A joining device for joining substrates together includes a first holding member configured to vacuum-suck a first substrate to draw and hold the first substrate on a lower surface thereof, and a second holding member disposed below the first holding member and configured to vacuum-suck a second substrate to draw and hold the second substrate on an upper surface thereof. The second holding member includes a body portion formed into a size larger than the second substrate when seen in a plan view and configured to vacuum-suck the second substrate, a plurality of pins provided on the body portion and configured to make contact with a rear surface of the second substrate, and an outer wall portion annularly provided on the body portion at an outer side of the plurality of pins and configured to support an outer periphery portion of the rear surface of the second substrate.

In recent years, high integration of semiconductor devices has been prompted. However, when a plurality of highly integrated semiconductor devices is arranged on a horizontal plane and is connected by wiring into a product, the length of the wiring may increase the resistance and make the delay of the wiring large.
Accordingly, the use of a three dimensional integration technology has been proposed which integrates semiconductor devices in three dimensions. In the three dimensional integration technology, for example, a joining system is used to join two semiconductor wafers (hereinafter, referred to as "wafers") together. For example, the joining system includes a surface hydrophilization device which hydrophilizes the joining surfaces of wafers and a joining device which joins the wafers whose surfaces are hydrophilized by the surface hydrophilization device. In this joining system, the surface hydrophilization device hydrophilizes the surfaces of the wafers by supplying pure water to the surfaces of the wafers. Thereafter, two wafers are disposed in the joining device in a vertically opposing relationship (hereinafter, a wafer positioned at an upper side is referred to as an "upper wafer" and a wafer positioned at a lower side is referred to as a "lower wafer"). The upper wafer drawn and held by an upper chuck and the lower wafer drawn and held by a lower chuck are joined together by the Van der Waals force and by a hydrogen bond (an intermolecular force).
The lower chuck has, e.g., a flat plate shape, and draws and holds the lower wafer on the entire upper surface thereof. However, it is often the case that, due to the existence of irregularities on the upper surface of the lower chuck or the existence of particles or the like on the upper surface of the lower chuck, the upper surface of the lower chuck becomes uneven (or has a large flatness). In this case, the flatness of the lower chuck is transferred to the lower wafer. If the lower wafer and the upper wafer are joined together, a vertical distortion is generated in the joined superposed wafer.
In order to make the upper surface of the lower chuck flat, the upper surface of the lower chuck is sometimes subjected to, e.g., lapping, mirror treatment or the like. However, if the flatness of the upper surface of the lower chuck grows exceedingly smaller, thereby making the surface texture too fine, the lower wafer is hardly separated from the lower chuck when the vacuum suction of the lower wafer is released.


An internal combustion engine is provided with a pre-chamber provided inside a main combustion chamber. The pre-chamber includes an ignition plug, and a casing provided to a ceiling part to cover the ignition plug, the casing isolating an internal space formed therein from the main combustion chamber. A tumble flow of a mixture gas is formed inside the main combustion chamber. A plurality of communicating holes are formed in the casing, and include a first communicating hole opening to an intake port side and a second communicating hole opening to an exhaust port side. The tumble flow flowing into the pre-chamber through the first communicating hole forms in the pre-chamber a vortex flowing in the opposite direction from the tumble flow. The main combustion chamber is provided with a structure configured to suppress a flow opposing the vortex flowing into the pre-chamber through the second communicating hole.

JP2015-094303A discloses an internal combustion engine with a pre-chamber. The pre-chamber of the internal combustion engine is provided inside a cylinder head so as to oppose a main combustion chamber. An auxiliary fuel injection valve injects fuel into the pre-chamber, and an ignition plug ignites a mixture gas inside the pre-chamber. A flame jet is injected into the main combustion chamber from the pre-chamber through a plurality of nozzles. The flame jet is promptly spread inside the main combustion chamber to improve the thermal efficiency of the internal combustion engine.
JP2018-172974A also discloses an internal combustion engine with a pre-chamber. In this internal combustion engine, a partition member which isolates the pre-chamber from a main combustion chamber is attached to a ceiling part of the main combustion chamber. A part of the partition member protrudes into the main combustion chamber. This internal combustion engine is not provided with an auxiliary fuel injection valve, unlike the internal combustion engine disclosed in JP2015-094303A. A portion of the mixture gas formed inside the main combustion chamber flows into the pre-chamber through communicating holes formed in the partition member during a compression stroke. By an ignition plug igniting the mixture gas inside the pre-chamber, flame passes through the communicating holes and blows out into the main combustion chamber like a torch.
The configuration of the pre-chamber like the internal combustion engine disclosed in JP2018-172974A may spoil the rapid combustion inside the main combustion chamber. That is, in the pre-chamber disclosed in JP2018-172974A, the ignition plug is provided to an upper end part of the pre-chamber, and the communicating holes are formed in a lower end part of the pre-chamber. Thus, a distance between the ignition plug and the communicating holes is comparatively long. If the combustion of the mixture gas inside the pre-chamber is slow, the flame generated on the ignition-plug side may push out the unburnt mixture gas which remains on the communicating hole side into the main combustion chamber. In this case, when the unburnt mixture gas is pushed out into the main combustion chamber, the rapid combustion inside the main combustion chamber is spoiled.
The present inventors thought about strengthening a flow of the mixture gas inside the pre-chamber, in order to make the rapid combustion of the mixture gas inside the pre-chamber possible. Therefore, a tumble flow is generated inside the main combustion chamber, and the tumble flow is allowed to flow into the pre-chamber through the communicating hole. In detail, by orientating the hole axes of some of the communicating holes toward an intake port, the communicating holes oppose the tumble flow. Therefore, the tumble flow flows into the pre-chamber. By the tumble flow flowing into the pre-chamber, a vortex in the opposite direction from the tumble flow is generated inside the pre-chamber. Since the vortex does not disturb the flow inside the pre-chamber, it does not lower the ignitability of the ignition plug and stimulates flame propagation after ignition. Therefore, the mixture gas inside the pre-chamber combusts quickly.
However, according to the analyses of the present inventors, they have noticed that the combustion of the mixture gas inside the pre-chamber may not be as rapid as they expected even if the measures described above are taken.

Internal combustion engine with pre-chamber


A microbubble reducer for eliminating and/or removing bubbles of gas from a flow comprising non-Newtonian fluids, wherein the microbubble reducer comprises an inlet at a low point, a curved duct means comprising a gas outlet at a high point, an outlet at a low point, and a lumen that runs through said inlet, said curved duct means, said gas outlet, and said outlet. Additionally, including various methods for removing gas from a flow comprising non-Newtonian fluid(s) using the microbubble reducer, an apparatus comprising the microbubble reducer, and uses of the microbubble reducer pertaining to dialysis or similar treatments, inter alia hemodialysis, plasma exchange, for infusion of blood and other non-Newtonian fluids, and in a heart-lung machine.

