An excimer or molecular fluorine laser system includes a discharge tube filled with a gas mixture, multiple electrodes within the discharge tube and connected to a discharge circuit for energizing the gas mixture, a resonator for generating a laser beam, and at least one window structure including a first window and a second window. The first window initially seals the discharge tube and transmits the beam. The second window is initially unexposed to the gas mixture. The window structure is configured such that the second window is movable into position for sealing the discharge tube and transmitting the beam when the first window becomes contaminated.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a high power laser, and particularly to a high power excimer or molecular fluorine laser having a window structure including multiple windows movable into position for transmitting the laser beam to/from the dicharge chabmer for increasing laser runtime.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Excimer lasers are used in a wide variety of industrial applications. Among these applications are TFT annealing and photolithography. High power XeCl lasers are particularly used for TFT annealing and KrF, ArF and F2 lasers are particularly used in or are being developed to be used in photolithographic applications. Gas discharges between electrodes in a discharge chamber may be used for energizing a halogen-rich gas mixture filling the discharge chamber, whereby a high power laser beam may be generated by disposing the discharge chamber within an optical resonator.
The discharge chamber has windows on either end so that light can enter and exit the chamber. These windows are exposed to the gas mixture. When the discharges occur between the electrodes, dust and/or other contaminants are produced. These contaminants can adhere to the windows and inhibit the ability of the beam to enter and exit the chamber. When the windows become significantly contaminated, then the windows are cleaned or replaced. The servicing of the laser windows may be performed while another component of the laser is being serviced, such as when a new gas fill is performed. It is desired to increase the lifetime of both the gas mixture and the laser windows to increase the uptime percentage of the laser and thereby increase the throughput of the industrial process for which the laser is being used.
A cryogenic gas circulation loop may be used for preventing contaminants from accessing the laser windows. The cryogenic loop would include an outlet port on the laser tube for removing a small flow of the laser gas mixture from the tube. The removed gas is then circulated through a cryogenic filter such as may be described at U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,136,605, 5,111,473 and/or 5,430,752, which are hereby incorporated by reference, to clean the gas by removing contaminants. The clean gas may then be flowed back into the laser tube at the windows. A gas circulation loop including an electrostatic precipitator filter may also be used preventing contaminant build-up on the laser tube windows, such as may be described at U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,034, which is hereby incorporated by reference, with or without the quiescent zones described in the ""034 patent.
There are some disadvantages to using a cryogenic gas circulation loop in this manner. First, if, e.g., liquid helium is used, a helium compressor which converts the helium gas to liquid helium is used. The helium compressor runs at an operating frequency, e.g., 2.4 Hz, that is difficult to damp. It is desired to have a xe2x80x9cquietxe2x80x9d gas circulation loop for keeping the laser tube windows clean. Second, when the laser is first initialized for operation, the cryogenic pump takes a significant amount of time to cool down, e.g., around one hour. This cool down period can prolong the downtime of the laser system. It is desired to have a gas circulation loop for cleaning the laser tube windows that does not have a significant cool down period. Third, a cryogenic filter has a limited volume, e.g., around one liter. This limits the gas flow volume through the gas circulation loop, and limits the degree to which the clean gas can be flowed past the laser tube windows. It is desired to have a gas circulation loop with a high clean gas flow volume past the laser tube windows.
It is therefore desired to provide a high power laser which includes a xe2x80x9cquietxe2x80x9d gas circulation loop, such as not including a helium compressor, for keeping the laser tube windows clean.
It is further desired to provide a high power laser which includes a gas circulation loop for cleaning the laser tube windows that does not have a significant cool down period.
It is also desired to provide a high power laser which has a gas circulation loop with a high clean gas flow volume past the laser tube windows.
It is further desired to provide a high power laser having improved laser window lifetime and/or gas mixture lifetime.
An excimer or molecular fluorine laser system is also provided including a discharge tube filled with a gas mixture, multiple electrodes within the discharge tube and connected to a discharge circuit for energizing the gas mixture and a resonator for generating a laser beam. The system further includes at least one window structure including a first window and a second window. The first window initially seals the discharge tube and transmits the beam. The second window is initially unexposed to the gas mixture. The window structure is configured such that the second window is movable into position for sealing the discharge tube and transmitting the beam when the first window becomes contaminated.
The window structure may be further configured for replacing the first window with a third window when the second window is moved into position for sealing the discharge tube and transmitting the beam. The window structure preferably includes a valve for maintaining a seal on the discharge tube when the second window is moved into position for sealing the discharge tube and transmitting the beam. The window structure may be rotatable or translatable for moving the second window into position when the first window becomes contaminated.
The laser system may also include a gas handling unit for replenishing the gas mixture during laser operation and increasing the lifetime of the gas mixture. The laser system may also include an additional gas volume having fluid communication with the gas mixture for increasing a total gas volume and a lifetime of the gas mixture.
The laser system may also include components arranged in a gas circulation loop including the window structure and configured for drawing a flow of the gas mixture from the discharge tube and through the components, and for flowing filtered gas past the first window for preventing contaminants within the discharge tube from depositing on the window. One of the components may include a labyrinth filter and the window structure may include a baffle structure.
A high power excimer or molecular fluorine laser system for industrial processing is provided including a discharge tube filled with a gas mixture including a halogen component, multiple electrodes within the discharge tube and connected to a pulsed discharge circuit for energizing the gas mixture, a resonator for generating a laser beam, at least one window structure including a first window and a second window, wherein the first window initial seals the discharge tube and transmits the beam, and the second window is initially unexposed to the gas mixture, and wherein the window structure is configured such that the second window is movable into position for sealing the discharge tube and transmitting the beam when the first window becomes contaminated, and gas mixture contamination suppression means for suppressing contaminant build-up in the gas mixture, such that a lifetime of the gas mixture is increased, and wherein an interval between laser servicing procedures is increased due to the increased lifetime of the gas mixture and the movement into position of the second window, such that laser system downtime is reduced and industrial throughput is increased.
A method is also provided for generating an excimer or molecular fluorine laser beam such that the laser system generating the beam has an increased interval between laser servicing procedures such that laser system downtime is reduced and industrial throughput is increased. the method includes operating the laser for generating the laser beam which transmits a first window on a discharge tube of the laser, and wherein the first window is exposed to a gas mixture within the discharge tube. the method also includes moving the first window and replacing the first window with a second window which is initially unexposed to the gas mixture. The second window is moved into position for sealing the discharge tube and transmitting the beam when the first window becomes contaminated. The method also includes suppressing contaminant build-up in the gas mixture, such that a lifetime of said gas mixture is increased. The interval between laser servicing procedures is increased due to the moving of the second window into position when the first window becomes contaminated and the increased lifetime of the gas mixture, such that laser system downtime is reduced and industrial throughput is increased.

High power excimer or molecular fluorine laser system


A hydraulic steering unit (1) is described comprising a supply port arrangement having a pressure port (8) connected to a main flow path (6) and a tank port (T) connected to a tank flow path (7), a working port arrangement having a left working port (L) connected to a left working flow path (9) and a right working port (R) connected to a right working flow path (10), a bridge arrangement (14) of variable orifices having a first left orifice (A2L) connected to the main flow path (6) and to the left working flow path (9), a first right orifice (A2R) connected to the main flow path (6) and to the right working flow path (10), a second left orifice (A3L) connected to the left working flow path (9) and to the tank flow path (7), and a second right orifice (A3R) connected to the right working flow path (10) and to the tank flow path (7). Such a hydraulic steering unit should allow comfortable steering. To this end a measuring motor arrangement is arranged in one of the left working flow path (9) and the right working flow path (10), the measuring motor arrangement (15) having a first measuring motor (16) and a second measuring motor (17).

Such a steering unit is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,334. In such a kind of hydraulic steering unit the variable orifices are arranged in a kind of Wheatstone bridge. One diagonal of the bridge is arranged between the pressure port and the tank port and the other diagonal is arranged between the two working ports.
When, for example, it is intended to steer a vehicle equipped with such a steering unit to the left, the first left orifice and the second right orifice are opened, wherein the second left orifice and the first right orifice are closed. Hydraulic fluid from the pressure port then flows through the first left orifice to the left working port and from there to a steering motor connected to the working port arrangement. Hydraulic fluid displaced from the steering motor flows back through the right working port and the right working flow path to the second right orifice. When passing the second right orifice the fluid is returned to the tank flow path and from there to the tank port.


A cable stripping tool for removing an outer protective jacket of a cable. The cable stripping tool is used to remove a pre-defined amount of the jacket in one rotation of the cable stripping tool. The cable stripping tool allows the rotation of the cable stripping tool by hand during jacket removal in tight areas, where other stripping tools are too difficult to use. The cable stripping tool includes a main body and a cutting blade. The main body includes a blade half and a clamping half. The main body is preferably made from a plastic material to lower production cost, but can be made from marry other types of materials. The blade half and clamping half are binged together by a hinge pin. An inside surface of each half together form a cable receiving area between each other to receive the cable, when the halves are mated and closed.

