Apparatus and methods for measuring a concentration of a target molecule from a biological sample are disclosed. In one example, the apparatus includes a porous pad, which is impregnated with a solution containing at least one agent and which contains an unfilled capillary matrix, a housing for the porous pad, and a membrane that covers the porous pad.

It is important and medically relevant to be able to identify patients whose blood pressure may drop to levels requiring hospitalization before they exhibit orthostatic hypotension that could lead to potentially unsafe situations or urgent medical attention/hospitalization. If properly identified with sufficient time and resources for them to regain blood volume through properly formulated liquid imbibition, the desired patient outcome, by being attentive to maintaining normal hydration, would be the minimization of hospitalizations for these groups of patients and hence an improved quality of life. Measuring hydration state could also be used in outdoor or sports activities to monitor changes in urea concentration in saliva before serious conditions occur. Another application could be in care facilities to check for proper health maintenance procedures.
There is growing interest in many bio/medical technologies involving non- or low-invasive monitoring. A dehydrated state is an interesting and complex physiological condition that has been addressed in the research literature by saliva and sweat testing and in cosmetics by skin impedance monitoring devices. Saliva and sweat testing device electronics are still in R&D stages, and there is still no accurate, rapid, and inexpensive means of determining key indicators such as urea in saliva. Moreover, wearable or non-invasive hydration meters based on skin impedance or other means have several challenges, primarily stemming from interpreting a local measurement as being a true indicator of a systemic condition such as dehydration. A confounding issue is likely due to the body's control mechanisms to maintain homeostasis leading to a series of physiologically measurable changes such as skin dryness that may or may not be directly relevant as a measure if someone becomes dehydrated.

Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of Arizona State University


Methods and systems are provided for the noninvasive measurement of the subepithelial impedance of the breast and for assessing the risk that a substantially asymptomatic female patient will develop or be at substantially increased risk of developing proliferative or pre-cancerous changes in the breast, or may be at subsequent risk for the development of pre-cancerous or cancerous changes. A plurality of electrodes are used to measure subepithelial impedance of parenchymal breast tissue of a patient at one or more locations and at least one frequency, particularly moderately high frequencies. The risk of developing breast cancer is assessed according to measured and expected or estimated values of subepithelial impedance for the patient and according to one or more experienced-based algorithms. Devices for practicing the disclosed methods are also provided.

