[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Liquid Crystal Display Device Having Dual Link Structure And Method Of Manufacturing The Same

Technical Field and Background:
1. Field of Technology The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a LCD device having a dual link structure which includes a plurality of link lines disposed at dense intervals on a first layer and a second layer different from the first layer. The present invention provides an LCD device having a dual link structure, and particularly, provides a method of manufacturing an LCD device which proposes a new manufacturing process for reducing the number of masks used in a manufacturing process and can easily manufacture the LCD device in consideration of the possibility of misalignment of exposure equipment. 2. Discussion of the Related Art FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating an array substrate in which a plurality of switching elements are provided, in a general LCD device. In the LCD device, two substrates with electrodes formed therein face each other and are adhered to each other by a sealant, and liquid crystal is injected therebetween. The liquid crystal is a material having light transmittance anisotropy, and changes a phase of light according to a direction in which the light passes through the liquid crystal. The operation principle of LCD devices is that a polarizer, which changes a phase of light and transmits only specific directional light, transmits and blocks light to realize an image. Also, an alignment direction of the liquid crystal is adjusted by selectively applying voltages to the electrodes formed on the two substrates, in which case the liquid crystal is driven with electric fields generated by the voltages applied to the electrodes and thus the alignment direction of the liquid crystal is changed. A panel, which is configured with the two coupled substrates and the liquid crystal injected therebetween, is called a LCD panel. A process of manufacturing the LCD panel includes: a process of manufacturing an array substrate in which a plurality of pixel electrodes (first electrodes) for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal and a plurality of thin film transistor (TFTs, switching elements) for selectively supplying a voltage to a corresponding pixel electrode are provided; a process of manufacturing a color filter substrate, facing the array substrate, in which a plurality of common electrodes (second electrodes) for applying the electric field to the liquid crystal and a plurality of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filters are provided; and a process of injecting the liquid crystal between the two substrates. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a plan view of an array substrate. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of an area A illustrated in FIG. 1 . Referring to FIG. 1 , an array substrate 1 is divided into an active area AA, in which a plurality of unit pixels are arranged, and an inactive area NA disposed outside the active area AA. In the active area, a plurality of gate lines GL are laterally arranged, and a plurality of data lines DL are vertically arranged to perpendicularly intersect the gate lines GL. One area defined by the gate line GL and the data line DL is a unit pixel area C. An area C of FIG. 1 illustrates the enlarged unit pixel area C. In the one unit pixel area, one pixel electrode P for applying an electric field to liquid crystal is provided, and a thin film transistor (switching element) Tr for selectively applying a voltage to the pixel electrode P is provided at a corner portion of the unit pixel area. The thin film transistor Tr includes a gate electrode connected to a corresponding gate line GL, a source electrode connected to a corresponding data line DL, a drain electrode facing the source electrode, and an active layer that is a semiconductor layer formed of amorphous silicon or polycrystalline silicon. In the thin film transistor Tr, when a scan signal is applied from the gate line to the gate electrode, a channel of the active layer is opened by the scan signal, and simultaneously, when a pixel signal is applied from the data line, the pixel signal is transferred to the drain electrode through the source electrode and the active layer. Since the drain electrode is connected to the pixel electrode, the pixel signal is applied to the pixel electrode. A driving circuit unit (D-IC) for supplying signals to the gate lines GL and data lines DL disposed in the active area AA is disposed in the inactive area NA.

Invention Disclosure:
Disclosed is an LCD device having a dual link structure and a method of manufacturing the same, which can reduce a width of a bezel. A link line structure includes a plurality of first and second link lines which are alternately disposed. The first and second link lines are formed on different layers. Also, embodiments herein provide a method which can reduce the number of masks used in a manufacturing process and can easily manufacture the LCD device in consideration of the possibility of misalignment of exposure equipment.

[Assistant]
1. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display (LCD) device having a dual link structure, comprising:
preparing a first substrate that comprises a pixel area comprising a switching unit and a non-pixel area which comprises a link part and surrounds the pixel area;
forming a gate electrode in the switching unit on the first substrate, and forming a first link line in the link part;
forming a first insulating layer covering the first substrate;
sequentially forming an active layer, an ohmic contact layer, and a source metal layer on the first insulating layer;
patterning the active layer, the ohmic contact layer, and the source metal layer in one mask process to form a data line, a channel pattern branching from the data line, and a second link line, the channel pattern being formed in the switching unit and the second link line being formed in the link part;
forming a second insulating layer on the first substrate to cover the channel pattern and the second link line;
removing the second insulating layer formed on the channel pattern and the link part;
forming a transparent electrode layer on the first substrate from which the second insulating layer on the channel pattern and the link part has been removed;
forming a first photoresist pattern on the transparent electrode layer for a channel to be defined on the gate electrode and a second photoresist pattern on the transparent electrode layer above the second link line; and
sequentially removing the transparent electrode layer, the source metal layer, and the ohmic contact layer formed on the channel by using the first and the second photoresist pattern as an etching mask to define the channel, form a pixel electrode by a remaining transparent electrode layer under the first photoresist pattern, and complete the second link line comprising a remaining transparent electrode layer, a remaining source metal layer, a remaining ohmic contact layer, and the active layer that are under the second photoresist pattern.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
forming a photosensitive organic protective layer on the second insulating layer;
patterning the photosensitive organic protective layer to expose the channel pattern and the link part; and
removing the second insulating layer formed on the channel pattern and the link part by using the photosensitive organic protective layer as an etching mask.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the photosensitive organic protective layer is formed of photoacryl.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing of the second insulating layer comprises:
forming a photoresist pattern, exposing the channel pattern and the link part, on the second insulating layer;
etching an exposed portion of the second insulating layer on the channel pattern and the link part by using the photoresist pattern as an etching mask; and
removing the photoresist pattern.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second photoresist pattern above the second link line has a width narrower than a line width of the second link line.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a width of the remaining transparent electrode layer under the second photoresist pattern, a width of the remaining source metal layer under the second photoresist pattern, and a width of the remaining ohmic contact layer under the second photoresist pattern are narrower than a width of the active layer under the second photoresist pattern.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a width of the remaining transparent electrode layer under the second photoresist pattern, a width of the remaining source metal layer under the second photoresist pattern, and a width of the remaining ohmic contact layer under the second photoresist pattern are substantially the same.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the entire width of the remaining transparent electrode layer under the second photoresist pattern is on the remaining source metal layer under the second photoresist pattern.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second link lines are alternately disposed in plurality.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first link line and a gate line are formed on the same layer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second link line and the data line are formed on the same layer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first link line and the second link line comprises a gate link line and a data link line.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein in the defining of a channel, the source metal layer is separated from a source electrode and a drain electrode of the switching unit.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer are inorganic insulating layers.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
forming a third insulating layer on the first substrate in which the channel is defined and the pixel electrode is formed; and
forming a common electrode on the third insulating layer.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
forming a third insulating layer on the first substrate in which the channel is defined and the pixel electrode is formed; and
forming a common electrode on the third insulating layer.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the second link line is not horizontally overlapped with the first link line.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Well Tree Hub And Interface For Retrievable Processing Modules

Technical Field and Background:
The present disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for coupling fluid processing or other apparatus into a production flow at or near a production tree, manifold or other equipment. The present disclosure also relates to apparatus and methods for diverting fluids, recovery, and injection. Christmas trees or valve trees are well known in the art of oil and gas wells, and generally comprise an assembly of pipes, valves and fittings installed in a wellhead after completion of drilling and installation of the production tubing to control the flow of oil and gas from the well. Subsea christmas trees typically have at least two bores one of which communicates with the production tubing (the production bore), and the other of which communicates with the annulus (the annulus bore). Typical designs of christmas trees have a side outlet (a production wing branch) to the production bore closed by a production wing valve for removal of production fluids from the production bore. The annulus bore also typically has an annulus wing branch with a respective annulus wing valve. The top of the production bore and the top of the annulus bore are usually capped by a christmas tree cap which typically seals off the various bores in the christmas tree, and provides hydraulic channels for operation of the various valves in the christmas tree by means of intervention equipment, or remotely from an offshore installation. As technology has progressed for subsea installations, subsea processing of fluids is now desirable. Such processing can involve adding chemicals, separating water and sand from the hydrocarbons, pumping the produced fluids, analysing the produced fluids, etc.

