A catheter includes a first plurality of expandable leads and a second plurality of expandable leads separate and longitudinally spaced-apart from the first plurality to deliver energy to a hollow anatomical structure, such as vein, fallopian tube, hemorrhoid, esophageal varix, to effectively ligate that structure. Each of the leads includes an electrode located at the distal end of the respective electrode lead. Polarizations of the leads may be selected to achieve the power distribution desired. Each electrode lead includes an outward bend such that when a movable sheath is moved out of contact with the leads, they expand outwardly into apposition with an inner wall of the structure to be ligated. High frequency energy can be applied from the leads to create a heating effect in the surrounding tissue of the anatomical structure. The diameter of the hollow anatomical structure is reduced by the heating effect, and the electrodes are freely moved inward by the shrinking structure while still maintaining apposition with the inner wall of the shrinking structure.

The invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for applying energy to shrink a hollow anatomical structure, such as a fallopian tube or a vein, including, but not limited to, superficial and perforator veins, hemorrhoids, and esophageal varices, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus using an electrode device having multiple leads for applying radio frequency (RF) energy, microwave energy, or thermal energy.
The human venous system of the lower limbs consists essentially of the superficial venous system and the deep venous system with perforating veins connecting the two systems. The superficial system includes the long or great saphenous vein and the short saphenous vein. The deep venous system includes the anterior and posterior tibial veins which unite to form the popliteal vein, which in turn becomes the femoral vein when joined by the short saphenous vein.
The venous system contains numerous one-way valves for directing blood flow back to the heart. Venous valves are usually bicuspid valves, with each cusp forming a sack or reservoir for blood which, under retrograde blood pressure, forces the free surfaces of the cusps together to prevent retrograde flow of the blood and allows only antegrade blood flow to the heart. When an incompetent valve is in the flow path, the valve is unable to close because the cusps do not form a proper seal and retrograde flow of the blood cannot be stopped. When a venous valve fails, increased strain and pressure occur within the lower venous sections and overlying tissues, sometimes leading to additional valvular failure. Two venous conditions which often result from valve failure are varicose veins and more symptomatic chronic venous insufficiency.
The varicose vein condition includes dilation and tortuosity of the superficial veins of the lower limbs, resulting in unsightly discoloration, pain, swelling, and possibly ulceration. Varicose veins often involve incompetence of one or more venous valves, which allow reflux of blood within the superficial system. This can also worsen deep venous reflux and perforator reflux. Current treatments of vein insufficiency include surgical procedures such as vein stripping, ligation, and occasionally, vein-segment transplant.
Chronic venous insufficiency involves an aggravated condition of varicose veins which may be caused by degenerative weakness in the vein valve segment, or by hydrodynamic forces acting on the tissues of the body, such as the legs, ankles, and feet. As the valves in the veins fail, the hydrostatic pressure increases on the next venous valves down, causing those veins to dilate. As this continues, more venous valves will eventually fail. As they fail, the effective height of the column of blood above the feet and ankles grows, and the weight and hydrostatic pressure exerted on the tissues of the ankle and foot increases. When the weight of that column reaches a critical point as a result of the valve failures, ulcerations of the ankle begin to form, which start deep and eventually come to the surface. These ulcerations do not heal easily because of poor venous circulation due to valvular incompetence in the deep venous system and other vein systems.
Other related venous conditions include dilated hemorrhoids and esophageal varices. Pressure and dilation of the hemorrhoid venous plexus may cause internal hemorrhoids to dilate and/or prolapse and be forced through the anal opening. If a hemorrhoid remains prolapsed, considerable discomfort, including itching and bleeding, may result. The venous return from these prolapsed hemorrhoids becomes obstructed by the anal sphincters, which gives rise to a strangulated hemorrhoid. Thromboses result where the blood within the prolapsed vein becomes clotted. This extremely painful condition can cause edema and inflammation.
Varicose veins called esophageal varices can form in the venous system with submucosa of the lower esophagus, and bleeding can occur from the dilated veins. Bleeding or hemorrhaging may result from esophageal varices, which can be difficult to stop and, if untreated, could develop into a life threatening condition. Such varices erode easily, and lead to a massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
Ligation of a fallopian tube (tubal ligation) for sterilization or other purposes is typically performed by laparoscopy. A doctor severs the fallopian tube or tubes and ties the ends. External cauterization or clamps may also be used. General or regional anesthetic must be used. All of the above are performed from outside the fallopian tube.
Hemorrhoids and esophageal varices may be alleviated by intra-luminal ligation. As used herein, "ligation" or "intra-luminal ligation" comprises the occlusion, collapse, or closure of a lumen or hollow anatomical structure by the application of energy from within the lumen or structure. As used herein, "ligation" or "intra-luminal ligation" includes electro-ligation. In the case of fallopian tube ligation, it would be desirable to perform the ligation from within the fallopian tube itself (intra-fallopian tube) to avoid the trauma associated with external methods.
Ligation involves the cauterization or coagulation of a lumen using energy such as that applied through an electrode device. An electrode device is introduced into the lumen and positioned so that it contacts the lumen wall. Once properly positioned, RF energy is applied to the wall by the electrode device thereby causing the lumen to shrink in cross-sectional diameter. In the case of a vein, a reduction in cross-sectional diameter of the vein, for example from 5 mm (0.2 in) to 1 mm (0.04 in), significantly reduces the flow of blood through a lumen and results in an effective occlusion. Although not required for effective occlusion or ligation, the vein wall may completely collapse thereby resulting in a full-lumen obstruction that blocks the flow of blood through the vein. Likewise, a fallopian tube may collapse sufficient to effect a sterilization of the patient.
One apparatus for performing ligation includes a tubular shaft having an electrode device attached at the distal tip. Running through the shaft, from the distal end to the proximal end, are electrical leads. At the proximal end of the shaft, the leads terminate at an electrical connector, while at the distal end of the shaft the leads are connected to the electrode device. The electrical connector provides the interface between the leads and a power source, typically an RF generator. The RF generator operates under the guidance of a control device, usually a microprocessor.
The ligation apparatus may be operated in either a monopolar or bipolar configuration. In the monopolar configuration, the electrode device consists of an electrode that is either positively or negatively charged. A return path for the current passing through the electrode is provided externally from the body, as for example by placing the patient in physical contact with a large low-impedance pad. The current flows from the ligation device through the patient to the low impedance pad. In a bipolar configuration, the electrode device consists of a pair of oppositely charged electrodes of approximately equal size, separated from each other, such as by a dielectric material or by a spatial relationship. Accordingly, in the bipolar mode, the return path for current is provided by an electrode or electrodes of the electrode device itself. The current flows from one electrode, through the tissue, and returns by way of the oppositely charged electrode.
To protect against tissue damage; i.e., charring, due to cauterization caused by overheating, a temperature sensing device is attached to the electrode device. The temperature sensing device may be a thermocouple that monitors the temperature of the venous tissue. The thermocouple interfaces with the RF generator and the controller through the shaft and provides electrical signals to the controller which monitors the temperature and adjusts the energy applied to the tissue through the electrode device accordingly.
The overall effectiveness of an ligation apparatus is largely dependent on the electrode device contained within the apparatus. Monopolar and bipolar electrode devices that comprise solid devices having a fixed shape and size can limit the effectiveness of the ligating apparatus for several reasons. Firstly, a fixed-size electrode device typically contacts the vein wall at only one point on the circumference or inner diameter of the vein wall. As a result, the application of RF energy is highly concentrated within the contacting venous tissue, while the flow of RF current through the remainder of the venous tissue is disproportionately weak. Accordingly, the regions of the vein wall near the point of contact collapse at a faster rate then other regions of the vein wall, resulting in non-uniform shrinkage of the vein lumen which can result in inadequacy of the overall strength of the occlusion and the lumen may eventually reopen. To avoid an inadequate occlusion, RF energy must be applied for an extended period of time so that the current flows through the tissue generating thermal energy including through the tissue not in contact with the electrode to cause that tissue to shrink sufficiently also. Extended applications of energy have a greater possibility of increasing the temperature of the blood to an unacceptable level and may result in a significant amount of heat-induced coagulum forming on the electrode and in the vein which is not desirable. This can be prevented by exsanguination of the vein prior to the treatment, and through the use of temperature regulated power delivery.
Secondly, the effectiveness of an ligating apparatus having a fixed-size electrode device is limited to certain sized veins. An attempt to ligate a vein having a diameter that is substantially greater than the electrode device can result in not only non-uniform heating of the vein wall as just described, but also insufficient shrinkage of the vein diameter. The greater the diameter of the vein relative to the diameter of the electrode device, the weaker the energy applied to the vein wall at points distant from the point of electrode contact. Accordingly the vein wall is likely to not completely collapse prior to the venous tissue becoming over cauterized at the point of electrode contact. While coagulation as such may initially occlude the vein, such occlusion may only be temporary in that the coagulated blood may eventually dissolve recanalizing the vein. One solution for this inadequacy is an apparatus having interchangeable electrode devices with various diameters. Another solution would be to have a set of catheters having different sizes so that one with the correct size for the diameter of the target vein will be at hand when needed. Such solutions, however, are both economically inefficient and can be tedious to use. It would be desirable to have a single catheter device that is usable with a large range of sizes of lumina.
Although described above in terms of a vein, the concepts are generally applicable to other hollow anatomical structures in the body as well. For consideration of avoiding unnecessary repetition, the above description has been generally confined to veins.
Hence those skilled in the art have recognized a need for an expandable electrode device and a method capable of more evenly distributing RF energy along a circumferential band of a wall of the target anatomical structure where the wall is greater in diameter than the electrode device, and thereby provide more predictable and effective occlusion of anatomical structures while minimizing the formation of heat-induced coagulum. Such device and method should be applicable to the ligation of all the veins in the body, including but not limited to perforator and superficial veins, as well as hemorrhoids, esophageal varices, and also fallopian tubes. The invention fulfills these needs and others.

