A display panel and a producing method therefor, a vehicle-mounted rearview mirror, and a display device. The display panel comprises: a base substrate; a pixel defining layer, located at one side of the base substrate, the pixel defining layer comprising a plurality of openings distributed in an array; a cathode layer, located at the side of the pixel defining layer opposite to the base substrate; and an auxiliary cathode layer, located at the side of the cathode layer opposite to the pixel defining layer, the auxiliary cathode layer being directly in contact with and electrically connected to the cathode layer. The auxiliary cathode layer has a first thickness at positions corresponding to the plurality of the openings, and a second thickness at positions other than the openings; the first thickness is less than the second thickness.

In the related art, a rearview mirror in a car generally includes two areas, one area is a reflective mirror and the other area is a display screen for displaying some information. For example, the display screen can display navigation information. When an image is displayed on the display screen, since the light reflected by the reflective mirror is relatively high, it is difficult for a driver to clearly see the content displayed on the display screen. Besides, since the light emergent during the image displaying on the display screen is relatively high, it is also difficult for the driver to clearly see the image reflected by the reflective mirror. Therefore, the rearview mirror in the related art cannot simultaneously achieve the display function and the reflection function.

Display panel and producing method therefor, vehicle-mounted rearview mirror, and display device

Chengdu BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


An imaging device includes a lens array in which lenses are arranged in a line, the lenses being optically equivalent, a roof mirror array having roof mirrors arranged in a line parallel to a direction in which axes of the lenses of the lens array are arranged, and an aperture member having apertures arranged so as to correspond to the lenses of the lens array. The center of an interval between axes of adjacent lenses of the lens array corresponds to a ridge line of the roof mirror array, and wherein at least two roof mirrors are provided with respect to each of the lenses of the lens array.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an imaging device, and more particularly to an imaging device which is applicable to reading optical systems of copy machines, facsimile machines and the like, an optical system of a reading scanner having a CCD sensor and a equimagnification sensor and optical systems of an optical printing head and a self-scanning type optical printing head.
2. Description of the related Art
In the recent years, it is required to miniaturize optical equipment, such as a copy machine and an optical printer head. To satisfy this requirement, a reading optical system and/or a writing optical system of the optical equipment have to be miniaturized. Thus, an equimagnification imaging optical system in which a distance between an object and an image can be strongly reduced is under investigation. The equimagnification imaging optical system is defined as an optical system which forms an image having the same size as an object.
A description will now be given of an example of the equimagnification imaging optical system having a conventional configuration. FIG. 1 illustrates the equimagnification imaging optical system having a conventional configuration. Referring to FIG. 1, a roof mirror lens array 103 is formed as the equimagnification imaging optical system. The roof mirror lens array 103 has a lens array 101 and a roof mirror array 102. The lens array 101 is formed of a plurality of lenses 104 which are arranged in line perpendicular to a a drawing plane of FIG. 1. the lenses 104 are optically equivalent to each other. The roof mirror array 102 is formed of a plurality of roof mirrors 106. The roof mirrors 106 are arranged in line so that each of the roof mirrors 106 faces one of the lenses 104. Each of the roof mirrors 106 has a ridge line 105. The ridge line 105 is perpendicular to a direction in which the roof mirrors 106 are arranged and an optical axis of each of the lenses 104. A stop member (not shown) is provided between the lens array 101 and the roof mirror array 102 so that imaging systems, each of which is formed of one of the lenses 104 and a corresponding one of the roof mirrors 106, are separated from each other.
A reading position P1 of an original 107 is set at a position which is not on the optical axis of each of the lenses 104 and corresponds to a finite slit height position. Light reflected from the reading position P1 of the original 107 passes through the each of the lenses 104 so that the light formed of parallel rays. The parallel rays travels to a corresponding one of the roof mirrors 106 and are reflected by the corresponding one of the roof mirrors 106 in the same direction. The light reflected by each of the roof mirrors 106 travels through a corresponding one of the lenses 104 again and is then focused on an imaging position P2 which is optically conjugate to the reading position P1. The position P2 is, for example, on a surface of a CCD sensor 108.
An prism lens array is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No.61-2929. Into this inprism lens array, a lens array and a roof mirror lens array are integrated. In the same manner as the roof mirror lens described above, a reading position is set at a position corresponding to a finite slit height position. The light reflected at the reading position travels through each of lenses and is then reflected by each of roof prisms twice. The light reflected by the each of the roof prisms travels through a corresponding one of the lenses again and is focused on an imaging position which is optically conjugate to the reading position.
A roof mirror lens array which is the equimagnification imaging optical system is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.57-37326. Into this roof mirror lens array, a lens array, a roof mirror array and a stop member are integrated the lens array has lenses which are optically equivalent to each other. The lenses are arranged in line. The roof mirror array has roof mirrors. Each of the roof mirrors faces one of the lenses and has a ridge line. The ridge line is perpendicular to a direction in which the lenses are arranged and to an optical axis of each of the lenses. The stop member is provided between the lens array and the roof mirror array to separate imaging optical systems each of which is formed of a corresponding one of the lenses and a corresponding one of the roof mirrors. The roof mirror lens array may be used to read images and for exposure of a photosensitive member.
In each of the imaging devices as described above, a single imaging system is formed of a lens of the lens array and a roof mirror of the roof mirror array. An aperture of the stop member is provided between corresponding lens and roof mirror to optically separate the imaging system from adjacent imaging systems. In this type of the imaging device, the light travels and returns through the lens. Thus, it is not possible to locate the reading position and the imaging position at the same position. The light rays travels along the optical axis are separated to an object (the original) side rays and imaging point side rays. Thus, the reading position and the imaging position have to be set based on a finite slit height position. That is, the reading position P1 is set at a finite height position in a direction parallel to the ridge line 105 of each of the roof mirrors 106. The imaging position P2 is set at the finite height position in the reverse direction.
Since the amount of separation of the light rays is limited, separation mirrors 109(1) and 109(2) are used to set the reading position P1 and the imaging position P2 as shown in FIG. 1. The light traveling from the reading position P1 is reflected by the separation mirror 109(1) and travels to a corresponding one of the lenses 104. The light passing through each of the lenses 104 is reflected by the separation mirror 109(2) and focused on the imaging position. Each of the separation mirrors 109(1) and 109(2) is a rectangular plane mirror which expands in a direction perpendicular to the drawing plane of FIG. 1. Each of the separation mirrors 109(1) and 109(2) are arranged so as to be inclined by 45.degree. with respect to a plane including optical axes .phi. of the lenses 104 of the lens array 101.
In the conventional imaging device having a roof mirror lens or a roof mirror lens array, the light passes through the same lens 104 twice, and the reading position P1 (a reading plane) and the imaging position P2 (an imaging plane) are located in the opposite sides with respect to the optical axis .phi. of the lens 104. The separation mirrors 109(1) and 109(2) are provided in optical paths between the reading position P1 and the lens 104 and between the lens 104 and the imaging position P2.
The surfaces of each roof mirror and the separation mirrors 109(1) and 109(2) are provided with reflecting films which are formed of high reflecting material, such as aluminum (Al), by a vacuum evaporation process. The reflectivity of each of the reflecting films is about 90%. In the imaging device having the above structure as shown in FIG. 1, there are two reflecting surfaces of each of the roof mirrors 106 and two reflecting surfaces of the respective separation mirrors 109(1) and 109(2). Thus, the total reflectivity of is about 66%. The loss of the amount of light in the imaging device is large. In addition, in the conventional case, the light pass through the same lens 104 twice, so that the reading position P1 and the imaging position P2 have to be adjacent and to be symmetrical to each other with respect to the optical axis .phi.. Thus, stray light, such as reflected light from the surface of the lens 104 and from surfaces other than the reflecting surface of the roof mirror 106, may be incident on the imaging position P2 at a high possibility. Such stray light affects characteristics of optical images. In general, the contrast and the resolution of the optical images deteriorate.
Further, FIG. 2 illustrates an essential part of another example of the conventional imaging device. Referring to FIG. 2, the imaging device has a lens array 121 and a roof mirror array 122. Each of roof mirrors of the roof mirror array 122 has a ridge line portion 122a between arranged optical axes. A roof mirror lens array is formed of the lens array 121 and the roof mirror array 122.
Each of the roof mirrors of the roof mirror array 122 has two reflecting surfaces which are connected to each other at an angle of 90.degree. so that the ride line portion 122a is formed. However, light L' which is obliquely incident on each lens of the lens array 121 is reflected by a corresponding one of the roof mirrors twice and then ejected from an adjacent lens. That is, the light L' obliquely incident on an optical system is ejected from an adjacent optical system in the imaging device.
In addition, an example of a conventional imaging device using a roof mirror lens array is shown in FIG. 30. In the imaging device, a lens array and a roof mirror array are integrated. Referring to FIG. 30, the imaging device has a lens array 221 and a roof mirror array 222. In the roof mirror array 222, a ridge line portion 223 is in a boundary between reflection surfaces 224. The lens array 221 has lenses R1 (R2) each of which has an optical axis .phi.1.
In the imaging device having the above structure, for example, light from an original passes through the lens RI and is reflected twice by the reflection surfaces 224 of the roof mirror array 222. The reflected light then passes through the lens R1 (R2) of the lens array 221 and is projected onto an imaging surface so that an equimagnification erect image of the original is formed.
Further, another conventional imaging device has been proposed in Japanese Patent Publication No.5-35245. The proposed imaging device is shown in FIGS. 31A, 31B and 31C. The imaging device is referred to as a roof prism lens array imaging device. FIG. 31A is a side view of the roof prism lens array imaging device, FIG. 31B is a view thereof from a direction B shown in FIG. 31A and FIG. 31C is a view thereof from a direction A shown in FIG. 31A. Referring to FIGS. 31A, 31B and 31C, the imaging device has a roof prism lens array 226. In the roof prism lens array 226, a ridge line portion 228 is in a boundary between reflection surfaces 227.
In the imaging device having such a structure, the light from an original (P1) passes through the lens RI and is reflected twice by the reflection surfaces 227. The reflected light is then emitted from the lens R2 and projected onto an imaging surface P2 so that an equimagnification erect image of the original is formed.
In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.7-35998 discloses an imaging device having a roof mirror lens array which is an equimagnification imaging system. In the imaging device, two or more roof mirrors are provided with respect to each of lenses of the lens array. FIG. 32 shows such an imaging device. The roof mirror array is arranged so that a valley of the roof mirror array is located at a center between optical axes of lenses of the lens array. In the imaging device shown in FIG. 32, when light L1 is incident on a reflection surface of the roof mirror array close to an adjacent part, the reflected light of the incident light L1 is emitted as ghost light from the lens array.
FIGS. 33A and 33B illustrates a state in which cross-talk light is generated in a conventional equimagnification imaging system. FIG. 33A shows an example in which light L1 is incident on the device obliquely and is reflected once by a prism or a roof mirror, so that cross-talk light is generated. FIG. 33B shows an example in which light L1 is reflected twice by reflection surfaces and emitted from a lens other than a Elens from which the light should be emitted, so that an image is formed by cross-talk light at a position other than a position at which an image should be formed.
In such imaging devices, if light from an original is incident on an objective lens at the front thereof, an image is correctly formed on an imaging surface. However, as shown in FIG. 33A, in a case where the light L1 is incident on the device obliquely, the light L1 passes through the lens R and is reflected once by a reflection surface of the roof prism or the roof mirror and emitted from the device. As a result, ghost light is generated. In addition, as shown in FIG. 33B, the light L2 is reflected twice by the reflection surfaces and emitted from a lens adjacent to a lens from which the light L2 should be emitted. As a result, the cross-talk light is generated.
Further, FIG. 34 shows an example of a roof prism lens array imaging device. The roof prism lens array imaging device has a roof prism lens. A ridge line portion 111 is in a boundary between reflection surfaces 112. A groove 113 is formed between reflection surfaces (Dach surfaces). Due to the groove 113, stray light can be prevented from generating in the device.
However, if the light is incident on the lens surface obliquely, the light is reflected by a boundary between the groove 113 and the surface of the prism. The light is further reflected twice by the reflection surfaces 112 and is emitted from the lens R, so that the cross-talk light is generated.
As has been described above, in the conventional equimagnification imaging device, the cross-talk light and the ghost light can not be prevented, so that the quality of an image, the contrast and the resolution deteriorate.
Thus, an equimagnification imaging device in which an aperture member is provided in the inside or the outside of the lens has been proposed. In such an imaging device, an angle range in which the light can be incident on the device and emitted from the device is limited by the aperture member. As a result, the cross-talk light and the ghost light can be reduced.
FIGS. 35A and 35B show such an equimagnification imaging device. As shown in FIG. 35A, in a roof prism or roof mirror array imaging device, an aperture member 120 prevents the light from being incident on the lens at an angle equal to or greater than a constant angle so as to prevent the cross-talk light or the ghost light from being generated.
However, in order to perfectly prevent the stray light, such as the cross-talk light or the ghost light, from being generated, each aperture on the aperture member has to be narrowed down. If each aperture is narrowed down, the light incident on the lens at the front is also limited, so that the light is not efficiently used to form an image.
In the conventional case disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No.61-2929 described above, an image equimagnified in a direction in which lenses are arranged and a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the lenses are arranged is formed. However, in an actual line sensor having the conventional imaging device, the size of each photo element in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the direction in which the photo elements are arranged differs from (are greater than) the size of each photo element in the direction in which the photo elements are arranged.
Thus, in the conventional equimagnification imaging device, while the sensor unit is being moved in the sub-scanning direction, physical positions in a reading line are varied. As a result, the resolution in the sub-scanning direction deteriorates.
In addition, in the conventional case as shown in FIG. 2, when light is incident on a surface of the lens array obliquely, there is stray light between the lens array and the roof mirror array. The stray light appears on an imaging surface as ghost light or flare. As a result, an indistinct image is formed on the imaging surface.
To solve this problem, a lens array device as shown in FIG. 36 has been proposed (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.5-53245). The lens array device has objective lenses, Dach surfaces and image side lenses has been proposed. A groove is formed between Dach surfaces to shade light.
However, the light incident on a boundary between the groove and the surface of the lens obliquely appears as ghost light on the imaging surface. Light reflected by the one side of the roof prism generates flare. Thus, the image formed on the imaging surface is indistinct.


