A reinforced sheet material suitable for making innerseals and sealing membranes for containers. The sheet material comprises a layer of sealing material for bonding the sheet to a container, a layer of material substantially impermeable to air and moisture, and a reinforcing layer comprising at least two plies of monoaxially oriented film combined in lamination with the strong direction of at least one ply crossing the weak direction of another ply. Tabbed innerseals made from the sheet material of this invention exhibit less springback than do tabs of conventional tabbed innerseals. The invention also includes innerseals and sealing membranes made from the aforementioned sheet material and containers utilizing these innerseals and sealing membranes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to containers, and, in particular, to multi-layer sheet materials for sealing containers.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Sheets of multi-layered materials have been used to prepare innerseals to seal the openings of containers from air and contaminants. A simple innerseal consists of a sheet of metal foil bearing a layer of heat sealable material for bonding the foil to the lip of a container, for example, a bottle. Innerseals are typically die-cut from sheets of a multi-layered material and sealed by means of heat to the lip of the container.
Innerseals can be constructed to have a tab that extends outwardly from the periphery of the innerseal so that a user can grasp the tab to aid in removing the innerseal from the container.
An innerseal having a tab is typically employed with a container having a threaded neck, which container employs a threaded cap. The innerseal is die-cut from the aforementioned multi-layered sheet of metal foil bearing a layer of heat sealable material. The tab is folded 180.degree. so that it can fit within the cap but still be in such a position that it can later be used to peel the sealed innerseal off the lip of the container. The innerseal is then inserted into the cap, and the cap is twisted onto the neck of the container. The capped container is then heated by means of induction to heat the aluminum foil and thereby melt the layer of heat sealable material so that the innerseal will be bonded to the container. Innerseals having tabs can also be used with containers that employ snap-on caps.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,047,473 and 4,155,439 describe a method and apparatus for applying sealing membranes having a folded pull tab to containers. The patents describe the apparatus for die-cutting the sealing membranes from a sheet, folding the tab, and inserting the sealing membranes into an overcap. The overcap assembly is then placed on the container, tightened, and the sealing membrane is sealed to the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,890 describes a tamper evident safety seal having a tab that consists of a sheet material that is folded in a Z or S configuration to form a double folded tab. The safety seal can also include a scrim to provide additional strength.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,875 describes a tamper evident safety seal that includes a cap and a sealing disc having a tab.
Although sealing membranes, safety seals, sealing discs, and innerseals having tabs for easy removal are known in the art, the tab may have certain deficiencies that prevent innerseals having tabs from receiving widespread acceptance in the marketplace. When the innerseal is die-cut, the edge of the innerseal adjacent to the tab can become nicked, so that when the user pulls on the tab, only a portion of the innerseal may be removed. If the innerseal has poor internal strength, when the tab is pulled, only a narrow strip of innerseal material, having a width substantially the same as the width of the tab, is removed. In some cases, the tab can be pulled off without removing any part of the innerseal.
Another problem encountered with innerseals currently used in the marketplace is referred to herein as springback. In most conventional innerseals, after the tab is folded to allow insertion of the innerseal in the cap, the tab springs back about 90.degree. so that rather than laying flat against the portion of the innerseal covering the mouth of the container, it extends roughly perpendicular to the plane of the innerseal. After the innerseal is inserted into the cap, springback of the tab can push the innerseal out of the cap and cause it to be misaligned during sealing so that an inadequate seal is formed. Springback of the tab can also cause the innerseal to fall out of the cap, resulting in an unsealed container.
It would be desirable to provide an innerseal having high internal strength and further having a tab that exhibits springback of less than about 45.degree. from the plane of the innerseal once the tab is folded against the portion of the innerseal covering the mouth of the container. As stated previously, conventional innerseals typically spring back about 90.degree. from the plane of the innerseal.


This invention is a steel tempered wire approximately 3/16″ in diameter bent to form a clip to hold papers, files, or any item normally carried by hand. The clip has enough tension to hold the items snugly against a crutch so the individual can use both hands to navigate on the crutch. It is positioned under the arm just above the crutch handle. It can be on the inside or outside position, but normally would be used on the outside. The design fits a normal crutch without any crutch alteration. The steel wire is also bent to hold various types of drink containers. It is positioned at the lower part of the crutch where the two sides come together. The wire could be a molded plastic container.

The applicant spent two years on crutches. During that time, to be semi-active, the need to carry papers, files, drinks, etc. was constant. A clip and cup created for his personal crutches were so effective, that it was felt others may also find them useful. Especially since the design was so simple and adapted to the structure of the standard crutch, the cost would not be prohibitive. The field of endeavor would pertain to all individuals needing ambulatory assistance through medical equipment. There are no known references to specific documents related to this invention or prior art problems.


The present invention relates to a process for selectively producing C3 olefins from a catalytically cracked or thermally cracked naphtha stream by fractionating the naphtha feed to obtain at least a C6 rich fraction and feeding the C6 rich fraction into a reaction stage at a point wherein the residence time of the C6 rich fraction is minimized.

The need for low emissions fuels has created an increased demand for light olefins for use in alkylation, oligomerization, MTBE and ETBE synthesis processes. In addition, a low cost supply of light olefins, particularly propylene, continues to be in demand to serve as feedstock for polyolefin, particularly polypropylene production.
Fixed bed processes for light paraffin dehydrogenation have recently attracted renewed interest for increasing olefin production. However, these types of processes typically require relatively large capital investments as well as high operating costs. It is therefore advantageous to increase olefin yield using processes, which require relatively small capital investment. It is particularly advantageous to increase olefin yield in catalytic cracking processes.
European Patent Specifications 490,435-B and 372,632-B and European Patent Application 385,538-A describe processes for converting hydrocarbonaceous feedstocks to olefins and gasoline using fixed or moving beds. The catalysts included ZSM-5 in a matrix, which included a large proportion of alumina.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,776 teaches a process for the conversion of a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock by contacting the feedstock with a moving bed of a zeolite catalyst comprising a zeolite with a medium pore diameter of 0.3 to 0.7 nm, at a temperature above about 500° C. and at a residence time less than about 10 seconds. Olefins are produced with relatively little saturated gaseous hydrocarbons being formed. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 3,928,172 to Mobil teaches a process for converting hydrocarbonaceous feedstocks wherein olefins are produced by reacting said feedstock in the presence of a ZSM-5 catalyst.
A problem inherent in producing olefin products using cracking units is that the process depends on a specific catalyst balance to maximize production of light olefins while also achieving high conversion of the 650° F.+ feed components to fuel products. In addition, even if a specific catalyst balance can be maintained to maximize overall olefin production relative to fuels, olefin selectivity is generally low due to undesirable side reactions, such as extensive cracking, isomerization, aromatization and hydrogen transfer reactions. Light saturated gases produced from undesirable side reactions result in increased costs to recover the desirable light olefins. Therefore, it is desirable to maximize olefin production in a process that allows a high degree of control over the selectivity of C3 olefins while producing minimal by-products.

