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A metal foil laminate package for an electrochemical cell has a multilayered structure (32, 34) comprising a metal foil (40) sandwiched between layers of a thermoplastic (38) and a heat-sealable polymer (42). An electrically conducting tab (28) extends from the cell and has a layer of insulative tape (29) disposed on both sides of the tab. Apertures (50,52,60,62) formed through the various layers of the package expose both sides of the tab, providing sites for subsequent welding of the tab to external circuitry.
1. An electrochemical cell including an anode, a cathode, a separator, and first and second tab members, said cell being enclosed in a metal foil laminate material, and further including an insulating tape disposed between said tabs and said metal foil laminate wherein said tab members remain enclosed within an interior portion of the metal foil laminate material.
2. An electrochemical cell including an anode, a cathode, a separator, and first and second tab members, said cell being enclosed in a metal foil laminate material, and further including an insulating tape disposed between said tabs and said metal foil laminate further comprising first and second apertures, the first aperture extending through said metal foil laminate material, the second aperture positioned below the first aperture and extending through said insulating tape.
3. An electrochemical cell as described in claim 2, wherein the first and second apertures further comprise concentric apertures having respective first and second diameters, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter.
4. An electrochemical cell enclosed in a metal foil laminate material, comprising:
an anode, a cathode and a separator; and
first and second tab members each having opposing upper and lower major surfaces, each major tab surface having a layer of insulating tape disposed thereon, wherein
a portion of each major surface of each tab member remains exposed through a pair of apertures formed in the insulating tape and the metal foil laminate material.
5. An electrochemical cell as described in claim 4, wherein each pair of apertures further comprise concentric apertures, and each tape aperture has a smaller diameter than the corresponding concentric foil laminate aperture.
6. An electrochemical cell as described in claim 4, wherein said metal foil laminate is a multilayered foil laminate.
7. An electrochemical cell as described in claim 6, wherein at least one of said layers is a heat sealable material.
8. An electrochemical cell enclosed in a metal foil laminate material, comprising:
an anode, a cathode and a separator;
first and second tab members each having a major tab surface; and
first and second layers of insulating tape, the first layer of insulating tape disposed upon the major surface of each tab member, and the second layer of insulating tape disposed upon an outer surface of said foil laminate material, wherein
apertures formed through the metal foil laminate material and the first and second layers of insulating tape expose a portion of each tab member.
9. An electrochemical cell as described in claim 8, wherein the apertures formed in the first and second layers of tape are smaller than the aperture formed in the metal foil laminate material.
10. An electrochemical cell as described in claim 8, wherein said tab members remain enclosed within an interior portion of the metal foil laminate material.
11. An electrochemical cell as described in claim 8, wherein said metal foil laminate is a multilayered foil laminate.
12. An electrochemical cell as described in claim 8, wherein at least one of said layers is a heat sealable material.
This application is related to pending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/901,858, filed Jul. 29, 1997, by Reichart et al., entitled "FOIL LAMINATE PACKAGE FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS," and assigned to Motorola, Inc.
This invention relates in general to the field of electrochemical cells, and more particularly to electrochemical cells packaged in flexible foil laminate packages.
There has been a great deal of interest in developing better and more efficient methods for storing energy for applications, such as cellular communication, satellites, portable computers, and electric vehicles to name but a few. Accordingly, there have been recent concerted efforts to develop high energy, cost effective batteries having improved performance characteristics and a variety of form factors.
In an effort to lessen the weight of battery cells, such as rechargeable electrochemical cells, while providing more flexible form factors, battery manufacturers have shown increasing interest in lithium ion polymer electrochemical cells. In lithium ion polymer technology, the bonding of the electrodes, (the anode and the cathode) to the separator eliminates the need for rigid cell cans. Accordingly, lithium ion polymer cells may be packaged in thin, flexible, multilayered packaging. This multilayered packaging typically includes at least one layer of a thin metal foil, such as aluminum, to provide an oxygen and moisture barrier. The foil layer is then typically encapsulated between a sheet of a mechanically robust outer polymer material, such as nylon or polyester, and a layer of a low melting temperature polyolefin for heat sealing. These metal foil laminates are very common in everyday usage, having applications in the pharmaceutical and food packaging industries.
There are a number of problems which are prevalent when this type of foil laminate packaging is applied to battery applications. Each problem is related to current conducting metallic tabs which pass from the interior of the cell package to the outside in order to electrically couple the battery cell to an application device. For instance, package delamination commonly occurs as a result of insufficient bonding between package heat sealing layers and the metallic surface of the tabs. Furthermore, insufficient tab thickness commonly results in low tab strength. Restrictions on tab thickness (generally to 2-3 mils) are a product of the foil laminate structure, i.e., tab thickness is restricted to allow the heat seal layer to flow around the tabs to produce a hermetic seal. Finally, unintentional electrical shorting between individual tabs and between the tabs and the metal foil laminate, although not as significant a problem as the aforementioned problems, remains a concern to be addressed.
One novel foil laminate packaging structure for electrochemical cells, disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/901,858, incorporates a modified polyolefin adhesion-promoting material which provides improved delamination protection and increased tab strength. Despite the associated improvements in delamination resistance and tab strength, these issues remains a concern and there is a constant effort to further improve the design of such foil laminate packages. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a modified foil laminate structure which further improves the mechanical integrity of the package.
Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a better structure for packaging electrochemical cells, such as lithium ion polymer cells. The packaging scheme should provide a tab structure which provides better tabs strength, reduced delamination, and reduces or eliminates tab shorting.
FIG. 1 is a side view of an electrochemical cell in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a partial section view of an electrochemical cell as depicted in FIG. 1, having an improved tab structure, in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partial section view of an electrochemical cell having an improved tab structure, in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a partial section view of an electrochemical cell having an improved tab structure, in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated therein a side view of an electrochemical cell in accordance with the instant invention. The cell 10 includes first and second electrodes 12 and 14, respectively. The first electrode 12 can be, for example, an anode in a lithium rechargeable cell. Accordingly, the anode may be fabricated of any of a number of different known materials for lithium rechargeable cells, examples of which include metallic lithium, lithium alloys, and lithium intercalation materials such as carbon, petroleum coke, activated carbon, graphite, and other forms of carbon known in the art. In one preferred embodiment, the anode 12 is fabricated of an amorphous carbonaceous material such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,963 issued on Jul. 15, 1997 to Zhang et al. for "Electrode Materials for Electrochemical Cells and Method for Making Same", assigned to Motorola, Inc., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
More particularly, the anode 12 comprises a layer of active material 16, such as a carbon material as described hereinabove, deposited on a substrate 18. Substrate 18 can be any of a number of materials known in the art, examples of which include copper, gold, nickel, copper alloys, copper plated materials, and combinations thereof. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the substrate 18 is fabricated of copper.
The second electrode 14 can be adapted to be the cathode of a lithium rechargeable cell. In such an instance, the cathode is preferably fabricated of a lithium intercalation material, examples of which include lithiated manganese oxide, lithiated cobalt oxide, lithiated nickel oxide, and combinations thereof. In one preferred embodiment, the cathode 14 is fabricated of a lithiated nickel oxide material such as is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,548 issued on Jan. 7, 1997 to Mao for "Positive Electrode Materials for Rechargeable Electrochemical Cells and Method of Making Same", the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
More particularly, the cathode 14 comprises a layer of the cathode active material 20 disposed on a cathode substrate 22. The cathode material 20 may be such as that described hereinabove, while the substrate 22 may be fabricated from any of a number of known materials known in the art, examples of which include aluminum, nickel, and combinations thereof. In one preferred embodiment, substrate 22 is fabricated of aluminum.
Disposed between electrodes 12 and 14 is a layer of an electrolyte system 26. The electrolyte system 26 preferably comprises an electrolyte active species and a polymer gel electrolyte support structure consisting of at least one or more different polymers. For example, a first polymer may be provided as an absorbing phase, and the second polymer may be provided as an inert phase. The inert phase may primarily provide mechanical integrity and structural rigidity to the electrolyte system, while the absorbing phase, which can be disposed on either or both sides of the inert phase, is primarily adapted to engage the electrolyte active species therein. The absorbing phase is preferably a gelling polymer and can further act as a bonding paste to assist in adhering the electrodes to the electrolyte system as described below.
The electrolyte active species is a liquid or solid component (or both) which provides ionic conductivity between the anode 12 and the cathode 14. In the embodiment in which the electrochemical cell 10 is a lithium intercalation cell, the electrolyte active species consists of an alkali metal salt in a solvent. Typical alkali metal salts include, but are not limited to, salts having the formula M+ X-, where M+ is an alkali metal cation such as Li+, Na+, K+, and combinations thereof, and where X31 is an anion such as Cl-, Br-, I-, ClO4 -, BF4 -, PF6 -, AsF6 -, SbF6 -, CH3 CO2 -, CF3 SO3 -, N(CF3 SO2)2 -, C(CF3 SO2)3 -, and combinations thereof. The solvent into which the salt is dispersed is typically an organic solvent including, but not limited to, propylene carbonate (PC), ethylene carbonate (EC), diethyl carbonate (DEC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), dipropylcarbonate, dimethylsulfoxide, acetonitrile, dimethoxyethane, tetrahydrofuran, n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), acetone, and combinations thereof. For other electrode combinations, e.g., Ni-Cd or Ni-metal hydride, other electrolyte active species may be used, such as KOH. An electrolyte system such as that described hereinabove is described in greater detail in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,573 issued on Jun. 17, 1997 to Oliver et al. for "Polymer Gel Electrolyte", the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Operatively connected and electrically coupled to said electrically conducting substrates 18 and 22 are first and second electrically conducting tabs 28 and 30. The function of tabs 28 and 30 is to conduct current generated in the electrodes 12 and 14 to an application device, for example, a two-way radio device, and to recharge the cell. As such, the tabs 28 and 30 are generally fabricated of a metallic material, examples of which include stainless steel, iron, nickel, silver, aluminum, copper, and combinations thereof.
While the instant invention is described herein as part of a lithium rechargeable electrochemical cell, it should be understood that it is not so limited. The electrolyte system and methods of fabrication are applicable to a host of different electrochemical systems, such as electrochromic devices, fuel cells, capacitors, and other types of energy storage systems, to name a few. Furthermore, the cell structure can differ from that shown in FIG. 1. By way of example, the cell 10 could comprise multiple anode 12, cathode 14, and electrolyte 26 layers to essentially form several battery cells within a single battery package. Alternatively, the cell 10 need not comprise stacked layers at all; instead, the electrode and electrolyte layers could be wound into a conventional "jelly roll" configuration in which tabs 28 and 30 extend from rolled electrodes.
The entire electrochemical charge storage device 10 is then packaged so that it is enclosed between first and second sheets of a metal foil laminate material 32 and 34. Alternatively, the device 10 may be enclosed between first and second portions of a single sheet of a metal foil laminate. More particularly, the entire device 10, including the metallic tabs 28, 30, is enclosed in the metal foil laminate. It is important to understand that in order to ensure continued operation of the device, the enclosing laminate should provide a moisture and vapor barrier for the device, since moisture and oxygen will degrade the performance of many types of electrochemical devices. Therefore, the seal between the first and second sheets of the laminate, particularly around the tab region, should be hermetic. The seal and the elements which contribute to its hermetic nature will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow.
It will be appreciated that the use of the term "sheets" is not intended to be restrictive, since the packaging of the cell 10 according to the present invention can be accomplished using any form factor of metal foil laminate material. For instance, a form-fill-seal automated packaging scheme could be used in which the bottom portion of the packaging is formed into a cup-like shape into which the cell 10 is placed. The top portion, which could also be formed, is then heat sealed onto the bottom portion to form the sealed package.
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a side view of the electrochemical cell of FIG. 1 after sealing in a package. In particular, FIG. 2 illustrates that the metal foil laminate layers 32 and 34 (FIG. 1) that enclose the cell 10 can, in fact, be multilayered laminate structures, e.g., including three (3) layers. In the tri-layered structure of FIG. 2, both layers 32 and 34 may include a first layer of a mechanically rugged or robust thermoplastic material 38, such as nylon, polyester, polypropylene, and combinations thereof. The purpose of layer 38 is to provide strength and tear resistance for the foil laminate material. Accordingly, a host of other materials well known to those of ordinary skill in the art can also be used.
Disposed adjacent the thermoplastic layer 38 is a layer of a metal foil 40 that provides moisture and vapor barrier properties for the reasons described above. Accordingly, the metal foil layer 40 may be fabricated of a metal foil selected from the group of aluminum, copper, nickel, and combinations thereof.
Thereafter, disposed adjacent the metal foil layer 40 is a layer of a heat-sealable polymer material 42. The purpose of the heat sealable polymer 42 is to allow the two layers 32, 34 of metal foil laminate to be sealably closed together upon, for example, the application of heat. Due to the preferred heating regimes of the instant electrochemical device, the heat sealable polymer 42 is heat sealable at temperatures in the range of between 110 to 180° C., and preferably in the range of 120 to 170° C. Accordingly, the heat sealable plastic 42 is selected from the group of materials consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyamides, and combinations thereof.
It is to be understood that while FIG. 2 illustrates the multilayered metal foil laminates 32 and 34 as each having the same three sub-layers, the invention is not so limited. Either or both layers may have more or less sub-layers, made up of the same or different materials. For example, either or both layers 32, 34 could be fabricated of a single layer of material that provides the same functionality of the tri-layer structure described above.
Still referring to FIG. 2, a layer of insulating adhesive tape 29 is provided on the opposing major surfaces of metallic tab 28. The same structure is provided for each metallic tab; however, for illustrative purposes, only tab 28 is shown. The insulative tape is preferably constructed from a modified polyolefin material similar to that used to seal the periphery of multilayered foil laminates 32 and 34. The modified polyolefin should preferably have a sealing/melting temperature in the range of between 110-180° C., and preferably between 120-170° C. Accordingly, preferred materials from which to fabricate the insulative tape 29 include polypropylene-maleic anhydride copolymer, polypropylene-ethylene acrylic acid copolymer, polyester, and combinations thereof. Some specific examples are Unite®, which is a polypropylene-maleic anhydride copolymer fabricated by Aristech; Thermo-Bond Film 845, which is a modified polypropylene by 3M; and Thermo-Bond Film 667, which is a polyester thermoplastic by 3M.
Metal foil laminate layer 32 and tape layer 29 have concentric apertures which, together, expose the surface of tab member 28 for subsequent welding, e.g., resistance welding of the tab member to external circuitry. In an effort to preclude electrical shorting between the tab member 28 and metal foil sublayer 40 of the foil laminate during welding, it is preferable that the insulative tape 29 have a smaller diameter opening than the foil laminate 32. It will occur to one skilled in the art that the shape of the apertures is not of critical importance. Thus, even though circular openings are assumed for discussion purposes, the invention is not so limited.
The inclusion of apertures which expose the tab surface(s) in our design precludes the need for tabs which extend beyond the inside of the package; as a result, insufficient tab strength is no longer an issue. Furthermore, tab-to-tab shorting is precluded since the tabs do not extend beyond the internal portion of the package. In this embodiment, the package layering is symmetric about the tab members. Thus, apertures 60 and 62, which are counterparts to apertures 50 and 52, expose the opposing side of tab member 28. This structure is preferred in instances in which resistance welding is to be used, since resistance welding often requires simultaneous contact with both the top and bottom surfaces of the tab member 28.
Referring now to FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment of our invention exposes only a single major surface of the tab member 28. This embodiment is preferable in instances in which, for example, either ultrasonic or laser welding of the metal foil package to an external circuit is to be performed. Since only a single side of the tab need be exposed, insulative tape is only required along a single surface of the tab 28, i.e., the surface to be welded to.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a further embodiment incorporates a structure which is identical to the structure illustrated in FIG. 3, save for an additional layer of insulative seal tape 29 disposed above outer layer 38. This structure is preferable in instances in which, for example, electrical leads extending from external circuitry are not insulated and, thus, could potentially short to metallic foil layer 40.
An advantage of the present invention is that metal foil laminates can be used to seal a battery cell while avoiding the tab-related issues which have plagued prior art structures. Most notably, tab breakage, due primarily to poor tab strength, has been eliminated without the need to increase tab thickness and without having to provide an additional coating to improve tab strength. Finally, with the tabs fixed apart from each other, tab-to-tab shorting issues have been virtually eliminated.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
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Welcome, New Leaf fans. Since July, Diehard GameFAN has been compiling a list of things that you can do in each month in order to make sure you have all your cranky villagers in a row. Since it's a new month, we've got a new list! Here are some of the things you can do in April.
First, some general tips:
The official Animal Crossing: New Leaf website has quite a few events listed for North America this month: April Fool's Day is on the 1st (play a game with Blanca to get pictures from your villagers), the fishing tourney is on the 12th, Bunny Day is on the 20th (find eggs to receive items from the egg series), Nature Day is on the 22nd (talk to Isabelle at the event plaza to get a cool glove), and Weeding Day is on the 25th (let your town gather weeds before the event to help you get furniture from the Flower Set). On the 10th, you'll also be able to enjoy the cherry blossoms at their peak, though this isn't an official "event" per se. Don't forget, of course, that some of your residents may have April birthdays. Go to their house on that day to celebrate with them. If you bring a present, you might just get one in return in your mailbox the next day. Also be sure to check with Pelly for any special presents that you can download via Wifi.
There's plenty to look for in the great outdoors. On the bug catching front, you have several new bugs to look for.
There are no bugs found in April that are not found in May.
Are you more the fishing type? Here's what you can look forward to starting in April:
If you haven't caught a dab by now, this month is the last month you can do so for a while.
Last but not least, we have diving. While there are no new deep-sea creatures, if you haven't caught a clam, giant spider crab, horsehair crab, sea cucumber, or snow crab by now, this month is the last month you can do so for a while.
Well, that's all that I've been able to find for this month. Do you have any tips or tricks you'd like to share? Does your experience differ from what's listed above? Did you find this helpful? Let us know in the comments, and happy Crossing!

