A method and means of identifying nucleic acid oligomers is disclosed. A sample is split into parts and the parts are flowed through chromatography columns containing nucleic acid oligomer probes bound to a binding medium. Analyte oligomers are transiently hybridized to complementary probe oligomers during chromatography. Detection and analysis of oligomer peaks is used to identify the oligomers contained in the sample.

Genetic material, such as DNA and RNA from humans and other organisms, is often analyzed for nucleotide sequence, genetic-disease-causing mutations, or for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Analysis often occurs after the DNA is isolated from cells and amplified using any of a number of amplification methods, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or the ligase chain reaction (LCR), among others. After DNA amplification, millions of identical copies of each DNA fragment are present in the sample fluid. These amplified fragments are then separated and concentrated into DNA bands containing fragments of identical length using either slab gel electrophoresis (SGE) or capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE).
A number of methods and instrument-based systems currently detect DNA sequences, genetic mutations, or SNPs after completion of DNA amplification and/or CGE or SGE. These include a number of DNA hybridization methods presently used in research protocols and in commercial assay systems. However, these systems have long assay times, require expensive reagents, and must be performed by highly trained technicians. In addition, some of these systems are not very sensitive and specific in detecting the presence of mutations or SNPs, particularly mutations involving stable mismatches. Finally, some of the methods are limited to low multiplex assays. In other words, the methods may only be used to analyze one, or at most a few nucleic acid fragments at a time.
An invention that quickly and efficiently determines the presence of mutations or SNPs, that minimizes cost, minimizes the use of technician time, and allows multiplex detection of many mutations at one time would be useful. In addition, it would also be useful to have a method that quickly identified nucleic acid sequences containing stable mismatches. Such a method would be of particular use in detecting nucleic acid mutations that result in genetic diseases.

Apparatus and method for detecting genetic mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms


This invention relates to compositions for reducing the absorption or bioavailability of lipids in the gastrointestinal tract, and to methods for the preparation and use of these compositions. The compositions comprise a source of dietary fiber together with a cyclodextrin. The compositions of the invention are suitable for use in the prevention and treatment of obesity or hyperlipidaemia.

There is a clear relationship between weight gain, obesity and a number of common pathological and metabolic disorders, including diabetes, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and elevated blood lipid levels. Due to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in the global population, body weight management has become a key element of modern healthcare, and more effective means of weight reduction are urgently needed.
Overweight and obesity result from a level of energy intake which exceeds the body's energy expenditure. Reduction of body weight may be achieved via reducing total caloric intake from the diet, or by reducing caloric intake contributed by specific dietary components. For example, caloric intake can be reduced via control of dietary fat consumption or via control of fat absorption in vivo. Because of its role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, control of fat intake is particularly important.
Lifestyle changes are very difficult to implement, and as physical activity in the developed world continues to decline and Western-style diets are adopted by developing countries, the prevalence of obesity and its associated health problems is expected to increase world-wide. However, the effectiveness of currently-available drugs and supplements for promoting weight control or weight loss is very variable, particularly if they are not used in conjunction with a calorie-restricted diet plus an exercise regimen.
Currently there are two US Food and Drug Administration-approved anti-obesity drugs, Orlistat and Sibutramine. Orlistat, marketed under the names Xenical and Alli, inhibits pancreatic lipase activity in the small intestine. Pancreatic lipase breaks down triglycerides into fatty acids and monoglycerides, which are subsequently absorbed into the body. Thus inhibition of lipase activity effectively reduces fat absorption. A reduced fat diet is recommended while taking this medication. In the absence of major dietary changes, the adverse effects of gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea and flatulence have limited its use. (See Heck et al.: Orlistat, a new lipase inhibitor for the management of obesity, Pharmacotherapy 20:270-279. 2000). There have also been 32 reports of severe liver damage, including 6 cases of liver failure, in patients taking this agent between 1999 and 2008 (US Food and Drug Administration press release 24 Aug. 2009). Sibutramine, marketed under the names Meridia and Reductil, is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, and reduces body weight by suppressing appetite. It has significant side effects, such as hypertension, and life-style modifications, such as a reduced fat diet, are also recommended for patients taking this agent.
Because of the side-effect profiles and limited efficacy of these approved agents, additional effective agents with no or minimum side-effects are urgently needed in the art.
Chitosan, which is obtained from the shells of crustaceans, may "trap" or absorb large quantities of fat and thereby inhibits intestinal fat absorption. Its activity is at least to some extent dependent on pH and lipid type.
The anti-hyperlipidaemic effects of a number of plant fibre-containing materials, such as pectin, corn fibre, beta-glucan, guar gum, gum acacia, psyllium, glucomannan, and the like, have long been known. The main fat-binding constituent of these plant materials, regardless of the specific plant origin, is an ionic polysaccharide called pectin. Pectin is a natural part of the human diet, being found in plant cell walls, but does not contribute significantly to nutrition. Pectin is widely found in plants such as citrus, apple, and cactus.
However, there is a lack of scientific evidence for the efficacy of fibre materials such as corn fibre, guar gum and gum acacia as anti-hyperlipidaemic agents. Moreover, the anti-hyperlipidaemic effect is often compromised by the high doses which are necessary with certain plant fibres; for example, psyllium is given at a dose of up to 10.2 g/day. Without sufficient water intake, these high doses of fibre often increase the risk of bowel obstruction. Safety issues also arise for plant fibre products such as glucomannan, which can cause choking due to its high swelling index, and beta-glucan, which can provoke allergic attacks in individuals with gluten allergy. Additionally, the consumption of large amounts of dietary fibre often has unwanted side-effects such as flatulence, and a diet comprising more than 60 g fibre per day may result in deficiencies of minerals such as calcium, iron, or zinc.
Various species of cactus, which are commonly widely found in Mexico, some South American countries, and other arid and semi-arid parts of the world, are widely grown as food crops. The most important of these domesticated species of cactus is Opuntia ficus-indica, whose fruits (tunas) and leaves (nopalitos) are consumed, and this cactus has also been proposed as an industrial source of pectin.
The pectin in Opuntia ficus-indica is reported to be effective in lowering serum cholesterol by a mechanism similar to that of bile acid binding, resulting in an increase in fecal bile acid excretion, which may then increase hepatic synthesis of bile acids and liver depletion of cholesterol, resulting in a higher rate of endogenous cholesterol synthesis and reduced serum cholesterol concentrations (Fernandez et al: J. Nutr. 1990 120 1283-1290; J. Nutr. 1992 122 2330-2340; J. Nutr. 1994 124 817-824). However, these experimental approaches yielded inconsistent results, which have not been independently confirmed. Hence the mechanisms underlying the effects of pectin have not yet been clearly elucidated.
Powdered preparations of various plant parts of Opuntia ficus-indica are commercially available. In most cases these use dried and powdered plant parts, which have not been subjected to any other processing.
European Patent No. 1377183 discloses a preparation having the property of fixing fats, derived from natural cactus cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica. This preparation is in the form of a powder comprising particles at least 70% of which by weight are smaller than 100 μm, and is produced without chemical conversion or addition, thus maintaining the native fat-binding ability of the fibres. This specification emphasizes the fat-fixing or binding capability of the cactus fibre, based on a specific ratio between fat and fibre.
Other plants, such as Camellia sinensis, Ascophyllum nodosum, Tellima grandiflora, Garcinia cambogia, and Salacia reticulata have been historically used as anti-hyperlipidaemic agents, either as single active ingredients or in combination. In particular, extracts of Salacia reticulata are widely used in Ayurvedic medicine and in Japan for the prevention and treatment of hyperglycaemia, diabetes and other conditions. Various components of this extract have hypoglycaemic effects, inhibit the activity of a number of enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, and increase insulin sensitivity. The aqueous extract from the stem and root of Salacia reticulata has potent alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibitory activity.
It is reported that cyclodextrins, especially alpha-cyclodextrin, may have a beneficial effect on blood lipid levels or preventing body weight gain. However, a very high daily dosage is needed to show any significant effect.
Among the methods proposed in the art for maintaining healthy blood cholesterol levels and control of body weight is the control of fat absorption from the diet. Many options for achieving this control have been proposed, but the degree of success varies. The prior art methods have the problems of requiring a high dosage to bring about any observed effect, and adverse side-effects such as flatulence, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and bloating associated with the consumption of a high fibre diet. These factors limit the acceptability of the prior art products to consumers because of the unpleasantness of the side-effects and the relatively high cost of treatment or maintenance. Therefore there is a continued need for new compositions and methods for maintaining healthy blood cholesterol levels and control of body weight and/or obesity.

Composition for reducing absorption of dietary fat


In a locking apparatus that utilizes bores and blocking pins along with key cards and code cards to unlock the lock, a master card key is employed with holes in all of the master card bores and balls are used instead of blocking pins.