Exxonmobil Research and Engineering Company


An optical layered product has a translucent substrate having at least an optically functional layer, containing translucent microparticles, provided directly or via another layer onto one or both sides of the substrate. The standard deviation of area dispersion variability of the translucent microparticles in the optically functional layer is in the range of 0.04 to 0.20.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to optical layered products to be provided on display surfaces of liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma displays (PDPs) and the like and, in particular, to optical layered products for improving visibility of screens.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, displays such as LCDs and PDPs have been improved to be produced and sold in various sizes for a number of applications ranging from mobile phones to large-size television sets.
Such displays may have impaired visibility due to background reflections into the display surfaces of room lightings such as fluorescent lights, sunlight incident through windows and shadows of an operator. As such, in order to improve visibility, the display surfaces are provided with functional films on the outermost surface, such as antiglare films having microirregularities, which are capable of diffusing surface-reflected lights, suppressing specular reflections of external lights and preventing background reflections of outside environments (having antiglare properties) (conventional AG).
These functional films are generally produced and sold as products comprising a translucent substrate such as polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter referred to as "PET") and triacetyl cellulose (hereinafter referred to "TAC") over which an antiglare layer having microirregularities is provided or as products comprising a light-diffusing layer on which a low-refractive index layer is layered, with development now being carried out for functional films providing desired functions through combinations of layer configurations.
With a recent progress of an increase in size, definition and contrast of displays, however, there is now a need for enhancement of performance required for such functional films.
When an antiglare film is used for the outermost surface, images in black tend to be whiter due to diffusion of light with a disadvantageous decrease in contrast for use in a bright room. An antiglare film is therefore needed which attains a high contrast even at the sacrifice of antiglare properties (high-contrast AG).
In order to attain a high contrast, a method has been adopted in which one or more low-reflection layers are provided onto the top layer of an antiglare film (AG with low-reflection layer).
On the other hand, when an antiglare film is used on the outermost surface, a problem arises in which dazzling (portions with high and low intensities in brightness) appears on the surface supposedly due to the microirregularities, decreasing visibility. Such dazzling is likely to occur in association with an increased definition in association with an increase in number of picture elements for a display and with improvement of display techniques such as picture element division scheme. An antiglare film having an antidazzle effect is therefore desired (high-definition AG).
In order to attain antidazzle effects, development is ongoing for a method as in Patent Reference 1, in which Sm (average peak spacing), Ra (center line average roughness) and Rz (average ten-point height of irregularities) of the surface of functional films are specifically defined and for a method for regulating background reflection of external lights into a display screen, dazzling phenomenon and white balance as in Patent References 2 and 3, in which areas of surface haze and internal haze are precisely defined. As such, in designing a light-diffusing sheet to be used for high-definition LCDs, internal diffusion properties for providing antidazzle effects and surface diffusion properties for providing antiwhitening effects are controlled.
Patent Reference 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-196117
Patent Reference 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1999-305010
Patent Reference 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-267818
Thus, there are problems to be solved such as antiglare functions, contrast enhancement and antidazzling and there is a tradeoff in which one of the properties can be sought only at the sacrifice of the others. Nothing so far has satisfied these functions with a configuration where a single layer is layered on a translucent substrate. As such, as a method for providing these functions simultaneously, development is under way with respect to the shape of membranes and films to be coated in a multi-layer manner. Such multi-layer lamination however requires a process for coating a translucent substrate with multiple layers, incurring more cost. Also, it is difficult to adjust the balance between the multiple layers, only allowing in fact to select and implement part of these functions according to the intended use.


Various embodiments each include systems, methods, devices, or software for integer ambiguity resolution approach over a time window of GNSS/IMU data. One purpose of processing a window of data is to enhance the reliability of obtaining high-accuracy position estimation, using carrier-phase measurements, even in challenging environments.

Current Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS), must compensate for multiple error sources. One challenging technical issue that exists in Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) GNSS navigation is integer ambiguity resolution. Once the integer vector is resolved, centimeter-level positioning estimation accuracy can be achieved using the GNSS carrier-phase measurements. Recently, a real-time, sliding window, Bayesian estimation approach to RTK GNSS and inertial navigation was proposed to provide reliable centimeter-accurate state estimation, via integer ambiguity resolution utilizing a prior along with all Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and GNSS measurements within the time window. One challenge to implementing that approach in practice is the high computational cost.
Integration of GNSS and aided inertial navigation systems (INS) has proven useful due to their complementary natures. The INS provides a continuous, high-bandwidth state vector estimate. GNSS aiding corrects errors accumulated by the integrative INS process and calibrates the IMU. The overall accuracy of GNSS-aided INS depends on the accuracy, frequency, and reliability of the GNSS measurements. For example, a well-designed GPS receiver typically can reach stand-alone positioning accuracy of 3 m to 8 m. To achieve higher accuracy positioning reliably, differential GPS (DGPS) is used. With a base station within a range of a few tens of kilometers, DGPS accuracy is on the order of 1 m, growing at the rate of 1 m per 150 km of separation. A user can either set up a base station on their own or use data from a publicly available correction service, such as Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS), Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System (NDGPS), and the Regional Reference Frame Sub-Commission for Europe (EUREF). As mobile communication networks (e.g., 4G or WiFi) become readily available, DGPS techniques will become ubiquitous.
GNSS receivers provide carrier-phase measurements that are biased by an unknown integer number of wavelengths. While the Phase-Lock-Loop (PLL) of a receiver channel maintains phase lock, the unknown integer for the satellite being tracked remains constant. When loss-of-lock eventually happens (e.g., a cycle-slip occurs), the new integer is likely to be different. The fundamental ideas underlying integer ambiguity resolution rely on reformulating the problem into an Integer Least Square (ILS) approach, e.g. Least-squares AMBiguity Decorrelation Adjustment (LAMBA), modified LAMBDA (MLAMBDA), or Mixed IntegerLEast Squares (MILES). RTK applications solve the ILS and position estimation problems simultaneously in real-time. Solution of the RTK problem is simplified, yet still challenging, when dual-frequency receivers are available, because the integers can be resolved by forming wide-lane phase measurements. When the integer vector can be resolved, centimeter positioning-accuracy is achievable in real-time on moving platforms. The performance of the conventional single-epoch resolution is strongly influenced by the number of available satellites, the geometry of the received satellite constellation, and the quality of the measurements. If noisy or faulty measurements exist, the integer resolution can be wrong, without sufficient measurement redundancy to detect the error. For single-frequency receivers, integer ambiguity resolution is even more challenging due to the inability to form the wide-lane measurement and the smaller number (e.g., half) of measurements.
Measurement redundancy enhances the ability to identify the correct integers at the expense of additional computation. For either single or dual frequency receivers, redundancy can be enhanced by accumulating GNSS measurements over a multi-epoch window. The redundancy is further enhanced when an inertial measurement unit (IMU) is available to provide kinematic constraints between the state vectors at the epoch measurement times. What is needed for real-time applications is a computationally-efficient solution for integer ambiguity resolution combining GNSS, IMU, and prior knowledge of state information (e.g., a priori state information).
In the following detailed description of systems and methods for carrier-phase integer resolution, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the inventive subject matter may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice them, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be used and that structural, logical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the inventive subject matter. Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to, individually and/or collectively, herein by the term "invention" or "subject matter" merely for convenience and without intending to limit the scope of this application voluntarily to any single invention or inventive concept if more than one is in fact disclosed. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limited sense, and the scope of the inventive subject matter is defined by the appended claims.

Multiple epoch GNSS carrier phase integer resolution

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA


Upon forming a complex metallization system, the parasitic capacitance between metal lines of adjacent metallization layers may be reduced by providing a patterned etch stop material. In this manner, the patterning process for forming the via openings may be controlled in a highly reliable manner, while, on the other hand, the resulting overall dielectric constant of the metallization system may be reduced, thereby also significantly reducing the parasitic capacitance between stacked metal lines.

