A horizontal scaffold member having a primary end connector and a secondary end connector. Each end connector is configured to couple to a cup or rosette on a vertical scaffold member. Each end connector includes a wedge assembly having a handle and a wedge, movable with respect to the connector to a latched and unlatched position. The primary wedge assembly has a primary and tertiary handles, with the tertiary handles connected to the secondary wedge assembly by a cable, and configured so that moving the primary and tertiary handles simultaneously to an unlatched position also moves the secondary wedge assembly to an unlatched position.

In 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) reported 88 fatalities and many more non-fatal injuries occurred in the year 2007 related to the use of scaffolds. Twenty-seven percent (27%) of the fatalities, and many of the injuries, involved falls from over 25 feet high during the installation of welded frame scaffolds. Safety officials recommend that scaffolding falls be pre-empted through the use of sequential erection techniques. This involves installing guardrails and standards at regular distances along the scaffold such that the exposed platform edge is not greater than a bay length between intervals. The use of safety harnesses or belts tethered to guardrails during the erection process is also a recommended safety practice. However, the use of safety harnesses to deter fall injuries during scaffold erection is quite limited due to the components used in conventional scaffolds. The nature and design of conventional scaffold components, as described herein, disadvantageously do not allow the effective use of safety harnesses during the erection process.
Tube and coupler scaffolds are so-named because they are built from tubing connected by coupling devices. Due to their strength, they are frequently used where heavy loads need to be carried, or where multiple platforms must reach several stories high. Components of scaffolds include vertical standards having coupling rings or rosettes, horizontal components such as ledgers and guardrails coupled to the coupling rings or rosettes, footings, decks/platforms and diagonal braces. Their versatility, which enables them to be assembled in multiple directions in a variety of settings, also makes them difficult to build correctly.
Conventional scaffolding systems have various components. FIG. 1 illustrates a supported scaffold 100 consisting of one or more platforms supported by rigid support members such as poles, tubes, beams, brackets, posts, frames and the like. More specifically, the supported scaffold 100 includes the following components: a deck/platform 101, horizontal members or ledgers 102, and vertical members or standards 103. Additional components may include diagonal braces to increase the stiffness and rigidity of the scaffold 100.
FIG. 2 is an illustration of a vertical standard 103. Vertical standards are typically cylindrical tubes 200 comprised of hot-dip galvanized steel or aluminum. A collar with an expanded or reduced diameter or a spigot at either or both ends of the vertical standard facilitates the joining of vertical standards from end to end. Rosettes 201 are positioned and then welded or otherwise attached along the tubes providing connections for horizontal members and diagonal braces. The vertical standard can have from one to 8 or more rosettes placed along the tubing using a predetermined spacing between rosettes, for example, about every 20 inches.
FIG. 3 illustrates a conventional horizontal member or ledger 102. A ledger is a horizontal member that serves as both a guardrail and bracing element. The ledger 102 is comprised of tubing 300, heads 301 and wedges 302. Ledgers 102 are available in different lengths, depending on the scaffolding bay length, deck type and load. It is the conventional manner in which these ledgers are coupled to vertical standards that contribute to scaffolding falls as further described herein. Once the tubing on a level is installed, decks or platforms 101 made of, e.g., hot-dip galvanized steel, aluminum, wood or an aluminum frame with plywood board are installed to allow workers to traverse the scaffold 100 and install the guardrails (e.g., ledgers 102).
Referring now to FIG. 4, wedge 302 is shown being hammered into the slot or gap of head 301 at the end of a ledger 102 so as to couple it to the rosette 201 of the vertical standard 200. This must be done by a worker first at the proximate end of the ledger 102 and then at the distal end of the ledger 102. However, as the proximate end of the ledger 102 is being coupled to the vertical standard using the wedge 302, the distal end of the ledger 102 is free and uncoupled, that is, until the worker can traverse the platform to the distal end of the ledger 102 and hammer in a wedge 302 at the distal end. During this time, the distal end of the ledger 102 remains uncoupled from the vertical standard. Hence, if the installer is harnessed to the ledger 102 and the scaffold tilts toward the uncoupled, distal end, the installer may tumble down the platform and the safety harness will exit the uncoupled end of the ledger, providing no measure of safety to the installer.
Referring to FIG. 5, an embodiment of a prior art, cup-type latching connector is depicted. The latching connector shown in FIG. 5 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,307, which is hereby incorporated by reference (this particular cup-type latching connector is referred to herein as the "Safway™ System" scaffold). The Safway™ System scaffold features an end connector positioned on the end of a horizontal member, where the end connector has a lip or hook section that is designed to engage or rest on a corresponding vertical connector cup or annular ring positioned on a vertical scaffold member. As shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal scaffold member 1001 comprises an end connector 1000 having two, vertically spaced hook sections 1003. The hook sections 1003 are adapted to couple with two vertically spaced upstanding cup members 1102 located on the vertical scaffold member 1100. Each cup member 1102 has a surrounding annular lip 1103 to which the hook members 1003 of the end connector 1000 engage. To latch the end connector 1000 into engagement with the vertical scaffold member 1100, a wedge 1005 is driven (generally by a hammer) into position below—or on the underside of—the lower cup member 1102, thereby wedging the lower cup member 1102 against the lower hook section 1003 of the end connector 1000. As used herein, the term "latch" or "latching" refers to the action of securing a horizontal member to a vertical member, where the action of latching resists dislodgement of the horizontal member from the vertical member from an upwardly directed force.
Referring now to FIG. 6, an embodiment of another prior art, cup-type latching connector is depicted. The latching connector shown in FIG. 6 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,078,532 and 5,028,164 and in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/489,166, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties (these particular cup-type latching connectors referred to herein as the "Excel™ System" scaffold). As shown in FIG. 6, the Excel™ System scaffold features a horizontal scaffold member 2001 having an end connector 2000 positioned thereon. The end connector 2000 has two vertically spaced hooked sections 2003 and a pivoting member or latch 2005. Meanwhile, the vertical scaffold member 2100 has two vertically spaced, upstanding cup members 2102. The latch 2005 has a distal end extending away from the body of the horizontal scaffold member 2001, with the distal end being shaped to engage the bottom surface of the upper cup 2102. In operation, each cup member 2102 has a terminating edge or lip section 2103 that is engaged by the respective upper and lower hook sections 2003 of the end connector 2000. The latch 2005 will then be pivoted into position below the top cup member, engaging the bottom surface of the upper cup 2102. Hence, when latched, the cup 2102 is trapped between the upper hook section 2003 and the distal end of the latch 2005. The latch 2005 pivots on a pivot pin, and can be spring loaded to bias the latch into a locking or actuated position. The latch is operated by trigger or handle 2004. Single cup embodiments are also possible, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,048,093 (hereby incorporated by reference).
Duel trigger connectors also have been developed to increase the safety of prior art scaffold systems. Examples include those shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,881,869 and 9,303,417, both of which are incorporated by reference. These devices are designed to allow a single installer to insert and lock pivoting wedges at both ends of the horizontal member, and to release both ends substantially simultaneously if using the primary trigger, or to only release one end if using the secondary trigger. The two triggers are coupled by a cable, in a configuration where (1) pulling on the primary trigger releases the associated latch member and pulls the cable taunt, thus pulling and disengaging the secondary trigger and releasing its associated latch member, and (2) pulling on the secondary trigger releases the associated latch member but loosens the cable, thus leaving the primary trigger undisturbed and cable loosens the cable, thus leaving the primary trigger undisturbed and the associated latch member engaged. However, the primary latch may be disengaged inadvertently, an undesired result.