Such locks are of special interest for hotels, where it is not uncommon that the guests forget to leave the key upon departure or that the key is lost in some other way. For security reasons, it will be desirable to change the combination of the lock to a new key. Also a number of other institutions will have similar requirements.
Conventionally, these locks have a lock housing in which there are at least two slots, a code member slot and a key member slot. The lock housing also contains a locking member and a series of blocking pins which are arranged perpendicular to the two slots and which prevent the opening of the lock when the proper key member is not used. In order to insert the key member into the lock housing there is an opening in the exterior of the lock, the opening being aligned with the key member slot. Locks of this type are generally of two varieties, magnetic and mechanical.
The magnetic lock systems are known from U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,271,983 and 3,661,763. Here the blocking pins consist of rod magnets which are movably arranged between the key and code members. The blocking pins may be moved axially to releasing position by corresponding magnetized sections on the key and code members. Since in these locks the blocking pins may be moved only by means of magnetic forces which are relatively weak, dust and other foreign matter can reduce the movability of the blocking pins to such an extent that they cannot be moved sufficiently by the magnetic sections on, for instance, the key member in order for the lock to be opened. This problem is aggravated by the fact that iron-containing dust will be attracted by the blocking pins. In addition, there is the possibility of unintentional de- or re-magnetization of the key member so that it may no longer be used to open the lock. Furthermore, it is relatively costly to change the combination of the lock because the key and code members are relatively expensive to manufacture, due to the necessary magnetizing equipment. Finally these locks do not possess the desired resistance to picking.
In the mechanical variety, the blocking pins are mechanically affected by the key and code member, such that the combined thickness of the code and key members at the positions coinciding with the axes of the blocking pins effects the movement of the blocking pins to permit or prevent opening of the lock.
The proper overlay of the key member and code member produces a matrix of holes which causes the blocking pins to be aligned such that the lock is in an open position. An improper overlay of the key member and the code member prevents the lock from being in an open position. Such a mechanical lock system is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,149,394.
It is desirable for a lock apparatus to allow for both a key member and a master key member to be used for effecting opening of the lock. As the name implies, a master key member allows a single key member to be used in a plurality of individual locks.
As taught in the '394 patent, the master key member requires a separate slot or a second key slot different from the slot used for the individual key member and a second opening in the exterior of the lock. A second key slot and second opening not only adds to the cost associated with manufacture of the lock but also to confusion by the user as to into which opening to insert their key member. There is a need for a mechanical lock of the type described above that is able to utilize a master key member without the need of a second key opening and a second key slot. There is also a need to provide a simple means for modifying the internal mechanical workings of locks made in accordance with the teachings of the '394 patent and which only have one slot for key members, both master and individual.

Lock arrangement employing mechanically acting code card and key card


An apparatus and method using a neural network processor for target detection is described. An array of injection mode infrared detectors, whose output signals convey intensity change information of detected objects in a pulse train output form is combined with a frequency division multiplexer to apply the information to a minimum number of multiplexed channels, and transmit the detector output signals to the processor in a continuous mode. A multi-layer neural network processor is used to localize global information and concentrate on areas of interest through matrix transformation applied by the various neural layers.

The subject invention relates to signal processing, particularly for identifying and analyzing information that changes against an unchanging or slowly changing background. The invention is particularly useful in processing image information from an array of infrared detectors.
Conventional target detection using infrared (IR) passive sensors is based upon conversion IR energy into electrical signals. Due to noise from various signal sources, such as the optics, detectors, and the electronic circuits, the raw signal to noise ratio (SNR) s typically so low that it is necessary to improve the SNR by integrating the detector output signals during a certain period of time. This process is "called integrate and dump" and usually is combined with the pre-amplification of the detector output signals. The circuitry to perform these functions increases the complexity of the focal plane electronics, and increases the power requirements for the device.
Since a typical passive sensor consists of a 512.times.512 or 1024 .times.1024 array of detectors, the signals from the detector array are multiplexed in the time domain so that they can be read out using a reduced number of output channels from the detector array to the other signal processing circuitry. The time division multiplexed signals are then digitized through an analog to digital converter (ADC). The two processing functions, time division multiplexing, and analog to digital conversion, require a very high sampling rate, and cause aliasing for wide-band signals, which results in signal distortion.
In practical operation of a focal plane array, the infrared energy received on the focal plane represents images that are cluttered by heavy background information. The type of background information depends upon the orientation of the focal plane relative to the desired observation, such as an earth background, space background, and so forth. Therefore, target detection in the background has been considered for some time as a very challenging process. This target detection consists of two parts. The first is to remove the background clutter from the target, and the other is to detect target motion. The conventional technique to remove the background clutter is frame to frame subtraction of the image on the focal plane. Target motion detection can only be accomplished by complex state estimation algorithms and/or correlation on the frame to frame data. Computations of these algorithms is complex, time consuming, and consequently requires a very high throughput processors and considerable electrical power.
Thus, the conventional processing technique for IR detector signals requires multistage signal processing for the pre-amplification, time division multiplexing, analog to digital conversion, background removal, and target motion detection functions.


A splitboard (90) having a first ski (92L) releasably attachable to a second ski (92R) and operable in a snowboard mode and in a ski mode. Corresponding toe brackets (140) are attached to the first and second skis. A pair of forward slider blocks (130) and a pair of rear slider blocks (130) are attached to the first and second skis. Left and right bindings (100L, 100R) include front hook portions (116) configured to releasably engage the corresponding toe brackets. The bindings are configured to slidably engage the forward and rear slider blocks in snowboard mode. Pull loops (120) are pivotable between a lock position, wherein a blocking portion (123) of the pull loop extends through an aperture in the binding to engage the slider block in the lock position. A heel stop (112) extends down from the binding to limit the forward slide of the binding.

An inherent disadvantage of snowboards is that they have limited backcountry range away from lift systems. Because a snowboard is a single gliding board, and the bindings attach both of the rider's feet to the snowboard, the rider is substantially restricted to downhill travel. Splitboards have been developed as a hybrid gliding board system that enables back-country snowboarding where pristine powder snow is more likely to be found.
A splitboard is a gliding board for use on snowy terrain. The splitboard can be configured to function in a snowboard mode, wherein two ski-like gliding boards are joined together to function as a single gliding board. In snowboard mode, the bindings are configured to bind the rider's boots to the board with both feet oriented transverse to the splitboard. The splitboard can alternatively be used in a ski mode with the two separate ski-like gliding boards separated, and the bindings configured to bind the rider's boots longitudinally on the gliding boards.
Splitboarding started in the mid-1990s and has grown in popularity in recent years. Splitboards configured in ski mode enable snowboarders to hike up snow covered hills. The rider configures the bindings in a longitudinal ski mode and optionally attaches a traction system such as climbing skins to the bottom surface of the individual skis. When climbing a hill in ski mode, the bindings preferably allow the rider's foot to pivot at the toe, enabling the heel to lift away from the ski.
When a desired elevated position is reached, the individual skis are joined, and the bindings are reconfigured to a transverse snowboard mode to allow the rider to snowboard down the hill. In snowboard mode, the bindings preferably lock the boots securely to the board, toe, and heel to prevent significant movement independent of the board.
Modern splitboard bindings have been designed to reduce the weight associated with an adapter plate/standard binding combination. The reduced weight is crucial in increasing range and duration of extended uphill climbs.
An exemplary splitboard system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,324, to Wariakois, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Another splitboard system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,823,905, to Ritter, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
In the binding system disclosed in Wariakois (using reference numerals from Wariakois), the heel-side ski member 12 has forward and rearward heel slider blocks 60 fixed to the ski member 12. The toe-side ski member 14 has forward and rearward toe slider blocks 58 fixed to the ski member 14. When the ski members 12, 14 are joined for snowboard mode operation, the two forward slider blocks 58, 60 are aligned to slidably engage the left-foot binding 70 base plate 74, and the two rearward slider blocks 58, 60 are aligned to slidably engage the right-foot binding 70 base plate 74. The base plates 74 define lateral and medial U-shaped channels 84 that slidably receive laterally extending flanges 88 on the slider blocks 58, 60. The base plate 74 includes a fixed heel stop 90 extending downwardly from a rear end of the base plate 74. The heel stop 90 is positioned to contact the rear edge of the heel slider block 60 as the base plate 74 is slid fully forward on the slider blocks 58, 60. The user then inserts a pin 94 through aligned apertures 96 provided on the front end of the base plate 74. The pin 94 is positioned to engage the front edge of the toe slider block 58, and, therefore, prevents the base plate 74 from sliding rearward on the slider blocks 58, 60.
Each of the ski members 12, 14 is also provided with a separate toe bracket 130 fixed to the ski member between the toe and heel slider blocks 58, 60. The base plates 74 are each attached to the corresponding toe bracket 130 in ski mode by removing the pin 94, sliding the base plate 74 off of the slider blocks 58, 60, aligning the base plate forward apertures 96 with corresponding apertures 142 on the toe bracket 130, and inserting the pin 94 through the apertures 96, 142. The binding 70 is thereby attached to the gliding board and is pivotable about the pin 94 (unless the user also engages a heel bracket 132 that is provided on the ski).
The binding system disclosed in Wariakois performs its intended purpose. However, removing and replacing the pin to switch between ski mode and snowboard mode can be challenging, particularly in the snowy and icy conditions where the operation must be performed, and particularly in bulky ski gloves. Moreover, switching from ski mode to snowboard mode requires removing the pin, which introduces the risk of the pin becoming lost in the snow.
The present invention is directed to a connection system, or binding, that can easily be switched between ski mode and snowboard mode operation.


