A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a vertical type trench gate MOS transistor; a Schottky barrier diode; multiple trenches having a stripe pattern to divide an inner region into first and second separation regions; and a poly silicon film in each trench. The first separation region includes a first conductive type region for providing a source and a second conductive type layer for providing a channel region. The first conductive type region is adjacent to a first trench. The poly silicon film in the first trench is coupled with a gate wiring. A second trench is not adjacent to the first conductive type region. The poly silicon film in the second trench is coupled with a source or gate wiring. The substrate in the second separation region is coupled with the source wiring for providing a Schottky barrier.

Inverter circuits for driving a load such as a motor for use in a vehicle are DC to AC converters; that is, they convert a DC voltage to an AC voltage and supply the latter to a load such as a motor. An inverter circuit for driving a motor which is inductive is composed of a MOS transistor (hereinafter abbreviated as MOS) or an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (hereinafter abbreviated as IGBT) as a switching element and a free-wheel diode (hereinafter abbreviated as FWD). The FWD bypasses and returns a current that flows through the motor while the MOS is off so that the current flowing through the motor is not varied by switching of the MOS. More specifically, when the MOS which has connected a DC power source to the motor and has applied a voltage to the motor is turned off, a current that has flown through the motor causes a reverse flow of a DC current through the FWD because of energy that is stored in the inductance L of the motor, establishing a state that is equivalent to a state that a reverse DC voltage is applied to the motor. This makes it possible to supply an AC voltage from the DC power source to the motor by switching without cutting off the motor current abruptly by switching of the MOS. To enable such an operation, the inverter circuit requires the FWD which is connected to the MOS in parallel in opposite direction. In the above inverter circuit, the MOS which functions as the switching element is required to be low in both on-resistance and switching loss. As for the FWD, the recovery characteristic and the forward loss are important characteristics.
Where a MOSFET or an IGBT which is a switching element is formed as a vertical MOS transistor having a trench gate structure (switching element), a p-type layer to serve as a channel forming region of the transistor is formed in a main-surface-side surface layer of an n-type semiconductor substrate. It is therefore possible to form a (body) diode utilizing an interface pn junction and use it as a FWD. In this structure, the vertical MOS transistor and the body diode are disposed adjacent to each other, as a result of which the semiconductor device is basically given a good switching characteristic. However, the body diode which is formed in the above manner has problems of a long recovery time and a large forward loss.
To solve the problems of the body diode which utilizes the pn-junction, the use of a Schottky barrier diode (hereinafter abbreviated as SBD) is being studied. For example, JP-A-2002-373989 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,707,128) discloses a semiconductor device in which a vertical MOS transistor having a trench gate structure and an SBD are formed adjacent to each other on a semiconductor substrate.
FIG. 18 shows the configuration of the conventional semiconductor device disclosed in JP-A-2002-373989, that is, it is a schematic sectional view of a semiconductor device 90. FIG. 18 shows several cells of an NMOSFET (hereinafter abbreviated as MOS) transistor having a trench gate structure and an SBD which are formed on an n+/n− substrate.
In the semiconductor device 90 of FIG. 18, a p-type base layer 12 is selectively formed in a surface layer of an n− layer 11 of the n+/n− substrate in a MOS forming area 14 and an n+ source region 13 is selectively formed in a surface layer of the p-type base layer 12. Gate trenches are formed so as to extend in the depth direction from the surface of the n+ source region 13 and to reach the n− layer 11. An SBD forming area 28 is disposed so as to surround the p-type base layer 12 of the MOS forming area 14 continuously, for example. A guard ring region 17 is formed so as to surround the SBD forming area 28 by the same process as the p-type base layer 12 is formed.
An interlayer insulating film 19 is deposited on the substrate in the MOS forming area 14, and plural contact holes are formed through the interlayer insulating film 19 at prescribed positions. A barrier metal 21 is formed on the surface of the n− layer 11 in the SBD forming area 28 and the surfaces of those portions of the n+ source region 13 which correspond to the contact holes formed through the interlayer insulating film 19. The barrier metal 21 is in Schottky contact with the surface of the n− layer 11 in the SBD forming area 28 and is in ohmic contact with the surfaces (high-concentration regions) of the portions of the n+ source region 13. Furthermore, a first main electrode 1 made of a metal to serve as both of an anode electrode of the SBD and a source electrode of the MOS is formed on the barrier metal 21. A second main electrode 22 to serve as both of a cathode electrode of the SBD and a drain electrode of the MOS is formed on almost the entire chip back surface.
Configured in such a manner that the MOS and the SBD are connected to each other in parallel in opposite directions, the semiconductor device 90 of FIG. 18 can be applied to the above-described inverter circuit with the SBD used as an FWD. Having a lower threshold voltage than pn-junction diodes such as the above-described body diode, when used as the FWD, the SBD is superior in the recovery characteristic and can lower the forward loss.
On the other hand, whereas the above-described body diode is formed by utilizing the p-type layer (corresponding to the p-type base layer 12 shown in FIG. 18) to serve as the MOS channel forming area, in the semiconductor device 90 of FIG. 18 the independent SBD forming area 28 is provided so as to continuously surround the p-type base layer 12 which exists in the MOS forming area 14. Therefore, the semiconductor device 90 has problems that the switching characteristic is basically bad and the chip cost is high because of an increased chip area.
One method for suppressing the increase of the chip area of the semiconductor device 90 is to increase the intervals between the gate trenches in the MOS forming area 14 and dispose an SBD between the adjoining gate trenches. However, this configuration raises another problem that the increased intervals between the gate trenches lower the breakdown voltage of the MOS. Furthermore, in this configuration, since the MOS and the SBD are disposed in a limited area, the individual regions of the p-type base layer 12 of the MOS need to be sufficiently narrow taking lateral diffusion into consideration. However, since the p-type base layer 12 of the MOS corresponds to the bases of parasitic bipolar transistors, parasitic operations tend to occur unless the individual regions of the p-type base layer 12 are sufficiently wide. This means a problem that the L load surge resistance is low.
Thus, it is desired to provide a semiconductor device in which a vertical MOS transistor having a trench gate structure and a Schottky barrier diode are formed adjacent to each other on a single semiconductor substrate, and which is superior in the diode recovery characteristic and can lower the forward loss, is free of reduction in transistor breakdown voltage and surge resistance, is superior in the switching characteristic, and is small in size and inexpensive.
FIG. 28 is a sectional view of a conventional semiconductor device which is equipped with a vertical MOSFET having a trench gate structure. As shown in FIG. 28, an n− drift layer J2 and a p-type base layer J3 are formed on an n+ silicon substrate J1. Plural n+ source regions J4 are formed in surface portions of the base layer J3. The silicon substrate J1, the drift layer J2, the base layer J3, and the source regions J4 constitute a semiconductor substrate J5. Trenches J6 are formed in the semiconductor substrate J5 so as to penetrate through the base layer J3 and reach the drift region J2. Silicon oxide films (gate oxide films) J7 are formed so as to cover the inner wall surfaces of the trenches J6, respectively, and gate electrodes J8 are formed on the surfaces of the silicon oxide films J7 so as to be buried in the trenches J6, respectively. Trench gates are thus formed.
A BPSG film J9 is formed so as to cover the gate electrodes J8, and a source electrode J10 is formed so as to be electrically connected to the source regions J4 and the base layer J3 through contact holes that are formed through the BPSG film J9. A drain electrode J11 is formed on the back-surface side of the semiconductor substrate J5. The semiconductor device which is equipped with the MOSFET having the trench gate structure is thus constructed (refer to JP-A-2005-333112, for example).
In the MOSFET having the above structure, since the base layer J3 necessarily exists between the trenches, body diodes which are formed by the pn junctions of the p-type base layer J3 and the combination of the n-type drift layer J2 and the silicon substrate J1 are disposed between the trenches. Where the semiconductor devices having the above structure are applied to an H-bridge circuit such as a motor drive circuit and the individual MOSFETs are on/off-driven by a PWM control, a return current flows through the body diodes of the MOSFETs located on the high side, which causes a return current loss which is mainly due to Vf of the body diodes.
Thus, it ie required for a semiconductor device to reduce a return current loss which is mainly due to Vf of a body diode.


