A gas turbine engine includes a casing cooling system which operates in one of two conditions, the first being operational at engine cruise, where all of the cooling air is initially directed onto a specific region of the casing; under full power conditions, some of the cooling air is directed onto the specific casing region and the reminder directed onto the reminder of the casing; the cooling system operates to optimize turbine blade/casing radial clearances.

The turbine of an axial flow gas turbine engine conventionally comprises at least one annular array of radially extending rotor aerofoil blades located in the primary motive fluid passage of the engine. The radially outer extents of the blades are surrounded in radially spaced apart relationship by an annular sealing member attached to the casing of the turbine. The radial distance between the blades and the sealing member is desirably as small as possible in order to minimise the leakage of motive fluid gases past the rotor blades: the greater the leakage of gases, the lower the efficiency of the turbine.
Unfortunately during a typical gas turbine engine operating cycle, rotational speed and temperature variations within the turbine result in significant variation of the radial clearance between the blades and the sealing member. Accordingly in order to ensure that damaging contact does not occur between the blades and sealing member, the clearance between them has to be larger than would otherwise be desirable for certain engine operating conditions.
The condition which results in the smallest clearance between the blades and sealing member occurs when the gas turbine engine is suddenly brought up to full power. Typically this occurs during the take-off of an aircraft powered by the engine. Under these conditions the blades heat up rapidly and so thermally expand. Additionally their rotational speed increases so that they are subjected to centrifugal growth. At the same time the sealing member and the casing which supports it heat up rapidly and so thermally expand.
The rate of thermal expansion of the casing and the blades and associated structure are desirably matched so that the rotor blade/sealing member radial gap remains within acceptable limits. This is achieved by the so-called "slugging" of the turbine casing. "Slugging" is the positioning of slugging masses or thermal barriers on the casing to modify its thermal expansion behaviour.
When the gas turbine engine assumes a steady state, typically under cruise conditions, a temperature equilibrium situation is reached. However, the equilibrium temperature reached by the various components of the turbine are such that the radial gap between the turbine blades and their associated sealing member is larger than would otherwise be desirable.
Attempts have been made to overcome the problem of variation in the radial gap between the sealing member and the blades by the provision of intermittent cooling of the turbine casing. Typically the casing is uncooled during take-off to ensure that the radial gap remains within acceptable limits. However when cruise conditions are reached, casing cooling is commenced to reduce the radial clearance between the sealing member and the turbine blades to an optimum value.
One drawback with this arrangement is that since the turbine casing is modified by slugging to slow down its thermal response rate, it is equally slow to respond to the effects of deliberate cooling.
A further drawback is that the turbine casing must be made from an alloy which is sufficiently resistant to the high temperatures which it is likely to reach when it is not cooled.


Disclosed herein is a liquid crystal display device comprising (1) a liquid crystal cell having a structure in which liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer sandwiched between substrates are oriented substantially in parallel to the surface of the substrate and twisted at an angle of from 120.degree. to 360.degree. in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer when the voltage is not applied, (2) a pair of polarizers disposed so as to sandwich the liquid crystal cell therebetween and (3) a birefringence layer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and at least one of the polarizers. The liquid crystal display device can provide black and white display of excellent visual angle characteristic and of excellent quality. Furthermore, the maximum, minimum, and perpendicular refractive indexes, n.sub.x, n.sub.y, and n.sub.z, respectively, of the birefringence layer satisfy the following relationship: EQU n.sub.y <n.sub.z <n.sub.x.

The present invention concerns a liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between substrates and a pair of polarizers disposed at outside of the liquid crystal layer, and having a structure in which the liquid crystal is oriented substantially in parallel to the surface of the substrate and twisted at an angle of from 120.degree. to 360.degree. in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer when the voltage is not applied.
The liquid crystal display mode mainly used so far is referred to as a twisted nematic (TM) type having a structure in which liquid crystal molecules are twisted by about 90.degree. between upper and lower substrates, and it utilizes the rotation of a polarization plane caused by the liquid crystal and elimination of such effect upon the application of voltage. The display mode is satisfactory in low time-division driving used for electronic digital clocks or pocket calculators but involves a drawback that the contrast is lowered or the visual angle is narrowed if it is driven at high time-division in order to increase the display capacity. The drawback is due to the fact that the ratio of the voltage applied on a selected point to the voltage applied on a nonselected point approaches 1 upon the high time-division driving.
In order to attain a display device of high contrast and wide visual angle, it is necessary to reduce the steepness .gamma. represented by the ratio (V.sub.50 /V.sub.10) of the voltage (V.sub.50) which changes the relative transmittance of the device by 50% to the voltage (V.sub.10) which changes the relative transmittance by 10%.
In the case of twisted nematic type, the .gamma. value is about 1.13. For reducing the .gamma. value, it has been proposed a method of increasing the twist angle of liquid crystal molecules and shifting the polarization axis from the orientation direction of liquid crystal, which is referred to as a SBE mode or STN mode. With such a method, the .gamma. value can be reduced to less than 1.1 and high time-division driving at about 1/400 duty is possible.
However, since such a method utilizes the coloration due to birefringence and the change thereof with the voltage application, it is theoretically difficult to obtain black and white display and the transmission light or reflection light of the liquid crystal cell is colored to thereby form a display on a colored background. In order to avoid such coloration, it has also been known to overlay another color-eliminating liquid crystal cell having a reverse twist direction of liquid crystal molecules on a STN type liquid crystal cell [refer, for example, to H. Watanabe et al., Society for Information Display 88 "Digest", PP. 416-419 (1988)]. In this case, however, since two liquid crystal cells are stacked, the cost is increased and the entire thickness and weight are also increased, and further, there is a drawback that displayed characters give an impression of floating since the distance between the polarization plate and the display liquid crystal layer is increased.
As a color-compensation plate for eliminating the coloration of the STN type liquid crystal display device, it has also been known a method of using a birefringence layer instead of the another liquid crystal cell [refer, for example, to H. Odai, et al. 1988, "International Display Research Conference", PP. 195-198 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Sho 64-519 (1989)].
Such a method of using the birefringence layer is more useful industrially than the method of stacking two liquid crystal cells, since increase of the thickness and weight is not so much and the liquid crystal display device can be produced at a low cost. However, in the STN type liquid crystal display device color-compensated by using the birefringence layer there is a problem to be dissolved that the brightness and color are changed depending on the visual angle direction.
The present inventors have made a study for overcoming the foregoing problems and, as a result, have found that an excellent liquid crystal display device can be obtained by controlling the twist angle of liquid crystals in a liquid crystal cell, the maximum refractive index direction x, maximum refractive index n.sub.X and minimum refractive index n.sub.Y in the birefringence layer face parallel to the substrate surface and the refractive index n.sub.Z of the birefringence layer in the thickness direction each in a predetermined range.
That is, the object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device of excellent visual angle characteristic and capable of black and white display at a low cost.

Liquid crystal display device with a birefringent compensator


The present invention provides a polybutylene terephthalate resin composition which satisfies performances such as high durability in an environment of heating and cooling cycles and adhesion properties to an addition-reaction type silicone rubber. Specifically, provided is the polybutylene terephthalate resin composition, exhibiting excellent adhesion properties to the addition-reaction type silicone rubber, including: (A) 100 parts by weight of polybutylene terephthalate resin; (B) 5 to 30 parts by weight of a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer containing 40% by weight or less of styrene component; and (C) 20 to 100 parts by weight of glass fiber.