Inadequate kidney function can be an implication of various diseases, disorders, and trauma situations, and millions of people worldwide rely on renal replacement therapy for their survival. Dialysis, either through the peritoneal membrane or from the blood (i. e. hemodialysis) is a critical tool in the treatment of patients presenting with acute renal failure, but the technique is equally important for maintenance treatment of patients with chronic kidney diseases of various types and origins. Indications necessitating dialysis include inter alia severe retention of products not wasted by impaired kidneys, for instance urea, creatinine, uric acid, potassium, and phosphate, but also fluid overload, or even acute drug poisoning, to name a few.
Hemodialysis can be carried out either as an outpatient or as an inpatient therapy, but careful monitoring and surveillance is nevertheless pivotal irrespective of the situation, as numerous side effects and complications, both immediate and long-term, are associated with the procedure. These effects are sometimes dictated by the different types of hemodialysis access methods utilized, but the dialysis procedure per se is also associated with certain inherent risks, normally requiring both staff surveillance and automatic monitoring.
Hemodialysis is performed using two separate circuit systems, one circuit carrying the blood from the patient and another carrying dialysis fluid, a solution comprising mineral ions, for removal of waste substances, as well as water, from the blood. The principle behind dialysis is diffusion over a semipermeable membrane, i. e. the dialysis filter, which interconnects the two circuit systems. The blood drawn from the patient (either from an arterio-venous access or from a central dialysis catheter) enters an arterial tube and is subsequently, using a blood pump, flushed into a dialysis filter, where waste products are being removed. The cleansed blood is returned to the patient through the venous part of the tubing. However, despite being a substantially closed circuit, air is constantly leaking in to the blood flow, either as a result of leakage at the watertight connection sites, or as an implication of air present in the circuit prior to starting the dialysis.
As a result of the potentially detrimental effects of air entering the blood stream and subsequently the body, the blood circuit system is carefully monitored through the use of infrared and/or ultrasound safety control systems. The risks associated with entry of large air bubbles into the blood stream has been a long-standing concern within the dialysis field, as a resultant emboli could potentially be lethal to the patient undergoing the renal replacement therapy. Hence, substantial research efforts have been directed towards improving detectors for dialysis monitoring and surveillance, as well as towards developing various types of devices for air removal within the system. An important factor behind the development of systems for improved air removal is the consensus within the research community with regards to the importance of bubble size and the leakage of air as a function of time (Polaschegg, Artificial Organs, 31, 911-912, 2007). The apparent insignificance of microbubbles, i. e. bubbles exhibiting sizes around 100 μm, has been attributed to the collapse and subsequent blood absorption of small bubbles. Additionally, the lungs are considered to function as barriers for bubbles with diameters above 20 μm, and this paradigm, together with the perceived practical impossibility of preventing microbubble entry, today dictates the industry standards.
The venous part of the dialysis system is normally arranged with a venous chamber enabling removal of larger amounts of air present within the system, but such a chamber is only effective in separating bubbles of a relatively large size. As a result of the industry standpoint with regards to microbubbles, these types of air removal systems have been deemed adequate for clinical use. Nevertheless, there is substantial clinical evidence for air emboli passing the venous chamber, which is meant to act as an air trap for larger air bubbles, without activating the alarm (Jonsson, P., et al., "Air bubbles pass the security system of the dialysis device without alarming", Artif Organs, (2007), 31(2): 132-9). Extensive data collected by the inventors of the present invention show that these microbubbles pass into the vessels of the patient (Forsberg, U., et al., "Microemboli, developed during haemodialysis, pass the lung barrier and may cause ischaemic lesions in organs such as the brain", Nephrol Dial Transplant, (2010), Epub ahead of print), and that the presence of these emboli increase significantly within the arterial system, including the carotic artery (i. e. the main artery for supply to the brain), after start of the dialysis.
Besides an increased incidence of pulmonary damage by venous emboli, arterial microemboli contribute to the increased prevalence of cerebral atrophy and regression of neurocognitive status, especially in long-term dialysis patients, indicating a significant need for improved devices for separation of microbubbles as well as larger bubbles of air.
Venous chambers constituting the current art are normally arranged as vertical drip chambers with the inlet at a high point and the outlet at a low point, in order for large bubbles, i. e. bubbles with a buoyancy force overcoming the drag force from the flow, to ascend vertically upwards. Modified versions include devices designed so as to promote a circulatory flow in the chamber or devices with various types of geometric appearance, for instance substantially cubic shapes.
WO 2006/030263, for instance, discloses a blood chamber for use in an extracorporeal circuit comprising a blood inlet port, a blood containment chamber, and a first conduit. The chamber is arranged with a relatively large segment for slowing down the blood flow and separate gases from the blood, forming an overlying gaseous zone.
As a result of the current paradigm, the venous chambers in the art are constructed to eliminate merely relatively large bubbles, and do not remove microbubbles (i. e. bubbles with sizes under 50-400 μm) at all. Generally, many devices provide very blunt tools for gas separation and numerous devices in fact promote air contamination. Neither are the devices for gas removal specifically adapted to non-Newtonian and relatively viscous fluids such as blood, where elimination of eddies and currents are intrinsically critical. Further, the prior art generally overlook the biological properties of blood, often resulting in coagulation in slow-flowing parts, including filters in connection with stagnant flow or air retention, or corners of the utilized devices, having a negative impact both on the removal of air bubbles but also on the dialysis as such.
Furthermore, devices of the prior art generally exhibit very complex configurations comprising multiple parts, resulting in manufacturing difficulties and an increased risk of air leakage.

Bubble reducer for eliminating gas bubbles from a flow


An apparatus for processing a signal output by an encoder, including a frequency multiplication unit to repeatedly multiply each of frequencies of two sinusoidal signals with a phase difference of approximately 90 degrees by a predetermined number a predetermined number of times; a converter to convert each pair of the two frequency-multiplied sinusoidal signals into square wave signals; and a processor to receive the square wave signals and count a number of rising and/or falling edges of the square wave signals in order to determine and control a position of an object to be controlled.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a motor control, and more particularly, to a signal processing method and apparatus for improving the speed and the position resolutions of an encoder output signal when the motor control is performed using an analog output encoder.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional ink jet imaging apparatuses, a recording medium is carried therein using at least one feed roll along a carry path. To form an image accurately on the recording medium, the recording medium must be placed at a specific location. To position the recording medium at the specific location, the feed roll must move with high precision. Hence, the quality of an image is often very dependent upon precise control of the position of the feed roll. An encoder is typically used to precisely control the position of a feed roll.
An encoder typically uses at least one sensor to sense slits that are position marks and formed along the track of a code wheel, for example, a disk. Preferably, the code wheel has a central shaft in alignment with the central shaft of a feed roll and rotates with a rotation of the feed roll. When the code wheel rotates, the number of slits by which the sensor and its accompanying elements pass is counted. Since each of the slits indicates movement of the code wheel at a predetermined angle, changes in the position of the recording medium carried by the feed roll can be tracked.
A square-wave pulse encoder cannot obtain distinct position information between rising and falling edges of a square-wave pulse output by the encoder. Hence, an analog output encoder is used because fine position information can be obtained even during one cycle by finely dividing the angles of rotation of a motor by analog values. To increase a resolution of an analog output encoder, a code wheel is enlarged, or the interval between adjacent slits is reduced. However, if the code wheel is enlarged, the analog output encoder becomes large and bulky. If the interval between adjacent slits is reduced, an encoder output signal is highly likely to be unstabilized due to the characteristics of the electrical circuit of a sensor, the sensitivity of the sensor, and the mechanical and optical characteristics of the code wheel.
Also, to increase the resolution of an analog output encoder, a signal processing circuit is used, in which a sinusoidal signal output by the analog output encoder is divided into 2n sections according to the resolution of analog-to-digital conversion, that is, according to the number of bits, n, and an instantaneous value is read out from each of the 2n sections so that analog-to-digital conversion is performed. However, in this method, numerical errors and jitters often occur on the curve of the sinusoidal signal due to the characteristics of the sinusoidal signal in that only about π/4 of a half-period maintains linearity, and, accordingly, a processor using an analog-to-digital converted signal cannot precisely control the location or speed of a recording medium. Also, because the sections sequentially undergo the analog-to-digital conversion, delay time is generated, and a load on the processor increases. Such problems adversely affect other signal processing operations performed in the processor.

Method and apparatus for processing the output signal of an encoder


Uniform oxynitride and nitride films can be formed by low-temperature and high-speed nitriding reaction not dependent on the nitriding time or nitriding temperature. A solid dielectric is provided on at least one of opposed surfaces of a pair of electrodes opposed to each other under a pressure of 300 (Torr) or higher, a nitrogen gas containing an oxide equal to or lower than 0.2% is introduced into a space between the pair of opposed electrodes, an electric field is applied to the nitrogen gas, and the resulting N2 (2nd p.s.) or N2 (H.I.R) active species is brought into contact with an object to be processed to form an oxynitride film/nitride film on a surface of the object to be processed.

A semiconductor device, e.g., a transistor is ordinarily constituted of a gate electrode, a gate insulating film, a source electrode, a drain electrode, a passivation film (protective film) and so on formed on a substrate. As the substrate (object to be processed), a silicon wafer, a glass substrate or the like is used. As the electrodes, a metal such as Al, a polysilicon or the like is used. As an interlayer insulating member comprising the passivation film, silicon nitride, silicon oxide, silicon carbide or the like is used.
Silicon oxide film is ordinarily used as the above-mentioned gate insulating film. With the reduction in device size and with the improvements in characteristics achieved by increasing the operating speed for example, studies have been made of using as the gate insulating film a silicon nitride film whose dielectric constant (7.9) is larger than that (3.9) of silicon oxide film, hafiiia (HfO2), silicate and aluminate of this (a mixture of Hf (hafnium)-Si—O and Hf—Al—O) and materials obtained by doping these with nitrogen (varying in dielectric constant depending on the composition).
Patent Document 1 discloses a thin film forming apparatus in which a plasma CVD device in line form formed of a plasma generating section in line form and an introduction section through which a reaction gas is introduced, an annealing section in which a thin film formed by this plasma CVD is annealed with light in line form and a plasma processing device in line form for processing the surface of the annealed thin film with plasma are disposed in series, and which is capable of eliminating impurities in the amorphous silicon surface and obtaining a good device with improved reproducibility.
Silicon nitride film formed by an ordinary film formation method such as a plasma CVD or CVD, however, has many electrons or hole traps existing therein and is, therefore, disadvantageously low in reliability. There is also a problem that, while there is a need to form a uniform silicon nitride film having a thickness of several nanometers with stability, it is difficult to form a film uniform in thickness with satisfactory reproducibility.
The applicant of the present invention already filed a patent application of a silicon wafer nitriding method and apparatus for forming a silicon nitride film on a silicon wafer surface so that electrons or hole traps in the film are reduced (see Patent Document 2).
The following are examples of documents relating to the above-described arts.
1) JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-100578A
2) JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-324795A

Method and apparatus for forming oxynitride film and nitride film, oxynitride film, nitride film, and substrate