Invention Disclosure:
The present disclosure relates to providing a hub coupled into a production tree, manifold, or other equipment, and a base module that is attachable to and retrievable from the hub. The base module may be reconfigurable. The base module may be configured to receive other modules that are reconfigurable, wherein the other modules are retrievable from the base module. The hub provides a dedicated space or support at or near the production tree or equipment for using the base module. An interface is provided between the base module and the production tree. A fluid conduit provides a fluid path across or through the interface. The hub may be part of the interface such that the module can fluidly couple to the fluid conduit and the production tree across the interface via the hub.

[Assistant]
1. A wellhead system comprising:
a wellhead valve tree;
a hub laterally spaced from the wellhead valve tree and connected into the wellhead valve tree by a fluid conduit; and
an interface including the hub and a support structure;
wherein the interface support structure is configured to receive a fluid processing module such that the fluid processing module is in direct contact with both the interface support structure and the hub;
wherein the fluid conduit and the hub are configured to fluidly couple the fluid processing module to the wellhead valve tree across the interface;
wherein the fluid processing module includes a water damper comprising a water chamber and a piston rod slidably disposed in the water chamber to provide a passive soft landing of the fluid processing module onto the hub.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface separates a wellhead valve tree space from a space receiving the fluid processing module.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the hub and the fluid conduit are configured to communicate fluid across the interface between the spaces.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface support structure includes a receptacle for the fluid processing module.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the receptacle includes a capture plate, a load bearing plate, and cylindrical receptacles having landing bases.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the receptacle is not connected to the hub.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the receptacle is coupled to and supported by the wellhead valve tree.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface support structure includes a support frame coupled to and supported by the wellhead valve tree.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the hub is disposed on a floor of the support frame.

10. A wellhead system comprising:
a wellhead valve tree;
a hub connected into the wellhead valve tree by a fluid conduit; and
an interface including the hub and a support structure;
wherein the interface support structure is configured to receive a fluid processing module;
wherein the fluid conduit and the hub are configured to fluidly couple the fluid processing module to the wellhead valve tree across the interface;
wherein the fluid processing module is configured to engage the interface support structure to resist movement of the fluid processing module before engaging the hub for a fluid connection;
wherein the fluid processing module includes a water damper comprising a water chamber and a piston rod slidably disposed in the water chamber to provide a passive soft landing of the fluid processing module onto the hub;
wherein the fluid processing module includes an end member contacting the piston rod, and wherein the interface support structure comprises a receptacle configured to receive the end member.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the receptacle includes a capture plate, a load bearing plate, and cylindrical receptacles having landing bases.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the receptacle is not connected to the hub.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the receptacle is coupled to and supported by the wellhead valve tree.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the fluid processing module includes a hydraulic cylinder configured to control movement of the fluid processing module toward the hub.

15. A method of connecting a fluid processing module to a wellhead valve tree, the method comprising:
engaging the fluid processing module with an interface support structure having a support structure and a hub connected into the wellhead valve tree by a fluid conduit;
resisting movement of the fluid processing module toward the hub;
sliding a piston rod of a water damper of the fluid processing module through a water chamber of the damper to provide a passive soft landing of the fluid processing module onto the hub;
receiving an end member in contact with the piston rod in a receptacle of the interface support structure; and
engaging the fluid processing module with the hub to fluidly connect the fluid processing module with the wellhead valve tree;
whereby the fluid processing module is in direct contact with the interface support structure at the hub.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the receptacle of the interface support structure is coupled to and supported by the wellhead valve tree.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the fluid processing module includes a hydraulic cylinder configured to control movement of the fluid processing module toward the hub.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Vehicle Monitoring Apparatus And Vehicle Monitoring Method

Technical Field and Background:
Systems that photograph a roadway or the like using a camera, detect a vehicle in an imaged image, and read in information described on a license plate, are known. Such systems may be mounted at an entrance or an exit or a toll road, for example, in order to recognize a passing vehicle. Reading information described on a vehicle license plate from a cameran image and then performing character recognition processing on the overall image may cause the processing load to become excessive, and information may not be able to be read in efficiently. Refer to JP 4690657 .

Invention Disclosure:
An embodiment of a vehicle monitoring apparatus has a determiner and a reader. The determiner determines whether or not a specific site of a vehicle exists at least in an area of an image, the image imaged by an imager, the area being one of multiple areas into which the image is divided by dividing line that are substantially orthogonal to a direction of travel of the vehicle. The reader reads information on a license plate mounted to the vehicle from the area in case that the determiner determines the specific site of the vehicle is determined to exist in the area.

[Assistant]
1. A vehicle monitoring apparatus comprising:
an imager that comprises a first imager that images an image of a front of a vehicle approaching a predefined location, a second imager that images an image of a top of a vehicle passing through the predefined location and a third imager that images an image of a rear of a vehicle moving away from the predefined location,
a determiner that determines whether or not a specific site of a vehicle exists at least in an area of the image imaged by the imager, the area being one of multiple areas into which the image is divided by one or more dividing lines that are substantially orthogonal to a direction of travel of the vehicle;
a reader that reads information on a license plate mounted to the vehicle from the area in case that the determiner determines the specific site of the vehicle exists in the area;
a vehicle location estimator that identifies a location of the vehicle in vicinity of the area at each time measurement based on the image imaged by the second imager, the vehicle being detected from the image imaged by the first imager; and
a vehicle type allocator that allocates information at the location of the vehicle, the information read from the image imaged by the first imager.

2. The vehicle monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the vehicle location estimator detects changing lanes or passing other vehicle of a vehicle in the vicinity of the area, based on the image imaged by the second imager.

3. The vehicle monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a speed measurer that measures a speed of the vehicle of which location was identified by the vehicle location estimator, based on a movement amount of location of the vehicle per unit time.

4. The vehicle monitoring apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
the speed measurer reports a warning device of a possibility that a vehicle may have stopped due to a malfunction or an accident for cases where the speed measured by the speed measurer is greatly skewed between vehicles.

5. The vehicle monitoring apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:
a camera controller that controls the imager, and
a vehicle information combiner that combines exit time information and a lane in which a vehicle is moving which information allocated by the vehicle type allocator for each vehicle that exists from an area beneath a gantry on which the first imager, the second imager and the third imager are mounted, wherein
the camera controller increases a shutter speed of the imager when the vehicle information combiner finds that there is a vehicle passing through at a conspicuously high speed.

6. The vehicle monitoring apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:
a camera controller that controls the imager, wherein
the camera controller estimates a timing at which a vehicle will enter the area and let a lighting apparatus light at the timing, the lighting apparatus is located in the vicinity of the area.