Expandable catheter having two sets of electrodes


A system and method are provided for controlling or automatically controlling the driving dynamics of a two-track, two-axle motor vehicle having only one driven axle, which, for the rolling moment support, has a system for changing the distribution of the wheel contact forces to the left and right wheel respectively of each axle. The fractions of the rolling moment support taken over by the front axle and by the rear axle are changeable as a function of the drive torque provided by the drive assembly of the motor vehicle. For this purpose, a desired wheel contact force for the driven wheels can be determined from the drive torque, and by way of this desired wheel contact force, the distribution of the rolling torque support can be determined. A change of the distribution of the rolling moment support as a function of the drive torque of the drive assembly is preferably carried out only if the otherwise available contact force would otherwise not be sufficient for the transmission of the drive torque to the road. A slip control may be superimposed on this pilot control, which slip control seeks to minimize the deviation between the determined rotational speed difference of the driven wheels and the rotational speed difference corresponding to the respective driving condition.

The invention relates to a driving dynamics control or regulating system and method for a two-track, two-axle motor vehicle having only one driven axle. For the rolling moment support, a system is provided for changing the distribution of the wheel contact forces to the left and right wheel, respectively, of each axle, the fractions of the rolling moment support taken over by the front axle and by the rear axle being changeable as a function of a marginal condition. With respect to the known state of the art, reference is made, for example, to German Patent document DE 697 13 694 T2.
From DE 697 13 694 T2, it is known that, by generating a so-called rolling counter-moment in the chassis of a motor vehicle, the latter can be stabilized when cornering. While taking into account the actual vehicle speed, the angle of steering lock, and the difference between a desired value for the yaw rate derived therefrom and the actual yaw rate value, the fraction of the rolling counter-moment applied to the stabilizer bar of the rear vehicle axle is increased with respect to that at the front axle if the actual yaw value is smaller than the desired yaw value, whereupon a less understeering vehicle handling occurs. In contrast, if the actual yaw rate value is greater than the desired yaw rate value, a vehicle handling occurs which has the tendency to oversteer, and which is counteracted in that the fraction of the rolling counter-moment applied to the stabilizer bar of the rear vehicle axle is reduced and the rolling counter-moment fraction at the front vehicle axle is correspondingly increased. This known system is thus equipped with a yaw rate controller.
However, the present invention relates to a system for controlling or automatically controlling the driving dynamics of a two-track, two-axle motor vehicle having only one driven axle, which, for the rolling moment support, has a system for changing the distribution of the wheel contact forces to the left and right wheel respectively of each axle, the fractions of the rolling moment support taken over by the front axle and by the rear axle being changeable as a function of a marginal condition. That is, a system according to the present invention does not have to contain a yaw rate controller. On the contrary, a different distribution of the rolling moment support between the front axle and the rear axle of the vehicle can also take place as a function of other marginal conditions, thus, for example, as a function of the driving speed of the vehicle and as a function of the marginal condition explained in the following, which is the content of the present invention, or also of the latter alone. The present invention is based on the following problems.
By way of the open differentials usually installed today, the propulsion power is distributed by 50% respectively to the two wheels of the driven vehicle axle. In the following, a driven rear axle is used as the basis without, however, limiting the present invention thereto. When the lateral acceleration of the vehicle is too high, the contact force at the rear wheel, which is on the inside during the cornering, may now no longer be sufficient for converting the drive torque provided by the vehicle drive assembly to longitudinal force. As a result, the wheel may, as it were, "break away"; that is, the wheel traction becomes poorer and there is the threat of power oversteering. In the, so far, conventional state of the art, such a "breaking-away of the wheel is avoided by a targeted braking intervention which, however, is disadvantageous because driving energy is hereby virtually unnecessarily destroyed and the wear of the vehicle braking system is increased. Finally, such braking interventions are noticeable to the driver and are, therefore, performed at the expense of comfort.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution for the described problems.
The solution of this task with respect to a system for controlling or automatically controlling the driving dynamics is characterized in that the drive torque provided by the drive assembly of the motor vehicle (or a quantity firmly connected therewith) represents a marginal condition by which the fractions of the rolling moment support are changed as a function of the marginal condition. Advantageous developments and further developments are described herein.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Driving dynamic control or regulating system and method for a two-track, two-axle motor vehicle

