A wire bonding apparatus in which an air guide blows air against a bonding wire so that tension is applied to the bonding wire between a wire spool and a bonding tool so that the bonding wire comes in contact with a wire-contact. An optical sensor is provided near the wire-contact so that the sensor is prevented from contacting the bonding wire. Thus, the presence of the bonding wire is detected by the optical sensor which senses when the bonding wire is in contact with the wire-contact.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wire bonding apparatus, and more particularly to a wire bonding apparatus with a bonding wire detector which detects a wire supply, wire breakage, improper wire connection, wire supply depletion, presence or absence of wire at the start of bonding, etc.
2. Prior Art
In conventional wire bonding apparatus disclosed for example in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-115533, an air guide is provided between a spool on which the bonding wire is wound and a bonding tool. The air guide blows air against the bonding wire so that tension is applied to the wire. A detection plate faces the direction that the air so that it contacts the bonding wire. Accordingly, the condition of the bonding wire is detected by determining whether or not the bonding wire is in contact with the detection plate. In other words, the condition of the bonding wire is ascertained in relation to whether or not an electrical current flows through the detection plate and to the bonding wire.
Thus, in the above described prior art, contact of the bonding wire with the detection plate is ascertained by determining whether or not an electrical current flows through the bonding wire. Accordingly, when the detection plate is soiled or when minute dust particles adhere to the bonding wire, it is impossible to accurately detect if the bonding wire is in contact with the detection plate. This causes operation error to occur.
More specifically, improper or proper detection of the wire supply is usually performed after completion of the second bonding step. The bonding wire is supplied by a motor which drives the spool until the wire contacts the detection plate. Accordingly, if electrical continuity does not exist between the detection plate and the bonding wire, even though the wire on the spool is in physical contact with the detection plate, the apparatus will erroneously indicate that the wire supply is improper, and wire will be excessively supplied resulting in slack. If, however, wire abnormalities such as wire breakage, improper wire connection or depletion of the wire supply, etc., are erroneously detected despite the fact that the bonding process is actually proceeding normally, the apparatus will stop.


Wave based signals such as radio transmissions are susceptible to frequency alterations caused by the relative movement between a transmitter and a receiver. In a satellite context, the radio signals emitted by a satellite based transmitter may take on a frequency higher or lower than the actual frequency at which they are generated depending on whether the satellite is moving toward or away from the receiver, respectively. By calculating the theoretical frequency shift (Doppler shift) that should occur if a signal travels directly from a satellite to a receiver, the actual frequency of the signal as received can be used to determine if the signal's integrity is sufficient or if it has been compromised by some sort of interference or malfunction.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is the US version of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Throughout this disclosure, the generic term GNSS, the specific term GPS, or the combination GPS/GNSS may be used and such references shall refer to any such system, including GPS, GLONASS (Russian), Galileo (European), Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), BeiDou-2 (Chinese), or other such comparable system.
Many modern electronic and consumer devices include a GNSS receiver that can determine the absolute position of the device (e.g., in latitude, longitude, and altitude relative to a global coordinate system) via the GNSS system. GNSS receivers determine their position with high precision (within a few meters) by receiving positioning signals transmitted along a line-of-sight by radio (e.g., RF signals) from a plurality of satellites that are "visible" to the receiver. Receipt of a sufficient number of signals (e.g., four or more) also allows receivers to calculate the current local time to high precision, which allows for time synchronization without the use of costly high precision oscillators as discussed in more detail below.
One difficulty encountered in traditional GNSS systems is that GNSS systems require a direct path from each satellite used in a location and time synchronization solution to the GNSS receiver in order to compute an optimum solution. Timing data associated with the moment at which a signal is transmitted is encoded into the signal. At the receiver, the timing data associated with the time at which the signal was sent is compared to the time at which the signal is received. By analyzing the travel time, the receiver can determine a distance (i.e., pseudo-range) between it and the transmitter.
In traditional GNSS systems, at least three simultaneous direct path signals from a corresponding number of space vehicles (SVs) must be received to compute a location solution if absolute GPS time is known at the receiver. However, rarely does the receiver have access to a high precision time source (e.g., a synchronized and highly precise oscillator), in which case four simultaneous GNSS signals may be required to provide for geolocation in three dimensions and to correct for any timing bias at the receiver. Timing bias occurs in GNSS receivers due to a number of factors including, for example, a concept known as oscillator drift that occurs when the timing mechanism associated with the receiver trends out of synchronization with an absolute time reference. For example, the oscillation frequency of a quartz crystal may increase or decrease with atmospheric conditions, which may lead to discrepancies between a local clock and the absolute time reference. When the clocks of a transmitter and receiver are not synchronized, the travel time of signals between satellites and receivers cannot be properly determined and errors in geolocation occur. Specifically, as a result of oscillator drift, the travel time may be incorrectly determined, which in turn leads to calculation of an incorrect distance between the transmitter and receiver (pseudo-range). A common goal in GNSS systems is reducing oscillator drift, but this often requires prohibitively expensive time-keeping technology which is impractical in most applications.
In some outdoor environments, where there are no obstacles (e.g., on an open highway) it may be relatively easy to establish line-of-sight with a sufficient number of satellites to correct for biases. Further, in some light building structures (e.g., residential houses composed largely of wood) the GNSS signals may (1) be only mildly attenuated, so that the received signal strength is above the sensitivity of the GNSS receiver, and (2) have an ideal, direct, and thus un-delayed path from the satellite to the receiver. In this case the signal rays are undistorted in time; that is, they have the same propagation time as a true line-of-sight (LOS) path and they can be used to provide an accurate location for the receiver.
However, in some environments, signals may be distorted by a variety of factors. For instance, a signal which is reflected off of a surface prior to being receive at the receiver is likely to experience a delay in arriving at the receiver due to the increased distance traveled. This delay is likely to be interpreted by the receiver as a greater straight-line distance between the transmitter and the receiver than actually exists. In such an instance, a reflected signal has low integrity for accurate geolocation.
Furthermore, atmospheric conditions can delay a signal en route from a transmitter to a receiver (e.g., ionospheric dispersion). Water vapor and other airborne matter can affect its perceived transit time. Similar to the reflection problem described above, this is likely to cause the receiver to calculate an incorrect distance between it and the transmitter.
In some rare situations, a satellite transmitter may malfunction, causing it to send incorrect timing data, identification data, ephemeris data, almanac data, etc. In this situation, those described above, or a variety of other scenarios, the data received at a receiver may have low integrity and is unreliable for calculating timing and/or distance. Therefore it may be desirable to discard or correct signals which suggest low integrity.