An output buffer of a source driver is disclosed. The output buffer includes a buffer input, a buffer output, a differential input stage, a bias current source, an output stage, a compensation capacitor, and a comparator. The output stage and the comparator are both operated between an analog supply voltage (AVDD) and a ground voltage (AGND). The comparator compares an input voltage and an output voltage and outputs a control signal to the bias current source according to the compared result to control a bias current outputted by the bias current source to enhance the slew rate of the output buffer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a liquid crystal display; in particular, to an output buffer applied in a source driver of a liquid crystal display.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, with the continuous progress of display technology, various types of display apparatuses, such as a LCD display and a plasma display, are shown in the market. Because the volume of the LCD display is much smaller the conventional CRT display, the LCD display using smaller desk space is convenient for the people in modern life.
In general, the driving apparatus of the TFT-LCD display mainly includes a source driving circuit and a gate driving circuit. For the TFT-LCD display having high quality, high resolution, and low power consumption, the source driving circuit plays a very important role. Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a circuit structure of a conventional source driver.
As shown in FIG. 1, the source driver 1 includes a receiver 10, a data register 12, a bi-directional shift register 14, a line latch 16, a level shifter 18, a digital-to-analog converter 20, and an output buffer 22. The main power domain of the source driver 1 includes digital power sources VDD, VSS and analog power sources AVDD, AGND.
The output buffer 22 of the source driver 1 is usually realized by an operational amplifier (OPAMP). For the source driver 1 of the TFT-LCD display, its visual performance is determined by the operational amplifier, especially the slew rate which is important to the TFT-LCD display applied in the high frame rate application.
Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 illustrates a circuit diagram of a conventional operational amplifier OPAMP used as the output buffer 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the circuit of the operational amplifier OPAMP includes a differential input stage DIS, a bias current source IBS, an output stage OS, and a compensation capacitor Cc. Because the operational amplifier OPAMP is operated under the analog power source, its input voltage Vin, output voltage Vout, and output stage OS will have operation voltages between AVDD and AGND.
For the operational amplifier OPAMP, the slew rate performance is determined by the bias current source IBS/the compensation capacitor Cc. Therefore, if the bias current source IBS is increased or the compensation capacitor Cc is decreased, the slew rate of the operational amplifier OPAMP can be effectively enhanced. However, the increasing of the bias current source IBS will consume more power and the decreasing of the compensation capacitor Cc will cause poor stability. The more power consumption and poor stability will largely affect the normal operation of the entire system.
Therefore, the invention provides an output buffer applied in a source driver of a liquid crystal display to solve the above-mentioned problems occurred in the prior arts.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A contaminated medium (such as soil and/or groundwater) contaminated with petrogenic and/or other organic contaminants such as petroleum hydrocarbons, light non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs), dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs), persistent organic pollutants (i.e. sulfolane), chlorinated compounds, and volatile organic compounds, can be mixed with enhanced stimulators and be thermally remediated. The enhanced stimulators are heat induced to undergo exothermic reactions, which initiate a series of in-situ chemical reactions to such as to produce hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas causes hydrocracking of heavy hydrocarbons to produce light hydrocarbons which can be recovered such as for future use.

In recent years, the treatment of residual and historical wastes from various sources have become a priority for many industries. Due to increasing public awareness and media attention, the exploration, implementation, and importance of cost-effective and environmental friendly approaches for cleaning up sites contaminated with organic contaminants such as petrogenic hydrocarbons has increased significantly, as a mechanism to demonstrate social accountability and environmental sustainability and reduce environmental risk from contaminant exposure and migration, for example.
The environmental remediation industry interested in remediation of contaminated mediums, such as soil and groundwater, have adopted many and various methodologies for treating contaminated soil and/water media. A common practice for remediating soil is either to bury or incinerate (thermal remediation) the contaminated medium (ie. soil or subsurface materials). Burying contaminated media has its obvious disadvantages, mainly that petrogenic contaminants remain mixed with the medium and typically are not removed. Therefore, typically burying contaminated medium only covers up the mess and removes it from visible sight.
Incineration of contaminated soil also has its disadvantages. While combustion of contaminated soil media usually removes substantially all the petrogenic contaminants, it typically also removes all naturally occurring organic carbons such as phytogenic organics as well. In essence, incineration of contaminated medium results in nothing but ash. Further, incineration typically requires input of a large amount of energy. Combustion gases, such as CO2, are typically also released into the atmosphere, which may contribute to global warming and may attract additional costs such as in relation to carbon emissions.
Recently, newer technologies related to thermal remediation of contaminated media have been investigated. For example, microwave heating is a relatively new remediation method, which utilizes electromagnetic (EM) waves to thermally decontaminate contaminated soil or water. A key requirement of microwave remediation is the complete penetration and activation within the treatment medium, whereby the heat created penetrates the interior of the contaminated medium.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,889 discloses a system for remediating a medium using a microwave energy source. A portable apparatus for dielectrically heating a medium comprises a microwave energy source having a preselected microwave frequency for emitting microwave energy.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,400 discloses a tandem microwave waste disposal system having two combustion chambers used for disposal of waste media, the first one in communication with a source of microwaves, and a second combustion chamber having an input region in communication with a first end of a hollow conduit.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,943 introduces an apparatus for the removal of higher and lower volatility organic contaminants from media such as soil. It includes a screw conveyor with an inlet, an outlet and one or more solid core flights. At least one IR source, located on the external side of the screw conveyor, is adapted to heat the media. A continuous process for removing volatility organic contaminants from soil includes agitating, manipulating, and transporting the contaminated media.
Photo-catalytic Purification and Remediation of Contaminated Air and Water, David F. Ollis, 2000 discloses approaches to increase the efficiency of light and catalyst utilization by adding oxidants (hydrogen peroxide), metal ions (silver) and periodic illumination. Hydrogen peroxide enhanced reaction rates by increasing the slow step of trapped electron removal. It diminished electron-hole recombination and increased the selective consumption of holes for surface oxidations. Metal ions increased some rates and catalyzed the electron transfer to molecular oxygen. Periodic illumination provided an increased photo-efficiency by factors up to 5-10 fold.

Remediation of contaminated soil and water using enhanced stimulators


The invention provides novel compounds having the general formula (I)

Kinins belong to a family of bioactive octa- to decapeptides generated from the inactive precursor kininogen in a stepwise proteolytic process in body fluids and tissues. Kinins are hormones formed by a group of 9-11 amino acid peptides, including bradykinin (BK), kallidin (KD/Lys-BK), and their active metabolites (des-Arg9-BK and des-Arg10-kallidin/Lys-des-Arg9-BK). The kinins play an important physiological role in inflammatory and nociceptive processes. The biological effects of BK and other kinins are mediated by two physiologically distinct G protein-couple receptors (GPCRs), termed BDKRB1 (B1R) and BDKRB2 (B2R). It is believed that under physiological conditions, the constitutively expressed B2R mediates the effects of circulating or locally generated kinins, since B1R is not expressed in normal tissues. The B2R is constitutively expressed in numerous cell types of the central and peripheral nervous systems, the vascular endothelium and inflammatory cells, and is activated by the short lived natural ligands, BK and kallidin (KD). Once synthesized, BK causes vasodilatation and increased vascular permeability by interaction with B2Rs. However, B2Rs are rapidly desensitized and internalized following binding and activation by the endogenous ligands. Catalytic degradation of kinins by enzymes including carboxypeptidase N and carboxypeptidase M yields des-Arg9-BK (DABK) and des-Arg10-kallidin/Lys-des-Arg9-BK, which preferentially activate the B1R. Although not expressed in normal tissues (or expressed at very low levels), the B1R is rapidly induced following bacterial infections, tissue injury and release of inflammatory mediators, and has been observed in sympathetic neurons, macrophages, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and the vascular endothelium. The endogenous B1R agonists, including des-Arg9-BK and des-Arg10-kallidin/Lys-des-Arg9-BK, are relatively long-lasting peptides. Moreover, the B1R does not undergo rapid desensitization and internalization after stimulation. Once upregulated, B1R activity persists in damaged or inflamed tissues and is thought to participate in prolonging the pathological response to kinins. Thus, the B1R has been implicated in maintaining chronic pain, vasodilation, plasma extravasation, neutrophil recruitment and further release of inflammatory mediators, such as IL-β, TNF-α and IL-6 which sustain a positive feedback loop between B1R expression and inflammation. The proposed upregulation of B1R only under pathological conditions, including inflammation, trauma, burns, shock, and allergy, makes B1R a particularly attractive drug target.
The proposed role of kinins in mediating pain and inflammation has propelled interest in the discovery of potent and selective BK antagonists. Recent evidence suggests that bradykinin receptors may also play an important role in a number of pathological processes or diseases, including ischemia-reperfusion injury, diabetic retinopathy, atherosclerosis, renal disease. Hence, there is an urgent need for novel compounds that are effective in blocking or reversing activation of bradykinin receptors. Such compounds would be useful in the management of pain and inflammation, as well as in the treatment or prevention of diseases and disorders mediated by bradykinin; further, such compounds are also useful as research tools.

Abstract: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, A1, A2 and n are as described herein, compositions including the compounds and methods of using the compounds.


The disclosure provides among other things an assay method that compensates for the presence of endogenous antibodies, e.g., autoantibodies, which might otherwise compromise the measurement of an analyte in a biological sample. In one embodiment, this method entails the use of a two labeled entities: a labeled detection agent and a labeled species-specific antibody, wherein the labeled species-specific antibody is specific for the species from which the biological sample was obtained. Sample analyte is bound by the detection agent and any anti-analyte autoantibodies present in the sample. Analyte bound by autoantibodies is detected via the species-specific antibody, optionally labeled.

