Author: claimsbot

1. A method for determining a position of a reference point, comprising the steps of:
providing an alignment mark at a reference point on a board in a design, where said alignment mark consists of a plurality of pattern portions concentrically surrounding and centering at said reference point;
obtaining coordinate values of centers of figures surrounded by border lines of said pattern portions in said alignment mark;
determining whether or not to exclude one of said centers of said pattern portions with obtained data on the board alone based on a predetermined rule;
averaging said obtained plural coordinate values of remaining ones of said centers in each of X- and Y-directions; and
setting average values, obtained respectively in said directions, as coordinate values of said reference point in machining.
2. A method for determining a position of a reference point according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined rule is to exclude a center at a longest distance from the coordinate obtained by averaging all of said centers.
3. A method for determining a position of a reference point according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined rule is to exclude a center having an error amount from an average value of the distribution of coordinate values that exceeds a predetermined allowable value.
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 soil based material including a soil matrix and synthetic fibres scattered throughout said matrix.
2. A soil based material according to claim 1, wherein said fibres are a mixture of mono-fibres and fibrillated fibres.
3. A soil based material according to claim 2, wherein said mixture of fibres includes substantially even amounts of said mono-fibres and said fibrillated fibres respectively.
4. A soil based material according to claim 3, wherein each cubic metre of the soil matrix includes 1 to 6 kilograms of said mixture of fibres.
5. A soil based material according to claim 4, wherein each cubic metre of the soil matrix includes approximately 2.6 kilograms of said mixture of fibres.
6. A soil based material according to claim 1, wherein said fibres are mono-fibres, and each cubic metre of said soil matrix includes approximately 17 kilograms of said fibres.
7. A soil based material according to any preceding claim, wherein biodegradable fibres, in addition to said synthetic fibres, are scattered throughout said soil matrix.
8. A soil based material according to any preceding claim, wherein at least some of said fibres have a length in the range 15 millimetres to 20 millimetres inclusive.
9. A soil based material according to any preceding claim, including at least one additive dispersed throughout the matrix.
10. A soil based material according to claim 9, wherein said additive comprises or includes an organic material fertiliser or wetting agent.
11. A soil based material according to claim 9, wherein said additive comprises or includes particles of resilient material scattered throughout the soil matrix.
12. A soil based material according to claim 11, wherein said particles are approximately 3 millimetres thick, approximately 25 millimetres long, and approximately 20 millimetres wide.
13. A soil based material according to claim 11 or 12, wherein said particles are formed of polyethylene.
14. A method of producing a soil based material including a soil matrix and synthetic fibres scattered throughout said matrix, including the steps of depositing said fibres on the surface of a body of soil, and mixing said fibres with said body of soil to achieve a substantially regular dispersion of said fibres throughout said body of soil.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said fibres are caused to separate prior to being deposited on said body of soil.
16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said separation is effected by inducing an electrostatic charge in said fibres.
17. A method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, including the step of mixing particles of a resilient material with the soil matrix so as to achieve a substantially consistent dispersion of said particles throughout said matrix.
18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said particles are mixed with the soil matrix prior to introducing said fibres into said soil matrix.
19. A method according to claim 17, wherein said particles and said fibres are simultaneously mixed with said soil matrix.
20. A method of producing a soil based material including the steps of, moving a mixing chamber over the surface of a body of soil, causing soil to be lifted from said surface to flow upwards into said chamber, directing a stream of fibres into said chamber so as to mix with said upward flow of soil, directing said soilfibre mixture to flow downwards within said chamber towards said body of soil at a position rearwards of said upward flow of soil relative to the direction of travel of said chamber, and mixing said soilfibre mixture within said body of soil.
21. A method according to claim 20, wherein said fibres are caused to separate prior to being deposited on said body of soil.
22. A method according to claim 21, wherein said separation occurs before said fibres enter said mixing chamber.
23. A method according to claim 21 or 22, wherein said separation is effected by inducing an electrostatic charge in said fibres.
24. A method according to any one of claims 20 to 23, wherein an additive is introduced into said stream of fibres to mix therewith before said stream enters said mixing chamber.