Receiver integrity monitoring using doppler analysis


Systems and methods for a structure for a power distribution network intended to distribute power from a PCB to a semiconductor device on a package. These improved power distribution networks may reduce current crowding in the BGA balls of a package and may serve to more equitably distribute current through the BGA balls of the package through increasing the impedance of the package or decreasing the impedance of the PCB to which the package is coupled. These systems and methods may increase the impedance of the package through various arrangements of the coupling between BGA balls and planes of the package. By the same token, these systems and methods may decrease the impedance of the PCB coupled to the package by arrangement of the coupling between the PCB and the BGA balls of the package.

With the advent of the computer age, electronic systems have become a staple of modern life, and some may even deem them a necessity. Part and parcel with this spread of technology comes an ever greater drive for more functionality from these electronic systems. A microcosm of this quest for increased functionality is the size and capacity of various semiconductor devices. From the 8 bit microprocessor of the original Apple I, through the 16 bit processors of the original IBM PC AT, to the current day, the processing power of semiconductors has grown while the size of these semiconductors has consistently been reduce. In fact, Moore's law recites that the number of transistors on a given size piece of silicon will double every 18 months.
As semiconductors have evolved into these complex systems utilized in powerful computing architectures, almost universally, the connectivity and power requirements for these semiconductors have been increasing. In fact, the higher the clock frequency of the microprocessor, the greater that microprocessor's power consumption (all other aspects being equal).
Turning briefly to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, one example of a semiconductor package 100 is depicted. Die 110 containing an integrated circuit, such as a microprocessor, is attached to substrate 120. Ball grid array (BGA) balls 130 serve to couple die 110 to a power source or signal input/output-lines. Typically substrate 120, with which microprocessors or semiconductors are packaged, is made of organic material (such as epoxy resin). Substrate 120 may be fabricated using build-up technology, which enables higher wiring capability by having fine-line build-up layer(s) on both sides of a coarser core substrate. Typically, these layers or planes of substrate 120 are coupled to BGA balls 130 through the use of vias.
These BGA balls 130 may then be coupled to a printed circuit board (PCB) which contains a power supply. In most cases, however, impedance of package 110 is smaller than the impedance of the PCB coupled to package 110. These dissimilar impedances may cause current to flow more easily in the power distribution network of package 110 than in PCB 220. This, in turn, may cause more current to flow through BGA balls 130 proximate to the power supply on the PCB.
Thus, a need exists for a power distribution network which reduces current crowding in the network and which effectuates a more equitable distribution of current.

Method and system for an improved power distribution network for use with a semiconductor device


According to some embodiments, a removably coupled stand for a screen comprises a holder portion to removably couple a screened device and a foot portion to move from a closed position to an open position. The foot portion is hinged to the holder portion and the holder portion comprises a top side, a rear side, and a bottom side.

Screened devices, such as, but not limited to, laptop computers often include a screen that can serve as a tablet computer once the screen is detached from the laptop or have screens that rotate up to 180 degrees. These screen/tablet computers may be cumbersome to hold and support. It would therefore be desirable to have a stand that can easily hold and adjust a larger sized tablet computer, phones and smaller sized tablets.


The present invention provides an adapter for connecting an electronic device, the adapter comprising an adapter mechanism and a fixing mechanism, wherein the adapter mechanism comprises an adapter controller, an electric connection plug that can be plugged into the electric plug-in interface so as to be electrically connected to the electric plug-in interface, a connecting wire electrically connected to the adapter controller and the electric connection plug, and at least one connecting base. The fixing mechanism is connected to the adapter mechanism and is provided with a plug-in slot for plug-in connection for the electronic device, with a static friction force being provided between a slot wall of the plug-in slot and the electronic device to restrict the electronic device from being separated from the plug-in slot when the electronic device is plugged into the plug-in slot.

At present, commercially available electronic devices have relatively single interface types, and adapters are needed when other types of interfaces are needed for data connection. At present, most of commercially available adapters for expanding an electric plug-in interface of an electronic device are electrically connected to the electric plug-in interface by means of an electric connection plug on the adapter. However, during use, it is easy to cause the adapter to be lost due to the separate arrangement of the electronic device and the adapter, thus bringing inconvenience for the daily use by users.

Multi-jack adapter that cradles electronic device


An internal indifferent electrode device including a flexible shaft, an energy transmission device adapted to be inserted into the body supported on the shaft, and a connector adapted to mate with the power return connector of a power supply apparatus.