A photoelectric switch control circuit includes a first resistance; a first capacitance; and a photoelectric switch having a plurality of contacts which comprise a first to a fourth contacts. The first contact is grounded, one end of the first resistance, the second and the third contacts of the photoelectric switch and one end of the first capacitance connects at node A, the fourth contact is connected with the processing unit and grounded via a second resistance, the other end of the first resistance is connected with a voltage source, the other end of the first capacitance is grounded.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to photoelectric switch control circuits, and more particularly to an photoelectric switch control circuit which decreases operation errors.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a conventional photoelectric switch control circuit. The photoelectric switch control circuit 10 is connected to a processing circuit 20, to generate logic low (level) or logic high (level) to the processing circuit 20.
The processing circuit 20 performs functions corresponding to the logic low or logic high. The photoelectric switch control circuit 10 includes a first resistance 100, a photoelectric switch 200 and a first capacitance 300. The photoelectric switch 200 having a plurality of contacts which comprise a first to a fourth contacts. The first and the fourth contacts are grounded. One end of the first resistance 100, the second and the third contacts of the photoelectric switch 200 and one end of the first capacitance 300 connects at node A. A voltage of the node A is sent to the processing unit 20 to control the processing circuit 20 to perform functions. The other end of the first resistance 100 is connected with a voltage source Vcc. The other end of the first capacitance 300 is grounded. After the voltage source Vcc is connected, a plurality of light emitting devices connected between the first and the second contacts emit infrared light, a plurality of light detecting devices connected between the third and the fourth contacts detect the infrared light. The third and the fourth contacts are connected together when the infrared light is detected, thereby node A is grounded to generate the logic low to the processing circuit 20. The third and the fourth contacts are disconnected when the infrared light is not detected, thereby node A is connected to the voltage source Vcc to generate the logic high to the processing circuit 20. The first resistance 100 is used to adjust power between the first and the second contacts of the photoelectric switch 200. The first capacitance 300 is used to filter the voltage source Vcc to enable a stable voltage between the first and the second contacts of the photoelectric switch 200.
However, a barrier voltage of a PN junction diode exists between the third and the fourth contacts of the photoelectric switch control circuit 10, even if the third and the fourth contacts are connected together. The node A is easily to be recognized to generate the logic high when the third and the fourth contacts are connected together, which makes the processing unit performs the wrong functions.

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


A method of disposing materials such as pet waste. First, an assembly is provided that has a container; a fitting for accepting and retaining a garden hose; a pressure nozzle for receiving water from the fitting and expressing the water under pressure; and a nozzle-retaining apparatus oriented so that the water expressed is directed into the container at an angle adapted to produce a churning motion within the container. Biodegradable material is placed into the container and the insertive coupler of a standard garden hose is attached into the fitting. Finally the faucet is turned on to cause water to flow through the hose and out the nozzle, thereby watering and stirring and fragmenting the biodegradable material while the operator remains at a distance far enough away from the container to avoid the unpleasant odor that is emitted from the container by virtue of the watering and stirring and fragmenting.