For improving the filling properties between vertical MISFETs constituting a SRAM memory cell, the vertical MISFETs are formed over horizontal drive MISFETs and transfer MISFETs, and they are disposed with a narrow pitch in the Y direction and a wide pitch in the X direction. After a first insulating film (O3-TEOS) having good coverage is disposed over a columnar laminates having a lower semiconductor layer, an intermediate semiconductor layer, an upper semiconductor layer and a silicon nitride film and a gate electrode formed over the side walls of the laminates via a gate insulating film to completely fill a narrow pitch space, a second insulating film (HDP silicon oxide film) is deposited over the first insulating film, resulting in an improvement in the filling properties, even in a narrow pitch portion, between vertical MISFETs having a high aspect ratio.

Semiconductor integrated circuit devices have many layer-stack structures, each having a conductive film and an insulating film. The insulating film tends to be formed in order to insulate between conductive films. For example, plural interconnect layers are separated by an insulating film. An element formation region of a semiconductor substrate is also separated by an insulating film that has been filled in a groove.
The space between interconnects or a groove space, however, tends to be narrower with a recent tendency toward high integration and miniaturization of the device. In some parts, the ratio of the width to the height of a space (aspect ratio=height/width) becomes large.
Various improvements have been made to fill such a space accurately. For example, the below-listed Patent Document 1 discloses a technique which involves filling a first insulating film (46) in a region having a fine line width and a high height/width ratio, for example, a space between conductive lines (42), carrying out dry etch back (50) to remove voids (48), and then forming a second insulating film (52) over the first insulating film.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 11(1999)-176936

Method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device having a columnar laminate


A lighting control apparatus of a photographing apparatus comprises a lighting device, a continuous imaging control processor, and a pulse-signal generating processor. The lighting device illuminates a photographic subject by receiving a pulse signal which has a certain cycle. The continuous imaging control processor performs a continuous imaging operation where a plurality of images of the photographic subject are continuously imaged. The pulse-signal generating processor supplies the pulse signal to the lighting device with a first duty ratio in the exposure time, and with a second duty ratio which is smaller than the first duty ratio in a post-exposure time which is the time between the exposure time termination and the next exposure time start.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lighting control apparatus for a photographing apparatus, and in particular to improvement of the lighting action in the continuous or video mode.
2. Description of the Related Art
A lighting device which uses LEDs is proposed, in place of a lighting device which uses strobe radiation such as a xenon pipe which has been widely used with photographing apparatus, such as a camera. LEDs can be driven at a low voltage, and the circuit construction of the LED is simple.
However, the temperature of an LED goes up due to continuous radiation of the LED. The rise in the LED temperature causes a decrease of the quantity of light emitted by the LED. FIG. 1 shows the relation between the temperature rise and the quantity of light emitted by the LED, so that FIG. 1 shows that the quantity of light, in other words, the brightness of the LED falls along with the temperature rise of the LED.
Japanese unexamined patent publication (KOKAJ) No. 2003-101836 discloses a lighting device for a photographing apparatus. The radiation of light from the LEDs is driven by rectangular pulse signals, and a continuous imaging operation can be carried out while the LEDs radiate light.
Because a turn-off period is provided in the pulse signal, the LED radiation caused by this pulse signal is not continuous, hence the temperature rise of the LED due to the heat that occurs with continuous radiation is reduced in comparison to the temperature produced by the LED radiation when the direct current signal is used to drive the LED.
FIG. 2 shows a graph where the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents temperature. The graph shows the difference in temperature rise of the LED due to the direct current signal ((1) in FIG. 2) and the temperature rise of the LED due to the pulse signal ((2) in FIG. 2).
When the pulse signal and the direct current signal are in the on state, the LED for lighting is illuminated.
In the case of the direct current signal, because a constant current flows during the period for which the LED should be illuminated (T0˜T5), the temperature of the LED continues to go up.
In the case of the pulse signal, the period for which the LED is not illuminated is the period which the signal is in the off state (T1˜T2, T3˜T4), so that the temperature of the LED descends in this period (T1˜T2, T3˜T4). Accordingly, during the illumination period of the LED, the temperature of the LED repeats the rise and descent. As a result, the accumulation of heat is small in comparison with in the case where the direct current signal is used.
However, the above-discussed Japanese unexamined patent publication does not disclose whether the LED radiates in the period between the exposure time termination and the next exposure time start, in other words the post-exposure time, in the continuous shot mode.
When the radiation of the LED is continued in the post-exposure time similar to the exposure time period, the heat of the LED gradually accumulates, so that the rise in temperature of the LED can not be restrained, even if using the pulse signal.
When the radiation of the LED is stopped during the post-exposure time, the temperature rise of the LED can be restrained. However, the composition of an image of the photographing apparatus can not be confirmed in a frame period, in the continuous shot mode, so that it is difficult to shoot a moving photographic subject.


Various embodiments of a method and apparatus for performing adaptive voltage adjustment based on temperature value are disclosed. In one embodiment, and integrated circuit (IC) includes logic circuitry having at least one temperature sensor therein. The IC also includes a power management circuit coupled to receive temperature readings from the temperature sensor. The power management circuit is configured to determine a temperature of the IC based on a temperature reading received from the temperature sensor. The power management circuit may compare the determined temperature to a temperature threshold. If the temperature exceeds a temperature threshold value, the power management circuit may cause the operating voltage to be reduced by an amount equivalent to a voltage guard band.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure is directed to electronic circuits, and more particularly, to supply voltage adjustments based on reported temperature values.
2. Description of the Related Art
Advances in integrated circuit (IC) technology have increased the number of transistors on a single IC chip. The operating frequencies of some IC chips has also increased. The large number of transistors and increase in operating frequency has resulted in a corresponding increase in power consumption by IC chips. A corresponding increase in thermal output has also accompanied the increase in transistor count and operating frequency.
Management of power consumption and thermal output has increase in importance with the above-mentioned advances in IC technology. This is particularly true for portable devices that may rely on a battery for at least some of their operation. One manner in which power may be saved is to reduce the operating voltage of an IC. The power consumption by a given IC can be calculated as the square of the operating voltage. Accordingly, reduction of the operating voltage can have a significant impact on power consumption. However, ability to reduce the operating voltage may nevertheless be limited. Circuits within a given IC typically need a certain amount of voltage to operate properly. Furthermore, the operating voltage may include a guard band that is a surplus voltage added to the required voltage. The guard band may allow for factors such as power supply noise, as well as for process, voltage, and temperature variations while ensuring that circuit internal to the IC receive sufficient voltage for proper operation.

Adaptive voltage adjustment based on temperature value


A machine (1) for extracorporeal blood treatment comprises a device (2) for ultrafiltration of a liquid through a semi-permeable membrane (3) of a blood treatment device (4), a first sensor (11) for ultrafiltration rate through the membrane, a second group of sensors (13) for measuring a trans-membrane pressure, an infusion line (16) with an infusion pump (17) and a programmed controller (14) for calculating a maximum infusion rate as a function of the transmembrane pressure. The machine is suitable for kidney failure treatments, such as hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration. In a relatively short time the machine enables a large quantity of corporeal blood to be removed from the patient.

