A semiconductor light-emitting device includes a first conductivity-type semiconductor including a first electrode on a first main surface, a second conductivity-type semiconductor, and an active layer between a second main surface of the first conductivity-type semiconductor and a first main surface of the second conductivity-type semiconductor. Protrusions are disposed in at least part of a region of a second main surface of the second conductivity-type semiconductor facing the first electrode. A second electrode is disposed in at least part of a region of the second main surface of the second conductivity-type semiconductor except the region having the protrusions. The protrusions containing a dielectric material protrude from the second main surface of the second conductivity-type semiconductor in a direction away from the active layer and are separated by intervals longer than the wavelength of light emitted from the active layer in the medium of the protrusions.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor light-emitting device.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 20 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a GaAs infrared light-emitting device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3312049. The GaAs infrared light-emitting device illustrated in FIG. 20 includes a p-type semiconductor layer 111, an n-type semiconductor layer 112, a p-electrode 115 disposed on the p-type semiconductor layer 111, and separated n-electrodes 116 disposed on the n-type semiconductor layer 112. The p-type semiconductor layer 111 and the n-type semiconductor layer 112 have a PN junction plane 113 therebetween. The n-type semiconductor layer 112 has a V-shaped groove 117, which divides the PN junction plane 113. The surface of the n-type semiconductor layer 112 not covered with the n-electrodes 116 is substantially entirely covered with a reflective film 114. The reflective film 114 is a dielectric optical multilayer film.
In the GaAs infrared light-emitting device illustrated in FIG. 20, the V-shaped groove 117, which divides the PN junction plane 113, faces the p-electrode 115 disposed on the light emitting surface. Thus, the V-shaped groove 117 reduces the area of the PN junction plane 113 facing the p-electrode 115. It is therefore argued that the V-shaped groove 117 can reduce the amount of light traveling from the PN junction plane 113 to the p-electrode 115 and thereby reduce the amount of light blocked by the p-electrode 115 and improve light emission efficiency.
FIG. 21 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a micro LED array disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4830356. The micro LED array illustrated in FIG. 21 includes a transparent electrode 121 containing indium tin oxide (ITO), an n-electrode 122 embedded in part of the transparent electrode 121, an n-type GaAs layer 123 disposed on the transparent electrode 121 and the n-electrode 122, an n-type AlGaInP layer 124 disposed on the n-type GaAs layer 123, a multiple quantum well (MQW) active layer 125 disposed on the n-type AlGaInP layer 124, the MQW active layer 125 including an AlGaInP layer and a GaInP layer alternately stacked on top of one another, a p-type semiconductor layer 126 including a p-type AlGaInP layer and a p-type GaInP layer, the p-type semiconductor layer 126 having a textured structure including a pair of inclined reflective (111) and (11-1) planes, a low-refractive-index film 127 filling part of the textured structure of the p-type semiconductor layer 126, a p-type GaAs layer 128 disposed on the p-type semiconductor layer 126, a p-electrode 129 covering the textured structure of the p-type semiconductor layer 126 and the p-type GaAs layer 128, a light reflecting metal layer 130 disposed on the p-type semiconductor layer 126 and covering the p-electrode 129, a lead electrode 132 disposed on and electrically connected to the light reflecting metal layer 130, a mold resin layer 131, and a concave mirror 133 having a large radius of curvature.
Each of the p-type AlGaInP layer and the p-type GaInP layer of the p-type semiconductor layer 126 contains phosphorus. Thus, the inclined reflective surfaces of the p-type semiconductor layer 126 are formed by wet etching using hydrochloric acid as an etchant utilizing different etch rates of different crystal faces. The pair of inclined reflective surfaces of the p-type semiconductor layer 126 form a V-shaped groove, which does not reach the MQW active layer 125.
In the micro LED array illustrated in FIG. 21, it is argued that the pair of inclined reflective surfaces of the p-type semiconductor layer 126 can confine the electric current between these inclined reflective surfaces and allows the electric current to flow into a limited region of the MQW active layer 125 rather than a nonradiative recombination region, such as an end surface of the device, thus improving luminous efficiency.
In the GaAs infrared light-emitting device illustrated in FIG. 20 and described in Japanese Patent No. 3312049, however, the V-shaped groove 117, which divides the PN junction plane 113, reduces the area of the PN junction plane 113 that is involved in light emission and thereby reduces light extraction efficiency. When the device structure illustrated in FIG. 20 is applied to a semiconductor light-emitting device containing AlxGayN (0<x≦1, 0≦y<1), in order to sufficiently activate the p-type semiconductor layer 111, the p-type semiconductor layer 111 can contain p-type GaN or p-type AlGaN having a low Al content. However, such a p-type semiconductor layer 111 greatly absorbs light emitted from the PN junction plane 113 and reduces light extraction efficiency.
When the device structure illustrated in FIG. 21 and described in Japanese Patent No. 4830356 is applied to a semiconductor light-emitting device containing AlxGayN (0<x≦1, 0≦y<1), in order to sufficiently activate the p-type semiconductor layer 126, the p-type semiconductor layer 126 can contain p-type GaN or p-type AlGaN having a low Al content. However, p-type GaN and p-type AlGaN having a low Al content are resistant to wet etching, making it difficult to form the inclined reflective surfaces. When the transparent electrode 121, for example, containing ITO is applied to a semiconductor light-emitting device containing AlxGayN (0<x≦1, 0≦y<1), the transparent electrode 121 has a great optical absorption loss and reduces light extraction efficiency.


A saw tooth for a circular saw for a feller includes, in one embodiment, a square saw tooth body having a multi-faceted shape to be mounted on a holder and for receiving inserts fastened to inwardly sloping seating surfaces on the cutting end of the tooth body. The inserts are provided with cutting tips and cutting edges to form angled cutting edges about the entire periphery of the cutting end of the tooth body. Notches are made in the seating surfaces and inserts in order to permit adjacent inserts to overlap one another, such that the angled cutting edges are strengthened at their junctions, thereby reducing damage of the inserts and improving the cutting performance of the saw tooth.

The present invention relates to an improved saw tooth for circular saws, and more particularly, to a saw tooth having inserts to provide multiple angled cutting edges.
Saw teeth for circular saws of the type mounted on a feller head for a tree felling apparatus have undergone considerable change in the last few years.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,447, Morin, 1990, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,199, MacLennan, 1993, represent saw teeth which have become the standards in the industry. Morin ""447 and MacLennan ""199 both teach a replaceable saw tooth with four sides which can be rotated when the active cutting tips and edges become dull or worn. The saw tooth generally has a four-sided main body with a mounting end and a cutting end. The MacLennan patent further provides V-shaped cutting edges at the cutting end, with four planar surfaces defining cutting tips at the apex of these somewhat triangular surfaces. Flat triangular carbide inserts can overlie the flat surfaces to reinforce the cutting edges. These inserts are brazed to the tooth head.
MacLennan et al, in their U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,965, 1997, describe an improved saw tooth having V-shaped cutting edges. The four-sided main body of the saw tooth includes seats for receiving inserts. The inserts which are made of hardened material are provided with cutting tips and cutting edges and are retained against the main body by a clamp nut. Thus, when the edges and tips are worn or damaged from impact, the inserts can be replaced without rotating the tooth. The tooth is rotated only when the seat of the main body is damaged.
The saw tooth, which has fixed or replaceable hardened inserts forming V-shaped cutting edges, provides good cutting performance. However, it should be noted that in those prior art saw teeth, adjacent inserts abut each other, thereby forming weak points at the junction of the respective V-shaped cutting edges. In a worst case scenario, a slight gap may exist between adjacent inserts and, therefore, the V-shaped cutting edges are not actually continuous at those junctions thereof, which will adversely affect the cutting performance of the saw tooth.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,719, issued on May 3, 1994, MacLennan describes a saw tooth similar to those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,199. The improvement of MacLennan ""719 lies in that adjacent insert ends of the hardened inserts overlap at the intersection of the two adjacent surfaces. The overlap of the hardened inserts is provided by forming a V-shaped notch in an end of an edge which is adapted to receive an angled end of an edge of an adjacent hardened insert. However, because it is limited by the thickness and angled position of the hardened inserts, the V-shaped notch only provides very limited space for the overlap. Therefore, such an overlap configuration cannot significantly prevent weakened areas in the cutting end of the tooth.
There is a need for improved configuration of the saw tooth having inserts forming V-shaped cutting edges, to overcome these shortcomings.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a saw tooth having inserts forming angled cutting edges about the periphery of a cutting end of the saw tooth, wherein adjacent inserts are overlapped to provide strengthened cutting edges at the junctions of adjacent inserts.
A construction in accordance with the present invention includes a saw tooth for a circular saw blade wherein the tooth comprises a multi-faceted shaped body having a mounting end, a larger cutting end and a plurality of sides extending between the mounting end and the cutting end. The sides form corners at the cutting end where they meet. A seating surface is provided on the cutting end at each of the corners. Each of the seating surfaces slopes inwardly and is defined between two edges diverging from a corresponding corner. A hardened insert is fastened to each seating surface to form a single cutting tip with a pair of receding cutting edges. Adjacent inserts overlap one another and provide angled cutting edges about the entire periphery of the cutting end. A seat-notch in each of the seating surfaces and an insert-notch in each of the inserts are provided so that the seat-notch and the insert-notch in combination form a groove for receiving a section of an adjacent insert, in order to permit the overlapping of adjacent inserts.
The inserts can either be permanently fastened to the tooth head or can be detachably fastened to the tooth head in order to permit the inserts to be replaceable when they are worn or damaged.
Other advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood with reference to the preferred embodiment described hereinafter.


