Author: claimsbot

Wherefore, we claim:

1. A ball-throwing machine of the type having a power head including three coacting wheels for propelling a ball toward a batter to interchangeably simulate pitches of different types to different locations at different speeds, said machine including means for computing the rotational speed of each of said wheels, the horizontal angular position of said power head, and the vertical angular position of said power head.
2. The ball-throwing machine of claim 1, wherein each of said different pitches may be established by five data points which correspond to the rotational speed of each of said wheels, said horizontal angular position of said power head, and said vertical angular position of said power head are all determined.
3. The ball-throwing machine of claim 1, wherein said means for computing said rotational speed of each of said wheels is determined by a mathematical formula that linearly is relates the speed of said wheels to the speed of said ball.
4. The ball-throwing machine of claim 1, wherein said means for computing said horizontal angular position of said power head is determined using a mathematical formula that linearly relates the horizontal angular position of said power head to the speed of said ball.
5. The ball-throwing machine of claim 1, wherein said means for computing said vertical angular position of said power head is determined using a mathematical formula that linearly relates the vertical angular position of said power head to the speed of said ball.
6. A ball-throwing machine of the type having a power head including three coacting wheels for propelling a ball toward a batter to interchangeably simulate pitches of different types to different locations at different speeds, said machine including:
means for computing the rotational speed of each of said wheels;
means for computing the horizontal angular position of said power head;
means for computing the vertical angular position of said power head;
means for causing said power head to rotate to said vertical angular position;
means for causing said power head to rotate to said horizontal angular position; and
means for causing each of said wheels to rotate at said rotational speed; and
means for controlling the rotational speed of each wheel, the horizontal angular position of the power head and the vertical angular position of the power head.
7. The ball-throwing machine of claim 6, wherein said rotational speed of each of said wheels is computed using a linear relationship with the speed of the ball.
8. The ball-throwing machine of claim 6, wherein said horizontal angular position of said power head is computed using a linear relationship with the speed of the ball.
9. The ball-throwing machine of claim 6, wherein said vertical angular position of said power head is computed using a linear relationship with the speed of the ball.
10. The ball-throwing machine of claim 6, wherein said means for controlling the rotational speed of each wheel includes a motor and a drive control, wherein said drive control includes means for rapidly changing the speed of each wheel.
11. The ball-throwing machine of claim 6, wherein said power head is pivotably mounted on a base at a center pivot about which the power head may be pivoted in both a horizontal and a vertical direction.
12. The ball-throwing machine of claim 11, wherein said means for causing the power head to move to a predetermined horizontal angular position comprises at least one horizontal linear actuator adapted to cause said power head to rotate in a horizontal plane about a center pivot and wherein said means for causing the power head to move to a predetermined vertical angular position comprises at least one vertical linear actuator adapted to cause said power head to rotate in a vertical plane about said center pivot.
13. The ball-throwing machine of claim 6, wherein said means for controlling comprises a programmable controller.
14. The ball-throwing machine of claim 13, wherein said programmable controller includes a programmable microprocessor.
15. The ball-throwing machine of claim 13 wherein said programmable microprocessor may be operated in a manual mode in which an individual can manually select for each pitch its type, speed and location or in an automatic mode in which the microprocessor is pre-programmed to deliver different pitches at different speeds to different locations in a pre-programmed sequence.
16. The ball-throwing machine of claim 13, wherein said programmable microprocessor includes a smart card reader adapted to read a pre-programmed smart card contains a pre-programmed sequence of pitches in order to re-program said microprocessor.
17. Method of establishing pitch parameters in a ball-throwing machine of the type having a power head including three coacting wheels for propelling a ball toward a batter to interchangeably simulate pitches of different types to different locations at different speeds, said method comprising the steps of:
computing the rotational speed of each of said wheels;
computing the horizontal angular position of said power head; and
computing the vertical angular position of said power head.
18. The method of establishing pitch parameters of claim 17, wherein said steps of computing the rotational speed of each of said wheels, computing the horizontal angular position of said power head and computing the vertical angular position of said power head are accomplished by providing a data table containing five data entries for each of said different pitches, three of said data entries being the rotational speeds of said wheels, one of said data entries being the horizontal angular position of said power head and one of said data entries being the vertical angular position of said power head.