1. Field of the Invention
Generally, the present disclosure relates to microstructures, such as advanced integrated circuits, and, more particularly, to conductive structures, such as copper-based metallization layers, comprising metal lines and vias.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the fabrication of modern microstructures, such as integrated circuits, there is a continuous drive to steadily reduce the feature sizes of microstructure elements, thereby enhancing the functionality of these structures. For instance, in modern integrated circuits, minimum feature sizes, such as the channel length of field effect transistors, have reached the deep sub-micron range, thereby increasing performance of these circuits in terms of speed and/or power consumption and/or diversity of functions. As the size of individual circuit elements is reduced with every new circuit generation, thereby improving, for example, the switching speed of the transistor elements, the available floor space for interconnect lines electrically connecting the individual circuit elements is also decreased. Consequently, the dimensions of these interconnect lines are also reduced to compensate for a reduced amount of available floor space and for an increased number of circuit elements provided per unit die area as typically the number of interconnections required increases more rapidly than the number of circuit elements. Thus, usually a plurality of stacked "wiring" layers, also referred to as metallization layers, is provided, wherein individual metal lines embedded in a dielectric material of one metallization layer are connected to individual metal lines of an overlying or underlying metallization layer by so-called vias. Despite the provision of a plurality of metallization layers, reduced dimensions of the interconnect lines are necessary to comply with the enormous complexity of, for instance modern CPUs, memory chips, ASICs (application specific ICs) and the like.
Advanced integrated circuits, including transistor elements having a critical dimension of 0.05 μm and even less, may, therefore, typically be operated at significantly increased current densities of up to several kA per cm2 in the individual interconnect structures, despite the provision of a relatively large number of metallization layers, owing to the significant number of circuit elements per unit area. Consequently, well-established materials, such as aluminum, are being replaced by copper and copper alloys, i.e., materials with significantly lower electrical resistivity and improved resistance to electromigration even at considerably higher current densities, compared to aluminum. The introduction of copper into the fabrication of microstructures and integrated circuits comes along with a plurality of severe problems residing in copper's characteristic to readily diffuse in silicon dioxide and a plurality of low-k dielectric materials, which are typically used in combination with copper in order to reduce the parasitic capacitance within complex metallization layers.
Another characteristic of copper significantly distinguishing it from aluminum is the fact that copper may not be readily deposited in larger amounts by chemical and physical vapor deposition techniques and it does not form volatile etch byproducts when exposed to currently established etch processes, thereby requiring a process strategy that is commonly referred to as the damascene or inlaid technique. In the damascene process, first a dielectric layer is formed, which is then patterned to include trenches and/or vias which are subsequently filled with copper, wherein, prior to filling in the copper, a conductive barrier layer is formed on sidewalls of the trenches and via openings. The deposition of the bulk copper material into the trenches and via openings is usually accomplished by wet chemical deposition processes, such as electroplating and electroless plating, thereby requiring the reliable filling of vias with an aspect ratio of 5 and more with a diameter of 0.3 μm or even less in combination with trenches having a width ranging from 0.1 μm to several μm.
In addition, to achieve high production yield and superior reliability of the metallization system, it is also important to accomplish these goals on the basis of a high overall throughput of the manufacturing process under consideration. For instance, the so-called dual damascene process is frequently used, in which a via opening and a corresponding trench are filled in a common deposition sequence, thereby providing superior process efficiency.
In the damascene technique or inlaid technique, typically, the patterning of the via openings and the trenches may require sophisticated lithography techniques since the shrinkage of critical dimensions in the device layer, i.e., for transistors and other semiconductor circuit elements, may also require a corresponding adaptation of the critical dimensions of the vias and metal lines to be formed in the metallization system. In some well-established process techniques, a patterning regime may be used, which may commonly be referred to as "via first-trench last" approach, in which at least a portion of a via opening may be formed first on the basis of a specific etch mask and thereafter a corresponding trench mask may be provided in order to form a corresponding trench in the upper portion of the dielectric material, wherein, depending on the overall process strategy, during the trench etch process, the remaining portion of the via opening may also be completed, while, in other cases, the via opening may be provided such that it extends down to a bottom etch stop layer, which may then be opened after or upon completing the trench etch process.
With reference to FIG. 1, a typical process flow for forming a complex metallization system will now be described in more detail. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device 100 comprising a substrate 101, above which is formed a metallization system 150. The metallization system 150 typically provides the required electrical connections between a plurality of circuit elements 110, which are formed in and above a semiconductor layer 102. For example, the semiconductor layer 102 may represent any appropriate semiconductor material, such as a silicon material, a silicon/germanium material and the like, in order to form therein any complex circuit elements, such as field effect transistors, bipolar transistors, resistors, capacitors and the like. It should be appreciated that the semiconductor layer 102 in combination with the substrate 101 may represent a bulk configuration in which the semiconductor material of the layer 102 is directly in contact with a crystalline substrate material, while, in other cases (not shown), a buried insulating material, such as a silicon dioxide material and the like, may be provided so as to form a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) configuration. As discussed above, the circuit elements 110 may have critical dimensions, such as a gate length of a field effect transistor, of 50 nm and less, if highly complex applications are considered. Typically, the semiconductor-based circuit elements 110 are embedded in an appropriate dielectric material or material system 121 of a contact level 120, which in turn comprises appropriate contact elements 122, i.e., highly conductive vertical connections, which finally connect the circuit elements 110 with the metallization system 150.
As explained above, the metallization system 150 typically comprises a plurality of metallization layers, depending on the overall complexity of the device 100. For convenience, a first metallization layer 130 and a second metallization layer 140 are illustrated in FIG. 1. The metallization layer 130 comprises a dielectric material 131, such as a low-k dielectric material, a ULK material and the like. Furthermore, a metal line or region 132 is formed in the dielectric material 131 and typically comprises a highly conductive core metal 132A, such as copper, copper alloys and the like, in combination with an appropriate barrier material or material system 132B. For example, tantalum, tantalum nitride and the like are well-established barrier materials for copper-based metallization systems.
Similarly, the metallization layer 140 comprises an appropriate dielectric material 141, such as a low-k dielectric material, a ULK material and the like, in which are formed metal regions 142, such as metal lines 142L in combination with appropriate vertical contacts, which are referred to herein as vias 142V. Also in this case, a highly conductive core metal 142A in combination with a barrier material or material system 142B is typically applied. Furthermore, as a part of the metallization layer 130 or the metallization layer 140, an etch stop layer 135 is typically provided, which may be efficiently used as an etch control mechanism upon forming the vias 142V, as will be explained later on in more detail.
As discussed above, in highly complex semiconductor devices, the overall performance is typically significantly affected by the propagation delay caused by the metallization system 150, which is addressed by using highly conductive metals in combination with dielectric materials of reduced permittivity. In this manner, the parasitic capacitance between the metal lines 142L and any lower-lying metal lines, such as the metal line 132, are thus significantly influenced by the dielectric characteristics of the materials 141 and 135. Since the layer 135 has to provide sufficient etch stop capabilities, possibly in combination with cap layer capabilities for providing superior electromigration behavior of the metal line 132, it is very difficult to find appropriate materials with reduced dielectric constant, while also a significant reduction in overall thickness is less than desirable, in particular in view of the etch control capabilities required for patterning the dielectric material 141. For this reason, frequently, the dielectric constant of the material 141 is further reduced, for instance by incorporating ULK materials, which, however, may exhibit a significantly reduced mechanical and chemical stability.
The semiconductor device 100 as illustrated in FIG. 1 may be formed on the basis of the following processes. The circuit elements 110 in and above the semiconductor material 102 are formed on the basis of any appropriate process technique, including complex lithography techniques, etch techniques, deposition techniques, implantation processes, anneal processes and the like, in order to obtain the circuit elements 110 having the desired critical dimensions. After any high temperature processes, the contact level 120 is typically provided, for instance, by depositing the dielectric material or materials 121, planarizing the same and performing a complex patterning process for forming openings therein, which are subsequently filled with an appropriate conductive material, such as tungsten and the like. Thereafter, any excess material is removed and the metallization system 150 may be formed, for instance, by depositing an appropriate dielectric material and patterning the same. A corresponding manufacturing flow will now be described for the metallization layer 140, wherein it should be appreciated that a similar process sequence may also be applied to any lower-lying metallization layer, such as the metallization layer 130, and also to any further metallization layer that may possibly be required above the metallization layer 140.
After forming the metal lines 132, the etch stop layer 135 may be formed, for instance, by appropriate deposition techniques including plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and the like, wherein, typically, at least one layer including a silicon nitride-based material is used due to its very efficient copper diffusion blocking effect and the etch stop capability with respect to plasma assisted etch recipes, which are typically used for patterning the plurality of low-k and ULK materials. Typically, silicon nitride-based dielectric materials may have a dielectric constant of 4.0 and higher, which may, therefore, unduly increase parasitic capacitance 144. Thereafter, the dielectric material 141 is formed, for instance by spin-on techniques, CVD and the like, possibly in combination with additional treatments in order to adjust the finally desired dielectric constant. For example, frequently, the material 141 is provided in the form of a porous material in order to further reduce the dielectric constant. In many conventional approaches, the dielectric constant of the material 141 is reduced in order to compensate or even over-compensate for the contribution of the layer 135 to the total parasitic capacitance 144. After the deposition of the material 141 and adjusting its material characteristics, if required, for instance by radiation treatment and the like, a complex patterning sequence is applied in which, typically, an appropriate etch mask is provided, which may be obtained on the basis of appropriate lithography masks, which thus determine the lateral position and size and shape of the metal features 142. In the "via first-trench last" approach, a first etch mask is applied and used for patterning the dielectric material 141, at least to a certain depth, followed by a further patterning process in which an etch mask for defining the size and position of trenches is produced. During the patterning of respective via openings or during a final phase of a common etch process for increasing the depth of the previously formed via and the trenches, the etch stop layer 135 is used as an efficient etch control mechanism in which the high etch resistivity enables appropriate over-etch times so as to reliably form the via openings across the entire die regions and also across the entire substrate 101. Thereafter, the etch stop layer 135 is opened in a dedicated etch step so as to connect to the metal line 132. Thereafter, the barrier material 142B followed by the highly conductive core metal 142A are deposited by using well-established process techniques, followed by the removal of any excess material, for instance by chemical mechanical polishing or planarization (CMP) and the like.
As indicated above, upon further reducing the overall device dimensions, the parasitic capacitance 144 may be increased, for instance, by reducing the distance between the metal lines 142L and 132, which is typically compensated for by further reducing the dielectric constant of the material 141, while a pronounced reduction of the dielectric characteristics of the etch stop layer 135 is typically limited due to the required etch stop capabilities and due to the fact that the thickness of the layer 135 may not be arbitrarily reduced. It has been observed, however, that a further reduction of the dielectric constant of the material 141 may result in significant instabilities of the metallization system 150, while also increased etch damage may occur upon patterning the material 141, which may result in a compensation or even an increase of the finally obtained dielectric constant. That is, upon exposure of the material 141 to the reactive etch atmosphere, the surface characteristics may significantly change such that polar molecules such as OH-groups and the like may preferably adhere to the exposed surface areas, thereby locally significantly increasing the dielectric constant, which in turn may negatively affect the resulting parasitic capacitance 144.
The present disclosure is directed to various methods and devices that may avoid, or at least reduce, the effects of one or more of the problems identified above.