The disclosure relates to an array substrate, a manufacturing method thereof, and a display panel. In one aspect, an organic layer is disposed in a display area to release applied forces generated when the array substrate is frequently bent. In another aspect, without adding additional mask sheets, a portion of the organic material in a recess is removed by using a halftone mask, an organic material in other areas of the display area is completely removed, and an organic material of a photoresist layer in a bending area is retained. Therefore, a surface of the organic layer away from the substrate aligns with a surface of the interlayer insulating layer away from the substrate, so that there is no height difference when a top source/drain layer is disposed.

Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) devices are also called organic luminescent semiconductor devices. Regarding a working principle of OLEDs, holes from a cathode and electrons from an anode combine in a luminescent layer when electric power is supplied at appropriate voltages. Under an influence of Coulomb force, the holes and the electrons may recombine to form excitons (hole-electron pairs) which are in an excited state, and the excited state is unstable in normal environment. The excitons in the excited state transmit energy to luminescent materials, making the luminescent materials transition from a ground state to the excited state. Excitation energy generates photons, emits light energy, and creates light by radiation relaxation, and three primary colors, namely red, green, and blue, are generated according to compositions of the luminescent materials.
OLEDs have become one of the most important display technologies due to advantages such as low voltage requirement, high power saving efficiency, fast response times, light weight, thin body, simple structure, low cost, wide viewing angles, almost infinite contrast, and low power consumption.
Flexible display panels are frequently bent when being used, and cracks are easily generated due to force application. A force-relieving effect of organic layers is better than that of non-organic layers. Therefore, a recess is defined in a blank area of a wiring area, and an organic layer is filled in the recess to enhance the force-relieving effect. Because a recess area needs to be retained to be filled with the organic layer, when an organic layer in other areas is removed, a height difference is generated in the recess area, leading to breakage of a metal layer that is to cover the recess area in a subsequent process, and causing a large area of the organic layer to remain in a stacked structure. In a location where wires are connected, a depth of the recess significantly increases because of the organic layer. Therefore, metals of the wires are blocked and are unable to be completely deposited in the recess area, making the metals of the wires in the recess prone to damage. As a result, signals transmitted in a panel would be affected, leading to abnormal image display. Consequently, it is necessary to develop a novel display panel to solve the above problem.

Array substrate, manufacturing method thereof, and display panel

Wuhan China Star Optoelectronics Semiconductor Display Technology Co., Ltd.


Materials and methods for preventing and treating anastomotic leaks are disclosed. Data establishes that pathogenic microbes interfere with establishing epithelial cell barriers in anastomoses and, more generally, with the reconnection of any two portions of like or different tissues comprising epithelia. Suitable prophylactic and therapeutic composition comprise, e.g., a phosphorylated high molecular weight polyethylene glycol compound.

When patients undergo removal (resection) and re-connection (anastomosis) of a segment or whole portion of the gastrointestinal tract, a significant number will develop anastomotic leaks despite being operated on by highly qualified surgeons in high-volume centers. Anastomotic leaks cause major long-term bowel dysfunction (incontinence), high cancer recurrence rates, decreased long term cancer survival, and sepsis-related deaths. The cause of anastomotic leaks remains unknown.
Cohn first proposed in 1955 that the microbial content of the gut plays a central role in the pathogenesis of anastomotic leak [4]. In his experiments, dogs were subjected to colon anastomosis and division of the mesenteric blood vessels to cause ischemia and delayed healing. One group was administered intraluminal antibiotics (tetracycline directly into the bowel via an indwelling catheter) and the other saline. Antibiotic treated dogs demonstrated complete anastomotic healing and recovery whereas those administered saline developed major leakage with peritonitis and death. Shardley was the first to suggest that P. aeruginosa might play a causative role in anastomotic leak [5], and performed the first randomized prospective placebo blinded trial with antibiotics confirming a role for microbes in human anastomotic leak [6]. Yet despite this and other similar compelling observations, a microbial mechanism for anastomotic leak is generally not accepted and, around the world, anastomotic leak is posited to be primarily a problem of poor technique and/or poor wound healing [7-9].
Accordingly, a need persists in the art for increased understanding of anastomotic leak, and for methods of preventing and treating diseases, disorders and conditions associated with anastomotic leak.


In a packaging pouch made of a flexible mono or multilayer film for packaging viscous jelly and/or gravy matrix food, in which a thermo cycle such as retort, pasteurization, hot filling or aseptic conditions are applicable, the surface of a layer of the film forming the pouch inner walls or a surface coating on the film being in contact with food comprises a substance having the effect that the surface tension of the layer or the surface coating on the layer is 24 mN/m or less and the pouch inner walls being in contact with food exhibit easy flow properties.

Nowadays cooked and ready meals for human and pet consumption are really common. A conspicuous part of such food is sold in flexible flat/pillow or stand-up pouches. Pouches are produced and filled in line or as a two-step production. During the filling process several ingredients are inserted in solid and liquid states while the pouch is kept open. After filling, the pouch is sealed on the top and may pass through a thermal process for pasteurisation or sterilisation. However, part of the ingredients during filling can touch the inner walls of the pouch, and if this material does not flow down inside the pouch quickly, it will contaminate the sealing area and the pouch will not be sealed completely compromising food integrity.
A possible technological solution is to use ultrasonic sealing tool that is normally an expensive investment and not suitable for all material structures. With the same principle, when the consumer will empty the pouch, part of the meal will get in contact with pouch walls, and food which is not fast flowing out of the pouch will be quite inconvenient for the consumer that would need to use tools or shake/squeeze the pouch with the risk to spread food around. In case of pet food, consumers are even less keen in using a tool or touch the food by trying to empty the pouch. This explains why having a pouch exhibiting easy and fast flowing of the food along the inner walls can strongly reduce rejections during filling, decrease food safety risk and be an important consumer convenience feature in the field of ready meals and wet pet food in pouches. As an example, ready meal pouches may contain meat, vegetables, rice in gravy or sauce added during filling and juice produced by the food during retort cooking. Pet food pouches may contain meat based food in jelly or gravy and juice produced during retort. Ready sauce pouches may be vegetable, meat or fat (eggs, butter) based and sterilised or pasteurised.
EP-A-1 808 291 discloses a packaging material made of thermoplastic polymers suitable for packaging foods. To prevent pasty and fatty foods from adhering to packaging material, a nonstick composition comprising a fatty ester of a polyhydric alcohol having at least one fatty acid radical per ester molecule with 19 or more carbon atoms is incorporated into at least one selected area of a polymer packaging material. A permanent nonstick effect is observed even if the fatty acid ester is included only in surface-close regions or layers of the packaging material. The outer layer in which the fatty acid ester additive is contained can be a sealing layer. The packaging preferably has the form of a pouch.
WO 2004/050357 A1 discloses a laminate useful in the manufacture of packages for containers, in particular ovenable resistant food containers. The laminate includes a substrate, preferably of a paperboard, and a food contact release layer comprising a blend of polymethylpentene and polypropylene bonded to one side of the substrate. The food contact release layer has a lower surface tension than the food product to come into contact with the release layer and thus offers a good release from food products, particularly those containing high levels of starch and sugar.
WO 2005/092609 A1 discloses a coextruded biaxially oriented PET film with food release properties having a sealable skin layer comprising a hot melt adhesive resin. The skin layer may further comprise fatty aides, waxes or silicon oils and particulate substances such as silica, clay and calcium carbonate.
WO 2008/009865 A1 discloses a fluoropolymer having antibacterial activity. Onto the fluoropolymer there is grafted at least one unsaturated monomer comprising a functional group functional group providing the antibacterial activity and an anion. The functional group providing antibacterial activity is a quaternary ammonium group, a phosphonium group, or a saturated or unsaturated heterocycle comprising a nitrogen atom, chosen from piperidine, piperazine, morpholine, thiomorpholine, thiazole, isothiazole, pyrazole, indole, indazole, imidazole, benzimidazole, quinoline, isoquinoline, benzotriazole, benzothiazole, benzoisothiazole, benzoxazole, benzoxazine, isoxazole, pyrrole, pyrazine, pyrimidine, pyridazine, quinazoline and acridine.
EP 1 174 457 A1 discloses a biaxially oriented polyester film with release properties in aqueous environment. The film, which is used in metal cans as inner release coating, comprises a polyester in which ethylene terephthalate units and/or ethylene naphthalate units are the main structural components, and a wax compound and for silicon compound.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,528,134 B1 discloses a coextruded film with release and dead fold properties for packaging cheese. The film comprises three layers of polyethylene or polypropylene and glycerol monostearate as cheese release agent.
From the aforementioned prior art documents, packaging films having antistick or release properties are known.
EP 2 208 604 A1 discloses a packaging pouch made of a flexible mono or multilayer film for packaging viscous jelly and/or gravy matrix food, in which a thermo cycle such as retort, pasteurisation, hot filling or aseptic conditions are applicable. The surface of a layer of the film forming the pouch inner walls or a surface coating on the film being in contact with food comprises a substance based on a molecule and or molecules system, defined as mixture of different molecular weight and/or molecular structure, functionalised by siloxane and/or fluorinated groups so that the surface tension of the layer or the surface coating on the layer is 24 mN/m or less and the pouch inner walls being in contact with food exhibit easy flow properties.