7. A method of monitoring a vehicle comprising:
imaging an image of a front of a vehicle approaching a predefined location, an image of a top of a vehicle passing through the predefined location and an image of a rear of a vehicle moving away from the predefined location;
determining whether or not a specific site of a vehicle exists at least in an area of the image, the area being one of multiple areas into which the image is divided by one or more dividing lines that are substantially orthogonal to a direction of travel of the vehicle;
reading information on a license plate mounted to the vehicle from the area in case it is determined that the specific site of the vehicle is exists in the area;
identifying a location of the vehicle in vicinity of the area at each time measurement based on the image of the top of the vehicle, the vehicle being detected from the image of the front of the vehicle; and
allocating information at the location of the vehicle, the information read from the front image of the vehicle.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Lifting Structure With Adjustable Bearing Capacity

Technical Field and Background:
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lifting structure, more particularly, to a lifting structure with adjustable bearing capacity for a display with a variety of size and weight. 2. Description of Related Art A stand for a display has been disclosed in US patent NO. 2013/0233984A1, wherein the stand includes a height-adjustable structure for adjusting the height of the display when equipped with the stand. Accordingly, the bearing capacity is adjustable for various weights of displays with different sizes. The stand of the aforementioned technique includes a plurality of springs that are arranged in parallel, and each of the spring is correspondingly connected with a force member (such as a bolt or a button). The users may selectively insert the force members for controlling the actuation of the springs. In detail, when anyone of the force members is pressed by the user, the corresponding springs and the sliding stand are driven by the inserted force members to actuate the springs, so that the corresponding springs will be stretched when the display is moved up and down. The springs may have different bearing capacity respectively, and may be chosen from the user by pressing their corresponding force member for displays with different weight; alternatively, the combinations of multiple force members may be executed by users as needed to provide an accumulated spring force for displays with larger size and weight. In the aforementioned prior art, the height-adjustable structure utilizes the force member as a switch for actuating the springs, however, the structural accuracy thereof is less than ideal. Also, the width of the stand cannot be reduced due to the springs and the force members which are arranged in parallel, whereas the location of the switch is inconvenient to reach by the users. These drawbacks of the prior art restrict the design of the stands and result in failing to meet the user's needs. Accordingly, the present invention provides a novel lifting structure that is desirable and has potential in the technical field.

Invention Disclosure:
A lifting structure with adjustable bearing capacity is provided. The lifting structure comprises a main body, a carrier, a main constant force spring, and at least one auxiliary constant force spring. The main body comprises at least one slide and at least one actuating module. The main constant force spring connects to the carrier. The actuating module is able to be selectively switched between a non-actuating position and an actuating position. When the carrier is driven from the top of the lifting structure along the slide, at least the main constant force spring provides a constant force to the carrier.

[Assistant]
1. A lifting structure with adjustable bearing capacity for supporting a variety of displays, comprising:
a main body comprising at least one slide;
a carrier connected to the slide and being able to move along the slide for supporting the display;
a main constant force spring connected to the carrier for constantly providing a main elastic force;
at least one linkage module including a column body, an upper element, and a lower element, wherein the column body passes through the upper element and has two end portions in which one is connected to the carrier and the other one is connected to the lower element; and
at least one auxiliary constant force spring comprising a main portion and a fixed end for providing an auxiliary elastic force, wherein the fixed end and the main portion of the auxiliary constant force spring are secured to the upper element and the lower element respectively, and the fixed end is driven by the upper element to move along the column body;
wherein the main body further comprises at least one actuating module being able to be selectively switched between a non-actuating position and an actuating position; and both the main portion and the fixed end of the auxiliary constant force spring simultaneously move along with the carrier when the actuating module is at the non-actuating position so that the auxiliary constant force spring fails to provide the auxiliary elastic force to the carrier; and wherein only the main portion of the auxiliary constant force spring simultaneously moves along with the carrier and the fixed end of the auxiliary constant force spring is abutted to the main body when the actuating module is at the actuating position so that the auxiliary constant force spring provides the auxiliary elastic force to the carrier.

2. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises a releasing module which includes a releasing element and a first return spring connected to the releasing element, wherein the first return spring pushes the releasing element in a first direction; and wherein the actuating module drives the releasing module to overcome an elastic force provided by the first return spring and to move along the first direction when the actuating module switches from the non-actuating position to the actuating position.

3. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the actuating module comprises an actuating block and a second return spring connected to the actuating block to push the actuating block in a second direction; and wherein the actuating block is able to move along the second direction and selectively abuts against the releasing element or the upper element when the actuating block is driven to overcome an elastic force provided by the second return spring.

4. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the upper element, the lower element, and the auxiliary constant force spring simultaneously move along with the column body in which the auxiliary constant force spring maintains in an original state when the actuating block is at the non-actuating position and the column body is driven by the carrier which is originally located at a top portion of the lifting structure; and wherein the upper element is restricted by the actuating block, and the lower element and the main portion of the auxiliary constant force spring simultaneously move along with the column body when the actuating block drives the releasing element to overcome the elastic force provided by the first return spring and moves to the actuating position, and the column body is driven by the carrier which is originally located at the top portion of the lifting structure, so that the elastic force provided by the auxiliary constant force spring is transferred to the carrier.

5. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein an upper protrusion extends from the upper element, a release protrusion extends from the releasing element, and a first protrusion and a second protrusion extend from the actuating block, in which the first protrusion and the upper protrusion are able to relatively abut against or slide against each other, and the second protrusion and the release protrusion are able to relatively abut against or slide against each other.

6. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first protrusion has a first propped surface and a first inclined surface; the second protrusion has a second propped surface and a second inclined surface; the upper protrusion has a third propped surface and a third inclined surface; and the release protrusion has a fourth propped surface and a fourth inclined surface.

7. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein when the actuating block is at the non-actuating position, the upper protrusion and the first protrusion are not overlapped in the first direction.

8. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second inclined surface and the fourth inclined surface slide relatively against each other so as to drive the release protrusion to overcome the elastic force provided by the first return spring when the actuating block is driven from the non-actuating position to the actuating position; once the second protrusion and the release protrusion are no longer overlapped in the first direction, the releasing element is returned by the first return spring, and the second propped surface and the fourth propped surface abut against each other due to the second return spring.

9. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first propped surface and the third propped surface contact and abut against each other to restrict the upper element when the actuating block is at the actuating position.

10. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the actuating block is driven by the second return spring to return to the non-actuating position when an external force is applied to the releasing element to overcome the elastic force provided by the first return spring and to drive the releasing element to move to an extent that the release protrusion and the second protrusion are no longer overlapped in the second direction.

11. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein when the actuating block is at the non-actuating position and the carrier departs from the top portion of the lifting structure to drive the upper element, the lower element, and the auxiliary constant force spring to move simultaneously along with the column body in advance, and when the actuating block is subsequently driven to switch from the non-actuating position to the actuating position and the column body subsequently drives the upper element, the lower element, and the auxiliary constant force spring to return, the first inclined surface and the third inclined surface contact with and relatively slide against each other so as to drive the actuating block to overcome the elastic force provided by the second return spring until the first protrusion and the upper protrusion are no longer overlapped in the first direction, and then the second return spring drives the actuating block returning back to the actuating position.

12. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the releasing element further comprises a releasing button, so that the releasing element is able to move along the first direction when the releasing button is pressed to overcome the elastic force provided by the first return spring.

13. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one slide comprises two slides, the at least one linkage module comprises two linkage modules, the at least one actuating module comprises two actuating modules, and the at least one auxiliary constant force spring comprises two auxiliary constant force springs disposed respectively at two opposing sides of the lifting structure.