The ideal or preferred biomarker of breast density and/or cancer risk includes the following characteristics: (1) biologic plausibility; (2) a higher rate of expression in high-risk compared to low-risk populations; (3) an association with cancer in prospective studies; (4) expression minimally influenced by normal physiologic processes, or the ability to control for the influences of physiology; (5) the ability to obtain the biomarker using minimally invasive techniques at low costs; and (6) reproducibility. For purposes of the present invention the generally accepted National Institutes of Health definition of a "biomarker" is adopted: "a characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biologic processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention." (Biomarkers Definitions working Group: Biomarkers And Surrogate Endpoints: Preferred Definitions And Conceptual Framework. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 2001; 69:89-95). As will be shown hereinbelow, the present invention relates generally to the measurement, especially the non-invasive measurement, of electrophysiological characteristics, preferably subepithelial impedance, as a biomarker for estimating breast density and further, the use of such estimated breast density as a further biomarker for breast cancer or abnormal tissue, preferably for use in assessing the risk that an individual will develop breast cancer or abnormal tissue.
The present invention relates generally to the detection of proliferative, abnormal or cancerous tissue, and more particularly, to the detection of changes in the electrophysiological characteristics of proliferative, abnormal or cancerous tissue and to changes in those electrophysiological characteristics related to the functional, structural and topographic (the interaction of shape, position and function) relationships of the tissue during the development of malignancy. These measurements can be made in the absence and presence of pharmacological and hormonal agents to reveal and accentuate the electrophysiological characteristics of proliferative, abnormal or cancerous tissue.
Cancer is a leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States. Difficulty in detecting proliferative, abnormal pre-cancerous or cancerous tissue before treatment options become non-viable is one of the reasons for the high mortality rate. Detecting of the presence of proliferative, abnormal or cancerous tissues is difficult, in part, because such tissues are largely located deep within the body, thus requiring expensive, complex, invasive, and/or uncomfortable procedures. For this reason, the use of detection procedures is often restricted until a patient is experiencing symptoms related to the abnormal tissue. Many forms of cancers or tumors, however, require extended periods of time to attain a detectable size (and thus to produce significant symptoms or signs in the patient). It is often too late for effective treatment by the time the detection is performed with currently available diagnostic modalities.
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting women in the Western World. The reduction in mortality for this common disease depends on early detection. The mainstay of early detection are X-ray mammography and clinical breast examination. Both are fraught with problems of inaccuracy. For example, mammography has a lower sensitivity in women with dense breasts, and is unable to discriminate between morphologically similar benign or malignant breast lesions.
Clinical breast examinations are limited because lesions less than one cm are usually undetectable and larger lesions may be obscured by diffuse nodularity, fibrocystic change, or may be too deep in the breast to enable clinical detection. Patients with positive mammographic or equivocal clinical findings often require biopsy to make a definitive diagnosis. Moreover, biopsies may be negative for malignancy in up to 80% of patients.
Accordingly, mammography and clinical breast examination have relatively poor specificity in diagnosing breast cancer. Therefore many positive mammographic findings or lesions detected on clinical breast examination ultimately prove to be false positives resulting in physical and emotional trauma for patients. Improved methods and technologies to identify patients who need to undergo biopsy would reduce healthcare costs and avoid unnecessary diagnostic biopsies.
It is also desirable to develop improved technology suitable for characterizing pre-cancerous tissue and cancer in other tissue types and elsewhere in the body, particularly methods and devices suitable for ascertaining the condition of bodily ductal structures, e.g., the prostate, pancreas, etc., as well as the breast. Such characterization may ultimately be useful in diagnosis or risk assessment.
One proposed method for early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous tissue includes measuring of the electrical impedance of biological tissue. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,949,736 discloses a low-level electric current passed through tissue, with a measurement of the voltage drop across the tissue providing an indirect indication of the overall tissue impedance. This method teaches that a change in impedance of the tissue is associated with an abnormal condition of the cells composing the tissue, indicating a tumor, carcinoma, or other abnormal biological condition. This disclosure, however, does not discuss either an increase or decrease in impedance associated with abnormal cells, nor does it specifically address tumor cells or other patient-specific factors that affect electrophysiological properties.
It is also noted that the above and similar systems do not consider DC electrical properties of the epithelium. Most common malignancies develop in an epithelium (the cell layer that lines a hollow organ, such as the bowel, or ductal structures such as the breast or prostate), that maintains a transepithelial electropotential. Early in the malignant process the epithelium loses its transepithelial potential, particularly when compared to epithelium some distance away from the developing malignancy. The combination of transepithelial electropotential measurements with impedance are more accurate in diagnosing pre-cancerous and cancerous conditions.
Another disadvantage of the above referenced system is that the frequency range of the electrical signal is not defined. Certain information is obtained about cells according to the range of frequencies selected. Different frequency bands may be associated with different structural or functional aspects of the tissue. See, for example, F. A. Duck, Physical Properties of Tissues, London: Academic Press, 2001; K. R. Foster, H. P. Schwan, Dielectric properties of tissues and biological materials: a critical review, Crit. Rev. Biomed. Eng., 1989, 17 (1): 25-104. For example at high frequencies such as greater than about 1 GHz molecular structure has a dominating effect on the relaxation characteristics of the impedance profile. Relaxation characteristics include the delay in the response of a tissue to a change in the applied electric field. For example, an applied AC current results in a voltage change across the tissue which will be delayed or phase shifted, because of the impedance characteristics of the tissue. Relaxation and dispersion characteristics of the tissue vary according to the frequency of the applied signal.
At lower frequencies, such as less than about 100 Hz, or the so called α-dispersion range, alterations in ion transport and charge accumulations at large cell membrane interfaces dominate the relaxation characteristics of the impedance profile. In the frequency range between a few kHz and about 1 MHz, or the so-called β-dispersion range, cell structure dominates the relaxation characteristics of the epithelial impedance profile. Within this range at low kHz frequencies, most of the applied current passes between the cells through the paracellular pathway and tight junctions. At higher frequencies in the β-dispersion range the current can penetrate the cell membrane and therefore passes both between and through the cells, and the current density will depend on the composition and volume of the cytoplasm and cell nucleus. Characteristic alterations occur in the ion transport of an epithelium during the process of malignant transformation affecting the impedance characteristics of the epithelium measured at frequencies in the α-dispersion range. Later in the malignant process, structural alterations with opening of the tight junctions and decreasing resistance of the paracellular pathways, together with changes in the composition and volume of the cell cytoplasm and nucleus, affect the impedance measured in the β-dispersion range.
Another disadvantage with the above referenced system is that the topography of altered impedance is not examined. By spacing the measuring electrodes differently the epithelium can be probed to different depths. The depth that is measured by two surface electrodes is approximately half the distance between the electrodes. Therefore electrodes 1 mm apart will measure the impedance of the underlying epithelium to a depth of approximately 500 microns. It is known, for example, that the thickness of bowel epithelium increases at the edge of a developing tumor to 1356±208μ compared with 716±112μ in normal bowel. D. Kristt, et al., Patterns of proliferative changes in crypts bordering colonic tumors: zonal histology and cell cycle marker expression, Pathol. Oncol. Res 1999; 5 (4): 297-303. Thickening of the ductal epithelium of the breast is also observed as ductal carcinoma in-situ develops. By comparing the measured impedance between electrodes spaced approximately 2.8 mm apart and compared with the impedance of electrodes spaced approximately 1.4 mm apart, information about the deeper and thickened epithelium may be obtained. See, for example, L. Emtestam, S. Ollmar, Electrical impedance index in human skin: measurements after occlusion, in 5 anatomical regions and in mild irritant contact dermatitis, Contact Dermatitis 1993; 28 (2): 104-108.
A further disadvantage of the above referenced methods is that they do not probe the specific conductive pathways that are altered during the malignant process. For example, potassium conductance is reduced in the surface epithelium of the colon early in the malignant process. By using electrodes spaced less than 1 mm apart with varying concentrations of potassium chloride the potassium conductance and permeability may be estimated in the surface epithelium at a depth from less than 500μ to the surface.
A number of non-invasive impedance imaging techniques have been developed in an attempt to diagnose breast cancer. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is an impedance imaging technique that employs a large number of electrodes placed on the body surface. The impedance measurements obtained at each electrode are then processed by a computer to generate a 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional reconstructed tomographic image of the impedance and its distribution in 2 or 3 dimensions. This approach relies on the differences in conductivity and impedivity between different tissue types and relies on data acquisition and image reconstruction algorithms which are difficult to apply clinically.
The majority of EIT systems employ "current-driving mode," which applies a constant AC current between two or more current-passing electrodes, and measures the voltage drop between other voltage-sensing electrodes on the body surface. Another approach is to use a "voltage-driving approach," which applies a constant AC voltage between two or more current-passing electrodes, and then measures the current at other current-sensing electrodes. Different systems vary in the electrode configuration, current or voltage excitation mode, the excitation signal pattern, and AC frequency range employed.
Another disadvantage with using EIT to diagnose breast cancer is the inhomogeneity of breast tissue. The image reconstruction assumes that current passes homogeneously through the breast tissue which is unlikely given the varying electrical properties of different types of tissue comprising the breast. In addition image reconstruction depends upon the calculation of the voltage distribution on the surface of the breast from a known impedance distribution (the so called forward problem), and then estimating the impedance distribution within the breast from the measured voltage distribution measured with surface electrodes (the inverse problem). Reconstruction algorithms are frequently based on finite element modeling using Poisson's equation and with assumptions with regard to quasi-static conditions, because of the low frequencies used in most EIT systems.
Other electrically-based methods for cancer diagnosis are disclosed in the patent and journal literature. A brief discussion of such disclosures can be found in the copending patent application by the inventor herein, U.S. Ser. No. 11/879,805, filed Jul. 18, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Another potential source of information for the detection of abnormal tissue is the measurement of transport alterations in the epithelium. Epithelial cells line the surfaces of the body and act as a barrier to isolate the body from the outside world. Not only do epithelial cells serve to insulate the body, but they also modify the body's environment by transporting salts, nutrients, and water across the cell barrier while maintaining their own cytoplasmic environment within fairly narrow limits. One mechanism by which the epithelial layer withstands the constant battering is by continuous proliferation and replacement of the barrier. This continued cell proliferation may partly explain why more than 80% of cancers are of epithelial cell origin. Moreover, given their special abilities to vectorially transport solutes from blood to outside and vice versa, it appears that a disease process involving altered growth regulation may have associated changes in transport properties of epithelia.
Epithelial cells are bound together by tight junctions, which consist of cell-to-cell adhesion molecules. These adhesion proteins regulate the paracellular transport of molecules and ions between cells and are dynamic structures that can tighten the epithelium, preventing the movement of substances, or loosen allowing substances to pass between cells. Tight junctions consist of integral membrane proteins, claudins, occludins and JAMs (junctional adhesion molecules). Tight junctions will open and close in response to intra and extracellular stimuli.
A number of substances will open or close tight junctions. The pro-inflammatory agent TGF-alpha, cytokines, IGF and VEGF opens tight junctions. Zonula occludens toxin, nitric oxide donors, and phorbol esters also reversibly open tight junctions. Other substances close tight junctions including calcium, H2 antagonists and retinoids. Various hormones such as prolactin and glucocorticoids will also regulate the tight junctions. Other substances added to drug formulations act as non-specific tight junction modulators including chitosan and wheat germ agglutinin.
The above referenced substances and others may act directly or indirectly on the tight junction proteins, which are altered during carcinogenesis. For example claudin-7 is lost in breast ductal epithelium during the development of breast cancer. The response of the tight junctions varies according to the malignant state of the epithelium and their constituent proteins. As a result the opening or closing of tight junctions is affected by the malignant state of the epithelium.
Surface measurements of potential or impedance are not the same as measurements performed across the breast epithelium where electrical contact is made between the luminal surface of the duct and the overlying skin. Transepithelial depolarization is an early event during carcinogenesis, which may affect a significant region of the epithelium (a "field defect"). This depolarization is accompanied by functional changes in the epithelium including ion transport and impedance alterations. Early on in the process these take the form of increased impedance because of decreased specific electrogenic ion transport processes. As the tumor begins to develop in the pre-malignant epithelium, structural changes occur in the transformed cells such as a breakdown in tight junctions and nuclear atypia. The structural changes result in a marked reduction in the impedance of the tumor. As previously described by the present inventor, understanding and interpreting the pattern and gradient of electrical changes in the epithelium can assist in the diagnosis of cancer from a combination of DC electrical and impedance measurements.
Breast cancer is thought to originate from epithelial cells in the terminal ductal lobular units (TDLUs) of mammary tissue. These cells proliferate and have a functional role in the absorption and secretion of various substances when quiescent and may produce milk when lactating. Functional alterations in breast epithelium have largely been ignored as a possible approach to breast cancer diagnosis. Breast epithelium is responsible for milk formation during lactation. Every month pre-menopausal breast epithelium undergoes a "rehearsal" for pregnancy with involution following menstruation. The flattened epithelium becomes more columnar as the epithelium enters the luteal phase from the follicular phase. In addition, duct branching and the number of acini reach a maximum during the latter half of the luteal phase. Just before menstruation apoptosis of the epithelium occurs and the process starts over again unless the woman becomes pregnant.
It is known that various hormones affect breast epithelial ion transport. For example, prolactin decreases the permeability of the tight-junctions between breast epithelial cells, stimulates mucosal to serosal Na+ flux, upregulates Na+:K+:2Cl− cotransport and increases the [K+] and decreases the [Na+] in milk. Glucocorticoids control the formation of tight-junctions increasing transepithelial resistance and decreasing epithelial permeability. Administration of cortisol into breast ducts late in pregnancy has been shown to increase the [K+] and decrease [Na+] of ductal secretions. Progesterone inhibits tight-junction closure during pregnancy and may be responsible for the fluctuations in ductal fluid electrolytes observed during menstrual cycle in non-pregnant women, and discussed above. Estrogen has been observed to increase cell membrane and transepithelial potential and may stimulate the opening of K+-channels in breast epithelial cells. The hormones mentioned above vary diurnally and during menstrual cycle. It is likely that these variations influence the functional properties of breast epithelium altering the ionic concentrations within the lumen, the transepithelial potential and impedance properties, which are dependent upon the ion transport properties of epithelial cells and the transcellular and paracellular conductance pathways.
Breast cancer biomarkers have recently attracted national attention and various markers that have been studied in women at risk for breast cancer include the following:
Germline Mutations and Polymorphisms: Highly penetrant genes such as BRCA1/BRCA2 with deleterious germline mutations are strong predictors of breast cancer development, but are found in less than 5-10% of women with breast cancer and in only 1% of the general population. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of genes whose protein products are involved in carcinogen and hormone metabolism and/or DNA repair are associated with relative risks of 1.4-2.0, however combined polymorphisms may be associated with significantly higher relative risks.
Hormones and Metabolites: Serum bioavailable estradiol and testosterone may represent risk biomarkers in postmenopausal women, and serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and its binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in premenopausal women. However none have been established to definitively identify high-risk women.
Mammographic Breast density and Intraepithelial Neoplasia: Mammographic breast density and breast intra-epithelial neoplasia apply to many more of the female population than germline mutations in tumor-suppressor genes. Furthermore, since they are subject to modulation, these risk biomarkers might be used to monitor change in breast cancer susceptibility from a prevention intervention standpoint. Mammographic breast density and intra-epithelial neoplasia are useful in both pre- and post-menopausal women. However, Tice et al. (Breast Cancer Res. Treat. 94:115-22, 2005) and Chen et al. (J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 98:1215-26, 2006) have reported that mammographic density adds modestly to the Gail model (M. H. Gail et al., J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 81 (24): 1879-86, 1989) in improving discriminatory accuracy. Assessing density typically requires the use of radiation-based methods and is subject to inter-observer variability. Improvements in the estimation of breast density have been proposed using volumetric and three dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approaches.
Breast intra-epithelial neoplasia is a risk biomarker with close biologic association with cancer, and is least likely to be affected by normal physiologic processes, although ductal proliferation may be influenced by position in menstrual cycle. (See Fabian et al., Endocr. Relat Cancer 12:185-213, 2005, for a review). This includes proliferative breast disease without atypia, atypical ductal and lobular hyperplasia and in situ cancer. Within the spectrum of intra-epithelial neoplasia, an increase in morphologic abnormality is associated with a progressive increase in relative risk and a shorter time (decreased latency) to the development of breast cancer. Proliferative breast disease without atypia (moderate to florid hyperplasia, sclerosing adenosis, papillomas, etc.) is found in approximately 25-30% of diagnostic biopsies and is associated with a 1.4-2.0-fold increase in the relative risk for breast cancer. Higher relative risks associated with proliferative disease without atypia (e.g. 2.0 versus 1.4) may be associated with older age (>50 years), because of a failure to down-regulate proliferation at menopause, or a positive family history.
Ductal or lobular atypical hyperplasia, identified on diagnostic biopsies, is associated with an approximate 5-fold increase in relative risk regardless of other risk factors. Women identified with atypia, but without a positive family history, have an approximately 4 to 5-fold increased risk, whereas women with a positive family history double their relative risk of breast cancer to approximately 10-fold. Atypical ductal and lobular hyperplasia are observed in 3-10% of unselected diagnostic surgical and core needle biopsies. Those women who ultimately develop cancer have a higher proportion of prior benign biopsies exhibiting atypical hyperplasia than those who do not. Several investigators have suggested that atypical hyperplasia may arise more commonly from an intermediate lesion called an unfolded lobule (A for ductal, B for lobular) than hyperplasia of the usual type (HUT). Both atypical hyperplasia and HUT may arise from unfolded lobules. These unfolded lobules are characterized by increased cellularity and proliferation with distension of the terminal lobule duct unit.
Genetic changes associated with Intraepithelial Neoplasia: ADH and DCIS often have similar molecular and genetic changes as assessed by immunocytology or mRNA gene profiles. Approximately 50% of ADH lesions demonstrate loss of heterozygosity, which is observed somewhat less frequently for HUT lesions. The most frequent chromosomal losses are at 16q and 17p for both HUT and atypical hyperplasia, similar to those observed for DCIS. Similar chromosomal gains and losses for non-invasive and invasive lobular cancer are observed using comparative genomic hybridization techniques. The loss of 16q, which contains E-cadherin, a tumor-suppressor gene involved in cell adhesion and cell-cycle regulation. It is reported that E-cadherin is expressed in normal cells, but is lost in LCIS and invasive lobular cancer. ADH is reported in 5% or less of diagnostic biopsies, and has been reported in 9% of autopsy specimens from average-risk women. However, it is observed in 39% of prophylactic mastectomy specimens from high-risk women. Furthermore, it has been reported that 57% of women with a family history consistent with that of a mutation in BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 had atypical ductal or lobular lesions and/or in situ cancer and these lesions were often multifocal or multicentric.
Altered Hormonal receptor status: An inverse relationship has been observed between serum estradiol and ER-α of breast epithelium in women without breast cancer, which is dependent on position in menstrual cycle. This relationship has not been observed in breast epithelium derived from women with breast cancer. Epithelial proliferation was inversely correlated to ER in controls, but was positively related in breast cancer cases. These observations have lead to the suggestion that that the surrounding epithelium of women with breast cancer may display an aberrant response to estradiol with ER up-regulating in the luteal phase of menstrual cycle, whereas it down-regulates in breast epithelium from women without breast cancer. The effect of this aberrant response on breast epithelial morphology is unknown. Women with an increased risk appear not to down-regulate in their menstrual cycle as do normal risk women. Proliferative up-regulation may persist in women at increased risk for breast cancer based on the inventor's observations in women undergoing breast biopsy for proliferative breast disease.
Thus, there remains a need for effective and practical methods for characterizing tissue, particularly breast tissue and the density of the breast, that is susceptible to abnormal changes and for using such information to assess the risk that a patient, and particularly one that is substantially asymptomatic, will be found to have proliferative, abnormal or pre-cancerous breast tissue.
The disclosures of the following patent applications, each to Richard J. Davies, the inventor herein, are hereby incorporated by reference herein: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/879,805, filed Jul. 18, 2007, entitled "Method and System for Detecting Electrophysiological Changes in Pre-Cancerous and Cancerous Tissue" published as US 2008/0009764 Jan. 10, 2008; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/151,233, filed May 20, 2002, entitled "Method and System for Detecting Electrophysiological Changes in Pre-Cancerous and Cancerous Tissue," now U.S. Pat. No. 6,922,586, issued Jul. 26, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/717,074, filed Nov. 19, 2003, entitled "Method And System For Detecting Electrophysiological Changes In Pre-Cancerous And Cancerous Breast Tissue And Epithelium"; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/716,789, filed Nov. 19, 2003, published as US 2004/0253652 Dec. 16, 2004, entitled "Electrophysiological Approaches To Assess Resection and Tumor Ablation Margins and Responses To Drug Therapy" published as US 2004/0152997 Aug. 5, 2004.