Pet waste, or more specifically, pet fecal matter, is a problem and an ever-increasing one. Exposure to pet waste, in its worst case, can cause minor ill health and numerous, sometimes serious diseases. The offensive odor of pet waste alone makes it more than a mere nuisance. Disposing of pet waste in a manner that is both responsible and economical requires a solution.
Today, the generally accepted method of disposal of pet waste, particularly in high-density or urban areas, is to wrap pet waste in plastic and deposit it in a municipal garbage can. This practice however, can pose health hazards. In some population areas, pet owners are required to dispose of pet waste in a manner so as to avoid posing a health hazard. Trash Haulers and Recycling Technicians are of particular concern. As the value of recycling increases, and as trash and recycling companies continue to increase the number of people hired to separate recyclable products from general rubbish, the concern for health in these areas will continue to grow as well. Also, a growing number of unauthorized individualsxe2x80x94the homeless, for examplexe2x80x94who sift through trash cans looking to recover valuable items can also be exposed to this type of health hazard.
It should be understood that canine waste specifically is the primary concern due to the nature of its content, predominantly meat products which are particularly offensive in decaying form, and due to the sheer volume of material produced collectively by large numbers of dogs. Pet waste, in all of its forms from all types of pets, however, is of similar concern.
As with large municipal sewage treatment plants, the addition of water to facilitate and accelerate the breakdown is quite necessary. The process of mixing pet waste with water, and the churning action necessary to accelerate the breakdown of the combined material, however, can quickly produce offensive, noxious, and sometimes overwhelming odors. It can be a very unpleasant task for a user to remain near the pet waste as this process is taking place.
Stationary devices that treat waste eventually fill up past the point at which they remain effective. There are several reasons they do so: 1) they contain an over-abundance of non-biodegradable material, such as rocks, twigs, etc. that is added inadvertently, and 2) the residue of decayed mass accumulates past the point at which the soil can sufficiently absorb additional material. The end result requires the user to either remove the contents manually or abandon the unit and acquire another for the same purpose. The options are time-consuming and costly.
There exist today several pet waste disposal systems that allow the treatment of pet waste by the pet owners or pet caregivers. Of those, some incorporate the soil to bury pet waste and utilize the natural breakdown and decay process(es) found in common soil. Those same systems advocate the addition of chemicals to assist the decay process. Only one recommends the addition of water but does not give the operator a convenient way to do so, nor does it allow the advantage of doing so from a sufficient distance away from the unit so as to avoid offensive odors. None use the force of water as a means to churn, mix, and fragment waste.
In a first preferred aspect, the present invention is a method of disposing of biodegradable material and of rejuvenating a patch of soil. To begin, a tube is provided that has a diameter between 10 cm and 10 meters. A hole is dug and the tube is placed, upright, in the hole, so that a little of the tube protrudes above the top of the hole. Biodegradable matter, such as pet waste, is placed in the tube and permitted to decompose. Finally, the tube is withdrawn from the hole leaving the decomposed material behind in the hole.
In a second separate aspect, the present invention is a method of disposing and treating a biodegradable material that produces an unpleasant odor when it is watered and stirred. First, an assembly is provided that has a container; a fitting for accepting and retaining the insertive coupler of a standard garden hose; a pressure nozzle in fluid communication with the fitting for receiving water from the fitting and expressing the water under pressure; and a nozzle-retaining apparatus oriented so that the water expressed from the nozzle is directed into the container at an angle adapted to produce a stirring motion within the container. Biodegradable material is placed into the container and the insertive coupler of a standard garden hose is attached into the fitting. Before or after this step, the receptive coupling of the standard garden hose is attached to a faucet. Finally the faucet is turned on to cause water to flow through the hose and out the nozzle, thereby watering and stirring and fragmenting the biodegradable material while the operator remains at a distance far enough away from the container to avoid the unpleasant odor that is emitted from the container by virtue of the watering and stirring.
In a third separate aspect the present invention is an assembly adapted to facilitate the disposing and treating of a biodegradable material that produces an unpleasant odor when it is watered and stirred and fragmented. The assembly includes a container and a fitting for accepting and retaining the insertive coupler of a standard garden hose. In addition, a pressure nozzle is in fluid communication with the fitting for receiving water from the fitting and expressing the water under pressure. Finally, a nozzle-retaining apparatus is oriented so that the water expressed from the nozzle is directed into the container at an angle adapted to produce a stirring motion within the container.

Assembly and method for disposing of waste


A pedicle screw assembly has a retractable screw tip that facilitates the securement of the pedicle screw assembly to a spinal vertebra in a minimally invasive fashion during an orthopedic surgical procedure. The pedicle screw assembly includes a body portion including a head and a shank. The shank includes an outer surface with a thread provided thereon, an end having a cutting tip provided thereon, and a bore extending inwardly from the end and having an internally threaded region provided therein. The pedicle screw assembly also includes a tip portion including a body having a cutting edge and a shank extending from the body. The shank has an externally threaded region provided thereon that cooperates with the internally threaded region of the bore to permit movement of the tip portion relative to the body portion between extended and retracted positions.

This invention relates in general to fasteners that are used to secure devices to bones in surgical procedures. In particular, this invention relates to a pedicle screw assembly having a retractable screw tip that facilitates the securement of the pedicle screw assembly to a spinal vertebra in a minimally invasive fashion during an orthopedic surgical procedure.
Many surgical procedures involve the securement of a device to a bone. For example, during an orthopedic surgical procedure, it is often necessary to secure a support or alignment device to one or more vertebrae in the lumbar or thoracic region of the spine. The securement of such a device to the vertebra usually involves a series of relatively complex steps. For example, in one known procedure, a conventional Jamshidi needle (which includes a hollow outer cannula and an inner obturator having a tapered cutting edge) is initially inserted through a relatively small incision until the tapered cutting edge of the obturator engages a desired location on the surface of the vertebra where a fastener, such as a pedicle screw, is to be secured. The precise location where the tapered cutting edge of the obturator engages the surface of the vertebra is usually determined using conventional fluoroscopic or other imaging or navigational techniques.
Once the tapered cutting edge of the obturator has been positioned at the desired location on the surface of the vertebra, a conventional impaction tool is used to advance the Jamshidi needle further within the vertebra so as to create a passageway therein. The depth of the insertion of the Jamshidi needle within the vertebra can be determined using conventional fluoroscopic or other imaging or navigational techniques. Then, the obturator is removed from the Jamshidi needle, leaving behind the hollow outer cannula. A flexible guide wire is next inserted through the hollow outer cannula of the Jamshidi needle until the leading end thereof extends through the passageway and is received within the body of the vertebra at a desired depth. The depth of the insertion of the leading end of the guide wire within the body of the vertebra can be determined using conventional fluoroscopic or other imaging or navigational techniques. Then, the hollow outer cannula of the Jamshidi needle is withdrawn from the vertebra, leaving the leading end of the guide wire within the body of the vertebra.
A conventional cannulated threading tool is next inserted over the trailing end of the guide wire and guided therealong to the relatively short passageway in the vertebra. The threading tool is used to tap a thread within the passageway in the vertebra. The depth of the thread that is tapped within the passageway can be determined using conventional fluoroscopic or other imaging or navigational techniques. Next, the threading tool is withdrawn, and a cannulated pedicle screw is inserted over the trailing end of the guide wire. The pedicle screw is guided along the guide wire until a threaded tip of the pedicle screw is guided to the tapped passageway in the vertebra, again using conventional fluoroscopic or other imaging or navigational techniques. The pedicle screw is secured to the vertebra by rotating it about the guide wire with a conventional tool, which causes the threaded tip of the pedicle screw to thread within the tapped passageway in the vertebra. Such rotation is continued until the pedicle screw has been driven a predetermined distance into the body of the vertebra that, again, can be determined using conventional fluoroscopic or other imaging or navigational techniques. Lastly, the guide wire is removed, leaving the pedicle screw secured to the vertebra, to which the support or alignment device can be secured.
Although this procedure for securing a conventional pedicle screw to a vertebra has functioned satisfactorily, it can be seen that the fluoroscopic or other imaging or navigational techniques are frequently employed, which is time consuming and can result in significant radiation exposure. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an improved structure for a pedicle screw or similar fastener that avoids these issues.

Pedicle screw assembly having a retractable screw tip for facilitating the securement of the pedicle screw assembly to a spinal vertebra


A disk drive device has a hub so configured as to place and hold recording disks. Where the non-rotating eigenfrequency of resonance in a secondary rocking mode with the recording disks placed on the hub is defined to be F0 (Hz) and the rotational frequency of the hub is defined to be N (Hz), an extending part of the hub and a second cylinder part of the hub are formed such that the radial dimension of the extending part is smaller than the axial dimension of the second external cylinder part to satisfy to a relation F0>N·(3·P+2).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk drive device for rotating and driving a recording disk.
2. Description of the Related Art
A hard disk drive is widely available as a storage medium used for a storage device or like of a computer. The rotation precision of the hard disk drive has markedly improved and, accordingly, there is a growing demand for higher density and larger capacity in the hard disk drive. For example, such a highly advanced hard disk drive is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-198555 featuring a motor equipped with a fluid dynamic bearing.
In a hard disk drive, a disk with recording tracks formed thereon is rotated by a brushless motor at high speed. To read/write the magnetic data contained in the recording tracks, a read/write head is arranged over a recording disk with a very small clearance between the read/write head and the surface of the recording disk.
As a way of promoting the higher capacity of the hard disk drive, a method is available where the width of the recording tracks is reduced and the position of the read/write head relative to the surface of the recording disk is further reduced. However, this arrangement has the following drawbacks. That is, a vibration due to the torque ripple of the brushless motor and the resonance in a secondary rocking mode may become larger. And the reduction in the width of the recording tracks may cause a vibration, which in turn vibrates the read/write head. Thus the trace of the recording track may be disturbed.
Also, further reduction of the clearance between the record/write head and the recording disk results in a large variation in the clearance even with a small amount of vibration in the read/write head. Thus, whenever the trace of the recording track is disturbed and the amplitude of an output signal of the read/write head varies, the frequency at which the malfunction occurs, at the time the data in the hard disk drive is read and written, may increase.