Polybutylene terephthalate resin is used in a wide range of fields as an engineering plastic, such as automobile parts, electric/electronic parts due to the excellent mechanical properties, electric properties, and other physical and chemical properties, along with good workability. In particular, in order to protect the contents from damages caused by moisture, dust, external shock, and the like, polybutylene terephthalate resin is preferably used for the casing containing substrate mounted with electronics parts thereon, and the insert-molded products on which sensor probe, connector terminal, and the like are mounted, and the like.
In these applications, for the purpose of avoiding as much as possible, the influence of moisture, dust, and the like on the substrate and the sensor body, a potting material is often heat cured by being filled in a cover with a substrate stored therein or a cover and a casing are often bonded and sealed with an adhesive. As such potting material and the like, epoxy resin and silicone rubber are often used, and specifically silicone rubber is often used for the parts requiring heat resistance and cold resistance. Recently, various joining methods such as double molding, hot-plate welding, vibration welding, and laser welding have been put into practical use. As for the potting intended for protecting the substrate, silicone rubber is widely used independent of the joining methods.
Furthermore, silicone rubber is also used in a method of simple joining of the circuit parts of capacitor and the like, and specifically an addition-reaction type silicone rubber is often used to shorten the curing time. The term "silicone rubber" referred to herein signifies a liquid silicone rubber used as an adhesive and for potting electric/electronic parts. The silicone rubber is largely divided into two types: addition-reaction type silicone rubber; and condensation-reaction type silicone rubber.
In the application where the above methods are used, there are normally arranged metal terminals such as connector, metallic bus bar constituting electric circuit, varieties of sensor parts, and the like by pressure-working or insert-molding. Specifically in applications for parts mounted on automobile, high durability is required in many cases in an environment of high temperature/high humidity and of heating and cooling cycles. Accordingly, there are commonly used polybutylene terephthalate materials characterized by elastomers and various additives.
Depending on the selection of the material of casing and cover, however, there were cases where that kind of silicone rubber caused poor curing and poor adhesion at the interface, and thus was unable to exert sufficient function as the parts, in some cases.
JP-A 9-165503 proposes a composition containing polybutylene terephthalate, a specified silicon compound, a phenol-based antioxidant and/or a thioether-based antioxidant in order to improve the adhesion strength to an addition-reaction type silicone.
That kind of composition, however, cannot satisfy the heating and cooling cycle resistance of the material required in the automobile industry. Generally it is known that the addition of a specific silicon compound in large amounts deteriorates the physical properties of silicone rubber, and the presence of sulfur-based compound and trivalent phosphorus compound deactivates the platinum compound in the curing catalyst to thereby inhibit the reaction. Therefore, the composition disclosed in JP-A 9-165503 is not practically applicable.
JP-A 2006-111693 describes the improvement of heat shock resistance of an insert-molded product in terms of the composition composed of polybutylene terephthalate along with additives of an isoprene-butadiene-styrene-based copolymer, a polycarbonate and/or a vinyl-based copolymer. The disclosure, however, does not contain the description about the adhesion to silicone rubber. Furthermore, the addition of vinyl-based copolymer and polycarbonate may lower the adhesion to silicone rubber.
JP-A 6-32912 describes that a composition of polybutylene terephthalate to which SEBS is added by a vent-type injection molding machine without applying a melt-kneading process provides good mechanical strength, heat resistance, impact resistance, and chemical resistance. For the adhesion to silicone rubber, however, no description is given therein.
JP-A 10-235819 describes that the epoxy-adhesion improves by blending a polyester with a block polymer composed of a polymer block containing mainly a vinyl aromatic compound and a polymer block containing mainly a non-hydrogenate and/or a hydrogenated conjugate diene compound. The disclosure, however, does not describe about the adhesion to silicone rubber. Furthermore, it was confirmed that a non-hydrogenated conjugate diene compound lowers the adhesion to an addition-reaction type silicone rubber.

Polybutylene terephthalate resin composition


The heat exchanger includes at least one heat transfer tube which is provided to extend in a first direction and in which refrigerant flows, a fin which is connected to the heat transfer tube and has a first region and a second region which are located windward of the heat transfer tube in a second direction crossing the first direction, and a first guide member provided to extend in the first direction. The first region and the second region are spaced apart from each other in a third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction. The first guide member is disposed between the first region and the second region in the third direction. Of the heat transfer tube and the first guide member, the first guide member is disposed most windward in the second direction.

A conventionally known heat exchanger includes a pair of headers facing each other horizontally in its upper and lower portions, a plurality of flat heat transfer tubes communicatively connected in parallel with the headers at uniform intervals, and corrugated fins provided in a gap between the flat heat transfer tubes to be brought into intimate contact with the tubes. The heat exchanger causes refrigerant that is a heat exchange medium to be distributed in parallel to the plurality of flat heat transfer tubes simultaneously.
When such a heat exchanger is subjected to a heating operation in cold weather as an air conditioner outdoor unit of heat pump type for cooling and heating, frost is formed on the fin and the surface of the heat transfer tube, decreasing a heat exchange efficiency.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 09-280754 (PTD 1) discloses a heat exchanger to take a measure against such frost formation. The heat exchanger includes corrugated fins disposed to project windward from flat heat transfer tubes and includes louvers formed only in its leeward portion.