Electrical bioimpedance analysis as a biomarker of breast density and/or breast cancer risk


A casing shoe having a composite body portion, a coupling portion attached to one end of the body portion, and a one-way check valve assembly positioned in the body portion, the valve assembly and body portion having a centerline nozzle and a plurality of circumferentially spaced smaller diameter nozzles positioned around the centerline nozzle.

When drilling oil and gas wells, it is important to have pressure containment, formation isolation, and well integrity to have a well that is safe and productive. Therefore, it is critical to have casing run to the desired depth and cemented in place in the wellbore to provide an adequate pressure boundary for well integrity. Also, to minimize well construction costs, it is also important to minimize the time needed to run casing to the desired setting depth. Time spent attempting to work past an obstruction, is money wasted. Downhole obstructions can consist of settled cuttings, formation caving due to wellbore instability, mud weight material sag, salt flows, or tar flows. These problems can occur in offshore and onshore wells.
A majority of land based wells drilled in the world are horizontal wells. These types of wells are often drilled quickly, and as a result of the high inclination horizontal production zone pose a particular problem in fully cleaning cuttings from the wellbore. As a result, operators sometimes encounter difficulties in running intermediate and production casing to the bottom of the wellbore. The ability to generate high velocity flow from the bottom of the casing string would greatly help run casing past areas of settled cuttings.
Many deepwater wells in the Gulf of Mexico as well as some extended reach wells drilled from land based rigs experience zones with tar that can seep into the newly drilled wellbore, making it difficult to run casing through these areas.
There have been numerous attempts to deal with adverse downhole conditions through a variety of casing shoe designs. The 'shoe' is the bottom most section of a wellbore casing. Some of the existing methods include reamers or cutting structure located on the shoe, methods of allowing or forcing the shoe to rotate, and blunt guides to allow the casing to traverse obstructions.
There are 'jetting' shoes available, but these 'jetting' shoes need very large flow areas to be able to allow displaced fluid to enter the casing, and to circulate cement and large particulate lost circulation material (LCM) to be pumped through the shoe. Often, the large bore center nozzle remains, and additional 'nozzles' are drilled facing downhole or up hole to provide some additional directed flow. As a result, the total flow area is far too large to provide a true high velocity flow stream that would have any effect on downhole obstructions as mentioned above. Some reamer shoes do have some smaller nozzles, but they also have limited ability to circulate cement or LCM if these nozzles become plugged rendering them vulnerable and ineffective in many circumstances.
Also there currently exists no means to work casing through areas of tar. Often casing will not be able to work through tar flows because of the above requirements for a large flow area required to allow fluid to flow in from the bottom of the casing as a result of the fluid displaced by the casing while running into the hole. If there is a large 'surge' effect caused by pressure buildup at the bottom of the wellbore, this could result in fracturing the formation and causing loss of well control. Therefore, 'auto-fill' casing float equipment creates a large flow area to allow the fluid to enter the casing unobstructed. Consequently a need exists for a casing shoe that addresses the drawbacks of existing designs and resolves the problems previously unaddressed with running casing.

Fail-safe high velocity flow casing shoe


An adapting apparatus for mounting an accessory equipment on a bicycle is disclosed. The adapting apparatus comprises: a base having a mounting mechanism, a securing mechanism and a lock; an adaptor detachably mounted to the mounting mechanism of the base, the adaptor having an adapting mechanism for connecting to an accessory equipment; and a securing member detachably connected to the base through the securing mechanism and fastened to a portion of a bicycle; wherein, the lock, the mounting mechanism and the adaptor being configured such that the adaptor can be detached from the mounting mechanism only when the lock is unlocked.

With growing popularity of bicycles, cyclists can be found everywhere, whether in the city, in the suburbs, or on the road. Accordingly, cyclists' safety becomes an important issue and safety equipments are in high demand. Aside from the typical body wears and helmets, safety equipments for bicycle also include headlights, bike bells bike locks, odometers and toolkits.
The abovementioned equipments are generally mounted on the handlebar or on the seatpost below the saddle, or stored in a carrier attached to the bicycle. A wide range of accessory equipments can often be seen mounted on the handlebar of a bicycle. However, the length and shape of the handlebar may vary due to functional or aesthetical considerations, and handlebars with shorter length or irregular shape are becoming more popular. This creates a problem for properly securing accessory or safety equipments on the handlebar.

Adapting apparatus for mounting an accessory equipment on a bicycle


A semiconductor device includes first well regions in a substrate and spaced apart from each other, a connection doped region between the first well regions, and a first interconnection line electrically connected to the connection doped region through a first contact. The first well regions and the connection doped region include impurities of a first conductivity type, and a concentration of the impurities in the connection doped region is higher than that in the first well regions. The first well regions extend into the substrate to a depth larger than that of the connection doped region. A first portion of the connection doped region is disposed in the first well regions and a second portion of the connection doped region contacts the substrate.

