A glue-thermal curing equipment includes a chassis, a support, a heating baking plate and a lifting device. The chassis is formed with an accommodation space therein. The support is fixedly disposed in the accommodation space. The heating baking plate is disposed on the support, and has a top surface acting as a heat generating surface. The heat generating surface allows a panel device to be directly disposed thereon, and fully provides uniform thermal energy to a liquid-state glue layer disposed on the panel device. The lifting device is elevatably disposed on the support and enables the panel device to be lifted and separated from the heat generating surface.

In a manufacturing procedure of a conventional touch display screen, when a touch panel is disposed on a display module, a liquid-state glue layer (e.g., liquid-glue) is often provided on one surface of the touch panel to laminate the touch panel with the display module, so that the touch panel can be adhered on the display module through the liquid-state glue layer. The liquid-state glue layer has to be baked and dried to be a semi-solid glue layer so as to prevent the liquid-state glue layer from randomly flowing on the touch panel which may cause uneven thickness.


Systems and methods for inspecting a specimen are provided. One system includes an illumination subsystem configured to direct light to the specimen at an oblique angle of incidence. The light is polarized in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of incidence. The system also includes a detection subsystem configured to detect light scattered from the specimen. The detected light is polarized in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of scattering. In addition, the system includes a processor configured to detect defects on the specimen using signals generated by the detection subsystem. In one embodiment, such a system may be configured to detect defects having a size that is less than half of a wavelength of the light directed to the specimen.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for inspecting a specimen. Certain embodiments relate to systems and methods for inspecting a specimen that includes a substantially rough uppermost layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following description and examples are not admitted to be prior art by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
Fabricating semiconductor devices such as logic and memory devices typically includes processing a specimen such as a semiconductor wafer using a number of semiconductor fabrication processes to form various features and multiple levels of the semiconductor devices. For example, lithography is a semiconductor fabrication process that typically involves transferring a pattern to a resist arranged on a semiconductor wafer. Additional examples of semiconductor fabrication processes include, but are not limited to, chemical-mechanical polishing, etch, deposition, and ion implantation. Multiple semiconductor devices may be fabricated in an arrangement on a semiconductor wafer and then separated into individual semiconductor devices.
Inspection processes are used at various times during a semiconductor manufacturing process to detect defects on wafers. Inspection has always been an important part of fabricating semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits. However, as the dimensions of semiconductor devices decrease, inspection becomes even more important to the successful manufacture of acceptable semiconductor devices. For instance, as the dimensions of semiconductor devices decrease, detection of defects of decreasing size has become necessary since even relatively small defects may cause unwanted aberrations in the semiconductor devices.
Many different types of inspection systems have been developed for the inspection of wafers. One example of an inspection system that is configured to inspect relatively smooth surfaces such as those of bare silicon wafers uses oblique illumination with a polarization combination called "P-U," which indicates that the incident light is P-polarized (i.e., polarized in the plane of incidence) and the scattered light that is detected is unpolarized (i.e., light having all polarizations is collected and detected). The sensitivity of such a system is greatest for inspection of substantially smooth surfaces. However, relatively rough surfaces scatter a substantial amount of light in the P-U configuration. In this manner, scattering from relatively small defects can be much lower than the surface scattering. As such, the signal-to-noise ratio of the inspection data may not be high enough to allow accurate detection of relatively small defects.
In another example of a wafer inspection system, a "double-dark field" configuration can be used for inspecting relatively rough surfaces for contamination and other defects. In particular, using S-polarized (i.e., polarized perpendicular to the plane of incidence) obliquely incident light results in a dark fringe at the surface, which produces substantially little light scattered from the surface itself. Such illumination used with an analyzer oriented perpendicular to the plane of scatter and an aperture limited to "side-angle collection" can reduce the contribution of unwanted surface scattering to the background noise by several orders of magnitude. Large particles and defects located on the surface of the wafer can be detected relatively easily using this configuration since they do not experience the dark fringe effect and therefore perturb (or scatter) the incident electric field efficiently compared to the surface.
Side-angle collection typically involves limiting the collected scattered light to azimuthal angles reasonably close to +/−90 degrees with respect to the plane of incidence. For example, in the SP1-TBI system that is commercially available from KLA-Tencor Corporation, San Jose, Calif., there are two configuration for side-angle collection: one that collects light within 10 degrees of +/−90 degrees (i.e., a 20 degree azimuthal width on each side of the plane of incidence), and one that collects light within 20 degrees of +/−90 degrees (i.e., 40 degrees of azimuthal width on each side of the plane of incidence).
The S-S polarization combination with side-angle collection configuration works well for particles having a size greater than approximately one-half the wavelength of the incident light. Such defect detection capability is achievable due, at least in part, to the fact that the S-S side-angle configuration is substantially effective at reducing the scattering from the surface. Unfortunately, this configuration is also substantially effective at reducing the scattering from small defects, which are generally defined herein as defects having a size that is smaller than one-half the wavelength of the incident light. However, once the defect size increases to approximately one-half the wavelength of the light or greater, a typical defect begins to scatter significantly into the side-angle collection space. Since the surface scattering is suppressed, this configuration provides a significant signal-to-noise advantage for the inspection system for the detection of relatively large defects on relatively rough surfaces.
Between about 1993 and about 1998, semiconductor processes using material that have rough surfaces were subject to failure caused by defects having a size of approximately 200 nm and larger. Therefore, the desired defect detection capability could be achieved by using an illumination wavelength of 488 nm, which Surfscan instruments that are commercially available from KLA-Tencor, used at the time. But Moore's law marches on, and today customers are expressing the need to detect defects having a size of 150 nm, 100 nm, or even smaller, on wafers having even relatively rough surfaces. Therefore, even an ultraviolet (UV) wavelength of, say, 355 nm combined with the S-S side-angle technique is not sufficient for detecting defects of such sizes on wafers having a relatively rough upper surface.
Accordingly, it may be advantageous to develop systems and methods for inspecting a specimen, particularly a specimen having a relatively rough uppermost layer, that are capable of detecting defects having sizes that are less than about half of the incident wavelength used for inspection with relatively high accuracy.

Systems and methods for inspecting specimens including specimens that have a substantially rough uppermost layer


Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. In some wireless communications systems, a base station may communicate with a user equipment (UE) during short transmission time intervals (sTTIs). The base station may transmit reference signals in an sTTI for the UE to use to perform channel estimation for demodulating the data received in the sTTI. As described herein, a base station may transmit reference signals in a subset of the sTTIs used for downlink communications with the UE. The UE may receive the reference signals in the subset of the sTTIs and use these reference signals to perform channel estimation for demodulating data received in other sTTIs. In some cases, the UE may use the reference signals in one or more previous sTTIs in combination with the reference signals received in a current sTTI to perform channel estimation for demodulating data received in the current sTTI.

The following relates generally to wireless communication and more specifically to downlink demodulation reference signal (DMRS) sharing for short transmission time intervals (sTTIs).
Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include fourth generation (4G) systems such as a Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems or LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, and fifth generation (5G) systems which may be referred to as New Radio (NR) systems. These systems may employ technologies such as code-division multiple access (CDMA), time-division multiple access (TDMA), frequency-division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA), or discrete Fourier transform-spread-orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM).
A wireless multiple-access communications system may include a number of base stations or network access nodes, each simultaneously supporting communication for multiple communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE). In some wireless communications systems, a base station may communicate with a UE during sTTIs on resources of a carrier. The base station may transmit control information to the UE in a shortened physical downlink control channel (sPDCCH) during an sTTI and the base station may transmit data to the UE in a shortened physical downlink shared channel (sPDSCH) during the sTTI. The base station may also transmit reference signals (e.g., DMRSs) to the UE during the sTTI and the UE may use the reference signals to perform channel estimation to correctly demodulate the data in the sTTI. Efficient techniques for transmitting reference signals within an sTTI may be desirable to reduce overhead in a wireless communications system.

Downlink demodulation reference signal sharing for short transmission time intervals


A flexible resilient member at least partially overlying an electrical switch, and attached to an external surface of the switch, comprises at least one signalling component operable on operation of the underlying switch. The member may be in the form of a membrane, for example, formed of an elastomeric material. The signalling component may emit wireless signals which may be received by a monitoring component.

It is known to provide flexible overlays for electrical switches for protection against, for example, the ingress of water when the switch is operating in damp or humid conditions. Such overlays serve a protective function.
FIG. 1a illustrates a plan view and FIG. 1b a cross-sectional elevation view of a pushbutton switch 100 as known in the prior art incorporating pushbutton 110 for switch operation, faceplate 120 and protective membrane overlay 130.
FIG. 2a illustrates a plan view and FIG. 2b a cross-sectional elevation view of a rocker switch 200 as known in the prior art incorporating rocker 210 for switch operation, faceplate 220 and protective membrane overlay 230.
An example of a switch incorporating such a protective overlay is described in European patent no. EP 653769 B1. The electrical switch of this patent is a rocker switch with a front protection cap which does not inhibit the normal operation of the switch, but which provides protection for the inner workings of the switch from conditions of high humidity or in the presence of liquids.
It would be desirable to address shortcomings of known electrical switches and overlays to incorporate additional functions.

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing nonwoven and nonwoven obtainable by said method. Particularly, the invention relates to a nonwoven provided with improved tactile and absorbent characteristics, which make it suitable for use in the field of surface cleaning, personal hygiene, or formation of garments. The method is based on the use of lobed spunbonded filaments which have been treated by means of thickening means.