25. A method according to claim 24, wherein said additive comprises particles of a resilient material, and both said fibres and said particles are mixed with said upward flow of soil within said mixing chamber.
26. A ground surface including a surface layer and a second layer underlying the surface layer, said surface layer including a soil matrix and synthetic fibres scattered throughout said matrix, and said second layer including a soil matrix, synthetic fibres scattered throughout the soil matrix of the second layer, and particles of resilient material scattered throughout the soil matrix of the second layer.
27. A ground surface according to claim 26, wherein said surface layer is formed of a soil based material according to any one of claims 2 to 13.
28. A ground surface according to claim 26 or 27, wherein said second layer is formed of a soil based material according to claim 12 or 13.
29. A ground surface according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein said second layer is interposed between said surface layer and a base layer.
30. A ground surface according to claim 29, wherein said base layer is composed of sand or a sand composite.
31. Apparatus for forming a soil based material according to any one of claims 1 to 13, said apparatus including a delivery system through which a stream of said fibres is moved, separation means promoting separation of individual fibres in said stream, and mixing means operative to mix said fibres within a body of soil that forms said soil matrix.
32. Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said separation means induces an electrostatic charge in said fibres.
33. Apparatus according to claim 31 or 32, including storage means in which said stream of fibres is deposited downstream from said separation means, and from which fibres are extracted for delivery to said mixing means.
34. Apparatus according to claim 31 or 32, wherein said mixing means includes a mixing chamber for receiving said stream of fibres downstream from said separation means, and soil engaging means operative to lift soil from a body of soil beneath said mixing chamber and cause the lifted soil to mix with said fibres within said mixing chamber, and said mixing chamber includes flow directing means that directs the soilfibre mix to flow downwards onto said body of soil.
35. Apparatus according to claim 34, including storage means for containing a body of said fibres, and flow inducing means for causing fibres to exit said storage means and flow towards said mixing chamber.
36. Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said flow inducing means is formed by or includes said separation means, and said separation means is located between said storage means and said mixing chamber.
37. Apparatus according to claim 35 or 36, wherein said storage means includes a plurality of compartments, one of which is a storage compartment for said body of fibres, and each said compartment has an exit port that can be selectively opened or closed.
38. Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein another of said compartments is a storage compartment for a body of particles of resilient material, and said flow inducing means is operative to cause particles to exit said particle storage compartment when the exit port of that compartment is open.
39. Apparatus according to claim 38, including metering means operative to control the ratio of said fibres and said particles when said fibres and said particles are being simultaneously extracted from their respective said compartments.
40. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said metering means is adjustable to vary said ratio.
41. Apparatus according to claim 34 including a feed auger being operable to supply said fibres and particles to the separation means, the feed auger being rotatable about an axis, the speed of rotation being adjustable to adjust the rate of supply of fibres and particles to the separation means.
42. Apparatus according to claim 40 including storage means for containing a body of said fibres or said particles and agitation means for agitating said fibres or said particles to move towards the feed auger.
43. Apparatus according to claim 40 or 41 including flow inducing means for inducing fibres or particles to exit the separation means.
44. Apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the flow inducing means is an impeller located between the separation means and mixing chamber.
45. Apparatus according to any one of claims 34 to 44, wherein said mixing chamber is movable across said body of soil.
46. Apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said mixing chamber forms part of an assembly including the following components said soil engaging means, said storage means, said flow inducing means, said separation means, and said metering means.
47. Apparatus according to claim 46, including prime moving means for moving the assembly relative to the body of soil.
48. Apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the prime moving means is separable from the assembly.
49. Apparatus according to claim 48, wherein the prime moving means provides drive means for the operation of the components of the assembly.
50. Apparatus for processing bulk foamed material to produce particles of predetermined size including:
a slicing means including a plurality of slicing discs being operable to process the bulk material into strips;
a mulching means including a plurality of mulching discs being operable to process the sliced material into particles of predetermined size; and
a sieve defining at least in part a mulching zone within which the mulching discs operate, the sieve permitting material of a predetermined size to pass therethrough.
51. Apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the slicer discs are located on opposing shafts, the shafts being rotatable in opposite directions.
52. Apparatus according to claim 51, wherein the speed of rotation of each shaft is adjustable so as to adjust a speed at which sliced material is discharged from the slicing means.