There are occasions when a piece of a outer protective jacket of a conductive cable needs to be stripped just enough between the ends of the cable to allow attachment of an electrical connector. This requires the cable to be stripped of the piece of jacket in a certain area to receive the connector, while maintaining the jacket material on either side of the piece to be stripped in order to protect the cable. There are many devices known for stripping cable, from a knife to complicated cable stripping machines. The commonly used devices have a blade smaller than the piece of jacket to be removed and removes the jacket in a spiral fashion. This requires the user to determine the starting and stopping point for the blade. It also requires the user to make more than one rotation around the cable to remove the piece of jacket. These commonly used devices are especially difficult for workmen in the field to use on a cable already in use in an area where there is not much room to work due to other cables. What is needed is a cable stripping tool which is easy to attach to a cable and easy to use while stripping the cable.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cable stripping tool which is relatively easy to apply to a cable in use, provides a predetermined way to remove just enough jacket in one rotation and improves the ability of a workman to strip a piece of jacket protecting the cable in a certain area in order to receive a connector.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cable stripping tool which is relatively easy to use in areas where there is not much room to strip a cable.
The present invention is a cable stripping tool for removing an outer protective jacket of a cable. The cable stripping tool is used to remove a pre-defined amount of the jacket in one rotation of the cable stripping tool. The cable stripping tool allows the rotation of the cable stripping tool by hand during jacket removal in tight areas, where other stripping tools are too difficult to use. The cable stripping tool includes a main body and a cutting blade. The main body includes a blade half and a clamping half. The main body is preferably made from a plastic material to lower production cost, but can be made from many other types of materials. The blade half and clamping half are hinged together by a hinge pin. An inside surface of each half together form a cable receiving area between each other to receive the cable, when the halves are mated and closed.


Methods and apparatus for forming an aperture in a composite component are provided. For example, a method for forming an aperture in a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) component comprises, based on a final dimension of the aperture, selecting a tool having a tool size and a cutting surface; selecting an angle at which to cut the component with the tool; cutting a back surface of the component with the tool, the cutting surface positioned at the angle; repositioning the tool relative to the component; and cutting the aperture through to its final dimension. The tool may be a core drill with a diameter within a range of 60% to 90% of the aperture final dimension. The angle may be within a range of 10° to 60° with respect to the back surface. The aperture may be cut through to its final dimension from a front surface of the component.

More commonly, non-traditional high temperature composite materials, such as ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials, are being used in applications such as gas turbine engines. Components fabricated from such materials have a higher temperature capability compared with typical components, e.g., metal components, which may allow improved component performance and/or increased engine temperatures. Composite components may provide other advantages as well, such as an improved strength to weight ratio.
In some applications, an aperture or hole is needed in a composite component. Conventional cutting, drilling, grinding, or other means for machining an aperture or hole in a CMC component routinely result in 30% to 40% of the machined components having a defect. While laser machining can reduce the amount of defective components, i.e., can increase yield, laser machining is not feasible for machining every aperture or hole. For instance, some components may be too large to fit with the laser tooling, i.e., the component or part cannot be positioned in the laser tooling to machine the aperture in the desired location. As another example, laser machining is not feasible where the laser could harm or destroy another portion of the component or part, e.g., where an aperture is needed in a flange or the like and the laser could harm or destroy a portion of the component or part beyond the flange. Further, in some applications, the laser cannot be aligned with the component or part to machine the aperture or hole, e.g., a laser often cannot be used to machine blind holes because the laser cannot be aligned with the component to machine the hole.
Accordingly, improvements to methods, processes, and apparatus for forming apertures in composite components that help overcome these issues would be useful.


A center of gravity adjustment device installed in a bottom rail of a window blind assembly for adjusting the center of gravity of the bottom rail is disclosed to include an adjustment wheel fastened rotatably with the bottom rail for rotating by a user, a rotating wheel fastened rotatably with the bottom rail and spaced from the adjustment wheel at a distance, a weight movable in the bottom rail between the adjustment wheel and the rotating wheel, and a cord member mounted around the adjustment wheel and the rotating wheel and fastened to the weight for moving the weight in said bottom rail between the adjustment wheel and the rotating wheel upon rotation of the adjustment wheel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to lifting window blinds (roll-up blinds, Venetian blinds) and, more specifically, to a center of gravity adjustable bottom rail for window blind. The invention relates to also to a window blind assembly having a center of gravity adjustable bottom rail.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 7 shows a roller blind 90 according to the prior art. This structure of roller blind 90 comprises a barrel 91 fastened pivotally with the top of a window (not shown) in transverse direction, a bottom rail 92 arranged in parallel to and spaced below the barrel 91, flexible slats 93 arranged in parallel between the barrel 91 and the bottom rail 91, two thin covering sheets 95 respectively covering the slats 93 at front and back sides and connected between the barrel 91 and the bottom rail 92 to join the slats 93. The covering sheets 95 soften the light passing through the window blind assembly 90. The user can rotate the barrel 91 (manually or by a motor drive) to roll up the slats 93 and the covering sheets 95 around the periphery of the barrel 91.
The aforesaid roller blind 90 is still not satisfactory in function. Because it is difficult to keep the tension of each covering sheet 95 (which is usually a piece of meshed fabric) in balance at left and right sides, the bottom rail 92 cannot be maintained in horizontal accurately. During fabrication and assembly process of the bottom rail 92 (which is comprised of an aluminum profile and two plastic end caps at two ends of the aluminum profile), it is difficult to have the gravity weight evenly distributed in all directions. When installed in the covering sheets 95, the bottom rail 92 may not be maintained in horizontal accurately. When the bottom rail 92 lifted to a relatively higher position close to the barrel 91, it stands in an oblique position sloping downwards toward one lateral side of the blind (see FIG. 8), obstructing the sense of beauty of the roller blind 90.
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a center of gravity adjustment device, which is practical for use in a window blind assembly, such as a roll-up blind, lifting-type blind, etc., for enabling the user to adjust the center of gravity of the bottom rail to keep the bottom rail in horizontal.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a window blind assembly having a center of gravity adjustable bottom rail, which enables the user to adjust the center of gravity of the bottom rail, keeping the bottom rail in horizontal.
To achieve these objects of the present invention, a center of gravity adjustment device is installed in a bottom rail of a window blind assembly for adjusting the center of gravity of the bottom rail, comprising an adjustment wheel fastened rotatably with the bottom rail for rotating by a user, a rotating wheel fastened rotatably with the bottom rail and spaced from the adjustment wheel at a distance, a weight movable in the bottom rail between the adjustment wheel and the rotating wheel, and a cord member mounted around the adjustment wheel and the rotating wheel and fastened to the weight for moving the weight in said bottom rail between the adjustment wheel and the rotating wheel upon rotation of the adjustment wheel.

Center of gravity adjustable bottom rail for window blind assembly


An image-capturing apparatus has a function for printing an image with the use of an external printer. The image-capturing apparatus includes an image-capturing section, a control section, and a clock generating section. The control section controls the operation of the entire image-capturing apparatus, including the image-capturing section (hardware), and executes printing processing for printing an image by the external printer. The clock generating section generates a higher operating frequency when the control section executes printing processing (i.e., in a printing mode) than when the image-capturing section obtains an image (i.e., in an image-capturing mode), for the control section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image-capturing apparatuses, image processing systems, control methods, and storage media storing computer-readable processing steps for implementing the methods, all of which are used for digital cameras connectable through communication means such as a USB to personal computers and to printers.
2. Description of the Related Art
As image-pickup devices such as CCDs have had a large number of pixels, digital cameras can include image-pickup devices having two million pixels to three million pixels these days.
Images taken by such digital cameras (hereinafter called just "digital cameras") having a large number of pixels can be enjoyed on a screen of a personal computer (hereinafter called a "PC") or can be put on web sites. There is also a high demand for printing them by means of a printer and enjoying them as printed photographs.
Since images taken by a digital camera are written in a memory built in the digital camera or in a storage medium, such as a non-volatile memory card, detachable from the digital camera, however, it is necessary, for example, that the images written into the storage medium be sent to a PC through communication means, such as a USB or a serial bus (RS-232C), processed for printing by the PC, and printed by a printer, in order to print the images.
Alternatively, when taken images have been written into a non-volatile memory card, it is necessary that the non-volatile memory card be directly connected to a PC, and that the taken images written into the non-volatile memory card be sent to the PC and printed.
The above-described work for printing taken images is very troublesome, very complicated, and time consuming for users, and taken images may be lost due to an erroneous operation.
In addition, when the user wants to print an image stored in a digital camera, at a place where the user is now located, it is impossible to enlarge, print, and enjoy the image without a PC at the place.
To solve the foregoing problems, a digital camera has been proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei-11-046331, which has a camera-printing-control function to implement so-called direct printing, which means that taken images are printed without a PC.
More specifically, the digital camera such as that described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei-11-046331 has a function for outputting taken-image data from itself to an external apparatus as well as a function (printing function) for printing a desired taken image with a desired printing specification (such as the number of prints, a printing size, and a printing color).
As one of their most important characteristics, digital cameras need to be portable. Therefore, they should be compact and lightweight as the top priority.
Also, it is, of course, always demanded that digital cameras have low prices, have good responses when capturing images, and allow high-speed image capturing.
Due to the structures of the digital cameras, such as that described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei-11-046331, they have the following problems (1) to (3) when they have a printing function:
(1) When digital cameras having a large number of pixels have a printing function, a very large amount of taken-image data (printing data) needs to be sent to a printer. Especially when serial communication means such as RS-232C is used for sending the printing data, it takes a very long time to send it.
When a parallel port provided for printers in many cases is used, digital cameras need to have a connector having a large number of pins, making the cameras larger or increasing their price.
(2) To execute printing processing in the digital cameras, it is necessary that the digital cameras have a high-speed CPU.
Because a high-speed CPU generally consumes a large amount of electric power while digital cameras are provided with a battery having a small capacity, however, when a high-speed CPU is provided for digital cameras, the battery is consumed earlier due to high power consumption.
In addition, since digital cameras have a small body, when a high-speed CPU is provided for a digital camera, more heat is generated, the surface temperature of the body rises, and the user feels hot when the user touches the camera body.
(3) To execute printing processing by a CPU in the digital cameras, it is generally required that a taken image to be printed is developed for each ink color. Therefore, the CPU needs a large memory capacity, and the number of memory chips to be mounted on the digital cameras is increased. The manufacturing cost of the digital cameras is thereby increased.