14. The lifting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lifting structure is applied in a supporting device which comprises a base and a joint plate, wherein the main body of the lifting structure further comprises a column connected to the base, and the carrier of the lifting structure is connected to the joint plate.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Method And System For Determining Quality Of Markings Applied To Food Products

Technical Field and Background:
The disclosure relates generally to the field of food product processing, and more particularly methods and systems for monitoring food product processing operations and facilities. The disclosure further relates to methods and systems for examining or analyzing the food products with respect to the quality and integrity of the processing thereof and any markings that may be applied to the food products and/or associated packaging. While reference is made herein to eggs in particular, it should be understood that this disclosure is directed to all food processing operations. In the egg packing industry, eggs typically undergo a great deal of processing before they are ready to be sold to the consuming public. In many circumstances, for example, eggs pass through several processing stations where they are washed, candled, weighed, graded, and packed into packages (e.g., cartons, crates, or other commercially distributed containers). Examples of such processing stations and mechanisms for conveying eggs from station to station are described, for instance, in the following U.S. patents assigned to Diamond Automations, Inc. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,189,898; 4,195,736; 4,505,373; 4,519,494; 4,519,505: 4,569,444; 4,750,316; 5,321,491; and 6,056,341) and TEN Media LLC (U.S. Pat. No. 8,455,030), which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. As a reference, it is not uncommon for a facility in which these stations operate to output about one million eggs in a single day. Accordingly, to be commercially acceptable, the throughput of the stations needs to be quite high, with some stations typically processing on the order of 20,000 eggs per hour. The egg packing industry uses devices known as “packers” to pack the eggs into the packages. Typically, a packer includes a conveyor (e.g., a belt conveyor, roller conveyor, chain conveyor, etc.) that moves empty packages through an egg loading section (where the eggs are loaded into the egg loading section from above) and then moves the filled packages to a package closing section that is responsible for closing the lids of the packages. The eggs may be supplied to the egg packer via a grader system. An egg packing process that uses “packers,” typically uses bulk belts to bring eggs from a bulk supply location. The eggs are cleaned or disinfected, in some instances using UV light while clamped to transport chains, and in some instances through immersion in sanitizing wash water. The eggs are then inspected either electronically or manually, they are weighed to establish size, inspected for cracks using ultrasonic inspection and loaded into a chain driven carriage mechanism (“Transfer Loader”). The egg is then normally transported to one of a plurality of packing machines by the aforementioned carriage mechanism. The particular packing machine to which any individual egg may be transported is determined by a computer. This process or elements thereof up to, but not including the packing machine, constitute grading (“Grading” and the “Grader”). The carriage mechanism typically consists of one or a plurality of chains, running the length of the Grader past all the packing machines in the horizontal plane (“Grader Chains”). The packing machines are usually configured with an egg flow perpendicular to the Grader Chain in the horizontal plane. The egg industry widely uses marking devices to print Size, Grade and Date information together with other information or images and logos (“Data”) on to the surface of an egg shell of a fresh egg travelling through an egg grading machine. The marking devices are traditionally placed in a location on the production line that is responsible for grading the eggs and the site for such installation is chosen to minimize the number of marking devices required for a given installation. Marking devices have typically been installed on the Grader Chains as near to the Transfer Loader as practical, and typically (although not always), prior to all the packing machines to which almost all eggs are later diverted. Due to variances in egg type, size, age, moisture content, and other biological and process factors, the markings applied may not be consistent. As such, the eggs are typically examined or analyzed during and/or after the marking process to determine the position and/or characteristics of the eggs that are to be marked and/or the quality and integrity of the information that is marked on the eggs.

Invention Disclosure:
The present disclosure includes a method and system for monitoring food product processing operations and facilities. The food products are examined and/or analyzed with respect to the quality and integrity of the processing thereof, any markings applied thereto, and compliance with commercial, regulatory, or customer requirements. The present disclosure provides a machine vision system that is used in connection with the food processing operations to examine and analyze the eggs being processed. In a preferred embodiment, the machine vision system includes at least one imaging sensor for capturing images of the processing thereof and is positioned above the path along which the food products are conveyed.

[Assistant]
1. A system for determining the quality of markings applied to individual objects at a marking station while the objects travel along at least one path through a processing system, wherein the marking station includes at least one marking unit positioned adjacent at least one path along which the objects are conveyed, the at least one marking unit operable to mark the objects as the objects pass through the marking station, the system comprising:
at least one processor;
at least one image capture device operatively coupled to the at least one processor and controlled in part by the at least one processor, the at least one image capture device positioned adjacent the at least one marking unit, the at least one image capture device operable to capture image data representative of at least one area adjacent to the at least one marking unit, wherein the at least one area is defined such that at least one of objects to be marked by the at least one marking unit, objects marked by the at least one marking unit, and combinations thereof will pass therethrough;
at least one image analysis unit operatively coupled to the at least one processor and controlled in part by the at least one processor, the at least one image analysis unit operable to analyze at least a portion of the captured image data with respect to at least one of position of objects to be marked with respect to the at least one marking unit, characteristics of objects to be marked, quality of markings which have been applied to the objects, integrity of the objects to which markings have been applied, and combinations thereof, and generate quality data therefrom;
a non-transient memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor and operable to store data associated with the captured images; and
at least one input/output interface operatively coupled to the processor;
wherein the at least one processor is operable to:
obtain at least one quality data analysis parameter with respect to selected analysis to be performed on at least a portion of the generated quality data;
analyze at least a portion of the generated quality data in accordance with at least one quality data analysis parameter;
determine an adjustment to be made to least one operational parameter of the processing system based on the analysis of at least a portion of the generated quality data; and
adjust the at least one operational parameter of the processing system such that the objects are processed in accordance with the at least one adjusted opertational parameter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one image capture device is positioned above the path on which the objects are conveyed.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one image capture device is mounted on a traversing mechanism above the path on which the objects are conveyed, wherein the traversing mechanism is operable to move the at least one image capture device across at least a portion of the path.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one image capture device is operable to capture image data of objects within the at least one area while the objects are stationary with respect to the at least one image capture device, while the objects are moving with respect to the at least one image capture device, and combinations thereof.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of image capture devices are positioned above the path on which the objects are conveyed, and each of the plurality of image capture devices captures image data representative of a discrete area along the path on which the objects are conveyed.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one image capture device is positioned upstream of the at least one marking unit, downstream of the at least one marking unit, and combinations thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is operable to store at least a portion of the quality data generated by the at least one image analysis unit in memory.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the memory is implemented in a cloud-based component communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, and operable to store at least a portion of the data associated with the captured images.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable to transmit at least at portion of the quality data generated by the at least one image analysis unit to the associated marking station for further analysis thereof.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a calibration unit operatively coupled to the at least one processor and controlled in part by the at least one processor, the calibration unit positioned adjacent to the at least one image capture device, the calibration unit operable to capture image data representative of an area in which the at least one image capture device is located, an area in which the at least one image capture device captures image data, and combinations thereof, and wherein the image analysis unit is further operable to analyze at least a portion of the image data captured by the calibration unit.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the objects to be marked are eggs.

12. A method for determining the quality of markings applied to individual objects at a marking station while the objects travel along at least one path through a processing system, wherein the marking station includes at least one marking unit positioned adjacent at least one path along which the objects are conveyed, the at least one marking unit operable to mark the objects as the objects pass through the marking station, the method comprising:
capturing image data by at least one image capture device from at least one area adjacent to the at least one marking unit, wherein the at least one area is defined such that at least one of objects to be marked by the at least one marking unit, objects marked by the at least one marking unit, and combinations thereof will pass therethrough;
analyzing at least a portion of the captured image data with respect to at least one of position of objects to be marked with respect to the at least one marking unit, characteristics of objects to be marked, quality of markings which have been applied to the objects, integrity of the objects to which markings have been applied, and combinations thereof, and generating quality data therefrom;
obtaining at least one quality data analysis parameter with respect to selected analysis to be performed on at least a portion of the generated quality data;
analyzing at least a portion of the generated quality data in accordance with at least one quality data analysis parameter;
determining an adjustment to be made to least one operational parameter of the processing system based on the analysis of at least a portion of the generated quality data; and
adjusting the at least one operational parameter of the processing system such that the objects are processed in accordance with the at least one adjusted opertational parameter.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one image capture device is positioned above the path on which the objects are conveyed.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one image capture device traverses across at least a portion of the path.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein image data associated with the objects is captured area while the objects are stationary with respect to the at least one image capture device, while the objects are moving with respect to the at least one image capture device, and combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 12, the method further comprising storing at least a portion of the quality data generated in memory.