Many patients have circulating antibodies to analytes of clinical interest. Conventional sandwich immunoassays, which include two or more analyte-specific antibodies, are subject to interference from analyte-reactive endogenous antibodies (e.g., autoantibodies). For example, when the assay antibodies and the endogenous antibodies bind to the same or overlapping regions of the analyte, the endogenous antibodies will compete for binding with the endogenous antibodies, leading to erroneously low results. This interference by endogenous antibodies can produce false negative results, such that individuals at risk for, or suffering from, a particular disease fail to be diagnosed.
In view of the importance of accurate detection of analytes of clinical interest, there clearly remains a need for assays, methods, and kits, and components thereof which avoid, minimize or overcome interference by endogenous antibodies.
This background information is provided for the purpose of making known information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present disclosure. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present disclosure.

Immunoassay of analytes in samples containing endogenous anti-analyte antibodies


A data processing system and method of using said data processing system for assessing and managing risk is disclosed. The preferred embodiment of the method includes the steps of identifying a set of risk elements; determining an importance for each said risk element; identifying any subrisks associated with said risk elements; identifying one or more control procedures for each said subrisk element; assigning weights to each said control procedure; rating compliance with each said control procedure and calculating an overall weighed compliance score. The method may further include the steps of for each non-fully compliant subrisk, allowing the user to determine whether to accept the risk or generate an action plan addressing the risk. The method may further preferably include calculating future compliance scores based on said action plans. The system further provides for sorting and displaying compliance scores by a number of parameters.

Many organizations worldwide have developed practices for internal control. The Institute of Internal Auditors' ("IIA") Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing (Standards) defines control as:                . . . any action taken by management to enhance the likelihood that established objectives and goals will be achieved. Management plans, organizes, and directs the performance of sufficient actions to provide reasonable assurance that objectives and goals will be achieved. (Section 300.06)
According to Specific Standard 300.05, the primary objectives of internal control are to ensure:                1. The reliability and integrity of information.        2. Compliance with policies, plans, procedures, laws, regulations, and contracts.        3. The safeguarding of assets.        4. The economical and efficient use of resources.        5. The accomplishment of established objectives and goals for operations or programs.
Many organizations have recognized the need for tracking the effectiveness of internal control practices. For example, according to the IIA's Professional Practices Pamphlet 97-2, Assessing and Reporting on Internal Control, the IIA supports the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, recommendation that organizations should report on the effectiveness and efficiency of the system of internal control.
One system of internal control, the Control Self-Assessment (CSA) methodology, was initially developed in approximately 1987 and is used by many organizations to review key business objectives, risks involved in achieving objectives, and internal controls designed to manage those risks. The IIA states that some CSA proponents have expanded this description to encompass potential opportunities as well as risks, strengths as well as weaknesses, and the overall effectiveness of the system in ensuring that the organization's objectives are met.
CSA approaches and formats may differ from one organization to another, however, the three primary CSA approaches are: facilitated team meetings (also known as workshops), questionnaires and management-produced analysis. Organizations may combine more than one approach. Facilitated team meetings gather internal control information from work teams that may represent multiple levels within an organization. The questionnaire approach uses a survey instrument that offers opportunities for simple yes/no or have/have not responses. Management-produced analysis is any approach that does not use a facilitated meeting or survey.
While existing methodologies and systems, such as the CSA, offer some structure in approaching the control of risk, to date, no system or methodology known to the applicants exists that properly quantities risks and the effectiveness of control procedures designed to address such risks. For example, many existing systems rely on a single weak link approach, without consideration of the significance of such link. If an assessor utilizing the weak link approach identifies a large number of processes associated with a risk element (e.g. business continuity), the presence of a single non-complaint process would red-flag the entire risk element, regardless of the significance of the non-complaint process. Thus, existing systems provide no mechanism for comparing results over time, nor are they reliable for providing a meaningful index of how well individual entities are measuring risk.
The method and system of the present invention addresses these and other limitations by utilizing a quantative weighted approach to evaluating risk. A three-tiered approach to evaluate risk is preferably used, dividing the system into: "Risks", "Subrisks," and "Control Procedures." An assessor is prompted through a series of screens to rate risks as "High," "Medium" and "Low." At the next level (the "Subrisk" level), a set of control procedures is provided. Each control procedure is rated by the assessor according to a number of categories, such as GREEN (full compliance), YELLOW (partial compliance), RED (non-compliance), or BLUE (not applicable). Control Procedures are assigned different weights because some risks are more critical than others. For items which are not fully compliant (e.g. items rated either YELLOW (partial compliance) or RED (non-compliance)), the assessor must either indicate that the risk is acceptable or create an action plan where deliverables are identified and target dates are established.
The system further provides a method of weighing, sorting and graphing displays which allows management to more easily identify significant areas of risk. This allows assessors to sort and view data in a number of ways, such as toy organization, business line, city and process. The display system further allows the user to "drill down" by clicking on high risk areas facilitating the identification of specific assessments which are having a significant impact on the risk rating.
Targets are derived from the Action Plans. A target is an index or measure which informs management of progress against action plans. Targets and actual results will be compared from quarter to quarter, to determine whether appropriate progress is being made against commitments.


Coffee whiteners prepared by using, as the aqueous phase thereof, a casein-containing milk protein solution that has been deamidated with a protein deamidating enzyme, exhibit excellent storage stability and dispersibility in coffee without the use of synthetic emulsifiers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to liquefied coffee whiteners comprising vegetable oil. In more detail, the present invention relates to coffee whiteners, which exhibit outstanding emulsification stability on storage without using a synthetic emulsifier, and in which the emulsification dispersibility at the time of adding the coffee whitener to hot drinks, such as coffee, is improved.
2. Discussion of the Background
A coffee whitener is a cream-like oil-in-water emulsion which is used for reducing a bitter taste, an astringent taste, and the like or giving a dense taste by adding it to coffee, tea, and the like. Usually, an edible oil, used as the main material, an emulsified liquid which is added with an emulsifier and, if necessary, added with a milk component, a thickener, flavor, etc. is emulsified by an emulsifying machine such as a high-pressure homogenizer superior in shear force, to thereby prepare the coffee whitener. While many coffee whiteners are kept refrigerated, it is required to be stable such that a separation (oil-off) of fatty oil and a denaturation (feathering) of milk protein due to the addition to hot coffee, tea, etc. do not occur when it is used. In order to secure the stability, usually, synthetic emulsifiers, such as glycerin fatty acid ester, propylene glycol fatty acid ester, sucrose fatty acid ester, sorbitan fatty acid ester, and poly glycerine fatty acid ester, are used so much.
However, the emulsifier has an inherent acerbity, bitter taste, etc., and there is a fault that excellent flavor, taste, and texture of a food to be used are impaired. In addition, generally, the emulsifier has poor solubility, it is necessary to agitate the emulsifier with heating at 60 to 70° C. for dissolving uniformly, and there is also a problem in the work. Furthermore, although a labeling of an "emulsifier" is needed for the food which uses an emulsifier in Japan, in recent years, it has been increased to provide a product without labeling an emulsifier because of an enhancement in consumers' healthy consciousness, so that it is desired to develop a food material which can replace the function of an emulsifier. Therefore, while there have been various attempts for replacing an emulsifier, such attempts are running positively especially in a baking field, however, there is almost no example in a coffee whitener.
So far, various things are indicated about the emulsifier which uses a protein derived from milk (milk protein) such as casein, milk whey protein, etc. as raw materials. For example, there are disclosures as follows: an emulsifier comprised of polypeptide which consists of 5 to 50 amino acids obtained from a reaction product acquired by making proteolytic enzyme act on all the caseins (see Japanese Patent Kokoku Publication No. JP2-968B); a milk protein surfactant characterized in that by making proteolytic enzyme act on milk protein, and partially hydrolyze to a degree of degradation into a range of 5 to 20% (see Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP01-160458A); and an oil-in-water emulsified oil composition characterized by containing a hydrolysate which contains the milk whey protein as the main ingredients hydrolyzed with an enzyme (see Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP02-257838A), etc. In addition, a method has been reported that an emulsification stability of a fat-containing food and the like is increased by combining an emulsifier and casein, for example, there are disclosures of the emulsion stabilizer for milk beverages containing a hydrophilic emulsifier, sodium caseinate and k-carageenan (see Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP06-253735A); an emulsion stabilizer for milk beverages comprising sucrose fatty acid ester, glycerin fatty acid ester, sorbitan fatty acid ester, glycerin succinic acid fatty ester and sodium caseinate as essential ingredients (see Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P06-125706A); a method, in which decomposed casein is contained, as an emulsion stabilizer (see Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2003-9785A) etc. However, all are combined use with a synthetic emulsifier, and there are no reports of completely substituting for the function of the synthetic emulsifier in a coffee whitener.
In the meanwhile, a protein deamidating enzyme, which acts directly on an amide group in proteins, is an enzyme which catalyzes a reaction of deamidation. Thereby it causes transformation of glutamine residue into glutamic acid residue to generate a carboxylic group, which results in an increase of negative charge, an increase of electrostatic repulsive force, a decrease of isoelectric point, an increase of hydration capability etc. of protein. As a result, it has been known that various improvements of functionalities such as an increase of solubility of protein and dispersion of protein in water, and an improvement of emulsification ability etc. are afforded (see Yamaguchi et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 66, p. 3337-3343 (2000); Eur. J. Biochem 268 p. 1410-1421 (2001); Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2000-50887A; Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2001-218590A; Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2003-250460A; WO 2006/075772; and WO 2009/154212). In addition, a method of using the protein deamidating enzyme in food products is disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2000-50887A; Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2003-250460A; WO 2006/075772; and WO 2009/154212. Among these prior Literatures, there is a description relating to an alteration of functional properties of wheat gluten, milk protein (mainly, whey protein) using the enzyme. It is also disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2000-50887A that good dispersbility and solubility and palate were shown when the coffee whitener prepared using the deamidated gluten treated with the protein deamidating enzyme showed a stable emulsion state and it was added to coffee. However, this coffee whitener is what is manufactured using monoglyceride and polysorbate which are synthetic emulsifiers, and it is actually related to the method to improve the solubility and dispersibility of gluten, and it is definitely not suggested to manufacture a coffee whitener in which synthetic emulsifier is not used.
Moreover, the treatment with the protein deamidating enzyme is recognized to effect a change in higher-order structure of protein accompanying the increase in a negative charge of protein and an increase in surface hydrophobicity, and it leads to an increase in an emulsification ability. However, since the casein which is the main milk protein inherently has a random coil configuration with low regularity and amphiphilic structure, it is known as a protein which is more excellent in emulsification ability for many years. Therefore, there are scarcely examples which aimed at an improvement of the emulsifying function of the milk protein using this enzyme anew. It is also disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-P2000-50887A that the deamidated casein shows high solubility under existence of high concentrated calcium. In addition, a method to use the protein deamidating enzyme for yogurt, cheese, and a pudding is disclosed in WO 2006/075772, and a method of manufacturing the starch-containing food, in which color, gloss and texture are good and the time degradation after cooking was controlled, by adding the milk which was treated with the protein deamidating enzyme to a starch-containing food such as bread and sauce is disclosed in WO 2009/154212. However, in the manufacture of the coffee whitener, any example which uses the protein deamidating enzyme has not yet reported so far as an attempt for especially substituting for a synthetic emulsifier.
Thus, there remains a need for improved coffee whiteners.