Image-capturing apparatus, image processing system, control method, and storage medium for use with external printer with determination of operating state of external printer and corresponding adjustment of clock signal


An apparatus to facilitate source synchronous signaling is disclosed. The apparatus includes transfer protocol logic to provide for source synchronous transfer of data within an interconnect fabric, including one or more synchronizers having logic to a transmit data signal and a source clock (clk) signal during the transfer of data.

Current parallel graphics data processing includes systems and methods developed to perform specific operations on graphics data such as, for example, linear interpolation, tessellation, rasterization, texture mapping, depth testing, etc. Traditionally, graphics processors used fixed function computational units to process graphics data. However, more recently, portions of graphics processors have been made programmable, enabling such processors to support a wider variety of operations for processing vertex and fragment data.
To further increase performance, graphics processors typically implement processing techniques such as pipelining that attempt to process, in parallel, as much graphics data as possible throughout the different parts of the graphics pipeline. Parallel graphics processors with single instruction, multiple thread (SIMT) architectures are designed to maximize the amount of parallel processing in the graphics pipeline. In an SIMT architecture, groups of parallel threads attempt to execute program instructions synchronously together as often as possible to increase processing efficiency. A general overview of software and hardware for SIMT architectures can be found in Shane Cook, CUDA Programming Chapter 3, pages 37-51 (2013).
Increasingly, graphics processors are being implemented within global shared memory (GSM) systems coupled via an interconnect fabric to communicate between multiple processing nodes. Current fabric designs implement synchronous data transfers, which provide a more deterministic behavior in small graphics processor designs. However, as the graphics processors become larger, and significantly more data has to be transmitted over a large die, the cost of transmitting this data from source to destination is becoming more expensive.
The majority of additional costs is attributed to the need to flop the contents at every clock edge to provide a simple and deterministic behavior. However, with large graphics processors and higher clocks speeds, the interval between the flop stages are are reduced while flop counts are increasing. Such costs have a direct impact not only to die-area, but also to the power of the GPU which is purely spent on carrying data around.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Embodiments of the present disclosure include techniques for transferring non-power of two (2) bytes of data between modules of an integrated circuit over an on-chip communication fabric. In one embodiment, the present disclosure includes an on-chip communication fabric, a first module comprising an interface coupled to the fabric having a first data width, and a second module comprising an interface coupled to the fabric having a second data width smaller than the first data width. The non-power of two (2) bytes of data are sent between the first and second modules through the fabric, and the fabric maps the non-power of two (2) bytes of data between the first and second data widths.

The present disclosure relates generally to communicating data in an on-chip environment, and more specifically to non-power of two (2) data transactions.
On-chip communications typically involve different modules on an integrated circuit communicating with each other over a communication fabric. The modules are coupled to the fabric over a number of wires, each carrying one bit of information. Different modules on the chip may be coupled to the communication fabric using different numbers of wires. Accordingly, different modules may have different interfaces to the fabric.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional power of two (2) data transfer. Here, a sender module 101 is coupled to the communication fabric 102 over a first interface capable of transferring N bytes of data per cycle, for example. A target module 103 may be coupled to the communication fabric 102 over a second interface capable of transferring M bytes of data per cycle. Data is typically sent in payloads of powers of two (2) (e.g., 32 B, 64 B, 128 B, 256 B). However, interface mismatches can result in undesirable inefficiencies. For instance, sender module 101 may send data 150 on a cycle 120 that does not use all the bytes available during a transfer (e.g., unused bytes 151). Additionally, when such bytes are transferred to the target module 103, they must be reconfigured for a different power of two (2) matching the interface of the target. For example, if the sender module has a 128 B interface, the sender module may send data in 128 B chunks (e.g., 128 B, 256 B, 384 B). However, if the sender module only has 120 B of data, then the full data width of the interface may not be used. Similarly, for data transfer over multiple cycles 121, if sender module sends 160 B of data, the first cycle uses the full width of the interface, but the second cycle is only partially full. As a result, two (2) cycles (aka bursts or beats) transfer 256 B, of which portions 152 and 153 are used and another portion 154 in the second cycle is unused (e.g., don't care). On the target side, if the target has a 32 B interface, it can accept transactions in 32 B granularity. However, due to this width conversion, the target receives a burst length of 8 for a 256 B transaction from the sender, causing an extra 96 B of data to be transferred. This may include whole cycles on the receive side where only "don't care" data is processed. This is illustrated in FIG. 1 for cases where portion 151 is received across cycles at 151a-b and the last cycle only partially fills the target interface data width, leaving an additional unused portion 160.
When large amounts of data are being transferred at very high speeds, such inefficiencies translate in to wasted time and wasted power.

On-chip non-power of two data transactions


Disclosed herein is a shredder having a device located at least partially between a shredder mechanism and an output side of the shredder housing to disperse any accumulation of shredded materials at least adjacent the output opening, as well as remove shredded materials caught in or near the cutting assembly. One device is a movable device positioned between a shredder mechanism and the output side of the shredder housing that is configured to pivot about an axis in an oscillating manner. Another device includes a fan mechanism for blowing and moving shredded materials through a passageway in the shredder housing and towards an outlet.

1. Field
The present disclosure is generally related to shredders for destroying articles, such as documents, CDs, etc. More specifically, the present disclosure is related to shredders including a rotatable device for moving shredded materials in a shredder.
2. Description of Related Art
During operation of a shredder, paper or other articles are fed through the input opening or throat of the shredder to be destroyed. As shown in FIG. 1, when paper is fed through a throat 101 of shredder 100, the paper travels into a cutting assembly 102 where it is shredded into smaller particles. The particles then exit through an outlet 104 of housing 105, and accumulate inside waste bin 103. However, problems may develop at or near the outlet 104 of the shredder 100, which may affect proper operation of the shredder.
One problem which may develop during shredding of articles includes when shredded particles adhere to or near the cutting assembly 102 or outlet 104 of the shredder 100. Such a phenomenon of accumulated particles known as "bird nesting," as indicated by element 120. The shredded particles may accumulate due to physical or electrostatic means, for example. Over time, bird nesting particles 120 that accumulate near outlet 104 can become lodged inside the cutting assembly 102 or outlet 104 and reduce the sheet capacity (i.e., the amount of articles to be received and shredded in the cutting assembly) of the machine. Thus, extra strain may be placed on the gears, bearings, and motor (not shown) associated with the cutting assembly, and may even damage the cutting assembly 102. It is therefore desirable to reduce bird nesting particles 120 in order to extend the life and efficiency of a shredder 100 and maintain proper operation. This problem occurs more often in cross-cutting shredders, because the small chips formed by cross-cutting are more likely to accumulate.
Additionally, after articles have been shredded and particles descend from the housing 105, a second problem may develop. As shredded particles collect inside the waste bin 103, the shredded particles tend to accumulate in a shape similar to a peak or mountain, sometimes also referred to as "crowning," as indicated by element 130. An accumulation of crowing particles 130 is inefficient since the particles will quickly build up. The crowning particles 130 may then perhaps start pushing against the cutting assembly 102, possibly contributing to the accumulation of bird nesting particles 120. The crowning particles 130 may also falsely or prematurely trigger a bin full detection system before the waste bin 103 is completely full. User assistance may then be required to either empty the waste bin 103, remove shreds that have accumulated near the output opening or cutting assembly, or to even out the pile of particles by hand before continuing to shred. Such assistance may not only be time consuming, but also dangerous. It is therefore desirable for a shredder to have particles which accumulate evenly in the waste bin 103, particularly in shredders that utilize a bin full detection system.
Some prior art methods have attempted to develop devices to curb such problems. For example, U.S. Patent Application 2008/0041988 A1 describes a brush-off device that slides reciprocally along shafts (e.g., in a horizontal direction relative to the shafts) of a cutter assembly in an axial direction. However, the prior art fails to provide a feature for cleaning an underside of the cutting assembly or outlet. Rather, the prior art functions below the shredder housing.
To prevent crowning, the prior art, such as U.S. Patent Applications 2007/029542 A1 and 2007/0295736 A1, describes shredders having containers or bins that are rocked to prevent build up of particles. U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,422 B2 provides a manual device for pressing paper downwardly in the bin. However, none of the prior art devices are designed to operate inside or with the shredder housing to clear particles caught in the cutter elements of the cutter assembly, as well as assist in preventing crowning in the bin.

Shredder with rotatable device for moving shredded materials adjacent the outlet


The amplifier includes first and second inverters that form a flip-flop. In this flip-flop, an input of first inverter is connected to an output of the second inverter, and an output of the first inverter is connected to an input of the second inverter. Control terminals of at least one transistors (MN1, MN2) of first and second transistor pairs (MP1, MN1 and MP2, MN2) that constitute first and second inverters, respectively, are connected to inputs of first and second inverters through first and second capacitances (C1, C2), respectively. At resetting, inputs (1, 2) and outputs (OUT, OUTB) of first and second inverters are not mutually cross-connected, wherein a reference signal (VR) is supplied in common to inputs (1, 2) of the first and second inverters. The one transistors (MN1, MN2) are diode-connected. Voltage differences between reference signal (VR) and respective control terminals of the one transistors are stored in the first and second capacitances (C1, C2), respectively. At signal input, diode connections of the one transistors (MN1, MN2) are released. Inputs (1, 2) of the first and second inverters are disconnected from the reference signal. First and second input signals (S1, S2) are supplied to inputs (1, 2), respectively. Then, inputs and outputs of first and second inverters are mutually cross-connected, forming the flip-flop. The amplifier with high-speed and highly reliable operation does not depend on variations in devices therein.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional sense amplifier circuit constituted from a flip-flop type voltage comparator circuit. This sense amplifier circuit (flip-flop type voltage comparator circuit) cancels an offset resulting from manufacturing variations in transistors. More specifically, referring to FIG. 13, this sense amplifier circuit includes PMOS transistors MP91 and MP92 with sources thereof connected in common to a power supply Ssp, drains thereof connected to bit lines (a bit line pair of) BL1 and BL2, respectively, and gates thereof connected to the bit lines BL2 and BL1, respectively, and NMOS transistors MN91 and MN92 with sources thereof connected in common to a power supply Ssn, drains thereof connected to the bit line BL1 through a switch SW92 and to the bit line BL2 through a switch SW94, respectively, and gates thereof connected to the bit line BL2 through a capacitance C91 and to the bit line BL1 through a capacitance C92, respectively. A switch SW91 is disposed between a gate of the NMOS transistor MN91 and a drain of the NMOS transistor MN91, while a switch SW93 is disposed between a gate of the NMOS transistor MN92 and a drain of the NMOS transistor MN92.
FIG. 14 is a timing waveform diagram for explaining an operation of the circuit in FIG. 13. FIGS. 15, 16, and 17 are diagrams showing connections of the circuit in FIG. 13 at respective timings shown in FIG. 14. Incidentally, the switches that are in an off state in FIG. 13 are not illustrated in FIGS. 15, 16, and 17.
In the following an analysis is given according to the present invention.
When the power supplies Ssn and Ssp and the bit lines BL1 and BL2 are set to a potential VCC/2, and when the switches SW91, SW92, SW93, and SW94 are turned on, as shown in FIG. 15, potentials at both ends of the capacitances C91 and C92 become the same potential of VCC/2, respectively. An electric charge in each of the capacitances C91 and C92 is reset to nil.
When the switches SW92 and SW94 that were in the on state in FIG. 15 are turned off (refer to a timing (b) in FIG. 14) and when the power supply Ssn is reduced from the potential VCC/2 to a potential Vdc (refer to a period Ta in FIG. 14), as shown in FIG. 16, the NMOS transistors MN91 and MN92 are turned on. Thus, a source follower operation of a diode connection occurs at each of the transistors. This causes a gate voltage of the NMOS transistor MN91 to become (Vdc+Vtn91) and a gate voltage of the NMOS transistor MN92 to become (Vdc+Vtn92), in which Vtn91 and Vtn92 are threshold voltages of the NMOS transistors MN91 and MN92, respectively. A potential difference between the gate voltage of the MOS transistor MN91 and the potential VCC/2 and a potential difference between the gate voltage of the MOS transistor MN92 and the potential VCC/2 are held in the capacitances 91 and 92, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 17, the switches SW91 and SW93 which were in the on state in FIG. 16 are turned off, the switches SW92 and SW94 that were in the off state in FIG. 16 are turned on, the power supply Ssn becomes a GND potential, and the power supply Ssp becomes a power supply voltage VCC (refer to a timing (c) in FIG. 14). Since source potentials Ssn of the NMOS transistors MN91 and MN92 are reduced, gate-to-source voltages of the NMOS transistors MN91 and MN92 increase, and the same current flows through each of the transistors.
When a voltage (VCC/2+Δ) is applied to the bit line BL1 as data, the gate voltages of the transistors MP92 and MN92 increase just by the voltage Δ, respectively. For this reason, a potential at the bit line BL2 is reduced because a drain current (source-to-drain current) of the PMOS transistor MP92 is reduced and a drain current (drain-to-source current) of the NMOS transistor MN92 is increased. A potential at the bit line BL1 is increased because a drain current (source-to-drain current) of the PMOS transistor MP91 is increased and a drain current (drain-to-source current) of the NMOS transistor MN91 is reduced due to reduction of a potential at the bit line BL2.
As a result, it becomes that BL1=VCC, and BL2=GND, and the bit lines become stabilized.
In the flip-flop type voltage comparator circuit in FIG. 13, the potential difference (Vt+Vdc) is stored in each of the capacitances due to the source follower operations of the transistors MN91 and MN92 which are diode-connected in the period Ta (refer to FIG. 14). An operation on data, which does not depend on the threshold voltage Vt can be thereby performed.
As a configuration for canceling the offset caused by the manufacturing variations in transistors in the flip-flop type voltage comparator circuit, a configuration as shown in FIG. 18, for example, is known (refer to Patent Document 2). FIG. 19 is a timing diagram showing on and off control over switches in FIG. 18, and FIGS. 20 through 22 are diagrams showing connecting configurations of a circuit in FIG. 18 in respective steps in FIG. 19, respectively.
In the following an analysis is given according to the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 18, this flip-flop type voltage comparator circuit includes a PMOS transistor MP83 with a source thereof connected to a power supply VDD and a gate thereof connected to a signal STBB (which is a complementary signal of a signal STB), PMOS transistors MP81 and MP82 with sources thereof connected to a drain of the PMOS transistor MP83, an NMOS transistor MN83 with a source thereof connected to a power supply VSS and a gate thereof connected to the signal STB, and NMOS transistors MN81 and MN82 with sources thereof connected in common to a drain of the NMOS transistor MN83 and drains thereof connected to drains of the PMOS transistors MP81 and MP82, respectively.
Gates of the PMOS transistor MP81 and the NMOS transistor MN81 are connected in common to an input signal VI through a capacitance C81 and a switch SW85. Gates of the PMOS transistor MP82 and the NMOS transistor MN82 are connected in common to a reference signal VR through a capacitance C82 and a switch SW87. Between the gates of the PMOS transistor MP81 and the NMOS transistor MN81 connected in common and the drains of the PMOS transistor MP81 and the NMOS transistor MN81 connected in common, a switch SW83 is provided. Between the gates of the PMOS transistor MP82 and the NMOS transistor MN82 connected in common and the drains of the PMOS transistor MP82 and the NMOS transistor MN82 connected in common, a switch SW84 is provided. Between the drains of the PMOS transistor MP81 and the NMOS transistor MN81 connected in common and the gates of the PMOS transistor MP82 and the NMOS transistor MN82 connected in common, a switch SW81 is provided. Between the drains of the PMOS transistor MP82 and the NMOS transistor MN82 connected in common and the gates of the PMOS transistor MP81 and the NMOS transistor MN81 connected in common, a switch SW82 is provided. A switch SW86 is provided between a connecting point between the capacitance C81 and the switch SW85 and a connecting point between the capacitance C82 and the switch SW87. On and off control over the switches SW81 to SW87 is performed by a control signal (not shown).
In this flip-flop type voltage comparator circuit, the common gate of the MOS transistors MN81 and MP81 that constitute an inverter and the common gate of the MOS transistors MN82 and MP82 that constitute an inverter are each reset to a logic inversion voltage (voltage at which an input of the inverter coincides with an output of the inverter) in advance, and to one of the common gates, a potential difference between the reference signal and an input data signal, that becomes positive or negative with respect to the reference signal is given. Then, the strobe signal STB and the inverted signal STBB of the strobe signal STB are given to the gates of the MOS transistors MN83 and MP83, respectively. When the flip-flop circuit is activated, a positive feedback is applied, and the potential difference between the common gates is amplified. With this arrangement, even if the potential difference between the reference signal and the data signal is small, voltage comparison between these signals can be performed at high speed. An operation of the voltage comparison will be described below.
Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, in step 1, the strobe signal STB is driven HIGH, the switches SW81 and SW82 are turned off, the switches SW83, SW84, and SW86 are turned on, the switch SW85 is turned off, and the switch SW87 is turned on. A drain and the gate of each of the PMOS transistor MP81 and the NMOS transistor MN81 that constitute the inverter are connected (diode-connected), and a drain and the gate of each of the PMOS transistor MP82 and the NMOS transistor MN82 that constitutes the inverter are connected (diode-connected). In this case, the input of each of the inverters coincides with the output of each of the inverters, and respective voltages VA and VB of the inverters become logic inversion voltages. Then, potential differences between the reference signal VR and the respective logic inversion voltages VA and VB of the inverters are stored in the capacitances C81 and C82, respectively.
The logic inversion voltages VA and VB become different voltages when variations in elements are present. However, by holding a potential difference between each logic inversion voltage and the reference signal VR in the corresponding capacitance, an operation that does not depend on the variations in elements becomes possible.
Next, referring to FIGS. 19 and 21, in step 2, the strobe signal STB is driven LOW, the signal STBB is driven HIGH, and the MOS transistors MP83 and MN83 are turned off. The switches SW81 and SW82 are kept off, the switches SW83, SW84, and SW86 are turned off, and the switch SW85 is turned on. The switch SW87 is kept on. The common source of the NMOS transistors MN81 and MN82 and the common source of the PMOS transistors MP81 and MP82 are brought to a floating state. The reference signal VR is consecutively applied to one end of the capacitance C82, while the input signal VI is consecutively applied to one end of the capacitance C81. With this arrangement, a voltage VI is added to a voltage (VA−VR) stored in the capacitance C81 in step 1, and gate voltages of the MOS transistors MN81 and MP81 thereby become VI+(VA−VR)=(VI−VR)+VA. That is, the gate voltages of the MOS transistors MN81 and M81 become a voltage shifted from a logic inversion voltage VA just by a voltage difference (VI−VR) between the input signal VI and the reference signal VR.
Referring to FIGS. 19 and 22, in step 3, the strobe signal STB is driven HIGH, the switches SW81 and SW82 are turned on, the switches SW83, SW84, and SW86 are kept off, and the switches SW85 and SW87 are turned off. When the MOS transistors MP83 and MN83 are turned on and when the flip-flop circuit is activated, a voltage VO at the common drain of the MOS transistors MP81 and MN81 (an output voltage of the flip-flop circuit) changes according to the common gate voltage {(VI−VR)+VA}.
When VI>VR, the common gate of the MOS transistors MN81 and MP81 that constitute the inverter has a higher potential than the voltage VA. Thus, the output voltage VO is lowered when the flip-flop circuit (constituted from the MOS transistors MN81, MN82, MP81, and MP82) is activated, resulting in VO=VSS, where the output voltage VO is stabilized.
On the other hand, when VI<VR, the common gate of the MOS transistors MN81 and MP81 has a lower potential than the voltage VA. Thus, the output voltage VO is elevated when the flip-flop circuit is activated, resulting in VO=VDD.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-A-62-273694
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-A-5-218825


An approach is provided for characterizing discontinuities in semiconductor devices, for example in a metal silicide. An image of an integrated circuit is caused, at least in part, to be received. The image is analyzed for at least one discontinuity in the integrated circuit structure. A relative measure of the at least one discontinuity is determined in comparison to the integrated circuit structure based on analyzing the image.

The use of advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes has enabled the reduction in semiconductor dimensions, and a corresponding increase in device operating speeds. These reductions, however, reduce the available cross-sectional area of interconnect regions, which leads to increased timing delays. To counteract this adverse consequence, various thin-film materials, such as metal silicides, may be formed atop doped polycrystalline silicon interconnects, which reduces the sheet resistivity of the interconnects and, thereby, reduces timing delays.
Conventional self-aligned silicide processes typically involve depositing a thin-film of metal and a protective cap on a semiconductor wafer and annealing to react the deposited metal with underlying silicon at various active regions. This annealing process forms a conductive silicide layer at various active regions. Metal deposited on insulators, such as oxides and nitrides, does not react during the annealing process and, therefore, is etched off (along with the cap) in one or more subsequent stripping operations. Connections may be subsequently formed utilizing one or more processing steps.
One undesirable consequence of these self-aligned silicide processes is the agglomeration of deposited metal during annealing stages, which in turn causes discontinuities. That is, at the elevated temperatures characteristic of annealing processes, and also of later middle of the line (MOL) processing steps, such as the deposition of a high-k dielectric or a metal fill for a replacement gate electrode, silicon within and/or underlying the deposited metal diffuses and eventually coalesces to form silicon grains and holes that break the continuity of the metalized silicide film. Accordingly, a narrow conductor constructed with agglomerated silicide tends to exhibit significant increases in average sheet resistance as the degree to which the metalized silicide film agglomerates and, therefore, causes discontinuities. Contacts formed above the film may punch or even fall through holes in the metalized silicide. Thus, in high speed circuit applications, agglomeration can result in performance degradation and even total functional failure. Accordingly, the adverse consequences of thin-film agglomeration are increasingly becoming one of the main yield detractors for semiconductor devices.
Conventionally, the sheet resistance of metal silicide layers has been measured inline with manufacturing processes to seek out resistivity variances and, thereby, the potential presence and degree of material discontinuities in these layers. Unfortunately, sheet resistance is influenced by many parameters, and therefore, electrical measurements of sheet resistivity do not directly quantify the presence or degree of these discontinuities.
A need, therefore, exists for methodology enabling efficient and accurate determination and monitoring of the effects of discontinuities during, or at least inline with, one or more semiconductor manufacturing processes. There exists a particular need for methodology enabling the characterization of thin-film discontinuities to facilitate the implementation of at least one countermeasure configured to increase the yield of semiconductor devices.

Method and apparatus for characterizing discontinuities in semiconductor devices


Device including a housing, at least one electrical conductor and at least one support, the electrical conductor being configured to carry an electric current, the housing defining a chamber accommodating the electrical conductor, the support being configured to attach the electrical conductor to the housing, the housing being in particular made of a metal. The support is made of a ceramic, the support making contact both with the electrical conductor and with the housing.

Numerous devices comprise one or more electrical conductors contained in a housing defining a chamber, these one or more electrical conductors connecting electrical members contained in the chamber to one another. These electrical members are, for example, outgoing electrical lines, circuit breakers, electrical connectors connected to an external electrical network, or switching members or computer modules.
In many cases, the conductors and/or the electrical members are attached to the lateral walls of the housing, which then hold them in position without additional framework being required. By example, the electrical conductors that connect the outgoing lines in an electrical enclosure to the incoming line (which receives electric current from an external electrical network) are attached to an inner face of the housing.
Of course, the operation of these electrical members and the flow of electric current through the one or more conductors generate heat, which may reach many tens of degrees or more. However, the materials from which the conductors and the various electrical members are made risk being damaged if the heating gets too high. For example, copper conductors may be damaged by temperatures higher than about 140° C.
To prevent such heating, it is known practice in particular to size electrical conductors according to the current that they are to carry, since the heating of an electrical conductor is dependent on current density. Thus, if the sectional area of the conductor is large enough, the heating of the conductor remains limited. Conversely, a conductor provided for a given current intensity cannot be used to carry a larger current or, at constant current intensity, the sectional area of the electrical conductor cannot be decreased below a given threshold without heating becoming excessive. This means that the weight of the conductors cannot be decreased below a certain limit, and that the housing must therefore be sized to bear them. Thus, a number of constraints are involved in the sizing of the device.

Device comprising an electrical conductor and a housing


A method of transmitting data using phase-shift-based precoding in a multiple antenna system using a plurality of subcarriers is disclosed. More specifically, the method includes determining a phase-shift-based precoding matrix for transmitting the data by adjusting a transmission phase angle for each antenna, applying an offset for applying offset information fed back from a receiving terminal to the determined precoding matrix, and performing precoding by multiplying the offset applied precoding matrix by a symbol of each subcarrier.

Recently, the generalization of information communication services, the advent of various multimedia services and the appearance of high-quality services rapidly raise the demand for wireless communication services. To actively cope with the demand, a capacity of a communication system should be increased.
In order to increase the communication capacity in a wireless communication environment, two options can be explored, namely, a method of finding a new available frequency band, and a method of raising efficiency of given resources.
With respect to the latter method, many attentions are paid to the multiple antenna transceiving technologies for enhancing transmission capacity in a manner of obtaining a diversity gain by securing a special area for resource utilization using a plurality of antennas provided to a transceiver or transmitting data in parallel via the respective antennas. Moreover, many efforts are actively made to research and develop the multiple antenna transceiving technologies.

Data transfer method using phase-shift based precoding and transmitter implementing the same


A short leg brace which is composed of a foot mount and a calf splint pivotably attached to each other so as to allow plantar and dorsal flexions and which is provided with a compression spring between the splint and the heel portion of the mount for elastically hindering the plantar flexion.

A short leg brace such as shown in FIG. 5 is conventionally known as a support used by patients who, due to paralysis resulting from cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral thrombosis or due to hemiplegia resulting from an accident, cannot move their ankle joint as they intend.
This conventional short leg brace is made of relatively rigid synthetic resin material, and comprises a foot mount 10A for supporting the foot sole S and a calf splint 20A which is to be set along the calf C, wherein the foot mount 10A and the calf splint 20A are molded integrally. With the foot mount 10A placed under the foot and the calf splint 20A set along the calf C, the short leg brace is secured by means of fixing bands 50. Thus, the short leg braces of this type stabilize the leg and the foot sole in an approximately right angle (so that the ankle joint is set at its neutral position), and prevent both plantar flexion (the flexion in the direction that the toe drops down) and dorsal flexion (the flexion in the direction that the toe is lifted up) of the ankle joint so that talipes equinus and/or drop foot are corrected.
Therefore, the short leg braces of this type fix the ankle joint relatively firmly, preventing almost any motion of the ankle joint, and thus have a drawback that they cannot allow a patient to walk in a natural and smooth manner.
It might be possible to adjust the above shown conventional short leg brace by selecting the material thereof or by adjusting the width of the junction 51 between the foot mount 10A and the calf splint 20A so as to provide some flexibility to the short leg brace, and therefore it might be possible to change the width of the junction 51 depending on the condition of the patient or on how far the patient's rehabilitation program has proceeded (by scraping the junction 51 so that its width progressively reduces as the rehabilitation program proceeds). However, because it is very difficult to restore the short leg brace if it is reduced excessively, such adjustment is seldom practiced but instead it is common to make the short leg brace anew every several years (under the current Japanese Disabled Persons Welfare Act, it is permitted to remake the short leg brace every three years).
With the ankle joint fixed by a support, it is impossible for a patient to walk in a natural manner. FIG. 6 shows one cycle of walking. The walking cycle can be divided into a stance phase in which a leg of interest (the right leg in FIG. 6) is in contact with the floor and a swing phase in which the leg of interest is apart from the floor. In the drawing, the stance phase is defined as a period between the heel contact (a) and the toe separation (1), while the swing phase is defined as a period between the toe separation (1) and the next heel contact (p).
In this walking cycle, among the ankle joint dorsal flexion muscle (precisely the tibialis anterior, hereinafter referred to as the dorsal flexion muscle) and the ankle joint plantar flexion muscle (precisely the triceps muscle of the calf, hereinafter referred to as the plantar flexion muscle), the one which is shown with a shade in FIG. 6 is the working muscle. In the period from the heel contact (a) to the foot flat (b) at which the whole foot sole comes into contact with the floor, the dorsal flexion muscle works to prevent abrupt drop of the toe. In the period from the foot flat (b) through the heel separation (h) to the toe separation (1), the plantar flexion muscle works to support the weight, move the center of gravity forward, and cause the toe to kick the floor. In the swing phase between the toe separation (1) and the next heel contact (p), the dorsal flexion muscle works to lift up the toe so that a clearance is maintained between the foot and the floor. Thus, in the walking action, the plantar and dorsal flexion muscles work alternately so that the ankle repeats the plantar and dorsal flexions.
Referring to FIG. 7, the period between the heel contact (a) and the foot flat (b) is described in more detail in the following. In this drawing, K designates the knee (or the knee joint), W the center of gravity, A the ankle (or the ankle joint), F the foot (or the part lower than the ankle), TH the thigh, and SH the shank. First, the foot F is moved forward and the heel thereof is brought into contact with the floor (this state is shown in the left-side drawings, and designated with HC which is an abbreviation of "heel contact"). Subsequently, as the body moves forward (i.e., the center of gravity moves forward), the foot is, via the state shown in the middle drawings, gradually brought into full contact with the ground until the toe contacts the floor (this state is designated with EF which is an abbreviation of "foot flat").
In the period from HC to FF, a person without a disability can control the plantar flexion of his or her ankle joint as the weight is gradually applied to the foot from the left-side state to the right-side state shown in FIG. 7(A). In other words, the dorsal flexion muscle gradually expands while preventing abrupt drop of the foot toe. As a result, the knee is substantially maintained on the line of action of.the vector representing the reaction force from the floor (the vector represents a resultant of the forces provided from the floor over the whole foot sole when the weight is applied to the foot), which is shown in the drawing by the arrow directed upward from the floor, so that the person can walk smoothly and steadily.
However, the dorsal flexion muscle of a person with hemiplegia may be weakened and the plantar flexion muscle may have an extraordinary tension, always pulling the foot toe in the direction of plantar flexion. As a result, the foot toe comes into contact with the floor immediately after HC, with the knee K positioned on a rear side with respect to the line of action of the vector representing the reaction force from the floor as shown in FIG. 7(B), leading to an overextension of the knee K. To prevent this, the short leg brace is required to have an ability to assist the dorsal flexion muscle while at the same time allowing the plantar flexion during the period from HC to FF.
In the case where the conventional short leg brace of FIG. 5 is used, because the short leg brace fixes the ankle joint in the neutral position, it is necessary to move the whole lower leg forward in order to accomplish the transition from HC to FF, as shown in FIG. 7(C). This causes the knee K to be positioned excessively on the front side of the line of action of the vector representing the reaction force from the floor, creating a problem that the knee K cannot be steadily controlled if the extensor muscle thereof is weak.
After FF in FIG. 7, the portion of the weight applied to the foot is gradually increased, causing the ankle joint A to bend in the direction of dorsal flexion, as shown by the step (c) and its subsequent steps in FIG. 6. In this period, the short leg brace is required to move freely (without a resist) in the direction of dorsal flexion so as not to hinder the natural motion of the ankle joint A. Thus, the short leg brace is required to assist the dorsal flexion muscle in the period from HC to FF ((a)-(b)) and in the swing phase ((l)-(o)) in FIG. 6. The required supplementary torque during the swing phase is very small, because during this period the short leg brace only has to lift up the foot. However, in the period from HC to FF, the required supplementary torque is relatively large because the short leg brace has to prevent abrupt drop of the foot toe against the weight increasingly applied to the foot. Thus, if the short leg brace can produce an adequate supplementary torque in this period, it will improve the user's walk over the whole walking cycle including the period after FF.
Examples of the prior art are disclosed in the specifications of Japanese Patent Publication No.61-16173 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No.61-43473.
The embodiment of No.61-16173 comprises a supporting member which extends from the foot sole to an upper part of the Achilles tendon via an outer side of the ankle. The supporting member can be secured to the leg by straps. Further, a calf splint is hinged to an upper end portion of the supporting member, and tension springs are used to urge the toe side portion toward the hinge between the supporting member and the calf splint.
However, this conventional embodiment essentially fixes the ankle joint by means of the supporting member, and the resultant essentially limited movement of the ankle joint is elastically hindered by the tension springs. Therefore, the degree of assistance to the dorsal flexion muscle and the allowable range of the plantar flexion are both quite limited and insufficient to achieve natural movement of the ankle joint.
The embodiment of No.61-43473 is provided with a large flexibility (in other words, cat be bent with a small force) as a result of greatly reducing the width of the joint 51 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, while a side strut having an S-shape so as to function as a spring is provided in a manner that it extends upright with its upper end vertically slideably engaged to the calf splint 20a.
In this way, with proper provision of a stopper for limiting the vertical sliding movement of the side strut, it is possible to generate a large resisting force against the plantar flexion while allowing substantially free dorsal flexion, so that an advantageous short leg brace is achieved. However, as the side strut is stretched or compressed, its degree of flexion changes and the side strut can engage and irritate the skin of the leg, creating a problem that this embodiment is not suitable for a long hour walking.
In view of such problems of the prior art, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a short leg brace which can assist the patient in achieving more natural walking. It is also contemplated that the present invention can be used in an adaptability test conducted to find a suitable supplementary torque for each patient with hemiplegia, in which the patient's walking condition is examined for various magnitudes of supplementary torque.


The present invention relates to an aqueous pharmaceutical suspension composition comprising: from about 0.2% to 20% of a substantially water insoluble pharmaceutical active, e.g. ibuprofen; a suspension stabilizing effective amount of xanthan gum, pregelatinized starch and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate; an effective amount of taste masking composition; and water, as well as a process for producing such aqueous pharmaceutical suspensions.