17. The method of claim 12, the method further comprising storing at least a portion of the data associated with the captured images in a cloud-based component.

18. The method of claim 12, the method further comprising transmitting at least at portion of the quality data to the associated marking station for further analysis thereof.

19. An apparatus for determining the quality of markings applied to eggs at a marking station while the eggs travel along at least one path, wherein the marking station includes at least one marking unit positioned adjacent at least one path along which the eggs are conveyed, the at least one marking unit operable to mark the objects as the objects eggs through the marking station, the system comprising:
at least one processor;
at least one image capture device operatively coupled to the at least one processor and controlled in part by the at least one processor, the at least one image capture device positioned adjacent the at least one marking unit, the at least one image capture device operable to capture image data representative of at least one area adjacent to the at least one marking unit, wherein the at least one area is defined such that at least one of eggs to be marked by the at least one marking unit, eggs marked by the at least one marking unit, and combinations thereof will pass therethrough;
at least one image analysis unit operatively coupled to the at least one processor and controlled in part by the at least one processor, the at least one image analysis unit operable to analyze at least a portion of the captured image data with respect to at least one of position of eggs to be marked with respect to the at least one marking unit, characteristics of eggs to be marked, quality of markings which have been applied to the eggs, integrity of the eggs to which markings have been applied, and combinations thereof, and generate quality data therefrom;
a non-transient memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor and operable to store data associated with the captured images; and
at least one input/output interface operatively coupled to the processor;
wherein the at least one processor is operable to:
obtain at least one quality data analysis parameter with respect to selected analysis to be performed on at least a portion of the generated quality data;
analyze at least a portion of the generated quality data in accordance with at least one quality data analysis parameter;
determine an adjustment to be made to least one operational parameter of the processing system based on the analysis of at least a portion of the generated quality data; and
adjust the at least one operational parameter of the processing system such that the objects are processed in accordance with the at least one adjusted opertational parameter.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one image capture device is mounted on a traversing mechanism above the path on which the eggs are conveyed, wherein the traversing mechanism is operable to move the at least one image capture device across at least a portion of the path.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Connector

Technical Field and Background:
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector. 2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-043649 discloses a connector with a female first housing and a male second housing including a fitting tube portion. The first housing includes a terminal accommodating tube portion for accommodating terminal fittings and a tubular front holder surrounding the terminal accommodating tube portion. The front holder is mounted onto the terminal accommodating tube portion from front. The front holder has a function of retaining the terminal fittings and other functions. As a means for locking the front holder in a state mounted on the terminal accommodating tube portion, it is considered to form a resilient locking portion resiliently deflectable toward an outer peripheral side on a peripheral wall portion constituting the front holder and lock this resilient locking portion to a receiving portion on the outer periphery of the terminal accommodating tube portion. In this locking structure, the resilient locking portion is resiliently deflected to project toward the outer peripheral side of the peripheral wall portion by interfering with the outer periphery of the terminal accommodating tube portion in the process of mounting the front holder onto the terminal accommodating tube portion. When the front holder is properly mounted on the terminal accommodating tube portion, the resilient locking portion resiliently returns toward an inner peripheral side to be locked to the receiving portion. The terminal accommodating tube portion having the front holder mounted thereon in this way is fitted into the fitting tube portion of the second housing. A clearance is secured between the outer periphery of the front holder and the inner periphery of the fitting tube portion in consideration of dimensional tolerances so that a connecting operation smoothly proceeds. Thus, the terminal accommodating tube portion may be accommodated into the fitting tube portion despite an incompletely connected state where a part of the resilient locking portion is protruding from the outer periphery of the peripheral wall portion of the front holder without the front holder reaching a proper mount position. The present invention was completed based on the above situation and aims to prevent improper assembling.

Invention Disclosure:
A first housing (10) of a connector includes a housing main body (11) with a receiving portion (17) and a tubular member (20) surrounding the housing main body (11). A peripheral wall (22) of the tubular member (20) has a resilient lock (24) configured to deflect resiliently out when assembling the tubular member (20) and the housing main body (11) and to return resiliently to lock with the receiving portion (17) when the tubular member (20) is assembled properly with the housing main body (11). A protrusion (31) is formed on the outer periphery of the resilient locking portion (24) and is configured to interfere with a receptacle (61) while fitting the tubular member (20) into the receptacle (61) so that an improperly assembled tubular member (20) is corrected into a properly assembled state.

[Assistant]
1. A connector, comprising:
a female first housing that includes:
a housing main body having a terminal accommodating portion with opposite front and rear ends and configured to accommodate a terminal fitting, the terminal accommodating portion having an outer periphery formed with a recessed receiving portion; and
a tubular member having a peripheral wall configured to be assembled to surround the terminal accommodating portion of the housing main body, the peripheral wall including a resilient lock with a locking projection projecting in and configured to interfere with the outer periphery of the terminal accommodating portion of the housing main body and to deflect resiliently out when the tubular member is being assembled to the terminal accommodating portion of the housing main body and the resilient lock returning resiliently so that the locking projection locks with the recessed receiving portion when the tubular member is assembled properly to the terminal accommodating portion of the housing main body;
a male second housing having a receptacle configured to fit and surround the tubular member that is assembled to the terminal accommodating portion of the housing main body; and
a protrusion formed on an outer periphery of the resilient lock and configured to interfere with a front end of receptacle when fitting the tubular member and the terminal accommodating portion of the housing main body into the receptacle, if the tubular member is left in an improperly assembled state on the terminal accommodating portion of the housing main body so that the front end of the receptacle pushes the protrusion rearward on the terminal accommodating portion and into a position where the locking projection locks with the recessed receiving portion.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is in contact with an inner periphery of the receptacle while being pressed with the properly assembled housing main body and tubular member fit in the receptacle, thereby regulating relative displacements of the first and second housings.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein an area of the resilient lock opposite the protrusion is in contact with the outer periphery of the housing main body when the first and second housings are connected.

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein a facing surface of the protrusion facing the receptacle is in surface contact with the inner periphery of the receptacle when the properly assembled housing main body and tubular member are fit in the receptacle.

5. The connector of claim 4, wherein:
the resilient lock is resiliently deflected about a support; and
the protrusion is formed on the support.

6. The connector of claim 2, wherein a facing surface of the protrusion facing the receptacle is in surface contact with the inner periphery of the receptacle when the properly assembled housing main body and tubular member are fit in the receptacle.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the tubular member has opposite front and rear ends, a front wall formed at the front end of the tubular member and covers the front end of the terminal accommodating portion.

8. The connector of claim 7, wherein the peripheral wall of the tubular member extends rearward from the front wall to the rear end of the tubular member, a rear cut extending forward in the peripheral wall from the rear end of the tubular member, the peripheral wall including a support forward of and adjacent to the rear cut, the resilient lock projecting rearward from the support into the rear cut.

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the protrusion is formed on the support of the peripheral wall.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the protrusion has a front end that is sloped to project farther from the peripheral wall at more rearward positions on the protrusion to define a pushing surface that can be pushed by the front end of the receptacle.

11. The connector of claim 9, wherein the support defines a portion of the peripheral wall that extends continuously around the terminal accommodating portion.

12. The connector of claim 8, wherein an outer surface of the resilient lock is substantially aligned with the support in an unbiased condition of the resilient lock, and wherein the resilient lock is resiliently deflectable to project outward from the support when the tubular member is being mounted on to the terminal accommodating portion.

13. The connector of claim 1, wherein the resilient lock is spaced from the terminal fitting accommodated in the terminal accommodating portion.