Packaging pouch with food flow properties


An apparatus and a method that decrease a banding phenomenon in a subsampled image and achieve high image quality are provided. A subsampled image obtained by copying an adjacent pixel value to a pixel value thinning position is accepted as an input image; a correction target signal global gain is calculated as a ratio between a slope of a correction target signal and a slope of a luminance signal of a global region made up of a plurality of consecutive pixels including a pixel position of the correction target pixel of the input image; a luminance local slope is calculated as a slope of the luminance signal of a local region which is a region within the global region, including the pixel position of the correction target pixel of the input image and smaller than the global region; and a corrected pixel value of the correction target pixel is calculated.

In a transferring or recording process for image data, data is generated by thinning out a part of signals in units of one pixel in order to reduce the amount of data.
For example, in the case of using YCbCr signals made up of a luminance signal Y and chrominance signals Cb and Cr, the amount of data is reduced by data thinning, for example, by adapting the chrominance signals Cb and Cr to single signals in units of several pixels.
A YCbCr image is image data corresponding to a color space expressed using the luminance signal Y and the two chrominance signals (Cb and Cr).
Cb represents a signal obtained by multiplying (B−Y) obtained by subtracting luminance Y from a B signal by a constant and Cr represents a signal obtained by multiplying (R−Y) obtained by subtracting luminance Y from an R signal by a constant.
Note that, although YCbCr is sometimes written as YPbPr, both YCbCR and YPbPr mean substantially the same color signal. In addition, YCbCr is also expressed as YUV in some cases.
In the following explanation, the description will be given of processes for the YCbCr signals. However, the processes of the present application are processes also applicable to each of the YUV and YPbPr signals.
At the time of transmission and recording of the YCbCr signals, a signal amount reduction process is performed in some cases. Specifically, a method of thinning out chrominance (Cb and Cr) components is used in many cases. As human eyes are more sensitive to changes in brightness than changes in color, a process of reducing the amount of data by thinning out the information amount of the chrominance components CbCr without reducing a luminance component Y is widely performed.
Widely used sampling formats include the following types.
(1) 4:4:4 sampling
This sampling format is of a format that holds respective YCbCr signals of each pixel wholly without thinning out.
(2) 4:2:2 sampling
Among the YCbCr signals of each pixel, a Y signal as the luminance signal is held for all the pixels, but CbCr signals as chrominance signals are held for every other pixel in a horizontal direction.
This is a technique adopted for general business video. At the time of reproduction such as printing or display, the chrominance signals CbCr for one vertical line is used as the chrominance signals CbCr for two vertical lines.
(3) 4:2:0 sampling
Among the YCbCr signals of each pixel, the Y signal as the luminance signal is held for all the pixels, but only single CbCr signals as the chrominance signals are held for every four pixels.
Specifically, only the Cb signal is acquired at an odd-numbered scanning line and the Cr signal is acquired at an even-numbered scanning line in a first frame; conversely, only the Cr signal is acquired at an odd-numbered scanning line and only the Cb signal is acquired at an even-numbered scanning line in a second frame. In this manner, the CbCr signals are acquired by thinning out on a scanning line basis. At the time of reproduction, for example, a chrominance signal at a pixel position where there is no chrominance signal is interpolated using a chrominance signal at an adjacent pixel position on the scanning line.
This is the main streaming technique for home digital video and is used in a format such as moving picture experts group (MPEG) compression format and advanced video coding high definition (AVCHD) used in a digital versatile disc (DVD) and the like.
In this manner, in the transmission and recording of YCbCr, image data to which a process of thinning out the chrominance signals CbCr from the YCbCr signals is applied, that is, subsampled image data, is transmitted or recorded in order to reduce the signal amount in many cases.
As described above, the reason why the chrominance signals CbCr are subsampled instead of the luminance signal Y is that the vision is insensitive to changes in chrominance as compared with luminance.
In such a subsampled image, since the original CbCr signals are not set at about half or more than half of pixels among constituent pixels of the image, it is necessary to perform an interpolation process to set the CbCr signals at pixel positions missing the chrominance signals CbCr signals, in a case where a display process for a display or printing is performed. This interpolation process is performed, for example, as a process of copying CbCr pixel values at neighboring pixel positions to pixel positions missing the CbCr signals. However, when such a simple copy is performed, a folding component of the chrominance signal is produced in a color edge region which is a color boundary where the color changes, and this leads to a difficulty that a striped pattern in which the color is changed stepwise, that is, so-called banding, is observed.
For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-45398) is cited as a prior art that discloses a configuration for decreasing this banding phenomenon.
This Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration that calculates a similarity between a neighboring pixel region of a correction target pixel and a pixel region of an adjacent vertical line pixel or horizontal pixel line and calculates a corrected pixel value by pixel value combination in which a pixel value contribution ratio is adjusted according to the similarity.
However, if such similarity determination or a correction process is performed for all the pixels, difficulties of growing processing cost and a possibility of bringing about delay of image display are raised.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program


According to this invention, a device for detecting magnetism comprises; a substrate, an interposed insulating layer containing impurities therein, formed on the substrate, and a ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element formed on the interposed layer, wherein at least a portion of the interposed layer on which the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element is formed has a concentration of impurities of less than a predetermined value. Further, in the device of this invention, the surface of the layer interposed between the substrate and the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element has a surface roughness of less than 120 and an angle between a contacting surface of a conductive wiring and the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element and the surface of the interposed layer is less than 78 degrees. Therefore, a device wherein a deterioration of the quality film of the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element can be avoided and a reduction of the ratio of the resistance variation of the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element can be maintained at less than 10% can be obtained, and further, a device wherein the generation of noise can be effectively suppressed so that the device is highly sensitive to magnetism and has a high S/N ratio, and further, the breakdown ratio caused by wiring breakages is effectively reduced, can be obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for detecting magnetism, which device comprises a thin film of a ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element mounted on a substrate as a magnetism detecting means.
2. Description of the Related Art
A device for detecting magnetism which comprises a thin film of a ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element consisting mainly of a ferromagnetic body and mounted on a substrate as a magnetism detecting means is known.
A device for detecting magnetism is generally constructed such that a variation of magnetism can be detected, for example, as a variation in an electric voltage, utilizing the phenomenon that a value of the resistance of the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element is changed in the presence of magnetism (an electric field).
The output signal output from such a device for detecting magnetism as described above is usually so weak that these output signals must be amplified by a separate device, for example, an amplifying IC or the like, produced in a separate production process.
Nevertheless, the device is easily affected by the influence of noise, and therefore, a highly sensitive device for detecting magnetism is still required.
As described above, since the output signal from such a device is usually very weak, the output signal from the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element 101 is amplified by an IC 100, such as an amplifier circuit, a waveform shaping circuit or the like, as shown in FIG. 2.; in which leads 102 and a molded case 103 are also shown.
Recently, a demand has arisen for such an aforementioned IC and ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element to be integrated as one body.
Hereafter, one example of a manufacturing process of a device for detecting magnetism having such an IC and the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element being integrated as one body, with which the inventors of this invention had tried to make and to use thereof for experiments and tests, will be explained with reference to FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an example of the construction of a device for detecting magnetism in which the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element and IC are integrated into one package.
The steps for manufacturing the device for detecting magnetism will be explained hereunder with reference to FIG. 5.
First, in step 200, a P type silicon (Si) wafer 1 is obtained, then in step 201, a thermal oxide film is formed of the P type silicon (Si) wafer by a thermal oxidation process and openings are provided in a predetermined region of the thermal oxide film.
Then, in step 202, an N.sup.+ type buried layer 2 is formed by diffusing antimony (Sb) or arsenic (As) into the wafer 1 from the opening, and in step 203, the 5 thermal oxide film is removed and an N.sup.- type epitaxial layer 3 having a low concentration of impurities is formed on the P type silicon wafer.
Then, in step 204, a thermal oxidation process is applied to the surface of the epitaxial layer 3 to form a thermal oxide film, openings are provided in the film at the position corresponding to the position in the epitaxial layer 3 in which the isolating regions will be formed, and then in step 205, an isolating region 4 is formed by a diffusion of boron (B).
Next, in step 206, an insulating film consisting of SiO.sub.2 is formed by a thermal oxidation process, and then in step 207, a P.sup.+ type diffusion layer 6, which is used as a base region, is formed by diffusing the boron (B) into the N.sup.- type epitaxial layer 3, and successively, in step 208, N.sup.+ type diffusion layers 7, which are used as an emitter region and a contact region with the collector (the epitaxial layer 3), respectively, are formed by diffusing P (phosphorus) into the respective layer in the same way as for forming the P.sup.+ type diffusion layer 6.
Further, in step 209, a contacting portion is provided by selectively forming an opening in the insulating film 5.
The insulating film 5 thus produced is shown in FIG. 3.
Then, in step 210, the contacts are completed by depositing Al thereon to form wiring 9, and in step 211 a thermal-treatment is carried out.
Thereafter, in step 212, the ferromagnetic body including Ni as a main component thereof, and further including Fe and/or Co, for example, an alloy of Ni--Fe or Ni--Co, is deposited on the surface thereof by a vacuum deposition method to form a thin film of the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element 10 having a thickness of 200 to 2000 .ANG., and then, the thin film is etched to form a predetermined pattern thereon.
Further, in step 213, a surface protecting film 11 which protects the bipolar IC and the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element thus produced is formed on the surface thereof, and then an opening 2 is formed by removing a portion of the surface protecting film 11 which corresponds to the position at which a terminal of an electrode will be mounted and then, in step 214, the terminals of the electrodes are formed at that portion.
Finally, at step 215, a thermal treatment for recovering the characteristics of the transistor varied due to the formation of the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element 10 and the surface protecting film 11, and to improve the quality of the film of the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element 10, is applied to the thusproduced device.
In this manufacturing process, the step 208 for forming the N.sup.+ type diffusion layers 7 of the bipolar IC is carried out by a vapour diffusion method, usually by employing POCl.sub.3 gas, but in the above process, the diffusion source P is also diffused into the interposed insulating film 5 to form a layer 8 in the surface portion of the interposed insulating film 5, in which the concentration of the impurities is higher than that of the rest of the portion of the film 5.
Namely, the layer 8 is not formed as a separate film to the film 5, but is a layer containing a high concentration of impurities therein and is similar to a Phospho Silicate Glass film (PSG film), and accordingly this layer 8 is referred to as a PSG layer hereinafter. On the other hand the interposed insulating film 5 may be referred to as the interposed layer or only simply to the layer hereafter.
This PSG layer 8 has a gettering function, and therefore, in an ordinary IC, usually remains on the surface thereof without change.
But, in the device for detecting magnetism as mentioned above, it was found that, when the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element 10 is formed on the surface of the PSG layer 8, the quality of the film thus formed, in relation to the electromagnetic characteristics, for example, is remarkably deteriorated when compared with the film of the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element deposited on the surface of the SiO.sub.2 film formed on the surface of the silicon (Si) wafer only by applying the thermal oxidation process to the surface thereof, without forming a bipolar IC or the like on the surface or on the surface of a glass substrate.
According to experiments by the inventors, it was found that the closer the portion of the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element 10 is to the insulating film or the layer 5 of the IC, the greater the deterioration of the quality of the film of the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element.
It was also found that this deterioration is caused by the chemical reaction of P (phosphorus) contained as impurities in the PSG layer 8 formed in the surface portion of the insulating film or layer 5 of the IC with the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element, due to the thermal treatment carried out in step 215.
It was further found that this phenomenon applies to an insulating film 5 containing only As as the impurities, and not containing P as mentioned above.
According to further experiments concerning the factors causing the generation of noise, depending upon the mechanical construction of the device for detecting magnetism per se, by the inventors of this invention, it was found that, for example, Barkhausen noise is generated when a surface roughness of the surface of an interposed layer of the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive element is coarse.


A tamper indicating closure for application to a container neck. The closure includes a cap having a top and an internally threaded skirt. A tamper indicating band depends from the bottom of the cap skirt by circumferentially spaced frangible connections. The band has ratchet teeth which engage ratchet teeth on the container neck one at a time during threading-on and unthreading of the cap from the container neck.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to tamper indicating closures for application to container necks. The tamper indicating feature indicates that the closure has been previously removed or an attempt has been made to remove it from the container. More particularly, this invention relates to a tamper indicating closure in which a tamper indicating band depends from the bottom of the cap skirt by spaced frangible webs. The band has a stop which coacts with a stop on the container neck so that as the closure cap is being unthreaded from the container neck the tamper indicating band is restrained against axial or rotational movement causing fracture of the frangible webs and separation of the band from the cap.
2. Description of the Related Art
At the present time, one of the most commonly used stop means for restraining the movement of the tamper indicating band relative to the container neck and the cap has been the provision of an inwardly directed bead on the tamper indicating band which coacts with an outwardly directed flange on the container neck. In the process of threading the cap onto the container neck the bead on the tamper indicating band snaps over the flange on the container neck. In the unthreading process, the bead is restrained against axial motion by the container flange so that the frangible webs between the bottom of the cap skirt and the top of the tamper indicating band are fractured primarily in tension. There are many shortcomings with this type of tamper indicating band restraint. Among these are skewing of the band so that not all of the tamper indicating webs are broken during the unthreading process. This type of difficulty can be obviated by changing the stops to cooperating ratchet teeth on the tamper indicating band and container neck. In the unthreading direction, radial stop surfaces on the band ratchet teeth abut radial stop surfaces on the container neck ratchet teeth. The frangible webs are thus caused to fracture primarily in shear since the band does not rotate with the cap. However, much more turning torque must be applied to the cap to fracture the webs than with the more gradual stretching of the webs in the bead/flange combination where continued rotation moves the band and the bottom of the cap skirt axially apart as the band bead frictionally engages the container flange during this rotation. With both the cooperating bead/flange embodiment and the cooperating ratchet teeth embodiment there is a likelihood of fracturing the webs during the threading-on operation. In each case, the band must be stretched outwardly in a radial direction either to snap the band bead over the container flange or simultaneously snap the band ratchet teeth over the container neck ratchet teeth.


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates use of an object-oriented enumerated type within a computer program. During operation, the system receives source code for the computer program, wherein the source code contains a declaration for an enumerated type. This declaration specifies a fixed number of enumeration constants that comprise the enumerated type. Next, the system defines the enumerated type using a class defined within an object-oriented programming language, wherein the class includes a constant for each enumeration constant specified in the declaration. If the declaration additionally contains one or more method declarations, these methods are present on the defined class.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to programming languages for computer systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for facilitating use of an object-oriented enumerated type within a programming language.
2. Related Art
An enumerated type facility within a programming language allows a programmer to easily create types that include a fixed number of enumeration constants. For example, an enumerated type can define a fixed set of colors, such as RED, WHITE and BLUE. In general, an enumerated type can be used to represent many things, including natural enumerations (e.g., the four seasons) and program-specific enumerations (e.g., the states in a finite state machine).
Many programming languages, including C, C++, Ada and C# provide enumerated type facilities. However, in all of these facilities, enumerated types are merely thinly disguised integers. Some of these languages, including C++, Ada and C#, provide some measure of type safety and a few pieces of built-in functionality, such as automatic string conversion, but none allow for programmer extensibility.
Programmers in object-oriented languages sometimes implement more powerful enumerated types manually by writing classes that export self-typed constants to serve as enumeration constants. For example, item 21 in "Effective Java Programming", by Joshua Bloch, pp. 104-114, Addison-Wesley 2001, discusses one such method of using a "Typesafe Enum" pattern.
While enumerated types implemented in this way are more powerful than traditional enumerated types, they have a number of drawbacks: (1) they require substantial programming effort to produce code to define the classes; (2) the additional code required to define the classes makes the code less readable; (3) the additional code may introduce errors into the program; and (4) enumerated types defined in this way are not usable in all contexts where traditional types are used. In particular, they may not be used in a multi-way branch statement (also referred to as a "switch statement" or a "case statement").
What is needed is a method and an apparatus for providing powerful enumerated types without the drawbacks of involved in manually defining classes to support the enumerated types.