1. Field of the Inventions
The present inventions relate generally to electrophysiological devices and, more particularly, to the indifferent electrodes that are used in conjunction with electrophysiological devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are many instances where diagnostic and therapeutic elements must be inserted into the body. One instance involves the treatment of cardiac conditions such as atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter which lead to an unpleasant, irregular heart beat, called arrhythmia.
Normal sinus rhythm of the heart begins with the sinoatrial node (or "SA node") generating an electrical impulse. The impulse usually propagates uniformly across the right and left atria and the atrial septum to the atrioventricular node (or "AV node"). This propagation causes the atria to contract in an organized way to transport blood from the atria to the ventricles, and to provide timed stimulation of the ventricles. The AV node regulates the propagation delay to the atrioventricular bundle (or "HIS" bundle). This coordination of the electrical activity of the heart causes atrial systole during ventricular diastole. This, in turn, improves the mechanical function of the heart. Atrial fibrillation occurs when anatomical obstacles in the heart disrupt the normally uniform propagation of electrical impulses in the atria. These anatomical obstacles (called "conduction blocks") can cause the electrical impulse to degenerate into several circular wavelets that circulate about the obstacles. These wavelets, called "reentry circuits," disrupt the normally uniform activation of the left and right atria.
Because of a loss of atrioventricular synchrony, the people who suffer from atrial fibrillation and flutter also suffer the consequences of impaired hemodynamics and loss of cardiac efficiency. They are also at greater risk of stroke and other thromboembolic complications because of loss of effective contraction and atrial stasis.
Although pharmacological treatment is available for atrial fibrillation and flutter, the treatment is far from perfect. For example, certain antiarrhythmic drugs, like quinidine, amiodarone, and procainamide, can reduce both the incidence and the duration of atrial fibrillation episodes. Yet, these drugs often fail to maintain sinus rhythm in the patient. Cardioactive drugs, like digitalis, Beta blockers, and calcium channel blockers, can also be given to control the ventricular response. However, many people are intolerant to such drugs. Anticoagulant therapy also combats thromboembolic complications, but does not eliminate them. Unfortunately, pharmacological remedies often do not remedy the subjective symptoms associated with an irregular heartbeat. They also do not restore cardiac hemodynamics to normal and remove the risk of thromboembolism.
Many believe that the only way to really treat all three detrimental results of atrial fibrillation and flutter is to actively interrupt all of the potential pathways for atrial reentry circuits.
One surgical method of treating atrial fibrillation by interrupting pathways for reentry circuits is the so-called "maze procedure" which relies on a prescribed pattern of incisions to anatomically create a convoluted path, or maze, for electrical propagation within the left and right atria. The incisions direct the electrical impulse from the SA node along a specified route through all regions of both atria, causing uniform contraction required for normal atrial transport function. The incisions finally direct the impulse to the AV node to activate the ventricles, restoring normal atrioventricular synchrony. The incisions are also carefully placed to interrupt the conduction routes of the most common reentry circuits. The maze procedure has been found very effective in curing atrial fibrillation. However, the maze procedure is technically difficult to do. It also requires open heart surgery and is very expensive. Thus, despite its considerable clinical success, only a few maze procedures are done each year.
Maze-like procedures have also been developed utilizing catheters which can form lesions on the endocardium to effectively create a maze for electrical conduction in a predetermined path. Exemplary catheters are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,609. Typically, the lesions are formed by ablating tissue with one or more electrodes carried by the catheter. Electromagnetic radio frequency ("RF") energy applied by the electrodes heats, and eventually kills (i.e. "ablates"), the tissue to form a lesion. During the ablation of soft tissue (i.e. tissue other than blood, bone and connective tissue), tissue coagulation occurs and it is the coagulation that kills the tissue. Thus, references to the ablation of soft tissue are necessarily references to soft tissue coagulation. "Tissue coagulation" is the process of cross-linking proteins in tissue to cause the tissue to jell. In soft tissue, it is the fluid within the tissue cell membranes that jells to kill the cells, thereby killing the tissue.
Catheters used to create lesions (the lesions being 3 to 15 cm in length) typically include a relatively long and relatively flexible body portion that has a plurality electrodes supported or near its distal end. The portion of the catheter body portion that is inserted into the patient is typically from 23 to 55 inches in length and there may be another 8 to 15 inches, including a handle, outside the patient. The proximal end of the catheter body is connected to the handle which includes steering controls. The length and flexibility of the catheter body allow the catheter to be inserted into a main vein or artery (typically the femoral artery), directed into the interior of the heart, and then manipulated such that the electrode contacts the tissue that is to be ablated. Fluoroscopic imaging is used to provide the physician with a visual indication of the location of the catheter.
Although catheter-based soft tissue coagulation has proven to be a significant advance in the medical arts generally and in the treatment of cardiac conditions in particular, it is not appropriate in every situation. Physicians may, for example, desire to perform a maze procedure as a supplemental procedure during an open heart surgical procedure such as a mitral valve replacement. Physicians may also desire to form lesions on the epicardial surface. Surgical probes which include a relatively short shaft that supports a plurality of electrodes have been introduced in recent years to facilitate the formation of lesions in these situations. Exemplary surgical probes are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,994, which is entitled "Surgical Method And Apparatus For Introducing Diagnostic And Therapeutic Elements Within The Body," which is incorporated here by reference.
Soft tissue coagulation that is performed using electrodes to transmit energy to tissue, whether catheter-based or surgical probe-based, may be performed in both bi-polar and uni-polar modes. Both modes require one or more indifferent return electrodes. In the uni-polar mode, energy emitted by the electrodes supported on the catheter or surgical probe is returned through one or more indifferent patch electrodes that are externally attached to the skin of the patient. Bi-polar devices, on the other hand, typically include a number of bi-polar electrode pairs. Both electrodes in each pair are supported by the catheter or surgical probe and energy emitted by one electrode in a particular pair is returned by way of the other electrode in that pair.
The uni-polar mode has proven to be superior to the bi-polar mode because the uni-polar mode allows for individual electrode control, while the bi-polar mode only allows electrode pairs to be controlled. Nevertheless, the inventor herein has determined that conventional uni-polar soft tissue coagulation techniques can be problematic because some patients have delicate skin and/or skin infections that preclude the attachment of an indifferent patch electrode to their skin. Poor indifferent electrode/skin contact can also be a problem, as can local burning. The inventor herein has also determined that it would be desirable to improve the likelihood that soft tissue coagulation procedures will result in transmural lesions, which is not always the case when conventional techniques are employed.