Coffee whitener, process for producing same, and process for producing beverage


A system and method of guiding a remote aerial vehicle toward a designated target includes an imaging sensor which generates sequential video images of the target area from the remote aerial vehicle and transmits the images to a control center via the video portion of a communications data link. The control center receives and displays the plurality of video images on a video display. An image selection signal is generated at the control center and transmitted to the remote aerial vehicle for commanding the imaging sensor to continuously transmit one of the sequential video images. A target designation signal, corresponding to the azimuth and elevation of the desired target on the continuously displayed video image, is generated and transmitted via a command portion of the data link to the remote aerial vehicle. The target designation signal is processed and an updated target position is computed to compensate for time delays. A tracker tracks the updated target position to thereby guide the remote aerial vehicle toward the designated target. The video images and the target designation signal may be transmitted at low bandwidth frequencies to a satellite and relayed to the control center and the remote aerial vehicle respectively.

MITL control of remote aerial vehicles provides a level of accuracy and real-time adaptability which fully autonomous systems generally cannot provide. Thus, MITL control is commonly used to designate a desired target for an airborne missile. MITL control of an airborne missile is typically accomplished by a terminal sensor mounted in the nose of the missile which transmits sequential video images of the target area, via the video portion of a communications data link, to a control center.
The control center is equipped to receive and display the sequential video images to an operator. The operator designates the target, or aimpoint, from the video images on the display. The position of the target on the display is then transmitted, in the form of a target designation signal, to the missile via the command portion of the data link.
In some cases, the operator is required to actually fly the missile to the designated target by continuously attempting to center the target on the video display. While in other cases, once the target is designated, the terminal sensor on the missile provides the necessary steering signals to guide the missile to the target. In the case in which the terminal sensor guides the missile, a guidance tracker typically provides a measure of the relative angular velocity between the missile and the target. The relative angular velocity is then used by the on-board guidance and navigation computer to fly the missile to the target.
Although MITL control has been used to successfully designate targets in various missile systems, conventional MITL control methods suffer from a number of deficiencies. Individually, and as a whole, these deficiencies reduce the overall effectiveness and user-friendliness of the missile system.
Most importantly, the inherent time delays in the data link between the missile and the control center may cause the MITL control loop to become unstable. In a conventional MITL system, the operator typically issues angular rate commands to the missile to position the terminal sensor over the target. Because of the time delay between designation of the target and the response of the terminal sensor, the operator generally issues azimuth and elevation gimbal rate commands which are greater than necessary to point the terminal sensor toward the target. When this happens, the sensor may overshoot the target, resulting in a pointing error. The operator is then likely to once again input gimbal rate commands which are greater than necessary to correct the overshoot and return the sensor to the proper pointing position. Each time the operator attempts to correct the cumulative overshoot, the gimbal rates diverge farther from the rates necessary to point the terminal sensor toward the designated target. As a result, the control loop becomes unstable. Even if the inherent time delays do not cause the control loop to become completely unstable, their effect is to destabilize the target designation process, and thus, they reduce the overall effectiveness of the MITL missile system.
For missiles which include a terminal sensor having a guidance tracker for providing steering signals to guide the missile to the desired target, the target which is tracked may not be the same as the target designated by the operator. For example, some trackers, known in the art as centroid trackers, provide steering signals to guide the missile to the centroid of a defined area in the image of the target. Typically, the geometry of the defined area is determined by thermal contrast of the target area as measured by infra-red sensors. The operator, however, may have selected a particular feature, other than the centroid, as the target. Although other guidance trackers define the image of the target differently, they often share the same characteristic error. As a result, they too can guide the missile to a target other than the designated target. In many cases, designating a desired target within the defined area of the target image is further complicated by characteristics of the target itself, the weather, and other uncontrollable variables.
Another problem inherent with conventional systems for MITL control is that the video images provided to the operator are generally not stable. Individual images are typically transmitted from the missile to the control center at a rate of from about ½ to about 30 frames per second. At the same time, the terminal sensor is continually subjected to the destabilizing forces generated by the flight of the missile. Accordingly, even at faster transmission rates, the images displayed to the operator can appear to flicker on the display. The flickering images on the display increase the skill level of the operator necessary to effectively designate the desired target.

System and method for designating a target for a remote aerial vehicle


Provided are phytase mutants, preparation methods therefor and uses thereof, DNA molecule encoding each of the phytase mutants, a vector comprising the DNA molecule, and a host cell comprising the vector.

Phytase is a type of phosphatase enzyme and can hydrolyze phytate phosphorus (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate) into myo-inositol and inorganic phosphate. There are two types of phytase: 3-phytase (EC 184.108.40.206) and 6-phytase (EC 126.96.36.199). Phytase is widely spread in nature, occurring in plants, animals and microorganisms, including higher plants such as maize and wheat, prokaryotic microbes such as Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas, Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli and eukaryotic microbes.
Phytate phosphorus is a major component of all plant seeds, constituting 1%-3% by weight of many cereals, beans and oil seeds and typically accounting for 60%-80% of the total phosphorus. However, mono gastric animals metabolize only 0%-40% of the phytate phosphorus since they lack digestive enzymes for phytate, which results in a number of problems. First of all, phosphorus source are wasted. On the one hand, phytate phosphorus source in feed cannot be efficiently utilized; on the other hand, in order to ensure that the animals' requirement for phosphorus, it is necessary to add inorganic phosphorus in feed, which increases the feed costs. Secondly, the excreta with high phosphorus pollute the environment. 85% of the phytate phosphorus in feed will be directly excreted by animals, and the excreta containing high phytate phosphorus can lead to significant water and soil pollution. In addition, phytate phosphorus is also a kind of antinutrient, which binds to several metallic ions such as Zn2+, Ca2+, Cu2+ and Fe2+ and other proteins to form insoluble compositions, preventing or inhibiting the absorption of the nutrients in the gastrointestinal tract, and reduces the effective utilization of nutrients.
Phytase can be used as a feed additive for mono gastric animals, and the feeding effect has been confirmed worldwide. Phytase can improve the phosphorus availability of plant feeds by 60% and decrease the phosphorus excretion by 40%. Phytase also can counteract the anti-nutritional properties of phytate. Therefore, the addition of phytase in animal feed is helpful for improving the production efficiency of livestock and poultry industry and for reducing the environmental pollution caused by phytate.
There are two main kinds of phytase for industrial production, one of which is fungal phytase derived from Aspergillus niger and the other is bacterial phytase derived from E. coli. The phytase APPA derived from E. coli has high specific activity and good gastrointestinal stability, and can be used in the feed industry by addition to mash feed directly or spraying on pelleted feed.
Bacterial phytase APPA has lower heat stability, the retention rate of which was even less than 30% after being kept at 70 degree Celsius (° C.) for 5 minutes in water bath. Thus there is a restriction of adding phytase directly into feed processing due to its low tolerance to high temperature of 80-90° C. in feed pelleting period. However, there are still several disadvantages of applying liquid spraying technology using phytase, such as high equipment cost, less stability and uniformity of enzymes in the feed. Therefore it is of great importance to improve the thermostability of phytase for feed.