Referring now to FIG. 7, an embodiment of a prior art, dual-trigger latching connector is depicted. A horizontal member 600 extends between, and is coupled to, first and second vertical members 800. Each vertical member 800 has two cups 801. Each cup 801 has an upwardly raised annular lip portion 802 (generally an annular raised lip with an interior surrounding depression), and an underside 809 opposite the lip portion. The horizontal scaffold member 600 has a primary wedge head 601p defining a primary end connector 490, and a secondary wedge head 601s defining a secondary end connector 390 (where the "p" represents primary and the "s" represents secondary—in most instances only a single reference number, e.g. "601" will be used herein as the two components are substantially similar in the embodiments shown, and where clarity is required, the "p" and "s" designations will be utilized). In one embodiment, the wedge heads 601p, 601s shown are crimped hollow tubes coupled to the opposing ends of the horizontal member 600, with the interior of the horizontal member 600 communicating with the interior of the wedge heads 601. Each wedge head 601 has a hook portion 602 adapted to engage the lip section 802 of the cups 800. Contained in each wedge head 601 is a wedge head assembly 610, generally comprising a trigger portion 611 (sometimes referred to as a handle), and a wedge portion 612 connected to or integral with the trigger portion 611. In the embodiment depicted, the trigger and wedge portions are integrally formed and moveable within the interior of the wedge head (e.g., pivotable or slidable). Wedge head 601 has a front opening 690 facing the vertical member through which the wedge portion 612 can extend, and a rear opening 680 through which the trigger portion 611 can extend. Each wedge assembly is biased so that the wedge portion 612 is positioned in a closed or latched or locked position by using a biasing means, such as a spring 620. When in a latched position, the hook portion 602 of the wedge head 601 will be positioned adjacent or proximate to the underside 809 of the cup 801, thereby coupling the wedge head 601 to the cup 801 in a fashion to resist removal of the wedge head by an upward force. The wedge portion 612 of the wedge head assembly 610, when latched, may or may not make contact with the underside of the cup 801. It is not necessary that the wedge be in tight engagement with the underside of the cup, or even touch the cup underside. In some embodiments, it is preferred that the connection be loose, as the connection functions to trap the cup 801 between the wedge head's wedge portion 612 and the wedge head's hook engagement portion 602. The wedge head assembly 610 is considered "open" or "unlatched" or "unlocked' when the wedge 612 is positioned away or distal from the underside of a cup 801, (in relationship to the unlatched position, by rotating the wedge inwardly to the wedge assembly) so that when an upward lifting force is applied to a wedge head 601, the wedge head 601 is detachable or separable from the cup or rosette (as the wedge portion 612 is now not in a blocking position adjacent the underside of the cup).
Still referring to FIG. 7, a biasing means, such as a coil spring, is utilized to bias the wedge head assembly 610 into a latched position. The spring 620 has two ends, 620A and 620B, and a pivot point C. End 620A bears against a bottom plate 640 on wedge head 601, while end 620B bears against handle 611. Each end of the horizontal member 600 can be connected to a vertical member 800 by "snapping" the horizontal wedge head assembly 610 into place on the cup 801 of the vertical member 800. In this action, the horizontal member 600 is positioned with the top hook portion 602 clearing the raised lip 802 of the cup 801 (the bottom hook portion will also be positioned slightly above the raised lip of the lower cup). As the wedge head 601 is moved toward the vertical member 800, the wedge portion 612 will contact the side of the cup 801 and be moved to the open or unlaced position, as the spring 620 compresses. Once the hook portion 602 on the wedge head 601 is positioned directly above the raised lip 802, the wedge head 601 can be lowered until the lip sections 802 of the upper and lower cups contacts the respective upper and lower hook engagement portions 602. At this point, the wedge portion 612 will pivot forward by spring 620 until a segment of the wedge portion 612 is positioned below the cup 801, thereby latching the horizontal member 600 to the respective vertical member 800. Also, each wedge head 601 may be manually coupled to a vertical by an operator manually depressing handle 611, and then coupling the wedge head 601 to the cups 801, and then releasing handle 611.
A cable 700 (rope, chain or other flexible connector, but generally not substantially stretchable lengthwise, with a preferred embodiment being a ⅛ inch wire rope) runs through the hollow interior of the horizontal member 600. One end of cable 700 enters the interior of the primary wedge head 601p, and slides over a member 90p, such as a pin, pulley or other member, which may be rotatable in the wedge head interior. The cable 700 then extends downwardly and is attached to or is connected to the wedge assembly at the handle 611p. The other end of the cable 700 enters the interior of the secondary wedge head 601s (or secondary end connector 390), and slides over member 90s and then is connected to or attached to the wedge assembly at wedge 612. The members 90a and 90B may be dispensed with, but they are preferred to keep the cable 700 from binding in the respective wedge head 601. As shown, a first end of the cable 700 is connected to the trigger portion 611p in the primary wedge head 601p; while the second end of the cable 700 is connected to the wedge portion 612s in the secondary wedge head 601s. As a result, as the trigger portion 611p in the primary end connector 490 is depressed and pivoted downwardly (thereby unlatching the wedge portion 612p head in the primary connector), the cable 700 follows the trigger portion 611p downwardly. As a result, the wedge portion 612s in the secondary connector 390 is also pivoted or pulled away from the corresponding vertical member 800, and the connected trigger portion 611s compresses the respective spring 620s, thereby pivoting the secondary wedge head assembly 610s, against the spring bias, to the unlatched position. In this fashion, a single operator may thereby unlatch both wedge heads by the operation of only the primary trigger portion 611p. Operation of the primary trigger or handle on the primary end connector exerts a force on the secondary end connector to detach the secondary end connector from the second vertical member simultaneously with the detachment of the primary end connector from the first vertical member. When actuated, the primary trigger transmits force through a cable tension cable. As the cable is drawn downward in the primary connector, the other end of the cable is drawn toward the primary end connector by the tension in the cable. As the wedge is connected to the cable, the wedge is thus drawn to the unlatched position. Contra wise, as the secondary latch is dawn downward to unlatch the secondary connector, the cable's tension is lessened on the primary connector, and hence no forced is exerted to counterbalance the tension of the spring in the primary end connector. However, if the operator operates the secondary trigger portion 611s on the secondary end connector 390 to open or unlatch the secondary wedge portion 612s by depressing the secondary trigger portion 611s and pivoting the handle downwardly, such action will not open or unlatch the wedge portion 612p on the primary end connector 490. This occurs due to the different attachment points of the cable 700 to the primary and secondary wedge assemblies 610. The act of operating the secondary trigger portion 611s will not result in the spring 620p in the primary wedge head 610 being compressed as there is no force exerted on the primary spring in response to operation of the secondary trigger portion 611s in the secondary connector 390. As the secondary trigger portion 611s is drawn downward to unlatch the secondary connector 390, the cable's tension is lessened on the primary connector 490, and hence no forced is exerted to counterbalance the tension of the spring in the primary end connector. Preferably, the two trigger portions 611p and 611s are shaped differently (not shown) so that an operator may easily distinguish the primary end connector from the secondary end connector. An alternative embodiment of a prior art, dual-trigger latching connector is shown in FIG. 8.
Referring now to FIG. 12, another prior art, dual-trigger latching connector is depicted. The latching connector shown in FIG. 12 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,303,417, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. As disclosed therein, a cable 1101 is coupled to first and second linkage assemblies. A first end 1101B of the cable 1101 is coupled to a first handle 1103 of the first linkage assembly, and a second end 1101A of the cable 1101 is coupled to a second handle 1104 of the second linkage assembly via the pulley 1102. The first wedge head or end connector 1105 serves as a housing around portions of the first handle 1103, and the second wedge head or end connector 1106 serves as a housing around portions of the second handle 1104. As later used, the first end or wedge head 1105 and parts corresponds to the secondary end connector and the second end or wedge head 1106 and parts corresponds to the primary end connector. In operation, teeth 1103E and 1104E couple with openings or apertures in rosettes located on opposing vertical scaffold members, thereby supporting the horizontal member 1100 between the two opposing vertical scaffold members. Wedge portions of the handles, 1103B and 1104B can pivot between a latched position and an unlatched position. Springs 1110 and 1111 bias handles to the latched position, where the wedge ends 1103B and 1104B are positioned adjacent and below the rosette (when installed). In this configuration, when the horizontal member 1107 is coupled to two opposing vertical scaffold members, each tooth engages openings in the rosettes, with each tooth extending through the respective opening. One end of the respective wedge assemblies 1103B and 1104B are positioned below the respective rosette (such as near the tooth), thereby locking or trapping the horizontal member to the coupled rosette (e.g. an uplifting force on the horizontal will not disengage the horizontal from the coupled rosette). To unlatch a coupled wedge assembly (e.g. 1104B or 1103B), the respective wedge handle is pivoted downward or away from the horizontal member 1107, thereby compressing the respective biasing spring, and thus pivoting the respective wedge assembly (1104B or 1103B) inwardly, and away from the respective annular ring and tooth (either 1104E or 1103E), thereby allowing the respective end connector be lifted and disengaged from the rosette.
An inspection of the foregoing prior art, dual-trigger connectors shows that: (1) pulling on the primary trigger releases the associated latch member and pulls the cable taunt, thus pulling and disengaging the secondary trigger and releasing its associated latch member; and (2) pulling on the secondary trigger releases the associated latch member but loosens the cable, thus leaving the primary trigger undisturbed and the associated latch member engaged. Consequently, these prior art devices are designed to allow a single installer to release both ends of a horizontal scaffold member substantially simultaneously if using the primary trigger, or to only release one end if using the secondary trigger. However, with each of these prior art devices, the primary latch may be disengaged inadvertently, which is an undesired result.