The invention relates to a machine and a procedure for extracorporeal treatment of blood.
Specifically, though not exclusively, the invention can be usefully applied in treatments involving an ultrafiltration of liquid through a semipermeable membrane, for example treatments for kidney failure such as pure ultrafiltration, hemofiltration, hemodialysis, and hemodiafiltration.
Extra-corporeal blood treatments generally involve removing blood from a patient, transporting it externally of the human body and reintroducing it to the patient once treated.
Treatments for kidney failure comprise, in general, both addition and/or removal of solutes from the blood, and removal of liquid.
As is well known, dialysis treatment is usually done by first removing blood from the patient and conducting it internally of a dialysis filter in which an exchange of solutes and liquid is performed through a semi-permeable membrane.
Various different typologies for dialysis treatment are known.
In pure ultrafiltration, the liquid to be removed is taken from the blood by pressure-gradient ultrafiltration through a semipermeable membrane, and is conveyed into a non-blood chamber of the filter. The solutes to be eliminated are drawn by convection along with the liquid, the convection transport being a contemporary transport of a liquid part of the blood and a part of the substances contained therein through the membrane.
In hemofiltration treatments, part of the liquid present in the blood crosses the membrane by ultrafiltration, drawing along with it, by convection, a part of the substances present in the blood, as in ultrafiltration treatment; also, a substituting fluid is infused into the blood before and/or after the filter, and in any case before the blood is returned to the patient.
In hemodialysis treatments, a sterile fluid of a predetermined composition is introduced into the non-blood chamber of the filter. The removal of liquid from the blood through the semipermeable membrane occurs by pressure-gradient ultrafiltration. The solute exchange through the membrane is essentially achieved by diffusion due to the concentration gradient of the solutes. A small part of the solutes is removed by convection along with the ultrafiltered liquid. In hemodialysis treatments no substitution fluid is used.
In hemodiafiltration treatments, the blood and the sterile fluid exchange substances both by diffusion and by convection, as in hemodialysis; in addition, a substitution liquid is infused into the blood as in hemofiltration treatments. The liquid is removed by ultrafiltration.
All the above types of dialysis treatment enable removal of an excess of liquid from the patient's body. The total quantity of liquid removed from the start to the end of the treatment (total weight loss) is one of the most important parameters in the treatment, and is generally set at the start of treatment as a target.
A further important parameter is the total treatment time.
In some treatments it is usual to pre-set the quantity of liquid removed from the patient per unit of time (also known as the weight loss rate). Usually the weight loss rate is set to a constant value or to a predefined profile. In any case, if a total weight loss value is added to the weight loss rate, the treatment time is determined a priori.
We observe in passing that the weight loss rate is equal, in general, to the difference between the ultrafiltration rate through the filter membrane and the flow rate of the substitution liquid (infusion rate). Also, in the case of hemodialysis or hemodiafiltration, the ultrafiltration rate is the same as the difference between the used dialysis fluid rate at the outlet of the non-blood filter chamber and the fresh dialysis fluid rate at the inlet of the non-blood chamber, while in the case of pure ultrafiltration or hemofiltration, the ultrafiltration rate coincides with the used fluid rate at the outlet of the non-blood chamber of the filter.
In the above-cited case, in which the weight loss rate is determined at start of treatment, if the infusion rate is also pre-set, then consequently the ultrafiltration rate will also be predetermined, as the sum of the weight loss rate and the infusion rate. The ultrafiltration actuators will therefore be controlled so that the ultrafiltration rate will follow the pre-set progression.
This type of control is essentially based on one or more of the flow rates of the liquids circulating in the dialysis machine (fresh dialysis liquid, used dialysis liquid, substitution liquid).
Apart from controls based on the flow rates, another known control is based on the trans-membrane pressure on the semi-permeable membrane of the dialysis filter. In this case the total weight loss is usually pre-set (or another desired target, such as for example the total quantity of a certain metabolite to be removed from the patient), and the trans-membrane pressure is also pre-set, usually to a constant value for the whole treatment. The ultrafiltration actuators are controlled so that the pressure follows the pre-set progression. The treatment terminates when the overall weight loss (or the other target parameter) is reached. In an HF/HDF treatment and in trans-membrane pressure controlled mode, if the total patient weight loss and the total substitution volume infused to the patient are predetermined, then the treatment time is not predeterminable. It is possible to set a predetermined treatment time even in pressure controlled mode; however if the total patient ultrafiltration volume (or the total patient weight loss) is predetermined as well, the total substitution volume will not be predeterminable.
A further important parameter which is usually pre-set at the start of treatment is the flow rate of the blood removed from the patient, which crosses the extracorporeal circuit. The choice of this parameter depends on various factors, not least the state of the patient's vascular access. The blood flow rate considerably influences both the quantity of solutes exchangeable per time unit, and the quantity of liquid removable per time unit, so the treatment time largely depends on the blood flow rate, i.e. the time in which the prefixed target (weight loss or quantity of metabolite removed or volume of substituting liquid infused or others) is reached.
Normally the blood rate is a pre-set value determined by the operator. EP 0 711 182 describes however a case in which the blood flow rate is determined by the dialysis machine, at start of or during treatment. In the system of EP 0 711 182 the blood flow rate, which is removed from the patient and sent to a dialysis filter, is varied in a predetermined sequence, after which the system measures the concentration of a metabolite (for example urea or creatinine, or uric acid) in the used dialysis liquid downstream of the filter, in order to determine a profile of the metabolite concentration in relation to the blood flow rate. The system thus determines the value of the blood flow rate which corresponds to the maximum metabolite concentration, and automatically sets the blood flow rate at the determined value. The system has the aim of optimizing blood purification performance with relation to the metabolite during the dialysis treatment. However, the system of EP 0 711 182 is not able to optimize the weight loss rate or the ultrafiltration rate. In other words, it does not guarantee to minimize the treatment time in cases where the pre-set target is a determined weight loss in the patient or a determined volume of substituting liquid to infuse in the patient.
WO 01/08723 discloses a method of optimizing the operating point of a dialysis filter. In WO 01/08723 a dialysis machine is controlled by calculating a filtration factor FF=UFR/[Qb*(1−Hct)], in which UFR is the ultrafiltration rate, Qb is the blood flow rate, and Hct is the hematocrit (i.e. the concentration of red blood cells in the arterial blood), and by verification of whether the filtration factor FF is within an admissible range. If not, the ultrafiltration rate is altered so as to return the system to a non-critical operating point. If the filtration factor FF is acceptable, it is checked whether the ultrafiltration factor can be incremented to increase efficiency in conditions of safety. In particular WO 01/08723 teaches that, in the case of increased deviation between the calculated filtration factor FF and the maximum limit set (for example in the case of previous reduction of ultrafiltration), the operating conditions can be modified so as to increase the efficiency of filtration, in particular by increasing the ultrafiltration rate. This makes it possible to modify the operating conditions of the filter dynamically during the treatment, following any variations and fluctuations of the hematocrit in the course of treatment, to obtain conditions of safety and increased efficiency at every instant. However, the method for increasing filter efficiency disclosed by WO 01/08723 is susceptible of improvement.

Machine for extracorporeal treatment of blood


The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates access to content associated with a group. During operation, the system provides, to a first user in the group, a digest email comprising a set of links to the content. Next, the system increases a relevance of the digest email to the first user by selecting a subject header for the digest email based on usage patterns associated with at least one of the first user and one or more other users related to the first user.

1. Field
The disclosed embodiments relate to digest emails for groups. More specifically, the disclosed embodiments relate to techniques for increasing the relevance of the digest emails to members of the groups.
2. Related Art
Digest emails may be used by groups, organizations, and/or online communities to provide a "snapshot" of content created and/or modified during a given period. For example, a social network may send daily and/or weekly digest emails containing links to posts, articles, discussions, and/or comments associated with a group to members of the group. After the digest emails are received, the members may use the digest emails to view the content and/or access the social network by selecting the links within the digest emails.
However, a digest email may contain large amounts of content, particularly if the digest email is associated with an active group and/or organization. In turn, recipients of the digest email are likely to lose interest in the digest email before they find content that is relevant and/or interesting to them. For example, the digest email may include descriptions of and/or links to tens or hundreds of discussions, articles, and/or posts generated by members of the group and/or organization. In addition, the subject header of the digest email may include a generic description of the time period, amount of content (e.g., number of posts, discussions, articles, etc.), group, and/or other attributes associated with the digest email. Because the subject header does not describe content that may be relevant to a particular user, the user may delete the digest email instead of opening the digest email. Conversely, the user may be unable to find relevant content in the digest email after opening the digest email. In both cases, effective and/or efficient access to content that is relevant to the user may be precluded by a large amount of content and/or a lack of personalization in the digest email.
Consequently, use of digest emails may be facilitated by techniques for increasing the relevance of the digest emails to recipients of the digest emails.

Increasing the relevance of digest emails to group members


A stereo headset interface that is compatible with mono for an audio playback device. A load in series between an audio output from a stereo headset driver and a ground of a mono headset plug prevents the audio output from being grounded when a mono headset plug is inserted into the stereo headset jack of the playback device. A second load in series between a second audio output and the mono headset plug balances the first and second audio outputs from the stereo headset driver.