A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) structure magnetoresistive element includes an electrode layer contacting a magnetoresistive film. A low resistance region is defined to extend rearward along the boundary of the magnetoresistive film from the front end exposed at the medium-opposed surface of the head slider. A high resistance region is defined to extend rearward along the boundary from the rear end of the low resistance region. The high resistance region has a resistivity higher than that of the low resistance region. The high resistance region serves to restrict the path of a sensing current nearest to the medium-opposed surface. The sensing current is allowed to concentrate at a position closest to the medium-opposed surface in the magnetoresistive film. Magnetization sufficiently rotates in the magnetoresistive film near the medium-opposed surface. The CPP structure magnetoresistive element maintains a sufficient variation in the resistance. A sufficient sensitivity can be maintained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetoresistive utilizing a magnetoresistive film such as a tunnel-junction film, a spin valve film, or the like. In particular, the invention relates to a current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) structure magnetoresistive element allowing a sensing current to flow through a magnetoresistive film, overlaid on a datum plane, in a direction perpendicular to the datum plane.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A magnetoresistive film such as a spin valve film is well known. The spin valve film is layered on a predetermined datum plane. The magnetoresistive film is interposed between upper and lower electrodes in a CPP structure magnetoresistive element. A sensing current is allowed to flow between the upper and lower electrodes in the direction perpendicular to the datum plane.
The CPP structure magnetoresistive element is usually mounted on a head slider including a medium-opposed surface opposed to a magnetic recording medium, for example. The magnetoresistive film extends along an imaginary plane perpendicularly intersecting the medium-opposed surface in the head slider. When a magnetic field is applied to the magnetoresistive film from the magnetic recording medium, the magnetization rotates in the magnetoresistive film.
If the recording density will further be improved in the magnetic recording medium, the magnetic field from the magnetic recording medium is expected to get reduced. A magnetic field of a smaller intensity reduces the rotation of the magnetization in the magnetoresistive film at a position remoter from the medium-opposed surface. A reduced amount of the rotation in this manner induces a less sensitivity of the magnetoresistive element.

Current-perpendicular-to-the-plane structure magnetoresistive element having sufficient sensitivity


An apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate including a first photodiode to generate a first charge, a second photodiode to generate a second charge, a barrier layer between the first photodiode and the second photodiode, wherein the first photodiode, the barrier layer, and the second photodiode form a stack. The apparatus further includes a floating drain and one or more gates including: a first gate portion on the semiconductor substrate and a second gate portion extending from the front side surface through the first photodiode and reaching the barrier layer. The first gate portion is configured to conduct a first signal to control flow of charge from the first photodiode to the floating drain, and the second gate portion is configured to conduct a second signal to control the barrier layer to control the flow of the second charge.

The disclosure relates generally to image sensors, and more specifically to pixel cell that includes multiple photodiodes.
A typical pixel in an image sensor includes a photodiode to sense incident light by converting photons into charge (e.g., electrons or holes). The charge can be temporarily stored in photodiode during an exposure period. For improved noise and dark current performances, a pinned photodiode can be included in the pixel to convert the photons into charge. The pixel may further include a capacitor (e.g., a floating diffusion) to collect the charge from the photodiode and to convert the charge to a voltage. An image of a scene can be derived from the voltages developed at the capacitors of an array of pixels.

Multi-photo pixel cell having vertical gate structure


A new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant named ‘LVDIP1807’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; single bright pink-colored flowers; and good container performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name 'LVDIP1807'.
The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Vacaria, Brazil. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new strong and freely flowering Mandevilla plants with attractive flowers and good garden performance.
The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination in 2017 in Vacaria, Brazil of Mandevilla hybrida 'Fisrix Pinka' (trade name, Rio Pink), disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,644, as the female, or seed, parent with Mandevilla hybrida 'Amore Mio', not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Vacaria, Brazil in November, 2018.
Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by terminal stem cuttings in a controlled environment in Vacaria, Brazil since January, 2019 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


Provided are a stereoscopic display device capable of implementing a deep three-dimensional effect via a light source module having a thin thickness and a vehicle lighting device using the stereoscopic display device, the stereoscopic lighting device, including: a base substrate; a light source on the base substrate; a reflective layer disposed on one surface of the base substrate; a light guide layer burying the light source and the reflective layer; and a first half mirror layer disposed on the light guide layer.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present application relate to a stereoscopic lighting device capable of implementing a deep three-dimensional effect via a light source module having a thin thickness and a vehicle lighting device using the stereoscopic lighting device.
2. Background
A lighting device has been recently developed so as to implement stereoscopic lighting through a dot, line, or surface form. For example, a research and development has been performed for 3D stereoscopic lighting resulting from disposing a plurality of LED light sources in a three-dimensionally twisted fluorescent lamp or a three-dimensional structure beyond an incandescent light in a point light source form, a fluorescent lamp in a line light source form, and LED flat lighting in a surface light source form
The 3D stereoscopic lighting is lighting resulting from arranging a plurality of light sources in a 3D structure and turning on the plurality of light sources three-dimensionally arranged in various forms. The 3D stereoscopic lighting has been applied to the external wall of a building, a lighting device for a vehicle, or the like.
A stereoscopic lighting device for a vehicle applied to some luxury cars is configured so as to provide 3D stereoscopic lighting by disposing a plurality of LED light sources in a three-dimensional structure such as a step type structure installed along a curved surface of a vehicle and by reflecting light via a mirror formed in an inner side of the three-dimensional structure.
However, the conventional stereoscopic lighting device for the vehicle is disadvantageous in that a design and production process become complicated because the plurality of LED light sources is disposed in the three-dimensional structure in order to implement the 3D stereoscopic lighting, and production costs are increased because luminous intensity required by the vehicle should be fixed by covering a wide light emitting area of the stereoscopic lighting device via the LED light sources having a narrow glancing angle, and thus a large number of LED light sources should be used.
Also, in the conventional stereoscopic lighting device for the vehicle, since the 3D stereoscopic lighting is performed based on the three-dimensional structure, a plurality of LEDs should be densely disposed between the three-dimensional structures in order to form natural 3D stereoscopic lighting, or a complicated structure and control process are needed for brightly or darkly controlling the luminous of lighting emitted from the plurality of LEDs. Thus, it is disadvantageous in that this environment causes an increase in costs.

Stereoscopic lighting device and vehicle lighting device using the same


A camshaft adjusting means for an internal combustion engine includes an adjusting mechanism which is configured as a three-shaft gear mechanism having a drive side into which the drive moment for the camshaft is introduced, an output side which is connected fixedly to the camshaft so as to rotate with it, and an adjusting shaft which is coupled to a drive motor and via which a moment which brings about the relative rotation of the drive side with respect to the output side is introduced into the adjusting mechanism. The adjusting mechanism having one bearing point on each of its drive side and its output side and being mounted via the bearing points with respect to the component which supports the camshaft, in particular the cylinder head of the internal combustion engine. The adjusting shaft is guided into the adjusting mechanism through one of the bearing points.

DE 10 2005 018 956 A1 or DE 102 48 355 A1 has disclosed an electric camshaft adjuster of an internal combustion engine. The camshaft is driven at half speed from the crankshaft, to which end a camshaft drive gear of the camshaft is coupled to the crankshaft. An adjusting mechanism between the camshaft and the camshaft drive gear permits an adjustment of the phase position of the camshaft drive gear and the camshaft. The adjusting mechanism can be configured, for example, as a double planetary gear mechanism or as a harmonic drive mechanism.
The adjusting motor (electric motor) for the adjusting mechanism, which adjusting motor is mounted fixedly on the internal combustion engine, makes a radial balancing clutch necessary between the motor shaft of the electric motor and the input shaft of the adjusting mechanism, as is shown in DE 10 2005 018 956 A1.
DE 103 52 255 A1 discloses a camshaft adjuster having an adjusting drive which is configured as a three-shaft gear mechanism. The electric motor is arranged spatially separately from the adjusting shaft of the adjusting mechanism; the adjusting moment is transmitted by a flexible shaft. One variant provides that the motor and the motor shaft lie parallel to the camshaft and the adjusting moment is introduced via a secondary drive which is configured as a chain drive, belt drive or the like.


A reamer for preparing a spinal upper facet to facilitate insertion of combined screw/washer implant, preventing bone damage and facet weakening, and also allowing possibility to place grafting so as to maximize implant stabilization. The reamer has shallow outer cutting surfaces to cut a groove for spike insertion; deep inner cutting surfaces to cut a cortical-penetrating bore for insertion of the screw, and a flat therebetween to limit penetration of these cutting surfaces.