19. The method of establishing pitch parameters of claim 18, wherein said data entries for the rotational speeds of said wheels are determined by a mathematical formula that linearly relates the speeds of said wheels to the speed of said ball.
20. The method of establishing pitch parameters of claim 18, wherein said data entries for the horizontal angular position of said power head is determined by a mathematical formula that linearly relates the horizontal angular position of said power head to the speed of said ball.
21. The method of establishing pitch parameters of claim 18, wherein said data entries for the vertical angular position of said power head is determined by a mathematical formula that linearly relates the vertical angular position of said power head to the speed of said ball.
22. A ball-throwing machine of the type having a power head including three coacting wheels for propelling a ball toward a batter to interchangeably simulate pitches of different types to different locations at different speeds, said machine including:
means for delivering said ball to a queued position;
means for computing the rotational speed of each of said wheels;
means for computing the horizontal angular position of said power head;
means for computing the vertical angular position of said power head;
means for causing said power head to rotate to said vertical angular position;
means for causing said power head to rotate to said horizontal angular position;
means for causing each of said wheels to rotate at said rotational speed;
means for controlling the rotational speed of each wheel, the horizontal angular position of the power head and the vertical angular position of the power head; and
means for impelling said ball from said queued position to said power head.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A manufacturing method of a liquid discharge head having a liquid chamber which communicates with a discharge port for discharging a liquid, the method comprising:
etching a first Si layer of an SOI substrate by use of an insulating layer as an etching stop layer to form the liquid chamber at the first Si layer, the SOI substrate being constituted by the first Si layer, the insulating layer and a second Si layer layered in this order; and
removing a part or all of the second Si layer.
2. The manufacturing method of the liquid discharge head according to claim 1, wherein the SOI substrate in which the first Si layer is thinner than the second Si layer is used.
3. The manufacturing method of the liquid discharge head according to claim 1, further comprising:
joining the first Si layer to an orifice plate provided with the discharge port, after forming the liquid chamber and before removing the second Si layer.
4. The manufacturing method of the liquid discharge head according to claim 3, wherein when joining the first Si layer to the orifice plate, the first Si layer is joined to the orifice plate by one of direct joining and solid-phase joining via a metal film.
5. The manufacturing method of the liquid discharge head according to claim 1, further comprising:
forming, on the insulating layer, a piezoelectric element which generates energy to discharge the liquid from the discharge port, after removing the second Si layer.
6. A manufacturing method of a liquid discharge head having a liquid chamber which communicates with a discharge port for discharging a liquid, the method comprising:
etching a first Si layer of a first SOI substrate by use of a first insulating layer as an etching stop layer to form the discharge port at the first Si layer, the first SOI substrate being constituted by the first Si layer, the first insulating layer and a second Si layer layered in this order;
etching a third Si layer of a second SOI substrate by use of a second insulating layer as an etching stop layer to form the liquid chamber at the third Si layer, the second SOI substrate being constituted by the third Si layer, the second insulating layer and a fourth Si layer layered in this order; and
joining the first Si layer to the third Si layer so that the discharge ports communicate with the liquid chamber.
7. The manufacturing method of the liquid discharge head according to claim 6, further comprising:
after joining the first Si layer to the third Si layer,
removing a part or all of the fourth Si layer; and
forming, on the second insulating layer, a piezoelectric element which generates energy to discharge the liquid from the discharge ports.
8. The manufacturing method of the liquid discharge head according to claim 6, wherein when joining the first Si layer to the third Si layer, the first Si layer is joined to the third Si layer by one of direct joining and solid-phase joining via a metal film.
9. A manufacturing method of an orifice plate having a discharge port for discharging a liquid and a communication portion which communicates with the discharge port, the method comprising:
etching a first Si layer of a first SOI substrate by use of a first insulating layer as an etching stop layer to form the discharge port at the first Si layer, the first SOI substrate being constituted by the first Si layer, the first insulating layer and a second Si layer layered in this order;
etching a third Si layer of a second SOI substrate by use of a second insulating layer as an etching stop layer to form the communication portion at the third Si layer, the second SOI substrate being constituted by the third Si layer, the second insulating layer and a fourth Si layer layered in this order;
joining the first Si layer to the third Si layer; and
removing the second Si layer and the fourth Si layer.
10. The manufacturing method of the orifice plate according to claim 9, further comprising:
removing the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer, after removing the second Si layer and the fourth Si layer.
11. A manufacturing method of a liquid discharge head including an orifice plate having a discharge port for discharging a liquid and a communication portion which communicates with the discharge port, and a channel substrate provided with a liquid chamber which communicate with the communication portion, the method comprising:
etching a first Si layer of a first SOI substrate by use of a first insulating layer as an etching stop layer to form the discharge port at the first Si layer, the first SOI substrate being constituted by the first Si layer, the first insulating layer and a second Si layer layered in this order;
etching a third Si layer of a second SOI substrate by use of a second insulating layer as an etching stop layer to form the communication portion at the third Si layer, the second SOI substrate being constituted by the third Si layer, the second insulating layer and a fourth Si layer layered in this order;
joining the first Si layer to the third Si layer;
removing the fourth Si layer;
joining the third Si layer to the channel substrate so that the communication portion communicates with the liquid chambers; and
removing the second Si layer.

1. A stent, the stent comprising a plurality of first serpentine rings, each first serpentine ring comprising a plurality of first struts and a plurality of second struts, each first strut having a first length, each second strut having a second length, the second length being greater than the first length;
each first serpentine ring further comprising a plurality of first turns and a plurality of second turns; each first turn engaging two first struts and each second turn engaging two second struts;
one of the plurality of first serpentine rings forming an end of the stent
wherein adjacent first serpentine rings engaged by a plurality of first connectors define a plurality of first openings having a first shape and a second opening having a second shape, the first shape being different than the second shape.
2. The stent of claim 1, the stent having a first end, each first turn oriented towards the first end of the stent, and each second turn oriented towards the first end of the stent.
3. The stent of claim 2, wherein the first turns are aligned with one another, the second turns are aligned with one another, and the first turns are offset from the second turns.
4. The stent of claim 1, each first serpentine ring further comprising a plurality of third turns, each third turn engaging a first strut and a second strut.
5. The stent of claim 1, each first turn and each second turn oriented in a first direction and each third turn oriented in a second direction, the first and second directions being opposite directions.
6. The stent of claim 4, wherein the third turns are aligned with one another.
7. The stent of claim 1, each first turn having a first circumferential extent and each second turn having a second circumferential extent, the first circumferential extent being greater than the second circumferential extent.
8. The stent of claim 1, wherein a first distance separates two first struts engaged by a first turn and a second distance separates two second struts engaged by a second turn, the first distance being greater than the second distance.
9. The stent of claim 1, adjacent first serpentine rings being engaged by a plurality of first connectors, each first connector extending between a first turn of one of the adjacent first serpentine rings and a first turn of the other of the adjacent first serpentine rings.
10. The stent of claim 1, the stent further comprising a side hole defined by a continuous band having a plurality of loops.
11. The stent of claim 10, the side hole having a third shape, the third shape being different than the first shape, and the third shape being different than the second shape.
12. The stent of claim 1, the stent having a first end, the stent further comprising a plurality of second serpentine rings, each second serpentine ring comprising a plurality of first struts and a plurality of second struts, each first strut having a first length, each second strut having a second length, the second length being greater than the first length;
each second serpentine ring further comprising a plurality of first turns and a plurality of second turns; each first turn engaging two first struts and each second turn engaging two second struts;
each first turn of the first serpentine rings oriented towards the first end of the stent, and each second turn of the first serpentine rings oriented towards the first end of the stent;
each first turn of the second serpentine rings oriented towards the second end of the stent, and each second turn of the second serpentine rings oriented towards the second end of the stent.
13. The stent of claim 12, the plurality of first serpentine rings forming a first portion of the stent and the plurality of second serpentine rings forming a second portion of the stent.