The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device, and in particular, to, a semiconductor device including an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit for integrated circuits.
A semiconductor device includes an integrated circuit consisting of metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOS-FETs). To meet an increasing demand for a semiconductor device with a small pattern size and a reduced design rule, the MOS-FETs are being scaled down. A variety of studies are being conducted to overcome technical limitations associated with the scale-down of the semiconductor device and to realize high performance semiconductor devices. For example, fin and multi-bridge-channel field-effect transistors of three-dimensional channel structures are being used to realize highly-integrated semiconductor devices. The semiconductor device further includes an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit to protect an internal circuit from an electrostatic discharge current. Recently, a lot of researches are conducted to provide a highly-reliable ESD protection circuit that is compatible with the field effect transistors having the three-dimensional channel structure.


A shoe upper (11) including one or more resiliently deformable protrusions (17, 19) extending from an outer surface of the shoe upper and positioned for contact with a ball, each said protrusion (17, 19) forming at least an inner contoured shape portion and an outer contoured shape portion, said outer contoured shape portion being deformable to promote engagement of said protrusion with said ball.

Football shoes are used by a wearer to dribble, kick and pass a ball in various sports, such as football (soccer), Australian Rules, rugby league, and rugby union. In each of these sports, a player relies on being able to handle and control the ball with feet.
It is advantageous if a player's football shoes assist in handling and controlling the ball easily and effectively. For example, it is advantageous if a football shoe assists the player to achieve greater control, in that enhanced directional accuracy, curvature and power is provided to the ball as it is kicked. It is also advantageous if a football shoe is able to consistently confer such control in ordinary playing conditions, or is able to provide such control in adverse environmental conditions, such as in cold, wet and/or muddy environments.
There have been many attempts to incorporate into a football shoe some type of ball handling surface that provides the wearer with better grip and control of a ball. Usually, the ball handling surface comprises a series of raised projections covering the shoe to provide the greater frictional grip and therefore control of a ball.
GB 202859 discloses a shoe having an upper with a series of raised ribs e or projections f separated by grooves d. The ribs e and projections f do not adequately provide ball control in terms of directional accuracy, curvature and power when the ball is kicked.

Footwear for gripping and kicking a ball


A system and method for controlling vehicle traction uses estimates of external conditions from vehicle and engine measurements in a feedforward manner to control vehicle traction on slippery or changing surfaces and hills to compensate for external disturbances in an optimal manner. The present invention provides a dual feedforward/feedback system for a method of controlling vehicle traction. The method includes the step of generating a first feedforward value related to the slope of a hill and a second feedforward value related to the coefficient of friction of the load surface. The first and second feedforward values are then summed to generate a feedforward control value for controlling the level of vehicle traction. The system for controlling vehicle traction includes a first feedforward value related to the slope of a hill and a second feedforward value related to the coefficient of friction of the road surface. The first and second feedforward values are summed to generate a feedforward control value for controlling the level of vehicle traction.

The present invention relates generally to vehicle traction control and, more particularly, to a system for and a method of controlling longitudinal vehicle traction on slippery surfaces and inclines.
It is well known in the industry that vehicle traction is heavily dependent on road surface conditions. However, the ever-changing road surface conditions are almost impossible to continuously monitor and measure, and even harder to apply to vehicle control systems which adjust vehicle braking and traction. Consequently, vehicle traction control devices typically adjust braking and traction based on arbitrarY fixed targets which, since fixed, are at best a compromise for traction control on the various driving surfaces such as loose snow, packed snow, rain, wet leaves, and dry pavement.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,280 issued to Brugger et al, a sYstem directed to preventing undesired spinning of the driven vehicle wheels is disclosed. A threshold value for acceptable wheel spin is preset and the control system is activated only if one or more of the driven wheels is tending to spin at a rate which exceeds the threshold value. The system has a first control loop which reacts to the state of motion of the driven vehicle wheels and, when one of the wheels is tending to spin, that is, the acceptable threshold value has been exceeded, the wheel brake is activated. The system also has a second control loop which causes the output torque of the drive unit to be reduced in the event of a persisting tendency of the driven wheels on both sides of the vehicle to spin. However, the Brugger et al reference does not apply any external estimates, nor does it reflect environmental changes. Thus, the threshold value is not automatically adjusted for changes in external conditions.
In a co-pending, commonly assigned patent application, Ser. No. 07/535,678, filed June 11, 1990 external changes are estimated and made available to a variety of control devices in a vehicle. The estimating device estimates external conditions, most notably the coefficient of friction between a vehicle tire and a roadway, and the slope or grade of the hill the vehicle is attempting to climb or descend. From values of driven wheel spin of the vehicle, non-driven wheel spin of the vehicle, and wheel torque, the estimating device infers the value of the coefficient of friction and the hill slope. Instead of being imbedded in a brake control device or a traction control device, the estimator is a separate device which is capable of providing the determined values to a variety of vehicle control applications.
It is seen then that there is a need for a device which can utilize estimated external values of the coefficient of friction and hill slope in a feedforward manner to control vehicle traction on slippery or changing surfaces and hills to compensate for external disturbances in an optimal manner.

Vehicle traction controller/road friction and hill slope tracking system


The present invention is a system for customizing and accessorizing a vehicle to enhance the appearance of most any domestic or foreign car, truck or sports utility vehicle, including a lowered ground effect. The component parts are durable enough to provide limited protection for the vehicle from the elements, washable, and available in a variety of shapes and colors. The system may be quickly installed, removed, or interchanged via hooks, buckles, straps and hook and loop fasteners, all without the necessity of tools.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed toward a system for readily interchanging body parts for customizing the appearance of most any vehicle. In particular, the present system provides a number of pieces, which can be used singularly or in conjunction with one another by the individual user of a particular vehicle to create a custom look each and every time the vehicle is operated.
2. Background Information
America's $250 billion automotive aftermarket industry includes a number of popular aftermarket products for domestic and foreign cars, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. From wheel covers to stylized body parts, it is clear that Americans enjoy the ability to express their individuality by the customization of their automobiles. In fact, aftermarket vehicle body parts themselves are readily and commercially available for various applications.
The prior art for aftermarket-type vehicle body parts includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,595,575, 5,984,401, 5,931,522 and 5,879,045 among others. While these devices fulfill their respective, particularly claimed objectives and requirements, the aforementioned prior art fails to disclose a system for readily changing and customizing a vehicle, as claimed in the present invention.
First U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,575 issued to Morris on Jul. 22, 2003 and entitled "Protective and Decorative Vehicle Body Panels," is an aftermarket kit comprised of protective and decorative vehicle body panels for attachment to existing vehicle body structures. Although this kit works well for permanent or semi-permanent attachment of protective and aesthetic body panels, Morris does not provide either a lowered-ground effect or customization that is readily convertible or changeable on a day to day basis through easily attachable and detachable parts.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,401 issued to Hannah, provides an aftermarket kit comprising protective, metallic paneling for the entire exterior surface of the vehicle. Although, it appears that Hannah works well for its intended purpose, protection of a vehicle in off-road conditions, Hannah also does not provide for an aesthetic ground lowered effect that can be removed, replaced and interchanged on a daily basis.
A third relevant piece of prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,522 issued to Roskey. Roskey provides for a kit comprised of flexible, magnetic protective members that can be cut to size and placed on the existing paneling of a vehicle. Again, no provision is made for a ground lowering effect that can be easily interchanged or removed on a daily basis.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,045, issued to Logan on Mar. 9, 1999 and entitled "Vehicle Body and Fender Extension System," is a vehicle extension system that permanently mounts on the fenders and rocker panels of a vehicle. However, unlike the proposed invention, the application of Logan provides extensions merely to fenders and rocker panels of a vehicle in a permanently affixed configuration, which clearly would not allow for readily interchangeable customization of any particular vehicle.
In view of the limitations associated with the prior art, a substantial need exists for an inexpensive but durable system of vehicle body parts that can alter the appearance of a vehicle, including a lowered ground effect, and that can be easily installed, removed, or replaced whenever an altered customization is desired. The present invention, through a novel combination of component parts, provides such a system.

System for readily customizing and interchanging vehicle body parts


Methods and systems for fabricating a component by consolidating a particulate include a build platform configured to receive a particulate, a particulate dispenser configured to deposit the particulate on the build platform, and at least one print head including at least one jet. The at least one print head is configured to dispense a binder through the at least one jet onto the particulate to consolidate at least a portion of the particulate and form a component. The methods and systems also include at least one actuator assembly configured to rotate at least one of the at least one print head and the build platform about a rotation axis extending through the build platform and move at least one of the at least one print head and the build platform in a build direction perpendicular to the build platform as part of a helical build process for the component.

The subject matter described herein relates generally to additive manufacturing systems and, more particularly, to additive manufacturing systems including a binder jet print head that rotates relative to a build platform.
At least some known additive manufacturing systems involve the consolidation of a particulate to fabricate a component. Such techniques facilitate producing complex components from particulate materials at a reduced cost and with improved manufacturing efficiency. At least some known additive manufacturing systems fabricate components using one or more binder jet print heads that dispense a binder onto a particulate. In addition, in at least some additive manufacturing systems, one or more actuators are used to move the build platform during fabrication of the component. However, the size of the fabricated components is limited by the configuration of the binder jet print heads, the actuators, and the build platform.
In addition, in at least some known additive manufacturing systems, a recoater is used to distribute the particulate on the build platform. For example, in some embodiments, a recoater moves the particulate from a container onto and across the build platform. The recoater and the binder jet print head are operated at separate times, because the binder jet print head cannot consolidate the particulate while the recoater is spreading the particulate. As a result, the time required for fabricating the components is increased to accommodate sequential operation of the recoater and the binder jet print head.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved additive manufacturing system including a binder jet print head that allows for fabrication of components of any size in a reduced time.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Additive manufacturing systems and methods including rotating binder jet print head


A simple warmth-retaining article comprising a heat insulating material, a cover material and an exothermic article that generates heat in the presence of air and that is inserted between the heat insulating material and the cover material, and a warmth-retaining cloth formed by connecting a plurality of the simple warmth-retaining articles in a plane-like state.