A direct current motor having an armature supported between magnetic pole plates having pairs of dual pole shoes extending between the plates in diametric opposition with respect to the periphery of the armature is energized by direct current through a pair of iron coil cores at opposite sides of the armature and connected with the magnetic pole plates. In other embodiments, the magnetic flux pattern facing the armature is longitudinally divided by a groove in the respective pole of the pairs of pole shoes facing the armature. Wiring and electrical current controls connect a DC source to the coils and armature for operating the armature and providing a selected torque with a minimum of ampere drain from the DC source.

This invention relates to direct current motors and more particularly to a motor having coils or magnets interposed between magnetizable members establishing a plurality of magnetic pole shoes for exciting an armature.
1. Field of the Invention
This application is distinctive over the first named copending application by disclosing a motor in which each pole piece of the respective pairs of pole pieces is physically divided to form dual pole shoes of each pair of pole shoes and is distinctive over both of the above copending applications by disclosing the division of the magnetic flux of the respective pole shoe in its longitudinal surface facing a peripheral portion of an armature.
Conventional direct current motors usually comprise a metallic housing journalling an armature with sectional field coils or stator windings contained by the housing which substantially surround the armature to provide a magnetic circuit for exciting the armature.
In this type of design one armature is operated by each group of stators or field windings resulting in inefficient utilization of the various circuits established, thus, limiting the potential of the magnetic circuit established by direct current through coils interposed between magnetizable pole pieces.
The relationship of magnetic material (iron) and magnetics is the most difficult problem to overcome in a DC motor, for the reason the metal forming the segments of the winding lobes of the rotor are naturally attracted by the magnetics of the field creating an unfavorable or counter electromotive force. The unfavorable force must be overcome as each segment of the rotor passes through the magnetic field. In order to overcome the unfavorable force, the motor must consume more energy or current.
Conventional technology can only use the major forces of magnetic attraction to cause a rotor to rotate within the magnetic field. The other remaining force, repulsion, cannot be utilized as a major force in a conventional DC motor.
The force of repulsion cannot advantageously be used because of its strategic location to the rotor.
This invention also changes the design of the correlation of the pole shoes relative to the armature. This invention allows the use of the repelling forces as well as the attracting forces to be utilized in the operation of a DC motor.
Normally generated magnetic current concentrates the strength of the polarity forces in the center of the magnetic pole core, e.g., a north pole of a magnet has the greatest strength at the center on the north pole. The same is true for the south pole. The flux patterns of normally generated magnetic current are eliptical. This invention changes the eliptical flux patterns to linear or straight. By this change in the flux patterns, the flux can be directed or concentrated to strategic locations on the armature.
Magnetic forces realigned within the field of the motor become absolute and operate at a consistently uniform pattern. Realignment of these forces capitalizes the maximum use or conversion of the energy into output torque and speed at the shaft of the motor.
This invention realigns these forces in a uniform plane by connecting carrier plates of soft iron to like poles of magnetic sources, either permanent or electromagnets, thereby allowing the forces to be utilized as a uniform pattern of magnetic flux regardless of their path as long as the air gap between the carrier plates is constant. This application of uniform magnetic flux allows several usable configurations, within the field, to be constructed to direct the flux to the rotor. With the addition of the uniform patterns of flux forces it is now possible to utilize the total effects of the two opposing forces, attraction and repulsion (force and counter force) of the same polarity, of both the field and the rotor, and eliminate the unfavorable force that would normally be present.
The creation of a uniform flux pattern within the field allows the use of additional areas of leverage to be applied to the rotor. To achieve these additional areas of leverage the carrier plate or pole shoe is divided. Two of the parts become dual pole shoes located precisely in relation to the winding of the rotor and a third part serves as a separation of the dual pole shoes. The separation or division of a single pole shoe operating in the same area of the armature field removes the potential of the unfavorable forces normally found in conventional DC motors. This application occurs at each of the opposing magnetically supplied field working forces. The addition of the points of leverage in a two pole motor will now become a four pole shoe two brush motor, and a four pole shoe four brush motor will become a four brush eight pole shoe motor. The addition of twice the leverage on the rotor by the field will increase the speed and the torque and only raise the current demand slightly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The most pertinent patent is believed to be U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,418 issued to Mason on May 18, 1993 for HIGH TORQUE AND SPEED DC MOTORS.
This patent discloses some of the features of the motor of this invention, but does not disclose the diametrically opposite separate pairs of dual pole shoes having like polarity magnetic flux applied to respective ends of each pole shoe extending longitudinally of an armature for obtaining desired torque and speed or both of the armature and efficient use of input amperage as disclosed by this invention.


A multi-fluid body and an ejection head substrate connected in fluid flow communication with the multi-fluid body for ejecting multiple fluids therefrom. The multi-fluid body includes at least two segregated fluid chambers. Independent fluid supply paths lead from each of the fluid chambers providing fluid to multiple fluid flow paths in the ejection head substrate. The ejection head substrate is attached adjacent an ejection head area of the body. The fluid flow paths in the ejection head substrate have a flow path density of greater than about one flow paths per millimeter.

In the field of micro-fluid ejection devices, ink jet printers are an exemplary application where miniaturization continues to be pursued. However, as micro-fluid ejection devices get smaller, there is an increasing need for unique designs and improved production techniques to achieve the miniaturization goals. For example, the increasing demand of putting more colors in a single ink jet cartridge requires the addition of fluid flow passageways from the cartridge body to the ejection head that, without radical changes in production techniques, will require larger ejection head substrates. However, the trend is to further miniaturize the ejection devices and thus provide smaller ejection head substrates. An advantage of smaller ejection head substrates is a reduction in material cost for the ejection heads. However, this trend leads to challenges relating to manufacturing techniques typically used for making such devices.
As the ejection heads are reduced in size, it becomes increasingly difficult to adequately segregate multiple fluids in the cartridges from one another yet provide the fluids to different areas of the ejection heads. One of the limits on spacing of fluid passageways in the ejection head substrate is an ability to provide correspondingly small, and closely-spaced passageways from the fluid reservoir to the ejection head substrate. Another limit on fluid passageway spacing is the ability to adequately align the passageways in the fluid reservoir with the passageways in the ejection head substrate so that the passageways are not partially or fully blocked by an adhesive used to attach to the ejection head to the reservoir.
Thus, there continues to be a need for improved structures and manufacturing techniques for multi-fluid reservoirs and ejection head components for ejecting multiple fluids onto a medium.


A window fan which can be mounted in a window opening in either a double-hung window frame or a vertical slider window frame and which can be held securely in place without the use of additional hardware or mounting brackets. The window fan comprises a housing of generally rectangular shape, the housing including a front piece, a back piece, and a pair of side extensions. The side extensions have outer edges sized and shaped to fit within the left and right side railings of a double-hung window or the top and bottom railings of a vertical slider window. Each one of the side extensions includes a pair of outer guides and a plurality of panels telescopically mounted within the outer guides. The side extensions extend out from the sides of the housing at about the rear edge so as to permit installation in windows having outer screens. A plurality of locking mechanisms are provided which, when in the closed position, keep the extenders locked at a desired extension and which, when in the open position, permit a ratchet-type extension or compression of the extenders. A pair of fan units are disposed within the housing in front of the back piece, the fan units having electrically reversible motors which are independently controllable so that either both fans can be used to intake air or to exhaust air or so that one fan unit be used to intake air while the other fan unit is being used to exhaust air.