The vertebrae in a patient's spinal column are linked to one another by an intevertebral disc and facet joints. This three joint complex controls the movement of the vertebrae relative to one another. Each vertebra has a pair of articulating surfaces located on its left side, and a pair of articulating surfaces located on its right side, and each pair includes a superior articular surface and an inferior articular surface. Together the superior and inferior articular surfaces of adjacent vertebrae form a facet joint. Facet joints are synovial joints, which means that each joint is surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue and produces a fluid to nourish and lubricate the joint. The joint surfaces are coated with cartilage that allow the joints to move or articulate relative to one another.
Diseased, degenerated, impaired, or otherwise painful facet joints and/or discs can require surgery to stabilize the spine and relieve pain in the three joint complex. In the lumbar spine, for example, one form of treatment to stabilize the spine and relieve pain involves fusion of the facet joint.
One known technique for stabilizing and treating the facet joint involves a trans-facet fusion, in which pins, screws or bolts penetrate the lamina to fuse the joint. Such a technique has associated with it the risk of further injury to the patient, as such translamina facet instrumentation can be difficult to place in such a way that it does not violate the spinal canal and/or contact the dura of the spinal cord or the nerve root ganglia. Further, trans-facet instrumentation has been known to create rotational distortion, lateral offset, hyper-lordosis, and/or intervertebral foraminal stenosis at the level of instrumentation.
Examples of facet instrumentation currently used to stabilize the lumbar spine include trans-lamina facet screws ("TLFS") and trans-facet pedicle screws ("TFPS"). TLFS and TFPS implants provide reasonable mechanical stability, but, as noted above, they can be difficult to place, have long trajectories, and surgical access can be confounded by local anatomy. In some instances, these implants can result in some degree of foraminal stenosis.
US Patent Publication 2008-0255622 (DePuy Spine), the specification of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses spinal implants and methods relating to stabilization and/or fusion of a facet joint via trans-facet and intra-facet delivery of the implants. In general, the implant functions as a sort of mechanical staple and/or key that prevents sliding motion between the diarthroidal surfaces of the facet joint. Further, the spinal implant can include a fusion-promoting bioactive material thereby providing for a single spinal implant capable of allowing for both fixation and fusion of a desired facet joint. In particular, it discloses facet fixation and fusion washer and screw assemblies.
It is an object of the present invention to prepare the spinal upper facet to facilitate insertion of such combined screw/washer implants, thereby preventing bone damage and facet weakening, and also allowing the placing of graft therein so as to maximize implant stabilization.
The art discloses a number of bone reamers.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,008,430 (Dong) discloses a positioning tool for a joint socket cutting instrument or an implant for use with a minimally invasive surgical procedure and in conjunction with a computer assisted surgical procedure. The positioning tool has a longitudinally extending drive shaft having a moveable joint at a first end and a drive coupling for connecting to a power source at a second end. A holder for mounting a cutting tool such as a drill or as an acetabular cutting instrument or for mounting an acetabular implant is coupled to the moveable joint at the first end of the drive shaft for movement with respect to the drive shaft. The holder is rotatable about a central axis thereof when the drive shaft is rotated. The drive shaft includes a shaft bearing mounted thereon which is pivotally coupled to the shaft at a fixed longitudinal position and is pivotally coupled to a longitudinally extending first arm having a handle. A tracker system which is capable of being utilized by a computer-aided surgical system is mounted on the first arm. A second arm is provided which is pivotally connected to the holder at a first end and pivotally connected to the first arm at a second end. The resulting four bar linkage allows the holder and the cutting instrument/implant to be manipulated in any position while the known geometric relationship between the tracker and the holder allows the location of the holder to be displayed by the computer on a cathode ray tube with respect to a joint.
PCT Patent Publication WO 2006/105000 (Chervitz) discloses a reamer designed to engage a guide member, such as a guide wire, implanted in bone at any of a plurality of relative orientations such that the resulting resection of the bone does not depend on the relative orientation. The reamer may have a shaft that receives torque and a reaming head with a cavity into which a protruding portion of the guide wire is insertable. The cavity may have a generally conical shape capable of receiving the guide wire at a variety of relative orientations. The orientation of the reaming head is determined not by that of the guide wire, but by a stationary frame to which the reamer is coupled. The reamer may optionally have an offset assembly that causes the reaming head to rotate about an axis displaced from that of the shaft to reduce the size of the incision required to reaming head.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,553,313 (Bagby) discloses an apparatus for preparing a spinal implant surgical site for receiving a spinal fusion implant. The apparatus includes a drive shaft, a handle, and a hollow, cylindrical cutting body. The handle is carried by the drive shaft, the hollow, cylindrical cutting body is provided at a leading end of the drive shaft. The cylindrical cutting body has an open leading end, a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart cutting teeth provided on the open leading end, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart gullets each provided between an adjacent pair of the cutting teeth.

Preparatory reamers for orthopedic implants


A display apparatus including a transistor and a light-emitting device electrically connected to the transistor, where the transistor includes a conductive film. The conductive film may be included in the gate wiring of the transistor or in one of the source and drain wirings of the transistor. The conductive film also includes iron or lead to provide radiation-absorbing. The display apparatus may also include a transistor including an insulating film including iron.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display apparatus using a semiconductor device (typically a transistor) as a fundamental component, and in particular to a technical field related to display devices such as an electroluminescence display apparatus, a liquid crystal display apparatus, and a field-emission display apparatus and a technical field related to an electronic equipment in which the display apparatus is installed in an image display part.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, developments of liquid crystal display apparatus and electroluminescence display apparatus, in which transistors such as thin film transistors and MOS transistors are integrated on substrates, have been advanced. Each of them is characterized in that transistors are built on a glass substrate by means a thin-film forming technology and these transistors are placed on the respective pixels being arranged in matrix to provide the display apparatus with the function of displaying an image.
Referring to FIG. 11, there is illustrated the configuration of a typical active-matrix electroluminescence display apparatus. In FIG. 11, the reference numeral 1101 denotes a substrate on which thin film transistors 1102 are formed. Each thin film transistor 1102 is connected to a pixel electrode 1103 that acts as an anode of a light-emitting device . In addition, an insulating film 1104 is formed on the pixel electrode 1103. The insulating film 1104 has an opening at a position corresponding to the pixel electrode 1103. Furthermore, a metal film 1106 functioned as a cathode of each of a luminous body 1105 and a light-emitting device is placed over these structural components. Consequently, the electroluminescence display apparatus is configured as described above, so that an image display can be attained with light emission by a current injection to the luminous body 1105.
In this case, such an electroluminescence display apparatus may be fabricated in the usual process up to the formation of the pixel electrode 1103 and the insulating film 1104. In the case of using an organic compound as the luminous body 1105, alternatively, a film-forming method to be used may be a deposition method, an application method, an ink-jet method, or a printing method. Moreover, the formation of the metal film 1106 on these structural components is performed using a deposition method or a spattering method because the heat resistance of the luminous body 1105 is as low as 100° C. or less.
The present inventors found that an abnormal threshold voltage could be observed on the thin film transistor in the electroluminescence display apparatus configured as shown in FIG. 11, which was fabricated in the process of research and development. As a result of investigating the causes of such a phenomenon, the present inventors found that there was a large shift of threshold voltages (VG) before and after the formation of a metal film to be provided as a cathode by means of an electron-beam deposition method. The results are shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B. The data shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B are represented by characteristic curves of the drain voltage and gate voltage characteristics (hereinafter, referred to as ID-VG characteristics) of the thin film transistors before and after the formation of the metal film to be provided as a cathode. As is evident from FIGS. 12A and 12B, the threshold voltages of the thin film transistors after the formation of the cathode were shifted about 4 volts to the minus side, compared with the threshold voltages before the formation. Moreover, it was also confirmed that the value S (subthreshold coefficient) indicated an increase (i.e., deterioration) in the steepness of switching characteristics.
It could be considered that the threshold voltage and the value S were substantially changed as a result of causing damage on the thin film transistor at the time of forming the cathode.
The causes of abnormal characteristics of the thin film transistor may include malfunctions of the thin film transistor by damages caused by radiation and a deterioration of the thin film transistor by the generation of electrons or interface state density. The malfunction of the thin film transistor by damages caused by radiation is well known in persons skilled in the art. Generally, the malfunctions may be classified three types: the generation of positive charges caused in the oxide film by irradiation with of a radioactive ray (e.g., gamma ray, neutron, or X ray); the generation of an interface state density of the Si—SiO2 interface; and the generation of neutral electron trap in the oxide film. For malfunctions of transistors caused by radiation damages, the details are described in the publication entitled "Silicon thermal oxide film and Its Interface" (Kenji Taniguchi et al. Ed., pages 167 to 182, published on Jul. 31, 1991 from Realize Co., Ltd., Japan).
Furthermore, in the film formation using an electron beam deposition, it is generally known that radiation (typically X ray) is generated from a metal molten by irradiation with an electron beam. Thus, the present inventors suspected that abnormal characteristics of the thin film transistor (i.e., the threshold voltage thereof was shifted to the minus side) could be observed as a result of the generation of positive charges or the generation of interface state density caused on the gate insulating film or the like of the thin film transistor by the radiation caused at the time of the electron beam deposition.