14. The connector of claim 1, wherein the recessed receiving portion has a closed bottom.

15. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a tubular fitting connected to the rear end of the terminal accommodating portion and projecting forward therefrom while being spaced out from the terminal accommodating portion at positions forward of the rear end of the terminal accommodating portion and outward of the resilient lock.

16. The connector of claim 1, wherein the locking projection of the resilient lock engages a surface of the recessed receiving portion to prevent movement of the tubular member in a direction away from the rear end of the terminal accommodating portion.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Metal-Based Microchannel Heat Exchangers Made By Molding Replication And Assembly

Technical Field and Background:
The nearly exponential growth in the heat generated by miniaturized electronic devices in recent years demands significant improvements in cooling technology. Existing fan-assisted air cooling methods will be insufficient for the next generation of microprocessors. Only liquid-cooled heat exchangers will be able to absorb and dissipate heat rapidly enough to maintain safe microprocessor operating temperatures. A stringent requirement of high efficiency is imposed on such a heat exchanger. The cooling system must be small and must be a closed loop, so that it may: a) fit within a desktop or laptop computer; and b) not require external cooling water.

Invention Disclosure:
Compression molding of metals is used to make microchannel heat exchangers. Heat transfer can be improved by employing controlled microchannel surface roughness. Flux-free bonding is achieved using a eutectic thin-film intermediate layer. Seals are leak-tight, mechanically strong, and uniform across multiple contact areas. The metal heat exchangers may be mass-produced inexpensively, and are useful for applications including the cooling of computer chips and other high-power electronic devices, air conditioning, refrigeration, condenser plates, radiators, fuel cell heat management, and instant water heating.

[Assistant]
1. A process for making a metal microchannel heat exchanger, the process comprising:
forming one or more open microchannels on a surface of a first homogeneous metal piece, wherein at least one of the one or more open microchannels has a width between about 30 μm and about 1000 μm, and a depth between about 30 μm and about 1000 μm;
providing a second homogeneous metal piece that, when bonded to the first homogeneous metal piece, will convert one or more open microchannels on the first homogeneous metal piece into one or more closed microchannels, wherein the one or more closed microchannels are adapted to transport liquid without substantial leakage;
providing a eutectic layer or a eutectic precursor layer at one or more of the following locations: a surface of the first homogeneous metal piece, a surface of the second homogeneous metal piece, or between the first and second homogeneous metal pieces;
simultaneously applying pressure to and heating the first and second homogeneous metal pieces, wherein:
the pressure pushes the first and second homogeneous metal pieces toward each other, with the eutectic layer or the eutectic precursor layer between the first and second homogeneous metal pieces;
the first and second homogeneous metal pieces are heated to a eutectic melting temperature at which the eutectic layer or the eutectic precursor layer melts, or at which the eutectic layer or the eutectic precursor layer interacts with the first and second homogeneous metal pieces to form a molten eutectic composition between the first and second homogeneous metal pieces; and
the eutectic melting temperature to which the first and second homogeneous metal pieces are heated is sufficiently below a melting temperature of the first and second homogeneous metal pieces that no substantial deformation of the one or more open microchannels occurs;
cooling the first and second homogeneous metal pieces to a cooling temperature substantially below the eutectic melting temperature, while maintaining the pressure during at least a portion of the cooling; such that the first and second homogeneous metal pieces fuse together;
such that the one or more open microchannels are converted into one or more closed microchannels, wherein the one or more closed microchannels are adapted to transport liquid without substantial leakage; and
wherein no substantial blockage of the one or more closed microchannels occurs as a result of the heating, applying pressure, and cooling;
and wherein:
the one or more closed microchannels are enclosed entirely by the fused first and second homogeneous metal pieces and the eutectic layer or the eutectic precursor layer; and whereby the fused first and second homogeneous pieces and the eutectic layer or the eutectic precursor layer, together with the enclosed one or more closed microchannels, form a microchannel heat exchanger; and
wherein at least one of the closed microchannels has a surface roughness between about 3 μm and about 15 μm.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the microchannel heat exchanger is capable of withstanding an internal pressure in the one or more closed microchannels of 100 atmospheres or greater.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein forming the one or more open microchannels on the surface of the first homogeneous metal piece comprises compression molding of the first homogeneous metal piece with a refractory metal mold insert.

4. The of claim 1, wherein the one or more closed microchannels discharge into a fluid drain plenum.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the eutectic layer or the eutectic precursor layer comprises a eutectic nanocomposite thin film.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein a domain size of the eutectic nanocomposite thin film is in a range from about 100 nm to about 400 nm.

7. The process of claim 5, wherein flux-free bonding of the first and second homogeneous metal pieces is achieved using the eutectic nanocomposite thin film.

8. The process of claim 1, further comprising forming one or more open microchannels on a surface of the second homogeneous metal piece prior to simultaneously applying pressure to and heating the first homogeneous metal piece and the second homogeneous metal piece.

9. The process of claim 1, wherein the first homogeneous metal piece and the second homogeneous metal piece are dissimilar metals.

10. A metal microchannel heat exchanger, wherein the metal microchannel heat exchanger is produced by a process comprising:
forming one or more open microchannels on a surface of a first homogeneous metal piece, wherein at least one of the one or more open microchannels has a width between about 30 μm and about 1000 μm, and a depth between about 30 μm and about 1000 μm;
providing a second homogeneous metal piece that, when bonded to the first homogeneous metal piece, will convert one or more open microchannels on the first homogeneous metal piece into one or more closed microchannels, wherein the one or more closed microchannels are adapted to transport liquid without substantial leakage;
providing a eutectic layer or a eutectic precursor layer at one or more of the following locations: a surface of the first homogeneous metal piece, a surface of the second homogeneous metal piece, or between the first and second homogeneous metal pieces;
simultaneously applying pressure to and heating the first and second homogeneous metal pieces, wherein: the pressure pushes the first and second homogeneous metal pieces toward each other, with the eutectic layer or eutectic precursor layer between the first and second homogeneous metal pieces; the first and second homogeneous metal pieces are heated to a eutectic melting temperature at which the eutectic layer or the eutectic precursor layer melts, or at which the eutectic layer or the eutectic precursor layer interacts with the first and second homogeneous metal pieces to form a molten eutectic composition between the first and second homogeneous metal pieces; and the eutectic melting temperature to which the first and second homogeneous metal pieces are heated is sufficiently below a melting temperature of the first and second homogeneous metal pieces that no substantial deformation of the one or more open microchannels occurs;
cooling the first and second homogeneous metal pieces to a cooling temperature substantially below the eutectic melting temperature, while maintaining the pressure during at least a portion of the cooling; such that the first and second homogeneous metal pieces fuse together; such that the one or more open microchannels are converted into one or more closed microchannels, wherein the one or more closed microchannels are adapted to transport liquid without substantial leakage; and wherein no substantial blockage of the one or more closed microchannels occurs as a result of the heating, applying pressure, and cooling;
and wherein:
the one or more closed microchannels are enclosed entirely by the fused first and second homogeneous metal pieces and the eutectic layer or the eutectic precursor layer; and whereby the fused first and second homogeneous pieces and the eutectic layer or the eutectic precursor layer, together with the enclosed one or more closed microchannels, form a microchannel heat exchanger;
wherein the one or more closed microchannels discharge into a fluid drain plenum; and
wherein the one or more closed microchannels comprise at least one microchannel that discharges into the fluid drain plenum via a fluidic transition that widens outward from an end of the at least one microchannel.

11. The metal microchannel heat exchanger of claim 10, wherein the first and second homogeneous metal pieces are brazed to one another by the eutectic layer.

12. The metal microchannel heat exchanger of claim 10, wherein the one or more closed microchannels comprise a plurality of substantially parallel microchannels.

13. The metal microchannel heat exchanger of claim 12, wherein the plurality of substantially parallel microchannels as supplied by a common fluid supply channel.