Triple latching horizontal scaffold member with three triggers


Intramedullary nail for distraction of a long bone with an at least partially hollow shank extending in an axial direction of the intramedullary nail, locking element for locking the shank in a first bone fragment of the long bone, a first inner section which is arranged in axially movable manner within the shank and has a through hole orientated in the radial direction for accommodating a segment bolt for fixing a bone segment of the long bone, wherein the shank has an elongated hole in the area of the inner section for passing through of the segment bolt, an actuator for axially moving the first inner section, wherein a second inner section is arranged within the shank so as to be axially movable.

The invention relates to an intramedullary nail for distraction of a long bone and a modular system.
Intramedullary nails that enable distraction of long bones are known from the prior art. Two bone fragments, a distal fragment and a proximal fragment are displaced relative to one other by means of an intramedullary nail. It is intended for new bone to grow at the point of contact between the two bone fragments. This is achieved by selecting a rate of advance of the intramedullary nail that is sufficiently slow to allow distraction to take place.
It is also known from the prior art to use intramedullary nails that are capable of effecting segment transport, for example the prior art in DE 197 08 279 C2 may be cited here. Such segment transport enables the treatment of large bone defects, of more than 3 cm for example, such as can occur as a consequence of disease or through the effect of force. Large bone defects can also occur in surgical procedures necessitated by bone tumours, and these may also be treated with an intramedullary nail with segment transport depending on the severity of the disease.
A fundamental challenge in the case of intramedullary nails with segment transport is the fixing of the ends of the intramedullary nail in the proximal bone fragment and in the distal bone fragment. Another challenge is stabilisation against rotation.
Thus, DE 197 08 279 C2 suggests a guide sleeve that is fixed in the bone fragment with a screw screwed in in the axial direction of the long bone. As an additional component, the guide sleeve makes the fitting of the intramedullary nail in the bone complicated. The guide sleeve also requires additional clearance in the bone fragment so that the diameter of the opening that has to be created in the bone is large. Furthermore, due to its design the intramedullary nail of the prior art cited above cannot be used for lower leg bones.
The object of the invention is to describe an intramedullary nail or a modular system for an intramedullary nail that improves the systems or intramedullary nails known from the prior art, in particular the drawbacks of the prior art are to be alleviated or eliminated. Desirable are intramedullary nails that require as little surgical effort as possible or enable reliable fixation in the bone fragments. A modular system should be able to be flexibly adapted to different circumstances, for example different bones or different applications such as segment transport or distraction.


A method for fabricating a semiconductor chip includes placing, at a processor, a target cell to be used for a design of the semiconductor chip depending on a first placement, changing, at the processor, the first placement to a second placement, based on a result of comparing a cost function value of the target cell in the first placement with a reference value, and fabricating the semiconductor chip based on one of the first placement and the second placement.

Example embodiments of the inventive concepts described herein relate to a method for fabricating a semiconductor chip and/or an electronic device configured to perform the same. For example, at least some example embodiments relate to an electronic device and/or a method which design a semiconductor chip for the purpose of fabricating the semiconductor chip.
A semiconductor chip may be designed to fabricate the semiconductor chip. Upon designing the semiconductor chip, placement and routing (P&R) is important to fabricate the semiconductor chip which is placed in the small area. The P&R may be performed using software such as an electronic design automation (EDA) vendor tool.
The placement includes placing cells to be used to design a semiconductor chip in a space on the software. A user may place cells in consideration of ports to be included in the cells and pins to be included in the ports. The routing includes connecting the cells placed in the placement. In the case where the placement is not efficiently performed, an issue that cells are not routed may occur. In the case where the placement does not satisfy a certain design rule, a problem may occur in operations following the P&R step.
When the routing is performed after the placement of the cells in the space on the software, the routing may be performed on the inefficiently placed cells. The inefficient placement of cells detected in the routing may cause a decrease in efficiency of the semiconductor design process.

Electronic device and method for fabricating semiconductor chip


Shading correction is effected by partitioning a white standard surface into a plurality of scanning blocks having the same number of scanning lines, scanning the standard surface by block to determine block median values in a first processing stage, determining global median values from the block median values in a second processing stage, and subjecting objective image data read from a given original image to arithmetic such as proportioning calculation. With the two-stage processing, shading distortion caused due to nonuniformity in sensitivity of an image scanning system can be rationally and reliably corrected to a high degree with a simple processing circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a shading correction method and device for correcting shading distortion resulting from nonuniformity in sensitivity of an image reading system including an image sensor and other possible causes. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and device capable of effectively and reliably making shading correction in the image reading system to a high degree with a simple processing circuit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In digital image reading systems such as an image reader, digital copying machine and facsimile, a given original image such as characters and patterns to be processed is illuminated with a light source and optically read by photosensitive elements constituting an image sensor, thereby to induce electric image signals. Due to ununiform illumination of the light source and nonuniformity in sensitivity of the image sensor, nonuniformity in density appears in an image reproduced resultantly, which disagrees with the original image. This phenomenon is generally called "shading distortion" and inevitably takes place in the image reading system of this type.
For instance, the light source for illuminating the original image is irregularly degraded gradually in illumination intensity during the course of prolonged service. Also, the sensitivity of the image sensor is irregularly reduced during prolonged use. In general, the shading distortion due to such causes appears in the form of dark stripes extending in the sub-scanning direction in the reproduced image finally obtained.
In order to avoid appearance of the shading in the reproduced image, it is required to effect previous shading correction by reading a white standard surface prior to read-scanning operation for an objective image designated to be processed.
To be more specific, the standard surface s is partitioned into m in the main-scanning (row) direction and into n in the sub-scanning (line) direction to determine an mxn matrix in soft and prescribe pixels (image elements) El . . . Ei . . . Em in each line, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The pixels are sequentially read out by line with the image sensor 1 having m-photosensitive elements arranged in an array. The standard surface s is scanned by relatively moving the image sensor 1 in the sub-scanning direction to read out image data in n-scanning line Ll . . . Lj . . . Ln by line.
Since the standard surface s is white, all image values outputted from the image sensor which represent the brightness of the pixels should be maximum in theory, but in reality the output signals So (o=l . . . j . . . m) from the photosensitive elements are not constant as schematically shown by the graph in FIG. 1 due to the causes noted above. In the drawing, remarkable electric drops of the output signals Si are found in common in i-row, which are considered as the shading distortion. When an electric drop occurs locally like the pixel Ek in the row k of the line Lj in the drawing, it may be possibly caused due to a dark spot on the white standard surface or electrical noise such as electrical disturbance. In any case, these undesirable matters must be eliminated to reproduce the image with accuracy.
There have been conventionally proposed various methods for effecting shading correction, as follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,023 [H. SASAKI ET AL.]
U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,229 [Y. KANMOTO]
U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,365 [N. NAGASHIMA]
U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,379 [T. TAKAKI]
All these prior art are related by and large to a shading correction technique in which low level signals of image data produced by previously reading out a white standard surface by line are substituted with a reference "mean value" obtained by averaging the image data read out in one scanning line. The low level signal St in the sensitive characteristic pattern FP is raised to the mean value Vm as schematically shown by a dotted line in FIG. 1 by way of example.
The conventional shading correction method in which the low level signals are substituted with the mean value can be carried out by use of an easy arithmetic algorithm and a simple processing circuit, but accurate shading correction cannot be expected. This is because the mean value obtained by averaging the entire sensitivity of photosensitive elements of an image sensor is lowered by aging as a matter of course, only to incur increase of shading distortion. Furthermore, the conventional shading correction method is affected quite sensitively by the conditions of the white standard surface used in a preliminary read-scanning process. For instance, undesirable factors on the white standard surface such as dark spots or image noises are regarded as an objective to be corrected, consequently to frustrate the shading correction.
Another prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,809 [K. TACHIKAWA; Nisca's U.S. Patent] (corresponding to Japanese Patent Application Public Disclosure No. HEI 2-65463) discloses a shading compensating method in which shading correction in an image reading system is made by the steps of determining a comparative value by previously scanning white and black standard surfaces, and multiplying shading correction value represented as the ratio of actual image values obtained by scanning a given objective image to the comparative values by coefficient representing gradation of a resultant image to be reproduced.
Thus, the shading compensating method performs a high level aritbanetic operation of multiplying the gradation of the reproduced image by the shading correction values given by the ratio of the actual image values to the comparative values of the white and black standard values, but it calls for a relatively complicated processing circuit for effecting the arithmetic algorithm.
A method of correcting a local noise on a white standard surface used in a preliminary scanning process is proposed in Japanese Patent Appln. Public Disclosure No. SHO 63-155869. In this prior art method, the local noise appearing at a specific pixel in a specific scanning row on the white standard surface is corrected by substituting an image value of the specific pixel with a median value selected from image values of all pixels in the specific scanning row. To effect the correction of the local noises on the standard surface with a high degree of accuracy by the prior art method, all the image signals detected from all the pixels prescribed on the standard surface must be stored in memories such as latch memories until the scanning of all of the pixels on the standard surface is finished. Although such a method essentially calls for enormous memories, the proposed method attempts to reduce the number of memories by thinning down image data read out from an objective original image to substantially scan the original image roughly, and furthermore, the median value extracted by the proposed method leaves change in the sub-scanning direction out of consideration, resulting in decrease in accuracy of image reading.
Assuming that the local noise correction method noted above is simply applied to shading correction, it requires too many memories to be practicable.


Water and organic low-boiling constituents in organic heat transfer fluids used to heat commercial processes are removed by introducing a gas such as nitrogen into a turbulent flow of the heat transfer fluid and separating gas which then contains low-boiling constituents from the heat transfer fluid of the heat transfer system. The gas containing low-boiling constituents may be sent to a condenser to return heat transfer fluid which also vaporizes into the gas, but to a lesser extent than the low-boilers, to the heat transfer system. The gas containing low-boiling constituents is then combusted.

