that donor tested positive for the WNV, again suggesting a common source of the infectious virus.
West Nile virus is a single-stranded plus-sense RNA virus taxonomically classified in the family Flaviviridae, under the genus Flavivirus. Accordingly, the virus is a member of the Japanese encephalitis virus serocomplex, which contains several medically important viruses associated with human encephalitis: Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, Murray Valley encephalitis, and Kunjin virus (an Australian subtype of West Nile virus). The viral genome size is approximately 11 kb.
Nucleic acid-based tests for WNV have been described. For example, Shi et al., in J. Clin. Microbiol. 39:1264 (2001) have described a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for WNV nucleic acids. Lanciotti et al., in J. Clin. Microbiol. 38:4066 (2001) have described a TaqMan-based assay for the detection of WNV RNA in human specimens, mosquito pools, and avian tissue specimens. Despite the availability of these PCR-based tests, there remains a need for a WNV screening assay that is specifically adapted for the needs of clinical testing laboratories. The method should particularly lend itself to high throughput screening which may be required for testing large numbers of clinical and donated blood or tissue samples.

Detection of west nile virus nucleic acids in the viral 3′ non-coding region


A sludge removal apparatus includes a sludge removal head (10) with a sludge suction duct and an water supply duct with open end portions alongside each other, and a filter (32) adjacent to the open ends of the suction duct (36) and the water supply duct (38) so that the sludge is extracted through the filter (32). A drive mechanism moves the filter so that regions of the filter pass successively over the open ends of the suction duct, where it may become partially blinded with sludge, and then over the water supply duct where it is backwashed.

Sludge and debris tend to collect at the bottom of bodies of water both in natural ponds and lakes as well as artificial structures such as ponds used to store radioactive waste. It is required at times to remove/retrieve the sludge to recover contamination from the bottom of these bodies of water without having to remove the water.
Certain types of radioactive waste (such as spent MAGNOX reactor fuel) are stored underwater in storage ponds to provide shielding and cooling of the waste, and in this case a sludge can be formed with time due to for example the material suffering corrosion with the formation of magnesium hydroxide. This sludge will typically be radioactive. The sludge build up can cover other plant, equipment and systems contained within the storage pond. Periodically the build up of sludge needs to be removed. If the pond structure was to fail, for example owing to an earthquake, then the water and agitated sludge could escape into the environment.
A currently known method for the removal/retrieval of such sludge is to extract the sludge (using suction) via a pipe protected by a mesh filter typically with 6 mm diameter holes to prevent larger items of debris being sucked into the system. Typical experience with MAGNOX sludge confirms that filter meshes with holes of this size blind very quickly resulting in the loss of desludging efficiency and thereby requiring downtime to remove the system from the storage pond to carry out routine backwashing and cleaning. This potentially may result in the operating personnel receiving higher doses of radiation. It would therefore be desirable to be able to avoid the need remove the head to remove blinding material from the mesh filter.


A method includes transmitting electrical signals between one or more pairs of body-surface electrodes attached to a body of a patient. Electrical potentials resulting from the transmitted electrical signals are acquired by an outer-facing electrode and an inner-facing electrode of a medical probe inserted in an organ of the patient. A proximity of the medical probe to surface tissue of the organ is estimated based on the electrical potentials acquired by the outer-facing electrode. A position of the medical probe within the organ is estimated based on the electrical potentials acquired by the inner-facing electrode.

Various methods for tracking a catheter position within a patient's heart were proposed. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication 2012/0130267 described methods and systems for the determination and representation of a chamber anatomy using a basket catheter. In some embodiments, a local surface is generated for a particular catheter location. The system detects and marks regions of the local parameterized surface that are valid. Valid regions of the local surface are region(s) that are expected to lie on the true chamber boundary. The catheter is then moved to another location and the process of construction of local anatomy and detection of valid patches is repeated.
As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,126 describes a system and method for catheter location mapping, and related procedures. Three substantially orthogonal alternating signals are applied through the patient, directed substantially toward the area of interest to be mapped, such as patient's heart. A catheter is equipped with at least a measuring electrode, which for cardiac procedures is positioned at various locations either against the patient's heart wall, or within a coronary vein or artery. A voltage is sensed between the catheter tip and a reference electrode, preferably a surface electrode on the patient, which voltage signal has components corresponding to the three orthogonally applied current signals. Three processing channels are used to separate out the three components as x, y and z signals, from which calculations are made for determination of the three-dimensional location of the catheter tip within the body.
U.S. Patent Application Publication 2016/0287137 describes a method and system for assessing electrode-tissue contact before the delivery of ablation energy. The method may generally include determining a difference between a maximum impedance magnitude at a low frequency for a given electrode and an absolute minimum impedance magnitude at the low frequency across all electrodes, determining a difference between a maximum impedance magnitude at a high frequency for a given electrode and an absolute minimum impedance magnitude at the high frequency across all electrodes, and determining a difference between a maximum impedance phase at the high frequency for a given electrode and an absolute minimum impedance phase at the high frequency across all electrodes. These differences may be correlated to one another using a linear model, the results of which determining whether the given electrode is in contact or not in contact with tissue.

Combined active current location (ACL) and tissue proximity indication (TPI) system