subset: commoncrawl


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Fabulous Auction Items
We are lucky to have some wonderful auction items including:
- A $25 Grocery Outlet gift certificate mailed to winner weekly (over $1,200 value!)
- 1/2 day tree work by Tim the Tree Man
- 13 tons of crushed aggregate road base donated by North Star Trucking
- One private tasting for 8 at Lucchessi Vineyards
- 3 month guest membership to South Yuba Club
- Various household items, gift certificates, food and wine items, baskets, and local artwork!
Click here to see a more complete list of auction items
|Street of Dreams
Thank you for attending Street of Dreams 2014! Be sure to thank our generous
auction item donors and sponsors when you visit them around town!
Friday, October 10, 2014 at 6:00 pm
at the Miners Foundry in Nevada City
Chef Antonio Ayestaran to provide plentiful culinary delights while you enjoy an exciting silent and live auction.
Tickets: $40
$300 Reserved table of 8 including tickets--very limited
Tickets will be available at The Habitat Office, ReStore, Harmony Books, Briar Patch Co-op, The Book Seller, and Safeway on Sutton Way
All funds raised will go directly towards building Home #8 and #9 of the Heritage Oaks 16-home "Green" neighborhood on Joyce Drive. We are working hard to increase the number of homes we build in order to serve more hard-working families and uplift our community at the same time.
In 2013, over 290 guests enjoyed an evening of food and socializing, and raised enough money to purchase construction materials for half of a home! This year we plan to increase attendance and funds raised so we can further our mission of providing an affordable homeownership opportunity to low income families in Nevada County.
Thank you for helping us make dreams come true!