Orally administered medicaments are given to the patient in many forms, including solid form such as capsules, caplets or tablets and liquid form such as solutions, emulsions or suspensions. Medicaments administered in solid form are usually intended to be swallowed whole, therefore, the often disagreeable taste of the active ingredient need not be taken into account in formulating the medicine, except for the provision of means to prevent the taste from being apparent during the short time the medicine is in the mouth. Such means may include the provision of an appropriately thin and quickly dissolving coating on a tablet or caplet or the use of a gelatin capsule form, (the gelatin outer shell of the capsule keeps the active ingredient inside until the capsule has been swallowed), or simply compressing a tablet firmly so that it will not begin to disintegrate during the short time that it is intended to be in the mouth. Children, older persons, and many other persons including disabled or incapacitated patients have trouble swallowing whole tablets and even capsules. Therefore, in cases where the dosage to be administered cannot be made into a very small tablet or capsule, it is desirable to provide the medicine either in a chewable solid form or a liquid form. For many patients, including pediatric and geriatric patients, a liquid oral dosage form is preferable over chewable dosage form because of the ready swallowability without chewing of the liquid dosage form.
A common problem associated with liquid dosage forms is the often disagreeable taste of the active ingredients which manifest itself during the time that the liquid dosage form is in the mouth prior to swallowing. In some cases, the taste of the active medicament in a liquid form is generally overpowered by adding flavoring ingredients to the liquid so that when it is swallowed the bitter or unpleasant taste of the medicament is masked. For instance, this has been done with a pediatric liquid dosage form of acetaminophen (N-acetyl para-aminophenol or "APAP"). APAP is available commercially in an aqueous solution that includes overpowering flavor ingredients that masked the unpleasant taste of the APAP.
Aqueous solutions are generally stable and easy to prepare for water soluble actives, such as APAP, but it is difficult to prepare water insoluble pharmaceutical actives in storage stable ready-to-use liquid dosage form. Water insoluble ingredients present in water based solutions tend to separate or settle out and even shaking before administration does not insure a consistently accurate dosage regimen. While some water insoluble medicaments are soluble in alcohol, and may be presented in alcohol solutions, it is more desirable, particularly in pediatric dosage forms, to use aqueous "alcohol free" solutions.
The present invention is directed to discovery of a stable aqueous suspension system for water insoluble pharmaceutical actives which when combined with taste masking compositions achieve a palatable dosage form for both geriatric and especially pediatric applications.

Aqueous pharmaceutical suspension for substantially water insoluble pharmaceutical actives


Articles are provided which have fluorescent properties and which are suitable for use in making retroreflective articles such as safety and informational signage. The articles have at least two film layers, each film layer including a colorant dye. The multiple film layer sheeting exhibits excellent resistance to weathering and overall color durability while also providing chromaticity properties dictated by industry standards for a particular coloration. A method of preparing the articles is provided. In a particular application, the articles embody retroreflective properties and are informational for safety signage articles such as pedestrian crossing and school safety fluorescent yellow green signs.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to polymers having fluorescent colorants. More particularly, the invention relates to articles having fluorescent properties and being composed of multiple layers which together provide important properties. Such properties provide desired brightness and chromaticity which shows excellent resistance to weathering and/or overall color durability.
2. Description of Related Art
Articles incorporating fluorescent dyes into polymeric matrices are extensively known in the art for various applications including signage, vehicle markings roadway markings, and other applications where high visibility is desired and beneficial for any number of reasons, including safety, information dissemination, visibility, visual signaling, and quick detection. In some applications, it is important to meet and maintain certain color standards and/or certain durability standards.
Often these polymer systems containing fluorescent colorants are structured in the form of a sheeting which exhibits fluorescing properties. Particularly suitable applications for these types of films loaded with fluorescent colorants are in connection with uses where signaling is a primary function of the article. Typically, these take the form of signage which can benefit by exhibiting fluorescing action. Traffic safety and informational signs have been known to incorporate films having fluorescent colorants which enhance visibility of the signs. These include traffic signs for various modes of transportation, highway safety visual signaling articles, reflectors, roadway markers, highway markers, street signage, and other types of articles which can benefit from enhanced visibility. Certain types of signage need to have long-term durability, which is a big hurdle because most fluorescent colorants have poor ultraviolet light stability. Some of these articles incorporate retroreflective features.
Over the years, the art has developed within the field of retroreflective articles. Generally speaking, there are three main types of retrorefelctive sheetings in the traffic industry, i.e. enclosed lens sheeting, encapsulated lens sheeting, and prismatic sheeting. Palmquist U.S. Pat. No. 2,407,680 illustrates so-called enclosed lens retroreflective sheeting articles. Assemblies of this type are also known as engineering grade, utility grade or super engineering grade products, and they have a typical coefficient of retroreflection at a −4° entrance angle and at a 0.2° observation angle between 50 to 160 cd/lx/m2 for white sheeting, depending upon the specific product.
McKenzie U.S. Pat. No. 3,190,178 generally illustrates so-called encapsulated lens retroreflective articles. This includes sheeting of beads encapsulated into polymer, at times referred to as high intensity products. For white sheeting, these have a typical coefficient of retroreflection of about 300 cd/lx/m2.
A third general category of retroreflective sheeting incorporates microprismatic optical elements which provide exceptional reflectivity, typically between about 400 and about 1600 cd/lx/m2 depending upon the specific product construction and geometry of the cube corner elements. Cube corner retroreflective sheetings are described in Rowland U.S. Pat. No. 3,684,348, Hoopman U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,258, Burns U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,761, and White U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,566. Publications such as Rowland U.S. Pat. No. 3,810,804, and Pricone U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,601,861 and 4,486,363 illustrate the manufacture of articles of this type. It will be noted that the art includes retroreflective sheeting by which thermoplastics are embossed into prismatic sheeting. The present invention finds application in products having these principal types of retroreflective construction.
Other art teaches the use of an ultraviolet (UV) light screening layer over or in front of a fluorescent layer. This art includes Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-16042 (Application No. 63-165914) of Koshiji, Phillips PCT Publication No. WO99/48961 and No. WO00/47407, and Pavelka U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,458. The Japanese Publication indicates that UV additives are useful to protect fluorescent sheeting. The PCT publications relate to fluorescent polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film with a UV light screening layer having UV additives which screen 425 nanometers (nm) and lower. This U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,458 incorporates a UV screening layer for a film of selected polymers containing selected fluorescent dyes.
The art recognizes other methods of enhancing the durability of fluorescent colors by using stabilizers of the hindered amine light stabilizer type (HALS type). Art in this area includes Burns U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,761 and White U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,566. The former proposes the combination of particular fluorescent dyes and HALS in a polycarbonate matrix. The latter proposes low molecular weight HALS and a thioxanthene dye within a solventless PVC resin.
All of these patents, other art and patent publications, and any others identified herein, are incorporated by reference hereinto.
To a certain extent, art of this type recognizes that making retroreflective signs fluorescent provides enhanced visibility under most lighting conditions. The characteristic bright color and/or the fluorescing characteristics of fluorescent materials attract ones eye to the fluorescent signage or other article. For example, outdoor signage articles which are colored with fluorescent colorants enhance visual contrast, making the materials more conspicuous than non-fluorescent colors. When such signage is intended for outdoor uses, two major hurdles are encountered. One is durability under outdoor conditions, and the other is the availability of specific colors.
A common practice directed toward enhancing outdoor durability is using a UV screening layer such as that taught by the art noted above in an attempt to protect the base fluorescent polymeric matrix layer. Traditionally, such a UV light screening layer is made by dissolving UV light absorbing compounds into a transparent polymeric matrix. The art discloses fluorescent articles consisting of a UV light screening layer deposited in front of a fluorescent color layer. The UV screening layer is intended to absorb a defined range of UV light. UV light has a wavelength range of from 290 nm to 380 nm. Certain art also suggests moving somewhat into the visible range, such as up to about 400 nm or 410 nm and below. Often, approaches such as these fail to consider and/or address potential interaction between the UV absorber in the screening layer and the fluorescent dye within the underlying colored layer.
Most fluorescent colorants have poor UV light stability. In some cases, fading of fluorescent sheeting due to UV light exposure dramatically shortens the useful life of articles such as fluorescent traffic and roadway signs. While UV screening is intended to address the outdoor durability problem, several difficulties can arise. One concern is that the UV light absorbing compounds of these screening layers can leach out with time or can diffuse or migrate into the underlying fluorescent layer. This diffusion can actually accelerate fading of the fluorescent colorant in certain instances.
Art such as Burns U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,761 and White U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,566 propose fluorescent sheeting articles of these patents which do not necessarily incorporate a separate UV screening layer. Typically, these teach particular combinations of polymers and fluorescent dyes, often together with HALS materials, in the same film. In particular, the former patent discloses fluorescent articles comprising fluorescent dye and HALS within a polycarbonate matrix. The latter patent purports to teach that the combination of a fluorescent thioxanthene dye and a HALS material in a solventless PVC matrix enhances light stability of the fluorescent colors in the PVC system.
Acrylic polymers have advantages over polymers such as polycarbonate. Typical in this regard is polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Compared to other polymers such as polycarbonate, such acrylics are inexpensive, easier to process and are less susceptible to UV light degradation. For example, after a few years of outdoor exposure, polycarbonate can develop a hazy and/or yellow appearance. Acrylics, however, can withstand such outdoor weathering for a significantly longer time before the development of such defects.
Certain prior art teaches that acrylic polymers are not suitable for hosting a fluorescent dye. For example, Pavelka U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,458 discloses fluorescent articles comprising fluorescent dyes dispersed in various polymeric matrices. This teaches that fluorescent durability of fluorescent dyes in PMMA is poor even with a UV screening overlayer. Burns U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,761 discloses fluorescent articles comprising specific fluorescent dyes and a HALS compound in both polycarbonate and PMMA. The patent teaches incorporation of the HALS compound into the polycarbonate matrix significantly increases the fluorescent durability of the resulting articles, but does not have the same effect with PMMA. Art references such as these conclude that PMMA is not a suitable polymer matrix for fluorescent dyes because such acrylic based articles do not exhibit good fluorescence durability when exposed to extended outdoor weathering.
At the present state of the art, although fluorescent acrylic articles appear to hold some promise, issues concerning color stabilization and/or fluorescent stabilization against ultraviolet radiation present a problem of substantial proportions. Ideally, if a solution could be found without the need for placement of a separate UV light screening and/or absorbent layer over the article, such a solution is potentially all the more important and valuable. Addressing these problems are especially important for articles to be used under outdoor conditions which subject the article to lengthy exposure to sunlight.
Turning now to the problem of providing articles which comply with coloration standards, requirements, or needs, coloration considerations present a formidable challenge to suppliers of fluorescent articles, especially those which also must be very durable. This is the case whether addressing governmental coloration regulations, or industry standards.
In this regard, it is suggested here that there are three basic approaches for obtaining a desired fluorescent color in the typical instance when a given loading of available fluorescent dyes does not achieve the target fluorescent coloration. One approach is to adjust the loading quantity of the colorant. Often this solution is simply not adequate.
A second approach is to blend multiple fluorescent dyes together. Such an approach raises serious compatibility issues, both between the dyes themselves and between one or both of the dyes and the polymer matrix within which they would be loaded. Light durability also is an issue. Different dyes have different compatibility with different polymers due to differences between or among chemical structures. Durability of a given fluorescent colorant is different in different polymer matrices. One dye may have unfavorable interactions with another dye within a polymer matrix. Also, even the same dye can have different light durability in different polymer matrices.
The third possible approach is for the polymer matrix to contain a blend of a non-fluorescent dye with a fluorescent dye. The issues noted above for multiple fluorescent dyes in the same polymer matrix are raised for this option as well. The issues could be even more difficult due to the typical greater chemical difference between a fluorescent dye and a non-fluorescent dye. Additionally, there is a chance that the non-fluorescent dye may interfere with the fluorescent properties of the fluorescent dye, which may dramatically reduce brightness of the sheeting. A non-fluorescent dye can quench the overall fluorescing of the fluorescent dye.
Accordingly, the current state of the art also is in need of a solution to this coloration problem. Typically, the provider of such articles does not have the ability to solve this coloration problem by dictating coloration. Usually coloration is dictated to the user, and dye color availability is limited by dye suppliers.
It will be appreciated that attempting to address the two basic problems of light durability and coloration compliance within the same article increases the difficulties of these problems. Yet, a viable solution to these problems is all that more valuable when the same article successfully addresses both types of problems.