A nonwoven is widely used as a replacement for traditional textile products in numerous sectors, for example in the field of surface cleaning and protection, or in the production of garments. Compared to conventional fabrics, the nonwovens have the advantage of lower production costs, outstanding mechanical properties and a high biocompatibility with skin.
Among the nonwovens, those of the spunbonded type are formed either by synthetic (polymer) or natural material fibres which are laid on a mat in the form of a layer after being solidified when just coming out from the spinneret and subsequently attenuated at a prefixed distance from the spinneret by the application of forced air substantially at ambient temperature. The material forming said fibres is conventionally subjected to a stretching or elongation force causing the formation of continuous filaments.
The thus obtained structure can be consolidated by dynamic treatments such as bonding by stitches or by weft (calendering), or by jets of water (hydro-entanglement). Other bonding methods known in the field are mechanical needling, thermobonding, chemical bonding.
Generally, the spunbonding methods provide the extrusion of thermoplastic polymers through spinnerets such as to form a plurality of continuous filaments. These filaments, which are first solidified and then elongated, typically by means of a high-speed fluid, are random laid on a collecting surface such as a conveyor belt and form a non-consolidated ply. Subsequently, the filaments are bonded to provide the final ply having cohesion and strength characteristics.
The bonding step can be obtained by directly applying heat and pressure to the non-consolidated ply by means of heated calenders.
Particularly, after the non-consolidated ply has been laid down, it is carried on said conveyor belt to the calenders where it leaves the belt and is taken by two calender rolls to be heated and crushed. Thereby, the polymer ply is only carried until reaching the calenders and both rollers of the same calenders also act as the supports/conveyors as well as consolidators for the ply.
The product resulting from said method is normally in the form of a very thin ply, in the range of 0.18-0.3 mm weighing 15-17 g/m2, compact, of threadlike appearance, and provided by slightly embossed patterns defined by the gaps between the cohesion points of the calender design.
Such a product, though showing good cohesion properties, is not very suitable for use in the hygiene sector, and however in those sectors requiring particular performance in terms of softness and thickness.
In addition, the cohesion is not sufficient when the product is used for instance in the cleaning field or as garments so that the product easily tends to wear out and, further, tends to cause a undesirable "pilling" effect particularly when the cohesion is carried out by hydroentangled technology, i.e. formation of fine loops onto the surface of the final product which engage with the roughness of for instance hands during using.

Method for manufacturing soft, resistant and bulky nonwoven and nonwoven thus obtained


In one embodiment, a probing technique allows a root node to determine whether to trigger reoptimization of a computer network represented by a directed acyclic graph (DAG) without injecting unnecessary traffic into the network. The root node may store and maintain information indicative of an ideal shape or topology of the DAG. During a normal DAG maintenance operation, the root node may transmit a DAG discovery request (probe request) that is configured to probe each node within the DAG for information used to determine a current topology of the DAG. In response, each node may record the information, e.g., routing and non-routing metrics, in a DAG discovery reply (probe reply) that is propagated to the root node. Upon receiving one or more replies, the root node may analyze the metrics to determine whether the current topology of the DAG deviates from the ideal DAG topology. The root node may thus determine DAG topology deviation upon probing at minimal cost. A number of algorithms may then be used to determine whether reoptimization, i.e., global repair, of the DAG is is required and, if so, the root node may dynamically trigger the global repair.

Low power and Lossy Networks (LLNs), e.g., sensor networks, have a myriad of applications, such as Smart Grid and Smart Cities. Various challenges are presented with LLNs, such as lossy links, low bandwidth, battery operation, low memory and/or low processing capability of nodes. One example routing solution to LLN challenges is a protocol called Routing Protocol for LLNs or "RPL," which is a distance vector routing protocol that builds a Destination Oriented Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) for an LLN in addition to a set of features to, among other things, bound control traffic and/or support local (and slow) repair. The RPL routing protocol provides a flexible method by which each node of the network performs DAG discovery, construction, and maintenance.
One problem that confronts LLNs is their stability in varying environments within which they are deployed. For example, in some environments, the links/nodes of the networks are relatively stable, whereas in other environments the level of instability is substantially greater. Furthermore, a particular network deployment may be stable for a period of time before experiencing a number of failures because of, e.g., changes in environmental conditions, thus necessitating local repair. Depending on the number of failures, many local repairs of the network may take place, leading to a DAG topology that is likely to become less optimal. Current solutions in RPL for addressing the optimality of a DAG include triggering a global repair manually or upon the expiration of a timer, which can be costly, inefficient and, in some situations, not actually needed.

Method and apparatus to trigger DAG reoptimization in a sensor network


An oscillator circuit having a 50% duty cycle comprises an oscillating stage and an output stage. The output stage comprises a series arrangement of first and second output transistors of complementary conductivity types. The oscillating stage applies a combination of an oscillating signal and a first DC bias to the gate of the first output transistor. The first DC bias is dependent on the amplitude of the oscillating signal. The oscillator circuit also includes a bias-generating circuit for generating a second DC bias at the gate of the second transistor, so as to adjust the input switching level to the median level of the input signal dependent upon the amplitude of the oscillating signal.

This invention relates to an oscillator circuit comprising an oscillating stage and an output stage, the oscillating stage being coupled to an input of the output stage for feeding an input signal combining a generated oscillating signal with a first DC bias, said first DC bias being dependent on the amplitude of the oscillating signal, the output stage comprising
a series arrangement of main current channels of a first and a second output transistor of complementary conductivity types, coupled between a first and a second supply terminal PA0 the input being coupled to a control electrode of the first transistor and, via a capacitor, to a control electrode of the second transistor, PA0 a node in the series arrangement between the first and the second transistor being coupled to an output of the oscillator circuit, the output stage, in operation, driving an output voltage to switch substantially between a first and a second output level when the input signal crosses an input switching level.
Such an oscillator circuit is known from JP 55-8160.
The oscillating stage is conveniently used to generate both the oscillating signal and the first DC bias for driving the output stage. For example, as in JP 55-8160, the oscillating stage usually comprises a feedback loop including the control electrode of a transistor similar to that of the first transistor. The control voltage of this transistor is used to apply the first DC bias as well as the oscillating signal in the form of the input signal to the output stage.
In general, the oscillating signal produced by the oscillating stage will not be binary but, for example, sine-shaped when the control electrode of the transistor in the oscillating stage receives its signal via a frequency-selective network as in JP 55-8160. Moreover, the oscillating signal will have an amplitude which may depend on partially uncontrollable factors like IC processing parameters or ambient temperature.
The purpose of the output stage is to derive a substantially binary output signal from the oscillating signal. In operation, the output stage will drive the output voltage from the first level, which is close to the supply voltage at the first supply terminal, to the second level, which is close to the supply voltage at the second supply terminal, and back.
An important property of the output signal is its duty cycle, i.e., the percentage of time during which it is at the first level. For many applications the duty cycle should be fixed at 50%. However, the duty cycle is affected by the relative positions of the first DC bias and the switching level. For example, if the first DC bias is lowered with respect to the switching level, a sine-shaped input signal will be above the switching level for a shorter time, causing a lower duty cycle.
The problem of providing a DC bias as well as an oscillating signal from the oscillating stage is thus that non-linearities in the transistor in the feedback loop will usually cause the amplitude of the oscillating signal to influence the first DC bias level generated in the oscillating stage. Consequently, the known oscillator circuit has the drawback that the duty cycle will be influenced by the amplitude. Since the exact amplitude of the oscillating signal depends on partially uncontrollable factors, this means that the duty cycle will also be partially uncontrolled.

Oscillator circuit having a fifty percent duty cycle


Methods may include obtaining ketones and glycols from a fermentation process, the method including: collecting an off-gas and/or a fermented broth from the fermenter, wherein the off-gas comprises a ketone, and wherein the fermented broth comprises one or more of glycol or ketone; and performing at least one of: transferring the off-gas from the fermenter to a ketone recuperation module; or transferring the fermented broth to a fluid separating module; and isolating one or more of: the ketone from the off-gas; and the glycol from the fermented broth.

Microbial fermentation produces a number of industrially-relevant compounds that may be used as feedstock for a diverse range of applications for polymer manufacture. Compounds of interest are generated as components of broth and off-gas exiting a fermentation vessel as product streams. Fermentation broth and off-gas are complex mixtures containing a wide range of components with very different characteristics, such as cellular biomass, insoluble solids, water, organic matter, inorganic and organic ions, and incondensable gases. The challenge lies in isolating product compounds from the various impurities, while minimizing time and energy costs associated with processing.

Process for the recovery of ketones and glycols from fermentation


A ratchet screw driver includes a housing, a pinion rotatably engaged in the housing, a sleeve rotatably engaged on the housing and engaged with the pinion in order to rotate the pinion, a shaft rotatably received in the housing, a notch formed in the shaft for receiving a pawl, a rod having a gear engaged with the pinion and having a projection for engaging with the pawl in order to rotate the pawl, the pawl is rotated when the rod is rotated by the sleeve via the pinion.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a screw driver, and more particularly to a ratchet screw driver.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
A typical ratchet screw driver is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,953 to Lin and comprises a post extended through a notch formed in the shaft so as to rotate the shaft and in order to rotate the pawl, and so as to change the active directions of the ratchet screw driver; in this patent, it is difficult to form the indent in the head in order to receive the pawl, furthermore, the pawl can not be easily engaged in the indent such that the operators may waste much time to locate and to assemble the pawl, the pin for positioning the pawl can not be easily engaged in place, in addition, the notch should be formed in the shaft such that the post may extend and may be engaged with the rod, the notch greatly reduces the strength of the shaft and greatly weaken the shaft such that the working life of the screw driver is greatly decreased, and such that this kind of screw driver can not be commercialized.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional ratchet screw drivers.