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A method of providing bias voltages for input output connections on low voltage integrated circuits. As integrated circuit voltages drop generally so does the external voltages that those circuits can handle. By placing input and output devices, in series, external voltages can be divided between the devices thereby reducing junction voltages seen by internal devices. By using external voltages as part of a biasing scheme for integrated circuit devices, stress created by the differential between external voltages and internal voltages can be minimized. Additionally device wells can be biased so that they are at a potential that is dependant on the external voltages seen by the low voltage integrated circuit.
1. An apparatus for generating a bias voltage at a bias node, the apparatus comprising:
a first input configured to accept a pad voltage from an input/output (I/O) circuit;
a second input configured to accept an output enable signal;
a third input configured to accept a first input voltage;
a fourth input configured to accept a second input voltage; and
a bias circuit configured to provide the first input voltage to the bias node when the pad voltage is equal to the second input voltage when the output enable signal is at a disable value and to provide a voltage depending on the pad voltage to the bias node when the pad voltage is greater than the second input voltage when the output enable signal is at the disable value.
2. The apparatus of
3. The apparatus of
a transistor coupled to the bias node, the bias circuit ensuring that the transistor is operating in a safe range to prevent damage to a junction of the transistor.
4. The apparatus of
5. The apparatus of
6. The apparatus of
7. The apparatus of
8. An apparatus for generating a bias voltage at a bias node, the apparatus comprising:
an input/output (I/O) circuit configured to operate in an input mode or an output mode in response to an output enable signal, to send a first signal to a device in the output mode, and to receive a second signal from the device in the input mode, the first signal and second signal being characterized by a pad voltage on the I/O circuit; and
a bias circuit configured to provide a first voltage to the bias node when the pad voltage is equal to an input voltage when the I/O circuit is operating in the input mode and to provide a second voltage depending on the pad voltage to the bias node when the pad voltage is greater than the input voltage when the I/O circuit is operating in the input mode.
9. The apparatus of
a transistor coupled to the bias node, configured to ensure that the transistor is operating in a safe range to prevent damage to a junction of the transistor.
10. The apparatus of
11. The apparatus of
a transistor, coupled to the bias node, configured to divide the pad voltage in response the bias node.
This application is a divisional of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 11/979,200, filed Oct. 31, 2007, now abandoned, which is a divisional of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 11/182,646, filed Jul. 14, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,292,072, which is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional Application No. 10/621,005; filed Jul. 16, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,949,964, which is a divisional of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 10/043,788, filed Jan. 9, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,628,149, which claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/260,582, filed Jan. 9, 2001, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/260,580, filed Jan. 9, 2001, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to integrated circuits (ICs), such as interface circuits, that are designed having reduced feature sizes, for example, 0.13 gm. More particularly, the invention relates to ICs that include interfaces (such as input/output (I/O) circuits) that are capable of interfacing with comparatively high-voltage signals from other sources, for example a 3.3 volt IC interfacing with signals from a 5 volt IC, or any other disparate ranges. Moreover, the invention relates to integrated circuits in which the semiconductor devices are biased such that the stress across the gate-oxides and junctions, as well as the leakage currents, are maintained at tolerable levels.
2. Background Art
The trend in CMOS-based processing technology is to produce integrated circuit (IC) cores having a higher density of semiconductor devices, such as transistors, and faster clock rates than their predecessors. I/O circuits, which electrically couple an IC core to external components, are accessed through I/O circuit pads that surround the IC core. The IC core and the I/O circuit pads are generally fabricated from the same processing technology. There is however no requirement that they comprise the same technology and hybrid circuits are known in the art. The inventive concepts herein are applicable to a variety of fabrication technologies.
The performance of the IC cores may generally be improved by shrinking the feature sizes of the semiconductor devices, for example field-effect transistors (FETs). Unfortunately, reducing the IC feature sizes may proportionally decrease the maximum operating voltage that the semiconductor devices within the IC can withstand. For example, an I/O circuit pad, fabricated from a CMOS process having 0.30 micron features, typically withstands a maximum operating voltage of about 3.6 volts. In such a case the maximum operating voltage of the I/O circuit pad is insufficient to drive the external components which have a higher voltage requirement, such as 5 volts. Furthermore, if the IC is interfaced with a greater than the maximum operating voltage, the IC may fail.
One way to attempt to resolve such requirements of circuits with mismatched voltage requirements is to increase the robustness of the fabrication process, for example by increasing the thickness of the gate-oxide layer of the semiconductor devices which comprise the IC circuitry. A thick gate-oxide layer may provide semiconductor devices, such as FETs, with the ability to support a higher voltage requirement. However, this voltage robustness is commonly accompanied by a decreases the performance of the IC, because the thick gate-oxide layer reduces the overall gain of the devices which comprise the IC. Reducing the gain minimizes the benefit which occurs by reducing the feature size.
Other attempts have included increasing the complexity of the CMOS fabrication process so there are multiple sets of devices where each set meets different voltage requirements. Each set of devices requires a different gate-oxide. Each additional gate-oxide requires a separate mask. The resulting hybrid process may significantly increase the manufacturing costs of the IC.
One way to avoid the drawbacks of the aforementioned processing-based solutions is to use a "level-shift" chip as an external component. The IC core and the I/O circuits are fabricated from the same process. The "level-shift chip" may be fabricated from a process that supports the discrete voltage requirement by stepping up the core output signals to support the discrete voltage range and stepping down the external drive signals to support the IC core voltage range. Such a level-shift chip can be a waste of much needed space on a crowded printed circuit board and may degrade performance.
An I/O circuit that transforms voltages between different voltage levels without degrading the overall performance of the integrated circuit and maximizing use of space on the printed circuit board or multi-chip substrate may be beneficial. It would be a further benefit if such an I/O circuit could use voltages presented at the I/O circuit in order to provide such protective biasing.
Commonly an I/O power supply may vary +/−10% and may vary significantly more during transient conditions. When the I/O power supply varies, circuits may have higher stress on the gate-oxides of the devices in the I/O circuit, such stresses may not be desirable in many process technologies. It may be desirable to provide bias voltages to various devices in the I/O circuit such that the device gate-oxide is protected from high-voltages under various conditions of operation even when the power-supply voltage varies by a large amount.
Embodiments of the present invention may be optimized, for example where 5 volt input tolerance is required, even when the power supplies are varying in steady state by +/−10%.
Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in an optimized form for I/O circuits where a 5 volt+/−10% input tolerance is required for normal operating range. Additionally the inventive concepts herein are described in terms of CMOS (Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) integrated circuits. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate the fact that techniques described with respect to CMOS ICs are readily applicable to any circuits having disparate power supply and/or drive signal requirements for different portions of the circuitry. The CMOS example chosen is one likely to be familiar to those skilled in the art. There is, however, no intent to limit the inventive concepts to CMOS ICs as the techniques are equally applicable to a wide variety of integrated circuit fabrication techniques.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention includes an integrated circuit having a four device input output circuit in a push pull configuration. Two of the devices, termed upper devices, comprise PMOS (P-Channel Metal Oxide Semiconductor) devices and two of the devices, termed lower devices, comprise NMOS (N-channel Metal Oxide Semiconductor) devices. The devices are biased to eliminate hazardous voltages across device junctions and to reduce the magnitude of the voltage being passed on to the core circuitry. The biases are derived from the input output state of the circuit and the voltage presented to the I/O circuit connection (VPAD) Additionally PMOS device well bias voltage may be developed based on VPAD.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a description of the following figures, in which like numbers refer to similar items throughout.
In deep submicron fabrication, the component integrated devices can tolerate only limited differential voltages across their junctions. Commonly the voltage which can be tolerated across the junctions is on the order of 2.5 Volts.
In the Illustration of
During the operation of input output circuit 404. in an output mode (when pad 309 is in an output driving mode), wells 400 and 402 are coupled to VDDO. When the pad 309 is in an input mode, the well voltage depends upon the pad voltage. In the output enable mode Vwell=VDDO.
When input output circuit 404 is in an input mode (when pad 309 is in an input mode), Vwell depends on both the input (Pad) voltage VPAD and VDDO. If VPAD is less than VDDO when input output circuit 404 in the input mode then Vwell=VDDO. If VPAD is greater than VDDO then Vwell=VPAD. A graph of this relationship is illustrated in
When I/O circuitry 600 is in the input mode, first bias circuit 407 ties gate 403 of device 301 to VDDO. In the output mode device 301 is controlled by an input from first bias circuit 407 according to whether a high or low value is being output on the pad 309.
In the input mode second bias circuit 405 provides gate voltage VGp1 to the gate of output device 303. The gate voltage VGp1 provided to the gate of output device 303 varies from an intermediate power supply voltage, such as VDDC being equal to 1.2 volts, and the pad voltage presented to the circuit at input output pad 309. Such biasing prevents device 303 from being damaged due to a voltage potential across its junctions.
To summarize the operation of the circuit of
When the circuit 600 is in not in output mode, that is in the tri-state or input mode then upper PMOS device 301 and lower NMOS device 307 are turned off and devices 303 and 305 are turned on to divide the voltages of the output circuit.
The gate voltage of the upper NMOS device 305 is controlled by third bias circuit 409. Third bias circuit 409, when in an input or tristate mode, will increase the base voltage when the pad voltage increases beyond a certain threshold, for example VDDP equal to 2.5 Volts.
Fourth bias circuit 411 works in a similar fashion to first bias circuit 407. Both bias circuits 407 and 411 work in a digital mode, either providing a first or second voltage depending on the required I/O pad 309 output voltage. In a first mode of operation first bias circuit 407 switches between a first voltage VDDO and a second lower voltage VDDC. Gate bias circuit 411 switches between providing VDDP and ground potential to the gate of device 307.
One facet of the I/O system comprising devices 301, 303, 305 and 307 is that any number of such devices may be added in parallel, in order to provide any level of drive signals needed.
As an example, assume that VDDO is initially zero volts. Zero volts at the gate of device 1209 turns it on. In such case point 1211 charges to a potential close to the pad voltage, since device 1213 is off. Point 1211 is coupled to the gate of device 1214 thereby turning device 1214 off.
Since VDDO is zero volts, PMOS device 1219 turns on, which leads the gate of device 1207 being coupled to Bias_Mid. This leads to coupling the pad voltage, minus the threshold voltage of devices 1201, 1203, 1205 and 1207 to Bias_Mid. When VDDO is low, device 1215 provides a current leakage path for Bias_Mid to VDDC or VDDP. When VDDO is low, string 1217 turns on and the pad voltage is coupled to Bias_Mid. Devices 1220, 1221, 1223 and 1225 act as protection for device 1209 in the instance where the VPAD is high and VDDO is low.
When VDDO is high, point 1211 is tied to Bias_Mid because device 1213 turns on. When VDDO is high, device 1219 is turned off and device 1213 is turned on, thus raising the potential at the base of device 1207 to VPAD, thereby turning device 1207 off. Also device 1215 turns off when VDDO is high.
Similarly device 1301 is coupled between the pad and P_Gate, the gate of PMOS device 303 shown in
Also, when transient voltages appear, the voltage VGp1 on PMOS 207 gate changes momentarily due to the gate to drain overlap capicitance (Cgdp) of the driver PMOS. A capacitance (Cgp) is placed at the PMOS 207 gate node such that the transient voltage at the pad (V_pad,transient) gets divided between Cgdp and Cgp depending on the ratio of the capacitances which gives the additional transient voltage on PMOS 207 gate (VGp1+transient):
When the I/O pad 309 is in an output enabled mode (i.e. OE is high) the maximum pad voltage is VDDP. VGp1 at the gate of PMOS device 303 is coupled to VDDC through NMOS transistors 1101 and 1801 and accordingly PMOS device 303 is turned on. Block 901 generates an output Bias_1 voltage of VDDC and accordingly PMOS device 907 is turned on, the steady state voltage of Bias_Mid is VDDP and PMOS device 905 is turned off.
When the I/O pad 309 is output disabled (i.e. OE is low) and the pad voltage is below a predetermined value, then VGp1 at the gate of PMOS 303 is floating if the pad voltage is below VDDO. Block 901 generates an output Bias_1 voltage of VDDC and accordingly PMOS device 907 is turned on, the steady value of Bias_Mid voltage is VDDP, and PMOS device 905 is turned-off in this condition.
When the I/O pad 309 is output disabled (i.e. OE is low) and the pad voltage is above a predetermined value, then block 901 generates an output Bias_1 voltage of VDDO and accordingly PMOS device 907 is turned-off, PMOS device 905 is turned on, and the steady state value of Bias_Mid is between (VDDO−VTP) as a minimum value and (VDDP+Vt) as a maximum value, where VTP, and Vt are offset voltages due to the turn on threshold voltages of transistors 905 and 909 b respectively. VGp1, at the gate of PMOS device 303 is coupled to the pad voltage if the pad voltage is greater than VDDO.
Capacitors Cbm and Cgp in
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Greenberg fall preview: This season, Rauschenberg, Miro and Rembrandt
The fall season is the busiest time of the year; school begins, the leaves turn and art in all its forms competes for our attention. This year is no exception. The next months will see art exhibitions of the giants from the golden age Dutch and Flemish artists of the 17th century to those of the 20th. And while modern painting was moving off the walls and out of the frame, a mechanical object called the camera was changing everything we thought we knew about the visible world and we'll see what that looks like.
"Small Treasures: Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals, and Their Contemporaries," is the first exhibition to focus exclusively on small-format 17th-century Dutch and Flemish figure paintings. Drawn primarily from public and private collections in the United States, it is a show the N.C. Museum of Art labels "small miracles in paint."
At the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University there will be 34 original works by American Robert Rauschenberg (1925-2008) and overlapping that will be an exhibition of paintings by Spaniard Joan Miro (1893-1983) from the last 20 years of his life. Rauschenberg pre-dated pop art and was partially responsible for what became its vocabulary. Miro spanned surrealism and abstract expressionism; he was a student of one and an important influence on the other.
Shadowing 19th and 20th century art and taking on its own identity in the 21st is photography which will be explored at the Ackland Art Museum at UNC Chapel Hill. The museum holds the leading collection of photography in North Carolina with approximately 2,000 images representing the entire history of the art form. In the last 10 years the Ackland has acquired nearly 500 photographs and 150 of them will be in the exhibition.
The galleries and alternate spaces continue to show current work by local and international artists. The Triangle is not the boondocks; it is an art destination.
North Carolina Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh
"Line, Touch, Trace," Aug. 30, 2014–Mar. 8, 2015
"Private Eye: Allen G. Thomas Jr. Photography Collection," Sept. 13 –Mar. 22, 2015
"Small Treasures: Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals, and Their Contemporaries," Oct. 11–Jan. 4, 2015
Nasher Museum at Duke University, 2001 Campus Drive, Durham
"Rauschenberg: Collecting & Connecting," Aug. 28 – Jan. 11, 2015
"Miro: The Experience of Seeing," Sept. 14 – Feb. 22, 2015
North Carolina Central University Art Museum, 1801 Fayetteville St. (accessible from Lawson Street, across from the Farrison-Newton Communications Building), Durham
'Isabel Chicquor Tribute Exhibition," Sept.6—October 25
"75th Anniversary Alumni Exhibition," (Joint celebration of NCCU's Art Department and Art Museum.), Nov. 2—Dec. 12.
Ackland Art Museum, South Columbia Street just south of the Franklin Street intersection, Chapel Hill
"PhotoVision: Selections from a Decade of Collecting," Sept.19-Jan. 4, 2015
Center for Documentary Studies, 1317 W. Pettigrew St., Duke University, Durham.
"Hard Art, DC 1979: Photographer Lucian Perkins' iconic images of the underground punk scene in Washington, D.C., ca. 1979," through Oct. 11.
"City Under One Roof: photographer/writer Jen Kinney's 2013 Lange-Taylor Prizewinning project on Whittier, Alaska," Oct. 27–Jan. 24, 2015.
Durham Art Guild, 120 Morris St., Durham Arts Council building
"60th Annual Juried Exhibition," Aug. 28 – Sept. 27.
"Pixel and Grain: Regional Photography Exhibition," Oct. 2-Nov. 1
Durham Arts Council, 120 Morris St., Durham
"Debra Wuliger: Coffee Talk," Ella Fountain Pratt Gallery, July 14 – Dec. 27.
"Judy Keene: Resonant Abstraction," In the Pre-Function Corridor of the Durham Convention Center, through Oct. 12.
"Fiber Architecture: Buildings in Stiches by Susan Lenz," (Allenton Gallery),
"Mayan Rites by Robert Studzinski," (Semans Gallery), Sept. 12 – Nov. 1.
"When Particles Collide by Ron Fondaw," (Durham Convention Center),
Oct. 15 – April 15, 2015
"Robert Dunning: Mixed Media Prints," (Allenton Gallery)
"Industrial Landscape by Margaret Noel," (Semans Gallery), Nov. 7 – Dec. 27.
Horace Williams House, 610 E. Rosemary St., Chapel Hill
"John Beerman: Painting," Sept. 7-Sept. 28.
"Celia Johnson: Painting," Oct. 5-Oct.26.
"Susan McLaurin: Collage; Carol Owen: Small Constructions," Nov. 2-Nov. 26.
The Carrack Modern Art, 111 W. Parrish St., Durham
"Superfluous Fowl: Anna Wallace," Sept. 1- Sept. 14.
"Southern: Queer identified artists finding home and family in the South," Sept. 15-Sept. 29.
"Loaded Objects," Oct. 13-Oct. 26.
"Peter Anderson and Maready Evergreen," Oct. 27- Nov. 9.
"Ljamal Walton," Nov. 10-Nov. 23.
"Nora Weatherby and Jim Adams," Dec. 1-Dec. 7.
Craven Allen Gallery, 1106 ½ Broad St., Durham
"Jim Lux: Agreements: New Pit-fired Pottery; Elizabeth Matheson: Photographs of Cuba," Sept. 20-Oct. 23rd
"Craven Allen Artists Holiday Show," Nov. 22 – Jan. 3, 2015.
Pleiades Gallery, 109 E. Chapel Hill St., Durham
"re:Scale,"Aug. 26 – Oct. 4
"Turvy-Topsy," Oct. 7 – Nov. 15
"Reflect," Nov. 18 – Jan. 3.
Through This Lens, 303 E. Chapel Hill St., Durham
"Bernard Herman: Selected Works," through September 13, 2014
"Christer Berg: People With Purpose," Sept. 19-Oct. 11.
"Frank Lee Craig;" "Wojtek Wojdynski: - Platinum/Palladium prints of Artists ;
"Pinhole Photography Exhibiton: Lensless photography from around the world,"
Oct. 18-Nov. 15.
"Members Exhibition," Nov. 21-Dec. 27.
Frank, 109 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill
"Rubbish 2 Runway: A Trashion show and exhibition featuring dresses made entirely of recycled materials," Sept. 9 – Oct 5.
Featured Artist: Alan Dehmer (photography)
"FRANK in Focus: Engaging Light," Oct. 7 – Nov 9.
"Local Clay: Pottery spotlight featuring FRANK ceramic artists", Oct.7-Nov. 9.
Featured Artist: John Rosenthal (photography)
"Orange County Artists Guild Annual Studio Tour Exhibit," Oct. 28-Nov. 9.
"Penland Area Glass Artists", Nov 11-Dec. 31.
Featured Artist: Bill McAllister (photography)
Featured Artist: Jim Oleson (woodworker)
Eno Gallery, 100 S. Churton St., Hillsborough
"The Windows View: an Invitational group exhibition," Aug.29-Oct. 25.
"Mike Hoyt: Paintings," Oct.30-Nov. 23.
"Group Exhibition Gallery Artists," Nov. 28-Dec. 31.
Hillsborough Gallery of Arts, 121 N. Churton St., Hillsborough
"Alice Levinson, Pringle Teetor," Aug 25 - Sept 21
"Discoveries: Lolette Guthrie, Mark Kinsella, Michele Yellin," Sep 22 - Oct 26
"OCAG Preview Show: Artists on Orange County Studio Tour", Oct 27 - Nov 19.
"The Art of Giving: Group Holiday Show," Nov 10 - Jan 11, 2015
Blue Greenberg's column appears each week in Entertainment and More. She can be reached at email@example.com or by writing her in c/o The Herald-Sun, 2828 Pickett Road, Durham, NC 27705.