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


The present invention relates to a scanning device (10, 10′) for scanning an object (12), wherein the scanning device (10) comprises a projection unit (16) for projecting an alignment image (28) onto the object (12), said alignment image (28) comprising a main pattern (26), an image capturing unit (18) for capturing a live camera image (30) of the object (12), said live camera image (30) comprising a derivative pattern (32) of the main pattern (26), the derivative pattern (32) representing said projected alignment image (28) as seen from the image capturing unit viewpoint, and an alignment unit (22, 22′) for providing an indication of a correct position and/or orientation of the scanning device (10) with respect to the scanned object (12) on the basis of the captured live camera image (30).

Scanning devices usually utilize an image sensor to collect light reflected from an object to generate an image of the object. The image sensor converts the light energy into an electrical charge and finally to a set of bits representing the color and intensity of the light. The resulting digital image is for example a two-dimensional image of a relatively flat object such as paper, which is, for example, placed on a flat bed scanner.
3D scanning is a technique of converting the geometrical shape or form of an object into a data set of points. Each point may represent an actual point, in three-dimensional space, of the surface of the object that was scanned. The collected data can be used to construct digital, three-dimensional models. The collected 3D data is useful for a wide variety of applications. For example, the 3D scanning technology is extensively used by the entertainment industry in the production of movies and videogames. Other common applications of this technology include industrial design, orthotics and prosthetics, reverse engineering and prototyping, quality control/inspection and documentation of cultural artifacts.
In particular, 3D data of human faces can be collected. The captured facial contour and geometry can be used to design masks, which are applied in many medical fields including CPAP (constant positive air pressure). The exact 3D modeling of the facial contour eases the manufacturing of well fitting masks avoiding the problem of air leaks, which can cause eye irritations.
There are many different technologies that can be used to build a 3D scanning device. One well known classification divides the scanning technology into two types: contact and non-contact 3D scanning.
Contact 3D scanners probe the object through physical touch, while the object is in contact with or resting on a precision flat surface plate. This type of scanning technology is mostly used in manufacturing and can be very precise. The disadvantage of contact scanning is that it requires contact with the object being scanned. Thus, the object might be modified or damaged during the scanning process. Moreover, this scanning technology is usually very slow compared to other scanning methods. In addition, it is not desirable to use such a 3D contact scanner for scanning the facial contour of a human face.
Another popular class of 3D scanning techniques is active non-contact scanning. Active means that the respective scanner emits some kind of encoded, structured or non-encoded energy, such as light, and detects the reflection of said energy at the scanned object in order to probe the object and to capture a corresponding 3D representation.
Active non-contact type 3D scanners are most frequently based on the use of triangulation. In this case, the scanner for example directs a laser beam on the object and uses a camera to look for the location of the laser dot. Depending on how far away the laser strikes a surface of the object, the laser dot appears at different places in the camera's field of view. The underlying technology is called triangulation because the laser dot, the camera and the laser emitter form a triangle.
Instead of a single laser dot, a pattern of light can be projected on the object. This type of scanner is called structured light scanner and can be regarded as an active non-contact scanner. The pattern may be a one-dimensional pattern like a line or a two-dimensional pattern like a grid or a line stripe pattern. The light pattern is projected onto the object using for example an LCD projector. A camera, offset slightly from the pattern projector, captures the structured light as seen from a camera viewpoint. Further, the captured image is analyzed and the pattern distortions are evaluated. By means of an algorithm based on the triangulation, the distance to each point of the pattern is calculated. By sweeping the light pattern across the surface of the object, a 3D representation of the object can be achieved. Structured light 3D scanners provide very fast scans. Instead of scanning one point or line at a time, structured light scanners can scan multiple points or lines or the entire field of view at once.
However, in order to acquire proper scans, the scanner should be located at a certain distance and/or angle from the object. For a proper alignment of the scanner it is well-known, for example, to use a static aim pattern, which contains markers that need to be aligned with face features by moving and rotating the hand-held scanner. As an example, the eyes of the patient's face need to be aligned with projected circles, while a cross needs to be aligned with the nose tip. This alignment procedures, however, only provides quite inaccurate results and has been found not intuitive enough for sleep technicians that use such scanners. Additionally, if the object and the scanner can freely move (for example scanning of a person's head without chin support by means of a handheld scanner), the user might have difficulties in evaluating the proper scan position. Therefore, some form of feedback or assistance is required for correctly positioning the scanning device with respect to the object to be scanned.

Scanning device and method for positioning a scanning device


In a semiconductor device, a polysilicon layer of a lower electrode contact plug is removed by a strip process such that the deposition area of a dielectric film is increased and capacitance of a capacitor is assured. A method for manufacturing the semiconductor device is also disclosed.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a semiconductor device in which a polysilicon layer of a lower electrode contact plug is removed by a strip process such that the deposition area of a dielectric film is increased and capacitance of a capacitor is guaranteed, and a method for manufacturing the same.
In case of a semiconductor device such as a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), it is necessary to reduce the area occupied by the semiconductor device in proportion to the increasing integration degree, and necessary electrostatic capacitance needs to be maintained or increased. Generally, there are a variety of methods to guarantee sufficient cell electrostatic capacitance within a limited area, for example, a method for using a high dielectric material as a dielectric film, a method for reducing a thickness of the dielectric film, a method for increasing an effective region of a lower electrode, etc. Specifically, the method for using the high dielectric material requires time and material investment, for example, the introduction of new equipments or installations, the necessity of verifying the reliability and productivity of a dielectric film, low-temperature processing of a subsequent process, etc. Accordingly, the method for increasing the effective region may offer a benefit in that a conventional dielectric film can be continuously used and the implementation of a fabrication process becomes relatively easier, so that it has been widely used in the actual fabrication process due to the above-mentioned advantages.
There are a variety of methods to increase an effective region of the lower electrode, for example, a method for configuring a lower electrode in the form of a three-dimensional (3D) structure (such as a cylinder or a fin), a method for growing a Hemi Spherical Grain (HSG) on a lower electrode, a method for increasing the height of a lower electrode, etc. Specifically, the method for growing the HSG may cause unexpected problems in guaranteeing Critical Dimension (CD) of at least predetermined level between lower electrodes, and may cause a bridge between lower electrodes due to infrequent HSG desquamation, so that it is difficult for the aforementioned HSG growing method to be applied to a semiconductor device based on the design rule of 0.14 μm or less. Therefore, in general, in order to increase cell electrostatic capacitance, a variety of methods for configuring a lower electrode in the form of a 3D structure and increasing the height of the lower electrode have been widely used. A representative example of such methods is a method for forming a cylindrical lower electrode or a stack-shaped lower electrode.
Specifically, the conventional method for forming the cylindrical lower electrode may remove a sacrificial insulation film from a peripheral part of the lower electrode, and deposit a dielectric film over the lower electrode. In this case, the dielectric material contained in the dielectric film is deposited not only over an inner wall of the lower electrode but also between neighbor lower electrodes, such that all the cells can share a dielectric material and an upper electrode formed over the dielectric material. Provided that the cells share and use such a dielectric material, capacitance (storage capacitance) among all the lower electrodes may be deteriorated or distorted.
As described above, in order to maximize cell capacitance for improving refresh characteristics of the conventional cylindrical lower electrode, the height of each lower electrode can be increased and the spacing between lower electrode contact plugs can be smaller. As a result, a bridge occurs between lower electrodes, making difficult to couple the lower electrode contact plug to the lower electrode.

Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same


An ultrasonic motor includes a vibrator including a contact surface that is brought into contact with a member to be driven, and a piezoelectric element fixed thereto, the vibrator configured to drive the member to be driven by an ultrasonic vibration excited by the piezoelectric element; and a pressurization unit supported by a fixing unit, the pressurization unit configured to apply a bias force to the vibrator so as to impress the contact surface against the member to be driven. The pressurization unit includes a pressurization member held by the fixing unit so as to move in a direction perpendicular to the contact surface while being restricted to move in a direction parallel to the contact surface; and an elastic member that applies an impressing force in the direction perpendicular to the contact surface to the vibrator via the pressurization member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic motor for driving a member to be driven by generating an ellipsoidal vibration on an impressed vibrator, and to a lens apparatus using the ultrasonic motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ultrasonic motor has been conventionally used as a driving source for driving, for example, a lens mechanism or a camera, taking advantage of silent operation, driving capability from low speed to high speed, and high torque output. For example, an ultrasonic motor disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4,652,784 includes an annular member to be driven having a rotation axis, and multiple vibrators. Each vibrator is in a so-called pressurized contact condition with respect to the member to be driven, i.e., the vibrator is in contact with the member to be driven in a state of being impressed against the member to be driven. The vibrators are arranged on the annular member to be driven at predetermined intervals. When an ultrasonic vibration is excited on the vibrator under the pressurized contact condition, an ellipsoidal motion is generated on the vibrator at a portion in contact with the member to be driven, so that the member to be driven is driven to rotate about the rotation axis of the member to be driven. The pressurized contact condition of the vibrator with respect to the member to be driven is obtained by biasing, with use of a plate spring, a portion of the vibrator corresponding to a vibration node set near the center of the vibrator. An impressing force of the plate spring is adjusted by a screw and an adjustment washer provided near a fixing portion of the plate spring.
However, the ultrasonic motor disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4,652,784 includes a complicated adjustment mechanism for adjusting the impressing force applied to the vibrator with a number of components constituting the adjustment mechanism. In addition, the plate spring of the adjustment mechanism is formed into a linear form that can stay within the annular form, and therefore, the plate spring has a small overall length and a high spring constant. As a result, slight adjustment of the plate spring leads to a significant change in the impressing force, and hence fine adjustment is needed.

Ultrasonic motor and lens apparatus including the same


The invention provides novel compounds based on piperazinylpyrimidine derivatives to be used as protein kinase inhibitors. The compounds may be useful in treating or preventing different cellular proliferation disorders, such as cancer. The present invention also provides methods of preparing these compounds, and methods of using the same.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to piperazinylpyrimidine analogs and uses thereof. The invention also relates to methods of preparing these compounds.
2. Related Art
The human kinome, represented by 518 kinases, is a widely investigated protein family on biological, chemical, and clinical levels. Protein kinases are involved in the majority of signal transduction pathways regulating the cell machinery of survival, proliferation, and maintenance. Accordingly, several pathological abnormalities are correlated with aberrations in the operational integrity and accuracy of certain kinases inside the cell, making kinases attractive targets for treating, diagnosing, and establishing personalized therapies of various disorders such as different malignancies, neurodegenerative disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and others (Eglen, R. M.; Reisine, T. Assay and Drug Development Technologies 2009, 7, 22-43; Eglen, R. M.; Reisine, T. Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery 2010, 5, 277-290; Parikh, K.; Peppelenbosch, M. P. Cancer Research 2010, 70, 2575-2578; McDermott, U.; Settleman, J. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2009, 27, 5650-5659).
Kinase inhibitors, either small molecules or monoclonal antibodies, represent a class of molecularly targeted anticancer agents; approximately 14 kinase targeting agents have earned FDA approval during the last two decades as either anticancer or antiangiogenic agents. In comparison, not as many agents targeting other cancer-relevant families such as Bcl-2 proteins, histone deacetylases, and phosphatases, have gained regulatory approval. Furthermore, the discovery, preclinical, and clinical development of novel kinase inhibitors currently are the focus of pharmaceutical industry research efforts, especially those seeking novel and effective cancer controlling agents (Selzer, E. Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology 2010, 3, 161-163).
The design of selective kinase inhibitors has proven to be challenging due to the conservation of the ATP binding site, targeted by most inhibitors, among different kinases. Several design strategies, both computer assisted, bioinformatics aided, and structure based, have been implemented to tailor more selective kinase inhibitors against a subset of kinases or certain kinase subfamilies (Eglen, R. M.; Reisine, T. Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery 2010, 5, 277-290; Akritopoulou-Zanze, I.; Hajduk, P. J. Drug Discovery Today 2009, 14, 291-297; Bogoyevitch, M. A.; Fairlie, D. P. Drug Discovery Today 2007, 12, 622-633; Huang, D. et al. Bioinformatics 2009, 26, 198-204; Kirkland, L. O.; McInnes, C. Biochemical Pharmacology 2009, 77, 1561-1571; Smyth, L. A.; Collins, I. Journal of Chemical Biology 2009, 2, 131-151; Aronov, A. M. et al. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2008, 51, 1214-1222; Knight, Z. A.; Shokat, K. M. Chemistry and Biology 2005, 12, 621-637). One successful example is lapatinib, which is known to be a selective inhibitor against many wild-type and mutant EGFR subfamily members and is currently utilized clinically in combination with capecitabine for metastatic breast cancer. In contrast, sunitinib, another successfully marketed kinase inhibitor, has been shown in several studies to be a highly promiscuous agent capable of interacting with more than 15% of kinases with a very high affinity (Kd<100 nM) (Morphy, R. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2010, 53, 1413-1437; Karaman, M. W. et al. Nature Biotechnology 2008, 26, 127-132). The selectivity of lapatinib compared to the promiscuity of sunitinib is usually rationalized by the observation that lapatinib is a type-II inhibitor which binds to the ATP-binding site as well as penetrating the adjacent allosteric binding site of its target kinases, whereas sunitinib is a type-I inhibitor that binds mainly to the ATP-binding site of several kinases (Gajiwaia, K. S. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2009, 106, 1542-1547; Wood, E. R. et al. Cancer Research 2004, 64, 6652-6659). However, it is unjustified, according to several published reports, to claim that every type-I kinase inhibitor is promiscuous and that every type-II inhibitor is selective (Karaman, M. W. et al. Nature Biotechnology 2008, 26, 127-132). Additionally, a given small molecule kinase inhibitor usually tends to recognize a given conformational ensemble of its target kinase(s) that may happen to differentially belong to either the active and/or the inactive state. That is to say that a type-I inhibitor, for example, may still bind to the inactive form of its kinase but with less affinity than with the active state. Considering another dimension of variability, some inhibitors interact potently with both the active and the inactive forms of their targeted kinases. For example, MK-2461 is able to bind with considerable potency to both the phosphorylated and the unphosphorylated forms of c-MET kinase with a measured binding constant (Kd) of 4.4 and 27.2 nM respectively (Pan, B. S. et al. Cancer Research 2010, 70, 1524-1533). Contrary to the behavior of MK-2461, sunitinib exhibits a strong differential selectivity towards the unactivated wild-type KIT versus the active form (Gajiwaia, K. S. et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2009, 106, 1542-1547). Generally speaking, the clinical fact that both lapatinib and sunitinib have successfully helped save or at least improve the life quality of certain cancer patient populations illustrates that, when it comes to kinase inhibitors, it is arguable that selectivity is always a virtue and non-selectivity is a constant drawback. In fact, some kinase modulating agents may achieve better clinical outcomes via targeting several kinases whereas others can cause troublesome side effects even while being selective (Petrelli, A.; Giordano, S. Current Medicinal Chemistry 2008, 15, 422-432). Moreover, small molecules generally and kinase inhibitors specifically are usually promiscuous hitters of several protein families and that could be why not all potent kinase inhibitors survive through the drug development process (McGovern, S. L.; Shoichet, B. K. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2003, 46, 1478-1483).
The phenomenon of kinase inhibitors being mostly non-selective has inspired the founding of several high-throughput kinase profiling screens in order to determine intended as well as off-target kinases affected by a given kinase inhibitor (Karaman, M. W. et al. Nature Biotechnology 2008, 26, 127-132; Fedorov, O. et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2007, 104, 20523-20528; Ma, H. et al. Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery 2008, 3, 607-621). These screens have been used to investigate the kinase binding potential or the functional inhibitory activity of a given small molecule against a large panel of kinases and thereby have facilitated uncovering some of the structural features relevant to promiscuity. However, it is now appreciated that a given kinase may be more promiscuous than another even with a difference of only a few amino acids because the conformational space of the kinase depends on structural features at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels (Bamborough, P. et al. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2008, 51, 7898-7914). A deeper understanding of protein kinase promiscuity in cases where there are correlations between the ATP-binding sites of certain subfamilies that are not closely related based on sequence similarity is needed (Kinnings, S. L.; Jackson, R. M. Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling 2009, 49, 318-329). Resistance through several mechanisms, most frequently single point mutation, has been developed by cancer cells towards several kinase inhibitors; those who target proliferation and/or angiogenesis including both selective and non-selective kinase inhibitors (Christoffersen, T. et al. European Journal of Pharmacology 2009, 625, 6-22; Martin, A. P. et al. Cancer Biology and Therapy 2010, 8, 2084-2096; Pages, G.; Grepin, R. Journal of Oncology 2010).
Thus, there remains a need for novel protein kinase inhibitor compounds with desirable pharmaceutical properties.

Piperazinylpyrimidine analogues as protein kinase inhibitors


It is an object to reduce a computation related to a detection of a corresponding point intended for a compressed dynamic image. In order to attain the object, there are acquired first and second compressed dynamic images including a reference frame and a prediction frame with each pixel indicated by motion information based on the other frame respectively. Moreover, there is executed a detection processing for detecting a corresponding point which corresponds to each reference point of one frame contained in the first compressed dynamic image from one frame contained in the second compressed dynamic image by causing each set of frames between said first compressed dynamic image and said second compressed dynamic image to be a target. The detection processing intended for a set of prediction frames is executed by using the motion information indicative of the set of prediction frames.

Conventionally, there is known a processing (referred to as a corresponding point detection processing) for setting, as a target, a stereo image obtained by photographing the same subject from different viewpoints by means of a stereo camera, thereby detecting a pixel capturing the same portion of the subject. There is also known a technique for setting, as a target, each stereo image capturing a sequential change in a subject, thereby detecting a corresponding point (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-301607 or the like).

Image processing system, image processing method, and program


A reclining chair having two stable positions of repose: an upright position and a reclined position. The chair having two peripheral supports and multiple intermediate supports disposed between the peripheral supports. Both the peripheral supports and the intermediate supports having integrated legs with three contact areas. In the upright position, only the first and the second contact areas contact the support surface, while in the reclined position only the third contact area contacts the support surface. The chair has a seat, a backrest, and an optional headrest. Armrest supports may be positioned on exterior sides of the peripheral supports to form an armrest and provide additional lateral stability.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to chairs. More specifically, it relates to a reclining chair transitionable between upright and tilted positions.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Recent technological advances have fundamentally altered the way most humans live their lives. The sedentary lifestyle has become the norm for many students, professionals, and office staff who spend numerous hours sitting in their chairs with very little movement. Sitting in a chair for prolonged periods of time may lead to lower back pain or worsen an existing back problem. Maintaining a static posture, such as sitting, for extended duration increases stress on the back, shoulders, arms and legs, and can add pressure to the back muscles and spinal discs.
A plethora of ergonomic office chairs aimed at reducing the negative impacts of sitting are known in the art. Many chairs have a reclining capability, but most require the users to continuously exert a force on the back support of the chair to maintain the reclined position—as soon as the user stops actively leaning back, the chair returns to its default upright position. Other chairs having an upright and reclined position exist, but they have some serious flaws.
For example, the chair disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,472 requires the user to exert sufficient force on the back of the chair to cause the chair to pivot about its hind legs and fall back from its stable upright position. The chair then falls backwards until the auxiliary legs make contact with the floor. The free fall of the chair may cause great discomfort and anxiety for its users. Furthermore, if the user exerts too much force, or if the user has a heavier body, the momentum generated by the falling motion may be so great that the auxiliary legs may be incapable of stabilizing the chair in the reclined position causing the chair to completely flip over possibly inflicting serious bodily injuries.
Another example of a reclining chair is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,945,651. This chair requires a very bulky mechanism to facilitate the transition from an upright to reclined positions. The bulkiness of the chair makes it impractical for a working environment, such as an office or a library. Difficult transportation, storage, and assembly are other drawbacks of this design. Furthermore, the complexity of the reclining mechanism may become a distraction hindering rather than facilitating productivity.
Accordingly, what is needed is a chair with a simple reclining mechanism that allows the chair to easily and safely transition from an upright position to a reclined position allowing the user to maintain an upright sitting posture while working and then effortlessly recline to a stable reclined position allowing the user to relax and take the pressure off the back muscles and spine.

Reclining chair with two positions of repose


A locking rotational suspension training system is described that includes a locking rotational device within which a user can secure a strap to anchor the strap when the device is in a locked mode, and to enable the strap to move freely through the device when the device is in an unlocked mode. The locking rotational device includes a wheel and brakes that clamp around the wheel to prevent wheel rotation and secure a strap there between in a locked mode and that are positioned away from the wheel to allow wheel rotation and permit the strap to move freely in an unlocked mode. Such a locking rotational device enables a user to lock a strap at any point along its length thereby allowing the user to engage in a full range of bodyweight rotational, static, symmetric and asymmetric exercises, as well as weighted “pulley type” exercises.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to exercise equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a locking rotational suspension training system used as exercise equipment.
Background Art
Some conventional resistance training systems rely on a user's bodyweight to supply the main force of resistance via the user suspending from a strap, cable or cord. Conventional suspension training systems that allow a user to perform exercises using a strap, cable or cord do not enable the strap, cable or cord to be anchored in a fixed position, or if the strap, cable or cord can be anchored, it can only be fixed at a single point via, for example, features associated with the strap itself (such as the introduction of a loop on the strap through which a pin is inserted), or they do not allow for the length of the strap, cable or cord to be adjusted. For example, when a strap in these systems is anchored, the strap is then fixed in position and the length(s) of the free end(s) of the strap cannot be changed. These restrictions prevent the user from performing the full breadth of exercises possible, including exercises that employ a user's body weight and those that employ a suspended weight, or both, under the widest possible conditions while using the broadest range of anchor points possible.

Locking rotational suspension training system


A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed for controlling accesses of drives in a storage subsystem. A first array of a first type of drive is provided. The first type of drive is a server class of drive. A second array of a second type of drive is provided. The second type of drive is a PC class drive. The first and second arrays are bound together to form a single array of drives. The single array of drives is presented to a host that is coupled to the storage subsystem as a single array. The host is unaware that the single array includes two different types of drives. Data is stored in the second array of drives. Data is migrated from the second array of drives to the first array of drives when an access rate of the second array of drives exceeds a threshold access rate for the second type of drive.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is directed to data processing systems. More specifically, the present invention is directed to storage subsystems and a method, apparatus, and computer program product for using an array of high performance hard disk drives included in a large storage array to reduce usage of an array of lower performance and lower cost storage drives included in the same storage array.
2. Description of Related Art
Storage drives, such as ATA or SATA type hard disk drives, designed for use in personal computers (PCs) are beginning to be used more frequently in server type environments. Server environments require high performance storage drives, such as server class SCSI or SAS type drives, which are high duty cycle drives that support very frequent accessing rates and read/write usage. These server environment drives are capable of supporting many users simultaneously since they are designed to be accessed very frequently. These server drives are more expensive than PC drives.
Along with the lower cost of PC drives comes lower performance and reliability as compared to the server drives. The ATA or SATA drives are not designed for the continuous high I/O per second workload demanded in a server environment. Typically, ATA or SATA disk drive reliability specifications are based on the drive being powered on only eight hours per day, five days a week and having a 20% duty cycle. A 20% duty cycle means that the drive is seeking, reading, or writing only 20% of the time that it is powered on.
For the server class of drives such as the SAS drives, it is assumed that the drives will be powered on 24 hours per day, seven days a week with a duty cycle that can approach 100% during peak business hours.
Because the lower performance SATA drives are much less expensive than the server class of SAS drives, the SATA drives are beginning to be implemented more often in server environments. One solution to the performance issue described above when a lower performance drive is implemented in an environment that requires high performance has been to limit the number of I/O operations, i.e. accesses, to the lower performance drives. While this approach may increase the reliability of the lower performance drive in the high performance environment, it reduces the performance of the overall storage subsystem that includes the drives.
Therefore, a need exists for a method, apparatus, and computer program product in a high performance server environment for using an array of high performance storage drives included in a storage array to reduce accessing, i.e. usage, of an array of lower performance drives that are also included in the storage array.

Method, apparatus, and computer program product for using an array of high performance storage drives included in a storage array to reduce accessing of an array of lower performance storage drives included in the storage array

International Business Machines Corporation


Sodium silicate solutions of modulus 3.0 to 3.8 are provided. In some embodiments, the solution is made by a process that uses two specific principal reaction stages. A sodium silicate solution having a low SiO2:Na2O molar ratio, in the range from 2.0 to 2.8, is first produced by reaction of the SSS, as a cost-effective SiO2 source, with aqueous caustic soda. The conversion of this intermediate sodium silicate solution of low modulus to a high SiO2:Na2O molar ratio is made possible by using a SiO2 source that is prepared as precipitated amorphous silica from the intermediate sodium silicate solution produced above.