There is provided a suppository comprising at least one biocompatible polymer, wherein the biocompatible polymer is essentially non-biodegradable, and wherein the suppository essentially does not swell when contacted with an aqueous fluid. The suppository may further comprise a plurality of open cells at least partly separated from one another by an interpenetrating matrix comprising at least one biocompatible polymer in branched or crosslinked form. The plurality of interlinked, open cells are capable of containing an aqueous fluid, and the permeability of the suppository ensures that entry of body fluids into the open cells under practical circumstances occurs essentially without dehydration of mucousal membrane tissue contacting the suppository. The suppository furthermore preferably comprises a controlled release formulation.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising a biocompatible polymer and specially adapted for forming at least part of a suppository. The composition preferably comprises a medicament.
CN 1109347 concerns a suppository made from a polyurethane sponge. The sponge in the shape of a suppository is dipped into a solution of the medicament to absorb it and is subsequently dried.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,292,300 relates to a non-dissolving, non-disintegrating slow-release suppository base consisting essentially of a linear polymer, such as methyl cellulose, and water in an amount of more than 35 parts by weight and less than 65 parts by weight of linear polymer. The linear polymers according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,292,300 can be distinguished from cross-linked polymers which swell, but do not dissolve in the presence of water and certain organic solvents. The linear polymers according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,292,300 have a high molecular weight, an affinity for water, and will dissolve in excess water, but in the relatively small amounts of water used in the formulation according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,292,300, a xe2x80x9cgelxe2x80x9d-like mass is formed. The linear polymers preferably resist biodegradation, or they are only slowly biodegradable. The polymers are capable of being extruded at ambient or near ambient temperatures, e.g. from 15xc2x0 C. to 40xc2x0 C., to give products with good strength and elasticity. They also have the ability to become instantaneously slippery when only slightly moistened and are therefore easily inserted into the anorectal or vaginal passage, this property is enhanced by the presence of the relatively large amounts of water in the formulations according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,292,300. Examples of linear polymers are methylcellulose, hydroxyproplymethylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, polyacrylamides, polyethylene oxides and certain modified starches. Typical average molecular weights vary between 100,000 and 300,000.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,883 relates to a non-dissolving, non-disintegrating, slow-release, shaped suppository consisting essentially of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, water, and a therapeutically effective amount of a water-soluble therapeutically active ingredient, wherein the water is present in an amount of more than 35 parts by weight wherein the suppository has flexibility and becomes slippery when moistened,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,427 relates to an improved suppository applicator which is a one-piece injection molded suppository applicator for ejecting medicament into a body cavity comprising a cylindrical main body portion having a distal end and a proximal end. The main body portion further comprises: an integral flexible chamber means at the distal end; a flexible junction means adjacent, integral to and at least partially the flexible chamber means; a plunger means adjacent and integral to the flexible chamber means; and a barrel stem; wherein the flexible junction means integrally joins the plunger means and flexible chamber means within the barrel stem.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,292,299 relates to a medical preparation composed of an adhesive layer comprising polymers which have adhesiveness to a wet mucous surface and swellability upon moistening and a nonadhesive layer which has no adhesiveness to a wet mucous surface and is water soluble or water disintegrable, with at least one of the layers made to contain a medicament. The medical preparation is administered by adhering to a wet mucous surface of the mucousal membrane and skin of men or animals, wherein exhibiting a property to release the medicament slowly extending over a long period of time to cure or prevent general or local diseases.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,404,296 relates to a polyol gel comprising i) 15-62 weight % (based on i)+ii)) of a high molecular weight covalently cross-linked polyurethane matrix; ii) 85-38 weight % (based on i)+ii)) of a liquid dispersing agent which is firmly bonded in the matrix by secondary valence forces; and optionally iii) fibers and/or additives and/or catalysts suitable for an isocyanate polyaddition reaction and/or active ingredients.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,737 relates to a slow release drug delivery device for the prolonged administration of topically active medicines which consists of a vehicle in which water is soluble. In the vehicle is dissolved a topically active drug formed into a stable organogel with a polymer matrix with a very low water absorbing capability. The organogel, in the presence of water or atmospheric water vapor, slowly imbibes such water into the vehicle and by doing so the vehicle becomes incompatible with the matrix and is slowly expelled therefrom. The vehicle dissolves the drug and the vehicle/drug combination is slowly pumped out of the polymeric matrix with substantially linear drug delivery occurring for periods in excess of 6 months. The drug delivery device may be used to administer drugs topically, such as a suppository or a subcutaneous implant.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,650 relates to a urethral suppository comprising i) a relatively long, relatively small diameter shaft, ii) a bulbous head extending from a rounded nose through a relatively gradually outwardly curving insertion surface having an axial length equaling about two thirds of the overall length of the head and a relatively sharply curving retention surface extending from the intersection with the insertion surface which is the maximum diameter of the head to an intersection with the shaft, the intersection between the retention surface and the insertion surface not comprising a sharp edge or corner, and iii) a conical tail including an outwardly tapered retaining surface extending from the shaft to a base having a diameter substantially greater than the maximum diameter of the bulbous head, wherein said shaft, head, and tail comprises predetermined dimensions and a unitary structure and are formed entirely from a medicament
U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,342 relates to a long lasting, viscous, adhesive contraceptive made from a quick melting suppository composition and comprising a mixture of a contraceptive effective amount of a spermicidal agent; a polymeric gum, such as a polysaccharide gum; a dispersing agent comprising silica; and a water miscible polymer suppository base, such as polyethylene glycol.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,978 relates to an antifungal vaginal suppository which contain cis-2-(1H-imidazolylmethyl)-3-(2xe2x80x2,6xe2x80x2-difluorobenzyloxy)-2,3-dihydro-5-fluo robenzo[b]thiophene as the antifungal agent, in a suppository base containing biocompatible polymers, a surfactant and an absorbent in a vegetable oil phase. The suppositories are substantive and provide a prolonged duration of effectiveness. The biocompatible polymer component of the suppository formulation comprises a combination of polyethylene and polyvinylpyrrolidione.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,100 relates to a sustained releasable parenteral pharmaceutical preparation in which a great release of a physiologically active peptide or protein in an early stage of the administration is suppressed and the peptide or protein can be released for a longer period. The sustained releasable parenteral pharmaceutical preparation of the present invention comprises a matrix comprising a physiologically active peptide or protein and a polyglycerol diester of a saturated fatty acid. The matrix may be in a pillar, granular or other form.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,259,314 relates to a controlled release, dry pharmaceutical composition containing a dry carrier comprised of 80 to 95% of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and 20 to 5% of hydroxypropyl cellulose. The carrier is dried to a moisture content of not more than 1%. If the pharmaceutical composition is compressed under low pressure, a troche capable of being sucked or used in the mouth can be prepared, and a controlled release of the active therapeutic agent, which is mucousally absorbed into the blood stream is achieved. If higher pressures are used to compress the pharmaceutical material a harder and longer-lasting pharmaceutical composition can be prepared suitable for rectal or vaginal application or suitable for swallowing in the form of a tablet.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,502 relates to a lipid-containing, molded pharmaceutical composition comprising i) from about 10% to about 50% of a lipid material having a melting point of from about 26xc2x0 C. to about 37xc2x0 C., ii) from about 10% to about 50% of a particulate dispersant material, iii) from about 0.1% to about 3% of an emulsifier, and iv) a safe and effective amount of a pharmaceutically active material, wherein preferably the measured. Viscosity of the composition is less than about 10,000 cps at about 40xc2x0 C.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,782 relates to a dissolvable element containing an agent material that is used for local administration of an agent material in an internal body area. The dissolvable element is made of a dissolvable polymer material and/or complex carbohydrate material which are food grade materials and have selected dissolving properties, such that it remains in substantially solid form before use, and dissolves due to human body temperatures and moisture during use to release the agent material in a desired timed release and dosage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,859,048 relates to pharmaceutics for rectal administration in which at least either a pharmacologically active ingredient or a mucousal absorption enhancer is caused to form a complex with a high molecular compound which is soluble in water at pH 5 or higher. The ingredient and the enhancer are uniformly dispersed in a fatty suppository base.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,009 relates to a sustained release suppository comprising in a usual *suppository base, such as a fat having a melting range of from 29xc2x0 C. to 38xc2x0 C., i) a water-soluble therapeutically active substance, ii) a physiologically acceptable organic substance that is swellable in contact with water, such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, and iii) a hydrophobic silicium dioxide.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,211 relates to an effervescent vaginal suppository composition containing a stabilizer, such as anhydrous sodium sulfate, anhydrous silica gel, dried magnesium silicate, dried aluminum silicate, dried calcium carboxymethylcellulose, dried microcrystalline cellulose, dried starch and dried calcium phosphate, or mixtures thereof, preferably in an amount of from 0.1 to 20% based on the weight of said effervescent vaginal suppository composition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,698,359 relates to a medicated suppository for use in the vaginal or rectal cavity comprising a medicament, a mixture of triglycerides of fatty acids, a gel forming agent and a gel dispersing agent.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,692 relates to a medicament capsule encapsulating an effective ingredient. The medicament capsule is formed of a hard capsule shell made of a mixed ester of a cellulose ether, e.g. alkyl-, hydroxyalkyl- and hydroxyalkyl alkylcelluloses, esterified with aliphatic monacyl groups and acidic succinyl groups. When the capsule is inserted into the rectum, the capsule shell is disintegrated and the rectally absorbable effective ingredient is released into the rectum.
The present invention in one preferred aspect relates to a suppository for administration of at least one bioactive substance, said suppository comprising
i) a polymer composition comprising at least one biocompatible polymer, wherein the biocompatible polymer is essentially non-biodegradable; and
ii) a controlled release formulation for controlled release of said at least one bioactive substance, said formulation comprises at least one first polymer and/or at least one second polymer, wherein the melting point of said at least one first polymer is lower than the melting point of said at least one second polymer; and
wherein preferably, the suppository essentially does not swell when contacted with an aqueous fluid.
The polymer composition according to the present invention comprises a biocompatible polymer that essentially does not swell when being contacted by moisture. The biocompatible polymer is also essentially non-biodegradable and is thus essentially not degraded during use when forming part of e.g. a suppository used in therapeutical methods including surgery.
At least part of the polymer composition comprising the biocompatible polymer preferably further comprises a plurality of interlinked, open cells that are accessible to mucousal membrane fluids and capable of containing such aqueous fluids. The contacting of the polymer composition with an aqueous fluid such as moisture secreted from the mucousal membrane under practical circumstances preferably results in essentially no fluid entering the open, accessible cells. The term xe2x80x9cessentially no fluidxe2x80x9d will be understood to mean an amount of fluid that results in no dehydration, or at least essentially no dehydration of the mucousal membrane in contact with the suppository according to the invention, while still allowing the fluid to contact a medicament comprised in open, accessible cells, optionally in encapsulated form, wherein the contacting of the fluid and the medicament, or the encapsulation thereof, results in the delivery of the medicament to the mucousal membrane in a pharmaceutically active amount. Dehydration of a mucousal membrane is evident from clear signs of irritatation of the mucousal membrane tissue. Irritation is routinely diagnosed by a medical practitioner, or by the individual sensing an itching or developing a rash in a body cavity region.
The invention thus in one embodiment pertains to a suppository comprising a polymer composition having a permeability for aqueous fluids, including body fluids, that resultsxe2x80x94under practical circumstancesxe2x80x94in entry of such body fluids into a plurality of open cells comprised in the polymer composition essentially without dehydration of mucousal membrane tissue contacting the suppository.
Any biocompatible polymer that is essentially not degraded during use and essentially does not swell when being contacted by moisture can be used in accordance with the present invention. The terms xe2x80x9cnot degradedxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cdoes not swellxe2x80x9d shall in the following be used within the meaning xe2x80x9cessentially not degradedxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cessentially does not swellxe2x80x9d, respectively, as defined herein below.
The non-biodegradable polymer provides the polymer composition with a desirable degree of flexibility and ensures that a firm contact is established between the surface of the suppository and e.g. a mucousal membrane in a body cavity of an individual wherein the suppository is positioned. Preferably, the controlled release formulation has a softening point, so that the suppository is essentially rigid at room temperature, whereas the suppository is essentially soft or less rigid at body temperature. This can be measured by e.g. measuring the rigidity of the suppository by any state of the art method.
The suppository preferably comprises a bioactive substance including a medicament capable of being controllably released in the body cavity in question. As the suppository is not degraded during use it will provide a prolonged release of a medicament in the local environment. With which the suppository is in operable contact.
The suppositories according to the present invention in one embodiment solves the problem of how to provide medicaments to a local environment without generatingxe2x80x94at essentially the same timexe2x80x94a systemic effect caused by caused by solvation, melting or otherwise, of the vehicle acing as a carrier of the medicament. This technical effect is in sharp contrast to state of the art suppositories made of fat-like substances that are degraded during use, typically through a process of melting or dissolving the carrier matrix.
The degradation of suppositories has the effect that administration of the medicament is not targeted to a local environment over a prolonged period of time. As a local environment is not targeted exclusively with state of the art suppositories, the medicament is taken up by the organism and exerts a systemic effect in the entire body.
The present invention in one preferred embodiment is aimed at ensuring a direct delivery of a medicament to a local environment while essentially preventing the medicament from being taken up by the body and thereby exerting a systemic effect. Furthermore, the biocompatible polymer does not melt or disintegrate, so that the medicament preferably is essentially retaining in a local environment. The present invention thus provides a means for sustained release administration of a medicament to a predetermined, local environment without essentially generating any systemic effects. However, in other embodiments of the present invention a systemic effect may be desirable.
Hence, the advantages of suppositories according to the present invention are:
i) physiological compliance
ii) fast adjustment to the shape of any body cavity
iii) large contact surface between suppository and mucosal membrane
iv) increased transport and mobility of the bioactive substance
v) water solubility of the bioactive substance
vi) local administration of the bioactive substance
vii) promotes wound healing