Internal indifferent electrode device for use with lesion creation apparatus and method of forming lesions using the same


A capacitor structure includes a storage node; a capacitor dielectric on the storage node; and a plate electrode on the capacitor dielectric. The capacitor dielectric may include a Si-doped ZrO2 layer or crystalline ZrSiOx with a Si/(Zr+Si) content ranging between 4-9% by atomic ratio. The capacitor structure further includes an interfacial TiO2/TiON layer between the storage node and the capacitor dielectric.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a high-permittivity, low-leakage capacitor dielectric comprising silicon-doped zirconium oxide, and a capacitor having such capacitor dielectric.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As semiconductor devices such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices have been highly integrated, sizes of unit cells have been greatly reduced and an operation voltage level has been lowered. One approach to increasing the capacitance is to increase the dielectric constant of the capacitor dielectric. To provide sufficient charge to be stored on smaller and smaller cell areas, high permittivity metal oxides have been studied and some are used as the capacitor dielectric. Examples of such high-permittivity metal oxides include HfO2 and ZrO2. HfO2 has higher dielectric constant compared to SiO2 and Al2O3, however, it exhibits higher leakage current. To reduce the leakage current, the capacitor dielectric film has to be formed thicker, which in turn reduces the capacitance of the capacitor structure.
The typical ZrO2 (pure) or ZrO2-Al2O3 system has reduced leakage current compared to HfO2, presumably due to that Al2O3 in the ZrO2-Al2O3 or ZrO2-Al2O3-ZrO2 dielectric stack can disrupt crystalline grain boundaries of the crystalline ZrO2, and Al2O3 or ZrAlOx can maintain amorphous phase. However, the discrete Al2O3 layer on the other hand causes a large reduction in the effective permittivity (or total capacitance of the dielectric stack), thereby limiting the amount of charge storage and preventing further miniaturization. It is also difficult to scale the ZrO2 component thinner to achieve higher capacitance because it becomes increasingly difficult to crystallize thinner ZrO2 layers towards high permittivity performance without strong leakage degradation due to excess thermal treatments.
Further, in the field of DRAM technology, it has been found that pure ZrO2 often "buckle off" TiN double-sided containers, resulting in dielectric damage and leakage flier behavior. Accordingly, there is a need in this industry to provide an improved capacitor dielectric without the above-described shortcomings.

Capacitor dielectric comprising silicon-doped zirconium oxide and capacitor using the same


Described herein are bend-limited catheters (e.g., apparatuses, including devices and systems) and methods of using them.

Catheters are tubular devices that may be used in the medical field for numerous applications. It is generally desirable to obtain a maximum torsional rigidity while retaining a satisfactory longitudinal flexibility and stiffness without kinking. These features may allow the orientation of the catheter to be manipulated so that the catheter can be guided through small body vessels and cavities. These features may also prevent any kinking, and may provide the catheter with enough "push" or stiffness so as to prevent the catheter from wrinkling or folding back on itself during this process. The specific nature of these characteristics may vary depending on the specific application for which the catheter is being used. It may also be beneficial to provide a relatively small outside diameter and a lumen or an inside diameter as large as possible.
Catheters (with our without guide wires) may be used both as a diagnostic tool and in the treatment of diseases. One such diagnostic procedure is cardiac catheterization which is a widely performed procedure, being used for assessment of coronary artery disease. Other uses are neurologic uses, radiologic uses, electrophysiologic uses, peripheral vascular uses, etc. One example of a treatment use is the use of balloon catheters in dilation procedures to treat coronary disease. Dilation procedures rely upon the use of a catheter for injection of contrast and delivery of guidewires and dilation catheters to the coronary artery or other arteries. An example of the use of guide wires is for Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) balloons and for guiding diagnostic catheters through the arteries and to body organs.
The catheters and guide wires used in these and other procedures must have excellent torque characteristics, and must have the requisite flexibility. In addition, it is important that catheters and guidewires provide sufficient longitudinal support for "pushing" of items through the arteries and other vessels such as when feeding the balloon portion of an angioplasty catheter through the arteries. Unless there is sufficient stiffness, the catheter or guidewire will wrinkle or fold back on itself. Catheters should ideally have sufficient torque such that they do not buckle when being manipulated. Flexibility may be important so that the catheter can be manipulated into the varying arterial branches encountered by the catheter.
Prior art catheters are typically made of flexible materials which are reinforced such that the resulting composite catheter approximates the desired characteristics. In alternative approaches, guide wires are used in conjunction with catheters to assist in manipulating and moving the catheters through the arterial system in the body. Described herein are catheters are highly flexible, while maintaining stability, preventing kickback and resisting prolapse and kinking.


A new variety of hybrid lily plant bearing large up-facing flowers of excellent form, long persistence, and exceptional substance. The new hybrid is particularly characterized by a compact racemose inflorescence of upfacing flowers of vibrant unspotted orange-red color, borne on a short, sturdy stem. This combination is completely new in the Asiatic hybrid divisions of lilies suited to forcing and to mass commercial cultivation. The variety is highly resistant to fusarium disease and shows tolerance of virus. The bulbs may be precooled and forced into flower under glass out of season. The clone is vigorous and is a good grower and propagator.

My new variety of lily plant originated as a seedling, which first flowered in Hood River, Ore. in 1989. The breeding efforts had as their objective the production of Asiatic hybrid lilies with upfacing orange and red flowers borne on short stems and suited to forcing into flower out of season for use as pot plants, heretofore unknown in the lily breeding art.
I achieved the desired objective by pollinating Lilium `Orange Pixie` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,792) with pollen of an unnamed outfacing red-orange seedling. I selected this clone at the time of its first flowering at the Boring, Ore. field of Columbia-Platte Lilies, Inc.; I purchased the only bulb of this clone and immediately removed it from the field. This seedling was a genetically unique third-generation Lilium pumilum hybrid with an exceptionally high bud count, brilliant red-orange flowers, and an early flowering time. The flowers of my new lily are characterized by an upfacing orientation, large size and exceptional substance, and a brilliant orange-red color. The new clone possesses unusually short, stout, strong stems and bears a compact racemose inflorescence with an unusually high bud count. In addition, it possesses to a high degree desirable characteristics of hybrid vigor. The clone is a good grower and propagator, as observed at Hood River and at Sandy, Ore.
My new variety of lily plant has been asexually reproduced by me and under my direction at Hood River and at Sandy, Ore. Successive generations produced by natural propagation from bulblets, by bulb scale propagation, and by tissue culturing from bulb scale explants have demonstrated that the novel and distinctive characteristics of my new variety are fixed and hold true under asexual propagation from generation to generation.