Semiconductor device comprising metallization layers of reduced interlayer capacitance by reducing the amount of etch stop materials


Methods and apparatus for symbol-to-symbol multiplexing of control, data, and reference signals on a 5G uplink. In one aspect, a job descriptor generator is configured to calculate mapping parameters for each symbol based on high level configuration parameters. A data/UCI multiplexing job engine, which is coupled to the job descriptor generator, provides symbol-based multiplexing and mapping which includes calculating reserved locations for PTRS and DMRS based on frequency-domain mapping of both PTRS and DMRS and multiplexing of data and controls from calculated intermediate parameters. A downstream processor is coupled to the job engine and configured to modulate data and control REs and insert DMRS or PTRS. In one example, the job descriptor generator is a configurable DSP processor and the job engine is an ASIC hardware accelerator.

With a rapidly growing trend of mobile and remote data access over a high-speed communication network such as 3G or 4G cellular services, accurately delivering and deciphering data streams become increasingly challenging and difficult. The high-speed communication network which is capable of delivering information includes, but not limited to, wireless network, cellular network, wireless personal area network ("WPAN"), wireless local area network ("WLAN"), wireless metropolitan area network ("MAN"), or the like. While WPAN can be Bluetooth or ZigBee, WLAN may be a Wi-Fi network in accordance with IEEE 802.11 WLAN standards.
As defined in the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specification for Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) uplink communications, Uplink Control Information (UCI) bits and data bits are multiplexed with Demodulation Reference Symbols (DMRS) and Phase Tracking Reference Symbols (PTRS). For example, the UCI includes acknowledgement bits (ACK), first channel state information (CSI1), and second channel state information (CSI2). Although sections in the 3GPP specification provide algorithms for multiplexing these different streams of bits, as well as the frequency and time allocation of the reference symbols in a resource grid, a straightforward implementation of the specification not only involves many complex calculations that are not suitable for implementation by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), but also cannot enable symbol-by-symbol level task allocation, which provides low processing latency that is critical for many 5G applications.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a mechanism that provides multiplexing of UCI and data bits using a symbol-by-symbol task allocation that uses less implementation resources and provides lower processing latency than conventional systems.


An inertial measurement unit includes a first spherical gimbal comprising a first lattice structure including a first plurality of trusses defining a first plurality of interstitial voids between the first plurality of trusses. The inertial measurement unit further includes a second spherical gimbal comprising a second lattice structure including a second plurality of trusses defining a second plurality of interstitial voids between the second plurality of trusses. The first spherical gimbal is positioned inside of the second spherical gimbal and pivotally coupled to the second spherical gimbal to form a gap between the first spherical gimbal and the second spherical gimbal. The inertial measurement unit further includes an instrument mount positioned within and pivotally coupled to the first spherical gimbal.

An inertial measurement unit ("IMU") is an electronic device that measures and reports a velocity, orientation, and gravitational forces of a craft using a combination of accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers. One type of IMU includes a spherical gimbal system. The spherical gimbal system includes two or more gimbal shells of decreasing size placed within each other, and an instrument mount including electronics located in the center of the spherical gimbal system. In operation, the electronics of the instrument mount of the gimbal system produce heat that can alter the operation of the gimbal system. In particular, accelerometers and gyroscopes used in instrument mounts for IMUs are highly sensitive to changes in temperature and thermal gradients. Consistent airflow can help mitigates the primary cause of temperature fluctuations (and thus navigation errors) within these systems.
Existing convection cooled solutions have used fans and shrouds attached to the gimbals and instrument mount or high flow external fans in an attempt to provide consistent cooling. Fans (typically small and very high speed 15,000-20,000 RPM) attached to the instrument mount can be blocked or shadowed by the gimbal shells and other components depending on the orientation of the system, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the cooling. Further, such fans can induce vibrations to the sensitive inertial instruments and are a source of structure-borne noise that reduces the accuracy of the electronics in the instrument mount. Gas conduction cooled systems eliminate the instrument mount fan at the expense of high gimbal mass and inertia. While effective thermally when consistent rotation rates are employed, such gas conduction cooled systems require larger bearings to support the loads and very precise machining to keep the gimbal gap variation to a few thousandths of an inch, leading to an increase in cost to manufacture.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system that effectively cools an IMU without affecting the operation of the IMU.