The present invention relates generally to heat transfer systems, and more particularly to the removal of low-boiling constituents from organic heat transfer fluids.
In the operation of many industries, heat transfer systems are employed to provide a heat source for many processes which are operated in the industrial plants. Oftentimes, organic heat transfer fluids are chosen to act as the heat transfer medium. In those instances, the organic heat transfer fluids are heated to the desired temperatures, usually between 400.degree. F. and 750.degree. F., and then pumped through piping or the like to one or more sites where the hot organic heat transfer fluids heat one or more processes.
Since the volume of fluid in the system varies with temperature, the systems contain an expansion tank or storage tank wherein a pad of inert gas, such as nitrogen, is usually maintained in a specified range of pressure over the hot organic heat transfer fluid. If the volume of fluid decreases, inert gas is added. In the event the pressure exceeds the maximum limit, such as when the volume of fluid increases, a control valve or manual bleed allows gas to escape.
It is known that organic heat transfer fluids degrade at high temperatures to form low-boiling constituents such as paraffinic or aromatic components or mixtures thereof. The higher the temperature, the faster the fluids degrade. These low-boiling constituents enter the inert gas pad in the expansion tank and, consequently, are released to the atmosphere when the pressure control valve activates. Fresh fluid is added to replenish the fluid lost due to degradation. Since fluids initially added to the heat transfer system may degrade at elevated temperatures and these systems typically house 2,000 to 4,000 gallons of fluid, a great deal of hydrocarbons are currently being vented to the atmosphere. A solution to this problem is one object of the present invention.
Water may also be present in the fluids. Water is undesirable in heat transfer systems because the presence of water and organic acids, which are formed from the oxidation of the fluids, can lead to the corrosion of metal components of the heat transfer systems. Moreover, water raises the vapor pressure of the system, which may cause vapor lock and relief valves to open which loses product. While water can be removed by pressure venting described above, this method is highly inefficient and does not achieve sufficiently low levels of water. Nevertheless, this method is often used in the start-up of a heat transfer system despite that it may take weeks to remove the water to begin actually running the system at elevated temperatures. A solution to this problem is another object of the present invention.
The operation of heat transfer systems as described above has been practiced virtually unchanged for decades.

Removal of low-boiling fractions from high temperature heat transfer systems


A press-down valve is provided for medical instruments for suction and irrigation and a medical instrument having installed such a press-down valve. A valve stem is pressed permanently into a closure position via a pretensioned spring. For actuation, the valve stem is moved counter to the force of the spring via an actuation element, and, after release, the spring presses the valve stem back into the closure position. A catch mechanism is provided by means of which the valve stem can be locked in the open position only when the press-down valve has been removed from the medical instrument, and that, when it is installed in the medical instrument, the catch mechanism is automatically released and remains released.

A first design involves a push-button valve with catch function. To start irrigation, the valve button is pushed down and remains in a catch position. To switch the irrigation off, the valve button has to be pushed down again.
In a second design, a so-called press-down valve, irrigation (or, if appropriate, suction) takes place only with the valve button being kept pressed down.
Such a press-down valve forms the subject of the present invention.
In practical use, contaminants can get into the press-down valve, so that it is necessary to clean and sterilize the press-down valve after each use.
To do so, it is customary for the press-down valve to be arranged in a releasable manner on the medical suction and irrigation instrument, so that it can be removed, for example unscrewed, for the cleaning procedure.
Because of their construction, a problem with press-down valves is that the valve stem is always pressed into its closure position. When one wants to clean the press-down valve, it is necessary to activate the valve stem in order to bring the latter into its open position, so that the cleaning liquid can be flushed through the inside of the valve body.
This is extremely difficult to do in the press-down valves, because the spring, pretensioned with quite considerable force, presses the valve stem into the closure position.
It should also be noted that such a press-down valve has dimensions of only a few centimeters, which means that, while holding the press-down valve in one's hand, it is very difficult to keep it in the open position, by pressing the actuation element, and at the same time carry out irrigation.
For construction-related reasons, automated irrigation/cleaning of a press-down valve already dismantled from the medical instrument cannot be performed, because flushing in the open position of the valve stem is not possible. To do this, the press-down valve would have to be installed again in a kind of holder that simulates actuation of the press-down valve, which would be very complicated and extremely laborious.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to develop a press-down valve in such a way that it can be easily cleaned.

Press-down valve for medical instruments for suction and irrigation


A near substrate reactant homogenization apparatus reduces the excess reactive species in a region at or near the edge of a substrate surface to provide a uniform reactant concentration over the substrate, thereby improving etch rate uniformity over the substrate. The near substrate reactant homogenization apparatus has a substantially planar surface that is parallel to said substrate surface and that extends beyond the substrate edge, at or below the substrate surface. In a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the temperature of the gas absorber area is changed to promote recombination or condensation of excess reactive species at the substrate edge, where the excess species are removed. In another, equally preferred embodiment of the invention, the gas absorber area is formed of a porous material having a large surface area. Excess reactive species enter the porous structure and are subsequently recombined. In a third equally preferred embodiment of the invention, a gas curtain of a laminar inert or reactive gas may also be used along the substrate surface perimeter, either alone or in conjunction with the first or second embodiments of the invention, to form a diffusive barrier that suppresses the flux of excess reactive species at the substrate's edge.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to substrate fabrication. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing a uniform distribution of reactive species over a substrate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
During the fabrication of integrated circuits on a silicon wafer, the wafer is coated with a photoresist mask, portions of which are exposed to light and developed to form a pattern on the wafer surface. A plasma containing a reactive gas is then applied to etch the coated wafer. The steps of coating, patterning, and etching may be repeated several times during the fabrication process.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the concentration of reactive species during substrate etching relative to the surface of a semiconductor wafer. Reactive species generated from a process gas are applied to the surface of a silicon wafer to expose portions of the wafer surface not coated with a photoresist to the reactive species, such that a desired pattern is etched into the wafer surface.
The etching rate increases with the concentration of reactive species. Due to consumption of reactive species at the wafer surface, the flux of this material has a non-uniform distribution over the etching surface, as shown by the lines identified by the numeric designators 110 and 120. Thus, a region of uniformity 140 occurs toward the center of the wafer 220, while a region of non-uniformity 180 containing excess reactive species occurs toward the edge 160 of the wafer. The region of non-uniformity typically has an increased etch rate.
It is important to maintain a uniform etch rate over the surface of the wafer to ensure the accurate patterning of the wafer surface. Reduction of reactive species at the wafer's edge is one way to achieve this uniformity. The prior art method for reducing this excess reactive species radial flux is to use a focus ring 225 surrounding the wafer, as is shown in FIG. 2. The focus ring forms a diffusive barrier that suppresses the flux of excess reactive species at the wafer's edge.
There are, however, several significant problems arising from the use of a focus ring. The focus ring can introduce contamination during the etching process that may degrade the wafer etching yields, and the subsequent performance of the integrated circuits thus produced. For example, the focus ring itself can react with the reactive species and provide a surface for deposition of by-product. Further, delamination of the films could occur due to poor thermal control and plasma exposure.
Another problem encountered with use of a focus ring is that it makes the insertion and removal of wafers more complex. This slows down the manufacturing process, adding to the cost of production. Further, the likelihood of mishandling and damaging wafers is also increased. It has also been noted that the use of a focus ring distorts the plasma sheath because the electrical field must be perpendicular to the surfaces of the focus ring.
It is also known to use an absorbing annulus to reduce excess reactive species flux. An absorbing annulus is a virtual wafer placed around the periphery of a substrate that is undergoing etching. The absorbing annulus simulates a wafer, thereby consuming excess reactive species, and thereby providing a more uniform etch rate. Unfortunately, the materials used thus far do not produce sufficient effect to improve rate uniformity. Furthermore, the use of certain reactive species, such as silicon, tends to increase the possibility of introducing contamination. Because the annulus is consumable it must be replaced periodically.
It would therefore be a significant advance in the art to provide an apparatus for reducing excess reactive species at the edge of a substrate during etching. It would be a further advance if such an apparatus did not introduce contamination into the fabrication process, and did not increase the difficulty of substrate handling.

Near substrate reactant homogenization apparatus


An exhaust system for a variable cycle aircraft engine. The exhaust system comprises a core exhaust for bypass air and hot gases of combustion. The core exhaust includes a convergent-divergent nozzle. The convergent-divergent nozzle is formed from a plurality of flaps and seals. The exhaust system comprises a third air duct for a third stream of air. The third stream of air is selectively exhausted from the third duct through a secondary nozzle or divergent slots in the convergent-divergent nozzle, or both depending upon the flight mode. A diverter valve is positioned in the third stream duct to selectively control the flow of third stream air through the secondary nozzle, the divergent slots and combinations thereof.

Most aircraft engines finding use in military applications, such as air combat, reconnaissance and surveillance, are augmented turbofans. Augmentation provides additional thrust for the aircraft when called upon, that is, on-demand.
All turbofan engines include at least two air streams. All air utilized by the engine initially passes through a fan, and then it is split into the two air streams. The inner air stream is referred to as core air and passes into the compressor portion of the engine, where it is compressed. This air then is fed to the combustor portion of the engine where it is mixed with fuel and the fuel is combusted. The combustion gases then are expanded through the turbine portion of the engine, which extracts energy from the hot combustion gases, the extracted energy being used to run the compressor and the fan and to produce electrical power to operate accessories. The remaining hot gases then flow into the exhaust portion of the engine, producing the thrust that provides forward motion to the aircraft.
The outer air flow stream bypasses the engine core and is pressurized by the fan. No other work is done on the outer air flow stream which continues axially down the engine but outside the core. The bypass air flow stream also can be used to accomplish aircraft cooling by the introduction of heat exchangers in the fan stream. Downstream of the turbine, the outer air flow stream is used to cool engine hardware in the exhaust system. When additional thrust is required (demanded), some of the fan bypass air flow stream is redirected to the augmenter where it is mixed with core flow and fuel to provide the additional thrust to move the aircraft.
At the rear of the exhaust, a convergent-divergent (C-D) nozzle sets the correct back pressure so that the core runs optimally. The C-D nozzle accomplishes this by choking the gas flow through the nozzle throat, A8, and varying A8 as required to set the required mass flow.
Certain variable cycle aircraft engines achieve relatively constant airflow as thrust is varied by changing the amount of fan bypass flow utilizing a third duct. Aircraft utilizing these variable cycle engines are able to maintain inlet airflow at subsonic power settings more efficiently and over a broader flight envelope. One particular type of variable cycle engine is referred to as a FLADE™ engine, FLADE™ being an acronym for "blade-on-fan" and is characterized by an outer fan duct which flows air into a third air duct, the outer fan duct being generally co-annular with, and circumscribing the inner fan duct, which in turn, is co-annular and circumscribes the core. This third airstream is pressurized by a blade-on-fan arrangement as set forth in prior art FLADE™ disclosures. The FLADE™ blades are radially outward of and directly connected to rotating fan blades, the fan blades assembled to a disk mounted on a shaft. The position of the FLADE™ is a design consideration, the design selected based on the temperature and pressure of the FLADE™ air (third stream air) desired. The trade-off is based on the fact that a higher pressure of FLADE™ operating air produces FLADE™ operating air with a higher temperature. U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,713 issued to Johnson on Apr. 11, 1995, assigned to the Assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference.
In these variable cycle designs, the inlet air is split to form a third stream of air, which is in addition to the bypass and core. This third stream of air may be provided at a lower temperature and pressure than either the core air stream or the bypass air stream discussed above. The pressure of this third stream of air can be increased, while still maintaining it at a temperature and pressure below the bypass air stream, using the blade-on-fan or FLADE™ airfoil and duct. Prior art third stream air flows have been exhausted into the core exhaust either just fore or aft of the C-D nozzle. However, placement of heat exchangers within the third air stream in recent embodiments to take advantage of the low temperatures of the air flowing in the third stream duct or FLADE™ duct have resulted in pressure drops of the air in the third stream duct or FLADE™ duct. The changes in pressure by the introduction of heat exchangers have resulted in the inability to exhaust the third stream air into the core exhaust at conditions in which exhaust pressure is high, such as at high power operation, and the inlet pressure to the third stream is low, such as low Mach points. The result would be cessation of flow of air, or insufficient flow of air, in the third stream duct under these flight conditions, which could result in stagnation of air flow in the third stream duct and even backflow of gases (reversal of flow). Stagnation of the third stream air flow can lead to stall conditions on the blade-on-fan arrangement under certain circumstances, resulting in possible hardware damage and additional drag on the aircraft due to fan inlet spill drag.
What is needed is an arrangement in which the third stream duct air can be exhausted continuously so that there is no cessation or significant reduction of air flow in the third stream duct or in the FLADE™ duct at any operational conditions of the engine, as insufficient air flow could adversely affect cooling of heat exchangers or other hardware dependent on third stream air for cooling. Ideally, the third stream duct air flow should be exhausted to a low pressure region in a manner that will add thrust and operability to the aircraft.