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Markets :: Basic Chemicals :: Inorganic Chemicals :: Fertilizers
Sasol to Sell Five Fertilizer Blending Plants in South Africa
5:50 AM MDT | September 7, 2010 | Natasha Alperowicz
Sasol Nitro, a division of Sasol Chemical Industries, plans to divest five fertilizer blending plants in South Africa as part of a settlement agreed with the Competition Commission of South Africa in July of this year. Sasol says the divestment will address the commission's concerns regarding Sasol Nitro's position in nitrogen fertilizers. The company will sell the Bellville, Durban, Kimberley, Potchefstroom and Endicott blending plants before August 2011. Sasol Nitro says it intends to increase its focus on upstream activities, supported by investments in...
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Full detailed profile on Chris Warren Jr. playing Jimmy Ramirez on The Bold and the Beautiful Daytime Soap Opera.
Chris Warren Jr. (CBS)
Chris Warren Jr.
Birthday: 1990-01-15
Chris Warren Jr. portrays Jimmy Ramirez on The Bold and the Beautiful. He joined the cast of The Bold and the Beautiful in March 2004. His other credits include Becker, Any Day Now and the Disney Channel Movie High School Musical.
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The Bernie Mac Show - Jason (2006)
High School Musical - Zeke Baylor (2006)
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Shoe Shine Boys - Witness (2000)