In the chloride process for making titanium dioxide, titanium tetrachloride is oxidized in the vapour phase to titanium dioxide. The titanium dioxide and other reaction products are then carried forward through externally cooled conduits capable of heat exchange, where they are cooled and coalesced. During the cooling process, the oxide can be accreted upon the walls of the reactor and on other surfaces in the reaction zone. Accretion of TiO2 product usually results in a number of deleterious effects, such as loss of product quality due to excessive retention of the product in a high temperature environment, drop-off of wall accretion into the main product stream, localized overheating of equipment due to poor heat transfer through the accretion and plugging of gas entries.
These problems resulting from the formation of TiO2 particulate deposits on the internal walls of conduits can be reduced by introducing relatively hard granular abrasion particles into the hot suspension. Silica sand is preferably used, as granular scrubs for removing TiO2 deposits from the internal surfaces of cooling conduits containing a hot suspension of TiO2 particles, for example, suspension containing from 0.1% to 0.5% by weight of titanium dioxide pigment. The specific particles for such scrubbing can have average diameters in the range of size distribution of from about 1 mm to about 0.5 mm.
For simplicity of description, the above-described scouring particles are herein under referred to as "scrubbing solids" or simply "scrubs."
The scrubs are introduced before the reaction stream exits the reactor into cooling ducts to scrub and remove build-up from the interior of the flue pipes downstream from the TiO2 oxidation section. The reaction stream with the scrub solids is cooled.
The pigment and scrub solids are discharged from the cooler to a cyclone and then a bag filter to separate the gases. The solids are then slurried in water.
Since such scrub particles constitute undesired grits in the pigment product, it is necessary to remove them.
The slurry is screened for subsequent treatment and silica sand scrubs are separated from the titanium dioxide slurry as they can contaminate the final titanium dioxide pigment product.
As a matter of fact, the silica sand scrubs reclaimed from a titanium dioxide slurry resulting from a chloride manufacturing process presents environmental problems as there is no means for complete reprocessing and recycling of the scrub material. Previously, no significant technically and economically practical use of this waste has been provided so the waste has either been collected and used as landfill or moved to a dump. As the sand material becomes available in large quantities as a waste material at site, it becomes increasingly more environmentally invasive and its disposal becomes more and more difficult and expensive.
It is well recognized in this industry that any use to which these silica sand scrub wastes can be put would be highly beneficial. Therefore, there exists a need for a process for converting the silicon dioxide content of this waste into products such as silicates and silica gel, or precipitated silicas, which represent high grade value-added products exhibiting a wide range of useful applications.
There are a number of process techniques for the production of water soluble alkali silicates. These include, inter alia, either the dry process or the wet process. In the dry process, quartz sand is used as source of silicon dioxide and is caused to react with soda or sodium carbonate in melt temperatures in the range from 1400° C. to 1500° C. and subsequently dissolved in water under pressure at elevated temperature in another processing step.
In the wet process, quartz-sand is made to react in a pressure reactor at a temperature of 180° C. to 250° C., under saturated steam pressure corresponding to the temperature used, with an aqueous alkali-hydroxide solution.
Thus, the source of silica in either of these two above processes is quartz sand. In the case of wet process, the conversion reaction is sluggish and does not take place quantitatively and results in low modulus sodium silicate. If sodium silicate with a high SiO2:Na2O molar ratio is to be produced, the essential prerequisite is the selective utilization of higher soluble silica modifications like amorphous silicon dioxide, such as that from industrial flue dusts, from naturally occurring amorphous silicon dioxide containing materials and cristobalite modification of the silica sand, either available from nature or prepared by tempering process, as source of silica in the process. Alongside these, industrial by-and-waste products play as alternative raw materials for the production of cheap sodium silicate solutions.
As described above, the dry process has the disadvantages that the process is highly expensive both in terms of investment and maintenance costs and in terms of energy consumption and, further, it causes considerable air pollution. It is characterized, in addition, by a particularly careful selection of the silicon dioxide material, especially with a view toward the content of iron and aluminum oxides.
The following prior art processes involve conventional processing techniques using different sources of silicon dioxide for the production of sodium silicate solutions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,632 teaches a process for producing sodium silicate solution by treating air-borne dust containing silicon dioxide with an alkali to form an alkali metal silicate solution at a temperature of about 60° C. to about 110° C., wherein the air-borne dust is a waste product that has been removed from the flue gases originating from silicon metal or ferro silicon alloy production processes with particle size below 90 micron, followed by purification by adding activated charcoal and/or oxidation agents such as sodium peroxide or hydrogen peroxide and filtration. The purifying agents are added 1 hour before the end of boiling. The flue dusts used as starting materials has high amorphous silica, SiO2, content of 89.5% to 97.5% by weight, the remaining consisting of impurities. The sodium silicate solution obtained had a SiO2:Na2O molar ratio of 4.1:1. The process is characterized in that very fine amorphous siliceous particles in the form of flue dust are used as source of silicon dioxide and that the product is subjected to purification steps involving activated charcoal and oxidizing agents.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,933 discloses a process for direct hydrothermal production of high purity sodium silicate solutions having a high SiO2:Na2O molar ratio by reaction of a silicon dioxide source with aqueous sodium hydroxide solutions, or with aqueous sodium silicate solutions having a lower SiO2:Na2O molar ratio, characterized in that the silicon dioxide source provided contains a sufficient fraction of natural cristobalite phase, or synthetic cristobalite produced by conditioning other crystalline forms of silicon dioxide by heating at a temperature from about 1200° C. to about 1700° C. in the presence of a catalyst but below the melting point of silica, before the hydrothermal treatment. Even with use of readily soluble natural or synthetic cristobalite containing silicon dioxide, the hydrothermal reaction has to be carried out in a closed pressure reactor at a temperature in the range of from 200° C. to 250° C., for example, 225° C., under saturated steam pressures corresponding to the temperature, in order to get a SiO2:Na2O molar ratio of from 3.3 to 3.5:1.
It can be seen that the prior art processes described above follow methods for making sodium silicate solutions characterized in that the raw material comes as specialized product such as natural or synthetic cristobalites and in that very fine by-product and waste-product silicon dioxide sources are utilized. It is specific in that the cristobalite modification of the silica sand is used either exclusively in a single stage reaction process or by preparing a cristobalite modification from natural sand through a tempering process followed by a two-stage reaction process. This means a high process cost due to the high price of the raw material containing cristobalite. The tempering process option involves both a highest investment and a high process risk. A single stage reaction process using cristobalite might exhibit the lowest investment effort but exhibits the highest operational costs due to the need for cristobalite as a raw material.
There exists a need for a reprocessing inexpensive silica sand scrub wastes emanating from titanium dioxide production processes using chloride technology, as a low cost starting material. There is a need to convert this waste into high modulus sodium silicates and silicas, which represent value-added products exhibiting a wide range of applications, especially for captive use for silica coating of titanium dioxide pigment and as fillers and extenders in diverse industrial products.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

The National Titanium Dioxide Co. Ltd. (CRISTAL)


The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to contact and interconnect structures and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a single damascene contact structure in electrical contact with a contact of a source region or drain region; and a single damascene interconnect structure in a wiring layer and in direct electrical contact with the single damascene contact structure.

CMOS technology is used to construct integrated circuits such as microprocessors, microcontrollers, static random access memory (SRAM) and other digital logic circuits. By virtue of continued scaling of device technologies, interconnect structures need to be reduced in size. For example, interconnect structures with dimensions of less than 30 nm are now required in many semiconductor processes.
As the devices are scaled to smaller dimensions, various designs and techniques are employed to improve device performance. For example, as the interconnect structures scale downwards, different metals or metal alloys are required with lower resistivities and better electromigration properties in order to improve device performance. Such metals, because of better electromigration properties, may not need barrier liners, which will allow interconnects made from them to have lower electrical resistance, as critical dimensions shrink, than conventionally used metals.


A method of programming a nonvolatile memory device comprises performing a first program operation on first memory cells and second memory cells so that threshold voltages of the first and second memory cells have a first reference level lower than a first target level, the first memory cells having the first target level as a first target level, and the second memory cells having a second target level higher than the first target level as a second target level; performing a second program operation on the second memory cells so that the threshold voltages of the second memory cells have a second reference level lower than the second target level; and performing a third program operation on the first and second memory cells to have the respective target levels.