The present invention relates generally to fans and more particularly to window fans.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,399, there is disclosed an electric fan assembly for household use convertible between use in a window and use on a desk or floor. The fan assembly includes a substantially rectangular, one-piece, molded polypropylene support member formed from a first support panel, a second support panel, and a pair of living hinges connecting the first and second panels to one another along a pivot axis perpendicular to the top and bottom edges of the support member. The first support panel is constructed to provide a mounting for an electric fan motor, a venturi ring assembly including an intake grill and an exhaust grill. In use, the two support panels may lie flat for use in a window or may be pivoted about the axis of the living hinges for use on a deck or floor. Extenders are provided for extending the effective width of said fan assembly for use in relatively wide windows and includes secondary extender plates connected to the extenders by lost motion for increasing the length of extension obtainable. The exhaust grill is optionally mounted for rotation.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,151, there is disclosed a fan which can be mounted in a window opening without using any tools, mounting hardware or special brackets or which can be used as floor fan. The fan includes a pair of panel sections which are Interconnected by a pair of hinge joints for pivotal movement relative to each other from a fully open position to a folded position. One of the hinge joints includes a mechanism for automatically snap-locking the two panel sections when they are at the fully open position at an angle of about 120 degrees. A pair of adjustable and lockable side extensions are provided, one attached to and extending out from each panel section. A fan unit which includes a motor driven fan is pivotally attached to the panel sections for rotational movement relative thereto.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,341,151, there is disclosed an electric fan which can serve as a table fan, a circulator, a wall fan or a window fan. The fan comprises a motor to retain and drive vanes, an annular main body to retain the motor and to serve as an air flow passage of the fan, a pair of pivots which are provided on the main body, have their axes on a phantom straight line substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the vanes and are symmetrical with respect to said axis of rotation, and a pair of support plates which are rotatably connected with each other and with the main body by means of the pivots, the support plates being of a shape which surrounds the main body and does not hinder the movement of the main body on the pivots.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,318, there is disclosed a fan which can be used either as a floor fan or a window fan. The fan includes an open frame having a motor driven fan connected to the rear portion thereof, a pair of protruding pins on the frame front portion which engage the window on the outside thereof, and a second pair of protruding pins on the frame front portion which engage the window frame on the inside thereof. The motor driven fan is suspended in this manner inwardly away from the window opening such that the cantilever effect produced thereby pulls the first pins inwardly against the window and pushes the second pins outwardly against the window frame. The frame of the fan diverges slightly in the vertical direction so that that it is, in effect, wedged into the window opening and makes it more difficult to remove accidentally and strengthens the frame. The unit is easily adapted for use with a horizontally sliding window by attaching a pair of removable laterally extending brackets.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,857,095, there is disclosed an all-purpose fan embodying in combination an air flow generating unit comprising a motor with coaxial shaft and rotary air impeller, a skeletonized framework united with and supporting said unit, an outer bail straddling said framework and pivotally connected thereto to swing about an axis of tilt disposed crosswise the axis of rotation of said air impeller, a swingable inner ball also straddling said framework and pivotally connected thereto and also pivotally connected to said outer bail in a manner to be swingable toward and away from planar alignment therewith, detent devices operatively relating one of said bails to said framework in a manner releasably to retain the same in various relative angular positions to which said bail and framework may be swung, stop means so operatively relating said bails as to limit the degree of divergence thereof from said approximately planar alignment, and at least one hinge lug fixed on a portion of said outer bail relatively remote from said framework and having means of pivotal mounting offset from said outer bail.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,733,002, there is disclosed a fan structure having a pair of fan units which can either be mounted in an opening in a window in vertical tandem relationship or in horizontal tandem relationship or used separately as floor fans. When mounted in a window opening with the fan units in horizontal tandem relationship, the fan is secured in position by clamping engagement of the fan housing with the lower edge of the window and the window sill. When mounted in vertical tandem relationship, the fan is secured in position by brackets which are screwed into the window frame.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,715,495, there is disclosed a window ventilator which comprises an upright shield having an aperture therein, supporting structure extending outwardly from said shield below said aperture, a fan structure including a propeller guard, a fan motor secured to said guard, and a propeller carried within said guard and rotatable by said motor, said fan structure being positioned substantially in line with said aperture, means on and supported by said transparent shield providing rotary bearing means, and cooperating rotary bearing means on said fan structure for pivotally mounting said fan structure at a predetermined distance from said shield, said fan structure being pivotal about said pivotal mounting means to direct an air stream in any of a plurality of predetermined directions.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,580,663, there is disclosed a variable-width window fan assembly which comprises a window fan and driving motor together with a supporting frame which will usually but not necessarily consist of a housing or casing about the fan and motor, together with one or more horizontally adjustable, normally vertically disposed panel or wing elements slidably connected to the frame, and a simplified two-link toggle mechanism the elements of which are operatively connected to the one or more adjustable wings, and with which is provided a simple form of clamping means for maintaining the links or arms of the toggle assembly, in centered or aligned relation following the desired width adjustment.
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,529,040, there is disclosed a fan which is adapted to be mounted within the space normally occupied by the lower sash of an ordinary two sash window. The fan includes a rigid rectangular frame which is fixed in size and shape. In use, the frame is seated on the sill of the window and then anchored to the casing of the window by a pair of tie rods, the tie rods being hooked on to the frame of the fan and being secured by screws to the casing of the window.
Other patents of interest include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,019,718, 2,805,820, and 2,787,207 and Australian Patent No. 235,520.


A method of controlling contact load in an apparatus for mounting electronic components on a substrate, in which a head is lowered at high speed to slow down starting position where there is no risk that the electronic component makes contact with the substrate (S1), and from there the head is lowered at low speed until a predetermined target contact load is detected. The process of lowering the head at low speed includes the steps of moving down the head a predetermined distance (S3), measuring load after the step of moving down the head (S5), and determining whether the measured contact load has reached the target contact load (S9). The steps of moving down the head (S3) and measuring the load (S5) are repeated until the measured load reaches the target contact load. The actual load is precisely controlled to be close to a very small set level of target contact load. Accordingly, electronic components using low dielectric constant material are mounted without the risk of damage.

In one of the methods of mounting electronic components such as bare IC chips on a substrate, the electronic component is held on a head while a substrate is set on a stage, and after the electronic component is positioned relative to the substrate, the head is lowered so that a bump on the electronic component makes contact with a corresponding electrode pad on the substrate, to bond the bump of the electronic component and the electrode pad of the substrate. In one bonding method, a certain load is applied between a gold bump provided on the electronic component and an electrode pad on the substrate, and ultrasonic energy with or without thermal energy is applied to bond the component on the substrate . In another method, solder bumps are provided on the electronic component, which are reflowed by applying thermal energy, after the bumps are brought into contact with electrode pads on the substrate, such that the bump is bonded to the pad by solder.
As the circuit wiring pitch in circuits of the electronic component is now in the order of nanometers, low dielectric constant materials are used for the interlayer insulating film. One problem with the low dielectric constant material is that it has low strength and may crack when subjected to a large load in the bonding process, which may lead to breakage of the electronic component. The load applied to the electronic component when its bump makes contact with the electrode pad on the substrate (hereinafter, referred to as contact load) in the process of lowering the head holding the electronic component onto the substrate can readily be too large, and this load poses a risk of damage to the electronic component using the above-noted low dielectric constant material because of a crack in the interlayer insulating film.
Now, an electronic component mounting method with a local reflow process using solder will be described with reference to FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D. In this method, discrete electronic components with solder bumps are mounted on a substrate, after which the electronic components are heated using a head to reflow and bond the solder bumps with electrode pads on the substrate.
Referring to FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D, an electronic component 31 having solder bumps 32 is held by a tool 30 on a head. A substrate 33 having electrode pads 34 on which solder or flux has been applied is carried in and set on a stage 35. The head is moved to position the solder bumps 32 of the electronic component 31 relative to the electrode pads 34 on the substrate 33, as shown in FIG. 5A. The head is lowered until the solder bumps 32 make contact with the electrode pads 34 as shown in FIG. 5B. The electronic component 31 is then heated with a heater disposed at the lower end of the head to reflow the solder bumps 32 so that the electrodes on the electronic component and the electrode pads 34 are bonded by the solder bonds 36, as shown in FIG. 5C. Then, the heating is stopped and the component is cooled to set the solder bonds 36, after which the head releases the electronic component 31 and goes up, as shown in FIG. 5D. After that, the substrate 33 on which the electronic component 31 is mounted is carried out from the stage 35.
FIG. 6 and FIG. 7A to FIG. 7C illustrate how the head is controlled in the process of lowering it until the component 31 (the solder bumps 32) make contact with the substrate 33 (the electrode pads 34) in this electronic component mounting method. The head is lowered at high speed from a predetermined waiting position to a slow down starting position, which is set at a position where there is no risk of accidental contact between the component and the substrate. From there the head is lowered at a low search speed of about 0.1 mm/s. The head has a build-in load cell for measuring the load in real time, and it is determined whether or not the load has reached a predetermined detection level of contact load. The lowering movement of the head is continued at the low speed until the load reaches the detection level, when it is slowed down and stopped. This way, the component is brought into contact with the substrate in a shortest possible time without the risk of applying an impact load when the component touches the substrate. After the electronic component makes contact with the substrate, the mounting head is controlled to repeat the steps of moving slightly and measuring the load, so that a predetermined load is applied to them (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-8196).
In this process of bringing the component into contact with the substrate, however, as shown in FIG. 7C, the head is slowed down at a time point E, which is delayed by d from a time point D when a detection level contact load is detected. There is a time delay of e from the time point E to F when the head is stopped, as a result of which the contact load at the stop time point F is much larger than the contact load that was first detected. To be more specific, if a detection level contact load of 0.5 N is detected while the head is moving at a search speed of 0.1 mm/s, the load when the head is stopped will be as large as 2.0 to 3.0 N. Moreover, the load further increases and reaches a peak immediately after the head is stopped by the inertia of the head in a period of about 5 to 10 msec as indicated by an imaginary line in FIG. 7C. This large, instantly applied load may generate cracks in the interlayer insulating film made of low dielectric constant material and cause damage to the electronic component.
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems in the conventional technique and to provide a method of controlling contact load in an electronic component mounting apparatus, with which the contact load applied on the components is precisely controlled to be as close as possible to a predetermined target contact load of a low level, so that electronic components using a low dielectric constant material can be mounted without the risk of damage.