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Tax Refund Loans—Immediate Gratification at a Steep Price
As tax season speeds into high gear, put the brakes on "fast refunds" that come in the form of refund anticipation loans, or RALs. It's a costly option millions of taxpayers take, often without realizing just how expensive—and probably unnecessary—it really is. According to the National Consumer Law Center and Consumer Federation of America, consumers paid an estimated $386 million in RAL fees in 2010. This publication discusses RALs and describes alternatives that are cheaper, less risky and just plain better money management.
How RALs Work (Against You)
With a RAL, you are effectively paying to borrow your own money. RALs are short-term bank loans—usually with terms of only 7 to 14 days—that are secured by your expected refund. Taxpayers who take out RALs receive cash, typically right away, in the amount of their anticipated refund—minus fees. In exchange, they agree to pay an interest rate that could, when expressed as an annual percentage rate (APR), add up to a triple-digit rate. In most cases, the lender then sets up an account that is used solely to receive the taxpayer's IRS refund. When the refund arrives, it is used to pay off the loan.
Like all loans, RALs come with risk, including an increased debt burden if your refund is denied, delayed or lower than expected. As costly as RALs can be in the short-term, they can be devastatingly expensive over the long-term should anything go wrong with your refund, piling up significant debt over time and hurting your credit score.
The High Cost of RALs
RALs come with a number of fees, which may include:
- A loan application fee that can be as high as $100;
- A tax preparation fee, usually starting at around $40;
- A check processing fee (around $20);
- A "Peace of Mind" guarantee from your tax preparer that you will get the refund cited on your tax form, which can cost you an additional $100 or more.
- A refund account fee, for services involved in setting up a temporary account into which the taxpayer's refund is later deposited to repay the RAL. Expect to be charged a minimum of $30, but it could be higher. This fee generally is paid by those who have no bank account of their own.
In addition to fees, RALs come with high rates of interest—generally starting at 36 percent and going up from there. With fees included, effective APRs can exceed 700 percent. Indeed, costs are so high that some payday lenders are actually advertising that their products are a bargain compared to RALs.
Bottom line: Expect to pay a minimum of $200 on a $2000 tax refund that may come to you in as little as 10 days.
|RALs and Military Personnel
In 2006, Congress enacted the Military Lending Act to protect active duty servicemembers from predatory lending practices. The law prohibits RAL lenders from charging more than 36 percent APR—including interest and fees—on loans made to servicemembers. While the cap has resulted in a decline in RAL marketing to servicemembers, it has not eliminated it.
Members of the military are encouraged to take advantage of tax preparation assistance that is generally offered free of charge on or near their installation. Servicemembers and their families can also take advantage of financial and debt management assistance, which is offered through the military's network of family support centers.
Running Into RALs
Businesses that prepare and file tax returns are the place most consumers run into these "instant refunds." But they aren't the only place where you may be pitched to take out a RAL. Car dealerships, boat showrooms, and furniture and electronics stores are among the many businesses that offer these loans, enticing you to apply your expected tax refund toward the purchase the products sold at these establishments.
Resist the urge. If you must buy on credit, there are almost always less expensive ways to pay for a car, boat, bed or big screen TV.
Better Alternatives
The good news is that there are better, less expensive and more prudent alternatives to RALs.
- Wait for Uncle Sam—The best move is to be patient and have the IRS send your tax refund free of charge. If you e-file and select the option to have your refund directly deposited, the IRS refund cycle can be as short as 8 days. Patience is a virtue—and makes sound financial sense. In many cases, waiting only a few days or weeks can save hundreds of dollars.
- Use Direct Deposit—Open a checking or savings account, so your refund can be directly deposited. This service is generally free at most banks and credit unions. Without an account, you may be charged additional fees to cash a paper tax refund check, even though the payor is the U.S. Treasury, a department of the federal government.
- Get Help for Free—Take advantage of free tax preparation programs offered by the IRS. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income (generally $52,000 and below) taxpayers who cannot prepare their own tax returns. The Armed Forces Tax Council coordinates VITA centers on military installations worldwide, providing free tax advice and preparation to servicemembers and their families. Other consumers can locate the nearest VITA site by calling (800) 829-1040. In addition, the IRS's The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program provides free tax help to people age 60 and older.
Be a smart consumer. Don't take a bite out of your tax refund by taking out a RAL.


text: Video Interview: J Torres, Comics Writer Kurt Sasso August 24, 2014 Interviews, Video Interview J Torres, writer of Teen Titans and newest collaboration True Patriot talks with us at Super Summer Comic Con 2014. He talks about his inspirations, the next generation of comic creators, success and failures and what comics still inspire kids today. Thanks to our friends at Two Geeks Talking for letting us share this content. Two Geeks Talking is a partner in Crossroads Alpha along with Comics Bulletin. Share this:EmailPrintFacebookRedditTwitterGoogleTumblrPinterestPocket Related


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The Bachelorette
Bachelorette 2013: Who Went Home on Episode 4 in Atlantic City?
You know how sometimes you go on really great dates where you can't imagine they'll ever end and you want to be in them forever? Well, none of those happened on tonight's episode of The Bachelorette Season 9, Episode 4. On tonight's show, Desiree Hartsock took her 13 remaining men to Atlantic City (yeah, you read that right) for a couple of 1-on-1s, a group date full of Speedos, and two dramatic exits (psych).
While on her 1-on-1 with Brad McKinzie, Des chatted with the single father about... taffy? We're not really sure, since the two barely talked about anything non-food related. When Des talked about Brad, she said she liked that he was "responsible" but, um, that's pretty much where it ended. And although she must've admired his bone structure the way the at home audience was, she eventually sent him home. But not before she made him scale an entire lighthouse worth of stairs (not exaggerating). We're hoping editing had a part in it, but it seemed like Des made him walk to the top, just to tell him it was over. Perhaps his climbing style wasn't up to her standards. #dealbreaker.
Later on, Des and James went on a 1-on-1, but though he revealed he cheated on his ex-girlfriend, she found his honesty and remorse charming and decided to keep him. Also on the fence this episode? Bryden Vukasin, who spilled that he wasn't sure he was that into Des. But when it came time to the Rose Ceremony, it was Cali boy Zack Kalter who missed out on the final rose. It's not really a surprise, considering that Zack has had less screen time than Paulie the bodyguard who ousted Brian Jarosinski on last week's episode, but we're pretty bummed he's gone, considering the way he wears a swimsuit.
Are you surprised Brad and Zack left? Wanna know who leaves next week in Germany? We've got it all for ya.