This invention provides compositions and methods for treating neoplasias in a mammal. In particular, the invention provides liposome-encapsulated vinca alkaloids, e.g., vinorelbine, and methods of treating a mammal using such compositions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to compositions and methods, including liposomal vinca alkaloids, for the treatment of neoplasias.
2. Description of the Related Art
Despite years of research into the development of new methods of treatment, many types of cancer, including, e.g., lung cancer and cancers of the lymphatic system, or lymphomas, remain quite common. Lung cancer remains the most common cancer in western countries, and approximately 80% of lung carcinomas are of the non-small cell subtype (NSCLC). Similarly, more than 60,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with lymphoma each year, including more than 55,000 cases of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL), and these numbers are constantly increasing. The prognosis for those affected by these diseases is often poor, as the survival rates associated with many cancers, including NSCLC and lymphoma remaining low. Clearly, new methods for treating these diseases are needed.
While traditional treatments for cancers typically depend on the type and stage of the cancer as well as the medical history of the patient, treatment for many cancers includes chemotherapy. Such chemotherapy will often entail the administration of a "cocktail" of compounds, e.g., the formulation CHOP, which includes cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone. In addition, chemotherapy may be combined with other forms of cancer therapy, such as radiation therapy.
Alkaloids isolated from the periwinkle plant (Vinca rosea) and derivatives thereof, collectively referred to as "vinca alkaloids," have proven effective for first line treatments of many types of lymphomas, leukemia, and other cancers. Vincristine and vinblastine consist of a catharanthine moiety linked to vindoline, and the structures differ by a single substitution in the vindoline group. Vindesine, a desacetyl carboxyamid derivative of vinblastine, was synthesized later. Subsequently, novel synthetic approaches were used to generate compounds that differed from the natural compounds by the presence of an eight rather than a nine-member catharanthine ring, including vinorelbine tartrate (vinorelbine).
The vinca alkaloids are highly cytotoxic drugs that disrupt microtubules, inhibit cell division and induce apoptosis. Without wishing to be bound to a particular theory, it is believed that the vinca alkaloids exert their cytotoxic effects by binding to tubulin, the protein subunit of microtubules. The formation of vinca alkaloid-tubulin complexes interferes with tubulin polymerization, inhibits microtubule assembly and disrupts the mitotic spindle during cell division, resulting in cellular arrest at metaphase. Vinca alkaloids, including vinorelbine, may also exert cytotoxic effects by interfering with (1) nucleic acid and lipid biosynthesis, (2) cellular respiration, (3) calmodulin-dependent Ca2+-transport ATPase activity, and (4) amino acid, cyclic AMP and glutathione metabolism.
Vincristine, vinblastine and vinorelbine are the best-known members of this drug family and are widely used clinically. Despite having similar structures and mechanisms of action, the vinca alkaloids differ in their antitumor activity and toxicities. For example, vincristine is used mostly to treat hematological cancers, is rarely used as a single agent, and neurotoxicity is dose limiting. Vincristine is included in the common chemotherapeutic formulation CHOP. Vincristine, which depolymerizes microtubules and thereby inhibits cell proliferation, is administered in its free form in CHOP. In contrast, vinorelbine is approved for use as a single agent to treat breast and non-small cell lung cancers, and myelosuppression is dose limiting.
Lipid-encapsulated drug formulations may provide advantages over traditional drug-delivery methods. For example, some lipid-based formulations provide longer half-lives in vivo, superior tissue targeting, and decreased toxicity. In efforts to develop more effective cancer treatment, many anticancer or antineoplastic drugs have been encapsulated in liposomes. These include alkylating agents, nitrosoureas, cisplatin, antimetabolites, and anthracyclines. Studies with liposomes containing anthracycline antibiotics have clearly shown reduction of cardiotoxicity and dermal toxicity and prolonged survival of tumor bearing animals compared to controls receiving free drug.
Liposomal anticancer drugs modify drug pharmacokinetics as compared to their free drug counterpart. For a liposomal drug formulation, drug pharmacokinetics are largely determined by the rate at which the carrier is cleared from the blood and the rate at which the drug is released from the carrier. Considerable efforts have been made to identify liposomal carrier compositions that show slow clearance from the blood and long-circulating carriers have been described in numerous scientific publications and patents. Efforts have also been made to control drug leakage rates from liposomal carriers, using for example, transmembrane potential to control release.
Although numerous methods have been described for the formulation of lipid-based drug delivery vehicles (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,516), previous studies have not demonstrated that liposome-encapsulated vinca alkaloid formulations offer advantages over previous treatments or have efficacy in the in vivo treatment of cancer in a patient. Liposome-encapsulated vincristine has been reported, but successful clinical applications of this technology have never been achieved (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,516, or U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,163). Indeed, major theoretical and practical uncertainties remain, including uncertainties regarding biodistribution, toxicity, and efficacy. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for liposomal formulations of vinca alkaloids for the treatment of cancer.

Compositions and methods for treating cancer


A musical string instrument (12) has a body (21) with a resonate cavity covered by a soundboard (22). A pick guard (34) has a flat surface for mounting to the soundboard of the instrument. Electronic control components (36) are mounted within a housing of the pick guard. The musician can control a preamplifier within the resonate cavity of the body with knobs (58) and push buttons (60) located on the pick guard. A thin, flat, multi-conductor ribbon cable (38) is connected to the electronic control components and routed along a surface of the soundboard and through a sound hole (24) in the soundboard into the resonate cavity of the body. The ribbon cable entering the resonating cavity through the sound hole does not adversely effect the natural response, performance, sound quality, and tonal property of the string instrument and does not require any additional holes be drilled in the soundboard.

The present invention relates in general to musical instruments and, more particularly, to a protective guard for a string instrument with electronic controls.
Musical instruments have always been very popular in society providing entertainment, social interaction, self-expression, and a business and source of livelihood for many people. String instruments are especially popular because of their active playability, tonal properties, and portability. String instruments are fun and yet challenging to play, have great sound qualities, and are easy to move about from one location to another.
Guitars are one type of string musical instrument. The musical artist or user plays the guitar by using their fingers or a guitar pick to displace one or more of the tightly strung strings from their neutral position and then releasing causing the string to vibrate as it returns to its neutral position. The pick offers certain advantages in terms of sharpness of the string vibration and clarity of the note played. Using a pick also reduces the wear and tear and discomfort on the fingers.
Unfortunately, guitar picks have the potential for scratching or marring the surface and finish of the guitar face or soundboard. The opportunity to damage the guitar with a pick is even greater for playing styles that involve the artist moving their pick hand relative to the guitar face or soundboard, e.g. while strumming the guitar, or when the artist is otherwise aggressively playing the instrument. The pick can easily slide off the strings and strike the guitar face or soundboard causing damage.
Some guitars have a pick guard mounted below the strings to protect the face or soundboard. If the pick slides off the strings, it merely strikes the pick guard which is made of a resilient material such as plastic. The pick causes little or no damage to the pick guard and in any event the pick guard can be easily and cost effectively replaced if necessary.
Many guitars include electronic preamplifiers which are designed to interface to an external power amplifier to amplify and enhance the sound of the instrument. For certain types of guitars, such as electric guitars, the pick guard is a convenient place to locate the electronic controls for the preamplifier. The preamplifier controls may include one or more rotating knobs, switches, and other push buttons. Wiring or cables must be routed from the controls on the pick guard to the cavity of the guitar where the electronic preamplifier is located. For an electric guitar, holes are routinely drilled in the face to route the wiring from the pick guard controls to the electronic preamplifier. The wiring holes in the face of an electric guitar have minimal adverse impact on the tonal properties because they are solid body instruments and much of the tone originates from the electronics and mass of the guitar body.
Acoustic guitars present a different problem. The soundboard of an acoustic guitar is a principal source of the sound coming from the instrument. Any device mounted on or mass added to the soundboard or holes drilled in the soundboard can adversely effect its natural response, performance, and tonal properties.
It is known in the prior art to mount a pick guard to an acoustic guitar to protect the surface and finish of the soundboard as noted above. Pick guards for acoustic guitars are typically cantilevered to avoid adding mass and to minimize contact and interference with the soundboard. Cantilever-mounted pick guards make it difficult to provide for strong, effective bracing. In addition, cantilever-mounted pick guards are suitable only for styles of play such as jazz where the hand does not leave the guitar and therefore do not work well when strumming the instrument.
Acoustic guitars are also known to have electronic preamplifiers. Any preamplifier controls, such as a volume control, are typically mounted to the top side of the body so as to avoid drilling holes in the soundboard and hindering its performance. The electronic controls in the top side of the body can be inconvenient to access and adjust while playing the instrument.
In one embodiment, the present invention is a musical instrument comprising a body having a resonate cavity covered by a soundboard. The soundboard has a sound hole across which a plurality of strings of the musical instrument are strung. A pick guard has a flat surface mounted to the soundboard. Electronic control components are mounted within a housing of the pick guard. A ribbon cable is coupled to the electronic control components and routed along a surface of the soundboard and through the sound hole into the resonate cavity of the body. The ribbon cable entering the resonating cavity through the sound hole does not adversely effect the natural response, performance, sound quality, and tonal properties of the string instrument and does not require any additional holes be drilled in the soundboard.
In an alternative embodiment, the present invention is a pick guard for a musical instrument comprising a first surface which is substantially flat and adapted for mounting to the musical instrument. A second surface has a flat striking region and a raised region integral with and ramping up from the flat striking region. A housing is formed in the raised region. An electronic control component is mounted within the housing.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention is a method of protecting a surface of a musical instrument comprising the steps of mounting a protective guard having a flat surface flush to a soundboard, mounting an electronic control component within a housing of the protective guard, connecting a cable to the electronic control component, and routing the cable along a surface of the soundboard and around a lip of an opening in the soundboard into a resonate cavity of the musical instrument.