Method of controlling contact load in electronic component mounting apparatus


Electric fields control an electric combustion. Plasmas are created by a dielectrically impeded discharge. At least one part of the fuel is mixed with water vapor in the supply line and is subjected to a plasma discharge in a compact reactor that is in close contact with the burner in terms of reaction kinetics. In the associated device, a plasma reactor for creating a reactive plasma gas with at least one supply line for the fuel gas-water vapor mixture and an electric energy supply is integrated into the burner. The device provides suitable flow guidance of the fuel gas-air mixture, of the fuel gas-water vapor mixture, and of the reactive plasma gas.

The invention relates to a method for the combustion of hydrocarbon-containing fuels, in particular of fuel gases. In addition, the invention also relates to the associated device.
For reasons of availability and efficiency, the operation of gas turbine burners increasingly demands the firing of fuels of different quality, which, in the most unfavorable case, may be reflected in differences in calorific value, but, even if the calorific value remains the same, leads to differences in the laminar and the turbulent flame velocity, in the induction time and in the reaction rate. The specific design of a combustion chamber and of a burner head for such burners therefore allows optimal operation with high efficiency and low emissions in each case only for an exactly specified fuel. Similarly, the load range in which a burner can be operated in a stable way and with low emission is largely defined by the respective design.
The use of electrical fields in combustion processes is known, for example, from WO 2006/067108 A1. It is proposed here to control a burner by the application of electrical fields and thereby to improve flexibility in terms of the load range and fuel quality. However, the use of electrical fields, which are not sufficient for igniting and maintaining an electrical gas discharge plasma, allows only a restricted control of combustion which is based on the utilization of the ions generated in the flame itself.
The use of plasmas for inducing pyrolysis and partial oxidation is known from WO 2006/034983 A1. In this case, it is proposed to stabilize combustion by plasmas which are generated by high-frequency excitation in the combustion space. The generation of plasmas in the combustion space of a burner by an electrode arranged in the combustion space is proposed in WO 2003/081130 A1. EP 1 512 913 A1 describes the treatment of fuel/air mixtures in the supply to the burner by cold plasmas for the control of combustion. U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,841 A describes the ignition of a turbine burner by what is known as a plasma torch which can be operated as a pilot not only for the ignition, but also for the stabilization of combustion. WO 2005/017410 A1 proposes to activate the fuel during supply to the burner by dielectrically impeded discharge and thus to improve combustion, for example, in the burners of aircraft engines. For the same purpose, WO 2004/085694 A2 describes the improvement of combustion by the treatment of a gas stream by dielectrically impeded discharges, this gas stream containing either fuel or a mixture of fuel and of an oxidant, for example air, which can be used for the combustion.
In the event that the gas discharge plasma is generated in the combustion space, the methods already known from the related art have the critical disadvantage that, in this case, harmful by-products are formed to an increased extent, such as may occur in smaller quantities even during combustion. Examples of this are, in particular, the formation of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide in the case of lean combustion and also the formation of soot and ammonia in the case of rich combustion. If the gas discharge plasma is operated in the fuel supply, in which there is no oxygen present, a product of this pretreatment is soot which often cannot be converted completely during combustion and is therefore also released as a harmful emission.
When the plasma is used in already mixed fuel/air mixtures, so as not to induce combustion already in the supply line to the combustion space, the fuel has to be highly overdosed, as compared with stoichiometric combustion. However, then, the products of plasma treatment, in addition to the hydrogen which promotes combustion, are still carbon monoxide, soot and ammonia. In the same way as soot, carbon monoxide is converted only slowly during combustion and may consequently increase the pollutant emission of the burner if the dwell time in the burner is insufficient. By contrast, alternatively, ammonia, in the case of lean combustion, is converted into nitrogen oxide or, in the case of rich combustion, is not oxidized or is oxidized only partially into laughing gas (N2O) and consequently likewise contributes to the emission of pollutants or greenhouse gases.
The use of plasmas for inducing steam reforming is known. FR 2 724 806 A1 discloses the steam reforming of hydrocarbons and volatile organic substances, which is induced by a gliding arc plasma which avoids some of the problems described: with suitable management, steam reforming can avoid the formation of soot, on the one hand, and the formation of nitrogen oxides, on the other hand.
Disadvantages of the abovementioned methods and devices for steam reforming by plasmas for use in combustion control are that a large reactor volume is required for the reaction of the radicals, that is to say chemically active molecules or atoms, and ions which a plasma of sufficiently high power density provides. Furthermore, plasmas of high power density have been achieved in gases at pressures of one atmosphere and above hitherto only by gas discharges which are in direct electrode contact, so that electrode-guided gas discharges are obtained.
An erosion of the electrodes by the arc which is then unavoidably formed is reduced by measures which force a rapid movement of the arc plasma, including its foot points, on the electrodes. Usually, this is achieved by a rapid gas flow, as described in FR 2 724 806 A1. However, should the gas flow be insufficient, the power fed locally into the electrodes may become very high, thus entailing the explosive fusion and evaporation of large quantities of the electrode material. Furthermore, there is no indication of how steam reforming can be coupled efficiently to combustion processes.

Method and device for the combustion of hydrocarbon-containing fuels


The velocity of a wireless communications device (WCD) (106) is estimated. In response to this estimate a power control command rate is determined. The WCD 106 transmits power control signals to a base station (102) according to the power control command rate. The power control command rate may be determined by mapping the estimated velocity to a velocity range, and selecting a rate that corresponds to the velocity range as the power control command rate. Velocity is estimated by measuring a level crossing rate of a multipath signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to wireless communications devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to power control algorithms for use in mobile communications environments.
2. Related Art
Mobile communications devices, such as wireless phones, are often employed in vehicles or other mobile platforms that travel at relatively high velocities. For example, mobile communications devices are often used in automobiles, trains, and airplanes that travel at speeds as fast as several hundred kilometers per hour.
In wireless communications environments, signals are often transmitted between a transmitter and a receiver across a fading channel. When the transmitter and the receiver have a relative velocity with respect to each other, signals received from such fading channels exhibit fluctuations in amplitude and phase. These fluctuations have a peak rate that is proportional to this relative velocity.
Many wireless communications systems employ power control algorithms to promote the efficient use of radio frequency (RF) energy. In a mobile communications environment, power control algorithms involve the transmission of power control commands from communications devices to base stations. When a particular device sends a power control command, it directs the base station to adjust the power of it transmissions designated for that particular device. Thus, base stations typically receive commands directing a power increase or commands directing a power decrease.
Conventional wireless communications systems employ algorithms where power control commands are transmitted at a fixed-rate. Unfortunately, for these fixed command rate systems, as the rate of amplitude and phase fluctuations varies, the effectiveness of these commands also varies.
Therefore, conventional systems that employ the transmission of power control commands at a fixed rate are unable to optimally control power levels at all velocity ranges. Thus, for such fixed-rate systems, communications devices receive signals having higher power levels than are necessary to fulfill specified quality of service requirements. As a consequence, base stations receiving fixed-rate power control commands transmit signals having excessive power that could otherwise be used to support additional communications devices. Accordingly, system capacity becomes wasted.
Accordingly, what is needed is a method and system for dynamically adjusting power control operations in response to a device's velocity.


An image forming apparatus or cartridge is provided that includes an image carrier configured to be rotated while carrying a developer and transfer the developer onto a recording sheet at a transfer position. The image forming apparatus or cartridge may include a separating member disposed downstream from the transfer position in a rotating direction of the image carrier. The separating member may include a contact portion configured to contact the image carrier to separate the recording sheet from the image carrier, and an aperture configured to allow the developer to pass through the separating member from a first side of the separating member to a second side of the separating member opposite the first side, wherein the aperture is positioned farther away from the image carrier than the contact portion.

An image forming apparatus including a photoconductor drum (image carrier) that carries toner images and a separating member for separating a sheet adhering to the photoconductor drum is known. In this related art, the separating member is brought into contact with the photoconductor drum, thereby separating a sheet adhering to the photoconductor drum by use of the separating member.
When a separating member is brought into contact with a photoconductor drum, toner remaining on the photoconductor drum that has not been transferred from the photoconductor drum onto a sheet accumulates on the surface of the separating member, which may stain a sheet when a subsequent separating operation is performed.


A shaped charge for use in a well perforating tool includes a jet blocker disposed in an apex of a parabolic or cone-shaped liner. The jet blocker limits the velocity and/or length of a jet that forms upon discharging an explosive in the shaped charge. The jet blocker may include an inert cast-cure type of material such as an epoxy or a flowable plastic that can be readily inserted into an existing shaped charge to fill an external concavity in the liner to any desired height. The height and material selected for the jet blocker determines the degree to which the penetration achieved by the shaped charge is limited, and thus, determines which targeted annulus in the wellbore may be penetrated in operation.