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An apparatus and method for continuous, passive detection and measurement of tensile and compressional strain in a structure utilizing a shielded optic fiber, the optic fiber having one or more Bragg gratings thereon, the gratings and shield being disposed in a curved path on the structure and a baseline response for the grating is made using an optical source and detector. Changes in tensile or compressional forces on the structure will result in changes in the curve of the grating, resulting in a frequency shift for the returned light.
1. A transducer for passively monitoring displacement forces in a structure comprising:
a) A source for providing a broadband or tunable narrow-band optical signal;
b) An optical detection unit; and
c) An optical fiber having one or more gratings thereon axially disposed to and in close proximity to a protective sheath of circular or noncircular cross section, said fiber grating and sheath characterized by one or more bends, causing a radial distortion in said grating, wherein said protective sheath is made of material sufficiently flexible to bend upon subjection to displacement forces, and wherein bending causes said grated fiber(s) to follow the shape of the protective sheath, the detection unit thereby measuring a change in frequency of a returned signal as a function of a change in radial distortion of the gratings.
2. The transducer of
3. The transducer of
4. The transducer of
5. The transducer of
6. The transducer of
7. The transducer of
8. The transducer of
9. The transducer of
10. The transducer of
11. The transducer of
12. The transducer of
13. A method for continuously, passively detecting and measuring displacement (compaction) of a structure which includes the following elements:
a) Attaching to the structure to be monitored a protective sheath of circular or noncircular cross section and having axially disposed in close proximity thereto, and positioned to move therewith, an optical fiber(s) having one or more gratings thereon at selected points, said protective sheath and grating being characterized by one or more bends, said bend introducing radial distortion in said grating, wherein said protective sheath is made of material sufficiently flexible to displace upon subjection to displacement forces, and bending causes said grated fiber(s) to follow the shape of the protective sheath; and
b) Coupling a light source and measuring wavelength response of the grating to said light source;
c) Wherein subjecting the bent grated fibers to displacement forces causes a change in the radial distortion of said grating and the wavelength response is altered in a predictable way, and
d) Comparing said wavelength response with a calibration curve and estimating the magnitude of displacement.
14. The method of
15. The method of
16. The method of
17. The method of
18. The method of
19. The method of
20. The method of
Δλ=the change in width of wavelength spectrum
neff=the effective index of refraction of fiber
T=the thickness of the fiber grating
Λ=the separation or spacing between grating lines=π(R+T/2)θ
R=the radius of curvature of fiber bend.
21. The method of
22. The method of
23. The method of
24. The method of
25. The method of
26. The method of
27. The method of
28. The method of
This invention is related to well monitoring. More particularly it is related to the detection and measurement of compressional strains, or any large displacement, in casing and well completions. Still more particularly, it is related to a new application for fiber optic sensors comprising attaching passive, uniquely configured, fiber optic sensors, enclosed in a protective sheath, to the inner or outer wall of a well casing to measure its deformation and warn of impending problems or failures. The invention utilizes fiber Bragg gratings subjected to bending which are characterized by a measurable broadening of the reflected frequency peak and, when subjected to compression forces, deform on a scale which would be more expected for a large structure such as a well. In another embodiment of the invention, a loop configuration, the fiber Bragg gratings may exhibit a measurable narrowing of the reflected frequency with compaction forces.
Wells in compactable sediments (or tectonically active areas) are subject to deformation over the productive life of the field. The result is the catastrophic loss of producing zones up to and including the loss of a whole well. The problem is exacerbated by the increasingly rapid off-take rates and the completion of multiple zones in a single well. The observable phenomenon is that at first a well casing will bend or begin to buckle, frequently at casing joints, or interfaces in the formation. As the compaction continues, the movement results in a significant misalignment of the well axis. The result can be the complete loss of the well investment resulting in, not only deferred and/or lost production, but even the replacement cost of a well, which is extremely expensive, particularly in deep water. The ability to detect early bending would warn of later buckle or collapse and allow for changes in production practices and/or remedial action. Monitoring compaction in-situ becomes a complex problem. It can be a billion-dollar issue in some highly compressible formations, as wells and sometimes entire fields are put at risk.
The art is filled with hybrid combinations of radioactive tagging and casing monitoring technologies (mechanical, EM, acoustic or video televiewers). The big problem is that all the solutions are intermittent and require human intervention to execute the process.
One method of monitoring compaction known in the art is to apply radioactive tags to the casing and/or shooting radioactive bullets into the formation. This method requires logging tools to be run in the well periodically to monitor relative movement. The well is shut in and there is always a risk to the well any time a tool is run in that it might not come back out. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,753,813 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,812.
It is known in the art to use fiber optics to measure temperature, pressure, flow, and acoustics. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,450,037; 6,363,089; 6,354,147; 6,346,702; and 6,252,656. (CiDRA).
It is known in the art to run fiber optic cable for the measurement of strain, however this is a more subtle measurement than compaction. The amount of strain the fiber can withstand before breaking is usually on the order of one percent. The strain that compacting wells undergo is at least several percent. In compaction applications casing may undergo displacements or deformations that locally are much greater than 10%. Furthermore, the strains on the well are not extensional, but are compressional. Trying to compress a fiber is literally like trying to compress a string. It will buckle unless it is very rigidly held. Also, if it is held rigidly and strained the amount that the well would strain under compaction forces, it would crush and fracture the fiber. Such deformations would easily break fibers or elements that are constrained to the casing and caused to strain with the casing. The present inventors have observed that breaking might be avoided with a properly designed, bent shape or loop shaped sensor.
Although several papers have reported on field use of a variety of fiber optic microbend sensors, most have not found wide use in practice (other than for alarm mode or tactile sensing) due to problems associated with erratic response, tolerances of the deformers, mechanical fatiguing of the fiber, and a limited quantitative understanding of the mode problems and radiation loss associated with the use of highly multimode fiber. All such patents relate to microbending optical fiber rather than to macrobending or non-linear buckling. The significant advantage of the latter over the former relates to the predictability and reproducibility, which are difficult at best in microbending, but readily achievable in macro-bending, which employs non-linear buckling. This feature is especially significant in sensors used for making precise measurements over a wide dynamic range.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,257 discloses a fiber optic bending, and positioning sensor comprising a fiber optic guide having a light emission surface extending in a thin band on a side of the fiber for at least part of its length, said light emission surface covered by a coating of light absorbent material. The primary applications are in the fields of sports medicine and biometrics. In addition, this patent uses a polymer fiber. Such a sensor would not be suitable for well applications, because: 1) with plastic there is a higher intrinsic loss of light; 2) distances in wells are closer to kilometers than meters; 3) plastic is not suitable for the higher temperatures typical in wells, because at about 150� F. degradation would set in and temperatures near 200� F. would cause failure; 4) the sensor of '257 depends upon attenuation, rather than scattering.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,246 discloses an assembly which allows use of fiber optic displacement sensors in a high-temperature environment comprising a rod attached to an underlying surface at one point and guided to move in a selected direction of measurement, wherein the distance between a selected movable location on the rod and a point fixed on the surface is measured using a bent optical fiber having light loss characteristics dependent on that distance.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,818,982 discloses fiber optic sensors wherein the shape of a length of fiber is changed under carefully controlled boundary conditions, providing a reproducible macrobending-induced loss which can be implemented in a variety of highly precise and a wide range of sensor applications.
One can observe that measurement of bend diameter in untreated fiber does not provide the signal to noise and dynamic range in measurement that would make it practical for downhole applications for monitoring compaction. Light lost at each bend adds up quickly and soon results in a signal that is too low to measure properly.
Fiber Bragg gratings are known in the art and are made by laterally exposing the core of a single-mode fiber to a periodic pattern of intense UV light. This creates areas of increased refractive index within the fiber. The fixed index modulation is referred to as a grating. All reflected light signals combine coherently to one large reflection at one wavelength when the grating period is equal to half the input wavelength. Other wavelengths of light are for all intents and purposes transparent. So, light moves through the grating with negligible attenuation or signal variation. Only the Bragg wavelength is affected. Light of the Bragg wavelength is strongly backreflected. Being able to preset and maintain the grating wavelength is what makes fiber Bragg gratings so useful. See "Fiber Bragg Grating" 3M US Online, 27 Nov. 2000.
Conventional fiber Bragg gratings would not be suitable for monitoring compaction in a well casing, because typically in a passive sensing system the reflected wavelength is changed as the gratings are stretched. Fibers or elements that are constrained to the casing and stretched would break under forces of the magnitude of compaction.
In an article titled, "Characteristics of short-period blazed fiber Bragg gratings for use as macro-bending sensors", APPLIED OPTICS, 41, 631-636 (2002), Baek, S., et al, discuss the characteristics of short-period blazed fiber Bragg gratings for use as macro-bending sensors and that the sensors are able to detect macro-bending with the transmitted power variation of the first side mode in the blazed fiber Bragg grating. This article does not discuss applications.
In a paper titled, "Long-Period Fiber Grating Bending Sensors in Laminated Composite Structures", SPIE Conference on Sensory Phenomena and Measurement Instrumentation for Smart Structures and Materials, March 1998, San Diego, Calif., SPIE Vol. 3330, 284-292, Du, W., et al, present the experimental result of the effect of bending an over-written long-period fiber grating (LPG) on the transmitted power spectrum and total transmitted power of a light-emitting diode (LED). It was found that the total transmitted power through the LPG decreases linearly with bend curvature within the range from 0 to about 0.001/mm. The error for determining the bend curvature due to the actual non-linearity of the sensor is estimated to be +/−2�10−5/mm. This work appears to use a highly linear attenuation of the light as a function of very slight bend.
In a paper titled, "Ultrastrong Fiber Gratings and Their Applications", SPIE Conference Phototonics East "Optical Fiber Reliability and Testing", 3848-26, Sep. 20, 1999, Starodubov, D. S., et al, discuss a method of fabricating gratings for sensors through the polymer coating, wherein the fiber surface is never exposed to the environment, which makes the resulting grating predictably strong.
Nothing has been found in the art that suggests bending a fiber Bragg grating, rather than stretching, to produce a measurement transducer for obtaining information on well and field integrity.
It would be enormously valuable in the art if there were a passive method of continually monitoring wells in real-time without physical intervention. It would constitute a great advance if it were possible to continually obtain precision, repeatable measurements. At any given time operators could be aware of well problems, particularly compaction, using highly reliable fiber gauges that should last the life of the well. It would be extremely valuable if there were also a method of passively monitoring in real-time to obtain data on compaction, 4D seismic, and information for geomechanical modeling.