1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates to the field of audio headsets, in particular to the field of mono and stereo headset interface with audio playback devices.
2. Background Art
Audio playback devices including radios, cassette tape players, compact disc players, digital audio tape players, and the like, are used to produce acoustic signals from prerecorded audio and broadcasted audio information. Depending upon the output configuration of the playback device and the recording format, audio information is output from the audio playback device in either mono or stereo format. Other audio formats are available but are not discussed here. A mono formatted recording provides audio information on a single mono channel, while a stereo formatted recording provides different audio information on each of multiple channels, typically left and right. The result of audio information recorded in a stereo format is that the user perceives a broader spaced sound that more accurately reproduces the sound from a live performance. Audio output from audio playback devices is sent to a speaker or speakers integral to the device, speakers remotely located from the device, or from speakers that are in close proximity to a listener's ears, commonly referred to as headsets or headphones.
When an audio playback device operating in stereo mode is connected to a stereo headset having left and right outputs, a stereo headset driver associated with the audio playback device provides the amplification necessary to drive the speakers in the headset. The headset is connected to a headset plug having electrically-isolated conductors for audio left, audio right, and ground, and a microphone input if the headset is equipped with a microphone for communication input to the playback device. A microphone input would be appropriate if the playback device is, for example, a mobile communication device, such as a cellular telephone. The headset plug fits into a mating headset jack located on the audio playback device. The headset jack interfaces with the audio left, audio right, ground and microphone inputs from the headset.
Typically a single power supply configuration supplies power to the headset driver of the audio playback device, resulting in a DC voltage level at the left and right outputs of the driver between ground and the single supply. For that reason, DC blocking capacitors are placed on the audio left and audio right signals between the headset driver and headset jack to filter the DC voltage from the signal.
When the stereo audio playback device is used to drive a mono headset, such as when a mono headset is plugged into the stereo headset jack of the playback device, the audio right signal is shorted to ground through the ground conductor of the mono headset plug. This occurs because the mono headset plug has just three conductors, ground, audio left, and microphone. When plugged into the stereo headset jack of the playback device, the microphone, ground and audio left interfaces of the headset jack align properly with those of the headset plug, but the audio right interface from the headset jack contacts the ground portion of the headset plug. Thus, when a mono headset plug is plugged into a stereo headset jack, excessive electrical current is drawn from the power supply by the headset driver because one of the audio outputs is grounded instead of being connected to the proper impedance load. This results in excessive heating of the headset driver and possible damage to the headset driver. For this reason audio playback devices that provide stereo output through a stereo jack are not compatible with standard mono headsets.
Devices used for wireless communication, including mobile cellular and satellite telephones, pagers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and the like (hereafter "mobile communication devices") conventionally provide mono playback of audio information. Headsets having a speaker sized for placement in the vicinity of the left or right ear of a user are often employed in conjunction with mobile communication devices to accommodate "hands-free" communication. The speaker is typically connected via a hard-wire connection to the mobile communication device through a headset jack on the device. As mobile technology advances, mobile communication devices will provide stereo audio output. A mobile configured to provide stereo audio output will not be compatible with existing standard mono headsets due to the incompatibility of mono headset plugs to stereo headset jacks.
It would be advantageous if a headset interface of an audio playback device that outputs stereo formatted audio information was compatible with both stereo and mono headsets. Such an interface would provide the user the capability to use standard mono headsets with audio playback devices that output stereo audio.

Stereo audio headset interface and method that is compatible with mono headsets


A method of digesting waste paper is disclosed wherein waste paper is digested in a gas-tight container at an elevated pressure supplied by compressed gas introduced to the container. The digestion mixture is circulated within the pulper by a rotor having vanes or helical surfaces.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of digesting waste paper.
2. Description of Related Technology
Generally, waste paper is digested in pulpers at atmospheric pressure at temperatures between 30.degree. C. and 45.degree. C.
There has also been a proposal to digest waste paper in a pulper with a spherical housing, in which removal of specks may also be performed. (See H. Mack, Altpapieraufbereitung, page 90.) This pulper has a cover, with which the pulper can be sealed.


A puncturing needle guide includes a plate-like body whose width diminishes gradually from one end thereof to the other end thereof; a plurality of holes which are formed in an end surface of the puncturing needle guide at one end thereof and through which a puncturing needle can be passed; a single hole which is formed in an end surface of the puncturing needle guide at the other end thereof and through which the puncturing needle can be passed; a hollow that is formed inside the plate-like body and that allows the plurality of holes and the single hole to communicate with one another; and an attachment which is formed along an edge of the plate-like body in a width direction thereof and by which the plate-like body is attached to an ultrasonic probe.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Application No. 2002-107300 field Apr. 10, 2002.
The present invention relates to a puncturing needle guide, an ultrasonic probe, and an ultrasound imaging system. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a puncturing needle guide required for performing biopsy using a puncturing needle, an ultrasonic probe including the puncturing needle guide, and an ultrasound imaging system including the ultrasonic probe.
When biopsy is performed on a patient""s intracorporeal tissue, a puncturing needle is penetrated at the sight of a real-time tomographic image of a lesion. The real-time tomographic image is produced through ultrasound imaging or the like. An ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasonic probe that transmits ultrasonic waves to an object and receives echoes of the ultrasonic waves, and an image production unit that produces an image on the basis of the echoes.
For penetrating the puncturing needle, a puncturing needle guide is attached to the ultrasonic probe. The puncturing needle guide has a through hole, that is, a guide hole through which the puncturing needle is passed. The direction of penetration is determined with the direction of a center axis of the guide hole.
A transvaginal probe is one type of ultrasonic probe. The transvaginal probe is generally a rod-like probe having an ultrasound transmitting/receiving member incorporated in the distal part thereof. The puncturing needle guide to be attached to the probe for use has one guide hole.
For transvaginal imaging or penetration, since the puncturing needle guide has only one guide hole, penetration is possible in only one direction. Therefore, if a target direction disagrees with the penetration-enabled direction, penetration is impossible to do.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to realize a puncturing needle guide that enables penetration in a plurality of directions, an ultrasonic probe having the puncturing needle guide, and an ultrasound imaging system having the ultrasonic probe.
(1) According to one aspect of the present invention that attempts to solve the aforesaid problem, there is provided a puncturing needle guide having: a plate-like body whose width diminishes gradually from one end thereof to the other end thereof; a plurality of holes which are formed in an end surface of the plate-like body at one end thereof and through which a puncturing needle can be passed; a single hole which is formed in an end surface of the plate-like body at the other end thereof and through the puncturing needle can be passed; a hollow that is formed as an internal space of the plate-like body and that allows the plurality of holes and the single hole to communicate with one another; and an attachment that is formed along an edge of the plate-like body in a width direction thereof, and that enables attachment of the plate-like body to an ultrasonic probe.
According to the aspect of the present invention set forth in (1), a puncturing needle guide includes: a plate-like body whose width diminishes gradually from one end thereof to the other end thereof; a plurality of holes which are formed in an end surface of the plate-like body at one end thereof and through which a puncturing needle can be passed; a single hole which is formed in an end surface of the plate-like body at the other end thereof and through which the puncturing needle can be passed; a hollow that is formed as an internal space of the plate-like body and that allows the plurality of holes and the single hole to communicate with one another; an attachment that is formed along an edge of the plate-like body in a width direction thereof and that enables attachment of the plate-like body to an ultrasonic probe. Thus, a puncturing needle guide enabling penetration of the puncturing needle in a plurality of directions is realized.
Preferably, the attachment enables attachment of the plate-like body to a rod-like ultrasonic probe having an ultrasound transmitting/receiving member incorporated in the distal part thereof so that the other end of the plate-like body and the ultrasound transmitting/receiving member of the ultrasonic probe will be located on the same side of the ultrasonic probe. In this case, the puncturing needle guide can be inserted into a body cavity together with the ultrasonic probe.
(2) According to another aspect of the present invention that attempts to solve the aforesaid problem, there is provided an ultrasonic probe including: a rod-like body having an ultrasound transmitting/receiving member incorporated in the distal part thereof; a plate-like body whose width diminishes gradually from one end thereof to the other end thereof; a coupler that is formed alone an edge of the plate-like body in a width direction thereof and that couples the plate-like body to the rod-like body so that the other end of the plate-like body and the ultrasound transmitting/receiving member of the rod-like body will be located on the same side of the ultrasonic probe; a plurality of holes which are formed in an end surface of the plate-like body at one end thereof and through which a puncturing needle can be passed; a single hole which is formed in an end surface of the plate-like member at the other end thereof and through which the puncturing needle can be passed; and a hollow that is formed as an internal space of the plate-like body and that allows the plurality of holes and the single hole to communicate with one another.
According to the aspect of the present invention set forth in (2), an ultrasonic probe includes: a rod-like body having an ultrasound transmitting/receiving member incorporated in the distal part thereof; a plate-like body whose width diminishes gradually from one end thereof to the other end thereof; a coupler that is formed along en edge of the plate-like body in a width direction thereof and that couples the plate-like body to the rod-like body so that the other end of the plate-like body and the ultrasound transmitting/receiving member of the rod-like body will be located on the same side of the ultrasonic probe; a plurality of holes which are formed in an end surface of the plate-like body at one end thereof and through which a puncturing needle can be passed; a single hole which is formed in an end surface of the plate-like body at the other end thereof and through which the puncturing needle can be passed; and a hollow that is formed as an internal space of the plate-like body and that allows the plurality of holes and the single hole to communicate with one another. Thus, an ultrasonic probe having a puncturing needle guide that enables penetration of a puncturing needle in a plurality of directions is realized.
(3) According to still another aspect of the present invention that attempts to solve the aforesaid problem, there is provided an ultrasound imaging system comprising an ultrasonic probe that transmits ultrasonic waves to an object and receives echoes of the ultrasonic waves, and an image producing means for producing an image on the basis of the received echoes. The ultrasonic probe includes: a rod-like body having an ultrasound transmitting/receiving member incorporated in the distal part thereof; a plate-like body whose width diminishes gradually from one end thereof to the other end thereof; a coupler that is formed along an edge of the plate-like body in a width direction thereof and that couples the plate-like body to the rod-like body so that the other end of the plate-like body and the ultrasound transmitting/receiving member of the rod-like body will be located on the same side of the ultrasonic probe; a plurality of holes which are formed in an end surface of the plate-like body at one end thereof and through which a puncturing needle can be passed; a single hole which is formed in an end surface of the plate-like member at the other end thereof and through which the puncturing needle can be passed; and a hollow that is formed as an internal space of the plate-like body and that allows the plurality of holes and the single hole to communicate with one another.
According to the aspect of the present invention set forth in (3), an ultrasound imaging system comprises an ultrasonic probe that transmits ultrasonic waves to an object and receives echoes of the ultrasonic waves, and an image producing means for producing an image on the basis of the received echoes. The ultrasonic probe includes: a rod-like body having an ultrasound transmitting/receiving member incorporated in the distal part thereof; a plate-like body whose width diminishes gradually from one end thereof to the other end thereof; a coupler that is formed along an edge of the plate-like body in a width direction thereof and that couples the plate-like body to the rod-like body so that the other end of the plate-like body and the ultrasound transmitting/receiving member of the rod-like body will be located on the same side of the ultrasonic probe; a plurality of holes which are formed in an end surface of the plate-like body at one end thereof and through which a puncturing needle can be passed; a single hole which is formed in an end surface of the plate-like member at the other end thereof and through which the puncturing needle can be passed; and a hollow that is formed as an internal space of the plate-like body and that allows the plurality of holes and the single hole to communicate with one another. Thus, an ultrasound imaging system including an ultrasonic probe that has a puncturing needle guide which enables penetration of a puncturing needle in a plurality of directions is realized.
Preferably, the plurality of holes is formed in a row in the end surface. This helps grasp a direction of penetration.
Preferably, the internal surfaces of the plurality of holes are metallic surfaces. In this case, the internal surfaces will not be damaged with the puncturing needle.
Preferably, the internal surface of the single hole is a metallic surface. In this case, the internal surface will not be damaged with the puncturing needle.
Preferably, the internal surface of the hollow is a metallic surface. In this case, the internal surface will not be damaged with the puncturing needle.
Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to realize a puncturing needle guide that enables penetration in a plurality of directions, an ultrasonic probe including the puncturing needle guide, and an ultrasound imaging system including the ultrasonic probe.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Puncturing needle guide, ultrasonic probe, and ultrasound imaging apparatus