Suppository and composition comprising at least one polyethylene glycol


Two or more receivers of known location receive RF bursts from a wireless moving object containing a transmitter that transmits periodic RF bursts. The receivers are gated with precision swept timing that repeats at the exact transmit RF burst period to produce precision expanded time representations of the received RF bursts. The expanded time representations correspond to RF burst arrival times from the transmitter, which are used to calculate the location of the transmitter. A writing pen application includes an RF transmitter in a writing pen and four RF receivers beneath the surface of a writing tablet where RF propagation from the pen to the receivers cannot be blocked by a user""s hand. Two RF transmitters, one located at each end of the pen, may be employed to measure pen tilt and for 3-D tracking. Spatial resolution is more than 600 dpi at 100 location fixes per second.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to radiolocation systems, and more particularly to very short range pulsed microwave time-of-arrival systems. These systems can be used for wireless handwriting digitizing, a wireless computer mouse, machine automation, or virtual reality systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Precision short range location systems have employed ultrasound, optical, magnetic, inertial, and radio frequency (RF) technologies to locate a wireless moving object such as a writing pen for digitizing handwriting. While each technology has advantages, their disadvantages appear to have limited their widespread use.
Wireless pen location based on time-of-arrival (TOA) of ultrasound pulses can provide, at first glance, a highly accurate, low cost digitized handwriting system. However, the limitations to ultrasound are numerous and essentially insurmountable: (1) the speed of sound varies 10% over common outdoor temperature, greatly limiting accuracy, (2) ultrasonic noise from computer monitors, jangling keys, etc. reduce reliability, (3) propagation path blockage by a user""s arm or hand limit the choice of transducer locations to the top of the writing tablet, leading to severe geometric dilution of precision (DOP), (4) most ultrasonic transducers are highly directional, limiting coverage across a writing tablet, and (5) slow acoustic propagation velocity limits the pulse rate (due to range ambiguities), limiting response time to only accommodate slow handwriting.
Inertial location techniques use accelerometers mounted in a writing pen to provide position information by integration of acceleration signals. There is no absolute positional reference frame, forcing the user to locate writing position on a computer screen, like a mouse. Accuracy is limited by drift in the integrators needed to convert acceleration to position. In addition, low cost high accuracy accelerometers are not available, leaving inertial writing pen technology to specialty or high-end markets.
Magnetic writing pens employ a coarse X-Y wire grid under a writing tablet to detect oscillating magnetic fields from the tip of a writing pen, where the position between the nearest wires is interpolated from magnetic signal strength. Since magnetic field strength varies with the cube of range for close-in fields, interpolation can be difficult unless the grid spacing is kept small, requiring a large number of detectors or multiplexers. Movement of the pen in the Z-direction (above the tablet) would substantially alter the magnetic field gradient and the interpolation accuracy, preventing use with a thick pad of paper, and preventing 3-D operation.
Optical writing pens use light emitting diodes or lasers mounted in the pen and position sensitive detectors (PSD) mounted on a writing tablet or nearby fixture to locate the pen""s position. The PSD is formed with several photodiodes and lenses or with a strip-like photodiode and lens. In either case, proportional analog voltages are produced as a function of pen location, with an accuracy limited to perhaps 1% of full tablet range by photodiode gain differences, dark currents, image size and focus variations, background illumination, etc. Accuracy is also limited by the choice of PSD locations, which are confined to the top of the writing tablet where a user""s arm or hand will not block the light path, leading to severe geometric dilution of precision. Battery power limitations in the pen limit optical output power, and consequently, the signal-to-noise ratio at the photodiode receiver output, thereby limiting the ability to track fast handwriting. Optical devices are at a fundamental disadvantage to RF devices since photodetectors generally provide 30 to 60 dB lower output than a comparable microwave system with the same transmit drive power and range, and photodiodes cost more than a simple microwave antenna.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,838, xe2x80x9cShort Range Radio Location System,xe2x80x9d to McEwan, 1996, describes a time-of-arrival system employing a wireless xe2x80x9croverxe2x80x9d (i.e., moving object) that transmits short microwave pulses at an RF frequency of 2 GHz. An array of two or more receivers at known locations samples the RF environment to determine the relative arrival times of the transmitted pulses. The arrival times are converted to relative distances and the exact location of the rover is determined using simple geometric relations.
A key feature of the ""838 patent is the use of two-frequency timing. The receivers sample the RF environment at a first pulse repetition frequency PRFR that is slightly offset from a second frequency, the transmit pulse repetition frequency PRFT, by a frequency xcex94. For example, PRFT is 2,000,000 Hz and the receivers all sample with an offset frequency xcex94 of 100 Hz at a second frequency PRFR of 2,000,100 Hz (or 1,999,900 Hz). The offset frequency in the receiver, PRFR, causes the sample timing to slip 360xc2x0 in phase once each 1/xcex94 seconds. This phase slippage causes the sampled output of the receivers to produce an equivalent time replica of the 2 GHz RF pulses on a time scale related to the offset frequency xcex94, i.e., the phase slippage rate. There is a time expansion factor EF=PRFT/xcex94=20,000 for xcex94=100 Hz and PRFT=2 MHz, and the transmit pulse repetition interval PRIT=1/PRFT is expanded from xc2xd MHz=500 ns to a receiver output pulse repetition interval of F/2 MHz=10 ms. Thus, the arrival time signals from the receivers appear on a 20,000 times slower time scale, which makes precision detection and processing of the signals vastly simpler. This is important to many applications, such as handwriting digitizing, that require sub-picosecond accuracy.
A handwriting digitizing application of the techniques disclosed in the ""838 patent, using time-of-arrival receivers operating with two-frequency timing, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,977,958, xe2x80x9cMethod and System for Digitizing Handwriting,xe2x80x9d to Baron, 1999.
According to the invention, a wireless transmitter mounted in a movable object, e.g., a handwriting pen, transmits microwave RF bursts at a PRF of 10 MHz (or any other selected frequency). Two or more receivers sample the microwave RF environment at the same 10 MHz rate. Upon receiving RF bursts from the transmitter, timing circuitry coupled to the receivers locks its 10 MHz PRF to the transmit 10 MHz PRF (with no offset xcex94). Once locked, there is no phase slippage between the transmit PRF and the receive PRF since they are locked to exactly the same frequency and phase. A swept timing circuit sweeps the sample timing to produce expanded time representations of the RF bursts that are suitable for precision processing into location fixes.
A key advantage to the use of RF bursts for handwriting digitization is the ability to locate receive antennas below a dielectric writing surface, including a thick pad of paper, where the RF propagation path cannot be blocked by a user""s arm or hand, or by the writing paper itself. Receive antennas can be located at the four corners of the tablet and at other locations below the writing surface, if desired, to essentially eliminate geometric dilution of precision. In addition, the pen may be accurately tracked while it is several inches (or more) above the tablet, allowing the pen to serve multiple functions as a writing instrument, a mouse and a joystick.
The present invention provides for operation with more than one transmitter housed within the moving object (or pen). This is accomplished by time-spacing the pulses from the additional transmitters. The use of two transmitters in a handwriting-digitizing pen provides pen tilt and inversion information, and facilitates 3-D location fixes with all the receiver antennas located below the writing surface.
A further advantage to the use of RF bursts is that short propagation times from a writing pen to receive antennas allow the use of very high pulse rates with a corresponding fast tracking rate of the pen and minimal dynamic distortion of written characters. Also, omni-directional antennas inside the writing pen make the pen rotationally independent and free the pen from transducer aperture blockage by the user""s hand (as may be the case with ultrasound or optical systems).
Yet another advantage of the present invention is the use of a very linear timing sweep, which provides inherently linear scale factor while providing a higher signal-to-noise ratio, i.e., lower jitter, than the prior art.
Applications for the radiolocation system include handwriting digitizing, wireless computer input devices such as a computer mouse (which can, for example in combination with a handwriting pen, control point, click, drag, pen writing line thickness and color, and paging functions), automated machinery control such as numerically controlled machines and digital surgery devices (scalpel location), virtual reality systems (including head position location, e.g., for pilots to control aircraft functions and for vehicle drivers), gambling machines (e.g., CRT-pen input), CRT/LCD based games with a pen input, and inventory tracking, e.g., for warehouses.

Radiolocation system having writing pen application


An interactive input system comprises a bezel at least partially surrounding a region of interest. The bezel has a plurality of bands thereon with at least some adjacent bands having different optical properties. At least one imaging device looks into the region of interest and sees the at least one bezel so that acquired images comprise regions corresponding to the bands. Processing structure processes pixels of a plurality of the regions to detect the existence of a pointer in the region of interest.

