Abstract: This invention relates to a fume extractor (10) for extracting fumes from a bore (12) of a barrel (14) of a gun and comprising an annular main reservoir (16); an annular inlet reservoir (18); and an annular auxiliary reservoir (20), all concentrically surrounding the barrel (14) and being in communication with each other and the bore (12). The inlet reservoir (18) is sandwiched between the main reservoir (16) and the barrel (14). The auxiliary reservoir (20) is sandwiched between the main reservoir (16) and the barrel (14) and is located adjacent the inlet reservoir (18) on a muzzle brake end thereof. The arrangement is such that the main reservoir (16) is pressurized when the gun is fired and such that the fumes in the bore (12) are extracted by the release of pressure in the main and auxiliary reservoirs (16) and (20), after the projectile has left the barrel (14).

Abstract: Embodiments include an imaging system that includes a collimator support base and a detector assembly. The collimator support base is configured to interchangeably accept a slit aperture collimator and a pinhole aperture collimator. The slit aperture collimator has either a corresponding septa assembly or a corresponding crossed-slit collimator. The detector assembly is configured to detect collimated gamma rays emanating from a subject in a field of view of the imaging system and generate one or more signals in response to the detected gamma rays. Methods of adjusting performance of imaging systems are also provided.

Abstract: A spark plug including: an insulator having an axial hole; a center electrode disposed in a tip end side of the axial hole of the insulator; a metal shell surrounding the insulator, a first ground electrode having one end bonded to the metal shell; a noble metal tip joined to an inner side face of another end portion of the first ground electrode body disposed opposite a tip end face of the center electrode; and a second ground electrode having one end bonded to the metal shell, and another end face disposed opposite a side peripheral face of said insulator to form a second discharge gap, wherein following relationships are satisfied as defined herein: 0.12?S?1.15, 0.3?t?1.5, A+0.7(F?A)?1.8M, and ?03?L/H.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus for securing a storage device (50) with a mounting hole (522) defined therein includes a bracket (20) for receiving the storage device, an operating member (40), a fastening member (30) and a resilient member (60) compressed by the fastening member. A through opening (248) is defined in the bracket. The operating member movably engages with the bracket includes a pressing portion. The fastening member pivotably attaches to the bracket includes a locking portion. The locking portion extends through the through opening of the bracket and engages in the mounting hole of the storage device under the pressure of the pressing portion of the operating member. When the operating member is pulled off, the resilient member rebounds to rotate the locking portion, thereby disengaging the locking portion from the mounting hole of the storage device.

Abstract: An infrared sensor includes an imaging area including infrared detection pixels; row selection lines; a signal line; a row selection circuit generating a column voltage in the signal line; a column amplifier including a first amplifying transistor which generates an amplification voltage obtained by amplifying the column voltage and a first clamp circuit which holds threshold voltage information of the first amplifying transistor in its gate; a removing circuit including a second amplifying transistor and a second clamp circuit which holds threshold voltage information of the second amplifying transistor in its gate, the removing circuit being connected to the column amplifier to remove a bias component from the amplification voltage; and a reading circuit reading an output voltage from the column amplifier, the output voltage is obtained by excluding at least the bias component from the amplification voltage.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for selectively forming a scintillator layer on a substrate as well as related devices. The method includes positioning an electrostatic dissipative organic resin layer on a first portion of a substrate surface, and depositing scintillator material on both the resin layer and a second portion of the substrate surface. The method further includes removing the resin layer from the substrate as to remove from the substrate scintillator material deposited on the resin layer while leaving scintillator material on the second portion of the substrate.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for the selective dry etching of tantalum and tantalum nitride films. Tantalum nitride layers (30) are often used in semiconductor manufacturing. The semiconductor substrate is exposed to a reducing plasma chemistry which passivates any exposed copper (40). The tantalum or tantalum nitride films are selectively removed using an oxidizing plasma chemistry.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate to minimize a rugged surface of an organic layer overlapping with a storage electrode is provided. The method includes forming a passivation layer on a substrate having a storage electrode and an organic layer covering the passivation layer, forming a concave portion by partially removing a portion of the organic layer that overlaps with the storage electrode, planarizing a rugged pattern located on the bottom of the concave portion, and forming an opening extending to a surface of the passivation layer by removing the planarized organic layer from the concave portion.

Abstract: There is provided an intermediate adapter having a camera shake correction function, in which an exchange head provided with an image taking optical system and an imaging device is applicable to a camera system, and a camera system having the intermediate adapter. The exchange head is mounted on the intermediate adapter having a head driving section, and the exchange head mounted on the intermediate adapter is mounted on a camera main frame. The head driving section drives the exchange head in accordance with a detection signal detected by a camera shake detection section of the intermediate adapter.

Abstract: An infrared ray detection device has a detection cell which has a thermoelectric converting part and an infrared ray absorption layer formed via a space on a semiconductor substrate, a first wiring part formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a supporting part, the detection cell being formed via the space on the semiconductor substrate and supports the detection cell. The supporting part includes a plurality of supporting legs which have a second wiring part electrically connecting the first wiring part to the detection cell and an insulating part covering a surrounding are of the second wiring part, and at least one connection part made of an insulating material connecting the plurality of supporting legs to each other.