The present disclosure relates generally to wellbore completions, e.g., for wellbores employed in oil and gas exploration and production. More particularly, embodiments of the disclosure relate to reducing a force of an explosive charge to provide a limited penetration into a geologic formation, or penetration through a limited number of the various layers (casing, liners, etc.) disposed in the wellbore.
Hydrocarbons may be produced through wellbores drilled from a surface location through a variety of producing and non-producing geologic formations. A wellbore may be substantially vertical, or may include horizontal and other deviated portions. A variety of servicing operations may be performed in a wellbore once drilling has been completed. For example, a casing string can be set and cemented in the wellbore, e.g., to stabilize the geologic formation surrounding the wellbore. A liner may hung to extend at least partially within the casing string, and the casing string and/or liner may be perforated by firing a perforation gun or perforation tool.
Perforation tools may include explosive charges, which may be deployed at an appropriate depth in the wellbore and detonated to perforate one or more of the various casing and liner layers, and/or the geologic formation surrounding the wellbore. Creating a large perforation in the casing geologic formation is often desirable to increase the permeability of hydrocarbons into the wellbore. In some instances, a limited or controlled explosive charge may be desirable to generate perforations that extend through some, but not all, of the casing layers in the wellbore, e.g., to promote fluid flow between intermediate annular regions in the wellbore.


A data collection system is configured with a management apparatus to define associations between data and metadata, design a method of displaying the data and the metadata related to the data, and generate methods of transmitting, receiving, and relaying the data and the metadata; a generation apparatus that generates the data and the metadata; a display apparatus that displays the data and the metadata; and a relay apparatus that relays the data and the metadata, the management apparatus distributing processing procedures related to the data and the metadata to be displayed on the display apparatus to one of or all of the generation apparatus, the relay apparatus, and the display apparatus, in accordance with a position of the data and an acquisition method contained in association information created using the function to design the associations.

With the growth of network technology, collection of information (data) in a sensor, a camera, a database, and the like connected to a network, and visualization, analysis, and control of the collected information (data) have been widely pursued. On a factory line, for example, for the purpose of real time monitoring, improved production efficiency and quality control, it is necessary to analyze not only structured data such as sensor information and semi-structured data such as device logs but also unstructured data such as an image and a video.
Since the unstructured data such as an image and a video is larger than the structured data in a data volume per entry, it is necessary to adopt transmission/storage schemes for the unstructured data different from those for the structured data. For example, as for the structured data, which is several kilobytes in size per entry, a system that facilitates retrieving the structural data can be constructed by transmitting the structured data as one message on message-oriented middleware, storing the structured data in a relational DB as one record in one entry, and adding an appropriate index to the structured data. However, the unstructured data such as a video is several megabytes to several gigabytes per entry; thus, a method of transmitting the unstructured data by file transfer and storing the unstructured data in a file system, or the like is employed. Alternatively, the video is distributed in a stream type and a concept of "one entry" is not often present at all for the unstructured data; thus, the need arises to determine whether to display the video as it is or to convert the video into files at an appropriate magnitude on a receiving side. It has been necessary to construct a system handling a combination of the unstructured data and the structural data in compliance with requirements of each site on an as-needed basis.
Since the unstructured data and the structured data exhibit different characteristics from each other, fixing data to be collected per application such as a data analysis application and constructing a system dedicated to the application have been widely pursued.
These systems enable a user to easily perform data analysis by associating metadata with the collected data. For example, associating information about an object to be photographed, that is, metadata with video data obtained by photographing the object by a camera makes it possible to display the metadata about the object together with the video and to present the video easier to understand for a viewer.
Examples of such systems include techniques described in JP-2004-185456-A (Patent Document 1) and JP-2008-252410-A (Patent Document 2).
Patent Document 1 describes the following technique. "A communication system for receiving, interpreting, and converting metadata is disposed between communication terminals. Contents can be quickly provided by changing only the metadata without changing the very contents. In addition, an optimum content is selected by referring to various pieces of information such as viewer attribute information, client type information, and advertisement attribute information. The communication system is easily operated by providing a mechanism for selecting, registering, and changing an advertisement insertion policy by an advertiser or an advertisement distribution business operator, a mechanism for automatically determining an advertisement insertion point into the contents, and a mechanism for registering an advertisement attribute." In this way, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of selecting the optimum content for a receiving side by disposing the communication system that converts meta-information between a transmitting side of transmitting the contents containing metadata and the receiving side.
Furthermore, Patent Document 2 describes the following technique. "When a user designates an object on a screen by an object designation section 26 of a content display apparatus 14, identification information about the object and status data about a video content at this time are transmitted to an information providing server 12. A candidate selector 32 of the information providing server 12 performs retrieval in a reference frequency storage section 40 on the basis of the status data, and selects metadata to be displayed in accordance with points indicative of a weight of a display frequency preset in response to a status and display restrictions. A display information transmitter 36 reads the metadata to be displayed from a metadata storage section 18, and transmits the metadata to the content display apparatus 14." In this way, Patent Document 2 discloses a method of selecting appropriate metadata from the information providing server in response to identification information about the object when the object is designated in the screen through which a viewer is viewing the video, and transmitting the metadata to the content display apparatus.


A semiconductor package includes a first semiconductor chip, a second semiconductor chip, a first substrate, a second substrate and a metal cap. The chips are electrically connected to the first substrate, the second substrate is disposed between the chips, and the chips and the second substrate are disposed within the metal cap.

Semiconductor chips include contact pads that are electrically connected to external circuitry in order to function as part of an electronic system. The external circuitry is typically a lead array such as lead frame or a support substrate such as a printed circuit board. Electrical connection between the chip and the external circuitry is often achieved by wire bonding, tape automated bonding (TAB) or flip-chip bonding. For instance, with flip-chip bonding, ball grid array (BGA) packages contain an array of solder balls to mount on corresponding terminals on a printed circuit board, and land grid array (LGA) packages contain an array of metal pads that receive corresponding solder traces mounted on corresponding terminals on a printed circuit board.
Semiconductor packages may include a single chip or multiple chips. For instance, a semiconductor package may include stacked chips to increase packaging density. The stacked chips are typically attached to one another by an adhesive, mounted on a substrate and wire bonded to the substrate. The stacked chips can be disposed within a metal cap mounted on the substrate to improve heat dissipation. The chip at the top of the stack may have good heat dissipation through the metal cap. However, the chip at the bottom of the stack may have poor heat dissipation since it is thermally isolated from the metal cap, leading to reliability problems.
Therefore, there is a need for a semiconductor package with multiple chips that is compact and has excellent thermal and electrical performance.

Semiconductor package with multiple chips and substrate in metal cap


A control method of an assist pump for automatic transmission of a vehicle is provided with an ISG system. The control method includes executing idle stop and go, detecting present transmission gear shift and operating an assist hydraulic pump at a predetermined standard RPM according to detected present transmission gear shift. The control method may reduce electric power consumption and enhance battery durability and fuel efficiency.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a control method of an assist pump for automatic transmission of a vehicle provided with an ISG system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a control method of an assist pump for automatic transmission of a vehicle provided with an ISG system which may reduce electric power consumption and enhance battery durability and fuel efficiency.
2. Description of Related Art
Since demand for low fuel consumption vehicles has been increase, an ISG (Idle Stop and Go) system is in the spotlight of consumers as enhancement of fuel consumption.
If a vehicle provided with the ISG system stops and predetermined conditions are satisfied, an engine stops so as to reduce fuel consumption in idle state. The ISG system determines whether an engine stops or not considering battery system information, engine and transmission system information driver's control will and so on.
In the case of an automatic transmission, when an engine stops, a hydraulic pump system does not operated. And thus if rapid restart after engine stops is required, hydraulic pressure is not generated so that shock may occur. And thus generally an assist hydraulic pump is provided to a vehicle with an automatic transmission to maintain hydraulic pressure within the transmission.
In the case of a general ISG system for an automatic transmission, when an engine stops, an assist hydraulic pump of a transmission is operated, and when an engine re-starting is completed, operation of the assist hydraulic pump stops.
Flux supplied by the assist hydraulic pump is controlled according to the revolutions per minute RPM of the assist hydraulic pump, and an ECU (engine control unit) receives temperature signal of transmission oil and determines RPM based on one-dimensional table and then the ECU transmits CAN signal to an inverter of the assist hydraulic pump to control the assist hydraulic pump.
In the case of a general control method of a transmission assist hydraulic pump, if an engine stops, the transmission assist hydraulic pump is operated according to transmission oil temperature regardless of gear shift and engine stop period, and thus generated hydraulic pressure is more than necessary.
And also, when the assist hydraulic pump is operated and the engine stops, generation of electricity does not executed, and thus excessive load is applied to a battery and durability of the battery may be deteriorated.
The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Control method of assist pump for automatic transmission of vehicle provided with ISG system