A photographic device including a formable portion comprising a reflective surface, wherein said formable portion is for retainably forming the reflective surface into a plurality of shapes, and wherein the reflective surface is for reflecting light from a photographic light source; and a base portion coupled to the formable portion, wherein the base portion is configured for coupling the photographic device to an object.

Photographers use a variety of accessories to control light emitted by photographic lighting equipment. There are many aspects of light that photographers desire to control. For example, color, direction, intensity, contrast, etc. As such, photographers require a plurality of accessories to control the light. Accordingly, it may be cumbersome to carry around and have all the accessories necessary to control all the different aspects of lighting.
Moreover, photographic accessories (e.g., a reflector) are not easily manipulated to precisely control the light. For example, it may be difficult to properly place and articulate a white piece of paper to reflect light.
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a photographic device including a formable portion comprising a reflective surface, wherein the formable portion is for retainably forming the reflective surface into a plurality of shapes, and wherein the reflective surface is for reflecting light from a photographic light source. The photographic device further includes a base portion coupled to the formable portion, wherein the base portion is configured for coupling the photographic device to an object.
The drawings referred to in this description should be understood as not being drawn to scale except if specifically noted.


A probe cleaning plate is configured to clean the probe plate of an ICT fixture. In particular, the probe cleaning plate is used to support a plurality of probes included as part of the probe plate and enable cleaning of the probe heads of each probe while maintaining support of the probes and minimizing, if not preventing, seepage of cleaning solution and contaminates from to the base of the probes.

In-circuit test (ICT) is a procedure used for testing printed circuit boards (PCBs). Using ICT equipment it is possible to gain access to the circuit nodes on a PCB and measure the performance of the components, checking for shorts, opens, resistance, capacitance, and other basic quantities that indicate whether the assembly was correctly fabricated. ICT equipment typically includes an ICT fixture that interfaces with the PCB and a measuring unit connected to the ICT fixture. In order to carry out the test it is necessary to gain access to each node on the PCB. A common way of achieving this is to generate a "bed of nails" ICT fixture. The term bed of nails is a graphic description of what many fixtures look like, having a large number of test points or probes protruding from a board that holds them in place. Traditional bed of nails ICT fixtures require the manufacture of a complex mechanical device having an array of pin-like probes inserted into holes in an acrylic plate connected to the measuring unit by wires, or wirelessly. By pressing the PCB under test against the array of probes, reliable contact can be quickly and simultaneously made with hundreds or even thousands of individual test points within the circuitry of the PCB. The PCB may either be pulled down under the action of a vacuum or it may be achieved mechanically, thus pulling the PCB downwards onto the array of probes.
Flux residues present on the test points of the PCB results in contamination of the ICT fixture probes. This can result in faulty probe contact with the test point, increased test time and test cycle count, and reduction in over all device under test yield. Accordingly, it is necessary to periodically clean the probes of the ICT fixture. A common cleaning method is to identify contaminated probes on the ICT fixture, spray cleaning solvent on the probe heads and use a cleaning cloth or brush to scrub the probe heads. Each of these steps is typically performed manually. To properly access the probes for cleaning, a top plate of the ICT fixture is removed to expose an upper portion of the probes, as shown in FIG. 1. Without the top plate, the exposed portions of the probe are not structurally supported. Care is required so as to minimize damaging or bending the probes while scrubbing. As such this is a tedious and time consuming process.

Method and apparatus for ICT fixture probe cleaning


A bolster for assembly to an instrument panel assembly of an automotive vehicle is provided. The vehicle has a steering column with a steering column axis and at least two energy absorbing brackets located laterally to either side of the steering column axis. The bolster comprises a unitary structure having a generally forward wall and a generally aft wall. The forward wall has a forward wall, forward surface. The forward wall, forward surface includes first and second bolster transfer surfaces for transferring forces from the bolster to the energy absorbing brackets. The bolster further comprises a plurality of generally laterally extending rib structures. The rib structures extend from adjacent the first bolster transfer surface to adjacent the second bolster transfer surface. The plurality of generally laterally extending ribs structures have sufficient strength to inhibit bending of the bolster about a vertical plane when struck by a driver's knees at a point or points that are not directly aft of the bolster transfer surfaces, when the force is equal to or less than an amount specified by a test standard.

In the manufacture of automotive vehicles such as passenger cars and trucks, there are many safety standards that must be met by the vehicle to reduce the likelihood and/or severity of injury to occupants during an accident.
For example, in the United States, the safety standard FMVSS/208 deals with occupant crash protection during a frontal crash. In order to meet the safety standard, portions of an instrument panel assembly are required to absorb at least some of the energy of an impact by the knees of the driver during a crash. A portion of the instrument panel that is configured to sustain an impact from the knees of a driver during a crash is called a bolster. This is the portion of the instrument panel below the belt line.
Government tests are conducted on vehicles to determine if they meet the safety standard, based on the statistically median-sized male occupant. The median-size is a statistically determined size whereby 50% of the population is larger and 50% of the population is smaller.
Vehicle safety standards also require special design parameters relating to the steering column of the vehicle. The steering column must be designed to move in an axial direction if the chest of the driver contacts the steering wheel in the course of a crash. Most steering columns are designed to collapse in an axial direction and the steering column is located and designed with the collapsing structure being calculated on the basis that the steering column is not impacted by other structures within the vehicle. A further aspect of the impact safety design of the vehicle is that the driver's knees will contact the bolster area with one knee on either lateral side of the axis of the steering column. As the driver's knees contact the bolster area, the bolster may bend about a generally vertical plane. Bending of the bolster about a vertical plane may then result in some of the instrument panel structure, including the bolster itself, infringing on the space envelope allowed for the steering column structure. If there is any contact of this surrounding structure with the steering column, then the collapse characteristics of the steering column, in accordance with its design, will be changed due to contact from surrounding structure.
In order to deal with this problem, it is routine in automotive design to include a relatively strong structure, typically a metallic plate, which is attached to the instrument panel structure and which surrounds the steering column envelope. The metal plate may be attached to the bolster or to underlying instrument panel structure. The metal plate is more properly called a steering column protector and is sometimes referred to colloquially as a knee splitter. The function of the structure is to keep the driver's knees spread apart so that neither the knees, the bolster nor any other surrounding structure infringes on the steering column envelope. This ensures that the steering column can collapse in accordance with its designed function.
Most vehicles today have structure built in to help absorb the energy generated by the impact of the driver's knees on the bolster. Typically most vehicles have energy absorption brackets mounted laterally to either side of the steering column axis outside the steering column envelope. Energy is dissipated as the driver's knees contact the bolster pushing the bolster against the energy absorption brackets and some energy is dissipated by the energy absorption bracket. The energy absorption brackets are located to provide protection to the median sized person as constrained by the vehicle geometry.
In the existing design envelope, bolsters applied to the steering wheel area of cars are relatively complicated structures comprising a bolster as well as the steering column protector. The bolster generally is a surface of the instrument panel that would otherwise be available for viewing by a vehicle occupant and thus the bolster area must meet certain appearance characteristics. Heretofore, bolsters have been made from injection-molded parts, which have good appearance characteristics on the surface which is visible within the vehicle. However, due to the very nature of injection molding, parts made by the injection molding process often have less strength that might otherwise be available from the plastic resins used in the injection molding process. In such designs, an injection-molded bolster is created which has suitable appearance characteristics and the bolster is strengthened by a metallic plate. The steering column protector serves the function of protecting the steering column with the assumption that the driver's knees will be located substantially directly aft of the energy absorption brackets.
While this is a complicated and expensive structure to manufacture, there is also the question of what happens if the driver's knees are not located directly aft of the energy absorption structure. This may be as a result of the driver not meeting the 50 percentile adult male physical-size and the drivers seating position may locate the knees at some point other than directly aft of the energy absorption brackets.


A method for transferring an account associated with a first device to a second device is disclosed. The method includes: initiating, by the second device, a message intersession with a third party device; receiving, at the second device and from a server, an indication that the second device is using a known identity associated with the first device; and providing, by the second device, an instruction for transferring an account from the first device to the second device.

Presently, mobile devices are prevalently used in society. With advancements in technology, mobile devices are consistently being upgraded to include more advanced features than their predecessors. When a user purchases a new mobile phone, in many cases he/she must transfer the account information from the old mobile phone to the new mobile phone. This is typically done using the user's username/password. However, a username/password is sometimes not required to transfer account information from an old mobile phone to the upgraded mobile phone. Further, in some situations, applications on the old mobile phone are not smoothly transferred between the old mobile phone and the new upgraded mobile phone. The user may have to contact customer support for a specific application to help facilitate the transfer. This may create head-aches for the customer and take a toll on company resources. Thus, limitations exist with regard to transferring account information from old devices to upgraded devices without using the user's username/password.
The drawings referred to in this description should not be understood as being drawn to scale unless specifically noted.


An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides an ontology enhancement method. Firstly, at least an input information request is received. Then, based on an ontology, each input information request is expanded to produce at least an expanded information request of each corresponding input information request. Based on a searching model, according to each expanded information request, a file collection is searched to obtain searching results of each corresponding expanded information request. Then, according to each searching result, a plurality of candidate knowledge concepts of each corresponding searching result are extracted. Next, the candidate knowledge concepts of each searching result are selectively added into the ontology.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a data enhancement method and system thereof, in particular, to an ontology enhancement method and system thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
With the approach of the current information era, the amount of the information is rapidly increasing every day. If there are no appropriate methods for managing the information well, the knowledge contained in the information cannot be rapidly utilized by the user. Regardless of specific fields of any kinds, the ontology can be utilized to categorize knowledge concepts of the specific filed.
The ontology is a manner for presenting the knowledge concepts, and is widely used in several specific fields. The ontology concisely presents the knowledge concepts included in the specific field and the relationship among the knowledge concepts. Currently, during the process for establishing the ontology, there are no unified standards and methods. In the process for establishing the ontology, a plurality of experts of the specific fields must join, and with the development of the specific filed knowledge, the content of the ontology should be modified or further enhanced. Thus, it cost exhaustive time and human labor for developing the ontology.


According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a nonvolatile first memory, a volatile second memory, a capacitor, and a memory controller. The nonvolatile first memory includes a storage region that includes a plurality of memory cells. The capacitor is configured to accumulate electric power. The memory controller writes first data stored in the volatile second memory to the storage region in a first mode, using a power supply from outside. The first mode is a mode in which one-bit data is written to each of the memory cells. The memory controller writes, upon stop of the power supply from the outside, the first data to the storage region in a second mode, using the electric power accumulated in the capacitor. The second mode is a mode in which one-bit data is written to each of the memory cells and is different from the first mode.

Conventionally, memory systems including a nonvolatile memory and a volatile memory are known. The nonvolatile memory functions as storage. The volatile memory is used as a buffer of data to be written onto the nonvolatile memory, or as an area in which various kinds of management data are stored.
Such a memory system may include a capacitor. Upon detecting stop of a power supply, the memory system writes data stored in the volatile memory to the nonvolatile memory, using electric power accumulated in the capacitor. Thereby, data is saved from the volatile memory to the nonvolatile memory. This prevents loss of the data from the memory system. Such a function is known as a power loss protection (PLP) function.

Memory system including a nonvolatile memory and a volatile memory, and method


A system and method for storing cold energy are detailed. The system includes a solid refrigerant in a structured form that stores cold energy. Upon deformation, the solid refrigerant transforms into a high energy deformed state from a low energy non-deformed state. In the deformed state, the solid refrigerant stores cold energy that can be released to a desired location upon demand.

In the United Stated (U.S.), more than 90% of budding space cooling and refrigeration is provided by vapor compression (VC) based systems. Modern compressors are highly efficient, but are now approaching their theoretical and technological limits. In addition to the efficiency plateau, VC technology has environmental issues. For example, VC refrigerants such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) or halofluorocarbons (HFC) are a significant source of green house gas (GHG) emissions. Global warming potential (GWP) for VC refrigerants is as high as 1000 times that of CO2. According to 2008 Buildings Energy Data, with VC as the dominate technology, building space cooling and refrigeration will consume 7.46 quads of primary electricity and generate 447 million metric tons (MMT) of CO2 emissions by the year 2030. This will be equivalent to ˜5% of primary energy consumption and ˜5% of CO2 emissions in the U.S. alone. As such, there is an urgent need to develop new and affordable cooling technologies to enhance overall energy efficiencies and reduces GHG emissions. A number of alternative technologies are under development including electrocaloric, magnetocaloric, thermoacoustic, and thermoelectric. Magnetocaloric cooling (MC) is currently considered a front runner among these technologies due to its higher efficiency and elimination of HCFC/HFC refrigerants. However, MC is inherently expensive because of the requirement for large magnetic fields and rare earth materials. Recently, an entirely new type of solid-state cooling based on reversible martensitic transformation was disclosed by a group of researchers at the University of Maryland. The new cooling technology is referred to as "elastocaloric cooling" (EC) which utilizes super-elastic transformation of austenite. Compared to other cooling technologies, EC has three advantages: 1) It is environment friendly. EC uses solid refrigerants, which completely eliminates the need for HCFC/HFC refrigerants, 2) EC has a high efficiency. It has been shown that the COP (coefficient of performance) of a jugular refrigerant is 5.8 with a ΔT of about 12° C., and 3) EC is cost-effective. EC does not require hydrostatic pressure. Therefore, there is no need for hermetic seals. In addition, the working materials are inexpensive. These advantages positioned EC to challenge VC as a dominate cooling technology. EC technology is new. And, key characteristics of the technology have yet to be fully understood, but differences associated with the physics from other cooling technologies are obvious. These differences enable different applications and different system designs. The present invention relates to a new application of the EC technology and corresponding systems.

System and process for storing cold energy


Methods for preparing a sequencing library from a DNA-containing test sample are provided. In some embodiments, the methods involve rescuing a partially ligated DNA fragment to enhance library preparation conversion efficiencies. In some embodiments, the methods involve improving recovery of duplex sequence information from double-stranded DNA.

The ligation efficiency of A-tailed fragments is a critical part of some library construction protocols for next generation sequencing. However, the ligation efficiency of double-stranded A-tailed fragments to adapters with 3′ T overhangs is relatively inefficient, and represents one of the main limitations of library construction efficiency. There is a need for new methods for increasing ligation efficiency in sequencing library preparation procedures.

Enhanced ligation in sequencing library preparation


The present disclosure discloses a display panel which includes a substrate and plurality of insulating layers disposed on the substrate, and a plurality of metal routings, and includes a display region and a first non-display region at left and right sides of the display region, and a display, the plurality of metal routings being at the first non-display region and insulated from each other, and at least adjacent two of the metal routings being positioned on different layers of the insulating layers. An interval between adjacent metal routings on different insulating layers in a horizontal direction can be reduced through the above wiring manner, thereby reducing a space occupied by the first non-display region.

With the development of the related technology, in order to improve impression experience of a user, reducing an occupation space of a non-display region to improve a screen occupation ratio of a display panel is an important task in the production of the display panel in the industry. Referring to a structure view of a display panel in the prior art as shown in FIG. 1, in the prior display panel, the following design is generally used: the display panel generally includes a substrate 4, a plurality of insulating layers 5 disposed on the substrate 4, and a plurality of metal routings 6, and a display region 40 and a non-display region outside the display region 40 are formed.
In conjunction with the prior display panel as shown in FIG. 2, it can be obtained from an illustrative wiring mode in a first non-display region 50 positioned at both left and right sides of the display region 40 that a plurality of metal routings 6 in the first non-display region 50 are usually disposed on the same one of the insulating layers 5, a certain interval needs to be maintained between adjacent metal routings 6 to prevent short circuit, and intervals between the metal routings 6 in the first non-display region 50 occupy a certain space. Such a routing structure is apparently disadvantageous to reduce an occupation space of the non-display region so as to improve the screen occupation ratio of the display panel.

WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS SEMICONDUCTOR DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


Systems and methods are provided for synthesizing protocol independent magnetic resonance images. A patient is scanned by a magnetic resonance imaging system to acquire magnetic resonance data. The magnetic resonance data is input to a machine learnt generator network trained to extract features from input magnetic resonance data and synthesize protocol independent images using the extracted features. The machine learnt generator network generates a protocol independent segmented magnetic resonance image from the input magnetic resonance data. The protocol independent magnetic resonance image is displayed.

Medical image standardization may have many applications. For example, medical image standardization may provide normalized input data for quantification algorithms, database homogeneity, and/or homogenous visualization. Medical image standardization, however, may be an issue for magnetic resonance imaging. Because of, but not only, the sheer number of parameters that are involved in MR acquisition, the same sequence/protocol may provide different outputs significantly vary between the same scanner model at different institutions, between vendors etc. Since the intensity distribution is changed, it makes quantification algorithms very dependent on acquisition parameters, institutions, and/or protocols.
The results are often unequal due to the variations in acquired data, for example, a level of brightness depending on the sequence and the protocol the input data was acquired in. In an example, the results of segmentation by two physicians may differ because of the differences in the physician's training in MRI data acquisition. Different machines, different sequences, or different settings may provide different intensities. Different environmental conditions may lead to different results even from the same machine or patient from scan to scan.

