Disclosed herein is a method of surface-functionalizing a porous organic-inorganic hybrid material or a organic-inorganic mesoporous material, in which organic substances, inorganic substances, ionic liquids and organic-inorganic hybrid substances are selectively functionalized on the coordinatively unsaturated metal sites of a porous organic-inorganic hybrid material or organic-inorganic mesoporous material, and thus the porous organic-inorganic hybrid material can be used for adsorbents, gas storage devices, sensors, membranes, functional thin films, catalysts, catalytic supports, and the like, and the applications of the surface-functionalized porous organic-inorganic hybrid material prepared using the method to catalytic reactions.

Generally, coordinatively unsaturated metal sites are the locations where water or organic solvents are removed and thus organic metal compounds can form covalent or coordinate bonds.
A porous organic-inorganic hybrid material, is defined as a porous organic-inorganic polymer compound, formed by bonding an organic ligand with a central metal ion, and it is a crystalline compound which includes both organic building blocks and inorganic substances in its backbone structure and has a molecular-sized or a nano-sized pore structure. A porous organic-inorganic hybrid material is a broadly defined term, and generally refers to as a porous coordination polymer (Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed., 43, 2334. 2004), and also refers to as a metal-organic framework (Chem. Soc. Rev., 32, 276, 2003). Research into these materials has been newly advanced through the combination of the molecular engineering and material science. Furthermore, these materials have a large surface area, and molecular-sized or nano-sized pores, and can thus be used for adsorbents, gas storage materials, sensors, membranes, functional thin films, catalysts, catalytic supports, and the like. Accordingly, in recent years, research into these materials has been actively conducted.
An organic-inorganic mesoporous hybrid material is defined as an ordered molecular structure having a mesopore distribution in the range of 2 to 50 nm which is substituted with dissimilar metals, and thus has a coordinatively unsaturated metal sites. It was reported (Chem. Rev. 97, 2373, 1997) that the organic-inorganic hybrid mesoporous material can be widely applied to catalysts, catalytic supports, adsorbents and functional materials.
The general surface functionalizing methods for imparting applicability to the organic-inorganic mesoporous material having a large surface area, were reported in a research paper (Curr. Opin. Solid State Mater. Sci. 3, 71, 1998, Chem. Lett. 6, 624, 2000). The method involves bonding on the surface of a porous organic-inorganic hybrid material or mesoporous material by the covalent bond between an organic metal compound, for example, organic silaneand a previously-prepared hydroxide group (—OH) of the surface of it. In addition to the said method, a method of directly functionalizing the surface of a hybrid material by mixing an organic silane compound with a precursor of the mesoporous material was reported (J. Mater. Chem. 16, 1125, 2006).—Si—OH+RxM(OR)4−x(1≦x≦3)→—Si—O-M(OR)3−xRx+ROH  (Reaction Equation 1)
However, methods of selectively functionalizing the coordinatively unsaturated metal sites of the porous organic-inorganic hybrid material having few or no hydroxyl groups on the surface thereof, or the coordinatively unsaturated metal sites of the organic-inorganic mesoporous material substituted with dissimilar metals have not been reported yet.
Meanwhile, various heterogeneous catalytic reactions using organic-inorganic nano hybrid material itself have been reported recently (J. Mater. Chem. 16, 626, 2006). However, the heterogeneous catalytic reactions conducted by functionalizing the coordinatively unsaturated metal sites of a porous organic-inorganic hybrid material have not been reported so far.

Preparation of surface functionalized porous organic-inorganic hybrid materials or mesoporous materials with coordinatively unsaturated metal sites and catalytic applications thereof

Korean Research Institute of Chemical Technology


In the optical fiber collimator according to the invention, a transparent block having a refractive index that is substantially the same as the refractive indices of the lens and optical fiber is disposed between the lens and ferrule so that the block contacts the lens, ferrule, and optical fiber. The thickness of the block in the direction of beam transmission is set to be the same as the distance to the focal point from the end surface of the lens that is determined by the diameter and refractive index of the lens and the refractive index of the block.