Fluorescent articles having multiple film layers


A sealing apparatus for use in conveying molten glass from a first vessel to a second vessel, wherein at least a portion of the first vessel is nested within the second vessel without contact between the first and second vessels, and a flexible member comprising a gas-tight seal separates an atmosphere enclosed by the sealing apparatus and an ambient atmosphere. The sealing apparatus is useful for flexibly sealing a non-contact joint between conduits for supplying molten glass to a forming body.

One method of forming a thin sheet of glass is by a drawing process where a ribbon of glass is drawn from a reservoir of molten glass. This may be accomplished, for example, via a down-draw process (e.g. slot or fusion), where the ribbon is drawn downward, typically from a forming body. Once the ribbon is formed, individual sheets of glass are cut from the ribbon.
In a conventional downdraw process, the molten glass is formed by melting precursor, or batch materials in a melting furnace. The molten glass is then flowed through various other components, such as fining vessels and stirring vessels. Eventually, the molten glass is conveyed to the forming body where the molten glass is formed into a continuous ribbon of glass. The ribbon may thereafter be separated into individual panes or glass sheets. The transfer apparatus for molten glass from the upstream portions of the conveying system to the forming body is particularly important, and must be capable of balancing many needs, such as the thermal expansion of the different materials of the system. For example, in the case of a fusion-type downdraw process, the forming body is typically a refractory material (e.g. a ceramic), that has a different thermal expansion characteristic than the principally platinum or platinum alloy vessels preceding it. To that end, the connection between the preceding system and the forming body inlet are typically
free-floating, in the sense that the inlet conduit and the feed conduit are not directly joined, but instead ride one within the other without direct contact. Nevertheless, there is a need to provide a seal between the feed and inlet conduits

Apparatus for sealing a joint between vessels for conveying molten glass


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: receiving a semiconductor structure, the semiconductor structure including: a fin structure; a dummy gate across over the fin structure to define a channel region of the fin structure; and a dummy dielectric layer separating the channel region of the fin structure from the dummy gate; removing the dummy gate and the dummy dielectric layer to expose the channel region of the fin structure; and forming a doped interfacial layer covering the channel region of the fin structure, in which the doped interfacial layer includes a dopant selected from the group consisting of Al, Hf, La, Sc, Y and a combination thereof.

The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced rapid growth. Over the course of the growth, functional density of the semiconductor devices has increased with decrease of device feature size or geometry. The scaling down process generally provides benefits by increasing production efficiency, reducing costs, and/or improving device performance.
With the demands on shrinking geometry of ICs, a three dimensional transistor, such as a fin-like field-effect transistor (FinFET), has been introduced to replace a planar transistor. However, device performance of such FinFET is still not satisfactory in advanced applications of technology. Therefore, improvements in structures and methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device with better device performance continue to be sought.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


Spanning tree bridge is devised to minimize the service interruption time after occurrence of a fault in a network or in a component of the network by enabling faster recovery from the fault and by limiting tree reconstruction to a smallest possible area. In a bridged LAN formed of a plurality of LANs, a plurality of spanning trees are defined in one bridge such that a spanning tree is divided without dividing a LAN segment. To enable this, a plurality of spanning tree management units are provided in one bridge and are given unique bridge IDs for spanning tree management units. The arrangement is such that ports can be assigned to the spanning tree management units in a predetermined relationship. Therefore each management unit can independently perform spanning tree construction processing to divide a spanning tree in one LAN segment into a plurality ones, and a bridged LAN in which a plurality of spanning trees can exist in one LAN segment can be formed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication device, a network system using the same, and a method of constructing a spanning tree, and more particularly, to a method of constructing a spanning tree in a network system in which a plurality of networks are interconnected through bridges.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional bridge network using a spanning tree will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 10. In the network shown in FIG. 7, bridges 1, 3, and 4 are interconnected by a local area network (LAN) A; bridges 1, 2, and 5 are interconnected by a LAN B; and bridges 2, 3 and 4 are interconnected by a LAN C.
Further, bridges 5, 6, 8, and 9 are interconnected by a LAN D; bridges 7, 8, and 9 are interconnected by a LAN E; and bridges 6 and 7 are interconnected by a LAN F.
Each of the bridges 1 to 9 has the function of constructing a spanning tree by transmitting and receiving configuration-bridge protocol data units (C-BPDU) specified in IEEE802.1d. FIG. 10 shows the state of a spanning tree constructed as a result of exchange of CBPDUs.
A spanning tree is constructed with the bridge 1 determined as a root bridge, as indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 10. A spanning tree is thus constructed to enable transfer of data packets without forming a loop on the network formed of a plurality of LANs connected by bridges.
In FIGS. 7 and 10, "BRIDGE ID" is an identification number for identification of each bridge, and "PORT ID" is an identification number for each port. Also, "ROOT PATH COST" and "PATH COST" are values each representing the facility for reaching to the root bridge. Each time a spanning tree is constructed and a signal passes one of the bridges, the value of the path cost at the bridge (port) is incremented. The root path cost and the path cost are used as parameters such as to enable selection of the bridge (port) with the minimized root path cost (easier to reach).
However, there is a problem with the conventional spanning tree, as described below. When the link between some of the bridges constituting the network is lost due to a fault in the bridges or a fault in the network connected between the bridges, reconstruction of a spanning tree is performed in accordance with a rule specified by IEEE802.1d. When this reconstruction is performed, spanning tree configuration information on the constructed spanning tree and a filtering data base for data packet forwarding obtained by learning are entirely initialized and a tree is newly constructed.
A considerably long time, depending on the number of bridges constituting the reconstructed network of the tree, is required for the reconstruction, and data packets to be transferred onto the network are not transferred until the reconstruction is completed. That is, a condition similar to service interruption occurs. If the scale of the bridge network is larger (the number of bridges constituting the network is larger), a worse condition results.

Communication device, network system using same, and method of constructing spanning tree