Open architecture gimbaled navigation system using lattice shells


A system and method of generating a contact list based on a geographic definition and, in certain embodiments, other screening criteria. In an embodiment, a geographic definition, specifying a geographic area, is received. The geographic definition is translated into at least one linkage key. A contact list, comprising a plurality of records associated with the geographic area, is then generated from one or more databases using the at least one linkage key as an index into the one or more databases.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention generally relate to the real-time definition, processing and delivery of contact address lists over a network. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to selecting contact records for any geography of any size or shape that have a propensity to consume a specific product or service, and delivering these records with selected information appended, such as a contact name and a consumption propensity score, in a real-time environment over a public network such as the Internet.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Traditionally, the process of selecting and extracting records from a national contact list of 100 million plus records was limited to batch processes on large mainframe computers housed at companies such as ACXIOM, MetroMail and Polk. These lists were mainly used for direct marketing applications such as direct mail and telemarketing. These historical tape-oriented databases contained large records. They were typically several hundred bytes in size and contained separate fields for name, contact addresses: (USPS mailing address, city, state, ZIP code; telephone number, e-mail address, etc.) and various levels of geography, household and individual attribute data like age, income, presence of children, etc., as well as other data like geodemographic codes and composite social economic scores.
Based on the extremely large size of the database and sequential processing requirements, the definition of list selects and appends involved multiple people and took several days, since processing was usually organized around a large weekly batch run that processed all pending orders. The resultant list was usually only available on magnetic media such as nine-track tape that was then mailed or delivered by courier to the mail fulfillment house.
Custom geography selects like radius and polygons were not available. This factor, in conjunction with the long turn-around times, limited the usefulness of these lists for non-direct marketing contact applications like public safety notification of toxic spills, etc.
Product scoring models were limited to large mailers like Readers Digest that could afford to build a custom usage model using the attribute data on these files as independent variables. The list provider would then program this model and use it in the list select process. The building and programming of these models was usually a multi-month process and was a minimum of several hundred thousand dollars in costs.
In the mid 1990's, a CD based product called "Pro CD" made available key-entered data from the national white pages. Pro CD packaged and marketed the resulting database on eight regional CD-ROMs in retail computer stores, like Comp USA, for approximately $100 for both the software and the data. Initially, the software was primarily oriented to directory assistance applications. When the user typed in a name and city, the product would return a list of names, address and phone numbers. Later generations of the product had the address records United States Postal Service (USPS) ZIP coded, appended 5-digit ZIP code latitude and longitudes coordinates, and provided easy to use mailing and telephone number list select and extract software. The software supported geography selects such as State, NPA, NPANXX, City Name, ZIP code or an approximate radius around a selected record in the database. All the records for the same 5-digit zip code were assigned the same latitude and longitude coordinate, which made it easier to select a large radius like 25 miles rather than having to provide a large list of zip codes. There was no ability to assign a particular latitude and longitude and then generate records around this latitude and latitude point. This lack of geographic precision eliminated applications like direct mail to custom pizza store delivery polygons or mailing to high potential Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) customers with a high propensity to own a computer that live more than 2.5 miles from their telephone switch. DSL connectivity is currently limited to about 2.5 miles from a telephone company central office switch.
The contact list functionality and quality of the Pro CD product was limited by four factors. The first was that telephone book addresses are generally incomplete since many listings contain only a name and no address, secondary addresses like apartment number are rarely provided, and it is a difficult process to accurately translate a 7-digit telephone number and a partial street address and determine the correct NPA (area code) and city. These white page address deficiencies result in a mailing list with poor USPS deliverability as well as a deliverable list with very sparse coverage. A USPS mail deliverable contact list is a list where all the records are deliverable by the USPS to the addresses shown on the list. The second limitation was that there was no attribute date on the database to perform any meaningful selects. The third factor was the white pages for a given directory are published only once a year and about twenty percent of telephone listing change every year, which means that many records on the database are out of date. This high rate of white page listing changes coupled with the previously described correct NPA assignment issues and a large number of NPA splits occurring after the white pages were printed also made the quality of telemarketing or telephone number contact lists generated by the product somewhat less than desirable. The fourth factor is it is a messy and time consuming process required to manage an eight CD-ROM database on a PC that normally only has a single CD-ROM drive.
In the last few years, the major contact list suppliers like ACXIOM, MetroMail and Polk have made significant improvements in their database quality, depth of data and have migrated many of their databases from tape to disk storage. They have also provided electronic specification interfaces to their large customers to perform online counts. The method of performing these counts is usually from pre-stored geography summary tables. This method works well as long as the number combinations of geography and selecting or screening data is restricted to a finite number of permutations. However, the nearly infinite number of possible permutations using geography definitions of any area of any size and shape as well as product scores on thousands of products that are Geography, Household and Individual (GHI) data dependent, which require real-time computation, makes this method of pre-stored tables impractical.
Currently, there are web sites that provide some type of Internet based direct marketing list definition, ordering and delivery. However, none of the following Web sites: DataByAcxiom.com; InfoUSA.com; MyProspects.com; QMSoft.com; ThinkDirectMarketing.com; Ira-OnDemand.com or ListsNow.com provide anything close to the meeting the current industry needs. None of the above Web sites provide a mapping interface to provide an easy way to define and process custom geographic areas of any size or shape. None of the above web sites provide a way for scoring individual records in a list based on the consumption of a specific product or service. None of the web sites provide results in real-time and pushes the results to a user-specified node. None of the web sites provide a way to store a customized service area around a set of stores and permit the user to go back at a later time and generate a fresh new list for a selected set of stores without having to re-specify the service location geographic area and select criteria.
There is currently a definite need in the industry to provide a nearly 100% contactable, multi-application list in a real-time environment over a network. More specifically, there is a need for a user, using an interactive detailed street map as a reference, to easily specify a geographically defined trade area of any size or shape, select a consumption score above a cutoff value from a database containing several thousand product/services scores, select from a rich list of additional data from which they want to select or append, and have the resultant list returned to a network node of their choice within a few seconds after they approve the specifications, counts, and costs. In addition, there is a need for a multi-location user that does a monthly direct marketing campaign like a pizza chain doing a direct mailing around their stores, to define their polygon service areas using the above tools and save their select, append and geographic definitions. For their periodic mailing, they could generate a new fresh list for each store by simply selecting the store's saved mail specification record of the stores for which they want to do the mailing.
Such a system would allow the user to interface to the real-time contact list system over a secure public network with either a browser or a customized applet embedded into another application running on a client device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Real-time process for defining, processing and delivering a highly customized contact list over a network


Apparatus comprise an electrode arrangement comprising a plurality of electrodes defining a volume, an ion entrance, and an ion exit, and a voltage source coupled to the plurality of electrodes and configured to apply a nonlinear DC voltage sequence to the electrodes between the ion entrance and the ion exit that directs ions through the volume with the volume at a pressure of at least 1 Torr. Ions can be focused using nonlinear DC voltage sequences, including at atmospheric pressure. Related methods are also disclosed.

Ion mobility and mass spectrometers are widely used in laboratories to radially confine and analyze ions. Spectrometers can be used for the analysis of complex mixtures, biological samples, and explosives, as well as for pharmaceutical and illicit drugs. However, nearly all spectrometers must operate within under very low pressure conditions using elaborate vacuum systems in order to both minimize ionic interactions with background gas molecules and to precisely control ion motion. These vacuum systems are often bulky, expensive, and power-intensive, all of which are significant barriers to successfully commercializing miniature and portable ion mobility and mass spectrometer systems. Thus, there exists a need for ion focusing without the attendant drawbacks of existing systems.

Atmospheric pressure ion focusing device employing nonlinear DC voltage sequences