Disk drive device equipped with a bearing unit relatively rotatably supporting a hub against base member


This disclosure relates to methods and systems to reduce high voltage breakdown jitters in liquid dielectric switches. In particular, dielectric liquids have been produced that contain a suspension of nanoparticles and a surfactant to reduce the breakdown jitter. In one embodiment, the suspended nanoparticles are Barium Strontium Titanate (BST) nanoparticles.

The design and characterization of dielectrics is critical for optimum high-voltage switch performance. Previous attempts to optimize switch performance, such as the tuning of the oil pressure and flow rates for oil dielectrics, have dramatically reduced the rep-rate self-break jitter by eliminating breakdown byproducts.
During self-break operation, however, switches using oil dielectrics may still demonstrate erratic breakdown patterns. Some switches have shown percentages of standard deviation from the mean breakdown as high as 20%. This is problematic for electrical loads that require uniform pulse repetition. Therefore, there remains a need to further reduce the voltage breakdown jitter in high voltage switches and spark gaps.

Dielectric loaded fluids for high voltage switching

The Curators of the University of Missouri


A method of making a sputtering target includes providing a backing structure, and forming a die cast copper indium gallium sputtering target material on the backing structure.

The present invention is directed to a method of making sputtering targets in general and to a copper indium gallium sputtering target and method of making thereof by die casting in particular.
Sputtering techniques are useful in various ways, such as deposition processes used in the fabrication of various products. A component of such sputtering techniques is a sputtering target. In such deposition techniques, the material of the sputtering target is deposited onto a substrate.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of making a CIG target by die casting


An arithmetic counter that includes a U-shaped support structure for a horizontal rod. Consecutively numbered beads are slidably arranged on the rod for adjustment to positions wherein selected numbers of the beads are separated from the remaining beads. One or more marker boards are adopted to be hung from the rod between the separated beads and the remaining beads, such that a small child can count the beads and achieve and better understand "addition" and "subtraction" processes.

Various studies indicate that American students do not fully understand the mathematical principles being taught in the schools; this appears to be especially true for the age group 9 through 17.
The present invention is directed to an apparatus that can be used by younger children, e.g. from 6 to 12 years of age, so that they will be better prepared to understand mathematical processes as they later move through the schooling process. The apparatus comprises a series of numbered beads slidably arranged on a stationary rod, whereby the child can move the beads along the rod to solve mathematical problems, especially addition and subtraction. The apparatus is designed as a play item for children, such that the child experiences a degree of enjoyment while learning mathematical principles.


A test system may include test equipment for testing the radio-frequency performance of wireless electronic devices. The test equipment may provide radio-frequency downlink signals to a wireless electronic device under test (DUT). The test equipment may perform a power sweep by stepping down the downlink signals in signal power level to test receiver sensitivity for the DUT. The DUT may gather measurement data from the downlink signals. The test equipment may retrieve measurement data from the DUT after downlink signal transmission has ended. The test equipment may identify a trigger in the retrieved measurement data to ensure that the data is synchronized with the power sweep in the transmitted downlink signals. The test equipment may identify path loss information associated with the test system. The test equipment may compute receiver sensitivity values for the DUT based on the path loss information and retrieved measurement data.

This relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly, to electronic devices having wireless communications circuitry.
Wireless electronic devices such as portable computers and cellular telephones are often provided with wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry typically includes transceiver circuitry, antenna circuitry, and other radio-frequency circuitry that provides wireless communications capabilities.
The wireless communications circuitry is operable to receive radio-frequency signals. The wireless communications circuitry is tested in a test system to ensure adequate radio-frequency performance in response to receiving radio-frequency signals. The test system typically includes test equipment that provides radio-frequency downlink test signals to the wireless communications circuitry. Radio-frequency receive performance of the wireless communications circuitry is typically characterized by a performance metric such as receiver sensitivity. The wireless communications circuitry may fail to satisfy design criteria when the test equipment determines that the wireless communications circuitry has poor receiver sensitivity.
During conventional testing operations, radio-frequency data measured by the wireless communications circuitry is provided in real time to the test equipment, which adjusts signal power level of the radio-frequency downlink test signals based on the radio-frequency data. Performing test operations in this way may be time consuming and may lead to high manufacturing costs.
It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved test systems for testing wireless electronic devices.

Methods for testing receiver sensitivity of wireless electronic devices


System and methods are disclosed for capturing license plate (LP) information of a vehicle in relative motion to a camera device. In one example, the camera system detects the LP in multiple frames, then aligns and geometrically rectifies the image of the LP by scaling, warping, rotating, and/or performing other functions on the images. The camera system may optimize capturing of the LP information by executing a temporal noise filter on the aligned, geometrically rectified images to generate a composite image of the LP for optical character recognition. In some examples, the camera device may include an image sensor, such as a high dynamic range (HDR) sensor, modified to set long and short exposures of the HDR sensor to capture frames of a vehicle's LP, but without consolidating the images into a composite image. The camera system may set optimal exposure settings based on detected relative speed of the vehicle.

Video and still cameras affixed to stationary structures are sometimes used for purposes of security surveillance. In a stationary installation, the camera is typically in an environment with known external variables (e.g., environmental, lighting, field of view) that are generally constant or readily apparent. In such an environment, basic cameras with minimal enhancements might suffice.
Meanwhile, in police cars, taxis, crowdsourced ride-sharing vehicles, and even personal vehicles, cameras mounted on a dashboard are sometimes used for purposes of recording the environment in the immediate proximity of the vehicle. However, in a vehicle moving at high speeds, the capabilities of a traditional camera to capture video and still images can sometimes be compromised. Moreover, external variables can sometimes further negatively impact the ability for the camera to capture sharp, useful images.
With respect to lighting conditions, some security cameras include features to improve recordability in low-light scenarios and night time. In the case of a stationary camera installation, a separate light source with a daylight sensor and/or clock setting might be installed in the area to illuminate in low-light scenarios or at night. Moreover, some separate light sources might emit light in the infrared spectrum range to enhance recordability at night without necessarily illuminating the environment with visible light. One problem is that in low light conditions, images of license plates tend to be very noisy, and it can be difficult/impossible to accurately detect the characters in a license plate. Long exposure times cannot be used to solve this problem because when the license plate is in motion, the captured image would be blurred.
Another problem is that incoming vehicle traffic and following vehicle traffic are both in motion, and likely with different speeds relative to a subject vehicle (i.e., the camera car). Thus, at a given exposure setting, some portions of a captured image may be higher quality than others, and these portions may vary from frame to frame. In addition, any angular motion relative to the subject vehicle might result in the license plate being captured in a shape other than a perfect rectangle. This further complicates the ability to recognize the characters in the license plate.
Yet another shortcoming is that incoming vehicle traffic and following vehicle traffic are moving at different speeds relative to a subject car (i.e., the camera car). And, a single camera cannot accurately capture both vehicles with a single exposure setting—historically, a single image sensor is unsuitable to simultaneously set two different exposure to capture them both.
Numerous novel and nonobvious features are disclosed herein for addressing one or more of the aforementioned shortcomings in the art.

License plate reading system with enhancements


The system provides a way to detect potential impaired driving and to easily and automatically report it to enforcement officials. The system can create a video record of the impaired driving and send the video to an enforcement official who can be notified to intercept the impaired driver. In one embodiment, the system can be implemented on a stand-alone system or a smartphone. The system uses video recording technology and a tracking system to identify vehicles making excessive numbers of lane changes, failure to maintain a lane, unusual vehicle speed behaviors, and the like. Based on vehicle behavior, the system can determine if a particular vehicle is exhibiting behavior that indicates impaired driving. The system can record video of the vehicle behavior and send it to the nearest enforcement officer.

Driving can be a dangerous activity when other drivers are not following the law and the rules of the road. Police and traffic enforcement officials are limited in number and cannot catch or enforce every infraction. When an officer is issuing a citation, that officer is unable to provide enforcement against other drivers during that time.
Automated systems have been implemented to improve traffic safety and to automatically enforce certain traffic laws. For example, red light cameras can detect and automatically ticket vehicles that enter an intersection after a traffic control light has turned red. Speed cameras can detect vehicles travelling above a posted speed limit and automatically issue citations for speeding. A disadvantage of such systems is that the drivers being ticketed do not learn for days or weeks later of the infraction. This means that dangerous behavior can continue for an unacceptable amount of time. Another disadvantage of fixed location traffic cameras is that they only cover a tiny fraction of the road network. Drivers quickly learn the locations of fixed traffic cameras and can modify their behavior when they are at camera locations.
Many GPS systems now warn drivers of the location of speed cameras, red light cameras, and other automated enforcement efforts. When a driver does not know where enforcement efforts are located, the drive must maintain care at all times or risk a ticket. When the driver knows where the enforcement efforts are located, the driver can drive with care at those locations, but with greater disregard at other areas, creating risk and danger.
Another problem with current automated systems is that they are limited to just certain traffic violations, such as running red lights, speeding, and the like. There are many dangerous behaviors that are not currently subject to automated enforcement.
One of the most dangerous driving behaviors is driving under the influence (e.g. drunk driving). The number of impaired drivers at any one time on the road far exceeds the number of officers available to detect and stop such drivers. It has been estimated that impaired drivers make hundreds of vehicle trips while impaired for each time they are pulled over. Even if another driver detects an impaired driver and reports it to enforcement, it is often impossible for an officer to track and engage the impaired driver. Calling 911 is the default method for reporting DUI infractions but it suffers from problems including reluctance of drivers to call and delays in getting information through human dispatch to first responders in the field.