Pick guard with electronic control housing and interface for acoustic guitar


The present invention relates to polyurethane prepolymer having terminal alkoxysilane and OH groups which is the reaction product of

The present invention relates to polyurethane prepolymers having terminal alkoxysilane and OH groups and prepared from high molecular weight polyurethane prepolymers with reduced functionality, a method of preparing them by premature termination of the synthesizing reaction and their use as binders for low-modulus sealants and adhesives.
Alkoxysilane-functional polyurethanes which are cross-linked by silane polycondensation have been known for a long time. A summarizing article on this subject is contained e.g. in xe2x80x9cAdhesives Agexe2x80x9d April 1995, pp. 30 ff. (authors: Ta-Min Feng, B A Waldmann). Alkoxysilane-terminated, moisture-curing, one-component polyurethanes of this type are increasingly used as flexible coatings, sealants and adhesives in building and the automobile industry. In these applications the most important properties are elongation, adhesion and curing speed. However these properties required particularly in building cannot be fully achieved by these systems.
EP-A-596 360 describes alkoxysilyl-functional polyurethane prepolymers which are suitable for use as sealant binders. Due to the use of relatively short-chain polyethers made by KOH catalysis and having a high content of terminal double Cxe2x95x90C bonds the products explicitly described in this application do not achieve the high molecular weight which is necessary for the preparation of soft and low-modulus sealants, such as those used in the construction industry.
An alkoxysilyl-functional polyurethane prepolymer which may be employed as a building sealant is described in WO 00/26271. A high molecular weight polypropylene oxide polyether prepared by two-metal cyanide catalysis is used, and guarantees relatively low viscosity in prepolymer synthesis when combined with secondary aminosilanes. Such compounds have a number average molecular weight (calculated from NCO and functionality) of over 15 000 g/mol and a range of properties that are suitable for use as building sealants. However, the viscosities of these systems are considerably high, which considerably restricts their range of applications.
DE-A 3629237 describes an alkoxysilyl-functional polyurethane system which achieves a better elongation by reducing functionality. This is done by subsequently lowering functionality either with monoalcohols or by employing monoisocyanates. However the properties required for a building sealant are not obtained in this way.
Polyurethane prepolymers with terminal alkoxysilyl groups and a long shelf life are known from WO 92/05212. Despite their relatively low number average molecular weights, they have relatively high viscosity. Also, an additional step in the reaction, using monoalcohols, is required to reduce their functionality. The use of high molecular weight polyethers in the preparation of sealant prepolymers is described in WO 99/48942. A reactive thinner project is disclosed, which also includes the use of low-functional constituents. The properties of the resulting cured polymer are said to be largely unaffected. However, this makes it necessary to synthesise a second polyurethane.
Prepolymers containing terminal alkoxysilane and OH groups are also known. A pressure-sensitive adhesive based on these compounds is described in DE-A 3 220 865. The specification describes the synthesis with adducts of diisocyanate and aminosilanes, though this has the drawback of two-stage synthesis. In addition, the diadduct of two molecules of aminosilane and diisocyanate will form and expensive aminosilane will thus be lost, leading to greater hardness which is undesirable in the sealants field.
An object of the present invention is to prepare polyurethane prepolymers having terminal alkoxysilane groups which overcome the described disadvantages of the prior art.
This object may be achieved with the high molecular weight polyurethane prepolymers having terminal alkoxysilane and OH groups of the present invention, which are described in detail below.
The present invention relates to polyurethane prepolymer having terminal alkoxysilane and OH groups which is the reaction product of
A) a polyurethane prepolymer prepared by incomplete reaction, of
i) an aromatic, aliphatic or cycloaliphatic diisocyanate component having an NCO content of 20 to 60% by weight with
ii) a polyol component comprising a polyoxyalkylene diol having a number average molecular weight of 3000 to 20,000,
wherein the reaction is stopped after 50 to 90% of the OH groups of component ii) are reacted and 10 to 50% are unreacted, with
B) a compound having alkoxysilane and amino groups, of formula (I)
wherein
X, Y and Z are the same or different and represent linear or branched C1-C8 alkyl or C1-C8 alkoxy radicals, provided that at least one of the radicals represents a C1-C8 alkoxy group,
R represents a linear or branched alkylene radical with 1 to 8 carbon atoms,
Rxe2x80x2 represents hydrogen, a C1-C8 alkyl radical, a C6-C10 aryl radical or a radical of formula (II)
wherein
Rxe2x80x3 and Rxe2x80x2xe2x80x3 are the same or different and represent linear or branched alkyl radicals with 1 to 8 carbon atoms.
The present invention also relates to a process for preparing these polyurethane prepolymers containing terminal alkoxysilane and OH groups and to isocyanate-free, sealants, adhesives, primers and coatings containing these polyurethane prepolymers containing terminal alkoxysilane and OH groups as binders.
In formula (I) X, Y and Z preferably represent methoxy and/or ethoxy groups and Rxe2x80x2 preferably represents a radical of formula (II).
The lowering of the functionality of the prepolymers according to the invention leads to a low-modulus polymer. Prepolymers with a relatively low mean molecular weight and low viscosity can thereby be used to achieve excellent properties. The prepolymer according to the invention obtains this range of properties through incomplete conversion of the OH groups of the polyethers used with a diisocyanate and subsequent termination of the terminal NCO groups with aminosilanes. The remaining OH groups have been found, surprisingly, not to shorten the shelf life and not to be involved in the polymerisation process even during curing.
Polyurethane prepolymer A) is prepared by reacting an excess of diisocyanate component i) with polyol component ii) such that 50 to 90% of the OH groups of polyol component ii) are reacted with the NCO groups of diisocyanate component i) and 10 to 50% of the OH groups of polyol component ii) are not reacted in polyurethane prepolymer A). The resulting prepolymer A) contains both isocyanate groups and OH groups.
Isocyanates which may be used as polyisocyanate component i) include aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic diisocyanates having an isocyanate content of 20 to 60% by weight. The term xe2x80x9caromaticxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ccycloaliphaticxe2x80x9d diisocyanates refers to those with at least one aromatic or cycloaliphatic ring per molecule in which at least one of the two isocyanate groups is preferably, but not necessarily, directly linked to an aromatic or cycloaliphatic ring. Examples of aromatic and cycloaliphatic diisocyanates are those having a molecular weight of 174 to 300, such as 4,4xe2x80x2-diphenylmethane diisocyanate or mixtures thereof with 2,4xe2x80x2-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, 2,4-diisocyanatotoluene and mixtures thereof with preferably up to 35% by weight, based on the weight of the mixture with 2,6-diisocyanatotoluene, 1-isocyanato-3,3,5-trimethyl-5-isocyanatomethylcyclohexane (IPDI), bis-(4-isocyanatocyclohexyl)-methane, 1-isocyanato-1-methyl-4(3)-isocyanatomethyl-cyclohexane and 1,3-diisocyanato-6-methyl-cyclohexane, optionally in admixture with 1,3-diisocyanato-2-methylcycloyhexane. Mixtures of these isocyanates may also be used.
1-isocyanato-3,3,5-trimethyl-5-isocyanatomethylcyclohexane (IPDI) is particularly preferred as component i).
Polyol component ii) contains as its major component ( greater than 50 by weight) a polyoxyalkylene diol having a number average molecular weight of 3000 to 20 000 (corresponding to an OH number of 37.3 to 5.6), preferably 4000 to 15 000 (corresponding to an OH number of 28 to 7.5). Preferably, the polyoxyalkylene diols have a maximum ethylene oxide content of 20% by weight, based on the total weight of polyoxyalkylene diol. The polyoxyalkylene diols are prepared in known manner by the ethoxylation and/or propoxylation of suitable starter molecules. Examples include diols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,3-butane diol, 1,4-butane diol, 1,6-hexane diol, 2-ethylhexane diol-1,3 and primary monoamines, such as aliphatic amines, e.g., ethylamine and butylamine.
Polypropylene oxide polyethers with a maximum terminal unsaturation of 0.04 meq/g and a number average molecular weight, calculated from the OH content and functionality, of 8000 to 12 000 are especially preferred as component ii). Polyether polyols with a low degree of unsaturation are described, for example, in EP-A 283 148 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,278,457.
In the preparation of NCO prepolymers A) minor amounts of low molecular weight di- and trihydric alcohols with a molecular weight of 32 to 500 may optionally be used with the other materials. Examples include ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,3-butane diol, 1,4-butane diol, 1,6-hexane diol, glycerine and trimethylene propane. However, the use of low molecular weight alcohols is less preferred.
In the preparation of NCO prepolymers A) minor amounts of known trifunctional and higher functional polyether polyols may also be used, although this is less preferred.
Polyurethane prepolymers A) are prepared by reacting diisocyanate component i) with diol component ii) at a temperature of 40 to 120xc2x0 C., preferably 50 to 100xc2x0 C., and an NCO/OH equivalent ratio of 1.2:1 to 2.0:1, preferably 1.3:1 to 1.8:1. The reaction is stopped when 50-90%, preferably 70 to 85%, of the OH groups in the polyol component have been reacted, i.e. while 10 to 50%, preferably 30 to 15%, of the OH groups have not reacted with NCO groups.
Conversion may be determined by the known NCO titration process from polyurethane chemistry. The reaction is stopped by adding a small amount of an inorganic or organic acid, such as hydrochloric, sulphuric, phosphoric acid or derivatives thereof, formic acid, acetic acid, another alkane acid or organic acid or an acid-releasing component such as acid halides. Examples include formic acid chloride, acetic acid chloride, propionic acid chloride and benzoyl chloride. Benzoyl chloride is preferred. Optionally, the stopper may be dispensed with and the aminosilane compound may be added directly. In this embodiment the aminosilane compound is added immediately to reduce any further isocyanate-OH reaction in favor of the isocyanate-NH reaction.
Known amine-type or organo-metallic catalysts may optionally be used with the other materials to prepare the polyurethane prepolymers. In a preferred embodiment dibutyl tin dilaurate is used as a catalyst in admixture with isophorone diisocyanate.
Polyurethane prepolymers A) have an NCO content of 0.1 to 2.6%, preferably 0.3 to 2.0%, which corresponds to a number average molecular weight of 3000 to 42 000, preferably 4000 to 20 000 according to the ratio of NCO to OH groups.
At the second stage of the method of the invention the polyurethane prepolymers A) which may be used according to the invention are reacted with compounds of formula (I)
wherein
X,Y and Z are the same or different and represent linear or branched C1-8 alkyl or C1-C8 alkoxy radicals, provided that at least one of the radicals represents a C1-C8 alkoxy group,
R represents a linear or branched alkylene radical with 1 to 8 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms,
Rxe2x80x2 represents hydrogen, a linear or branched alkyl radical, an aryl radical or a radical of formula (II)
wherein
Rxe2x80x3 and Rxe2x80x2xe2x80x3 are the same or different and represent linear or branched alkyl radicals with 1 to 8 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms. It is preferred to use a compound of formula (I) with alkoxy silane and amino groups, in which the radical Rxe2x80x2 corresponds to formula (II). A compound of this type is prepared as described in EP-A 596 360.
The reaction between the NCO prepolymers and the formula (I) compounds containing alkoxysilane and amino groups takes place at a temperature of 0 to 150xc2x0 C., preferably 20-80xc2x0 C., and the amounts are preferably chosen so that 0.95 to 1.1 moles of aminosilane compound is introduced per mole of NCO groups. It is more preferred to use 1 mole of aminosilane compound per mole of NCO groups. According to the teachings of EP-A 807 649 a cyclocondensation reaction may take place if higher reaction temperatures are used, but this does affect the resulting products and may even be advantageous.
The polyurethane prepolymers containing terminal alkoxysilane and OH groups according to the invention may be used as binders for isocyanate-free, low-modulus polyurethane sealants, preferably for the construction industry. These sealants are cross-linked by the action of air humidity through the polycondensation of silanol. The polyurethane prepolymers are also suitable as binders for adhesives, primers and coatings.
To prepare sealants the polyurethane prepolymers with terminal alkoxysilane groups invention may be formulated with known additives such as plasticizers, fillers, pigments, drying agents, additives, light stabilizers, anti-oxidants, thixotropy-imparting agents, catalysts and coupling agents. Examples of suitable fillers include carbon black, precipitated silicic acids, pyrogenic silicic acids, mineral chalks and precipitated chalks. Examples of suitable plasticizers include phthalates, adipates, alkyl sulphonates of phenol and phosphates. Examples of thixotropy-imparting agents include pyrogenic silicic acids, polyamides, hydrated secondary products of castor oil and polyvinyl chloride.
Examples of suitable curing catalysts include organo-tin compounds and amine catalysts. Examples of organo-tin compounds include dibutyl tin diacetate, dibutyl tin dilaurate, dibutyl tin bis-acetoacetonate and tin carboxylates such as tin octoate. The tin catalysts may optionally be used combined with amine catalysts such as aminosilanes or diazabicyclooctane. Suitable drying agents include alkoxysilyl compounds such as vinyl trimethoxysilane, methyl trimethoxysilane, i-butyl trimethoxysilane and hexadecyl trimethoxysilane.
Suitable coupling agents include the known functional silanes such as aminosilanes of the above-mentioned type and also N-aminoethyl-3-aminopropyl-trimethoxy, N-aminoethyl-3-aminopropyl-methyl-dimethoxysilane, epoxy silanes and/or mercaptosilanes.
The cross-linked polymers have excellent elongation and a low modulus. If the NCO/OH ratio drops with a constant molecular weight of the polymer a reduction in modulus and Shore hardness and an increase in elongation at break are observed. The increase in surface tack is only slight within the preferred range of the invention.
The invention is further illustrated but is not intended to be limited by the following examples in which all parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise specified.