53. Apparatus according to claim 51 or 52, wherein each slicing disc on each shaft is separated by a boss of substantially similar thickness, the opposing shafts being positioned such that the slicing discs on opposing shafts interleave and overlap.
54. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each mulching disc on each shaft is separated by a boss of substantially similar thickness to the mulching disc, the opposing shafts being positioned such that each mulching disc on opposing shaft interleaves.
55. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each mulching disc includes a tooth which is negatively raked to facilitate mulching of the stripped material and movement of the material from a lower position within the mulching zone to an upper position in the mulching zone.
56. Apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the speed of rotation of one shaft is approximately one half to one third speed of rotation of the other shaft.

1. A method of operating a driver analysis system, the method comprising:
receiving vehicle operation data corresponding to operation of one or more vehicles operated by one or more drivers by the driver analysis system;
generating a driving report which identifies the driving performance of a target driver; and
transferring the driving report to a target device for viewing by one or more entities,
wherein the vehicle operation data comprises an indication of status of a safety system of at least one of the one or more vehicles.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of status of a safety system comprises a status of a safety belt system.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the status of the safety belt system comprises an indication of the use of the safety belt system.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle operation data is received at a communication interface in the driver analysis system from one or more monitoring systems located generally adjacent the one or more vehicles.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more monitoring systems is powered from an On Board Diagnostic (OBD) port on the one or more vehicles.
6. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more monitoring systems further comprises at least one of an accelerometer, GPS functionality, flash memory, a processor, a real-time operating system, satellite communication capabilities, cellular communication capabilities, and Bluetooth-type communication capabilities.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the vehicle operation data is gathered from a source other than from the OBD port of the one or more vehicles.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the driving report comprises a safety score generally representing a level of safety of the driving performance of the target driver.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a plurality of graphical representations of the driving performance of the target driver.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein a first graphical representation of the plurality of graphical representations comprises a disabled safety device.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein a second graphical representation of the plurality of graphical representations comprises rapid acceleration events.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein a third graphical representation of the plurality of graphical representations comprises excessive speed events.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance of the target driver is compared to a best, worst, and average of the one or more other drivers.
14. A driver analysis system comprising:
a communication interface configured to receive vehicle operation data corresponding to operation of a one or more of vehicles operated by one or more drivers;
a processing system configured to identify from one or more drivers a peer group associated with a target driver, process at least a portion of the vehicle operation data to determine driving performance of the target driver relative to driving performance of the peer group, and generate a driving score which generally identifies the driving performance of the target driver;
wherein the processing system is further configured to generate an indication of circumvention of a safety interlock.
15. The driver analysis system of claim 14, wherein indication of circumvention of a safety interlock comprises an indication of an abnormality with usage of a safety belt.
16. The driver analysis system of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of monitoring systems located generally adjacent the plurality of vehicles wherein the communication interface is capable of receiving the vehicle operation data from the plurality of monitoring systems.
17. The driver analysis system of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of monitoring systems is powered from an On Board Diagnostic (OBD) port on each of the plurality of vehicles and gathers at least a portion of the vehicle operation data from a source other than the OBD port.
18. The driver analysis system of claim 17, wherein the source other than the OBD port comprises at least one of an accelerometer, GPS functionality, flash memory, a processor, a real-time operating system, satellite communication capabilities, cellular communication capabilities, and Bluetooth-type communication capabilities.
19. The driver analysis system of claim 1, wherein the performance of the target driver is compared to a best, worst, and average of the peer group.
20. A driver analysis network, comprising:
a plurality of monitoring systems located on board a plurality of vehicles operated by a plurality of drivers wherein the plurality of monitoring systems is configured to transmit vehicle operation data corresponding to operation of the plurality of vehicles;
a server configured to receive the vehicle operation data at a communication interface, identify from the plurality of drivers a peer group associated with a target driver, process at least a portion of the vehicle operation data to determine driving performance of the target driver relative to driving performance of the peer group, generate a driving report which identifies the driving performance of the target driver, and transmit the driving report at the communication interface;
a target device configured to receive the driving report and display the driving report for viewing by the target driver or another entity, wherein the driving report comprises an indication of a condition of a safety device.