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC


A method of enabling multiple different operating systems to run concurrently on the same RISC computer, comprising selecting a first operating system to have a relatively high priority (the realtime operating system, such as C5); selecting at least one secondary operating system to have a relatively lower priority (the general purpose operating system, such as Linux); providing a common program (a hardware resource dispatcher similar to a nanokernel) arranged to switch between said operating systems under predetermined conditions; and providing modifications to said first and second operating systems to allow them to be controlled by said common program.

For some computer programs, it is critical that steps in the program are performed within defined time periods, or at defined times. Examples of such programs are control programs for operating mobile telephones, or for operating private branch exchanges (PBXs) or cellular base stations. Typically, the program must respond to external events or changes of state in a consistent way, at or within a certain time after the event. This is referred to as operating in "real time".
For many other programs, however, the time taken to execute the program is not critical. This applies to most common computer programs, including spreadsheet program, word processing programs, payroll packages, and general reporting or analysis programs. On the other hand, whilst the exact time taken by such programs is not critical, in most cases, users would prefer quicker execution where this is possible.
Applications programs interact with the computers on which they run through operating systems. By using the applications programming interface (API) of the operating system, the applications program can be written in a portable fashion, so that it can execute on different computers with different hardware resources. Additionally, common operating systems such as Linux or Windows provide multi-tasking; in other words, they allow several program to operate concurrently. To do so, they provide scheduling; in other words, they share the usage of the resources of the computer between the different programs, allocating time to each in accordance with a, scheduling algorithm. Operating systems of the this kind are very widely used, but they generally make no provision for running real time applications, and they therefore are unsuitable for many control or communications tasks.
For such tasks, therefore, real time operating systems have been developed; one example is ChorusOS (also known as Chorus) and its derivatives. Chorus is available as open source software.
It is described in "ChorusOS Features and Architecture overview," Francois Armand, Sun Technical Report, August 2001, 222p.
These operating systems could also be used to run other types of programs However, users understandably wish to be able to run the vast number of "legacy" programs which are written for general purpose operating systems such as Windows or Linux, without having to rewrite them to run on a real time operating system.
It would be possible to provide a "dual boot" system, allowing the user to run either one operating system or the other, but there are many cases where it would be desirable to be able to run a "legacy" program at the same time as running a real time program. For example, telecommunications network infrastructure equipment, third generation mobile phones and other advanced phones, and advanced electronic gaming equipment may require both realtime applications (e.g. game playing graphics) and non-realtime applications (game download).
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,752 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,721,922, an attempt is made to incorporate a real time environment into a non real time operating system by providing a real time multi-tasking kernel in the interrupt handling environment of the non real time operating system (such as Windows).
One approach which has been widely used is "emulation". Typically, an emulator program is written, to run under the real time operating system, which interprets each instruction of a program written for a general purpose operating system, and performs a corresponding series of instructions under the real time operating system. However, since one instruction is always replaced by many, emulation places a heavier load on the computer, and results in slower performance. Similar problems arise from the approach based on providing a virtual machine (e.g. a Java™ virtual machine). Examples of virtual machine implementations are EP 1059582, U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,379, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,864.
A further similar technique is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,995,745 (Yodaiken). Yodaiken describes a system in which a multi tasking real time operating system runs a general purpose operating system as one of its tasks, pre-empting it as necessary to perform real time tasks.
Another approach is to run the realtime operating system as a module of the general purpose operating system, as described in for example EP 0360135 and the article "Merging real-time processing and UNIX V", (Gosch), ELECTRONICS, September 1990 p62. In this case, hardware interrupts are selectively masked with the intention that those concerned with the general purpose operating system should not pre-empt the realtime operating system.
Another approach is that of ADEOS (Adaptive Domain Environment for Operating Systems), described in a White Paper.
ADEOS provides a nanokernel which is intended, amongst other things, for running multiple operating systems although it appears only to have been implemented with Linux. One proposed use of ADEOS was to allow ADEOS to distribute interrupts to RTAI (Realtime Application Interface for Linux).
EP 1054332 describes a system in which a "switching unit" (which is not described in sufficient detail for full understanding) runs a realtime and a general purpose operating system. Hardware interrupts are handled by a common interrupt handler, and in some embodiments, they are handled by the realtime operating system, which then generates software interrupts at a lower priority level which are handled by routines in the secondary operating system.