Polyurethane prepolymers with reduced functionality having terminal alkoxysilane and OH groups, a method of preparing them and their use

Abstract: A) a polyurethane prepolymer prepared by incomplete reaction of

Abstract: B) a compound having alkoxysilane and amino groups, preferably a compound containing alkoxysilane and aspartate groups.


A semiconductor die includes a plurality of drivers and a plurality of bonding pads. Each driver is formed by a plurality of interconnected modules and has an associated bonding pad to which at least one of the modules of the driver is electrically connected. The modules of some of the drivers are positioned outside of the associated bonding pad toward a periphery of the die. The bonding pads may be arranged, for example, in a double- or triple-staggered pattern around the periphery of the die.

Numerous types of electronic devices are common place and are utilized by people for a variety of functions in their everyday life. At the heart of many of these devices are integrated circuits or chips that contain electronic circuitry designed to perform a required function. For example, many modern electronic devices include a microprocessor or a digital signal processor, both of which are examples of integrated circuits or chips. A chip includes a semiconductor die in which the electronic circuitry is formed. The semiconductor die is physically mounted to a package including a number of electrical leads. In addition to being physically mounted to the package, the electronic circuitry in the semiconductor die is electrically coupled to the electrical leads of the package. The electronic circuitry formed on the semiconductor die may in this way be coupled through the package and electrical leads to the electronic circuitry of another chip.
To interconnect the semiconductor die to the electrical leads of the associated package, bonding pads are formed on a surface of the semiconductor die. The actual interconnection between each bonding pad and a corresponding electrical lead may be done in different ways. For example, in some chips each bonding pad and a corresponding electrical lead are interconnected through a very fine gold or aluminum bonding wire. Although other interconnection methods exist, such as flip-chip bonding, interconnection through a bonding wire will be assumed in the present description merely for ease of explanation. The bonding pads are typically metallic and provide a point for electrically coupling a portion of the electronic circuitry formed in the semiconductor die to the electrical leads of the package. Thus, each bonding pad may be viewed as providing an input to or an output from the electronic circuitry in the semiconductor die. As a result, associated with each bonding pad is a driver that includes electronic circuitry which functions to either receive an input signal applied to the bonding pad and provide that signal to other circuitry on the semiconductor die or to apply an output signal on the bonding pad in response to signals from other circuitry on the semiconductor die.
The bonding pads along with their associated drivers are typically located around a periphery of the semiconductor die to simplify the electrical interconnection between each bonding pad and the associated electrical lead. FIG. 1 is a simplified top view of the conventional formation of drivers D1-D3 and the associated bonding pads BP1-BP3 on a semiconductor die. Only the three drivers D1-D3 and the associated bonding pads BP1-BP3 are shown merely for ease of description, and there would actually be many more drivers and bonding pads formed on a typical semiconductor die. Because the electronic circuitry forming each of the drivers D1-D3 must be electrically coupled to the corresponding bonding pad BP1-BP3, the drivers are physically located near the bonding pads. In the following description, when utilizing reference descriptors such as D1-D3 and BP1-BP3 that include both letters and numbers, the number may be omitted when referring to any or all of the components associated with the reference descriptors, meaning the drivers and bonding pads in this situation. Only when referring to a specific one of the components will both the letters and numbers typically be utilized. The same is true of other reference descriptors utilized below with reference to other figures of the present application.
Each of the bonding pads BP has a width W1 in the example of FIG. 1. The width W1 of the bonding pads BP must have some minimum value to allow for reliable connection of the bonding wire to the bonding pad that provides electrical interconnection to the corresponding lead on the package. As the electronic circuitry formed in semiconductor dies becomes more sophisticated, more electrical interconnections to the circuitry are required and thus more bonding pads BP must be formed on each semiconductor die. For example, electronic circuitry formed on the semiconductor die typically includes a data bus and a width of this data bus is ever increasing to allow more bits of data to be transferred over the bus at a time, thus increasing the throughput of data transfer. Each additional bit being added to the data bus requires a corresponding bonding pad BP, and therefore as the width of the data bus increases more bonding pads are required.
Simply adding more bonding pads BP and associated drivers D is not a straightforward option in many situations since these additional pads and drivers occupy valuable space on the semiconductor die. FIG. 2 is simplified top view of drivers D1-D3 and associated bonding pads BP1-BP3 in a double-staggered pattern on a semiconductor die to reduce the space on the semiconductor die occupied by these components. In this approach, a width DW of the drivers D is reduced relative to the width W of the drivers D in FIG. 1 and the bonding pads BP are alternately offset or "staggered." Although the width DW of the drivers D is reduced, meaning a reduced pitch between drivers, as previously mentioned the bonding pads BP must have a minimum size to allow for reliable connection of the associated bonding wire and thus the bonding pads in figure to have the same width Was the bonding pads in FIG. 1. By reducing the width DW of the drivers D and staggering the bonding pads BP, the overall area on the semiconductor die occupied by these components is reduced. This is seen by noting that in FIG. 2 to three drivers D1-D3 and associated bonding pads BP1-BP3 occupy an overall width D2 that is less than an overall width D1 occupied by the three drivers D1-D3 and associated bonding pads BP1-BP3 in FIG. 1.
With the double-stagger approach of FIG. 2, each bonding pad BP must be electrically connected to the corresponding driver D through a conductive trace 200 that is commonly referred to as a "neck." This is also true of other staggered approaches, such as a triple stagger, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The necks 200 interconnecting the bonding pads BP and their associated drivers D consume valuable area on the semiconductor die that could otherwise be utilized for forming other components. Thus, while the double-stagger approach reduces the space occupied by the drivers D and bonding pads BP in a horizontal direction (i.e., D2<D1), the necks 200 necessitated by this approach result in a waste of valuable area in a vertical direction (i.e., in a direction parallel to the necks 200).
There is a need for a system and method of reducing the space on the semiconductor die occupied by bonding pads and their associated drivers.