In a liquid crystal television, a display controller prevents burning of a liquid crystal panel due to irregularity in a synchronization signal. A counter of a liquid crystal display controller detects a period of a horizontal synchronization signal and a vertical synchronization signal. A comparator compares a count value with a predetermined minimum value Min and maximum value Max. When the count value is out of a range, a synchronization pulse generator generates a synchronization pulse at a time when the period falls within a predetermined range. A selector outputs an input synchronization signal when the period is within the range and outputs the synchronization pulse obtained from the synchronization pulse generator when the period is out of the range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display controller, and more particularly to processing during the occurrence of abnormal conditions in a synchronizing signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display panel (LCD panel) which has conventionally been used as a monitor for a personal computer (PC) is now, in a growing number of cases, used for a liquid crystal television capitalizing on its thin and lightweight features. As long as a LCD panel is used as a PC monitor, a relatively stable signal is input to the LCD panel. On the other hand, when the LCD panel is used as a liquid crystal television, an input signal becomes unstable during channel tuning, and reproduction, fast-forwarding, and rewinding of VTR.
FIG. 8 shows a structure of a typical liquid crystal television. The liquid crystal television comprises a TV tuner 10 for receiving a TV image signal, an RGB decoder 12 for extracting an R signal, a G signal, and a B signal from the TV image signal received, a scaler 14 for converting the number of horizontal pixels or the number of scanning lines in the TV image signal, and a panel module 16. The panel module 16 includes a LCD panel and a LCD controller for driving the LCD panel. The LCD controller includes a timing controller for controlling timing and a driver IC, and scans the LCD panel in synchronism with horizontal and vertical synchronization signals. The driver IC latches a digital image signal in one horizontal period into a latch circuit based on a latch signal STB from the timing controller, and after converting the digital image signal into an analog signal in a D/A converter, outputs the analog signal to a driver element for driving each pixel of the LCD panel. For example, digital image signal data of R, G, and B stored in a data register is transferred to and latched into the latch circuit at the rising edge of the latch signal STB, and then analog output is sent to and displayed on the LCD panel at the falling edge of STB.
The timing controller and the driver IC properly operate whenever a stable signal is supplied from the PC or the like, whereas the timing controller cannot properly operate to drive the LCD panel when an unstable signal is supplied, as is often the case in channel tuning, VTR reproduction, etc. Such improper driving of the LCD panel results in that the screen becomes full white (in the case of a normally-white screen) or full black (in the case of a normally-black screen). The state where an unstable signal, in particular, a signal in which periods of horizontal and vertical synchronization signals are abnormal, is supplied, thereby causing a LCD panel to become full white or full black is specifically referred to as "burning" in the specification of this application.
Such "burning" can be prevented by adding a circuit in which the periods of the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals to be supplied to the LCD controller are detected to correct a period which is found to be different from a normal period.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 10-49057 describes technology of masking new input of a vertical synchronization signal when a period of the vertical synchronization signal is shorter than a predetermined period, and further describes the following technique. If new input of the vertical synchronization signal is not supplied over a predetermined length of time after the last input of the vertical synchronization signal, a preliminary pulse is generated with the period equal to that of the vertical synchronization signal in the immediately preceding frame, and if the period between the preliminary pulse and new input of the vertical synchronization signal immediately subsequent to the preliminary pulse is shorter than a predetermined period, the new input of the vertical synchronization signal is masked.
FIG. 9 shows a configuration of a vertical count-down circuit employing the above-described technology and FIG. 10 shows a timing chart for the circuit. Suppose that a signal including a period shorter than the normal period is input to an AND circuit 70 as a vertical synchronization signal. Further, assuming output of an OR circuit 73 to be shifted to an "L" state by the first pulse of the vertical synchronization signal shown in FIG. 10, a counter 74 outputs a count value read at that time to a delay inverter 77, and resets the count value to "0" to initiate count up operation. The delay inverter 77 changes the sign of the count value output from the counter 74 as well as delaying the count value by one frame, and then outputs resulting data to a counter 75. The counter 75 initiates its count up operation taking the data output from the delay inverter 77 as an initial value. When the count value of the counter 74 reaches or exceeds "480", a window signal for noise removal to be output from the counter 74 to the AND circuit 70 is set to an "H" state. Then, when the second pulse of the vertical synchronization signal is input, the counters 74 and 75 are reset in synchronism with falling of the pulse. If the period of the vertical synchronization signal is normal, the count value of the counter 74 reads "525" immediately before resetting. This value is output to the delay inverter 77 in which after delaying the count value by one frame, the sign of the value is reversed to read "−525", and then supplied from the delay inverter 77 to the counter 75. The counter 75 initiates its count up operation taking the value supplied from the delay inverter 77 as an initial value, and sets the output signal to be provided to the OR circuit 78 to an "L" state when the count value reaches "−2" or greater (−2, −1). If the count value reaches "−1", the output signal to be provided to the counter 76 is set to the "L" state and the count up operation is terminated. The counter 76 sets the output signal to the "H" state at the falling edge of the output signal from the counter 75 and initiates its count up operation from the initial value of "0". When the count value reaches "480", the counter 76 sets the output signal to "L" and terminates the count up operation. The output signal from the OR circuit 78 is changed to the "L" state when the output from the counter 75 and the output from the counter 76 both become "L" state. Here, suppose that the fourth pulse of the vertical synchronization signal is input. Because an interval between the third pulse and the fourth pulse is shorter than usual intervals, the fourth pulse will be input to the AND circuit 70 before the count value of the counter 74 reaches "480". In other words, the fourth pulse is input when the output of the counter 74 is in the "L" state, which results in the fourth pulse being masked by the AND circuit 70. Therefore, a signal corresponding to the fourth pulse would not be output from the OR circuit 78. The counter 76 executes its count up operation after being reset by the third pulse of the vertical synchronization signal, and sets the output signal to the "L" state when the count value reaches "480". On the other hand, the counter 75 counts up from "−525" which is the count value of the immediately preceding frame and imported into the counter 75 as the initial value, and sets the output to the OR circuit 78 to "L" state at a time of reading a value "−2". At this time, because the output signal from the counter 76 is already in the "L" state, the output from the OR circuit 78 is set to "L" state (in which the fourth pulse is output). Subsequently the fifth pulse of the vertical synchronization signal is input, which causes the AND circuit 70 to output a pulse because the output from the counter 74 to the AND circuit 70 is in the "H" state when the fifth pulse is input. As a result of output of the pulse, output of a differentiating circuit is set to the "L" state, and as a result the counters 74 and 75 are reset. At the moment of resetting, the output of the counter 75 is in an "L" state, whereas the output of the counter 76 is in an "H" state (because the count value of the counter 76 is smaller than "480"), which brings about no change in the output signal of the OR circuit 78 (the "H" state is maintained). When the sixth pulse of the vertical synchronization signal is subsequently input, the output of the OR circuit 73 is turned to the "L" state because the output of the counter 74 is already in the "H" state. Consequently, the counters 74 and 75 are reset. At the moment of resetting, because the output of the counter 76 has already been set to "L" state, the output of the OR circuit 78 is set to "L" state at the same timing of resetting the counter 75 (i.e. the fifth pulse is output).
In this manner, when the signal including a period which is shorter than the normal period is input, the signal is masked by the counter 74 and the AND circuit 70 to thereby make it possible to avoid feeding of an abnormal synchronization signal.
In the above-described technology, however, masking is executed to prevent an original synchronization signal being output immediately after count down output, while an original synchronization signal input after the expiration of the masking period is taken in and output without change. Therefore, the final period of the vertical synchronization signal will differ from the intrinsic period, which brings about difficulty in driving the LCD panel properly.


A sensor detects analytes in a fluid medium by measuring the conductivity of a layer on a carrier with the layer contacting an electrode pair. The layer interacts with the analyte and is improved in that the sensor has a long-term stability and the indication provided by the sensor is completely reversible. The layer is a fullerene layer.

European patent publication 0,398,286 discloses a gas sensor for detecting ammonia. The gas sensor has an interdigitated electrode pair on a ceramic carrier and the gap between the electrodes is covered by a layer of polyaniline. The change of the electric resistance between the electrodes of the gas sensor is caused by the interaction of the ammonia with the polyaniline layer and is a measure of the ammonia concentration to be detected.
It is a disadvantage of this known gas sensor that it has insufficient long-term stability and that the indication provided thereby is not completely reversible.
Published German patent application 4,114,536 discloses special cage-like carbon molecule structures which can be characterized as so-called fullerenes. Fullerenes comprise a triple coordinated aromatic carbon with the molecules being composed exclusively of pentacycles and hexacycles, that is, the molecules have especially stable structures. All fullerenes contain twelve pentacycles and (n) hexacycles with (n) being an even number greater than or equal to zero. The number (x) of the carbon atoms of a fullerene molecule results from the number (n) of the hexacycles. The number (x) is given by: x=2 (n)+20. C.sub.60 fullerene and C.sub.70 fullerene should be mentioned in this context. The C.sub.60 fullerene has a precisely spherical-shaped structure with 20 hexagons on the surface and the C.sub.70 fullerene has 25 hexagons.
C.sub.60 and C.sub.70 fullerenes are significant for the practical application since they are especially simple to produce. For example, graphite is converted into C.sub.60 and C.sub.70 fullerenes to a certain proportion with a resistance heating in a helium atmosphere.
Detectable analytes can be organic analytes such as alkenes, alkynes and aromatic hydrocarbons or inorganic analytes such as ammonia, hydrazine, phosphine, H.sub.2 S and halogens.

Sensor for detecting analytes in a fluid medium


A facility for processing textual input generated with a user input device described. In one example facility, the facility stores the textual input in a first data structure contained in the address space of a first process. The facility synchronizes contents of the first data structure to a second data structure contained in the address space of a second process distinct from the first process, an application executing in the second process being configured to consume textual input synchronized to the second data structure.

An Input Method Editor, or "IME," is a program that transforms user input events into user-specified text for consumption by an application, such as for augmenting a document edited by the application. For example, an on-screen keyboard that performs shape writing, automatic word completion, word prediction, or ideographic character composition can be implemented as an IME, as can an automatic speech transcription mechanism.
Where a user selects a particular IME for use with an application, the operating system typically causes the IME to be loaded into the application's process and executed there. The IME stores the text that it generates in the document within the address space of the application's process. A lock or other synchronization mechanism is used to prevent the application and the IME from writing to the document at the same time, which could result in corruption of the document.

Externalized execution of input method editor


A pet diaper adapted to be fastened around a pet's rear and under the tail, and to the pet's waist such that the pet diaper is securely positioned to receive and contain fecal droppings. The pet diaper comprises a frame structure which supports a container that is lined with a replaceable plastic bag. The pet diaper is affixed to the pet using adjustable straps which wrap around the pet's midsection and attach to the collar. The frame structure holds the bag away from the pet to prevent expelled fecal matter from getting on the pet's fur.

Normally dogs are let outside in a fenced in area or walked on a leash to allow them to take care of their bathroom duties. These methods provide mental and physical stimulation for the dog and enables them to satisfy some of their basic instincts such as the marking of their territory.
However, some dogs are too young, too old, or so sick that they may not have adequate control of their bodily functions. This translates into a mess inside a home or car. Additionally, city ordinances or neighborhood regulations may require that owners pick up the droppings of their canine friends during a neighborhood walk. Such can be a rather unpleasant task.
Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which one can effectively contain the droppings from their dogs without the mess and unpleasantness described above.