This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a power generating system particularly suitable for field use in remote locations, which is fuel-efficient, relatively quiet, tolerant of dust, capable of operating on low grade logistics and diesel-like fuels and capable of generating between 500 W and 2 KW of continuous electrical power. This generator employs a miniature internal combustion engine/generator (MICE) having a piston moving within a cylinder arranged for two-cycle operation, and an interconnected, axially arranged piston shaft that oscillates an alternator coil within a magnetic core. The piston shaft is opposed by a strong, multiple-helix spring. The cylinder head, in which the piston operates, is cooled by moving (electrically pumped) fluid in a cooling head, or by another heat-transfer mechanism. The MICE generator's intake arrangement includes a preheater heated by a heated fluid flow thereon. The MICE generator is vibration-isolated using a base that supports the MICE on a plurality of soft coil springs. The MICE generator is encased in an acoustic enclosure having a shell composed of sheet metal or another stiff material extending from the base plate and being covered by a top side. Holes in the enclosure top are covered by porous discs that allow exhaust gasses from the internal muffler to pass therethrough. The acoustic enclosure resides in a large, typically portable, external package enclosure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to small portable power sources and more particularly to small combustion motor generator power sources.
2. Background Information
For over a century there has been a need to generate electric power in the field, away from a reliable source of continuous power, such as the utility grid. Remotely generated power has, and continues to be, needed to operate lighting, equipment, radios and other key devices. Standard approaches to generating or supplying remote power have centered around a few basic technologies, namely: (a) a precharged battery assembly that is sized appropriately for the load and duration, (b) a motor generator packaged that operates a dynamo or alternator sized in output that satisfies the expected load; (c) a hybrid having a motor-generator, battery assembly combination, and (d) a "Stirling" cycle generator. Each of these prior art approaches has limitations.
In the first type, the battery packs are heavy, have limited power, and short duration (in normal use, after one hour or so the battery pack needs to be removed and recharged).
For the second type, traditional fuel-powered motor-generators (Diesel or Otto cycle-type) using rotary crank shafts and pistons are heavy, noisy, and not particularly portable, and therefore impractical in many applications that require frequent movement, often on foot through rough terrain. The typical motor generator used on a field construction site may be quite large and heavy to lift. It is usually dropped in one place and connected to a device or plurality of devices by a cord, often tens of feet long. Its construction and weight do not lend themselves to frequent movement and/or placement close to the device. These prior art motor generators are large because, while the average power is not high (less than 50-200 watts), the peak power output may be many times larger while a device is actually operating.
The third type of generation approach is derived from automotive technology, where a small engine charges batteries in a "hybrid" vehicle containing the batteries and the internal combustion engine. However, such automotive-sized components (engine generator and batteries) are significantly larger than needed for most field applications (a few watts (W) to 1-2 kW) they do not scale down well. In particular, the smaller the engine, the larger the battery needed to store power, so as to ensure sufficient peak power will remain available at all times. Moreover, where a connected device is run continuously, the engine must still be sized to deliver energy that matches or exceeds the device's power demand or the battery will slowly discharge as the system falls short of the continuous demand.
A fourth type of generation approach, known as the Stirling cycle engine, while having good combustion, is potentially quiet and is tolerant to ingesting particles. However, conventional designs have a high weight to power out ratio.
An alternate approach for providing a two cycle crankless engine that integrates an alternator coil with a sprung inline piston is taught in commonly assigned and published U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,683 entitled MINIATURE GENERATOR by Kurt Annen, et al., the teachings of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. This engine employs a strong multi-helix spring to buffer the power stroke of a piston that moves an alternator coil through a permanent magnet to generate AC power. This power is conditioned to provide the needed DC voltage for operating a power tool or similar device. A small recharging battery or capacitor can be interconnected to the alternator and device motor to provide peak output current when needed. The motor of this system is surprisingly small and light, being comparable in size to a small scale model airplane engine. It is herein termed a miniature internal combustion engine (MICE)/generator.
Such performance significantly exceeds that available from a conventional crankcase engine/generator or a charged battery array for a given weight/size. This technology lends itself to a larger scale application, such as field power generation in, for example, the 12-24-28 VAC or VDC range with power output of, for example, 500 W to 1-2 KW.


A telecommunications terminal is provided which has a central unit (100) and a handset (200). The handset houses a microphone (210) and a speaker (220) and is connected to the central unit via a cord (300). The connecting cord has a plurality of wires (301-304) for conveying output signals from the microphone and input signals to the speaker. The telecommunications terminal incorporates at least one function under the manual control of its user. That function is controlled by a switching means (l1, l2; 230) housed in the handset, with the corresponding control signals being conveyed along said cord in the form of phantom D.C. voltages.

The present invention relates in general to telephony and videophony, and it relates more particularly to an improved device for facilitating user control of the functions of a telephone or a video phone.
During a video phone call, it is important for the caller to remain relatively stationary relative to the video phone camera in order to ensure that the distant party receives an image of adequate quality, and in particular an image which can be watched under optimum conditions without fatigue and without difficulty.
However, during a video phone call, one of the parties may need to perform control operations by acting, for example, on moving parts or keys of the video phone.
For example, if the video phone is fitted with a manual image-framing system, a party may need to change the direction in which the camera is pointing in order to change his or her own framing, or else a party may desire to change the brightness or contrast settings of the display screen or of the video phone, etc., or the party may desire to put the installation in a so-called "hands-free" position by pressing on an appropriate key of the terminal.
Such user actions are undesirable insofar as they degrade the viewing comfort of the other party.
In particular, a user may need to move close to the terminal, such that the user's face comes too close to the camera. The image is then degraded It is also possible that a user may pass a hand through the field of the camera and very close to the camera when performing such a manipulation or adjustment. This causes the image received by the distant party to be temporarily masked either completely or in part, and naturally this is undesirable. Finally, a user may leave the camera field in order to perform some operation.

Telecommunications terminal with improved control functions


The present invention is a unique process and apparatus for making a new matrix material called a shearform matrix which results in transformation of the morphology of a feedstock. The process is characterized by increasing the temperature of a nonsolubilized feedstock carrier to a point where it will undergo internal flow, followed by upwardly ejecting a stream of the feedstock and then subjecting it to disruptive fluid shear force which separates it into separate parts or masses which have a transformed morphology. The shearform matrix may include other ingredients such as oleaginous material and actives.

The present invention relates to a unique process and apparatus for making shearform matrix material resulting from transformation of the morphology of feedstock material.
The art of material processing has developed significantly in recent years. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,326 various substances having pharmological properties are combined with saccharides and spun to produce a readily water-soluble product. Other disclosures which relate to spinning substances with one or more saccharides are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,085, U.S. Pat. No, 5,034,421, U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,856 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,632. U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,421 discloses spun matrix systems containing medicaments having predetermined release patterns.
The examples in the disclosures set forth above describe processing feedstock material by subjecting it to high speed spinning on a spinning head in which the substance is also subjected to heating against a heating element. The change of temperature is quite rapid, which is believed to be occasioned by the spinning head quickly and efficiently spreading the feedstock material against the heating element circumferentially disposed around the perimeter of the spinning head. Thus, extensive surface contact of the feedstock is provided against the heating element itself while being spun.
The feedstock material is heated sufficiently to create an internal flow condition which permits part of the feedstock to move at what is believed to be a subparticle level with respect to the rest of the mass and exit openings provided in the perimeter of the spinning head. The centrifugal force created in the spinning head flings the flowing feedstock material outwardly from the head so that it reforms with a changed structure. The force required to separate and discharge flowable feedstock is only the centrifugal force which results from the spinning head. These examples describe one approach to producing a novel matrix material.
A further reference, U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,473, sets forth a process in which the temperature of a nonsolubilized feedstock carrier is increased to a point where it will undergo internal flow, followed by ejecting a stream of the feedstock and then subjecting it to disruptive fluid shear force which separates it into separate parts or masses which have a transformed morphology. Also disclosed in the '473 reference is an apparatus with a high pressure nozzle for changing the morphology of the feedstock. The nozzle is directed downwards which has advantages in that material is being expunged therefrom to coincide with the downward pull of gravity. However, it has now been discovered that on a commercial scale a downwardly-directed nozzle must be suspended from a rather large height so that the large quantity of exiting material can fully and completely dry in the air before reaching a bottom collection mechanism. This necessitates extra space and volume in a processing center.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome certain drawbacks which are associated with the above-cited apparatus and procedures. It is also an object of the present invention to provide improvements over the technology previously set forth in the art.