A disposable body warmer has often been used as an article for warming a part of a human body. Moreover, a body warmer, or the like, is used by affixing it to a painful portion such as a joint to partially warm a human body. The body warmer is suitable for locally warming a small portion such as a hand, a foot or a waist. However, it cannot warm a human body as a whole.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 11-216157 discloses a packaging bag in which a plurality of air-permeable inner bags each containing an exothermic composition generating heat when contacted with oxygen in the air are collectively contained and that is excellent in airtightness. However, the patent publication only discloses that a plurality of exothermic articles each containing an exothermic composition are contained.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 7-59809 discloses a sheet-like exothermic article formed by making a support that is composed of a nonwoven fabric of a water-absorbing fiber hold an exothermic composition that generates heat when contacted with air. However, the sheet-like exothermic article is one prepared by making a support of a nonwoven fabric hold an exothermic composition in an amount of 500 to 10,000 g and thermocompressing the support to become flat, and is characterized in that an optionally shaped sheet is cut out of the exothermic article and used.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 7-112006 discloses a sticky exothermic article that includes a base sheet having on one side an adhesive applied to the base sheet and, on the other side, an exothermic container bag that is composed of an air-permeable wrapping material, and an exothermic agent that generates heat in the presence of air and that is contained in the exothermic container bag. Because the sticky exothermic article has an applied hot melt type adhesive, the article can be simply attached. However, the adhesive strength varies depending on the environmental temperature, and a problem, that the sticky exothermic article is hard to use at low environmental temperature, arises.
Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication (Kokai) No. 62-197955 discloses a warmth-retaining Japanese cushion. In the Utility Model Publication, an exothermic article inserted in a pocket on the warmth-retaining side is described. It is also described that the Japanese cushion side is an open-cell type cushioning material, and that the cushioning material is compactly vacuum packaged. However, an object of the utility model publication is to provide a Japanese cushion as a cushioning material and is not to provide a warmth-retaining cloth.

Simple warmth-retaining article and a warmth-retaining cloth


A SAW filter device defines a filter including a high acoustic velocity member, a low acoustic velocity film, a piezoelectric film, and an IDT electrode are stacked in this order. A comb capacitive electrode electrically coupled to the filter is provided on the piezoelectric film. Where λc is a wavelength determined by an electrode finger pitch of the comb capacitive electrode, and, among modes of an elastic wave generated by the comb capacitive electrode, VC−(P+SV) is an acoustic velocity of a P+SV wave, VC−SH is an acoustic velocity of a SH wave, and VC−HO is an acoustic velocity of, out of higher-order modes of a SH wave, a higher-order mode at the lowest frequency side, VC−(P+SV)<VC−SH<VC−HO. Where fF−L is a cutoff frequency on a lower frequency side of the filter, fF−H is a cutoff frequency on a higher frequency side, and Euler angles (0°, θ, ψ) represent a propagation direction, with respect to a crystal of the piezoelectric film, of an elastic wave generated by the comb capacitive electrode, given any θ and ψ, VC−(P+SH)/λC<fF−L and VC−SH/λC>fF−H, or VC−SH/λC<fF−L and VC−HO/λC>fF−H.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a band-pass elastic wave filter device, and more particularly to an elastic wave filter device including a low acoustic velocity film, a piezoelectric film, and an IDT electrode that are stacked on a high acoustic velocity member.
2. Description of the Related Art
WO12/086639 discloses a surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter formed by stacking, on a support substrate, an AlN film, a SiO2 film, a LiTaO3 film, and an IDT electrode predominantly made of Al. The SiO2 film, which is a low acoustic velocity film, is stacked between the AlN film, which is a high acoustic velocity film, and the LiTaO3 film, which is a piezoelectric film. This enables achieving higher frequencies and increases the Q value.
In contrast, WO12/114593 discloses a duplexer using a SAW filter. In a transmission filter of the duplexer, a comb capacitive electrode is connected as a bridging capacitance to a SAW resonator.
WO06/123518 discloses a boundary acoustic wave filter device. In the boundary acoustic wave device, a comb capacitive electrode is connected to a boundary acoustic wave filter. In this case, where Vm is the acoustic velocity of a boundary acoustic wave and Vc is the acoustic velocity of a slower transversal wave, out of the acoustic velocities of slow transversal waves in first and second media, in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the electrode fingers of the comb capacitive electrode extend, Vm/λm<Vc/λc. Note that λm is the wavelength of a boundary acoustic wave, and λc is the wavelength of the above-mentioned slower transversal wave.
If a comb capacitive electrode such as that described in WO12/114593 is provided in the SAW filter with the multilayer structure described in WO12/086639, it has been discovered that undesired spurious responses occur in the passband of the SAW filter.
In WO06/123518, the influence of boundary acoustic waves generated by the comb electrode is merely suppressed in the boundary acoustic wave device, but is not suppressed in a SAW device. It is also necessary to increase Vc/λc. Thus, the pitch between the electrode fingers of the comb electrode becomes very small. Therefore, it is very difficult to manufacture the comb capacitive electrode.


A chip cooling system including a semiconductor device having a bulk region, wherein at least one fluid channel extends at least partially through the bulk region, the fluid channel having an inlet and an outlet, a fluid inlet port in fluid communication with the channel inlet, and a fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the channel outlet, and a cooling fluid flows from the fluid inlet port, through the fluid channel and to the fluid outlet port to cool the bulk region.

The present application is directed to semiconductor chips and, more particularly, the cooling of semiconductor chips.
Semiconductor chips and other electronic devices typically increase in temperature as current flows through the chips. The increase in temperature typically is due to the inherent resistance of the semiconductor material. An excessive amount of heat may impair the performance of the devices and/or cause permanent damage.
Various techniques have been developed for cooling semiconductor chips. A passive method conducts heat away from a semiconductor chip by placing the semiconductor chip into intimate contact with a radiator material preferably having a large surface area and high thermal conductivity (e.g., aluminum, copper or diamond). Heat transferred to the radiator from the chip may be dissipated by convection (e.g., using a fan) or radiation.
Active methods for cooling semiconductor chips utilize cooling fluids such as water, alcohol, antifreeze, liquid nitrogen, gases and the like. The cooling fluid may be passed through a heat sink that is in intimate contact with the chip or substrate to be cooled. The cooling fluid, having been heated by the heat sink, may then be re-cooled using radiators, heat exchangers, refrigerators or the like.
Prior art cooling techniques have had significant shortcomings. For example, the flux area is often constrained to the area of the chip, thereby limiting the heat transfer. Furthermore, the chip-to-board bond often must carry both heat and current, which can have conflicting constraints. Furthermore, the intimacy of the bond between the chip and the heat sink is often sensitive to defects and impurities that form points of failure initiation. Furthermore, heat typically must pass through the entire bulk region of the semiconductor chip, thereby limiting heat transfer at the active regions of the device.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved apparatus and method for dissipating heat from semiconductor chips and the like.


The present invention discloses a brake warning device mounted between a bicycle handle and a brake horn, the brake warning device includes a moving portion, a fixing portion, a sensory switch and a tip light, the moving portion of the brake warning device includes a first thimble fixing block, a second thimble fixing block, a first thimble, a thimble spring, a second thimble, and a protective outer spring, the first thimble fixing block and the second thimble fixing block are embedded to form one and connected to the brake horn, the fixing portion of the brake warning device includes a first fixing block and a second fixing block, the first fixing block and the second fixing block are assembled to form a loop structure, which can be mounted on the handle, the sensory switch is located on the first fixing block, the second thimble passes through the first fixing block and is in contact with the sensory switch. The display of multiple brake light signals changes from one point to a three-dimensional surface, which serves as a clear reminder and improves the safety of the rider.

In vehicles and the densely populated areas of urban road, for example, bicycles, electric bicycles, tricycles or a motorcycles are shuttled, which lack a highly recognizable safety indicator, at the same time, when the above vehicles are used, it is difficult for the rear vehicle to clearly understand the braking intention of the bicycle, electric bicycle, tricycle or a motorcycle in front, it is difficult to grasp the brake condition of the user immediately, which is likely to cause a rear-end collision of the rear vehicle, at the same time, in vehicles and the densely populated areas of existing urban road there are no obvious tip lights on the bicycles and electric bicycles that are riding, which is not safe enough, to this end, it is proposed that a brake warning device, which is safe and reliable, can know the intention of using the brake in real time, this is the idea of the present invention.