Modular bonding pad structure and method

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


An improved process for oxidizing industrial spent caustic streams, whereby oxidation of spent caustic occurs in a unitary processing tower with three chambers that cooperate simultaneously to oxidize the caustic in the first chamber; to separate the caustic from the oxidizing gas in the second chamber; and, in the third chamber, to pass gas and cooled caustic through a mass transfer apparatus that cools and cleans the gas and releases the caustic and gas into a gas-liquid separation zone of the upper chamber. An alternative embodiment of the invention involves spatially separating the upper chamber from the other two chambers.

This invention relates to the oxidation of the spent caustic occurring in the process of desalting crude oil.
Among the most common sent caustics produced by industry are those containing sodium sulfide, sodium bisulfide, sodium bisulfide, sodium naphthenates, and sodium cresylates. If the above spent caustics are discharged directly into plant effluent waters, they place a burdensome oxygen demand on the receiving waters. Fish and other aquatic populations are adversely are adversely affected, and water may become unsafe for human consumption or it may gain a distasteful flavor. For these and other reasons, spent caustics are normally converted to a form that minimizes these problems.
Systems for oxidizing these spent caustic have been around for many years, but such systems have required complex, expensive multi-vessel facilities. For example, the Shell design described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,869,844, "Treating Liquid With Gas", Issued Jan. 20, 1959, by S. B. Thomas, incorporated by reference herein, and also described in an article by J. D. Martin and L. D. Levanas, "Air Oxidation of Sulfide In Process Water", Division or Refining, Vol. 42, pp. 392-98 (1962), required a feed/product exchanger for a gas/liquid mixture and three processing vessels: an oxidation column, a vessel for gas/liquid separation, and an offgas furnace. A flow diagram of the Shell process is provided in the article as FIG. 1 on page 393. A similar system is described by Milton R. Beychok in Aqueous Wastes From Petroleum and Petrochemical Plants, (2nd ed. 1973 John Wiley & Sons 1973) in a chapter entitled "Treatment Methods," pp. 156-266. On page 202, in particular, FIG. 30 shows a diagram of a typical oxidizing unit which is substantially the same as the Shell design. The chapter of this book entitled "Treatment Methods" is incorporated herein as if fully set out verbatim. Merichem Company also previously designed systems requiting a feed/product heat exchanger for a gas/liquid mixture and three vessels: an oxidation tower, an offgas K.O. drum for gas/liquid separation, and an offgas treater. This is described in F. J. Suarez, "Safe Waste Caustic Disposal", Hydrocarbon Technology International '89/'90, which is incorporated herein by reference. The Suarez article contains two flow diagrams as FIGS. 1 and 2 that show the previous equipment and process required for oxidation of spent caustic. FIG. 1 includes a neutralization system, as well, for adjusting the pH of oxidized caustic. The offgas treater is not shown in either figure. Other oxidation processes have been developed that are even more complex. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,959, Baurer, et at, "Wet Oxidation Process Utilizing Dilution of Oxygen", issued May 24, 1983, a method for wet oxidation of aqueous liquor containing combustible matter is described which requires a separate vessel for gas-liquid separation; a pressure control valve to reduce the pressure of cooled oxidized liquor and offgases; a feed/product exchanger; and means for injection of inert gas into the waste liquor to dilute the oxygen in the gas phase. Another example appears in U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,243, Brandenburg, et al., "Process for Treating Caustic Metal Wastes", issued Mar. 14, 1989, incorporated herein by reference, which describes a method for treating caustic cyanide and metal waste by wet air oxidation.
Thus, a system for oxidizing caustic that is simpler to build and operate, and eliminates use of a costly feed/product mixed phase exchanger to cool the oxidized caustic and gas released from the oxidation tower is needed in the industry. Furthermore, an advancement over the present technology, where caustic and hot gas would be separated before being transported from the oxidizing tower would be advantageous because it would eliminate special metallurgical and surface area requirements for downstream equipment such as an exchanger. F. J. Suarez, "Safe Waste Caustic Disposal", Hydrocarbon Technology International '89/,90, p. 2 of the reprinted article.

Process and apparatus for oxidizing industrial spent caustic and effecting gas-liquid mass transfer and separation


An information processing apparatus includes a display panel unit and a top plate. The display panel unit has a first surface with a display screen and a second surface opposed to the first surface. The top plate has a third surface in contact with the second surface, a fourth surface opposed to the third surface, and a fifth surface connecting an end portion of the third surface and an end portion of the fourth surface, the top plate containing a fluorescent dye to collect light toward the fifth surface.

The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus.
In recent years, the importance of design is growing in information processing apparatuses such as a personal computer, a mobile terminal, and an electronic book apparatus. For example, regarding a casing, a high-quality texture can be given thereto, in addition to the shape thereof, by painting an inner side of a top plate formed of an acrylic transparent resin to cause a color to stand out and providing a pattern for irregular reflection to a front surface thereof.
Further, there is also known a structure in which a panel constituting a part of a casing emits light. For example, a light guide body is used as the panel. In the structure, a light source such as an LED (light emitting diode) is provided inside a device and the light from the light source is propagated to the panel of the light guide body. On a rear surface of the panel, patterns such as logos are printed in white color, and light propagated along the panel of the light guide body is partially reflected on the printed portion so as to be output to the front side of the panel. As a result, there is obtained such an illumination effect that the patterns such as logos are profiled on the front surface of the panel, and the improvement in aesthetic appearance of the device can be expected (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2004-326901 (paragraph [0029], FIG. 3; hereinafter, referred to as Patent Document 1)).


Provided are a polyrotaxane capable of using an aqueous solvent in a fabricating process although it has hydrophobicity, an aqueous composition having the polyrotaxane, a crosslinked body comprising the polyrotaxane, etc. The polyrotaxane comprises blocking groups located at both ends of a pseudo-polyrotaxane having cyclic molecules and a linear molecule which pierces the cavities of the cyclic molecules in a skewered manner to form a clathrate therewith so as not to detach the cyclic molecules, wherein the cyclic molecules have a group represented by Formula I, a group represented by Formula II and a group represented by Formula III. Incidentally, M represents, for example, a group derived from ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone or the like, A represents a hydroxy group or the like, B represents a —COOH group or the like, and C represents A and/or B:-M-A  Formula I;-M-B  Formula II; and—C  Formula III.

A polyrotaxane, which is comprised of a pseudopolyrotaxane, which comprises a linear molecule and cyclic molecules in which the linear molecule is included in cavities of the cyclic molecules in a skewered manner, and capping groups, each of which locates at each end of the pseudopolyrotaxane in order to prevent the dissociation of the cyclic molecules, has characteristics originating from the relative movement of the cyclic molecule(s) along the linear molecule, and is therefore expected to be useful in various applications.
For example, Patent Document 1 provides a polyrotaxane which uses α-cyclodextrins as the cyclic molecule(s) and has a part or all of the hydroxyl groups of the α-cyclodextrins modified with a hydrophobic modifying group. Specifically, Patent Document 1 discloses in the Examples the use of polycaprolactone as the hydrophobic modifying group.
Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a crosslinked polyrotaxane having its solubility in water improved by modifying the hydroxyl groups of α-cyclodextrins as the cyclic molecule(s) with a nonionic group.
More, Patent Document 3 discloses a polyrotaxane-containing wax for coating maintenance, and specifically, the patent document discloses the use of an oleophilic polyrotaxane as a solvent-based coating material and a hydrophilic polyrotaxane as an aqueous coating material. More specifically, Patent Document 3 discloses in the Examples that a product obtained by reacting a stearic acid-modified polyethylene glycol with hexamethylene diisocyanate to obtain a stearic acid-modified polyethylene glycol having isocyanate terminal groups, and reacting this stearic acid-modified polyethylene glycol with the hydroxyl group of α-cyclodextrin which serves as the cyclic molecule of a polyrotaxane, is used as an additive for a wax for coating maintenance.
On the other hand, organic solvents are replacing aqueous solvents for a variety of functional materials, from the viewpoints of reduced burden to the global environment, safety, hygiene and the like. Here, polyrotaxanes, which are expected to be useful in various applications as described above, are also requested to be soluble in water and/or organic solvents, and thus such polyrotaxanes have already been developed as disclosed in Patent Document 2 and the like.    Patent Document 1: WO 2007/026578.    Patent Document 2: WO 2005/080469.    Patent Document 3: WO 2007/106866.