Process and apparatus for producing shearform matrix material


A method of driving a non-volatile memory device includes programming a plurality of memory cells based on a first data copied from a program data buffer to a verification data buffer, verifying the memory cells by overwriting a result of the verification of the programmed memory cells to a verification data buffer, and re-verifying the memory cells by repeating the programming and verifying operations at least once with respect to the memory cells that were successfully verified, based on the verification result written to the verification data buffer. A non-volatile memory device includes a program data buffer storing first data, a verification data buffer copying and storing the first data, a plurality of memory cells programmed based on the data stored in the verification data buffer, a comparator comparing data stored in the verification data buffer with data read out from the programmed memory cells and outputting comparison data generated based on a result of the comparison to the verification data buffer, and a control unit controlling the program data buffer, the verification data buffer, the memory cells, and the comparator to additionally program or verify the memory cells that were successfully verified, based on the first data.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a non-volatile memory device and, more particularly, to a non-volatile memory device and method capable of programming and re-verifying a verified memory cell.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Non-volatile memory devices include a mask ROM (read only memory), an electrically erasable and programmable ROM (EEPROM), and an erasable and programmable ROM (EPROM). The EEPROM that is electrically erasable and programmable is widely used as an auxiliary memory device or for system programming that requires continuous updating.
More specifically, a flash EEPROM, hereinafter, referred as the flash memory device, that exhibits a higher degree of integration than the existing EEPROM is very advantageous for high capacity auxiliary memory devices. The flash memory device includes a NAND type, a NOR type, and an AND type. The NAND type flash memory device, which has a high degree of integration, is mainly used for storing data. The NOR type flash memory device, which has a fast data access speed, is mainly used for storing program codes.
The non-volatile memory device includes a plurality of memory cells having a MOS transistor structure with a floating gate and a control gate. The memory cells are electrically programmable and erasable.
In general, it is essential for the non-volatile memory device that is electrically programmable and erasable to be able to function to verify memory cell data. The verification function verifies whether programmed data is accurately written to a memory cell and to correct the data when inaccurate data exists.
A flash memory device having a multilevel cell, for example, a four-level cell, that has been recently developed can store 2 bits in a single cell, unlike a single level cell. The flash memory device including the multilevel memory cells in a four-level state needs a more accurate programming and verifying technique compared to a conventional flash memory device having memory cells in a two-level state. Thus, to increase the accuracy of verification, even when a verification of a programmed memory cell is successful, the flash memory device having the multilevel memory cells requires at least one re-verification of the verified memory cell.
A NOR flash memory device of a multilevel memory cell uses an algorithm of a buffer program to compensate for a program speed that is slower than a single level cell. FIG. 1 illustrates the concept of a flash memory device performing programming and verification using a conventional buffer program algorithm. Referring to FIG. 1, M number of program data PDATA, for example, #1 where M is a natural number, are stored in a program data buffer 10. A memory cell array block 20 programs a plurality of memory cells (not shown) based on the stored program data, for example, #1. The PDATA may be N bits of program data, where N is a natural number.
A memory cell array block 20 programs the memory cells and verifies the programmed memory cells. The verified results VD are written back to the program data buffer 10 and stored therein. The memory cell array block 20 overwrites a bit data corresponding to a memory cell that is successfully verified among the program data, for example, #1, stored in the program data buffer 10, as a first level value, for example, "1". The memory cell array block 20 repeats the programming and verification operations until the identification of the memory cells that are not successfully verified, and the verification results are written to the program data buffer 10.
Because the bit data corresponding to the memory cell that is successfully verified among the program data, for example, #1, stored in the program data buffer 10 is written by being corrected to the first level value, for example, "1", after the onetime verification has succeeded, the program data buffer 10 loses the original program data programmed in the memory cells. Thus, since each bit data of the program data, for example, "10101010" of #1, stored in the program data buffer 10 corresponding to the memory cell that are successfully verified once, is changed to the first level value, for example, "11111111" of #1′, it is a problem that additional programming and verification cannot be performed with respect to the memory cell that has been successfully verified once.

Non-volatile memory device and method capable of re-verifying a verified memory cell


At least one of a passivation film extending from a pixel circuit region to a peripheral circuit region and a member disposed between a semiconductor layer and the passivation film in the peripheral circuit region contains hydrogen. The passivation film in the peripheral circuit region has a portion overlapping one conductive line of the plurality of conductive lines in a direction perpendicular to a main surface of the semiconductor layer, the one conductive line being closest to the passivation film among the plurality of conductive lines. The passivation film in the peripheral circuit region has a through-hole, the through-hole including a portion not overlapping the one conductive line in the direction perpendicular to the main surface of the semiconductor layer.

Field of the Invention
The present technique relates to an image pickup apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
Image pickup apparatuses include a monolithic semiconductor device in which a single semiconductor layer constitutes a pixel circuit region and a peripheral circuit region. Different conditions are required to improve the characteristics of the pixel circuit region and the peripheral circuit region. More specifically, the pixel circuit region requires noise reduction in the pixel circuit, and the peripheral circuit region requires improved reliability of the peripheral circuit. It is known that hydrogen termination of a dangling bond on a surface of a semiconductor layer is effective in reducing noise in the pixel circuit region. However, the presence of hydrogen in the peripheral circuit region may be responsible for low reliability of the peripheral circuit. Thus, the characteristics of the pixel circuit region and the peripheral circuit region should be simultaneously improved.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-188068 discloses a solid-state image pickup element that includes a pixel unit, a peripheral circuit unit, and a passivation film disposed on the pixel unit and the peripheral circuit unit, wherein the passivation film serving as a hydrogen supply source is configured to have different residual hydrogen contents on the pixel unit and the peripheral circuit unit. It is stated that such a structure can ensure the reliability of a miniaturized transistor in the peripheral circuit unit with respect to temporal changes in threshold and satisfactorily decrease dark voltage on a surface of the pixel unit. The pixel unit and peripheral circuit unit in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-188068 correspond to the pixel circuit region and peripheral circuit region in the present specification.
In the technique described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-188068, hydrogen supply to a semiconductor layer in an image pickup apparatus is not fully studied. In the image pickup apparatus according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-188068, the passivation film can prevent hydrogen diffusing from the passivation film to the semiconductor layer from diffusing into the outside (outside the image pickup apparatus). Thus, most of the hydrogen diffusing from the passivation film to the semiconductor layer is probably supplied to the semiconductor layer. Although not described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-188068, in the presence of a hydrogen supply source between the passivation film and the semiconductor layer, the passivation film can prevent hydrogen from diffusing from the hydrogen supply source to the outside. Thus, most of the hydrogen diffusing from the hydrogen supply source is probably supplied to the semiconductor layer. For these reasons, different residual hydrogen contents of the passivation film in the pixel circuit region and the peripheral circuit region are not sufficient to cause a great difference in the amount of hydrogen supplied to the semiconductor layer between the pixel circuit region and the peripheral circuit region. Consequently, the characteristics of the peripheral circuit unit cannot be improved.

Image pickup apparatus and method for manufacturing image pickup apparatus


A clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit includes an edge detector, an edge selector, and a phase selector. The edge detector is arranged to detect edges of serial input data and to provide an edge detection result. The serial input data is oversampled utilizing multiple clock phases. The edge selector for selecting one of the multiple clock phases for a recovered clock is arranged to provide an edge selection result, to receive the last edge selection result as a first input, and to receive the edge detection result as a second input. The phase selector is arranged to provide the recovered clock and recovered data.

In the field of high-speed serial data communications, e.g., with regard to a universal serial bus, clock and data recovery (CDR) circuits are often used. In many applications, high-speed data streams are sent without an accompanying clock signal. The CDR on the receiver generates a clock from an approximate frequency reference, and then phase-aligns to the transitions in the data stream. However, data jitter and phase error between clock and data can cause glitches (a pulse too small to trigger a flip flop or a logic gate properly) in recovered clock and data errors in the CDR. Furthermore, integrated circuit process deviations, operating temperature, and power supply variations can also have a negative impact on sampling window width and thus on the recovered clock and data accuracy.

Glitch free oversampling clock and data recovery

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A water-conducting domestic appliance having a connector, a neck, and a connecting element that has at least one section formed by elastic material and an insertion end, wherein the connecting element connects the connector to the neck. A supporting ring is arranged at the insertion end, and the connecting element has an insertion region with an insertion rounding on the insertion end, wherein the insertion rounding runs tangentially into a sealing region.

The invention relates to a water-conducting domestic appliance.
Water-conducting domestic appliances have among other things a connecting element for a pressure-tight connection of hydraulic components, which essentially consists of an elastic material and with which supporting rings are arranged at the regions of contact with the hydraulic components to be connected, ensuring a pressure-tight connection. The hydraulic components can be for example a connector of a pump for connection to a neck. The connecting element here is pushed onto one of the two hydraulic components or can be connected permanently to this. The second hydraulic component is then inserted into the connecting element.
Such a connecting element is described for example in patent specification DE 197 58 249 C2. The connecting element here is one made of elastic material between a pump connection and a further connection, for example a discharge neck of a container. The discharge neck encloses the elastic connecting element. It has at least one convolution, to prevent the transmission of vibrations and running noise to a significant extent. At the other end the connecting element encloses the pushed-in pump connection. The connections are held together in the contact region by supporting rings or hose clips. Axial insertion of the neck is required for correct fitting of the connecting element. This is often not possible for reasons of space.

Hydraulic connecting element of a water-conducting domestic appliance