Multi-nozzle flow diverter for jet engine


A method for managing bradycardia through vagus nerve stimulation is provided. An implantable neurostimulator configured to deliver electrical therapeutic stimulation in both afferent and efferent directions of a patient's cervical vagus nerve is provided. An operating mode is stored, which includes parametrically defining a maintenance dose of the electrical therapeutic stimulation tuned to restore cardiac autonomic balance through continuously-cycling, intermittent and periodic electrical pulses. The maintenance dose is delivered via a pulse generator through a pair of helical electrodes via an electrically coupled nerve stimulation therapy lead independent of cardiac cycle. The patient's physiology is monitored, and upon sensing a condition indicative of bradycardia, the delivery of the maintenance dose is suspended. A progressively increasing amount of time is spent waiting via a controller and, upon sensing a condition indicative of an absence or termination of the bradycardia, a progressively increasing partial maintenance dose is delivered via the pulse generator.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a progressive and physically debilitating chronic condition in which the heart is unable to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the body's needs. Pathologically, CHF is characterized by an elevated neuroexitatory state accompanied by impaired arterial and cardiopulmonary baroreflex function and reduced vagal activity. CHF is initiated by cardiac dysfunction, which triggers compensatory activations of the sympathoadrenal (sympathetic) nervous and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone hormonal systems. Initially, these mechanisms help the heart compensate for deteriorating pumping function, yet over time, overdriven sympathetic activation and increased heart rate promote progressive left ventricular dysfunction and deleterious remodeling.
Sympathetic nervous system activation also significantly increases the risk and severity of bradycardia. Parasympathetic activity generally dominates over sympathetic activity. Consequently, increases in parasympathetic activity due to the triggering of CHF compensatory mechanisms can evoke pronounced bradycardia in light of the already high level of sympathetic activity stemming from chronic cardiac dysfunction. Pathologic bradycardia are categorized as either atrial, atrioventricular or ventricular, based upon the level of disturbance to normal impulse generation and conduction. Sick sinus bradycardia, a form of atrial bradycardia, is caused by sinus node malfunction. Atrioventricular nodal bradycardia occurs due to an absence of electrical impulse from the sinus node. Ventricular bradycardia occurs as the result of atrioventricular block due to an impairment in impulse conduction.
Chronic cardiac dysfunction stems from an autonomic imbalance of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems that, if left untreated, leads to cardiac arrhythmogenesis, including bradycardia, progressively worsening cardiac function and eventual death. The current standard of care for managing chronic cardiac dysfunction mandates prescription of pharmacological agents, including diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers, and aldosterone antagonists, and dietary and lifestyle changes. However, the effectiveness of these measures is only palliative, not curative, and patients often suffer side effects and comorbidities due to disease progression, such as pulmonary edema, sleep apnea, and myocardial ischemia.
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has recently become available to those chronic cardiac dysfunction patients with impaired systolic function. CRT restores synchronous heartbeat through coordinated bi-ventricular pacing that helps improve contractile cardiac performance. However, CRT only addresses systolic dysfunction and is limited to patients exhibiting a wide QRS complex (mechanical dyssynchrony) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.
Neural stimulation has been proposed as a complementary treatment for chronic cardiac dysfunction that directly addresses the underlying autonomic nervous system imbalance, rather than relieving symptoms or directly pacing heart muscle. Activity within and among elements of both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems regulate cardiovascular function by exerting high resolution control over key biological processes mediated by ionic currents flowing across cell membranes. Cumulatively, in a healthy person, the autonomic regulation of these biological processes results in stable homeostasis of heart rate and normal contractile performance. However, when disease processes derange autonomic function, homeostasis is lost and cardiovascular function is degraded; contractile performance thus becomes suboptimal and heart rate modulation is distorted in ways that create a positive feedback loop that promotes progression of chronic cardiac dysfunction and ultimately risks CHF. Neural stimulation can break the positive feedback loop through the suppression of excessive neural activation by electrically modulating select vagus nerve fibers. The electrical modulation may help improve cardiac mechanical function and reduce the heart's intrinsic nervous system's propensity to induce atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, including bradycardia, during chronic autonomic nervous system imbalance.
Notwithstanding, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is currently only approved for the clinical treatment of drug-refractory epilepsy and depression, although VNS has been proposed as a long-term therapeutic treatment of CHF. Conventional therapeutic alteration of cardiac vagal efferent activation through electrical stimulation targets only the efferent nerves of the parasympathetic nervous system and is clinically insufficient to restore autonomic balance. Any therapeutic effect on parasympathetic activation clinically occurs as a result of incidental recruitment of afferent parasympathetic nerve fibers and not as an intended and desired outcome of the efferent-centric neurostimulation, such as described in Sabbah et al., "Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Experimental Heart Failure," Heart Fail. Rev., 16:171-178 (2011), the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. The Sabbah paper discusses canine studies using a vagus stimulation device, manufactured by BioControl Medical Ltd., Yehud, Israel, which includes a signal generator, right ventricular endocardial sensing lead, and right vagus nerve cuff stimulation lead. The sensing leads enable stimulation of the right vagus nerve to be synchronized to the cardiac cycle through closed-loop heart rate control. A bipolar nerve cuff electrode is surgically implanted on the right vagus nerve at the mid-cervical position. An asymmetric bi-polar multi-contact cuff electrode provides cathodic induction of action potentials while simultaneously applying asymmetric anodal blocks that lead to preferential, but not exclusive, activation of vagal efferent fibers. Electrical stimulation of the right cervical vagus nerve is delivered only when heart rate increases beyond a preset threshold. Stimulation is provided at an impulse rate and intensity intended to reduce basal heart rate by ten percent by preferential stimulation of efferent vagus nerve fibers leading to the heart while blocking afferent neural impulses to the brain. Although effective in restoring baroreflex sensitivity and, in the canine model, increasing left ventricular ejection fraction and decreasing left ventricular end diastolic and end systolic volumes, restoration of autonomic balance was not addressed.
Other uses of electrical nerve stimulation for therapeutic treatment of various physiological conditions are described. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,600,954, issued Jul. 29, 2003 to Cohen et al. discloses a method and apparatus for selective control of nerve fibers. An electrode device is applied to a nerve bundle capable of generating, upon activation, unidirectional action potentials to be propagated through both small diameter and large diameter sensory fibers in the nerve bundle, and away from the central nervous system. The device is particularly useful for reducing pain sensations in the legs and arms.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,105, issued Jan. 27, 2004 to Cohen et al. discloses an apparatus for treatment of disorders by unidirectional nerve stimulation. An apparatus for treating a specific condition includes a set of one or more electrode devices that are applied to selected sites of the central or peripheral nervous system of the patient. For some applications, a signal is applied to a nerve, such as the vagus nerve, to stimulate efferent fibers and treat motility disorders, or to a portion of the vagus nerve innervating the stomach to produce a sensation of satiety or hunger. For other applications, a signal is applied to the vagus nerve to modulate electrical activity in the brain and rouse a comatose patient, or to treat epilepsy and involuntary movement disorders.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,123,961, issued Oct. 17, 2006 to Kroll et al. discloses stimulation of autonomic nerves. An autonomic nerve is stimulated to affect cardiac function using a stimulation device in electrical communication with the heart by way of three leads suitable for delivering multi-chamber stimulation and shock therapy. In addition, the device includes a fourth lead having three electrodes positioned in or near the heart, or near an autonomic nerve remote from the heart. Power is delivered to the electrodes at a set power level. The power is delivered at a reduced level if cardiac function was affected.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,225,017, issued May 29, 2007 to Shelchuk discloses terminating ventricular tachycardia in connection with any stimulation device that is configured or configurable to stimulate nerves, or stimulate and shock a patient's heart. Parasympathetic stimulation is used to augment anti-tachycardia pacing, cardioversion, or defibrillation therapy. To sense atrial or ventricular cardiac signals and provide chamber pacing therapy, particularly on the left side of the patient's heart, the stimulation device is coupled to a lead designed for placement in the coronary sinus or its tributary veins. Cardioversion stimulation is delivered to a parasympathetic pathway upon detecting a ventricular tachycardia. A stimulation pulse is delivered via the lead to one or more electrodes positioned proximate to the parasympathetic pathway according to stimulation pulse parameters based at least in part on the probability of reinitiation of an arrhythmia. In a further embodiment, the stimulation pulse is delivered post inspiration or during a refractory period to cause a release of acetylcholine. The stimulation device can further include a "rate-responsive" physiologic sensor to adjust pacing stimulation rate according to the exercise state of the patient or in response to changes in cardiac output.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,277,761, issued Oct. 2, 2007 to Shelchuk discloses vagal stimulation for improving cardiac function in heart failure or CHF patients. An autonomic nerve is stimulated to affect cardiac function using a stimulation device in electrical communication with the heart by way of three leads suitable for delivering multi-chamber endocardial stimulation and shock therapy. In addition, the device includes a fourth lead having three electrodes positioned in or near the heart, or near an autonomic nerve remote from the heart. A need for increased cardiac output is detected through the lead and a stimulation pulse is delivered proximate to the left vagosympathetic trunk or branch to thereby stimulate a parasympathetic nerve. If the stimulation has caused sufficient increase in cardiac output, ventricular pacing may then be initiated at an appropriately reduced rate.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,295,881, issued Nov. 13, 2007 to Cohen et al. discloses nerve branch-specific action potential activation, inhibition and monitoring. Two preferably unidirectional electrode configurations flank a nerve junction from which a preselected nerve branch issues, proximally and distally to the junction, with respect to the brain. Selective nerve branch stimulation can be used in conjunction with nerve-branch specific stimulation to achieve selective stimulation of a specific range of fiber diameters, substantially restricted to a preselected nerve branch, including heart rate control, where activating only the vagal B nerve fibers in the heart, and not vagal A nerve fibers that innervate other muscles, can be desirous.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,778,703, issued Aug. 17, 2010 to Gross et al. discloses selective nerve fiber stimulation for treating heart conditions. An electrode device is adapted to be coupled to a vagus nerve of a subject and a control unit drives the electrode device by applying stimulating and inhibiting currents to the vagus nerve, which are capable of respectively inducing action potentials in a therapeutic direction in a first set and a second set of nerve fibers in the vagus nerve and inhibiting action potentials in the therapeutic direction in the second set of nerve fibers only. The nerve fibers in the second set have larger diameters than the nerve fibers in the first set. The control unit typically drives the electrode device to apply signals to the vagus nerve to induce the propagation of efferent action potentials towards the heart and suppress artificially-induced afferent action potentials toward the brain. Patient control is not mentioned.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,813,805, issued Oct. 12, 2010 to Farazi and U.S. Pat. No. 7,869,869, issued Jan. 11, 2011 to Farazi both disclose subcardiac threshold vagus nerve stimulation. A vagus nerve stimulator is configured to generate electrical pulses below a cardiac threshold, which are transmitted to a vagus nerve, so as to inhibit or reduce injury resulting from ischemia. The cardiac threshold is a threshold for energy delivered to the heart above which there is a slowing of the heart rate or conduction velocity. In operation, the vagus nerve stimulator generates the electrical pulses below the cardiac threshold, such that heart rate is not affected. Patient control is also not mentioned.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 7,885,709, issued Feb. 8, 2011 to Ben-David discloses nerve stimulation for treating disorders. A control unit drives an electrode device to stimulate the vagus nerve, so as to modify heart rate variability, or to reduce heart rate, by suppressing the adrenergic (sympathetic) system. The vagus stimulation reduces the release of catecholamines in the heart, thus lowering adrenergic tone at its source. For some applications, the control unit synchronizes the stimulation with the cardiac cycle, while for other applications, the stimulation can be applied, for example, in a series of pulses. To reduce heart rate, stimulation is applied using a target heart rate lower than the subject's normal average heart rate. In one embodiment, the control unit is further adapted to detect bradycardia and to terminate heart rate regulation immediately upon such detection, such as by ceasing vagus stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. Additionally, the control unit can use an algorithm that reacts to regulate heart rate when the heart rate crosses limits that are predefined, for instance, a low limit of 40 bpm and a high limit of 140 bpm, or as determined in real time, such as responsive to sensed physiological values.
Accordingly, a need remains for an approach to therapeutically treating chronic cardiac dysfunction, including CHF, and cardiac arrhythmogenesis, specifically bradycardia, through a form of VNS to restore autonomic balance.

Implantable neurostimulator-implemented method for managing bradycardia through vagus nerve stimulation


A device for attaching a working machine to a vehicle in which a heavy weight working machine can be detachably and fixedly attached to the vehicle and a three point link type working machine can also be attached through a three points linking mechanism when the heavy working machine is not attached to the vehicle. The device includes an attachment frame at a rear portion of the vehicle body, and a working machine connecting portion for attaching the heavy weight working machine. Further, a three point link connecting portion for connecting the three point linking mechanism is provided on the attachment frame.

The present invention relates to a device for selectively attaching a working machine such as a rotary cultivator and a backhoe to a vehicle body.
In a vehicle having wheels and an engine such as a tractor, there are provided at its rear end portion a three point linking mechanism and a hydraulic device for operating the linking mechanism. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,512,413 and 3,904,051, known are a rotary cultivator or a backhoe attached to a rear portion of the three point linking mechanism.
The three point linking mechanism is available for vertically movably mounting agricultural equipment such as the rotary cultivator. The mechanism is primarily used for mounting a working machine having a light weight, and the mechanism is not frequently used for mounting a heavy working machine such as the backhoe, since it would be difficult to provide high strength in the linking mechanism in order to attach the heavy device.
Therefore, the backhoe is not attached by means of the three point linking mechanism but is attached directly to the vehicle body through an attaching portion of the backhoe as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Kokai No.63-161958.
In case of the direct attachment of the backhoe to the vehicle body, a special vehicle body which is exclusively used for the attachment of the backhoe must be provided for detachably mounting the backhoe to such vehicle body. The special vehicle body is not provided with a connecting portion of the three point linking mechanism, and therefore, the vehicle body does not permit other types of agricultural equipment to be attached thereto. Accordingly, such a vehicle body is not available for wide applicability.

Device for attaching working machine to vehicle


An LED lighting device is provided with output impedance control to stabilize an optical output across a wide current range. A switching power supply generates the output current, with switching control circuitry to determine switching frequency and an ON period for an associated switch, and to turn on/off the switch according to the determined frequency and ON period. An impedance element is coupled across output terminals for the lighting device, with an impedance value set so that a load current is larger than a current flowing to the impedance element at maximum on-duty of the switch and a current flowing to the impedance element is larger than the load current at minimum on-duty. The impedance element may be a variable impedance element, wherein an impedance control circuit adjusts the variable impedance such that an impedance value for minimum on-duty of the switch is smaller than that for a maximum on-duty.

The present invention relates generally to lighting devices for driving a semiconductor light-emitting element such as a light-emitting diode (LED), and associated illumination fixtures. More particularly, the present invention relates to LED lighting devices with an output impedance element and associated control circuitry for stabilizing an optical output.
Lighting devices for driving a semiconductor light-emitting element are known in the art which can control an optical (lighting) output across a wide range, from a very weak optical output to an optical output of a rated current. One example includes a circuit configuration with a current divider connected in parallel with the semiconductor light-emitting element and diverting a driving current flowing to the semiconductor light-emitting element. A resistor, a current regulation diode or a thermistor may be used as specific examples of the current divider.
A typical application of such a technique, such as may be used in an inspection light source for a solid-state image sensing element, includes an LED driver circuit for sending a relatively small current to an LED with high accuracy. The driver circuit may include a D/A converter and an analog driver. Such an LED driver circuit is relatively expensive and inefficient, making it unsuitable for many illumination fixtures as would be used in homes and offices. Further, power losses due to the current divider are simply disregarded.
In another example, a switching power supply device as known in the art for controlling a semiconductor light-emitting element across a wide range of lighting outputs performs constant current control for outputs near a rated current (high end of the lighting range) so as to match an output current of a switching power supply with a target current value, and performs constant voltage control for outputs at the low end of the lighting range so as to match an output voltage of the switching power supply with a target voltage value.
According to this technique, as compared to the first technique described above, power loss is decreased due to the switching power supply device. However, because the technique requires both a feedback control system for constant current control used in the vicinity of the rated current and a feedback control system for constant voltage control used in the very weak optical output, the circuit configuration disadvantageously becomes complicated and expensive.

LED lighting device with output impedance control


A power supply device includes: a magnetic-coupling-type multi-phase converter having first and second chopper circuits that respectively adjust respective currents flowing in first and second reactors magnetically coupled to each other, and performing voltage conversion between a DC power supply and a load; and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a determination unit and a current control unit. The determination unit determines whether the temperature of the power supply is lower than a reference temperature. In the case where the power supply temperature is lower than the reference temperature, the current control unit uses a value determined by adding an offset amount to a detected value of the reactor current to set a duty command value for the first chopper circuit and uses a detected value of the reactor current to set a duty command value for the second chopper circuit.

A so-called multi-phase converter made up of a plurality of parallel-connected converters and configured so that these converters are operated with respective phases shifted from each other is known.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-304681 (PTL 1) discloses a hybrid vehicle including a power supply device that uses such a multi-phase converter to step up the voltage of a DC (direct current) power supply and supplies the stepped-up voltage to a load such as motor.

Multi-phase converter for DC power supply with two choppers having magnetically coupled reactors


A system for utilizing a transmission media such as a token ring having multiple, independent channels operating in parallel. The invention provides optimal use of multi-channel bandwidth to a plurality of interconnected workstations, file servers, and other devices. The workstations and devices attach to the token ring via dedicated lobe rings connected to concentrators on the token ring. Each concentrator contains the processors, memory, and logic necessary to coordinate the transmission and receipt of data over the token ring among the interconnected workstations and devices. The multi-channel token ring provides increased bandwidth and reliability to an existing token ring without requiring modifications to existing physical devices, interfaces, or protocols.

A local area network (LAN) is characterized by its high data transmission rate, and the fact that, in general, the communication channel of the network is shared by all the workstations and devices connected to that particular network. There are a variety of techniques for enabling devices connected to a network to communicate with each other. One such technique is the use of a token ring, whereby a "token" is continuously circulated among the connected devices; messages and data to be transmitted from one device to another are appended to the token. The performance of a token ring is measured by the speed at which data is transmitted on the ring; standard token ring data rates are 4 Mbps (megabits per second) and 16 Mbps.
Users of token ring systems face the problem of how to increase performance without replacing their existing systems. The present invention describes a solution to that problem: namely, by adding a plurality of independent token rings or channels, operating in parallel and at the same data rate as the existing ring, in order to increase the capacity, or bandwidth, of the system. The technique described in this invention can be implemented without changing existing interfaces or protocols, and conforms with IEEE communications standards.
Among the related prior art to local area network systems, U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,590 describes a scheme for connecting a plurality of stations to form a single serial transmission loop, so as to vary the order of connections of the stations of the loop. The patent fails to address the subject of multiple backbone channels or techniques to utilize the capacity of multiple channels; the use of multiple channels is an integral part of the present invention.
The subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,733 is a scheme for building a serial bus loop system consisting of multiple serial bus loops, in order to increase the reliability of a single bus loop system. The patent involves a flat network with one channel of communication for multiple devices, unlike the present invention which utilizes multiple channels of communication for multiple devices.
A third related patent is U.S. Pat. No. 3,748,647, which describes a scheme for interconnecting a plurality of shift registers into a plurality of rings, each ring consisting only of shift registers and logic related to controlling shift registers. The patent addresses only information contained in fixed length registers, not in variable length frames which are used by local area networks. The patent significantly differs from the present invention in that it fails to address local area networks, conformance to network standards, or the optimal and reliable use of available bandwidth.

International Business Machines Corporation


An electrical conductor aligning device that can, without mutual interference, easily, and in a short period of time, align a plurality of electrical conductors in an annular shape while overlapping in the peripheral direction. The coil element aligning device includes: holding sections, a slide mechanism and a cylinder mechanism. One leg of each coil element is held by the plurality of holding sections, the plurality of coil elements being aligned in an annular shape at a spacing such that there is no overlapping in the peripheral direction, and then the plurality of holding sections being moved inwards in the radial direction by the slide mechanism and the cylinder mechanism, thereby aligning the plurality of coil elements in an annular shape while overlapping in the peripheral direction.

The stator coil of a rotating electrical machine is formed in the following way, for example. First, a plurality of electrical conductors molded in a substantially U-shape are aligned in an annular shape while overlapping in the circumferential direction. Next, the legs of each electrical conductor aligned in an annular shape are inserted into the respective slots provided in an annular shape on the stator core. Then, the ends of adjacent legs are connected. The stator coil of a rotating electrical machine is thereby formed.
However, concerning technology for aligning a plurality of substantially U-shaped electrical conductors in an annular shape while overlapping in the circumferential direction, a variety of considerations has been made thus far. For example, a technology has been proposed that inserts one leg of a plurality of substantially U-shaped electrical conductors into a plurality of housing grooves provided on an alignment ring pallet, respectively, and rotates the alignment ring pallet in this state (refer to Patent Document 1). According to this technology, by the plurality of electrical conductors rotating by driving to follow the rotation of the alignment ring pallet, it is said that the plurality of electrical conductors can be aligned in an annular shape while overlapping in the circumferential direction.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2004-173357


A mobile terminal for controlling display includes: a frame body including a middle frame; a touch screen provided on a front surface of the frame body and attached onto the middle frame; wherein the touch screen covers whole of the front surface of the frame body, or the touch screen covers a remaining area except a predetermined area on the front surface of the frame body, the predetermined area being an exposure area for additional electronic devices provided on the front surface of the frame body; a touch integrated circuit connected with the touch screen; and a processor connected with the touch integrated circuit. According to the disclosure, the whole front surface of the frame body is covered by the touch screen without providing the upper forehead area and the lower button area thereon.

Smart mobile phone has become one of the most widely used electronic device in daily life.
A frame body of a smart mobile phone may include an upper forehead area, a middle screen area, and a lower button area on a front side thereof. Generally, the upper forehead area is provided therein with elements such as a receiver sound hole, a front camera and the like; the middle screen area is provided with a touch screen therein; and the lower button area is provided with one to three physical buttons. Among those areas, the middle screen area is used to display content
Because of the above structure the front surface of the frame body generally is covered by the touch screen with the upper forehead area and the lower button area thereon. As a result, the smart mobile phone normally has a limited screen-to-bezel ratio, and thus a limited screen area to display information.

Method and apparatus for controlling display and mobile terminal


A method includes obtaining, from one or more sequencing devices, raw data detected from luminescent labels associated with nucleotides during nucleotide incorporation events; and processing the raw data to perform a comparison of base calls produced by a learning enabled, automatic base calling module of the one or more sequencing devices with actual values associated with the raw data, wherein the base calls identify one or more individual nucleotides from the raw data. Based on the comparison, an update to the learning enabled, automatic base calling module is created using at least some of the obtained raw data, and the update is made available to the one or more sequencing devices.

The present disclosure relates generally to automated pulse and base calling methods for biological sequencing and, more specifically to machine learning enabled pulse and base calling for sequencing devices.
Sequencing of nucleic acids (e.g., deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA)) includes identifying individual of nucleotides in a target nucleic acid. Some nucleic acid sequencing methods include identifying individual nucleotides as they are incorporated into nucleic acid strand complementary to the target nucleic acid. The series of nucleotides for the complementary strand identified during the sequencing process may then allow for identification of the nucleotide sequence for the target nucleic acid strand.