Polyrotaxane, aqueous polyrotaxane dispersion composition, crosslinked body of polyrotaxane and polymer and method for producing the same


Provided is a method for preparing oltipraz. The method includes reacting methyl 2-methyl-3-(pyrazin-2-yl)-3oxopropionate with phosphorus pentasulfide in the presence of a mixed solvent of toluene and xylene, followed by recrystallization.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for preparing oltipraz represented by Formula 1 below:

2. Description of the Related Art
Oltipraz represented by Formula 1 above was originally developed as an anti-schistosomal drug that eliminates parasites known blood flukes by Rhone-Poulenc, in 1980. However, during clinical trials, it was found that oltipraz does not have excellent drug effect relative to praziquantel that had been currently used for the treatment of parasite infections, and thus oltipraz was later abandoned.
Thereafter, in studies on a new reaction mechanism of oltipraz conducted in the 1990s, it was reported that oltipraz is effective for the inhibition of HIV propagation [Prochaska et al., 1995], the prevention and treatment of cancers, and the inhibition of HBV transcription [Chi et al., 1998].
Methods for preparing oltipraz are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,110,450, assigned to Rhone-Poulenc, issued in 1978. This patent provides two methods for preparing oltipraz, one of which is as following Scheme 2.

According to Scheme 2, however, the duration for preparation of oltipraz is too long, as 18 to 24 hours. Also, after a Claisen condensation reaction between ethyl pyrazine-2-carboxylate and ethyl propionate, separation and purification using a column are done. Furthermore, a total yield achieved after two steps of Scheme 2 above is 4.2%, which is too low for mass production.
Another method for preparing oltipraz disclosed in the above patent is as following Scheme 3.

The method of Scheme 3 includes an additional reaction step, as compared to the method of Scheme 2. Like in Scheme 2, a total yield is too low for mass production.
WO01/09118, issued on August 2001, discloses a method for preparing oltipraz as following Scheme 4:

In the above method, since sodium hydride is used as a base in a Claisen condensation reaction, there is an explosion risk of hydrogen produced during the condensation reaction. Also, since sodium hydride dispersed in oil is used, a pretreatment for oil removal is required. In particular, excess phosphorus pentasulfide (P2S5) inevitably used in the formation of a dithiolethione ring may cause severe environmental contamination. In addition, like in the above-described methods, a lengthy reaction duration is required.
Steps influencing the total yield of oltipraz in oltipraz preparation methods are a Claisen condensation reaction step in the presence of strong base and a dithiolethione ring formation step using P2S5.
In formation of dithiolethione rings from 3-oxoester compounds, a method of enhancing the yield of dithiolethione using various reagents such as P2S5, Lawesson's reagent, sulfur (S)/P2S5, or hexamethyldisiloxane/P2S5 has been reported [Tetrahedron Letters 2000, p. 9965, 17-18]. However, the yield of 3-oxoester compounds with a nitrogen-containing hetero ring is very low, and in particular, the yield of oltipraz with a pyrazinyl group is extremely low, as less than 10%.


The subject disclosure is directed towards driving a robot or other mobile device safely through an environment by using a depth camera to obtain depth data, and then using the depth data for collision avoidance. Horizontal profile information may be built from the depth data, such as by collapsing a two-dimensional depth map into one-dimensional horizontal profile information. The horizontal profile information may be further processed by fusing the depth camera-detected obstacle data with any closer obstacle data as detected via infrared-based sensing and/or sonar-based sensing. Driving suggestions from a user or program are overridden as needed to avoid collisions, including by driving the robot towards an open space represented in the horizontal profile information, or stopping/slowing the robot as needed.

To more fully utilize a mobile device such as a consumer robot, users want to be able to remotely or locally drive (control the movement) of the mobile device, such as to drive the robot around the user's home. However, such control is challenging for various reasons.
One such reason is latency. For example, if latency larger than a small fraction of a second is present, the user may not be able to correct the device's path and speed, possibly resulting in a collision with an obstacle. Even if collisions do not occur, user latency causes a poorly controlled system, with the resulting path of the device not being smooth.
Another challenging aspect is safety, in that a user might not be able to react fast enough in a dynamic environment to avoid a collision. Even in a stationary environment, the user may be unable to react fast enough to avoid mishandling the device when attempting to control a fast moving device.
Still further, a mobile device should be easy to control. A user should not have to provide too many navigation commands to navigate the device through typical indoor/outdoor spaces. In tight spaces, or spaces with obstacles, however, a user currently needs to provide a large number of navigation commands, which is difficult to do, and thus the user likely has to slow the device down considerably to avoid collisions.

Semi-autonomous mobile device driving with obstacle avoidance


A method of manufacturing a poly-crystalline silicon (p-Si) film includes the steps in which an excimer laser anneals an amorphous silicon (a-Si) film deposited on a glass substrate and makes the same into the poly-crystalline silicon while the glass substrate is moved in a moving direction relative to the laser. Prior to carrying out the annealing step, a couple of the laser pulses are applied to different places of the a-Si film, provided that each of the laser pulses has different energy fluence and one pulse at a time is applied to the a-Si film. The pulse applied area is divided into two sections by a reference line perpendicular to the moving direction of the glass substrate. Average grain sizes of the p-Si film in the two sections are compared to each other to determine the moving direction.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of making a poly-crystalline silicon semiconductor film from an amorphous silicon film and, more particularly, to a method of manufacturing a poly-crystalline silicon film in which laser pulses are applied to anneal an amorphous silicon film deposited on a glass substrate while the substrate or the laser beams are moved in a predetermined direction. The poly-crystalline silicon (p-Si) film is suitable for thin film transistors (TFTs), such as pixel switching and driver circuit TFTs used for a liquid crystal display device.
At the present, active-matrix type liquid crystal display devices are mass-produced. Such liquid crystal display devices, however, include amorphous silicon (a-Si) insulation-gate type TFTs. Since the mobility of electrons under electric fields (.mu.FE) in a-Si TFTs is equal to or lower than 1 cm.sup.2 /Vs, the a-Si TFTs are not sufficient in capability for high resolution, high speed and high performance display devices. Poly-crystalline silicon (p-Si) TFTs, on the other hand, have been experimentally made by means of a laser annealing process in which excimer laser pulses are applied to anneal a-Si films and make the same into p-Si films for TFTS. The mobility of electrons under electric fields in such p-Si TFTs ranges from 100 cm.sup.2 /Vs to 200 cm.sup.2 /Vs. The p-Si TFTs are expected to be essential components for high resolution, high speed and sophisticated function (e.g., driver-circuit-integrated) display devices.
Such an annealing process is carried out by laser annealing equipment 50 shown in FIG. 4. The equipment 50 includes an excimer laser generator 51, an optical system module 52, an annealing chamber 54, a control apparatus 55, a substrate cassette station 56 and a manupulation robot 57. The excimer laser generator 51 generates a XeCl gas excimer laser 53 with the wavelength of 308 nm, for instance. As shown in FIG. 5, the laser 53 is applied to an a-Si film substrate 62 through a reflection mirror 61. The substrate 62 is moved in the direction 63 at a regular speed. The laser pulse beam size on the a-Si surface is 200 mm long and 0.4 mm wide, for instance. This pulse beam is oscillated at the frequency of 300 Hz. As a pulse applied region is gradually moved, the a-Si film in the region is successively poly-crystallized.
It is noted that a grain size (or diameter) of p-Si is a decisive factor of the mobility of electrons in p-Si TFTs under electric fields. The grain size mainly depends on energy density of the laser called energy fluence. The relationship between the grain size and the fluence is schematically shown in FIG. 6. Generally, the grain size becomes larger as the energy fluence is increased. However, the grain size is not changed even if the energy fluence is increased in value from F1 through F2. The grain size again becomes larger in response to the fluence increase in value from F2 through F3. The p-Si, however, is transformed into micro-crystalline silicon in the case where the fluence value is greater than F3. In such micro-crystalline silicon, the mobility of electrons under electric fields (.mu.FE) decreases so that the micro-crystalline silicon does not provide desired TFT characteristics.
A checking technique for the grain size is to etch the p-Si in Secco's solution and to observe the etched grain with a scanning electron microscope. This technique is used to properly set the fluence in the middle of the region between F1 and F2 where the grain size is not substantially changed. Laser oscillation intensities are always changed. Nevertheless, where the laser annealing is carried out in that region, a uniform grain size of p-Si can be obtained regardless of such laser oscillation intensity changes.
The inventors of the present invention have discovered that the fluence range between F1 and F2 is determined in accordance with a moving direction of a glass substrate relative to the shorter axis of the laser beams, and that a uniform grain size of p-Si cannot be obtained from a laser annealing process in which such a moving direction is not properly selected.
As described above, the laser beam is 200 mm long and 0.4 mm wide. Its profile is shown in FIG. 7 in which the X- and Y-axes represent the width of the laser beam and the energy fluence of the laser beams, respectively. The fluence distribution is not constant but is declined slightly as shown. The laser beam scanning direction +X or -X is a moving direction with respect to the substrate. The "+X scan" is to move the substrate from the lower energy fluence to the higher energy fluence along the X-axis. The "-X scan" is in the direction reverse to the "+X scan". The energy fluence is defined by an average value between the lower and higher values. The micro-crystal generation level energy fluence can be schematically defined as in FIG. 8.
FIG. 9 shows experimental data carried out by the inventors under the following conditions:
Substrate Size: 300 mm.times.400 mm PA1 Film Layer Structure: Glass Substrate/SiNx/a-Si PA1 Fluence Range: 380 mJ/cm.sup.2 through 430 mJ/cm.sup.2 PA1 Atmosphere: Nitrogen Gas with the Normal Atmosphere Pressure PA1 Laser Irradiation: 35 .mu.m Pitch (10-Time Irradiation) PA1 Laser Repetition Frequency: 300 Hz PA1 Substrate Temperature: Room Temperature PA1 Substrate Washing: No Washing before Laser Annealing
Quite importantly, the inventors have discovered the fact that the -X scan is wider in margin of the energy fluence to cause 0.3 .mu.m or larger average grain size of poly-crystalline silicon than the +X scan as illustrated in FIG. 9.