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. An apparatus comprising:
a chassis of a sheet of an electrically conductive material having a substantially non-conductive coating, an exposed portion of the chassis having been deformed to provide at least one protrusion such that the non-conductive coating on the at least one protrusion is thinner than a portion of the sheet spaced apart from the at least one protrusion to provide a conductively path through the sheet.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, therein the at least one protrusion comprises a plurality of elongated ribs extending substantially parallel to each other and having substantially triangular cross-sectional configurations, the non-conductive coating on a leading edge portion of the plurality of ribs being thinner than a portion of the sheet spaced apart from the plurality of ribs.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of ribs laterally extend substantially orthogonal to and intersect a first edge of the sheet.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of ribs have a pitch ranging from about 0.25 to 2 mm.
5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of ribs laterally extend at an angle relative to a first edge of the sheet.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a corrosion-resistant coating between a surface of the sheet and the non-conductive coating.
7. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the corrosion-resistant coating comprises a trivalent chromium (Cr3) material.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a gasket that engages the at least one protrusion to form an electrically conductive joint.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the gasket further comprises a substantially non-conductive and substantially flexible substrate that is covered by an electrically conductive material.
10. A computer housing comprising the apparatus of claim 8, the housing further comprising at least one bulkhead dimensioned and configured for insertion into the housing adjacent the at least one protrusion, the gasket being affixed to the bulkhead, such that upon insertion of the bulkhead into the housing, an electrically conductive path is provided between the chassis and the bulkhead through the at least one protrusion and the gasket, thereby forming at least a portion of a Faraday cage.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein that at least one protrusion comprises a plurality of elongated ribs that laterally extend along the chassis in a direction that is parallel to a direction of insertion of the bulkhead relative to the housing.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheet further comprises at least one substantially 90 degree arcuate bend, the at least one protrusion comprising at least one elongated rib that intersects the bend.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the sheet further comprises two substantially 90 degrees arcuate bends to create a substantially C-shaped profile, the at least one protrusion comprising a plurality of elongated ribs formed along a flanged edge of the sheet adjacent to and intersecting one of the bends.
14. A joint comprising:
a chassis comprising a conductive sheet that includes a non-conductive coating, wherein the conductive sheet is deformed to provide a plurality of protrusions, the coating being thinner on a leading edge portion of the plurality of protrusions than a portion of the conductive sheet spaced apart form the plurality of protrusions;
a bulkhead; and
a flexible gasket having a conductive surface disposed on the bulkhead, the gasket being affixed to a surface of the bulkhead, such that upon engagement between the gasket and the plurality of protrusions, an electrically conductive path is provided between the chassis and the bulkhead through at least some of the plurality of protrusions and the gasket.
15. The joint of claim 14, wherein the gasket comprises a substantially non-conductive flexible substrate that is covered by an electrically conductive layer, the gasket being secured to the bulkhead by a conductive adhesive.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a corrosion-resistant coating between a surface of the conductive sheet and the non-conductive coating.
17. A computer housing comprising the apparatus of claim 14, wherein the bulkhead is dimensioned and configured to be removeably inserted into the housing adjacent the chassis to complete the electrically conductive path by the engagement between the engagement between the gasket and the plurality of protrusions, and thereby forming at least a portion of a Faraday cage.
18. A method of making a conductive joint comprising:
providing a conductive sheet having an electrically non-conductive coating;
sufficiently deforming a portion of the conductive sheet to form at least one protrusion, such that the non-conductive coating is thinner on the at least one protrusion than a portion of the conductive sheet spaced apart from the at least one protrusion; and
engaging the at least one protrusions with a conductive gasket, the gasket being disposed on a bulkhead such at that an electrically conductive path is provided between the conductive sheet and the bulkhead through the at least one protrusion and the gasket.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the deforming of the portion of the conductive sheet forms a plurality of elongated protrusions extending substantially parallel to each other and having substantially triangular cross-sectional configurations, the non-conductive coating on a leading edge portion of the plurality of protrusions being thinner than a portion of the conductive sheet spaced apart from the plurality of protrusions.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the deforming further comprises stamping a surface of the conductive sheet to provide the plurality of elongated protrusions.