When high-speed large-capacity optical fiber communication systems are built, numerous optical devices are used. Such devices include devices that extract an optical signal of an arbitrary wavelength from an optical signal obtained by multiplexing a plurality of wavelengths, devices that use an optical crystal for matching the phase of the optical signal, and the like, and numerous optical fiber collimators which convert an optical signal emitted and spread from an optical fiber into parallel beams or which cause parallel beams to collect in an optical fiber.
The main function of such optical fiber collimators is to propagate parallel beams for a desired distance without attenuation. Low insertion loss and high return loss are generally desired.
In order to realize such low insertion loss and high return loss, methods are often used in which anti-reflective coatings are provided on the entire lens surface and the end surface of an optical fiber. Alternatively, the end surface of an optical fiber close to a lens is diagonally disposed in order to obtain a higher return loss such that the reflected beam is reflected to the outside from the optical fiber core.
The optical fiber collimator shown in FIG. 4 (see JP-A-2004-302453), for example, has been known as a conventional optical fiber collimator of this type in which the end surface of the optical fiber is diagonally disposed. The optical fiber collimator 101 shown in FIG. 4 comprises a partially spherical lens 102 that has beam-transmitting spherical surfaces 102a having the same radius of curvature at both ends of the cylindrical part, a tube 103 which contains an optical fiber 104 whose end surface 104a is inclined, and an eccentric sleeve 105 that has an passageway 105a for attaching the partially spherical lens 102 and tube 103. Furthermore, the central axis Z of the parallel beam emitted from the partially spherical lens 102 is within a radial range of 0.02 mm centered on the central axis B of the outer circumferential surface of the eccentric sleeve 105, and has an angle of 0.2° or less with respect to the central axis B of the outer circumferential surface of the eccentric sleeve 105.
With this optical fiber collimator 101, a high return loss can be obtained because the end surface 104a of the optical fiber 104 is inclined. Here, if the end surface 104a of the optical fiber 104 is inclined, the following problem arises: namely, a beam is emitted from the end surface 104a of the optical fiber 104 in a diagonal direction with respect to the central axis A of the partially spherical lens 102 in accordance with the law of refraction; as a result, in the parallel beam emitted from the partially spherical lens 102, an eccentricity δ is generated between the central axis Z of this parallel beam and the central axis A of the partially spherical lens 102. When an eccentricity δ is generated between the central axis Z of the parallel beam and the central axis A of the partially spherical lens 102, in cases where mutually facing optical fiber collimators are aligned with reference to the external diameter, a lack of alignment of the central axis Z of the parallel beams becomes a problem. However, in the case of the optical fiber collimator 101 shown in FIG. 4, because the central axis Z of the parallel beam emitted from the partially spherical lens 102 is within a radial range of 0.02 mm centered on the central axis B of the outer circumferential surface of the eccentric sleeve 105, and has an angle of 0.2° or less with respect to the central axis B of the outer circumferential surface of the eccentric sleeve 105, in cases where mutually facing optical fiber collimators 101 are aligned with reference to the external diameter, the central axes Z of the parallel beams substantially coincide.
However, it is difficult to set the optical axis Z of the parallel beam emitted from the partially spherical lens 102 within a radial range of 0.02 mm centered on the central axis B of the outer circumferential surface of the eccentric sleeve 105, and also within an angle of 0.2° with respect to the central axis B of the outer circumferential surface of the eccentric sleeve 105. Therefore, there is a problem in that the central axes Z of the parallel beams may not coincide in cases where mutually facing optical fiber collimators 101 are aligned with reference to the external diameter.
In contrast, the device shown in FIG. 5 (see the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,874), for example, has been known as an optical fiber rod lens device which realizes a low insertion loss and high return loss, and which eliminates the eccentricity of the central axis of parallel beam emitted from the lens with respect to the central axis of the lens. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the basic construction of a conventional optical fiber rod lens device.
The optical fiber rod lens device 201 shown in FIG. 5 comprises an optical fiber 202 consisting of a core 202a and a cladding 202b surrounding the core 202a, and a convergent rod lens 203 connected to the end surface of the optical fiber 202. Furthermore, the optical fiber 202 and rod lens 203 are designed to be connected to each other by fusion such that the central axes of these parts are aligned with each other.
With this optical fiber rod lens device 201, because the optical fiber 202 and rod lens 203 are connected to each other by fusion such that the central axes of these parts are aligned with each other, it is possible to realize a low insertion loss and high return loss and to eliminate the eccentricity of the central axis of parallel beam emitted from the lens with respect to the central axis of the lens.
However, in this optical fiber rod lens device 201, because the optical fiber 202 and rod lens 203 are connected to each other by fusion, the need for a large-scale manufacturing apparatus such as a CO2 laser and arc discharge apparatus is a problem.
In contrast, the optical connector shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B (see JP-A-5-113519), for example, has been known as an optical connector which realizes a low insertion loss and high return loss, which eliminates the eccentricity of the central axis of parallel beam emitted from the lens with respect to the central axis of the lens, and which does not require any large-scale manufacturing apparatus. FIGS. 6A and 6B show a conventional optical connector; FIG. 6A is a sectional view, and FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram of the optical connector in a use state.
The optical connector 301 shown in FIG. 6A comprises a connector main body 310, an optical fiber 320, and a spherical lens 330. The connector main body 310 is formed from an opaque resin or the like. The connector main body 310 is provided with a circular conic opening 311 that holds the lens 330, an optical fiber receiving opening 312 that is bored so that its central axis coincides with the central axis of the circular conic opening 311, and alignment openings 313 that are used during mating with a mating optical connector 301 (see FIG. 6B). Furthermore, the optical fiber 320 is inserted into the optical fiber receiving opening 312 from the opposite side of the circular conic opening 311, and is fastened in place by an adhesive. The fastening of the optical fiber 320 is accomplished so that the position of the end of the optical fiber 320 is at the focal point of the optical system that is determined by the diameter and refractive index of the lens 330 and the refractive index of a photocurable resin 340 (described later). Moreover, the silicone buffer 321 and jacket 322 of the optical fiber 320 are also bonded and fastened to the connector main body 310.
Meanwhile, a transparent photocurable resin 340 having substantially the same refractive index as those of the optical fiber 320 and lens 330 is injected into the circular conic opening 311, and the lens 330 is inserted on top of this so that this lens 330 contacts the wall of the circular conic opening 311, thus fastening this lens in place by photocuring of the photocurable resin.
As is shown in FIG. 6B, this optical connector 301 is positioned, abutted, and fastened to the mating connector 301 by the alignment openings 313 and guide pins 314. Furthermore, a beam emitted from the optical fiber 320 of one optical connector 301 passes through the transparent photocurable resin 340, is converted into parallel beams by the lens 330, enters the lens 330 of the other mating optical connector 301, is focused by this lens, further passes through the photocurable resin 340, and is caused to converge at the end surface of the optical fiber 320.
In this optical connector 301, because the optical fiber 320 and lens 330 are fastened by the transparent photocurable resin 340 having substantially the same refractive index as those of the optical fiber 320 and lens 330, a low insertion loss and high return loss can be realized. Moreover, the optical fiber insertion and fiber receiving opening 312 is bored so that the central axis of this fiber receiving opening 312 coincides with the central axis of the circular conic opening 311, and the optical axis of the optical fiber 320 coincides with the central axis of the spherical lens 330; therefore, it is possible to eliminate the eccentricity of the central axis of the parallel beam emitted from the lens 330 with respect to the central axis of the lens 330. In addition, because there is no need to connect the optical fiber 320 and lens 330 by fusion, a large-scale manufacturing apparatus such as an arc discharge apparatus is not required.
However, the following problems have been encountered in this conventional optical connector 301 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B.
Specifically, the optical fiber 320 is fastened to the connector main body 310 so that the position of the end of the optical fiber 320 is the focal point of the optical system in this optical connector 301. However, there is no mechanism for positioning the optical fiber 320 in the direction of optical axis. Accordingly, when this optical fiber 320 is fastened to the connector main body 310, it is necessary to determine the position of the tip end of the optical fiber 320 while optically monitoring this optical fiber, so that there is a problem in that it is difficult to position the optical fiber in such a manner that the position of the end of the optical fiber 320 is the focal position of the optical system.
Furthermore, the photocurable resin 340 that fastens the lens 330 to the wall of the circular conic opening 311 is injected into the circular conic opening 311 and cured by photocuring after the lens 330 is inserted on top of this resin. Therefore, there is a danger that gas or foreign matter will be mixed in. If gas or foreign matter is mixed into the photocurable resin 340, there is a problem in that beam is scattered when passing though the photocurable resin 340, so that the transmitted beam is attenuated.
Moreover, because the optical fiber 320 is directly inserted into the fiber receiving opening 312, accidents occur in some cases such as breakage of the optical fiber 320 during handling.


In an inductor having a core and first and second coils wound upon the core, the wire of the first coil and the wire of the second coil lie are wound so as to lie parallel to each other and contact the core. The winding starting position of the first coil is made to coincide with the winding starting position of the second coil along the axial direction of the core and is offset from the winding starting position of the second coil along the winding direction of the core. As a result, the area factor of the coils in the winding area of the inductor can be improved and the size of the inductor reduced.

Use of lower voltages and higher currents in switching power supplies is now a definite trend that is attendant upon a decline in voltage and increase in capacity of the internal power supplies of information devices in recent years.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view useful in describing the typical structure of an inductor used in a switching power supply, and FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the inductor of FIG. 1. By way of example, an example of the structure of such an inductor is described in the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-307364.
An inductor 1 of the kind shown in FIG. 1 includes a columnar core 3 (this will be referred to simply as a "core 3" below) of a bobbin 2 comprising an electrical insulator. After a coil 4 is wound upon the core 3, both ends of the coil are connected to pin-shaped terminals. Furthermore, the core 3 is a hollow columnar body. As shown in the bottom view of the inductor 1 of FIG. 2, well-known E-shaped cores 6 (each referred to simply as a "core 6" below) are inserted symmetrically into two insertion openings 5 of the core 3.
Further, FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a development of the surface of the core 3. The coil 4, which is formed by wire having a certain wire width, indicates an area occupied on the core surface. It should be noted that the wire width is equal to the width dimension of the wire projected onto the core surface when the wire is wound upon the core. For example, if the cross section of the wire is rectangular and the wire is wound in such a manner that one side thereof contacts the core, as illustrated in the schematic view of the core cross section shown in FIG. 4, the wire width will be equal to the width dimension of the wire. Similarly, if the cross section is circular, then the diameter will be the wire width. The wire width, therefore, is δ2 in FIG. 3. The cross-sectional shape of the core 3 is represented by a square shape for explanatory purposes.
In a conventional low-voltage, large-current inductor, wire having a large cross section is used for the coil in order to lower resistance to conduction. The conventional inductor 1 shown in FIG. 3 is such that when the wire is wound upon the core, wire having a wire width that will just fall within the length (winding-area width W) of the core along the axial direction thereof is selected appropriately to thereby assure that the cross-sectional area of the wire will be as large as possible.
It should be noted that A and B in FIG. 3 respectively illustrate a position at which the wire first makes contact with the core 3 and starts being wound upon the core 3, and a position at which winding of the wire ends and departs from the core 3. These positions will be referred to as winding starting (and end) positions. The length of one wire that occupies the core along the axial direction thereof when the wire has been wound is defined as the wire pitch (also referred to simply as "pitch"). The pitch of the wire of coil 4 in FIG. 3, therefore, is δ2. Furthermore, the direction along which the wire is wound upon the core is defined as the winding direction of the core. In FIG. 3, this indicates a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the core.
However, even if wire having a large cross section is used, as described above, an empty space remains in the vicinity of the winding starting position or wiring end position on the core 3. FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic view of the core 3. Here the area other than the area occupied by the coil 4 in FIG. 3 is represented by a hatched area X2. As indicated by the hatched area X2 in FIG. 5, an empty space remains near the winding starting position or wiring end position on the core 3 and the area factor (area occupation ratio) of the winding area (W) by the coil declines. The result is an inductor of greater size.


An improved driving circuit for a large-current radiator avoids the need to dissipate large powers in the driving circuit by drawing a certain energy value from a power supply to a storage capacitor and then feeding this energy to the radiating antenna. A constant current source provides, when a switching circuit coupled to the radiator is opened, a current to counter the tendency of the radiator otherwise to maintain continuity of current through the switching circuit, keeping to a minimum the voltage across the switching circuit so that essentially no energy will need to be dissipated in the driving circuit. By choosing the stored energy value carefully one can make it just large enough to cover the radiated energy but leave essentially no energy to be dissipated in the radiator driving circuit.

This invention provides an improvement to the large-current radiator described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,267. The original radiator of that patent feeds energy to an antenna that radiates it. At certain times there is little or no radiation and the energy is dissipated in the active elements of the driving circuit; the active elements are typically transistors, light activated semiconductor switches (LASS), or electron tubes known as pulsatrons. The active elements must be designed to tolerate the largest dissipation of the energy. The need to dissipate rather than to radiate energy is a drawback for a number of reasons. A driving circuit is disclosed which drastically reduces the energy that needs to be dissipated.

Efficient driving circuit for large-current radiator


A paddling tool for moving material along the ground having an elongated handle with a freely pivoting blade on one end that pivots to engage the ground as the user pulls material along the ground by pulling the paddling tool through a paddling stroke alongside the user's body.

One of the perpetual and tedious chores of a homeowner in the northern climates is to rake leaves and to remove snow from the sidewalks and driveways. Snow removal often requires one to shovel the snow off the sidewalk by lifting and throwing the snow off the sidewalk. Unfortunately, the human body sometimes balks at the strain of shoveling snow in the cold weather, resulting in heart failure that may lead to death. The present invention is directed to an improved rake and shovel tool that enables the user to remove leaves or snow in a paddling action that considerably reduces the strain on the human body.


A nano-scale flash memory comprises: (a) source and drain regions in a plurality of approximately parallel first wires, the first wires comprising a semiconductor material, the source and drain regions separated by a channel region; (b) gate electrodes in a plurality of approximately parallel second wires, the second wires comprising either a semiconductor material or a metal, the second wires crossing the first wires at a non-zero angle over the channel regions, to form an array of nanoscale transistors; and (c) a hot electron trap region at each intersection of the first wires with the second wires. Additionally, crossed-wire transistors are provided that can either form a configurable transistor or a switch memory bit that is capable of being set by application of a voltage. The crossed-wire transistors can be formed in a crossbar array.

The present invention is directed generally to electronic devices whose functional length scales are measured in nanometers, and, more particularly, to configurable transistors based on crossed nanometer-scale wires. Such configurable transistors find use, for example as nanometer-scale memories, and, more particularly, as flash memories at a nanometer scale.
Flash memories are well-known; see, for example, a discussion of NAND flash memories by Jung-Dal Choi et al, xe2x80x9cHighly Manufacturable 1 Gb NAND Flash Using 0.12 xcexcm Process Technologyxe2x80x9d, International Electron Devices Meeting, Dec. 2-5, 2001, as reprinted in IEDM Technical Digest, pp. 2.1.1-2.1.4. All such flash memories are fabricated at the micrometer scale, using lithographic processes. By xe2x80x9cmicrometerxe2x80x9d scale is meant that the functional dimension is measured in micrometers (typically about 1 micrometer down to tenths of micrometers).
The density of such micrometer-scale flash memories is insufficient for ever-increasing needs for more memory in less area/volume.
Nanometer-scale memory devices are also known; see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,214, entitled xe2x80x9cMolecular Wire Crossbar Memoryxe2x80x9d, issued to Philip J. Kuekes et al on Oct. 3, 2000, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Nanometer-scale semiconductor devices, such as field effect transistors (FETs), p-n diodes, bipolar junction transistors, and complementary inverters, are also known; see, e.g., (1) application Ser. No. 09/699,269, filed Oct. 26, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,559,468, issued May 6, 2003, which is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 09/280,188, filed Mar. 29, 1999, now abandoned, entitled xe2x80x9cMolecular Wire Transistor (MWT)xe2x80x9d and filed in the names of Philip J. Kuekes et al and assigned to the same assignee as the present application; Yu Huang et al, xe2x80x9cLogic Gates and Computation from Assembled Nanowire Building Blocksxe2x80x9d, science, Vol. 294, Issue 5545, pp. 1313-1317 (Nov. 9, 2001); and (3) Adrian Bachtold et al, xe2x80x9cLogic Circuits with Carbon Nanotube Transistorsxe2x80x9d, Science. Vol. 294, Issue 5545, pp. 1317-1320 (Nov. 9, 2001). However, these references do not disclose memory devices.
Thus, there remains a need for a nano-scale flash memory, employing nano-scale transistor devices.
In accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein, a nano-scale flash memory is provided, comprising:
(a) source and drain regions in a plurality of approximately parallel first wires of nanometer-scale diameter, the first wires comprising a semiconductor material, the source and drain regions separated by a channel region;
(b) gate electrodes in a plurality of approximately parallel second wires of nanometer-scale diameter, the second wires comprising either a semiconductor material or a metal, the second wires crossing the first wires at a closest distance of nanometer scale dimensions between the second wires and the first wires, and at a non-zero angle over the channel regions, to form an array of nanoscale transistors; and
(c) a hot electron trap region, associated with each intersection of the first wires with the second wires, for controlling conductance of an associated transistor.
The disclosed embodiments solve the problem of making a flash memory at a very high density, in which the spacing between bits is on the order of a few nanometers. An extremely regular and therefore inexpensive assembly process is used.
Also in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein, a configurable nanowire transistor is provided, comprising (a) a pair of crossed nanowires, one of the nanowires comprising a semiconductor material having a first conductivity and the other nanowire comprising either a metal or a second semiconductor material, and (b) a dielectric or molecular species to trap and hold hot electrons. The nanoscale wire transistor either forms a configurable transistor or a switch memory bit that is capable of being set by application of a voltage that is larger in absolute magnitude than any voltage at which the transistor operates. The pair of wires cross at a closest distance of nanometer scale dimensions and at a non-zero angle.
A method is provided for fabricating the nano-scale wire transistor, which comprises providing a first nano-wire, providing a second nano-wire, causing the first and second nano-wires to cross at a closest distance of nanometer scale dimensions and at a non-zero angle, and providing the hot electron trap region associated with the transistor.
Further, a crossbar array of the foregoing crossed-wire devices is provided.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


System and methods are provided for driving one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) to reduce audible noise. An example system includes a switching component, a system controller, and a current generator. The switching component is configured to receive a dimming signal with a predetermined dimming frequency and configured to switch on or off the one or more LEDs in response to the dimming signal, the predetermined dimming frequency being outside a frequency band of the audible noise. The system controller is configured to receive a feedback signal related to a LED current that flows through the one or more LEDs and configured to generate a drive signal. Additionally, the current generator is configured to receive the drive signal, to generate a charging current to store energy during a charging period and to generate the LED current during a discharging period.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are widely used in portable devices (e.g., cell phones) for various applications. For example, white LEDs (WLEDs) are often used for backlighting liquid crystal display (LCD) screens and dimming keypads in portable devices. Under many circumstances, it is important to have uniform color/luminous intensity across an LCD screen. Because color and luminous intensity of an LED depend on an average current flowing through the LED, all LEDs used for backlighting the LCD screen usually need to have similar average currents to keep color/luminous uniformity.
There are many approaches for current matching of LEDs. For example, conventionally, multiple LED strings may be used in parallel, where each LED string is connected with a current sink. Current matching is achieved through trimming the current sinks. As another example, a power converter, e.g., a boost converter, can be used to drive multiple LED strings for current matching. A pulse-frequency-modulation (PFM) topology may be implemented in the power converter.
The PFM converter can operate with different switching frequencies depending on load conditions. For example, the switching frequency of the PFM converter is higher for a heavy load than that for a light load. One disadvantage of the PFM converter is that audible noise may be generated when the switching frequency is very low under a light-load/no-load condition. A pulse-width-modulation (PWM) topology, which often uses a fixed frequency, may be implemented in the power converter to reduce audible noise. However, it too has a number of disadvantages. Efficiency of a PWM converter, for example, is often much lower than that of the PFM converter. Also, the PWM converter usually needs bulky external components which are not suitable for portable devices. In addition, when a power converter is used to drive multiple LED strings, audible noise may be generated from voltage ripples when the LED strings need different output voltages and have different duty cycles.
An improved method to drive LEDs using a power converter (e.g., a PFM power converter) with reduced audible noise is highly desirable.

Systems and methods for driving light emitting diodes


A method for manufacturing a patterned bottom electrode in a piezoelectric device comprises the steps of providing a basic material and producing a layer structure of a conductive material on the basic material. A protective layer is applied on the layer structure over an area. Thereafter, a planarization layer is applied on the protective layer and on the basic material. A portion of the protective layer is then exposed by patterning the planarization layer. Subsequently, the pattern is planarized by removing the portions of the planarization layer remaining outside the portion such that the protective layer laterally abuts on the planarization layer in a flush manner and forms a planar surface. The protective layer is then removed along with a corresponding part of the planarization layer laterally arranged in a flush manner. This results in the layer structure and the remaining planarization layer forming a planar surface.

Radio-frequency filters based on BAW resonators are of great interest for many RF applications. There are two concepts for BAW resonators, on the one hand the so-called thin-film BAW resonator (FBAR), and so-called solidly mounted resonators (SMRs). Thin-film BAW resonators include a membrane on which a layer sequence consisting of a lower electrode, a piezoelectric layer and an upper electrode is arranged. The acoustic resonator is formed by reflection at the upper side and at the lower side of the membrane. In the alternative concept of solidly mounted resonators, an SMR includes a substrate, such as, for example, a silicon substrate, on which the layer sequence consisting of the lower electrode, the piezoelectric layer and the upper electrode is arranged. In order to keep the acoustic waves in the active region in this design, a so-called acoustic mirror is required. It is located between the active layers, i.e. the two electrodes and the piezoelectric layer, and the substrate.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a solidly mounted resonator having a patterned mirror known from the prior art. A substrate 300 is shown, at the upper surface 304 of which an oxide layer 324 is deposited into which a trench or recess 326 is introduced. Further intermediate layers may be provided between the oxide layer 324 and the substrate 300. The acoustic mirror including a layer sequence comprising a first layer 306a1 having a high acoustic impedance, a layer 306b having a low acoustic impedance and a layer 306a2 having a high acoustic impedance is formed in the trench 326. On the surface of the resulting pattern, an insulation layer 308 on at least parts of which the lower electrode 310 is formed is deposited. The portion of the insulation layer 308 not covered by the lower electrode 310 is covered by another insulation layer 328. On the insulation layer 328 and on the lower electrode 310, the piezoelectric layer 312 on parts of the surface of which in turn the upper electrode 318 is formed is formed. The portions of the piezoelectric layer 312 not covered by the upper electrode 318 and parts of the upper electrode 318 are covered by the passivation layer 314. The overlapping regions of the lower electrode 310, the piezoelectric layer 312 and the upper electrode 318 define the BAW resonator 322.
In both concepts for BAW resonators, the deposition of a piezoelectric layer on a patterned bottom electrode is required, the bottom electrode being exemplarily made of a metal. A uniform deposition is thus of crucial importance for the quality of the resonator. To allow a uniform deposition, it is desired to have a highly planar waver surface, i.e. in particular a bottom electrode having a highly planar surface, before depositing the piezoelectric layer. Thus, growth edges in the piezoelectric layer are avoided and a high quality of the piezo material is made possible. This results in a high electro-mechanical coupling and a high acoustic quality. In addition, subsequent process steps are made easier by a planar surface. This particularly applies to patterning the upper electrode.
In methods known so far, this problem is solved as follows. In order to ensure a planar surface before the piezo deposition, the following steps are taken in processes known so far. At first, the bottom electrode is patterned, wherein the bottom electrode exemplarily is made of a metallic material and the patterning takes place through an etching process. After patterning the bottom electrode, a dielectric planarization layer (exemplarily made of a silicon oxide) having a thickness of roughly the step height after etching the bottom electrode is deposited. This planarization layer is subsequently opened in the region of the bottom electrode so that a rib having a width of exemplarily 1 μm remains at the edge of the bottom electrode. The width of this rib, however, depends on the selection of the etch mask used. In a subsequent oxide CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) step, this rib is polished off, which leaves a planar surface.
This method according to the prior art is problematic in that the oxide CMP step affects the surface of the bottom electrode. This results in a so-called "dishing" effect, a local variation of the electrode thickness. This also results in local variations of the piezo layer thickness deposited on the bottom electrode. Since the resonant frequency of the BAW resonator, except for the material of the piezo layer, is basically given by the layer thickness of the piezo layer, the local variation of the electrode thickness results in a widening of the series resonance of the BAW resonator, resulting in a considerable decrease in the series quality of the BAW resonator.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a method allowing an improved manufacturing of a patterned bottom electrode in a piezoelectric device.

Method for manufacturing a patterned bottom electrode in a piezoelectric device


A method for sampling a downhole formation fluid includes pumping formation fluid into the flowline of a downhole sampling tool While pumping, a saturation pressure of the formation fluid is measured. The pumping rate is adjusted such that the fluid pressure in the flowline remains above a threshold saturation pressure.

In order to successfully exploit subterranean hydrocarbon reserves, information about the subsurface formations and formation fluids intercepted by a wellbore is generally required. This information may be obtained via sampling formation fluids during various drilling and completion operations. The fluid may be collected and analyzed, for example, to ascertain the composition and producibility of hydrocarbon fluid reservoirs.
In order to obtain a reliable characterization of the reservoir fluid, it is desirable to minimized drilling fluid contamination, for example, via pumping sampled fluid overboard until contamination levels reach an acceptably low level. Such a process can be time consuming as it sometimes requires pumping hundreds of liters of fluid overboard. Increasing the flow rate can be problematic as pumping too rapidly may reduce the flowline pressure below the saturation pressure of the fluid and thereby result in the formation of a second phase in the fluid (e.g., formation of gas bubbles or liquid condensate). Such bubble or dew formation can in turn decrease pumping efficiency and may further degrade optical spectroscopy measurements used to determine fluid contamination.
There is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for pumping formation fluid as rapidly as possible without drawing the flowline pressure below the saturation pressure of the fluid.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Flowline saturation pressure measurements


Embodiments disclose a method, computer program product, and system for optimizing computer functions. The embodiment may create a control flow graph from a computer function. The control flow graph may contain an entry block, an exit block, and basic blocks located between the entry block and the exit block. The embodiment may classify each of the basic blocks as an original heavy basic block or an original light basic block. The embodiment may classify the original heavy block, the exit block and each of the basic blocks that are located between each original heavy block and the exit block as a determined heavy block. The embodiment may create light computer functions and heavy computer functions from the computer function. Each heavy computer function contains the basic blocks classified as determined heavy. The light computer functions contains the remaining basic blocks, the exit block and calls to the heavy computer functions.

The present invention relates to computer compilers, and more particularly to splitting computer functions for more efficient operation.
Early in the history of programming, people realized that they needed to define a standard way of calling functions. This was done so that it would be possible to call a function for which you do not have definition. For example, it could be calling a function defined in a different object file or in a shared library. This convention is called the application binary interface (ABI). The ABI is needed, but it causes there to be a number of instructions to be executed every time a function is called that does not relate to the main task of the program being run. These instructions are the call overhead. In many modern programs, the call overhead is a significant portion of the run time.
A compiler is a computer program (or set of programs) that transforms source code written in a programming language (the source language) into another computer language (the target language, often having a binary form known as object code). The most common reason for converting source code is to create an executable program. The name "compiler" is primarily used for programs that translate source code from a high-level programming language to a lower level language (e.g., assembly language or machine code).
Compliers often begin to analyze a program by building a Control Flow Graph (CFG). A CFG is a visual technique that uses a directed graph possessing nodes, such as basic blocks and regions, where a basic block would be a collection of instructions and a region a collection of basic blocks. Basic Blocks are a portion of the code within a program with only one entry point and only one exit point. This makes a basic block highly amenable to analysis. Compilers usually decompose programs into their basic blocks as a first step in the analysis process. Typically, basic blocks form the vertices or nodes in a control flow graph.
In control flow graphs, a node "d" dominates a node "n" if every path from the entry node to n must go through d. A node d strictly dominates a node n if d dominates n and d does not equal n. The immediate dominator of a node n is the unique node that strictly dominates n but does not strictly dominate any other node that strictly dominates n. A dominator tree is a tree where each node's children are those nodes it immediately dominates. Because the immediate dominator is unique, it is a tree. The entry node is the root of the tree.
In control flow graphs, a region is said to be strongly connected if every vertex is reachable from every other vertex.

Reducing call overhead through function splitting

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A flash photography system of the kind performing a flash adjusting action in a mode of adjusting an aperture value, a guide number, etc. according to a distance to an object to be photographed is arranged to allow the flash adjusting action to be performed in the above-stated mode only when a combination of the object distance detected by an automatic focusing device and the focal length currently set shows a given value. If the combination fails to show the given value, the system either has the flash adjusting action performed in a manner which differs from the above-stated mode or allows the flash adjusting action to be performed in the above-stated mode by changing the focal length of a photo-taking lens.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a control system for a flash device of a camera.
2. Description of the Related Art
The known flash adjusting methods heretofore employed for flash devices of cameras of the kind using a silver-halide film include an external-metering flash adjusting method and a TTL flash adjusting method.
In accordance with the external-metering flash adjusting method, the flash device is arranged as follows: The flash device is provided with an external-metering flash adjustment sensor. Light reflected from an object to be photographed as a result of flash light emission by the flash device is received and temporally integrated by the external-metering flash adjustment sensor. When an integrated value of the reflected light reaches an apposite light quantity which is determined according to a film speed and an aperture value of the camera which have previously input to the flash device, the flash light emission by the flash device is brought to a stop. It is an advantage of this method that the flash adjustment can be carried out without having any additional device arranged within the camera for that purpose. However, this method has the following disadvantages: There arises some parallax between a photo-taking lens of the camera and the flash device. Since a light receiving angle of the external-metering flash adjustment sensor is fixed, it is impossible to cope with a change in the angle of view. There is a great influence of a background of the object. In accordance with this method, therefore, it is difficult to make the flash adjustment with a high degree of accuracy.
In the case of the TTL flash adjusting method, an image of the object which is obtained by illuminating the object with a flash device and which is projected on the surface of film is measured in light by means of a light receiving element which is disposed within the camera. The flash light emission by the flash device is brought to a stop when the quantity of light received by the light receiving element reaches an apposite level which is preset at the flash device on the basis of a film speed and an aperture value of the camera. This method permits the flash adjustment to cope with a change in the angle of view without being affected by any parallax. The flash adjustment thus can be carried out with a high degree of accuracy. Therefore, in these days, the TTL flash adjusting method is most popularly employed for a single-lens reflex camera. However, a shortcoming of that method lies in that: Since light reflected from the film surface which is very weak is to be measured, a difference in reflection factor among different film products and the influence of a background of the object which varies depending on the position and the size of the object tend to result in a flash adjustment error.
In addition to the above-stated external-metering flash adjusting method and the TTL flash adjusting method, there has been known another flash adjusting method which is the most fundamental method and which is called a flashmatic method. The flashmatic method (hereinafter referred to as DV (distance value) flash adjusting method) is as follows: An aperture value is determined for the camera by dividing the guide number (GNO.) of the flash device by information on a distance to the object which is obtained either from the flash device or from the camera. After that, the flash device is allowed to emit a flash light for an apposite exposure.
The DV flash adjusting method permits highly accurate flash adjustment without being affected by the position, the size and the background of the object. However, in a case where the flash device is arranged to have the flash adjustment automatically carried out, the DV flash adjusting method necessitates the use of highly accurate distance measuring means with the flash adjustment arranged to be dependent on the object distance information obtained from the camera, i.e., obtained from a distance ring when the photo-taking lens is in an in-focus state, because: If the range finding (distance measuring) device of the camera is of a passive type, the result of distance measurement tends to be inaccurate in a specific condition of the object. The distance measurement error increases particularly in the event of a short focal length of the photo-taking lens. Besides, the error also increases accordingly as the shooting distance to the object increases.
Meanwhile, cameras of the kind arranged to convert an optical image of an object into an electrical signal by means of an image sensor such as a CCD or the like without using any silver-halide film (hereinafter, such a camera being referred to as an electronic still camera) have recently been developed. The accuracy of the above-stated flash adjustment must be higher for the electronic still camera than for the camera of the kind using the silver-halide film, because the image sensor which is a CCD or the like has a narrower latitude than the silver-halide film. For example, the allowable flash adjustment error in the electronic still camera is within a range of .+-.1 EV while that in the silver-halide film (negative film) is .+-.5 EV.
With such a high flash adjustment accuracy required by the electronic still camera, the TTL flash adjusting method is more suitable for the electronic still camera than the external metering flash adjusting method as the former is more accurate than the latter. Assuming that the TTL flash adjusting method is applied to the electronic still camera, light reflected from the object is receivable by one of the following two conceivable methods:
(I) A method of providing a half-reflection mirror within a photo-taking optical path and arranging a light receiving sensor to receive the object's light reflected from the half-reflection mirror; and PA1 (II) a method of receiving the light reflected from an image forming plane of the CCD by means of a light receiving sensor.
However, in the case of the method (I), the half-reflection mirror arranged within the photo-taking optical path reduces the quantity of light incident on the image forming plane of the CCD. This lowers the sensitivity of a photographing operation of camera. Further, the addition of the half-reflection mirror is a spatial disadvantage.
In accordance with the method (II), the light reflected from the CCD is very weak and available only in a small amount as the image forming plane of the CCD is provided with an anti-reflection coating or the like. This makes the flash adjustment difficult.
In a case where the external metering flash adjusting method is applied to the electronic still camera with some means for increasing the accuracy of flash adjustment, this method necessitates a parallax structural arrangement and some device for controlling a light receiving angle of the light receiving sensor. This requirement results in a complex arrangement of the flash device and thus increases the size of the flash device.
Meanwhile, adoption of the DV flash adjusting method would be disadvantageous for the electronic still camera in terms of the distance measuring accuracy because the flash adjustment must be by carried out for more accurately for the electronic still camera than for the silver-halide film camera and because a photo-taking lens of the short focal length is more likely used for the electronic still camera than for the silver-halide film camera since the angle of view of the electronic still camera is little as compared with that of the silver-halide film camera.


In a display apparatus and a driving method thereof, image data corresponding to plural different positions of a display panel are added to each other, and a sum of the image data of a present frame is compared with a sum of the image data of a previous frame to determine whether an image displayed on the display panel is a still image or not. While a still image is displayed, brightness of the display panel is gradually lowered. Accordingly, the display panel may prevent occurrence of afterimages and deterioration of organic electroluminescent light emitting devices, as well as reduce power consumption.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic displays. More particularly, the present invention relates to an organic electroluminescent light emitting display device and a method of driving the organic electroluminescent light emitting display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, lightweight, slim display devices have been desirable for use as televisions, monitors, and the like, and organic electroluminescent light emitting display devices are spotlighted as one such desired display device.
In general, an organic electroluminescent light emitting display device displays images using light-emitting properties of an organic electroluminescent light emitting substance. In other words, the organic electroluminescent light emitting device includes an anode, a cathode, and a light emitting material injected between the anode and the cathode. When current is supplied between the anode and the cathode, electrons and holes are injected into the light emitting material, where electron-hole pairs are combined, thereby emitting light and displaying colors.
However, due to their driving schemes, many current organic electroluminescent light emitting display devices display afterimages, which deteriorate image display quality. It is therefore desirable to develop organic electroluminescent light emitting display devices that reduce the occurrence of afterimages.

Display apparatus and method of driving the same


The present invention relates to new methods for producing cellulose with high crystallinity by enzymatic hydrolysis and to novel cellulosic materials produced by those methods which exhibit a wide variety of DP's. The method is especially useful in producing microcrystalline celluloses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the preparation of microcrystalline cellulose products (crystallinity of at least 78%) via enzymatic hydrolysis of certain cellulosic materials. The invention further relates to the enzymatic production of said microcrystalline cellulose exhibiting high crystallinity at LOPD.
2. State of the Art
Crystalline cellulose, or MCC, defined as cellulose with a crystallinity of at least 78%, has a wide variety of applications such as tabletting excipient, anti-caking aids, filler, carrier, formation of stable dispersions (alone in co-processed forms with other materials such as CMC, whey protein and so on), source of fiber, etc., for the food, pharmacy, and cosmetic industries.
The current commercially available forms of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) are produced from a high grade of dissolving pulps and hydrolyzed to LODP of about 200-300 and contain crystallinities as measured by x-ray diffraction of greater than 78%. They are produced, as described by U.S. Pat. No. 2,978,446 to Battista, et al., by subjecting wood pulp containing amorphous and crystalline forms of cellulose to acid hydrolysis at elevated temperature, usually in 2.5 normal hydrochloric acid, on the order of 105.degree. C. or greater, for about 15 minutes to one hour, followed by mechanical disintegration of the cellulose hydrolysate. The process is generally carried out by hydrolyzing a pure grade of wood pulp with hydrochloric acid in order to prevent the formation of undesirable by-products from secondary reactions. The hydrolysis reaction removes amorphous cellulose and reduces the degree of polymerization of the cellulose chain leaving a substantially insoluble material, which is commonly referred to in the art as "level-off degree of polymerization" (LODP) cellulose.
The LODP value is dependent primarily upon the starting cellulosic material and to a lesser extent upon the severity of the hydrolyzing conditions. In general, the LODP of native cellulose fibers is in the range of between about 200-400, whereas that derived from regenerated cellulose lies in the range of from 25 to about 60.
It has been the general view of those knowledgeable about the manufacture and applications of microcrystalline cellulose powder that the only way to achieve the LODP value for a given cellulosic material, with crystallinity above about 78%, was by acid hydrolysis, as described above. This view was based primarily on the belief that only inorganic acids had the requisite reactivity and accessibility to attack the more tightly bound portions of the cellulose structure, and produce LODP cellulose at high crystallinity of 78% or more. It was previously thought that microcrystalline cellulose could not be produced at other than the LODP of the starting material.
In the prior art, although other methods of cellulose degradation, e.g., enzymatic hydrolysis, have been studied and reported such methods have not been considered appropriate for commercial microcrystalline cellulose powder production with LODP because they have not produced crystallinity above 78%.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,778 (Zabriskie), a method using cellulase for making cellulose powder suitable for tabletting was described using a pH of about 4-5 at temperatures around 50.degree. C. DP's were obtained down to about 880 or so, and the percent crystallinity reported never got above about 75%, i.e., never made microcrystalline cellulose and never achieved LODP.
Some difficulties with the acid hydrolysis method are the energy required to boil the acid, the corrosive nature of the acid, the inability to control the reaction and the inability to obtain DP's other than LODP. In addition, a problem with the previous enzymatic method is that crystallinity greater than 75% is never achieved and DP's below about 80 are not seen.
The present invention provides an enzymatic route to producing LODP MCC enzymatical for use as an alternative in the manufacture of various articles.
It is also now possible to produce MCC at greater than 78% crystallinity and greater than LODP.


A firearm magazine unloader includes an unloader housing, including right and left sides, and a bridge member; an unloading protrusion; and right, left and top flange grips. The magazine unloader can be plastic molded in one piece. Also disclosed is a method of using the magazine unloader, including positioning unloader and unloading a firearm round.

Use of semi-automatic firearms require tedious and time consuming unloading of magazines. Unloading devices are available, but are generally complicated devices, which may be difficult in use and expensive to manufacture.
As such, considering the foregoing, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for novel and improved devices and methods for unloading a firearm magazine.


A propellant system is disclosed which includes a propellant applied to at least one surface of a substrate which is in the form of a strip. The propellant strip is adhesively attached to itself in a configuration which conceals propellant within the configuration and which allows the attached strip to peel away from itself under applied forces thereby resulting in smooth and continuous exposure of propellant for burning. The system is directed to use with ejectable projectiles which are slidably disposed within a canister or casing. The propellant system is interconnected between the projectile and the canister which houses the projectile. The propellant is urged to peel, and thus expose propellant for burning, as the projectile is ejected from the canister.

1. Field
This invention relates generally to ejectable projectiles and propellants for ejecting those projectiles from casings within which they are disposed. Specifically, this invention is directed to solid propellant systems for generating gases which eject projectiles from canisters or casings at a controlled velocity.
2. State of the Art
Projectiles, such as rockets, missiles, and the like, are well-known in the aerospace and military industries. Propellants which are associated with such projectiles are also well-known. Some projectiles, such as rockets or missiles, typically comprise a warhead and an internal motor for urging the projectile forward to its target. Internal motors for driving the projectile may be of a solid propellant type, a liquid propellant type, or some other type known to those skilled in the art. Frequently, rockets, missiles, and similar projectiles are disposed within a closed-end casing or canister prior to firing. When fired, projectiles of this type must first be ejected from the canister. Projectiles which have an internal motor, i.e. rockets, must first be ejected from the canister before the rocket motor is ignited to prevent damage to the canister. Projectiles which do not have internal motors, i.e. bomblets, submunitions, flares, etc., must also be ejected from the canister for glide or free fall to a chosen target.
Solid propellant grains generally take many forms. For example, some propellants are poured into the rocket casing to fill a substantial percentage of it. Other propellant grains take the form of a carpet roll which is placed in the rocket casing end-to-end. Examples of such propellants are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,763,787 to Schultz, issued Oct. 9, 1973, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,737,348 to Schultz, issued Jun. 5, 1973, both of which disclose a double base propellant applied to both sides of a reinforcing material and rolled into a carpet-type roll. The reinforcing material provides a space between the propellant surfaces sufficient to provide a very large area of combustion. The roll is placed within a rocket motor casing so that the roll is in a cross-sectional orientation to the casing. The carpet roll is bonded to the inner casing of the rocket motor and is attached by adhesive means to a head plate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,423 to Craig, et al., issued Dec. 20, 1988, discloses the molding together of binder, fuel, oxidizer, and additives to form a propellant which may then be formed into any desired shape, including filament winding, helical roll, and carpet roll. Craig is particularly directed to molding of propellant components to achieve variable burn rates and suggests that a particular shape may help achieve a variable burn.
These and other prior art propellant grain configurations are typically designed to provide a geometrically increasing surface area of propellant for burning. That is, as the exposed surface of the propellant burns, it exposes an ever increasing surface area for burning, and the resulting generation of gas from the burning propellant increases geometrically.
Consequently, there remains a need for a propellant gas-generating system for use with ejectable projectiles which provides controlled burning of the propellant at a rate related to the displacement of the projectile. There is also a need for a propellant system which provides controlled burning as a function of the acceleration of the projectile.

Propellant gas-generation system for canister ejection


A twin lubrication oil tank filling system with a single oil fill port that prevents overfilling of both a primary oil tank and a secondary oil with a gravity fill system by directing oil primarily into the secondary oil tank by means of a special oil diverter, a float valve for the secondary oil tank that closes when the oil level in the secondary tank reaches a full level to cause additional oil flow to pour into the primary oil tank and a float valve for the primary oil tank that closes when the oil level in the primary tank reaches a full level.

A gearbox assembly to couple a prime mover to a load generally requires a lubrication system for lubricating its gears and bearings with lubrication oil. For example, an aeronautical auxiliary power unit (APU) has such a gearbox that connects a prime mover in the form of a gas turbine engine to loads such as a load compressor, electric generator and hydraulic pump. A lubrication oil tank generally mounts within the gearbox housing to provide a reservoir of such lubrication oil for the gearbox lubrication system.
Loads coupled to the gearbox may have their own lubrication system. For instance, the generator connected to such a gearbox may require lubrication by means of a lubrication system using lubrication oil stored in a lubrication oil tank. When the gearbox and generator are of such design that their lubrication systems integrate together, it is usual practice to provide a single lubrication oil tank as a reservoir for both the gearbox and the generator.
When a gearbox design requires separate oil systems for the gearbox and the generator, each system with a separate oil tank but with a common oil fill port, it is difficult to insure that both tanks fill with lubrication without overfilling one tank or the other. To prevent overfill, some means must be included for periodically filling both tanks with lubrication oil simultaneously without overfilling either.
A problem with this design has been that the float valves with internal floats to perform the tank closing operations do not perform the closing operation as required. In particular, although the valve floats generally close the tanks upon filling as required, they tend to stick in the closed position after shutting, thereby interfering with refilling of the tanks. Therefore, there is a need for valves that function to seal the generator and gearbox tanks in sequence to prevent overfilling either tank and do not stick in the closed position.


A full-tensor, gravity gradient measuring system is disclosed that is based on atom interferometry. Each axis in the three-axis measuring system is served by a different gravity gradiometer, where each gradiometer comprises three pairs of atom interferometric (AI) accelerometers. The accelerometers in each pair are mounted on opposite sides of the gradiometer's rotation axis from each other. The three AI accelerometer pairs are step-rotated, instead of being continuously rotated, thereby providing enhanced signal-to-noise performance. The three gradiometers in the overall measuring system are mounted orthogonally with respect to one another on a local-level platform, in order to achieve a full-tensor measuring system. The measuring system can be step-rotated as an overall unit around an axis perpendicular to a local level reference. The multiple levels of stepped rotation, as enabled by the atom interferometry being utilized, yields improved results with lower costs than what is achievable with some prior-art techniques.

Devices that can sense departures of their own reference frame from an "inertial reference frame" are of important practical and commercial use—for example, in the area of inertial navigation and guidance. A gravity gradiometer is one such device, which is used to measure the gradient of a gravitational field.
Some gradiometers in the prior art utilize a main sensing element. This sensing element is a metallic sphere with high-density weights located at opposite ends of a diameter. The sensing sphere or float is symmetric about this diameter. It is suspended both electrostatically and by a fluid within a hollow sphere, and is free to rotate inside. When a given mass is passed by the device, the mass pulls more on the nearer weight than on the farther. A torque is thereby exerted on the sensing sphere, and the device then exerts a counter torque just sufficient to stop the motion of the sphere. The amount of counter torque is determined by a feedback system that is calibrated to a source of electric current. Since the moments of inertia of the sensing sphere are precisely known and the counter torque is measured, the components of the gradient of the gravitational field can be inferred. This type of gradiometer, however, has its limitations which include lack of portability and rapidity.
Some other gradiometer systems in the prior art utilize an orthogonal triad of gradiometers, where each gradiometer is assigned to a different directional axis, is independently rotatable, and comprises multiple pairs of accelerometers. The accelerometer pairs that constitute a particular gradiometer are rotated around that gradiometer's axis. Any difference in the acceleration measurements between the accelerometers in a pair translates to a gravity gradient, and measurements from multiple pairs of accelerometers are combined to produce a gradiometer output. Each gradiometer of this configuration measures two of the five independent components of the total gradient tensor. Measurements from the three gradiometers are necessary to measure the entire gradient tensor.
From a hardware perspective, the gradiometer system described immediately above requires rotating six (or more) accelerometer pairs around three orthogonal axes, consequentially requiring multiple motors, bearings, and slip rings. Because of the complement of hardware required, it is relatively costly to engineer a low failure rate with high signal-to-noise performance for this type of gradiometer system. Additionally, the accelerometers that are utilized are typically under-damped, thereby making the gradiometers very fragile and sensitive to small disturbances in the rotation rate.
What is needed is a gradiometer system that is capable of detecting relatively small changes in a gravitational field, without some of the costs and other disadvantages in the prior art.

Atom-interferometric, stepped gravity gradient measuring system


The present invention is a method and compositions for primer extension target enrichment of nucleic acids and improvements thereto including simultaneously enriching for RNA and DNA and optionally sequencing the enriched products. An embodiment of the present invention includes a method comprising the steps of: hybridizing a target-specific primer to a target DNA or RNA, wherein the primer comprises a target-binding region and a region of complementarity to an adaptor; extending the primer with a DNA polymerase or reverse transcriptase to form a primer extension product; contacting the product with an adaptor comprising a longer strand with a 5′-overhang having complementarity to said primer and a shorter strand comprising a universal priming site; hybridizing the adaptor to the product; and ligating one strand of the adaptor to the product to form a ligation product.

Sample preparation for high-throughput sequencing typically involves an enrichment step that increases the ratio of nucleic acids containing the target sequence to non-target nucleic acids in a sample. Sequence-based enrichment techniques known in the art include hybrid capture, PCR amplification, primer extension target enrichment (PETE). Primer-based target enrichment methods involve one or more rounds of synthesis of a copy strand. Some clinical applications of DNA sequencing aim to detect very rare targets, e.g., cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) present in the blood of cancer. The tumor DNA, distinguished by mutations is present at concentrations as low as several copies per mL of a typical blood sample. There is a need to reliably detect such rare target sequences utilizing as little sample material from a patient as possible.

Primer extension target enrichment and improvements thereto including simultaneous enrichment of DNA and RNA


In a semiconductor device, the semiconductor device includes a conductive structure, first insulating layers and first conductive layer patterns. The conductive structure includes a first portion, second portions and third portions. The second portions extend in a first direction on the first portion. The second portions are spaced apart from one another in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The third portions are provided on the second portions. The third portions are spaced apart from one another in the first and second directions. The first insulating layers cover sidewalls of the second portions. The first conductive layer patterns are provided on the first insulating layers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a semiconductor device in which a channel extending vertically is generated, and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A transistor includes a source region, a drain region, a body, an electrode and an insulating layer. The insulating layer electrically insulates the electrode from the source region, the drain region and the body. The electrode applies a voltage to the body.
An example of a conventional transistor having a body extending vertically is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,337,497. A source region and a drain region of the conventional transistor isolate the body. Thus, operation characteristics of the conventional transistor may be degraded due to a floating body effect. Specifically, holes are accumulated in the body because the body is isolated by the source region and the drain region while the transistor operates. When the holes are accumulated in the body, the operation characteristics of the conventional transistor may be degraded.
Conventional transistors capable of overcoming the above descried problem and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,907,170, 6,395,597 and 6,191,448.
In accordance with U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,907,170, 6,395,597 and 6,191,448, a plurality of bodies is electrically connected to one another by using a body line. In addition, the body has a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The first sidewall of the body makes electric contact with the body line. On the other hand, the second sidewall of the body line makes electric contact with a word line.
That is, the body of the conventional transistor disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,907,170, 6,395,597 and 6,191,448 makes electric contact with only one word line. Thus, a current operation capability of the conventional transistor may be relatively poor and thus slow down operation speed of the conventional transistor.
In addition, processes for forming the body line and the word line on the first sidewall and the second sidewall, respectively, are relatively complicated.

Semiconductor device having a channel extending vertically


According to an aspect, there is provided a method for evaluating safety of a speed of a motor controlled by a frequency converter. The method includes, first, measuring first, second and third phase currents of three-phase electric power fed from the frequency converter to the motor and forming first, second and third current measurement pairs based thereon. Then, the speed of the motor is estimated separately based on each measurement pair to produce respective first, second and third estimates for the speed of the motor. A voting logic is applied to the first, second and third estimates for the speed of the motor. A voting logic is applied to the first, second and third estimates. An output of the voting logic is fed to a safety logic controlling at least one safety function of the frequency converter. The output of the voting logic includes an estimate for the speed of the motor and an indication whether or not said final estimate is valid according to the voting logic.

Drives (or equally frequency converters) are used to control the motion of machines, typically to achieve optimal performance and efficiency from the given machine or machines. Drives are employed in many applications that require precise motion control, for example, in line automation applications employing lifts, cranes and/or conveyor belts. In many applications, it is often of paramount importance that the speed of the motor does not exceed certain pre-defined limits allowed for safe operation. Thus, various schemes for estimating safe motor speeds have been implemented to ensure that this does not happen. Many of such schemes are based on monitoring voltage or two or three phase current associated with the motor. However, said established schemes often struggle or even fail altogether when they are applied to low speed applications where deriving useful voltage/current measurements is often difficult.
Therefore, there is a need for a better way for safety monitoring of motor speeds so as to overcome or alleviate at least some of the aforementioned problems.

Motor speed estimation for drive safety system


This application provides a vertical sliding window, including horizontal frame side edges, vertical frame side edges, and an opening sash, wherein the opening sash slides up and down along a guide rail on the vertical frame side edge. In addition, the vertical sliding window further includes a balance weight device and a balance weight traction cable. The balance weight device includes an enclosure, a rotating shaft partially disposed within the enclosure, a spiral spring whose two ends are respectively fixedly connected to an inner wall of the enclosure and the rotating shaft, and a cone pulley fixedly connected to the rotating shaft, wherein a tapered surface of the cone pulley is provided with a spiral groove. A lower end of the balance weight traction cable is fixedly connected to the opening sash, and an upper end thereof is fixedly connected to the cone pulley. When the opening sash moves from bottom to top, an elastic deformational force generated by the spiral spring enables the balance weight traction cable to be gradually wound into the spiral groove, and the elastic deformational force of the spiral spring is gradually reduced. Due to a mutual conversion between elastic potential energy of the spiral spring and gravitational potential energy of the opening sash, in the vertical sliding window provided in this application, an external acting force for dragging the opening sash to move up and down as well as energy consumption may be reduced.

A vertical sliding window is a novel window body whose window sash can be opened along a height direction, and is more and more widely used in the field of building construction. The vertical sliding window includes an opening sash, horizontal frame side edges, vertical frame side edges, and an opening device. Guide rails are mounted on the vertical frame side edges. A guide member is mounted on a mating surface of the opening sash with the vertical frame side edge. The guide member is inserted into the guide rail to enable the opening sash to move up and down along the guide rail. The opening device includes a traction cable and a power component. One end of the traction cable is fixedly connected to the opening sash, and the other end is connected to the power component. The power component drives the traction cable to get wound or released, thus controlling the opening sash to move up and down along the guide rail.
With higher demands on applications, the opening sash in the vertical sliding window becomes larger and heavier. To meet requirements in lifting and lowering the opening sash, an opening force and opening power provided by the opening device should also increase accordingly, thus increasing manufacturing and use costs of the vertical sliding window.


A product package clip has tamper evident protection which is formed integrally with the clip. Breakage of frangible connectors indicates that the clip, and thus the package, has been the target of tampering.

This invention relates to fastener clips for product packaging. In particular, this invention is an improvement over the clip shown and described in Khachadourian et al U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,153, owned in common with the invention described here and hereby incorporated by reference into this disclosure.
As the prior art clip has been widely and successfully used, efforts have been made to assure that product packages secured together by the clip will show evidence of tampering. That has been done heretofore by applying tape over a clip inserted into cardboard panels of a product package, to show by removal or breaking of the tape that an attempt has been made to access the package. If such a package is transported and arrives at a destination with the tape broken or removed, then it is evident that the package has been tampered with en route and appropriate steps can be taken.
Heretofore, such tamper evident precautions have been taken with a single clip in a product package. This choice has been made due to the time and material costs of applying the indicative tape and a belief that a single instance would be a sufficient indicator. Those assumptions have now come into question and a beneficial solution found.

Tamper evident feature for package fastening clips

International Business Machines Corporation


A system for actuating a spray pump assembly comprises a reference platform, a motor, a drive transmission, a spray pump holder, a force coupler, a force transducer, and a system controller. The motor receives a power and control input, and produces a rotary drive output. The drive transmission receives the rotary drive output and produces a linear drive output. The spray pump holder secures the spray pump assembly. The force coupler couples the linear drive output to the spray pump, and applies a force to the spray pump. The force transducer produces a force signal proportional to the force applied to the spray pump. The system controller receives a set of test inputs and provides the control input to the motor as a function of the set of test inputs. The system actuates the spray pump mechanism according to an actuation profile defined by the set of test inputs.

The present invention relates to electro-mechanical actuators, and more particularly, to devices for providing precisely controlled actuation of spray pump mechanisms.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strongly recommends automated actuation of nasal spray devices subject to in-vitro bioequivalence testing to decrease variability in drug delivery due to operator factors (including removal of potential analyst bias in actuation) and increase the sensitivity for detecting potential differences between drug products. The FDA further recommends that an automated actuation system have settings or controls for actuation force, length of stroke, actuation velocity, hold time, return time, delay time between successive actuations, and actuation number. Selection of appropriate settings should be relevant to proper usage of the nasal aerosol or nasal spray by the trained patient, and should be documented based on exploratory studies in which actuation force, actuation time, and other relevant parameters are varied. One such study includes "Guidance for Industry: Bioavailability and Bioequivalence Studies for Nasal Aerosols and Nasal Sprays for Local Action," by Wallace P. Adams, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), June 1999.
Thorough characterization of the spray pump's performance in terms of its emitted spray pattern, plume geometry and/or droplet size distribution are known to be affected by the means in which the spray pump is actuated. For example, slow actuation will likely cause poor atomization, producing a stream-like flow. Fast actuation will likely cause too fine a spray to be produced, leading to poor absorption in the nasal mucosa and unwanted inhalation and deposition of the droplets in the throat and lungs.
From a mechanical perspective, over-actuation (forcing the spray pump assembly beyond its intended stopping point) of the spray pump device must be avoided. If the spray pump mechanism is over-actuated, permanent deformations can occur to the delicate pump orifice, swirl chambers and/or closure mechanisms, all of which can manifest themselves in higher than expected variability in the pump's spray performance and flow characteristics. Further, rigidly holding the nozzle of the spray pump in place during actuation is vital to ensure that the spray develops properly and exits the nozzle normally so that measurements of spray pattern, plume geometry and droplet size distribution are not artificially biased due to unwanted movement of the nozzle.
The Innova Systems (Pennsauken, N.J.) Nasal Spray Pump Actuators (NSP and eNSP) are prior art automated nasal spray actuators. Both models use the same operating principle: a pneumatic cylinder connected to a solid plate (contact plate) is used to compress the spray pump against a spring loaded holding plate and clip mechanism. Typically, these actuators are connected to a compressed air source and a computer interface to allow a user to set the actuation force, contact force, holding time, and dose time for the actuation event. In operation, these actuators adjust an air pressure regulator so that the pneumatic cylinder will first apply the prescribed contact force to the bottom side of the spray pump. Presumably, this application of the contact force is done to minimize the time delay in producing the spray and/or to prevent the compression plate from striking the spray pump with a dynamic load, which could damage the pump due to the high dynamic forces achievable in the system. Next, the pressure regulator is adjusted again so that the pneumatic cylinder applies the prescribed actuation force (typically higher than the contact force). This action compresses the spray pump at a rate determined by the pneumatic efficiency of the system and the mechanical spring resistance of the spray pump and fluid combination. The compression rate cannot be controlled. As a result, once the pressure regulator is set, the contact plate will move at a rate determined by the system, not the user.
Experience with using these actuators has shown the following difficulties and shortcomings:
1. Lack of position and velocity controls leads to uncontrolled, "air hammer"—like performance with substantial spray pump over-actuation. This phenomenon has led to measurable degradation in spray pump performance over time and larger than expected variations in delivered dosage content. These problems are likely due to progressive deterioration in the moving pump components due to over-actuation.
2. Lack of a nozzle holding mechanism leads to unwanted movements of the nozzle during actuation. This causes artificial distortions and substantial variability to appear in the associated spray pattern and plume geometry test data.
3. Difficulties associated with pneumatic control lead to oscillating contact force application and this leads to pre-spray droplets forming on the nozzle tip and measurable variability in spray pattern, plume geometry, and droplet size distribution data.
4. Reliance on variable quality, laboratory compressed air sources leads to inconsistent actuation performance and potential safety issues.
5. Uncertain actuation event-time triggering causes difficulty in acquiring time critical spray data such as spray pattern and plume geometry.
6. Uncertain applied force measurements do not give a user confidence that the actuator is applying the desired force to the spray pump.
7. Absence of recordable applied force and/or position/velocity data make it difficult to chronicle the actuation event history.

Spray pump holder for securing a spray pump assembly