Machine learning enabled pulse and base calling for sequencing devices


A tire inflation system for use with a vehicle includes an airflow regulator configured to adjust a tire pressure of an inflatable tire coupled to an axle included in a wheel-axle system of a vehicle. The tire inflation system may further include a controller including a processor and a memory, the memory having stored therein a plurality of instructions that when executed by the processor cause the controller to receive data indicative of a force load acting on the axle and adjust the airflow regulator to cause the airflow regulator to control the tire pressure of the inflatable tire based on the data indicative of the force load acting on the axle.

Typical vehicles such as semi-trucks and trailers, for example, include axle assemblies that include an axle and a wheel with inflatable tires coupled to the axle. The wheels are configured to rotate relative to the axle about a rotation axis to move the vehicle. Some vehicles include tire inflation systems configured to adjust the tire pressure in the inflatable tires during operation and movement of the vehicle. Typical tire inflation systems include an airflow regulator configured to control a pressurized air source that is in fluid communication with the tire to keep the tire at a regulator set pressure thus overcoming small losses of air overtime.


A flip chip Surface Mount Fuse is disclosed. This fuse is comprised of a generally rectangular insulating member having a groove across its full length. A fuse element is placed inside the elongated groove and thick film metallizations are provided, through printing techniques, on opposite sides of the insulating member inside the groove to secure the fuse element and to provide termination to the insulating member. The opening of the groove is filled with an electrically insulating coating. The coating can be applied to form a time delay fuse or a fast acting fuse. Fuses can be manufactured in any desired size.

The present invention is directed to improvements in microelectronic fuses and relates to surface mountable fuses employing only a single insulating member or chip, that can be directly soldered to a PC board.
Surface Mount Devices (SMDs) may be soldered directly to circuit boards and are preferred for use in circuit board mountings over through-hole axial devices. The surface attachment technology increases the packaging density and lowers the manufacturing and product cost. A unique characteristic of surface mounting is the ability for the chip and packaged components to be attached to both the component and solder sides of the board. The use of SMDs is becoming popular in consumer electronics.
The incorporation of the SMDs into all types of electronic devices created a need for SMD fuses. Surface mount fuses are used to prevent damage to electrical systems, caused by excessively large currents. The failure of a fuse can result in a fire or loss of costly equipment. It is conventional practice to employ a surface mount fuse in PC board circuits for protection from such excessively large currents.
There are several types of chips available for surface mounting. A first type is a wrap-around that has metallization around the full surface of the opposite ends of a rectangular chip. Another type, the flip chip, is terminated with metallization on a bottom side of the chip. There are also two types of internal constructions generally known for surface mount fuses. The first type is comprised of a thin wire fuse element spaced between two metal terminals. The wire is placed above the surface of the insulating body and connected to the leads or terminals by soldering, resistance welding, or wire bonding techniques. The complete device is enclosed in a plastic casing fabricated from thermoplastic materials by using injection molding techniques or by securing a cover to the base which encloses the fuse. Use of additional parts to provide for termination and enclosure to the fuse adds to the manufacturing complexity and ultimately to the cost of the fuse.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,162,773 to Shiozaki, 5,130,688 to Van Rietchoten, 4,612,529 to Gurevich et al., 4,547,830 to Yamauchi, 4,873,506 to Gurevich, 3,500,276 to Hingorany et al., 5,140,295 to Vermot-gaud et al., 5,166,656 to Badihi et al., and 4,563,666 to Borzoni all show variations of such a fuse. These patents disclose surface mount fuses with fuse elements comprised of a metal wire attached to prefabricated terminals by different means such as soldering, brazing, electrical or ultrasonic welding. The fuse elements are secured to the surface of the base, and thus must be enclosed by a sleeve, cover, or other enclosure to protect the PC board and the other components from the heat produced by the fuse elements, and the effects of the fuse if it should fail.
Thermoplastic materials often are used for the sleeve, body, and/or cover of the fuse. The thermoplastic materials are generally low temperature material which can melt and fail from temperatures above 300.degree. C. However, fuse elements can generate these temperatures during prolonged openings at low overloads. The use of these materials can thus lead to fuse failure.
A second type of SMD fuse is comprised of the thin or thick film elements deposited on the surface of a substrate using thin or thick film printing or sputtering techniques. These fuses have larger variances in their characteristics due to inability of the deposition techniques to provide consistency of the thickness. Thick film printing generally can provide control only within 30% of the expected value, and thin film deposition, without additional processing, generally can provide control only within 15% of the expected value. By adding substantial cost to photolithographic techniques, thin film printing or spottering can be improved to be within 5% of the expected value. The higher accuracy of the cross sectional area of conductor and its length is required to obtain repeatable fuse performance. These fuses have the disadvantage of being expensive to produce accurately.
The second kind of fuse also has a large surface contact area between the deposited metallized coating and the insulating member. The larger contact area can cause the heat generated by resistance heating of the fuse element to be conducted to the substrate material at a rate directly proportional to its size. This may delay the opening of the fuse and lead to device overheating. Excessive overheating of the fuse may cause a melting of the solder joints holding the fuse in place. The fuse may disconnect from the board and cause arcing external to a fuse joint. Overheating may result in damage of the PC board material in close proximity to a fuse and diffusion of the thin film terminations into the molten solder which may result in premature opening of the fuse.
There are numerous variations of the two types described, however all such varieties have drawbacks to a greater or lesser degree.


A method for cleaning an air conditioner indoor unit and outdoor unit includes controlling a heat exchanger to enter a self-cleaning mode, adjusting an operating frequency of an air conditioner, an opening of a throttling device, and a corresponding fan speed of the heat exchanger, and maintaining an evaporating temperature of the heat exchanger within a present range to enable a frost process on a surface of the heat exchanger. When a differential pressure of the air conditioner meets a preset condition, a four-way valve changes a direction, switching defrosting to indoor and outdoor heat exchangers. When the differential pressure does not meet the preset condition, the air conditioner is adjusted to meet the preset condition and the four-way valve direction is changed to perform a defrosting switching to the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers.

In order to ensure full heat exchange of an air conditioner, a fin of a heat exchanger of the air conditioner often is designed as a plurality layers of compact sheets, where a gap between the sheets is only 1 to 2 mm, and various embossing or fractures are added to the fin of a heat exchanger so as to increase a heat exchange area. When the air conditioner is operating, a lot of air flows through the heat exchanger to perform a heat exchange. Various dusts and impurities in the air adhere to the heat exchanger; this affects effects of the heat exchanger, breeds bacterium easily, brings a peculiar smell to the air conditioner, and even affects user health. At this time, the heat exchanger of the air conditioner needs to be cleaned.
At present, an outdoor unit is cleaned in a long time interval or is never cleaned. While being cleaned manually, the heat exchanger is difficult to be cleaned because the heat exchanger is close to a wall. As a result, the heat exchanger is not completely cleaned. Cleaning the heat exchanger by extending a foreign object may cause sheets of the fin to fall down, so as to further affect heat exchanging effects of the heat exchanger, and shorten service life thereof.
In the prior art, the heat exchanger is cleaned by using manners of frosting and defrosting the heat exchanger. However, when self cleaning to an indoor heat exchanger or an outdoor heat exchanger is switched, an evaporating temperature and an evaporating pressure during a self cleaning process are low. Therefore, a difference between a high pressure and a low pressure of the air conditioner is excessive, and a compressor is shocked during a process of switching a four-way valve. As a result, operation of the air conditioner is unstable.

Method for cleaning air conditioner indoor unit and outdoor unit

Qingdao Haier Air Conditioner General Corp., Ltd.


A facility for manufacturing a hollow glass article, including: a finishing mold intended to receive a blank of the hollow glass article and defining a cavity for forming the hollow glass article, at least one gas source, and a blowing head connected to the gas source and adapted for achieving at least one injection of the gas into the inside of the blank contained in the cavity. The facility further includes: at least one reservoir of coloring powder, and a system for injecting the coloring powder into the inside of the blank while the blank is located in the finishing mold and into the inside of the hollow glass article while the hollow glass article is located in the finishing mold, so that the injection of the coloring powder takes place before, during, after, before and during, during and after, or before, during and after the gas injection.

A known method for manufacturing this type of articles consists of introducing into a blank mold at least one glass parison melted at a determined temperature and of pre-forming in the blank mold the article from the parison by injecting into the blank mold pressurized gas, for example air.
The blank of the thereby produced article is transferred into a finishing mold and the article is definitively formed in this finishing mold by also injecting pressurized gas.
In order to decorate the article, colored lacquering is sometimes applied inside or outside the article or both. After having removed the article from the finishing mold and having left it to cool sufficiently, a coloring composition is applied onto the inner or outer surface of the article and heat treatment is performed to finalize the lacquering and obtain the lacquered article.
Such a method for manufacturing the article gives satisfaction from the point of view of the quality of the obtained article. However, because of its duration, it is relatively not very productive and therefore expensive.

Facility and method for manufacturing a hollow glass article