An end to end anastomotic stapling device connects two lumen sections avoiding constricture at the anastomotic ring. An intraluminal end to end anastomotic stapler includes an expanding head and anvil designed to fire an anastomotic ring having an inner diameter at least equal to the nominal inner diameter of the remaining lumen sections. An extraluminal end to end lumen stapler is described attaching the lumen sections with an exterior flange type connection having anastomotic rings with a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the lumen sections whereby the anastomotic site has a diameter at least as great as the adjacent lumen sections.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to surgical anastomotic stapling devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to end to end anastomotic surgical staplers avoiding minimal constricture at the anastomosis site.
2. Background Information
Surgical staplers have been developed to assist and improve a wide variety of surgical procedures. Surgical staplers provide precision in the placement of staples as well as decrease the time of given surgical procedures. A wide variety of surgical staplers have been developed for vascular, gastric, esophageal and intestinal surgery, to name but a few. These known staplers are often used in anastomosis procedures. In performing surgical anastomotic stapling, generally the two pieces of lumen are attached by a ring of staples with a closed loop stapler. The anastomosis of the lumen may be performed in a side to side, side to end or end to end manner which describes the relative orientation of the lumen sections.
The surgical staplers for performing end to end anastomosis are generally intraluminal surgical staplers that fire a pair of staggered rings of staples. These types of surgical staplers are often referred to as EEA""s, which stands for xe2x80x9cEnd to End Anastomosisxe2x80x9d. During this procedure, a circular knife blade is used to separate tissue which is held within the circular ring. The separated tissue is then removed with the stapler so that a circular opening within the lumen is completed along the surgical stapling line.
In performing these surgical procedures with EEA""s it has become desirable to separate the anvil on which the staplers are clinched from the stapling head portion from which the staples are expelled. It has been typical in the past that the stapling head is attached to the anvil and the tissue is secured through a xe2x80x9cpurse stringedxe2x80x9d gathering of tissue.
Generally, the tissue stapled together with an EEA leaves a smaller opening than the original lumen into which the anvil and stapler head were inserted. Frequently, it is desirable to provide an anvil which can be collapsed to introduce the anvil into the body through a relatively small incision. An example of a surgical stapler having a variable diameter anvil is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,414 disclosing an anvil, integral with a surgical stapler, which can be collapsed and inserted through a small incision in a patient""s body and expanded outwardly after placement inside the patients body to staple the wall of an organ to the abdominal wall or an external tissue layer of the patient""s body. The anvil is not detachable from the stapler and thus cannot provide a continuous stapler line, but rather applies a broken, discontinuous line to xe2x80x9ctackxe2x80x9d the tissue in a circular line. This patent also does not provide an anvil which can be placed remotely within the body for subsequent attachment to a stapler head.
Other examples of anvils which are capable of collapsing to a reduced diameter after stapling to facilitate removal from the body are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,752,024; 4,893,622; 4,700,703 and 4,903,697. These anvils are introduced into the body through a relatively large incision.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,639 also shows a collapsible anvil assembly and applicator instrument for a surgical stapler apparatus.
The retractable anvil EEA""s discussed above do not address the fundamental problem of the constricture point formed after luminal anastomosis. These prior art devices simply address the problem of post operative tool removal.
It is the object of the present invention to avoid the drawbacks of the prior art by avoiding the minimal constriction formed at luminal anastomotic sites using anastomotic staplers (i.e., EEA""s). It is a further object of the present invention to provide anastomotic staplers which are easy to manufacture and utilize. A further object of the present invention is to provide both intraluminal anastomotic end to end staplers and extraluminal anastomotic end to end staplers.
The above objects are achieved with the anastomotic device according to the present invention. The anastomotic device according to the present invention is a surgical stapler that will form an anastomosis between existing lumen sections in an end to end alignment forming the anastomosis site with a minimal diameter generally equal to or greater than the normal inner diameter of the anastomized lumen sections, with the lumen sections in a normal relaxed condition. The anastomotic device of the present invention will preferably utilize conventional staples formed in a pair of offset annular arrays of staples to couple the end of a first lumen section to the end of a second lumen section.
A first embodiment of the present invention forms the anastomotic device as an intraluminal end to end surgical stapler. The intraluminal surgical stapler fires staples, or other fastening devices, from a stapling head to an adjacent anvil. In accordance with the present invention, both the head and the anvil can be moved from a retracted position having a first relative diameter to an expanded position of a second larger diameter. The expansion of both the head and the anvil allows the anastomotic device to be positioned in the lumen to be attached with minimal interference and then expanded to an enlarged firing position, wherein when fired the anastomotic ring formed by the array of staples is positioned at a diameter preferably at least as large as the minimum diameter of the adjacent lumen sections. After firing, the head and anvil of the stapler of present invention can both be retracted to allow for easy withdrawal of the stapler from the anastomized lumen.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the head will be formed of a plurality of wedge-shaped arc segments which move radially and align in an expanded position to form the annular head. The arc segments may be in the form of inner wedge-shaped segments moved by an actuator and outer segments guided by the inner wedge-shaped segments. The wedge-shaped segments may be moved into the expanded or retracted positions by being coupled to the actuator in the form of axially movable wedges controlled by the user.
Another embodiment of the present invention will form the annular head as a plurality of arc segments that slide together with the segments formed in an overlapped position in the retracted state and rotate into contracted and expanded positions. A further embodiment of the present invention will hinge various arc segments together to allow the segments to pivot between a retracted position of a minimal diameter and an expanded position forming the annular head ready for firing.
Each individual arc segment of the head portion will include staples which combine to form the array of staples in the expanded position. One key aspect of the present invention is that each arc segment has a separate firing mechanism as well as a knife actuating mechanism independently associated with each segment. Each segment will have an arcuate knife portion which will combine and overlap with the knife portions of adjacent segments to form a continuous annular knife arrangement when the head is in the expanded position. In this manner, the knife portions and staples of each individual segment will combine to form the dual stapling array and annular knife well-known to those skilled in the art (except of a larger diameter relative to the body of the stapler). The firing mechanism of each individual segment is additionally coupled to the controller of the stapler in a manner which accommodates movement of the individual segments between the retracted and expanded positions. This construction of the segments allows for the segments to be formed in the hinged arrangements, spirally attached arrangements or wedge arrangements discussed above. Many other possible relatively movable combinations may be constructed with the individual segment construction of the stapler of the present invention.
Another aspect of the present invention is to form an external end to end anastomotic surgical stapler. The external stapler according to the present invention is designed to clamp around lumen sections to be attached. The extraluminal stapler according to the present invention is designed to form an anastomizing ring of sutures external to the connected lumen sections. The external stapler according to the present invention forms a pair of annular arrays of staples around an outwardly extending flange of the connected lumen sections.
In one embodiment according to the present invention, the extraluminal stapler is formed of two opposed stapler units with each stapler unit formed of two halves hinged together. The extraluminal stapler will include a mechanism for pulling the lumen to be attached around the stapling face of each stapling unit. The extraluminal stapler according to the present invention will additionally include a mechanism for aligning the stapling head and anvil portions of the opposed stapling units with each other as well as a firing mechanism for firing the arrays of staples in the stapling units. One embodiment of the present invention will form each stapling unit as an anvil and head portion hinged together which couples with an adjacent hinged anvil and head portion of the opposed stapling unit.
The present invention would be particularly applicable for bowel resections as will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, but is not intended to be limited thereto. It can be used in many other applications such as, but not limited to, vascular anastomosis, gastrointestinal anastomosis, esophageal anastomosis and essentially any hollow lumen within the body. Further, the specific embodiments of the invention include a variety of unique features that can be incorporated separately or in various combinations into other stapling and surgical devices for improving those devices.
One advantage of the present invention is a minimally invasive surgical stapler that will assist in stapler placement because the diameter of the stapler (i.e. the largest diameter portion, specifically the head and anvil of the stapler) is smaller during insertion and retraction than at firing.
Another advantage of the present invention is having a closed loop EEA stapler with the trimming knife formed by individual knife segments. This feature of the present invention may be utilized for firing the knife segments individually, or in a given sequence, or simultaneously (as utilized in the illustrated embodiments of the present invention.
Another feature of the present invention is the accommodation of multiple anvil and multiple head controls in a surgical stapler. One present illustrated embodiments provide separate controls for expansion/retraction of the anvil and for axial movement of the anvil. This illustrated embodiment further provides independent control for expansion/retraction of the head and for firing of the knife blade and staples. This system of multiple independent control may be modified to perform a variety of separate control features for the anvil and head portions of an EEA stapler.
Another feature of the present invention is the provision of an EEA stapler with a staple and knife firing mechanism that accommodates relative motion of the head portion containing the staples and the firing mechanism.
Another feature of the present invention is the provision of an alignment mechanism that aligns and locks the anvil and head portion together prior to the firing of the staples or the knife.
Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a closed loop surgical stapler for end to end anastomosis in which the stapler extends around the outside of the lumen portions being anastomised.
These and other advantages of the present invention will be clarified in reviewing the detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken together with the attached figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements throughout.