14. The metal microchannel heat exchanger of claim 10, wherein the one or more closed microchannels comprise a meandering microchannel.

15. A process for making a metal microchannel heat exchanger, the process comprising:
forming one or more open microchannels on a surface of a first homogeneous metal piece, wherein at least one of the one or more open microchannels has a width between about 30 μm and about 1000 μm, and a depth between about 30 μm and about 1000 μm;
providing a second homogeneous metal piece that, when bonded to the first homogeneous metal piece, will convert one or more open microchannels on the first homogeneous metal piece into one or more closed microchannels, wherein the one or more closed microchannels are adapted to transport liquid without substantial leakage;
providing a eutectic layer or a eutectic precursor layer at one or more of the following locations: a surface of the first homogeneous metal piece, a surface of the second homogeneous metal piece, or between the first and second homogeneous metal pieces;
simultaneously applying pressure to and heating the first and second homogeneous metal pieces, wherein:
the pressure pushes the first and second homogeneous metal pieces toward each other, with the eutectic layer or the eutectic precursor layer between the first and second homogeneous metal pieces;
the first and second homogeneous metal pieces are heated to a eutectic melting temperature at which the eutectic layer or the eutectic precursor layer melts, or at which the eutectic layer or the eutectic precursor layer interacts with the first and second homogeneous metal pieces to form a molten eutectic composition between the first and second homogeneous metal pieces; and
the eutectic melting temperature to which the first and second homogeneous metal pieces are heated is sufficiently below a melting temperature of the first and second homogeneous metal pieces that no substantial deformation of the one or more open microchannels occurs;
cooling the first and second homogeneous metal pieces to a cooling temperature substantially below the eutectic melting temperature, while maintaining the pressure during at least a portion of the cooling; such that the first and second homogeneous metal pieces fuse together;
such that the one or more open microchannels are converted into one or more closed microchannels, wherein the one or more closed microchannels are adapted to transport liquid without substantial leakage; and
wherein no substantial blockage of the one or more closed microchannels occurs as a result of the heating, applying pressure, and cooling;
and wherein:
the one or more closed microchannels are enclosed entirely by the fused first and second homogeneous metal pieces and the eutectic layer or the eutectic precursor layer; and whereby the fused first and second homogeneous pieces and the eutectic layer or the eutectic precursor layer, together with the enclosed one or more closed microchannels, form a microchannel heat exchanger; and
wherein forming the one or more open microchannels on the surface of the first homogeneous metal piece comprises compression molding of the first homogeneous metal piece with a refractory metal mold insert; and
wherein the refractory metal mold insert is fabricated to impart surface roughness in the one or more open microchannels formed on the surface of the first homogeneous metal piece, the surface roughness being 5 μm or higher, measured as mean peak-to-valley roughness.

16. The process of claim 15, further comprising forming one or more open microchannels on a surface of the second homogeneous metal piece prior to simultaneously applying pressure to and heating the first homogeneous metal piece and the second homogeneous metal piece.

17. The process of claim 15, wherein the first homogeneous metal piece and the second homogeneous metal piece are dissimilar metals.

18. The process of claim 15, wherein the eutectic layer or the eutectic precursor layer comprises a eutectic nanocomposite thin film.

19. The process of claim 18, wherein a domain size of the eutectic nanocomposite thin film is in a range from about 100 nm to about 400 nm.

20. The process of claim 18, wherein flux-free bonding of the first and second homogeneous metal pieces is achieved using the eutectic nanocomposite thin film.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Automatic Injection Device With Delay Mechanism Including Dual Functioning Biasing Member

Technical Field and Background:
The present invention pertains to pharmaceutical injection devices, and, in particular, to an automatic injection device. Patients suffering from a number of different diseases frequently must inject themselves with pharmaceuticals. A variety of devices have been proposed to facilitate these injections. One type of device is an automatic injection device. This type of device, when triggered by a user, automatically inserts into the user a needle of a syringe that prior to triggering was disposed within the device housing, and then automatically injects a dose of medication through that inserted needle. One known type of automatic injection device then automatically advances a shroud to cover the needle when the dose is completed. In another type of automatic injection device having a configuration more desirable to some, and instead of having an advancing shroud, the device will automatically retract the needle into the housing when the dose is completed. One difficulty with designing an automatic injector with a needle retracting feature is ensuring both that the full desired contents of the syringe have been injected and that the syringe needle is properly retracted into the device housing after use. International Publication Number WO 2005/115516 explains in additional detail such design difficulty, and further proposes solutions using a type of delay mechanism involving a highly viscous fluid damping. While perhaps functional, these solutions are not without their own shortcomings, such as the delay mechanism being used to transfer force to the syringe during injection. International Publication Number WO 2008/112472 discloses an automatic injector with delay mechanism which has desirable capabilities but which is of larger diameter than may desirable for some. Further, the number of parts, and the camming motion of the delay mechanism with parts sliding against each other, complicates assembly and operation. Automatic injectors frequently are provided with a lock feature that frustrates device triggering prior to a user having prepared for such triggering. One known way of triggering an automatic injector is for a manually operable button to unlatch prongs of a spring-loaded plunging element of the device, such as by the splaying outward or squeezing inward of such prongs to allow passage of the prongs through one or more openings in the surface to which the prongs releasably latch. Various means to prevent this plunger unlatching from occurring too soon have been employed in the past, but such means are not without their shortcomings, such as due to increasing the device complexity or adding undesirable size to the device. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an automatic injection apparatus that can overcome one or more of these and other shortcomings of the prior art.

Invention Disclosure:
An automatic injection apparatus including a delay mechanism for properly delivering medication prior to the needled syringe of the apparatus being retracted. In one form, the delay mechanism includes a shuttle for the syringe, a follower, a locking member, a damping compound between the follower and a supporting surface to dampen rotation of the follower relative to the shuttle, and a dual functioning biasing member acting between the shuttle and the follower. When the locking member moves to a release position during an injection, the dual functioning biasing member first provides a torsional force to force the follower to rotate relative to the shuttle from a latching position to an unlatching position, and then the dual functioning biasing member provides an axial force to force the shuttle axially relative to the follower to move the shuttle for retracting the syringe needle into the housing of the apparatus after injection.

[Assistant]
1. An automatic injection apparatus comprising a housing including a main body, a needled syringe with a plunger that has a plurality of latching prongs, the plunger prongs extending through at least one opening in a latchable element within the housing main body, a button rotatable between first and second angular positions relative to the housing main body and the plunger prongs, the prongs having latching surfaces in releasable engagement with the latchable element, the prongs including ramp surfaces, the button including at least one activating element for engaging the ramp surfaces during manual plunging of the button relative to the main body to cam the prongs so as to move the prong latching surfaces out of engagement with the latchable element such that the prongs can pass through the at least one opening in the latchable element, and at least one biasing element for moving the needled syringe within the housing, when the prongs are released from engagement with the latchable element, to extend the needle of the syringe beyond the housing with the prongs passing through the at least one opening in the latchable element, and to advance the plunger to force syringe contents through the needle for an injection, the improvement comprising:
locking protuberances integrally formed with the prong ramp surfaces and projecting upwardly from the ramp surfaces toward the button, wherein upward tips of said locking protuberances are in spaced relationship with upward tips of the ramp surfaces to define radial gaps therebetween in which extend the at least one activating element of the button when the button is in the first angular position, whereby abutment of the at least one activating element of the button by the locking protuberances resists movement of the prong latching surfaces out of engagement with the latchable element; and
the at least one activating element of the button further comprising clearance slots, said slots extending within the radial gaps when the button is in the second angular position, whereby the locking protuberances fit within the clearance slots to not resist movement of the prong latching surfaces out of engagement with the latchable element.