Method and apparatus for traffic infraction management


A tub arrangement comprising leg sections (2a, 2b) and/or supporting arrangement (12, 13) for fixing the arrangement on a wall or an a inner wall of a closet, wherein at least one supporting means comprise against a floor placed legs (2b), wherein wheels (4b, 4c); (4d, 4e) have been connected to said legs at a two part tub (1), to which one (2b) of the leg sections is fixed and which comprises a separate seat section (1a) and correspondingly a separate foot section (1b), the tub being turnable around a horizontal axis so that a person taking a bath can either lie or sit in the tub (1). The arrangement comprises a power element (6) connected between the leg sections (2a, 2b) or between leg section (2b) and supporting arrangement (12, 13) for adjusting t a first connecting point (7) and a second connecting point (8).

The invention relates to a tub arrangement comprising leg sections coupled together by hinges for bending the leg sections around the hinges, the leg sections being connected to wheels and a two-part tub, to which one of the leg sections is fixed and which comprises a separate seat section and correspondingly a separate foot section, the tub being turnable around a horizontal axis so that a person taking a bath can either lie or sit in the tub.
The prior art teaches different manners of using a tub for bathing. Finnish Patent 97,272 discloses a tub arrangement with a two-part tub. The two-part tub consists of a seat section and a foot section and it is mounted on a leg section provided with hinges and wheels. The leg section can be bent around the hinges, so that the tub can be positioned either in a horizontal position or in a seating position. A drawback of such an arrangement is that when the tub is being changed from one position to another, the tub arrangement moves on the push surface where it is located due to the wheels of the leg section, thus requiring at least two people to change the position of the tub. Furthermore, if the tub is at least partly filled with liquid and there is a person bathing in the tub, changing the position of the tub requires strenuous efforts.


An infra-red emitting decoy flare comprising a rupturable container 13 housing combustible flakes 1 and ignition means 20 for igniting the combustible flakes 1. Each of the combustible flakes 1 comprises a fibrous, carbon containing substrate on to which has been vapor deposited on one or both faces thereof a combustible material layer which is capable, in use, of igniting substantially simultaneously the entire surface onto which it is deposited.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an infra-red (IR) emitting decoy flare and in particular to a decoy flare capable of generating an IR interference cloud to divert an incoming missile equipped with an IR seeker system away from its intended target.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
One known decoy flare which is used to provide such an interference cloud is described in the patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,186. This flare comprises a casing containing combustible flakes and an ignition expediting material. These combustible flakes comprise a thin base material, such as paper or metal foil, on to which is pressed a phosphorous containing incendiary paste. In use, the ignition expediting material creates a fireball which passes through the combustible flakes, igniting the incendiary paste which burns to emit IR radiation. Seeker systems on incoming missiles may detect this IR radiation and be deflected from their target and toward the IR interference cloud.
One problem with this known flare is that in addition to the production of IR emission the burning phosphorous containing incendiary paste also produces visible and ultra violet (UV) emission. Some "intelligent" seeker systems can use this UV emission when deciding to ignore some IR resources and therefore not deflected from their initial target by such flares. Furthermore, some missile systems, for example ones often employed in ground based anti-aircraft batteries, require human operators to make an initial target acquisition for a particular missile before the IR seeker system of that missile guides it to its acquired target. This target acquisition is often done visually and hence, particularly at night, illumination of the target by the visible emission from the decoy flare is undesirable.
One further problem associated with the known flare is that phosphorous has a characteristic IR emission spectrum which again some "intelligent" seeker systems use when deciding which IR source to ignore.

The Secretaryof State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingsom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland


The average evaporation rate over a predetermined area to be evaporated is controlled by moving an electron beam over said area wherein one characteristic of the electron beam is controlled in order to influence the evaporation rate. The electron beam is moved along a path according to stored maps wherein each position to which the electron beam is moved has assigned thereto substantially equal control values. In a first technique, each of the individual stored maps are selected in a sequential fashion to minimize the number of changes in the control value during a complete scan of the area being evaporated. In another technique, the control value of a predetermined position is compared against a predetermined number of stored control values, which is preferably all of the control values stored in a memory. The position data having associated control values which differ from the control value of the predetermined position by a predetermined minimal amount are stored as a map and thereafter utilized to control the electron beam so that the characteristic of the electron beam being controlled is maintained substantially constant for all of those positions stored as a map. In still another technique, a plurality of maps are stored in a memory, each map comprising position data whose associated control values are substantially equal and wherein two or more of said maps are selected and the control values of the maps associated with the same position are combined to control a characteristic of the beam.

From the EP A-0 104 922 it is known to control a fine, low-power electron beam of a lithographic apparatus according to a computer stored map across the area of an integrated circuit to picture a pattern thereon.
Of said stored map, regions which will necessitate smaller accuracy of picturing are separated from regions necessitating higher picturing accuracy. The electron beam is moved with constant cross-sectional area over the surface areas of said integrated circuit which necessitate the same picturing accuracy. Thus, the cross-sectional area of the beam need not be changed at all subsequent beam positions.
An integrated circuit surface presents a small, flat and time-constant working surface for the electron beam for a lithographic process which electron beam has thus only to be deflected by small angles. Further, the effect of the electron beam impinging on said integrated circuit surface, is clearly predeterminable, the beam impinges normally once on every IC-area to be patterned.
In contrast thereto, the present invention is directed to evaporation of an area which presents a large, unsteady profile and an evaporation surface varying in time. In the inventive context, the electron beam must be deflected by relatively large angles according to the relatively large area to be evaporated and, to provide for an evaporation of material of said area, the electron beam has to be a relatively high-powered electron beam. Further, the instantaneous effect of the electron beam on the area to be evaporated is practically not predictable, due to the most complex and time varying structure of the surface being evaporated.
From the German laid-open print 3 428 802 a method for controlling the average evaporation rate as mentioned above is known, wherein there is assigned to the predetermined area to be evaporated a map with a position pattern for the electron beam. The electron beam is moved step by step from one position to the other according to the positions of the pattern of the map. Each position element of the position pattern which becomes controlling the electron beam position during its scanning work across the area to be evaporated, has assigned to it its proper control or correction value, influencing an operating parameter for the electron beam which influences the instantaneous evaporation rate of the beam on the predetermined area. Thus, the number of elements of the position pattern equals the number of control values which are assigned to the elements of the position pattern. The control values assigned to the respective position elements of the position pattern thus form together a control value pattern which is assigned to the predetermined area to be evaporated. With these correction values operating parameters of the electron beam are controlled, as e.g. the time during which the electron beam holds a predetermined position which is defined by an element of said position pattern or e.g. the focus of the beam at such a position or e.g. the power of the electron beam at such a position.
To set the proper correction values assigned to every element of the position pattern, the evaporation plant is calibrated and thereby the control values are adjusted, so that finally a desired evaporation rate distribution results across the entire area to be evaporated. Reaching of such a predetermined and desired evaporation rate distribution is necessary to evaporate a predetermined material according to predetermined criteria, so e.g. everywhere equally within a vacuum evaporation chamber of the plant.
This known method has the following disadvantages:
The calibration process of the plant is very time-consuming, because for each element of the position pattern the respective correction value must be evaluated.
Further, the storage amount is very large, because every correction value is to be stored, the number of which according to the number of position elements of the position pattern.
Further, such a beam control process becomes normally relatively slow, because at every change of position of the electron beam from one position pattern element to another, the new correction value according to the new position element must at least be read from the store and must possibly become active on the electron beam control. The new correction value must be read from the store in every case, even if it later turns out that the new correction value has the same value as the correction value which is effective at the instantaneous beam position.

Method and control arrangement for the evaporation rate of an electron beam


An erythropoiet-derived peptide having an amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1. A, method for preparing the above-described erythropoietin-derived peptide. Also provided is the rrse of the above-described erythropoietin-derived peptide fo the preparation of medicament for reatin$ nerve cell damage. Also provided is the use of the above-described erythropoietin-derived peptide for the preparation of a medicament for treating hypoxic brain damage. Also provided is the use of the above-described erythropoietin-derived peptide for the preparation of a medicament for treating epilepsy. The novel EPO-derived peptide of the present invention has a small molecular weight and can penetrate the blood-brain barrier. Moreover, it is a small-molecule polypeptide derived from a functional protein in the human body, having an extremely small side effect to the human body compared with other developed and synthesized thugs, thereby it has a good clinical application prospect.