A manifold for control of fluid and/or vapor flow between a container and a pump cartridge for a compounder system is provided. One or more manifolds may be disposed in a magazine configured to secure and align the manifolds with a plurality of ports in the cartridge. Each manifold may include a needle having forward and rear openings to a central bore. A needle housing may include a slot configured to receive a push rod for actuating the needle forward and backward. In a forward, engaged position, the openings in the needle may be disposed on opposite sides of a sealing member of the manifold to form a fluid pathway through the manifold. In a rearward, disengaged position, both the forward and rear openings in the needle may be disposed on the same side of the sealing member to prevent fluid and vapor from flowing through the manifold.

Pharmaceutical compounding is the practice of creating a specific pharmaceutical product to fit the unique need of a patient. In practice, compounding is typically performed by a pharmacist, tech or a nurse who combines the appropriate ingredients using various tools. One common form of compounding comprises the combination of a powdered drug formulation with a specific diluent to create a suspended pharmaceutical composition. These types of compositions are commonly used in intravenous/parenteral medications. It is vital that the pharmaceuticals and diluents are maintained in a sterile state during the compounding process, and there exists a need for automating the process while maintaining the proper mixing characteristics (i.e., certain pharmaceuticals must be agitated in specific ways so that the pharmaceutical is properly mixed into solution but the solution is not frothed and air bubbles are not created). There exists a need for a compounding system that is easy to use, may be used frequently and efficiently, is reliable and reduces user error.


An apparatus and method for controlling a flow of fluid through a nozzle assembly including a set of nozzles. The nozzles can have a set of airfoils defining a throat between the airfoils. One or more exhaust holes can be provided in the airfoils downstream of the throat. A fluid supply line can be fluidly coupled to the exhaust holes for selectively supplying a flow of fluid through the exhaust holes.

Turbine engines, and particularly gas or combustion turbine engines, are rotary engines that extract energy from a flow of combusted gases passing through the engine onto a multitude of rotating turbine blades.
Gas turbine engines have a compressor section for compressing a volume of air entering the engine, a combustor section for combusting a material to accelerate the air passing through the engine, and a turbine section driven by the accelerated air to drive the compressor section, and generating thrust. A nozzle is formed at a first stage of the turbine section downstream of the combustion section, as the smallest cross-sectional distance of the engine. The engine performance is limited by the nozzle. As such, sizing of the nozzle is important in determining engine efficiency and thrust, which needs to be balanced in sizing the nozzle.

Turbine engine with variable effective throat


A diving fin system possessing two independent subunits, a fin subunit and a shoe subunit. The two subunits are reversibly fastened through a mechanism whereby the fin subunit possesses a front fin clip and a back locking clip, and the shoe subunit possesses a front receiver for the front fin clip and a back locking pin to cooperatively engage the back locking clip of the fin.

Traditionally, a diving swim fin system comprises a diving fin and diving bootie. The bootie is most often composed of Neoprene (polychloroprene) and possesses a rubberized sole. It is generally designed for use only during diving activities. The bootie is not designed for extensive use outside of the diving activity.
Currently, diving fins are designed to have a water scoop section for propulsion through water, a generally concave section for cooperatively engaging a foot (or foot with bootie), and a fastening strap unit that engages the heel of the foot and maintains the foot in contact with the generally concave section of the fin.


A cardiopulmonary bypass system is described that includes a cardiopulmonary bypass machine having a console, the console has a base and a frame connected to the base. The system further comprises a plurality of peripheral modules operatively connectable to the cardiopulmonary bypass machine via one or more cables. The system further comprises a cable chase having a first end and a second end, and a housing that extends at least partially between the first end and second end to at least partially enclose a channel for receiving one or more cables or conduits connected to one or more of the peripheral modules.

There is an ever evolving need for new and improved solutions to medical apparatuses that utilize a number of various electronic and/or motorized modules, especially those that are required to be rearranged, replaced, added to, or removed from a main console machine during use in the surgical setting, whether by plan or in an unplanned manner. Some of the modules may have a direct physical and electrical connection to a main console, while others may be indirectly attached and powered or controlled remotely by wires and cables. Within the field of cardiopulmonary perfusion, the rearrangement of the modules to a primary chassis and frame of a heart-lung machine may need to occur prior to and during use of such machines. If a need arises during use requiring a change to the arrangement of components or use of certain components during a surgical procedure, such an interruption may be inconvenient, add extra time and cost to the overall surgery, and may complicate the delivery of care to the patient. With highly specialized procedures such an on-pump CAGB surgical procedure, such interruptions are especially undesirable to the surgical team involved with the CABG procedure.
Perfusion systems involve a wide variety of components and accessories that are dependent on the patient's needs, the operator's preferences for operational setup, availability of modular hardware (e.g., console pumps, mast-mounted pumps, pump displays and controllers, etc.), and the use of various sensors and diagnostic equipment. Prior to carrying out a cardiac surgery, perfusionists may arrange their equipment into one of an extensive number of permutations that are meant to address the needs for the patient that will undergo surgery. Due to the extensive use of cables, blood conduits, pumps, pump displays, and other related devices that commonly are involved with such procedures, the cables and cords may become heavily intertwined and difficult to manage. This may lead to specific issues of operational inconvenience and time inefficiency for the perfusionist.
As heart-lung machines often involve the usage of a wide variety of peripheral modules that need to be controlled through the user interface of the heart-lung machine, and given that any one of the peripherals may need to be switched out and replaced for various reasons, including but not limited a change in the delivery of therapy, or unexpected failure of the unit (whether electrical or mechanical), there is a need to be able to quickly replace the peripheral so that the perfusionist can attend to the delivery of cardiac support to the patient and minimize any downtime associated with the failure. When the peripheral is unable to be quickly switched out due to the routing of cables and wires, additional complications may occur.
Therefore, there is a need for medical equipment such as heart-lung machines to have improved features that permit the user to simplify the reconfiguring, set up and management of their systems.


A multi-element product and the method of making it which product is held together by a rivet. The product includes a hard layer adjacent a compressible soft layer to form a composite. A hole in the hard layer receives an anvil which is urged into the compressible layer. The rivet, which may be carried to its drivable position by a projection, is driven against the anvil to deform the rivet end.

It has been known that rivets having portions protruding from the spine (and visible when the folder is closed) have been used.
In addition, binder folders in which the rivets or other fasteners for holding the ring binder mechanism to the binder spine do not protrude from the spine are old (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,295,747; 4,522,442; and 4,722,628).
Anvils which remain attached to the spine or other workpiece include the button construction shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 496,357 and 3,745,613 and the rivet construction in U.S. Pat. No. 3,494,246. Anvil means attached to a fastener for accomplishing embedding the fasteners in composite boards has also been proposed (U.S. Pat. No. 4,138,779).

Concealed rivet element and setting method for ring binder construction


An integrated circuit includes a MOSFET device and a monolithic diode device, wherein the monolithic diode device is electrically connected in parallel with a body diode of the MOSFET device. The monolithic diode device is configured so that a forward voltage drop VfD2 of the monolithic diode device is less than a forward voltage drop VfD1 of the body diode of the MOSFET device. The forward voltage drop VfD2 is process tunable by controlling a gate oxide thickness, a channel length and body doping concentration level. The tunability of the forward voltage drop VfD2 advantageously permits design of the integrated circuit to suit a wide range of applications according to requirements of switching speed and efficiency.

Reference is made to FIG. 1 showing a circuit diagram of a power metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) device 10. The power MOSFET 10 includes a gate G, a source S and a drain D. In this example, the power MOSFET 10 is an n-channel device, and thus the source S and drain D are formed by n-type doped semiconductor regions and the channel (and body B) is formed by a p-type doped semiconductor region. The body B is electrically tied to the source S. A body diode D1 of the MOSFET 10 is formed by a p-n junction with an anode formed by the p-type doped region of the body B and a cathode formed by the n-type region of the drain D.
In a switching circuit application, the body diode D1 is in reverse mode when the power MOSFET 10 is gate controlled to be conducting. When the power MOSFET 10 is subsequently turned off, the body diode D1, in its anti-parallel circuit configuration, will be switched on in forward mode. The body diode D1 may, for example, have a forward voltage drop (Vf) of about 0.7V. This forward voltage drop, however, is too high to support industry demand for faster switching speeds and higher efficiency.
There is accordingly a need in the art to address the foregoing problem.