Interactive input systems that allow users to input ink into an application program using an active pointer (eg. a pointer that emits light, sound or other signal), a passive pointer (eg. a finger, cylinder or other object) or other suitable input device such as for example, a mouse or trackball, are well known. These interactive input systems include but are not limited to: touch systems comprising touch panels employing analog resistive or machine vision technology to register pointer input such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,448,263; 6,141,000; 6,337,681; 6,747,636; 6,803,906; 7,232,986; 7,236,162; and 7,274,356 and in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0179001 assigned to SMART Technologies ULC of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, assignee of the subject application, the contents of which are incorporated by reference; touch systems comprising touch panels employing electromagnetic, capacitive, acoustic or other technologies to register pointer input; tablet personal computers (PCs); laptop PCs; personal digital assistants (PDAs); and other similar devices.
Above-incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 6,803,906 to Morrison et al. discloses a touch system that employs machine vision to detect pointer interaction with a touch surface on which a computer-generated image is presented. A rectangular bezel or frame surrounds the touch surface and supports digital cameras at its corners. The digital cameras have overlapping fields of view that encompass and look generally across the touch surface. The digital cameras acquire images looking across the touch surface from different vantages and generate image data. Image data acquired by the digital cameras is processed by on-board digital signal processors to determine if a pointer exists in the captured image data. When it is determined that a pointer exists in the captured image data, the digital signal processors convey pointer characteristic data to a master controller, which in turn processes the pointer characteristic data to determine the location of the pointer in (x,y) coordinates relative to the touch surface using triangulation. The pointer coordinates are conveyed to a computer executing one or more application programs. The computer uses the pointer coordinates to update the computer-generated image that is presented on the touch surface. Pointer contacts on the touch surface can therefore be recorded as writing or drawing or used to control execution of application programs executed by the computer.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0179001 to Morrison et al. discloses a touch system and method that differentiates between passive pointers used to contact a touch surface so that pointer position data generated in response to a pointer contact with the touch surface can be processed in accordance with the type of pointer used to contact the touch surface. The touch system comprises a touch surface to be contacted by a passive pointer and at least one imaging device having a field of view looking generally along the touch surface. At least one processor communicates with the at least one imaging device and analyzes images acquired by the at least one imaging device to determine the type of pointer used to contact the touch surface and the location on the touch surface where pointer contact is made. The determined type of pointer and the location on the touch surface where the pointer contact is made are used by a computer to control execution of an application program executed by the computer.
In order to determine the type of pointer used to contact the touch surface, in one embodiment a curve of growth method is employed to differentiate between different pointers. During this method, a horizontal intensity profile (HIP) is formed by calculating a sum along each row of pixels in each acquired image thereby to produce a one-dimensional profile having a number of points equal to the row dimension of the acquired image. A curve of growth is then generated from the HIP by forming the cumulative sum from the HIP.
Although passive touch systems provide some advantages over active touch systems and work extremely well, using both active and passive pointers in conjunction with a touch system provides more intuitive input modalities with a reduced number of processors and/or processor load.
Camera-based touch systems having multiple input modalities have been considered. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,202,860 to Ogawa discloses a camera-based coordinate input device allowing coordinate input using a pointer or finger. The coordinate input device comprises a pair of cameras positioned in the upper left and upper right corners of a display screen. The field of view of each camera extends to a diagonally opposite corner of the display screen in parallel with the display screen. Infrared emitting diodes are arranged close to the imaging lens of each camera and illuminate the surrounding area of the display screen. An outline frame is provided on three sides of the display screen. A narrow-width retro-reflection tape is arranged near the display screen on the outline frame. A non-reflective reflective black tape is attached to the outline frame along and in contact with the retro-reflection tape. The retro-reflection tape reflects the light from the infrared emitting diodes allowing the reflected light to be picked up as a strong white signal. When a user's finger is placed proximate to the display screen, the finger appears as a shadow over the image of the retro-reflection tape.
The video signals from the two cameras are fed to a control circuit, which detects the border between the white image of the retro-reflection tape and the outline frame. A horizontal line of pixels from the white image close to the border is selected. The horizontal line of pixels contains information related to a location where the user's finger is in contact with the display screen. The control circuit determines the coordinates of the touch position, and the coordinate value is then sent to a computer.
When a pen having a retro-reflective tip touches the display screen, the light reflected therefrom is strong enough to be registered as a white signal. The resulting image is not discriminated from the image of the retro-reflection tape. However, the resulting image is easily discriminated from the image of the black tape. In this case, a line of pixels from the black image close to the border of the outline frame is selected. Since the signal of the line of pixels contains information relating to the location where the pen is in contact with the display screen. The control circuit determines the coordinate value of the touch position of the pen and the coordinate value is then sent to the computer.
Although Ogawa is able to determine the difference between two passive pointers, the number of input modalities is limited to relatively few types of pointers such as pen and finger inputs. More pointers are capable using polarization techniques; however, these techniques require proper orientation when the pointer contacts the display screen in order to avoid confusion with other pointer modalities.
It is therefore an object of the present invention at least to provide a novel interactive input system and a novel bezel therefor.

Interactive input system and bezel therefor


A wood processing system has a processing assembly containing a carrier movable in a second linear axis at right angles to a first linear axis and a third linear axis perpendicular to it, on which a processing unit designed as a motor spindle to accommodate at least one rotationally driven processing tool is arranged to pivot around three axes of rotation. The processing unit is arranged to pivot around a third axis of rotation spaced from the first axis of rotation on the free end of an arm pivotable on the carrier around a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation perpendicular to the first axis of rotation. The arm is arranged rotatable by 360° around the second axis of rotation on a front carrier part, which is arranged to rotate around the first axis of rotation perpendicular to the first linear axis on a front end face of the carrier.

Such a wood processing system is known from DE 10 2010 007 378 A1. A processing assembly arranged between a front and rear support area of a tool support has a carrier movable in two axes at right angles to each other, on which a processing unit designed as a motor spindle to accommodate at least one rotationally driven tool is arranged to pivot around three axes of rotation. The processing unit designed as a motor spindle is arranged to pivot on the carrier around a third axis of rotation spaced from the first axis of rotation on the free end of an arm pivotable around a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation perpendicular to the first axis of rotation. The arm holding the processing unit in this known wood processing system is arranged rotatable by 180° around a second axis of rotation (B axis) perpendicular to the first axis of rotation (A axis) on a U-shaped mount rotatable around a first axis of rotation (A axis). The processing unit is arranged rotatable around a third axis of rotation (C axis) spaced from the first axis of rotation (A axis) on the laterally protruding free end of the arm. Through such an arrangement all six sides of a workpiece can be processed without overturning or reclamping processes, although larger travel movements must be conducted for certain processing tasks.


An isolation base system for sensitive structures such as nuclear power plant modules is suggested. The proposed isolation system considers a base supported on specially designed hollow spherical balls and equipped with 3 linear hydraulic actuators to restrict the lateral motion of the base and provide a stable base under normal conditions. The actuators are released when an earthquake signal is detected to allow the base to oscillate freely during the earthquake attack. The hydraulic actuators are reactivated after shock wave ends to compress the springs and restore the base to its original position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a Smart isolation base for sensitive structures such as Nuclear power plants especially against earthquake disturbances.
2. Background
Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, are a cause for alert given the potential disasters. These sensitive structures are structures such as nuclear power plants. There needs to be a way to restrict the lateral motion of the base while providing a stable base under normal conditions to prevent disaster. There is no prior art that efficiently addresses these concerns.
There is still room for improvement in the art.

Smart isolation base for sensitive structures such as nuclear power plants against earthquake disturbances

King Abdulaziz City of Science and Technology


A system and a method for controlling the multi-component composition such as photoresist, stripper, developer, etchant, thinner, rinser/cleaner and etch bead remover, for a lithography process, which is used for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a liquid crystal display device and so on, are disclosed. The system includes a composition circulator for withdrawing the composition from a storage tank retaining the composition for a lithography process, and for recycling the withdrawn composition to the storage tank, through a flow cell; a composition analyzer for measuring an absorbance of the composition passing through the flow cell, and for calculating the concentration of at least one component of the composition from the measured absorbance; a component supplier for supplying a deficient component to the storage tank when a concentration of the deficient component is below a predetermined level; and a controller for controlling the component supplier to adjust the concentration of each component of the composition according to the absorbance.

The composition, such as photoresist, stripper, developer, etchant, thinner, rinser/cleaner, EBR (etch bead remover) and so on, is conventionally used in a lithography process for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a LCD device and so on. The composition contains various components such as organic solvent, photoresist component, water, acid component, base component, and so on. As the apparatus for analyzing these components in the composition, a titroprocessor, an ion chromatography, a gas chromatography, a capillary ion analyzer, a moisture analyzer, a UV-Vis spectrometer, a Raman spectrometer and so on are conventionally used. However, it usually takes too much time to analyze the various components in the composition with the conventional apparatuses. In order to reduce the time required for analyzing the various components, more than two apparatuses can be used at the same time. However, even in that case, the real-time analysis of each component cannot be carried out adequately, and therefore it is not easy to improve the time efficiency for analysis. Furthermore, it is difficult to avoid problem when analyzing the compositions with the conventional apparatuses.
In order to overcome these disadvantages, the method of using an on-line analysis apparatus has been recently developed. However, the present on-line analysis apparatus only performs an automatic sampling, and accordingly cannot sufficiently reduce the required time for analysis, and cannot analyze the various components in real time and at the same time. Namely, it is impossible to obtain the overall information of the analyzed composition in real time, which is required for handling or controlling the composition used in a lithography process. Accordingly, it is required the method, which can analyze in real time the components of the composition used in a lithography process for manufacturing a semiconductor and an LCD device, and which can control the lifespan of the composition, and manage and recycle the composition.