14. A stent having a first end and a second end, the stent comprising a plurality of serpentine bands, each serpentine band comprising a plurality of first struts and a plurality of second struts, each first strut having a first length, each second strut having a second length, the second length being greater than the first length;
each serpentine band further comprising a plurality of first turns and a plurality of second turns; each first turn engaging two first struts, each second turn engaging two second struts,
some of the plurality of serpentine bands orientated with each first turn oriented towards the first end of the stent, and each second turn oriented towards the first end of the stent and others of the plurality of serpentine bands oriented with each first turn oriented towards the second end of the stent and each second turn oriented towards the second end of the stent.
15. A stent, the stent comprising a plurality of first serpentine bands, each first serpentine band comprising a plurality of first struts and a plurality of second struts, each first strut having a first length, each second strut having a second length, the second length being greater than the first length;
each first serpentine band further comprising a plurality of first turns, a plurality of second turns, and a plurality of third turns; each first turn engaging two first struts and each second turn engaging two second struts; each third turn engaging one first strut and one second strut
the stent further comprising a side hole defined by a continuous band having a plurality of loops.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A plasma processing apparatus comprising:
a processing container for processing an object to be processed in plasma;
a dielectric body to cover an upper opening of the processing container in an airtight manner;
a microwave supplier for supplying a microwave, positioned over the dielectric body;
a waveguide having a first end connected to the microwave supplier, and extending toward the dielectric body to propagate the microwave to the dielectric body;
a waveguide box connected to a second end of the waveguide and extending in form of a flange so as to propagate a microwave from the second end of the waveguide radially outward;
an antenna covering a lower opening of the waveguide box and arranged along the dielectric body, the antenna having a plurality of slots formed therein; and
a bump made of a conductor arranged at a central part of the antenna inside the waveguide box, the bump projecting toward an opening of the second end of the waveguide.
2. A plasma processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna is formed to be a disk.
3. A plasma processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bump is formed to be generally conical.
4. A plasma processing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein a top of the bump is shaped to be round.
5. A plasma processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microwave to be propagated from the microwave supplier to the waveguide box through the waveguide is a microwave in TM01 mode.
6. A plasma processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microwave to be propagated from the microwave supplier to the waveguide box through the waveguide is a microwave in TM11 mode.
7. A plasma processing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a circular-polarized wave converted arranged in the waveguide between the microwave supplier and the waveguide box to rotate the microwave in TE11 mode about an axis of the waveguide thereby transmitting resulting circularly-polarized wave to the waveguide box.
8. A plasma processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slots are arranged coaxially.
9. A plasma processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slots are arranged spirally.
10. A plasma processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slots are arranged on a periphery of a polygon.
11. A plasma processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slots are arranged on radiation lines coaxially.
12. A plasma processing apparatus comprising:
a processing container for processing an object to be processed in plasma;
a dielectric body to cover an upper opening of the processing container in an airtight manner;
a microwave generator for generating a microwave, positioned over the dielectric body;
a waveguide having a first end connected to the microwave generator, and extending toward the dielectric body to propagate the microwave; and
a waveguide box connected to a second end of the waveguide, the waveguide box including:
a flat part radially extending outwardly from the second end of the waveguide,
a wall part extending from a peripheral part of the flat part towards the dielectric body,
a plane antenna positioned along the dielectric body, and
a conductive bump arranged at a central part of the plane antenna and
projecting towards an opening of the second end of the waveguide.
13. A plasma processing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the plane antenna has a plurality of slots arranged coaxially.
14. A plasma processing apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the slots are arranged at intervals of \u03bb2 or \u03bbg.
15. A plasma processing apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the slot is arranged in \u201cT\u201d type.
16. A plasma processing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein a space between the waveguide box and the dielectric body is filled with dielectric material.
17. A plasma processing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the conductive bump is formed in conical shape.
18. A plasma processing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a mode converter positioned between the microwave generator and the waveguide box.
19. A plasma processing apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the mode converter has at least a pair of projections inwardly projecting from an inside of a wall of the mode converter.
20. A plasma processing apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein a direction of the pair of projections is inclined at 45 degrees to the main direction of electric field of the microwave propagating toward the protrusion.