Image standardization using generative adversarial networks


A cardiac therapy device having a cardiac assist pump, a defibrillation unit, and a control unit, which is connected to the cardiac assist pump and the defibrillation unit to control them. The cardiac assist pump is implemented in case of use to pump blood from a ventricle into an associated artery and thus relieve the respective ventricle. The defibrillation unit is implemented for automatic defibrillation of a ventricular fibrillation and the control unit is implemented to activate the cardiac assist pump and the defibrillation unit in a coordinated manner in case of a ventricular fibrillation such that the cardiac assist pump first increases its performance to initially cause a pressure relief of at least one assisted ventricle in case of use and the defibrillation unit only subsequently delivers a defibrillation shock, when a ventricular pressure relief is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
At least one embodiment of the invention relates to an implantable cardiac therapy device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known implantable cardiac therapy devices include, for example, cardiac assist pumps, which are connected to a ventricle of a heart and an associated artery (pulmonary artery or aorta) and are implemented to pump blood from a respective ventricle in an assisting manner into a respective associated artery (pulmonary artery, aorta) and thus relieve the respective ventricle.
Other known implantable cardiac therapy devices include cardiac stimulators such as cardiac pacemakers or defibrillators/cardioverters having a defibrillation unit for the automatic defibrillation of a ventricular fibrillation.
Supplying a patient with multiple such devices is also known.


A method for making a thin walled ePTFE tube having improved axial and radial strength includes the steps of: providing an unsintered or partially sintered ePTFE membrane; wrapping the ePTFE membrane around a mandrel or form tool to form an ePTFE tube; matting the ePTFE tube; immediately thereafter, sintering the matted ePTFE tube; removing the sintered ePTFE tube from the mandrel or form tool; stretching the sintered ePTFE tube in the axial direction; stretching the ePTFE tube in the radial direction over a second mandrel that is greater in diameter than the reduced axially stretched diameter, but less than the first mandrel diameter; overwrapping the second mandrel with a second ePTFE membrane; matting the ePTFE tube; immediately thereafter, sintering the matted ePTFE tube; and removing the sintered ePTFE tube from the second mandrel or form tool.

An expandable polymer is any polymer capable of being expanded or stretched where it may become a porous membrane. One example of an expandable polymer is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). PTFE is a fluorocarbon solid, as it is a high molecular weight compound consisting wholly of carbon and fluorine. It is an extremely versatile synthetic polymer due to its chemical inertness, wide temperature range, low friction coefficient and biocompatibility.
Expanded PTFE or ePTFE, discovered by W. L. Gore (U.S. Pat. No. 3,664,915), is PTFE that has been stretched to make it porous after being first extruded by a process called paste extrusion. Expanded PTFE has the inherent properties of PTFE, plus it is porous, and has higher strength than PTFE due to the fiber network formed during processing. ePTFE is usually available as a tape, film, or membrane type material.
ePTFE, due to its inertness, wide chemical compatibility and temperature range properties, may be ideal for many medical and industrial applications. Extremely thin and high strength variants of ePTFE are useful for some medical and industrial applications. In the case of endovascular devices, thinner wall, lower friction, higher strength membrane tubing may be desired due to the small diameter arteries that the devices must pass. Acoustic devices, including cell phone speakers and hearing aid device diaphragms, may require high strength flexible membranes and a venting function in order to relieve pressure buildup due to the thermal expansion of air in the device or barometric pressure changes. An industrial application such as a fuel cell MEA requires a high strength ePTFE membrane that has minimal creep and swelling. In the case of a gas or liquid filter that is laminated to a nonwoven or polymer film which is porous or perforated, it is useful to have an ePTFE membrane that has a slick low friction surface that also enables a high strength lamination bond to the nonwoven or polymer to which it is being laminated. The slick membrane surface minimizes filter cake buildup, while the high bond strength helps prevent failure of the laminate, which is reversed to release filter cake buildup. For certain medical device, filtration, chemical cell, or fuel cell applications it is useful to have an ePTFE membrane that bonds well to polymer films so as to provide a thermal melt sealable surface, or to provide a high integrity non porous gasketing surface on the perimeter of the membrane for improved sealing. In the case of solar cells or solar heating systems, UV water and air purification systems an ePTFE membrane with increased light transmittance at wider incidence angles may improve efficiency or performance. For lighting devices, a light diffuser that has a high transmittance, is breathable, and can sustain higher temperatures than other polymers may be desirable. Thus, there is a need to create an ePTFE with unique properties for both medical and industrial applications.
A conventional method of forming an article made of an expandable polymer, such as ePTFE, is to blend a powdered resin with a wettable liquid, such as a lubricant or extrusion aid, and compress the combination into a preformed mold, typically of a cylindrical shape. The wettable liquid may be mixed with the powdered resin to control the degree of material shear that occurs during subsequent extrusion and to prevent excessive shear, which can damage the material. Using a ram-type extruder, the mold may then be extruded through a die having a desired cross-section. The extruded material may be calendered or compressed after extruding to reduce the cross section. Next, the wettable liquid is removed from the extruded material by evaporating the wettable liquid through drying or any another extraction method. The dried extruded material may then be stretched in one or more directions at an elevated temperature below the crystalline melting point of the resin. Finally, the stretched material is typically sintered, or heated to a temperature ranging from just below to significantly above its melting point, depending on the time at the elevated temperature, in order to lock in the physical state of the material.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,890,463 is directed to a method involving rewetting of expandable polymers with a liquid to allow for subsequent enhanced expansion. The wetting liquid includes a drug and/or an agent, such that the resulting polymer contains and emits the drug upon positioning. This method is said to provide the material with unique properties. However, the method teaches that a stretching step be performed after the application of the wetting liquid. Thus, this method is limited to applying the wettable liquid before the expansion step.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/726,707 discloses a method of producing ePTFE tubes having improved axial strength. However, this patent application does not teach or suggest anything about improving the radial strength of the ePTFE tubes.
However, the addition of a wetting liquid, with or without the inclusion of a drug or active agent, to mat down or densify ePTFE reinforcement material, applied over a tube of axially improved strength produced according to the method disclosed in U.S. Publication No. US2011/0014459, after expansion of the reinforcement material and without any subsequent expansion, prior to high temperature sintering, may be advantageous in providing an ePTFE tube with unique properties. The instant invention is designed to address this issue.

Thin wall expandable polymer tubes having improved axial and radial strength, and a method of manufacturing thereof