System and method for controlling composition for lithography process in real time using near infrared spectrometer


A semiconductor device and a fabrication method thereof provides a plug structure composed of a diffusion barrier layer formed at the bottom and on the sides of a contact hole and an oxidation barrier layer formed on the diffusion barrier layer that fills up the inside of the contact hole. This invention prevents contact resistance of a bottom electrode and a plug from increasing as well as implementing high-speed operation and improving the reliability of the semiconductor device.

The present invention relates to a ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM) device; and, more particularly, to a memory device that prevents oxidation of a plug caused by oxygen diffusion into the interface between the plug and the bottom electrode and a fabrication method thereof.
A ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM) device is a sort of a nonvolatile memory device using a polarization property of a ferroelectric layer and hysteresis. It is an ideal memory with the advantage of retaining stored information even when the power is turned off, as well as high speed, high capacity and low electric power. As for the dielectric material of the FeRAM, a layer of SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT), SrxBi2-y(TaiNbj)2O9-z (SBTN), Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O3 (PZT), SrTiO3 (ST) or Bi4-xLaxTi3O12 (BLT) is mostly used. The bottom electrode of a capacitor incorporating the ferroelectric layer is usually formed of Pt, Ir, Ru or an oxide thereof.
To apply the conventional fabrication method of a memory device to the method of fabricating a FeRAM device, it is better to use a ferroelectric layer which has a low crystallization temperature. Also, the contact resistance between the bottom electrode of the capacitor and the plug should be prevented from increasing. Studies on lowering the crystallization temperature of a conventional ferroelectric layer have made much progress, but the technology preventing the increase of a contact resistance between the plug and the bottom electrode is at a standstill. The contact resistance between the plug and the bottom electrode increases, because the polysilicon plug is oxidized during the procedure of a high temperature thermal treatment in an ambient of oxygen for forming a ferroelectric layer. That is, in the subsequent thermal process carried out in an ambient of oxygen for crystallizing the ferroelectric layer, the oxygen diffuses into the interface of the polysilicon plug and the capacitor bottom electrode and oxidizes the surface of polysilicon plug, thus increasing the contact resistance.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a ferroelectric capacitor of a conventional semiconductor device. The semiconductor device of FIG. 1 is formed by a method described below. That is, an inter-layer dielectric layer (ILD) is deposited on the semiconductor substrate 145 with a high doping area 140, and a contact hole connected to the high doping area 140 is formed by selectively etching the ILD. Subsequently, a polysilicon plug 100 is formed by filling up the contact hole with polysilicon, and then a barrier layer 150 of Ti, TiN or TaN is formed on the polysilicon plug 100. After that, a capacitor composed of a bottom electrode 125, a ferroelectric layer 130 and a top electrode 135 is formed on the barrier layer 150.
As described above, the oxygen diffusion barrier layer 150 is formed of Ti, TiN or TaN between the bottom electrode 125 and the polysilicon layer plug 150 to prevent the oxygen from being diffused. However, the barrier layer 150 formed of Ti, TiN or TaN cannot perform its role properly because it loses its characteristics as a diffusion barrier layer at around 500xc2x0 C. Although studies have been done on the barrier metal of a three-element compound such as TiAlN or TaSiN, to prevent the diffusion more effectively, the problem of the barrier layer 150 being oxidized at over 600xc2x0 C. or of the barrier layer structure being destroyed has not been solved yet.
In addition, the structure of the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 1 has a problem that the barrier layer 150 becomes non-conductive, because the bottom electrode 125 and the sides of the barrier layer 150 are exposed during the formation process of a ferroelectric layer 130 and the barrier layer 150 is oxidized while the ferroelectric layer is deposited.
Therefore, researchers are actively conducting research to prevent the oxidation by transforming the structure of a plug. That is, the aim of the research is moving from developing oxygen diffusion materials towards a method for blocking the oxygen diffusion or increasing paths for oxygen.
FIG. 2 shows a structure forming the barrier layer 150 in the contact hole, which is known as a stable plug structure. The reference numerals of FIG. 2 are the same as those of FIG. 1. However, the structure of the semiconductor device shown in FIG. 2 is more or less acceptable in the aspect of anti-oxidation, compared to other existing structures, but this structure as well does not prevent oxygen diffusion effectively. As an example of this, in the case the bottom electrode 125 of a semiconductor device with the structure of FIG. 2 is formed of Pt which causes a lot of oxygen diffusion, and the barrier layer 150 is formed of TiN, the property of the semiconductor deteriorates in a thermal process carried out at around 500xc2x0 C. Moreover, when doing so, the fabricating process becomes more complicated than fabricating the semiconductor device structure of FIG. 1, which leads to an increase in production costs.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device, which employs an oxygen diffusion barrier layer inside a plug to protect the plug from being oxidized during a high temperature thermal treatment in an ambient of oxygen effectively, and a fabrication method thereof.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor device, comprising: an inter-layer dielectric layer formed on a semiconductor substrate with a contact hole inside; a diffusion barrier layer formed at the bottom and on the sides of the contact hole; an oxidation barrier layer formed on the diffusion barrier layer for filling up the contact hole; a bottom electrode of a capacitor contacting the diffusion barrier layer and the anti-oxidation layer; a dielectric layer formed on the bottom electrode; and a top electrode formed on the dielectric layer.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: forming an inter-layer dielectric layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a contact hole by selectively etching the inter-layer dielectric layer; forming a diffusion barrier layer at the bottom and on the sides of the contact hole; filling up the contact hole by forming an oxidation barrier layer on the anti-diffusion layer; forming a bottom electrode of a capacitor contacting the diffusion barrier layer and the anti-oxidation layer; forming a dielectric layer on the bottom electrode; and forming a top electrode on the dielectric layer.

Semiconductor memory device capable of preventing oxidation of plug and method for fabricating the same


Devices and methods are provided which comprise detecting an irregular condition at a control terminal of a power switch device.

Power switches are conventionally used to couple a load with a supply voltage. In recent years, "smart" power switch devices have been developed which are equipped with one or more diagnostic abilities and protection features, for example against overload and short circuit events. For example, in such power switch devices as a power switch a MOS transistor may be used, and the switch may be opened (i.e. caused to be non-conducting between terminals of the switch) in case of overload or short circuit events.
Power switch devices may comprise one or more control terminals. One of such control terminals may for example control opening and closing of the power switch. Another one of the control terminals may for example serve to set a desired mode (for example to enable a diagnosis mode).
Power switch devices may comprise diagnosis functions, for example to detect fault conditions like overcurrent, overvoltage, overheating or a broken load. In case such a fault condition is detected, a fault signal (for example a fault current) may be output to signal fault conditions to other entities, for example to other entities in a system including the power switch.
However, for example a faulty connection to the above-mentioned control inputs may cause a misinterpretation of such a fault signal or other signal output. For example, when a connection to a control input usable to set the power switch to a diagnosis mode is broken, another entity may erroneously believe that the power switch is set to a diagnosis mode, while it is still a normal operation, and may misinterpret signals output accordingly.


The present invention discloses means and methods for detecting irregularities in the cells throughout a healthy tissue. The method generally relates to cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment, and more specifically pertains to detection, diagnosis and treatment guidance of cancerous or precancerous conditions through the use of thermal imaging technology and analysis.