With the prolongation of human lifespan, nervous system diseases are increasingly becoming a heavy burden for patients, families and society. In 2016, The Lancet published a new global cause-of-death analysis report from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), which revealed that the ranking of the cause of death from cerebrovascular disease rose again in 2015, jumping to the second leading cause of human death. In China, cerebrovascular disease is the first leading cause of death and disability in China's population. The prevalence rate thereof is increasing year by year and patients thereof tend to be younger. Moreover, the incidence of other nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, other types of dementia, epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease are also increasing year by year, and the death rate has increased by more than 20% from 1990 to 2015. In addition to affecting health, nervous system diseases represented by cerebrovascular diseases have caused a certain economic burden on the state and the society. The World Health Organization (WHO) calculates and finds that a 10% of the reduction in mortality from stroke and myocardial infarction is expected to reduce the annual expenditure of about $25 billion for interventions. In a sense, nervous system diseases are not only medical problems, but also social problems.
Due to the complicated pathogenesis and numerous symptoms, there are still many kinds of nervous system diseases that lack effective drug treatment. Taking hypoxic encephalopathy as an example, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber can improve oxygen supply for brain tissue, but it is contraindicated in poorly controlled hypertensive patients and critically ill patients, and may have adverse effects caused by secondary cerebral vasoconstriction, thus limiting clinical application. Taking ischemic stroke disease as another example, a series of pathophysiological such as energy metabolism disorder, excitatory amino acid toxicity, etc. are changed after cerebral ischemia. Thrombolysis is the only effective treatment currently, but the time window of thrombolytic therapy is so short that only a few patients benefit. Another way is neuroprotective treatment, which blocks the death of nerve cells and saves nerve cells in the ischemic penumbra. Currently, the main neuroprotective agents that may have protective effects includes: glutamate antagonists, anti-inflammatory factors, calcium channel blockers, sodium channel blockers, potassium channel activators, free radical scavengers, GABA receptor antagonists, serotonin antagonists, NMDA receptor antagonists, phenobarbital drugs for inducing anesthesia at low temperature, etc. At present, more than 1,000 neuroprotective agents are effective in animal experiments, and more than 100 drugs have been clinically tested, but have achieved little clinical effect. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop new effective neuroprotective agents.
Erythropoietin (EPO) is a 34 kDa glycoprotein hormone composed of 165 amino acids and mainly produced by the kidney, which is the earliest clinically applied cytokine. In the past, the erythropoietin was widely used in the treatment of anemia in the clinic. Recent studies suggest that EPO and EPO receptors (EPOR) are also widely distributed in various non-hematopoietic tissues including nerves, heart, kidneys, etc. It is a multifunctional molecule with extensive tissue protective activity. In particular, researches of recent 20 years have found that EPO can play a neuroprotective and neurotrophic role in experiments both in vivo and in vitro.
In the nervous system, EPO/EPOR is expressed in neurons, astrocytes, vascular endothelial cells, etc. EPO/EPOR is in a low expression state in normal adult brain tissue, but its expression is significantly increased when the brain tissue is damaged or has suffered stress such as ischemia, hypoxia, etc. However, the activated EPO/EPOR system is not sufficient to protect the damaged nerve cells, and if a large amount of exogenously supplemented recombinant erythropoietin (rhEPO) enters the nervous system through the blood-brain barrier by receptor-mediated endocytosis or pinocytosis on the cell membrane. EPO combines with overexpressed EPOR to induce Jak2 phosphorylation, thus activating signal transductants and pathways including transcriptional activator STAT5 pathway, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (P13K)/AKT pathway, nuclear factor NF-κB pathway, etc. Neuronal apoptosis and neuronal damage are reduced through a combination of various mechanisms such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, anti-apoptosis, inhibition of excitotoxicity, promotion of nerve regeneration, protection of blood-brain barrier, etc., thus exerting neuroprotective effects. Moreover, the neuroprotective effects of EPO have been confirmed in a variety of animal disease models, including: cerebral ischemia, cerebral ischemia and hypoxia damage, cerebral ischemia-reperfusion damage, spinal cord damage, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), subarachnoid hemorrhage, epilepsy. Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, sciatic nerve compression, retinal ganglion cell damage, etc.
After EPO has been confirmed to have neuroprotective effects both in vitro and in vivo, in recent decades, a series of clinical trials in patients from cerebral ischemia, nerve damage to inflammation and neurodegeneration, have further investigated whether EPO can exert neuroprotective effects and regenerative functions in humans. Fortunately, most of these studies have confirmed that EPO treatment is effective. However, as EPO has the effect of promoting erythropoiesis, high-dose or long-term use of EPO can directly lead to a series of serious medical problems such as polycythemia, hypertension, thrombosis, etc. Therefore, the development of the preparations of EPO derivatives, allosteric, etc. that have no hematopoietic function but have neuroprotective effects has become a research hotspot for neuroscientists at present.
In recent years, researchers have developed some EPO derivatives with neuroprotective effects but without erythropoiesis effects. One kind of the EPO derivative is represented by carbamylated EPO (CEPO) including the modified erythropoietin protein derivatives such as asialoEPO, Neuro-EPO, etc. With the in-depth research of EPO and CEPO, it is found that CEPO does not combine with EPOR but can also preserve the neuroprotective and other tissue protection effects of EPO. Therefore, it is further proposed that the tissue protective effect of EPO, including neuroprotection, is mediated by a heteropolymer composed of EPOR and CD131, i.e., βcR (β complex), which is different from the erythropoiesis effect of EPO that is mediated by a dimer composed of two EPOR molecules. Another kind of the EPO derivative is a low molecular weight peptide that mimics the EPO spatial structure, including HBP, HBSP (ARA290), pHBSP, Epopeptide AB, MKX-2, JM4, Epotris, etc. This kind of polypeptide derivative has the advantages of low molecular weight and easily penetrates the blood-brain barrier, which has a promising clinical application. However, further research and experiments are needed to be clinically performed in order to verify the effects on the human body.

Erythropoietin-derived peptide, preparation method and use thereof


Systems and methods of replacing digital assets within a multimedia document are provided. The systems and methods include a user workstation that can receive a selection from a user for an original asset in the document to be replaced. Alternative assets can be retrieved that have a level of appropriateness with the selected original asset. Constraints on use of the alternative assets can be determined and a fitness value of each of the alternative assets can be calculated based on the appropriateness and the constraints on use. The alternative assets with the highest fitness values can be presented to the user for the user to select to replace the original asset.

Considerable time and skill are invested in creating marketing and sales collaterals for use in presentations, sales efforts, promotional materials, and the like. After a set of collaterals is created, companies or other entities may desire to use the finished pieces as samples or examples of the types of designs that the entity produces. However, certain collaterals may contain material or assets which are limited by use licenses or otherwise not appropriate to show customers or clients. For example, the assets may have associated fees, licenses, or confidentiality issues. As such, the reusability and/or visibility of certain collaterals can be limited.
It is sometimes the case that assets with constraints can be replaced with existing alternative assets having similar content to the constrained asset, but with fewer or no constraints. By replacing the constrained asset with an alternative asset, an entity's collateral can be reusable by and/or visible to target audiences because the alternative asset has fewer or no constraints. However, systems and methods of replacing assets in multimedia documents are not implemented. In particular, various challenges can arise with respect to the assurance of the maintenance of a proper aesthetical level of alternative assets and the efficient management of assets in a context sensitive fashion.
A need, therefore, exists to implement systems and methods to replace the licensed, sensitive, or otherwise constrained assets with available alternative samples that a user has a right to use. Further, it is desirable to select alternative assets that are both appropriate to replace the original assets, and with fewer or no constraints.

Method for visual asset replacement accounting for cost, copyright, and confidentiality requirements


A bag for an air bag apparatus activated when a vehicle rapidly decelerates is disclosed. The bag includes a plurality of straps and vent holes used for discharging gas. The vent holes are normally blocked by strap valves each of which are sewn to the bag to form a low strength stitch. Each of the strap valves and each of the straps are sewn together to form a high strength stitch. When a separating force produced between each of the straps and the bag reaches a given value upon the rapid deceleration of the vehicle, the low strength stitch is broken to unblock the vent holes. Hence the bag rapidly expands toward the occupant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bag which is suitable for use in an air bag apparatus that is activated when a vehicle rapidly decelerates. The bag expands toward a vehicle occupant when a gas is introduced therein.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an air bag apparatus, such as one that is mounted on a steering wheel, an activating device is activated when a vehicle rapidly decelerates. The activating device ignites a detonator disposed within an inflator so as to cornbust a gas generating material with a explosion inducing agent, thereby producing a large quantity of a gas. The gas thus produced flows into a bag which is stored within a pad in a folded state on the side in which the inflator faces an occupant. Thus, the bag expands and unfolds toward the occupant and breaks the pad so as to be interposed between the steering wheel and the occupant.
Conventionally, this type of bag is provided with circular ventilating apertures (hereinafter called "vent holes") defined thereof on the side opposite that of the occupant. The gas, which flows into the bag at high speed and in large quantity, is discharged by a predetermined amount through the vent holes so as to maintain the bag in an expanded state under a predetermined internal pressure.
However, the gas discharges from the vent holes even before the bag fully expands, i.e., during the expansion of the bag. It is therefore necessary to take desired measures such as a measure for causing directions to exhaust the gases from the inflator to face toward the occupant in large numbers to avoid a delay of the expansion of the bag, a measure for increasing the amount of a gas generating material to be inserted into the inflator.