Object-oriented enumerated type facility


A supply circuit for a two-wire telecommunication line includes a voltage adjusting circuit section coupled between one of the wires and a first reference potential point and further includes a current source coupled between the second wire and a second reference potential point. A transistor in the voltage adjusting circuit section has a first main electrode coupled to the first wire, a second main electrode coupled to the first reference potential point, and a control electrode which is coupled to the first wire by way of a capacitor. In order for the supply circuit to meet strict requirements as to symmetry and demodulation, the control electrode is also coupled to the first reference potential point by way of a threshold voltage diode, which may be a zener diode. A voltage control circuit coupled to the threshold voltage diode forms a feedback loop for maintaining the line voltage at a selected value despite the presence of disturbing signals on the line.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a telecommunication system comprising a supply circuit for a two-wire telecommunication line, the supply circuit comprising a voltage adjusting circuit section coupled between a first reference potential point and the first wire, and further comprising a current source coupled between the second wire and a second reference potential point. The voltage adjusting circuit section includes a transistor having a first electrode coupled to the first wire, a second main electrode coupled to the first reference potential point, and a control electrode coupled to one of the reference potential points and, by way of a capacitor, to the first wire.
2. Description of the Related Art
A telecommunication system of this type is widely used as a telephone exchange. Such a telephone exchange is connected to users by means of telecommunication lines comprising each a first and a second wire. During a user's conversation the associated telecommunication line is to be fed with DC current. This was previously effected by way of large coupled coils, but these coils have now been replaced by an electronic supply circuit. Such a supply circuit comprises a voltage adjusting circuit section coupled between a first reference potential point (usually ground) and the first wire of the line. The supply circuit further includes a current source coupled between the second wire of the line and a second reference potential point (usually-48 volts). The voltage adjusting circuit section comprises a transistor having a very high control input impedance, such as a MOSFET (for example of the N-channel type), although a double bipolar Darlington combination could be used as well. The first main electrode of the MOSFET, the source, is usually coupled to the first wire by way of a source resistor, whereas the second main electrode, the drain, is directly connected to ground. The control electrode, the gate, is coupled to the first wire by way of a capacitor and also usually coupled to ground by way of a gate resistor. The current source generally comprises a bipolar transistor (for example, of the n-p-n type), whose emitter and base are coupled to the-48 reference point by way of an emitter resistor and a zener diode respectively, and whose collector is connected to the second wire. The base is further coupled to ground by way of a series combination of a base resistor and a switch.
When a conversation is to take place, the switch is closed and a DC current starts flowing through the current source. This DC current may be adjusted to 30 mA DC by means of a specific selection of the components of the current source, and is supplied to the current source by the voltage adjusting circuit section. This takes place through both wires, which are mutually coupled and have a DC current impedance of about 600 Ohms. Since the capacitor is discharged at the moment the switch closes, the MOSFET is not conductive and in the first instance only a current much smaller than the adjusted 30 mADC current will flow from ground, through the gate resistor, the capacitor, the two wires, the bipolar transistor and the emitter resistor to the-48V reference point. Since the current source is passing much less than the adjusted 30 mADC current, the voltage across the current source is very low and so the voltage of the two wires (the line voltage) in the first instance is in the neighbourhood of the-48V reference potential. The capacitor is slowly charged by this small current until the voltage across the capacitor has increased sufficiently to render the MOSFET conductive. Because the main current path of the MOSFET then passes the adjusted 30 mADC current, the voltage across the current source will rise and the line voltage will increase to a value between the two reference potentials. The final value thus reached by the line voltage lies in the neighbourhood of the potential (ground) at the first reference potential point.
Such a prior-art supply circuit must meet strict requirements as to symmetry and demodulation, as is true of any telecommunication line supply circuit. The strict symmetry requirements are imposed in order to avoid low-frequency common mode disturbance signals from becoming audible. The strict demodulation requirements are imposed in order to avoid a high-frequency modulated common mode disturbance signal from becoming demodulated as a result of non-linear signal processing, and thus becoming audible in the case of insufficient symmetry. In the case of sufficient symmetry both requirements will be met. The described supply circuit will meet these requirements if the impedance of the series combination of the gate resistor and capacitor located between the ground first reference potential point and the first wire is made sufficiently large. In that case, however, there is the disadvantage that the time constant formed by such combination also increases likewise; so that the supply circuit will have a slower adjustment behaviour. This is undesired.

Supply circuit for a telecommunication line, providing highly symmetrical and rapid response to line voltage disturbances


The present invention provides a cementing tool for cementing multiple stages within a well. The assembly includes a housing assembly which defines one or more cementing ports. A first sleeve assembly is retained within the housing and is movable from a first position, where the sleeve covers the port, and thereby precludes fluid flow therethrough, to a second position wherein the sleeve opens the cementing port. The apparatus also includes a second sleeve assembly which is movable from a first position away from the cementing port to a second position wherein the sleeve assembly covers the port. The first sleeve is cooperatively configured with the housing assembly to provide engaging surfaces which resist rotation of the first sleeve relative to the housing. Additionally, the first sleeve and the second sleeve assembly are configured to limit relative rotation when the two pieces are longitudinally adjacent one another.

The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for cementing a well; and, more specifically, relates to methods and apparatus for multiple stage cementing particularly useful in cementing operations performed within an existing casing string; otherwise known as "secondary cementing" operations.
Secondary cementing procedures are utilized in wells during their productive lives, such as remedial cementing and repairs to existing cemented areas. This may be necessitated by a number of occurrences. For example, the inside surface of an existing casing string will often corrode or otherwise deteriorate over time, thereby decreasing fluid flow through the string. In addition, the corrosion may cause the casing string to become fluid permeable, thereby leading to fluid leakage. At such times, secondary cementing may be utilized to repair the deteriorated section of casing. In such operations, when the well cannot be cemented from the bottom of the casing, it is often preferable to cement the annulus in two or more stages. For example, two stage cementing may be necessitated when the formation will not support a column of cement slurry over the vertical zone to be cemented.
Conventional multi-stage cementing tools have suffered from the deficiencies of either being too large in diameter to be satisfactorily utilized in workover operations, or of having components which are relatively difficult to drill out to provide an optimally open bore through the casing once the operation is completed.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a new multi-stage cementing tool and system configured to provide an optimally minimized outer diameter, and having internal components adapted to facilitate drilling out of the components facilitating the establishing of a full open bore after the cementing operation is completed.

Method and apparatus for the multiple stage cementing of a casing string in a well


The water-saving nozzle has an outer housing that includes an outer vortex screw in operative engagement with an inner housing that is disposed inside the outer housing. The vortex screw has helical threads. The inner housing has an inner vortex screw with outside helical threads. When water passes through the outer and inner vortex screws the water is rotated before the water passes into the vortex chambers of the inner and outer housings. The water discharged from the outer housing forms an outer dome shape and the water discharged from the inner housing forms an inner dome shape inside the outer dome shape.

In many parts of the world, there is a tremendous need to reduce water consumption. Not only is the lack of water a problem but the low water quality and pressure of the available water are other equally important problems. Low water quality/pressure are often as big of a problem as the lack of available water because people often get seriously sick from drinking contaminated or unclean water. The water pressure is sometimes below 1 bar which makes it difficult to obtain a proper water flow. A primary object of the present invention is to present a nozzle that performs water saving functions despite low water pressure when water is discharged from a faucet, shower-head or the like while maintaining the water temperature. Another object is to present a nozzle that is very versatile and the type of water flow (dome-shaped water flow, mist or spray) can be tailored to the specific needs of the user. One drawback of using mist in showers is that the mist cannot retain the temperature as well and require a higher temperature of the incoming water. Another drawback is that the mist does not have a distinct direction and tend to flow in undesirable directions. The use of laminar water flows does not save enough water. The nozzle of the present invention overcomes these problems and drawbacks.
A further object of the present invention is that the nozzle according to the present invention is extremely simple but still robust in its design and function.
More particularly, the present invention is a method for discharging water through a water-saving nozzle that has an outer housing having an inlet opening, chamber and a discharge opening defined therein. An outer vortex screw is in operative engagement with an inner wall of the outer housing. The outer vortex screw has a central chamber defined therein. An inner housing is in operative engagement with the outer vortex screw inside the central chamber. The outer vortex screw has outside helical threads facing the inner wall. The outer housing has an outer vortex chamber defined therein below the vortex screw. The outer housing has a discharge opening defined at a bottom portion thereof. The inlet opening is in fluid communication with the chamber, the helical threads, the vortex chamber and the discharge opening so that water is flowable through the nozzle and dischargeable through the discharge opening in an outer dome shape. The inner housing has an inlet opening defined therein. The inner housing has an inner vortex screw in operative engagement with an inside wall. The vortex screw has outside helical threads facing the inside wall. The inner housing has an inner vortex chamber defined therein below the vortex screw. The inner housing has a discharge opening and the inlet opening in fluid communication with the chamber, the helical threads, the vortex chamber and discharge opening so that water is flowable through the nozzle and dischargeable through the discharge opening in an inner dome shape inside the outer dome shape.
The outer housing has a cone-shaped bottom portion that extends to the discharge opening.
The outer vortex screw is axially movable inside the outer housing.
The inner vortex screw is axially adjustable.
The inner vortex screw is in operative engagement with an upper part via a bolt and the inner vortex screw is movable relative to the inner housing and the upper part.
The outer housing has a first flow restrictor and the inner housing has a second flow restrictor.
The inner housing is axially adjustable relative to the outer housing.
The inner housing adjustable between a dome-shaped mode and a mist mode by axially adjusting the outer vortex screw and the inner vortex screw.