Tumor cells are distinct from their surrounding normal tissue by several properties, one of which is a thermo-physical property referred to as thermal diffusivity, which is expected to be different in cancerous cells compared to healthy cells. Thermal diffusivity is the combined property of density, heat capacity, thermal conductivity, blood perfusion and metabolic rate which are expected to be noticeably different in cancer cells. Importantly, even precancerous tissues or very young tumors appear to have distinct thermal diffusivity properties due to an enlarged nucleus, elevated crowdedness and more.
Lung cancer is considered the most deadly cancers in men and women worldwide. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women in the United States.
Statistical data regarding the extent of lung cancer states that lung cancer results in about 1.6 million deaths a year worldwide, being the leading cause of cancer death, at a total of 27% of all cancer related deaths. In the U.S. alone 228,190 new cases are diagnosed, and 160,000 deaths occur annually. In Israel 1,900 new cases are diagnosed and 1,600 deaths occur annually. Only 5% of lung cancers cases are diagnosed in stages that allow healing.
This extremely low survival rate of lung cancer is not due to lung tumors being more aggressive than other malignant tumors types, but in fact is due to the lack of early detection.
Since the lung contains no 'pain sensing' mechanism and its gas volume is much greater than its tissue volume, a tumor would hardly be noticed at early stages. Usually when the patient starts feeling any discomfort and turns to a physician, the tumor will already have exceeded the treatable size. Therefore breathing difficulties and coughing which usually leads to the diagnosis of the cancer means the tumor is large enough to be noticed and is probably untreatable. At this stage the cancer is progressive and usually metastatic and a targeted healing therapy cannot be considered, resulting in a five year survival rate which is very low.
In order to increase survival rate, many screening programs in the US use low dose CT. Screening reduced lung cancer deaths by 20%. But, while 25% of the tests are positive, 96% of all positive results are false and do not result in lung cancer diagnosis. About 30% of people with positive CT will go for a biopsy and only 20% of them will find out they have lung cancer.
These false positives lead to unnecessary biopsies and unnecessary treatment for healthy person. Therefore, a 'decision support' system, to inform a clinician whether the positive CT is a cancer and requires further investigation, would be of considerable utility. Such a system preferably provides immediate results, does not involve radiation risks and is independent of the need for an expert's eye. Preferably, such a test is computerized and automatic with no need for a long, expensive analysis stage.
In addition, oncologists treating the cancer have great difficulty in monitoring the treatment progress, and even cataloging the different stages of the disease. Many times, after a relatively long treating period, the physician would find the treatment had little to no effect. Treatment methods would then be changed, losing valuable time. In other cases cancer cells would successfully be destroyed, and turn into necrotic cells, however, traditional scans would not differentiate them from cancer cells. Usually in this case, an invasive lung biopsy is needed.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cervical cancer is the second most commonly prevalent cancer and the third greatest cause of death in women, with 530,000 new cases discovered each year.
Increasing incidences of weakened immune system, rapid spread of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among the female population and long-term use of oral contraceptive pills are the primary factors responsible for the growth of cervical cancer.
Currently, cervical cancer screening includes a cytology-based screening, known as the Pap test or Pap smear. The main purpose of screening with the Pap test is to detect precancerous abnormal cells that may develop into cancer if left untreated, specifically Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN). In regularly screened populations, the Pap test identifies most abnormal cells before they become cancer. However, the Pap test should be taken with caution, as it is approximated that test incidence of false negatives can be as high as 20%-45%. Moreover, Pap test is expensive and requires 14-30 days of waiting for the cytology testing.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,774,902 discloses a device and method to diagnose an internal abnormality in a living subject by sensing a passively occurring electromagnetic radiation signal associated with the abnormality and inside an orifice of the subject, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,513,876 discloses a system for passively detecting thermal discrepancies in vessel walls. However, the use of passively occurring radiation only renders '902 to be incompetent in detecting minor differences in cell structure, which are already found in the precancerous stage.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,864,669 discloses a method for detecting abnormal tissue using ultrasound backscattered from the background. The detection is manifested through different tissues absorbing ultrasound differently.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,923,954 discloses an IR detection system for identifying malignant tumors by identifying areas of increased metabolic activity, and by assuming that malignant tumors have increased metabolic activity due to increased blood supply. However, patent '954 only identifies tumors which have grown in mass to such extent as to provide evidence of increased metabolic activity and blood supply.
US patent publication number US2013/0116573 and US Patent Publication number US2011/0230942 disclose a thermal imaging system to scan at least a section of a surface of a subject under observation, using both a geometrical scanning system and a thermal (IR) scanning system. A data processing system receives data from the geometrical scanning system, constructs a surface map of the section of the surface under observation and identifies geometrical markers on the surface map based on the data from the geometrical scanning system. The data processing system also receives data over a recovery time from the IR imaging system and constructs a thermal map of the section of the surface, identifying thermal markers on the thermal map based on the data from the infrared imaging system. The two maps are then registered based on a correspondence between at least some of the geometrical and thermal markers and the locations of lesions at the surface can be determined from the surface temperature profile as shown in the registered image. However, in the above documents, to Herman, the skin surface is cooled by application of cold fluid to a region of the surface, so that Herman can only identify lesions at or very near the surface.
Therefore, a long felt need still exists for a screening system and method which will provide early pre-cancerous diagnosis.

Device and method for cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment guidance using active thermal imaging


The invention provides an apparatus and method for formatting information for a communication. The apparatus has an interface to receive an identifier that identifies at least one physical property or capability of a communication device or an identifier that identifies at least one service to be provided to the user of the communication device, and further includes a controller that formats information to be sent to the communication device based on the identified physical property or capability of a communication device or based on the identified service to be provided to the user of the communication device.

1. Field of Invention
This disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for formatting information for communication.
2. Description of Related Art
Currently, the number of wireless communication devices that are being used by the population at large is rapidly increasing. For example, wireless communication devices are quickly gaining popularity as the cost of such devices become more and more economical, while at the same time the fees for wireless services continue to decrease. As a result, an increasing number of people are resorting to wireless communication devices as their primary manner of communication due to the accessibility and portability associated with such devices.
Partly in response to the ever increasing market share, recent advancements in telecommunication technologies have increased the number of features and capabilities of wireless communication devices. For example, it is common to find a cellular phone with a Short Message Service (SMS) feature and having wireless access to the Internet. Further, by using protocols defined by organizations, such as Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) Forum, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), currently cellular phone user can "surf" through the Internet for information or simply gain access to their various accounts. Another popular wireless communication device, the wireless hand-held computer, provides many, if not all the features of a regular desktop computer, and yet provides mobility to its user.