2. The automatic injection apparatus of claim 1 wherein said upward tips of said locking protuberances are disposed radially outward of said upward tips of the ramp surfaces, and wherein radially outwardly facing surfaces of said upward tips of said locking protuberances are rounded to facilitate insertion through the at least one biasing element during apparatus assembly.

3. The automatic injection apparatus of claim 2 wherein each prong includes a leg with a spring-centering boss integrally formed with and axially extending on a radially outwardly facing surface of said leg.


[System] You are an expert US patent attorney. Draft a set of independent and dependent claims based on the provided invention description. Use correct USPTO formatting.

[User]
Title: Method Of Producing Silicon Single Crystal

Technical Field and Background:
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus of producing a silicon single crystal and a method for producing a silicon single crystal that can provide high-quality silicon single crystals having designated crystal properties based on critical control of surface position of silicon melt during pulling the silicon single crystals from the silicon melt by the Czochralski method. Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-277212, filed Dec. 13, 2010, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 2. Description of Related Art Conventionally, silicon single crystals have been produced through various methods. The Czochralski method (hereafter referred to as CZ method) is the most representative method for producing silicon single crystals. In the growth process of a silicon single crystal by the CZ method, a silicon melt is formed by melting polysilicon in a crucible. Then, a seed crystal is dipped in the silicon melt and is pulled up with a predetermined pulling speed while rotating the seed crystal with a predetermined rotation rate. As a result, a silicon single crystal of columnar shape is grown below the seed crystal. In a silicon single crystal grown by the CZ method, species and distribution of the defects depend on the ratio of the pulling rate V of the silicon single crystal and thermal gradient G in the silicon single crystal along the growth direction. The ratio is hereafter referred to as V/G. Under large V/G conditions, the silicon single crystal is in excess of vacancies, resulting in generation of small voids (defects generally called COPs) as agglomerates of the vacancies are formed in the crystal. On the other hand, under small V/G conditions, the silicon single crystal is in excess of interstitial silicon atoms, resulting in generation of dislocation clusters as agglomerates of the interstitial silicon atoms. Therefore, in order to grow a crystal that does not include COPs and dislocation clusters, it is necessary to control the radial distribution and axial distribution of V/G in an appropriate range. With respect to the radial distribution, pulling rate V is constant in any positions along the radial direction in the single crystal. Therefore, it is necessary to design a structure of high temperature zone (hot zone) in the CZ furnace such that the thermal gradient G is within a predetermined range. With respect to axial distribution, G depends on the pull length of the single crystal. Therefore, it is necessary to change V along the lengthwise direction of the single crystal so as to control V/G in a predetermined range. Currently, mass production of COP-free and dislocation clusters-free crystals is realized even in production of silicon single crystals of 300 mm in diameter based on the control of V/G. However, even though a silicon single crystal that does not include COPs and dislocation clusters is grown by controlling V/G, a silicon wafer obtained from the crystal does not have a homogeneous property throughout the wafer plane, but includes a plurality of regions that exhibits different behaviors under a heat treatment. For example, when V/G is varied from COP generation conditions to dislocation cluster generation conditions, three regions consisting of so called OSF region, Pv region, and Pi region appear with decreasing V/i between the COP generation region and the dislocation cluster generation region. The OSF region denotes a region which includes platy oxygen precipitates (OSF nuclei) under an as-grown state (a state at which the single crystal is not subjected to any heat treatment after the growth of the crystal) and generates OSFs (Oxidation Induced Stacking Faults) when the crystal is subjected to thermal oxidation. A Pv region denotes a region that includes oxygen precipitation nuclei under an as-grown state and easily generates oxygen precipitates when the crystal is subjected to two step heat treatment at low temperature and high temperature (for example, at 800° C. and 1000° C.). A Pi region denotes a region that is almost free of oxygen precipitation nuclei under an as-grown state and hardly generates oxygen precipitates even when the crystal is subjected to heat treatment. There is a demand to provide high-quality silicon single crystal in which the above-described Pv region and the Pi region are formed as distinguishable regions (hereafter, such crystal is referred to as a PvPi crystal).

Invention Disclosure:
A method of producing a silicon single crystal is provided. The method may include taking a real image of a heat shield including a circular opening and a mirror image of the heat shield reflected on a surface of the silicon melt, measuring a spacing between the real image and the mirror image, calculating a position of the surface of the silicon melt, taking an image of a bright zone that appears in a vicinity of an interface between the silicon melt and the silicon single crystal, calculating a position of the surface of the silicon melt based on a center position of the silicon single crystal determined from the image of the bright zone, and controlling the position of the surface of the silicon melt during a pulling of the silicon single crystal while referring to data of the calculated positions of the surface of the silicon melt.

[Assistant]
1. A method of producing a silicon single crystal, comprising pulling a silicon single crystal from a silicon melt formed in a crucible, the method comprising:
performing a first operation, with an imaging device, including taking a real image of a heat shield including a circular opening and a mirror image of the heat shield reflected on a surface of the silicon melt, measuring a spacing between the real image and the mirror image, and calculating a position of the surface of the silicon melt;
performing a second operation, with the imaging device, including taking an image of a bright zone that appears in a vicinity of an interface between the silicon melt and the silicon single crystal, and calculating a position of the surface of the silicon melt based on a center position of the silicon single crystal determined from the image of the bright zone; and
controlling, with a controller, the position of the surface of the silicon melt during the pulling of the silicon single crystal while referring to data of the position of the surface of the silicon melt obtained by the first operation and data of the position of the surface of the silicon melt obtained by the second operation, wherein
in performing the first operation:
transforming contours of the real image and the mirror image of the heat shield obtained by the imaging device to project the contours of the real image and the mirror image to a plane corresponding to a lower end position of the heat shield,
calculating a center position of the projected real image of the heat shield through circular approximation of the contour of the opening of the real image of the heat shield that appears as an elliptic shape,
calculating a center position of the projected mirror image of the heat shield through circular approximation of the contour of the opening of the mirror image of the heat shield, and
measuring the spacing between the real image and the mirror image based on a spacing between the center positions of the projected real image and the projected mirror image of the heat shield.

2. The method of producing the silicon single crystal according to claim 1, wherein
in performing the first operation:
determining the contours of the real image and the mirror image of the heat shield based on differential data of the real image and the mirror image taken by the imaging device.

3. The method of producing the silicon single crystal according to claim 1, wherein
in performing the first operation:
selecting a contour from contours of each of the real image and the mirror image obtained by the imaging device such that the selected contour encloses an area of not smaller than a predetermined area, and
calculating the center position of each of the real image and the mirror image of the heat shield using the selected contour.

4. The method of producing the silicon single crystal according to claim 1, wherein
in performing the first operation:
the imaging device takes an image from an angle such that a deviation between the contour of each of the real image and the mirror image of the heat shield and a circular approximated image of the opening of the heat shield is minimized.

5. The method of producing the silicon single crystal according to claim 1, wherein
in an initial stage of pulling a silicon single crystal, the first operation performs:
performing setting of the position of the surface of the silicon melt based on the spacing between the real image and the mirror image of the heat shield,
from an end on the initial stage to a stage where a diameter of the silicon single crystal reaches a predetermined value, the first operation performs:
controlling the position of the surface of the silicon melt through the controller based on the spacing between the real image and the mirror image of the heat shield, and
in a stage after the diameter of the silicon single crystal reaches the predetermined value, the second operation performs:
controlling the position of the surface of the silicon melt through the controller based on the center position of the silicon single crystal determined from the image of the bright zone.

6. The method of producing the silicon single crystal according to claim 1, further comprising:
calibrating a difference between the position of the surface of the silicon melt determined in the first operation and the position of the surface of the silicon melt determined in the second operation when the diameter of the silicon single crystal reaches a predetermined value.