The present invention relates to a system and methodology for controlling and presenting information to users in an automated manner. Sets of information items accessible by users from computer workspaces (e.g., from within and/or outside an application) are automatically hidden or reduced from view in order to facilitate user processing of a determined and/or reduced subset of information. The reduced subset is created from decision-theoretic considerations of the expected costs and benefits of hiding or mitigating information items from view or presentation while leaving more likely items or objects exposed for efficient access by users. The display of the ideal set of items takes into consideration controls that allow for the access of views that reveal sets of less likely items through one or more gestures. The control of the optimization may be facilitated by preference-assessment interfaces that allow a designer and/or a user to assess preferences about the costs of reviewing sets of items of different lengths and about the costs of gestures to reveal additional items.

Computer systems have greatly facilitated productivity and efficiency in the modern work environment. Tools such as application windows, browsers, search engines, menus, icons, folders, configuration settings, help files, and other items are routinely dispersed on a user's desktop or laptop computer and associated display. Many users have dozens of such items from which to select (e.g., application icons, folder directories, images) in order to perform common computer tasks such as running an application or searching for information. Searching often involves "drilling down" from one level via a "mouse click" to a desired sub-level to find desired information. When attempting to locate information however, computer users often have to peruse or look at a plurality of disassociated display objects in order to select the object of interest which then often involves further drilldown operations into another sublevel after selecting a desired object. When navigating to a different sublevel (e.g., subdirectory), respective sublevels are also often populated with a plurality of other information items to be scanned and further selected by the user.
As a consequence of the power of computers and the relatively low cost of memory, computer workspaces and/or applications themselves are offering ever-increasing options for users to select from. In a workspace example, a common desktop may provide application icons for running an application, folder icons for saving information, and other objects such as various menus from which to operate the computer in addition to various files created by the users themselves. In an application setting, various menus, toolbars, selection inputs, menu selections, and file management tools are provided to facilitate operations with the selected application. When using search engines or search utilities for example, often times hundreds of disparate items are returned and presented to users as a result of a search for desired information. The returned results typically must then be gleaned over to find the one or two items of interest. Clearly, having to process more information items causes users to lose valuable time and reduce overall efficiency. In some cases, having more tools or item selection capabilities at one's disposal causes some users to decrease their productivity even though their computers have increased capabilities.
As a consequence of so many options for creating and manipulating information or data, desktop and/or application workspaces have become increasingly cluttered. Thus, when a user attempts to find a piece of information or go to a directory to run an application, the user may have to inspect or view dozens of display items to find the particular item of interest. As can be appreciated, the more features that are added to computer systems—including items created by the user such as files, the more tedious it becomes to manage and efficiently process such items. Consequently, there is a need to more efficiently manage computer data presentations to users in an automated manner.

Models and methods for reducing visual complexity and search effort via ideal information abstraction, hiding, and sequencing


A bidirectional DC-DC converter is configured with a transformer that has a first winding and a second winding, a first DC-AC converter that is provided between a first DC voltage line and the first winding, a second DC-AC converter that is provided between a second DC voltage line and the second winding, and a controller that performs a switching control operation that bidirectionally transmits DC power between the first DC voltage line and the second DC voltage line. When the bidirectional DC-DC converter is in a light load operation state, the controller provides an operation stop period that periodically stops the switching control operation so as to perform an intermittent switching control operation.

The present invention relates to a bidirectional DC-DC converter that is connected between a first DC (direct current) voltage line and a second DC voltage line and a method of controlling a bidirectional DC-DC converter. The bidirectional DC-DC converter bidirectionally transmits DC power between the first DC voltage line and the second DC voltage line. Note that the first DC voltage line is connected, for example, to an AC-DC converter that generates a DC voltage from a commercial AC (alternating current) power source. The second DC voltage line is connected, for example, to a capacitor (storage battery).
As a conventional bidirectional DC-DC converter, a bidirectional DC-DC converter has been proposed by the applicant as disclosed in Japanese patent publication No. 2010-5266 (See page 6 and FIG. 1). The bidirectional DC-DC converter (DC-DC converter) is configured with a transformer, a voltage-source power converter, a current-source power converter and a controller. Specifically, the voltage-source power converter performs power conversion by controlling a voltage that is applied to a primary side of the transformer (a primary winding). The current-source power converter performs power conversion by controlling a current that flows in a secondary side of the transformer (a secondary winding). The controller controls the voltage-source power converter and the current-source power converter. The bidirectional DC-DC converter can perform a charging operation for a capacitor (storage battery), which is connected to the current-source power converter, by generating a DC voltage based on a rail voltage (DC voltage) that is supplied to a side of the voltage-source power converter and an output operation for providing the rail voltage (DC voltage) by generating the DC voltage based on the DC voltage stored in the capacitor (storage battery).
Specifically, in the above described conventional bidirectional DC-DC converter, when the capacitor (storage battery) is charged, the voltage-source power converter generates an AC voltage by switching the rail voltage with a switching element and outputs the AC voltage to the primary winding of the transformer. As a result, the current-source power converter rectifies an AC voltage that is generated in the secondary winding of the transformer, converts the AC voltage to a DC voltage and at the same time outputs the DC voltage to the capacitor (storage battery). On the other hand, when the capacitor (storage battery) is discharged, the current-source power converter generates an AC current by switching the DC voltage, which is supplied from the capacitor (storage battery), by the switching element and outputs the AC current to the secondary winding of the transformer. As a result, the voltage-source power converter rectifies the AC current that is output from the primary winding of the transformer, converts the AC current to the DC voltage and at the same time outputs the converted DC voltage as the rail voltage.
However, the conventional bidirectional DC-DC converter can be improved. Specifically, in the conventional bidirectional DC-DC converter, even when a charging current that is supplied to the capacitor (storage battery) is low (in other words, a load of the current-source power converter is light), the controller makes the switching elements for the voltage-source power converter and the current-source power converter continuously operate at a predetermined switching cycle that is the same as when the charging current is high. Therefore, the conventional bidirectional DC-DC converter is not as efficient as desired because a switching loss (turn-on power loss and turn-off power loss) always occurs for the switching elements.
An object of the present invention is to provide a bidirectional DC-DC converter that can achieve further improved efficiency.

Bidirectional DC-DC converter and method of controlling bidirectional DC-DC converter


A die-stamped frame is fastened to a heat sink metal baseplate by wedging flexible tabs into receiving indentations of the baseplate while keeping the frame substantially in contact with the surface of the baseplate. The wire welding operations may then take place on the end of the fingers of the patterned metal frame while the same are solidly resting on the surface of the baseplate thus facilitating the welding. The backing-off of the metal frame from the surface of the heat sink baseplate takes place upon the closing of the mold used for encapsulating in resin the device. The injection of the resin and its solidification "freezes" the pins in the backed-off position imposed by the mold upon closing, thus ensuring the electrical isolation between the pins and the integral heat sink baseplate.