Bag suitable for use in air bag apparatus


A method for the formation of flexible surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrates with filtering capabilities. The method produces thin flexible substrates that have a nanoparticle ink deposited thereon. The nanoparticle ink may be any suitable nanoparticle ink which includes stabilized nanoparticles such as silver, gold or copper nanoparticles. The substrates and nanoparticle ink undergo a thermal treatment for an amount of time sufficient to remove liquid vehicle and a substantial portion of the stabilizer. The thermal treatment provides a fractal aggregate nanoparticle layer on the substrate suitable for Raman spectroscopy. Such flexible SERS substrates may be used to detect trace amounts of analyte in large volume samples.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to forming surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates. In particular, it is directed to flexible SERS substrates with filtering capabilities formed by using nanoparticle-based inks.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Raman spectroscopy (RS) is the measurement of the wavelength and intensity of light scattered inelastically from a molecule. FIG. 1 represents a schematic of the Raman spectrum. Raman scattering is the result of an inelastic collision of a photon with molecules. Both elastic and inelastic collisions occur when light interacts with a molecule. In elastic collisions (Rayleigh scattering), an atom is excited from a ground state to a higher energy state and then relaxes back to the original ground state, thereby emitting a photon at the same frequency as the incident light. However in an inelastic collision, the excited molecule relaxes to a different vibrational state rather than the original state, thereby scattering energy different from that of the incident light. If the scattered energy is higher than the energy of the incident light it is called an Anti-Stokes line (blue shifted), if it is lower it is called a Stokes line (red shifted).
RS gives information about the characteristic vibrational states of molecules. It is a widely used spectroscopic tool for the determination of molecular structure and for compound identification. The Raman scattering signals from the vibrational states of molecules are relatively weak. In order to obtain a satisfactory signal-to-noise ratio, one has to either increase the intensity of the probing laser or resort to surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. For biological applications, increased laser intensity often limits the in vivo imaging capability of a system. In addition, RS has a small scattering cross section of about 10−30 cm2 per molecule as compared to 10−16 cm2 for fluorescence spectroscopy, thus reducing the possibility of analyzing compounds of biological significance due to the generally low concentration of analytes in biological samples. It is therefore desirable to create SERS structures that permit enhancement of Raman scattering signals for detection of biomolecules.
One such structure employs fractal aggregates of metallic colloidal particles formed on the surface of SERS substrates, typically constructed of Ag, Au, and Cu. Metallic fractal aggregates can exhibit some of the highest SERS signal amplification factors. A fractal is a self-similar geometrical object, i.e. it looks the same at any length scale. Fractal aggregates of metallic colloidal particles can enhance various linear and nonlinear optical responses, including Raman scattering. The basic mechanism that gives rise to such enhancement arises from the localization of optical plasmon excitations within small parts ("hot-spots") of a fractal aggregate. Such "hot spots" are usually much smaller (tens of nm) than the size of the fractal and often much smaller than the wavelength of the incident light used for detection. Fractal structures, unlike translationally invariant media, cannot support propagating waves and hence can confine electromagnetic fields to very small regions of the substrate. If sufficiently concentrated, the enhanced electromagnetic fields in the hot spots can result in SERS signal amplification.
The regions where the optical excitations are localized have very different local structures and, therefore, are characterized by different resonant frequencies. These nano-scale regions act as a collection of different optical "nano-resonators" resulting in a distribution of resonance frequencies in the visible and infra red spectral ranges and can have resonance quality-factors as large as 103. When Stokes shifts are small, the SERS signal is roughly proportional to the local field raised to the fourth power and, therefore, it can be enhanced up to 1012 in the fractal hot spots.
When two nanoparticles come in close proximity without touching each other, the largest SERS signal amplification is achieved when the analyte molecule is sandwiched between two nanoparticles and when the polarization vector, i.e. the direction of the oscillating E-field of the laser's electromagnetic field, is along the line connecting the centers of the Ag nanoparticles. Amplification factors in the range of 6×106 to 2.5×1010 have been predicted when the separation between two Ag nanoparticles of diameter 90 nm is varied between 5.5 and 1.0 nm. When the polarization vector is perpendicular to the Ag nanoparticles, the maximum amplification factor is relatively small (about 1 to 10). In FIG. 2 the polarization vector with respect to the molecules is shown. The amplification factor for the geometry indicated in [c] is intermediate between cases [a] and [b].
Certain methods of fabricating SERS substrates result in the noble metal nanostructures stochastically distributed over the substrate surface, e.g. electrochemically roughened electrodes, sputtered films, chemically etched films, electroless deposited films, and colloidal metal particles. An exemplary method incubates analyte in an Ag colloidal suspension (in water or other suitable liquid organic carrier) with 1.0-10.0 mM NaCl solution. The role of NaCl is as an aggregating agent. The Ag aggregates are then sorted according to their size and compact aggregates (two to about ten particles each) are isolated for further study using SERS. There are two drawbacks to this technique. First, there is no control over the size of the aggregates produced. The creation of hot spots for Raman scattering largely results as accidental byproducts of the technique. Thus, the reproducibility of SERS substrates made by this method is low. Second, the yield of the desired aggregates is very low and the suitable portions of the nanoparticle array on the substrate must then be selected from a mixture of larger aggregates before they can be used for SERS study. This hinders the fabrication of suitable SERS substrates on a large scale using this method.
Laserna et al. "Surface-enhanced Raman spectrometry on a silver-coated filter paper substrate," Analytica Chimica Acta, 1988, Vol. 208, pages 21-30, discloses a silver-coated filter paper as a SERS substrate. The filter paper has silver colloidal particles loosely attached to it. The lack of sufficient adhesion to the substrate by the particles causes quick deterioration of the amplification factor over time. In addition, the inter particle spacing is not controlled, but instead is the result of a stochastic process. A similar disclosure is also found in, "Subnanogram Detection of Dyes on Filter Paper by Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Spectrometry," Chieu D., Tran, Anal. Chem., 1984, 56, pp. 824-826.
Another method for fabrication of SERS substrates employs controlled patterning of the nanostructures with electron-beam lithography. One advantage of this method is that little randomness remains and one can expect the SERS signal to be homogeneous across the proposed substrate. Such substrates are now commercially available (Mesophotonics Limited, Southampton, UK). Fabrication of such substrates involves a multi-step process and the resulting substrates are quite expensive. Such substrates are also small in size, for example, typically on the order of 4 mm×4 mm.
Sona et al. "Novel approach for in situ biohazard detection utilizing surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy," Proc. Of SPIE, 2005, Vol. 5692, pages 351-358, teaches an SERS material made from silver vacuum-evaporated on a fiberglass porous membrane having pore sizes on the order of 1 micron, as well as a chemically deposited thin silver layer on a glass fiber filter. This SERS material was demonstrated for detection of low concentrations of clofibric acid in a liquid and showed the ability to detect the analyte at an extremely low detection level.
U.S. Patent Application publication no. 2007/0259437, discloses nanoparticles coated with a filtering film, which is made from a permselective organic coating agent. The filtering film traps a variety of molecules, but allows the analyte of interest to selectively pass through the film to reach the nanoparticles. RS can then detect the analyte.
U.S. Patent Application publication no. 2006/0060885 discloses a method for depositing a conductive nanoparticle layer onto a substrate surface. A solution of stabilized nanoparticles is applied to a substrate surface and heated to remove liquid vehicle and stabilizer. Heating causes the metal nanoparticles to coalesce to form an electrically conductive layer. Heating is continued until a minimum conductivity of 1 Siemens/centimeter is achieved in order to provide the conductive coating.
The current commercially available SERS substrates have three serious limitations: (a) reproducibility, (b) cost-effectiveness and (c) a small active area (typically 4 mm×4 mm) and the constraint that the analyte has to be brought into intimate contact with the substrate. These limitations make the commercial SERS substrates impractical for detecting molecules of interest in trace amounts or which are dispersed over a large area, e.g. a bio-toxic aerosol released in a large room or a trace amount of bio-hazardous substance released in large volumes of water. In principle it is possible to filter out the molecule(s) of interest and then transfer them to a SERS substrate for further analyses. In practice this is very cumbersome for dilute specimens and therefore is rarely used. The ability to sense molecules of interest at low concentrations is especially critical for effective response to an industrial accident or an act of terrorism or to enhance security at places that may be susceptible to acts of terrorism.
Therefore, there is a need to provide a method for forming SERS substrates that permits control of the average distance between nanoparticles and which provides SES substrates suitable for use to detect trace amounts of analytes in samples of large volumes.

Flexible SERS substrates with filtering capabilities


A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes performing pre-halo ion implantation on a semiconductor substrate, forming a first epitaxial layer over the entire upper surface of the semiconductor substrate, forming a second epitaxial layer over the entire surface of the first epitaxial layer, and forming a transistor at an active region of the second epitaxial layer. The first epitaxial layer prevents the ions implanted in the semiconductor substrate in the pre-halo implantation process from diffused into the second epitaxial layer under the effects of a process used to form the transistor.

The inventive concept relates to semiconductor devices and to methods of fabricating the same. In particular, the inventive concept relates to halo implantation processes used in the fabricating of semiconductor devices.
The rapid growth of electronic products that process information, such as computers, has brought about a rapid progress in the development of semiconductor devices such as semiconductor memories. These developments include increases in the integration of the devices aimed at reducing the cost of the devices without compromising their quality. Realizing a high degree of integration of semiconductor devices requires a scaling-down of existing devices, e.g., minimizing the thickness of gate oxide films of the transistors of semiconductor devices and of the channel lengths of the transistors. These reductions may result in or be accompanied by reductions in the spacing between the transistors, and in the widths of the gate regions of the transistors.
However, in these respects, electrical properties of a transistor are considerably affected by a critical dimension (CD) of its gate region. For instance, as the width of the gate region of the transistor(s) of a semiconductor device becomes smaller to increase the degree of integration of the device, the distance between the source and drain regions of the transistor also becomes smaller. This distance may correspond to the effective length of the channel through which charge carriers (electrons or holes) move when the transistor is in a certain state. However, when the effective channel length of a transistor is relatively small, so-called short channel effects can occur.
Various methods have been considered for suppressing short channel effects. One of these methods is a halo implantation process of implanting a high concentration of ions into a substrate in forming the source and drain regions of a transistor.
However, as semiconductor devices become more highly integrated and the critical dimension (CD) of a gate region decreases to meet the smaller design rules for the devices, the ions implanted during the halo ion implantation process may tend to diffuse into a channel region of a transistor, thereby negatively impacting the performance of the transistor by, for example, increasing the threshold voltage (Vth) distribution of the transistor or reducing the mobility of the charge carriers in the channel region.

Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same


A light weight deflection-resistant end block is provided for a battery and comprises a base member of a light weight, chemically inert and electrically resistive material which has one or more cavities adapted to receive low density, substantially rigid inserts such as honey-combed aluminum.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an end block for a battery and, more particularly, to an end block with a composite structure having a low density, high strength core enveloped by a light weight inert material.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electrochemical cells utilizing bipolar cell designs having reactive electrodes are well known. Conventional flowing electrolyte bipolar batteries are typically comprised of "stack" of cells, an electrolyte pump, an electrolyte reservoir, a cooling element, and external studs in electrical communication with the terminal electrodes. Each cell is comprised of an electrode upon which the anodic reaction takes place and an electrode upon which the cathodic reaction takes place.
In a typical bipolar battery, each electrode comprises two "poles", such that the anodic reaction occurs on one side of the electrode and the cathodic reaction occurs on the opposite side of the same electrode. Thus, in contrast to a monopolar battery, which requires two separate electrodes per cell, a bipolar battery is comprised of bipolar electrodes upon which both the anodic and cathodic reactions occur. As with a monopolar battery, the cells in a bipolar battery are electronically connected in series. Unlike a monopolar battery, where the cells are hydraulically isolated, the cells of a flowing electrolyte bipolar battery are hydraulically connected in parallel. Application Ser. No. 189,363 filed May 2, 1988, now abandoned entitled "Terminal Electrode" and having the same assignee as the present application, describes the current flow and structure of a bipolar battery of the zinc-bromine type and is incorporated by way of reference herein for such detail.
Generally, however, flowing electrolyte bipolar batteries require, in addition to cell stack components, electrolyte manifolds and fluid anolyte/catholyte pumps, and end blocks at each end of the battery which sandwich the cell stack therebetween. The end blocks serve as a supporting structure for the cell stack and provide the framework for duct and shunt tunnels to communicate with interiorly disposed elements of the battery. Additionally, the blocks support the various terminal studs which electrically communicate with the end or terminal electrodes of the cell stack. Not only must the blocks necessarily be inert relative to the various chemical constituencies comprising the fluid anolyte/catholyte, it is important that end blocks resist bending or bowing caused primarily by the different pressures which exist between the atmosphere and internal operating environments of the battery. For example, in a zinc-bromine battery environment, operating pressures may reach 15 pounds per square inch. Bowing of end plates may result in nonuniform electrolyte distribution in end cells. Nonuniform flow distribution may then cause a significant reduction in voltage and/or discharge capacity during discharge in, those cells relative to other cells.
Additionally, in zinc-bromine batteries, bowing of end blocks may result in poor zinc plating at the other end cell causing undesirable dendritic zinc growth to occur through the pore structure of the separator of the adjacent end cell. If dendritic growth reaches a cathode surface, it would provide a short circuit for current in that cell and eliminate its voltage contribution.
Various attempts have been made in the prior art to provide end plates which minimize bowing and resulting problems. For example, steel plates coated with an inert plastic material have been employed as end blocks largely at the sacrifice of another important consideration, namely weight. Still other attempts have considered the use of plastic materials ribbed in various patterns to provide additional strength to withstand the internal operating pressures to provide the required rigidity. It is often necessary, however, to have ribs which may approach a thickness of nearly an inch, resulting in an unnecessary increase in the overall volume of the assembly.


A near field lens for an automotive light assembly which has a reduced thickness. Generally, the near field lens includes a main body of light transmitting material. A pocket is formed in the main body for receiving light from a light source. The pocket is defined by an inner radially facing surface and an inner axially facing surface. The inner radially facing surface is structured to reduce the thickness of the lens.

Light emitting diodes (LED's) are fast becoming the preferable light source for automotive lighting applications, as they consume less power but provide light output which is acceptable for such applications. Near field lenses (NFL's) are used to collect as well as to collimate the light from a LED source, and generally provide high light collection efficiency (typically 70-90%), but the output beam size for a given source depends on the size of the lens. The larger the lens size (i.e. the larger the starting focal length of the lens), the smaller of the output beam size and the higher the peak intensity. However, manufacturing larger lenses poses complex molding issues and takes higher molding cycle time, thus requiring expensive molding tools and processes.
Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a lighting assembly having a lens that provides the output beam size and peak intensity for automotive applications, while reducing the size of the NFL.


The present invention is directed to methods and systems for allocating bandwidth (or other shared resource) among multiple masters. According to an aspect of the present invention, an arbiter assigns a bucket to each CPU (or other device) where each bucket holds the credits for that CPU. Each bucket has a predetermined fill rate and a drain rate. Depending on the priority given to a particular CPU, the corresponding bucket will drain (or fill) at a particular rate. For example, CPUs with a higher priority will drain at a slower rate. For each clock tick (or other period of time) that a CPU is stalled, a number of credits is accrued. The bucket with the highest number of credits has priority and will be given access to the shared resource (e.g., DRAM, SDRAM, SRAM, EPROM, etc.).

Many modern high performance systems have multiple processors, many of which run independently but ultimately share one large common memory pool. Each processor typically has a small amount of fast local Random Access Memory (RAM). A large memory pool including Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) (as well as Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM)) is usually shared amongst most or all the processors within a system.
DRAM bandwidth is very limited. Further, the access time of DRAMs is very slow, much slower than the bandwidth required for a single Central Processing Unit (CPU) let alone two or more CPUs. In large systems where four or eight CPU's are all trying to access the DRAM, arbitration must be carefully managed.
Complications to any arbitration scheme include situations where not all CPUs need to have the same priority. In particular, some CPUs may be allowed a greater share of the available bandwidth. For instance, in a two CPU system, one CPU may be performing mundane functions while the other CPU may be running time critical applications. In this case, it is preferable that the CPU running critical applications is allowed all the bandwidth it requires and only the bandwidth left over is given to the less important CPU.
Typical solutions to this problem have involved assigning a static priority to each CPU. For example, an arbiter will grant DRAM access to whichever requesting CPU has the highest priority.
FIG. 1 is an example of a system implementing a static priority scheme. As shown in FIG. 1, CPU A has the highest priority and the CPU C has the lowest priority. If all CPU's request access to DRAM (or SDRAM) at the same time, CPU A will be given access. If only CPU B and CPU C request access to SDRAM, then access is given to CPU B. CPU C only is given access if both CPU A or B do not require access to the shared resource.
Other arbitration schemes may include round robin, where priority is rotated, or a fixed tiered priority scheme. FIG. 2 is an example of a system implementing a round robin priority scheme. In a system of a plurality of CPUs (e.g., 3 CPUs) using a round robin priority scheme, whenever a CPU has been granted access to a bus, the priority associated with that CPU is reset to the lowest priority and the CPU which previously has the second highest priority will be promoted to the highest priority. In other words, if a CPU is granted access to the bus, that CPU goes to the back of the queue. Thus, priorities will change when a CPU has been granted access to the bus, with the granted CPU being assigned the lowest priority and the others being promoted up the priority ladder.
FIG. 3 is an example of a system implementing a fixed tiered priority scheme. In a fixed tiered priority scheme, CPU A and CPU B round robin between themselves but have priority over CPU C and CPU D which round robin between themselves.
However, current systems implementing fixed priority schemes have several drawbacks. As the number of CPUs in a system increases it has an unfortunate effect of ruthlessly punishing low priority CPUs. For example, if a system has four CPUs, it becomes increasingly unlikely that all of the three top highest CPUs are not requesting access to the SDRAM and thus giving the lowest priority CPU access. In addition, although a CPU may be assigned a low priority, the CPU may still have a maximum latency requirement. For instance, a CPU in a system may have the task of servicing a Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART). Although the UART may not need prompt servicing (due to internal First In First Out (FIFO) buffering), it may require servicing eventually otherwise the FIFO will fill up and data will be lost.
Therefore, there is a need for a more efficient method and system for efficiently allocating bandwidth (e.g., memory bandwidth) as well as other shared resources.

Method and system for allocating bandwidth