Exemplary embodiments relate to a method of programming a nonvolatile memory device and, more particularly, to a method of programming a nonvolatile memory device, which is capable of preventing a reduction in the reliability of a program operation resulting from interference between neighboring memory cells.
With an increase in the degree of integration of nonvolatile memory devices, the interval between memory cells for storing data is gradually narrowed. If the interval between the memory cells is narrowed, interference between the memory cells may increase during program, erase, and read operations of the nonvolatile memory device. In particular, during the program operations, interference between the memory cells becomes significant.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing part of a nonvolatile memory device, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a related phenomenon.
Referring to FIG. 1, the memory cell array of the nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of cell strings Ev and Od. Each of the cell strings Ev and Od includes a drain select transistor DST and a source select transistor SST and a plurality of memory cells F0 to Fn coupled in series between the drain select transistor DST and the source select transistor SST.
In particular, the even cell string Ev and the odd cell string Od are alternately selected in order to prevent/reduce interference occurring during the program operations. For example, if the even cell string Ev is selected, the odd cell string Od is not selected.
However, with an increased integration of semiconductor devices, although the even cell string Ev and the odd cell string Od are alternately selected and a program operation is performed on a selected cell string, interference may occur during the program operations of neighboring cells.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the threshold voltage of an even memory cell Ce is increased to a target level by programming the even memory cell Ce. Here, the even memory cell Ce may have an erase state ER, a first program state PV1, a second program state PV2, or a third program state PV3 depending on the level of the threshold voltage. In the case in which the even memory cell Ce has been programmed to have the first program state PV1, during the programming of an odd memory cell Co adjacent to the even memory cell Ce, the threshold voltage of the even memory cell Ce may rise because of interference between neighboring memory cells.
Due to such interference, threshold voltages may vary from target threshold voltages.
If, as described above, the threshold voltages of previously programmed cells rise due to interference generated during the program operations of neighboring cells, the reliability of a nonvolatile memory device may be reduced.
In order to alleviate such a concern, when selected memory cells are read, a read voltage may be controlled depending on whether neighboring cells have been programmed. Use of such a method, however, may slow the operation speed. In particular, an algorithm to determine whether a program has been performed and perform a re-program based on a result of the determination may be relatively complicated.

Method of programming nonvolatile memory device


A casing body is formed with a vent hole. The casing body has an inner face formed with a plurality of grooves respectively communicated with the vent hole. A plurality of diaphragms are respectively inserted into the grooves to form a plurality of pump chambers. An actuator actuates the diaphragms to compress or decompress the pump chambers.

The invention relates to a pump provided with diaphragms, and more particularly, to a compact pump which is used for a sphygmomanometer or the like.
A related-art compact pump of this type is now described by reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown in FIG. 3, a compact pump 1 used for a sphygmomanometer or the like is provided with two diaphragms 4 constituting pump chambers 3 within a case 2 which is of rectangular parallelepiped shape when viewed from the top. The diaphragms 4 are integrated, thereby constituting a diaphragm assembly 5.
A substantially-cylindrical vent valve section 6 is provided in an upright position in the center of the diaphragm assembly 5. The vent valve section 6 is press-inserted into an interior wall of a vent hole 8 drilled in the center of an upper case 7.
Intake valves 9 are provided in positions on the upper case 7 which are located above and aligned with centers of the respective diaphragms 4. Portions of the intake valves 9 facing the pump chambers 3 are formed into sealing sections 9a. The intake valves 9 are passed through small holes 10 drilled in the upper case 7. Stopper sections 9b which are larger in diameter than the small holes 10 are formed in the upper face of the upper case 7. The sealing sections 9a are brought into pressing contact with a lower face of the upper case 7. Several intake holes 11 are drilled in the vicinity of the peripheries of the small holes 10, and the sealing sections 9a of the intake valves 9 seal the intake holes 11.
A pivotable member 12 is pivotally joined to lower ends of the diaphragms 4. The pivotable member 12 is constructed so as to pivot, by an eccentric shaft 13 which rotates. More specifically, an upper end of the eccentric shaft 13 is fitted into an insertion hole 14a formed in a boss section 14 formed so as to protrude downward from the center on a lower face of the pivotable member 12. A lower end of the eccentric shaft 13 is loosely fitted into an eccentric hole 15a eccentrically formed in a rotor 15. The rotor 15 is secured on an end of a rotary shaft 16 of a motor (not shown).
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the upper case 7. Formed in the bottom face of the upper case 7 are the vent hole 8 and vent grooves 17 for establishing communication with the pump chambers 3 provided in the diaphragms 4.
The rotary drive shaft 16 of the motor rotates, whereupon the rotor 15 rotates. In turn, the eccentric shaft 13 loosely fitted into the eccentric hole 15a of rotor 15 is rotated, whereupon the pivotable member 12 undergoes pivotal movement, to thereby vertically actuate the lower ends of the diaphragms 4. When the lower end of one of the diaphragms 4 is lowered by the pivotable member 12, the inside of the diaphragm 4 assumes negative pressure, and the vent valve section 6 seals the vent hole 8. Further, the sealing section 9a of the intake valve 9 is opened, thereby enabling inflow of air by way of the inlet hole 11.
Next, when the lower end of one of the diaphragms 4 is actuated upward, the inside of the diaphragm 4 assumes high pressure. The sealing section 9a of the intake valve 9 brings the inlet hole 11 into a sealed state, releasing the space between the vent valve section 6 and the vent hole 8. The air of the pump chamber 3 is discharged to the outside from the vent hole 8 by way of the vent groove 17.
In the related-art compact pump, it is necessary to provide intake valves 9 which are individual members, to drill the small hole 10 and the intake holes 11, and to take care of position matching of the sealing portion 9a of the intake valve 9 and the inlet holes 11. Hence, the numbers of parts and assembling operations are accordingly increased, thereby total cost is also increased.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pump provided with diaphragms, in which a decrease in the numbers of parts and assembling operations by use of a simple construction to thereby enable cost cutting.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a pump, comprising:
a casing body formed with a vent hole, the casing body having an inner face formed with a plurality of grooves respectively communicated with the vent hole;
a plurality of diaphragms, respectively inserted into the grooves to form a plurality of pump chambers; and
an actuator, which actuates the diaphragms to compress or decompress the pump chambers.
Preferably, the actuator is formed with a plurality of intake holes, and each of the diaphragm is provided with an intake valve section communicated with an associated one of the intake holes.
Here, it is preferable that the intake valve section is a flap member formed by incising a part of each diaphragm.
In the above configurations, since the grooves into which the diaphragms are inserted form a part of the vent hole, it is not necessary to separately provide such a member as the intake valve member shown in FIG. 3, and to separately drill such holes as the intake hole and the vent groove shown in FIG. 4, thereby, enabling a decrease in the numbers of parts and assembly operations by use of a simple structure and in turn enabling cost cutting.