In accordance with the foregoing the present invention comprises a unique method of configuring fiber Bragg sensors to deform on the scale that could measure large displacements and strains in a well. Reflection amplitude is changed and frequency response is broadened or narrowed predictably. This is made possible by using one or more of a "snake" shaped sensor, a "loop" shaped sensor, and/or a "helical" sensor with bent fiber Bragg gratings essentially positioned in the bends of these sensors, all enclosed in a protective sheath, in a manner whereby response changes caused by displacement forces correspond with the desired property, such as compaction.
The invention is also an apparatus, system, and method for detecting and measuring compressional strains in a well in real-time without physical intervention. The invention is a fiber gauge system incorporated into a structure to be monitored; a passive sensor constantly activated, provides monitoring of compaction, and permits awareness of well problems without having to physically intervene. The system may be either continuously monitored or monitored periodically without entering the well or altering the well in any way. The system comprises one or more fiber Bragg gratings integrated into a fiber optic cable installed in the structure to be monitored, wherein the gratings are bent to provide bandwidth that will alter predictably. In the case of "snake" or "S" shaped sensors, further compression of said structure from compaction results in increases in said bandwidth that can be predicted and calibrated to provide data on compaction. See
With the method of the present invention it is also possible to measure shape and magnitude of deformation in addition to strain.
The method for continuously, passively detecting and measuring compressional strains in real time, without physical intervention, comprises:
The fiber grating may be axially disposed but not attached within the sheath or it may be on the outside and protected by, for example, snapping on the sheath, embedding in the sheath, or being sandwiched between protective layers.
The invention is also a transducer for passively monitoring displacement and strain forces in a structure, comprising:
The protective sheath may be tubular or it may have a noncircular cross section, as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. As mentioned above, the grated fiber may also be protected by the sheath by embedding, sandwiching, etc.
The present invention is suitable for all deepwater and subsea wells. It is also useful for offshore wells and all onshore wells. Even on a platform with easy accessibility, permanent monitoring is ideally suited and should be cheaper than occasional intervention. It is also conceivable that the invention would be suitable for use in wells in tectonically active areas. The invention could also be used in any other situation where pipes expand and contract, or bend, such as, for example, refineries, gas plants, and pipelines. Those skilled in the art will see that the invention is applicable to detecting any movement and could thus be used for other displacement sensing, applying the same principles to different length scales. The method can also be used to obtain data for other types of geomechanical modeling, including, for example dams or other structures.
The present invention is a new concept in fiber optic transducer technology for application in wells using bending of fiber Bragg gratings rather than fiber strain. The invention provides compression or large scale tensile monitoring that responds to much larger well strains or movements than those that can be measured with conventional fibers without breaking the fibers. Instead of stretching a fiber, the invention provides bending of fiber Bragg gratings to change amplitude reflection and broaden frequency. In addition, the invention removes the requirement for bonding to substrate, removes present temperature limitations, and potentially has a very high dynamic range.
It is known that an interference pattern can be written on the core of fiber Bragg gratings with UV lasers. When the light is coupled into the fiber, a certain wavelength of light is reflected back through the fiber. The reflected wavelength depends on the spacing of the "written in" grating pattern. In typical use, as the grating is stretched the reflected wavelength changes. As mentioned above, conventional use of fiber Bragg gratings would not be suitable downhole with the magnitude of changes characteristic of compaction.
One of the parameters that designers of fiber gratings have to work with is the tilt angle of the grating fringes in the core of the fiber. As tilt angle increases, the resonance wavelength shifts to longer wavelengths, because the grating period becomes effectively longer with increasing tilt angle. Further, the main-mode dip in transmission becomes shallower with a larger tilt angle, but the transmission dips of the side modes become deeper in spite of the constant UV exposure time, which results from the reduction in effective fringe visibility with the tilt angle.
The present invention utilizes macro-bending to achieve improved sensitivity in a dynamic range and affords resolution in compaction monitoring. When the Bragg grating sensor 2 is bent, the spacing of the fiber Bragg grating 14 varies across the fiber 12 and the incident ray experiences a range of spacings Λ (See
Δλ=increase in width of wavelength spectrum
neff=effective index of refraction of fiber
T=thickness of the fiber Bragg grating
Λ=separation or spacing between grating lines=π(R+T/2)θ
R=radius of curvature of fiber bend
In the present invention we have identified several embodiments for utilizing these bent fiber Bragg gratings in a casing or well structure. In one embodiment,
In another embodiment, shown in
ΔS=change in optical path length across bent fiber
T=core thickness of the fiber Bragg grating
Λ=separation or spacing between grating lines=π(R+T/2)θ
R=radius of curvature of fiber bend
S1=inner arc length of fiber core at bend
S1=value of π Rθ
S2=outer arc length of fiber core at bend
S2=value of π(R+T)θ
resulting in a broadening of the spectrum given by:
With this information it is possible to calibrate and predict increased or decreased bandwidth, depending on the zero point, reflected as compaction strain causes bending of the fiber Bragg grating.
The grating(s) can be written on the fiber in a length of fiber optic cable before the fiber is placed in a protective sheath and the assembly can be bent before installation on a well. Alternatively, short pieces of bent fiber gratings might be spliced into longer fibers before they are installed in a protective sheath and then installed on the well.
The protective sheath in which the fiber is enclosed can be constructed of a variety of materials that are flexible enough to displace when subjected to strain and compaction forces, but also able to accommodate temperature and other conditions encountered. Suitable materials include metals, polymers, elastomeric material, composite material, and woven material. Suitable metals would include, but not limited to steel. Woven materials may include, but not be limited to woven textile and netting.
When situated within the protective sheath the fiber should not need to be attached to the protective sheath, however, optionally the fiber may be surrounded by a viscous liquid or a gas. Suitable viscous liquids would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Suitable gases would include, for example, but not be limited to helium and dry nitrogen gas. Hydrogen would not be used.
Also within the scope of the present invention, the grated fiber could be in close proximity to the protective sheath but snapped onto, embedded within, or sandwiched between protective layers.
The bent fiber Bragg grating displacement and strain detection system includes a source for providing a broadband or tunable narrow-band optical signal, a coupler, at least one, preferably a plurality of bent fiber Bragg gratings, and an optical detection unit. A tunable narrow-band optical signal could be provided, for example, by a fiber tunable laser.
The source for providing a broadband includes a narrow source swept over a broad band, and provides a broadband optical signal via a coupler to the fiber Bragg gratings. Broadband sources are known in the art and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type thereof.
The bent fiber Bragg gratings respond to the source providing a broadband or tunable narrow-band optical signal, and further respond to a physical parameter, such as, for example, compaction strain, for providing a fiber Bragg grating optical signal containing information about the parameter via the coupler to the optical detection unit. The information communicated by the fiber Bragg grating optical signal is in the form of the peak associated with each fiber Bragg grating wavelength.
The fiber Bragg gratings bent to produce the passive sensors of the present invention are known in the art and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type thereof.
The optical detection unit responds to the fiber Bragg grating optical signal, performs an optical-to-electrical signal conversion, and provides an optical detection unit signal. Optical detection units are known in the art and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type thereof.
With the method of the present invention it is also possible to measure shape and magnitude of deformation in addition to strain and bending. This can be accomplished by adding multiple elements of either configuration (See
The following example will serve to illustrate the invention disclosed herein. The example is intended only as a means of illustration and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way. Those skilled in the art will recognize many variations that may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosed invention.
In the Example a fiber laser, FineTune™, commercially available from Bragg Photonics, was subjected to bending. The specifications of the fiber laser were as follows:
In this fiber the gratings were perpendicular to the fiber axis and rotation of the fiber did not affect results. With respect to polarization of light and bend there was complete axiosymetry around the fiber. For the bent Bragg grating fibers the equation, which describes the Delta Lamda (change in wavelength), at any given radius of curvature (R) is:
Δλ=increase in width of wavelength spectrum
neff=effective index of refraction of fiber
T=thickness of the fiber Bragg grating
Λ=separation or spacing between grating lines=π(R+T/2)θ
R=radius of curvature of fiber bend
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National Demonstration Projects & State Initiatives
This page hosts information and links related to multi-payer (private and public) demonstration projects and various medical home initiatives across the country that are piloting the medical home model.
State Innovation Models (SIM) Awards for Health Care System Improvements
State Implementation Grants for Systems of Services for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN)
Innovative Evidence Based Models for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN)
Assuring Better Child Health and Development (ABCD)
Catalogue of Federal Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Activities
Centers for Primary Care Practice-Based Research and Learning
Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) Grants
Consortium to Advance Medical Homes for Medicaid and CHIP Participants
In March 2011, fifteen states joined the NASHP 3rd State Consortium to Advance Medical Homes in Medicaid and CHIP, supported by The Commonwealth Fund. Alabama, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington will continue the progress made in the first two Medical Home consortia by engaging each other in learning communities designed to strengthen, sustain and expand current initiatives. NASHP monitors state efforts to advance medical homes for Medicaid and CHIP participants and describes them on their Web site's medical home state map.
Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children
Medicaid-Safety Net Learning Collaborative (2012-2013)
Multi-Payer Advanced Primary Care Practice (MAPCP) Demonstration
All major payers in the states or proposed regions (Medicare, Medicaid, as well as a significant representation of the large private insurers/managed care organizations) will be participating, thereby assuring the availability of sufficient resources to the primary care practice for implementation of the advanced primary care model.
National Asthma Control Initiative (NACI) Demonstration Projects (2012-2013)
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCOI) Pilot Projects Program
The Safety Net Medical Home Initiative
Partnership for Sustainable Health Care
About Half of the States Are Implementing Patient-Centered Medical Homes for their Medicaid Populations
The Commonwealth Fund
Implementing Patient-Centered Medical Home Pilot Projects, Lessons from AF4Q Communities
Initial Lessons from the First National Demonstration Project on Practice Transformation to a Patient-Centered Medical Home.
National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP)
New Opportunities for Integrating Care for Women, Children and Their Families
Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative (PCPCC)
Reducing Disparities at the Practice Site
Side-by-Side Summary of State Medical Home Programs
State Initiatives in Patient-Centered Medical Homes