Methods and apparatus for formatting information for a communication


A multilayer ceramic electronic component includes a laminated ceramic body provided with terminal electrodes on side surfaces thereof and a cover for covering the laminated ceramic body. Ground terminal electrodes are provided in notches provided in opposed side surfaces opposing of the laminated ceramic body, a plurality of terminal electrodes is arranged in parallel in each of notches provided in the other side surfaces opposing each other. These terminal electrodes are formed by dividing terminal via hole conductors. The cover is disposed so as to cover elements mounted on the laminated ceramic body, and foot portions of the cover are disposed in the notches and are bonded to the ground terminal electrodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to multilayer ceramic electronic components and manufacturing methods thereof, and more particularly, to an improvement in the formation of terminal electrodes in a multilayer ceramic electronic component having a cover.
2. Description of the Related Art
A multilayer ceramic electronic component and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 8-37251. This publication describes the following method for manufacturing a multilayer ceramic electronic component.
A plurality of ceramic green sheets is first prepared, throughholes are formed in predetermined ceramic green sheets, and terminal via hole conductors are formed in the throughholes. The terminal via hole conductors may be a conductor filled in the throughhole or a conductor provided on the internal surface of the throughhole. In addition, on predetermined ceramic green sheets, wiring conductors, such as conductive films or via hole conductors other than the terminal via hole conductors described above, are formed.
Next, the ceramic green sheets are laminated to each other and are then pressed, thereby forming a green mother electronic component. This mother electronic component is formed such that when being divided along predetermined dividing lines, electronic component bodies for forming a plurality of multilayer ceramic electronic components are obtained.
Next, at locations where the terminal via hole conductors of the green mother electronic component are to be divided, penetrating holes are formed, and as a result, the terminal via hole conductors are exposed at the internal surfaces of the penetrating holes. In the step described above, one penetrating hole is formed for each terminal via hole conductor.
The green mother electronic component is fired. After firing is performed, a plating film composed of, for example, Ni/Au or Ni/Sn, is formed by wet plating on the terminal via hole conductor exposed at the internal surface of the penetrating hole.
Subsequently, elements are mounted on one major surface of the mother electronic component at which one major surface of each laminated ceramic body is formed.
Next, the mother electronic component is divided along the dividing lines passing through the penetrating holes. Accordingly, by dividing the terminal via hole conductors as described above, a plurality of the electronic component bodies is formed having terminal electrodes formed at main surfaces of notches which are formed by dividing the penetrating holes. The division described above is typically performed in a so-called chocolate-break manner via grooves formed in both major surfaces of the mother electronic component along the dividing lines. The grooves are formed before or after the firing of the mother electronic component.
Next, although not specifically disclosed in the publication described above, a cover is disposed such that an opening thereof faces the laminated ceramic body to cover the elements mounted thereon. In the case described above, since the notches provided with the terminal electrodes at the main surfaces thereof are formed by the division of the penetrating holes, as described above, at least one foot portion, to be disposed in at least one of the notches, is preferably provided on the cover. Hence, when the foot portion is disposed in the notch provided with ground terminal electrodes and is bonded thereto via soldering or other suitable material, the cover is fitted to the laminated ceramic body.
As described above, since the notches are formed in the laminated ceramic body, and the terminal electrodes are formed in these notches, when the cover is fitted to the laminated ceramic body, the following advantages can be obtained.
That is, first, since the foot portion is disposed in the notch, the cover can be easily positioned with respect to the laminated ceramic body.
In addition, since the foot portion and the ground terminal electrode are bonded to each other in the notch, solder used for bonding remains in the notch, and the solder is not likely to cause short-circuiting with another terminal electrode.
The multilayer ceramic electronic component thus formed is mounted on a wiring substrate through the terminal electrodes by soldering. However, when the soldering is performed to bond the foot portion to the ground terminal electrode, the solder provided therebetween may remelt when the soldering is performed for the wiring substrate as described above. In this case, the solder bonding the foot portion to the ground terminal electrode may melt and flow to another terminal electrode. However, since the ground terminal electrodes are formed in the notches, as described above, the solder is prevented from flowing out.
However, the conventional technique described above has the following problems that must be overcome.
First, problems occur when the alignment pitch of the terminal electrodes is decreased, for example, to 0.6 mm or less.
In order to decrease the alignment pitch of the terminal electrodes, in addition to a decrease in the diameter of the penetrating hole provided for dividing the terminal via hole conductor, the width thereof exposed at the internal surface of the penetrating hole must be decreased.
However, when the size of the penetrating hole is decreased, the flow of a wet plating solution used for plating the exposed area of the terminal electrode becomes inferior, and as a result, it is difficult to appropriately form the plating film. In addition, since the exposed width of the terminal via hole conductor is decreased, it is more difficult to form an appropriate plating film.
In addition, in order to decrease the alignment pitch of the terminal electrodes, the pitch of the penetrating holes must also be decreased. However, when the pitch described above is decreased, a portion between the adjacent penetrating holes is subject to breakage in a step of forming the penetrating hole or a firing step.
When the pitch of the penetrating holes is decreased, projections having a sawtooth shape are formed between the adjacent notches provided in the laminated ceramic body obtained by the division described above, and hence when the laminated ceramic body is handled, these sawtooth projections often cause chipping.
In addition, in order to form a greater number of the terminal electrodes, the number of the penetrating holes is increased, and as a result, the number of steps of forming the penetrating hole is also increased.
To overcome the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a greatly improved multilayer ceramic electronic component including a cover and a manufacturing method thereof.
A multilayer ceramic electronic component according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a laminated ceramic body including a plurality of ceramic layers laminated on each other, in which a first major surface and a second major surface face each other, and first, second, third, and fourth side surfaces, each of which extends between the first and the second major surfaces. In this arrangement, the first and the third side surfaces face each other, and the second and the fourth side surfaces face each other.
First, second, third, and fourth notches are provided in the first, second, third, and fourth side surfaces, respectively, of the laminated ceramic body described above.
Ground terminal electrodes are provided at main surfaces of the first and third notches, and a plurality of terminal electrodes are arranged in parallel at a main surface of each of the second and fourth notches. The plurality of terminal electrodes disposed at the main surface of each of the second and fourth notches may include ground terminal electrodes electrically connected to the ground terminal electrodes provided at the main surfaces of the first and third notches.
At least one element is mounted on the first major surface of the laminated ceramic body.
A cover is arranged such that an opening thereof faces the laminated ceramic body to cover the at least one element described above. The cover includes foot portions disposed in the first and third notches, such that the foot portions are bonded to the respective ground terminal electrodes, thereby fitting the cover to the laminated ceramic body.
In the multilayer ceramic electronic component described above, the cover is preferably made of a metal, and the foot portions and the ground terminal electrodes are preferably bonded to each other via solder or a conductive adhesive.
In addition, the terminal electrodes are preferably defined by dividing terminal via hole conductors.
The first, second, third, and fourth notches are each preferably arranged so as to extend from the first major surface to the second major surface.
Another preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a method for manufacturing the multilayer ceramic electronic component described above, and more particularly, provides a method for manufacturing multilayer ceramic electronic components, each of which includes first, second, third, and fourth notches arranged so as to extend from a first major surface to a second major surface, and terminal electrodes formed by dividing terminal via hole conductors.
The method for manufacturing the multilayer ceramic electronic components according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a step of manufacturing a green mother electronic component is carried out. The green mother electronic component includes a plurality of ceramic green sheets which are laminated to each other and which are provided with the terminal via hole conductors to be formed into the terminal electrodes.
In addition, a second step of forming penetrating holes is performed. The penetrating holes penetrate the green mother electronic component at locations where the terminal via hole conductors are to be divided, thereby exposing the terminal via hole conductors at the internal surfaces of the penetrating holes.
A third step of firing the green mother electronic component is performed.
In addition, a fourth step of dividing the mother electronic component along dividing lines passing through the penetrating holes is performed to obtain a plurality of electronic component bodies. Each of the electronic component bodies is provided with the terminal electrodes formed by the division of the terminal via hole conductors, and the terminal electrodes are provided at main surfaces of notches formed by the division of the penetrating holes.
A fifth step of mounting elements on first major surfaces of the electronic component bodies is performed.
In the first step described above, the terminal via hole conductors are provided for the green mother electronic component such that ground terminal electrodes are formed at main surfaces of the first and third notches provided in a first and third side surface, respectively, of each of the electronic component bodies formed in the fourth step, and a plurality of terminal electrodes arranged in parallel are formed at a main surface of each of the second and fourth notches formed in a second and fourth side surface, respectively.
In addition, in the method for manufacturing the multilayer ceramic electronic components according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a sixth step is performed, which includes disposing covers such that openings thereof face the electronic component bodies to cover the respective elements, placing foot portions in the first and second notches, and bonding the foot portions to the ground terminal electrodes such that the covers are fitted to the respective electronic component bodies.
When the first step of manufacturing the green mother electronic component is performed, the first step preferably includes preparing said plurality of ceramic green sheets, providing throughholes in at least one of the plurality of ceramic green sheets for disposing the terminal via hole conductors therein, forming the terminal via hole conductors in the throughholes, forming wiring conductors on at least one of the plurality of ceramic green sheets, and laminating the plurality of ceramic green sheets to each other.
In addition, the fifth step is preferably performed for the electronic component bodies before the fourth step is performed.
Furthermore, the sixth step is preferably performed for the electronic component bodies after the fourth step is performed.
Other features, elements, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.

Multilayer ceramic electronic component and manufacturing method thereof


A system is provided for loading one or more transport tank, the system including one or more load lines for connecting between on-site storage tanks or vessels and the transport tanks; one or more vapour return lines for connecting between the transport tanks and an on-site flare or downstream units; an oxygen deficient medium source; one or more oxygen deficient medium blend supply lines connectable to each of the vapour return lines; a HMI/PLC for automation and control of the operations of the system; and a control panel in communication with the HMI/PLC for starting and stopping operation of the system. Gases displaced from the transport tanks during loading can be sent directly to flare or downstream units. A method is also provided for loading a fluid from one or more on-site storage tanks or vessels to one or more transportation tanks.

During loading of hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon by-products or other volatile or hazardous fluids from onsite storage to a transport tank, there is always a displacement of the gaseous environment from inside the transport tank as it is getting filled. In the case of volatile fluids, there is also off-gassing, or the release of vapours off of the volatile fluid.
As fluids are loaded, these gaseous vapors, be they displaced vapours or off-gassing vapours, are typically released from the vent system on the transport tank. Typically, in industry practice, where such gas is "sweet" (for example, containing less than 5 ppm hydrogen sulfide) venting to atmosphere has been permitted by industry and regulatory agencies. In the case of systems with "sour" gas (for example, containing greater than 5 ppm hydrogen sulfide), vented gas vapors have been traditionally directed to sweetening or scrubbing units.
With the industry norms as described above there are inherent dangers and issues:
1. During loading, explosive, flammable and hazardous gases are released into the atmosphere from the transportation tank or scrubber vent;
2. The gases being released in loading can create a localized oxygen deficient atmosphere, which is a hazardous condition for workers onsite;
3. Odour complaints from adjacent land owners;
While tank gases could be flared to deal with the above issues, transportation tanks arriving on site with oxygen present cannot be safely connected to a flare or vapour recovery unit due to potential explosive conditions.
Furthermore, in the case of on-site sweetening units, there can be hazards related to the disposal of the rich sweetening chemicals once spent. There are further concerns with hazardous, hydrogen sulphide atmospheres being created and/or production outages when the sweetening chemicals are spent at inopportune times, or prematurely.
For the purposes of the present invention transport tanks are intended to include any mobile tank systems such as, for example, tank trucks, tank trailers or rail cars or pressurized floating containers.
CA Patent Appl. No. 2,349,349 is directed to a method and apparatus for evacuating a section of a natural gas pipeline, but does not address fluids loading or unloading and the need for dealing with gas emissions during such processes. U.S. Pat. No. 8,480,812 teaches a process for removing hydrocarbon contaminants and noxious gases from catalytic reactors in the vapour phase without using steam. US Patent Application No. 2010/0000252 is directed to a process for the loading, processing and conditioning of raw production gas, the production of compressed gas liquids and the storage, transport and delivery of pipeline quality gas and other products to market. However, it does not relate to a system for transport tank loading or unloading. U.S. Pat. No. 6,901,941 is directed to a vessel for the storage and transportation of bulk volumes of fluid and methods for using the same. U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,700 is directed to a method and mobile system for cleaning dirty gas from a newly stimulated gas well.
There is a need therefore to develop improved safe, loading systems and operational methods that can deal with vapour emissions from transport tanks.

Loading system and method of use thereof