Brake warning device mounted on a bicycle or motorcycle handle

MEIZHOU FRII LENS ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


Preferred embodiments include a microwave power MISFET (30) with a thin GaAS channel (54) bounded by an undoped Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As gate insulator (44) and a doped Al.sub.y Ga.sub.1-y As barrier (40). Under forward bias the channel (54) forms a quantum well which accumulates electrons and thereby increase maximum current and power handling without degrading breakdown voltage of the heterostructure MISFET An additional active layer (36) can be included on the other side of the barrier (40) to further increase power handling. Other embodiments include use of a strained layer In.sub.z Ga.sub.1-z As channel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic semiconductor devices, and, more particularly, to high frequency field effect power transistors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Microwave power transistors typically are metal semiconductor field effect transistors (MESFETs) with recessed gates and n type gallium arsenide (GaAs) semiconductor channels. A recessed gate lengthens the surface leakage path from gate to drain and permits the channel electrons to be slightly removed from the surface and attendant surface state scattering. The cut-off frequency (f.sub.t) of conventional GaAs MESFETs depends on the gate length roughly as ##EQU1## where G.sub.mO is the intrinsic transconductance, C.sub.gs is the gate-source capacitance, v is the average carrier drift velocity in the channel, L is the effective channel length (gate length), and .tau. is the average transit time for a carrier traversing the channel. Thus reducing gate length increases f.sub.t, and millimeter-wave GaAs MESFETs for 60 GHz operation typically have 0.25 .mu.m long gates. But to limit short channel effects, the channel thickness (usually denoted by a) must be much less than one third of the gate length (i.e., L>>3a); see H. Daembkes et al, Improved Short-Channel GaAs MESFET's by Use of Higher Doping Concentration, 31 IEEE Tr.Elec.Dev. 1032 (1984). Thus, the channel thickness is decreased with decreasing gate length. However, device power depends upon the channel current, so the doping concentration in the channel must be increased to compensate for the thinner channel. However, the resultant high doping concentrations lower the breakdown voltage (V.sub.b) and power density per unit gate width. And because of the nonuniform field distribution in the channel, the breakdown voltage is also proportional to the total charge in the depletion layer under the gate at pinch-off; see W. Frensley, Power-Limiting Breakdown Effects in GaAs MESFET's, 28 IEEE Tr.Elec.Dev. 962 (1982) which demonstrates a good approximation for the breakdown voltage is: ##EQU2## where N(y) is the doping density as a function of depth in the channel and the integration is over the channel thickness. But total charge in the depletion layer at pinch-off is proportional to the maximum current (presuming no charge accumulation): EQU .function.N(y)dy.apprxeq.I.sub.max.
Thus I.sub.max is inversely proportional to V.sub.b : ##EQU3## and the output power per unit gate width of a MESFET is: ##EQU4## Therefore, the power of a standard MESFET is limited by the relationship between V.sub.b and I.sub.max.
The output power of GaAs FETs can be improved by using insulated gates to increase either V.sub.b or I.sub.max without decreasing the other. Such metal insulator semiconductor FETs are called MISFETs. Breakdown occurs at the drain-side edge of the gate where the electric field is greatest and involves avalanche multiplication, and for MISFETs the breakdown voltage in this region is very high due to the wide bandgap of the insulator. However, fabrication of MISFETs from GaAs and other III-V compound semiconductors has proved difficult due to the large interface state densities at the insulator-channel interface; see, for example, T. Mimura et al, GaAs Microwave MOSFET's, 25 IEEE Tr.Elec.Dev. 573 (1978) which grows native oxides on GaAs to form MOSFETs; and B. Pruniaux et al, A Semi-Insulated Gate Gallium-Arsenide Field-Effect Transistor, 19 IEEE Tr.Elec.Dev. 672 (1972) which ion implants argon into GaAs to form a semi-insulating layer to act as a gate insulator. These approaches have not been fruitful.
A different approach to III-V MISFETs appears in J. Baranrd et al, Double Heterostructure Ga.sub.0.47 In.sub.0.53 As MESFETs with Submicron Gates, 1 IEEE Elec.Dev.Lett. 174 (1980) which uses an undoped AlInAs gate "insulator" on an n type GaInAs channel together with an undoped AlInAs barrier under the channel to confine electrons to the channel. The AlInAs insulator forms a lattice-matched heterojunction with the GaInAs channel and consequently has low interface state densities; but this device has insufficient power handling and the donors in the GaInAs channel scatter the conduction electrons. Also see B. Kim et al, Microwave Power GaAs MISFET's with Undoped AlGaAs as An Insulator, 5 IEEE Elec.Dev.Lett. 494 (1984) which uses an undoped Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As gate insulator on a GaAs channel doped n type to a carrier concentration of about 3.5.times.10.sup.17 /cm.sup.3.
Another approach is the high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) or modulation doped field effect transistor (MODFET) which typically has an n type Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As gate insulator layer epitaxially grown on and forming a heterojunction with an undoped GaAs channel; the donated electrons migrate from the Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As into the GaAs due to the conduction band discontinuity and form a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) at the interface. The 2DEG provides very high mobility electrons but little power handling capability due to low current levels and a low breakdown voltage of n type Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As. Donors in the Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As gate insulator screen the gate voltage, and forward bias leads to parallel conduction in the gate insulator and low transconductance. Enhancements such as two n type Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As layers, one on either side of the undoped GaAs channel, to provide two interfaces each with a 2DEG do not solve the problems; see S. Judaprawira et al, Modulation-doped MBE GaAs/nAl.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As MESFETs, 2 IEEE Elec.Dev.Lett. 14 (1981). Similarly, Delagebeaudeuf et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,564, combines a MESFET with a HEMT to have a metal gate on a thin heavily doped GaAs channel which is on a thin undoped GaAs second channel which in turn is on a heavily doped Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As layer to form a 2DEG in the second channel does not solve the problems. And the heterostructure insulated gate field effect transistor (HIGFET), which has a gate on an undoped Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x As insulator which is on an undoped GaAs channel and relies on gate bias to induce a 2DEG, does not have high power handling capability and is typically a lower power, digital device; see N. Cirillo et al, Complementary Heterostructure Insulated Gate Field Effect Transistors (HIGFETs), 1985 IEEE IEDM Digest. p. 317.
Thus there is a problem to provide a FET structure with high power handling capablities, high breakdown voltage, and high transconductance at microwave frequencies.


A pump assembly for recovering hydrocarbons from downhole wells. The pump assembly comprising a seating surface adapted to sealingly engage an interior surface of a first circumferential seal means situated within production tubing when said pump assembly is in a downhole operative position. A downhole ported sleeve is further provided and comprises a first port means and a second port means. The ported sleeve is adapted to move within a seal sub comprising a lower seal means and an upper seal means. The first port means is positioned between the lower seal means and the upper seal means when the pump assembly is removed from the well, thereby preventing pressurized fluids and/or gases from reaching surface. A method for sealing a well upon removal of a pump is further disclosed.

When extracting hydrocarbons from production wells drilled into hydrocarbon formations, it is a safety and regulatory requirement that pressurized fluids and/or gases coming from the drilled well (e.g. sour gases), be isolated from surface to thereby prevent their escape to atmosphere at the surface of the well.
Specifically, downhole pump assemblies typically possess seal rings, which when the pump is installed in the operative position, typically engage circumferential seals within the casing or tubing in which the downhole pump assembly was placed and positioned, thereby preventing pressurized fluids and/or gases from flowing to surface except through the pump and thereby through the production tubing.
However, any raising of the downhole pump for the purposes of repair or replacement, as taught in the prior art, necessarily disengages the sealing rings, thereby releasing the downhole pressurized fluids and/or gases to surface.
To avoid this undesirable situation and to avoid communication with surface when a downhole pump assembly is being replaced, the prior art teaches that a well be effectively "killed" prior to pump removal, typically by pumping viscous fluids downhole to temporarily seal the well prior to blowout preventer installation and the pump being removed.
The process of "killing" a well each time to service downhole components is costly and time-consuming. Additionally, in some instances, the "killing" process may be too effective where it becomes difficult, and sometimes impossible, to later "restore" the well by removing the viscous fluids. Therefore, a well that is temporarily killed may unintentionally be permanently killed or unable to be brought back on-stream as effectively as before.
In heavy oil formations, where the produced oil contains large amounts of abrasive sand, wear on the pumps is extensive. This results in the necessity to frequently replace the pumps. As described above, replacing the pumps results in the undesirable need in the prior art to "kill" the well so that pressurized fluids and/or gases deep in the formation are not otherwise allowed to flow directly to surface.
A real need exists for a specialized apparatus and method for removing worn or defective pumps which avoids the need to first "kill" the well, or alternatively is able to avoid the pollution which would otherwise result from the release of pressurized fluids and/or gases from within the formation to surface via the open well.


Evaporated matters and reaction products produced in a furnace can be exhausted without contacting with a graphite crucible and a heater, and an exhaust pipe per se can be maintained at a high temperature to suppress the deposition and condensation of the evaporated matters and reaction products, whereby the clogging of the exhaust pipe is prevented, in addition, a conversion of the exhaust pipes per se into SiC is suppressed to improve the durability of the exhaust pipe, and the change in thermal expansion coefficient is suppressed, whereby a thermal single crystal can be pulled up in high quality. Further, the exhaust pipe is formed of a small number of materials to reduce a production cost. A heat shield (12) made of a heat insulating material is provided outside a heater (6), and a plurality of exhaust pipes (20) are provided between the heater (6) and the heat shield (12). The plurality of exhaust pipes (20) are communicated with a plurality of exhaust ports (8B (22b)) provided at a bottom of a chamber 1.

A high-purity silicon single crystal is mainly used for the substrate of a semiconductor device. As one of the methods for producing the silicon single crystal, Czochralski process (referred to as "CZ process") is provided. In the CZ process, as one example as shown in FIG. 8, a silicon polycrystal is filled in a quartz crucible 5 disposed in a chamber 1 of a semiconductor single crystal production device, the silicon polycrystal is heated and melted into a melt 4 by a heater 6 provided around the quartz crucible 5, then a seed crystal attached to a seed chuck 14 is immersed into the melt 4, and the seed chuck 14 is pulled up while rotating the seed chuck 14 and the quartz crucible 5 in the same direction or a reverse direction, whereby the silicon single crystal 9 is grown. In addition, in FIG. 8, a heat insulating cylinder 7 is made of a heat insulating material.
If the silicon polycrystal filled in the quartz crucible 5 is melted, SiO gas is produced and vaporized from the surface of the melt by allowing the melt 4 to react with the quartz crucible 5. If the SiO gas formed in an amorphous condition is condensed and deposited on an internal surface of the quartz crucible 5, the surface of a single crystal 9 that is being pulled up and an internal wall of the chamber 1 and the like, and the amorphous SiO is exfoliated into the melt 4, it is deposited on the single crystal that is being grown to cause dislocation and deterioration of a yield.
In addition, if the heater 6, the graphite crucible 3, or the heat insulating cylinder 7 is heated at a high temperature, CO, CO2 and the like are produced, and if the gas is mixed into the melt 4, the carbon concentration of the single crystal that is being grown is increased. In order to solve such a problem, the evaporated matters and reaction products are exhausted to the outside of a furnace by using inert gases such as argon.
Namely, as shown in arrows in FIG. 8, the inert gas introduced from above the chamber 1 goes down along the single crystal 9, then goes up along the internal wall of the quartz crucible 5 from the surface of the melt, goes down in a space between the graphite crucible 3 and the heater 6 or a space between the heater 6 and the heat insulating cylinder 7, passes through exhaust ports at a bottom of the chamber 1 and external exhaust pipes, and is finally exhausted to the outside of the furnace together with the evaporated matters and reaction products.
However, in the case of the structure as shown in FIG. 8, the evaporated matters and reaction products are deposited on the graphite crucible 3, the heater 6, the heat insulating cylinder 7 and the like while they are conveyed halfway to the outside of the furnace together with the inert gas. In the graphite crucible 3, the inert gas containing the evaporated SiO contacts with the graphite crucible to allow the SiO to react with the graphite thereby to promote a conversion of the graphite crucible 3 into SiC. Due to this phenomenon, a difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the formed SiC and graphite causes the graphite crucible 3 to be deformed as the number of use of the graphite crucible 3 is increased. On the other hand, as for the heater 6, the inert gas containing the evaporated SiO contacts with the heater 6 to allow the SiO to react with the graphite thereby to quickly thin a central section and a slit terminal section of the heater 6 that are heated at a high temperature. As a result, the temperature distribution of the melt 4 is changed to badly affect the quality of the single crystal, for example, the concentration of oxygen contained in it,
Then, in order to solve the afore-mentioned defect, in the below-mentioned Patent Reference 1, as shown in FIG. 9, an internal cylinder (heat shield) 11 is provided adjacent to an outer periphery of the heater 6 and an external cylinder (heat shield) 12 covering an internal periphery of the heat insulating cylinder 7 is provided to arrange a space between the internal cylinder 11 and the external cylinder 12 as an exhaust path, thereby to exhaust the inert gas.
According to this configuration, as shown in arrows in FIG. 9, the argon gas introduced from above the chamber 1 passes through a space between the lower end of a radiation screen 10 and the melt 4, then goes up along an internal surface of the quartz crucible 5, and goes down in a space between the internal cylinder 11 and the external cylinder 12 and is exhausted to the outside of the furnace.
Thus, because the gas such as SiO produced from the melt 4 does not contact with the graphite crucible 3 and the heater 6, the conversion of the graphite crucible 3 and the heater 6 into SiC can be delayed, whereby the useful lives of the graphite crucible 3 and the heater 6 are greatly prolonged.
In addition, the below-mentioned Patent Reference 2 describes the single crystal production device of a structure such that a heat insulating material is provided externally of the heater and the exhaust pipes are provided externally of the heat insulating material.
In addition, the below-mentioned Patent Reference 3 describes the single crystal production device of a structure such that a heat insulating material is provided externally of the heater and an exhaust pipe is provided so as to penetrate the heat insulating material.    Patent Reference 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H07-223894    Patent Reference 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H09-2892    Patent Reference 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-10893

Semiconductor single crystal production device and producing method therefor


A preventive defect detection and control process for a mass produced composite material parts automatically obtains representative parameters of backwall and intermediate echo signal results in each cell of a mesh predefined on the parts, stores the parameters in a database and statistically analyzes the stored parameters for detecting isolated and significant alterations in the parts manufacturing process generating porosity defects, detecting slow and permanent alterations in the parts manufacturing process generating porosity defects or detecting areas with a negligible defect generation probability in order to identify areas susceptible of inspection by sampling.

Composite materials are currently widely used in the manufacture of aircraft parts due to their excellent mechanical features.
However, since the manufacturing processes of these parts do not assure the inexistence of defects in the manufactured parts a non-destructive inspection of all the manufactured parts is required, subjecting them to ultrasonic signals to detect defects, especially porosity and delamination defects.
If any reparable defect is detected during inspection it is repaired, and a corrective action is then established in the part manufacturing process so that the defect does not re-occur. It must be taken into account that not all defects are reparable since it may occur that a defect or a group of them generate "unserviceable parts", according to unacceptable criteria for size, occupied area or type of inspection of the area in which they are located.
When this process is individually applied to each manufactured part, the scope of the measures used in the manufacturing process is merely corrective, being impossible to prevent the high inspection and repair costs generated in the majority of manufacture.
The process in turn requires parts or areas of the parts to be inspected where the likeliness of defects may be very low, with the subsequent cost increase.
Therefore additional control and detection processes are required, and the present invention is focused on this demand.

Preventive defect detection and control process in composite material parts


A method for creating as test case for a client can include identifying an object in the client using a parser module. A list of potential test case tasks for testing the client can be populated from the parser module into a test case task window. A test case flow can be built by placing a desired task from the list of potential test case tasks in a test case development window. The method can continue by assigning the object to the desired task in the test case development window. The test case can be generated from the test case flow.

A test case in software engineering is a set of conditions or variables used by a tester to determine whether an application or software system is working correctly. Designing test cases can be a time consuming part of daily work for a test writer. A common approach for designing test at is manually coding to prepare an input and expected output as well as making decisions as to whether or not the functions provided by a test framework are appropriate for selected objects. Current methods of designing test cases, as well as maintaining such test cases, can be time-consuming, expensive, and inconvenient.
Many products provide, as database and test framework. Test writers typically develop test cases and run the test cases on the test framework provided. As described above, writing test cases can be a very time consuming job. In addition to the task of writing the actual test case, a test writer generally spend time learning and understanding a context in which the test case be used. The context can be very complex and difficult to completely grasp. Currently, test case designing can result in low productivities and performance for test writers.
A basic procedure for writing as test case may include at least some of the following tasks. The test case writer may manually identify objects in as web application. The test case writer may also spend time becoming familiar with objects, functionality of the objects, database oak made by the objects, and the databases which are called by the objects. The test case writer may prepare testing data based on the test case writer's understanding of the database schema. The test case writer can write a computer readable code defining functions available from at provided test framework, and these functions may then be combined according to an execution sequence. Once the test case has been finalized, the test case can be placed into the test framework environment to test software functionalities. Analysis of a system to be tested and design of the test code can be complex and difficult. Maintenance or updating of test cases can provide additional complexity and difficulty.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An RF coil assembly for an MRI system includes a resonator formed by a cylindrical shield and pairs of opposing conductive legs disposed symmetrically around a central axis and extending the axial length of the shield. One set of conductive leg pairs is tuned to operate at the Larmor frequency of 13C and another set is tuned to operate at the Larmor frequency of 1H. Drive circuitry operates the RF coil assembly to produce 1H spin magnetization which is transferred to 13C magnetization by the nuclear overhauser effect and to acquire MR data from the 13C spins. Multinuclear measurements can be made simultaneously at different Larmor frequencies.

When a substance such as human tissue is subjected to a uniform magnetic field (polarizing field B0) applied along the z axis of a Cartesian coordinate system, the individual magnetic moments of the spins in the tissue attempt to align with this polarizing field, but process about it in random order at their characteristic Larmor frequency. If the substance, or tissue, is subjected to a magnetic field (excitation field B1) which is in the x-y plane and which is near the Larmor frequency, the net aligned moment, Mz, may be rotated, or "tipped", into the x-y plane to produce a net transverse magnetic moment Mt. A NMR signal is emitted by the excited spins after the excitation signal B1 is terminated, this signal may be received and processed to form an image or produce a spectrum.
When utilizing these signals to produce images, magnetic field gradients (Gx, Gy and Gz) are employed. Typically, the region to be imaged is scanned by a sequence of measurement cycles in which these gradients vary according to the particular localization method being used. The resulting set of received NMR signals are digitized and processed to reconstruct the image using one of many well known reconstruction techniques.
Radio frequency antennas, or coils are used to produce the excitation field B1 and other RF magnetic fields in the subject being examined. Such coils are also used to receive the very weak NMR signals that are produced in the subject. Such coils may be so-called "whole body" coils that are large enough to produce a uniform magnetic field for a human subject or, they can be much smaller "local" coils that are designed for specific clinical applications such as head imaging, knee imaging, wrist imaging, etc. Local coils may be either volume coils or surface coils.
The most common whole body coil found in commercial MRI systems is the so-called "birdcage" coil first disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,692,705; 4,694,255; and 4,680,548. A birdcage coil has a pair of circular end rings which are bridged by a plurality (typically 8 to 24) of equi-spaced longitudinal straight segments. In a primary mode, currents in the straight segments are sinusoidally distributed which results in good B1 field uniformity across the axis of the coil. Birdcage coils are the structure of choice in horizontal field MRI systems because they produce a homogeneous magnetic B1 field in the bore of the magnet. When properly designed and constructed, they have a high SNR which enables them to pick up the small NMR signals emanating from the subject under examination.
The birdcage coil is tuned by proper selection of capacitors which are distributed along the lengths of the straight segments, distributed around each end ring or both. Matching and tuning are commonly achieved by connecting variable capacitors in an "L" configuration at the drive ports. Birdcage coils are typically driven at one, two, or more recently, four ports. Multi-port drive, where each drive source is appropriately phased, ensures uniform, circularly polarized B1 fields in the imaging volume at B0 field strengths of 1.5 T or less. Efforts to improve the tunability of birdcage coils either provide fewer capacitor adjustments that distort the homogeneity of the B1 field or provide expensive and complex tuning structures such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,396,271 and 6,236,206.
There are a number of clinical applications where MR images are acquired at different Larmor frequencies. Hydrogen (H1) is the spin species of choice for most MR imaging applications, but other paramagnetic spin species such as phosphorus (31P), fluorine (19F), carbon (13C), sodium (23Na), helium (3He) and xenon (129Xe) are also employed. Most of these alternative spin species are of interest in MR spectroscopy, but the use of helium for imaging the lung and carbon-13 metabolites in cancer, for example, have significant clinical potential. As indicated above, the birdcage coil is difficult to tune at more than one Larmor frequency and the substantial change in Larmor frequency required to examine these alternative spin species is not practical.
Multinuclear excitation and reception coils have been proposed. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,016 for example, two birdcage coils are formed on one cylindrical substrate, with one coil tuned to hydrogen (1H) and the other tuned to phosphorus (13P). To reduce interaction between the coils, the fields they produce are offset 90° in phase. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,681 an RF coil is described which has an adjustment end ring provided on the end of a birdcage coil, wherein the ring can be rotated to change its Larmor frequency. An important limitation of prior multinuclear coils is that they consist of multi-modal resonant structures such as birdcage or TEM volume resonators. If one of the resonant modes corresponding to the Larmor frequency of the first nucleus coincides with the fundamental resonant mode corresponding to the Larmor frequency of the second nucleus, the isolation between the two components of the multi-nuclear coil degrades, and the two components of the coil cannot be operated simultaneously. In addition, poor isolation tends to degrade efficiency for each component of the coil in question. In practice, this means that when an image of a subject is acquired at the Larmor frequency of one nucleus, a subsequent scan must be performed if an image is to be obtained at the Larmor frequency of the second nucleus. During the time interval between scans, subject motion may occur, making the co-registration of the two scans difficult. It is therefore desirable to design multi-nuclear coils wherein the component coils are not multi-modal in nature, and the component coils have good electrical isolation and nearly identical spatial profiles.
The in vivo MRS of nuclei other than 1H provides valuable information about metabolism, and the study of intermediary metabolism of biomolecules provides insight into disease processes. A 13C contrast agent or a 31P contrast agent, for example, may be administered and an MRS acquisition performed to indicate where these agents are used in the subject under examination. Since the MRS images do not reveal the anatomic structures of the subject, it is common practice to also acquire a conventional 1H image and overlay the MRS image to reveal where in the anatomy the MRS signals are emanating.
The MR signal produced by spin species such as 13C is much lower than that obtained for 1H and the SNR of the resulting MRS image is low. The SNR may be expressed as:SNR∝γPC=γ2B0Cwhere γ is the gyromagnetic ratio of the nuclei in question, P is the polarization and C is the concentration of the signal generating nuclei. At body temperature the polarization (P) of 13C is only about one-fourth that of 1H and its concentration C is also much lower. To overcome this SNR disadvantage, methods have been developed as described by Ardenkjaer-Larsen et al., "Increase in Signal-to-Noise Ratio of >10,000 Times in Liquid-State NMR," PNAS, Sep. 2, 2003, Vol. 100, No. 18, to hyperpolarize the 13C nuclei prior to administration to the subject. Such hyperpolarization can significantly increase the SNR of the MRS image, however, the half life of the hyperpolarized 13C is only 7 to 40 seconds. This requires prompt scanning after administration of the 13C contrast agent.
Another difficulty in acquiring 13C MR signals is that the signals are split due to J-coupling with 1H spins. This J-coupling reduces sensitivity and spectral resolution. However, the J-coupling can be used to advantage if the 1H spins are saturated by application of RF energy at their Larmor frequency over a bandwidth of approximately 5 ppm. Through the Nuclear Overhauser Effect (NOE), not only is the split up of the 13C MR signal corrected to increase SNR, but the magnetization Mz of 13C is increased by the transfer of magnetization from 1H due to their coupling. The trick is to saturate 1H spins at their Larmor frequency and both excite and readout MR signals at the 13C Larmor frequency during the same scan. Inadequate isolation between resonant modes prevents simultaneous operation of conventional multi-nuclear coil designs, which decreases the efficiency of spin exchange in the NOE experiment, particularly at high field strengths (e.g. 3 Tesla) where SAR limitations also occur. Moreover it is often the case that transmit coils for saturating 1H spins have a very different spatial sensitivity than the receive coils used for reading out the 13C signal. This leads to spatially variable saturation and magnetization transfer that is undesirable for quantitative imaging applications.

RF coil assembly and method for practicing magnetization transfer on magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy systems


An interface device includes: a display device including a display layer and a sensor layer on the display layer; and an input device configured to receive a first signal from the sensor layer and to output a second signal to the sensor layer, wherein a strength of the second signal is determined according to a separation distance between the display device and the input device.

Aspects of some embodiments of the present disclosure herein relate to an input device with relatively improved sensing performance and an interface device including the same.
Multimedia electronic devices such as televisions, mobile phones, tablet computers, navigation devices, and game machines may each have a display device for displaying images. The electronic devices may each include an input sensor capable of providing a touch-based input method that enables a user to relatively easily input information or commands in an intuitive and convenient manner, in addition to typical input methods using, for example, a button, a keyboard, or a mouse.
The input sensor may sense a touch or pressure provided by using a user's body. Meanwhile, there is an increasing demand for an active pen for detailed touch input for a user who is familiar with information input using a writing instrument or for a specific application program (e.g., an application program for sketching or drawing).
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background and therefore the information discussed in this Background section does not necessarily constitute prior art.

Input device and interface device including the same


More than one radio-access technology is supported in an apparatus, and channel-coding functions in the apparatus are shared between at least two of said more than one radio-access technology.

An increasing number of deployed radio access networks are based on different radio access technologies (RATs). The availability of multiple access alternatives offers the flexibility of using different RATs and the capability of increasing the overall transmission capacity, providing better service quality and reducing the deployment costs for wireless access. In the future, a mixture of heterogeneous radio technologies will be available. Presently, mobile terminals have the capability for versatile usage of radio communication resources, for example EGSM/HSPA/WLAN/BT/etc. This multi-radio access situation opens the potential to provide access to any network in an "always best connected" fashion. Certain considerations involve utilizing several access techniques simultaneously. In certain considerations they do not even have to be provided by the same network operator.
Multi-radio access technologies have been given a lot of emphasis recently. A modern base station platform expands its supported technologies to cover GSM/EDGE, WCDMA/HSPA and LTE—all running concurrently in a single unit. It supports a multi-radio access technology in order to meet the needs of new and existing 2G and 3G operators who can use their existing infrastructure to deploy new network-wide technologies via simple software upgrade to 3G or LTE.
A general problem is how a user data packet or flow can be transmitted more efficiently in a multi-radio access environment. Different integration options have been identified which provide different capabilities with respect to interworking scenarios and requirements. Coupling between multiple RATs refers to the extent of co-ordination and collaboration across different radio access technologies. The purpose for such collaboration is ultimately the enhancement of the user experience given the QoS requirements and constraints on available radio resources.

Data packet communications in a multi-radio access environment


One method of adjusting a focal length of a camera obtains a captured image of the camera by an application server, where a user can log onto the application server and decides if there is a need to adjust the focal length of the camera again. Another method obtains a captured image of the camera by an application server, determines if a quality of the captured image is acceptable by the application server, and sends the determination results to a mobile device. The focal length of the camera is adjusted again by checking the determination result on the mobile device.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to security surveillance technology, and particularly to a method for adjusting a focal length of a camera.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently, cameras are used to perform security surveillance by capturing images of specified spaces, and sending the captured images to a monitoring computer. Often, a focal length of the camera needs to be adjusted according to a change in the area around the camera. A first method is to use a camera that can automatically adjust the focal length of the camera. However, these cameras are often expensive. A second method is to adjust the focal length of each of the cameras manually. However, the second method needs at least two persons to adjust the focal length of the camera. In this method, a first person adjusts the focal length of the camera while a second person checks the adjustment on a monitor at the control center and gives feedback to the first person. It is inconvenient to adjust a plurality of cameras using the second method. Therefore, a prompt and efficient method for adjusting a focal length of a camera is desired.

Method for adjusting a focal length of a camera