A float shoe for a downhole tubular or casing includes a housing, a nose, a support, and a valve. The housing is attached to the casing, and the nose having a shell of a millable material (e.g., composite, aluminum, etc.) extends from the housing. A support of cement, fills an internal cavity of the nose's shell and support a valve in the housing. The shell for the nose defines a flow passage communicating with the valve and can have a conical or eccentric shape to facilitate passage of the float shoe in a borehole during run-in. The shell for the nose can also have a port or jet that communicate the flow passage out the side of the nose.

During the construction of oil and gas wells, a borehole is drilled to depth, the drill string is removed, and casing is inserted. The annular space between the outside of the casing and the wall of the borehole is then conditioned for cementing by pumping conditioning fluid down the casing. The conditioning fluid flows radially outwardly from the bottom of the casing and passes upwardly through the annular space where it entrains debris and carries it to the surface. Finally, cement is pumped downwardly through the casing. The pumped cement squeezes radially outwardly from the bottom of the casing and passes upwardly into the annular space where the cement then sets.
Conventionally, a fill valve is disposed toward the downhole end of the casing. The fill valve prevents fluid from entering the casing from the borehole, but permits fluid (i.e., mud, conditioning fluid, cement, etc.) to flow from the casing into the borehole. The fill valve is normally incorporated in a float shoe or a float collar. The float shoe is fitted on the bottom of the casing, whereas the float collar is typically incorporated between two lengths of casing.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional float collar 10A of the prior art. The collar 10A includes a tubular housing 12 accommodating a fill valve 30 therein. The fill valve 30 has a valve member 36 that is generally mushroom shaped with a head biased upwardly against a valve seat 32 by a spring 38 circumjacent a stem of the valve member 36. A base 34 in the seat 32 supports the valve member 36 and the spring 38.
The interior 12 of the housing 12 has an annulus filled with high density cement 20 disposed therein. The cement 20 supports the fill valve 30 and has a passage 22 communicating with the fill valve 30. During use, mud, conditioning fluid, and cement can flow through the passage 22 and the fill valve 30, but fluid from the borehole is not permitted to pass uphole through the valve 30.
The float collar 10A is mounted with its box end 18 at the bottom of casing (not shown). The pin end 16 can attach to another extent of casing or tubular. Alternatively, a shoe 40 as in FIG. 2A with box thread 48 can thread to the pin end 16 of the collar 10A to form a float shoe. The shoe 40 includes cement 44 inside its end that defines a passage 46 for communicating with the float shoe.
During use as a float collar, the casing having the float collar 10A with the connected shoe 40 is run downhole in the wellbore. Once the casing is in position, mud is pumped down the casing. The mud flows through the fill valve 30 and then passes out the passage 46 in the shoe 40. The mud flowing from the bottom of the casing then travels upwardly through an annulus between the casing and the wellbore to carry debris to the surface. Typically, mud is passed through the fill valve 30 for several hours. Conditioning fluid (usually referred to as "spacer fluid") is then pumped down the casing. The conditioning fluid helps remove the mud and contains chemicals that will help the cement adhere to the casing.
After conditioning is complete, a charge of cement is pumped down the casing between a top plug and a bottom plug. After the bottom plug seats on (or near) the upper surface 24 of the float collar 10A, increasing pressure is applied against the top plug until a burst disk in the bottom plug ruptures and permits the cement to flow downwardly into the float collar 10A. The pressure applied to the cement by the top plug is transmitted to the head of the valve member 36, which moves downwardly away from valve seat 32, thereby permitting the cement to pass through the fill valve 30 and out the float shoe 40.
When the top plug contacts the bottom plug, no further cement passes through the fill valve 30. Pressure is then released on the top plug, and the fill valve 30 inhibits cement from flowing upwardly back inside the casing. After the cement has set, the top plug, bottom plug, fill valve 30, annular cement 20 in the float collar 10A, annular cement 44 in the shoe 40, and any other cement below the shoe 40 is drilled out.
As noted above, a shoe 40 as in FIG. 2A can be mounted to a float collar 10A to run in the casing in the borehole. The shoe 40 in FIG. 2A has a conventional nose 44 of cement defining a central passage 46 for communicating fluid (e.g., mud, conditioning fluid, and cement) out of the nose 40. The cement 44 is used because it can be readily drilled out after cementing operations.
In some wellbores, various features of ledges, carvings, and irregularities in the borehole can hinder the running of the casing to the planned depth. To overcome these obstacles, a float shoe nose with a conical or eccentric shape is commonly used. The shape and the material of the nose are preferably of sufficient strength to overcome high loads, yet are easily drilled using a drill bit. Composite and aluminum materials have been used in the past for these types of noses on the end of the casing.
For example, FIG. 2B illustrates a composite nose 50 of the prior art for use on a float shoe 10B. As before, the float shoe 10B includes a tubular housing 12 accommodating a fill valve 30 therein. The interior 12 of the housing 12 has an annulus filled with high density cement 20 disposed therein to support the fill valve 30. The cement 20 has a passage 22 in which the fill valve 30 is mounted.
The nose 50 is constructed of a composite material having wear resistant and drillable characteristics. Typically, fiberglass or some other composite material is used for the nose 50. Because the nose 50 is composed of composite material, it can be given a conical, eccentric shape. In this way, the nose 50 not only serves to direct fluid, but the eccentric conical shape of the nose 50 can aid in run-in of the assembly by facilitating the passage of the assembly through the borehole.
At an upper end, the nose 50 fits into the housing 12 of the float shoe 10B and is attached with a threaded connection 16, 56. A central bore 52 of the nose 50 is aligned with the longitudinal bore 22 of the annular cement 20 in the interior 14 of the housing 12. The nose 50 can also include a side port or jet 54 for the passage of fluid from the longitudinal bore 52 to the borehole (not shown).
As another example, FIG. 2C illustrates an aluminum nose 60 of the prior art for use on a float shoe 10C. As before, the float shoe 10C includes a tubular housing 12 accommodating a fill valve 30 therein (here, two fill valves are shown). The interior 12 of the housing 12 has an annulus filled high density cement 20 disposed therein to support the fill valves 30. The cement 20 has a passage 22 in which the fill valves 30 are mounted.
Because the nose 60 is composed of aluminum, it can be given a conical or eccentric shape and may have external features, such as wear resistant nodules, ribs, or the like. In this way, the aluminum nose 60 not only serves to direct fluid, but the shape of the nose 60 and any external features can aid in the run-in of the assembly by facilitating the passage of the assembly through the borehole.
At an upper end, the nose 60 fits into the housing 12 of the float shoe 10C and is attached thereto with a threaded connection 16, 66. A central bore 62 of the nose 50 is aligned with the longitudinal bore 22 of the annular cement 20 in the interior 14 of the housing 12. The nose 60 can also include a side port or jet 64 for the passage of fluid from the longitudinal bore 62 to the borehole (not shown).
Although the composite and aluminum noses 50, 60 on float shoes can be effective, the cost of these materials can increase the overall equipment cost. Side ports or jets for the noses 50, 60 are fabricated by drilling ports at an angle, which adds additional machine work and increases product cost. In addition to higher costs, aluminum materials of an aluminum nose 60 may be more difficult to drill up than composite materials of a composite nose 50. Yet, the composite materials often break up into larger pieces that can obstruct the drilling assembly.
The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.

Float shoe having concrete filled, eccentric nose with jets


A projection display apparatus comprises a reflective LC display device and a polarizing beam splitter having a polarizing separative plane and wired grids. The LC molecules of the device are aligned such that i) a segment on a second subtracted, produced by projecting a major axis of each LC molecule perpendicularly onto the second substrate, makes an angle of 42 to 48 degrees counterclockwise or counterclockwise in relation to a direction of a straight line on the second substrate, formed by projecting each wire grid perpendicularly onto the second substrate and ii) of both ends of the segment, one end meeting an end of each LC molecule, which is positioned nearer to the second substrate than the other end, is positioned nearer to an intersection at which a plane including the polarizing separative plane and a plane including the second substrate mutually intersects, than the other end of the segment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a projection display apparatus equipped with reflective liquid crystal (LC) display devices and a three-plate type of liquid crystal projector that uses the projection display apparatus as for modulating each monochromatic light.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, liquid crystal projectors have been incorporated into popular tools that can be used as large-sized screen display apparatuses. Such display apparatuses, which can be used for various things, such as meetings with screen presentation, home theaters, and other uses, have been developed on various types of display techniques.
In particular, a projection display apparatus which processes respective monochromatic light channels for the primary colors adopts reflective liquid crystal display devices.
Each reflective liquid crystal device has two substrates and a liquid crystal layer, where one substrate has a surface with a transparent electrode formed thereon and the other substrate has a surface on which reflective electrodes and drive circuits for respective pixels are arranged in a matrix and both surfaces of the two substrates are opposed in parallel to each other to sandwich the liquid crystal therebetween as a layer. In this display device, the drive circuits for the liquid crystal can be embedded beneath the display pixels, thus allowing the projection display apparatus to present images with high spatial resolution and high brightness.
The liquid crystal display devices utilize the double refraction of liquid crystal molecules to control the transmission of the light passing therethrough. Thus how to orient the liquid crystal molecules has a large influence on the display quality of the images. In such situations, a vertically aligned type of liquid crystal (on homeotropic aligned mode) has attracted attentions, because this type of liquid crystal provides high contrast and has a faster response time than a horizontally aligned type of liquid crystal (on homogeneous aligned mode).
In the horizontally aligned type of liquid crystal, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned almost in parallel with the substrate plates when no voltage is applied between the substrates, while the molecules are aligned perpendicularly to the substrate surfaces thanks to their dielectric anisotropy in response to application of the voltage therebetween, whereby the black-and-white display can be realized. However, in the perpendicularly aligned state, some molecules closely positioned to alignment membranes on the respective substrates are still kept at alignment angles which are close to the horizon, thus deteriorating a black level due to retardation to be caused (i.e., the contrast is obliged to be lowered). By contrast, the vertically aligned type of liquid crystal has a negative dielectric anisotropy, so that even no application of voltage between the substrates permits the liquid crystal molecules to be aligned almost perpendicularly to the substrates, whilst applying the voltage therebetween allows the molecules to be aligned in parallel with the substrates. This makes the contrast high and makes it possible to operate the molecules faster with less driving power.
There is one thing, however, that should be noted when the vertically aligned type of liquid crystal is used. Namely, this will be caused when the voltage is applied in a state where the alignment is completed such that the liquid crystal molecules are completely perpendicular to the substrate surfaces in response to the voltage non-application. That is, the liquid crystal molecules fall down in different various directions by responding to the voltage application, bringing about disclination which deteriorates image quality. To suppress this drawback, as shown in FIG. 11, the vertically aligned type of liquid crystal is subjected to have a pre-tilt angle θp to allow the molecules to keep a slight inclination in a predetermined direction during non-application of the voltage between the substrates. In FIG. 13, an angle ψ is an azimuthal angle made between a predetermined axis direction on the substrate surface(s) and a projected direction of the major axis of the liquid crystal molecule onto the substrate surface(s).
It is also known that, in the projection display apparatus, the reflective liquid crystal display device can be equipped with not only the reflective liquid crystal display device including the vertically aligned type of liquid crystal but also a wire grid type of polarizing beam splitter (hereinafter referred to as "WG-PBS") serving as an incident and reflecting optical system for polarized light entering or coming out of the display device. This structure is able to provide projection images with very high contrast (refer to for example United States Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2003/0128320). In a reflective liquid crystal display device shown in this publication, alignment membranes are placed on surfaces of both a transparent substrate and an active matrix substrate so as to be exposed to liquid crystal sandwiched between the substrates as a layer. Using those membranes, the molecules of the liquid crystal layer are given the alignment conditions (i.e., pre-tilt angle θp and azimuthal angle ψ) illustrated in FIG. 13.
In this alignment, the pre-tilt angle θp is given to the liquid crystal molecules, thus causing retardation more or less in the plane direction of the liquid crystal layer, decreasing the contrast.
To avoid this drawback, a countermeasure is known which is to employ a phase compensator (e.g., phase compensating plate) to compensate for differences in the phase of reflected light. This compensator is placed on the polarized-light incident and outgoing side of a reflective liquid crystal display device. United States Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2003/0164909 discloses the relationship between angles of a late-phase axis of a phase compensator and the azimuthal angles of liquid crystal molecules.
On the other hand, the foregoing projection display apparatus with the foregoing configuration can be applied to a single-color light processor, as one of the three processors for the three primary colors, of a three-plate type of liquid crystal projector. With regard to this projector, various proposals, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,747 and Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2002-098937, have known.
As stated so far, it has been known that the projection display apparatus is able to provide images of higher contrast if the apparatus is produced by using not merely the reflective liquid crystal display device with the vertically aligned type of liquid crystal but also the WG-PBS to be combined with the display device. However, it is admitted to the inventors that alignment conditions for liquid crystal molecules have yet to be disclosed by anybody. In particular, it is absolutely necessary for the projection display apparatus that the bright state (the liquid crystal molecules are flipped down due to a voltage application) outputs a high brightness and the dark state outputs the lowest brightness to the best of apparatus's ability. If such bright and dark states are produced, high contrast can be given to images. However, optimum alignment conditions for producing those two states have been unknown yet.

Three-plate type of liquid crystal projector using projection display apparatus


In control apparatus and method for a hybrid vehicle, a line pressure control valve disposed at a downstream side of each of mechanical oil pump (M-O/P) and electrically driven oil pump (S-O/P) to decrease a supplied hydraulic pressure from at least one of the mechanical oil pump and the electrically driven oil pump by opening drain ports thereof in accordance with a control valve command value is provided, the control valve command value is set by adding a predetermined additive correction quantity to a required line pressure set in accordance with operating states of a hydraulic pressure clutch (CL1) and a transmission and the drain ports of the line pressure control valve are controlled to a closure side, during an actuation of the electrically driven oil pump.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to control apparatus and method for a hybrid vehicle which control a line pressure regulator valve, the line pressure regulator valve regulating a line pressure of a hybrid (vehicle) drive train.
(2) Description of Related Art
A Japanese Patent Application First Publication No. 2010-179860 published on Aug. 19, 2010 exemplifies a previously proposed control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle. In details, in the hybrid vehicle, connections are made in such a sequence as an engine, a first clutch, a motor/generator, a transmission, and driving wheels to constitute the hybrid drive train. The first clutch is a hydraulic pressure clutch whose engagement and release (open) are controlled in response to a hydraulic pressure of a working oil and the transmission is gear shift controlled in response to the working oil hydraulic pressure. In such a hybrid vehicle as described above, a required hydraulic pressure supply is basically carried out using a mechanical oil pump (hereinafter, abbreviated as mecha O/P) actuated through a motor shaft. In addition, when a discharge pressure from the mecha O/P becomes insufficient during an EV mode in which the vehicle is traveling, with only the motor/generator as a driving source, or during a vehicle stop, the hydraulic pressure supply is carried out using an electrically driven oil pump (hereinafter, abbreviated as an electrically driven O/P) actuated by mans of a sub motor. It should, herein, be noted that electrically driven O/P is controlled using a torque control method in which the discharge pressure from electrically driven O/P is controlled by means of a specified hydraulic pressure (torque). It is possible to use the discharge pressure from electrically driven O/P without waste by adopting the torque control method.

Control apparatus and method for hybrid vehicle


The present invention includes an apparatus and method for neutron radiation detection. The apparatus comprises combining thin walled, boron-coated straw tubes with a plastic moderator material interspersed around the tubes. The method involves using such an apparatus through application of voltage to a central wire running inside the tubes and collecting electrical pulses generated thereby.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to radiation detection. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for passive detection of fissile material with some particular applications in homeland security. Even more particularly, the invention relates to portal monitors for detecting radiation from cargo.
2. Description of the Related Art
The limited inventory and minute natural abundance of 3He gas on Earth necessitate the adoption of new technologies for the detection of neutrons, especially in homeland security applications, where large volume deployments are being considered that would exhaust the entire world supply.
The only practical source of 3He on Earth is through production of the intermediary radioactive tritium (3H) gas. Tritium decays to 3He at a rate of 5.5% per year. Tritium was produced over the time frame from 1955 to 1988 for use as a critical ingredient of nuclear weapons. Production ceased in the US in 1988 and likely will not resume, as there is currently an adequate supply to sustain the diminishing nuclear weapons inventory. The current worldwide production of 3He is estimated at 8 kiloliters per year.
US government plans to equip major seaports with large area neutron detectors, in an effort to intercept the smuggling of nuclear materials, have precipitated a critical shortage of 3He gas. It is estimated that the annual demand of 3He for US security applications alone is 22 kiloliters, more than the worldwide supply. This is strongly limiting the prospects of neutron science, safeguards, and other applications that rely heavily on 3He-based detectors. Clearly, alternate neutron detection technologies that can support large sensitive areas, have low gamma sensitivity, and low cost must be developed.
The background to the present invention and related art is best understood by reference to Applicant's own prior work, including in particularly, U.S. Pat. No. 7,002,159 B2 (the '159) entitled "Boron Coated Straw Neutron Detector" which issued Feb. 21, 2006. The '159 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, for all purposes, including, but not limited to, supplying background and enabling those skilled in the art to understand, make and use in Applicant's present invention.
Applicant's other issued patents and pending applications may also be relevant, including: (1) U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,747 entitled "Method for Preparing a Physiological Isotonic Pet Radiopharmaceutical of 62CU"; (2) U.S. Pat. No. 6,078,039 entitled "Segmental Tube Array High Pressure Gas Proportional Detector for Nuclear Medicine Imaging"; (3) U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,597 entitled "Intravascular Radiotherapy Employing a Safe Liquid Suspended Short-Lived Source"; (4) U.S. Pat. No. 6,483,114 Dl entitled "Positron Camera"; (5) U.S. Pat. No. 6,486,468 entitled "High Resolution, High Pressure Xenon Gamma Rays Spectroscopy Using Primary and Stimulated Light Emissions"; (6) U.S. Pat. No. 7,002,159 B2 (the '159) entitled "Boron Coated Straw Neutron Detector"; (7) U.S. Pat. No. 7,078,704 entitled "Cylindrical Ionization Detector with a Resistive Cathode and External Readout"; (8) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/571,202, entitled "Miniaturized 62Zn/62CU Generator for High Concentration and Clinical Deliveries of 62CU Kit Formulation for the Facile Preparation of Radiolabeled Cu-bis(thiosemicarbazone) Compound"; (9) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/483,771 entitled "Long Range Neutron-Gamma Point Source Detection and Imaging Using Rotating Detector"; (10) U.S. Patent Application No. 61/183,106 entitled "Optimized Detection of Fission Neutrons Using Boron Coated Straw Detectors Distributed in Moderator Material"; (11) U.S. Patent Application No. 61/333,990 entitled "Neutron Detectors for Active Interrogation"; and (12) U.S. Patent Application No. 61/334,015 entitled "Nanogenerator." Each of these listed patents and applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