Abstract: A technique is provided monitoring and removing contaminants from the surface of a sample that is being measured with an optical metrology tool. The monitoring and removing contaminants from the surface of a sample may occur prior to recording an optical response from said sample in order to ensure that accurate results are obtained. Contaminant layers may be quantified so that other measurements may be accurately obtained without requiring the removal of the contaminant layer. The contaminant layers may be removed through the exposure to optical radiation. Alternatively, properties of non-contaminant layers may be characterized by analyzing changes that occur in such layers by exposure to optical radiation. The optical metrology instrument may be an instrument which operates at wavelengths that include vacuum ultra-violet (VUV) wavelengths.

Abstract: An infrared sensor includes a series capacitor element and a reference capacitor element each exhibiting a predetermined capacitance value; an infrared-detecting capacitor element whose capacitance value varies depending on an intensity of infrared light incident on the element; and an output node being a node at which a first terminal of the series capacitor element, a first terminal of the reference capacitor element and a first terminal of the infrared-detecting capacitor element are connected to one another. The intensity of infrared light is output as a potential difference between the reference potential which is brought to a potential by applying a predetermined voltage between the series capacitor element and the reference capacitor element and the detection potential which is brought to a potential by applying a predetermined voltage between the series capacitor element and the infrared-detecting capacitor element.

Abstract: A data utilization installation has various components such as a management computer, a mobile computer system, an access point, a printer, and application software. The management system collects status information from the components, and evaluates whether the components necessary for a particular user e.g. of the mobile computer system, to carry out a task, are ready for use. Status information is communicated to the user based on the evaluation by the management system. The management system of the utilization installation may be located remote from the other components of the installation, and communicate via the Internet or other wide area medium, or the management system may be located locally to the user, e.g. in a branch management station, or in one of the devices to be employed by the user, including the mobile computer system that at least in part may be worn or otherwise carried by the user.

Abstract: A method of overcurrent protection for multi-slot flash memory card reader mainly includes integrating overcurrent protection circuit and power-supply circuit for the multiple slots of the card reader into one single control chip; and, when the overcurrent protection circuit detects an overcurrent at a particular slot, cutting off power supply to that particular slot of the card reader and enabling an overcurrent state register, so that a signal is provided to firmware in the control chip to display an icon of the card reader on a computer as a state indicating an abnormal condition. Whereby, the card reader and a flash memory card inserted therein, or other apparatus connected thereto would not be damaged when an overcurrent occurs, and a user may clearly know the exact point on the card reader where the overcurrent occurs.

Abstract: In a non-contact IC card for performing communication with a reader/writer, an encryption block having a DES (data encryption standard) block for performing an encryption operation in accordance with a public key encryption algorithm and an ECC/SHA1 (elliptic curve cryptosystem/secure hash algorithm 1) block for performing an encryption operation in accordance with a common key encryption algorithm are incorporated into an IC chip. A CPU having a built-in clock gear causes a change of the operation frequency of the non-contact IC card. The communication operation with the reader/writer and the encryption operations performed by the encryption block are performed at different operation frequencies.

Abstract: The invention is generally directed toward display and presentment technology for activatable point of sale cards. The cards can be mounted on a display sheet for use in display or shipment applications. In addition security benefits are provided by orienting a data field on the card such that removal of the card from the sheet is required for card activation.

Abstract: An optically variable device (OVD) is provided that includes a barcode rendered from a three-dimensional barcode. To increase the readability of the barcode rendered in the OVD, the bars of the three-dimensional barcode may have tapered sidewalls and depths that are small compared to their heights and widths. The barcode may be rendered in the OVD such that it is viewable only at certain angles or using certain wavelengths of light. Also provided is a barcode of multiple portions where a portion is rendered in an OVD and another portion is otherwise provided (e.g., printed). Such a barcode may have portions that are readable as independent barcodes and are also readable together as a single, compound barcode. Also provided is a method where a plurality of OVDs with unique images are associated with products, e.g., packaged together, so that receipt of a package of products with non-unique images indicates counterfeiting.

Abstract: Machine-readable coded data disposed on or in a substrate in accordance with a layout, the layout having at least order n rotational symmetry, where n is at least two, the layout encoding an orientation codeword comprising a sequence of an integer multiple m of of n symbols, where m is one or more, each encoded symbol being distributed at n locations about a center of rotational symmetry of the layout such that decoding the symbols at each of the n orientations of the layout produces n representations of the orientation codeword, each representation comprising a different cyclic shift of the orientation codeword and being indicative of the degree of rotation of the layout, and wherein the orientation codeword is fault tolerant.

Abstract: An ATM (10) includes a housing (46) including a generally L-shaped chest portion (48) and an upper housing portion (54). The ATM includes a fascia (12) which extends on the outside of a wall (14) and includes a user interface (15). Responsive to inputs of a user through the user interface the machine is operative to accept a stack of sheets (84) which are evaluated through operation of a sheet validator device (88) and which enables acceptable sheets to be stored within the chest portion. Unacceptable sheets are routed to a storage area (100). Provisions are made for reducing the risk of attack on the ATM by criminals and to facilitate servicing by authorized personnel.

Abstract: The invention includes biometric security systems and related methods. In a device according to the invention there is an interface plate, a housing and a biometric receiver. The housing and biometric receiver may be mounted to the interface plate, and the interface plate may be secured to a mounting plate.