Monolithic charge coupled field effect rectifier embedded in a charge coupled field effect transistor


A segmented brake light has a detecting module mounted in a vehicle near a brake pedal, a driving module connected to the detecting module and multiple light modules controlled by the driving module. The detecting module detects the pressures on the brake pedal to output signals to the driving module. The driving module based on the received signals to start the respective one or multiple light modules. Accordingly, other car drivers in the rear of the vehicle can recognize that whether the vehicle is going to brake.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a segmented brake light, and more particularly to a brake light composed of multiple light modules that are selectively and progressively activated according to different pressure a driver stepped on the brake pedal.
2. Description of Related Art
A top-installed rear brake light near the rear windshield in a vehicle is usually started when the driver is stepping on a brake pedal to warn other people behind the vehicle to avoid any collision.
How the top-installed rear brake light works is often determined by the sensitivity of the brake light and a driver's behaviors. A high sensitivity light can be easily activated with a small pressure when the driver slightly steps on the brake pedal. However, the driver may just move the feet to the brake pedal as a preparatory action for braking, not mean to brake the car. Comparing to the high sensitive operations, a low sensitively brake light requires a deep stepping or high pressure on the brake pedal. For other drivers behind the car, they may have no sufficient time in emergency brakes. The complete turn-off and turn-on operations of a conventional light are unable to provide other drivers with a good pre-warning effect.
However, to produce a top-installed rear brake light that can display multiple effects according to different statuses, some complex factors such as modifying original circuits in the vehicle may discourage consumers from equipping the vehicle with such a brake light.
Therefore, the present invention provides a new segmented brake light to overcome the foregoing drawbacks.


A particulate material collection bottle for a reproduction apparatus includes an opening for receiving a tube through which particulate material is fed. A detent at the opposite end of the bottle from the opening fits in a complementary detent in the receiving apparatus to wedge the bottle between the detent and the tube. To permit the opening to receive a barb on the tube it is oblong in shape and has a compressible seal around its exterior. Recessed rib portions of opposing side walls form a handle to assist insertion of the bottle in the apparatus. A projection from one wall of the apparatus is positioned to activate a sensing means to indicate the presence of the bottle in its appropriate position. A foldable paper seal is positioned below the opening. It can be folded across the opening after a full bottle has been removed.

Copiers and printers in which electrostatic images are developed by dry particulate toner commonly have one or more cleaning stations. These cleaning stations clean toner and sometimes carrier or paper particles off surfaces on which such particles are unwanted. Most commonly, toner and some carrier is cleaned off a photoconductive surface after most of a toner image has been transferred. Particles are also cleaned off the backs of photoconductive members and off transfer surfaces. Although some apparatus recycle cleaned toner, most apparatus merely collects the cleaned particulate material for disposal by a service person. One type of commonly used cleaning station uses an auger to feed cleaned particulate material from the cleaning device itself into a collection container. The service person must empty or dispose of the container periodically.
Loose toner readily becomes airborne and seriously affects the operation of many components in such apparatus. For example, the optical system is particularly adversely affected by airborne toner. Further, the preson and clothing of an operator or service person is readily soiled by vagabond toner.
In the modern copier and printer marketplace the expense, convenience and reliability associated with service may be the most critical ingredient contributing to total customer satisfaction.

Particulate material collection bottle for reproduction apparatus


A novel black matrix, a method for preparing the same, and a flat display device and an electromagnetic interference filter to which the black matrix is applied. The black matrix is prepared by exposing a photoactive compound to form a latent pattern of nuclei for crystal growth and treating the latent pattern of nuclei for crystal growth with a metal salt solution to give a metal particle-deposited pattern; forming an electroless Ni-plated layer on the metal particle-deposited pattern; and forming an electroless Cu-plated layer on the electroless Ni-plated layer. Exhibiting improved black tone, which is achieved only by a selective multilayer plating process, without using expensive vacuum sputtering apparatus or a photolithographic process, the black matrix can be applied to various flat display devices. In addition, due to improved electric conductivity, the black matrix can be used in an electromagnetic interference filter, without employing an additional front surface blackening process.

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Korean Patent Application No. 2004-56828 filed on Jul. 21, 2004, which is herein expressly incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The embodiments of the present invention relate to a novel black matrix, a method for preparing the same, a flat display device comprising the same, and an electromagnetic interference filter comprising the same. More particularly, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a black matrix comprised of a substrate, a photosensitive film, a Ni-plated layer and a Cu-plated layer, which is improved in blackening tone and electric conductivity, a method for preparing the same, and the applications of the black matrix, including a flat display device and an electromagnetic interference filter.
2. Description of Prior Art
A black matrix, which is the generic description of a light shielding film that separates the pixels of a screen's color filter, is applied to all display devices to prevent color mixing among R (red), G (green) and B (blue) and to improve the contrast therebetween. In liquid crystal displays, a black matrix is incorporated within a color filter by being positioned between any two of R, G and B picture elements in light emitting devices, such as fluorescent displays and OLEDs. In the case of plasma displays, a black matrix is prepared by additionally blackening copper wires of an electromagnetic interference filter, so that visibility can be prevented.
Thus far, most black matrixes have been prepared by patterning a film of metal such as chromium in a photolithography process, as representatively disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,378,274 (Yokoyama et al.), 5,587,818 (S. Lee et al.) and 5,592,317 (Fujikawa et al.). Chromium is vacuum deposited on the internal surface of a display screen to form a light absorption coating, which is then patterned using photolithography, so as to prepare a black matrix. However, this conventional method has the disadvantage of having a high production cost. Further, the black matrix prepared by this conventional method exhibits high reflectance and a color filter incorporating this black matrix therewith is poor in visibility due to its high light reflectance.
To solve this problem, a method is suggested in which a metal chromium film is positioned between oxide layers, such as chromium oxide layers, so as to achieve low reflectance properties. The black matrix prepared according to this method has advantages of exhibiting high visible light absorption, being thin and having a high optical density. However, this method is environmentally unfavorable not only because chromium is converted to harmful chromium (VI), but also because heavy metal, including an oxidizing agent, such as ammonium-cerium (IV), is required.
Therefore, there has been a strong need for an organic black matrix paint that is inexpensive compared to chromic materials, does not produce pollution in the environment, and can be easily patterned, in the industry.
In the past decade, extensive research into organic black matrix materials has been conducted. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,822,718 (Latham et al.) and 5,176,971 (Shimamura et al.) dyed black matrix compositions comprising polyimide precursor binders are disclosed. These compositions, however, suffer from the drawbacks of short storage stability, low optical density after deposition, poor thermal stability, and low fade resistance. In addition, "dye-based" compositions produce dyed leachates while subsequent processes are conducted. In principle, dyes cannot make photo images, so no patterns may be formed without an additional photoresist layer.
In order to achieve higher optical densities, better thermal stability, and greater resistance to chemicals and fading, various pigment-dispersed (discriminated from "dye-based") black matrix coating systems have been developed. However, none of the pigment-dispersed coating compositions developed thus far is found to satisfy a black matrix system in terms of high electric resistance, small film thickness, and high optical density.
Japanese Pat. Laid-Open Publication No. 8-34923 (Sekisui Chemical Industries, Ltd.) discloses a two-step process for preparing a black matrix, in which a composition comprising a photosensitive polymer and a black dye is applied onto a substrate and a black-dyed coating thus formed is exposed through a mask to form a desired pattern which is then colored with black dye. This method is too troublesome to be commercially applied.
When a matrix is prepared from an organic material, there occur problems in that light sensitivity is deteriorated upon frequent light exposure and the storage stability needs to be extended. Compositions having improved storage stability are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,626,796 (Tsujimura et al.), 5,639,579 (Hayashi et al.), 5,714,286 (Uchikawa et al.) and 5,866,298, and Japanese Pat. Laid-Open Publication Nos. 2000-147240, 11-143056, and 11-326606. However, none of the compositions having improved storage stability disclosed in the above literature can exhibit the high optical density of chromium black matrices. The reason is that since a resinous black matrix has poor absorbance compared to a metal black matrix, it must be made thick so as to obtain a necessary optical density. When a thick film is employed, a step problem is caused in subsequent processes, deteriorating the overall driving properties of the display device.
Japanese Pat. Laid-Open Publication No. 11-352310 discloses a method for preparing a black matrix using Ni and NiOx. Friendly as it is to the environment, this method needs a vacuum apparatus for forming Ni films, unlike a conventional sputtering apparatus, and in addition, it is difficult to maintain constant etching conditions.

Black matrix, method for the preparation thereof, flat display device and electromagnetic interference filter employing the same