Optimized detection of fission neutrons using boron coated straw detectors distributed in moderator material


A device for enhancing and processing printed cardboard, cardboard packaging, paperboard, paper or similar substrates (2), especially designed for a rotational stamping process, wherein the substrate (2) can be introduced in between two rotating processing cylinders (4, 5) in an advance direction (A) and is processed as it passes there through by tool parts (7, 8) acting in a working gap (6). The inventive device (1; 1xe2x80x2; 1xe2x80x3; 1xe2x80x2xe2x80x3) is provided with a processing cylinder (4) having at least one gripper (9) for register-controlled conveyance of the substrate (2).

The invention concerns a device for punching printed cardboard, cardboard packagings, envelopes or similar subtates in accordance with the independent claim.
Conventional devices for processing printed substrates (U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,083) are formed as an integral part of a printing machine for processing sheets, wherein a printed substrate to be punched is inserted, via sliding elements, between rotating rollers and is processed by punching tool parts located on the roller peripheral surface. A register-controlled superposition of the printing with the finishing step is very difficult from a technical point of view and the processing accuracy is adversely affected.
The invention addresses the problem of creating a device for punching printed material, in particular packaging means or similar substrates, which can be used as an additional construction unit for almost any printing machine, which improves the processing accuracy in sheet printing through precise positional transfer of the substrate, and which can be rapidly adjusted to changed processing shapes as well as different substrates.
The invention achieves this object with a device having the features characterizing the independent claim. Further substantial design features are given in the dependent claims.
The inventive device for punching previously printed substrates has two conventional processing rollers, at least one of which has a gripper proximate its peripheral tool part to grasp the printed sheet, which is to be transported as a substrate, in a register-controlled fashion and introduce same into a register-controlled transport position between the processing rollers.
The rotating processing rollers and integrated gripper form a functional unit and the device therefore permits punching of the substrate during the same production sequence in which printing occurs. The range of applications of the device can also be augmented by embossing and/or perforation procedures. The substrate can be directly processed by a printing machine disposed upstream of the device in such a manner that this printing machine and the finishing device can be operated synchronously at high speed. The printed image and processing shape of the subsequent tool parts are thereby superposed in a register-controlled fashion and with improved accuracy. Different substrates can be processed with changed processing shapes after short retooling times such that the overall productivity of the processing sequence is increased by combining processing procedures.

Device for processing printed packaging or similar substrates


Disclosed is a technology being implemented in an apparatus for depositing multiple layers of a stream of swarf particles. The stream of swarf particles is generated by interfacing a cutting abrasive wheel on a workpiece. The generated stream of swarf particles may be directed towards a cavity of a die. Multiple layers of stream of swarf particles further results in a 3D printed object that takes the shape of the cavity of the die. The apparatus may also be used to coat substrates. Substrates may include but not limited to metal surfaces, polymers, and ceramics.

In the domain of surface engineering, there are several techniques available to perform 3D printing such as Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and Selected Laser Melting (SLM) printing technology. It has been observed that using the aforementioned techniques for 3D printing may lead to various challenges. For example, the techniques have to be performed in a tightly controlled atmosphere and high-power laser beam needs to be directed in order facilitate adhesion of powder onto the surface of a substrate. In addition to the above, the powder used for 3D printing is expensive thereby leading to the increase in the overall cost of the 3D printing.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Technology and process for 3D printing using swarf particles


According to an embodiment of the present invention, an automated computer implemented system aggregates foreign exchange data and graphically commingles a franchise price and an aggregated price. The system comprises a computer processor coupled to a storage mechanism, an aggregator server, an orders server and an interactive user interface. The computer processor is programmed to: aggregate data from a plurality of market data sources representing a plurality of different underlying markets; generate an aggregated price based on the aggregate data; generate a price attributed to a franchise entity; and provide, via the interactive user interface, an aggregate price in a first graphical representation and a franchise price in a second graphical representation.

A foreign exchange aggregator or FX Aggregator is a class of systems used in a foreign exchange market to aggregate the liquidity from several liquidity providers. Aggregators usually allow FX traders to compare price from different liquidity venues such as banks-global market makers or Electronic Communication Networks (ECNs) and to have a consolidated view of the market. Aggregators also allow traders to trade with many participants using a trading terminal. Some systems support order sweeping. This involves splitting an order into the chunks which then are sent to the respective counterparties based on the price, time and other attributes of the quotes. Other systems route an entire order to a single liquidity provider, who may be selected by an order routing algorithm embedded into an aggregator.
The foreign exchange market represents a global decentralized market for the trading of currencies. This may include various aspects of buying, selling and exchanging currencies at current or determined prices. The foreign exchange market does not determine the relative values of different currencies, but sets the current market price of the value of one currency as demanded against another.
In general, market liquidity is a market's ability to purchase or sell an asset without causing drastic change in the asset's price. In other words, an asset's market liquidity describes the asset's ability to sell quickly, without having to significantly reduce its price. Liquidity also represents the speed of the sale and the price it can be sold for. In the case of shares of stock, liquidity represents how easily the stock can be converted to cash.
Market depth is an electronic list of buy and sell orders, organized by price level and updated to reflect real-time market activity. This information may be useful to traders because it shows where the price is now and also where it is likely to be in the near future.
Different markets have different value propositions. For example, FX is a volatile and fragmented but can be a profitable market. An important element is the ability to access liquidity for clients.
Current approaches fail provide an accurate and comprehensive view of liquidity in FX markets. These and other drawbacks exist.

Method and system for commingling aggregate prices and franchise prices


A resin composition for golf balls is made of (A) polyurethane or polyurea and (B) an acrylic resin or a methacrylic resin, component (B) being included in an amount of from 0.5 to 50 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of component (A). In a golf ball having a core and a cover of one or more layer encasing the core, at least one cover layer is formed of this resin composition. The resin composition is especially useful as a golf ball cover material because it makes it possible to achieve a higher ball initial velocity on shots with a driver and a lower ball initial velocity on approach shots.

The chief characteristic demanded of golf balls is an increased distance, although other desired properties include the ability of the ball to stop well on approach shots and scuff resistance. Many golf balls endowed with a good flight on shots with a driver and a good receptivity to backspin on approach shots have hitherto been developed. In addition, golf ball cover materials possessing a high resilience and a good scuff resistance have been developed.
Today, urethane resin materials are often used in place of ionomer resin materials as the cover material, especially for professional golfers and skilled amateur golfers. However, professional golfers and skilled amateur golfers desire golf balls having even better controllability on approach shots, and so further improvement is sought even among cover materials in which a urethane resin material serves as the base resin. JP-A 2017-113220 discloses a golf ball resin material which includes, as a cover material that endows the ball with excellent controllability around the green when played with a short iron such as a sand wedge (SW) and can also extend the distance traveled by the ball on shots with a driver, a specific styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer and a thermoplastic resin having on the molecule either styrene monomer units or diene monomer units. Also, JP-A 2016-119946 discloses a resin material for golf balls that provides the ball with excellent controllability when hit around the green with a short iron such as a sand wedge.
However, even with such golf ball resin materials, it has not been possible to extend the ball distance by increasing the initial velocity on shots with a driver while also obtaining a high controllability by way reducing the initial velocity on approach shots. Hence, there remains room for further improvement in ball performance, both on shots with a driver and on approach shots.

Resin composition for golf balls, and golf ball