Display device having TFT with radiation-absorbing film

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


The present invention provides methods, compositions, and combinations for treating cancer via combined use of a compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, solvate and/or prodrug thereof, wherein A, Q, n, m, R7, R8, V, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, and X7 are as defined herein, and at least one therapeutically active agents selected from immunotherapeutics, anticancer agents, and anti-angiogenics.

A variety of tetracyclic quinolone compounds have been suggested to function by interacting with quadruplex-forming regions of nucleic acids and modulating ribosomal RNA transcription. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,928,100 and 8,853,234. Specifically, the tetracyclic quinolone compounds can stabilize the DNA G-quadruplexes (G4s) in cancer cells and thereby induce synthetic lethality in cancer cells. Since treatment of cells with G4-stabilizing agents can lead to the formation of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), DSB formation induced by G4-stabilizing ligand/agent (such as the tetracyclic quinolones) treatment would be more pronounced in cells genetically deficient in, or chemically inhibited in, repair pathways including both non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), homologous recombination repair (HRR). Furthermore, the tetracyclic quinolone compounds selectively inhibit rRNA synthesis by Pol I in the nucleolus, but do not inhibit mRNA synthesis by RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) and do not inhibit DNA replication or protein synthesis. For example, it is suggested that targeting RNA polymerase I (Pol I) to activate p53 through the nucleolar stress pathway may results in selective activation of p53 in tumor cells. The p53 protein normally functions as a tumor suppressor by causing cancer cells to self-destruct. Activating p53 to kill cancer cells is a well validated anticancer strategy and many approaches are being employed to exploit this pathway. Selective activation of p53 in tumor cells would be an attractive method of treating, controlling, ameliorating tumor cells while not affecting normal healthy cells. The aforementioned tetracyclic quinolones are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,928,100 and 8,853,234, and the contents of this publication are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety for all intended purposes.
Despite the recent development of anti-cancer agents, there is still a strong need for developing effective novel cancer therapy.

Combination therapy of tetracyclic quinolone analogs for treating cancer


Heat pump equipment comprising at least three heat exchangers, one of which is intended to be located in an enclosed region and the other two of which are intended to be located outside the enclosed region. Each heat exchanger has a delta connection end connected in heat-exchange fluid communication with a delta arrangement. The delta connection end of each heat exchanger is connected to both of the delta connection ends of the other two heat exchangers via the delta arrangement. There are three fluid-expansion devices, one between the two connections of each pair of adjacent connections of the heat exchangers to the delta arrangement.

The present invention relates to heat pump equipment.
In previously proposed heat pump equipment, means have been provided to enable heat exchangers outside a building to be defrosted even while the equipment is being used to transfer heat from outside the building into its interior, in the form of more than one pressure drop and complex solenoid operated valve systems. This has made the equipment relatively expensive, and, because of its complexity, relatively difficult to diagnose any malfunction occurring within the equipment.
A first aspect of the present invention seeks to obviate this disadvantage.
Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention is directed to heat pump equipment comprising at least three heat exchangers, one of which is intended to be located in an enclosed region and the other two of which are intended to be located outside the enclosed region, in which each heat exchanger has a delta connection end connected in heat-exchange fluid communication with a delta arrangement, such that the delta connection end of each heat exchanger is connected to both of the delta connection ends of the other two heat exchangers via the delta arrangement, in which arrangement there are three fluid-expansion devices, one between the two connections of each pair of adjacent connections of the heat exchangers to the delta arrangement.
Such equipment has the advantage that heat-exchange fluid can be directed to flow from the two outside heat exchangers to the inside heat exchanger, or alternatively from the inside heat exchanger to the two outside heat exchangers, and for defrosting of either one of the outside heat exchangers, fluid can be directed to flow from both that one of the outside heat exchangers and the inside heat exchanger to the other outside heat exchanger via the delta arrangement.
To achieve this, there is preferably one compressor connected to receive heat-exchange fluid from and to feed heat-exchange fluid to the heat exchangers via a valve arrangement.
The valve arrangement may comprise a valve for each heat exchanger. Each valve may be a four-way valve.
Equipment embodying this first aspect of the present invention may be easier to service than previously proposed equipment. Use of the gas phase to effect defrosting of the outside coils allows defrost rates to be unaffected by gravity especially defrost rates of each path of multiple path heat exchangers if these are used. This speeds defrosting by an even distribution of heat. The path length does not need to be reduced when one of the outside heat exchangers is defrosted. This increases the maximum performance in the event that a refrigerant with a glide is used.

Abstract: The present invention extends to heat pump equipment comprising at least three heat exchangers connected in a heat-exchange fluid circuit, one of which heat exchangers is intended to be located in an enclosed region and another of which is intended to be located outside the enclosed region. A third one of the heat exchangers is arranged so that air which flows through an aperture in a wall which forms a boundary of the enclosed region passes over the said third heat exchanger.


A liquid control valve including a body comprising an inlet port, an outlet port, and an interior chamber, the body defining a liquid passageway between the inlet and outlet ports. Also included is a plunger comprising a groove provided on an external wall, the plunger being configured to reciprocate within the interior chamber of the body between a first position where the valve is closed and a second position where the valve is open. Also provided is a sealing arrangement within the groove configured to seal between the plunger and the interior chamber of the body. The sealing arrangement includes a first sealing element on the external wall of the plunger and spaced apart from an inner wall of the internal chamber, and a second sealing element on the inner wall of the internal chamber and spaced apart from the external wall of the plunger.

There are known liquid control valves such as float valves suitable for use with animal watering troughs and similar watering retaining vessels. Typically, such valves incorporate a sealing element, such as an O-ring, between a piston and a valve body. Friction is an issue that adversely affects the operation of a liquid control valve. Friction between the plunger and the body can prevent the valve from opening fully as the water level in a trough drops. The problem may be more severe if the float is not screwed directly to the end of the arm but instead attached by a cord as there is less weight available to open the valve.
Also, a noise problem can arise with valves controlling liquid under pressure such as a float valve controlling a mains pressure water supply to a reservoir, tank or similar. In some cases, the closing can cause water hammer and/or vibrations being set up causing undesirable noise as the valve closes.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a liquid control valve having a sealing arrangement which overcomes or ameliorates at least one disadvantage of the prior art, or at least provide the public with an useful choice.
Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description.


Methods and systems for efficiently processing input/output requests are provided. A network interface card (NIC) is coupled to a storage device via a peripheral link and accessible to a processor of a computing device executing instructions out of a memory device. The NIC is configured to receive a read/write request to read/write data; translate the read/write request to a storage device protocol used by the storage device coupled to the NIC; notify the storage device of the read/write request, without using the processor of the computing device, where the storage device reads/writes the data and notifies the NIC; and then the NIC prepares a response to the read/write request without having to use the processor of the computing device.

Computing devices (or systems) use mass storage devices to store data. Different storage options are available for computing devices to store data and retrieve data, for example, direct-attached storage (DAS), network attached storage (NAS), and storage area networks (SANs). A DAS system typically includes a plurality of storage drives/devices that are directly attached to a computing device (for example, a server) Common protocols used for DAS storage devices are SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface), ATA (AT attachment), SATA (Serial ATA), SAS (Serial Attached SCSI), NVMe (Non-Volatile memory express or the "Non-Volatile Memory Host Controller Interface" Specification), and others.
In conventional target systems, for processing input/output requests, a network packet is received by a network interface card (NIC) of a target and then delivered to a central processing unit (CPU) of the target system for processing. The CPU processes the packet, accesses the storage device and then sends a response to an initiator via the NIC. The operating rate of network and storage devices, continue to increase at a much faster rate than the rate at which CPUs are increasing their performance. Horizontally scaling server CPU operating rates is costly and can consume a lot of power. For example, to access a FLASH based storage over a 100 GbE at line speeds, one will need a very expensive and "high end server." Continuous efforts are being made to improve storage access.

Methods and systems for accessing storage using a network interface card


An exemplary method for manufacturing a heat sink includes steps: providing a base with a plurality of spaced protrusions formed thereon; providing a plurality of fins and bending a distal end of each fin to form a connecting end; fitting each fin between two adjacent protrusions correspondingly and attaching the connecting end of each fin to the base; and deforming each protrusion to press the connecting ends of two adjacent fins.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure generally relates to heat dissipations, and more particularly to a heat sink including a base and a plurality of fins combined together and a method for manufacturing the heat sink.
2. Description of Related Art
Heat sinks are used for removing heat from heat-generating electronic components such as central processing units (CPUs) and others. Thereby, heat sinks keep electronic components within safe operation, and enable the electronic components to operate steadily. A typical heat sink includes a base contacting an electronic component and absorbing heat therefrom, and a plurality of parallel planar fins attached to the base by soldering. The fins dissipate the heat to the ambient environment.
When the above-described heat sink is manufactured, soldering flux needs to be added between the fins and the base for convenient soldering. Specially, when the fins and the base are made of different materials, a prior process of nickel-plating may be required before the fins and the base are soldered together. Such process materials and manufacturing procedures make the assembly of the fins and the base costly and complicated.
What is desired, therefore, is a heat sink and a method for manufacturing the heat sink which can overcome the above described shortcomings.