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Clifton Park/Halfmoon
Blogging on topics for southern Saratoga County
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My Thoughts on the Media 2010 Event
Just some brief thoughts and impressions regarding the Media 2010 Event at the College of St. Rose on March 3: Usually, spending an evening somewhere with words like "forum" and "panel discussion" in the title can mean a real snooze-fest. This was not. There was a buzz about the entire room, "peanut gallery" included. Steve […] [Read More]


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Information about government mortgage loans and mortgage laws
The USA government does not hand out mortgages but they have a few government programs and agencies that work in a way that's related to mortgages. Lenders get most of their profit from points, fees, and various loan charges and therefore they'll make more money if they can make more loans. Lenders will get cash when they sell their mortgages to the secondary market. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are the corporations that buy the largest number of home mortgages. These names are actually nicknames for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and the Federal national Mortgage Association – each corporation is federally chartered and they each require lenders to meet certain requirements in order to be able to sell their loans. The Freddie Mac agency buys first and second mortgages and them sells them to investors in order to create money for lenders to provide new loans. The Fannie Mae corporation is privately owned, and is the biggest provider of financing for mortgages. Fannie Mae purchases first mortgages, sells them, which in turn provides money for lenders to create new loans. The USA government funds a few mortgage programs such as FHA , VA, and FMHA mortgages. VA stands for the Department of Veterans Affairs which helps veterans and their partners buy homes. If you want to qualify for a VA loan you must provide proof of military service, complete a VA form, and have been honorably discharged 2 months or more. The Federal Housing Administration or FHA is insured but not given out by the USA government and provides easy credit qualifications, a down payment and different standards than the usual loans. In order to qualify for this loan you have to have good credit and enough money for the payments. The Federal Farmers Home Administration or FMHA provides mortgages that are financed and insured loans to farmers and people living in rural areas. The government subsidies this type of loan and distributes funds quarterly. To qualify the applicant has to have a low income, and the property has to be less than one acre.


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"I just really enjoyed learning about the depth and complexities that hold up the theory of Homeopathy. I am most passionate about this. I think I am understanding most and am excited to go deeper. I really enjoyed the lesson and hope to expand on my knowledge. I have connected with this course so much more than any other of my Natural Medicine lessons. I know I have more to learn and absorb but I found it so true to how I believe medicine should be." -GJ
"This program provides a wonderful introduction to homeopathic medicine."
"This program taught me the basic knowledge to homeopathic medicine acutely."
"The program provided a solid foundation for acute prescribing."
"The instructors were outstanding."
"The course was well organized, with periodic quizzes, syllabus and excellent notes."
"The class is well designed for someone with no prior knowledge of homeopathic medicine."
"My only complaint about the class was that I wish there was more."
"I thoroughly enjoyed this program."
"I loved the class discussions".
"The teacher's are great. I learned so much from them."
"I can definitely highly recommend this course!"


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Food Media and News
The New Yorker - Covers that Celebrate Food and Dining
Just ran across this online slide show of twenty-one New Yorker covers that celebrate food and dining from the year 1925 to today.
I added the link to both my blogs Fast Food Feminist and Larousse Bites but thought Serious Eaters might also like to watch it.
Talk is closed, but that doesn't mean the conversations have to stop!
Check out this post for a more thorough explanation, and jump onto our Facebook page or our Twitter feed to keep the conversations going!


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View open positions:
We encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.
New employees:
Newly hired members can login in HERE for more information using your Penn State Account or Friends of Penn State account. If you don't have either type of account, please register through fps.psu.edu.


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Official: Nissan GT-R Midnight Opal Edition
Nissan has unveiled a new special edition GT-R which will be limited to just 100 units: the Nissan GT-R Midnight Opal Edition.
The vehicle derives its name from the unique Midnight Opal color scheme applied to its exterior. The colour changes its hue depending on light conditions and viewing angle.
No changes have been made to the powertrain, but Nissan has changed the body of the stock GT-R by using a dry carbon fiber rear spoiler that aids downforce. Furthermore the Midnight Opal Edition is equipped with forged hyper titanium aluminum wheels which helps reduce unsprung mass. To emphasize the car's exclusivity, a golden numbered plaque is added to the engine bay.
Published: July 17, 2013 6:32 pm
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Posts Tagged «sms»
iOS 8.1 brings Apple Pay and SMS handoff to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus October 20, 2014 at 4:46 pm
It's just over a month past the launch of iOS 8, and the first major iteration has just been released for iPhones and iPads. So, what's new in iOS 8.1? Without a doubt, the biggest addition is Apple Pay. Finally, you can use a combination of NFC and Touch ID to make payments on the App Store, and at select retail locations. In addition, this update brings a handful of other useful improvements to both the Messages and Photos apps.
The best feature in iOS 8 is third-party keyboards September 18, 2014 at 10:50 am
With the release of iOS 8, third-party extensions will now — finally — be allowed on Apple's mobile devices. This brings one feature that Apple users have been begging for: third-party keyboards, and thus swipe-to-text. No longer will you be unable to reach certain letters while holding a drink in the other hand.
Facebook acquires WhatsApp for $19 billion, in desperate attempt to stave off stagnation February 20, 2014 at 10:09 am
Late yesterday, Facebook acquired WhatsApp for the princely (and ludicrous) sum of $19 billion in cash and stock. This is one of the largest acquisitions in Silicon Valley history — and yet, if you're American, you probably don't even know what WhatsApp is, let alone why it's worth $19 billion. In a sentence, WhatsApp replaces text messaging (SMS) — and it has grown to 450 million monthly users in under five years. While a purchase price of $19 billion might seem like insanity, especially when compared to its $1 billion acquisition of Instagram, it's actually a savvy move to ensure that Facebook remains the world's predominant messaging platform.
Price gouging: It costs more to send a text message on Earth than from Mars November 30, 2012 at 10:29 am
It costs US tax payers $99,000 less to send a gigabyte of data from Mars than it does for cell phone users to send a gigabyte worth of 160 character text messages. Let's just remember how much telcos gouge us. Twenty cents for 140 bytes of text is absolutely ridiculous, and they know it.
Can you patent a hyperlink? Patent trolls sure think so August 30, 2012 at 9:30 am
Once again, a patent troll is trying to make money off the good old hyperlink. It's only one more reason why the US patent system needs to be reformed, and soon.
The four strangest bugs and bungles in the history of Android September 23, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Over the last several years Android has exploded in popularity. With this massive growth came a few notable bugs in software and hardware. Here are some of the most unusual.
How to surf T-Mobile without a data plan September 9, 2011 at 5:23 am
Believe it or not, an Android app now lets you surf the web using free SMS and MMS.
Hackers can unlock cars via SMS July 28, 2011 at 7:10 am
By reverse engineering the protocol used by on-board systems, hackers can take control of a car, or other remote-controlled system.


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Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents may apply for federal student aid funds through our office. University policy requires foreign students to demonstrate ability to pay their expenses. Foreign students should be aware that education in the United States is expensive, and are therefore encouraged to seek financial assistance and/or scholarship funds from home country sources.
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Excerpt from 2011 KBTX/Taco Bell Friday Football Fever High School Football Preview Magazine to be available at Brazos Valley area Taco Bells beginning August 24th.
CALDWELL, TX -- Chance Locklear takes over as the new head coach of the Caldwell Hornets, and has six returning starters on offense and five on defense to work with.
The Hornets have to replace a solid corps of graduating seniors on offense, including quarterback D.J. Cumby and honorable mention all-state running back Kedrin Sheppard.
DeAndre Burns looks to fill Sheppard's (who rushed for 1,706 yards and 27 touchdowns) shoes at running back, and he will have three returning starters on the line to block for him.
"This team will be young offensively and defensively and will have to grow up quickly to be successful this year," says Locklear. Three starting linemen return and should make the line the biggest strength of the defense.
23-3A should be a very good district once again in 2011, meaning the Hornets will have their work cut out for them if they want to return to the playoffs.
Giddings, Navasota, and Rockdale will be Caldwell's biggest threats in the district, and getting to face the Rattlers and Tigers at home could be key to the Hornets getting back into postseason play.
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Shop Girl
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Texans' Duane Brown, bride on TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress"
A dream come true for many brides is to find the wedding perfect dress. That's the idea behind TLC's "SAY YES TO THE DRESS." The reality series returns with another new season of brides searching for their dream dress. One of them is radio personality Devon "Devi Dev" Anjelica (fiancé to Houston Texans' tackle Duane […] [Read More]
From runway to MTV, Katy Perry makes quirky Dior work
It's obvious that some of what is shown on the runway isn't for real women. Take Christian Dior's fall Paris runway show, which featured a wild graphic-print skirt, a cropped pink sweater and a yellow cubed headpiece. The same outfit showed up this week on singer Katy Perry at MTV's Video Music Awards. Perhaps such looks are for celebrities only. Only Katy could […] [Read More]