The assembly and resin-encapsulation of a semiconductor power device commonly comprises the following steps:
fastening a die-stamped metal frame or strip of frames to a flat metal heat sink baseplate by wedging at least two tabs formed in two opposite sides of each die-stamped frame into indentations purposely formed in opposite sides of the baseplate so that once the wedging has been made, the metal frame or the strip of metal frames is supported by said wedged tabs parallel above the face of the baseplate and at a separation distance therefrom of some tenth of a millimeter; PA1 bonding the semiconductor die or dies onto the face of the heat sink baseplate in a central area in respect to the relative die-stamped metal frame so as to be surrounded by the inner ends of a plurality of coplanar fingers patterned in the die-stamped metal frame, which will constitute external connection pins, functionally isolated among each other and from the metal heat sink in the finished device; PA1 electrically connecting the metal pads of the front of the semiconductor die to the fingers of the metal frame, respectively, by means of a metal wire welded to a pad and to the inner end of a finger of the metal frame; PA1 transferring the assembly inside a mold and injecting an encapsulating resin which, upon solidification, "freezes" the various parts of the assembly in their respective spatial positions, thus isolating the fingers and the relative wire connections among each other as well as from the heat sink baseplate on which the encapsulating resin body is molded; PA1 separating the various devices, which may have been simultaneously encapsulated in a single mold, from the outer perimetral band of the die-stamped metal frame or frames, and separating the various external pins (i.e., the outer portions of the fingers of the die-stamped metal frame extending out of the cavity of the encapsulation mold, passing between the opposed mating surfaces of the mold and of the counter-mold).
Customarily, in accordance with modern fabrication techniques, the welding of the connecting wires to the metallized pads on the front of the semiconductor dies and to the respective finger or pin of the metal frame is performed by a thermo-sonic mechanism. Practically, the wire is pinned by means of a heated metal electrode against the metallic surface of the pad and of the finger's end. Mechanical vibrations of sonic and ultrasonic frequency are transmitted to the pinned wire through the heated metal electrode, causing a frictional, localized overheating which is sufficient to momentarily melt the metal so that, upon re-solidification, a permanent welding between the wire and the metallized surface of the pad and the surface of the metal finger, respectively, is established.
The flexibility of the fingers' inner end portion, which extends in a cantilever manner from an outer perimetral band of the die-stamped frame, under the force, though relatively small, which is exerted by the welding electrode, often represents a problem for reliably welding the wires. In some cases, this problem is overcome by inserting spacing laminae of a dielectric material in the gap between the surface of the flat heat sink baseplate and the fingers of the die-stamped metal frame, in order to support the cantilever ends of the frame fingers during the welding of the wires. These dielectric supports may also be left in place and be encapsulated in resin body. The insertion of these dielectric spacers or supports remains a time-consuming and expensive practice in terms of production costs and is impractical altogether.

Apparatus for assembling and resin-encapsulating a heat sink-mounted semiconductor power device


In a wireless system comprising a server and at least one access point operatively coupled to the server, a technique for controlling access to the at least one access point comprises the steps of: (i) assigning a profile to a station adapted for communication with the system, the profile representing at least an access characteristic of the station; and (ii) associating the station to the at least one access point based at least in part on the profile assigned to the station. Access to the at least one access point by the station is thereby selectively controlled by the at least one access point. The access control methodology of the present invention advantageously can allow a system manager to selectively control the accessability of the wireless system to a user, and is configurable to provide such access control at the access point level.

Proliferation of computers and wireless communication together has brought us to an era of wireless networking. The recent growth of wireless networks is driven, at least in part, by such benefits as ease of installation, mobility, and flexibility. These benefits can offer gains in efficiency, accuracy, and lower business costs.
The use of wireless and mobile data transfer technologies has created new issues of concern involving, for example, security-related issues such as authentication (e.g., verifying the identity of communicating client stations), confidentiality or privacy, and data integrity (e.g., insuring that data messages are not modified in transit between wireless client stations and access points). The flexibility of wireless networks has a primary drawback in that data is no longer propagated through wires, but instead is sent using radio frequency transmissions that are susceptible to eavesdropping and interference, which undesirably affects security-related issues.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, and the supplements relating thereto, address medium access control over a WLAN. The IEEE 802.11 specification includes certain built-in features for providing a secure operating environment. Wireless LANs compliant with IEEE 802.11 generally attempt to combat data security problems through the use of open system cryptographic techniques for the wireless interface. The security services are provided largely by the wired equivalent privacy (WEP) protocol to protect link-level data during wireless transmission between client stations and access points. That is, WEP only provides a security mechanism for the wireless portion of the connection. The WEP cryptographic technique for confidentiality also uses an RC4 (Ron's Code #4 or Rivest) symmetric-key, stream cipher algorithm to generate a pseudo-random data sequence. The IEEE 802.11 standard is set forth in the document IEEE Std. 802.11, entitled Supplement to IEEE Standard for Information Technology—Telecommunications and Information Exchange Between Systems—Local Metropolitan Area Networks—Specific Requirements—Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications, 1999 Edition, and in the supplements relating thereto, which are incorporated herein by reference.
Open system authentication is essentially a null authentication in which any station is authenticated by the access point. Shared key authentication typically supports authentication of stations either with or without knowledge of a shared secret key and is generally accomplished by sending clear text to the station. The station then encrypts the clear text data and sends the encrypted data back to the access point. If the station has the correct key, the access point can decrypt the message and authenticate the station.
The conventional authentication key process of transmitting both clear text data and encrypted data leaves this methodology highly vulnerable to eavesdropping, interference and/or other security-related issues. Although the IEEE 802.11 specification provides some degree of security, it does not solve the problem of access control at the wireless level.
There is a need, therefore, for improved access control techniques for use in a wireless system which address the above-mentioned security-related problems.


A method of operating an elevator system includes detecting a building sway which causes sway of elevator suspension or compensation members. An elevator control system is switched into a building sway mode, and operation of one or more elevator cars of the elevator system is changed via the building sway mode to mitigate vibratory effects of the building sway on the one or more elevator cars.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to elevator systems. More specifically, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to mitigation of sway of suspension and/or driving ropes for elevator systems.
Elevator systems typically include one or more ropes or other suspension members from which an elevator car is suspended, and with which the elevator car is driven along a hoistway. Tall buildings in particular, which have elevator systems servicing them, have some sway associated with them. This sway, most often experienced during periods of high winds, can seriously impact elevator performance and, in some instances, damage elevator components. For example, building sway can result in rope sway that, especially when the rope length is shortened as the car runs into an upper or lower landing, has a significant lateral amplitude that causes excessive vertical vibration and noise at the elevator car. Further, rope sway effects experienced at the elevator car are increased at certain floors where the rope sway frequency is at or near the building sway vibratory frequency.
The typical approach to rope sway mitigation involves deploying mechanical elements such as sway arms, snubbing devices, car followers, rope guides, isolators or the like. The mechanical elements such as the above increase system cost and many times lack the reliability necessary to prevent the effects of rope sway. Another solution includes adjusting a tie down sheave in the hoistway to minimize the effect of compensation rope sway during the high wind event. The building is then monitored for sway and wind modes are implemented limiting elevator performance, for example, stopping service to floors in a predetermined "critical zone", at which the effects of the building sway on the elevator car are greatest. This approach, however, results in having many unserviceable floors of the building during building sway events, which is unacceptable to many elevator system users.


This invention relates to an inclinable vehicle having three or more wheels. The invention provides a stabilizer system for the vehicle so that the stationary vehicle does not fall. The vehicle comprises a primary part including two wheels (1a, 1b) and a distortable suspension structure (2) connecting the wheels, and a structural member (4) mounted on a chassis member to tilt with the suspension structure. The tilting rotates an arm (5) with a multiplication ratio, and a roller on the arm (5) runs on a cross-member (19). The secondary part (6) of the vehicle slides on the structural member (4) and is carried by the cross-member (19) so that rotation of the arm (5) on tilting of the vehicle lifts the secondary part and raises the overall center of gravity of the vehicle. In a variant, the rise of the center of gravity is obtained by rotation of the secondary part of the vehicle. A clutch may be provided to disengage the stabilizer while the vehicle is moving.

This invention relates to an inclinable vehicle, that is to say a vehicle which may incline or heel relating to the ground. More particularly, the invention relates to an inclinable vehicle with three or more wheels; such a vehicle may be narrow and comparable in width to a two-wheel vehicle.