Method of manufacturing a poly-crystalline silicon film


An improved method of operation for a motor vehicle automatic transmission determines a vehicle speed for purposes of selecting a desired transmission gear at least in part based on the wheel speeds of the vehicle. If the vehicle is being operated in a two-wheel drive mode, the vehicle speed is determined based on an average of the speeds of the un-driven wheels; if the vehicle is being operated in a four-wheel drive mode, the vehicle speed is determined based on the lowest of the four wheel speeds. Optionally, the wheel speeds are only used to determine vehicle speed if the Reverse range of the transmission has been engaged within a specified time interval, and otherwise the vehicle speed is determined based on an output speed of the transmission.

This invention relates to a gear selection method for an electronically controlled motor vehicle transmission, and more particularly to a method that enhances the effectiveness of vehicle rocking maneuvers.
When the forward or reverse momentum of a vehicle is lost on snow or soft ground to the point that it cannot be driven further, it may still be possible for the driver to recover sufficient momentum to continue driving by alternately shifting the transmission between forward and reverse speed ranges to rock the vehicle back and forth. In a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission, the driver is typically advised to shift between reverse and the first (highest numerical input/output ratio) forward gear for optimum rocking effectiveness. However, when the vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission and the driver simply shifts between Reverse and Drive, the optimum forward gear is not always engaged, particularly if the wheel slip is relatively high. This occurs because forward gear selection in an automatic transmission is ordinarily determined as a function of the transmission output speed, which presumably corresponds to the vehicle speed. However, in rocking maneuvers, the transmission output speed is influenced more by wheel slip than vehicle speed, and the transmission controller will often schedule an upshift to the second or third forward gear based on the apparent vehicle speed. In some cases, the controller may even engage the second forward gear as soon as the driver shifts to Drive. In both cases, the effectiveness of the rocking maneuver is significantly degraded, and the driver may be unable to regain sufficient vehicle momentum to continue driving.
Although a transmission controller could theoretically be programmed detect the presence of a rocking maneuver, and to limit the forward speed range to the first gear during such maneuvers, it is difficult in practice to distinguish rocking maneuvers from other maneuvers for which forward range upshifting may be appropriate. Accordingly, what is needed is a transmission gear selection method that enhances the effectiveness of rocking maneuvers without preventing upshifting during normal vehicle operation.
The present invention is directed to an improved method of operation for a motor vehicle automatic transmission in which the vehicle speed for purposes of selecting a desired transmission gear is determined at least in part based on the wheel speeds of the vehicle. If the vehicle is being operated in a two-wheel drive mode, the vehicle speed is determined based on an average of the speeds of the un-driven wheels; if the vehicle is being operated in a four-wheel drive mode, the vehicle speed is determined based on the lowest of the four wheel speeds. Optionally, the foregoing methodology is only enabled if the Reverse range of the transmission has been engaged within a specified time interval, and otherwise the vehicle speed is determined based on an output speed of the transmission.

Transmission gear selection method for enhancing the effectiveness of vehicle rocking maneuvers


An electronic device includes: a reading unit reading image data; a transmitting unit transmitting the image data to another electronic device via a telecommunications line upon receiving a user operation; a first image processing unit processing the image data; and a control unit (i) causing, in the case where a second image processing unit has a connection to the control unit, the second image processing unit to process the image data, and the transmitting unit to transmit the processed image data, and (ii) causing, in the case where id the second image processing unit does not have a connection to the control unit, the first image processing unit to process the image data, and the transmitting unit to transmit the processed image data, the second image processing unit being included in the movie camera and processing, as well as the image data, image data which is obtained by the movie camera.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic devices and, more particularly, to an electronic device which can connect to an imaging device, and can process and transmit image data.
(2) Description of the Related Art
There is a conventional technique for constructing a video conference system. In the system, two or more personal computers (PC) connect each other via the Internet, and each PC connects to a digital video camera.
A PC disclosed in Patent Reference 1 (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-238040) stores a program for video conference. Upon detecting the connection to a digital camera and the establishment of a two-way communication with the digital camera, the PC automatically boots up the video conference program. Then, on PC displays at both parties, the PCs provide the moving pictures obtained by the digital cameras for communicating at both sides. Hence the PC disclosed in Patent Reference 1 frees users from complex operations of the PC, and allows the users to easily participate in a video conference.

Electronic device, electronic device system, and image processing method


Disclosed is a reagent for prothrombin time measurement, wherein the reagent contains a liposome composition containing a first liposome having a phospholipid layer, a second liposome having a phospholipid layer of a different composition from that of the first liposome, and tissue factor, wherein the tissue factor is associated with the phospholipid layer of at least one of the first liposome and the second liposome; the first liposome contains a phosphatidylcholine compound, a phosphatidylethanolamine compound, and a phosphatidylserine compound; and the second liposome contains at least one phospholipid selected from the group consisting of a phosphatidylcholine compound and a phosphatidylethanolamine compound.

In measuring prothrombin time, use is made, for example, of a reagent for prothrombin time measurement that contains a tissue factor-containing liposome in which a recombinant tissue factor is associated with a liposome composed of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine (see, for example, WO 98/48283).
On the other hand, it has recently been proposed, from the viewpoint of the standardization of coagulation tests, that an appropriate range of clotting times and an appropriate international sensitivity index should be determined for reagents for prothrombin time measurement that are used for the assessment of prothrombin time.
However, when conventional reagents for prothrombin time measurement are used to determine the clotting time of normal plasma, there is a desire that these reagents result in measurements that meet both a clotting time within an appropriate range and an appropriate international sensitivity index.
The present invention provides a new reagent for prothrombin time measurement that can ensure measurements that are within an appropriate range of clotting times and have an appropriate international sensitivity index when the coagulation of normal plasma is measured, and a method for production thereof.

Reagent for prothrombin time measurement, method for production thereof, and method for measurement of prothrombin time


A transmitting apparatus of a WPAN communication system generates a synchronization header, a physical layer header, and a physical layer service data unit, multiplexes the synchronization header and the physical layer header into a bit stream and then modulates the multiplexed bit stream by a first differential phase modulation scheme, modulates the physical layer service data unit by a second differential phase modulation scheme, and multiplexes and transmits a symbol modulated by the first differential phase modulation scheme and a symbol modulated by the second differential phase modulation scheme into a symbol stream.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for transmitting a wireless personal area network (WPAN) communication system, and more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for transmitting a WPAN communication system for an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) for a smart grid.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A smart grid wireless communication technology which is used as a bi-directional wireless communication infrastructure between a power supplier and a consumer in a smart grid consumer area may achieve high efficiency of energy depending on power consumption and a power use charge, check an abnormal state in a transmission/distribution facility early to prevent unnecessary power leakage, and stably maintain a national power grid, and therefore has emerged as a core technology to build up a national infrastructure for low-carbon green industry.
At present, an AMI technology for a smart grid based on power line communication (PLC) technology has been developed in the nation. Recently, as portable terminals are widely distributed, a ZigBee-based wireless AMI technology has been developed. However, problems of generation of a shadow area due to a lack of ZigBee communication performance and difficulty in commercialization due to a lack of coverage have occurred.
Instead of the ZigBee communication with an interference problem due to frequency sharing with Wi-Fi, etc., in a 2.4 GHz industrial scientific and medical (ISM) band, a demand for technical development of low power/low cost wireless transmission which uses a frequency bandwidth (sub-gigaband of 380 MHz to 400 MHz) for a trunked radio system to be able to stably and freely exchange utility-related information, such as electricity/gas/water information, between a supplier and a consumer without interference has increased.
In particular, development of a wireless personal area network (WPAN) communication system for AMI with reliability has been required to provide AMI services for the smart grid, and most of the AMI services for the smart grid need to be processed in a single hop with extended communication coverage of 1 km or more. Further, the WPAN communication system for AMI has various transmission rates to be used in the AMI services for the smart grid so as to be able to be used in various applications such as remote metering and monitoring of a transmission/distribution power facility.
Korea Electric Power Corporation, which plays a leading role in the domestic smart grid industry, uses commercial products meeting a terrestrial trunked radio (TETRA) standard in a frequency bandwidth for a trunked radio system to experimentally perform the AMI services. However, with the TETRA standard it may be difficult to smoothly provide the AMI services due to a low transmission rate of 4.5 Kbps per user and may cause the increase in complexity and costs to build up infrastructure. Further, the TETRA standard itself is constructed to meet only voice data transmission, and therefore is inappropriate for the AMI services.
Therefore, standardization of a new communication method specialized for the AMI services for the smart grid in the frequency bandwidth for the trunked radio system with good frequency characteristics has been required. In particular, a need exists for a new AMI communication technology for a smart grid to solve a problem of reduced reliability and communication range which is a drawback of ZigBee and a problem of low transmission rate and high infrastructure construction cost which is a drawback of TETRA.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Method and apparatus for transmitting wireless personal area network communication system

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE